MLB News
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.
2 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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 hours ago
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.
3 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.
3 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.
3 hours ago
Ryan Jeffers Sitting On Saturday
Minnesota Twins Ryan Jeffers (thumb) is not in the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon when they continue a series against the Detroit Tigers. Jeffers suffered a thumb injury during Friday's contest and will take the day off to rest. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status leading up to Sunday's game in case he needs to miss more time. While Jeffers is sidelined on Saturday, Christian Vazquez will be behind the dish and bat in the nine-hole. Through the first nine games of the campaign, the 27-year-old has posted a .219/.265/.250 line with just seven total hits. He has yet to hit a home run and has held a below-average 23.5 percent strikeout rate. If the 27-year-old were to miss an extended period of time, Vazquez could be worth targeting in two-catcher formats.
4 hours ago
Clarke Schmidt Set To Rejoin Rotation April 15 Or 16
New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) is expected to rejoin the starting rotation either April 15 or 16. Schmidt has been sidelined through the start of the campaign with rotator cuff tendinitis. However, the right-hander has performed well in his rehab outings and is expected to make his season debut next week. Across seven 1/3 innings of rehab work, Schmidt has not allowed a run and held a stellar 1:11 BB:K. He has also allowed just four hits. Last summer, Schmidt battled injuries as well, but was effective when on the bump. The South Carolina product posted a strong 2.85 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP across 85 1/3 innings of work. He tallied 93 punchouts. When Schmidt returns to the Yankees, he will replace either Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, or Will Warren in the rotation.
4 hours ago
Albert Suarez Shut Down From Throwing
Baltimore Orioles right-handed pitcher Albert Suarez (shoulder) has been shut down from throwing. According to Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun, he will not resume throwing until an MRI shows healing in his right shoulder. He will not begin throwing for at least three weeks. The 35-year-old was recently moved to the 60-day injured list. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress, but should not expect him to return to the mound anytime soon. Last summer, Suarez operated as a swingman in Baltimore and appeared in 32 games (24 starts) and held a 3.70 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP across 133 2/3 innings of work. With Suarez sidelined, fantasy managers should expect southpaw Cade Povich to continue to see opportunities in the rotation.
4 hours ago
Andrew Kittredge Playing Catch On Saturday
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge (knee) was playing catch in the outfield on Saturday. The reliever is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent earlier in the spring. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression, but given that he has yet to throw on the mound, he is still several months away from returning. Last season, Kittredge enjoyed a productive campaign operating as a set-up man in St. Louis. Across 70 2/3 innings of work, the 35-year-old posted a 2.80 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP. He tallied 37 holds and held a 67:20 BB:K. He generated a modest 3.97 xERA and a .250 xBA, which suggests he could see some regression when he returns to the bump. When he returns to the mound, he will likely see high-leverage opportunities in Baltimore.
4 hours ago
Liam Hendriks Set To Pitch Again On Sunday
According to Chris Cotillo of Masslive.com, Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks (elbow) is set to pitch again on Sunday and is nearing a return to the big leagues. As a relief pitcher, Hendriks will not need as long of a ramp-up period as the other injured pitchers in Boston, like Lucas Giolito (hamstring) and Brayan Bello (shoulder). Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status after his second rehab outing on Sunday, as he could be cleared to return to Boston next week. During his first rehab outing, Hendriks logged one inning and allowed one hit while striking out three batters. He has been on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation since the start of the campaign. When he does return, he will compete with Aroldis Chapman for save opportunities.
4 hours ago
Lucas Giolito Set To Start In Rehab Outing On Tuesday
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (hamstring) is set to make another rehab appearance on Tuesday for Triple-A Worcester. Chris Cotillo of Masslive.com noted that Giolito will make at least one more start before being in contention to return to Boston. During his first two rehab outings, Giolito has logged five 2/3 total innings of one-run ball. He has allowed four hits and held a 4:5 BB:K. During his last outing, Giolito only threw 64 pitches and will need at least one more start. The 30-year-old opened the campaign on the 15-day injured list due to a hamstring strain he sustained in March. Giolito has last appeared in the majors during the 2023 season and logged 184 1/3 innings with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. When he does return to Boston, he should have value in deeper formats as a depth starting pitcher.
4 hours ago
Nolan Gorman Activated Off Injured List
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (hamstring) has been activated off the 10-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals placed shortstop Masyn Winn (back) on the 10-day injured list. Gorman has been sidelined since early April with this injury. Through his first five games of the campaign, the second baseman tallied four hits with one double and a home run. He held a 1:1 BB:K. Gorman is not in Saturday's starting lineup as the Cardinals are facing a southpaw in Cristopher Sanchez. However, fantasy managers should expect Gorman to see playing against right-handed pitching. Last summer, the 24-year-old struggled as he held a .203/.271/.400 slash line. He is worth a look as a power target in deeper 15+ team formats.
4 hours ago
Cardinals Place Masyn Winn On Injured List With Back Spasms
The St. Louis Cardinals placed shortstop Masyn Winn (back) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday due to lower-back spasms and activated infielder Nolan Gorman (hamstring) from the IL in a corresponding move, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo. Winn was forced to leave Friday night's win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies early and will now miss at least the next 10 days. The good news is that the 23-year-old doesn't think his injury is very serious, so there's a chance he could be back when he's eligible to come off the IL on April 22. Thomas Saggese is starting at short and is batting ninth for Game 2 of the series against the Phillies on Saturday and should see most of the starts at the 6 for the RedBirds while Winn is out. Winn had gotten off to a slow start at the plate to begin the year before his injury, going 10-for-45 (.222) with a homer, three RBI, five walks and 16 K's in 13 games played.
4 hours ago
Brayan Bello Goes Four Innings In Third Rehab Start
Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (shoulder) went four innings on Friday in his third minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Worcester and gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits while walking none and striking out five. Bello threw 45 of his 64 pitches for strikes and averaged 95.8 mph on his sinker. It was certainly an encouraging outing for the 25-year-old, but the Red Sox want to see him get up to at least five innings in the minors before activating him from the injured list to make his 2025 big-league debut in Boston. It sounds like Bello will need one more rehab start before he makes his season debut in the big leagues, barring a setback. When he's ready, Boston will have a rotation spot waiting for him, making Bello an option for fantasy managers looking for a streamer in deep-mixed leagues.
5 hours ago
Pirates Calling Up Henry Davis
The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up catcher/outfielder Henry Davis on Saturday, sources tell MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. Davis, the first overall pick back in 2021, had a strong spring and was hitting .286 with three doubles in eight games played at Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the season. There's no word on a corresponding move, but catcher Joey Bart (back) did leave Friday's series opener against the Cincinnati Reds with lower-back discomfort, so it's possible he will land on the injured list. If Davis does go on the IL this weekend, Davis and Endy Rodriguez will be options for Pittsburgh at catcher going forward. The 25-year-old Davis got off to a nice start offensively in the minors this year, but the Louisville product hasn't been able to put it all together yet at the major-league level in 99 games the last two years, slashing .191/.283/.307 with a .590 OPS, eight home runs, 29 RBI and 114 strikeouts in 377 plate appearances.
5 hours ago
Ketel Marte Begins Baseball Activities
Although Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (hamstring) isn't expected to return from a left-hamstring strain for another few weeks, he has started doing baseball activities, according to Arizona Sports' Alex Weiner. Marte has started to take ground balls and is taking swings in the batting cage. Barring setbacks, the D-backs hope Marte can return in late April or early May, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The 2024 MVP finalist started this season hitting a robust .346 with three doubles and six runs scored in eight games prior to injuring his hamstring running out a double on April 4 against the Washington Nationals. Hamstring injuries have been a problem for the 31-year-old All-Star, as he was on the injured list twice with hammy issues in both of his legs in 2021. So far with Marte out, rookie Tim Tawa and Garrett Hampson have split time at the keystone in Arizona.
5 hours ago
Patrick Bailey Out Against Yankees
San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey is taking the day off on Saturday at Yankee Stadium against the New York Yankees. Sam Huff will make the start behind the dish to catch right-hander Jordan Hicks and will hit eighth in the batting order versus Yankees right-hander Will Warren. Bailey went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Friday's series opener in the Bronx, but he's hitting just .206 (7-for-34) early in the season with no home runs, four doubles, a triple, four RBI, five runs scored, three walks and 10 strikeouts in 37 trips to the plate over his 13 games played. Bailey should be back in action for the series finale on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Huff should be considered a long shot to return any DFS value for Saturday's slate. The 27-year-old catcher has gotten off to a 2-for-13 start at the plate for the Giants with no home runs and five strikeouts.
5 hours ago
Alec Burleson Heads To Bench Against A Lefty
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson will take a seat on the bench to start Saturday's contest at Busch Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies with a left-hander on the mound. Luken Baker will get the start at designated hitter and will bat second against Phillies lefty Cristopher Sanchez. Burleson is hitting .286 (12-for-42) early on with five RBI and five runs scored and is currently on a five-game hitting streak, but the Cards will give him a break on Saturday against a left-hander that has been stingy so far in 2025. Despite Burleson's hot early-season hitting, he has yet to clear the fences for his fantasy managers. Baker is also in search of his first long ball on Saturday and is hitting a strong .286 (4-for-14) with a double, two RBI and a run scored in his eight games played as a reserve. Baker has never faced Sanchez in his career.
5 hours ago