14 hours agoNew York Mets outfield prospect
Drew Gilbert (hamstring) returned to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. Gilbert was on the 7-day injured list due to a hamstring injury at the start of the campaign. He participated in a brief six-game rehab assignment with Low-A St. Lucie before returning to action. During his rehab assignment, Gilbert held a strong .374/.444/.708 slash line with two long balls. Fantasy managers should expect Gilbert to push for his MLB debut later this summer as he has already had a taste of Triple-A action. However, during his first look at Triple-A last season, Gilbert held a modest .215/.313/.393 line with just 10 home runs and three stolen bases across 56 games. If the former 28th overall pick can turn the corner, he could be in the mix to reach Queens during the first half of the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
14 hours agoAthletics outfield prospect
Henry Bolte snapped his skid on Thursday as he went 2-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base. Entering Thursday, Bolte carried an underwhelming .100/.182/.100 line over his last three contests. However, prior to this minor slump, Bolte began the season riding an eight-game hitting streak. During this hot start, the former second-round selection held a stellar .379/.455/.517 line with one double and one long ball. Last summer, the 21-year-old began the campaign with High-A before getting the call to Double-A Midland. During his first taste of Double-A, Bolte posted a solid .252/.332/.396 line with four home runs across 54 games. Given his strong start to the 2025 campaign, Bolte should be in the mix for an early Triple-A debut.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
14 hours agoNew York Mets infield prospect
Jett Williams went 2-for-5 with a home run and a stolen base during their contest on Thursday against Double-A Reading. This outing extended Williams' current hitting streak to three games. Through his first 10 games of the Double-A campaign, Williams has tallied at least one hit in all but two games. He has gone deep twice and swiped two bags, and posted an overall .256/.310/.487 line. Last season, the former 14th overall pick was limited by numerous injuries, appearing in only 33 MiLB games. During this small sample, he spent most of his time with Double-A Binghamton and held an underwhelming .172/.287/.241 line. However, Williams has already begun to turn the corner at Double-A early this season. If he continues to perform, he should be in the mix to move up to Triple-A in the coming months.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
14 hours agoMiami Marlins catching prospect
Agustin Ramirez went 2-for-5 with his third home run of the Triple-A regular season on Thursday against Triple-A Memphis. Ramirez has enjoyed a strong start to the season and is nearing his MLB debut. Through 17 contests, the backstop has posted a .274/.338/.532 slash line with three home runs and five stolen bases. Ramirez was one of the prospects included in the
Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade last summer. He enjoyed similar success at Triple-A last season, holding a .246/.345/.411 line with nine home runs and nine stolen bases. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on Ramirez's progression with Jacksonville, as he could push for an early MLB debut given his previous experience and success at Triple-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
14 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Jordan Lawlar continues to flash elite power at Triple-A and is nearing a return to the major leagues. On Thursday evening, the top prospect in the desert went 2-for-4 with a long ball. This was his third home run over the past four games. Over his previous seven contests, the former sixth overall pick has posted a stellar .385/.448/.962 slash line with three doubles and four home runs. Through the first 18 games of the Triple-A regular season, Lawlar has posted an impressive .300/.395/.557 line. The 22-year-old made his MLB debut in 2023 but was unable to return to the majors in 2024 due to numerous injuries. However, Lawlar has returned to full strength and is showcasing his elite five-category upside. He should be viewed as a strong stash candidate in all formats with
Ketel Marte (hamstring) still on the injured list.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
14 hours agoLos Angeles Angels pitching prospect
Caden Dana tossed seven shutout innings in his latest outing on Thursday against Triple-A Sacramento. In this start, Dana allowed just four hits and no walks. He struck out seven batters. Through his first three starts of the Triple-A campaign, Dana has enjoyed an impressive start, holding a 1.13 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP across 16 innings of work. He has tallied 20 punchouts and allowed just five walks. He was given a brief promotion to Los Angeles earlier in April but only made one appearance out of the bullpen. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression with Triple-A Salt Lake, as he should be in the mix to not only return to the majors but operate out of the starting rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
14 hours agoMiami Heat guard
Pelle Larsson (ankle) has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Friday's play-in matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. The rookie has been out since April 7 with a sprained ankle but started in six consecutive games before going down with the injury. Head coach Erik Spoelstra said that he expects Larsson to be able to suit up, so it seems he could receive some minutes. It's unclear whether or not he'll move back into the starting lineup, though. Across 55 appearances this season, Larsson averaged 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. If he does see some playing time, he'll likely take some minutes from
Alec Burks and
Davion Mitchell.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
15 hours agoMiami Heat forward
Kevin Love (personal) was originally listed as questionable for Friday night's play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks, but it looks like he'll be downgraded to out. According to NBA Insider Ira Winderman, the veteran big man has left the team for ongoing family reasons. There haven't been reports that suggest what exactly is going on, but the team will move forward without him in the meantime. That likely means that
Kel'el Ware,
Kyle Anderson, and
Haywood Highsmith will continue to get minutes in the frontcourt. Ware has taken over the starting spot and registered six points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal in their win over the Chicago Bulls.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Ira Winderman
15 hours agoMiami Heat forward
Nikola Jovic (hand) is dealing with a broken hand and is considered questionable for Friday's play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, head coach Erik Spoelstra said that he expects both Jovic and
Pelle Larsson (ankle) to play. Still, it seems unlikely that Jovic will be used even if he is upgraded. The third-year forward hasn't played since February 23, and hasn't played more than 46 games in a season yet. This year, he averaged a career-high in minutes per game (25.1) and posted 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 threes per game.
Kyle Anderson and
Haywood Highsmith will likely continue to receive some more minutes off of the bench in his place.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Chiang
17 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies left-handed pitcher
Jose Alvarado earned his fourth save of the campaign on Thursday afternoon during their victory over the San Francisco Giants. Alvarado entered the game in the ninth inning but ran into some trouble. After retiring
Casey Schmitt via a lineout, he would allow a solo shot to
Tyler Fitzgerald. He would then allow a single to outfielder
Jung Hoo Lee. However, the southpaw was able to hold the lead to seal the victory. Through his first nine 1/3 innings of work this season, the 29-year-old has held a 2.89 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP. He has tallied 14 punchouts and generated an elite 2.15 xERA, which suggests he should see positive regression during the summer. Alvarado has emerged as the primary ninth-inning option in Philadelphia and remains a must-start option in all leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher
A.J. Puk earned his fourth save of the campaign on Thursday afternoon during their 6-4 victory over the Miami Marlins. The southpaw entered the contest in the final frame. Puk allowed a leadoff double to designated hitter
Griffin Conine. However, he would then retire the next three batters he saw to shut the door. He would tally one punchout. Throughout the early part of the campaign, the Diamondbacks have provided both Puk and right-hander
Justin Martinez with save opportunities. However, Puk appears to be the slight leader in the committee as he has earned four of the six saves. Across eight innings of work, Puk has struck out 12 batters and held a 3.38 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP. He remains a solid option in all standard formats as he should continue to see ample save opportunities on a competing Diamondbacks team.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher
Dennis Santana earned his second save of the season on Thursday afternoon during their victory over the Washington Nationals. Santana entered the game in the ninth inning and only needed to record two outs as
Ryan Borucki started the inning. Santana retired both batters he faced. First, he got outfielder
Dylan Crews to hit a ground out, and then proceeded to strike out infielder
Luis Garcia Jr. With
David Bednar being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, Santana has emerged as the favorite for save opportunities in the Steel City. Through his first nine innings of the season, the 29-year-old right-hander has held a 2.00 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. He has struck out five batters but has generated a high 5.54 xERA, which suggests he could face some regression. Despite his underwhelming metrics, he is a viable target for saves in deeper formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 hours agoSeattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh went 1-for-5 with a solo shot during their victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday evening. Raleigh would hit the long ball off Cincinnati reliever
Emilio Pagan. Over his last six games, Raleigh has enjoyed an incredible power surge, hitting six long balls over this span. On Wednesday, Raleigh hit two home runs. Before this recent hot stretch, the switch-hitting catcher held a modest .184/.286/.347 slash line with two home runs across his first 13 contests. Through the early part of the campaign, the 28-year-old catcher has generated an elite .395 xwOBA with a 25.0 percent barrel rate, which has placed him in the 87th and 100th percentile, respectively. Raleigh should continue to be viewed as a high-end No. 1 catcher in all leagues given his elite power upside.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 hours agoEdmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed) has taken home the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal-scorer in 2024-25. He finished at the top of the pile for the first time in his career, potting 52 goals in 71 contests. The German superstar missed the final seven regular-season games due to an undisclosed injury, but still comfortably ended up as the league's top goal-scorer, with William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs finishing second on 45 goals. Draisaitl lit the lamp in 42 of his 71 outings and set a single-season NHL record with six overtime goals. He now also holds the NHL record for the most games missed (11) in a season by a Rocket Richard Trophy winner. Over the course of the campaign, Draisaitl added 54 assists to his tally, finishing with 106 points. This marks his fourth consecutive season with at least 100 points, and his sixth overall.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
17 hours agoAthletics outfielder
Lawrence Butler went 2-for-5 with a home run to extend his hitting streak to four games on Thursday afternoon during their victory over the Chicago White Sox. In the opening frame, Butler would hit a leadoff double and would eventually score on a
Jacob Wilson double. Later in the contest, Butler would hit a solo shot in the fifth inning off Chicago starter
Chris Martin. The 24-year-old has enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign, posting a .296/.390/.451 line with two long balls and six stolen bases. He has generated a strong .355 xwOBA, 92.1 mph average exit velocity, with a 74.1 mph bat speed, which are all above the average marks. Butler remains a must-start option in all formats and is a strong play in DFS on Friday, facing Milwaukee right-hander
Chad Patrick.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 hours agoAthletics outfielder
JJ Bleday went 1-for-4 with a two-run shot during Thursday's victory over the Chicago White Sox. Bleday would hit his second long ball of the campaign in the sixth inning off Chicago starter
Davis Martin. His home run also scored
Brent Rooker. Since posting a modest .167/.302/.194 slash line with a double and one RBI across the first 10 games of the campaign, Bleday has begun to turn the corner. Over his previous eight contests, the 27-year-old has posted a stellar .300/.353/.567 slash line with two doubles and two home runs. Under the hood, Bleday has shown a strong eye at the plate, drawing walks at a 13.0 percent rate and striking out at an 18.2 percent rate, which are both well above the average marks. Bleday remains a solid depth outfielder in all formats, given his everyday role.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
17 hours agoTampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov has won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer in 2024-25. He finished the regular season with 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists) in 78 games, five more than Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, who also lost the scoring race to Kucherov last year. Overall, the Tampa Bay superstar captured the Art Ross Trophy for the third time, becoming the 10th player in NHL history to win it as many times. Kucherov was on the score sheet in 65 of his 78 appearances, producing multiple points 33 times and three-plus points on 17 occasions. He had 46 points (eight goals, 38 assists) on the power play, which is also a league-high mark for the season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
18 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez (back) is not expected to return before the end of April, according to Jeff Kerr of CBS News. Manager Rob Thompson noted that the southpaw still needs "at least" more than one rehab outing to continue to build his pitch count. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression, but it appears the southpaw will not be in contention to return to action till at least May. So far, the 29-year-old has logged seven rehab innings (across two outings) and held a strong 1.29 with a 0.70 WHIP. He has posted a near-perfect 11:1 K:BB. When Suarez does eventually return to Philadelphia, he will likely push
Taijuan Walker to the bullpen. Last summer, Suarez was effective when on the bump, holding a 3.46 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Kerr
18 hours agoPittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust potted two goals as the team ended a disappointing campaign with a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night. He had a quick answer for Connor McMichael's goal in the first period and gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead in the second with a power-play goal. The two-goal effort helped Rust reach the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. There will be no playoff hockey in Pittsburgh for a third consecutive year, but 2024-25 was an outstanding campaign individually for Rust, who recorded a career-high 65 points (31 goals, 34 assists) in 71 outings.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoNew York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin ended the season on a high note, stopping all 27 shots he faced in Thursday's 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner collected his sixth shutout of the season, matching his career high. Shesterkin will have at least something to celebrate from a frustrating season, which he concluded with a 27-29-5 record. He posted a career-worst 2.86 goals-against average and had a .905 save percentage, also his worst-ever mark in the NHL. The Rangers must build a better team around Shesterkin to fully benefit from his talents.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoOttawa Senators center Dylan Cozens capped off the 2024-25 regular season with a three-point performance in Thursday's 7-5 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. He recorded the team's second goal and provided two assists in the contest. Two of Cozens' points, including his goal, came during the power play. He also had two assists in Tuesday's overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, allowing him to enter the playoffs with positive momentum. The 24-year-old finished the regular season with 47 points (16 goals, 31 assists) in 82 games. His scoring rate improved significantly after moving to Canada, totaling five goals and 16 points in 21 outings with the Senators.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoPhiladelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov amassed three points in Thursday's season finale against the Buffalo Sabres, tallying two goals and an assist in a 5-4 loss. He got things started with a power-play goal in the first period. Michkov relied heavily on the power play to get points on the board early in his rookie campaign, but ultimately, only 17 of his 63 points came with the man advantage. The 20-year-old finished tied for second in points among rookies with San Jose's Macklin Celebrini, while Michkov led all first-year players with 26 goals. It was a solid debut season for the Russian, and there should be plenty more to come from Michkov in the future.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoOttawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk (undisclosed) logged only 10:37 of ice time on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes as he returned from an eight-game absence. The power forward, who missed a couple of weeks due to an upper-body injury, sat out the final period of play in a 7-5 victory. Fortunately, it was announced after the game that Tkachuk exited for precautionary reasons. The Senators captain should be good to go for Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Tkachuk will make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in the contest. During the regular season, Tkachuk posted only one point in three meetings with the Maple Leafs. He closed the campaign with a team-high 27 goals and tallied 55 points in 72 appearances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
18 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks infield prospect
Demetrio Crisantes went 1-for-4 with a home run during Thursday's contest against High-A Spokane. This was Crisantes' first round-tripper at the High-A level. Prior to Thursday's contest, Crisantes was having trouble finding his footing early in the campaign. Through his first 10 games with High-A Hillsboro, Crisantes posted a modest .171/.354/.200 slash line with just one double. However, he has shown a strong eye at the plate, holding an 11:6 BB:K. Last summer, Crisantes spent time at the Rookie level before making his Low-A debut. In 63 games with Low-A last summer, Crisantes posted a stellar .333/.429/.478 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect Crisantes to spend most of the summer with High-A.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
19 hours agoSeattle Mariners right-handed pitching prospect Ryan Sloan dominated in his second professional outing on Thursday. Sloan tossed three 1/3 innings of one-run ball against Low-A Inland. He allowed just two hits and one walk. He struck out an impressive seven batters. This was a strong improvement compared to his first professional outing on April 9, when he tossed one inning of two-run ball with two punchouts. On Thursday, Sloan relied on his slider and splitter to generate strikeouts. The Mariners drafted the 19-year-old with the 55th overall pick in last year's MLB Draft out of York Community HS. While Sloan is several seasons away from his MLB debut, Sloan is already flashing elite strikeout upside. He remains a name to watch closely in dynasty formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
19 hours agoSan Francisco Giants third baseman
Matt Chapman had a big game in a 6-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. Chapman went 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs, and three RBI but it wasn't enough for his team to overcome the Phillies. The veteran infielder is now hitting .239 with three homers, 11 runs, 12 RBI, and two steals across 67 at-bats this season. Chapman is showing signs of heating up with a .304 average over his past seven games.
--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
19 hours agoNew York Yankees outfield prospect
Spencer Jones went 3-for-5 with two round-trippers during their contest against Double-A Altoona on Thursday. This was Jones' second multi-home run contest over his previous four games. During this recent power surge, the No. 3-ranked prospect in the Bronx has held a .333/.368/1.000 line with seven RBI and two stolen bases. The 23-year-old spent the entire 2024 campaign with Double-A Somerset and struggled at times. Across 122 games, Jones posted a .259/.336/.452 line with 30 doubles and 17 home runs. However, through the first 12 games of the 2025 campaign, Jones is showing significant progress at Double-A as he has held a .273/.385/.636 line. If he continues to hit for power, he should get the call to Triple-A in the coming weeks.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
19 hours agoBaltimore Orioles shortstop
Gunnar Henderson was productive in a 6-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. Henderson went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo homer, and two runs in the win. The veteran shortstop kicked off the scoring in the ballgame with a solo homer off Cleveland starter
Tanner Bibee in the first innning. After missing the first week or so of the regular season with a right intercostal strain, Henderson is hitting .239 with one homer, seven runs, one RBI, and two steals across 46 at-bats. He is off to a slow start in the power department but hit 65 combined homers over his previous two seasons, so fantasy managers need to stay patient with him in the early going.
--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
19 hours agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Heston Kjerstad turned in a productive game in a 6-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. Kjerstad went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and a walk in the winning effort. The 26-year-old outfielder plated the final two runs of the game with a 400-foot two-run homer off Cleveland starter
Tanner Bibee in the sixth inning. Kjerstad is now hitting .233 with two homers, eight runs, and 10 RBI across 43 at-bats in the first month of the season.
--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
19 hours agoBoston Red Sox outfield prospect
Roman Anthony went 2-for-4 with two home runs during Thursday's game against Triple-A Rochester. This was his fourth multi-hit outing over his last five contests. During this impressive five-game stretch, the top prospect in the sport has held a strong .474/.565/.895 line with eight RBI and five runs. The 20-year-old was in the mix to make the Opening Day roster but was sent to Triple-A Worcester to put the final touches on his development. Through 15 games at Triple-A this season, Anthony has held a .283/.433/.585 line with two doubles and four long balls. Last summer, Anthony received his first look at Triple-A and posted an impressive .344/.463/.519 line with three home runs and five stolen bases across 35 games. He is a strong stash candidate as he is nearing his MLB debut.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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