4 days agoBaltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez (lat) is "moving in the right direction" but "time is not our friend." Elias left open the possibility of Rodriguez temporarily pitching out of the bullpen when he returns. Rodriguez is recovering from a strained right lat and has been throwing off a mound, but he's running out of time to get stretched out as a starting pitcher with the end of the 2024 regular season quickly approaching. When the 24-year-old is activated from the injured list, he could build his arm back up by coming on in relief out of the bullpen at the end of September. From there, it would be the team's call as to whether they trust him enough in a starting role in the playoffs. He has been out since late August but was a solid rotation piece for the O's and fantasy managers before his injury, going 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts in his 20 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Sun - Jacob Calvin Meyer
4 days agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Richie Palacios (knee) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and could return from the 10-day injured list next week. Palacios has been out since July 31 due to a right-knee sprain and is trying to rejoin the big-league roster right before the end of the regular season. The 27-year-old will be a non-factor the rest of the way in fantasy as outfield depth in Tampa. The former third-rounder of the Cleveland Guardians in 2018 out of Towson University is in his first year with Tampa and has hit .233/.350/.332 with a below-average .682 OPS, five home runs, a career-high 21 RBI and a career-high 19 stolen bases in 301 plate appearances over 88 games for the Rays. Palacio's speed is what makes him attractive as outfield depth in deep-mixed and AL-only fantasy formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
4 days agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that left-hander
Jeffrey Springs (elbow) is doing better, but he will not pitch again in 2024. The Rays placed Springs on the 15-day injured list with left-elbow fatigue earlier this month. It just doesn't make any sense to push him back with the Rays out of playoff contention and based on the fact that the 31-year-old southpaw came back from Tommy John surgery this year. The Rays will shut him down now and have him focus on getting his left elbow completely healthy for spring training next year and the start of the 2025 campaign. Springs ended up making only seven starts this year, but he looked good in his 33 innings pitched, posting a 3.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks. As long as Springs looks healthy next spring, he'll be on the fantasy radar in all formats after posting a 2.46 ERA with 144 K's in 135 1/3 innings in 2022.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
5 days agoBoston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that right-hander
Tanner Houck (shoulder) should be ready to start on Wednesday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. "There's a big chance he's going to start," Cora said. The Red Sox said that Houck had been scratched from his start last Friday against the New York Yankees due to a dead arm, but they further clarified he's been dealing with a shoulder injury. In any case, it wasn't serious enough to send him to the injured list, and they are hoping a little extra rest will do him well. It's a much better matchup for the 28-year-old right-hander, although the risk is inherent for a pitcher coming off any kind of injury. Houck has been solid for fantasy managers this year with a 3.24 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 28 starts, but he hasn't pitched since Sept. 5 and could be on an innings count in his return to the rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
5 days agoThe Kansas City Royals placed right-handed reliever
James McArthur (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a right-elbow sprain and recalled right-hander
Steven Cruz from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. According to MLB's Anne Rogers, McArthur has a Grade 1 UCL sprain and will be shut down for the next five to seven days, but manager Matt Quatraro said the team is hopeful it's "not a season-ending injury." Right-hander
Michael Lorenzen (hamstring) and left-hander
William Smith (back) are both scheduled for live batting practice sessions on Saturday, provided they face no setbacks the next few days. The 27-year-old McArthur opened the year as the team's closer but was eventually demoted and had been working in middle relief. McArthur will miss the rest of the regular season, but the Royals hope he can return to help their bullpen if they make the postseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
5 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
5 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
5 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
5 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
5 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
5 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
5 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
5 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
5
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...
5 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
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