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
4 days agoArizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Randal Grichuk (hamstring) was scratched from Sunday's lineup against the Milwaukee Brewers with right-hamstring discomfort and is day-to-day, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Despite not starting on Sunday, Grichuk entered as a pinch-hitter and doubled but did not play defense. Lovullo expected Grichuk to be available off the bench for Monday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The 33-year-old should be able to avoid a stint on the injured list and very well could be back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's contest against his former team. Now that
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is back from his stint on the injured list, Grichuk isn't going to see as much playing time, but he still has a valuable role for the D-backs as a right-handed hitter with his .288/.344/.508 slash line with 10 homers and 41 RBI in his 236 at-bats in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: PHNX Sports - Jesse Friedman
4 days agoCleveland Guardians outfield prospect
George Valera (knee) was diagnosed with a patellar tendon rupture in his right knee. Valera will have surgery on Wednesday and is expected to be out for six to nine months. It's a tough break for the team's No. 21 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old spent the entire year at Triple-A Columbus, slashing .248/.337/.452 with a .789 OPS, 17 home runs, 50 RBI, six stolen bases and 51 runs scored in 90 games. He was placed on the seven-day injured list at Columbus last Friday due to the serious injury. Even if Valera avoids any setbacks during his rehab this winter, there's a good chance he won't be ready to go for the start of spring training next February. Valera missed time in 2023 as well with wrist and hamstring injuries while also serving a short suspension. The left-handed-hitting outfielder offers 30-homer upside at the next level.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell
4 days agoSan Francisco Giants left-hander
Robbie Ray (hamstring) had his live batting practice session on Sept. 11 cut short after 42 pitches due to fatigue, but he's been playing catch and threw another bullpen session on Saturday. Ray said he still hopes to make at least one start for the Giants before the end of the regular season. The 32-year-old southpaw suffered a left-hamstring strain while facing the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 25 and was placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 27. Ray also missed the entire first half of the season while recovery from Tommy John surgery. He has fanned 43 in his 30 2/3 innings of work over his seven starts this year with the Giants, but he's also allowed 16 earned runs on 20 hits (six home runs surrendered). If Ray does make it back to San Fran's rotation to make one more start in 2024, he'll likely be a poor streaming option with a likely short leash.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoSan Francisco Giants rookie right-hander
Randy Rodriguez (elbow) had a 3.93 ERA over 33 major-league appearances this year before landing on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 15. Rodriguez was diagnosed with a flexor strain and was shut down for two weeks before resuming a throwing program on Sept. 3. He threw a 30-pitch bullpen session at Oracle Park on Sept. 12 and threw another bullpen on Sunday. As long as the 25-year-old doesn't suffer a setback as he builds himself back up, he has a shot to return to the Giants' big-league bullpen before the end of the 2024 season at the end of September. Rodriguez has appeared in 33 games (one start) in his first year in the big leagues and has gone 3-2 with a 3.93 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and a 52:16 K:BB in his 50 1/3 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 days agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks optioned rookie catcher
Adrian Del Castillo to Triple-A Reno after Sunday's contest and recalled right-hander
Scott McGough from Reno in a corresponding move on Monday. Del Castillo will head back to the farm for now after regular catcher
Gabriel Moreno (groin) returned from the 10-day injured list on Sunday. Moving forward with several weeks left in the 2024 regular season,
Jose Herrera will serve as the backup to Moreno. The 24-year-old Del Castillo is the team's No. 14 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and showed plenty of promise in his first 25 big-league games when Moreno was injured. In 87 plate appearances, he hit .313/.368/.525 with an .893 OPS, four home runs and 19 RBI. Del Castillo has plenty of pop from the left side of the plate and has been barreling the ball up all year. He should get much more run in Arizona in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Diamondbacks
4 days agoThe Los Angeles Angels optioned right-handed pitching prospect
Caden Dana to Double-A Rocket City on Monday and recalled left-hander
Kenny Rosenberg from Triple-A Salt Lake in a corresponding move. With the Angels well out of playoff contention again in 2024, they decided to give several of their young arms some run in the big-league starting rotation late this year. Dana, the club's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has looked overmatched by big-league hitters in his first three starts, allowing 12 earned runs on 14 hits (five home runs) while walking seven and striking out eight in 10 1/3 innings. As a result, the Halos will send the 20-year-old back down to the farm to work on some things before potentially becoming a permanent part of the rotation in 2025. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder is polished for his age and has drawn comparisons to
Noah Syndergaard for his size on the mound.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Angels PR
4 days agoAtlanta Braves rookie right-hander
Grant Holmes will make the start in the team's series opener on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Holmes will be making only his fifth start of the season to help fill the rotation vacancy left by right-hander
Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder). In his 22 appearances (four starts) in 2024, Holmes has gone 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 54 strikeouts and only 11 walks in his first 54 2/3 innings in the big leagues. Fantasy managers will want to avoid the 28-year-old in his spot start on Tuesday after pitching out of Atlanta's bullpen for the last month. Holmes last started on Aug. 14 in a win against the Colorado Rockies, allowing two earned runs while walking one and striking out six in seven innings of work. He has not gone beyond 1 1/3 innings in September and won't go very deep in Tuesday's contest.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
5 days agoColorado Rockies second baseman
Brendan Rodgers (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rodgers is back in the mix after sitting out the last two games due to right hamstring tightness. He'll cover second base and bat fifth versus right-hander
Merrill Kelly on Monday. Rodgers has been better with the bat during the second half of the season. He's hitting over .280 with seven home runs and 22 RBI since the All-Star break. Fantasy managers in season long formats can get Rodgers back in their lineups on Monday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
5 days agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout (knee) recently said that he's open to the idea of moving to a corner outfield spot or designated hitter next season. This news comes while Trout is recovering from his second knee surgery of the season. Trout has resisted the idea of moving from center field in the past, but seems open to the idea now. It's worth noting that Trout has struggled in the designated hitter spot throughout his career. However, Trout is one of the greatest hitters in the game, so he'll find a way to adjust, but there will probably be a learning curve. Trout has only played over 100 games once over the last five seasons. A move to full-time DH could help the 33-year-old stay healthy, which is great for fantasy managers and baseball in general.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Andrew McCutchen is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran slugger has started in six of the last seven contests. That being said, it's not shocking to see McCutchen getting a rest day with the Pirates having little incentive to win with their season basically over. In his place,
Joey Bart will serve as the designated hitter and bat third versus right-hander
Andre Pallante. Bart is in the middle of a breakout season with a .267 batting average and 13 home runs with 43 RBI in 71 games this season. He has a favorable matchup here for fantasy managers looking for a streaming option or DFS help.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
5 days agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz (ankle) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. This comes as little surprise after Cruz was forced to exit early during Sunday's game due to an ankle issue. It's the same ankle that Cruz fractured last season, so the Pirates aren't taking any chances. For now, Cruz is considered as day-to-day, so hopefully he'll be back in the lineup later this week. In the meantime,
Billy Cook will cover center field and bat ninth versus right-hander
Andre Pallante. Cook has been quiet with the bat during his brief time in the MLB and can be avoided as a streaming option.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
5 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Willson Contreras (finger) will need two more weeks of rest before beginning baseball activities. That being said, the right-handed slugger won't be returning to the Cards lineup before the end of the regular season. It has been an injury riddled year for Contreras who only managed to play in 84 games. Luckily, the veteran catcher should be healed up and ready to go in time for spring training. Contreras finishes the season with a .263 batting average with 15 home runs and 36 RBI. The assumption is that
Pedro Pages and
Ivan Herrera will split up the catching duties for the rest of the season. Herrera is the better fantasy option between the two with a .280 batting average and 22 RBI in 65 games this season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Derrick Goold
5 days agoMinnesota Twins infielder
Jose Miranda is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. The right-handed slugger is having a breakout season with .292 batting average with nine home runs and 49 RBI across 117 games. However, Miranda has struggled to the tune of a .229 average against left-handed pitching. In his absence,
Ryan Jeffers will serve as the designated hitter while
Royce Lewis covers third base against left-handed
Matthew Boyd. Fantasy managers who have Miranda rostered should adjust their lineups ahead of first pitch.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
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