Fantasy Baseball News

Heston Kjerstad had been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. (Source: Baltimore Orioles on X)

Fantasy Impact: Kjerstad will go back down to the minors with Kyle Stowers joining the big league roster. Kjerstad was having trouble getting consistent playing time with the Orioles, starting just four games since his call-up on April 23rd. He'll get a chance to take more regular at-bats and could still be an impact player in 2024 given the right opportunity.

Bryan Mata (hamstring) is starting a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League. (Source: Jamie Gatlin on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Mata made his first appearance of the season, pitching two innings on Monday. He will continue to work on his rehab assignment as he recovers from a right hamstring strain.

The Orioles are recalling Kyle Stowers from Triple-A Norfolk. (Source: Britt Ghiroli on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: The Orioles have not announced a corresponding move, but it will likely be an outfielder heading back to Norfolk or to the injured list. Fantasy managers should expect Stowers to provide depth on the bench.

Jack Leiter will be recalled and start Tuesday against Cleveland. (Source: Texas Rangers PR on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Leiter has struggled in two starts this season, posting a 12.91 ERA and 2.35 WHIP. With Nathan Eovaldi close to returning, it is possible Leiter makes one start before being sent back to Triple-A.

Blake Snell (adductor) is expected to make another rehab start before rejoining the Giants’ rotation. (Source: Susan Slusser on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Snell struck out seven batters in his first rehab outing. The team has not provided any information on where his next rehab outing will take place, but barring any setbacks Snell should return to the Giants next week.

Jesse Winker exited Sunday’s game early due to back spasms. (Source: Andrew Golden on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Winker apparently felt the back spasms during the fifth inning and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. The Nationals play the White Sox Monday and fantasy managers should expect Winker to potentially need at least one game off to recover.

David Peterson (hip) is scheduled to make another rehab start Tuesday or Wednesday with Double-A Binghamton. (Source: Tim Britton on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Peterson has completed three rehab starts in Single-A and will now move his rehab to Double-A. There is no guarantee that Peterson returns to the Mets’ rotation considering Tylor Megill is expected to be activated from the injured list soon.

Ryan Helsley delivered a flawless performance, securing a save in the Cardinals' narrow 4-3 victory over the Brewers. He threw 12 pitches over a clean inning, allowing no hits or walks while striking out two.

Fantasy Impact: This outing underscores Helsley's role as a reliable closer for St. Louis, further solidifying his fantasy value. With a season ERA now improved to 1.42 and a WHIP standing at 0.84, his consistency in high-pressure situations makes him a top-tier option in all fantasy formats. His impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 10.50, coupled with a strong K/9 rate, should keep him in the elite tier of fantasy relievers, assuming he maintains this level of performance.

Zac Gallen delivered a strong performance in Sunday's 9-2 victory over the Orioles, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a solid season for Gallen, who now boasts a 2.86 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP through nine starts. His consistent ability to limit base runners and maintain a high strikeout rate (9.2 K/9) reinforces his status as a top-tier fantasy starter. The slight uptick in ERA and WHIP from this game is negligible, given his overall performance this season. Fantasy managers should continue to view Gallen as a reliable option in all formats, benefiting from his knack for accumulating strikeouts and quality starts.

Logan Allen delivered a stellar performance, tossing six scoreless innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out three in a 7-0 victory over the White Sox on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a breath of fresh air for Allen, whose season has been marred by a bloated 5.56 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP over his first nine starts. The zero earned runs allowed in this game could be a sign of turning the corner, especially considering his struggles with consistency and command earlier in the season. His ability to keep the ball in the park and limit walks in this outing provides a glimmer of hope for fantasy managers looking for signs of improvement. However, his season-long metrics, including a high BABIP and low strikeout rate, suggest that caution should still be exercised when considering Allen for fantasy lineups.

Luis Castillo delivered a strong performance, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out eight over six innings in Sunday's 8-4 win over the Athletics.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a solid display of Castillo's capabilities, particularly his ability to manage contact effectively, evidenced by zero walks issued. His season ERA improved to 3.48, and his WHIP stands impressively at 1.14, reinforcing his status as a top fantasy option. Castillo's high strikeout rate (10.6 K/9) and excellent strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.82) continue to make him a valuable asset in fantasy leagues, especially in categories that reward strikeouts and WHIP. His consistent performance, despite a mixed win-loss record, suggests he remains a top-tier starter in most fantasy formats.

Alek Manoah delivered a stellar performance, allowing zero earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six over seven innings in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Twins.

Fantasy Impact: Despite his strong outing, Manoah was saddled with the loss, a tough pill to swallow given his dominance through the game. This performance was a significant improvement and should help in lowering his elevated ERA of 4.91 and WHIP of 1.36 from his earlier starts this season. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate (9.8 K/9) while controlling the walks better in this game is a positive sign. Fantasy managers should note this performance as a potential turnaround point for Manoah, though his high FIP (6.26) suggests there might still be underlying issues to monitor.

Luis Gil delivered a strong performance in Sunday's 10-6 win over the Rays, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and two walks, and striking out three.

Fantasy Impact: This outing continues a solid season for Gil, who now boasts a 2.51 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP through nine starts. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate (10.0 K/9) while keeping runs off the board was on full display, enhancing his fantasy value. Despite a somewhat low strikeout total in this game, his consistent performance this season should keep him as a reliable option in fantasy rotations. However, fantasy managers should remain cautious of potential regression, considering his unusually low BABIP (.177), which might suggest some luck has been involved in his success.

Justin Verlander delivered a masterful performance, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and two walks, striking out eight in the Astros' 9-3 victory over the Tigers.

Fantasy Impact: This outing was a significant rebound for Verlander, who has had a mixed start to the season with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over his first five starts. His dominance in this game, characterized by his high strikeout count and minimal hits allowed, should reassure fantasy managers about his potential moving forward. Despite a somewhat elevated FIP and a lower-than-expected strikeout rate this season, performances like this highlight his ability to control games and accumulate fantasy points through strikeouts and wins. His improved command shown by a solid outing could be a sign of returning to form, making him a strong hold in fantasy leagues.

Yu Darvish was masterful in Sunday's 4-0 victory over the Dodgers, delivering seven shutout innings while allowing just two hits and one walk, and striking out seven.

Fantasy Impact: This performance not only secured his fourth win of the season but also underscored his continued excellence on the mound. With a season ERA now impressively lowered to 2.43 and a WHIP standing firm at 0.98, Darvish is solidifying his status as a top-tier fantasy starter. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate (8.2 K/9) combined with a superb strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.08) and a sustainable BABIP (.239) suggests that his success is not fluky but rather the result of skillful pitching. Fantasy managers should continue to view Darvish as a reliable option in all formats.

Bailey Ober dazzled in Sunday's 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays, allowing just one hit and zero earned runs while striking out 10 over 6.1 innings.

Fantasy Impact: This performance not only secured his fifth win of the season but also showcased his ability to control the game, maintaining a clean sheet with no walks. Ober's season ERA now improves to 3.77, complemented by a sharp 0.88 WHIP and a 9.4 K/9 rate. His impressive 5.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a low .238 BABIP highlight his effectiveness and efficiency on the mound. Fantasy managers should consider Ober a valuable asset, especially in leagues that reward strikeouts and WHIP, as he continues to demonstrate high-level pitching prowess.

Seth Lugo delivered a masterful performance, allowing just one earned run on five hits and zero walks while striking out 12 over eight innings in Sunday's 4-2 victory over the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: This outing not only underscores Lugo's dominance but also significantly bolsters his already impressive season stats. With a 1.81 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP through nine starts, Lugo continues to be a reliable asset for fantasy managers. His high strikeout count in this game is particularly encouraging, given his relatively modest 7.2 K/9 rate this season. Maintaining a 4.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio suggests Lugo could sustain his high-level performance, making him a must-start in all fantasy formats.

Adley Rutschman went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI in the Orioles' 9-2 defeat to the Diamondbacks.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the team's struggles, Rutschman's solo shot was a highlight, maintaining his solid batting average at .304 for the season. With 6 home runs and 23 RBI over 38 games, his power numbers are respectable, though not elite. His wOBA of .342 indicates good overall offensive production, but fantasy managers might be slightly concerned about his low walk rate (.047) and relatively high strikeout rate (.175). Rutschman remains a top catcher in all fantasy formats, primarily due to his consistent hitting and ability to contribute across multiple categories.

Andres Gimenez went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI in the Guardians' 7-0 victory over the White Sox.

Fantasy Impact: The solo shot marks just his second homer of the season, providing a much-needed boost to his modest .235 batting average. Despite the low average, Gimenez's power display could hint at potential upside, especially if he can start connecting more consistently. His overall performance this season, characterized by a .283 wOBA and a .266 BABIP, suggests there might be room for improvement. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Gimenez, as increased power production could make him a more valuable asset in deeper leagues.

Jarred Kelenic went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI in the Braves' 4-3 loss to the Mets.

Fantasy Impact: His solo shot contributed to his season totals, bringing him to a .286 batting average with two home runs and 7 RBI over 30 games. Despite the Braves' loss, Kelenic's ability to connect for power is a positive sign, especially considering his relatively high BABIP of .415, which suggests he's been finding gaps and making solid contact. However, his high strikeout rate of .322 remains a concern for fantasy managers, indicating potential volatility in his performance. Moving forward, Kelenic's power potential makes him a player to watch, but managers should be wary of his strikeout tendencies potentially dampening his overall value.