2 weeks agoHouston Astros catcher
Yainer Diaz is not in Saturday's lineup for the final game of their opening series against the New York Mets. Diaz got the starting nod behind the dish for the first two games and went 1-for-7 at the plate with one RBI and a 1:2 BB:K. Instead,
Victor Caratini will get the nod behind the dish and bat sixth. Fantasy managers should expect Diaz to return to the starting nine on Monday evening when the Astros host the San Francisco Giants. Diaz enjoyed a breakout campaign last season as he appeared in a career-high 148 contests and posted a .299/.325/.441 slash line with 16 long balls and two stolen bases. Caratini held a .268/.336/.408 slash line last season and is worth a look in DFS as a value option facing
Griffin Canning. Caratini should see several RBI opportunities batting in the heat of a potent Houston lineup.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoHouston Astros catcher
Yainer Diaz (illness) is returning to the starting lineup on Sunday afternoon. The primary backstop was dealing with an illness. Fantasy managers should expect the 26-year-old to operate as Houston's top catcher during the 2025 season. After appearing in 104 contests in 2023, Diaz logged a career-high 148 starts in 2024. Across this stint, Diaz posted a .299/.325/.441 slash line. His batting average was the fifth-highest mark in the American League. Diaz tallied 29 doubles and 16 home runs. He added 70 runs and 84 RBI. Under the hood, Diaz placed in the 97th percentile in xBA and 80th percentile in xSLG. In addition, Diaz held a 17.4 percent strikeout rate while generating hard hits at a strong 47.5 percent rate. Fantasy managers should view Diaz as a high-floor No.1 catcher in all formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
8 months agoHouston Astros catcher
Yainer Diaz is receiving a breather in the series finale on Wednesday versus the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. With Diaz on the bench,
Victor Caratini is behind the plate and is catching rookie right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti while batting fifth against Phillies right-hander
Taijuan Walker. It's a normal day of rest for Diaz in the matinee affair after a night game. The 25-year-old is in the midst of a second straight strong season for the Astros, slashing .297/.323/.456 with 16 home runs, 72 RBI and 57 runs scored in a career-high 121 games as the team's primary catcher. His power has been down a bit this year, but fantasy managers can't really complain at a shallow position. Caratini has hit a solid .273 (45-for-165) in a backup role but has limited power (six homers). He's also hitting .143 in seven career at-bats against Walker.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
8 months agoHouston Astros catcher
Yainer Diaz played the hero in Monday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox. Diaz, who played first base and catcher, went 2-for-5 with a single, a walk-off solo home run, and a strikeout. The 25-year-old connected with a
Kenley Jansen pitch and sent it off the top of the back left-field wall in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Astros the win. Diaz has been a fantasy asset in the second half of the season, slashing .345/.372/.593 with seven HR and 21 RBI in 113 second-half at-bats. He should continue to be in fantasy managers' lineups at all times when he is in the lineup, given his production at a weak fantasy position.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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