12 mins agoCleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez went 3-for-5 with three homers in his initial three at-bats and five RBI during a 10-3 rout of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. The 30-year-old had gone 15 games without going deep, but he took care of that dry spell in a copious fashion in this one. Ramirez also launched his 200th career long ball with his second round-tripper of the contest. The four-time Silver Slugger is hitting .267 with an .807 OPS to go with nine taters, 36 RBI, and three stolen bases this season. Ramirez aims to improve his .474 SLG, which is excellent for some, but his lowest since 2016.--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 hours agoNew York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo went 1-for-5 with his first career grand slam and an additional run scored in Thursday's 13-10 shootout loss to the Atlanta Braves. The 30-year-old's bomb was just the fourth hit over his last 28 at-bats. Nimmo has shaped up as a fairly low-end fantasy option in leagues which don't count walks. The speedy centerfielder hasn't tried to steal a base since getting caught doing so back on May 4. Nimmo remains a very good source of runs and average as New York's everyday leadoff hitter. The on-base machine is slashing .283/.373/.422 with 36 runs scored, five dingers, and 25 RBI this season. It's worth noting that Nimmo also owns a career-high 48.6% hard-hit rate in 2023.--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 hours agoNew York Mets right-handed pitcher David Robertson took a blown save Thursday in a 13-10 loss against the Atlanta Braves. This was a tough one for the Mets as a whole, as they blew a three-run lead for the third straight game against their division rivals. Robertson had his share of the blame, as allowed a game-tying homer to Orlando Arcia with one out in the ninth. He was otherwise solid, as he struck out three in his 1 ⅔ innings of work. The 38-year-old is now 10-for-12 in save opportunities. Although he has been a little shaky of late, Robertson should continue to see most of the Mets save chances.--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 hours agoDetroit Tigers reliever Alex Lange was crushed on Thursday, blowing the save and taking the loss in a 3-2 defeat against the Philadelphia Phillies. Lange allowed three hits and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. Unfortunately for the righty, this marked the second straight outing where he got blown up, as he allowed four runs and took the loss against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Over his last two appearances, his ERA has shot up from 1.11 to 3.20. He should still be the favorite for saves in Detroit, but his grasp on the role has loosened slightly.--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 hours agoNew York Yankees reliever Clay Holmes threw a scoreless ninth to pick up the save and secure a 3-0 win over the Chicago White Sox in the second half of their double-header. Holmes walked a batter and didn't pick up a strikeout in his inning of work. He now has a solid 2.73 ERA and 1.29 WHIP to go along with 32 strikeouts in 26 ⅓ IP. It appears to be a closer-by-committee scenario in New York, with Holmes likely the leader of the pack. Because he is the favorite, he should still be rostered in most leagues, but don't expect huge save numbers from any Yankee.--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw tossed seven scoreless innings as part of the team's 6-0 shutout win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. The 35-year-old picked up his NL-best eighth win and tallied his third scoreless start of at least seven innings and nine strikeouts of the year, which leads MLB. The ageless Kershaw had a wonderful 1.89 ERA in April, but the southpaw had stumbled a bit to a 5.55 ERA over five May starts. Fantasy managers hope that Kershaw is building up a more effective June, as he's only yielded two runs over 14 frames so far this month. The highly-decorated veteran tentatively toes the rubber next versus the disappointing Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 hours agoChicago White Sox reliever Kendall Graveman picked up his sixth save of the season on Thursday in a 6-5 win over the New York Yankees. In the first half of their double-header, the White Sox chose to go with Graveman in the ninth over Liam Hendriks. It is an interesting decision given that Hendriks got the last save and should have been available, but Graveman has pitched well this year and is now 6-for-6 in save chances. Fantasy managers who need saves should keep tabs on the back end of the White Sox bullpen, as Graveman could be a decent option if he continues getting save opportunities.--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 hours agoBaltimore Orioles reliever Felix Bautista shut down the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth to close out a 6-3 win. Bautista allowed just a one-out single and struck out a pair. He has been magnificent this season, pitching to a 1.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 62:17 K:BB ratio over 30 IP. The 27-year-old is now 16-for-20 in save opportunities, putting him third in the MLB. Although Yennier Cano is having himself a terrific season, Bautista is locked into the closer role with how he's pitching and is one of the best bullpen options in fantasy.--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 hours agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider logged season-worsts in innings (four) and runs allowed (eight) against the New York Mets on Thursday. Atlanta ultimately won a 13-10 slugfest to get the 24-year-old off the hook with a no-decision. It all went downhill after a clean first inning for Strider, who gave up four singles and a grand slam as part of a five-run second frame. The right-hander was unable to find a groove, allowing another run in the third and two more in the fourth before his rough night ended. Strider had a fabulous 1.80 ERA through April, but the flame-thrower has a far less impressive 5.15 ERA over his last eight showings. MLB's strikeouts leader has a prime opportunity to bounce back on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers.--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

2 hours agoToronto Blue Jays reliever Jordan Romano threw a perfect ninth inning to secure a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros. Romano struck out one and didn't allow a baserunner. The flamethrower now has a 2.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts in 26 IP. He is also 17-for-20 in save opportunities and has notched five saves in June alone. Those 17 saves are second in the MLB, behind only Emmanuel Clase. As the clear closer on a solid Toronto team, Romano is one of the elite fantasy options from the back end.--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

4 hours agoUpdating a previous report, Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez (leg) is being considered day-to-day with a lower left-leg issue after he was forced to exit the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the New York Yankees early. Jimenez pulled up lame after running to first base in the ninth inning, but the early indication is that he avoided a serious injury. Still, there's a pretty good chance Jimenez won't be available to fantasy managers for the start of a weekend series against the visiting Miami Marlins on Friday. The 26-year-old went 1-for-4 with a go-ahead home run, two RBI, a run scored, a walk and two strikeouts before leaving the contest in the ninth inning. Jimenez isn't going to contribute stolen bases but there's plenty of upside elsewhere when he's healthy.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin

5 hours agoThe Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent right-hander Drew Hutchison to a minor-league deal on Thursday, and he will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Before Hutchison was released by the Toronto Blue Jays last week, he posted a 5.66 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 29 walks and 31 strikeouts in nine starts (35 innings) for Triple-A Buffalo. The 32-year-old veteran spent part of the 2018 season with the Phillies, but he hasn't seen major-league action since 2022 with the Detroit Tigers, when he went 3-9 with a 4.53 ERA (4.93 FIP), 1.48 WHIP, 42 walks and 68 K's in 28 appearances (18 starts) over 105 1/3 frames. Hutchison will strictly serve as organizational depth. He has a 4.89 career ERA (4.53 FIP), 1.42 WHIP and 19.2% strikeout rate in 587 innings over 135 outings (99 starts) in seven big-league seasons.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb

5 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall (wrist) will be activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday before the start of a weekend series against the division-rival New York Yankees in the Bronx. Duvall has been out since fracturing his wrist on April 10 and will have an everyday role in Boston's outfield. The 34-year-old power-hitting right-hander played in seven minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Worcester and went 5-for-24 (.208) with a double, two home runs and three RBI. Fantasy managers can only hope Duvall can be anywhere near as good as he was in the eight games before he fractured his wrist, as he had gone 15-for-33 (.455) with five doubles, a triple, four home runs and 14 RBI. He's rostered in 67% of Yahoo leagues currently, but that number should be higher.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Pete Abraham

5 hours agoMinnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that second baseman Jorge Polanco (hamstring) is being considered day-to-day after leaving Thursday's game early against the Tampa Bay Rays with a left hamstring injury. "He's still, I think, pretty strong in the muscle, but he definitely felt something. We're going to have to pay attention to it," Baldelli said. It's good news, especially since Polanco recently returned from an injured-list stint for an injury to the same hamstring. The 29-year-old should be able to avoid another trip to the IL, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to play on Friday in the first game of a weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Polanco has played in only 30 games this year because of injury and is hitting .250 (30-for-120) with nine doubles, five home runs and 16 RBI in 126 plate appearances.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Do-Hyoung Park

5 hours agoChicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez (undisclosed) was moving slowly after hitting a ground ball to shortstop on Thursday against the New York Yankees in the second game of a doubleheader that seemed like a surefire double play. Jimenez was grimacing after making it to first base and then was pulled from the game for a pinch-runner with what appeared to be some sort of leg injury. The White Sox should provide an update on Jimenez soon, but this could be something that sends the oft-injured outfielder to the injured list. The good news is he went 1-for-4 with his sixth home run of the year, two RBI, a run scored, a walk and two strikeouts in the game before departing. For now, consider the 26-year-old as day-to-day. Jimenez entered the day hitting .258 (33-for-128) with six doubles, five homers and 22 RBI in 33 games played.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CHGO Sports - Vinnie Duber