Fantasy Baseball News

Jeimer Candelario is not in the lineup Friday for the Reds due to an illness. (Source: Reds on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Candelario will now miss time with an illness that appears to be going around the clubhouse. Santiago Espinal will get the start at third base in his absence.

Justin Steele (hamstring) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Sunday. (Source: Tony Andracki on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Steele’s next step would be to head out on a rehab assignment, barring any setbacks in the batting practice session. The team will likely outline a timetable for his return once he begins a rehab assignment.

Patrick Wisdom is batting second and playing right field Friday vs the Marlins. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Wisdom will make his 2024 debut after dealing with back issues to start the year. He gets the start in right field on Friday and may see more opportunities there with Seiya Suzuki (oblique) on the IL.

Michael Busch is not in the starting lineup Friday vs the Marlins. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Busch will get a breather with a lefty on the mound for the Marlins. He has been red hot to start the season with a 1.067 OPS, so he likely won't be sitting vs lefties too often if he keeps it up. Garrett Cooper takes over at first base Friday.

Nick Fortes is in the starting lineup Friday. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Fortes will rejoin the Marlins’ starting lineup in the ninth spot and do the catching against the Cubs Friday.

Jesus Sanchez is in the starting lineup Friday for the Marlins. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Sanchez will return to the lineup for the Marlins and bat fifth and play right field against the Cubs Friday.

The Reds have paused Ian Gibaut’s rehab assignment due to right forearm discomfort. (Source: Charlie Goldsmith on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Gibaut was close to rejoining the Reds’ bullpen but will now have to be re-evaluated before determining the next steps in his recovery.

The Braves selected Luke Williams from Triple-A Gwinnett Friday. (Source: Braves on TWitter )

Fantasy Impact: Williams will replace Forrest Wall on the active roster. He will provide the Braves with infield depth.

The Braves optioned Forrest Wall to Triple-A Gwinnett Friday. (Source: Braves on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Wall has spent the entire season on the Braves’ roster, but will give way to Luke Williams in the corresponding move.

Alex Cobbs’ MRI on his shoulder came back clean and he is scheduled to throw from flat ground Friday. (Source: John Shea on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Cobb remains on the IL with elbow, hip, and now a shoulder injury. The veteran is set to throw for the first time since early April, but fantasy managers can expect him to need several rehab appearances before returning to the Giants.

Logan Webb delivered a masterful performance, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out five in the Giants' 5-0 victory over the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was the third straight of 7 IP, lowering his ERA to an impressive 2.93 and improving his record to 2-1. His ability to suppress runs while maintaining a solid WHIP of 1.17 and a FIP consistent with his ERA suggests that he's not just getting lucky but is genuinely effective. Fantasy managers should view Webb as a reliable starting option, particularly in matchups against less formidable offenses, as his performance today underscores his potential to dominate games and rack up quality starts.

Mike Trout finished 0-for-3 with a run and two steals in the Angels' 2-1 loss to the Rays.

Fantasy Impact: Despite not registering a hit, Trout managed to score a run and steal two bases, also drawing a walk and striking out once. This performance, while lackluster in terms of batting, highlights Trout's ability to contribute in multiple fantasy categories, particularly in stolen bases which now tally up to seven for the season. His overall batting average sits at .270, and while today's game didn't help, his ability to find ways to score and steal bases keeps his fantasy value afloat. Owners should keep an eye on his strikeout and walk rates, which could indicate more about his approach at the plate moving forward, but Trout is putting together a very impressive beginning of the season.

Jonah Heim went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in the Rangers' 9-7 win over the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: His performance included a crucial home run, contributing significantly to the team's victory. This season, Heim has maintained a solid .279 batting average with three home runs and 15 RBI over 17 games. His power at the plate, especially in clutch situations, enhances his value in fantasy leagues, particularly in formats that reward extra-base hits and RBI. However, his high strikeout rate and low walk rate suggest some volatility in his performance. Fantasy managers should consider Heim a viable starting option in deeper leagues or as a second catcher in two-catcher formats, given his current power-hitting trajectory and regular playing time.

Adolis Garcia went 2-for-5 with a home run and an RBI in the Rangers' 9-7 victory over the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: His performance included a crucial home run that contributed to the team's win, though he didn't manage to draw any walks or steal any bases. Garcia's season has been solid, maintaining a .311 batting average with consistent power, as evidenced by his five homers and 18 RBI over 20 games. His strikeout rate remains a concern at .229, but his wOBA at .399 indicates effective overall offensive production. Fantasy managers should value Garcia for his power and RBI potential as he hits in the heart of one of the best lineups in baseball.

Marcus Semien had a productive day at the plate going 3-for-6 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI in the Rangers' win.

Fantasy Impact: This performance underscores Semien's solid start to the season, boosting his batting average to .286 with a .355 wOBA, which are encouraging numbers for fantasy managers. His ability to contribute across multiple categories, including power and run production, makes him a valuable asset in most fantasy formats. While his strikeout and walk rates both sit at 0.097, his consistent contact and ability to drive in runs should keep him relevant in fantasy lineups, especially in leagues that value middle infielders with power.

Colin Poche notched his second save of the season, allowing two hits and striking out one in a scoreless inning as the Rays edged out the Angels 2-1.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a rocky start to the season with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP, Poche's performance in this outing was a step in the right direction. His ability to secure the save without surrendering any runs could help stabilize his numbers and possibly earn him more trust in high-leverage situations. He remains behind Pete Fairbanks and Jason Adam in the pecking order. This outing might not signal a complete turnaround, but it's a positive note for those holding onto him in deeper leagues or formats that reward saves and holds.

Kirby Yates delivered a solid performance, allowing just one hit and striking out one in 1.1 innings to notch a save as the Rangers edged out the Detroit Tigers 9-7 on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a stellar season for Yates, who maintains a 0.00 ERA and a 0.46 WHIP over his first 8.2 innings. His ability to suppress runs while maintaining a high strikeout rate (10.4 K/9) and a superb strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.00) makes him an increasingly reliable option in fantasy leagues, especially in categories of saves and ERA. Given his consistent performance and role in high-pressure situations, Yates should be considered a valuable asset in most fantasy formats, particularly those that reward saves and holds.

Emmanuel Clase delivered a flawless performance, securing a save in the Guardians' narrow 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Fantasy Impact: He tossed 11 pitches in a clean inning, allowing no hits or walks and striking out one batter. This outing lowers his ERA to an impressive 1.00 and marks his fifth save of the season. Despite a couple of hiccups earlier with two blown saves, Clase's ability to bounce back in high-pressure situations should keep him firmly in the closer role. Fantasy managers should continue to deploy him with confidence, expecting more save opportunities as he appears to have a solid grip on late-game duties for Cleveland.

Cooper Criswell took the loss Thursday, yielding one earned run on three hits and a walk over just 2.1 innings as the Red Sox fell 5-4 to the Guardians.

Fantasy Impact: Following an opener, Criswell took the loss on Thursday. The poor defense behind him led to two errors and three unearned runs. However, the three hits and a walk, in 2.1 innings, did him no favors. Fantasy managers should stay clear of Criswell unless he takes on a more traditional relief role.

Jack Leiter had a rough outing on Thursday, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings as the Rangers edged the Tigers 9-7.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the team's victory, Leiter's performance was far from victorious, marking a concerning start to his season. He got through a clean first inning before the Tigers tagged him for four runs in the second and a few more a couple of innings later. He has struggled in the minors since getting drafted but there is still plenty of upside here. He is likely going to be sent back to the minors to work on some things, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get another shot later in the year.