3 weeks agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Adolis Garcia (knee) has a sprained left patellar tendon and will rehab for eight weeks before starting his offseason workouts. Despite dealing with a knee injury for the final few weeks of the 2024 regular season, Garcia will not need surgery for his knee injury and should be good to go for the start of spring training next February, barring a setback with his knee this offseason. After helping the Rangers win their first-ever World Series title last fall, the 31-year-old Cuban slugger regressed in 2024, slashing .224/.284/.400 with a below-average .684 OPS, 25 home runs, 85 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 68 runs scored in 154 games. It was a disappointment after he made his second All-Star appearance in 2023 by hitting a career-high 39 home runs and driving in a career-high 107 runs in 148 regular-season games. If Garcia can put his knee injury in the rearview mirror to start next season, he'll be hoping to bounce back as a more consistent power bat.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
3 weeks agoNew York Mets right-hander
Kodai Senga is likely to get the nod to start Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres on the road. The Mets just need to check in with all of their pitchers to make sure that everyone is on track before making a final decision on Saturday. Senga only made one start for the Mets during the regular season due to shoulder, triceps and calf injuries, but he rejoined the playoff roster for the Division Series against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies and made the start in Game 1, giving up an earned run on a solo homer while walking one and striking out three in just two innings of work. Because Senga didn't have enough time to properly stretch his arm out at the end of the year, he's likely to only go a few innings again in Game 1 of the NLCS this weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SNY - Andy Martino
3 weeks agoDetroit Tigers outfielder
Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) will test out his hamstring injury on Friday and Saturday before the team decides his status for Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians on Saturday at Progressive Field. "We're gonna take as much time as we can to see what he can and can't handle," manager A.J. Hinch said. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter injured his left hamstring running the bases in the Game 4 loss on Thursday and had to be removed from the game. Even if Carpenter's hamstring checks out fine, he could start on the bench on Saturday for the winner-take-all game against Guardians left-hander
Matthew Boyd. In his first six playoff games this year, Carpenter has gone 4-for-16 (.250) with a homer, three RBI, a walk and five strikeouts in his 17 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jason Beck
3 weeks agoNew York Yankees closer
Luke Weaver was back at it again on Thursday, shutting down the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning of Game 4 to send the Yankees to the ALCS with a 3-2 win. Weaver threw a perfect frame with two strikeouts. The 31-year-old pitched in all four games of this series, allowing no runners to cross the plate and surrendering only two hits and zero walks over 4 ⅓ IP in total. He has been excellent as the Yankees closer, and they will continue to use him heavily during this postseason run.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole was fantastic in Game 4 of their ALDS series against the Kansas City Royals, throwing seven innings of one-run ball en route to a 3-1 victory. Cole allowed six hits and no walks while striking out four. Although his last start wasn't terrible, Cole will feel much better about this one. He should line up to pitch early in the ALCS and will start twice if the series gets extended. The Yankees are in a very good spot if Cole continues to pitch like he did today.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoCleveland Guardians closer
Emmanuel Clase came through in Game 4 of the ALDS, collecting the final five outs and earning the save in a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. Clase did allow one run in the ninth, but that was his only baserunner allowed. It was a nice bounce-back performance after Clase uncharacteristically gave up three runs and took the loss in Game 2 of this series. All systems should be a go for the Guardians come Game 5 on Saturday, so expect Clase to be called upon if the game is even remotely close in the late stages.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoCleveland Guardians utility man
David Fry came up with a clutch pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 4 of their ALDS matchup against the Detroit Tigers, leading the team to a 5-4 victory. It was Fry's only at-bat of the game, and he made the most of it. The homer came with the Guardians down 3-2 and probably saved their season. As a guy who can play several positions and swings a pretty solid bat, Fry will likely see the field in Game 5, whether it be starting the game or coming in as a pinch hitter.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoDetroit Tigers catcher
Jake Rogers was seen after Thursday's ALDS game with his left wrist and forearm wrapped. He also underwent x-rays to determine the severity of the injury. Rogers played all nine innings at catcher, but was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers will not have more details until Friday, but if Rogers can't play in Game 5 they will likely turn to rookie
Dillon Dingler behind the dish. It would be a big spot for the 26-year-old, who only has 84 big-league at-bats.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Chris McCosky
3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to start Game 5 of their NLDS series against the San Diego Padres on Friday. Yamamoto was knocked around by the Padres in Game 1 last Saturday, but will have a chance at redemption now. He will face tough opposition with
Yu Darvish starting on the other side and will surely be on a short leash after surrendering five runs in three innings his last time out. That said, the 26-year-old is certainly capable of shutting down any lineup, including the formidable Padres.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
3 weeks agoDetroit Tigers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal will take the ball for Game 5 of their ALDS series against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. Skubal tossed a seven-inning gem on Monday in Game 2 and will be pitching on full rest Saturday. The Tigers will likely get as much as they can out of the triple-crown winner, who has only thrown 92 and 88 pitches in his two postseason starts. He will surely go over the century mark in this one if he is pitching well. The Guardians are yet to name their starter, but whoever they pick will have to be on their A-game to match Skubal.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoCincinnati Reds infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand),
Matt McLain (shoulder) and
Edwin Arroyo (shoulder) will play in the Arizona Fall League, which began play on Monday. Both McLain and Arroyo missed all of 2024 after suffering shoulder injuries. McLain also dealt with a stress reaction in his rib cage. He is slated to play shortstop, second base and center field in the AFL, and he could also play in the outfield. If fully healthy in 2025, McLain is expected to mostly see time at second in Cincinnati. Encarnacion-Strand was limited to 29 games before suffering a season-ending hand injury in June that required surgery. He will be available to play first and third base in the AFL and could also see action in the outfield. The 24-year-old will need to prove himself in spring training in order to find consistent playing time to open the 2025 campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
3 weeks agoCincinnati Reds second baseman
Jonathan India (ankle) had surgery to "clean up" his ankle, according to president of baseball operations Nick Krall. India will have a normal offseason and is expected to be ready for spring training. The 27-year-old ended up playing second base all year in 2024 with
Matt McLain dealing with multiple injuries. Second base is still the only defensive position India has played in the majors after starting 132 games there. However, first base and the outfield could be in play for India in 2025, as well as third base, with McLain returning to play the keystone. Playing time could be an issue for India if McLain can stay healthy next season. In a career-high 151 games in 2024, India slashed .248/.357/.392 with 15 home runs, 58 RBI, 13 stolen bases and 84 runs scored as an everyday player over 637 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
3 weeks agoCincinnati Reds right-hander
Nick Martinez, who is scheduled to make $12 million next year if he doesn't opt out of his contract, is expected to opt out and hit the free-agent market. Right-hander
Emilio Pagan is also expected to opt out and become a free agent. Martinez appeared in 42 games (16 starts) in his first season with the Reds and finished the season in the starting rotation and was the National League Pitcher of the Month for September after going 4-1 with an 0.83 ERA in five starts in September. When/if Martinez opts out, the Reds will have the option of making him a qualifying offer of one year and roughly $21 million for 2025. If the Reds offer it and Martinez rejects, the Reds will receive an extra draft pick as compensation. The 34-year-old was solid in 142 1/3 innings for the Reds, posting a 3.10 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 116:18 K:BB in his hybrid starter/receiver role.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
3 weeks agoThe Athletic's Matt Gelb thinks it's unlikely that the Philadelphia Phillies look to move third baseman
Alec Bohm this offseason, especially since he still has two years left of club control. Bohm had a career-high 117 OPS+ in 2024, but he struggled down the stretch and after suffering a hand injury. The Phillies also like
Aidan Miller, a 20-year-old prospect who reached Double-A at the end of the year. If Miller continues to progress, the Phillies could be content to let Bohm walk after the 2026 campaign. Manager Rob Thomson benched Bohm in Game 2 of the National League Division Series because of disappointment about his attitude. "I mean, I definitely wasn't my best self," Bohm said. "And it doesn't feel good. But it is what it is. It's a hard game. You're not always going to be getting hits and doing all those things. There's other ways to help the team win, and it just didn't happen."
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
3
weeks
agoThe
Athletic's
Matt
Gelb
writes
that
the
Philadelphia
Phillies
will
be
connected
to
New
York
Yankees
impending
free-agent
superstar
outfielder
Juan
Soto
all
winter.
The
Phillies'
outfield
was
one
of
their
biggest
weaknesses
in
2024.
However,
one
of
the
New
York
teams
will
be
read more...
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