2 hours agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher
Garrett Crochet was masterful against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, punching out 13 over seven innings in a 3-2 win. He allowed only two hits and two walks. Crochet was left with a tough-luck no-decision, but that doesn't change the fact that this was one of the most dominant starts from any pitcher this year. The lefty has been incredible since May, allowing only six earned runs in 48 IP while striking out a staggering 69. He should be regarded as an elite starting pitcher in fantasy for as long as the White Sox let him pitch.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoDetroit Tigers outfielder
Justyn-Henry Malloy went 2-for-3 with a homer and a double in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals. He had a run scored and three RBI on the day. Malloy hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning and then broke the game open with a two-run double in the seventh. The 24-year-old has gotten off to a decent start to his big league career, knocking out a pair of homers and hitting to an .888 OPS in eight games. Malloy remains a deep league option for now, but keeping an eye on him would be smart.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks designated hitter
Joc Pederson went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBI in a 11-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Pederson put the finishing touches on this one, breaking the game wide open in the seventh with his grand salami. While he only plays against right-handed pitching, Pederson is still extremely useful in fantasy. The 32-year-old has a .286 AVG and .887 OPS with eight homers and three swipes in just 161 at-bats this season. In daily lineup leagues, Pederson should be rostered and started whenever he is playing.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks first baseman
Christian Walker went 2-for-5 with two homers and four RBI in an 11-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Walker hit both his homers off starter
Griffin Canning, with the first being a three-run shot in the first frame and the second being a solo dinger in the third inning. The 33-year-old is having yet another strong season with 15 homers and 46 RBI being the standout categories for him. He should continue to be an elite source of power in fantasy.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 hours agoMinnesota Twins shortstop
Carlos Correa went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer on Thursday, leading the Twins to a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics. Correa also added two runs and three RBI. After a fairly mediocre start to the season, the veteran shortstop has caught fire in June, hitting .431 with two homers and 12 RBI in 11 games. If that wasn't enough, he also has six multi-hit games in his last eight games played. Correa is up to a .299 AVG with 30 runs, six homers, and 31 RBI. He won't provide any speed, but Correa can certainly be helpful in the other four categories when he's healthy and playing well.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 hours agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Taj Bradley had his best start of the season on Thursday, throwing seven frames of two-run ball (none earned) in a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs. Bradley allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out 11, earning his second win of the season in the process. He had both his fastball and splitter working in this one, with the two combining for 17 whiffs. While it's been an up-and-down season for the 23-year-old, he holds tremendous upside and is worth a roster spot in most leagues in case he makes good on his potential.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 hours agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday that he thought about playing designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield during the four-game series in Kansas City against the Royals, but the 34-year-old's defensive return might now take place at Fenway Park during the club's series against the division-rival Boston Red Sox that starts on Friday. Stanton has not yet appeared defensively in 61 outings for the Yankees during the 2024 regular season, but he's stated in the past that he becomes more focused when playing in the outfield. While any extra wear and tear would increase the risk of injury for the oft-injured veteran slugger, it could also bring about an uptick in productivity. It's been a bounce-back year nonetheless after a miserable 2023 season for Stanton, who's slashing .233/.288/.491 with 17 home runs and 40 RBI over 232 at-bats and remains a strong source of power in the heart of New York's slugging lineup.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 hours agoNew York Mets third baseman
Brett Baty, who was optioned back to the minors on May 31, is making his first career start at second base for Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. Baty played exclusively at third during his time with the Mets, playing all 47 games at the hot corner this season. The 24-year-old struggled to a .229/.306/.327 slash line with the Mets, but since the demotion, he's gone 8-for-19 (.421) with three home runs. If
Jeff McNeil continues to scuffle or is traded, Baty could give the Mets another option at second base if needed and will hopefully bring his newfound hot hitting along to the big leagues.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Syracuse Mets
7 hours agoNew York Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez propelled his team to victory in Thursday's win over the division-rival Miami Marlins, slugging the first walk-off home run of his career. Martinez tagged Marlins closer
Tanner Scott for a two-run shot in the ninth inning to end the game in dramatic fashion, blasting his sixth homer of the season. The 36-year-old veteran slugger had a late start to the year after landing in Queens deep into the offseason, and while he has far superior splits against left-handed pitching, Martinez is slashing a reliable .271/.327/.458 with six long balls, nine doubles, and 21 RBI over 155 at-bats as New York's everyday DH in the heart of their lineup. Expect the power to positively regress toward Martinez's career norms as the summer rolls along, and his .430 SLG entering Thursday's action makes him a buy-low fantasy player with a .510 xSLG on Baseball Savant.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher
Andrew Kittredge sealed the deal in Thursday's win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates, grabbing his first save of the season. With closer
Ryan Helsley unavailable on Thursday after pitching in each of the past two days, Kittredge was called upon to preserve the victory for the Cards in a one-hit ninth inning. The 34-year-old veteran right-hander is someone to monitor as we inch toward the trade deadline in late July, considering St. Louis could eventually opt to deal their flame-throwing stopper if they're not content with their placement in the standings later this summer. Kittredge owns a 3.60 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 31:8 K:BB covering 30 innings in 2024 and is one of the next arms in line for save chances, though
Giovanny Gallegos (shoulder) would be in the mix as well when he returns.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 hours agoKansas City Royals starting pitcher
Alec Marsh put together his finest effort of the season in Thursday's stunning win over the visiting New York Yankees, throwing seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts, but he picked up a tough-luck no-decision. Marsh was simply magnificent on Thursday, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against this hard-hitting lineup, but Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto singled to start the frame and get New York into the hit column. The 26-year-old right-hander will hold plenty of streaming appeal in fantasy when the Royals are in Oakland to face the Athletics on Wednesday, toting a respectable 3.63 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 61 punchouts and 19 walks through 67 innings in 12 starts from KC's rotation this season.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
8 hours agoThe Tampa Bay Rays officially released outfielder
Harold Ramirez on Thursday. After the Rays designated him for assignment on Friday, Ramirez found no suitors on waivers and is now able to sign anywhere as an unrestricted free agent. The 29-year-old right-handed contact hitter hit a healthy .268 (44-for-164) with one home run, 13 RBI, 21 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 48 games as Tampa Bay's primary designated hitter versus left-handed pitching this season, but he lacks the on-base and defensive skills to provide more versatility. Last season, however, Ramirez slashed a solid .313/.353/.460 with a career-high 12 homers and 68 RBI over 434 plate appearances. That should help his chances of latching onto another club that could use a righty bench bat with speed and strong bat-to-ball skills.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB Roster Moves on X
8 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Wilyer Abreu (ankle) took batting practice at Fenway Park prior to Thursday's game against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. There's no word yet on when Abreu will go on a minor-league rehab assignment, but it could be fairly soon. He's been on the 10-day injured list since June 3 with a sprained right ankle, but Abreu is unlikely to require very many at-bats in the minors before the Red Sox reinstate him to the major-league roster. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger has settled in as a mainstay in Boston's lineup this year, slashing a formidable .272/.344/.485 with six home runs, 14 doubles, 22 RBI, and seven stolen bases across 189 plate appearances. With an everyday role awaiting him in right field when he returns, Abreu is worth stashing in the majority of fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
8 hours agoTexas Rangers third baseman
Josh Jung (wrist) is heading to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday to continue taking live batting practice against other rehabbing pitchers before he officially begins a minor-league rehab assignment. After facing right-hander
Tyler Mahle in live batting practice on Wednesday, Jung will take his rehab to the minors and is slated to get around 30 at-bats there once he's cleared for game action, which should be imminent. He'll likely spend at least one week at Triple-A until he's ready to rejoin the Rangers, positioning Jung for a return in late June. The 26-year-old former No. 8 overall pick went 7-for-17 with two home runs, six RBI, and one stolen base over four games before fracturing his right wrist, and he'll resume his role as Texas' everyday third baseman upon his eventual activation from the 60-day injured list.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Evan Grant - Dallas Morning News
10 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers left-hander
Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) tossed a successful three-inning simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, and pitching coach Mark Prior said Kershaw's velocity was at 88-89 mph -- right where they would expect for a live batting practice session at this point. The future Hall of Famer was also throwing two-seamers and changeups along with his usual mix of pitches. After his second simulated game, the 36-year-old veteran southpaw is now expected to embark on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment. The 10-time All-Star isn't going to return to LA's starting rotation until after the All-Star break, but he's certainly getting closer to his 2024 debut. Fantasy managers should know that Kershaw is no longer in his prime, but even an aging ace with injury concerns can have value in mixed leagues after he went 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 22 starts last year before going down with his shoulder injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
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