April 29, 2025
Chicago Cubs catching prospect
Moises Ballesteros came into this past weekend hitting .377, but as high as that was, he managed to raise his batting average 37 points to .414 by the time Sunday's games were over. The 21-year-old went 7-for-10 over the weekend and walked more than he struck out (3:1 BB:K). The OPS now stands at a sizzling 1.061 with a .476 wOBA and 183 wRC+. The Venezuelan backstop now owns a 14-game hit streak, has hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games, and has recorded multiple hits in 12 of 22 contests. If it were any other team, Ballesteros would probably be in the majors, but both the Cubs' catchers, their first baseman, and their DH are all hitting well, so there isn't a path to at-bats at the moment. Still, it shouldn't be long until he gets the call, with RotoBaller estimating a June timeframe.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April 29, 2025
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez (unknown) exited Monday's 8-5 win over the Tigers in the seventh inning after an "uncomfortable slide", per the Atlhetic's Chandler Rome. Alvarez slid into second base in the sixth inning but stayed in the game, hitting an RBI single in the seventh inning before being pinch-run for by
Zach Dezenzo. Alvarez went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for any more news and should pay attention to tomorrow's lineup card, but it seems that Alvarez can be considered day-to-day. The 27-year-old has struggled in the early going, slashing just .217/.319/.359 with three home runs and 17 RBI in 113 plate appearances.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome - X.com
April 29, 2025
Atlanta Braves closer
Raisel Iglesias picked up his fifth save of the season in Monday's 6-3 win over the Rockies. Iglesias entered to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on a fly-out and a line-out, allowed a double, and ended the game with a strikeout. The 35-year-old veteran has been inconsistent so far this season, converting five of seven save opportunities with a 5.73 ERA, an 8.18 K/9 rate, and a 1.64 BB/9 rate in 11 innings of work. He has split save opportunities over the last seven days with
Dylan Lee, who converted one of two with a 0.00 ERA. While Lee has pitched well this season, Iglesias has a long track record of being a higher-end closer, so he will likely be given some leash to get things back on track.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 29, 2025
Athletics starting pitcher
JP Sears continued his strong start to the season in Monday's 2-1 win over the Rangers. Sears pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. The 29-year-old has been effective through his first six starts, going 4-2 with a 2.94 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and an 8.02 K/9 rate in 33 2/3 IP. He has been a useful fantasy streamer throughout his career, but his middling floor has limited his fantasy value in roto leagues. That being said, he is rostered in just 29 percent of leagues and draws a favorable matchup in his next scheduled start, which is at the Marlins.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 29, 2025
Houston Astros closer
Josh Hader picked up his eighth save of the season in Monday's 8-5 win over the Tigers. Hader came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on a fly-out and a strikeout, allowed a double, and ended the game with another strikeout. The 31-year-old has been excellent so far even by his standards, converting all of his save opportunities with a 0.64 ERA, a 12.21 K/9 rate, and a 1.93 BB/9 rate. Free passes and home runs have been issues for Hader at times throughout his career, but he has done a great job limiting free passes and has yet to allow a homer.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 29, 2025
Houston Astros second baseman/left fielder
Jose Altuve had a nice game at the plate in Monday's 8-5 win over the Tigers. Batting second, Altuve went 2-for-4 with a single, a two-run home run, and three RBI. The 34-year-old turned on a sixth-inning
Jack Flaherty fastball, launching it off the left-field signage to put the Astros up by one. Altuve had been scuffling at the plate recently, so this performance will hopefully jump-start things again. Overall, he is slashing a respectable .282/.316/.409 with four HR, 12 RBI, and three stolen bases in 117 plate appearances.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 29, 2025
Colorado Rockies third base/outfield prospect
Charlie Condon (wrist) will visit a hand specialist on Monday in Arizona and is looking to get cleared in order to begin strengthening exercises. If he does get clearance, there is a chance he can "return to action" by mid-to-late May if all goes to plan. The 2024 third-overall draft pick played 25 games at High-A Spokane last year, but hit just .180 with a 31.2 percent strikeout rate and 3.7 percent walk rate over 109 plate appearances. The 22-year-old could very well start at that level upon his return, but he'll have to show well and start earning promotions in order to meet MLB.com's major league ETA of 2026. He's certainly got the talent to do it, especially the power, and dynasty managers should keep tabs on his progression.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 29, 2025
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Bailey Ober continued to turn things around in Monday's 11-1 win over the Guardians. Ober pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing one run on eight hits and no walks with two strikeouts. The 29-year-old managed just 6 2/3 IP combined in his first two starts, but he has turned in four consecutive quality starts since. Ober is now 3-1 with a 4.13 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and a 6.89 K/9 rate in 32 2/3 IP. His peripherals are still relatively bloated, but he has looked much better since his disastrous first start. He will look to extend his quality start streak in his next start, which will be a tough matchup at the Red Sox.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 29, 2025
Cincinnati Reds third baseman
Noelvi Marte continued his stellar offensive performance in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. The 23-year-old went 1-for-2 with an RBI triple and two walks. The former fantasy prospect got called up in the second week of April and has been on a tear, slashing .370/.431/.696 with three home runs, 16 RBI, and four stolen bases in 51 plate appearances. He is currently rostered in just 49 percent of leagues. While it is unrealistic to expect any hitter to maintain production at this level, there may not be much more opportunity for fantasy managers to add Marte if he keeps things up.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 28, 2025
Minnesota Twins pitching prospect
Zebby Matthews lasted 4 2/3 innings in his latest start on Sunday for Triple-A St. Paul, and although he allowed only two runs and two hits while striking out five, he was uncharacteristically erratic, walking four batters and throwing two wild pitches. The righty had just three walks total over his previous four starts heading into Sunday and owns a pristine 3.2 percent walk rate during his minor-league career. Hopefully the lack of control was a one-game hiccup that he can shake off in his next start. With a 1.93 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and a 23.4 percent K-BB%, the 6-foot-5 hurler is once again standing on the doorstep to the majors after making nine starts for the club last season. He's expected to get the call within the next month or so, and although he isn't a must-stash, fantasy managers in deeper leagues should consider him as a waiver-wire pickup whenever he's recalled.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April 28, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect
Bubba Chandler tossed five shutout innings in his latest start at Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out four. Worth noting, the righty got up to 70 pitches, and is about as stretched out as he needs to be in order to get that call to the majors. Pittsburgh's current fifth man in the rotation, reliever-turned-starter
Carmen Mlodzinski, has allowed three or more earned runs in four of his five starts and hasn't gone longer than five innings in any of them. Chandler owns a 1.33 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and a 28.4 percent K-BB%, and although Triple-A competition is not the same as the major leagues, MLB's 14th-ranked prospect would be an upgrade for the Pirates' rotation. Those in need of pitching help with an available roster spot should consider stashing the 6-foot-3 hurler ahead of his eventual call-up, which is expected to happen by the end of May.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April 28, 2025
Arizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Jordan Lawlar went 2-for-5 on Sunday for Triple-A Reno, collecting a hit in 12 straight games in which he's started (he was 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter during that stretch). In those 12 games alone, the 22-year-old is 24-for-51 (.471) with seven doubles, two triples, four home runs, 17 RBI, 17 runs scored, eight stolen bases, and a 10:10 BB:K. Now slashing a robust .356/.451/.644 on the year, the team has played him at second base the most, along with starts at third base, shortstop, and once at designated hitter. The versatility will serve him well with
Ketel Marte,
Geraldo Perdomo, and
Eugenio Suarez blocking a full-time role for him at those defensive spots. MLB's 10th-ranked prospect is going to force his way onto the roster in the near future, though, and should be a strong five-category producer, so fantasy managers should be stashing him away ahead of time.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
April 28, 2025
Chicago White Sox infielder
Nick Maton cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. Maton will remain with the White Sox despite recently being designated for assignment and losing his spot on the 40-man roster. The 28-year-old will continue to serve as infield depth in the minors for the Pale Hose. He appeared in 23 games for Chicago to open the 2025 season and went 9-for-52 (.173) with two home runs, two doubles, four RBI, five runs scored, nine walks and 18 strikeouts. The former seventh-round selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 out of Lincoln Land Community College is well off the fantasy radar and has a .202/.302/.354 career slash line with a .655 OPS, 17 home runs and 67 RBI in 207 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
April 28, 2025
Chicago White Sox infielder
Josh Rojas (toe) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. Rojas will be playing in his first game since suffering a hairline fracture in his right big toe back in the middle of March during spring training. When the 30-year-old veteran is fully cleared from his toe injury and is activated from the injured list, he's expected to serve as Chicago's primary second baseman. The left-handed-hitting infielder is useful in AL-only leagues due to his multi-position eligibility, but he offers little fantasy upside with his bat. Rojas hit .225/.304/.336 with eight home runs, 31 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 142 games last year with the Seattle Mariners and holds a .685 career OPS with only 34 long balls and 189 RBI in six MLB seasons. Defense at second and third base is Rojas' primary calling card.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
April 28, 2025
Chicago White Sox left-hander
Tyler Gilbert will serve as the team's opener for Tuesday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. This will be Gilbert's third straight appearance in the opener role for the White Sox, with the 31-year-old southpaw throwing two shutout innings with a walk and three strikeouts his last two times out, both against the Athletics. Gilbert hasn't been good outside of his two opening assignments, surrendering five earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out eight in 5 2/3 relief innings. Right-hander
Bryse Wilson is expected to be Chicago's bulk reliever on Tuesday against Milwaukee. Neither Gilbert, nor Wilson should be considered by those looking for sleeper streamers this week.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
RADIO
