MLB News

José Ramírez • 3B • Guardians

Jose Ramirez Making an Impact Despite Low Batting Average?

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez's basic offensive statistics have taken a step backward so far this season. For now, fantasy managers are dealing with a low hit and high strikeout output from the veteran third baseman. After a brief stretch where it looked like he was turning things around, Ramirez has fallen back into a mini-slump, hitting 1-for-11 with a single, a walk, and a strikeout over his last three games. The bad news is that Ramirez is hitting just .221 with a 12.7% strikeout rate, which is his worst since 2021. The good news is that he owns a .343 OBP with a 15.7% walk rate, six home runs, and 115 wRC+. That's his lowest wRC+ mark since 2019, but at least he remains above league average. More hits will provide more value in fantasy baseball, but the Guardians can't complain about his walk and power rates, even if the batting average is ugly. He's also remained a threat on the basepaths, swiping 11 bags to this point.

6 hours ago

Luke Keaschall • 2B • Twins

Luke Keaschall Trending Up Amid Four-Game Hitting Streak

Minnesota Twins second baseman Luke Keaschall's stats in the month of April are underwhelming, but he appears to be getting back on track. The 23-year-old owns a four-game hitting streak, going 5-for-14 with one double, one RBI, two walks, and five strikeouts during that span. In total this season, he's slashing .221/.276/.283 with just one home run, but he does have seven stolen bases. The power output has been minimal, though, as he owns a .062 ISO and 57 wRC+. His K/BB rate has also taken a step backward from his 49-game sample as a rookie last year; he's walking 6.5% of the time and striking out at a 16.3% clip. On a more promising note, the defense has been above average, and his latest hitting streak could be a sign that he's turning things around at the plate. After all, he posted an .837 OPS and 134 wRC+ as a rookie in 2025. As it stands, Keaschall is the #8 second baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

6 hours ago

William Contreras • C • Brewers

William Contreras Getting Back on Track at the Plate

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras had a 0-for-9 stretch last week, but he has gotten back on track and is swinging a hotter bat lately. Over his last two games, he's hitting 3-for-8 with two RBI, a walk, and a strikeout. Overall this season, he has played in 26 games with a .272/.348/.388 slash line, two home runs, 16 RBI, a 10.4% walk rate, an 11.3% strikeout rate, and 109 wRC+. He has offered above-average contributions at the plate and in the field, where he is the Brewers' primary catcher. He's worn the gear in 24 of his 26 games so far, throwing out base-stealers at an impressive 8-for-17 clip. All in all, Contreras continues to solidify himself as a top catcher option in fantasy baseball. He ranks #5 at the position in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings for the 2026 season.

6 hours ago

Trey Yesavage • SP • Blue Jays

Trey Yesavage Sharp in Season Debut, Quickly Re-Entering Must-Start Territory

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage made his season debut on Tuesday, allowing just four hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox. He also recorded three strikeouts, zero walks, and the win. This was Yesavage's first game back in the majors following his recovery from a right shoulder impingement (and a subsequent rehab assignment). He looked sharp as a rookie last year with a 2.35 FIP and 16 strikeouts over 14 regular-season innings, and he picked up right where he left off in his season debut on Tuesday. The 22-year-old didn't rack up as many strikeouts as usual, but he should get back up to his career average over a larger sample size. Yesavage remains a strong starting-pitching option capable of generating strikeouts, throwing with solid velocity, and limiting loud contact. In fact, through 19.1 regular-season innings in the majors, the young righty has yet to allow a home run. He is already back in fantasy starter conversations, and he ranks as the SP55 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

6 hours ago

Lucas Erceg • RP • Royals

Lucas Erceg Extends Bounce-Back, Tallies Seventh Save

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Lucas Erceg worked around one walk and one hit on Tuesday, ultimately delivering a scoreless ninth inning and earning the save against the Athletics. He struck out one batter along the way and threw strikes at a 60.9% clip. Erceg has taken over as the Royals' primary closer after Carlos Estevez struggled and simultaneously landed on the injured list with a left foot contusion. Erceg hit a little rough patch in the middle of April, but otherwise, he's been quite effective. He has zero earned runs over his last four outings, and he has a total of seven saves across 13 games (12.1 innings) this year. He has both a strikeout and walk rate of 7.30 per nine, which is far from ideal. However, on a more promising note, he still hasn't allowed a homer, and he owns an encouraging 56.3% ground ball rate. Erceg remains an effective fantasy baseball option with a pretty firm grasp on the closer role in Kansas City.

6 hours ago

Tyler Phillips • RP • Marlins

Tyler Phillips Earns Save on Tuesday, the Temporary Closer in Miami?

Miami Marlins reliever Tyler Phillips allowed one hit while earning the save during a scoreless ninth inning of work against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. He threw 75% strikes and brought his season ERA down to 1.47. It was a much-needed bounce-back outing for the right-hander after he had blown a save the day prior. Despite the blown save, it's encouraging to see that the Marlins have used Phillips as their closer on back-to-back days. This suggests that he's in line for more save situations going forward, especially since he converted his save opportunity on Tuesday. He's a temporary waiver wire option in fantasy baseball leagues as he pitches in place of Pete Fairbanks (hand), the Marlins' primary closer who landed on the injured list Tuesday. Phillips has struggled with walks over a small sample size this year, but his 9.33 K/9 and 97 mph average fastball velocity suggest high upside.

6 hours ago

J.T. Realmuto • C • Phillies

J.T. Realmuto Trending Towards Return from Injured List on Saturday

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (back) is "trending" towards returning from the 10-day injured list when first eligible on Saturday, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Realmuto has been sidelined since April 21 due to back spasms. Across 61 plate appearances before the injury, Realmuto hit .259/.344/.352 with one home run, four RBI, and five runs scored. While the 35-year-old no longer profiles as the same hitter he once was at his peak, Realmuto should still be a solid source of batting average from the catcher position for fantasy managers. He also profiles as a major upgrade behind the plate for the Phillies, who have gotten little from the catching tandem of Rafael Marchan and Garrett Stubbs in Realmuto's absence.

16 hours ago

Raisel Iglesias • RP • Braves

Raisel Iglesias Resumes Throwing, Could Return in Early May

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said that closer Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) has resumed throwing, per Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game. McAuley reports that the team expects Iglesias back "when first available off the IL, if not shortly thereafter." The veteran right-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list just over a week ago due to shoulder inflammation and is eligible to return to the Braves' active roster on May 5. Before getting injured, Iglesias was off to an excellent start with a 0.00 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 11 strikeouts, and five saves across 8 2/3 innings pitched. In his absence, Braves right-hander Robert Suarez has stepped in as the team's closer. However, Iglesias should re-assume his usual role in the ninth inning for Atlanta upon his return to the big leagues.

16 hours ago

Christian Yelich • LF • Brewers

Christian Yelich Ramping Up Activity, Estimated Return Remains Mid-to-Late May

Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter/outfielder Christian Yelich (groin) is "ramping up hitting and running," and his expected return remains mid-to-late May, per Brewers beat writer Sophia Minnaert. The 34-year-old Yelich has been on the injured list since mid-April due to a strained adductor. Across 56 plate appearances before getting injured, Yelich hit .314/.375/.451 with one home run, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Injuries are a persistent concern for Yelich, who managed to play 150 games in 2025 but appeared in just 73 contests in 2024. Still, when healthy, the veteran slugger remains a must-start fantasy bat with the potential to contribute in all five categories. With Yelich sidelined, infielder Tyler Black and catcher/first baseman Gary Sanchez could continue to see the majority of DH at-bats for Milwaukee.

16 hours ago

George Springer • RF • Blue Jays

George Springer Could Be Activated from Injured List on Wednesday

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that outfielder/designated hitter George Springer (toe) could be activated from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Springer has been on the IL for over two weeks due to a fractured left big toe. Across 62 plate appearances before getting injured, the 36-year-old hit .185/.290/.370 with two home runs, six RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base. The veteran Springer had a monster campaign in 2025, hitting .309 with 32 home runs and 18 stolen bases across 586 plate appearances. While some degree of regression is likely for Springer, he still offers power and speed upside for fantasy managers and should be locked into an every-day role at the top of the Blue Jays lineup upon his return.

16 hours ago

Javier Báez • CF • Tigers

Javier Baez Carted Off on Tuesday With Apparent Lower-Leg Injury

Detroit Tigers utility man Javier Baez (lower leg) was carted off from his team's game against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night after an awkward slide into first base. While the extent of the injury is not yet known, Tigers beat writer Chris McCosky reports that Baez appeared to be unable to put any weight on his right leg/ankle. The 33-year-old was hitless in two at-bats before leaving the game against Atlanta. Across his first 86 plate appearances of 2026, Baez was hitting .256/.280/.397 with two home runs, six RBI, 10 runs scored, and a stolen base. With Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows (arm) currently on the 60-day injured list due to a broken radius bone, Baez has been seeing more time in center field in Detroit. If Baez is forced to miss time, top Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark could be the next man up in Detroit. UPDATE: Baez will undergo an MRI exam on his right ankle.

16 hours ago

Casey Mize • SP • Tigers

Casey Mize Exits Early on Tuesday Due to Groin Tightness

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize (groin) was forced to exit early from his start on Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves due to groin tightness, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Before getting injured, Mize allowed three hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out three across 2 1/3 innings of work. The 28-year-old has gotten off to a strong start to the 2026 season, posting a 2-2 record with a 2.90 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 35 strikeouts across 31 innings (six starts). The extent of Mize's injury is not yet clear, but a trip to the injured list appears to be a possibility. If Mize were to miss time, Tigers right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long could be the favorite to take his spot in the Detroit rotation.

16 hours ago

Louis Varland • RP • Blue Jays

Is Louis Varland Toronto's Clear No. 1 Closer?

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Louis Varland picked up his fourth save of the year in the team's 3-0 shutout win over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and is positioning himself as the team's primary closer after right-hander Jeff Hoffman was recently demoted from the closer's role due to his ongoing struggles. Varland, 28, struck out the side in his inning of work to close things out at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday. The former 15th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2019 out of Concordia University in Minnesota came into Tuesday's action with a microscopic 0.60 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 23 strikeouts, and only four walks in his 15 innings of work out of the bullpen. So far, Varland has been a perfect 4-for-4 with his save opportunities. With Hoffman not guaranteed to reclaim the closer role if he begins to turn things around, Varland is absolutely worth a waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers in need of saves. He's only rostered in 53% of Yahoo leagues right now.

17 hours ago

George Lombard Jr. • SS • Yankees

George Lombard Jr. Being Promoted to Triple-A

New York Yankees infield prospect George Lombard Jr. is being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to Jack Curry of YES Network. The Yankees have believed that Lombard is ready for the majors from a defensive standpoint, but they will now monitor how he progresses offensively at the highest minor-league level. Curry adds that the expectation is that Lombard will play some shortstop and third base at Triple-A. The 20-year-old former 26th overall pick in 2023 got the promotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after going 24-for-74 (.324) with four home runs, 10 RBI, 18 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 87 plate appearances over 19 games at Double-A Somerset to begin the 2026 season. Lombard has always been one of the youngest players at every level, and he still has plenty of time to mature and access more raw power from his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame. Per MLB Pipeline, Lombard is New York's top prospect. Unless Lombard just absolutely kills it at the plate in Triple-A, it's more likely that he'll make his major-league debut for the Yankees in 2027.

17 hours ago

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Suffers Jaw Contusion on Tuesday, Considered Day-to-Day

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (jaw) was forced from Tuesday's game in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians with a right-jaw contusion after fouling a ball off the right side of his face, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The good news is that Caminero's injury isn't serious, and he's considered day-to-day. In his only at-bat before leaving, Caminero was 0-for-1 at the plate. Ben Williamson entered the game for the Rays to play second base, with Richie Palacios shifting over to the hot corner. It doesn't sound like Caminero will be forced to the injured list with this injury, but he could be held out of Wednesday's series finale against Cleveland as a precaution. Fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if he's back in the starting lineup for Tampa. The 22-year-old Dominican broke out in 2025 in his first full year in the big leagues, slashing .264/.311/.535 with 45 home runs, 110 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 154 games played. He is a must-start anytime he's in the Rays' lineup in traditional leagues. Coming into Tuesday's game, Caminero had gone 29-for-112 (.259) with eight homers and 15 RBI in his 28 games.

17 hours ago

Justin Steele • SP • Cubs

Justin Steele Won't Return Until After the All-Star Break

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that left-hander Justin Steele's (elbow) flexor strain in his left elbow will keep him out of the team's starting rotation until after the All-Star break in mid-July, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. The Cubs were originally hoping that Steele could return from the injured list in early June. Unfortunately, Steele had a setback during his rehab on Tuesday and will miss the entire first half of 2026. The 30-year-old southpaw is on the 60-day IL at the moment. Fantasy managers are obviously going to need to be patient with Steele this year. He's currently rostered in only 16% of Yahoo leagues, and fantasy managers in mixed leagues should now be considering whether to continue stashing him for the rest of the first half of the season. Steele was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and was solid again in 2024, but he only made four starts with the Cubbies last year before having UCL revision surgery in April.

17 hours ago

Pete Fairbanks • RP • Marlins

Pete Fairbanks Going on Injured List With Nerve Irritation

Miami Marlins right-handed closer Pete Fairbanks (thumb) is going on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with nerve irritation, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The Marlins are hoping that he'll be out for just 15 days. Fairbanks was ineffective in a save opportunity on Monday night in the loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers and was pulled from his outing early after losing feeling in his right hand. It's a similar issue to what he dealt with in April of 2024, when he landed on the IL with the Tampa Bay Rays. Back then, he ended up missing three weeks of action. Miami is hoping it won't be as long this time around, but fantasy managers need to plan for the worst. Fairbanks had five saves and a bloated 10.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in his first nine innings for Miami in 2026, but he also secured five saves and has 80 saves since the start of the 2023 campaign. With Fairbanks sidelined for at least the next two weeks, expect the Fish to use a closer-by-committee that could feature any of Anthony Bender, Andrew Nardi, Tyler Phillips, and Calvin Faucher.

17 hours ago

Manny Machado • 3B • Padres

Manny Machado Out After Suffering Calf Cramping on Monday

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (calf) is not in the team's starting lineup on Tuesday for Game 2 of the series at Petco Park against the visiting Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com. Jake Cronenworth is starting at the hot corner and will bat ninth for the Friars, with Fernando Tatis Jr. playing second base for a second straight day and batting out of the two-hole versus Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera. Bryce Johnson is making the start for SD in right field with Tatis back on the dirt in the infield. The 33-year-old veteran was pulled from Monday's win over the Cubs early as a precaution due to calf cramping, and he's available off the bench on Tuesday. The Padres are giving the star third baseman an extra day of rest, but he's expected to be fine, and he could return as early as Wednesday's game against the Cubbies. Machado got off to a cold start offensively in 2026, but he hit two home runs on Sunday in Mexico City and had doubled twice on Monday night before leaving with his calf injury, perhaps signaling that he's on the verge of breaking out with April nearing an end. Check back on Wednesday to see if Machado is ready to play in the series finale against the Cubs.

17 hours ago

Maikel Garcia • 3B • Royals

Maikel Garcia Returning for Royals on Tuesday

Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (elbow) is back at the hot corner and is hitting leadoff for Tuesday's game against the Athletics and right-hander Aaron Civale in Sacramento, according to MLB.com. It will be Garcia's first game back since missing three games with right-elbow cramps. However, the 26-year-old did come off the bench for two plate appearances in Sunday's contest. Now that he's back in action, fantasy managers will want to return him to their starting lineups. The Venezuelan third baseman is a fine DFS option for Tuesday's slate as well at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. After earning All-Star honors for the first time in 2025 in his fourth year in the majors, Garcia is off to a .263 (26-for-99) start at the plate this year with two home runs, 10 RBI, 15 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his 112 plate appearances across 26 games played. Garcia has hit .133 with a .266 OPS and one RBI in 15 career at-bats against Civale, but don't let that stop you from starting him in his return to the starting nine.

17 hours ago

Justin Steele • SP • Cubs

Justin Steele Shut Down Following Setback

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) has suffered a setback in his rehab program and is shut down from throwing, according to Jesse Rogers. The Cubs were hopeful to get Steele back around Memorial Day in late May. That timetable seems unlikely now with this latest setback. Steele is working his way back from elbow surgery that he underwent in April of last year. Both the Cubs and fantasy managers were hopeful to get something out of Steele here soon, but that doesn't seem like it's going to happen now. The organization should give a better timetable for Steele in the coming days.

20 hours ago

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