8 mins agoBaltimore Orioles infielder
Jackson Holliday is once again taking a seat against a left-handed starter on Wednesday as the team takes on the Los Angeles Angels and southpaw
Tyler Anderson. Holliday has yet to start against same-handed pitching as the rookie gets his feet wet in the big leagues at just 20 years of age. It's been a very slow start out of the gate for the top prospect in baseball as Holliday is hitting just .059 (2-for-34) and is without an extra-base hit across his first 36 big-league plate appearances. Fantasy managers shouldn't hit the panic button yet as any investment in the 2022 first-overall pick should have been for the long haul, although it's not difficult to see the O's send him down to the minors for more seasoning if his immense struggles in the big leagues continue.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
14 mins agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder
Jung Hoo Lee is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday afternoon with New York Mets left-hander
Sean Manaea toeing the rubber. The lefty-swinging outfielder has been getting regular playing time out of the leadoff spot for the club this season but will take a seat as the Giants stack right-handed bats against Manaea. It's been a solid start to the 25-year-old's big-league career as Lee is hitting .272 with two homers, two steals, and a tiny 8.7% K% across his first 103 trips to the plate. Lee had a history of elite strikeout and contact rates through a wildly successful seven-year run in the KBO.
Austin Slater will handle leadoff duties as he often does against left-handed pitching. First baseman
LaMonte Wade Jr. is also out on Wednesday against the lefty.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
27 mins agoMilwaukee Brewers infield prospect
Gregory Barrios signed out of Venezuela in early 2021. He has proven himself as a reliable hitter and defender, possessing the qualities needed to ascend through the minors. He's not a power hitter -- he has just one home run over 198 pro games -- but shows a decent understanding of the strike zone, puts the ball in play, runs the bases well, and demonstrates the glovework needed to carve out a significant career at shortstop. Last week, Barrios logged multiple hits in all five of his games. He ultimately went 13-for-18 during his big week, adding six extra-base hits, seven RBI, two walks, one strikeout, and one stolen base. The 20-year-old will need to spend a little more time at High-A before he's ready for a promotion, but Barrios is certainly a name to monitor.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
40 mins agoTexas Rangers pitching prospect
Winston Santos is a 22-year-old who signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019. He gets good velocity behind his mid-90s fastball and has also shown the ability to harness his changeup for strikes and induce weak contact. However, he needs to focus on significant development for his slider. The offering is not an established pitch, and he would benefit greatly from rounding out his repertoire with a reliable third offering that generates movement. Last week, Santos made his third start of the season and showcased pure excellence. He tossed five shutout innings, allowing one hit and a pair of walks along the way. However, what stood out most were his 12 strikeouts, a clear reflection of his ability to get control of his top offerings and miss bats. If he can continue to pitch at a high level, he'll be knocking on the door of the majors early next year.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
42 mins agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect
Nathan Church was an 11th-round pick in the 2022 draft. The UC Irvine product has terrific bat-to-ball skills and should continue to showcase both contact and power throughout all levels of the minor leagues. He's also swiped some bags. However, he does have some limitations defensively and could be bound to left field long-term. Nevertheless, Church continued to make a name for himself last week, going 9-for-25 with two homers, eight RBI, six walks, and a stolen base. As he has done for his entire career, Church showed terrific plate discipline, adding just two strikeouts to his ledger over last week's six-game span.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
52 mins agoHouston Astros pitching prospect
Aaron Brown is a former ninth-round pick who joined the organization during the 2021 draft. He spent all of last season at Double-A and has consistently shuttled between a bullpen and rotation role. He boasts high strikeout rates and has managed to keep his walk rate down for the most part. Brown made his first start of 2024 last Thursday. He tossed five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and zero walks. Best of all, he managed to record 10 strikeouts along the way, good for a rate of two per inning. Brown's high strikeout rate could make him an appealing multi-inning bullpen arm for Houston next season.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
54 mins agoBoston Red Sox outfield prospect
Matthew Lugo endured a subpar 2023 campaign at the Double-A level, showing a tendency to commit errors on the left side of the infield, as well as a below-average hit tool. The organization has experimented with his positional versatility and seems to have found a better home for him in left field, where he made a Gold Glove-caliber catch last week. Meanwhile, his bat has played very well so far this year as he has demonstrated an ability to put the ball in play, work walks, and even deliver a hint of power. Over five games last week, Lugo went 8-for-21 with two home runs, 11 RBI, five walks, and five strikeouts. He currently owns a seven-game hitting streak and could be pushing for his first-ever promotion to Triple-A sooner rather than later.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: FanGraphs
1 hour agoThe San Francisco Giants placed left-hander
Blake Snell (groin) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday (retroactive to April 23) with a left-adductor strain and recalled right-hander
Landen Roupp from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Snell was scratched from his next start on Wednesday against the New York Mets and will now miss at least the next two weeks. The 31-year-old reigning National League Cy Young winner hasn't had a good year so far in 2024 after signing with the Giants just before the start of the regular season. In his three starts so far, he's 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, five walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. Fantasy managers need to keep Snell stashed in an IL start everywhere, but expecting him to bounce back to his Cy Young form from a year ago after he returns may be foolish.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Giants
1 hour agoWashington Nationals outfield prospect
Dylan Crews (undisclosed) hasn't played for Double-A Harrisburg since last Wednesday but is fine, according to sources. Crews had a minor undisclosed issue that kept him out a few days last week but was held out of the lineup on Tuesday night as a precaution because of rainy weather. The 22-year-old is most likely dealing with a minor lower-body injury. He should be able to return to action on Wednesday. We'll keep a close eye on whether it affects his upcoming performance. So far through 10 games at Harrisburg, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, is hitting .244/.326/.415 with two home runs and two stolen bases. Crews should be stashed in all dynasty/keeper leagues and even some deeper single-year leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
1 hour agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Lane Thomas (knee), who is undergoing an MRI exam on his left knee on Wednesday, is considered very likely to land on the injured list, according to sources. As a result, rookie infielder
Trey Lipscombread more...
2 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander
Ryne Nelson (elbow) will throw a bullpen session at Salt River Fields on Wednesday, and it sounds like it could be close to the minimum 15 days on the injured list for him. Nelson was hit by a comebacker on his elbow and was put on the 15-day injured list last week, but he appears to be making good progress and could be ready to return when he's eligible on May 4. The 26-year-old former second-round pick in 2019 out of Oregon should have a starting rotation spot waiting for him in Arizona when he's ready. In his first four starts this year in his third major-league season, Nelson has gone 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with five walks and 13 strikeouts covering 15 2/3 frames.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
2 hours agoArizona Cardinals closer
Paul Sewald (oblique) is back in Arizona working with the medical team to determine whether he will need another minor-league rehab assignment or if he's ready to rejoin the D-backs. Manager Torey Lovullo said Sewald is "getting extremely close" to returning from the 15-day injured list. The 33-year-old made his first rehab appearance on Tuesday with Triple-A Reno and gave up an unearned run on two hits while walking one and striking out two, and that may be all he needs before returning to Arizona's bullpen. He has yet to pitch in the big leagues in 2024 due to a strained left oblique, but when he's back, he will operate as the team's full-time closer. Make sure he's not available for some reason on the waiver wire in your fantasy league.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
2 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Alec Burleson is out of the lineup on Wednesday with the team facing left-hander
Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Cardinals. It's no surprise, as Burleson will continue to ride the pine when the Cardinals face a southpaw. With the 25-year-old out and
Jordan Walker being optioned to Triple-A Memphis,
Brendan Donovan is in left field and hitting leadoff, while rookie
Michael Siani gets the nod in center field and will bat ninth. With Walker in the minors for a bit, Burleson's fantasy stock in deeper leagues is going up, as he should play more regularly against right-handers now. The former second-round pick in 2020 out of East Carolina is still searching for his first home run in 2024 while batting .255 (13-for-51) with two RBI and two runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Willson Contreras (hand) is back in the team's lineup on Wednesday, serving as the designated hitter and batting second against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander
Jordan Montgomery.
Ivan Herrera is doing the catching and is hitting fifth. Left-hand soreness caused the Cardinals to lift Contreras from Tuesday's game early, but manager Oliver Marmol said the decision to pull Contreras had more to do with the lopsided score. Still, the 31-year-old veteran's hand issue is something to keep an eye on. It hasn't affected him at the plate so far, as he's currently hitting .292 (19-for-65) with three home runs and eight RBI in 19 games. He's gone hitless in eight career at-bats against Montgomery, but fantasy managers in single-year leagues need to get him back into their lineups.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Jordan Walker has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. The former 21st overall pick in 2020 will head to the farm after opening the 2024 campaign with a weak .155/.239/.259 slash line with no home runs, four RBI, six walks and 18 strikeouts in 67 plate appearances over 20 games for the Red Birds. The 21-year-old will surely be back in St. Louis at some point, but he's going to need to work on some things in the minors first.
Brendan Donovan is in left field and hitting leadoff on Wednesday, while rookie
Michael Siani is in center field and batting ninth against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander
Jordan Montgomery. With Walker now in the minors,
Alec Burleson and
Ivan Herrera could see some more playing time in the outfield moving forward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
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