44 seconds agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Zach Eflin turned in a solid start in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Angels. Eflin tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and no walks with five strikeouts. The 30-year-old has now pitched a pair of strong and poor starts, bringing his season totals to 1-2 with a 4.63 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and two walks in 23 1/3 IP. Eflin was excellent last season, so hopefully he can string together consecutive positive outings. That may be tough, as his next scheduled start is at the Yankees.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 mins agoHouston Astros closer
Josh Hader turned in a poor outing in a non-save situation in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Braves. Hader came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning down 2-1. He allowed a leadoff walk, allowed the runner to advance on a wild pitch, gave up four consecutive singles scoring two, got an out on a strikeout, and was replaced by
Brandon Bielak. The 30-year-old lefty signed a hefty five-year, $95 million deal this off-season. However, he is 0-2 and has converted one of two save opportunities with a bloated 9.39 ERA in 7 2/3 innings pitched. The season is early and Hader has been historically excellent, so fantasy managers should not worry just yet.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
13 mins agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Josh Lowe (oblique) is set to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Thursday, manager Kevin Cash said on Monday. Cash said of his rehab assignment length, "It's kind of all just how he feels", suggesting the 26-year-old may not need much time. Lowe only took three Grapefruit League at-bats during the spring before suffering an oblique injury, so it is encouraging to see him progressing well. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for progress updates.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin - Tampa Bay Times
57 mins agoFree-agent outfielder
Tommy Pham officially signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Monday. He'll make $3 million in the majors with $1.5 million in incentives and must be added to the big-league roster by April 25 or he can request his release. Pham will also receive $500,000 if he's traded. The 36-year-old veteran instantly becomes one of the team's better position players with both
Luis Robert Jr. (hip) and
Yoan Moncada (groin) out with injuries, but it remains to be seen how quickly Pham can get up to speed to join the White Sox in what should be a pretty regular outfield role. At the very least, he's worth a pickup in AL-only leagues, although Pham won't have chances to drive in runs for a bad White Sox team. He hit .256/.328/.446 with 16 homers, 68 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 129 regular-season games with the Mets and Diamondbacks in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Juan Toribio
2 hours agoColorado Rockies left-hander
Kyle Freeland (shoulder) suffered an apparent right-shoulder injury in Monday's loss to the Philadelphia Phillies when he collided with relief pitcher
Jeff Hoffman on a wild pitch when he was called out sliding into home plate. Freeland looked to be in a lot of pain, but we'll pass along word when we have more condition on the severity of the injury to his right, non-throwing shoulder. The 30-year-old southpaw was forced to run in this game with the Rockies having a short-handed bench to begin the week due to injuries and illnesses. On top of his injury, Freeland has been dreadful on the mound so far this year, going 0-3 with a 13.21 ERA (6.31 FIP) and 2.55 WHIP with eight walks and nine strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings in his four starts. He leads the league in hits allowed (32) and earned runs (23).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Denver Gazette - Luke Zahlmann
2 hours agoTexas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that the team will still keep things open in the closer role, but with the way right-hander
Kirby Yates is throwing the ball right now, "we kind of like where it's at." In the 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday, Yates tossed a perfect inning with no hits allowed, no walks and no strikeouts to pick up his first save of the season. The 37-year-old veteran hasn't allowed a run yet in 2024 in six relief appearances while walking one and striking out five in six innings of work. Meanwhile,
Jose Leclerc has surrendered eight earned runs on seven hits (one homer) while walking seven and fanning six in six innings. Nothing is official yet, but fantasy managers that are chasing saves should run to the waiver wire to pick up Yates right away.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
2 hours agoTexas Rangers right-hander
Max Scherzer (back) could now be ready in early May despite initial evaluations placing his likely return around June or July, and his first minor-league rehab start could potentially come as early as next week. Scherzer threw 25 pitches of live batting practice at Comerica Park on Monday and said the next step is throwing 40 pitches on Friday. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer had surgery to fix a herniated disc in his back on Dec. 15. General manager Chris Young said Scherzer attempted several "conservative treatments in pain management," including an epidural, but the pain never went away, which is why he had offseason surgery. Scherzer probably isn't going to be a fantasy ace any more, but he's still plenty capable of delivering a dominant outing every now and then if he can remain healthy after he returns from his back injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals infielder
Matt Carpenter (oblique) is currently traveling with the team during their three-game series against the Oakland Athletics, and he took infield practice in Arizona this past weekend. Carpenter was put on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right oblique ahead of April 4's game against the Miami Marlins, and it would appear that a return in late April could be in the cards. After signing a two-year deal this past offseason with the team that drafted him, the 38-year-old former All-Star made St. Louis' Opening Day roster following a strong spring that saw him hit .346 (9-for-26) with five doubles, one home run, and five RBI in 13 outings. He figures to serve as the Cards' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching upon his eventual return, but there's no clear-cut fantasy beneficiary of his absence at this time.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Katie Woo - The Athletic
2 hours agoOakland Athletics infielder
J.D. Davis (groin) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday, and outfielder
Esteury Ruiz was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Davis exited Sunday's 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals due to a strained right groin, and he'll need to spend some time on the shelf. The 30-year-old was operating as Oakland's primary third baseman, but he's batting just .196 (10-for-51) with two solo home runs over 14 games this year. The speedy Ruiz is available off the bench for the A's on Monday and could eventually reclaim his spot as the club's everyday center fielder after a spell in the minor leagues. The 25-year-old contact hitter slashed .326/.423/.581 with three homers, eight RBI, and seven stolen bases across 51 plate appearances in the minors, and he led the American League with 67 swipes a year ago. Ruiz should be added in fantasy for steals where available.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Martin Gallegos - MLB.com
3 hours agoThe plan is for Minnesota Twins outfielder
Max Kepler (knee) to run the bases at Target Field on Tuesday or Wednesday, and a rehab assignment could come shortly thereafter. Kepler was placed on the injured list last Tuesday with a right knee contusion
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3 hours agoAtlanta Braves catcher
Sean Murphy (oblique) has started to play catch and complete some conditioning drills. While he still may be at least a week away from being cleared to begin swinging a bat, it's a good sign that Murphy is progressing in his recovery from a Grade 1 left oblique strain that he suffered in March 29's game against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Fantasy managers should not expect the 29-year-old All-Star backstop to be available to the Braves until late April at the earliest, though. Veteran
Travis d'Arnaud is filling in as Atlanta's primary catcher in the meantime, but he's slashing only .222/.263/.333 with four doubles, four RBI, and four runs scored in 36 at-bats to begin the season and isn't doing enough right now to warrant rostership outside of deep two-catcher fantasy leagues.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 hours agoNew York Yankees third baseman
DJ LeMahieu (foot) is with the team on their current road trip in a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Manager Aaron Boone is encouraged by the veteran infielder's progress as he recovers from a non-displaced fracture of his right foot, and he said it's "very possible" LeMahieu will go on a rehab assignment when the club returns home on Thursday. With the Yankees struggling to find a consistent answer in the leadoff spot, the 35-year-old hitting machine will be an option for that role when he returns after hitting .273 (60-for-220) with eight home runs, nine doubles, 27 runs scored, and 36 walks in 60 games post-All-Star break last year. He has a chance to return before the end of April. The switch-hitting
Oswaldo Cabrera is hitting .289 with an .888 OPS, three homers, and 11 RBI in his first 12 games of the campaign and remains worth rostering in all fantasy leagues while he's running hot.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher
Matthew Liberatore (illness) was unavailable for this past weekend's three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of an illness, but manager Oliver Marmol said that the hurler will rejoin the team on Monday for the start of the three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. Having not pitched since last Tuesday, it sounds like Liberatore is feeling better and should be available out of the bullpen on Monday. The 24-year-old southpaw was the top pitching prospect in St. Louis' farm system not long ago, and while he's settling in as a key bullpen piece for the Cards, it's a far cry from the expectations he once garnered. Liberatore owns a solid 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with five strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings primarily working as a middle-reliever this year, which is a role that doesn't lend itself to very much fantasy appeal at the moment.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 hours agoThe Athletic's Fabian Ardaya is hearing that the Los Angeles Dodgers are planning on calling up pitching prospect
Landon Knack to pitch this week, according to sources. Knack would be making his major-league debut if he gets into a game. Ardaya also thinks
Kyle Hurt would be a possibility as the Dodgers look for length from their pitching staff this week. According to MLB Pipeline, Knack is the club's No. 13 prospect, while Hurt is their No. 6 prospect. The 26-year-old Knack could make the start on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals, as the Dodgers have yet to name a starter for that game. In three starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City so far this year, Knack has posted a 4.02 ERA with four walks and 16 K's in 15 2/3 innings. He'll be a poor choice as a streamer if he makes a spot start for LA this week.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
5 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that outfielder
Jason Heyward (back) is still dealing with residual soreness in his back. There is no timetable for his return, but Heyward would have to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 10-day injured list because he's already missed two weeks. Until the 34-year-old veteran left-handed swinger is able to return to the big-league roster,
Teoscar Hernandez should continue to regularly play right field, with
Chris Taylor also seeing additional playing time for the Blue in the outfield. Heyward should play regularly against right-handed pitching when he's healthy again. The former first-rounder in 2007 by the Atlanta Braves had gone 3-for-14 with two RBI in four games this year before landing on the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SB Nation - Eric Stephen
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