MLB News
Dennis Santana Picks Up First Save Of The Year
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed reliever Dennis Santana was handed the first save chance for the Pirates on Wednesday against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays since they demoted former closer David Bednar to the minors this week, and Santana capitalized by closing the door to earn his first save of 2025. The 28-year-old didn't allow a hit while walking one in his fourth appearance of the season. Colin Holderman pitched the eighth frame in the 4-2 victory and allowed a run. While things could change quickly in the back end of Pittsburgh's bullpen, Santana has to be considered the favorite for most of the team's save opportunities moving forward, so fantasy managers scrounging for saves in deeper leagues should take notice. After struggling to begin last year with the Yankees, Santana altered his approach and showed much better control in Pittsburgh.
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Tony Gonsolin, Evan Phillips Starting Rehab Assignments
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handers Tony Gonsolin (back) and Evan Phillips (shoulder) are both scheduled to begin minor-league rehab assignments with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday. Gonsolin is scheduled to start on Thursday and pitch around two innings. Gonsolin is recovering from a back injury that he suffered in early March while lifting weights, but both he and Phillips are getting close to rejoining the big-league roster in the month of April. Given L.A.'s stacked starting rotation, though, it's unclear if the 30-year-old Gonsolin will serve as a starter or long reliever for the Blue when he's cleared to be activated. Phillips, 30, didn't pitch at all during spring training due to a right-shoulder injury that had been bothering him since the World Series last October. He led the Dodgers in saves the last two years but has lost considerable fantasy value after the team added Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates to the bullpen in the offseason.
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George Springer Hits First Homer In Win Over Nationals
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer went 1-for-3 with a solo home run (his first of the year), a walk and two strikeouts as the designated hitter in Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the visiting Washington Nationals at Rogers Centre. Not many fantasy managers were probably expecting the 35-year-old veteran to start the 2025 season as hot as he has. Through seven games played, Springer is now 9-for-21 with three extra-base hits and a 1.187 OPS. His homer came in the fourth inning off left-hander MacKenzie Gore. While Springer has shown clear signs of decline in Toronto the last couple of years, he's still a lineup regular for the Jays and is proving that he can still go on useful runs for fantasy managers. While he's hot, keep riding him into a weekend series against the New York Mets.
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Alex Bregman Considering Using Torpedo Bat
Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman said he used a torpedo bat in the batting cages and on the field during batting practice on Wednesday before the game in Baltimore against the division-rival Orioles, but he's unsure yet if he'll use it in the game. Bregman is batting third against Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin. The 31-year-old veteran could be looking to get his bat going early on in his first year in Boston after a number of high-profile MLB players have seen rousing success, especially in the power department, while using torpedo bats so far this season. In his first five contests with the BoSox heading into Wednesday's contest, Bregman has gone 5-for-22 with a stolen base, one walk and five strikeouts in 23 plate appearances. If Bregman does start using the torpedo bat in games, fantasy managers will be hoping it will lead to more power for the two-time All-Star.
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Freddie Freeman Remains Out On Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle) will miss his third straight game on Wednesday evening at Dodger Stadium against the winless Atlanta Braves. With Freeman out again after aggravating his right-ankle injury during a slip in the shower on Sunday, Enrique Hernandez will make another start at the cold corner and will hit eighth against Braves right-hander Bryce Elder. The Dodgers have the day off on Thursday, so the earliest we'll see the 35-year-old Freeman again for the Blue will be for Friday's series opener in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if Freeman is feeling good enough to play. Kike has gone just 2-for-15 in the early going through four games for L.A., but both of his hits have gone over the fence and he's driven in four runs. Hernandez will be a boom/bust DFS power option on Wednesday against a pitcher he's never faced.
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Ozzie Albies Moving To Leadoff Spot On Wednesday
With the Atlanta Braves looking to shake things up on Wednesday against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium after starting the year 0-6, second baseman Ozzie Albies will move up to the leadoff spot to face left-hander Blake Snell. It will be Albies' first time batting leadoff in the early going for the struggling Braves, but he could occupy the spot more often moving forward with outfielder Jurickson Profar suspended 80 games for PEDs. Like most of the rest of the Braves hitters so far in 2025, the switch-hitting Albies has been cold at the plate early on, as the three-time All-Star heads into Wednesday's contest with a .136 average (3-for-22) with a homer, three RBI, two walks and three strikeouts in 24 trips to the plate over six games. Albies has hit .143 in his career against Snell in a small sample size of seven at-bats.
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Freddy Peralta Dazzles In No-Decision Against Royals
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta certainly pitched well enough to get a win on Wednesday against the visiting Kansas City Royals at American Family Field, but instead he picked up a no-decision in a 3-2 extra-innings win despite allowed just one earned run on two hits while walking none and striking out eight in eight innings of work. The 28-year-old Dominican allowed his only run in the second inning and then retired the last 19 batters that he faced in his second outing of 2025. Peralta's eight innings pitched tied a career high, and he's looked excellent in the early going in 2025, as he now sports a 2.08 ERA with 16 strikeouts and only one walk in 13 innings pitched. He's essentially a must-start in fantasy lineups when he takes the ball, but he could be more volatile in his next scheduled outing in Colorado against the Rockies at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
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Jackson Chourio Picks Up Three Hits, First Homer In Extra-Innings Win
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio had a nice day on Wednesday in the team's 3-2 extra-inning win over the visiting Kansas City Royals at American Family Field. Chourio finished the team's second win of the year by going 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a double, two RBI, a run scored and a strikeout to raise his early-season average to .286 and his OPS to .786. The 21-year-old outfielder put the Brewers on the board early with a solo shot off lefty starter Cole Ragans in the first inning, and he also tied the game up in the bottom of the 10th frame with his double. Fantasy managers might have been a little worried after Chourio went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts on Opening Day last Thursday against the New York Yankees, but he has quickly turned things around in the early going and now has four extra-base hits and four RBI in six games.
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Michael Harris II Sitting Against Lefty On Wednesday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II is retreating to the bench on Wednesday versus the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium with a left-hander on the mound. Eli White will make the start in center field and will bat ninth for the Braves against southpaw Blake Snell. It will be Harris' first day off of the season after starting the first six games (all losses) and going just 3-for-23 with one home run, an RBI, a run scored, no walks and eight strikeouts. The 24-year-old could be pressing at the plate early on given the team's rough start to the year, but hopefully he can pick things up this weekend against the division-rival Miami Marlins in Atlanta after another day off on Thursday. White is hitless in just one career at-bat against Snell and should be avoided in DFS lineups in the series finale against Snell and the undefeated Dodgers.
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Gunnar Henderson To Make Another Rehab Appearance On Wednesday
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) will play on Wednesday for Triple-A Norfolk and is expected to see seven to nine innings on defense, and then the Orioles will make a decision on whether to activate him from the 10-day injured list for Thursday or wait a day. The O's play a day game on Thursday versus the division-rival Boston Red Sox, which complicates things a bit for travel purposes, so the 23-year-old might not make his 2025 debut until Friday at Camden Yards. Henderson has gone 5-for-16 with two home runs in four minor-league rehab games as he recovers from a right intercostal strain that he suffered in spring training. It sounds like he's doing just fine, and manager Brandon Hyde has already said that Henderson will immediately return to playing every day as the team's leadoff hitter after he's activated. Fantasy managers are hoping he can pick up where he left off last year.
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Paul Skenes Wins His First Game Of The Season
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes picked up his first win of the 2025 season on Wednesday in a 4-2 victory of the hosting Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Skenes went seven innings in the outing, allowing just one unearned run on three hits while walking none and striking out six. While it wasn't the dominant outing we're already used to seeing from last year's National League Rookie of the Year, his fantasy managers won't complain about it at all. After picking up a no-decision last Thursday on Opening Day versus the Miami Marlins -- he allowed two runs while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings -- the hard-throwing 22-year-old phenom now has a strong 1.46 ERA as he heads into his third outing of the year, which is expected to come next Tuesday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. Skenes is a must-start every time out in fantasy.
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Cole Ragans Fans 10 In No-Decision On Wednesday
Although he only went five innings and picked up a no-decision in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-innings loss to the hosting Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field, Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans had a strong day on the bump for his fantasy managers. Ragans allowed only one earned run on five hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out 10. The only run he gave up came in the first inning on a solo shot by Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio. The former first-rounder hasn't been all that efficient in his first two starts of the 2025 season and has gone just 10 total innings, but he's generating plenty of swings and misses and now has 13 strikeouts. The 27-year-old southpaw should be considered a must-start in his next scheduled outing at Kauffman Stadium against the division-rival Minnesota Twins.
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Ketel Marte Agrees To Six-Year Extension With Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte agreed to a six-year, $116 million contract extension on Wednesday, sources tell ESPN's Jesse Rogers. Marte was already under contract through the 2028 season, but his new extension will start this season, and it includes a player option in 2031 for $11.5 million. With escalators, the deal could be worth up to $149.5 million. Marte also receives a five-team no-trade clause. He will be a 10/5 player in 2026 and can veto any trade at that point. The 31-year-old Dominican switch-hitter is one of the best second baseman in the game, both on offense and defense, and is coming off a career year in 2024 in which he slashed .292/.372/.560 with a .932 OPS and career-highs in home runs (36) and RBI (95) in 136 games played. Marte heads into Wednesday's game in New York with six hits in his first 26 plate appearances in 2025 with two doubles in five games.
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Ivan Herrera Slugs Three Homers, Drives In Six In Win Over Angels
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera had himself a day in Wednesday's 12-5 win over the visiting Los Angeles Angels at Busch Stadium to avoid a three-game sweep. Herrera went 3-for-4 with three home runs, six RBI, three runs scored, a walk and a strikeout to become the first Cardinals catcher in franchise history to hit three homers in a game. The 24-year-old backstop will split playing time behind the dish with Pedro Pages in St. Louis, but it's clear that he's the much better bat and should be in the starting lineup more often than not. The Red Birds could also use him frequently as the designated hitter to keep his bat in the lineup on days that he doesn't catch. The Panama native is off to an excellent start to the 2025 season, as he came into Wednesday's game hitting .364 (4-for-11 with two doubles and two RBI in four games played.
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Brayan Bello To Make Another Rehab Start On Sunday
Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (shoulder) is still on track to make another minor-league rehab start for the Triple-A Worcester WooSox on Sunday, according to MassLive's Christopher Smith. In his first rehab start for the WooSox on Tuesday, Bello struggled, allowing four earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five in 2 1/3 innings of work while throwing 47 pitches. The good news is he didn't have any setbacks with his right shoulder, and he'll look to increase his pitch count this weekend. If he emerges from Sunday's outing healthy, the 25-year-old could be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his 2025 debut late next week. When Bello does return, lefty Sean Newcomb will likely be the odd-man out of Boston's rotation. Bello won't be able to take the next step for fantasy managers until he lowers his walk rate.
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Diamondbacks Working On Extension For Ketel Marte
Sources tell MLB insider Mike Rodriguez that the Arizona Diamondbacks and Dominican second baseman Ketel Marte are working on a long-term contract extension worth over $100 million. Marte is currently under contract through the 2028 campaign, but getting an extension done now could keep the 31-year-old veteran in the desert for the rest of his career by adding multiple years onto his current contract. He's coming off a career year in 2024 in which he hit .292/.372/.560 with 36 home runs and 95 RBI to make the All-Star team and win the National League Silver Slugger award at second base. In addition to his offensive exploits, he was great on defense at the keystone and finished third in NL MVP voting. Marte is off to a solid start in 2025, too, going 6-for-22 with two doubles in five games heading into Wednesday's contest in New York. He's a must-start in all fantasy leagues.
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Frankie Montas Playing Catch From 60 Feet
New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) has resumed throwing and has played catch from 60 feet, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Montas has finally started a throwing program since he suffered a high-grade right-lat strain at the start of spring training in the middle of February. Because of the long layoff and the fact that he has to completely build up his arm, the 32-year-old veteran hurler should be expected to miss at least the first month of the season, and possibly more. He was better after being traded to the Brewers last year, but Montas was still very inconsistent overall in 2024 and finished with a 4.84 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 148 strikeouts and 66 walks in 150 2/3 innings over 30 starts with Milwaukee and Cincinnati. Especially since he hasn't shown a ton of strikeout upside in his career, Montas should be on the waiver wire in 12-team mixed fantasy leagues for the time being.
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Trea Turner Returns To Wednesday's Lineup
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (back) is back at shortstop and is hitting leadoff on Wednesday against the visiting Colorado Rockies and left-hander Kyle Freeland at Citizens Bank Park. It will be only Turner's second start of the season while battling lower-back spasms, but he entered late in the game as a pinch-hitter on Monday and appears to be fine moving forward, so fantasy managers should be looking to get him back in their starting lineups. The 31-year-old three-time All-Star and former National League batting champion has gone 0-for-4 so far with a run scored, two walks and a strikeout in his six plate appearances. Although he's hit only .212 in 33 career at-bats against Freeland in his career, Turner does have a .763 OPS with two home runs and four RBI against the southpaw.
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Max Scherzer Hopes To Resume Throwing On Friday
After visiting with renowned hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham earlier this week and receiving a cortisone injection in each of his troublesome thumb ligaments, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (thumb) is hoping to resume throwing on Friday. "He was actually pretty surprised, based on what it was, that structurally we were in a pretty good spot," Scherzer said. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer is on the injured list for the sixth time since September of 2023 and also had cortisone injections in his thumb last September and October and responded well. Including spring training, Scherzer hasn't thrown more than 62 pitches in a game, and he came out last Saturday in his first start after tossing 45 pitches. Since he's likely to need at least one minor-league rehab start before rejoining Toronto's rotation, it's unlikely that Scherzer will be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible on April 14.
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DL Hall Scheduled To Throw A Bullpen On April 15
As of Tuesday, Milwaukee Brewers left-hander DL Hall (lat) was building up for bullpen sessions in Arizona that are tentatively scheduled for April 15 and 18 before potentially moving to a live batting practice session on April 23, according to MLB.com. Hall is on the 60-day injured list due to a left-lat strain and won't be eligible to return before late May. The 26-year-old has been throwing on flat ground at the team's spring training complex as he works his way back from a lat injury that he suffered this spring. Hall started off the 2024 season in rough fashion before injuring his knee and going on the IL. When he returned, he was decent out of the bullpen with a 3.68 ERA in relief in his final eight appearances. Given his inconsistency and struggles with injuries, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Hall return to a relief role for Milwaukee when he makes his 2025 debut.
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Dennis Santana
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Pirates
