2 days agoChicago White Sox center fielder
Luis Robert Jr. homered on Saturday in a game against the Colorado Rockies. The 470-foot blast off
Cal Quantrill was his ninth home run of the season. Robert Jr. also scored a run as well. He is hitting .206 on the season with nine home runs, 13 RBI, three stolen bases, and 18 runs. The star outfielder has struggled with the bat over the last month, with only 16 hits in 89 plate appearances, good for a .203 batting average. He has hit six home runs in June, so the power has been there for Robert Jr. even as the batting average has suffered in 2024.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: Chicago White Sox on MLB.COM
2 days agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks have reinstated their ace
Zac Gallen (hamstring) from the injured list on Saturday afternoon. Gallen will get the Oakland Athletics this afternoon in Arizona. Gallen missed nearly a month with the injury. He is 5-4 with a 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts in 57 innings this year. Gallen might have a lower pitch count today, as he threw a 67-pitch simulation game on Monday before throwing an extended bullpen session on Thursday. The Diamondbacks sent lefty
Brandon Hughes to Triple-A in a related move.
--Mike Carter - RotoBallerSource: MLB Trade Rumors on X
2 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto has been scratched from Saturday's starting lineup with a right-hand bruise that he sustained sliding into home plate during the fourth inning of Friday's 16-5 victory. The superstar will undergo initial imaging on Saturday in Toronto. Acquired in an offseason blockbuster trade from the San Diego Padres, Soto has been as advertised with the Yankees, hitting .302 with 20 home runs, 68 runs, 60 RBI, four stolen bases, and a 1.004 OPS across 81 games and 366 trips to the plate. Fantasy managers likely don't have much to worry about when it comes to Soto's hand issue but this is certainly a development to keep an eye on in case a surprise comes to light during his imaging.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
2 days agoMilwaukee Brewers infielder
Joey Ortiz has been scratched from Saturday's starting lineup against the Chicago Cubs due to neck soreness. Originally slated to play third base,
Andruw Monasterio will instead man the hot corner for the second straight game and hit ninth against Cubs southpaw
Justin Steele. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles as part of the package for ace
Corbin Burnes, Ortiz has been fantastic in his first season in Milwaukee, hitting .275 with seven homers, five stolen bases, a 13.9% BB%, and a healthy .835 OPS across 72 games and 251 trips to the plate. The 25-year-old's counting stats haven't made him an exceptional fantasy contributor but dynasty managers should be encouraged by his potential following a breakout 2024 campaign.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Brewers
2 days agoArizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll is once again on the bench against a left-handed pitcher on Saturday as he takes a seat against Oakland A's southpaw
Hogan Harris. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year has been perhaps the most disappointing fantasy baseball player this season as he is hitting .213 with just two home runs alongside 14 stolen bases and a .617 OPS across 80 games, production that grades out 21% below the league average, as per his 79 WRC+. Interestingly, he has done so despite walking more and striking out less but his production has been a far cry from 2023 when he hit 25 homers, stole 54 bases, and produced an .868 OPS in 155 games. Fantasy managers who used a first-round pick on Carroll have certainly been hurt by the valued investment.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoTampa Bay Rays utility player
Amed Rosario is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the visiting Washington Nationals and right-hander
Jake Irvin. The 28-year-old has been rather productive at the plate in his first season with the Rays, hitting .296 with a .727 OPS in 62 games. At the same time, he has hit just two homers on the season -- and none since April 17 -- while walking in just 3.1% of his trips to the plate. His 110 wRC+ tells us that he has been valuable to the Rays but fantasy managers have been unable to extract much value from the veteran's counting stats which include 18 runs, 24 RBI, and seven steals on the season. Rosario is a decent middle infield fantasy player for leagues that count batting average but he has largely been fantasy irrelevant this season.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Jack Suwinski is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the hosting Atlanta Braves and left-hander
Max Fried. Interestingly, the 25-year-old has put forth reverse splits in the 2024 season, hitting .242 with a .628 OPS on the season against lefties while hitting just .156 with .534 OPS against righties. Of course, his numbers this season have been a major disappointment for fantasy managers as Suwinski is hitting .171 with six homers, five steals, and a .550 OPS on the season after hitting .224 with 26 home runs, 13 stolen bases, and a .793 OPS across 144 games in the 2023 season. There is certainly some second-half bounce-back potential considering his lowly .218 BABIP but it's also worth noting that Suwinski's .280 xwOBA ranks in the league's 11th percentile.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoWashington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams (wrist) is in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against the Tampa Bay Rays. Abrams had X-rays taken on his left wrist following Friday's contest after being hit by a pitch in the seventh inning, but the tests came back clean. It's been a big season at the plate for the 23-year-old, who is hitting .278 with 12 home runs, 13 stolen bases, and an .832 OPS across 73 appearances and 324 trips to the plate. Abrams slugged 18 homers with 47 stolen bases in the 2023 campaign, giving fantasy managers a glimpse into the power/speed potential he could bring to the table in the 2024 season and beyond. Keep him in your starting lineups on Saturday.
--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoLos Angeles Angels third baseman
Anthony Rendon (hamstring) was seen taking live grounders at third base on Friday and will now face live pitching on Thursday or Friday of next week, according to Michael Huntley of the Sporting Tribune. In addition, Angels skipper Ron Washington said he hopes Rendon can return to the diamond on July 8, when the Angels will start a three-game set against the Texas Rangers. The 34-year-old was shifted to the 60-day injured list on May 9 with a high-grade tear in his left hamstring. Prior to the injury, Rendon posted a .267/.325/.307 line with no home runs, three RBI, three swiped bags, and a 6:15 BB:K ratio in 19 games. When he returns, he should be expected to slot in as the everyday third baseman in Los Angeles, which will shift
Luis Rengifo, who has been covering the hot corner, to second base.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Michael Huntley
2 days agoToronto Blue Jays relief pitcher
Jordan Romano (elbow) has been shut down from throwing again, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Romano experienced more elbow discomfort when throwing on Friday and will now seek further medical evaluation. The Toronto closer has been on the 15-day injured list since June 1 with right elbow inflammation and has faced numerous setbacks in his recovery process. Before the injury, the 31-year-old struggled this season with a 6.59 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 4:13 BB:K ratio in his limited 13 ⅔ inning sample size. He tallied only eight saves. While Romano remains sidelined,
Chad Green should continue to be expected to serve as the primary ninth-inning option, but 33-year-old
Yimi Garcia (elbow) could also become a candidate when he returns from the injured list sometime in July.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
2 days agoMiami Marlins outfielder
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (hand) has returned to the starting lineup. The 26-year-old was kept out of the lineup on Friday due to facing a southpaw and a minor hand injury. In addition, he made seven straight starts prior to that. Chisholm will bat in the leadoff spot and play in center field. In 79 games this season, Chisholm has posted a .260/.327/.429 slash line with 10 long balls, 37 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. Before sitting out on Friday, Chisholm tallied at least one hit in four of his last six games. However, he should be faded in DFS this afternoon as he will face Phillies right-hander
Aaron Nola, who has posted a 2.77 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and a near-perfect 1:12 BB:K ratio in his previous two starts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoNew York Yankees designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) resumed treadmill activities on Friday, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Yankees manager Aaron Boone emphasized that the 34-year-old was "moving around" but "not doing a lot." Stanton has been on the 10-day injured list since June 23 with a hamstring strain and is projected to miss around four weeks of play. While this progress is not significant, it is a positive sign to see the slugger moving around without having any setbacks. Before the injury, Stanton was riding a solid .246/.302/.492 slash line with 18 long balls and 45 RBI through 69 games. In addition, he held a 19.4% barrel rate and 54.1% hard-hit rate, which placed him at the top of all qualified hitters. Stanton should be expected to serve as the everyday designated hitter in the Bronx when he returns, but in the meantime,
J.D. Davis and
Aaron Judge should see the majority of the starts there.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
2 days agoTampa Bay Rays second baseman
Brandon Lowe (toe) is back in the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon and will serve as the designated hitter and bat second. Lowe has been out of the lineup for the past five straight games but did come in as a pinch-hitter on Friday evening, which suggested he should return on Saturday. The 29-year-old has posted a poor .216/.313/.414 line with five home runs through 36 games this season. However, before the injury, Lowe was beginning to find his footing with a much-improved .254/.324/.476 slash line with four home runs through June. Lowe is worth a look in DFS this afternoon as he will have prime scoring opportunities batting at the top of the Rays lineup but does have a tougher matchup in Nationals right-hander
Jake Irvin, who holds a 2.35 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in his past four starts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 days agoBoston Red Sox middle infielder
David Hamilton is not in the team's starting lineup on Saturday as they take on the visiting San Diego Padres in the second game of the weekend series.
Ceddanne Rafaela is starting at shortstop and batting ninth, while
Enmanuel Valdez is at the keystone and hitting seventh against Padres right-hander
Michael King. Hamilton has stepped up big time in the absence of both
Trevor Story (shoulder) and
Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) this year and is currently hitting .273 (44-for-161) with five homers, 15 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 28 runs scored, but he'll get a breather after going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in Friday night's 9-2 loss to the Friars. Hamilton has been slumping of late, going 6-for-31 (.194) with a homer, double, four RBI, two walks, six strikeouts and seven steals in 11 games since June 14.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
2 days agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho will retreat to the bench on Saturday with the team facing the visiting New York Yankees and left-hander
Nestor Cortes. Although Varsho is hitting a respectable .260 (13-for-50) against left-handers this year, he has just one of his 11 home runs against them and will get the day off on Saturday after recently returning from a back injury that cost him three games. The 27-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is right at the Mendoza Line (.200) this year but has added 11 home runs, eight stolen bases, 35 RBI and 40 runs scored to make him useful in most fantasy formats. Since returning from his back ailment, he's gone 0-for-8 with five punchouts. Veteran
Kevin Kiermaier will draw back into center field and hit ninth against Cortes. Kiermaier has three hits and three RBI in six career at-bats against Cortes but is a weak DFS play in the nine-hole.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
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