• Julien has two hits, home run in win over CWS
    Edouard Julien went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs, and two RBI in a win over the White Sox on Thursday.

    Advice: The 24-year-old hasn’t had a great start to the season, but he’s playing every day and is starting to find his groove a little at the plate. Although his season slash line is just .213/.308/.513, he has seven home runs and nine RBI and is 7-for-24 over his last six games with two home runs. With the Twins as banged up as they are, he should continue to get a chance to right the ship, and his elite plate discipline and strong batted-ball quality make him a fine waiver-wire target to see if he can keep his hot stretch going. Rotoworld 37 minutes ago
     
  • Framber Valdez to start Sunday in Mexico City
    Framber Valdez (elbow) will start on Sunday against the Rockies in Mexico City.

    Advice: Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed Thursday that Valdez will return this weekend after spending just over two weeks on the shelf with left elbow inflammation. The 30-year-old southpaw completed a 40-pitch bullpen session earlier this week and figures to have some workload limitations this weekend in Mexico City’s extremely hitter-friendly high-altitude environment. His return will provide Houston’s injury-depleted starting rotation with a significant lift, but he’s probably best left on the bench this weekend for fantasy purposes. Rotoworld Today, 1:33 pm
     
  • Keller inconsistent in no-decision against MIL
    Mitch Keller allowed four runs on six hits in five innings in a no-decision against the Brewers.

    Advice: It wasn’t all bad for Keller, who had seven strikeouts and two walks while posting a 21 percent whiff rate and 29 percent CSW. He allowed only two extra-base hits on the day, but one of them was a solo home run and Keller’s fastball got hit hard throughout the day, allowing an average exit velocity of 98.1 mph. He had just five whiffs on 23 swings on the fastball and didn’t get a single whiff on either his sweeper or curve, so it was really his cutter doing all the lifting today. That’s not a recipe for success, and the right-hander will now carry a 5.14 ERA into a showdown against the A’s next week. If you’re not going to start him then (you should in most leagues) then he shouldn’t be on your roster. Rotoworld Today, 1:11 pm
    Mitch KellerPIT - SP
    L, 5-7 vs MIL
     
  • A’s officially place Zack Gelof on 10-day IL
    Athletics placed INF Zack Gelof (oblique) on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 24, with a left oblique strain.

    Advice: This doesn’t come as a surprise as the 24-year-old second baseman was diagnosed with the strain Wednesday, but it’s a disappointment for fantasy managers that have him rostered. Abraham Toro is likely to take over at second while Gelof is sidelined. Rotoworld Today, 11:08 am
    Zack GelofOAK - 2B
    4:05 pm @NYY
     
  • Placed on injured list
    The Athletics placed Gelof on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a strained left oblique.

    Advice: Gelof's injury caused him to be a late scratch from Oakland's lineup ahead of Wednesday's game, and it will now officially cost him at least another week and a half. The 24-year-old second baseman hadn't missed a start prior to Wednesday, though he's failed to make the most of his playing time, slashing just .196/.260/.337 with seven RBI across his first 101 plate appearances. Darell Hernaiz was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Rotowire.com Today, 11:07 am
    Zack GelofOAK - 2B
    4:05 pm @NYY
     
  • Still battling back injury
    Jones (back) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres.

    Advice: Jones is on the bench for a second straight game while he tends to a stiff back. With Jones out of the lineup along with Charlie Blackmon and Sean Bouchard, the Rockies will have Jake Cave and Hunter Goodman start in the corner outfield spots. Rotowire.com Today, 10:50 am
    Nolan JonesCOL - 1B,OF
    Top 8, 4-9 vs SD
     
  • Starting Sunday in Mexico City
    Astros manager Joe Espada said that Valdez (elbow) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Rockies in Mexico City, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Valdez has been on the IL since April 9 due to inflammation in his left elbow. He built up to 40 pitches in his last bullpen session Wednesday, so his first start back from the injured list will likely be an abbreviated one. In any case, his return will still give Houston's rotation a much-needed boost following the recent move of Cristian Javier (neck) to the IL. Valdez surrendered three earned runs and struck out 10 batters over 12.1 innings across his first two starts before getting injured. Given Valdez's expected workload restriction Sunday in addition to the high altitude in Mexico City likely creating a hitter-friendly environment, fantasy managers may want to hold off on immediately activating the southpaw. Rotowire.com Today, 10:19 am
     
  • Heads to bench Thursday
    Velazquez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.

    Advice: With the Royals looking to give Vinnie Pasquantino a day out of the field and Salvador Perez a day off behind the plate in the series finale, Velazquez will be a casualty from the Kansas City lineup. Pasquantino will serve as the Royals' designated hitter in Velazquez's stead, while Perez takes over Pasquantino's usual spot at first base. Rotowire.com Today, 8:32 am
  • Powered to second win
    Schmidt (2-0) picked up the win in Wednesday's 7-3 victory over the A's, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

    Advice: The right-hander cruised through five innings before serving up a three-run shot to Brent Rooker in the sixth and getting the hook after 92 pitches (58 strikes), but the Yanks supported Schmidt with three long balls of their own. He's still looking for his first quality start of the season, but Schmidt has lasted five or more innings in four of his five outings, and he hasn't given up more than three runs in any of them. He'll take a 3.55 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB through 25.1 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Baltimore. Rotowire.com Today, 7:42 am