April
22,
2025
Athletics
general
manager
David
Forst
said
that
with
first
base
prospect
Nick
Kurtz
joining
the
big-league
squad
this
week,
first
baseman
Tyler
Soderstrom
will
get
some
time
in
left
field
and
read more...
April 22, 2025
Athletics general manager David Forst said that first base prospect
Nick Kurtz will not be involved in a platoon when he joins the team this week for his major-league debut. The A's are comfortable playing Kurtz against left-handed pitchers, noting that he's had success against southpaws early on at Triple-A Las Vegas. The 22-year-old won't make his debut on Tuesday against the division-rival Texas Rangers and left-hander
Patrick Corbin, but it's more about giving him a chance to acclimate to his new surroundings. Between first base and designated hitter, Kurtz, the fourth overall pick last year out of Wake Forest, should play regularly for the A's and should be a priority waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers in all formats. Because of his advanced approach at the plate, Kurtz could have a seamless transition to the majors after slashing .321/.385/.655 with seven homers and 24 RBI in just 20 games with Vegas this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
April 22, 2025
Minnesota Twins third baseman
Royce Lewis (hamstring) did sprints on Monday and ran the bases again on Tuesday, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. Lewis continues to make progress from a left-hamstring strain that he suffered in the middle of March in spring training, but there's still no exact timetable for his return to the Twins. The 25-year-old should at least be getting close to going on a minor-league rehab assignment, though, so he could be ready to make his season debut in early May, barring a setback with his hamstring. The oft-injured third baseman has yet to play this season, but he should be stashed in all fantasy formats for his elite power when he's healthy.
Willi Castro (oblique) is also currently injured for the Twins, which has opened up playing time at the hot corner for young infielder
Brooks Lee.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
April 22, 2025
New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) took outdoor batting practice on Tuesday for the first time since receiving multiple rounds of platelet-rich plasma injections in his ailing elbows, according to NJ Advance Media's Brendan Kuty. It's progress for the 35-year-old veteran right-handed slugger, but he still has a ways to go and will eventually need to go on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment before having a chance to make his 2025 season debut in the Bronx. There remains no timetable for a potential return, but fantasy managers that drafted him in the spring must continue to stash him in an injured-list spot until further notice. With
Ben Rice swinging the bat well early on for the Yankees as the team's primary DH, it's unclear exactly how playing time will shake out for Stanton if/when he returns to the team.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NJ Advance Media - Brendan Kuty
April 22, 2025
Chicago White Sox left-hander
Martin Perez (elbow), who was moved to the 60-day injured list on Monday, will not have Tommy John surgery, a source told ESPN's Jess Rogers. Perez could resume throwing again in September, but he will not make it back to the big leagues in 2025. With the 34-year-old southpaw potentially also not being ready for the start of next season, the White Sox will surely decline their $10 million mutual option for the 2026 season in time. The Venezuelan hurler should have only been rostered in AL-only fantasy leagues before his injury. In his four starts for the Pale Hose before suffering a season-ending left-elbow injury, Perez was pitching well, posting a 3.15 ERA (3.69 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 18 strikeouts and 11 walks in 20 innings pitched. He can officially be dropped in AL-only formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
April 22, 2025
Colorado Rockies rookie outfielder
Zac Veen is taking a seat on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium with a left-hander on the mound.
Jordan Beck will make the start in left field for the Rockies and will bat eighth against Royals southpaw
Kris Bubic. Veen has struggled to make an impact for Colorado in his first 11 major-league games since being called up the Show for the first time, going 4-for-34 (.118) with a homer, double, two RBI, a stolen base, two walks and 14 strikeouts in 37 plate appearances. If he doesn't start to pick things up at the plate soon, it's possible the Rockies will send him back to the farm for more seasoning. Beck has been just as bad early on in 2025, going 5-for-28 with no homers, four RBI, three stolen bases and 13 strikeouts in 11 games in his second MLB campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 22, 2025
Colorado Rockies outfielder
Brenton Doyle (personal), who revealed on Instagram that he and his wife lost their unborn baby, remains on the bereavement list and is out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the hosting Kansas City Royals.
Mickey Moniak will continue to patrol center field for the Rockies while hitting seventh against Royals left-hander
Kris Bubic. It's unclear when the 26-year-old Doyle will return to the Rockies after such a tragic situation. When he does return, though, he should immediately be plugged into all starting fantasy lineups as Colorado's most valuable fantasy player. Before leaving the team for personal reasons, Doyle was hitting .315 (17-for-54) with three homers, 12 RBI and seven runs scored. Moniak is a hitter to ignore in DFS on Tuesday while going up against a tough left-handed pitcher that he has never faced.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Brenton Doyle on Instagram
April 22, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that infielder
Brendan Donovan (rib) was scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup against the Atlanta Braves because one of his ribs popped out of place on Tuesday morning. He will be unavailable on Tuesday and his availability for Wednesday is also in question, but Marmol said it's unlikely that Donovan will need to go on the injured list.
Nolan Gorman is starting at second base on Tuesday and is hitting in the three-hole against Braves right-handed opener
Scott Blewett. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Wednesday to see if the 28-year-old Donovan is back in action. He's currently third in MLB with a .356 batting average (32-for-90) with three home runs, 13 RBI, three stolen bases and 14 runs scored, so hopefully his injury doesn't get him out of rhythm when he returns. Gorman has never faced Blewett in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
April 22, 2025
Boston Red Sox catcher
Connor Wong (finger) caught a bullpen session on Tuesday. The 28-year-old caught a bullpen from
Kutter Crawford (knee). Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic noted that Wong is expected to continue to catch bullpens as he slowly increases his workload. Wong has been on the injured list since suffering a fractured left pinky during the first week of April. Before the injury, the backstop held a .087/.192/.087 slash line with just two hits (all singles) across nine games. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression as he could be cleared to progress to the next step if he does not face any setbacks. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should continue to stash Wong on their injured reserve, as he was a very effective backstop last season, as he held a .2890/.333/.425 line. He should be deployed as the top backstop in Boston once he is cleared to return and will carry low-end C1 value.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jen McCaffrey
April 22, 2025
The Chicago Cubs have recalled right-handed pitcher
Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa. In a corresponding move, the Cubs optioned left-handed pitcher
Jordan Wicks to Iowa. Through the early part of the Triple-A regular season, Hollowell has logged six 1/3 innings of work to the tune of a 4.26 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP. He has been deployed excessively out of the bullpen. Last summer, he made one appearance with the Cubs and tossed one scoreless frame. Throughout his career, the St. John's product has logged 42 innings at the MLB level, with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Given his lack of MLB experience and previous success, fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old to be deployed in a low-leverage role and carry minimal fantasy value.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bruce Levine
April 22, 2025
New York Mets outfielder
Brandon Nimmo will take a seat on Tuesday evening when the Mets continue a series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets are scheduled to face Philadelphia southpaw
Cristopher Sanchez. Nimmo has made just three starts against left-handed pitching through the early part of the campaign. Instead, the Mets will give
Jose Azocar the start in left field. He will bat in the nine-hole. Nimmo has begun to find his footing as he has tallied at least one hit in each of his previous four games and five over his last six. Through 23 games this season, the 32-year-old has posted a modest .205/.253/.375 slash line with four home runs. However, under the hood, Nimmo has generated a 55.7 percent hard-hit rate with a .252 xBA, which suggests he should see positive regression in the coming weeks. Azocar is best to fade in DFS facing Sanchez, who enters this game holding a 2.96 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 22, 2025
Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher
Scott Blewett is expected to serve as the team's opener in their match against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday evening. The Braves acquired Blewett in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations on Sunday. With
Spencer Strider (hamstring) returning to the injured list, the Braves will have to deploy a bullpen game this evening. Blewett is expected to only pitch a few innings and cede most of the work to
Nathan Wiles, who was promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier on Tuesday. Blewett has logged nine innings of work this season and performed quite well, allowing just one run and holding a solid 1.11 WHIP. Fantasy managers in deeper NL-only formats should only view Blewett as a desperation play this evening, as his ceiling will be limited due to his low projected workload.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Bowman
April 22, 2025
San Francisco Giants first base prospect
Bryce Eldridge (wrist) is set to make his season debut this evening with Double-A Richmond. The top prospect in San Francisco was sidelined through the early part of the campaign due to a wrist injury he suffered in spring training. Eldridge is currently considered the No. 23-best prospect in the sport on MLB.com. Last summer, the former 16th overall pick progressed quite quickly through the San Francisco system. He opened the season with Low-A San Jose and was able to finish the season with Triple-A Sacramento. Across 116 total games, Eldridge did not show many signs of slowing down as he held a strong .291/.374/.516 slash line with 27 doubles and 23 long balls. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his progression as he should be in the mix for his MLB debut later this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Susan Slusser
April 22, 2025
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Spencer Strider (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. Mark Bowman of MLB.com noted that this is the "mildest" of strains, but will still take some time to heal. In addition, Bowman reported that Strider's timetable will likely be determined over the next few weeks. Strider made his season debut last Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays but was shortly placed on the injured list again, this time with a hamstring injury. Strider was only able to make two starts in 2024 before undergoing an internal brace procedure. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but should expect the 25-year-old to miss at least the next two weeks. While he remains sidelined,
AJ Smith-Shawver could be recalled from Triple-A to serve as a depth option in the rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mark Bowman
April 22, 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals officially activated shortstop
Masyn Winn (back) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned center fielder
Michael Siani to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move, according to the team. Wynn is starting at shortstop and is batting ninth on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves and right-hander
Scott Blewett at Camden Yards. The 23-year-old will return to the Cards lineup after a minimal stay on the IL after dealing with mild lower-back spasms. As long as he continues to reside at the bottom of St. Louis' batting order, he won't have a ton of fantasy upside for managers in deep-mixed leagues. The former second-rounder has also gotten off to a slow start in 2025 offensively, batting .222 (10-for-45) with a homer, three RBI and eight runs scored in his first 13 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton
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