2 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that catcher
J.T. Realmuto (knee) is doing drills at about 70-75 percent intensity. Although the All-Star break looms after next week's homestand, the Phillies won't hold Realmuto back from coming off the injured list if he's ready to go before the Midsummer Classic. Realmuto has clearly made good progress after undergoing surgery on the meniscus in his right knee three weeks ago. The Phillies aren't going to push the 33-year-old All-Star backup, but at worst, he should be ready to go early in the second half of the season if he doesn't return before the All-Star break.
Garrett Stubbs and
Rafael Marchan will split the catching duties in the meantime. When healthy, Realmuto is a high-end, must-start fantasy catcher with a .261/.309/.411 slash line, seven homers, 20 RBI and 28 runs scored in 207 at-bats in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Corey Seidman
2 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that first baseman
Bryce Harper (hamstring) is doing drills at about 70-75 percent intensity. Although the All-Star break looms after next week's homestand, the Phillies won't hold Harper back from coming off the 10-day injured list if he's ready to return before the Midsummer Classic. The 31-year-old All-Star is eligible to come off the IL on July 9 after being put on the shelf as a precaution due to a left-hamstring strain. If Harper doesn't come off the IL before the All-Star break in mid-July, he should be back early in the second half for fantasy managers. The former first overall pick by the Washington Nationals in 2010 continues to be a stud at the plate, batting .303 (87-for-287) this year with 20 long balls, 58 RBI, four steals and 52 runs scored in 76 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Corey Seidman
2 days agoChicago White Sox shortstop prospect
Brooks Baldwin has been promoted to Triple-A Charlotte, according to MiLB Central. Baldwin has performed exceptionally well in his first look at Double-A ball this season. In 74 games, the UNC Wilmington product has posted a .322/.386/.441 slash line with six home runs, 37 RBI, 16 stolen bases, and a 28:56 BB:K ratio. The 23-year-old held an impressive nine-game hitting streak earlier in June as well. MLB Pipeline considers Baldwin the number 24 prospect in the White Sox system and projects him to reach the majors next summer. If he can perform well during the second half of the summer in his Triple-A debut, he could make the major league roster out of Spring Training next season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB Central
2 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that outfielder/designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber (groin) is doing drills at 90 percent intensity. Although the All-Star break looms after next week's homestand, the Phillies won't hold Schwarber back from coming off the 10-day injured list if he's ready to return before the Midsummer Classic. The 31-year-old All-Star left-handed slugger is dealing with a mild left-groin strain and has a pretty good shot at returning before the All-Star break. The former fourth overall pick by the Chicago Cubs in 2014 should be stashed in all fantasy formats while he's on the IL, as he's an elite power bat and on-base machine atop one of the best lineups in baseball. Schwarber is currently slashing .250/.373/.447 with an .820 OPS, 17 homers, 49 RBI, 60 runs and even four stolen bases in 300 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Corey Seidman
2 days agoSeattle Mariners catcher
Mitch Garver (wrist) is back in the starting lineup on Thursday, serving as the designated hitter and batting second against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Corbin Burnes. Garver was held out of the starting lineup the last two games due to wrist soreness, but he entered Wednesday's contest as a pinch-hitter and will now return to the starting lineup. The 33-year-old veteran backstop mostly serves in the DH role for Seattle as the backup to starting catcher
Cal Raleigh. He has hit just .176 (41-for-233) in his first year with the M's, but he's useful in two-catcher leagues due to his power (10 home runs). Even in the two-hole in his return to action on the Fourth of July, Garver isn't very attractive for DFS managers while going up against Burnes. Garver has never faced Burnes in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoHouston Astros manager Joe Espada acknowledged on Thursday that right-hander
Justin Verlander (neck) will not return to the team until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Neck soreness landed Verlander on the 15-day injured list in mid-June, and he won't return to the team's starting rotation until the second half of the season. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer has already resumed playing catch, though. Given the fact that Verlander hasn't thrown off a mound in almost a month, fantasy managers will need to expect him to need at least one minor-league rehab start before he returns to Houston's starting rotation. But if he avoids any setbacks, Verlander could be back in the fold before August. The three-time Cy Young winner isn't the dominant pitcher he was in his prime and is currently sorting a 21.3% strikeout rate with a 3.95 ERA (4.98 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP in 57 innings (10 starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
2 days agoHouston Astros manager Joe Espada acknowledged on Thursday that outfielder
Kyle Tucker (shin) will not return to the team before the All-Star break in mid-July. Tucker fouled a ball off his leg in early June and hasn't been able to return since. The 27-year-old has started swinging a bat, though, so hopefully he'll be able to go on a minor-league rehab assignment sooner than later and be available to fantasy managers early in the second half of the season. When healthy, he's one of the best all-around fantasy assets in the game. Through 214 at-bats in 2024, Tucker is hitting .266 (57-for-214) with 19 homers, 40 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 42 runs scored. He must remain stashed everywhere. Until he returns,
Trey Cabbage,
Chas McCormick and rookie
Joey Loperfido will continue to battle for playing time in right field in Houston.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
2 days agoSan Diego Padres rookie center fielder
Jackson Merrill has been moved up to third in the batting order for the Fourth of July on Thursday against the hosting Texas Rangers and veteran right-hander
Max Scherzer. Merrill is having a breakout campaign in his first year in the big leagues for the Friars in 2024 and has been one of the league's hottest hitters of late. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter is slashing an incredible .352/.380/.727 with nine home runs, 21 RBI and two stolen bases in his last 23 games to earn the bump up to the three-hole for the first time with the Padres. If the young outfielder continues to swing a hot bat, he could stay near the top of the order, which would be bad news for infielder
Jake Cronenworth. Merrill has never faced Scherzer in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoTexas Rangers second baseman
Marcus Semien will start the Fourth of July game on Thursday against the visiting San Diego Padres on the bench. This will be Semien's second day off of the season as the Rangers give him a mental day to rest. The 33-year-old All-Star has been in a funk at the plate recently, going just 2-for-36 (.056) with no homers, one RBI, two walks and five strikeouts in his last eight games. The two-time All-Star is having a pretty disappointing 2024 campaign after hitting 29 bombs and driving in 100 runs for the second time in his career in 2023 to help the Rangers to their first-ever World Series championship. So far through 85 games this year, he's hitting .231 (81-for-351) with 11 homers and 45 RBI.
Jonathan Ornelas will start at the keystone on Thursday and will hit ninth for Texas against Padres right-hander
Michael King.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoBoston Red Sox middle infielder
David Hamilton is starting at second base and is batting in the two-hole for the Red Sox on Thursday against the hosting Miami Marlins and right-hander
Kyle Tyler. Hamilton was on the bench for the third time in the last four games for the BoSox on Wednesday, so fantasy managers that have been relying on him for his speed have to be thankful that he's back in there on the Fourth of July. The 26-year-old is hitting just .171 (6-for-35) with a homer, double, four RBI, two walks, seven strikeouts and seven stolen bases in 13 games (nine starts) since June 14. Overall, though, Hamilton has been a bright spot for Boston and for fantasy managers and he's seen plenty of playing time with both
Trevor Story and
Vaughn Grissom hurt this year. He's mainly been helpful for his speed with 21 steals in 57 games in his second big-league season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox
2 days agoChicago White Sox first baseman
Andrew Vaughn isn't in the team's starting lineup on Thursday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians.
Gavin Sheets will get the nod at first base and will bat cleanup for the Pale Hose versus Guardians right-hander
Ben Lively. Vaughn has been a below-average hitter for fantasy managers in his fourth year in the big leagues. He's batting .244 (75-for-308) with a career-low .696 OPS, 11 home runs, 41 RBI and 32 runs scored in 81 games played for the worst team in baseball. On the bright side, he's currently in the midst of a six-game hitting streak where he's gone 8-for-21 (.381) with two homers, two doubles and six RBI. Sheets is mostly useful for his power and is hitting .241 (52-for-216) with six of his seven homers coming off right-handers in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoToronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette (forearm) has been scratched from Thursday's lineup against the visiting Houston Astros. Rookie
Leo Jimenez will make the start at shortstop in Bichette's place and bat eighth against Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez. Rookie
Spencer Horwitz will draw into the lineup at second base and bat fifth. Bichette is dealing with a right-forearm contusion after being hit by a pitch in Wednesday's contest versus Houston. The 26-year-old is a little sore, but it's not a serious injury and he should be considered day-to-day. There's a good chance he'll be back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Seattle Mariners. This will be Jimenez's first action in the big leagues since being called up earlier this week.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Hazel Mae
2 days agoThe Toronto Blue Jays reinstated catcher
Danny Jansen from the paternity list on Thursday and optioned catcher
Brian Serven to Triple-a Buffalo in a corresponding move. Jansen is serving as the designated hitter and is batting in the two-hole for the Jays on Thursday against the visiting Houston Astros and left-hander
Framber Valdez. The 29-year-old backstop missed the first three games of the series against Houston but will return for the series finale on the Fourth of July. Injuries have limited Jansen to 163 at-bats in 2024, and he's hitting just .227/.316/.399 with a .714 OPS, five home runs and 16 RBI. He's been a league-average hitter as he shares playing time with
Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Jansen isn't going to hit for average, but he has decent pop at the weak catcher position when he's healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Shi Davidi
2 days agoNew York Yankees infielder
DJ LeMahieu will get a breather on Fourth of July on Thursday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
Oswaldo Cabrera will get the start at the hot corner and will hit eighth in the order against Reds right-hander
Frankie Montas. LeMahieu will get the day off after starting in each of the team's last five games. The 35-year-old got a late start to the 2024 season due to an injury and he hasn't yet found a groove at the plate with the Yankees. In his first 92 at-bats, LeMahieu has only 17 hits (.185 average) with no home runs, nine RBI and eight runs scored. The three-time All-Star has never really hit for power in his career -- he had a career-high 26 homers in 2019 -- and his batting average has fallen every year since he won a batting title in 2020. Cabrera brings little DFS appeal with a .234 average, five homers and 26 RBI on the year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoNew York Yankees shortstop
Anthony Volpe is being dropped to sixth in the batting order on Fourth of July on Thursday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and right-hander
Frankie Montas. First baseman
Ben Rice jumps up into the leadoff spot for the matinee affair. This will be the first time since April 9 that Volpe has hit anywhere other than leadoff for the Bronx Bombers. The 23-year-old was hot to start the season but has hit a rough patch of late and has hit .211 (28-for-133) with no home runs, six doubles, three triples, six RBI, three walks, 33 strikeouts and four stolen bases in 29 games since June 1. It has dropped his season slash line to .256/.310/.384 with a .694 OPS. Volpe has only six stolen bases, but he's also scored 58 runs and 15 stolen bases to keep him relevant in all fantasy leagues. If he can get going again, Volpe should get another shot to return to leadoff duties.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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