14 mins agoChicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said there was no recovery related reason for outfielder
Eloy Jimenez not starting on Monday against the Kansas City Royals after he was activated from the injured list. Grifol said they are getting their cleanup hitter back but are also easing him back in after his groin injury. The 27-year-old could play some outfield again now that he's back, but
Gavin Sheets will probably play the outfielder sooner. Jimenez had yet to play the outfield before his injury and started only 14 times in the outfield a year ago. It would be nice if Jimenez played enough outfield in 2024 to gain eligibility there for fantasy managers, but that's no guarantee. As long as
Luis Robert Jr. (hip) remains sidelined, both Jimenez and Sheets should be lineup regulars for the Pale Hose.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - James Fegan
19 mins agoToronto Blue Jays catcher
Danny Jansen (wrist), who was activated from the injured list on Monday, is expected to make his 2024 debut on Tuesday against the New York Yankees and left-hander
Carlos Rodon. Jansen suffered a fractured right wrist when he was hit by a pitch in a spring training game on March 13. He'll wear special padding to protect his hands because he's been prone to hand injuries due to the way he swings. The return of Jansen will mean fewer rest days for catcher
Alejandro Kirk moving forward. Jansen hit .228 last year but with 17 home runs and 53 RBI for the Blue Jays. If he can stay healthy the rest of the way, he can provide some nice pop at the catcher position for fantasy managers. Jansen has never faced Rodon in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
23 mins agoAtlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies (toe) had an extremely sore toe after being hit by a pitch in the second inning in Monday's game against the Houston Astros, and the Braves will wait and see how he feels on Tuesday morning before determining if he'll play. Albies played the rest of Monday's game but was limping afterward and had his foot checked out. The 27-year-old appears to be day-to-day for now, so fantasy managers will want to check back closer to game time on Tuesday to see if Albies is in the starting lineup. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI, walk and two strikeouts in Monday's 6-1 win over Houston and is hitting a strong .317 (20-for-63) with two home runs, 14 RBI and two stolen bases in his first 70 plate appearances of 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
28 mins agoArizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher
Kevin Ginkel blew his second save of the season in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs. Ginkel entered the ninth inning with a one-run lead but allowed an earned run on two hits while walking none and striking out one. The tying run ended up scoring on a wild pitch all the way from second base to tie the game and eventually send it to extra frames. The 30-year-old was coming off three straight successful saves, so this hiccup probably won't hurt him too much as he fills in for
Paul Sewald (oblique) in the short term in the closer's role. In his eight appearances out of the 'pen for Arizona so far this year, Ginkel has allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out 10.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
33 mins agoMiami Marlins right-hander
Edward Cabrera really dazzled in his first start of 2024 on Monday against the San Francisco Giants, giving up just one run on five hits while walking one and striking out 10 in six innings to pick up a quality start and no-decision. The 26-year-old began the 2024 campaign on the injured list due to a right-shoulder injury, but he surely didn't look like a pitcher coming off an injury in this one. It was the third time he's had double-digit strikeouts in a game in his young career, and it was nice to see him pounding the strike zone all night. Cabrera went 7-7 with a 4.24 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 66 walks and a career-high 118 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings in 2023 and should be immediately scooped up off the waiver wire in fantasy leagues if he's available after his performance Monday night.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
38 mins agoChicago Cubs first baseman
Michael Busch has been feeling really comfortable so far in his first year with the Cubs and he extended his home run streak to five straight games in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks by going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and two strikeouts. The 26-year-old has now tied the franchise's longest home run streak and has six long balls in the early going, necessitating a pickup off your league's waiver wire if he's somehow still available. Busch's homer binge obviously won't last, but he's so far been a fantastic late-round value pick by fantasy managers in 2024. After Monday's game, he's hitting .327 (17-for-52) with six homers, 12 RBI and nine runs scored in his first 16 games with the Cubbies.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
42 mins agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Adolis Garcia is getting the day off on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers in a day game following a night game. With Garcia out, rookie outfielder
Wyatt Langford moves into the cleanup spot, while
Ezequiel Duran is the designated hitter and is batting sixth against Tigers right-hander
Casey Mize.
Evan Carter is sliding over from left field to right field. Garcia has picked up right where he left off last postseason in the first 17 games of 2024, slashing .308/.370/.538 with a .908 OPS, four home runs, 15 RBI and four stolen bases in his first 73 plate appearances. He needs to be in all fantasy lineups on a daily basis when he's active. Langford has held his own so far in his first 60 MLB at-bats, but he's still searching for his first home run.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: RangersToday.com - Jeff Wilson
1 hour agoThe Texas Rangers are promoting pitching prospect
Jack Leiter to the big-league club to debut on Thursday versus the Detroit Tigers. The former first-round pick has had a nice season for Triple-A Round Rock with a 3.77 ERA in three games (two starts). He has been a strikeout artist on the farm with 25 of them in just 14 1/3 innings. It is unknown how long Leiter is expected to remain with the club, but he is worth looking into as a streamer against a Tigers offense that is the least bit intimidating. Leiter is worth a speculative add in most formats.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB Pipeline
1 hour agoChicago Cubs first base prospect
Matt Mervis has been off to a nice start for Triple-A Iowa this season. The first baseman didn't break camp with the club, but has responded with a .333 batting average to go along with four homers and
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1 hour agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitching prospect
Mason Montgomery will look to improve in his fourth start of the season on Tuesday for Triple-A Durham. The left-hander has been off to a rocky start this season with a 10.80 ERA in three starts and has gotten worst in each outing. The lefty is the Rays top pitching prospect and has quickly risen through the system. Walks have been an issue for him in the past, but this year he has just three in 10 innings with 10 strikeouts. Despite being the clubs top pitching prospect, he is just inside their top 10 prospects overall. With his struggles and the Rays set with their rotation at the moment, Montgomery can remain on the waiver wire in all formats.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
2 hours agoWashington Nationals starting pitcher prospect
Mitchell Parker picked up the victory in his big-league debut versus the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday evening. Parker, 24, got the daunting task of facing one of the toughest lineups in the league, but held his own. Over five innings, Parker allowed four hits, two runs, zero walks and struck out four. Strikeouts have been a big part of his game throughout his minor league career and he could be an asset to managers if that translates to the big leagues. Moving forward, Parker is in line to face another tough offense in the Houston Astros this weekend. Parker should be avoided in that matchup, but as the case with many prospects, they are always worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoChicago White Sox pitching prospect
Nick Nastrini performed well in his big-league debut versus the Kansas City Royals on Monday. Nastrini suffered the loss, but didn't look overmatched in his first outing. The right-hander went five innings and allowed three hits, two runs, two walks and five strikeouts. Nastrini should be expected to remain in the rotation with the White Sox season going nowhere and it being wise to develop young talent, but nothing is guaranteed. Moving forward, Nastrini now is nothing more than a streamer in favorable matchups, but he has the upside to help in deeper leagues, if he continues to improve. The right-hander is in line to face a tough Philadelphia Phillies lineup this weekend and should be avoided.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up outfield prospect
Andy Pages. Pages, 23, receives the promotion after hitting a ridiculous .371 with five home runs, 15 RBI and two stolen bases in 62 at-bats for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Cuban product has recovered in a strong way from a torn labrum that shortened his 2023 campaign and will to carry his successes to the next level. Pages has always shown plenty of power in his bat and has good plate discipline. Playing time will be a factor in his ability to help fantasy managers, but veterans
Chris Taylor and
Enrique Hernandez haven't done much to earn everyday starts so far. Managers in dynasty leagues should already have Pages rostered and he is worth a speculative add in redraft leagues with managers keeping an eye on his playing time.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Francys Romero
2 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Ben Brown earned his first quality start of his career in a no-decision on Monday versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. Brown went six innings and allowed one hit, one run, two walks and struck out four on the evening. The rookie has been very impressive since filling in for the injured
Justin Steele (hamstring). Steele is still a few weeks away from returning, but fellow starter
Jameson Taillon (back) is returning this week and the question around the Cubs has been who will he be replacing. Brown has earned another turn in the rotation, but managers will want to wait and see how Taillon's return effects the rotation. If Brown were to remain in the rotation, he would face a weak Miami Marlins lineup this weekend and would be worthy of rostering in deeper leagues.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 hours agoJon Heyman of the MLB Network is reporting that infielder
Tony Kemp has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins. The veteran spent Opening Day with the Baltimore Orioles, but was recently let go in favor of top prospect
Jackson Holliday. In his brief time with the Orioles, Kemp was hitless in nine at-bats. The veteran should provide solid depth for a Twins team that has lost infielders
Royce Lewis (quadriceps) and
Carlos Correa (side) to injuries early on in the season, but can be avoided in fantasy leagues.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Jon Heyman
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