MLB Player News

Ortiz will open the season as Milwaukee’s starting shortstop in the wake of Brice Turang’s recent shoulder issues and offers realistic double-digit homer and stolen base potential. The 26-year-old former top prospect is an elite defender and has gotten off to a really encouraging start at the dish this spring, batting .412 (14-for-34) with two homers and four steals. He’s unlikely to make the leap to full-fledged fantasy superstardom, but there’s some untapped power upside lurking, if he adds some extra loft to his swing.

Keegan Akin is starting, and then Morton will work the bulk innings. The 41-year-old has been awful over his last few outings, and Baltimore will hope this gets the right-hander on the right path. If it goes well, don’t be surprised if Morton works in that capacity again next week.

Akin will likely get no more than a couple of innings before giving way to Charlie Morton. The left-hander won’t work deep enough for a chance at a win, even if he exits with a lead.

What kind of surgery is still be determined, but Conine will go under the knife after a consultation with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday. His timeline will obviously be updated after the operation, but there’s a very good chance Conine won’t play again in 2024.

The Tigers won the game despite being outhit 11-8 and outhomered 2-1. Torkelson’s homer off Cionel Pérez in the seventh was his second 387-foot flyball of the day. Fortunately, this one was hit to the right part of the ballpark and made it over the wall in right-center. His average has slipped in recent days — he’s in 3-for-19 in his last five games — but the power isn’t going anywhere.

Mize surrendered eight hits, but he spaced them out well and helped himself by issuing no walks. He struck out five and finished with a 30% CSW in moving to 4-1 with a 2.12 ERA. Next up for him is a road start versus the Angels.

Vest has earned saves in three of his last four appearances, and he’s the clear favorite to keep closing for the Tigers going forward. That said, if there’s another save chance in the second game today, it figures to go to Tommy Kahnle.

Young’s low BB rate was one of his biggest strengths as a prospect, but he’s walked eight of the first 41 batters he’s faced as a major leaguer. He’ll surely get that under control if he’s given the chance to stick around, but it seems likely that he’ll head back to the minors after this.

Maybe the Orioles’ second-best player to date, Urías is batting .340/.403/.434 in 62 plate appearances, and he’s stealing away Ryan Mountcastle’s playing time against righties. He probably doesn’t have any mixed-league value himself — he’s a zero in steals and he doesn’t typically hit for average — but he’s making an impact by cutting into the value of others.

Smith will get a break for the middle-game of the series against the Royals. The 22-year-old will begin the contest on the bench with Zach Dezenzo getting the start in right and and hit seventh.

Ramírez put Cleveland on the scoreboard with a run-scoring single to right field in the opening frame. He also picked up his fifth steal of the year a little later in the inning. The 32-year-old fantasy superstar has shown zero signs of slowing down as a consistent all-around contributor.