Everything that happens in and around MLB has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy baseball perspective. From lineup changes to minor league call-ups to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy baseball.
Our fantasy baseball buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around MLB.
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Apr 20: What you need to know for Sunday
Sunday brings bonus baseball with Friday’s postponement in Coors Field being made up today with the Colorado Rockies hosting the Washington Nationals for a pair. The over/under for both games is 10.5, so squeeze in as many batters as possible from this one.
Today’s action starts at 1:35 p.m. ET with five contests. The ESPN Sunday Night Baseball affair features a great starting pitcher matchup with Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros hosting Dylan Cease and the San Diego Padres.
Los Angeles Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani is expected to rejoin the club today and return to his familiar leadoff spot in Arlington.
Texas Rangers OF Wyatt Langford is ticketed to come off the IL and return to today’s lineup when the club hosts the Los Angeles Dodgers. With Josh Smith off to a .341/.438/.512 start, he’s likely moving to first base, leaving Jake Burger and Joc Pederson to share DH duties. Smith had been covering left field.
The Cincinnati Reds are calling up Randy Wynne to serve as the primary pitcher for their Sunday road date with the Baltimore Orioles. Nick Lodolo was expected to start, but he’s away from the team on paternity leave.
Miami Marlins OF Griffin Conine dislocated his shoulder yesterday and is earmarked for a lengthy IL stint. Dane Myers and Javier Sanoja are in line for more playing time.
Tomorrow is Patriots Day in Boston, which means the annual 11:05 a.m. ET start in Fenway Park. Pickups need to be completed by the early first pitch, though you can still maneuver the rest of your roster.
April 19: What you need to know for Saturday
Today’s 15-game slate gets underway at 1:05 p.m. ET with the first of 11 matinees. The Coors Field game with the Colorado Rockies hosting the Washington Nationals was initially scheduled for 3:10 p.m., but it will start an hour later. Friday night’s postponement between the clubs will be made up Sunday as part of a separate-admission doubleheader.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without their DH, with Shohei Ohtani away from the team on paternity leave. OF Eddie Rosario was summoned from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill the opening.
The Philadelphia Phillies will be without OF Brandon Marsh again Saturday. He’ll miss his third straight game with a sore knee. Johan Rojas will continue to sub for Marsh.
The Kansas City Royals demoted OF MJ Melendez to Triple-A Omaha. Melendez had been losing playing time with a .085/.173/.170 start and now will try to find his stroke on the farm. Mark Canha is returning from the IL to take the roster spot and probably Melendez’s playing time as well.
Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks is slated to come off the IL on Saturday and rejoin the bullpen. The veteran may be used in some late-inning scenarios, but LHP Aroldis Chapman has the closer role on lock.
April 18: How did the return of Spencer Strider go?
Stephania Bell: The anxiously awaited return of Strider to the Atlanta Braves rotation may have culminated in a loss, but his presence on the mound was a “big picture” win for everyone involved.
In early April 2024, Strider underwent a right (throwing) elbow UCL repair with InternalBrace with Dr. Keith Meister. While baseball’s seasonal calendar may have helped provide Strider with the cushion of a full-year recovery window, there was still no guarantee of him matching any pre-injury metrics right out of the gate. Yet he hit 97.9 mph with his fastball in the first inning — better than his average fastball velocity in 2023, the last full season he pitched.
Granted, the velocity dipped as the throws increased, but that is not unusual early in post-op returns and his arm endurance will continue to improve. Strider also managed to approach a full workload, going five innings and throwing 97 pitches. It’s a solid indicator that he is prepared to resume his regular role in the rotation.
An outing like the one Strider had is far more important for confidence as the season progresses than any early win would be. If he continues his trajectory towards his pre-injury form, the wins will likely follow.
April 18: What you need to know for Friday
Todd Zola: The standalone Friday matinee in Wrigley Field returns today with the Chicago Cubs hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks at 2:20 PM ET. The remaining 14 games are under the lights, beginning with a pair of tilts at 6:40 PM ET.
Colorado Rockies OF Brenton Doyle will miss the home weekend series, beginning today against the Washington Nationals. Doyle has been nursing a quad issue, although he did pinch-hit last night. However, he has since been placed on the bereavement list, so he’s out for at least three, and up to seven games. Nick Martini should remain the primary beneficiary with Doyle away from the team.
In other Rockies news, DH Kris Bryant was placed on the IL with C Braxton Fulford getting recalled to take his roster spot. The move allows regular C Hunter Goodman to serve as the DH so that backup C Jacob Stallings can garner more action. The fantasy repercussion is that Goodman is almost assured to be in the lineup every day.
Philadelphia Phillies OF Nick Castellanos left yesterday’s game in the seventh inning due to a tight left hip flexor, putting his 183 consecutive games played streak in jeopardy. However, the club is confident that Castellanos will take the field today when they host the Miami Marlins.
Minnesota Twins OF Matt Wallner was placed on the IL yesterday. He had to exit Tuesday’s game early as a result of a strained left hamstring. To fill the roster spot, the Twins acquired INF Jonah Bride from the Marlins. OF DaShawn Keirsey Jr. should be Wallner’s replacement with Bride fortifying the infield, especially with Willi Castro and Carlos Correa both being listed as day-to-day. The club is also promoting INF Luke Keaschall from Triple-A St. Paul. He’s one of the Twins’ top prospects. The 22-year-old is off to a slow start with a .261/.379/.348 line, albeit with four swipes.
The Marlins filled Bride’s roster spot by activating 3B Connor Norby from the IL. Norby began the season on the IL due to an oblique strain. He immediately takes over at the hot corner, pushing Graham Pauley into a reserve role.
Last night, the Baltimore Orioles were without OF Tyler O’Neill for the second straight game as he’s been dealing with neck discomfort. He’s questionable for tonight’s home affair with the Cincinnati Reds. Ramon Laureano is the likely replacement if O’Neill continues to be out of the lineup.
The Milwaukee Brewers are slated to recall 3B Caleb Durbin from Triple-A Nashville today. Durbin will take over as the regular third baseman after the club demoted Oliver Dunn. Durbin had a chance to break camp with the big club, but the Brewers opted to go with Dunn, who had enjoyed the better spring. Durbin, who has posted a .278/.316/.481 line with three steals so far at Nashville, merits immediate mixed-league consideration.
