MLB News
Lance McCullers Jr. Tosses Four Shutout Innings
Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow) was impressive on the mound during his rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday. The right-hander struck over five batters over four shutout innings during this outing. McCullers allowed one hit and one walk, but was perfect outside of that. He threw 42 of his 61 pitches for strikes and appears to be headed in the right direction. The expectation is that McCullers will probably need to make at least one more rehab start. Hopefully, McCullers can get back on the big league mound by the end of April.
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Brandon Woodruff Strikes Out Five During Rehab Start
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) made his first rehab start with Triple-A Nashville on Saturday. This was the first time that Woodruff has been on the mound since having shoulder surgery last year. He tossed 3 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs, and striking out five batters. He threw 66 pitches and 44 of them for strikes as he topped out at 95.1 mph on his fastball. The 32-year-old will likely still need to make a few more rehab appearances before rejoining the Brewers rotation. The hope is that Woodruff can return to the big league rotation by the end of April or early May.
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Richard Fitts Exits Due To Shoulder Injury
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Richard Fitts (shoulder) was removed early during Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox. This is a shame as Fitts was in the middle of an excellent performance before being forced to exit due to shoulder pain. The plan is for Fitts to return to Boston on Sunday to undergo additional imaging on his shoulder to determine the severity of the injury. Before he went down, Fitts tossed five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, and striking out five batters. The expectation is that the Red Sox will give an update on his status in the coming days.
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Shohei Ohtani Throws 30-Pitch Bullpen Session
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani threw his scheduled bullpen session on Saturday. Ohtani threw a 30-pitch session that included fastballs and splitters exclusively. The two-way superstar hasn't quite progressed to facing live hitters yet. The Dodgers are going to continue being cautious with their superstar. The organization is hopeful that Ohtani can get back on the mound at some point in the second half of the season. Fantasy managers holding Ohtani will need to continue being patient as the Dodgers aren't going to rush him back on the mound.
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Colin Rea Likely To Start On Sunday
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Colin Rea is likely to take the mound against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, according to manager Craig Counsell. The Cubs are looking to fill a void in the starting rotation with Justin Steele (elbow) landing on the injured list. This team is also without Javier Assad (forearm) so Rea seems to be the most logical next choice. Rea has made three appearances out of the bullpen for the Cubs, but could be a short term option in the rotation. He registered a 4.29 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 135/43 K/BB ratio across 32 games (27 starts) with the Milwaukee Brewers last season. Rea could be a viable rotational piece, but isn't someone to be considered a strong streaming option against the Dodgers lineup.
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Jonathan India Removed Early On Saturday
Kansas City Royals infielder Jonathan India (quad) was forced to exit early during Saturday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. India was pulled out of the contest in the sixth inning due to right quad tightness. It seems that he was removed for precautionary reasons, but the Royals are likely to do additional testing to determine the severity of the issue. India has been off to a slow start with his new team. He's hitting .208 with three RBI in 15 games. The Royals would likely use a combo of Maikel Garcia, Cavan Biggio, and Tyler Tolbert if India is forced to miss time.
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Jose Siri Exits Early On Saturday
New York Mets outfielder Jose Siri (shin) was removed early during Saturday's game against the Athletics. Siri was carted off the field after fouling a ball off his left shin in the second inning. He underwent testing, which didn't appear to reveal anything too serious. That being said, Siri should be considered as day-to-day for now. The hope is that Siri can avoid a trip to the injured list, but the Mets should give another update on his status soon. Tyrone Taylor took over in center field on Saturday and figures to see more playing time if Siri is forced to miss some time.
3 hours ago
Joey Bart Out Of The Lineup On Saturday
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart (back) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Bart will take a seat here after being forced to exit early during Friday's game due to lower back discomfort. For now, fantasy managers can consider Bart as day-to-day, but it wouldn't be shocking if he's forced to land on the injured list. Henry Davis will start behind the plate and bat ninth versus left-hander Andrew Abbott. Fantasy managers should check back on Sunday for another update on Bart.
3 hours ago
Tyler Freeman Scratched From Saturday's Lineup
Colorado Rockies outfielder Tyler Freeman (oblique) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres. Freeman was slated to start in center field with Brenton Doyle (quad) missing his second straight game. Now, both outfielders are sidelined for this game, which will push Mickey Moniak out there on Saturday. Moniak will cover center field and bat seventh against left-hander Kyle Hart. The Rockies might be forced to make a roster move if Freeman and Doyle aren't able to return soon.
3 hours ago
Brendan Rodgers Remains Out On Saturday
Houston Astros infielder Brendan Rodgers (hip) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Earlier on Saturday, Astros manager Joe Espada said Rodgers is dealing with left hip soreness. It's worth noting that Rodgers was able to field grounders ahead of Saturday's contest. It doesn't sound like Rodgers will require a trip to the injured list, but we'll wait and see how he feels on Sunday. In the meantime, Jose Altuve will cover second base while Zach Dezenzo takes over in left field against left-hander Tyler Anderson on Saturday.
3 hours ago
Will Smith Sitting Out On Saturday
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Fantasy managers don't need to worry as this appears to routine rest day for Smith. He has been struggling lately with three hits over his last five games. In his absence, Austin Barnes will cover behind the plate and bat ninth versus right-hander Ben Brown. Barnes is a viable backup catcher, but isn't someone worth rostering in fantasy formats with Smith healthy.
3 hours ago
Oneil Cruz To Miss Third Straight Game
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (finger) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Cruz injured his finger earlier in the week when he was hit by a pitch on the hand. He's being considered as day-to-day, but will miss his third straight game on Saturday. Hopefully, Cruz can return soon and avoid a trip to the injured list. Alexander Canario will cover center field and bat sixth versus left-hander Andrew Abbott. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on Sunday.
3 hours ago
Brenton Doyle Resting For Second Straight Game
Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres. It's extremely odd to see Doyle sitting out for two straight games. The right-handed slugger has been excellent with a .312 batting average, three home runs, and 12 RBI in 12 contests this season. Instead, Tyler Freeman will cover center field and bat seventh versus left-hander Kyle Hart on Saturday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation, but maybe this is just some extra rest for Doyle.
3 hours ago
Pete Crow-Armstrong In Contract Talks With Cubs
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs have been in contract discussions. The Cubs offered Crow-Armstrong a deal worth "roughly $75 million," but the two sides could not close the deal. The Cubs initially acquired Crow-Armstrong from the New York Mets during the 2021 MLB trade deadline in a move that sent shortstop Javier Baez to the Mets. Crow-Armstrong made his MLB debut during the 2023 season but did not become a full-time player until last summer. In 2024, Crow-Armstrong faced some growing pains but held a strong .262/.310/.465 line with 10 stolen bases during the second half. However, Crow-Armstrong has had a rough start to the 2025 season as he has posted a .200/.273/.250 line. Fantasy managers should expect Crow-Armstrong to continue to be the everyday center fielder in Chicago, and it appears the Cubs hope to keep him on the Northside for the foreseeable future.
7 hours ago
Marcus Stroman Placed On 15-Day Injured List
The New York Yankees placed right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman (knee) on the 15-day injured list due to right knee inflammation. In a corresponding move, the Yankees promoted right-handed pitcher Allan Winans to the MLB roster. Stroman struggled in his start on Friday evening against the Giants and noted that his knee was bothering him during this outing. He was only able to tally two outs and allowed four hits and five earned runs. He allowed a home run to outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and served up three free passes. During his first two starts of the season, Stroman logged eight 2/3 innings and allowed seven earned runs and posted a 4:6 BB:K. With Stroman hitting the injured list, fantasy managers should expect Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) to take his spot in the rotation when he is cleared to return next week.
7 hours ago
Andrew Abbott Officially Activated Off Injured List
The Cincinnati Reds have officially activated left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott (shoulder) off the 15-day injured list ahead of his season debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday evening. Abbott opened the campaign on the injured list due to a rotator-cuff strain in his left shoulder. The southpaw has made two rehab outings and logged 10 innings of work to the tune of a 3.60 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. He held a 5:8 BB:K and allowed three home runs. Last summer, the Virginia product logged a career-high 138 innings with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He tallied strikeouts at a modest 19.5 percent rate but was able to limit hard contact, as he generated a strong 33.5 percent hard-hit rate. Abbott is worth a look in DFS this afternoon while facing a struggling Pittsburgh lineup.
7 hours ago
Jarren Duran Sitting On Saturday
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is not in the starting nine on Saturday when the Red Sox continue a series against the White Sox. Duran has been in the starting nine in each of the first 15 games of the regular season. Instead, the Red Sox will give Rob Refsnyder the nod in left field and will have him bat cleanup. Through the start of the campaign, Duran has held a .231/.292/.308 slash line with three doubles and one home run. He has tallied eight RBI and swiped five bags. The 28-year-old has generated a strong 92.6 mph average exit velocity with a 73.8 mph bat speed, which suggests he should see positive regression when he returns to the lineup. He will likely return to the lineup on Sunday and face White Sox right-hander Shane Smith.
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Jordan Westburg Active On Saturday
Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (upper body) is back in the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon. Westburg was held out of the starting nine on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury. He could have returned on Friday, but the competition against the Blue Jays was canceled due to rain. Westburg will cover the hot corner in this game and bat cleanup. Westburg has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, posting a .256/.333/.465 slash line with three home runs and a 4:9 BB:K. He has tallied four RBI and scored seven runs. He has generated an elite .309 xBA with a .594 xSLG, which are both well above the average marks. He is a solid play in DFS this afternoon, facing right-hander Bowden Francis, who enters this game with a 3.18 ERA.
7 hours ago
CJ Abrams Placed On 10-Day Injured List
The Washington Nationals have placed shortstop CJ Abrams (hip) on the 10-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the Nationals promoted infielder Nasim Nunez from Triple-A. The infielder aggravated his right hip flexor during Friday's contest against the Miami Marlins. The 24-year-old was also kept out of the starting lineup earlier in the week due to a hip injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he needs to miss additional time while on the injured list. Through his first 11 games of the campaign, Abrams has held a .244/.289/.585 slash line with two doubles, four home runs, and four stolen bases. While Abrams is out, fantasy managers should expect Paul DeJong to see most of the opportunities at shortstop.
8 hours ago
Austin Slater Hits 10-Day Injured List
The Chicago White Sox have placed outfielder Austin Slater (knee) on the 10-day injured list with a right knee meniscus tear. In a corresponding move, the White Sox promoted outfielder Greg Jones from Triple-A. Slater was unable to play on Friday due to this injury. However, given the severity of the injury, fantasy managers should expect Slater to miss at least the next few months. Through the early part of the campaign, the 32-year-old has posted a .250/.250/.500 slash line. Last season, Slater spent time with the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Baltimore Orioles. Across 84 total games, Slater posted a .209/.321/.266 slash line. While Slater remains sidelined, Brooks Baldwin, Joshua Palacio, and Greg Jones will share time in right field.
8 hours ago
Lance McCullers Jr.
• SP
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Astros
