1 day agoSeattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez had a nice game on Thursday, going 2-for-4 with a double and a homer in a 7-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Rodriguez also scored two runs, drove in one, and stole a base in a solid overall game for the 23-year-old. Unfortunately, those games have been few and far between this year, and the consensus first-round pick in fantasy hasn't come close to living up to expectations. His .247 AVG, 39 runs, eight homers, and 30 RBI are all pacing well below his 2023 totals, with only his 18 steals redeeming him. Rodriguez should pick it up in the second half, and this might be the start of it. The buy-low window might now close after one good game for J-Rod, but a few good ones would do it, so now is the time to make some offers to his owner.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Jason Heyward (knee) left Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with discomfort in his left knee. Heyward landed awkwardly after trying to rob a home run in the first inning and left the game after the second inning. After the game, manager Dave Roberts said that Heyward will get an MRI tomorrow and won't be in the lineup. If the injury is serious,
James Outman could get recalled to the majors to replace Heyward. Outman has been hitting the light out in Triple-A and could be an interesting pick up, especially in deeper formats.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
1 day agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher
Nick Pivetta diced up the Miami Marlins on Thursday, striking out 10 in what ended up being a 6-5 extra-innings win. It was a tough-luck no-decision for Pivetta in this one, as he didn't allow a run in his seven innings of work and left with a 2-0 lead. He only gave up one hit and two walks on the day as the Marlins were completely overmatched by the righty. It had been a struggle for Pivetta in his previous four starts, where he saw his ERA climb from 3.40 to 4.52, but this game showed his immense upside and the reason it is hard to get away from him in fantasy.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoWashington Nationals starting pitcher
Jake Irvin was sublime on Thursday, shutting out the red-hot New York Mets for eight innings while allowing just two baserunners. Irvin struck out eight while giving up just one hit and one walk. It has been a brilliant season for the 27-year-old breakout thus far, as shown by his 2.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 94 strikeouts over 106 IP. Irvin has now allowed two or fewer runs in nine of his last eleven starts. The righty should be rostered in all but the shallowest of leagues with how he has been pitching of late.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoMinnesota Twins corner infielder
Jose Miranda tallied five hits in Thursday's 12-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. Miranda went 5-for-5 with three doubles, four runs, and three RBI in what was a massive overall day. The 26-year-old has been a revelation this season, slashing .312/.354/.504 with 32 runs, eight homers, 40 RBI, and two swipes. Although the counting stats aren't quite there, it is important to remember that Miranda wasn't playing every day until mid-May, and only has 234 at-bats because of it. He should be rostered in most leagues at this point but remains severely under-rostered. Those in need of a corner infielder should look to see if Miranda is available.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ had a monster game on Thursday, smashing two homers in a 10-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Happ ended the day 4-for-4 with a pair of homers, two runs scored, and six RBI. The homers were both of the three-run variety and came in back-to-back innings, the fourth and fifth frames. Happ has been very good for the last month, but it has flown under the radar for the most part. He hit .244/.387/.500 with five homers, 20 RBI, and five steals in June in what was a very productive month. He is a stud in points leagues and has been very solid for a while now in categories leagues as well. He should be rostered in all leagues while he is this hot, and he is available in some shallow leagues right now.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoArizona Diamondbacks first baseman
Christian Walker swatted another pair of homers on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading the D-Backs to a 9-3 win. Walker went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs, and three RBI on top of the two homers. After his second homer of the game in the third inning, the Dodgers had clearly seen enough, walking him twice in his last three plate appearances. The veteran had clobbered the ball against LA this season, smashing five longballs in this three-game series and seven overall on the season. The next time these two teams meet expect Walker to receive a heavy dose of pitches outside the zone.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Brenton Doyle (calf) was absent from Thursday's lineup due to a calf injury, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. Doyle got hit by a foul ball in his calf on Wednesday evening and needed to take a day to recover. He should be considered day-to-day going forward. As a result,
Jake Cave started in center field. The 26-year-old has been swinging a hot bat in his past six games with a .375/.423/.1.000 slash line with three doubles, four long balls, seven RBI, and two stolen bases. Overall on the season, Doyle has been a strong five-category contributor with 10 long balls, 20 swiped bags, and a solid .268/.330/.428 line. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Colorado lineup on Friday evening as they open up a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals in hitter-friendly Coors Field.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Saunders
1 day agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder) is expected to begin playing catch late next week, according to Dodger manager Dave Roberts. The 25-year-old has been doing exercises with a plyo ball in the meantime which has been his first activity since being shut down from throwing in mid-June. Yamamoto was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 16 after experiencing tightness in his throwing arm during a start on June 15, which he was eventually pulled from. While he has yet to face any setbacks in his recovery process, he is still several steps away from getting back on a mound, which leaves his potential return date in question. Before the injury, the right-hander was performing well with a 2.92 ERA and a stellar 1.07 WHIP in his first 74 MLB innings. While he remains sidelined,
Landon Knack should be given ample opportunities to stay in the starting rotation.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
1 day agoWashington Nationals first baseman/outfielder
Juan Yepez is being promoted in a corresponding move that sent
Joey Meneses to Triple-A Rochester. Yepez has performed quite well in Triple-A this season with a .263/.257/.438 slash line, 15 long balls, and 41 RBI in 74 games. In addition, he swiped three bags and held a solid 40:45 BB:K ratio. The 26-year-old was swinging a hot bat since June 14 riding a stellar .371/.435/.565 line, which helped earn him the promotion. Yepez could carve out a full-time role at first base as
Joey Gallo (hamstring) remains on the 10-day injured list. Even though Yepez struggled to find consistency in his previous stints in the major leagues, he could be worth adding in deeper NL-only formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Golden
1 day agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter (back) has begun to swing a bat, per Texas skipper Bruce Bochy. Carter was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 28 with lower back tightness. Bochy also expressed that the 21-year-old should be expected to face live pitching in the coming days. This injury could have been bothering Carter much longer than fantasy managers could have expected as he struggled through the early part of the season. He held a poor .188/.272/.361 line with five home runs in 45 games. Carter will likely need a lengthy rehab assessment due to how long he has been sidelined. However, when he returns to big league action he should time primarily in left field, which could shift rookie
Wyatt Langford to a designated hitter role.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoBoston Red Sox relief pitcher
Liam Hendriks (elbow) is set to throw two more bullpen sessions in the upcoming days after logging a successful one on Wednesday, July 3. According to manager Alex Cora, the 35-year-old is only throwing fastballs for now and is "far off" from a potential rehab assignment. Hendriks logged five innings last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. This was after the three-time All-Star made a recovery from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The right-hander is a name to keep an eye on in the second half of the summer, as he could claim all save opportunities in Boston when he returns to the mound.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoChicago White Sox starting pitching prospect
Seth Keener responded well on June 29 after posting a string of three consecutive poor performances. In this start he tossed six no-hit frames and allowed just one free pass. He struck out seven. Prior to this, the former third round selection allowed 11 earned runs in his previous 15 innings with a 1.60 WHIP. After getting a brief six inning taste of Single-A ball last summer, the 22-year-old has performed well this season with a 3.30 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 28:73 BB:K ratio. In addition, he has begun to showcase high-strikeout upside by striking out at least seven batters in five starts this season with a season-high of nine. Keener is considered the 15th best prospect in the White Sox system on MLB.com and is several seasons away from his major league debut.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
1 day agoCleveland Guardians shortstop prospect
Juan Brito went 3-for-5 with three doubles and three RBI on Wednesday evening. This performance extended his current hitting streak to three games. This was the second time in this span where Brito tallied three hits. Since June 25, the 22-year-old has been dominant in the batter's box riding a .405/.450/.811 slash line. This is a great sign as Brito was struggling through the early months of the season and has clearly begun to turn a corner. Overall through his first extended look at Triple-A pitching, Brito has posted a .256/.375/.451 line with 13 long balls, 52 RBI, and six swiped bags through 81 games. MLB Pipeline considered Brito the sixth best prospect in the Cleveland system and projects him reach the majors in the second half of the summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
1 day agoTampa Bay Rays infield prospect
Ronny Simon has been swinging a hot bat over his past nine games at Triple-A and is approaching his major league debut. In this span the 24-year-old has posted a .371/.436/.629 line with four doubles, one triple, one home run, three RBI, one swiped bag, and a 4:6 BB:K ratio. Overall, in 75 games at Triple-A Durham this season, Simon has held a stellar .295/.349/.473 line with eight home runs, 39 RBI, and nine swiped bags. Over the past two seasons Simon has logged 107 games at the Triple-A level and has held a strong .291/.358/.459 line. He is considered the 26th best prospect in the Tampa Bay system on MLB.com and could be worth adding in deeper leagues when he is promoted.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MiLB.com
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