MLB News
Emmanuel Rivera Dealing With Sore Shoulder
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Emmanuel Rivera (shoulder) is dealing with a sore left shoulder at camp, according to MASN's Roch Kubatko. Rivera first felt his shoulder while swinging a bat in Dunedin on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays and will need a couple more days to recover, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's not a serious injury for the 28-year-old, so it would be a surprise if he's not ready to go by Opening Day on March 27. When healthy, Rivera will merely be a backup option for the Orioles behind Jordan Westburg at third base and Ryan Mountcastle at first base in 2025. The Miami Marlins designated him for assignment last year after a rough season in which he hit .214/.294/.269. He was eventually claimed by the O's and hit .313 with four homers and 14 RBI in just 27 games to close out the year.
1 hour ago
Ronny Mauricio Won't Play In Spring Training Games
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that infield prospect Ronny Mauricio (knee) will not play in a Grapefruit League game before spring training comes to a close. The skipper also said he "misspoke" earlier this spring when he said that Mauricio would probably play by mid-March. The 23-year-old had surgery to fix a torn ACL in December of 2023 and was unable to play at all last year after he had another surgery last August. He remains the recovery process and will get a delayed start to the 2025 campaign. When Mauricio is finally cleared to play in games, he'll most likely start in the minor leagues. While Mauricio was hitting the ball as hard as anyone in Triple-A before his injury in 2023, he's only a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues. Until the young infielder can show better discipline at the plate, he'll be a boom/bust fantasy infielder.
1 hour ago
Nathan Eovaldi Named Opening Day Starter
Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will start the team's Opening Day game on March 27 against the visiting Boston Red Sox, manager Bruce Bochy announced on Sunday. It will be Eovaldi's fifth career Opening Day nod, and he'll also become the seventh pitcher in Rangers history to make consecutive Opening Day starts. The 35-year-old is not without injury questions, which is why he's ranked just outside RotoBaller's top-50 fantasy starting pitchers. Still, Eovaldi was respectable in his 29 starts for Texas in his second year with the team, going 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.11 WHIP and 166:42 K:BB in 170 2/3 frames. Even though the two-time All-Star's 170 2/3 innings were his most since 2021, he still missed time with a groin issue and should be counted on for at least one stint on the injured list at some point, especially given his age. Eovaldi has a stable skill set and a decent floor for a back-end fantasy starter.
1 hour ago
Framber Valdez Will Start For Astros On Opening Day
Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez has been named the team's Opening Day starter on March 27 against the New York Mets, according to manager Joe Espada. Because Valdez doesn't have the high-end strikeout upside that other aces do, he's merely a low-end fantasy ace/high-end No. 2 option, and the 31-year-old Dominican southpaw will have a tough task on his hands in his first start of 2025. He makes up for his lack of strikeouts with an elite ability to induce weak contact, mainly in the form of ground balls. The two-time All-Star and former World Series champion went 15-7 in 2024 with a sharp 2.91 ERA (3.25 FIP) and a 1.11 WHIP with 169 strikeouts and 55 walks in 176 1/3 innings over his 28 regular-season starts. The veteran southpaw has also looked good this spring with a 2.53 ERA in his 10 2/3 innings, but Valdez only has one season of 200-plus K's.
1 hour ago
Spencer Strider To Make Spring Debut On Monday
MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports that Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) will make his Grapefruit League debut on Monday and start against the Boston Red Sox. It's a positive step in the right direction for Strider, who made only two starts in 2024 before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old hurler will open the 2025 regular season on the injured list as he puts the finishing touches on his rehab, but barring a setback on his rehab assignment, he could make his season debut for Atlanta by the end of April. Strider was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and was one of the best pitchers in baseball, going 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, a league-best 281 strikeouts and 58 walks in 186 2/3 innings over 32 starts. He also had over 200 strikeouts in 2022, but he's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 38 starting pitcher this year because he could the entire first month and may not be as sharp upon his initial return.
1 hour ago
Gleyber Torres Scratched With Quad Contusion
The Detroit Tigers announced that second baseman Gleyber Torres (quadriceps) was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Baltimore Orioles due to a right-quadriceps contusion. Andy Ibanez will take over at the keystone and hit third in the batting order. Torres' injury doesn't appear to be all that serious, so we're considering him day-to-day at this point. The Tigers added the 28-year-old infielder on a one-year, $15 million deal this offseason to operate as their starting second baseman after the team surprisingly made the postseason last fall. His fantasy stock is down going into the 2025 season, though, after he finished with a .257/.330/.378 slash line, .709 OPS, 15 home run, 63 RBI, four steals and 80 runs scored in 154 games in his seventh and final season with the Yankees. Torres was an All-Star his first two years in the big leagues but has been inconsistent since and is RotoBaller's No. 17 fantasy second baseman.
1 hour ago
Daulton Varsho Could Begin Season On Injured List
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) could begin the season on the injured list. Keegan Matheson of MLB.com noted that the outfielder is throwing at 120 feet and is viewed as "day-to-day." However, a "brief" stint on the IL is considered the "likeliest" outcome. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team will make a decision in the coming days. The 28-year-old has been deployed exclusively as a designated hitter during spring training and has yet to progress enough to take the field defensively. However, even if he did open the season on the injured list, he will likely not miss an extended period of time. Last season, Varsho appeared in 136 games for the Blue Jays and held a .214/.293/.407 line with 18 home runs and 10 stolen bases. When healthy, he should be viewed as a viable depth outfielder in category formats given his ability to hit for power and carry speed upside.
2 hours ago
Max Scherzer Set To Throw In Minor-League Game
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) is set to throw in a minor-league game "in the next day or two." If Scherzer performs well, he should be on track to be ready for Opening Day. Earlier in camp, Scherzer was scratched from a start due to minor thumb soreness. However, given this report, it appears Scherzer should be in a good position to be ready for Opening Day. During the winter, the Blue Jays signed the right-hander to a one-year $15.5 million contract. Last season, Scherzer was limited by numerous injuries as he logged just 43 1/3 innings. He posted a 3.95 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP. In 2023, Scherzer tossed 152 2/3 innings with a 3.77 ERA and a strong 1.12 WHIP. Fantasy managers should view the 40-year-old as a solid late-round starting pitcher that should provide solid strikeout upside while improving your WHIP ratio.
2 hours ago
Christian Walker Should Be "Fine" For Opening Day
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) is expected to return to spring training games this week and should be "fine" for Opening Day. Earlier in camp, Walker suffered an oblique injury but appears to be nearing a return. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but given this report, he should be a full-go by Opening Day. In the offseason, the Astros signed Walker to a three-year $60 million contract. Last season, Walker held a .251/.335/.468 slash line with 26 doubles and 26 home runs across 130 contests. He tallied 72 runs and added 84 RBI. He generated an impressive .351 xwOBA with a 13.3 percent barrel rate. Fantasy managers should view Walker as a solid low-end No.1 first baseman as his power should translate well to the short left field in Daikin Park.
2 hours ago
Sonny Gray Starting On Opening Day
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray will get the nod on Opening Day against the Minnesota Twins. Gray enjoyed a strong debut season in St. Louis last summer and will operate as the top man in the rotation in 2025. Last season, Gray logged 166 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.84 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP. He tallied an impressive 203 strikeouts and served up just 39 walks. His strikeouts were the fourth-most in the National League. He generated a solid 3.67 xERA with a .237 xBA which placed him in the 63rd and 53rd percentiles respectively. In addition, the 35-year-old generated whiffs at an elite 29.8 percent rate. Gray's sweeper (second-most used pitch) is his primary put-away pitch as it generated an elite 44.8 percent whiff rate. Facing the Twins, Gray will be viewed as a solid option in DFS given his strikeout upside.
2 hours ago
Yainer Diaz Returning On Sunday
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (illness) is returning to the starting lineup on Sunday afternoon. The primary backstop was dealing with an illness. Fantasy managers should expect the 26-year-old to operate as Houston's top catcher during the 2025 season. After appearing in 104 contests in 2023, Diaz logged a career-high 148 starts in 2024. Across this stint, Diaz posted a .299/.325/.441 slash line. His batting average was the fifth-highest mark in the American League. Diaz tallied 29 doubles and 16 home runs. He added 70 runs and 84 RBI. Under the hood, Diaz placed in the 97th percentile in xBA and 80th percentile in xSLG. In addition, Diaz held a 17.4 percent strikeout rate while generating hard hits at a strong 47.5 percent rate. Fantasy managers should view Diaz as a high-floor No.1 catcher in all formats.
2 hours ago
Connor Wong Returns To Lineup On Sunday
Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong (illness) returned to the starting lineup on Sunday. Wong is batting six and behind the dish. The backstop has been dealing with an illness during the week but is making a quick return to the starting lineup. Fantasy managers should expect Wong to be Boston's primary catcher during the 2025 season. Last summer, Wong logged a career-high in plate appearances and posted a .280/.333/.425 slash line. He tallied 24 doubles and added 13 long balls. He held a 28:114 BB:K and swiped eight bags. Under the hood, he generated a low .231 xBA with a .288 xwOBA which suggests he will likely face some regression during the upcoming campaign. Fantasy managers should view Wong as a solid No. 2 catcher as he should see ample playing time in a competitive lineup.
2 hours ago
X-Rays Come Back Negative On Colby Thomas
The X-rays came back negative on Athletics outfield prospect Colby Thomas (knee). Thomas exited Saturday's spring training contest early after being struck by a line drive while at third base. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears that this injury is not overly serious. However, the team may keep Thomas sidelined for a few games out of precaution. Thomas is considered one of the top prospects in the Athletics system. Last season, the Mercer production opened the campaign by making his Double-A debut. Across 59 games, he held a strong .282/.340/.568 line. He was then promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas where he posted a .272/.344/.559 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect Thomas to open the 2025 campaign at Triple-A but he should be in the mix for an early-season MLB debut given his success at Triple-A last summer.
6 hours ago
Brock Stewart Exits With Knee Injury
Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart (knee) exited Saturday's spring training contest with a knee injury. Stewart felt a "slight pull" behind his left knee. However, after the game, Stewart was feeling much better and testing afterwards went well. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status, but this injury appears to not be very serious. Last season, Stewart logged just 15 2/3 innings in the major leagues as he dealt with a shoulder injury during most of the season. During this limited stint, he held a high 5.17 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP. He tallied 20 punchouts and served up walks at a high 11.9 percent rate. However, in 2023, Stewart was one of the most dominant relievers in the sport as he posted a near-perfect 0.65 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP across 27 2/3 innings. When healthy, he should contend for a high-leverage role in the bullpen.
6 hours ago
Evan Sisk Optioned To Triple-A
The Kansas City Royals have optioned left-handed pitcher Evan Sisk to Triple-A Omaha. Sisk has yet to make his MLB debut. Last summer, the 27-year-old spent the entire campaign at the Triple-A level. He logged 57 1/3 innings to the tune of a stellar 1.57 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP. He tallied 81 punchouts and only served up 26 free passes. He did not allow a home run. This was a significant improvement compared to the 6.34 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP he held across 61 innings at the Triple-A level during the 2023 campaign. Fantasy managers should expect the southpaw to be in contention for an early-season 2025 MLB debut given the success he enjoyed at Triple-A last season. When he does get the call, he could contend for a middle-relief role in the bullpen.
6 hours ago
Will Benson Sent To Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Benson was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will instead begin his 2025 campaign in the minor leagues. Benson struggled at the plate last season as he held an underwhelming .187/.274/.376 slash line with 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases. He generated a poor .268 xwOBA with a .180 xBA. This was a sharp decline when looking at the .275/.365/.498 slash line with 11 home runs and 19 stolen bases. During that campaign, Benson generated a solid 42.3 percent hard-hit rate and drew walks at an elite 12.2 percent rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression at Triple-A as he should be in the mix to return to the big leagues as an injury replacement. When he does get the call, he could be worth a look in deeper NL-only leagues, given his ability to hit for power and steal bases.
6 hours ago
Bryan Shaw Optioned To Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Bryan Shaw was optioned to Triple-A. Shaw joined the Reds as a non-roster invite earlier in the winter. Last season, the 37-year-old logged just four innings in the major leagues. Across this short stint, Shaw allowed four earned runs and held a 4:4 BB:K. During the 2023 campaign, Shaw logged 45 2/3 innings of work to the tune of a 4.14 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. During this season, Shaw tallied 40 punchouts with 17 walks and four saves. Across 92 2/3 career innings a the Triple-A level, Shaw has posted a 4.37 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Shaw to be in the mix to return to the majors later in the 2025 season when the Reds need additional depth in their bullpen.
6 hours ago
Mookie Betts Could Miss Tokyo Series
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/infielder Mookie Betts (illness) has been showing fatigue during team practices and could be in danger of missing the Tokyo series. Manager Dave Roberts said, "I think that we're really trying to be mindful of not just Opening Day but not putting him in harm's way." He added, " I just don't think the training staff would feel good about it" when discussing him playing during the Tokyo series. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but it appears that the coaching staff will lean on the side of caution and keep Betts sidelined for the opening series of the regular season. The 32-year-old has been dealing with this illness before they traveled to Tokyo. In addition, Betts has lost some weight due to the illness. Miguel Rojas will likely cover shortstop if he were to miss this series. Betts should continue to be viewed as a solid pick in the first round of all formats given his five category upside and elite plate discipline.
6 hours ago
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.
15 hours 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.
15 hours ago
Emmanuel Rivera
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Orioles
