1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman left Thursday's game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning after suffering an ankle injury. Freeman was running out a ground ball and tried to avoid a tag at first base, but stumbled awkwardly and appeared to twist his ankle. He was seen after the game in a walking boot and on crutches. While the severity of the injury is unknown, the Dodgers will almost certainly take a cautious approach after clinching the NL West with a win on Thursday. In daily lineup leagues, be prepared to find a fill-in for Freeman for the final weekend.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Juan Toribio
1 week agoA judge in the Dominican Republic ruled on Thursday that the evidence presented against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Wander Franco merits a trial, according to multiple reports. Franco is charged with human trafficking, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor. The charges stem from the 23-year-old's relationship with a then-14-year-old girl that started in December of 2022, when Franco was 21. If he is convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. No date for the trial has been set for Franco, who obviously has been on the restricted list all year and hasn't played since August of 2023. Judge Pascual Valenzuela "repeatedly pointed out to him that the decision is not an opinion of guilt," but that the evidence is considered worthy of the case moving to the trial stage. The Rays still owe Franco $172 million from the 11-year, $182 million deal he signed after his debut season in 2021.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
1 week agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Sean Manaea is listed as Friday's starter as the Mets open a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers. The southpaw was initially scheduled to start on Thursday against the Atlanta Braves, but that game was postponed due to inclement weather. The 32-year-old has posted a 3.29 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP across 178 innings in Queens this summer. Since the start of the month, the southpaw has held a stellar 2.36 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, and a 9:34 BB:K ratio. Fantasy managers should view Manaea as a solid option in DFS formats, as the Brewers hold an underwhelming .708 OPS against left-handed pitchers this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoLos Angeles Angels shortstop
Zach Neto (shoulder) will not play on Friday but could return Saturday or Sunday, according to Jeff Fletcher of the SoCal News Group. The 23-year-old was lifted from Thursday's game due to right shoulder irritation. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Los Angeles starting nine over the weekend, as Neto could rejoin the starting nine over the weekend. The former first-round pick has enjoyed a strong sophomore campaign as he has hit 23 home runs, swiped 30 bags, and held a .249/.318/.443 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect 31-year-old
Jack Lopez to potentially start at shortstop while Neto remains sidelined as he shifted to cover shortstop on Thursday afternoon.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Fletcher
1 week agoArizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Ryne Nelson (shoulder) was activated off the 15-day IL, according to Alex Weiner of KTAR News. Nelson was placed on the IL on September 14 and will return to action quite quickly. However, seeing that Nelson only logged bullpen sessions while he was sidelined suggests he may be deployed in a long relief role down the stretch. Through 147 2/3 innings this summer, the 26-year-old posted a 4.33 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with a 34:125 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, the Oregon State product held a below-average 41.2% hard-hit rate but showed excellent command with a 5.5% BB rate. Fantasy managers should not consider putting Nelson in their lineup over the final series, as he will likely serve as a long relief option.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Alex Weiner
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with right shoulder inflammation. Graterol will only be eligible to return if the Dodgers make it deep into the postseason. The 26-year-old missed most of the season due to a previous shoulder injury and made his 2024 debut on August 6. However, shortly after, he hit the IL again due to a hamstring injury. Since returning from that injury on September 10, he tossed seven clean frames with a near-perfect 0.43 WHIP. Through this small stint, Graterol typically pitched in high-leverage situations in the seventh and ninth innings. This is a tough blow to the Dodger bullpen as they approach the preseason with a starting rotation filled with injuries. Fantasy managers should expect
Evan Phillips,
Alex Vesia,
Michael Kopech, and
Daniel Hudson to serve as the late-inning options for the Dodgers during October.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
1 week agoMinnesota Twins third baseman
Jose Miranda (back) was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to lower back tightness, according to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com. He was replaced by
Austin Martin. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Minnesota starting nine in their final series against the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend, as Miranda may remain sidelined. After posting a disappointing .211 AVG last season, the 26-year-old enjoyed an excellent bounce-back campaign this summer as he sits with a solid .284/.322/.441 slash line. Miranda was one of the best hitters in the sport during June and July, as he boasted a stellar .367/.415/.578 line. If Miranda remains out, fantasy managers should expect
Brooks Lee to see an increase in opportunities at the hot corner.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Do-Hyoung Park
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Clayton Kershaw (toe) will not be available for at least "a couple of weeks," according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Kershaw logged a successful bullpen session last week and looked poised to return for the playoffs but now faces a setback. Kershaw was already ruled out for the remainder of the regular season but could be in danger of missing the entire postseason depending on how far the Dodgers go. The southpaw was diagnosed with a bone spur in his toe on August 31 and was placed on the 15-day IL. The three-time Cy Young winner underwent offseason shoulder surgery, which delayed his 2024 debut until July 25. Through his 30 innings of work this summer, Kershaw posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Fantasy managers participating in postseason competitions should not consider selecting Kershaw as he faces an uphill battle to return to the mound.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher
Austin Barnes (toe) was activated off the 10-day injured list on Thursday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers optioned backstop
Hunter Feduccia to Triple-A Oklahoma. Feduccia made only two starts over the past two weeks and went 2-for-10. Barnes was sidelined since September 15 with a toe fracture. Before the injury, the veteran catcher held a .261/.327/.306 line with three doubles, one home run, and 11 RBI. Fantasy managers should expect Barnes to remain as the backup catcher over the final weekend of the regular season and during the postseason, while
Will Smith sees the vast majority of starts behind the plate.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
1 week agoMiami Marlins rookie outfielder
Griffin Conine is on the bench to start Thursday's contest against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Marlins are playing youngsters down the stretch in a lost season, but Conine has seen sporadic playing time in the outfield. The 27-year-old has had 67 at-bats over his first 26 big-league games and has gone 16-for-67 (.239) with two home runs, three doubles, a triple, six RBI, six walks and 24 strikeouts in 74 plate appearances.
Derek Hill is starting in center field and batting seventh, and
Jesus Sanchez is in right field and batting cleanup for the Fish against Twins right-hander
David Festa. In his last five games, Conine has begun to heat up, going 4-for-13 with a homer, double, two RBI, a walk and a run scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Miami Marlins
1 week agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series finale at Yankee Stadium against the New York Yankees. With Mountcastle starting on the bench, the left-handed-hitting
Ryan O'Hearn will play first base and bat sixth against Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole. Mountcastle just returned from the injured list on Tuesday due to a wrist injury and has gone 2-for-7 with an RBI and two strikeouts in his first two games back. The Orioles are easing him in ahead of the postseason and will give him a day off against one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. O'Hearn won't be too popular in DFS against Cole. In his 17 career at-bats against him, O'Hearn has hit .118 with a .471 OPS, one home run and two RBI. O'Hearn has been hot of late, going 8-for-21 (.381) with three doubles and two RBI since Sept. 17.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
1 week agoThe San Francisco Giants announced on Thursday that left-handed prospect
Reggie Crawford (shoulder) had surgery on Thursday to fix the labrum in his left shoulder. The surgery was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. The estimated recovery time for Crawford is 10-12 months, so he is not going to be able to pitch in 2025. The Giants' first-round pick in 2022 will enter spring training in 2026 having thrown a total of 37 1/3 professional innings. Crawford, 23, was previously recovering from Tommy John surgery, so this will be the second major surgery the youngster has had early in his career. MLB Pipeline lists Crawford as the team's No. 9 prospect The Giants moved Crawford to a relief role in 2024 at Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento and had a 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 30 strikeouts in 18 1/3 frames over 14 outings (one start).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Andrew Baggarly
1 week agoMLB.com's Mark Bowman writes that Atlanta Braves left-hander
Chris Sale will make his next start whenever the Braves are facing elimination. Left-hander
Max Fried will start the series opener against the Kansas City Royals because he's more of a creature of habit who doesn't like too many extra days of rest. Right-hander
Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder), who remains on the injured list, will be a wild card who could be used at any point between Saturday and the team's doubleheader against the division-rival New York Mets on Monday. Atlanta's final two games against the Mets were postponed on Wednesday and Thursday due to inclement weather. The 35-year-old Sale, who is a front-runner for the National League Cy Young award, could very well be held back until one of Monday's games. He's been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball in 2024 with a league-best 2.38 ERA and 225 K's in 29 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
1
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after
injuring
his
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slide
into
second
base.
Neto
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1 week agoTexas Rangers catcher
Jonah Heim will retreat to the bench for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival Oakland Athletics in the final game at the Oakland Coliseum.
Carson Kelly will do the catching for rookie right-hander
Kumar Rocker and will bat eighth against A's right-hander
J.T. Ginn. The 29-year-old's day off comes after he homered in each of the first two games of the series. Heim made his first All-Star team in 2023 before eventually helping lead the Rangers to their first World Series title. He hasn't been nearly as good in 2024, though, batting .219 (98-for-448) with 13 home runs and 57 RBI in 480 plate appearances. Since joining the Rangers in the middle of the season via trade, Kelly has slashed .233/.296/.311 with a .607 OPS, one homer and seven RBI in 28 games for the Rangers as the No. 2 backstop behind Heim.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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