2 mins agoCincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (illness) isn't feeling well enough to return to the starting lineup for the series opener on Friday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
Spencer Steer will make another start at first base and hit in the two-hole, with
Santiago Espinal playing third base and batting eighth against Angels left-hander
Tyler Anderson. Along with CEH,
Jeimer Candelario will also miss another game while being under the weather. Both Encarnacion-Strand and Candelario should be considered day-to-day. Check back on Saturday to see if they can return to action for the second game of the series against the Halos. Steer will be an intriguing DFS play against a left-hander on Friday after starting the year hitting .302 (19-for-63) with three home runs, 18 RBI and three stolen bases.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
6 mins agoTop Toronto Blue Jays prospect
Ricky Tiedemann (elbow) underwent an MRI exam on Thursday after he experienced left-elbow discomfort, which led to his placement on the seven-day injured list with Triple-A Buffalo earlier this week. The Blue Jays are still waiting to hear from doctors. The oft-injured 21-year-old left-hander is now shut down in the minors and could be facing an extended absence. Tiedemann threw only 44 innings in the minors last year due to shoulder and biceps issues, so it's pretty concerning that their top prospect is dealing with another arm injury. Depending on how long Tiedemann is out with his latest injury, there's certainly a chance we won't see him make his major-league debut until 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
27 mins agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers (knee) is not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates. The 27-year-old went for an MRI on his knee after leaving Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians with discomfort but the test revealed nothing more than bone bruise. He is not expected to require a stint on the injured list. It's been a sluggish start to the season for the star third baseman who is hitting just .188 but also has two homers and a healthy 15.5% BB% across 58 trips to the plate. Fantasy manager should check back daily to see when Devers is able to return to the lineup.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
31 mins agoThe Oakland A's have activated
Brent Rooker (abdomen) from the injured list and have optioned 22-year-old infielder
Darell Hernaiz to Triple-A Las Vegas. Despite breaking out with 30 home runs in the 2023 season, Rooker was not being used as an everyday outfielder to begin the season. He has hit just .200 on his young season but has still clubbed a pair of home runs across his first eight games of the campaign. Rooker will likely see consistent playing time upon his return but the A's outfield has gotten more crowded with his return and the promotion of the hot-hitting
Esteury Ruiz from Triple-A. The team also has
Seth Brown,
JJ Bleday, and
Lawrence Butler roaming the outfield.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Martin Gallegos
42 mins agoCincinnati Reds corner infielder
Jeimer Candelario remains out of the lineup on Friday versus the visiting Los Angeles Angels due to an illness. The veteran was scratched from Tuesday's lineup before sitting out Wednesday's series finale against the Seattle Mariners.
Santiago Espinal will once again take over duties at the hot corner while hitting eighth against Angels left-hander
Tyler Anderson. The 30-year-old does have a pair of homers on the young season but is also hitting just .190 with a 31.3% K% across his first 64 plate appearances in a Reds uniform. He set career highs with 22 home runs and eight stolen bases across 140 games between the Nationals and Cubs last season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
47 mins agoAtlanta Braves left-hander
Chris Sale will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing when he takes on the visiting Texas Rangers on Friday. The veteran was touched up for five earned runs on six hits, including a homer, while walking three against seven strikeouts across seven innings in a loss to the Marlins his last time out. Despite the tough outing, Sale has been quit good early on in his Braves tenure. While his ERA has risen to 4.58, he also sports a 2.91 xFIP, 3.09 SIERA, and a healthy 21.1% K-BB% through his first three starts with Atlanta. He remains a quality fantasy asset whose injury woes are seemingly behind him.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
52 mins agoTexas Rangers left-hander
Andrew Heaney will be looking to get deeper into Friday's contest against the hosting Atlanta Braves. The veteran went just 3 2/3 innings and threw 79 pitches in that time in his last start at Houston, allowing two earned runs and four walks in that time. Heaney has pitched just 12 innings through his first three starts, maxing out at 4 2/3 frames in his first start of the season against Tampa Bay. The 32-year-old has been roughed up for a 6.75 ERA on the young season and sports a tiny 5.1% K-BB%, as well. Heaney is in danger of losing his rotation spot with
Max Scherzer likely returning in May while the club also recently called up right-hander
Jack Leiter who started Thursday's game against the Tigers.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 hour agoCincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson will hit out of the cleanup spot for the first time this season on Friday against the Angels and left-hander
Tyler Anderson. The backstop has hit all over the lineup this season with his most common spot in the lineup coming out of the nine-hole. It's been a slow start for the 27-year-old at the dish this season following a down season in the 2023 campaign. Stephenson is hitting just .214 with one homer and a .640 OPS across his first 46 plate appearances of the campaign. The Reds enter a three-game set with the Angels sporting a 9-9 record, good for fourth place in the NL Central.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 hours agoChicago Cubs left-hander
Justin Steele (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on Sunday, and the next steps after that could be a minor-league rehab assignment if he can avoid a setback with his hammy on Sunday. The 28-year-old southpaw suffered a left-hamstring strain on Opening Day and was forced to the injured list. However, he appears to be making good progress and could return to the Cubs' starting rotation after a rehab start or two in the minors. The former fifth-rounder in 2014 was a first-time All-Star in 2023 by going 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA (3.02 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 176 strikeouts in 173 1/3 frames over his 30 starts. Steele should be stashed in an IL spot by fantasy managers in all leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Watch Marquee - Tony Andracki
3 hours agoCincinnati Reds right-hander
Ian Gibaut (forearm), who was nearing a return from the 15-day injured list, is dealing with renewed forearm discomfort and has had his timeline to return pushed back. Gibaut will now take a little break before trying to resume a minor-league rehab assignment. The 30-year-old reliever has no timetable to return and could be looking at surgery, which would almost certainly end his 2024 season, if he can't get past the forearm pain. The former 11th-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015 out of Tulane had a nice 3.33 ERA (4.07 FIP), a 1.28 WHIP, a career-high three saves, 28 walks and a career-high 69 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings over 74 relief outings for the Reds in 2023 as a trusted high-leverage reliever out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
3 hours agoChicago Cubs infielder
Patrick Wisdom is making his 2024 debut on Friday against the visiting Miami Marlins and left-hander
A.J. Puk, starting in right field and batting second in the batting order. Wisdom was activated from the injured list on Thursday but had to wait to make his season debut on Friday after Thursday's contest against the Fish was postponed due to inclement weather. The 32-year-old has a prime lineup spot and will be hoping to make an immediate impact now that he's back in the big leagues. Wisdom is more of a DFS play against lefties than an asset in single-year fantasy leagues, as he's most likely only going to start for the Cubs when they face southpaws. In his career, Wisdom has an .813 OPS against lefties. He's never faced Puk in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 hours agoMiami Marlins right-hander
Roddery Munoz will be called up from Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday as the team's 27th man and is expected to start one of the games of the doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs after the contest on Thursday was postponed due to inclement weather. It will be Munoz's major-league debut. The 24-year-old was acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason. He should be ignored as a streamer by fantasy managers in all formats after beginning the 2024 season at Jacksonville by giving up 14 runs (13 earned) on 10 hits (three home runs) while walking 12 and striking out seven in 10 2/3 innings over three appearances (two starts). Munoz will surely be sent back to the farm after his big-league debut on Saturday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Fish On First - Isaac Azout
3 hours agoChicago Cubs first baseman
Michael Busch and catcher
Yan Gomes are not in the starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Miami Marlins and left-hander
A.J. Puk.
Garrett Cooper is playing first base and batting seventh in the lineup, while
Miguel Amaya is doing the catching and batting in the nine-hole against Puk. Busch had a streak of five straight games with a home run come to an end this week and he's hitting a strong .317 (19-for-60) overall with six total long balls, 13 RBI and 10 runs scored to start his first year in Chicago. He's hit just .167 (4-for-24) and has yet to homer against a left-hander in his career, though, so he'll likely occasionally be rested against lefties this year. Cooper has never faced Puk in his career, while Amaya has a hit and RBI in his only career at-bat against the southpaw.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 hours agoChicago Cubs starting pitching prospect
Cade Horton tossed four shutout innings on Tuesday, allowing just one hit and one free pass. The right-hander struck out five. Horton carried his dominance into his second start of the season and holds an overall 1.13 ERA and 0.75 WHIP across eight innings with nine strikeouts. The former seventh overall pick is the top pitching prospect in the Cubs system and should be expected to make his major league debut later this summer. The Cubs have had early season struggles with both their starting pitching and relievers due to injuries and poor performances. Horton could look to fill that void in the stretch run as the Cubs hope to win the NL Central. The 22-year-old is worth stashing in deeper redraft formats and should already be rostered in keeper and dynasty leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
7 hours agoBaltimore Orioles outfield prospect
Jud Fabian went 4-for-4 with a walk on Thursday. The 23-year-old is off to a hot start at Double-A with a .297/.395/.486 slash line with one home run. Fabian has taken significant steps forward, as he hit for a mediocre .176/.314/.399 across 64 games at Double-A last season. Fabian is ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the Baltimore system, per MLB Pipeline, and should be expected to make his major-league debut in 2025. Fabian is worth looking into in dynasty leagues, especially if he continues to play well at Double-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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