9 mins agoBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that infielder/outfielder
Ceddanne Rafaela is the team's everyday shortstop at this point with
Trevor Story (shoulder) out for the rest of the year. Rafaela is making his sixth straight start at the 6 on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians. The move to put the 23-year-old defensive whiz at shortstop full time has allowed outfielder
Wilyer Abreu to become an everyday player for the BoSox as well. Rafaela's full-time move to the 6 will give him dual eligibility in fantasy at both shortstop and the outfield. Rafaela has a lot to improve on offensively, though, as he's hitting just .171 (14-for-82) with a home run, nine RBI, three stolen bases and 11 runs scored in 25 games. He's mostly attractive in deeper leagues for his speed.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Pete Abraham
14 mins agoBoston Red Sox right-hander
Nick Pivetta (elbow) will make at least one minor-league rehab start before returning from the injured list. Pivetta has already missed more than the 15 days required on his injured-list stint and he's going to need at least one start in the minors before fantasy managers will get him back. The 31-year-old is recovering from a right-elbow flexor strain but has resumed throwing off a mound and could make his rehab start soon. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback in that outing, he should join Boston's rotation shortly after that. The Canadian hurler looked fantastic in his first two starts before getting hurt, allowing just one earned run on eight hits while walking one and fanning 13 in 11 innings. The Red Sox and fantasy managers will be looking forward to his return in early May.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
19 mins agoIt's unlikely that Boston Red Sox infielder
Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) will return from the injured list this weekend, but he's getting close. Grissom continues to rehab in the minor leagues at Triple-Worcester and has played in six games to this point, going 4-for-18 (.222) with no homers or RBI and two stolen bases in 22 plate appearances. The 23-year-old has split time between shortstop and second base on his rehab assignment, but he's expected to operate as Boston's primary second baseman once he's ready to make his debut for the Red Sox. If he doesn't suffer any setbacks over the weekend, Grissom could be reinstated to make his 2024 debut next Tuesday at home against the San Francisco Giants. In deep-mixed leagues, he's absolutely worth a pickup if you need middle-infield help.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
23 mins agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers (knee) isn't comfortable playing the field just yet after his knee injury, according to manager Alex. Cora. However, the skipper said that Devers will likely return to the hot corner on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. Devers missed some time recently with a left knee injury, but he's been the team's designated hitter the last few days. Once the 27-year-old heads back to third base, it will allow outfielder
Masataka Yoshida to return to the DH spot for Boston. The left-handed hitter has sat each of the last three games against a right-hander with Devers serving as the DH. Devers has battled a few nagging injuries already in 2024 and is hitting an uncharacteristic .231 (12-for-52) in the early going with three home runs and seven RBI. It's too early to be concerned with Devers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
44 mins agoTexas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager (shin) is serving as the team's designated hitter and will bat second on Thursday against right-hander
Luis Castillo and the visiting Seattle Mariners. Seager was removed as a precaution late in Wednesday's contest against the M's after he was hit by a pitch and suffered a left-shin contusion. The 29-year-old's shin swelled up after the game, but apparently he's feeling good enough on Thursday to serve as the DH against a pitcher that he's hit .300 against in 10 career at-bats. With Seager at DH,
Josh Smith is starting at the 6 and batting sixth for Texas. Fantasy managers will want to get Seager back into all starting lineups. He's started off the 2024 season hitting .256 (22-for-86) with a homer, six RBI and 11 runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
51 mins agoThe Minnesota Twins recalled right-hander
Simeon Woods Richardson from Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday and optioned right-hander
Ronny Henriquez to St. Paul in a corresponding move. Woods Richards, the team's No. 24 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will make his second start of the year and just the third of his career on Thursday in a good matchup against the visiting Chicago White Sox. The Twins sent the struggling
Louie Varland to the minors, so the 23-year-old Woods Richardson could stick around for a while in Minnesota's rotation if he has another strong outing on Thursday. He gave up just one run in six innings against the Detroit Tigers on April 13 in a spot start but was sporting a 6.08 ERA in three starts at St. Paul over 13 1/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minnesota Twins
55 mins agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Byron Buxton is getting a day off in a matinee game on Thursday versus the visiting Chicago White Sox. With Buxton starting on the bench,
Austin Martin is starting in center field and will bat ninth against White Sox right-hander
Michael Soroka. Not only has Buxton remained healthy through the first month of the season, but he's starting to pick it up at the plate of late, hitting .323 with a home run, four doubles and a triple in his last eight games to raise his season line to .247/.280/.403 with a home run, 10 RBI and seven runs scored in his first 77 at-bats. Buxton should be back in action for the start of a series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night in Anaheim. Martin has never faced Soroka in his career and will be a low-upside sleeper in DFS in the nine-hole for the Twins.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 hour agoCincinnati Reds second baseman
Jonathan India (illness) is back in the starting lineup on Thursday and is serving as the designated hitter while batting sixth against Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler. India returns to the field for the first time since last Saturday after dealing with an illness. The Reds are easing him back in as the DH, with
Santiago Espinal still playing second base and batting eighth. The 27-year-old India probably should be left on benches in his first game back in a tough matchup against a pitcher that he's hitless against in seven career at-bats. He's also gotten off to a slow start offensively this year, going 12-for-69 (.174) with no home runs, four RBI, two stolen bases and 10 runs scored for the Reds.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 hour agoThe Philadelphia Phillies reinstated first baseman
Bryce Harper from the paternity list on Thursday and optioned infielder
Kody Clemens to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move after Wednesday's game. Harper is playing first base and batting third in his return in the series finale against the Cincinnati Reds and right-hander
Nick Martinez on Thursday. Fantasy baseball managers will want to put the two-time MVP back in their starting lineups in all formats. He's hitless in two career at-bats against Martinez. The seven-time All-Star returns to a .241/.330/.443 slash line with four home runs, four doubles, 14 RBI, one stolen base and 10 runs scored in 91 plate appearances over his first 21 games of 2024. Harper will be hoping to extend his current six-game hitting streak in his return on Thursday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
1 hour agoBoston Red Sox catcher
Connor Wong, who went 4-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's win over the Cleveland Guardians, is taking a seat for the series finale against Cleveland on Thursday in a matinee contest. With Wong out for this one,
Reese McGuire will catch right-hander
Chase Anderson and will hit eighth against Guardians right-hander
Triston McKenzie. In three career at-bats against McKenzie, McGuire has gone hitless. The 27-year-old Wong has been a popular waiver-wire pickup in fantasy leagues at the catcher position early in the 2024 season after his scorching-hot start at the plate. After Wednesday's huge performance, he's now hitting .370 (20-for-54) with five long balls, 11 RBI and seven runs scored in his first 16 games played. The hot start has pushed him past McGuire on Boston's catching depth chart.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
1 hour agoBoston Red Sox outfielders
Tyler O'Neill and
Masataka Yoshida are not in the lineup for the matinee game on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians.
Rob Refsnyder is in left field and is batting
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1 hour agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher
Reynaldo Lopez didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Marlins but pitched another great game, throwing seven strong innings while allowing just one run on three hits (one home run) and a 2:6 BB:K. That makes four straight quality starts to begin the season and the 30-year-old has stepped up big at a time when the Braves needed it after
Spencer Strider was lost for the year and
Max Fried got off to a rough start. The 30-year-old hasn't been a regular starter since 2019 when he made 33 starts for the Chicago White Sox, but he looks the part so far in 2024 with a 0.72 ERA (2.71 FIP), 0.88 WHIP, and a 17.4% K-BB% in 25 IP. His next start lines up Tuesday in Seattle, the team that currently has the highest amount of strikeouts per game this season.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 hours agoBoston Red Sox catcher
Connor Wong went 4-for-4 with two home runs in Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Guardians. Wong also was hit by a pitch in the game, making it a perfect 5-for-5 at getting on base. In addition to the two home runs, Wong also had a pair of singles, drove in three runs, and scored twice. Wong's batting average is now up to .370 on the season, with five home runs (all in his last 10 games), 11 RBI, and seven runs scored. The backstop doesn't draw many walks, however, with just one walk compared to 15 strikeouts so far this season. Regardless, he ranks as the seventh-highest scoring catcher in Yahoo leagues as of now, so is certainly a useful fantasy asset, although the 27-year-old has been splitting time with
Reese McGuire to start the year. McGuire is getting the start in Thursday's day game against the Guardians.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 hours agoTampa Bay Rays reliever
Garrett Cleavinger picked up his second save in four days in Wednesday's 7-5 victory over the Tigers. With closer
Pete Fairbanks on the IL, Cleavinger has been used to close out games and has
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2 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Landon Knack earned his first career win on Wednesday in an 11-2 victory over the Nationals. The righty made his first career start against these same Nationals last week but came away with the loss despite pitching well. This time, the 26-year-old went six innings, allowing just three hits (one home run) while walking three batters and striking out five on his way to the win. With
Walker Buehler nearing his return, however, Knack likely heads back to the minors. If these two starts were any indication though, he could be a viable DFS play or streaming option if he were recalled again, depending on the matchup.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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