4 days agoCincinnati Reds left-hander
Brandon Williamson (elbow) left his outing early on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park with manager David Bell and a trainer during the second at-bat of the second inning with an apparent elbow injury. It looked as though Williamson was grabbing at his left elbow before leaving the contest. Before departing, he allowed three earned runs on three hits (two home runs) while walking two and striking out one in just 1 1/3 innings. Given the fact that the season is almost over, there's a good chance Williamson will be shut down the rest of the way, especially after missing the first five months of the year with a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old southpaw was making just his fourth appearance of 2024 (and third start) on Tuesday. In his first 13 innings, Williamson had allowed three runs (two earned) while walking three and fanning 11.
UPDATE: Williamson was diagnosed with a left-elbow strain.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
4 days agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Justin Steele (elbow) is set to come off the injured list and take the mound against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Steele has been out since late August due to elbow tendinitis. This is a welcoming sight for the Cubs who aren't quite eliminated from playoff contention yet. The return of Steele will push the rest of the starters back a day, according to manager Craig Counsell. Steele holds a 3.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 131/34 K/BB ratio this season. He'll be a favorable fantasy option for his first start back on the mound.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Taylor McGregor
4 days agoWashington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams (shoulder) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the New York Mets. The left-handed slugger returns to the lineup after missing each of the last four games due to left shoulder soreness. Luckily, it was only a minor issue and Abrams should be fully ready to go on Tuesday. He'll serve as the leadoff hitter and cover shortstop against right-hander
Tylor Megill. The 23-year-old is slumping in September but is hitting .239 with 20 home runs and 65 RBI in 2024. Fantasy managers who have Abrams rostered can get him back in their lineups on Tuesday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
4 days agoArizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. This appears to be a routine rest day for Marte who is in the middle of a fantastic 2024 season. Marte is hitting .292 with 32 home runs and 87 RBI across 124 games this season. The expectation is that Marte is available off the bench and should be back in the lineup after this game. In the meantime,
Luis Guillorme will cover second base and bat eighth versus right-hander
Ryan Feltner. Guillorme has struggled since joining the D-Backs and won't be a viable fantasy option for Tuesday's slate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
4 days agoCincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Nick Lodolo (finger) has been ruled out for the rest of the 2024 season. The left-hander landed on the 15-day injured list in late August due to a finger strain. The organization was hopeful it would be a short absence, but that clearly wasn't the case. The Reds are out of the playoff race and have little incentive to bring Lodolo back at this point. He'll finish the season with a 4.76 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 122/37 K/BB ratio across 21 starts. This was a fairly successful season for the southpaw who was limited to only seven starts in the big leagues in 2023.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Mark Sheldon
4 days agoTampa Bay Rays relief pitcher
Pete Fairbanks (lat) won't take the mound again this season, according to manager Kevin Cash. The right-hander has been sidelined since mid-August due to a lat strain. The Rays have been going with closer-by-committee while Fairbanks has been sidelined.
Edwin Uceta appears to be the favorite for the final frame. He is putting together a breakout campaign with a 1.42 ERA and 53 strikeouts across 26 appearances this season. However, Uceta only has three saves to his name this season, so he's not a great fantasy asset in that aspect.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times
4 days agoSeattle Mariners outfielder
Victor Robles (undisclosed) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees. The 27-year-old is back in the mix after exiting early during Sunday's contest. It's uncertain what was wrong with Robles, but he appears to be fine after an off day on Monday. Robles has been one of the hottest hitters in the league over the last few weeks. He's hitting .463 with five RBI and eight steals over his last 13 games. Robles will serve as the designated hitter and bat leadoff against right-hander
Luis Gil on Tuesday. Fantasy managers who have Robles rostered can get him back in there.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
4 days agoSan Francisco Giants third baseman
Matt Chapman is headed to the paternity list on Tuesday, and the Giants will recall infielder
Casey Schmitt from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move to join the team in Baltimore for their series against the Orioles. There was hope that Chapman's child might come next week when the Giants are in Arizona, where Chapman lives. With Gold Glove third baseman now out for probably the next three days,
Brett Wisely will shift to the hot corner on Tuesday and bat ninth against Orioles right-hander
Albert Suarez. Fantasy managers should expect the 31-year-old Chapman to be back for the series opener on Friday in Kansas City against the Royals. Wisely, who is hitting just .229/.271/.333 with three homers in 231 at-bats this year, is a weak DFD sleeper option at the bottom of San Fran's batting order on Tuesday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Andrew Baggarly
4
days
agoThe
Cleveland
Guardians
placed
outfielder
Steven
Kwan
(back)
on
the
10-day
injured
list
on
Tuesday
and
selected
the
contract
of
outfielder
Myles
Straw
from
Triple-A
Columbus
in
a
corresponding
move.
The
Guardians
also
designated
veteran
right-hander
read more...
4 days agoThe Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder
Daulton Varsho (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 14) with a right-shoulder strain and recalled outfielder
Steward Berroa from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Given the timing and the fact that Varsho hasn't played in a game since Sept. 11, there's a good chance that his 2024 season might be over. If this is it for the 28-year-old left-handed slugger, he'll finish his second year in Toronto with a weak .214/.293/.407 slash line with 18 home runs, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 137 strikeouts in 513 plate appearances over 136 games played. His injury should open up more time for
Nathan Lukes in center field for the rest of the season. In 11 games in just his second year in the big leagues, Lukes is swinging it well with a .357 average (15-for-42) with two doubles, five RBI and a stolen base for Toronto.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
4 days agoThe Toronto Blue Jays reinstated shortstop
Bo Bichette (calf) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and also placed outfielder
Daulton Varsho (shoulder) on the 10-day IL with a right-shoulder strain. The club also placed infielder
Will Wagner (knee) on the 60-day IL, recalled outfielder
Steward Berroa from Triple-A Buffalo and claimed right-hander
Nick Robertson off waivers from the Angels and optioned him to Buffalo. Bichette is starting at short and batting second on Tuesday against Texas Rangers right-hander
Nathan Eovaldi. Bichette has been out since just after the All-Star break with a calf injury that has bothered him for most of the year. It could also help explain why he's having the worst year of his career with a .222/.275/.320 slash line with a .595 OPS in 80 games. The two-time All-Star is now just hoping to finish off the year on a strong note.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
4 days agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder
Oneil Cruz (ankle) remains out of the team's starting lineup on Tuesday at Busch Stadium against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals.
Michael Taylor will man center field for the Bucs and will hit ninth against Cardinals right-handed veteran
Lance Lynn. Cruz left Sunday's contest against the Kansas City Royals early with soreness in his left ankle and has missed the last two games as a result. For now, fantasy managers can continue to consider the 25-year-old day-to-day. The Pirates recently made the move to put Cruz in center field full time, which has allowed Nick Gonzalez to shift over to shortstop and the Bucs to recall infield prospect
Nick Yorke. Taylor won't be very attractive as a DFS sleeper in the nine-hole, but he is hitting .294 in his career with an .804 OPS, a home run and an RBI in 17 career at-bats against Lynn.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoNew York Mets outfielder
Starling Marte (forearm) is back in right field and hitting in the two-hole on Tuesday against the division-rival Washington Nationals and left-hander
Mitchell Parker at Citi Field. Marte was hit by a pitch on his forearm on Saturday and missed two games as a result, but he's back in action on Tuesday for the second game of the series against the Nats. The 35-year-old veteran came off the bench as a pinch-hitter in Monday's contest and went 1-for-2 with a walk-off RBI single in extra innings. Fantasy managers will want to get Marte back in their starting lineups, especially against a young left-handed hurler. He's hitting .272 (83-for-305) on the year and has gone 28-for-88 (.318) with two of his seven long balls on the year against southpaws.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
4 days agoAs expected, New York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor (back) remains out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's contest at Citi Field against the division-rival Washington Nationals. With Lindor sitting out again, rookie
Luisangel Acuna is getting the start at shortstop and will bat ninth against Nationals left-hander
Mitchell Parker. Lindor said on Monday that he could miss from two to five games as he deals with a back issue that has kept him out recently. Acuna, the younger brother of Braves superstar
Ronald Acuna Jr., will be playing in just his third major-league game on Tuesday after recently being called up by the Mets. In his first three games, he's gone 2-for-7 with a strikeout. The Mets can't afford to be without the 30-year-old Lindor for too long as they try to secure a wild-card spot in the National League, as he's having an MVP-caliber season in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
4 days agoMiami Marlins right-hander
Sandy Alcantara (elbow) faced live hitters in a live batting practice session at LoanDepot Park on Tuesday, and according to a source, he was pumping 99 mph on his fastball. It's a notable development, as it represents the first time that Alcantara has faced live hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery early last October. The 29-year-old continues to progress from elbow reconstruction and will spend all offseason getting up to speed that he can be ready to rock for the start of the 2025 campaign next spring. The Dominican hurler won the National League Cy Young award in 2022 before regressing to a 4.14 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 28 starts last year before having TJ surgery in October. As long as Alcantara doesn't have any setbacks in the offseason or in spring training next year, he'll likely be a sought-after fantasy selection as a high-end bounce-back candidate in fantasy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Fish On First - Isaac Azout
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