April 23, 2025
The Chicago Cubs are re-signing infielder
Nicky Lopez to an undisclosed contract on Wednesday, according to ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers. Lopez was with the Cubs in spring training before eventually joining the Los Angeles Angels. The 30-year-old veteran infielder was designated for assignment by the Angels last Friday and elected free agency after clearing waivers. He will now return to Chicago to give them an extra glove as infield depth. The former fifth-round selection by the Kansas City Royals in 2016 out of Creighton University only had six at-bats with the Halos before being cut and went hitless with one strikeout. Since debuting with the Royals in 2019, Lopez has mostly been a defensive asset, as he has a career .247/.311/.313 slash line with only seven home runs, 152 RBI and 47 stolen bases in 672 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
April 23, 2025
Minnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis (hamstring) is expected to start a minor-league rehab assignment later this week, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. It's the next step in his progression from a left-hamstring strain that he suffered in spring training in March after he ran some sprints on Monday and ran the bases on Tuesday of this week. In addition to running, the 25-year-old power threat has been taking on-field batting practice and doing fielding work on the infield. If Lewis can avoid any setbacks with his hamstring this weekend in minor-league action, he could be activated from the injured list to make his 2025 big-league debut at some point next week. The former first overall pick in 2017 has high-upside power when he's healthy, making him stash-worthy in all fantasy formats until he returns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
April 23, 2025
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Pablo Lopez (hamstring) is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list on Thursday, but the Twins have already announced that right-hander
Chris Paddack will start that day against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. That makes it extremely likely that Lopez will come off the IL to rejoin the team's starting rotation during this weekend's series against the Los Angeles Angels, according to The Athletic's Aaron Gleeman. The 29-year-old needed just one minor-league rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul last Saturday and allowed an earned run on three hits while walking none and striking out four in 4 2/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers should be itching to get the Venezuelan hurler back in their starting lineups this weekend against an Angels team coming back down to Earth after a strong start. Lopez had a 1.62 ERA with 14 K's in 16 2/3 frames in his first three starts this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
April
23,
2025
Arizona
Diamondbacks
right-handed
reliever
Justin
Martinez
(shoulder)
is
dealing
with
right-shoulder
fatigue
that
could
just
be
a
dead-arm
phase
early
in
the
season,
and
manager
Torey
Lovullo
said
it's
possible
that
he'll
be
available
out
of
read more...
April 23, 2025
Boston Red Sox rookie second baseman
Kristian Campbell is getting a breather on Wednesday against the visiting Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park.
Romy Gonzalez will draw the start at the keystone and will hit seventh against Mariners right-hander
Emerson Hancock. It's a routine day of rest for Campbell, who has looked like a seasoned veteran as Boston's starting second baseman in his first 23 games, as he's gone 24-for-80 (.300) with three home runs, five doubles, eight RBI, one stolen base, 12 runs scored, 15 walks and 23 strikeouts in 96 plate appearances. The 22-year-old should be back in action for Thursday's series finale against Seattle. Gonzalez has only played in eight games so far in 2025 and is still looking for his first home run, but he's currently hitting .346 (9-for-26) with four doubles, three RBI and six runs scored in his limited playing time. He has never faced Hancock in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 23, 2025
Colorado Rockies left-hander
Kyle Freeland's (finger) next start is to be determined after he was forced to leave his last outing on Sunday, April 20, against the Washington Nationals due to a blister on his finger. Freeland picked up his fourth loss of the year that day after giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out two in just two innings of work in the first game of a doubleheader. The 31-year-old veteran southpaw was expected to make his next start at some point this weekend at Coors Field against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, but he's in danger of being pushed back or even landing on the injured list. Even if Freeland is able to take his next turn in Colorado's starting rotation, fantasy managers will want to stay away from him in Denver against Cincy. He's currently 0-4 with a 4.85 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB in 26 innings over his four starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April
23,
2025
Colorado
Rockies
manager
Bud
Black
said
that
shortstop
Ezequiel
Tovar
(hip),
who
did
not
make
the
trip
with
the
team
this
week
to
Kansas
City
to
face
the
Royals,
will
likely
be
out
beyond
his
10-day
read more...
April 23, 2025
Colorado Rockies designated hitter
Kris Bryant (back) did not join the team for their series from April 22-24 against the Kansas City Royals due to persistent back pain stemming from lumbar degenerative disc disease and instead stayed in Denver for treatment and rehab. Bryant originally landed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 13) on April 14, and it's anyone's guess as to when he might be able to join the major-league roster. The 33-year-old was still unable to stay off the IL early in the 2025 season despite the fact that the Rockies had only been using him at DH in the first month. The four-time All-Star and former MVP also went just 6-for-39 with no home runs, two doubles, one RBI, two walks and 13 strikeouts before his back flared up. At this point, it's fair to wonder if Bryant will even return at all in 2025, and if he does, he might not be very productive for those in NL-only leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April
23,
2025
Colorado
Rockies
catcher
Jacob
Stallings
and
shortstop
Kyle
Farmer
are
not
in
the
starting
nine
on
Wednesday
evening
when
they
continue
a
series
against
the
Kansas
City
Royals.
Stallings
read more...
April 23, 2025
Minnesota Twins infielder/outfielder
Willi Castro (oblique) remains out of the starting nine on Wednesday evening when the Twins continue a series against the Chicago White Sox. Castro has been dealing with an oblique injury and has yet to return to the lineup since April 16. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the Twins could shift him to the injured list if he does not make significant progress. Through the early part of the campaign, the utility man has held a .227/.292/.364 slash line with six doubles and one home run. He has also swiped one bag and held a 15:3 K:BB. With Castro sitting out,
Brooks Lee and
Luke Keaschall will continue to start at third and second base, respectively. The Twins are worth a look in DFS facing Chicago right-hander
Bryse Wilson, who enters this game with a 4.50 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 23, 2025
The Colorado Rockies have optioned outfield prospect
Zac Veen to Triple-A Albuquerque. In a corresponding move, the team activated outfielder
Brenton Doyle from the bereavement list. Veen has held a modest .118/.189/.235 slash line with one double and one home run across his first 12 games at the MLB level. Veen will look to find his footing at the top level of the minor leagues. During this brief taste of the majors, Veen generated an underwhelming .203 xwOBA with a .130 xBA. However, he did flash speed upside as he placed in the 81st percentile in sprint speed. Through 29 career games at Triple-A, the former ninth overall pick has held a .265/.336/.531 slash line with seven doubles, seven home runs, and seven stolen bases. He is worth monitoring in deeper formats, as he should be in the mix to return to Colorado later this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Colorado Rockies
April 23, 2025
The Colorado Rockies have activated outfielder
Brenton Doyle from the bereavement list. In a corresponding move, the Rockies designated outfielder
Zac Veen to Triple-A Albuquerque. Doyle has been held out of the starting nine since April 10 due to a quadriceps injury, before hitting the bereavement list. However, he did take one at-bat on April 16. Before his injury, Doyle was enjoying an impressive start to the campaign, holding a .321/.357/.547 slash line with three doubles and three home runs. Doyle has swiped one bag and held a 10:3 K:BB. Under the hood, the 26-year-old has generated an impressive .318 xBA with an elite .391 xwOBA, which suggests he should continue to enjoy similar production this summer. He will likely return to the starting nine this evening when they continue a series against the Royals.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Colorado Rockies
April 23, 2025
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher
Lucas Erceg (foot) returned to action on Tuesday evening during their victory over the Colorado Rockies. Erceg logged a scoreless frame in the eighth inning. He did not allow a baserunner en route to picking up his seventh hold of the season. Erceg has been held out of action since last Friday after taking a comebacker on his left foot. However, the right-hander was able to avoid a lengthy absence. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, operating as the setup man in Kansas City, logging eight 1/3 innings to the tune of a 1.08 ERA with a stellar 0.48 WHIP. During the stint, he has held a 5:1 K:BB and tallied seven holds. Given his role as the setup man, he carries high value in formats that reward holds. In addition, the Menlo product could eventually earn savings opportunities if
Carlos Estevez were to struggle over an extended period.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 23, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman
Nolan Gorman is expected to be given more playing time for the time being. Gorman played the hero during their victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday evening when he hit a three-run double. As a result, the team will reward him with more opportunities, especially with Brandon Donovan (rib) sidelined. Gorman was batting third and covering second base during Wednesday's contest against the Braves. After holding a modest .217/.321/.435 slash line with two doubles and one home run over his first eight games of the campaign, Gorman has tallied at least one hit in each of his previous three games, entering Wednesday's contest. Under the hood, he has generated an impressive .370 xwOBA, which suggests he could continue to see steady positive regression. If he continues to play well, he could even take reps at DH when Donovan returns to action.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Derrick Goold
April 23, 2025
MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports that if New York Mets second baseman
Jeff McNeil (oblique) gets through his final minor-league rehab game on Wednesday without issue, he'll come off the 10-day injured list for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Washington Nationals. The two-time All-Star is working his way back from an oblique injury but is on the cusp of making his 2025 debut. In seven rehab games with Single-A St. Lucie, Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, McNeil has gone 9-for-24 with two home runs, a double, two RBI, three walks and two strikeouts. While he hasn't looked like his former batting-champion self the last two years in New York, he's still fully expected to serve as New York's primary second baseman upon his return. That means that one of
Brett Baty or
Luisangel Acuna could be sent back to the minors this weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
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