13 hours ago
Houston Astros shortstop
Jeremy Pena was a rare bright spot for the team in a 16-3 blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. Pena drove in all of the Astros' runs on a couple of homers against right-hander
Zack Littell during a 2-for-3 afternoon, extending his hitting streak to seven games. This is shaping up to be a career campaign for the 27-year-old Pena, who's hitting a hearty .305/.367/.477 with nine HRs, 30 RBI, and nine steals over 246 plate appearances. Pena has helped his cause with a much-improved 13.8% strikeout rate that sits well below his lifetime rate of 19.6%. Next up, he'll face Rays righty
Taj Bradley on Sunday. Pena is 2-for-9 with a homer against Bradley.
--Connor Byrne - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
13 hours ago
Philadelphia Phillies left-hander
Jesus Luzardo (5-1) took his first loss of the season in a 17-7 beating at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Luzardo lasted just 3 1/3 innings and allowed a stunning 12 earned runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts and three walks. He surrendered a pair of three-run homers to first baseman
Rhys Hoskins before the Phillies finally lifted him from the game. It was the first time Luzardo allowed more than three earned runs in a start this year. The blowup caused Luzardo's ERA to skyrocket by almost a run and a half, but he still carries a solid 3.58 mark with 81 strikeouts and 22 walks through 70 1/3 innings. Considering how well the 27-year-old has pitched for the vast majority of the season, he should be able to bounce back against the Pittsburgh Pirates' below-average offense next Friday.
--Connor Byrne - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
13 hours ago
Seattle Mariners switch-handed pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje (right arm) exited his start on Saturday with an apparent injury. The 22-year-old was making his 12th High-A appearance (ninth start) of the season. He was replaced by Jordan Jackson with zero outs in the third inning. At the time of his departure, he had surrendered one run, three hits, and one walk while striking out three batters. The severity of Cijntje's injury is unclear, and it's possible that he was merely removed as a precaution. Mariners fans, prospect followers, and fantasy managers should stay tuned for additional updates coming out of Everett.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Mariners Minors
13 hours ago
The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to call up left fielder
Davis Schneider prior to Sunday's game against the Athletics, according to Ari Alexander of KPRC. Schneider had an impressive 1.007 OPS during his rookie campaign in 2023, but he has struggled at the major league level ever since. He recorded just one hit through 10 games with Toronto earlier this year before being demoted. Meanwhile, at Triple-A, he's slashing a modest .226/.346/.391 with a 14.5 percent walk rate and 28.9 percent strikeout rate. The 26-year-old should continue to walk at an impressive rate, but he'll also likely continue to strike out at a high clip while failing to showcase significant power.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
13 hours ago
Texas Rangers outfielder
Adolis Garcia (rest) will be given "as many days off as he needs to unearth his best form," according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. The 32-year-old has been sidelined since Wednesday without a disclosed injury. As McFarland notes, if Garcia doesn't play Sunday, he will have sat for five consecutive days before the start of the Rangers' next road trip. Manager Bruce Bochy told the media that the team has developed a plan for Garcia to follow before he returns to the field, and he'll be given ample rest time if needed. Rostered in 49 percent of ESPN fantasy baseball leagues, Garcia owns a woeful .208/.256/.371 slash line with a 73 wRC+, 5.1 percent walk rate, and 26.5 percent strikeout rate.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Shawn McFarland
14 hours ago
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman
Bryce Harper (elbow) threw a ball and swung a bat on Saturday, according to Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic. He has been sidelined since last Tuesday but appears to be trending in the right direction. Not only did he participate in some baseball activities today, but manager Rob Thomson also said the superstar "generally feels better." Furthermore, his X-rays came back negative, and he's expected to avoid a stint on the injured list. It's unclear if Harper will make it back into the lineup this weekend, but he should return to action relatively soon. The Phillies have a day off Monday before taking the field Tuesday in Toronto.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Charlotte Varnes
15 hours ago
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Zack Littell took the mound and never left during Saturday's game against the Houston Astros. Littell got hit around early by allowing two home runs to
Jeremy Pena. After that, Littell settled down and kept the Astros off the board again. The Rays offense went insane and scored 16 runs, so Littell could relax on the mound. He ended up throwing his first career complete game as he allowed three earned runs on 10 hits while striking out six batters. It took 117 pitches, but Littell was able to get through the game by himself. The right-hander hasn't been much of a fantasy option this season, but does have some streaming appeal for his next outing against the Miami Marlins.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
15 hours ago
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman
Junior Caminero has put together an incredible outing at the plate during their series against the Houston Astros. Caminero collected three hits, one homer, and knocked in six runs during the series opener. On Saturday, Caminero went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two home runs, and five RBI in the blowout victory. He smacked three homers and 11 RBI so far during this four-game series. Caminero was swinging the bat well before this series and needs to be rostered and started in basically all fantasy formats.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
15 hours ago
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (elbow) threw a live batting practice session on Saturday. This was the second time that Ohtani has faced live hitters this month. He continues to make progress, but there's still more work to do before he's ready to return to the mound. The Dodgers haven't given much of a timetable for Ohtani. The hope is that he'll be able to help as a pitcher in the second half, but the Dodgers aren't going to rush it. Fantasy managers who have Ohtani as a pitcher will hopefully get something out of him in the second half of the season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jack Harris
16 hours ago
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Garrett Mitchell (oblique) has been making slow progress since his injury in April. Mitchell suffered an oblique strain in late April and is likely to miss two months of action because of it. The organization was hopeful that Mitchell would be back on the roster by now. Sadly, Mitchell isn't making great progress, so he'll probably miss another month. Brewers manager Pat Murphy believes Mitchell should be back in the mix in early July. Mitchell isn't a great fantasy option, but is worth rostering in NL-only formats.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
16 hours ago
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Blake Perkins (shin) has been making progress, but sadly it's not going as well as the organization has hoped. Perkins has been cleared to resume baseball activities since late April. That being said, Perkins was expected to be back with the Brewers by now. Sadly, Perkins progress has been slow and has been unable to run bases on consecutive days due to lingering soreness. Brewers manager Pat Murphy believes Perkins will be back by July. There should be more information later, but it sounds like Perkins is going to miss at least another month.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
17 hours ago
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher
Shane Bieber (elbow) was sharp on the mound during a rehab start for Rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Saturday. Bieber tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out five batters along the way. This was his first start since having Tommy John surgery last year. This is only the beginning for Bieber, but it's a solid start. He figures to need a handful of starts before being cleared to return to the big league rotation. The hope is that Bieber can contribute in the Guardians' rotation by early July.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Guardians Prospective
17 hours ago
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) has been transferred to the 60-day injured list on Saturday. Fantasy managers shouldn't be worried as this is only a procedural move to open up a spot on the 40-man roster. This move frees a spot for catcher
Chuckie Robinson who was claimed off waivers on Saturday. Glasnow has been on the injured list since late April due to right shoulder inflammation. He has been throwing bullpen sessions, but will require a few rehab starts before rejoining the Dodgers roster. The 31-year-old is now eligible to return in late June, so fantasy managers will need to wait a few more weeks.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
17 hours ago
Seattle Mariners infielder
Jorge Polanco is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Polanco was struggling at the plate, but snapped a seven-game hitless streak during Friday's game. This appears to be a routine rest day for the veteran infielder. In his absence,
Cal Raleigh will shift over to the designated hitter spot while
Mitch Garver covers behind the plate versus right-hander
Bailey Ober on Saturday. Fantasy managers should make sure to adjust their lineups accordingly ahead of first pitch.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
17 hours ago
Minnesota Twins infielder
Royce Lewis is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Seattle Mariners. It's not shocking to see Lewis head to the bench considering he's in the middle of a 0-for-26 stretch at the plate. The Twins are hopeful that a day off will help him get his mind right and he can turn the page in the month of June. In his absence,
Brooks Lee will take over third base and bat third versus right-hander
Bryce Miller. If they didn't already, fantasy managers should make sure to get Lewis out of their lineups ahead of first pitch.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
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