3 days agoSan Diego Padres first baseman/designated hitter
Luis Arraez (knee) jammed his right knee sliding into home plate in Monday night's win over the visiting Houston Astros, but he said it is just inflammation. Arraez thinks he'll be ready to go on Tuesday, but he needs to wait and see. The 27-year-old hit machine stayed in the game after sliding into home plate but was replaced by a pinch-runner in the seventh inning after he doubled and hobbled into second base. Before leaving, he had two hits in four at-bats to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. Arraez also snapped a string of 141 straight plate appearances without a strikeout on Monday when he fanned early in the game. The Venezuelan has very little power (four homers) or speed (nine steals), but he's an elite contact hitter who is now batting .323 (194-for-601) on the year. Consider Arraez to be day-to-day for now.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
4 days agoThe Houston Astros will place outfielder
Ben Gamel (knee) on the 10-day injured list due to a left-knee contusion. Gamel injured his left knee on Saturday and didn't play on either Sunday or Monday, and now he'll be out for even more time. In his short time with Houston this year, Gamel has been a bench bat against right-handed pitching and was helping to fill in before outfielder
Kyle Tucker returned from a lengthy stint on the IL due to a fractured shin. In his 20 games with the Astros, Gamel has gone 15-for-58 (.259) with a homer, three doubles and four RBI in 69 plate appearances. The 32-year-old will be hoping to return just before the end of the 2024 regular season. In his absence, fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder
Jason Heyward will see a bit more playing time against right-handed pitching, mainly in left field.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
4 days agoCleveland Guardians first baseman/designated hitter
Kyle Manzardo continued to produce offensively in Monday's 4-3 win over the Twins. Manzardo went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk. The 24-year-old rookie ambushed an eighth-inning
Griffin Jax fastball, launching it into the right-field seats to put the Guardians ahead for good. Manzardo has looked solid since re-joining the team in September, slashing .278/.333/.583 with three HR in 36 at-bats. His playing time still hasn't been quite consistent enough, but he has provided plenty of fantasy value lately when he has been in the lineup.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoColorado Rockies shortstop
Ezequiel Tovar played his part offensively in Monday's 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks. Tovar went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two strikeouts. The 23-year-old took a fourth-inning
Merrill Kelly offering to the opposite field, landing it in the right-center bullpen for his 24th HR of the season. Tovar's season numbers look good overall, but he has struggled in the second half of the season. He is now slashing .244/.270/.465 in 213 second-half at-bats with 10 HR, 26 RBI, and two stolen bases. This batting average is bolstered by a solid July, as he hit just .200 in August and is hitting .182 in September.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4
days
agoChicago
White
Sox
interim
manager
Grady
Sizemore
said
he
doesn't
have
a
set
plan
for
third
baseman
Yoan
Moncada,
who
returned
from
a
lengthy
stint
on
the
injured
list
on
Monday.
Sizemore
said
the
team
is
going
to
prioritize
seeing
infielders
read more...
4 days agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
Paul Skenes pitched well but took the loss in Monday's 4-0 game against the Cardinals. Skenes pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Unfortunately, the Pirates could not provide any offensive support and were shut down by
Andre Pallante. Regardless of the loss, the 22-year-old rookie has been outstanding this season. He is now 10-3 with a 2.07 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and an 11.29 K/9 rate in 21 starts and 126 IP. His next matchup will be on the road at the Reds. While the ballpark is not favorable, Skenes has proven to be a top fantasy pitcher in any matchup.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoKansas City Royals shortstop
Bobby Witt Jr. had another huge offensive game in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Tigers. Witt Jr. went 2-for-4 with a single, a grand slam, five RBI, and a stolen base. The 24-year-old jumped on a third-inning
Reese Olson hanging curveball, sending it into the left-field seats for his 32nd long ball of the season. Witt Jr. has provided everything from a fantasy perspective this season, slashing .332/.384/.600 with 122 runs scored, 108 RBI, and 29 stolen bases in 666 plate appearances. His power, speed, and batting average were never in question, but Witt Jr.'s additional counting stats have benefited all season long from the Royals' overall offensive performance.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoSan Diego Padres first baseman/designated hitter
Luis Arraez (undisclosed) looked to be shaken up after being thrown out at the plate while trying to score on
Jurickson Profar's single on Monday night at Petco Park against the Houston Astros and appeared to be favoring his right leg. Arraez batted for himself in the seventh inning, doubled and hobbled to second base. With something clearly still bothering him,
Tyler Wade was sent in to pinch run for Arraez. The 27-year-old appeared to be dealing with some sort of lower-body injury, possibly his knee, but he should be considered day-to-day for now until we know more specifics about his ailment. Before leaving, he went 2-for-4 with a strikeout to extend his hitting streak to 14 games while also striking out in the third inning to snap a stretch of 141 plate appearances without a strikeout. The Venezuelan remains an elite contact and average guy (.322) for the Friars.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
4 days agoNew York Mets outfielder
Starling Marte played the hero in Monday's 2-1 extra-innings win over the Nationals. Marte entered the game in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter and hit into a ground-out. His next at-bat came in the bottom of the 10th inning and resulted in a walk-off single. The 35-year-old veteran has cooled off in the second half but has still provided serviceable numbers this season when healthy, slashing .272/.321/.400 with seven home runs, 40 runs scored, 38 RBI, and 15 stolen bases in 332 plate appearances. He should continue to offer a decent floor in the bottom of the Mets lineup as they push for a playoff spot.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher
Andre Pallante turned in an excellent start in Monday's 4-0 win over the Pirates. Pallante pitched seven innings, allowing just four hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. The 25-year-old's strikeout total was the highest of all his outings this season. Pallante has done a solid job for the Cardinals pitching both in the rotation and out of the bullpen and is now 7-8 with a 3.87 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and a 7.08 K/9 rate in 27 games (18 starts). He will face a tough matchup against the Guardians in his next start. While he has been useful at times for fantasy managers this season, he should be avoided in his next game so late in the fantasy season.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga continued his excellent rookie season in Monday's 9-2 win over the Athletics. Imanaga pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits (including a two-run home run) and three walks with 11 strikeouts. The 31-year-old has seamlessly adapted to Major League Baseball and is now 14-3 with a 3.03 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and a 9.20 K/9 rate in 28 starts and 166 1/3 IP. His only slight blemish has been his 1.46 HR/9 rate, which was a known part of his game from his time in Japan. His next start will be a favorable one against the Nationals.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoThe Miami Marlins are listing left-hander
Ryan Weathers (finger) as their probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at LoanDepot Park. Weathers is coming off five scoreless innings in a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville. Wednesday's start will be his first game action in the big leagues since June 7, so he'll be a shaky fantasy streamer with a likely short leash in terms of his pitch count. The matchup against the first-place Dodgers is another reason to fade Weathers in his return to Miami. Before his finger injury, the former seventh overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2018 had a solid 3.55 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP, 67 strikeouts and 20 walks in his first full year with the Fish. He had a quality start in his lone start against LA on May 8, when he allowed three earned runs with one walk and three K's in six innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Fish On First - Isaac Azout
4 days agoKansas City Royals right-hander
James McArthur (hand) left Monday's contest early with a trainer against the visiting Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium after his right hand was hit while covering first base on a
Zach McKinstry single. McArthur stayed in the game for one more batter before he was replaced by
Angel Zerpa in the seventh inning. The 27-year-old threw two-thirds of an inning, walking one and striking out one without allowing a run. McArthur began the year as the Royals' closer and has a career-high 18 saves in his second year in the league, but he's ended up in a middle-relief role and has a bloated 4.98 ERA (4.17 FIP) and 1.45 WHIP in his 56 relief innings in 2024. It's unclear how severe McArthur's hand injury is, but it didn't look that bad. For now, he'll be considered day-to-day until we know more.
UPDATE: McArthur was diagnosed with right-elbow tightness.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
4 days agoChicago Cubs right-handed reliever
Jorge Lopez (groin) has rejoined the team and is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list within the next couple of days, according to manager Craig Counsell. Lopez is eligible to come off the IL on Wednesday. The 31-year-old veteran hurler is recovered from a strained right groin and will rejoin Chicago's bullpen this week. There isn't much time left in the 2024 regular season, but the Puerto Rican pitcher could be in the mix for saves for the Cubbies down the stretch. Lopez has posted a solid 3.00 ERA (4.09 FIP), 1.27 WHIP, four saves, 47 strikeouts and 19 walks in 51 combined innings this year with the Cubs and New York Mets. He's been even better with Chicago, posting a 2.19 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and two saves in 24 2/3 innings. Fantasy managers still fighting for a title and in need of saves might want to look to Lopez if he's available.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
4 days agoMASN's Mark Zuckerman writes that it's looking good for Washington Nationals right-hander
Trevor Williams (elbow) to come off the injured list to rejoin the team this weekend in Chicago at Wrigley Field for their series against the Chicago Cubs. After getting up to 73 pitches in his most recent minor-league rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, the 32-year-old appears primed to rejoin Washington's starting rotation this weekend in Chicago. Because of the fact that he has been out of action since late May with a right-flexor strain in his elbow, Williams will be a risky fantasy streamer for anyone still playing for a championship. However, Williams was having an excellent start to the year before going down, posting a perfect 5-0 record, a 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 47:16 K:BB in his 11 starts covering 56 2/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
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