New York isn't as bad as I make it out to be. It was lightly snowing the first day there for Tout Wars, but things really picked up at night. Jeff Mans is a homie, ditto Nando DiFino. I shudder to think they fun/trouble we could get in to if we all lived in the same city. Oh yeah, there's a plethora of information coming out about the players on the field too, so why don't I write about something you actually care about.
Erik Bedard of the Dodgers is already hurt. He'll miss 4-6 weeks with a strained back muscle. Pathetic. Joe Wieland might be the #1 option to take over for Hyun-Jin Ryu who is going to start the year on the DL with a shoulder issue. Wieland has only 39 unsuccessful big league innings under his belt (5.31 ERA, 1.44 WHIP). A 4th round selection in 2008, Joe was dealt to the Dodgers in the offseason deal that brought Matt Kemp to the Padres. Wieland, ranked the 74th best prospect in baseball in 2012 by Baseball Prospectus, has had multiple issues with his elbow that have resulted in surgery, including a procedure in March of last season. He's a big time arm if he can just stay healthy. He's a certain target late in NL-only leagues.
Alex Cobb has a forearm issue. People seem to think that tendinitis equals Tommy John surgery. Let me be clear - it does not. Forearm issues are often a precursor to UCL issues, that is true, but not tendinitis in and of itself. Cobb reported Monday that his arm feels fine. At this point a return in mid-April seems possible. He's always seemingly dealing with something and this is a bit scary (I'll admit that), but don't sleep on him in your draft. Sounds like he might end up being just fine.
Sean Doolittle went for $11 in Tout Wars this weekend (I grabbed Tyler Clippard for $6). Why? Doolittle has a shoulder issue and is hoping to return to the bigs at the start of May. We're excited about him doing "sock throws" Monday? He's not that close to a return folks.
Mike Fiers is is set to pitch Thursday for the Brewers. He missed some time with a shoulder issue but it sounds like he could be lining up to make the 4th start of the year for the Brew Crew. Check out his Player Profile - he's often getting it don when on the bump.
Evan Gattis missed eight days with a wrist issue. He returned Monday and hit a homer. He'll be fine.
Mat Latos allowed nine runs in three innings Monday to the Mets. He was very honest after the outing. “Everything was terrible. No other way to put it… I was destined to have a [bad] outing. I just didn’t know it was going to be one like that. That was borderline embarrassing." Coming back from multiple surgeries, I'm starting to get nervous about Latos and he's dropping down the Fantasy Alarm Rankings list.
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Nick Markakis had offseason neck surgery. There's is some doubt about whether or not he'll be ready for Opening Day, but at this point it certainly looks possible. He had two hits Monday and is set to play again Tuesday for the Braves.
I've been dating a lot lately. I've met women with mental illness, one with three kids and two ex husband's, one who seemed like she was doing me a favor spending time with me and one who seemed to think that kissing was only for married people. I also met a married woman on St. Patrick's Day. Of course I did nothing, I'm a gentleman, but she sent me a text the next day saying she would set me up with one of her friends... if she didn't leave her husband for me. #TheOracleIsWorthIt
Andrew McCutchen will return to the Pirates lineup Tuesday after being out of game action since March 12th. The Pirates have acted like an NHL squad saying only that McC has a "lower body issue" - lame. We're still not sure what is going on but no one seems concerned and he should be good to go in plenty of time before the season starts.
Anthony Rendon might not be ready for the start of the season as his left knee is still sore. The club continues to say he just has a sprained MCL and they aren't yet ready to give up the hope that he will be ready for Opening Day. We're about two weeks out though and I'm starting to get nervous.
I look really good with my chin music... I mean goatee.
Drew Smyly (shoulder) threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session Monday and said that his wing felt good. The club hopes that he will be able to return to game 
action in the majors by mid-April. Check out his Player Profile.
Devon Travis sounds like he might start for the Blue Jays at second base AL-only leaguers. With only Maicer Izturis really in his way, it's hardly a surprise. Taken in the 13th round in 2012 by the Tigers, Travis stands 5'9" and weighs in at about 195 lbs. Through 257 minor league games he's ripped it up with a .323 average, .388 OBP and .487 SLG. He's also hit 29 big flies while swiping 41 bases. Lot to like here if he's named the starter.
Chris Young, the Yankees outfielder, hit two homers Monday. Jacoby Ellsbury is already hurt and it's not like the club is full of young, healthy talent. Young is a nice depth target in AL-only leagues.
Player News
Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) will start playing catch Friday.
Glasnow will join fellow injured starter Blake Snell in beginning his throwing program Friday. The 31-year-old was placed on the injured list shoulder inflammation April 28 — the same designation as Snell — and there’s no timetable yet for when he will be able to return.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Blake Snell (shoulder) will start playing catch Friday.
As will Tyler Glasnow (shoulder). The Dodgers have been without Snell since the start of April with shoulder inflammation, and the club has taken things slow with the southpaw in hopes of having him right for the grueling summer months. He’ll need to make at least a couple of rehab starts before returning but it sounds like the 32-year-old could be back on the bump before June comes to an end.
Clayton Kershaw (toe, knee) may make his next start in the majors after Sunday’s rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Kershaw was brilliant in his last rehab start, and while that came against short-season hitters in Arizona, the 37-year-old has reportedly looked the part while rehabbing to rejoin the Los Angeles rotation. This is no longer one of the very best pitchers in baseball, but with that lineup behind him he’s going to get plenty of win chances, and he’s shown that he still can keep hitters off-balance over the last two seasons.
Reds recalled INF Rece Hinds from Triple-A Louisville.
You might remember Hinds for pulling a Kyren Paris in his first stint of MLB action, only to pull a Kyren Paris a few weeks later and plummet back to earth. The 24-year-old plays in a friendly park and offers quality power, but he’s far from a guarantee to put up fantasy fireworks in 2025.
Reds placed INF Noelvi Marte on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 5, with a left oblique strain.
Marte will miss a week-plus — at minimum — while recovering from the strain. The former top prospect should be back by the end of May if there are no setbacks at the latest, but oblique strains can have a wide variety of timelines depending on the severity. Rece Hinds is heading up from Louisville to take Marte’s roster spot.
Nolan Arenado was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup due to back spasms.
Arenado was scratched mere moments before the first pitch of Wednesday’s game. The 34-year-old will likely miss a game or two at least, but his status for the weekend will be determined over the coming days. Nolan Gorman will likely get the starts at third as long as Arenado can’t play.