In The Field
OF Willi Castro (oblique) was out of the lineup on Friday. This comes on the heels of him leaving Wednesday's game early due to tightness in his right oblique. He is considered day-to-day. 3B D.J. LeMahieu (calf) is expected to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday. He has not had a spring, so he will need a length rehab assignment prior to making his season debut. OF Josh Lowe (oblique) has started throwing and is expected to start swinging on Saturday. He hasn't been able to swing a bat since late March. Lowe will need a rehab assignment before coming back. C Austin Wells was out of the Yankees' lineup on Friday with food poisoning. He is considered day-to-day. Wells has struggled to hit for average (.182 AVG), but that is mainly bad luck (.184 BABIP) because his core skills are excellent (24% K, 8% BB, 10% Barrels, and 51% Hardhit). OF Daulton Varsho (shoulder) started his rehab assignment this weekend with Single-A Dunedin. The plan is for him to then jump up to Triple-A Buffalo, and he is tracking towards a return. OF Parker Meadows (arm) has started throwing. He is trying to work his way back from a nerve issue in his right arm. Meadows will need to build up his arm strength before returning. He isn't eligible to return until the end of May due to being on the 60-day IL. OF Wyatt Langford (oblique) started a rehab assignment on Thursday and is expected to be activated on Sunday. Langford is hitting .244 with 4 HR, 6 R, 6 RBI, and 2 SB. He is hitting the ball hard (12% Barrels and 47% Hardhit) and showing good plate skills (10% BB and 17% K). 3B Royce Lewis (hamstring) did some light baserunning on Thursday. This was the next step after doing defensive work and hitting on the field. Once he starts a rehab assignment, we will get a better understanding of a return date. The Twins called up top prospect 2B Luke Keaschall on Friday to try and spark a struggling offense. Keaschall was hitting .261 with 1 HR, 8 R, 5 RBI, and 4 SB in 14 GP at Triple-A. This is coming off a strong 2024 season (.303 AVG with 15 HR, 80 R, 48 RBI, and 23 SB) split between two levels (A+ and AA). Once Lewis does return, the Twins will need to make a decision on their young players. They are currently playing Brooks Lee at 3B, Edouard Julien at 2B, and Keaschall at DH. There is room for all to play now that the Twins have demoted struggling 3B Jose Miranda, but it will be interesting to see if that is the way that they go. Keaschall has the largest fantasy ceiling of the trio. Julien is a platoon bat that doesn't hit for average, power, or have much speed. Lee is a much better real-life player than fantasy due to his lack of a carrying tool. OF Matt Wallner (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL on Thursday. He injured his hamstring on Tuesday. OF Tyler O'Neill was out of the lineup on Wednesday and Thursday with neck discomfort. He returned to the lineup on Friday. O'Neill is hitting .255 with 2 HR, 7 R, 8 RBI, and 0 SB. 3B Alex Bregman was placed on the paternity list on Wednesday. He returned to the lineup on Friday. Bregman has been off to a hot start for the Red Sox (.313 AVG with 4 HR, 11 R, 16 RBI, and 1 SB). SS Zach Neto (shoulder) made his season debut on Friday. Neto is trying to build off his breakout 2024 season in which he hit .249 with 23 HR, 70, 77 RBI, 30 SB. OF George Springer (wrist) missed the series with Atlanta due to a wrist injury but returned to the lineup on Friday. Springer has had a strong start to the year (.392 AVG with 2 HR, 8 R, 10 RBI, and 2 SB). OF Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) is not close to a rehab assignment, according to manager Alex Cora. The Red Sox currently do not have a spot for Yoshida, and top prospect OF Roman Anthony is knocking on the door (.283 AVG with 4 HR, 11 R, 12 RBI, and 2 SB). There is a good chance that Yoshida doesn't get another at-bat for the Red Sox. OF Colton Cowser (thumb) is going to be out until late May/early June, according to general manager Mike Elias. DH Heston Kjerstad has been playing while he has been out. Kjerstad is hitting .244 with 2 HR, 8 R, 10 RBI, and 0 SB. He offers power upside, albeit with a low batting average and no speed. The Rays have called up OF Chandler Simpson. He was hitting .301 with 0 HR, 13 R, 8 RBI, and 8 SB in 17 GP at Triple-A. This is coming off his 2024 minor league season in which he hit .355 with 1 HR, 90 R, 29 RBI, and 104 SB. The speed is elite, and so is his ability to put the bat on the ball. At a minimum, he will provide elite stolen base potential. The rest of his value will be predicated on his ability to hit for average. He will most likely be a three-category contributor (AVG, R, and SB) while being a detriment in the other two (HR and RBI). He is a must-add in all formats due to his speed alone.
On The Mound
Marcus Stroman (knee) has started playing catch. He got a cortisone shot in his left knee last weekend. Stroman has struggled to start the year (11.57 ERA and 2.04 WHIP). Kutter Crawford (knee) was able to complete a bullpen session on Friday. The next step is going to be a live BP session and then a rehab assignment. Crawford is looking to build on his 2024 season (4.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 16% K:BB). Grayson Rodriguez (elbow/shoulder) is going for a second opinion after getting his recent MRI results back. He had the MRI done on Thursday after experiencing soreness in his right shoulder. Max Scherzer (thumb) received another cortisone shot in his right thumb. He is expected to start throwing early next week. A second cortisone shot was the recommendation of a hand specialist. Alec Marsh (shoulder) will be re-evaluated on Tuesday. He had been shut down from throwing for 10 days after suffering a setback while rehabbing. Pablo Lopez (hamstring) is scheduled for a rehab start on Saturday. He is expected to make only one start before rejoining the Twins rotation. Lucas Giolito (hamstring) struggled in his rehab start on Tuesday. He went 2 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, and 4 K for Double-A Portland. His biggest struggle was command. Giolito is likely to make at least one more start before making his 2025 season debut. He needs to build up his pitch count and work on his control before being given the okay to return to a major league mound. Brayan Bello (shoulder) made a rehab start on Wednesday. He was able to get his pitch count up to 71 pitches. He reportedly sat 94-96 mph with his fastball, which is in line with his velocity from last season (95.7 mph). Bello is expected to make his debut on Tuesday against the Mariners. Jon Gray (wrist) had his cast removed on Tuesday. He is still unable to throw and is expected to be for a couple of weeks. Zach Eflin (lat) played catch on Wednesday, which was the first since being shut down over a week ago with a mild right lat strain. Martin Perez left Friday's start on Friday with left forearm soreness. Perez had been excellent in his three prior starts (1.59 ERA and 1.06 WHIP). He also had one of the biggest drops in velocity (-2.3 mph), which, combined with the injury, is not a good sign. Perez was placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday.
In The Bullpen
Lucas Erceg left Friday's game early after being struck by a 109-mph line drive. Liam Hendriks was reinstated from the IL on Saturday. Aroldis Chapman (1.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 27% K:BB) has a strong hold on the closer's role, so Hendriks has little to no value. Felix Bautista went another week without a save opportunity until Saturday afternoon. He has pitched just six innings to start the year. He has struggled with control, 6 BB in 6 IP, but he hasn't pitched in over a year and hasn't gotten regular work, so it remains to be seen if this will continue to be a major problem. The Yankees had five save opportunities, with Devin Williams getting three (4) and Luke Weaver getting the fourth because Williams had thrown three out of four days. Jeff Hoffman had a big week with two saves (5) and a win (2). He has been dominant for the Blue Jays (1.59 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, and 38% K:BB). Emmanuel Clase picked up two saves (3) this week. Tommy Kahnle saved back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday. He appears to have taken over as the closer of the Tigers. Jhoan Duran got his first save this week. Luke Jackson and Robert Garcia picked up saves, but it is still Jackson's job to lose.
Players to add this week:
OF Chandler Simpson (TBR)- The Rays have called up OF Chandler Simpson. He was hitting .301 with 0 HR, 13 R, 8 RBI, and 8 SB in 17 GP at Triple-A. This is coming off his 2024 minor league season in which he hit .355 with 1 HR, 90 R, 29 RBI, and 104 SB. The speed is elite, and so is his ability to put the bat on the ball. At a minimum, he will provide elite stolen base potential. The rest of his value will be predicated on his ability to hit for average. He will most likely be a three-category contributor (AVG, R, and SB) while being a detriment in the other two (HR and RBI). He is a must-add in all formats due to his speed alone.
OF Heston Kjerstad (BAL)- The Orioles are playing Heston Kjerstad regularly with OF Colton Cowser on the IL. Kjerstad is hitting .261 with 3 HR, 9 R, 12 RBI, and 0 SB in 49 PA. He hits the ball hard (17% Barrels and 51% Hardhit), but can struggle with swing and miss. This year so far, he has limited the strikeouts (25% K), which is backed up by a lower swinging strike rate (12%). In a full season of at-bats, Kjerstad has 25+ HR power with a decent batting average (.240-.250). He will not provide speed, and his playing time is highly questionable when Cowser returns, so he is a short-term add.
1B Andrew Vaughn (CWS)-Andrew Vaughn's season line leaves a lot to be desired (.139 AVG with 2 HR, 4 R, 8 RBI, and 0 SB). However, the underlying skills are encouraging. He has league-average plate skills (6% BB and 25% K) but has been hurt by a .163 BABIP. The really encouraging sign is that he is hitting the ball harder and more consistently. Vaughn is sporting 12% Barrels and 47% Hardhit. The results will follow the process, so getting in early could pay dividends.
3B Jorge Polanco (SEA)-Jorge Polanco has looked like a different player this year. He is hitting .346 with 3 HR, 5 R, 12 RBI, and 1 SB in 55 PA. Polanco has done a nice job of making contact (14% K) and hitting the ball hard (14% Barrels and 48% Hardhit). He has been playing regularly and batting second between Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh.
SP Hayden Wesneski (HOU)- Hayden Wesneski looks to be another Astros success story. He has a 3.91 ERA and 0.87 WHIP through 4 GS. He has been able to miss bats (31% K) and control the strike zone (4% BB). The only reason his ERA is so high is because he has given up 6 HR in 4 GS. His next start will come on the road against the Royals.
1B Jonathan Aranda (TBR)-Jonathan Aranda is hitting .367 with 4 HR, 12 R, 13 RBI, and 0 SB in 69 PA. He has good plate skills (10% BB and 17% K). Aranda has also been hitting the ball hard (20% Barrels and 60% Hardhit), which, in combination with more fly balls, has led to a power increase. If he can combine more contact with a power profile, it would make him a nice value.
SP Tyler Mahle (TEX )- Tyler Mahle has started the year strong. He has a 0.92 ERA and 0.86 WHIP through 4 GS. He is missing bats (28% K and 13% SwStr) and limiting home runs (0.00 HR/9). Mahle is walking a fine line (12% BB), but even pitching to his SIERA (3.77) would make him a valuable add. He also has a nice matchup next week on the road in a pitcher-friendly park against the Giants.
OF Kameron Misner (TBR)-Kameron Misner has played himself into a regular role against right-handed pitchers. He is hitting .391 with 3 HR, 9 R, 10 RBI, and 1 SB. Misner hit .248 with 17 HR, 77 R, 55 RBI, and 30 SB. He showed high upside in terms of power and speed, but a 29% strikeout rate hindered his average. So far in the majors, he has cut his strikeouts (15% K) and has backed that up with a low chase rate (27% O-swing). Misner has also lowered his swinging strike rate. Everything looks good for the 27-year-old outfielder. He has double-digit HR and SB potential throughout a full season.
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