7 days agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher
Max Scherzer (hamstring) expressed that he wants to pitch against next summer, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Landry further reported that Scherzer expressed that a full healthy offseason will prepare him for a successful 2025. Scherzer has had a rough 2024 season, as he been able to log only 43 1/3 innings while being hindered by shoulder, back, and hamstring injuries. Through this small sample size, the 40-year-old posted a 3.95 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The right-hander will be a free agent this summer and is open to returning to Texas. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to how Scherzer is pitching during the offseason, as he could be worth a late flier in deeper formats next spring.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Kennedi Landry
7 days agoSeattle Mariners infielder
Justin Turner (knee) is in Sunday's starting lineup and will cover first base. He will bat in the five-hole. The veteran was lifted from Saturday's game after hitting a foul ball off his knee. The injury does not seem serious as the 39-year-old will rejoin the starting nine. Since September 12, Turner has been carrying an excellent .334/.395/.625 line with three doubles, two home runs, and a 4:10 BB:K ratio. Turner has shown an excellent eye at the plate with a strong 11.0% walk rate and a 17.8% K rate which are both significant above the average marks. Turner is worth a look as a value play in DFS this afternoon given his hot stretch. He will face Houston southpaw
Andrew Heaney who carries a 3.89 ERA into Sunday's game.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoSeattle Mariners starting pitcher
Emerson Hancock was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma earlier on Sunday, according to Shannon Drayer. In a corresponding move, the Mariners promoted
Gabe Speier from Triple-A. Hancock posted a 4.50 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP across his previous two starts at the big-league level in September. This move suggests that
Luis Castillo (hamstring) could be on his way back from the injured list, as the Mariners now only have four pitchers in their rotation. While Hancock has struggled in the big leagues this summer, he has posted a modest 3.26 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 61:36 BB:K across 88 1/3 frames in the minor leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Shannon Drayer
7 days agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Brenton Doyle (knee) remains out of the starting nine as the Rockies look to clinch a series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Doyle will now miss his third consecutive game due to knee soreness. As a result,
Sam Hilliard will cover center field this afternoon and bat in the sixth-hole. Doyle has had a great sophomore campaign where he has hit for a solid .264/.321/.449 line with 22 home runs and 29 stolen bases. The 26-year-old will likely be a popular pick in drafts next spring given his potential to contribute to all five standard categories. Hillard should be faded in DFS lineups this afternoon as he will face Dodger right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto who carries a strong 2.63 ERA into Sunday's match.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoPittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) is not expected to return during the final week of the season, according to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pirates assistant general manager Kevan Graves said that the window for Hayes to return is "too short." Hayes finishes the 2024 campaign with a disappointing .233/.283/.290 slash line and just four home runs and 11 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should expect
Jared Triolo to see the majority of starts at the hot corner during the final week of the season. Triolo is getting the starting nod on Sunday afternoon and will bat in the seven-hole against Cincinnati right-hander
Hunter Greene.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Andrew De
7 days agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Jordyn Adams (knee) will miss his third straight game on Sunday afternoon due to knee soreness. As a result,
Gustavo Campero will cover right field and bat in the eight-hole. Before the injury, Adams was carrying a .258/.324/.355 slash line across his previous nine games. Adams was promoted to the big leagues earlier in September and was beginning to find his footing at the top level before the minor injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the Los Angeles starting nine next week, as Adams could remain sidelined. Campero has posted a solid .292 average through his first seven games at the major-league level, but it is best to fade him in DFS while facing Houston right-hander
Spencer Arrighetti, who has held a 2.82 ERA since Aug. 1.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoArizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll is not in Sunday's lineup as the Diamondbacks look to clinch a four-game sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any updates regarding Carroll as this move may be injury related. As a result
Pavin Smith will cover right field and bat in Carroll's typical leadoff spot. After posting a mere .202 AVG through the first half of the season, Carroll has begun to turn the corner in the second half carrying a much-improved .259/.352/.585 line. Since the start of September he has held a .243/.367/.432 line with four doubles, two triples, and two home runs. Smith is worth a look in DFS as he will face Milwaukee right-hander
Frankie Montas who is carrying a 4.50 ERA into Sunday's tilt.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Tyler O'Neill (back) is dealing with back tightness and will be kept out of the starting nine in the first game of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon. Manager Alex Cora did express that O'Neill could be ready to play in the night cap. Fantasy managers should consider the 29-year-old day-to-day for the time being. Seeing that the injury does not seem serious, O'Neill should start most games during the final week of the season. During his first season in Boston, O'Neill exceeded all expectations by posting a solid .244/.338/.521 line with 31 home runs and four stolen bases. O'Neill should be locked into all fantasy lineups when he returns to game action.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Mac Cerullo
1 week agoWashington Nationals outfielder
Jacob Young (shoulder) is returning to the starting nine on Sunday afternoon when the Nationals hope to clinch a series victory over the Chicago Cubs. The outfielder was sidelined on Friday and Saturday after leaving Thursday's game early due to shoulder soreness. He will return to center field on Sunday and bat in the eight-hole. Through September, the 25-year-old is carrying a .213/.288/.234 line with just one extra-base hit. One the season, he sits with a .254 AVG and 32 stolen bases. Young should be left out of DFS lineups this afternoon as he will face Chicago southpaw
Shota Imanaga who enters Sunday with a solid 3.03 ERA.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoBaltimore Orioles infielder
Ramon Urias (ankle) was activated off the 10-day injured list on Sunday morning and will bat in the eight spot this afternoon as the Orioles look to claim the rubber match against the Detroit Tigers. Urias has been sidelined since the end of August with a sprained ankle. Fantasy managers should expect him to see the majority of starts at the hot corner during the remainder of the regular season and in October. Before the injury, the 30-year-old posted a .252/.327/.427 line with ten round-trippers and one stolen base. Urias is worth a look as a value play in DFS as the Tigers will have bullpen game this afternoon.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
1 week agoBaltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg (hand) was activated off the injured list on Sunday morning and will bat in the two-hole as the Orioles look to clinch a series victory over the Detroit Tigers. The 25-year-old infielder has been sidelined since July and should return to his usual starting spot at either second base or third base during the final week of the regular season and the postseason. Before the injury, Westburg was enjoying a nice sophomore breakout as he posted a .269/.317/.497 line with 18 home runs and six stolen bases. Under the hood he held a stellar .286 xBA and a .509 xSLG which are among the highest marks in the sport. Fantasy managers should lock the young infielder into their lineups for the remainder of the season and is worth considering in DFS this afternoon as the Tigers will be using
Ty Madden as the primary option in a bullpen game.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Baltimore Orioles
1 week agoCincinnati Reds starting pitcher
Rhett Lowder continued the impressive start to his young career, tossing five innings of shutout ball in Saturday's 7-1 victory over the Pirates. The 22-year-old allowed five hits and two walks while striking out four on the way to earning his second win of the season. In three of five starts the righty hasn't allowed even a single run, posting a 1.40 ERA to this point. His command was off in the first two starts, walking eight batters, but he's cleaned that up since then, walking just three over the last three starts. Lowder's next start lines up with the Cubs on the road next weekend.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoHouston Astros designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez broke out of his slump Saturday, going 4-for-5 with a solo home run, his 35th of the season. He also scored twice. The 3x All-Star came into the game hitting .118 (4-for-34) over his previous nine contests. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old is having another productive season overall, amassing a .305-35-86-88-6 line with a .399 wOBA and 166 wRC+. He'll look to keep it going on Sunday versus the Angels'
Griffin Canning (5.16 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) who he is 5-for-11 off of lifetime, including a pair of homers.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoHouston Astros outfielder
Kyle Tucker reached base in all five plate appearances in Saturday's 10-4 win over the Angels. The lefty slugger went 4-for-4, homering for the second straight game and reaching via a double, two singles, and a walk. The 27-year-old scored once and collected two RBI as well. The 3x All-Star missed three months after fouling a ball off his shin, but since coming off the IL it doesn't appear that he's missed a beat, going 17-for-42 (.405) with three home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs scored, and a stolen base. The former first-round draft pick looked like an MVP contender before succumbing to injury. When Tucker's out there he's one of the best multi-category producers for fantasy, now with a .289-22-47-53-11 line on the season through 73 games played, which would be closer to .289-42-89-100-21 if he were to get around 600 plate appearances.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoLos Angeles Angels catcher
Logan O'Hoppe was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate in Saturday's 10-4 loss to the Astros. The 24-year-old whacked a pair of doubles and hit his 20th home run of the season, collecting an RBI and scoring twice in the process. The young backstop was due for a big day, having come into the contest 7-for-71 (.099) over his last 22 games. Prior to the All-Star break, it looked like O'Hoppe was in full breakout mode, slashing .276/.328/.472 in 83 games, but since then he's slashed .176/.243/.300 in 48 games. Still, his .239-20-56-60-2 line puts him in the Top 12 at the catcher position for fantasy.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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