Blake Snell Plays Catch On Monday
1 day agoLos Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder) played catch on Monday for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list eight days ago on April 6 with left-shoulder inflammation. Snell thought he could pitch through his shoulder issue but eventually landed on the IL and was shut down from throwing for a short period of time. The 32-year-old will now need to work up to bullpen sessions and game action in a minor-league setting before the Dodgers return him to their starting rotation, likely in early May, barring any setbacks. Snell felt good while throwing on Monday and is expected to play catch again on Tuesday. Although the two-time Cy Young winner had eight walks and only four strikeouts in nine innings over his first two starts of the year before getting injured, he had allowed only two earned runs. Keep Snell stashed in all fantasy formats.Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Tre' Morgan Activated Off Injured List, Set To Make Triple-A Debut On Tuesday
1 day agoTampa Bay Rays infield prospect Tre' Morgan (quadriceps) has been activated off the injured list and will make his Triple-A debut on Tuesday evening. Morgan opened the campaign on the injured list but was able to avoid an extended absence. Last season, Morgan enjoyed an impressive season in the minor leagues and was able to progress quite quickly through the minor leagues. The 22-year-old opened the campaign with Low-A and finished the season with Double-A Montgomery. Across 79 games split between Low-A and High-A, Morgan posted a stellar .354/.431/.519 slash line with eight home runs and nine stolen bases. At Double-A, Morgan struggled as he held a modest .211 AVG but was able to show enough progress to open this season with Triple-A. If he performs well with Durham, he should push for a second-half MLB debut.Source: Durham Bulls
Grant Williams "Hitting Milestones"
1 day agoCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams (knee) is progressing well and "hitting milestones." The 26-year-old saw his 2024-25 campaign come to an end on Nov. 23, when he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Before the injury, Williams averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals over 29.9 minutes per game. Williams showed that he can make a fantasy impact as a member of the Hornets, but it remains to be seen whether he will reach similar performance levels next season. After undergoing surgery in December, Williams was ruled out for 9-12 months, meaning he might not return to action before 2026.Source: Sam Perley
Robert Williams III Expects To Be Ready For Training Camp
1 day agoPortland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (knee) experienced another season plagued by health issues in 2024-25, but he hopes to be "injury-free" next season. Williams III made only 20 appearances before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to address inflammation in his left knee, which ended his season in March. He fully expects to be ready by training camp. A healthy Williams III can be a valuable asset for fantasy managers. The 27-year-old has averaged 7.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 20.2 minutes throughout his career.Source: Aaron Fentress
Jeremy Pena Homers In St. Louis On Monday
1 day agoHouston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning of Monday night's 8-3 loss to the Cardinals. He finished the night 1-for-4 with the blast that came off relief pitcher Roddery Munoz, giving him three long balls on the season. Pena is hitting just .207 through 16 games but has increased his ISO with four of his 12 hits going for extra bases. His hard-hit rate and barrel rate are actually up this season as well, but his .200 BABIP has held back his overall production. His xwOBA of .371 stands in stark contrast to his .291 wOBA, so his metrics show he has actually been hitting the ball much better than his batting average reflects. Pena and his fantasy managers will hope that Monday's home run can jumpstart a turnaround in his average as the Astros continue their three-game set in St. Louis.Source: ESPN.com
Hornets Want LaMelo Ball To "Get Stronger"
1 day agoCharlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball will be locked into the weight room in the offseason if head coach Charles Lee has his way. "He's got to get stronger," Lee said about Ball Monday following the team's exit interviews. "Teams are trying to deny him, trying to be physical, and you can see early in the year when teams did it, it definitely bothered him," Lee said. "As he got used to it, he got a lot more comfortable, so it's going to start with his body. He's got to get stronger and more conditioned to be able to play both sides of the ball and sustain efforts. ... When you're one of the best players in the league, you have to be ready for physicality. In order to combat that, you have to be stronger." Building extra muscle on his 6-foot-7, 190-pound frame could also enable Ball to spend more time on the court. Over the past three seasons, he has played in just 105 games, causing frustration for fantasy managers.Source: ESPN
Brendan Donovan Picks Up Four More Hits Monday Night
1 day agoSt. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI in the Cardinals' 8-3 win on Monday night at Busch Stadium. Donovan has moved all over the field this season and started Monday at shortstop before moving to second base later in the game. Wherever he has played defensively, the 28-year-old has brought good offensive production this season, hitting .391 over his first 16 games of the year with five doubles, two home runs, four walks, a stolen base, and a .427 wOBA. His increased production is backed up by a 50.9% hard-hit rate, according to Statcast. The versatile utilityman should continue to get plenty of work for the Cardinals and is a good fantasy option in all formats while he's so locked in at the plate.Source: ESPN.com
Luke Kennard Active On Tuesday
1 day agoMemphis Grizzlies guard/forward Luke Kennard (knee) will be available for Tuesday's play-in contest against the Golden State Warriors. Right knee soreness kept Kennard off the court on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, but the team has removed him from the injury report ahead of Tuesday's matchup. Kennard occasionally pops off for a big game but mostly takes the backseat in Grizzlies games. He has averaged only 4.4 points per game in April, despite logging over 20 minutes on most nights.Source: NBA Injury Report
Santi Aldama Returns To Grizzlies Lineup Tuesday
1 day agoMemphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama (ankle) has received the green light to play on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. The Spaniard missed Sunday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks due to an ankle issue. However, Aldama's name is not listed on the injury report on Tuesday. Although Aldama had a quiet finish to the regular season, it has overall been a successful campaign for him. Some of Aldama's best performances have come against the Warriors, as he averaged 14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in 23.7 minutes against them during the regular season.Source: NBA Injury Report
Michael Busch Blasts Home Run No. 4 On Monday Night
1 day agoChicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run off Dylan Cease on Monday night, but his Cubs lost 10-4 to the Padres. Busch's home run continues a strong start to the season for the 27-year-old lefty, who is now up to a .310 batting average and .436 wOBA through his first 18 games with four homers, 12 runs scored, and 12 RBI. Busch's strong start and spot in the heart of the Cubs' productive batting order make him a solid option from the waiver wire in mixed leagues if available. He is still platooning a little bit and sitting against lefties, but when he is in the lineup, he has proven he can produce good run production numbersSource: ESPN.com
Zach Edey Ready To Face Warriors
1 day agoMemphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (ankle) will hop back into the lineup for Tuesday's play-in action against the Golden State Warriors. The giant from Purdue skipped Sunday's regular-season finale against the Dallas Mavericks with a sore left ankle. Edey's role has grown since Memphis' coaching change, as he has averaged 9.3 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 30.5 minutes over six April performances. His efforts this month include a 10-point, 16-rebound double-double with four blocks in a 134-125 loss to the Warriors.Source: NBA Injury Report
Luis Arraez Helps Padres Stay Undefeated At Home
1 day agoSan Diego Padres first baseman Luis Arraez hit his second home run of the season while going 3-for-5 with two runs scored in Monday night's win over the visiting Cubs. San Diego's 10-4 victory brought them to an MLB-best 14-3 record for the season and a perfect 11-0 at Petco Park. Arraez's solo home run came in the eighth inning as the second of back-to-back blasts, following Fernando Tatis Jr.'s second homer of the game. In his 17 games this season, Arraez now has a .282 batting average and .314 wOBA, but his slight downturn in average appears mostly due to bad luck with just a .261 BABIP. His hard-hit rate is on track with last year's mark, and he should be due for some positive regression as he continues to hit near the top of the order for one of the best offenses in baseball.Source: ESPN.com
Scotty Pippen Jr. Good To Go Against Warriors
1 day agoMemphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (back) will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. The 24-year-old missed Sunday's action against the Dallas Mavericks due to low back soreness, but Memphis has not included Pippen Jr. on the injury report for Tuesday. Pippen Jr. finished the regular season strongly and should be full of confidence ahead of the postseason, having averaged 13.2 points and 4.2 assists for the month. Golden State boasts the fifth-best defensive record in the league against opposing benches, so Pippen Jr.'s form will receive a stern test on Tuesday night.Source: NBA Injury Report
Jaren Jackson Jr. Available Against Warriors
1 day agoMemphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. (back) is not listed on the injury report for Tuesday's play-in game against the Golden State Warriors. Due to a back issue, Jackson Jr. did not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Dallas Mavericks, joining a host of key players on the sidelines. Memphis will have everyone back in the lineup on Tuesday as the team aims to return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The matchup against the Warriors has suited Jackson Jr. this season, as he has raised his averages to 23.5 points and 7.0 rebounds against them.Source: NBA Injury Report
Shohei Ohtani Goes Yard In Dodgers Victory
1 day agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani had been in a little bit of a slump by his lofty standards before going 3-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored, and an RBI in Monday night's 5-3 victory over Colorado. Ohtani raised his average to .296 with five home runs, four stolen bases, and a .402 wOBA on the season. He had gone just 4-for-21 (.190) with no home runs in his previous five games but kept the mini-slump from getting any longer with his big game on Monday. He remains one of the top fantasy hitters in the game, even as he continues to work towards his return to the mound as well.Source: ESPN.com
Desmond Bane Ready For Play-In Action
1 day agoMemphis Grizzlies guard/forward Desmond Bane (adductor) is on track to rejoin the lineup on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, as the team has not included him on the injury report. Bane saw a run of 21 consecutive appearances come to an end on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks when he was ruled out for the game due to left adductor soreness. In other words, Bane was rested for the regular-season finale to keep him fresher for the Play-In Tournament. Recently, Bane has found his scoring touch, averaging 27.3 points over his past four appearances. However, the Warriors held him to 18.5 points per game over four regular-season meetings.Source: NBA Injury Report
Royce Lewis Increasing Baseball Activities
1 day agoMinnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (hamstring) has been ramping up his rehab work over the last week by taking on-field batting practice and fielding in team-wide defensive drills. Over the past few days, he has hit with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints and with the Twins when the team hits before night games. On Monday, he took ground balls with the team ground balls in team-wide defensive drills before Monday's game. Lewis is still not quite ready for a rehab assignment and is not expected to be back in the lineup until May at the earliest. Last year, Lewis hit .233 with 16 homers and a .317 wOBA in 82 games, but he has been out this season after suffering a hamstring strain in spring training. He continues to make progress in the right direction, though, and will hopefully start an official rehab assignment soon.Source: Bobby Nightengale
Ja Morant Back In Action Tuesday
1 day agoMemphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (shoulder) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Tuesday's play-in clash against the Golden State Warriors. Morant did not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Dallas Mavericks due to a shoulder issue. The Grizzlies superstar was on fire during the final stretch of the regular season and will be expected to carry that form into Tuesday's high-stakes game. This month, Morant has averaged 30.2 points and 5.8 assists with over 41 percent shooting from beyond the arc.Source: NBA Injury Report
Ernesto Martinez Jr. Riding Five-Game Hitting Streak At Triple-A
1 day agoMilwaukee Brewers infield prospect Ernesto Martinez Jr. is riding a five-game hitting streak at Triple-A. During this stretch, Martinez tallied at least two hits in all but one game and held a .529/.619/.882 slash line. He went deep twice and held a 4:3 BB:K. This impressive stretch earned him International League Hitter of the Week honors. Through 12 total games this season, Martinez has performed well with Triple-A Nashville, holding a .317/.429/.512 slash line with two home runs and an 8:8 BB:K. Last summer, Martinez spent his entire season with Double-A Biloxi and posted a strong .284/.365/.466 line. It appears the 25-year-old is carrying this success into his first taste of Triple-A. If he continues to perform well, Martinez could be in the mix for a second-half MLB debut.Source: MiLB.com
Draymond Green Available Tuesday
1 day agoGolden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (neck) has been cleared for Tuesday's play-in battle against the Memphis Grizzlies, as the team has not listed him on the injury report. Green has been banged up all season and hurt his neck in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Clippers, briefly leaving the game. However, the four-time All-Star seems to be fully ready for Tuesday's action. During the regular season, Green averaged 8.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals against the Grizzlies.Source: NBA Injury Report
Michael Chavis Showing Power At Triple-A
1 day agoLos Angeles Dodgers infielder Michael Chavis has been swinging a hot bat with Triple-A Oklahoma City and could push for a return to the major leagues. Over his last five games, Chavis has gone deep four times and tallied six RBI. During this impressive stretch, Chavis has posted a stellar .429/.500/1.048 line. This impressive stretch of performances earned him Pacific Coast League Hitter of the Week honors. Chavis inked a minor-league deal with the Dodgers earlier in the winter but was unable to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. However, fantasy managers in deeper formats should keep an eye on Chavis' production with Triple-A, as he could be promoted as an injury replacement later in the summer. If he were to get the call to Los Angeles, he could be worth adding in deeper NL-only leagues if he can translate this power upside to the big leagues.Source: MiLB.com
Jimmy Butler III Good To Go For Tuesday
1 day agoGolden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (thigh) is not listed on the injury report for Tuesday's play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The veteran star injured his left thigh in a collision with Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during Sunday's regular-season finale, but he pushed through the issue, and it won't prevent him from playing in Tuesday's crucial game. Butler III recorded his highest-scoring game as a Warrior on Sunday, finishing with 30 points, and he has built up strong momentum for the postseason, averaging 27.3 points over his last three games.Source: NBA Injury Report
Devin Booker Wants To Stay In Phoenix
1 day agoPhoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is not considering abandoning ship after the team's disappointing season. "I've spoke on it plenty of times," Booker told Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. "I'm sure the people are sick of hearing my Phoenix love story, but I'm deeply rooting into this community. I take a lot of pride in it. We've built it from the ground up before. I didn't think I'd be back in this situation, but it shows you how hard the league is. Once we get back to that championship level, I'll be able to shed light on people that it can change very quickly." While Booker is adamant about staying, the Suns are poised to undergo major changes, which could include trading Kevin Durant.Source: Duane Rankin
Logan Evans Named Pacific Coast League Pitcher Of The Week
1 day agoSeattle Mariners pitching prospect Logan Evans was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week. He enjoyed an impressive outing on April 9 when he shut down the Sacramento River Cats. He tossed six innings of one-run ball. He allowed just two hits, with no walks, and struck out seven. This was a much-needed bounce-back outing for Evans as he allowed five runs and eight hits across five innings of work in his previous start. Last summer, the 23-year-old spent his entire campaign with Double-A Arkansas and held a 3.20 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP across 107 innings of work. He struck out 98 batters and served up 42 free passes. Fantasy managers should contribute to monitoring the Pittsburgh product's development at Triple-A, as he could be in the mix for a second-half MLB debut.Source: MiLB.com
Kristian Campbell Hits Home Run No. 3
1 day agoBoston Red Sox infield prospect Kristian Campbell went 2-for-3 with a home run during their loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday evening. Campbell would score Boston's lone run in this contest on a solo shot in the third frame. Campbell would go deep against Tampa Bay right-hander Shane Baz. Campbell has enjoyed an impressive start to his MLB career. He has reached base safely in each of his first 17 contests. Across this stint, the Georgia Tech product has posted a stellar .328/.420/.552 slash line with four doubles, three long balls, and one stolen base. He has shown a strong eye at the plate, holding a 10:16 BB:K. Boston has typically deployed Campbell at the keystone but has also given him five starts in the outfield. He will look to stay hot at the plate on Tuesday, facing Ryan Pepiot.Source: MLB.com
Luisangel Acuna Tallies Two Hits, Swipes A Bag On Monday
1
day
agoNew
York
Mets
infield
prospect
Luisangel
Acuna
went
2-for-3
with
a
double,
two
runs,
and
a
stolen
base
during
their
5-1
victory
over
the
Minnesota
Twins.
In
the
third
inning,
Acuna
would
reach
first
via
a
base-on-balls
and
then
steal
second
base.
This
wasread more...
Junior Caminero Goes Deep In Third Straight Contest
1 day agoTampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero went 2-for-5 with a home run during their demanding 16-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday evening. Caminero tallied a one-run single in the third inning, which scored Jake Mangum. Later in the fifth, Caminero would go deep for the fourth time this season. This was the budding star's third-straight game hitting a long ball. During this impressive power surge, Caminero has tallied six RBI and held a .417/.462/1.167 slash line. Before the surge, Caminero held a modest .256/.283/.372 line over the first 12 games of the campaign. Under the hood, he has generated an impressive .488 xSLG with a stellar 78.8 mph bat speed, which suggests his power numbers should continue to climb. He remains a must-start option in all formats going forward.Source: MLB.com
Alexander Volkanovski Reclaims Featherweight Title
1 day agoOn Saturday, Alexander Volkanovski managed to reclaim his featherweight belt by beating Diego Lopes via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 314. Volkanovski became the only fighter in a weight class below welterweight to win a championship after the age of 35. The fight was competitive with each fighter having big moments, but Volkanovski was just one step ahead of Lopes. In 25 minutes of action, Volkanovski landed a takedown and 158 significant strikes. With the win, Volkanovski improved to 27-4 as a pro and is now 14-3 in the UFC.Source: UFC
Diego Lopes Drops Decision At UFC 314
1 day agoDiego Lopes wasn't able to capture the featherweight title, losing unanimously to Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 314 on Saturday. Throughout the fight, Lopes scored a lot of big shots and even managed to knock Volkanovski down with a few seconds left in the second round, but Lopes ultimately came up short on the scorecards with the judges scoring the fight 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 in favor of Volkanovski. In 25 minutes of action, Lopes landed 63 significant strikes. With the loss, Lopes drops to 26-7 as a pro and is now 5-2 in the UFC.Source: UFC
Paddy Pimblett Remains Undefeated In The UFC
1 day agoOn Saturday, Paddy Pimblett extended his win streak to nine by defeating former title challenger Michael Chandler via third-round TKO in the co-main event of UFC 314. For most of the fight, Pimblett dominated Chandler. The deciding moment came in the third round when Pimblett landed a devastating knee on Chandler, hurting and cutting him in the process. Not long after, Pimblett took Chandler down and unloaded a barrage of elbows and punches that forced the referee to end the fight. In 18:07 of action, Pimblett landed a takedown and 80 significant strikes. With the win, Pimblett improved to 23-3 as a pro and is now 7-0 in the UFC.Source: UFC