Yahoo Sports Fantasy Baseball

  • Sidelined by shoulder strain
    Church was placed on the 7-day injured list with a right shoulder strain Thursday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Church was in the running for a spot in the big-league bullpen during spring training, though he was ultimately optioned to the minors. Since, he's allowed two earned runs across 4.2 innings while posting a 5:3 K:BB with Triple-A Round Rock. It's unclear how long Church will be sidelined. Rotowire.com 3 minutes ago
     
  • Starting Friday
    Alexander will start Friday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

    Advice: Alexander has shifted between a bulk relief and a traditional starting role. It appears he's in line for the latter Friday, and he should have no limitations after working six innings in his last appearance, which came against San Francisco on Sunday. Rotowire.com 14 minutes ago
     
  • Earns win in setup role
    Leclerc (1-2) picked up the win Thursday, allowing two walks and striking out two over one scoreless inning in a 9-7 victory over the Tigers.

    Advice: It was a wild affair in Detroit, as the Tigers came back from 4-0 and 7-4 deficits before the Rangers put it away in the final two innings. For Leclerc, it was his first time in what would be a considered a high-leverage spot since he was removed as the team's closer last weekend. He entered with two outs and two inherited runners in the seventh inning and escaped without damage. He became the pitcher of record an inning later when Texas broke a 7-7 tie. He worked around a pair of walks in the eighth before Kirby Yates came in for a four-out save. Since Leclerc lost the closer's job, the right-hander has not allowed a run and struck out six over four innings. Rotowire.com 45 minutes ago
     
  • Luke Jackson starting rehab assignment Thursday
    Luke Jackson (back) will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Thursday with Single-A San Jose.

    Advice: Jackson landed on the injured list nearly three weeks ago after suffering a lower back strain during an Opening Day relief appearance against the Padres. The 32-year-old figures to rejoin San Francisco’s high-leverage relief mix at some point before the end of April. Rotoworld Today, 5:16 pm
     
  • Rebounds for fifth save
    Clase earned the save in Thursday's 5-4 win over Boston, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

    Advice: It was an encouraging effort from Clase after he'd blown his previous two save opportunities. Despite his recent rough patch, the 26-year-old Clase has been excellent overall to start the year, allowing just one earned run through his first nine innings while striking out seven as he improves to 5-for-7 in save chances. Rotowire.com Today, 4:40 pm
     
  • Takes loss in bulk role
    Criswell (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Guardians, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk over 2.1 innings.

    Advice: While Criswell didn't miss many bats in his brief outing, the Red Sox defense didn't do him any favors, as they committed a pair of errors behind the right-hander resulting in three unearned runs. The 27-year-old Criswell sports a 4.26 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP and 4:2 K:BB through his first 6.1 innings this season. He'll likely continue to work in a bulk role while Nick Pivetta (elbow) and Garrett Whitlock (oblique) are sidelined. Rotowire.com Today, 4:35 pm
     
  • Notches four-out save
    Yates earned the save in Thursday's 9-7 win over Detroit, allowing one hit while logging a strikeout in 1.1 scoreless innings.

    Advice: Yates entered with two outs in the eighth inning, striking out Spencer Torkelson to strand the tying and go-ahead runs on base, before working around a two-out single in the ninth en route to his second save this season. Yates has yet to allow a run through his first eight appearances (8.2 innings) this year. The 37-year-old veteran has saves in two of the Rangers' last four games, as he looks to be firming his grasp on the ninth-inning job in Texas. Rotowire.com Today, 4:05 pm
     
  • Sent to Iowa
    The Cubs optioned Wesneski to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

    Advice: Wesneski was recalled to the majors Wednesday, but his big-league stint will come to an abrupt end with Jameson Taillon (back) returning from the injured list. The 26-year-old pitched four innings and earned the win Wednesday and could work his way back into the majors if he continues finding success at Triple-A. Rotowire.com Today, 3:48 pm
    Hayden WesneskiCHC - SP,RP
    PPD vs MIA
    New Player Note
    NA
     
  • Cubs option Hayden Wesneski to Triple-A
    Cubs optioned RHP Hayden Wesneski to Triple-A Iowa.

    Advice: Wesneski heads back to Triple-A following one of the more encouraging outings of his career at the highest level earlier this week when he fired four shutout frames in relief against the Diamondbacks. The 26-year-old swingman figures to return at some point in the next few weeks as a long reliever. Rotoworld Today, 3:43 pm
    Hayden WesneskiCHC - SP,RP
    PPD vs MIA
    New Player Note
    NA