MLB News
Mitch Garver Goes Hitless In Return To Cactus League Action
Seattle Mariners catcher Mitch Garver (hand, wrist) returned to Cactus League action on Saturday against the San Diego Padres and went 0-for-2 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout in the 8-3 loss. Garver was forced to leave Monday's Cactus League game after he was hit by a pitch on his hand/wrist, but the 34-year-old veteran backstop returned to action on Saturday. He was behind the plate and hitting cleanup for the M's. Despite going hitless against SD, Garver is still hitting .400 with a 1.308 OPS, three home runs and six RBI in 10 spring training games. Garver will be fine for Opening Day on March 27 against the division-rival Athletics, but he won't carry much fantasy value in mixed leagues as the primary backup to Cal Raleigh. Most of Garver's at-bats will come as the team's designated hitter. Garver did go deep 15 times in 2024, but he slashed .172/.286/.341 with a 30.9% strikeout rate.
1 hour ago
Austin Riley Doubles In Return To Lineup On Saturday
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (hand) returned to the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins and went 1-for-3 in the contest with a double while playing third base and batting in the two-hole. Riley was hit by a pitch on his right hand on Friday but was able to return to action a day later. The 27-year-old right-handed slugger is now hitting a cool .310 with an .892 OPS, a homer, three doubles and two runs scored in 12 spring training games. Riley actually suffered a season-ending fractured right hand in mid-August of last year and finished with 19 home runs, 56 RBI and 63 runs scored in just 110 games in 2024 as a result. The two-time All-Star is completely healthy now, though, and should be considered a top-five fantasy third baseman on a strong team after hitting 30-plus home runs in each season from 2021-23.
1 hour ago
Colby Thomas Sustains Injury On Saturday
Athletics outfield prospect Colby Thomas (knee) exited Saturday's contest after being hit by a hard liner in his right knee. Thomas needed help from a trainer to leave the game. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team will likely provide an update after he goes through testing. Thomas is considered the No. 3 prospect in their system on MLB.com. Last season, Thomas opened the season by making his Double-A debut. Across 59 contests, he held a .282/.340/.568 slash line with 19 doubles and 14 home runs. He was then promoted to Triple-A where he held a similar .272/.344/.559 line with 25 doubles and 17 round-trippers. Given his success at Triple-A last summer, the Mercer product will likely be in the mix for an early MLB debut during the 2025 campaign.
4 hours ago
Josh Rojas Exits Early On Saturday
Chicago White Sox infielder Josh Rojas (toe) exited Saturday's spring training contest early due to toe soreness. The team will likely provide an update on his status after he goes through further testing. Rojas is expected to be their everyday second baseman at the start of the regular season. Earlier in the offseason, the White Sox signed Rojas to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million. Last season, the 30-year-old appeared in 143 contests for the Seattle Mariners. Across this stint, Rojas posted a .225/.304/.336 slash line with 19 doubles and eight long balls. He swiped 10 bags and drew walks at a 9.7 percent rate. While he generated a low .293 xwOBA, he placed in the 94th percentile. With an everyday spot in the White Sox's lineup, Rojas will carry value in deeper AL-only formats.
5 hours ago
Thairo Estrada Removed From Saturday's Contest
Colorado Rockies second baseman Thairo Estrada (head) was removed early from Saturday's spring training contest. Estrada's head was hit by an opponent's inadvertent foot during a tag play. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team may opt to keep him sidelined for a few games out of precaution. Estrada is slated to be Colorado's everyday second baseman. Earlier in the offseason, he inked a one-year deal with the Rockies worth $3.25 million. Last season, the 29-year-old had one of his worst offensive outputs as he posted an underwhelming .217/.247/.343 line with 15 doubles and nine home runs across 96 games. He swiped two bags and held a solid 19.9 percent strikeout rate. In 2023, Estrada posted a .271/.315/.416 line. He is worth a look as a late-round middle infielder as he looks to bounce back in Colorado.
5 hours ago
Nick Kurtz Exits After Hit-By-Pitch
Athletics first base prospect Nick Kurtz (hand) exited Saturday's spring training contest after being hit by a pitch in his hand. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team will likely provide an update in the coming days. Kurtz is considered one of the top prospects in the Athletics' system. He was drafted with the fourth-overall pick in last year's MLB Draft out of Wake Forest. Kurtz received a brief taste of Single-A before finishing the campaign with Double-A. During his first five games at the Double-A level, the infielder tallied four hits including one double. Through 13 games in spring training, Kurtz has posted a .250/.464/.400 slash line with one home run and a 7:4 BB:K. Fantasy managers should expect Kurtz to open the season at the upper levels of the minor leagues. If he continues to perform well, he could push for an MLB debut in the second half.
5 hours ago
Tobias Myers Exits Early On Saturday
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Tobias Myers (oblique) exited Saturday's spring training contest with left-oblique discomfort. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team will likely provide an update in the coming days. The 26-year-old is expected to open the season in the starting rotation. Last season, Myers made his MLB debut and tossed 138 innings to the tune of a 3.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He tallied 127 punchouts and served up walks at a strong 6.3 percent rate. He also generated a modest 4.22 xERA with a .251 xBA, which suggests that he could face some regression during the 2025 campaign. If the right-hander were to miss the start of the regular season, fantasy managers should expect Tyler Alexander to see opportunities in the rotation. UPDATE: Myers will undergo imaging to determine the severity of his injury, but he's optimistic it's not too serious.
5 hours ago
Brice Turang Dealing With Shoulder Fatigue
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (shoulder) is dealing with shoulder fatigue. He was scratched from Saturday's lineup but the team noted that the move was precautionary. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but the injury does not seem overly serious. When healthy, Turang is expected to be the everyday second baseman in Milwaukee. Last season, the 25-year-old appeared in a career-high 155 contests. During this stretch, Turang held a .254/.316/.349 line with 24 doubles, four triples, and seven home runs. However, most of his fantasy value came from his speed as he swiped an impressive 50 bags, which was the third-most in the National League. Fantasy managers should view Turang as a top option for speed that carries little upside in the other four standard categories.
5 hours ago
Amed Rosario Returning On Saturday
Washington Nationals infielder/outfielder Amed Rosario (knee) is returning to the starting nine on Saturday afternoon. Rosario will cover shortstop and bat at the top of the other. Rosario has been battling a minor knee injury during the week but is quickly returning to the starting lineup. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears that this injury was not very serious. Earlier in the offseason, the Nationals signed the 29-year-old to a one-year, $2 million contract. Last season, Rosario spent time with three clubs and held an overall .280/.306/.380 slash line. He tallied 18 doubles and three home runs, He swiped 13 bags and held a 9:73 BB:K ratio. During the regular season, fantasy managers should expect Rosario to be deployed as a depth option in the infield.
9 hours ago
Jose Trevino Going For CT Scan
Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino (hand) is undergoing a CT scan on his right hand on Saturday. Trevino suffered this injury during Friday's spring training contest. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be at risk of missing the start of the regular season if this injury is serious. The Reds are already going to be without top backstop Tyler Stephenson (oblique) during the start of the regular season. The Reds acquired Trevino in a trade from the New York Yankees earlier in the offseason. Last season, the 32-year-old posted a .215/.288/.354 slash line with eight home runs. If Trevino were to miss the start of the regular season, fantasy managers should expect Austin Wynns to move up to the top of the depth chart.
10 hours ago
Bryce Eldridge Will Not Play On Saturday
San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge (hand) will not play in Saturday's Spring Breakout contest. Eldridge was scratched from the lineup due to left hand soreness. However, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area noted that this injury is believed to be minor. Fantasy managers should continue to keep an eye on his status, but given this report, he should be in any danger of missing the start of the minor-league regular season. The Giants drafted Eldridge with the 16th-overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft. The 20-year-old is considered the top prospect in the San Francisco system. Last summer, Eldridge began the season in Single-A and was able to end the season at the Triple-A level. Across 116 contests in the minor leagues, the infielder held a strong .291/.374/.516 line. If he continues to produce well in Triple-A, he could be in contention for a 2025 MLB debut.
10 hours ago
Blake Perkins Cleared For Light Baseball Activities
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins (lower leg) was cleared for light baseball activities on Saturday. The 28-year-old suffered a fractured right shin earlier in camp. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he slowly begins to increase his workload. However, he is not expected to be available during the start of the regular season. Last summer, Perkins held a .240/.316/.332 slash line across a career-high 1212 contests. He went deep four times and added 13 doubles. He held a 42:108 BB:K and swiped 23 bags which were the 17th-most in the National League. While he is sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Manuel Margot to have an increase in playing time during the opening month of the campaign.
10 hours ago
Doug Nikhazy Optioned To Triple-A
The Cleveland Guardians have optioned left-handed pitching prospect Doug Nikhazy to Triple-A Columbus. Nikhazy was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but was unlikely to break camp with the major-league roster. Instead, Nikhazy will continue his development at the top level of the minor leagues. Last season, the former second-round selection began his season with Double-A before making his Triple-A debut. Across 48 1/3 innings at the Double-A level, the southpaw held a 3.17 ERA with a stellar 1.03 WHIP. He was then promoted to Triple-A Columbus where he posted a strong 2.87 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP across 75 1/3 frames. Across this stint, he held a 34:75 BB:K ratio. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression at Triple-A as he should be in the mix for an early MLB debut.
10 hours ago
Jung Hoo Lee Scratched On Saturday With Back Tightness
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee (back) was scratched on Saturday due to back tightness. Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay noted that the injury is believed to be minor and he could be back in the lineup on Sunday. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status, but it appears that the injury is not very serious for now. He was replaced by center fielder Grant McCray. Lee made his MLB debut last season and held a .262/.310/.331 slash line with four doubles and two home runs. He was only able to appear in 37 contests before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Under the hood, he generated a stellar .278 xBA and showed an elite eye at the plate as he held an 8.2 percent strikeout rate. When healthy, fantasy managers should expect Lee to have an everyday spot in the San Francisco lineup. He is an excellent target in the final rounds of the draft when looking to boost your batting average production.
10 hours ago
Cody Bradford Won't Throw For At Least Four Weeks
Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young said on Saturday that left-hander Cody Bradford (elbow), who will begin the regular season on the injured list due to a sore left elbow, will not throw for at least four weeks. There was hope that Bradford might have a minimal stay on the IL to open the 2025 season, but this news throws that out the window. Fantasy managers that have already drafted the 27-year-old southpaw in deeper leagues may want to expect him to miss at least the first month of the season now that he'll have to start his throwing program from scratch when he resumes tossing. Texas received more bad news regarding their rotation when right-hander Jon Gray fractured his wrist on a line drive on Friday night. The injuries to Bradford and Gray probably mean that both right-handed pitching prospects Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker will begin the year in Texas' starting rotation.
10 hours ago
Bryce Miller Ironing Out The Kinks In Spring Training
Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller (finger) missed his last start of the 2024 campaign due to a blister on his right index finger. While he's been healthy this spring, Miller's results in Cactus League action haven't been stellar. In just two starts covering four innings pitched, the 26-year-old has allowed three earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out five. It's an extremely small sample size, and the only thing that matters is that Miller's blister issue hasn't cropped back up. Fantasy managers should be targeting Miller as a strong No. 2 rotation piece this year after the former fourth-rounder went 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA (3.58 FIP), 0.98 WHIP and 171:45 K:BB in 180 1/3 innings over 31 starts in just his second year in the big leagues. If he can stay healthy, Miller has the stuff to take his game to the next level after breaking out in 2024.
11 hours ago
Logan Gilbert Named Opening Day Starter
Seattle Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert has been named the team's Opening Day starter for March 27 against the division-rival Athletics, according to The Seattle Times' Ryan Divish. Although Gilbert hasn't looked great in spring training action -- he's allowed four runs while walking five and striking out eight over 5 1/3 innings -- fantasy managers should have him locked into their lineups when he takes the hill against the A's to kick things off in 2025. The 27-year-old former 14th overall pick in 2018 out of Stetson University has been a workhorse for Seattle the last three years and was a first-time All-Star in 2024, when he went 9-12 with a 3.23 ERA (3.27 FIP), a league-best 0.89 WHIP, a career-high 220 strikeouts and only 37 walks in a league-high 208 2/3 innings over his 33 starts. Gilbert is a big reason why the M's are considered to have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. He's a fantasy ace.
11 hours ago
Mookie Betts Missing Tokyo Exhibition Games Due To Illness
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/infielder Mookie Betts (illness) missed the team's first exhibition game in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday against the Yomiuri Giants and won't play on Sunday, either, according to manager Dave Roberts. The Dodgers will see how Betts is feeling on their off day on Monday before determining his status for the two-game, season-opening series against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 19. The 32-year-old former MVP and eight-time All-Star has been sick since before the Dodgers made the trip to Japan and he's lost some weight as a result, but we'd be surprised if he's not ready to go for the two-game series in Tokyo next week. After bouncing around from the outfield and infield in recent seasons, Betts is expected to start at shortstop this year. In the best lineup in baseball and with eligibility at outfield, second base and shortstop, Betts is RotoBaller's No. 14-ranked overall player.
11 hours ago
Jesus Sanchez To Miss Four Weeks With Oblique Strain
Miami Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez (oblique) isn't expected to return for four weeks after being diagnosed with a left-oblique strain. Sanchez initially suffered the oblique injury in Thursday's Grapefruit League game, and he will now be forced to miss the start of the 2025 regular season. The 27-year-old won't be eligible to return to the Fish until April 6, but he might be forced to miss more time than that. It's a tough break for Sanchez, who was in line to be the team's regular right fielder. Now that he'll miss the start of the season, young outfielder Griffin Conine should see most of the playing time in right field in South Beach until Sanchez recovers. The Dominican outfielder hit .252/.313/.417 with career-highs in home runs (18), RBI (64), steals (16) and runs (60) in 149 games in 2024 in his fifth year in the league. Sanchez hits the ball as hard as anyone, but he needs to hit the ball in the air more to reach the 20-homer mark.
11 hours ago
Jon Gray Has A Fractured Right Wrist
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said on Saturday that right-hander Jon Gray (wrist) suffered a fractured right wrist when he was hit by a line drive during his Cactus League outing on Friday night versus the San Diego Padres. "Not good news," Bochy said. The Rangers haven't given a timetable on when Gray might be able to return and make his 2025 debut, but it will obviously be a lengthy absence and could sideline the 33-year-old veteran hurler for the first several months of the season. With left-hander Cody Bradford (elbow) also set to start the year on the injured list, it's looking like both right-handed pitching prospects Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker will now open in the Rangers' starting rotation. Given his inconsistency and notable drop in velocity and strikeouts a year ago, Gray already was a starting pitcher to avoid in shallow mixed fantasy leagues. UPDATE: Gray will miss "extended time" and won't throw for at least six weeks, according to general manager Chris Young.
11 hours ago
Mitch Garver
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Mariners
