10 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
10 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
11 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
11 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
11 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
11 hours agoChicago White Sox third base prospect
Chase Meidroth went 2-for-4 with his second home run of the campaign during Tuesday's loss to the Norfolk Tides. Meidroth wasted little time as he went deep in the opening frame off Cameron Weston. Later in the contest, he knocked a single for his second hit of the evening. Through the early part of the Triple-A regular season, Meidroth has enjoyed a strong start, as he has only gone hitless in one game. Through five games, the former fourth-round selection has posted a solid .294/.478/.647 slash line. Meidroth was included in the package that sent budding ace
Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox during the winter. Last season, Meidroth held a .293/.437/.400 line through 122 games with Triple-A Worcester and should be in the mix for an MLB debut on the Southside early in the campaign.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
11 hours agoBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora described right-handers
Brayan Bello (shoulder) and
Lucas Giolito (hamstring) as "not close" to coming off the injured list to rejoin the team's starting rotation given their need to have a spring training-like buildup. It sounds like both pitchers will need at least a couple more minor-league rehab starts. In their first rehab starts with Triple-A Worcester this week, Bello reached 47 pitches and Giolito reached 51 pitches. Bello is scheduled to make a second start with the WooSox on Sunday, with Giolito likely to return to the mound on Monday or Tuesday. Both pitchers came down with their respective injuries in spring training, but barring a setback on their rehab assignments, they could rejoin Boston's rotation by late April. In the meantime,
Richard Fitts and
Sean Newcomb will hold down the fort at the back end of the rotation in Boston.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
11 hours agoBaltimore Orioles pitching prospect Michael Forret is opening the campaign at the Double-A level. Forret is considered the No. 2 pitching prospect in the Baltimore system, only behind
Chayce McDermott, according to MLB Pipeline. The Orioles drafted Forret in the 13th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, and he is already receiving the call to move to the upper levels of the minor leagues. Last summer, the 20-year-old made his professional debut at Low-A. Across 39 2/3 innings, Forret posted a solid 3.18 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP. He struck out 49 batters and served up 13 free passes. He then moved up to High-A Aberdeen, where he logged 60 innings to the tune of a 4.35 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He tallied an impressive 70 punchouts at this level and allowed 29 walks. Dynasty managers should continue to monitor Forret's development as he could find himself rising on prospect boards throughout the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
11 hours agoBoston Red Sox catcher
Connor Wong will take a seat for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Carlos Narvaez will do the catching for right-hander
Tanner Houck and will hit eighth in the batting order versus veteran right-hander
Charlie Morton. Wong could use the day off, as the 28-year-old has just one hit in his first 21 plate appearances over six games in 2025 with a steal, two walks and six punchouts. This will be only Narvaez's second game of the early season and just his eighth total game in the majors after debuting with the New York Yankees in 2024. He's gone 1-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a strikeout so far this year and should be avoided in DFS formats on Thursday. Narvaez has never faced Morton.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoBaltimore Orioles right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) threw his second bullpen session Camden Yards on Wednesday before the team's game against the visiting division-rival Boston Red Sox, according to MLB.com's Jake Rill. Rodriguez continues to build his arm back up after he was shut down during spring training with right-elbow inflammation. The 25-year-old hasn't had any setbacks since resuming a throwing program, but because of the fact that he's yet to face live hitters at all, it might make sense for fantasy managers to expect his 2025 debut to come in late April or early May. Rodriguez will need to eventually go on a minor-league rehab assignment, but when he's ready to return, he'll be reinserted as Baltimore's ace at the top of the rotation. Left-hander
Cade Povich will likely be the odd-man out of the rotation when Rodriguez returns.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoBaltimore Orioles outfield prospect
Enrique Bradfield Jr. will open the regular season with Double-A Bowie on Friday. The Orioles drafted Bradfield with the 17th selection in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt. After receiving a brief 25-game taste in the lower levels of the minor leagues in 2023, Bradfield spent most of the 2024 season at High-A. Across 81 games, the 23-year-old posted a solid .267/.345/.363 slash line with 14 doubles, three round-trippers, and an impressive 59 stolen bases. He then earned a late-season promotion to Double-A, where he took a step forward as he posted a .287/.395/.396 line with four doubles and 15 stolen bases in just 27 games. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his production as he could be in the mix for an early promotion to Triple-A Norfolk if he enjoys similar production at the start of the 2025 season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
11 hours agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle will receive a day of rest in Thursday's series finale against the visiting division-rival Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. The left-handed-hitting
Ryan O'Hearn will start at first base and bat cleanup for the O's versus right-hander
Tanner Houck. Mountcastle has started five of the team's first seven games in the early going and has gone 5-for-20 at the plate with a double, RBI, three runs scored, one walk and four strikeouts in 21 plate appearances. O'Hearn is much better against right-handed pitchers and is swinging a hot bat early on, going 6-for-15 with two doubles and two runs scored in four games played. He's worth taking a serious look at for DFS contests on a small Thursday slate against Houck, who he's hit .375 against with a solo home run in eight career at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
11 hours agoBaltimore Orioles pitching prospect Nestor German will open the 2025 regular season at Double-A. German is considered the No. 11 prospect in the Baltimore system. Last season, German made his professional debut and performed very well in the lower levels of the system, and is being rewarded with an early promotion. He opened the campaign with Single-A and held a 1.49 ERA with a stellar 0.93 WHIP across 48 1/3 innings of work. During this stint, he tallied 57 punchouts and served up 14 free passes. He then moved up to High-A, where he logged 25 1/3 innings to the tune of a 1.78 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. He served up three free passes at this level and struck out an impressive 33 batters. The Seattle University product is a name to monitor as he could find himself near the top of a deep Baltimore system by the end of the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
11 hours agoBaltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that shortstop
Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) is probable to be activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday to make his season debut against the Royals in Kansas City. Henderson played in his final minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday and was scheduled for a rest day on Thursday. Henderson is not in the team's lineup on Thursday for their series finale against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, with
Jackson Holliday manning the 6 and batting seventh. The 23-year-old hasn't had any kind of setback, but with an early start time on Thursday against Boston, the O's want to give him a full day of rest. Fantasy managers should expect Henderson back at shortstop and in the leadoff spot for Baltimore on Friday against veteran right-hander
Seth Lugo and the Royals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
14
hours
agoArizona
Diamondbacks
relief
pitcher
A.J.
Puk
had
a
wild
ride
in
the
ninth
inning
against
the
Yankees
on
Wednesday
night,
but
he
managed
to
close
out
the
team's
second
straight
win
in
the
Bronx.
Puk
entered
the
ninth
inning
with
nobody
out
after
read more...
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