Kevin Kiermaier To Have Surgery, Out Around 12 Weeks
Kevin Kiermaier (thumb) will undergo surgery to fix a torn ligament in his right thumb and is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks. It's a tough blow for the Rays and any Kiermaier owners. It's the third straight season that he will miss significant time due to injury. He broke his wrist diving for a ball in 2016 and fractured his right hip sliding awkwardly into first base in 2017. Although Mallex Smith is playing in center field on Monday, the likely scenario over the long term is for Carlos Gomez to man center field. Rookie outfielder Johnny Field took over for Kiermaier on Sunday and is starting in left field on Monday. Pitcher Chih-Wei Hu will be called up as an extra arm for the bullpen with Kiermaier on the disabled list. With Kiermaier unlikely to return until sometime in July, those in shallow leagues may consider dropping him. Field is likely the biggest beneficiary of this injury, but he's only an option in AL-only leagues for depth.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Kevin Kiermaier Has Dislocated Finger
Kevin Kiermaier (finger) suffered a dislocated finger in Saturday evening's game, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California Newspaper Group. Plunkett further reported that outfielder James Outman has joined the Dodgers at Coors Field. Even though Andy Pages will cover center field on Sunday afternoon, seeing Outman up with the team could suggest Kiermaier may be expected to miss a few games during the playoffs. Fantasy managers participating in playoff contests should continue to monitor the Dodger starting nine during the playoffs, as Kiermaier may remain sidelined. DFS players should consider adding Pages to their lineups this afternoon, as he is carrying a strong .318 average across his past seven games.
Source: Bill Plunkett
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Source: Bill Plunkett
Kevin Kiermaier Sitting Out In Series Finale
Kevin Kiermaier will head to the bench for Thursday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Rookie Andy Pages will make the start in center field for the Blue and will bat eighth against Brewers right-hander Tobias Myers. While the veteran Kiermaier hasn't done much offensively this year between the Toronto Blue Jays and Dodgers, LA has preferred his glove in center field of late over Pages. The 34-year-old has hit just .200 (4-for-20) with a double, RBI and a stolen base in his first nine games for the Dodgers and can be left on the waiver wire in mixed fantasy leagues. Pages boasts much more offensive upside in fantasy but will be a low-upside DFS sleeper on Thursday out of the eight-hole.
Source: Los Angeles Times - Mike DiGiovanna
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Source: Los Angeles Times - Mike DiGiovanna
Kevin Kiermaier Making Dodgers Debut Friday
Kevin Kiermaier will make his Dodgers debut on Friday night against the Oakland Athletics and will hit eighth in the lineup. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for relief pitcher Ryan Yarbrough, Kiermaier will look to improve at the plate as his 54 OPS+ makes him a weak out at the bottom of a top-heavy Dodgers lineup. The 34-year-old should get plenty of chances to improve at the plate, though, given the Dodgers' inadequacy in the outfield outside of Teoscar Hernandez. Kiermaier also ranks in the 96th percentile of Fielding Run Value according to Statcast, so if he can't provide value at the plate he should still bring the Dodgers value with his glove. Fantasy managers may want to steer clear, though, since fielding value doesn't equate to fantasy value.
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Kevin Kiermaier Goes To Dodgers
Kevin Kiermaier has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. The 34-year-old recently said he plans to retire after the 2024 season. It appears he'll get a chance to go out as a champion with the Dodgers. Kiermaier has been terrible with the bat this season but continues to play solid defense. That being said, he'll probably serve as a bench bat and late-game defensive replacement for the Dodgers. In exchange, the Blue Jays will receive left-hander Ryan Yarbrough. The veteran left-hander has a 3.74 ERA across 32 appearances with the Dodgers this season.
Source: Bob Nightengale
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Source: Bob Nightengale
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