12 mins agoForward Justin Tillman has reportedly inked a deal to join the Denver Nuggets, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Tillman has already established an expansive international profile since going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, having played in Israel, Italy, Turkey and Puerto Rico, in addition to the G League. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 13.1 points and 7.6 rebounds across 14 contests for the College Park Skyhawks last season, Atlanta's G League affiliate. Denver is well stocked on the wing entering the '22-23 campaign, so Tillman is mostly likely facing a limited role with a chance at continuing to grow his game in the G League.
--Jesse BorekSource: Chris Haynes
16 mins agoHouston Astros relief pitcher
Ryan Pressly (neck) is unavailable to pitch during Saturday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Manager Dusty Baker will give Pressly the day off as he deals with a neck issue. This doesn't sound like the type of issue that is going to cost Pressly a trip to the injured list. Fantasy managers should consider Pressly day-to-day until further notice. Right-hander
Hector Neris is expected to take the mound, assuming the Astros need a closer for this game.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Brian McTaggart
18 mins agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher
Tyler Mahle recorded his first victory since being dealt from the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline, going six shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six. The right-hander has posted a subpar 4.26 ERA, although he owns 3.40 FIP with a 25.8% strikeout rate and 1.21 WHIP over 21 starts. Mahle should improve his numbers after the move from hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark with his strong underlying numbers. Fantasy managers would be wise to add the 27-year-old if he's available on the waiver wire.
--Spencer Seguin - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21 mins agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Blake Treinen (shoulder) fired a perfect inning during Friday's minor league rehab game with Triple-A Oklahoma City. It only took him nine pitches to retire all the batters he faced on Friday. The expectation is that he'll need a few more outings before he's ready to return to the Dodgers bullpen. He's expected to serve as the primary setup option behind
Craig Kimbrel. His return won't mean much for fantasy baseball, but it's a big addition to the Dodgers bullpen.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
26 mins agoDetroit Tigers outfielder
Austin Meadows (Achilles) went hitless during his rehab game at Triple-A Toledo on Friday. The 27-year-old is working his way back from an injury that has sidelined him a majority of the season. He's hitting .250/.347/.328 with no homers and 11 RBI through 36 games this season. It has been a tough year for Meadows, but hopefully he can contribute again before the end of the regular season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
32 mins agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Harold Ramirez (thumb) is set to take batting practice prior to Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. He'll likely head out on a minor league rehab assignment following that, assuming everything goes well. Ramirez has been sidelined since July 17 with a broken thumb. Prior to that, he was hitting .329/.379/.446 with four homers, 35 RBI in 78 games this season. Fantasy managers who are rostering Ramirez should continue to hold him. It sounds like he could be back on the field within the next few weeks.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin
32 mins agoGuard/forward Sam Merrill has signed a contract to join the Sacramento Kings for the upcoming year. The 26-year-old appeared in six games last season for Memphis, where he was traded the previous summer in exchange for
Grayson Allen. The final pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, Merrill has seen only limited playing time in his two NBA campaigns, although he appeared in 30 games for Milwaukee during their championship season in 2021-22. During his four years at Utah State, Merrill was a 42-percent shooter from long range, averaging 19 PPG across his final three seasons. He figures to fight for second-unit minutes among the Kings' wing options.
--Jesse BorekSource: NBA.com
36 mins agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
David Peralta (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Manager Kevin Cash has opted to give some of his left-handed batters a rest against southpaw
DL Hall.
Roman Quinn will cover right field and bat eighth in this game. Fantasy managers should expect Peralta to be in the lineup for their next contest. Quinn doesn't offer enough upside with the bat to warrant using as a reliable streaming option.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
48 mins agoCenter Willie Cauley-Stein will join the Houston Rockets for the upcoming season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. The veteran big man spent last season between Dallas and Philadelphia, where he appeared in a combined 20 games (two starts) and played a career-low 9.2 minutes on a nightly basis. Cauley-Stein will attempt to compete for minutes off the bench, as
Alperen Sengun is set to serve as the team's primary center with its youth movement in full force. A lottery pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the 28-year-old Cauley-Stein can remain on the waiver wire in all fantasy formats.
--Jesse BorekSource: Shams Charania
57 mins agoThe opening night of the NBA season has come to light: Oct. 18. And with it comes a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic that the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors will clash, with the reigning champions set to enjoy their ring ceremony. The matchup delivers in terms of star power, with L.A. once again set to be led by
LeBron James,
Anthony Davis and
Russell Westbrook, but this with first-year coach Darvin Ham at the helm. For
Stephen Curry,
Klay Thompson and
Draymond Green, it'll be a familiar position of entering a year with the proverbial target of being last season's champions. The two teams kicked off the season against one another last year as well, resulting in a seven-point Warriors win.
--Jesse BorekSource: Shams Charania
1 hour agoBaltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson has previously stated that he would like to suit up for preseason games, but during media availability Saturday, he confirmed that he's not sure if the team will have him under center before Week 1 of the regular season. Jackson saw his 2021 year come to an end due to an ankle injury, but the former MVP is preparing for another potentially electric season, despite some new faces around him on offense. Beyond Jackson on the depth chart is
Tyler Huntley, who went 16-for-18 through the air in the team's preseason-opening victory. Keeping Jackson on the sidelines is largely a precaution to prevent against injury, but the signal caller has also been engaged in contract negotiations with the franchise, which have not yet resulted in a long-term agreement.
--Jesse BorekSource: Jeff Zrebiec
1 hour agoTampa Bay Rays second baseman
Brandon Lowe (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Lowe will take a seat against left-hander
DL Hall. In his place,
Yu Chang will bat leadoff and cover second base for Saturday's contest. Lowe is hitting .275/.333/.450 with three homers and 12 RBI since returning from the injured list. His bat appears to be heating up, so this might be the time to snag him, assuming he's available in fantasy leagues.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 hour agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Kole Calhoun (heel) landed on the injured list on August 4, but the severity of the injury remains a mystery. The organization was hopeful it would only require a minimal stint on the injured list. Well, Calhoun has not participated in any baseball activities since going down. The longer it takes will only increase the chances of Calhoun needing a rehab assignment. Before the injury, Calhoun was hitting .211/.269/.363 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI. Fantasy managers should be able to find better production elsewhere.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Joseph Hoyt
1 hour agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Tyler Wells (oblique) was able to throw long toss prior to Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander has been sidelined since late July due to a Grade 1 oblique strain. Wells has been making progress and is hopeful to get back on the mound before the end of the season. He currently holds a 3.90 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 68/23 K/BB ratio over 94 2/3 innings through 20 starts. Fantasy managers can be hopeful he returns this season, but might need to wait another few weeks before they get a better answer.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Roch Kubatko
1 hour agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez kept the Mets at bay on Friday, giving up just one run on four hits across seven innings while striking out four and walking two. He wasn't the winning pitcher of the 2-1 victory, but it was the fourth time in five starts that he's given up one run or less. Suarez is having a nice season in the Phillies rotation, posting a 3.52 ERA and 8-5 record, but owns a 1.32 WHIP and a meager 19.6% strikeout rate. Fantasy managers don't need to roster the left-hander in every league, but they can stream him in favorable matchups.
--Spencer Seguin - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 hour agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Cedric Mullins (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The left-handed slugger will get a well-deserved day of rest.
Ryan McKenna will cover center field and bat leadoff against left-hander
Shane McClanahan on Saturday. This is not a favorable spot for McKenna, so fantasy managers looking for a streaming option can check elsewhere. The expectation is that Mullins will be back in the lineup for their next contest.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 hour agoBaltimore Ravens running back
J.K. Dobbins (knee) has been held out of practice Saturday as the team continues to exercise caution in reinserting him to the mix. Head coach John Harbaugh recently admitted that Dobbins isn't a surefire option for the team out of the backfield in Week 1 as he makes his way back from a torn ACL that knocked him out for the entire 2021 campaign. The expectation is for Dobbins to rejoin practice Monday. Fellow running back
Gus Edwards (knee) is also a question mark for Week 1, but Dobbins would be the bell cow of the Baltimore backfield if cleared. After compiling 805 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground as a rookie in '21, Dobbins would be a strong RB2 option in most fantasy formats, even coming off the injury. For now,
Mike Davis,
Nate McCrary and
Justice Hill figure to all factor prominently into the Ravens' rushing game plans.
--Jesse BorekSource: Jamison Hensley
1 hour agoSeattle Mariners outfielder
Taylor Trammell (hamstring) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday. The team has also optioned him to Triple-A Tacoma following his activation. There is not enough room for Trammell on the roster with
Julio Rodriguez and
Mitch Haniger back healthy. He'll continue to play in the minors, but should return to the big league roster at some point. Fantasy managers shouldn't bother holding onto him outside of dynasty leagues where he could have long term value.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Mariners PR
1 hour agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Anthony Santander had three hits in five at-bats during Friday's 10-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays while scoring a pair of runs. It's been that way for over a month for the 27-year-old, as he's slashing .316/.367/.537 since the beginning of July. Across 104 games overall, Santander's batting .263 with 20 HRs, 53 runs, and 60 RBI. He's a viable fantasy option in every league, and even if he cools down, he'll provide power while in the middle of Baltimore's lineup.
--Spencer Seguin - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoThe
Trey Lance Era has officially arrived in San Francisco ahead of the 2022 season. Lance utilized the first two drives of the team's preseason opener against the Packers on Friday to showcase his dual threat abilities, finishing 4-for-5 through the air for 92 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a seven-yard rush to his total. All in all, it was two drives with Lance under center, two scores (one field goal, one touchdown). While Lance did make two starts last year while
Jimmy Garoppolo was injured, the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft holds the keys to the offense now. His rushing ability on top of his deft deep ball touch makes him a tantalizing QB1 option in redraft formats, while his age and upside make him a potential cornerstone of keepers formats. His next preseason action comes next Saturday vs. Minnesota.
--Jesse BorekSource: ESPN
2 hours agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Manuel Margot (knee) has been playing at the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate. However, it appears that Margot is ready for some higher-competition during his rehab assignment. The fact he's being moved up to a higher level is a great sign. The right-handed slugger is eligible to return as early as August 20. Margot was hitting .320/.365/.423 with three homers, 27 RBI and five stolen bases before the injury. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on him as he progresses through his rehab assignment.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin
2 hours agoThe Carolina Panthers made waves when they announced
Baker Mayfield as the team's starting quarterback for Saturday's preseason opener against Washington, and then did so again when it was announced
Christian McCaffrey and
D.J. Moore would be inactive for the contest. McCaffrey has been bothered by myriad injuries over the past few seasons, lending to the Panthers attempting to keep him fresh heading into Week 1 of the regular season. Moore's absence is also likely a byproduct of Carolina attempting to keep key playmakers healthy for the season ahead, even though fewer reps alongside Mayfield may make some fantasy managers trepidatious about the wideout's ceiling entering 2022. The duo's next chance to suit up comes Friday vs. the Patriots.
--Jesse BorekSource: Carolina Panthers
2 hours agoToronto Blue Jays second baseman
Whit Merrifield (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. This is the second rest day this week for the 31-year-old slugger. Clearly, Merrifield isn't a fixture in the lineup like he was with Kansas City. It's also worth noting that Merrifield is having a down year at the plate.
Santiago Espinal will start at second base while
Raimel Tapia covers center field for Saturday's game against right-hander
Triston McKenzie.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoNew York Jets quarterback
Zach Wilson is set to be sidelined for the next 2-4 weeks by a bone bruise and meniscus tear in his right knee, per Brian Costello of the New York Post. Wilson left Friday's preseason contest against the Eagles due to the injury and was in significant pain prior to his departure. Initially, there were concerns that Wilson may be facing a long-term absence, but the team remains optimistic that their 23-year-old signal caller will be back in the fold soon.
Joe Flacco and
Mike White remain the team's top two internal candidates to start under center if Wilson isn't cleared by Week 1, with Flacco having sizable intrigue due to the matchup with Baltimore, a franchise he led to a Super Bowl in 2012.
--Jesse BorekSource: Brian Costello
2 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Steven Matz (knee) has a chance of returning to the mound this season. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol is optimistic that Matz will return after tearing his MCL earlier this season. It sounds like the southpaw is making solid progress since his injury back on July 24. He was pitching fairly well before the injury, so his return would be nice for the Cardinals rotation. However, Matz isn't close to getting back on the mound, so his return probably wouldn't be until mid-September.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: John Denton
2 hours agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher
Kyle Muller will take the mound for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Miami Marlins. Right-hander
Ian Anderson will serve as the 27th man, so possibly Muller sticks around longer than one start. The 24-year-old holds a 3.27 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 122/27 K/BB ratio over 99 innings in Triple-A this season. He struggled during his lone outing for the Braves this season, but does have streaming value here. Fantasy managers should have Muller on their radar in case he does stay up with the big league team.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoMiami Marlins infielder
Joey Wendle (rest) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Fantasy managers should expect Wendle's playing time to take a hit with
Jon Berti returning from the injured list. The Marlins will move Wendle back to his utility role, which will likely cut down on his playing time. Berti will bat leadoff and play second base against left-hander
Kyle Muller on Saturday. Possibly, Wendle is back in the lineup for the nightcap during Saturday's doubleheader.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoMiami Marlins first baseman
Garrett Cooper (calf) will return to the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Atlanta Braves. He departed early during Thursday's game and sat out of Friday's contest. The good news is, Cooper is back and batting third against left-hander
Kyle Muller on Saturday. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Cooper back in their lineups. This is a favorable spot for Cooper in the three-hold against a struggling pitcher. Possibly, Cooper could make for a decent streaming option for Saturday's slate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Eddie Rosario (rest) is not in the starting lineup for the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday. The Braves have been platooning Rosario with
Robbie Grossman in left field. Left-hander
Jesus Luzardo is on the mound for the Miami Marlins during the first game. That being said, Robbie Grossman will cover left field and bat sixth in this matchup. Fantasy managers should expect Rosario to suit up for the nightcap on Saturday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 hours agoSan Francisco 49ers running back
Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) is expected to miss the entire preseason. Mitchell has been limited during training camp while he recovers from knee surgery. This hamstring issue is a new problem that will probably sideline him until Week 1. Fantasy managers could see Mitchell limited to begin the season, but this shouldn't be a long term problem.
Trey Sermon,
Tyrion Davis-Price, and
Jeff Wilson Jr. will split up the reps until Mitchell is back on the field.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
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