In The Field
SS Zach Neto started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake City. He hit a solo home run on Thursday night. He is getting closer to a return because he was able to play in the field on Friday night. He is tracking towards a return sometime next week. He is looking to build off his strong 2024 season (.249 AVG with 23 HR/30 SB). The Angels have been mixing and matching at short with a combination of Tim Anderson, Kevin Newman, and Nicky Lopez. 3B D.J. LeMahieu (calf) is still a week away from getting live at-bats, according to manager Aaron Boone. A return near the end of the month, beginning of May, would be the best-case scenario. 3B Oswaldo Cabrera has been the Yankees' primary third baseman. He is hitting .200 with O HR, 2 R, 0 RBI, and 0 SB. OF/DH Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) is not expected to start a rehab assignment next week, according to manager Alex Cora. Yoshida has been throwing but isn't ready for live game action yet. Since the Red Sox have committed to 3B Rafael Devers as their regular DH, Yoshida is going to have to play the outfield, so he is going to have to make throws. The Red Sox will have some tough roster decisions to make when Yoshida does come back because they would prefer playing the younger guys (Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu), and that doesn't even include top prospect OF Roman Anthony. Without a trade, it doesn't look like Yoshida is going to get much playing time. 3B Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) was not activated on Thursday like many assumed, but was in the lineup on Friday batting leadoff against the Royals. SS Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL last Thursday. He isn't expected back this month but should be their regular shortstop when he does return. 2B Gleyber Torres (oblique) was placed on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain. The Tigers have moved 2B Colt Keith to second base while Torres is out. The Tigers started Colt Keith at first in the first two games and 1B Spencer Torkelson at DH, but now he has shifted to playing first. Keith is struggling to start the year (.176 AVG with 28% K), and Torkelson has started off strong (.345 AVG with 2 HR/1 SB). OF Daulton Varsho (shoulder) is throwing out to 150 feet, so he will need to increase that before he can play the field. He will need a rehab assignment before returning, but a mid to late April return is looking likely for Varsho. 3B Yoan Moncada left Friday's game early on Friday with right thumb irritation. This is concerning because he missed time in the spring due to the same injury. Moncaca is hitting .200 with 0 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, and 0 SB to start the year. At the same time, he has shown good plate skills (23% BB and 27% K). He hasn't hit the ball hard (0% Barrels and 31% Hardhit), which could be a result of the thumb injury. 2B Luis Rengifo left Friday's game early with left hamstring tightness. He dealt with the same injury in spring training, so this is worth monitoring. He was back in the lineup on Saturday. Rengifo has started out slow (.200 0 HR, 3 R, 1 RBI, and 0 SB). Josh Jung (neck) took grounders before the game on Friday and has been able to do some hitting. He is expected to start a rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco on Saturday. He is eligible to return on Tuesday. OF Cody Bellinger is dealing with back stiffness, so he was not in the Yankees lineup on Friday or Saturday. He is off to a strong start (.238 AVG, .235 BABIP, 1 HR, 5 R, 6 RBI, and 1 SB). He has hit the ball hard (11% Barrels and 50% Hardhit). 3B/OF Matt Vierling (shoulder) hasn't started throwing but has been able to hit and do defensive drills. He is scheduled for an MRI, which, if everything checks out, could give him the go-ahead to start throwing.
On The Mound
Luis Garcia (elbow) has been shut down for four weeks. He had a recent MRI that showed right elbow inflammation. Garcia is attempting to make his way back from Tommy John surgery he had in May of 2023. He threw 4.2 IP in the minors last year, giving him a total of 31.2 IP since the 2022 season. Lucas Giolito (hamstring) is scheduled for two more rehab starts before rejoining the rotation. He went 51 pitches (2.1 IP) in his most recent rehab start at Triple-A. They would like for him to get to the point that he can throw 85-100 pitches before calling him up. He has not pitched at the major league level since 2023 due to an internal brace procedure on his right elbow. Brayan Bello (shoulder) is in a similar situation to Giolito. He will need at least two more rehab starts to build up his pitch count before joining the Red Sox rotation. He threw (47 pitches) 2.1 IP in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Worcester. Richard Fitts and Sean Newcomb when Giolito and Bello are ready to return. Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) threw a bullpen on Wednesday before the Orioles/Red Sox game. It was his second since being shut down during spring training. His timetable for a return is unclear, but based on the fact that he hasn't started a rehab assignment, it is unlikely that he will make it back this month. Jack Leiter left his start on Wednesday after 5 IP due to a blister. The Rangers described it as precautionary, and he was expected to make his next start, but they placed him on the 15-day IL on Friday. Leiter has looked good in his first two starts (0.90 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 28% K, and 3% BB). His velocity is up (97.9 mph), and he is featuring a new mix that includes fewer fastballs in favor of a sinker and more changeups. Max Scherzer (thumb) received two cortisone shots in his right thumb. There is no structural damage, but Scherzer has said that it has been affecting his pitching. He is expected to throw on Saturday and could return sooner than initially thought if everything goes well. Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) is scheduled for a rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday. He threw 35 pitches in his first rehab start, so the Astros will want him to continue to build up his pitch count. He has not been on a major league mound since 2022. Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) threw a 3-inning simulated game on Monday. He is scheduled to start his rehab assignment on Saturday and is on track to return in mid-May. Schmidt is looking to build off his breakout 2024 season (2.85 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 26% K, and 9% BB). George Kirby (shoulder) is throwing but needs to build up his strength and pitch count before going out on a rehab assignment. Once we get news of Kirby throwing live BP or simulated games, we will have a better understanding of a return date. Alex Cobb (hip) is going to throw a live BP session next week. This will be his first time facing live batters since his hip injury.
In The Bullpen
Luke Weaver picked up a save for the Yankees on Thursday night while closer Devin Williams was on the paternity list. Williams returned on Friday. Felix Bautista has pitched once in the past week, and the Orioles have not had a save chance. Aroldis Chapman was declared the closer and picked up two saves this week. The Rays' bullpen is always questionable, but Pete Fairbanks is healthy and the guy for right now. The Blue Jays bullpen closed out four games this past week, with Jeff Hoffman getting three and Yimi Garcia the fourth. Mike Clevinger is presumed to be the White Sox closer, but they have not had a save chance, and there has been no official declaration. The Tigers gave the only save chance to Tommy Kahnle, but Beau Brieske picked up a hold and Tyler Holton a win. Jhoan Duran struggled in his first outing (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 1 K). He pitched a scoreless inning on 4/2, but the Twins haven't had any save chances this week. Andres Munoz continues his dominance from last year, picking up 2 SV. Luke Jackson has closed out three games this week and is up to four on the year already.
Players to add this week:
1B Spencer Torkelson (DET)- Spencer Torkelson is off to a hot start for the Tigers. He is hitting .345 with 2 HR, 6 R, 4 RBI, and 1 SB. He is still striking out too much (33% K) and has benefited from a .533 BABIP, but is hitting in the middle of the order. Once he starts to go cold, it should be easy to move on to someone else, but right now, he is hitting the ball hard and making a difference.
SP Jose Soriano (LAA)- Jose Soriano has now made two starts for the Angels. He has looked great. Soriano is showing improved stuff (110 Stuff+) and more strikeouts (30% K and 13% SwStr). It is a small sample, but he's got a different pitch mix this year. He is throwing fewer four-seam fastballs in favor of more sinkers and an improved slider. He is now throwing a four-pitch mix (Sinker, Slider, Curve, and Splitter). This is good news because he has premium velocity and an elite ground ball rate, so a few more swings and misses will help Soriano increase his fantasy value.
OF Andrew Benintendi (CWS)- Andrew Benintendi is off to a strong start to the 2025 season. He is hitting .310 with 2 HR, 4 R, 6 RBI, and 0 SB. Benintendi was due regression after hitting .229 last year despite striking out 18% of the time but that was mainly due to a .245 BABIP. The good news is that he can marry the low strike out with improved quality of contact and hit .260-.270 with 15-20 HR.
SP Kris Bubic (KCR)-Kris Bubic showed promise last season with a 2.67 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 28% K:BB in 30.1 IP. It was a small sample and in relief but it showed that he had potential coming into the year even with the return to the rotation. He went 6 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, and 8 K in his first start. Bubic showed his increased velocity (92.5 mph) that he had last year as a reliever. It is still a back-end starter profile but fantasy viable.
2B Brendan Rodgers (HOU)- Brendan Rodgers has been the Astros starting second baseman to start the year. He is hitting .316 with 0 HR, 0 R, 3 RBI, and 0 SB. Rodgers hasn't done much outside of hitting for average, but he is a starter in a good lineup, so there is value in deeper mixed leagues. He has hit the ball hard (8% Barrels and 50% Hardhit).
SP Shane Baz (TBR)- Shane Baz looked good in his first start (6 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, and 10 K). He showed much improved stuff. His fastball sat 97.1 mph which is up from 95.6 mph last year. Baz also threw his offspeed more than ever which is another good sign. This allows him to be less predictable and will help his best pitch (FB) produce better results.
RP Luke Jackson (TEX)- Luke Jackson picked up three saves this week and is now up to four on the year. If he is still available he needs to be rostered. The skills aren't great (26% K, 11% BB, and 93 Stuff+) and his ratios are bad (6.23 ERA and 1.38 WHIP) but the Rangers continue to run him out there in save chances. Be ready to move quickly once it goes south but for now Jackson leads the league in saves.
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