MLB Player News

Rivera was just designated for assignment and sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk in mid-June, but he’ll return as the Orioles are in need of extra infield depth with Jordan Westburg (finger) banged up. Rivera has hit just .232/.303/.275 with no home runs, three RBI and a 12/6 K/BB ratio in 76 plate appearances with the O’s this season.

Jackson languished on the open market throughout the entire offseason, and spring training, after struggling to an inflated 4.06 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 38/28 K/BB ratio across 51 innings between the Mariners, Tigers and Rangers last year. Perhaps switching leagues will do the trick. The well-traveled 34-year-old veteran figures to arrive in New York’s bullpen as a middle relief option at some point this summer.

Rocker had his first start pushed back earlier this week after a minor neck issue with ace Jacob deGrom forced Texas the reshuffle their rotation. The 26-year-old former first-rounder won the final spot in the club’s season-opening rotation out of spring training and will get the ball opposite Reds pitching prospect Rhett Lowder on Saturday afternoon at Globe Life Field. He’s been extremely unpredictable from a results standpoint, so a wait-and-see approach is advisable for fantasy managers in shallow formats.

There are professional debuts, and then there’s whatever Hernandez just did. The 19-year-old prodigy was selected sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft as the consensus top prep pitching arm in the class and has certainly lived up to the hype. He topped out at 99.3 mph and generated an eye-popping 18 swinging strikes on 39 pitches (30 strikes) in the abbreviated outing. He’s still a hyperspace jump or two, to borrow a Star Wars metaphor, from reaching the big leagues, but he’s clearly one of the top pitching prospects in the fantasy landscape already. He’ll be one of the biggest risers in dynasty rankings over the next few months.

Anderson’s professional debut went swimmingly as he scattered five hits and one walk, navigating traffic on the basepaths in all four frames, while generating 12 swinging strikes on 59 pitches (43 strikes). The third-overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft is one of the top pitching prospects in the fantasy landscape based on his immense strikeout upside. The 21-year-old southpaw looked extremely impressive in spring training and has a realistic chance to arrive in Seattle later this summer.

Kelly struck out two and scattered four baserunners over five impressive frames, averaging 90.4 mph on his cutter. The 37-year-old veteran got his pitch count up to 72 in his first rehab outing and figures to rejoin Arizona’s rotation at some point next week. It’s possible he’ll require an additional tune-up outing, but he’s definitely close to making his season debut after opening on the injured list recovering from a minor back issue.

Semien came through with an RBI single off of Tyler Mahle in the first inning that increased the Mets’ early lead to 2-0. He then clobbered a 407-foot (101.7 mph EV) two-run blast off of Mahle in the fourth that made it 4-0. With the two-hit effort, the 35-year-old infielder is now hitting .214/.303/.357 with one homer, five RBI and zero stolen bases in his first 33 plate appearances.

The hard-hitting backstop tagged Giants’ starter Tyler Mahle for a 415-foot (106.1 mph EV) solo shot in the fifth inning that increased the Mets’ lead to 5-0. He then victimized JT Brubaker for a 401-foot (107.0 mph EV) after an eight-pitch battle to open the seventh inning. He has been a productive option for fantasy purposes thus far, hitting .286 (6-for-21) with three long balls and three RBI.

The rookie right-hander punched out four batters on the evening while issuing a pair of free passes. All of the damage done against him came in the sixth inning as Willy Adames delivered an RBI double and Patrick Bailey scampered home on a passed ball. McLean got 10 whiffs on 93 pitches in the contest, posting a middling CSW of 26 percent. He’ll tote a terrific 2.61 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 12/4 K/BB ratio (10 1/3 innings) into Thursday’s matchup against the Diamondbacks.

Adames, working out of the leadoff spot once again, smacked an RBI double off of Nolan McLean in the sixth inning to finally get the Giants on the board. That would be his lone hit in the ballgame. For the season, the 30-year-old shortstop is off to an underwhelming .226/.273/.387 start with one home run, three RBI and zero stolen bases in his first 33 plate appearances.

Mahle punched out four batters on the night while issuing a pair of walks. The Mets scratched out a pair of runs against him in the opening inning, then broke it open with three more in the fourth on a two-run blast by Marcus Semien and a solo shot by Francisco Alvarez. The 31-year-old right-hander got eight swings and misses on 91 pitches in the game, posting a CSW of 32 percent. Now 0-2 on the season, he’ll look to improve upon his unsightly 7.00 ERA and 1.78 WHIP when he squares off against the Phillies at home on Wednesday.