2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians outfielder
Steven Kwan went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Yankees in Game 2 of the ALCS. Kwan has now hit safely in each of the seven postseason games that the Guardians have played, slashing .448/.500/.483 over that time. Unfortunately, so far in the ALCS, it has yet to translate into wins with Cleveland now facing a 2-0 deficit as they head back home for Game 3 on Thursday.
Clarke Schmidt is slated to start for the Yankees and Kwan is 4-for-8 off of the righty in his career, so look for the 27-year-old to get the home crowd into it early as they try to claw their way back in the series.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole lasted just 4 1/3 innings on Tuesday, but the bullpen was able to stymie the Guardians the rest of the way in Game 2, leading to a 6-3 win to go up 2-0 in the series. Cole unraveled in the fifth inning when he allowed two walks, two singles, and a sacrifice fly before being lifted, having thrown 89 pitches in the outing. In all, the 34-year-old allowed two earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four batters. If the Guardians are able to extend the series to six games, Cole would get another shot at them to bounce back. Otherwise, his next turn would come in the World Series.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees second baseman
Gleyber Torres collected three hits in five at-bats in a 6-3 win over the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALCS. Torres doubled, scored twice in the contest, and has now hit safely in three straight games. Through six playoff games in 2024, the 27-year-old is slashing .292/.433/.500 with three RBI and seven runs scored, while displaying improved plate discipline with a 6:4 BB:K. The 2x All-Star and the Yankees will see
Matthew Boyd on the hill for the Guardians in Game 3 in Cleveland, and although Torres is just 1-for-9 off the southpaw, he's seen more success versus LHP this season (.811 OPS) compared to RHP (.674 OPS).
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a two-run home run, tallying three RBI in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALCS. It was Judge's first home run of the 2024 postseason after belting 58 during the regular season. The Yankees have been able to go 5-1 through six playoff games despite the 32-year-old going 3-for-18 (.167) thus far. The 6x All-Star has managed to collect six walks as well though, which has led to a solid .346 OBP. We'll see if Tuesday's long ball gets his bat going again, with his next opportunity to come in Game 3 in Cleveland on Thursday, likely facing LHP
Matthew Boyd who Judge is 2-for-6 with a home run, five walks, and zero strikeouts against in his career.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoAs expected, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Citi Field against the New York Mets, according to manager Dave Roberts. Yamamoto was shaky in his first career playoff start in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, when he allowed five earned runs on five hits (one homer) with two walks and only one strikeout in three innings. He bounced back nicely in the Game 5 start against the Friars, though, throwing five shutout innings with a walk and two strikeouts. The Japanese hurler hasn't missed many bats in the postseason and will now face a hot Mets offense on the road. The 26-year-old gave up four runs (three earned) while walking one and punching out nine in six innings in his only start against the Mets in 2024, but it came way back on April 19 in his fifth start in the majors.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
2 weeks agoNew York Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza confirmed on Tuesday that veteran left-hander
Jose Quintana will make the start in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Quintana, nothing is official, but right-hander
Kodai Senga is the most logical candidate to start Game 5 after he got the nod in Game 1 on Sunday. In two starts this postseason against the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies, Quintana has been lights-out for the Mets, allowing one run (zero earned) on six hits while walking three and fanning 11 in 11 innings. The 35-year-old southpaw also allowed only two earned runs in his four starts in September. In his lone start against LA in 2024 in New York back on May 28, Quintana had a quality start, giving up three earned runs with no walks and three K's in six innings of work.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
2 weeks agoThe Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with catcher
David Banuelos on a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training next year, according to a source. Banuelos spent most of the 2024 season on the team's taxi squad. The 28-year-old backstop did make his major-league debut in 2024 but had just one at-bat. Down on the farm in 22 games with Triple-A Norfolk, he hit .225/.361/.352 with a .713 OPS, two home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs scored in 86 trips to the plate. The former fifth-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2017 out of Cal State Long Beach will most likely return to Norfolk in 2025 after re-signing with the organization and will continue to serve as catching depth down on the farm.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
2 weeks agoNew York Mets designated hitter
J.D. Martinez is likely to be in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander
Walker Buehler, according to manager
Carlos Mendoza. In the first two games of the NLCS, the left-handed-hitting
Jesse Winker has gotten the nod for the Mets at DH, but Martinez will make his first start of the series on Wednesday after going 4-for-14 (.286) with three RBI, two walks and a run scored in six games (three starts) in this year's postseason. The 37-year-old has faced Buehler just three times before in his career and has struck out twice. The six-time All-Star hit just .235 (102-for-434) in 120 games for the Mets during the regular season but did provide 16 homers and 69 RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
2 weeks agoKansas City Royals relief pitchers
Hunter Harvey (back),
James McArthur (elbow) and
Chris Stratton (forearm) are all expected to be healthy entering spring training next February after ending 2024 on the injured list. Stratton holds a $4.5 million player option for next season. Harvey began the year with the Nationals and had a rough 6.35 ERA and 2.12 WHIP with one save in only 5 2/3 innings for the Royals before being shut down in late September. McArthur began the year as KC's primary closer but eventually lost the job and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 UCL sprain in his right elbow in mid-September. He had a career-high 18 saves but also an ERA just under 5.00. Stratton, who has a right flexor strain, also underwhelmed in 2024 with a 5.55 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and four saves in 58 1/3 innings in his first year with the Royals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
2 weeks agoKansas City Royals infielder/outfielder
Adam Frazier (thumb), who has an $8.5 million mutual option for the 2025 season (with a $2.5 million buyout), is having surgery on his right thumb this week, according to general manager J.J. Picollo. Frazier strained his thumb in June and received an injection to speed up the recovery process, but he didn't miss any time the rest of the year. Barring a setback over the winter, the 32-year-old veteran should be ready to go for the start of spring training next February. The nine-year MLB veteran will be a utility player for the Royals again in 2025 if he decides to exercise his option and return for a second season in KC. Fantasy-wise, Frazier isn't relevant in mixed leagues at this point in his career after slashing a weak .202/.282/.294 with a career-low .576 OPS in 104 games in 2024. He added only four home runs, 22 RBI and 35 runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoThe Cleveland Guardians removed right-hander
Alex Cobb (back) from the American League Championship Series roster on Tuesday due to an acute left lower-back strain and replaced him on the roster with right-hander
Ben Lively. Cobb made the start for Cleveland in the 5-2 loss on Monday in Game 1 of the ALCS in the Bronx and he gave up three runs on five hits while walking three in just 2 2/3 innings. If the Guardians advance to the World Series, the 37-year-old veteran won't be eligible to rejoin the roster. Cobb had a 2.76 ERA and 1.04 WHIP during the regular season, but he made only three total starts due to multiple injuries and will now be shut down until 2025. Lively went 13-10 with a 3.81 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, a career-high 118 K's and 49 walks over his 29 starts. He could make a start for the Guardians later in this series against the New York Yankees.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: GuardsInsider
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2 weeks agoNew York Yankees closer
Luke Weaver earned his fourth save of the 2024 postseason after a five-out appearance in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Guardians. The 31-year-old came on with one out in the eighth inning after three straight singles from Cleveland hitters, getting the next two batters out to end the rally. He then walked the first batter in the ninth, but struck out the next three, recording four strikeouts total and earning the save. Weaver has been excellent in the postseason, having yet to allow a run while posting a 0.50 WHIP and a 1:9 BB:K over six innings pitched. When you have designs on making a World Series run, this is just the type of dominance you need out of your closer. The Yankees lead the ALCS series 1-0 with the next game to be played Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton hit a 439-foot solo home run in Monday's series-opening 5-2 win over the Guardians, his second of this postseason. The 34-year-old finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored. After going 0-for-4 in Game 1 versus the Royals in the ALDS, the 5x All-Star has collected at least one hit in each of the last four games, going 7-for-19 (.368) overall in the postseason including two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, three runs scored, a stolen base, and a 3:2 BB:K. The veteran will look to keep rolling in Tuesday's matchup versus
Tanner Bibee, who Stanton has yet to face in his career to this point.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto got the scoring started on Monday versus the Guardians, putting the team up 1-0 with his first home run of the postseason on the way to a 5-2 series-opening win. The 25-year-old went 2-for-3 in the contest with a walk, an RBI, and one run scored. Through five playoff games, the superstar is 6-for-17 (.353) with three RBI, two runs scored, and a 4:5 BB:K. Soto has been a constant offensive force in pinstripes this season and he'll look to keep rolling on Tuesday when the 4x All-Star squares off with Cleveland's
Tanner Bibee, a righty who he is 1-for-2 off of with a walk in his career.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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