4 mins agoHouston Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez (elbow) will throw a bullpen session with the team in Chicago this week and he could start one of the two games against the Colorado Rockies in Mexico City, either this Saturday or Sunday, according to manager Joe Espada. The 30-year-old southpaw was able to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session last Saturday, which was his first time throwing off a mound since left-elbow inflammation landed him on the injured list on April 9. Whether Valdez is able to make his return and start this weekend against the Rockies will be determined by how he looks in his next bullpen session this week. Even though the Rockies are a very enticing matchup, Valdez would be a shaky fantasy play in the altitude in Mexico City if he's activated for a start this weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
9 mins agoLos Angeles Angels right-handed reliever
Robert Stephenson (elbow) said he will have Tommy John surgery with the internal brace on April 30 and he's expecting to have a rehab timeline of 12 to 18 months. The exact nature of his surgery hadn't been revealed until Stephenson talked to the media on Tuesday for the first time since getting injured. We already knew the 31-year-old veteran would miss the rest of 2024, but now we know the exact nature of his surgery. He signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Halos in January but didn't throw a single pitch in the regular season and also was battling a shoulder injury in spring training. There's no guarantee that Stephenson will be ready to roll for the start of the 2025 campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
13 mins agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout is in center field and hitting out of the leadoff spot on Tuesday versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez. It's a notable development, as Trout will be hitting leadoff for the first time since August of 2020. Perhaps it will get the 32-year-old All-Star going, as he's hitting just .111 in his last seven games after a strong start to the season. This setup with Trout at the top of the batting order could continue until third baseman
Anthony Rendon (hamstring) returns from a stint on the injured list. Trout's recent slump at the plate has dropped his season slash line to .236/.327/.562 with an .889 OPS, but he's still leading the league with eight home runs while driving in 11 and stealing five bases in 23 games. In six career at-bats against Rodriguez, Trout is hitting .333.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
18 mins agoArizona Diamondbacks rookie infielder
Blaze Alexander (hamstring) remains out of the team's starting lineup on Tuesday as they get set to face the St. Louis Cardinals. Alexander injured his right hamstring on Sunday and will miss his second straight game as a result. The 24-year-old was reportedly available off the bench in Monday's game, though, so it doesn't appear to be a serious injury and he should be considered day-to-day.
Kevin Newman is starting at the 6 on Tuesday and will hit eighth against Cardinals left-hander
Steven Matz. Although Newman has hit .583 with a 1.416 OPS and five RBI in 12 career at-bats against Matz, he'll still be a low-upside DFS sleeper on Tuesday. Alexander has looked great in his first 18 major-league games in 2024, going 17-for-53 (.321) with three home runs, 13 RBI and a steal in his first 58 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
26 mins agoArizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. This appears to be a routine rest day for the young slugger against left-hander
Steven Matz. The 23-year-old is off to a slow start to the season, but fantasy managers shouldn't lose hope. Possibly a rest day will help Carroll get back on track.
Randal Grichuk,
Jake McCarthy, and
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will cover the outfield during Tuesday's game.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
31 mins agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Merrill Kelly (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. The right-hander is dealing with a shoulder strain, but reportedly won't need surgery, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The D-Backs have not given a timetable on Kelly's possible return to the mound. It sounds like the organization plans to have Kelly undergo further testing before they decide on what to do. Southpaw
Tommy Henry has been recalled from the minors and figures to slide into the open spot in the starting rotation.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jesse Friedman
36 mins agoThe Texas Rangers have signed starting pitcher
Johnny Cueto to a minor-league contract on Tuesday. The 38-year-old lands a deal with the defending World Series champions after a rough year with the Miami Marlins. Cueto posted a 6.02 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 39/15 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings with the Marlins last season. It's uncertain what Cueto still has left in the tank, but he'll at least be additional depth for the organization. Cueto has plenty of experience but is unlikely to offer any kind of fantasy value.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
43 mins agoWashington Nationals catcher
Keibert Ruiz (illness) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday. Ruiz landed on the injured list last week with influenza. Barring any setbacks, Ruiz should be ready to return to the Nats lineup at some point later this week. Until then,
Riley Adams and
Drew Millas figure to split up the playing time behind the plate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Golden
47 mins agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Taijuan Walker (shoulder) is set to make his season debut against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The 31-year-old appears to be ready to pitch after missing time due to right shoulder soreness. Walker isn't an excellent fantasy option, but he could be worth a look in deeper mixed leagues. He has shown in the past that he has the skills to be a viable option in the big leagues. Fantasy managers who are in need of pitching help should keep an eye on Walker.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Todd Zolecki
51 mins agoNew York Yankees infielder
DJ LeMahieu (foot) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday. It sounds like the plan is for LeMahieu to play four games in the minors before possibly returning to the Yankees roster. The veteran slugger has been sidelined all season due to a fractured foot. The Yankees could certainly use LeMahieu's help given their current struggles at the plate. Fantasy managers should wait patiently as it sounds like LeMahieu should be back soon.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
57 mins agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (knee) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. The right-handed slugger will miss his second game in a row due to knee soreness. That means,
Ryan O'Hearn will cover first base and bat third on Tuesday. It doesn't sound like this issue will force Mountcastle to miss significant time. For now, fantasy managers should consider him as day-to-day.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
1 hour agoBaltimore Orioles rookie outfielder
Heston Kjerstad will make his MLB debut against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. The rookie outfielder is in right field and batting eighth during his O's debut. It's nice to see the O's giving Kjerstad a legitimate look after he tore the cover off the ball in Triple-A. Kjerstad hit 10 home runs with 30 RBI in 21 games before his promotion. He should be a strong fantasy contributor as long as he gets regular at-bats in Baltimore.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
2 hours agoThe Chicago Cubs designated outfielder
Garrett Cooper for assignment on Tuesday, according to a source. Cooper wasn't exactly slumping at the plate, but the Cubs think he's expendable in order to bring up first base prospect
Matt Mervis as another right-handed bat. The 33-year-old Cooper was hitting .270/.341/.432 with a home run, double, triple, six RBI and three runs scored in 41 trips to the plate and 12 games for the Cubs before getting DFA'd. He had walked four times and struck out 13 times. For now, Mervis is likely to see most of his time as the team's designated hitter, at least until outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) is able to return from the injured list. Mervis is worth a pickup in NL-only leagues for now.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
2 hours agoChicago Cubs first base prospect
Matt Mervis was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and is serving as the designated hitter and batting eighth in his season debut for the Cubs against the Houston Astros and right-hander
J.P. France. The Cubs' No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, could see regular playing time at DH in Chicago, at least until outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (oblique) returns from the injured list. The 26-year-old Mervis was taken in the 39th round by the Washington Nationals in 2016. He hit .167 (15-for-90) with three home runs and 11 RBI in his first 27 major-league games in 2023 and had gone 19-for-66 (.288) with five homers and 13 RBI in 18 games for Iowa this year before his call-up. Mervis is hitless in his two career at-bats against France.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ (hamstring) is back in left field and is hitting second for the Cubs on Tuesday against the visiting Houston Astros and right-hander
J.P. France. Happ tweaked his hamstring last Friday and sat out Saturday and Sunday. But after the team's scheduled off day on Monday, the 29-year-old switch-hitter is ready to return to Chicago's starting lineup. Happ will be looking to bust out of a recent slump that has seen him record just four hits in his last 35 at-bats now that he's healthy again. Overall this year, he's hitting .240/.352/.360 with a home run, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored in his first 75 at-bats. In his two career at-bats against France, Happ has two hits and an RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
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