19 hours agoChicago White Sox outfielder
Dominic Fletcher (shoulder) will begin his minor-league rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Friday as he recovers from a sprained left shoulder. Fletcher has missed most of June but has been cleared to resume playing in games as he looks to make his way back to the major-league roster before the All-Star break in mid-July. It's unclear exactly when he'll be able to come off the 10-day injured list, but even when he does, he's probably just going to be a left-handed outfield bat off the bench for the Pale Hose. The 26-year-old former second-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019 out of Arkansas has gone just 13-for-75 (.173) this year with no home runs, six RBI and four runs scored for the White Sox in limited playing time.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - James Fegan
19 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers shortstop prospect Emil Morales has been showcasing his raw power in the Rookie League this season and could be nearing a promotion to Single-A. On Thursday, June 27, Morales posted his second consecutive multi-home run game with three total hits and two RBI. Overall, on the season, the 17-year-old has posted a stellar .311/.442/.557 slash line with four home runs, 16 RBI, three stolen bases, and a 14:18 BB:K ratio in 17 games at the Rookie League. Morales is ranked as the 18th-best prospect in the Dodger system on MLB.com and is at least four full seasons away from his major league debut. Dynasty managers should continue to watch Morales in the lower levels of the minors as he could develop into one of the top prospects in the Dodger system.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
19 hours agoHouston Astros right-hander
Luis Garcia (elbow) was sent to the Florida Complex League to begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday. Garcia will be making his first appearance in a game this weekend since having Tommy John surgery last May. Given the nature of his injury and his long layoff, it's likely that he'll spend the full 30 days on his rehab assignment. However, after that, he should return to the big-league starting rotation later in the second half of the season as a much-needed reinforcement for a rotation that has been decimated by injuries this year. The 27-year-old Venezuelan hurler has a respectable 3.61 ERA (3.79 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with a 25.3% strikeout rate in his four major-league seasons with the Astros since debuting in 2020 over 352 innings and 69 appearances (63 starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
19 hours agoSeattle Mariners outfield prospect
Jonatan Clase had a productive game on Thursday where he went 3-for-5 with a single, a triple, and a home run with one RBI and a stolen base. Clase has now tallied at least one hit in each of his past four games and holds an overall .281/.390/.485 slash line with seven long balls, 27 RBI, 23 swiped bags, and a 37:61 BB:K ratio in 50 games this season. The 22-year-old got a brief taste of the major leagues earlier this season, where he posted a mere .176 AVG in 15 games. However, he showcased his elite speed with two stolen bases during that short window. Clase has a strong chance of returning to the majors later this summer and is worth adding when promoted, as he will provide elite stolen base production.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
20 hours agoWashington Nationals top prospect
James Wood will be called up from Triple-A Rochester to make his major-league debut on Monday in D.C. against the visiting New York Mets, according to a source. Wood recently returned to Rochester from a stint on the seven-day injured list due to a hamstring injury and he picked up right where he left off offensively by crushing the baseball down on the farm. It's clear the No. 3 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, has nothing left to prove at Triple-A after batting .346/.458/.578 with a 1.036 OPS, 10 home runs, 13 doubles, 34 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 42 runs scored in his 51 games at Rochester. The 21-year-old left-handed slugger is probably already rostered in most fantasy leagues, but if he's available on your waiver, run there immediately and add him. Wood will be an everyday player immediately and has easy 30-homer power.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Washington Post - Andrew Golden
21 hours agoLos Angeles Angels first baseman
Nolan Schanuel was productive atop the batting order in Thursday night's 5-0 win at Angel Stadium versus the visiting Detroit Tigers, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and his second stolen base of the season. Schanuel is now riding a three-game hitting streak heading into the second game of the series on Friday night. The 22-year-old left-handed-hitting first baseman has hit .237 (18-for-76) in the month of June in 21 games with three home runs, two doubles, eight RBI, 11 walks, 16 strikeouts and both of his stolen bases on the year. Mainly out of necessity, he made the jump all the way to the big leagues in 2023 after being drafted 11th overall last June out of Florida Atlantic. Schanuel offers modest power (eight home runs) and limited counting stats while batting only .228 (59-for-259) on the season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21 hours agoLos Angeles Angels infielder
Luis Rengifo continued to swing a hot bat on Thursday in the team's 5-0 shutout victory over the visiting Detroit Tigers. Rengifo, batting in the two-hole, went 2-for-4 with his fifth home run of the season, two RBI and a run scored. The home run for Rengifo was his first round-tripper since May 24 against the Cleveland Guardians. The 27-year-old Venezuelan switch-hitter has picked up two hits in three of his last four games and has remained hot in June, going 25-for-87 (.287) with a homer, two doubles, five RBI, eight stolen bases and nine runs scored in 23 games played. Rengifo doesn't have a lot of extra-base hit potential or power, but he's hitting .312 (72-for-231) on the season and has also contributed 20 stolen bases, making him useful in all fantasy leagues as one of the Angels' best hitters.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21 hours agoMiami Marlins right-hander
Kyle Tyler will make another start for the Fish on Friday in a very tough matchup on the road in Philadelphia against the Phillies, who own the best record in baseball. First baseman
Bryce Harper (hamstring) and outfielder/designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber (groin) were both injured on Thursday and probably won't be in the lineup on Friday, but it will still be a dangerous matchup for a pitcher making just his second major-league start. Tyler picked up a no-decision against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday when he gave up two runs while walking three and striking out two in his first career start. As long as the 27-year-old doesn't completely fall flat on Friday, there's a good chance he could make another start before the All-Star break in Miami with their rotation extremely banged up.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21 hours agoDetroit Tigers right-hander
Jack Flaherty has had an amazing season in 2024, but it wasn't his night on Thursday on the road against the hosting Los Angeles Angels. Flaherty allowed five earned runs on seven hits (season-high three home runs) while walking one and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings of work to even out his record at 5-5 in the loss. Fantasy managers won't be complaining about the seven strikeouts, but it just wasn't Flaherty's night as his season ERA was raised to a still very respectable 3.24. The poor outing snapped the 28-year-old's streak of allowing one run or fewer in four straight starts. Aside the allowing three home runs on Thursday, though, it wasn't a terrible performance. Fantasy managers should still consider Flaherty a must-start given the way he's pitched in 2024. He currently ranks third in baseball with a 33% strikeout rate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks left-hander
Jordan Montgomery wasn't long for his start on Thursday against the visiting Minnesota Twins, lasting just 2 2/3 innings and being pulled after giving up eight runs (four earned) on nine hits while walking one and striking out only one to drop to 6-5 in his first season in Arizona. The 31-year-old southpaw didn't get much help from his defense in this one and he was also a bit unfortunate with the Twins eeking out three infield singles. He gave up only two extra-base hits. The final line doesn't look great, and Montgomery came into this one with just five earned runs allowed in his previous three starts combined. The former fourth-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2014 out of South Carolina has struggled overall in 2024, though, and things won't get any easier with his next outing scheduled to come against the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers next week.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21 hours agoTexas Rangers right-hander
Jon Gray didn't have it on Thursday in his outing at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles, as he gave up eight earned runs on nine hits (two home runs) while walking one and striking out only one in five innings of work to fall to 3-4 on the year. The poor outing dropped his season ERA to 3.77 and his WHIP to 1.28 in 16 total appearances (14 starts) covering 76 1/3 innings. Gray now has two terrible performances -- he gave up a season-high nine earned runs in just three innings against the New York Mets on June 17 -- in his last three outings, with a six-inning shutout in between on June 22 against the Kansas City Royals. Coming into the month of June, Gray had an ERA below 3.00, but he's struggled this month and will be a shaky fantasy play his next time out for the Rangers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
21 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals right-hander
Miles Mikolas had a start to forget on Thursday against the visiting division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Mikolas surrendered a season-high 10 runs (nine earned) on a season-high 12 hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out only one to pick up his seventh loss of the season. The poor outing raised his ERA to 5.32 on the year and his WHIP to 1.25 in 17 starts over 94 2/3 innings pitched. It was also the first time since May 7 that Mikolas didn't go at least five innings, ending his streak at eight starts. So while this was a pretty disastrous outing from all accounts, Mikolas had been pretty serviceable before this, although his lack of strikeout upside severely limits his upside in fantasy circles. Mikolas is sporting a weak 17.3% strikeout rate in 2024 and has a career strikeout rate of just 17.6% in nine MLB seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
23 hours agoChicago Cubs second base prospect
James Triantos homered Thursday for Double-A Tennessee to continue his red-hot month. Triantos is hitting .429 in June with four homers and 12 RBI to go with 14 stolen bases. The 21-year-old has been showcasing his power-speed potential all season with 27 stolen bases to his name along with seven homers and 31 RBI while hitting .319. The Cubs' No. 5 prospect is crushing Double-A this year and could be in line for a promotion to Triple-A shortly. With a 60-grade hit tool, Triantos profiles as someone who can quickly adjust at the plate each time he advances a level. He could be looking at a big-league debut sometime next season at this rate and is someone who should be on the fantasy radar.
--Brian BuckeySource: MILB.com
23 hours agoCincinnati Red third base prospect
Cam Collier hit a home run Thursday for High-A Dayton. The Reds' No. 4 prospect is hitting .232 with 12 homers and 46 RBI for Dayton this season. Collier may not be hitting for a high batting average but he has been productive nonetheless as he adjusts to his first season at High-A. At just 19 years old, Collier is a promising prospect with a bright future. The left-handed batter has a high upside as a pure hitter with plus power. As he continues to grow into his body and adjust to the minor leagues he should advance quickly through the Reds' system. However, he is likely at least a few years from being on the radar in redraft leagues.
--Brian BuckeySource: MILB.com
23 hours agoKansas City Royals relief pitcher
James McArthur was called upon to hold a one-run lead versus the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. The right-hander tossed a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 14th save of the season. McArthur has been a little shaky this season with a 4.41 ERA across 31 appearances. He's not an elite closer, but McArthur is the best option the Royals have at closer right now. Fantasy managers should expect McArthur to continue getting save chances going forward.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
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