The Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez earned his third win with six strong innings on Saturday afternoon over the Boston Red Sox. Lopez had eight strikeouts and a walk while surrendering one run, one walk, and five hits. Lopez lowered his ERA from 4.83 to 4.30 with the solid outing. Lopez now has 45 strikeouts in 38 innings this season. Many fantasy players drafted Lopez as their staff ace this spring. Lopez is right at his career norms with a 29.4K% and 5.6 BB%, so we can expect Lopez to continue to provide worry-free innings in 2024.

From RotoBaller

The Chicago Cubs Christopher Morel launched his seventh homer in a 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Morel hit the home run off Tobias Myers in the third inning. The third baseman is hitting .213 with the aforementioned seven home runs, 20 RBI, three stolen bases and 20 runs scored. Morel launched 26 round-trippers in 2023. Morel has been hitting in the cleanup spot for the Cubs. Continue to look for more pop in his bat but be aware that could come with a batting average hit to your fantasy team.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Twins right-hander Cole Sands earned his second save of the season on Saturday afternoon in a 3-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Sands pitched a spotless ninth and added a strikeout in relief of usual closer Jhoan Duran, who was called upon to face the heart of the Red Sox order in the eighth inning. That left the save opportunity for Sands. With the usual setup men Brock Stewart and Justin Topa out with injuries, Sands could see himself in a higher leverage role in the short-term with lefty Caleb Thielbar and should earn holds and the occasional vulture save.

From RotoBaller

The Chicago Cubs Hector Neris earned his sixth save of the season on in a 6-5 win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon. Neris gave up two hits and an earned run with a walk and a strikeout to notch the save in the ninth inning. Neris has taken over the closer role for the ineffective Adbert Alzolay. Despite some shaky peripherals, including a 20.8 BB% and an xERA of 7.15, Neris continues to get the job done for the Cubs. He should remain in the role for the foreseeable future.

From RotoBaller

Seattle Mariners outfielder/first baseman/designated hitter Luke Raley will head to the bench on Saturday night with the Mariners facing Houston Astros' lefty Framber Valdez. The left-handed hitting Raley is hitting .224 with no home runs, three RBI, and four runs scored in 60 plate appearances. Sam Haggerty gets the start in left field. Raley and Haggerty appear to be in a left-field platoon at this time. Raley will look to be the starter when the Mariners face right-handed pitching.

From RotoBaller

Luis Arraez, acquired by the San Diego Padres for prospects last night from the Miami Marlins, is in the DH slot and batting leadoff tonight. Arraez is hitting .299 with no home runs, five RBI, and 22 runs in 148 plate appearances this season. Arraez could also see time at first base and second base in San Diego. The Padres face off tonight against right-hander Brandon Pfaadt and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser is out of the lineup for Saturday night's tilt against Andrew Abbott and the Cincinnati Reds. Ryan McKenna is starting in left field in Cowser's place. This shouldn't a cause for concern for fantasy owners as this appears to be Cowser being in a platoon situation. The lefty has only hit for a .348 OPS against southpaws in 2024. With Reds' lefty Nick Lodolo on deck for Sunday's game, Cowser shouldn't be expected to be back in the lineup until Tuesday in Washington against Nationals right-hander Trevor Williams.

From RotoBaller

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Josiah Gray (elbow) felt good after throwing a bullpen today according to manager Davey Martinez. He threw around 30-35 pitches and will be throwing another bullpen on Tuesday or Wednesday. There currently isn't a timetable set for Gray's return or when to expect him to begin rehab starts, but this is a positive sign for the 26-year-old. Gray had a very rocky start to the 2024 season, giving up 13 runs in just over eight innings across two starts. With Gray out the Nationals starters have posted a 4.40 ERA, though three of their starters have posted an ERA below 3.50. They will have to hold down the fort until Gray comes back later this season.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh (elbow) is set for a rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday. Marsh is expect to throw between 60-65 pitches in the start. As of now it's unclear if Marsh will need multiple rehab starts before rejoining the Royals, so there is a chance that if all goes well then he will rejoin Kansas City when he can be activated off the IL on May 10th. Marsh had been having a solid season before getting drilled with a liner when facing the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander has posted up a 2.70 ERA and recorded three wins in five starts. Marsh may be a sneaky add that fantasy managers can stash on their bench until he returns.

From RotoBaller

The San Francisco Giants announced today that they have placed catcher Patrick Bailey on the seven-day concussion IL and have recalled catcher Blake Sabol from Triple-A Sacramento. Bailey was removed from Friday night's game after a foul tip on a 95 MPH fastball hit off his mask in the bottom of the first inning. Tom Murphy will be starting in Bailey's place on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Phillies. Murphy is hitting for a .121 BA and a .458 OPS. Sabol put up much better numbers in 2023, hitting for a .695 OPS in 344 PA. While both catchers should be expected to split time while Bailey's out, Sabol should be the higher priority for the next week with the expectation that his numbers will be more productive than Murphy. Both should make for good streaming options next week as the Giants open up a series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.

From RotoBaller

The Philadelphia Phillies announced today that shortstop Trea Turner will be put on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain. The shortstop was quoted as saying he expects to miss six weeks and that it would "be a win" if he returned any earlier than that. Turner was pulled after the bottom of the fourth inning in Friday night's game. Turner had been having a fantastic season, slashing .343/.392/.460 with 10 stolen bases and 27 runs. Edmundo Sosa is starting Saturday night against the San Francisco Giants in Turner's place. Sosa should be expected to be the starter for the next six weeks. Sosa is hitting for an .824 OPS in 21 AB this season, above his career norms, and should be on all fantasy managers radars as a waiver wire pickup while Turner recovers from injury.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Angels second baseman is out of the lineup on Saturday as he is sick. Brandon Drury will be hitting fifth starting at third base and Ehire Adrianza will be hitting second and starting at second base against the Cleveland Guardians. Adrianza has been getting extra playing time when Rengifo or Drury are out. Rengifo should be considered day-to-day. Rengifo has been having a solid season, hitting for an .839 OPS after a slow start to the season. As long as Rengifo is feeling better tomorrow he should be expected to be back in the lineup against Guardians starter Carlos Carrasco.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto is hitting out of the two-hole for the first time this season on Saturday against the visiting San Francisco Giants and right-hander Keaton Winn. The two-hole has largely belonged to Trea Turner this season but Realmuto takes over the spot after Turner was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday due to a hamstring issue. It's been a subpar start to the season for the veteran backstop who is hitting just .239 with five homers, one steal, and a .692 OPS across 28 games and 118 trips to the plate. He has also walked in just 5.9% of his plate appearances while sporting a bloated 28.8% K% to this point in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor is getting a day off on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Reid Detmers. The 26-year-old has enjoyed a big start to his season and has actually fared quite well against left-handed pitching. Naylor has hit .263 with seven homers, two steals, and an .857 OPS across 132 trips to the plate on the season and has hit .300 with two homers and a 1.016 OPS across 34 plate appearances versus same-handed pitching on the season. He has also struck out in just 12.9% of his plate appearances while drawing walks at a nice 9.8% clip on the campaign.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah (shoulder) is slated to make his season debut on Sunday afternoon against the Washington Nationals. The 26-year-old threw a side session on Friday after he was rocked for a 6.50 ERA across four starts with Triple-A Buffalo to begin his season. It's been tough sledding for Manoah since he was named a Cy Young finalist in the 2022 season as he posted a 5.87 ERA alongside a monster 14.2% BB% across 19 big-league starts. He was also optioned to the team's Florida spring training complex and refused an assignment to Buffalo after he scuffled in his big-league return. He will take on a Nationals offense that entered Saturday's action ranked 18th with a .303 wOBA on the season.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (ribs) could be activated within the next week, according to manager Craig Counsell. The 28-year-old is doing some hitting and defensive drills on Saturday as he works his way back from a right rib fracture. Bellinger suffered his injury on April 23 when he crashed into the outfield fence trying to make a catch. It's been a solid start to the season for Bellinger who is hitting .226 with five home runs, an 11.3% BB%, and a .760 OPS across 97 plate appearances. Additionally, he has struck out in just 15.5% of his plate appearances to this point after posting a career-best 15.6% K% in a rebound campaign with the Cubs in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (oblique) could be activated off the injured list in the coming week, according to skipper Craig Counsell. The 29-year-old hasn't appeared since April 15 due to a right oblique strain after a fantastic start to his season. Suzuki hit .305 with three homers, 13 RBI, and an .893 OPS across his first 68 trips to the plate this season, production that graded out 52% above the league average, as per his 152 wRC+. Suzuki has been as advertised for the Cubs after signing a five-year deal prior to the 2022 season, hitting .277 with 37 homers, 15 stolen bases, and an .816 OPS across 264 games and 1,097 plate appearances. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his status over the next several days.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured prior to Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants with a left hamstring strain. The Phillies promoted infielder Kody Clemens from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the roster spot in a corresponding move. Turner was off to another dominant season, posting a .343/.392/.460 line with two long balls and ten stolen bases across 33 games. As a result, the Phillies will look to Edmundo Sosa to play shortstop, as he is the next man on the depth chart for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal is making his first start of the season and will bat in the six-hole against Colorado Rockies southpaw Austin Gomber. Grandal was activated from the injured list on Friday after recovering from plantar fasciitis, a move that also sent Henry Davis down to Triple-A. The 35-year-old catcher posted a .234/.309/.339 stat line with eight long balls last season and should be expected to split duties behind the dish with Joey Bart for the time being. Grandal could emerge as an option in NL-only leagues if he can produce at the plate, especially from a power standpoint. Grandal is worth consideration as a sneaky pay in DFS as Austin Gomber enters Saturday with a hefty 4.50 ERA.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (hip) has been activated from the 10-day injured list and will start in Saturday's lineup as the Blue Jays continue a three-game set against right-handed pitcher Jake Irvin and the Washington Nationals. Kiermaier only stayed on the injured list for a minimum of ten days and should be expected to return to his everyday role in center field. The 34-year-old struggled at the plate to open the season with a .193/.246/.228 line but put up a solid .265/.322/.419 line last season, so fantasy managers should expect a nice turnaround. He swiped 14 bags last season and already stole two before being placed on the injured list and remains on pace to smash his 2023 total. Kiermaier remains an AL-only option but could be deployed in a good matchup in DFS.

From RotoBaller