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
April 23, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect
Quinn Mathews (shoulder) is set to begin a throwing program on Wednesday or Thursday. Mathews was placed on the 7-day injured list with shoulder soreness. However, it appears this injury is not overly serious, and the top pitching prospect is already set to begin building back up. After an impressive 2024 campaign, Mathews took a step back through the early part of 2025 before his injury. Across his first 10 1/3 innings at Triple-A Springfield, the southpaw posted a 6.10 ERA with a 2.52 WHIP. He tallied just seven punchouts and served up 15 walks. However, last summer, across 143 1/3 innings split between Low-A, High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, the No.2-ranked prospect in the system held a 2.76 ERA with a stellar 0.98 WHIP. If he can return to the mound soon, he should still be in the mix to make his MLB debut later this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: John Denton
April 23, 2025
MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports that if New York Mets catcher
Francisco Alvarez (hand) gets through his final minor-league rehab game with Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday without issue, he could come off the 10-day injured list to make his season debut on Friday against the division-rival Washington Nationals. In his nine rehab games down on the farm, the 23-year-old backstop has gone 7-for-35 with a home run. Alvarez is making his return from hamate surgery on his left field, and while the Met will probably ease him back in behind the dish when he returns to the active, there's no debate that he's their full-time starter when he's healthy. The Venezuelan catcher also dealt with injuries last year and played in only 100 games, but he hit 25 home runs and drove in 63 in 2023 and has high-end power at the position.
Luis Torrens will return to backup duties when Alvarez makes his 2025 debut.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
April 23, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that left-hander
Cristopher Sanchez (forearm) is feeling good on Wednesday after being pulled from his start early on Tuesday against the division-rival New York Mets with left-forearm soreness. Sanchez wanted to play catch on Wednesday but wasn't allowed to do so. The Phillies have no plans to send him for an MRI exam, and the 28-year-old southpaw could just have his next scheduled start pushed back a few days. We should know more on his status after he plays catch on Friday. Sanchez's next scheduled start is for next Tuesday against the division-rival Washington Nationals, but that will probably be pushed back. He only made it two innings on Tuesday night and allowed two earned runs. Overall, Sanchez has been strong for fantasy managers in his first five starts, striking out 33 and walking eight in 26 1/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
April 23, 2025
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman
Bryson Stott is out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the division-rival New York Mets with a left-hander on the mound.
Edmundo Sosa will take over at second base and will hit seventh against Mets lefty
David Peterson. Stott is hitting a cool .301 (25-for-83) with two homers, 13 RBI and four stolen bases in 21 games so far in 2025, but he's gone just 4-for-21 with two walks and five strikeouts against left-handed pitching. Sosa may not have a ton of fantasy upside for DFS purposes in the seven-hole for the Phillies, but fantasy managers shouldn't completely ignore him. The 29-year-old infielder has gone 12-for-29 (.414) in the early going as a backup with eight RBI and four runs scored. In his two career at-bats against Peterson, he has a hit and one RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 23, 2025
Kansas City Royals first base prospect
Jac Caglianone went 3-for-4 with one double, two runs, and a 1:1 K:BB during their contest against Double-A Tulsa on Tuesday evening. Caglianone has enjoyed an impressive start to his time at Double-A and has continued to show improvement. Over his last three contests, Caglianone has tallied at least two hits in each and three hits in two. Through 16 total games with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, last year's sixth overall pick has held a strong .288/.367/.515 slash line with three doubles, four home runs, and tallied 20 RBI. He has shown a strong eye at the plate, holding an 18:9 K:BB. Last summer, the Florida product received a brief taste of High-A ball and hit two home runs in 29 games. If he continues this impressive play, a 2025 MLB debut is not out of the question.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
April
23,
2025
Cleveland
Guardians
manager
Stephen
Vogt
said
that
closer
Emmanuel
Clase
(shoulder)
was
bothered
by
"shoulder
discomfort"
after
his
outing
on
Sunday
against
the
Pittsburgh
Pirates.
Clase
is
playing
catch
on
Wednesday,
read more...
April 23, 2025
Chicago White Sox pitching prospect
Nick Nastrini tossed six shutout innings on Tuesday evening against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In this outing, Nastrini allowed just two hits and two walks. He struck out six. This was a much-needed bounce-back for Nastrini as he posted an underwhelming 6.89 ERA with a 1.66 WHIP across his first four starts of the season (15 2/3 innings). During this stretch, he held a modest 12:9 K:BB and allowed three long balls. Last summer, Nastrini made his MLB debut but struggled at that level as he posted a 7.07 ERA with a 1.91 WHIP across 35 2/3 innings. He was in the mix to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster but ultimately fell short in the competition. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his progression at Charlotte as he could be in the mix to return to the majors if he can build off this strong start.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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