April 19, 2025
Cleveland Guardians shortstop
Gabriel Arias and outfielder
Lane Thomas are not in the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon when they continue a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Arias has been in the starting nine in each of the last seven contests. During this stretch, he has posted a stellar .385/.429/.769 slash line with three long balls and eight RBI. Thomas has been in a bit of a slump. Over his last eight contests, the 29-year-old held a .154/.179/.192 slash line with just one extra-base hit. Fantasy managers should expect Arias and Thomas to both rejoin the starting lineup on Sunday. As a result,
Brayan Rocchio and
Angel Martinez will enter the starting nine and cover shortstop and center field, respectively. Neither player is worth targeting in DFS facing Pittsburgh ace
Paul Skenes.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 16, 2025
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Lane Thomas (wrist) is finally returning to the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Dean Kremer at Camden Yards for the first time since April 8. Thomas will start in center field and bat fifth in the lineup. The 29-year-old missed the last six games due to a bruised right wrist from a hit-by-pitch in the team's home opener. Fantasy managers may want to keep Thomas on the bench, as he has started the 2025 season going just 5-for-31 (.161) with no home runs, two RBI and one stolen base in nine games played. He's also hit just .111 in a small sample size of nine career at-bats against Kremer.
Angel Martinez has shifted to right field and is batting sixth on Wednesday, with both
Nolan Jones and
Jhonkensy Noel starting on the bench for Cleveland.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 15, 2025
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Lane Thomas (wrist) will remain out of the starting lineup on Tuesday evening when the Guardians face the Baltimore Orioles. Thomas exited last Tuesday's game early with a wrist injury and has not returned to the starting nine since. As a result,
Angel Martinez will get the start at center field and bat in the seven-hole. Over his first eight games of the season, Thomas has posted a .167/.212/.200 slash line with one double and one stolen base. He has held a 24.2 percent strike rate with a low 3.0 percent walk rate. Under the hood, he has generated a low .199 xwOBA with a .209 xSLG, which places him in the first percentile among qualified hitters. Martinez is worth a look as a value play in DFS facing Baltimore right-hander
Charlie Morton.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 13, 2025
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Lane Thomas (wrist) remains out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale at Progressive Field against the division-rival Kansas City Royals. Thomas suffered a right-wrist contusion on Tuesday in the team's home opener when he was hit by a pitch, and he'll be missing his fifth straight game as a result on Sunday. It didn't seem to be a serious injury at the time, but fantasy managers have to be wondering if the 29-year-old will land on the injured list going into next week. The Guardians have a day off on Monday before their next game in Baltimore against the Orioles.
Angel Martinez is in center field and is batting sixth on Sunday, while
Jhonkensy Noel is starting in right and hitting cleanup against Royals left-hander
Cole Ragans. In addition to his injury, Thomas has had a tough start to the season, batting .167 (5-for-30) with no homers, two RBI and one stolen base.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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