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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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April 12: What you need to know for SaturdaySaturday's 15-game slate gets underway at 2:10 p.m. ET with the Minnesota Twins hosting the Detroit Tigers. Weather remains an issue with more rain expected in the Bronx for the interleague affair between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants. Friday night's matchup was called after six frames, and Saturday's conditions are expected to be wet, but not as severe as yesterday. The expectation is that the game will be played, and Sunday is expected to be warmer and drier. St. Louis Cardinals SS Masyn Winn is dealing with lingering back spasms and is expected to miss the rest of the weekend. He'll be replaced by Thomas Saggese. Washington Nationals SS CJ Abrams has been dealing with lingering hip issues and Friday irritated his right hip flexor, He is slated to be examined Saturday. Current 3B Paul DeJong could slide over to shortstop if Abrams needs to miss time. Amed Rosario could also see more action, perhaps clearing th way for 2B Luis Garcia Jr. to stay in the lineup against left-handers. Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman returned from the IL on Friday night and was inserted into the three-hole. He may need more maintenance days than usual, but Freeman should be in the lineup nearly every day. Minnesota Twins OF Byron Buxton rejoined the club after being away for a couple of days attending to personal business. The veteran is off to a slow start with a .585 OPS, but he has swiped three bases in three tries. The San Diego Padres continue to be among the league leaders in stolen bases with 23, third in the league. What's most notable is it isn't a few youngsters padding the total, but rather veterans Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts. Six bags from Tatis isn't surprising, but six from Machado and four from Bogaerts indicates the team plans on being aggressive. -- Todd Zola
Apr 11: What you need to know for Friday Todd Zola: All 15 of Friday's games are evening affairs. Action commences with the Kansas City Royals visiting the Cleveland Guardians at 6:10 p.m. ET. The early forecast for this matchup calls for temperatures in the 40s with the wind blowing in. The over/under is only 6.5 runs, with Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee facing Royals LHP Kris Bubic. Weather will be a factor elsewhere, with the thermometer reading in the low-40s when the Boston Red Sox open a three-game set with the Chicago White Sox on the South Side. Rain has two games in jeopardy, especially the Baltimore Orioles hosting the Toronto Blue Jays, while also threatening the interleague affair between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants in the Bronx. Seattle Mariners 2B Ryan Bliss will be sidelined between four and five months after undergoing surgery on his torn left biceps. Utilityman Dylan Moore will take over at the keystone. Some are calling for top prospect Michael Arroyo to be called up later on, but the 20-year-old is opening the season with Double-A Arkansas and is a long shot to be ready this year. Minnesota Twins OF Byron Buxton missed his second straight game yesterday, as he is away from the club handling a personal matter. It's unclear whether Buxton will return for tonight's home date with the Detroit Tigers. With RHP Pablo Lopez on the 15-day IL with a Grade 1 right hamstring sprain, the Twins will promote RHP David Festa to start tonight's AL Central showdown. Festa exhibited some promise last season, but was sent to Triple-A St. Paul to start the season with RHP Chris Paddack and RHP Simeon Woods Richardson earning the final two spots in the Twins rotation. Festa fanned eight with just two walks in his first two outings, covering 8 1/3 innings, but he also yielded 13 hits and five runs. The Chicago White Sox will reportedly call up SS Chase Meidroth from Triple-A Charlotte. Meidroth and C Kyle Teel were part of the package the club received from the Red Sox for LHP Garrett Crochet. Meidroth can play both middle infield spots, though he's ticketed for shortstop. The White Sox infield is thin with 2B Josh Rojas and 3B Bryan Ramos on the IL. They were recently joined by OF Andrew Benintendi and OF Mike Tauchman.
April 10: What you need to know for Thursday Todd Zola: It's a getaway day for most of the league with only six games on an abbreviated docket. Action gets underway at 1:10 p.m. ET with a pair of games, followed by three more afternoon affairs. The only night game features the best pitching matchup of the slate with LHP Spencer Schwellenbach and the Atlanta Braves hosting LHP Jesus Luzardo and the Philadelphia Phillies. With a short schedule limiting starting pitching streaming options, focusing on relievers with the best chance of capturing a save or a hold is an effective way of collecting points. The Cleveland Guardians are the biggest favorite for their home date with the Chicago White Sox. Regular closer Emmanuel Clase has appeared for two straight days, so his availability for today's matinee is in jeopardy. Primary setup man Cade Smith threw 26 pitches on Tuesday, so it's not a guarantee he's available today, but even so, he's a sneaky pickup. Let's focus on the news germane to the dozen teams playing today, beginning with White Sox OF Andrew Benintendi being placed on the 10-day IL with a left adductor strain. OF Michael Taylor is in line for more action with Benintendi out. The Kansas City Royals will be without 1B Mark Canha after he strained his left abductor on Tuesday. He was placed on the IL yesterday, with OF Drew Waters called up to take his roster spot. Angels 3B Yoan Moncada is day-to-day due to a sore right thumb. He left last night's game early and could be headed for the IL. Moncada's playing time was already in jeopardy with the emergence of 23-year-old Kyren Paris, who is off to a blazing .440/.533/1.120 start, featuring five homers and four stolen bases. Paris' numbers will of course settle down, but he should continue to steal bases. Colorado Rockies OF Zac Veen has started both games since being recalled, including Wednesday with southpaw Tyler Alexander on the hill. It's too early to deem Veen an every-day player, but it's encouraging that the lefty swinger was in the lineup against a left-hander.
April 9: What you need to know for Wednesday Todd Zola: Wednesday's action starts early with a 12:35 PM ET tilt in the Steel City with the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting the St. Louis Cardinals. Eight more afternoon affairs ensue, followed by six games under the lights. The Arizona Diamondbacks reported that 2B Ketel Marte will be sidelined for weeks with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, with no target date set for his return. Garrett Hampson and Tim Tawa have each played two games in Marte's absence. SS Geraldo Perdomo has taken over as the No. 2 hitter against right-handers while leading off in the only game against a southpaw since Marte has been out. San Diego Padres OF Fernando Tatis Jr. left last night's game due to shoulder discomfort. The club deemed the move precautionary, with Tatis set for testing. Tatis is off to a blazing start with a .965 OPS and five stolen bases in five tries. He's questionable for today's rubber game of an interleague set with the Athletics in Sacramento. Not only did Tatis leave early, but they were already with OF Jackson Merrill who was placed on the IL due to a right hamstring strain. They also lost 2B Jake Cronenworth in the third inning due to rib cramping. The injury was a residual effect from Cronenworth being hit by a pitch on Sunday. He joins Tatis with a questionable status. Also in that game, Athletics 1B Tyler Soderstrom was taken out for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, having experienced right calf tightness. It's unclear how much of the move was due to the Athletics' 10-4 lead and opting to play it safe with Soderstrom, who is tied with Aaron Judge for the league lead in home runs with six. Baltimore Orioles RHP Zach Eflin was initially diagnosed with right shoulder fatigue, but imaging revealed he has a right lat strain and is headed for the 15-day IL. Eflin's timetable is uncertain until he can begin a throwing program, which won't occur for at least one week. It's unclear who will replace Eflin in the rotation, but the club is off tomorrow and next Monday, so they won't need a fifth starter until a week from Saturday. Texas Rangers OF Wyatt Langford left last night's game in the seventh inning due to right oblique tightness. He likely suffered the injury while swinging in the top of the frame. Langford is slated for an MRI today, though he reported that the issue doesn't seem as bad as the left oblique strain he incurred during spring straining. If Langford is unable to play in today's Wrigley Field matinee, Kevin Pillar (or perhaps Josh Smith) will face Chicago Cubs' southpaw Shota Imanaga. Minnesota Twins RHP Pablo Lopez had to leave last night's game after 4 2/3 innings due to right hamstring tightness. He was cruising, having fanned six with just one walk while limiting the Kansas City Royals to one unearned run on three hits. If Lopez can't make his start this weekend, look for the Twins to call up RHP Zebby Matthews, who pitched last night for Triple-A St. Paul, punching out nine with just one walk in five innings.
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