2 weeks agoNew York Yankees first baseman
Anthony Rizzo is not in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday at Progressive Field against the Cleveland Guardians with left-hander
Matthew Boyd on the mound.
Jon Berti will get the nod at first base and will bat sixth in the order. Rizzo fractured two fingers on his hand in the second-to-last game of the regular season and sat out of the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. In the first two games of the ALCS, he went 3-for-7 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Berti will be appearing in the ALCS for the first time after going 2-for-7 with a walk and a strikeout in the ALDS. He has never faced Boyd in his career and went 7-for-27 (.259) with no homers or RBI in 30 plate appearances against southpaws in limited action during the regular season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers infielder
Max Muncy went 2-for-2 with a single and a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Mets. The 34-year-old also walked three times in the contest, getting on base in all five of his plate appearances. Muncy has now homered in back-to-back games and it was his third home run of this postseason. If the 2x All-Star plays versus the LHP
Jose Quintana on Thursday, he's had success against him in the past, going 2-for-9 with a home run and four walks against the veteran southpaw.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run in Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Mets in Game 3 of the NLCS. It was his first postseason home run since Game 1 of the NLDS versus the Padres back on October 5. It was a 4-0 game when Ohtani hit the towering shot in the eighth inning of the contest, putting the game even further out of reach for New York at 7-0. After hitting .310 during the regular season, Ohtani has underwhelmed in that category during the postseason, hitting just .226 through eight games thus far, although the 4x All-Star still has maintained a rock solid .351 OBP. The Dodgers will face
Jose Quintana on Thursday who Ohtani has yet to face in his career, but the 2x MVP still had good numbers versus LHP this season, slashing .288/.349/.518 against them.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoBoston Red Sox pitcher
Michael Fulmer (elbow) has begun to throw off of a mound and is on pace to be ready for spring training, barring any setbacks. Fulmer last pitched in the majors in 2023, missing all of the 2024 season after undergoing UCL surgery. The 31-year-old was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2016 but missed all of 2019 after having Tommy John surgery that year. While he came into the league as a starter, more recently he's worked as a reliever, and that is where he's expected to help Boston next season should he make the team in the spring. He's currently signed to a minor-league deal with the team.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Rob Bradford - WEEI.com
2 weeks agoBoston Red Sox designated hitter
Masataka Yoshida underwent shoulder surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder on Wednesday. The team is targeting an Opening Day return for the 31-year-old. Yoshida was solid over the 108 games he played this season, especially in the second half when he posted an .823 OPS (.698 in the first half), a .359 wOBA (.310 first half), and a 131 wRC+ (96 first half), but missed all of May and part of June with a thumb injury. If he can manage to stay healthy next season, look for numbers more in line with his 2023 totals of .289-15-72-71-8.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Ian Browne - MLB.com
2 weeks agoSan Diego Padres infielder
Luis Arraez (thumb) had surgery on his thumb on Wednesday to repair a torn left thumb ligament. Having all offseason to recover, the 27-year-old is expected to be ready to go on Opening Day. The 3x All-Star was a key piece to the Padres' run to the playoffs after coming over from the Marlins in May, hitting .318 with a .324 wOBA and 111 wRC+ on his way to a third batting title with his third different team. While he's one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball, he doesn't move the needle all that much for fantasy as he doesn't hit for power which also results in low RBI numbers, and for someone who always seems to be on base, he does not swipe many bags.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Daniel Alvarez-Monte
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees pitcher
Nestor Cortes (elbow) threw a live session on Wednesday in what the hurler described as a hybrid workout, with about half (10-15 pitches) coming in the bullpen and the other half coming versus live batters. The team will see how he feels afterward and if all goes well the expectation is that the southpaw will face live batters again this coming weekend. The assumption at this point is that he should be ready by the World Series were the Yankees to advance and that the 29-year-old would be deployed as a reliever rather than a starter. Cortes had a solid regular season with a 3.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 17.3% K-BB%, but only a handful of innings came in relief. For his career, the lefty has a 3.56 ERA and 1.11 WHIP as a starter (467 2/3 IP) compared to a 4.93 ERA and 1.44 WHIP as a reliever (100 1/3 IP).
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Greg Joyce - NY Post Sports
2 weeks agoNew York Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza said that right-hander
Kodai Senga is scheduled to pitch in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series at Citi Field on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he could be used in a relief role. "At what capacity, we'll see," Mendoza said. The Mets may be rethinking using Senga to start Game 5 after he labored in the Game 1 loss to the Dodgers on Sunday by allowing three earned runs on two hits while walking four and striking out none in just 1 1/3 innings. He also allowed a solo home run while walking one and striking out three in two innings in his start in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Due to multiple injuries, the Japanese hurler managed to make just one start during the regular season. DFS managers should stay away in Game 5 in New York.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Tim Healey
2 weeks agoNew York Mets infielder/outfielder
Jeff McNeil is not in the team's starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. McNeil fractured his right wrist in early September and wasn't on the team's roster for the Wild-Card Series or the NL Division Series, but he rejoined the roster for the NLCS against the Dodgers. In the first two games of the series in LA, the 32-year-old former batting champion only saw one pinch-hitting appearance and lined out. He'll start on the bench with the team facing right-hander
Walker Buehler, who McNeil has gone 1-for-9 against in his career with a walk and two strikeouts. McNeil didn't look anything like a former batting champion at the plate in 2024 and might just serve as a bench bat for the Mets for the remainder of the postseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers shortstop
Miguel Rojas (hernia) said he is dealing with a sports hernia and will require surgery in the offseason. Rojas lobbied to be on the team's roster for the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, but he understood the team's decision not to include him. His injury "is about the same" and he remains hopeful of being available to play if the Dodgers advance to the World Series. Our guess is Rojas will remain off the roster if the Dodgers advance. Since aggravating his injury in the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres,
Tommy Edman has moved to the 6, which has opened up playing time for
Enrique Hernandez and rookie
Andy Pages. The 35-year-old Rojas is known more for his glove work, but he hit a strong .283 in 307 regular-season at-bats with six homers, 36 RBI and eight steals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Mike DiGiovanna
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that relief pitcher
Daniel Hudson (lower body) is available to pitch in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the New York Mets after he had a "lower-body" issue in Game 2 on Monday. The 37-year-old veteran right-hander threw a scoreless frame in the Game 1 win over the Mets on Sunday while walking one and striking out one, but he was unavailable to pitch on Tuesday due to his injury. It sounds like he's fine after an off day on Tuesday. In four appearances out of LA's bullpen this postseason, Hudson hasn't allowed a run in 3 1/3 frames while giving up two hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Hudson will be available in a middle-relief role for the pivotal Game 3 on Wednesday at Citi Field.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Bill Shaikin
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander
Jack Flaherty will start for the Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series at Citi Field on Friday versus the New York Mets. Flaherty was off in his first start this postseason in Game 2 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, when he surrendered four earned runs on five hits (two homers) while walking one and striking out only two in a loss in 5 1/3 innings of work. He bounced back nicely to beat the Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday, though, going seven shutout innings with two walks and six punchouts. The 29-year-old was one of the most dominant pitchers in MLB in 2024 with the Tigers and Dodgers from a strikeout-rate perspective, and he'll be looking to carry his momentum from Game 1 of the NLCS into his outing on Friday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers second baseman
Gavin Lux (hip) is back at the keystone and is hitting sixth for the Blue in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the New York Mets and right-hander
Luis Severino. Lux was pulled from the Game 1 win early on Sunday with hip-flexor tightness and did not appear in the Game 2 loss on Monday, but after an off day on Tuesday, he's ready to roll as the series heads to the Big Apple. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter has never faced Severino in his career and comes into this contest batting .263 (5-for-19) with a home run, three RBI, two walks and four runs scored in six postseason starts for the Dodgers. There's not much power or speed to be had here, but he was able to drive in a career-high 50 runs in a stacked Dodgers lineup in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians left-hander
Matthew Boyd will make the start in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees on Thursday at Progressive Field. Boyd will try to prevent the Yankees from taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw will try to keep the good times rolling in his third career postseason start after blanking the division-rival Detroit Tigers over 6 2/3 innings in his two starts against them in the AL Division Series. In those starts, Boyd allowed five hits, walked three and struck out 10 batters. He made only eight starts during the regular season for Cleveland but was solid with a 2.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 46 K's. Boyd allowed three earned runs on four walks and two K's in 5 1/3 innings in his lone outing against the Yankees back on Aug. 20 in the Bronx.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell
2 weeks agoNew York Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez will take over DH duties and will hit sixth in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday versus the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander
Walker Buehler at Citi Field. The left-handed-hitting
Jesse Winker got the nod at DH for the Mets in the first two games of the series and went 2-for-6 with two walks and a run scored. In six postseason games this year (three starts), Martinez has gone 4-for-14 with three RBI, two walks and a run scored. Martinez has only faced Buehler three times in his career and has struck out two of those times. The 37-year-old six-time All-Star hit a career-low .235 (102-for-434) in 120 games for the Mets during the regular season with a modest 16 home runs and 69 RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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