1 hour agoColorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (back) is out of the team's starting lineup on Wednesday against the visiting San Diego Padres after he was pulled from Tuesday's victory with back stiffness. With Jones resting on the bench, Jake Cave is getting the start in left field for the Rockies and will hit eighth against Padres right-hander Matt Waldron. Jones should be considered day-to-day for now, but with a day game on Thursday before a scheduled day off on Friday, don't expect the 25-year-old to return in the series against the Friars. After hitting an impressive .297 (109-for-367) with 20 homers, 62 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 106 games in 2023, Jones has really disappointed early in 2024 with a .148 average (13-for-88), just one home run, seven RBI and two steals in his first 24 games. He could use a couple days off.Source: MLB.com
1 hour agoMiami Marlins right-hander Sixto Sanchez will get the start for the series finale against the division-rival Atlanta Braves on Thursday. The last time Sanchez started in a big-league game was in Game 3 of the 2020 National League Division Series against the Braves. The 25-year-old Dominican hurler has made his return to the majors in 2024 after dealing with multiple shoulder injuries and is currently 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA (5.75 FIP) and 1.50 WHIP with three walks and three strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings pitched, all in relief for the Fish. It's a cool comeback story for Sanchez, but fantasy managers looking for a streaming option on Thursday should avoid him, as he's unlikely to go more than two or three innings as the team's opener against a very tough opponent.Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
1 hour agoThe Colorado Rockies announced on Wednesday that they recalled utility man Hunter Goodman from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned infielder/outfielder Michael Toglia to Albuquerque in a corresponding move. Goodman, the club's No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, gets called up to the majors after hitting .298 with seven home runs and 10 doubles in the first 20 games at Triple-A this year. The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Memphis made his big-league debut in 2023 and went 14-for-70 (.200) with a homer, 17 RBI, five walks and 24 strikeouts in his first 23 games played in the Show. For now, he's merely a waiver-wire option for fantasy managers in deep leagues for his power upside at Coors Field. He figures to see some playing time in right field and first base, but he's not start in Wednesday against the visiting San Diego Padres.Source: Rockies Club Information
1 hour agoWashington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that the plan for now is to play Joey Gallo in right field after the team placed outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a Grade 2 MLB sprain in his left knee. Rookie infielder Trey Lipscomb, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester, will play multiple positions but probably a decent amount of first base. Gallo is making his first start in the outfield on Wednesday and is hitting fifth against Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed rookie Landon Knack. The 30-year-old left-handed batter has plenty of power offensively, but he swings and misses often and is hitting just .143 (9-for-63) on the year with three home runs, five RBI and 34 strikeouts in 79 plate appearances over 20 games.Source: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
2 hours agoWashington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) is dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee after getting hurt in Tuesday night's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. "It could've been a lot worse," Martinez said. Thomas was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and is likely to miss more than the required 10 games, but fantasy managers should keep him stashed in an IL spot for the time being after he had 28 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a breakout season in 2023. Martinez said the plan for now is to play Joey Gallo in right field, with infield prospect Trey Lipscomb playing multiple positions but probably a decent amount at first base. Thomas is hitting just .184 (16-for-87) in the first month of the season, but he's helped his fantasy managers with 11 stolen bases, which ranks third in MLB.Source: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
2 hours agoOutfield prospect Addison Barger is joining the Toronto Blue Jays in Kansas City on Wednesday and is expected to be active, according to a source. Barger offers left-handed power and the ability to play the corner-outfield spots as well as third base. It's notable after outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (hip) left Tuesday night's game with hip-flexor discomfort. The team's No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was hitting .314 (22-for-70) with three home runs, 21 RBI and 17 runs scored in 19 games for Triple-A Buffalo before getting his first big-league call-up. The 24-year-old former sixth-round pick in 2018 could see decent playing time in the short term in Toronto's outfield if Kiermaier hits the injured list, making him worth a pickup in deeper fantasy leagues for his 30-homer potential from the left side.Source: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith
2 hours agoCleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (elbow) felt the same right-elbow discomfort after his latest start in Arizona as he did this spring. He will receive an injection and will be shut down for seven days as a result. The Guardians are hoping Williams can then resume throwing and won't be set back too far. It's obviously bad news, and there remains no timetable for a potential return for the 24-year-old. Williams started last year at Double-A Akron before making it all the way to Cleveland's starting rotation in his rookie campaign, where he impressed by going 3-5 with a 3.29 ERA (4.05 FIP) and 1.26 WHIP with 37 walks and 81 strikeouts in 82 innings over 16 starts. It's becoming more of an uphill battle for Williams to return to the Guardians in the first half of 2024.Source: MLB.com - Mandy Bell
2 hours agoAs long as New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (back) comes out of his final minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday without a setback, the team expects him to be their starting DH on Friday night against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. Martinez signed with the Mets late in spring training but didn't join the big-league club for Opening Day because he needed to get his timing down first. A back issue has delayed his arrival to the big leagues in New York, but it sounds like his 2024 debut is right around the corner on Friday. Injuries are probably going to continue to be an issue, but if Martinez is available in your fantasy league, he's worth a pickup if you're in need of a power boost. The 36-year-old six-time All-Star hit .271/.321/.572 with an .893 OPS, 33 home runs and 103 RBI in 113 games with the Dodgers in 2023.Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
2 hours agoThe Washington Nationals officially placed outfielder Lane Thomas (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left-MCL sprain and recalled infielder Trey Lipscomb from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move, according to president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo. The 28-year-old Thomas hit just .184 with two home runs, 10 RBI, eight walks, 11 stolen bases and six runs scored in 22 games before injuring his knee on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. While he hasn't hit well in the early going, he ranks third in the league with his 11 thefts. If the Nats move Nick Senzel to the outfield, Lipscomb should see regular starts again at the hot corner in D.C. Thomas is probably going to miss more than 10 days, but he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues after clubbing 28 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 2023.Source: Nationals Communications
2 hours agoSan Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin classified left-hander Blake Snell's groin strain as moderate, and he could stay on the injured list beyond the 15 days, but that's to be determined right now. Snell felt the groin strain while throwing a bullpen session the other day and shut himself down briefly, but he didn't feel good when he tried throwing again. He was scheduled to make his next start on Wednesday against the New York Mets. In a bullpen game against the Mets on Wednesday, Ryan Walker will serve as the opener. The 31-year-old Snell is not only hurt now but is 0-3 with a rough 11.57 ERA and 1.97 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings in his first three starts with the Gigantes. Fantasy managers must stash the two-time Cy Young winner in an IL spot in all leagues and hope that he'll be better when he returns to full health.Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
2 hours agoThe Chicago Cubs called up outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday with outfielder Cody Bellinger (rib) landing on the 10-day injured list due to a rib fracture, according to manager Craig Counsell. Crow-Armstrong is the team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and deserves immediate waiver-wire consideration in mixed fantasy leagues, as he could take over primary center-field duties in Chicago until Bellinger is able to return. The 22-year-old former 19th overall pick in 2020 by the New York Mets was hitting just .203 (16-for-79) with two home runs, seven RBI and five stolen bases at Iowa before the call-up. He's more advanced defensively at this point than offensively, but his speed alone could make him valuable in the short-term.Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
3 hours agoChicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (rib) has been placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday due to a right-rib fracture that he suffered on Tuesday when he crashed into the outfield wall at Wrigley Field, according to manager Craig Counsell. Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is being called up from the minors in a corresponding move. Initial X-rays turned up negative on Bellinger, but a CT scan found the fracture, which will cause the 28-year-old to miss at least several weeks. In the meantime, Bellinger should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. He's currently hitting .226 (19-for-84) with five home runs and 17 RBI in the first 22 games. Crow-Armstrong could see regular playing time as Chicago's center fielder until Bellinger is able to return, making him an attractive short-term waiver-wire pickup in single-year leagues.Source: Watch Marquee - Andy Martinez
3 hours agoLos Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said that infielder Brandon Drury (hamstring), who is out of the lineup for the third straight game on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles, has been feeling soreness from a left-hamstring injury he suffered last week. Washington added that Drury was left out of Wednesday's lineup as a precaution but could pinch hit, if needed. Luis Rengifo is filling in at the keystone and is hitting eighth against Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer. Fantasy managers should consider the 31-year-old Drury as day-to-day for now, but if his hamstring soreness lingers, he could eventually land on the injured list. Drury has been a non-factor offensively for the Halos so far this year, going 13-for-66 (.197) with one homer and four RBI in 19 games played.Source: Anthony Bautista
3 hours agoBaltimore Orioles rookie outfielder Heston Kjerstad is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against Los Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson. Kjerstad made his 2024 debut for the O's on Tuesday against a right-hander and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, so he'll head to the bench on Wednesday against a lefty that has been pitching well early this year. Colton Cowser is starting in left field and is batting eighth for the Orioles against Anderson. Kjerstad, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, earned the promotion to Baltimore after hitting .349/.431/.744 with a 1.176 OPS, 10 home runs and 30 RBI in the first 21 games for Triple-A Norfolk. The 25-year-old should be rostered in mixed leagues, but don't be surprised if he continues to sit against lefties given Baltimore's stacked roster.Source: MLB.com
3 hours agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (knee) is back at first base and is hitting third in the order for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Tyler Anderson. Mountcastle will return to action after missing the last two games with knee soreness. The 27-year-old former 36th overall pick in 2015 has been swinging the bat well this year with a .333 average (25-for-75) with two home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored in his first two games. Fantasy baseball managers need to make sure to get Mountcastle back into their lineups. He's only faced Anderson twice in his career and is hitless with one RBI. So far against southpaws in 2024, Mountcastle is 8-for-25 (.320) with a homer and three RBI.Source: Baltimore Orioles