New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to toss live batting practice again on Thursday in Tampa Bay, manager Aaron Boone said prior to Wednesday's game against the hosting Los Angeles Angels. It'll be Cole's third session facing hitters, with a two-inning, 30-pitch outing set to follow on Saturday. Cole still has a chance to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list sometime in June as long as he starts a minor-league rehab assignment sometime in the next week or two. The 33-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner is obviously a must-stash fantasy asset, but the Yankees will have a tough decision to make regarding the odd man out when their ace returns from right elbow discomfort. Right-handers Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil have done an admirable job in New York's rotation, and they remain close to must-roster players at this point in time.

From RotoBaller

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ty Blach threw seven strong innings in Wednesday's victory over the visiting Cleveland Guardians, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts for his second win of the campaign. After giving up two runs on three hits and two walks in the first inning for the brunt of the damage to his ledger, Blach found a groove with six scoreless innings from that point on. The 33-year-old veteran left-hander will bring an ordinary 4.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 17:7 K:BB across 34 2/3 innings (five starts) into his next scheduled start against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on Tuesday. Severely lacking swing-and-miss stuff, Blach is nothing more than a low-upside fantasy streamer under the most favorable conditions.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller went 2-for-3 with a walk for Single-A Clearwater on Wednesday. Miller's two hits both went for extra bases, one for a double and the other for a grand slam, finishing the day with four RBI and two runs scored. The 19-year-old is having a fine season thus far, slashing .319/.437/.569 with five home runs, 25 RBI, 25 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. The 2023 first-round draft pick appears poised for a promotion, although he won't see the big leagues for a couple of years. Still, with a good power-speed combo, dynasty managers need to have him on their radar.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano logged his eighth save of the year with one strikeout in the ninth inning of Wednesday's win over the hosting Chicago White Sox, but not before he allowed a solo home run in the victory. Romano served up a solo homer to White Sox catcher Korey Lee, but he still locked down the save fairly comfortably on Wednesday. The hard-throwing 31-year-old right-hander has gone 8-for-9 on save chances this season, but fantasy managers will want to see him sharpen up on his 6.59 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB over 13 2/3 innings after the hurler's late start to the campaign due to injury. While Romano is still Toronto's preferred ninth-inning man, he'll need to cut down on the homers if he wants to avoid losing out on save opportunities, as he's already given four long balls.

From RotoBaller

Washington Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore tallied double-digit strikeouts for the second time this year in Wednesday's victory over the division-rival Atlanta Braves, allowing a lone run on six hits and one walk over 5 1/3 innings for his fourth win of 2024. It was a dominant outing from Gore, who shut down the vaunted Braves offense on Wednesday. Over his past four appearances, the 25-year-old former No. 3 overall pick owns a 2.19 ERA with a scintillating 30:5 K:BB for the Nationals. Gore lines up to get the ball next on Monday at home against the visiting New York Mets, a team he owns a 2.40 ERA and 15:8 K:BB over three starts against in his career. He's a must-roster fantasy player with the way he's throwing right now.

From RotoBaller

Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee accounted for the entirety of the team's offense in Wednesday's loss to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, smashing his fifth home run of the season in the defeat. Lee skied a solo homer to left field off Jays closer Jordan Romano to score Chicago's first run of the evening in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough to spark a rally. The 25-year-old former first-round pick has stolen three bases over 41 games this year, but his uninspiring .274/.309/.427 triple-slash line with five round-trippers, 12 RBI, and 11 runs scored for the White Sox render him a deep-league fantasy option at best. Lee doesn't have a ton of upside on this last-place club, so fantasy managers can do better.

From RotoBaller

Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas filled up the box score in Wednesday's win over the division-rival Atlanta Braves, going 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, a double, a walk, two runs scored, and two stolen bases in the victory. Before making an awesome sliding catch in right field to retire Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies in the fifth inning, Thomas hammered a three-run homer to left field to give the Nationals a 3-1 lead in the top of the frame. Although the speedy 28-year-old right fielder is still slashing a poor .210/.273/.330 with three big flies, 13 RBI, and nine runs scored over 100 at-bats overall this year, he's stolen 13 bases across 25 outings overall and gone 5-for-13 with four-extra base hits since returning from the injured list. The buy-low window in fantasy appears to be swiftly closing.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop prospect Jordan Lawlar (thumb) began his rehab assignment on Wednesday with the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate, going 0-for-2 with a walk in his first game of 2024. The 21-year-old will be eligible to come off the injured list in a couple weeks but may begin with Triple-A Reno once activated. The former first-round pick hit well enough in Double-A and Triple-A last season to earn a promotion to the big-league club but wasn't able to do much with his playing time. He went 4-for-31 (.129) in 14 games, even picking up a pair of plate appearances during the postseason for Arizona (0-for-1 with a walk). Lawlar ranks as the team's top prospect and ninth overall prospect in all of baseball. Despite the initial showing in the majors, he still has offensive upside and should continue to be stashed where possible.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Twins outfielder/infielder Willi Castro collected three hits in Wednesday's loss to the division-rival Kansas City Royals, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the defeat. The three-hit attack should help get Castro back on track after he went hitless in five of his past six outings. With Royce Lewis (quad) sidelined, the 27-year-old switch-hitter has taken on a more pronounced role across the diamond for the Twins, slashing a respectable .258/.332/.419 with four home runs, 16 RBI, 27 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 208 plate appearances (55 games) in 2024. Castro is worth holding in the majority of fantasy leagues for his speed and positional eligibility until Lewis returns from his minor-league rehab assignment.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jose Siri played the role of hero in Wednesday's victory over the visiting Oakland Athletics, ripping a single to left to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was a banner evening out of Siri, who also robbed a home run from A's second baseman Zack Gelof in the top of the ninth before delivering the game-winning knock for the Rays. The speedy 28-year-old center fielder has taken a step back following his breakout 2023 campaign, slashing a paltry .180/.272/.289 with three long balls, 15 RBI, 16 runs scored, and seven stolen bases over 128 at-bats (44 games) overall this season. Consistently batting ninth in Tampa Bay's lineup in a platoon for at-bats, Siri isn't worth rostering outside of deep AL-only fantasy leagues at the moment.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Chase DeLauter (toe) finally returned to game action on Tuesday after missing a month with a fractured left foot. The Guardians' top prospect made two plate appearances, going 0-for-1 with a walk, before leaving the game with a sprained toe. The 22-year-old injured his right toe on the outfield wall while making a play on a fly ball. The former first-round draft pick is considered day-to-day for now, and while it may not cause him to miss too much time, he was absent from Wednesday's lineup for Double-A Akron. There was a shot DeLauter could make his big-league debut this season, but injuries are pushing that debut further down the road. Hopefully he can bounce back from this one quickly and at least get on track to make the jump to Triple-A before season's end.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Tigers outfielder/infielder Matt Vierling was busy on Wednesday, going 4-for-8 with two home runs, three runs scored, and five RBI across two games of a doubleheader with the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates. Vierling increased the Tigers' lead with a fifth-inning three-run homer in Game 1, later continuing his hot hitting with a solo home run in the third inning of Game 2. The big day raised his triple-slash line to .289/.320/.503 with seven homers, 28 RBI, and 22 runs scored through 159 at-bats this year. The 27-year-old utility man is worth riding in fantasy while he's hot at the dish, but Vierling doesn't seem like much of a long-term solution in Detroit's low-scoring offense.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith put on a power display in Wednesday's blowout win over the hosting New York Mets, going 3-for-5 two solo home runs. Smith launched his eighth and ninth homers on Wednesday, first belting a solo home run to left field to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the second inning and later smacking a go-ahead home run to left-center field to give the team a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning . The 29-year-old slugging backstop is now slashing .296/.360/.516 with nine home runs, 14 doubles, 36 RBI, and 32 runs scored over 186 at-bats (49 games) as LA's primary option behind the dish. Continue to roll with Smith in all fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco Giants shortstop Marco Luciano (hamstring) exited Wednesday's game against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies with tightness in his right hamstring. Luciano exited in the third inning of Wednesday's series finale and is considered day-to-day, as the Giants will use Thursday's off-day to determine the severity of the injury. San Fran's No. 1 prospect for 2024, the 22-year-old slugging infielder has gone 9-for-24 (.375) with two doubles, one triple, and six runs scored over 10 games but is currently stuck on the weak side of a platoon with the lefty-hitting Blake Wisely for at-bats at shortstop. Until his playing time increases, Luciano isn't a fantasy option even in the deepest of redraft leagues. He may even head back to the minor leagues when veteran Nick Ahmed (wrist) comes back from the injured list.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Cade Horton (back) exited Wednesday's start with Triple-A Iowa due to back soreness. Horton gave up a two-run homer in the first inning on Wednesday and returned to the mound for warmups prior to the second, but he departed under his own power after tossing several pitches. Horton was making his fifth start for Iowa and ninth overall in 2024 after tearing up the Double-A competition earlier this season. The 22-year-old right-hander is Chicago's No. 1 prospect and MLB's No. 18 prospect for 2024, per MLB Pipeline, and he's struck out 40 batters over 34 1/3 innings. It remains to be seen if Horton is dealing with a significant setback, but his major-league debut could be delayed a bit as a result. Even so, Horton is unlikely to be called up until he improves on his 7.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP at the Triple-A level.

From RotoBaller

Washington Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel (knee) exited Wednesday's game against the division-rival Atlanta Braves in the second inning with an apparent knee injury. Senzel fouled a ball off his right knee before drawing a walk in his first at-bat of the game, and he appeared to be in pain before he was removed from the contest. Utility man Ildemaro Vargas pinch-ran for Senzel and took over at third base for the Nats. The 28-year-old lefty-mashing Senzel hasn't been a consistent member of Washington's lineup this year, slashing a middling .224/.336/.402 with five home runs, 13 RBI, and 13 runs scored in 126 plate appearances (34 games) as a part-time player at the hot corner. Vargas would be worth a look in NL-only leagues if Senzel needs to miss time, slashing .301/.387/.409 with 10 doubles, 11 RBI, and four stolen bases over 93 at-bats.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (elbow) left Wednesday's game against the hosting Chicago White Sox due to right elbow discomfort in the second inning after striking out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings of work. There was nothing obvious as to why Manoah needed to exit the contest at first, but there wasn't much discussion on the mound before he departed and Trevor Richards took over. Manoah should be deemed day-to-day ahead of his next projected start that lines up for Tuesday against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles, but there's a chance he may need to either miss a turn in the rotation or head to the injured list. It's not what you want to hear after the inconsistent 26-year-old right-hander didn't rejoin Toronto's rotation until early May due to soreness in his right shoulder, but he's got a solid 3.70 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 26:8 K:BB through 24 1/3 frames (five starts) this season.

From RotoBaller

X-rays came back negative on New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso's right hand on Wednesday, but the Mets won't have CT-scan results until Thursday. They still need to confirm there is no break after Alonso was hit in the hand in the first inning of Wednesday's loss in the first inning by Los Angeles Dodgers lefty James Paxton. Alonso isn't out of the woods just yet and could still require a trip to the injured list, but for now, he's avoided a serious hand injury. The 29-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now but he shouldn't be expected to be in the starting lineup for Thursday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, even if his CT scan also comes back negative. After Alonso left, Mark Vientos slid to first from third base, and Brett Baty entered the game off the bench to play third base for the Mets. Check back for more updates on Alonso on Thursday.

From RotoBaller

Colorado Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber (arm) will take his normal spot in the team's starting rotation and toe the rubber on Sunday in Los Angeles against the first-place Dodgers this weekend. It's great news for the Rockies and Gomber's fantasy managers after he needed to be scratched from his last scheduled start on Monday against the Cleveland Guardians due to general arm soreness. The 30-year-old will be well-rested, but the matchup in LA against the best lineup in the game is one to shy away from, at least in DFS. Gomber has looked great so far in 2024 for the Rockies, recording a fine 2.76 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with a 41:17 K:BB in 58 2/3 innings and 10 starts. As is the case with most Rockies pitchers, Gomber has been slightly better on the road than at hitter-friendly Coors Field, but keep in mind the Dodgers sport the second-best OPS (.758) in baseball.

From RotoBaller

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (hamstring) left his start early on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins with left-hamstring tightness. Darvish is currently undergoing testing, and we should have a better idea of whether he'll be forced to miss his next scheduled start after we receive those results. Before being pulled, the 37-year-old Japanese hurler gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out two to take his third loss of the season. Until we know more, fantasy managers may want to prepare for a possible trip to the injured list for Darvish. If Darvish is forced to miss a few starts, Randy Vasquez could be in line to join SD's rotation for a bit. Heading into Wednesday's game, Darvish had been solid this year, going 4-2 with a 3.04 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 51 K's in 53 1/3 innings over 10 starts.

From RotoBaller