MLB News
Oscar Colas Exits On Thursday With Wrist Injury
Chicago White Sox outfielder Oscar Colas (wrist) exited Thursday's spring training contest early due to a wrist sprain. The team noted that the outfielder is day-to-day. Fantasy managers should continue his status as he may be held out of the lineup for a few days. The 26-year-old is currently competing for a depth role in the Chicago outfield. Last season, Colas appeared in 13 games for the White Sox and held a .273/.368/.273 slash line. During the 2023 campaign, Colas logged a career-high 75 contests and posted a .216/.257/.314 line with nine doubles and five long balls. Given his lack of consistent success in the major leagues, fantasy managers should expect Colas to begin the 2025 campaign at the Triple-A level.
1 hour ago
Sean Reid-Foley Clears Waivers
New York Mets right-handed pitcher Sean Reid-Foley cleared waivers. The Mets placed Reid-Foley on waivers earlier this week and will now begin his 2025 campaign with Triple-A Syracuse. Last season, Reid-Foley logged 21 2/3 innings with the Mets and held a strong 1.66 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP. He tallied 25 punchouts but showed weak command of his pitches as he served up walks with a 15.6 percent rate. Reid-Foley generated an elite 62.7 percent ground-ball rate with a stellar .198 xBA. Across 131 2/3 career innings in the majors, the former second-round selection has held a 4.10 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. Reid-Foley will likely get the call to the majors when the Mets need additional depth in their bullpen later in the season.
1 hour ago
Carlos Estevez Throws "Best" Bullpen Session
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Carlos Estevez (back) threw his "best" bullpen session on Wednesday and is set to complete his next session on Saturday. Estevez has been battling lower-back tightness since late-February. However, it appears the 32-year-old has been progressing well and may avoid missing time during the regular season. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status as he looks to ramp-up his workload. Earlier in the offseason, the Royals signed Estevez to a two-year $32 million contract. Given his salary, Estevez is expected to compete for a high-leverage role in the bullpen alongside Lucas Erceg. Last season, Estevez logged 55 innings to the tune of a 2.45 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. He tallied 50 punchouts but with a 3.19 xERA, which suggests he may face minor regression when he returns to the bump. If healthy, Estevez will compete for save opportunities with Erceg.
2 hours ago
Alec Marsh Facing Live Hitters On Sunday
Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Alec Marsh (shoulder) is set to face live hitters for the first time on Sunday. The 26-year-old has been able to complete several bullpen sessions and will now take the next step in his recovery plan. Marsh was battling tightness in his shoulder during the offseason, which delayed him at the start of camp. However, it appears the 26-year-old is nearing his return to game action. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Last season, Marsh logged a career-high 129 innings with a 4.53 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He tallied 123 punchouts with a strong 7.1 percent walk rate. However, he generated a high 4.97 xERA with a 40.9 percent hard-hit rate, which were both well below the average marks. When healthy, he will likely compete alongside Kris Bubic for the final spot in the starting rotation.
2 hours ago
Salvador Perez Set To Return To Lineup On Friday
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (eye) has bruising below his eye but is "all good" and set to return to the starting nine on Friday. Perez exited Wednesday's contest early due to the laceration. However, the veteran backstop avoided a significant injury and will not miss any time. The 34-year-old was also able to practice on Thursday. Last season, Perez posted a .271/.330/.456 slash line with 27 long balls. He generated an elite .360 xwOBA and a .522 xSLG which placed him in the 92nd and 95th percentile respectively. He also generated an above-average 12.2 percent barrel rate and a 44.8 percent ard-hit rate. Fantasy managers should expect Perez to serve as the everyday catcher in the Kansas City and will see occasional starts at first base. He is a strong target when looking for RBI behind the dish as he will bat behind Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jonathan India.
2 hours ago
Tyler O'Neill Scratched With Rib-Cage Soreness
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O'Neill (rib cage) was scratched from Thursday night's Grapefruit League contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to left rib-cage soreness. The Orioles are saying he was removed from the lineup as a precaution. It doesn't appear to be anything to really worry about, but O'Neill has missed plenty of game action this week already due to an illness. With the 29-year-old out again on Thursday, Colton Cowser will play left field and bat cleanup. O'Neill hit 31 homers in his one and only season with the Boston Red Sox a year ago, but it also came with a 33.6 percent strikeout rate. However, he also walked at a strong clip of 11.6% percent. Injuries are part of the deal if you have O'Neill rostered, as he was on the injured list three different times in 2024. He does most of his damage against lefties but should be in the lineup regularly in Baltimore in 2025. O'Neill is ranked just inside the top-50 outfielders at RotoBaller.
3 hours ago
Curtis Mead On A Tear In Spring Training
Tampa Bay Rays infielder Curtis Mead, who showed up to spring training in excellent shape, recorded eight hits in his first nine Grapefruit League at-bats and also went 4-for-4 with a walk in Thursday's spring contest against the Philadelphia Phillies to raise his current average to a ridiculous .778. The 24-year-old former top prospect in Tampa's system is certainly putting his best foot forward as he battles with outfielder Eloy Jimenez in camp for one of the last spots on the roster heading into the 2025 regular season. The Australian native has hit only .244 (50-for-205) with two home runs, 12 RBI and 51 strikeouts in 224 plate appearances over 62 games in his first two MLB seasons. He has yet to prove he belongs in the lineup everyday, but Mead can play both second and third base and could function as a utility infielder for the Rays in 2025.
3 hours ago
Taylor Ward Back In Thursday's Spring Lineup
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (knee) is back in Thursday's Cactus League lineup against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and is serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff. Ward developed some knee soreness in camp earlier in the week but will be returning to the lineup for the first time since Monday after several days off. The 31-year-old veteran has only played in four Cactus League games to this point, but he's swung a hot bat, going 3-for-8 with a double, RBI and a run scored. He will be L.A.'s regular left fielder yet again in 2025 and could benefit from a fantasy perspective if Mike Trout can stay healthy all year with his move to right field. In his seventh year with the Halos in 2024, Ward had a career-high 25 home runs and 75 RBI while slashing .246/.323/.426 in 663 plate appearances to make him a top-40 fantasy outfielder.
3 hours ago
Guardians Re-Sign Tyler Naquin As A Pitcher
The Cleveland Guardians re-signed Tyler Naquin to a minor-league deal on Thursday as a pitcher, according to MLB.com's Zack Meisel. The 33-year-old was originally drafted by Cleveland as an outfielder with the 15th overall pick in 2012 out of Texas A&M University, and he played in the big leagues with the organization from 2016-2020 before spending time with the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and Chicago White Sox from 2021-23. Naquin always had a plus arm, so he will try his hand at pitching to attempt to extend his MLB career. He will turn 34 years old next month and will be a long shot to find any kind of fantasy appeal, let alone a lasting big-league roster spot as a pitcher in 2025 for the Guardians. Naquin was a .263/.316/.445 hitter with 61 homers and 237 RBI in 562 career games in his eight big-league seasons as an outfielder.
3 hours ago
Jack Leiter Showing Increased Velocity
Texas Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter, the second overall pick in 2021, had an extra two mph on his four-seam fastball when he arrived to spring training this year, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Leiter sat at 98 mph and touched 100 mph in his first Cactus League outing. The former Vanderbilt star's fastball was demolished in his first taste of the big leagues in 2024, but evaluators see his extra velocity this year as a potential game-changer since the pitch has well-above-average vertical break. Leiter is also getting plenty of depth on his new kick changeup. There's no guarantee that he'll break camp in Texas' Opening Day starting rotation, but the improvements that Leiter has made could help him bounce back considerably in his second major-league season whenever he gets his chance. There's opportunity for fantasy managers here after Leiter had a rough 8.83 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in his first nine outings a year ago.
4 hours ago
Sean Burke Expected To Be Part Of Rotation?
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the Chicago White Sox, who set an MLB record for most losses in a single season in 2024, ended last season believing that pitching prospect Sean Burke would be part of their starting rotation in 2025. The 25-year-old right-hander, who stands at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds has also looked good in spring training, using a high-octane fastball and what can be a devastating curveball. In two Cactus League starts, he's allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out three in five innings. Passan believes Burke will be able to hold his own while the White Sox wait for top pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith. Burke is Chicago's No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and impressed in his small sample size to close 2024. Shoulder issues in the past put his durability in question, but Burke's four-pitch mix make him intriguing in AL-only leagues.
4 hours ago
Junior Caminero Probably "Day-To-Day"
Updating a previous report, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said third baseman Junior Caminero (back) had "just a little tight back" and is "probably very day-to-day" after he was pulled early from Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Cash also added that the team doesn't expect Caminero "to miss too much time." Fantasy managers that already invested in the 21-year-old as a prime breakout candidate in 2025 can breathe a sigh of relief. Barring a setback with his back, Caminero should be fine for Opening Day later this month. Entering Thursday's game, the Dominican infielder has gone 4-for-17 (.235) with three home runs, a triple, eight RBI and four runs scored in six spring training games. He's fully expected to be Tampa's starting third baseman all year and has massive power upside.
4 hours ago
Justin Steele Scratched With Illness
Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (illness) was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals due to flu-like symptoms. Right-hander Ben Brown, who is competing for a spot in the Opening Day starting rotation, will replace Steele. It's not a big deal for Steele, and he should be ready to make his third start of the spring in a couple more days. In his first two Cactus League appearances, the 29-year-old southpaw has allowed two earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out seven in five innings pitched. Steele broke out in 2023 but got off on the wrong foot last year due to a hamstring strain that caused him to miss a month. He also had a forearm injury late in the year. Steele's fantasy upside is limited because of his lack of strikeout stuff, but his fastball-slider combination generate plenty of weak contact. Consider him a solid target as a No. 3 fantasy starting pitcher.
4 hours ago
Jac Caglianone Could Play Outfield To Accelerate His MLB Debut
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that Kansas City Royals first base prospect Jac Caglianone will get repetitions in the outfield this year and could find himself playing corner-outfield spot to accelerate the timeline for his major-league debut to potentially this summer. As things currently stand, the Royals have a logjam at first base with Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez sharing the position. Last year's sixth overall pick out of the University of Florida only had 126 professional plate appearances last year with High-A Quad Cities, so he definitely could use more minor-league seasoning, but the 22-year-old left-handed slugger is an imposing presence (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) and hit a 115.4 mph home run in his first spring training game. Caglianone struck out only 20% of the time at High-A last year but also had only two bombs. He'll surely be on the fast track for the Royals, but those in single-year fantasy leagues can hold off for now.
5 hours ago
Grayson Rodriguez Dealing With Triceps Soreness
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (triceps) is dealing with right-triceps soreness and is being evaluated in camp, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles are expected to have more of an update on Rodriguez after the tests come back. The 25-year-old's velocity was notably down during his Grapefruit League outing on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins, but he said he was not injured. While there's no need to panic just yet, it isn't great news, and Rodriguez could need a stint on the injured list to begin the 2025 season. We should have a better timetable on his return by the end of this week, but until then, expect Rodriguez's draft stock to fall. If Rodriguez were to open the year on the IL, either Cade Povich or Albert Suarez would likely take his rotation spot. A lat strain in August prematurely ended Rodriguez's sophomore season in 2024 after a great start to the year.
5 hours ago
Zebby Matthews Leaves Outing On Thursday With Injury
Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews (ankle, foot) left Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees after making a nice play on a slow chopper near the foul line. Matthews' right ankle/foot slipped as he was making the play, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power. We'll have an update on the 24-year-old's injury once the Twins provide an update. The former eighth-round pick in 2022 out of Western Carolina University made his major-league debut in Minnesota last year and struggled to a 1-4 record, 6.69 ERA (5.71 FIP), 1.65 WHIP, 43 strikeouts and 11 walks in 37 2/3 innings in his first nine starts. Matthews began the year all the way down in High-A but rose quickly through the farm system, but he was unable to duplicate his strong control and high strikeout rates in his small sample size. He's a young arm to watch, though, given his combination of control and batt-missing stuff.
5 hours ago
Jordan Westburg Returns To Spring Lineup
Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (back) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates and is starting at second base and batting fifth, according to The Baltimore Sun's Matt Weyrich. This will be Westburg's first game in spring training since dealing with lower-back soreness last Wednesday. It was a minor issue and shouldn't put the 26-year-old in jeopardy of missing Opening Day later this month, barring another setback with his bat. Although he's at the keystone on Thursday, Westburg is expected to be Baltimore's starting third baseman in 2025 after he hit .264/.312/.481 with 18 homers, 63 RBI and six stolen bases in just 107 games to earn the first All-Star selection of his career. A broken hand late in the second half put a damper on Westburg's season as a whole, but he should be considered a top-10 fantasy third baseman heading into his second full season.
5 hours ago
Junior Caminero Leaves Early With Back Tightness
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (back) left Thursday's Grapefruit League contest against the Philadelphia Phillies with what the team is calling lower-back tightness, per the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin. Before being pulled, Caminero struck out in both of his plate appearances. Although the Rays may just be being extra cautious with one of their best young players in spring training, fantasy managers everywhere are holding their breathe that one of the most popular breakout players for 2025 will be alright. The 21-year-old is ranked as the No. 7 fantasy third baseman this year despite having played in only 50 major-league games for the Rays the last two seasons. Caminero won't be immune to more growing pains this year, but the upside is undeniable for his raw power in his first full season in the big leagues. Check back for an update on the severity of Caminero's back injury soon.
6 hours ago
Cristopher Sanchez Adds Cutter, Throwing Harder
Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez's average sinker velocity last year was at 94.5 mph, but he sat at 96 to 99 mph with the pitch in his first start this spring thanks to added weight on his 6-foot-5 frame, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Sanchez was an All-Star in 2024 and posted a 3.32 ERA in 181 2/3 innings, and Passan thinks the 28-year-old southpaw could just be getting started as one of the best lefties in the game. The Phillies' starting rotation is downright scary with Sanchez joining a group that includes Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo. Sanchez was a fantasy sleeper heading into last season, and although more people know about him now, he's still undervalued. He had a below-average strikeout rate (20.3%), but he made up for it with a 5.8% walk rate and elite 57.4% ground-ball rate. Sanchez is absolutely worth taking as your No. 4 fantasy starting pitcher.
6 hours ago
Sandy Alcantara Will Be On Innings Limit Early On
ESPN's Jeff Passan write that Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow), who is back after missing all of last year due to Tommy John surgery, will be on an innings limit early this year. The 2022 National League Cy Young winner has looked like his old self in spring training, throwing sinkers at 98-100 mph, mixing in one of the best changeups in the league and also sporting a 90-mph slider. The 29-year-old has been so impressive already that teams are already wondering whether he will be available at this summer's trade deadline, especially since he's under contract through 2026 and has a club option in 2027. There's inherent risk in counting on pitchers coming off TJ surgery in fantasy -- RotoBaller has Alcantara ranked at No. 44 among starting pitchers -- but his draft stock will continue to rise he keeps looking good this spring. In three Grapefruit League starts, Alcantara hasn't allowed a run with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 frames.
6 hours ago
Oscar Colás
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White Sox
