10 hours agoNew York Yankees catcher
Austin Wells will retreat to the bench for Thursday's series finale at Yankee Stadium against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. Rookie
J.C. Escarra is doing the catching for right-hander
Carlos Carrasco and will hit ninth in the batting order against Diamondbacks right-hander
Merrill Kelly. Wells will get his first rest day after starting in each of the team's first five games of 2025. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop has started his third year with the Yankees by going 4-for-17 with two home runs, a double, three RBI, three walks and three strikeouts in 20 plate appearances. The 29-year-old Escarra will be appearing in just his second major-league game on Thursday and starting his first-ever game in the big leagues. Fantasy managers setting DFS lineups will want to avoid him against Kelly.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
10 hours agoNew York Yankees first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt is getting the day off on Thursday for the series finale against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium.
Ben Rice is getting the start at first base and is hitting leadoff against D-backs right-hander
Merrill Kelly. Goldy will take his first day off of the year after hitting atop New York's batting order the last four games. The 37-year-old former National League MVP has gotten off to a .250 batting average (5-for-20) with a homer, double, two RBI, one walk and six strikeouts in five games played. The seven-time All-Star showed plenty of signs of decline his last two years in St. Louis, but he could be a bit more intriguing as a bounce-back candidate if he continues to hit atop the Yankees' batting order. Rice will be a popular DFS play on Thursday in the leadoff spot after going 5-for-13 with two homers, a double and two RBI in his first five games in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
10 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter
Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) is throwing out to 110 feet, but when asked if next week is a consideration for him starting a minor-league rehab assignment, manager Alex Cora said, "Not yet." "He needs to make throws from the outfield. It's not just standing there," Cora said. "You have to make throws. So we'll see how that goes." Yoshida had offseason surgery on his right shoulder and still isn't ready to play in games after starting the 2025 season on the 10-day injured list. In addition to his injury and the fact that he's been a disappointment for fantasy managers outside of his high contact rate, the 31-year-old Japanese outfielder might be the odd-man out of the Red Sox's starting lineup when he's healthy now that
Rafael Devers is serving as the primary DH. In addition to rehabbing his shoulder, Yoshida also dealt with a minor back injury this spring.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
10 hours agoMiami Marlins right-hander
Edward Cabrera (finger) made a minor-league rehab start on Tuesday for Triple-A Jacksonville and allowed one earned run on three hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out four in three innings of work. The only run Cabrera allowed was on a solo homer in the second inning, and it was good to see the 26-year-old finish without allowing a free pass and throwing 27 of his 46 pitches for strikes. He was forced to start the regular season on the 15-day injured list to another blister issue on his finger during spring training, and he's likely to need another rehab start or two before the Marlins have him rejoin their major-league starting rotation. Cabrera will have a spot in the rotation if healthy, but he's had a hard time staying on the field early in his MLB career while also displaying command/control problems.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
10
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Moreno
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10 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte is getting his first day off in the campaign on Thursday evening when the Diamondbacks continue a series against the New York Yankees. On Wednesday, Marte went 1-for-2 at the plate with two walks after signing a six-year $116.5 million extension. Through six games this season, Marte has posted a strong .292/.433/.375 slash line with two doubles with a 6:4 BB:K. Last season, the 31-year-old enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career as he posted a stellar .292/.372/.560 slash line with 23 doubles, 36 home runs, seven swiped bags. With Marte sitting out on Thursday, the Diamondbacks will give
Garrett Hampson the nod at the keystone. Hampson is worth a look as a low-risk value play in DFS facing New York right-hander
Carlos Carrasco.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
10 hours agoHouston Astros outfielder
Jake Meyers is out of the starting nine for the third-straight contest on Thursday evening. Meyers has been kept on the bench for the past three contests after starting three of the first four games of the campaign in center field. Instead, the Astros will give
Mauricio Dubon the starting nod in center field. Through his first 10 at-bats of the campaign, Meyers has tallied two hits and added an RBI. He has struck out four times. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he is dealing with an injury. Last season, Meyers appeared in a career-high 148 contests in Houston and held a .219/.286/.360 slash line with 13 long balls and 11 stolen bases. Dubon is not worth targeting in DFS this afternoon, facing
Joe Ryan, who allowed just one run in his first start of the campaign.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoHouston Astros right-handed pitcher
Luis Garcia (elbow) is dealing with inflammation in his right elbow. According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Garcia will be shut down from throwing and will be reevaluated in four weeks. This is not a good sign for Garcia as he is working his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in May 2023. Garcia was also dealing with elbow soreness earlier in camp. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status, but this recent setback could push Garcia's timeline further back. As a result, the 28-year-old may not be an option until the second half of the campaign. In 2023, Garcia logged just 27 innings with a 4.00 ERA. During the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, Garcia logged a total of 312 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.60 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. While he remains out,
Hayden Wesneski should continue to see starting opportunities.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Brian McTaggart
11 hours agoThe Athletics have activated third baseman
Brett Harris (oblique) from the 10-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas. Harris has been dealing with this minor injury throughout March but is now cleared to return to a full-time role with Las Vegas. Harris has already appeared in three rehab games at the level but will now officially be cleared from injury. Harris tallied one hit in each contest during these three rehab games and added two RBI. Last season, the Gonzaga product made his MLB debut and posted a .146/.276/.262 slash line with three doubles and three long balls across 36 contests. Harris drew walks at an elite 13.8 percent rate during this stint but generated a low .274 xwOBA. He should eventually push for a return to the big leagues later in the campaign.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: A's Communications
11 hours agoHouston Astros catcher
Yainer Diaz is not in the starting nine when the Astros travel to Minnesota to face the Twins on Thursday afternoon. Diaz has been behind the dish in each of the past three contests but will cede duties to
Victor Caratini this afternoon. Caratini will bat in the six-hole. Over his past three contests, Diaz tallied just one hit across 11 at-bats and struck out twice through five total games. Diaz has tallied just two hits and held a 1:4 BB:K. Fantasy managers should expect Diaz to return to the starting nine on Saturday afternoon when they continue this three-game set against the Twins. Caratini has seen four at-bats and tallied one hit. He is best to leave out of your DFS lineup this afternoon facing Minnesota right-hander
Joe Ryan, who allowed one run across five innings in his last start.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoNew York Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon (forearm) underwent X-rays, which thankfully came back negative, after taking a line 115.5 mph line drive off his right forearm off the bat of second baseman
Ketel Marte in Wednesday's loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Bronx. Despite that and the fact that the 32-year-old's fastball velocity was noticeably down on a cold night at Yankee Stadium, Rodon was able to retire the last 10 batters he faced. He ultimately allowed four earned runs on three hits while walking four and striking out five over six innings on 96 pitches. Rodon didn't look nearly as dominant as he did on Opening Day last Thursday against the Brewers when he struck out seven and gave up just one run in 5 1/3 innings, but the biggest takeaway from Wednesday is that he should be fine physically going into his third start of 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
12 hours agoKansas City Royals outfielder
Drew Waters went 4-for-5 at the plate and hit for the cycle during their victory over Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. Waters led the Omaha offense in this contest as he tallied five RBI, which was highlighted by a three-run inside-the-park home run. Waters was competing for a depth role in the Kansas outfield during spring training but was unable to win a spot on the roster. This was a nice breakout outing for the 26-year-old as he did not tally a hit in each of his first two contests of the Triple-A regular season. Last summer, Waters appeared in just seven games for the Royals and tallied just three hits. Through 334 career games at Triple-A, Water has posted a solid .269/.352/.447 slash line. He is worth monitoring in AL-only formats as he could eventually earn a spot in the Kansas City outfield later in the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
12 hours agoSeattle Mariners catching prospect
Harry Ford had a productive evening at the plate on Wednesday as he went 1-for-2 with two walks. He tallied an RBI single in the second frame, crossed home plate three times, and even swiped a bag. Throughout his first three contests at the top level of the minor leagues, the 22-year-old backstop has held a .333/.538/.333 line. He has tallied at least one hit in each contest and has held a strong 4:1 BB:K. Last season, Ford had some growing pains at Double-A as he posted a modest .249/.377/.367 slash line across 116 contests. He tallied 26 doubles, seven long balls, and swiped 35 bags. This was a sharp decline from the .257/.410/.430 line he held during the 2023 season at High-A. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Ford's progression as he could be in the mix for a second-half MLB debut if he continues to produce with the Tacoma Rainiers.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
12 hours agoMinnesota Twins catcher
Christian Vazquez will retreat to the bench for Thursday's contest against the visiting Houston Astros at Target Field.
Ryan Jeffers will do the catching for right-hander
Joe Ryan and will bat eighth against right-hander
Hunter Brown. Vazquez and Jeffers continue to alternate playing time behind the dish for the Twins early on in 2025, which makes the 34-year-old veteran unattractive to fantasy managers outside of two-catcher or AL-only leagues. The Puerto Rican backstop has played in three games so far and is hitless in his 10 plate appearances with no walks and a strikeout. Meanwhile, Jeffers has gone 4-for-15 with an RBI, run scored, two walks and two strikeouts in four games. Jeffers offers slightly more offensive upside, but neither catcher should excite fantasy managers all that much. Jeffers has two hits in 10 career at-bats versus Brown.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
12 hours agoMinnesota Twins third baseman
Jose Miranda is on the bench for the second straight day on Thursday against the visiting Houston Astros at Target Field.
Willi Castro is making the start at the hot corner and will hit sixth versus Astros right-hander
Hunter Brown. Miranda has an opportunity for regular playing time at third base early on in 2025 due to
Royce Lewis' (hamstring) latest injury, but so far he hasn't taken advantage by going 3-for-18 with two RBI, a run scored, no walks and six strikeouts in his first five games played. The 26-year-old Puerto Rican infielder may need to pick it up at the plate soon in order to keep Castro from spelling him more often at third. Castro, who also hails from Puerto Rico, is 5-for-20 early on with a homer and three RBI. He's faced Brown eight times in his MLB career and is hitting .625 against him with one RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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