1 week agoCincinnati Reds catcher
Tyler Stephenson greeted
Mitch Keller with a solo home run in the first inning of Friday's 8-3 win over the Pirates, then collected two more hits off of the righty before Keller departed in the bottom of the fourth, ultimately being charged with eight earned runs in the outing. The other two hits were a single and a double, as Stephenson finished 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored in the contest. It was the 28-year-old's third multi-hit game in his last four, and overall he's been a Top-10 option at catcher for fantasy. The former first-round draft pick owns a .265-19-64-67-1 line on the season with a .347 wOBA and 117 wRC+.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Reds. The home run was his 20th of the year, giving the 25-year-old his first 20/20 season of his young career. Despite the achievement, Cruz is slashing just .196/.281/.357 in September after a hot August in which he slashed .389/.449/.537. Overall on the season, the Dominican has been productive even with a high strikeout rate (30.9%), putting together a .267-20-75-70-22 line over 138 games with a .336 wOBA and 113 wRC+, making him a solid multi-category contributor for fantasy.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Cedric Mullins (neck) was unavailable for Friday's 7-1 win at Camden Yards against the visiting Detroit Tigers due to neck discomfort stemming from his collision on Thursday, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Mullins collided with outfielder
Austin Slater on Thursday and was held out of Friday's action as a result. Until we know more on the severity of his injury, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day and check back to see if he's available on Saturday.
Colton Cowser got the start in the outfield on Friday with Mullins out and went 2-for-4 with two home runs, two RBI, two runs scored and two strikeouts in the win. Mullins has hit just .228 (95-for-417) on the year with a .300 on-base percentage, with the majority of his value coming from his speed yet again with 30 thefts in 140 games. He needs five more steals in the final week to set a new career-high in that category.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
1 week agoBoston Red Sox third baseman
Rafael Devers (shoulder) will undergo an MRI exam on his right shoulder on Saturday, and when asked if he is OK, manager Alex Cora said, "No, he's not... Probably this is it for him." The skipper said that Devers injured his right shoulder while taking swings in the cages before the contest at Fenway Park against the Minnesota Twins. The 27-year-old went 1-for-4 with a walk and three strikeouts on Friday night and was replaced at third base by
Vaughn Grissom in extra innings. Devers has dealt with injuries to both of his shoulders this year, but with Boston looking unlikely to make the playoffs and with just over a week left in the regular season, it appears that Devers' 2024 campaign will come to a close a bit early. If this is indeed it for Devers this year, he'll finish with a .272/.354/.516 slash line with 28 homers and 83 RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Alex Speier
1 week agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Corbin Burnes was dominant on Friday, striking out eight batters in seven innings during the Orioles' 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. Burnes walked three batters but only allowed three hits and allowed no runs while recording his 15th win of the season. This marks Burnes' fifth straight start giving up two earned runs or less, a great sign for the Orioles as Baltimore gets ready for October. The 29-year-old has been fantastic in his first season in Baltimore, posting a 2.95 ERA. He'll be the focal point of Baltimore's rotation as they look for their first postseason series win since 2014. His final scheduled start of the season is set for next Thursday when the Orioles finish a series at Yankee Stadium against the Yankees.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1
week
agoBoston
Red
Sox
reliever
Liam
Hendriks
(elbow)
is
likely
to
be
shut
down
for
the
rest
of
the
season,
according
to
manager
Alex
Cora.
"Basically
where
we're
at
right
now
we'll
probably
shut
him
down.
We've
got
nine
games
in
the
regular
season
so
read more...
1 week agoArizona Diamondbacks reliever
Paul Sewald (neck) played catch on Friday for the first time since being placed on the 15-day IL on Sunday with neck discomfort. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo also noted that Sewald will throw off a mound in the coming days. That news is a positive update for the 34-year-old, signaling that the discomfort is subsiding. Sewald has been a solid member of the Diamondbacks' bullpen in August and September after struggling in July (10.80 ERA). Though Arizona is clinging to the final wild card spot, Sewald likely is done for the regular season and wouldn't be able to return until the postseason. Fantasy managers hoping for help in the last week of the season should set their sights elsewhere. A fine replacement would be
Justin Martinez, who's posted a 1.59 ERA in his last five appearances for Arizona.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Nick Piecoro
1 week agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher
Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) played catch on Friday, marking the first throwing activities he's participated in since leaving his start early on Sept. 10 with shoulder inflammation. There still is not a timetable for Lopez's return, creating a bit of uncertainty for Atlanta's rotation as they fight for the final National League wild-card spot. The Braves are certainly missing Lopez's production on the mound. His 2.03 ERA was a very welcome surprise after spending the last couple seasons as a reliever for the White Sox, Angels and Guardians. Should Lopez return this season, it should be expected that it would be during a playoff run should Atlanta snag a wild-card spot. Fantasy managers looking for help to finish the season should turn their heads to
Grant Holmes, who holds a 3.84 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in 2024. Holmes has been thrust into the rotation for spot starts in August and September and would be a solid last-second option for fantasy managers.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: David O'Brien
1 week agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Mike Tauchman dealt a decisive blow to the Nationals on Friday as he hit a pinch-hit, two-run single to give the Cubs the lead and ultimately the win in their 3-1 victory over Washington. It was Tauchman's only at-bat of the game and moved him to 26 RBI on the season. The 33-year-old has had a solid season at the plate for the Cubs, hitting for a 100 OPS+. Unfortunately his role has been relegated to a pinch-hitter role throughout September, seeing his starts on the season minimize as the Cubs' roster got healthy. There may be a chance, however, that with the season winding down and the Cubs out of contention that he could get some starts while Chicago's mainstays rest. If that's the case, it would make Tauchman a very intriguing DFS play. He is likely too risky to add to any fantasy rosters currently, but should he start any games to finish the season DFS managers should look his way.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoChicago Cubs starting pitcher
Jameson Taillon pitched six strong innings and picked up the win on Friday in the Cubs' 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals. Taillon struck out four and gave up just two hits while improving his record to 11-8 on the season. The 32-year-old has bounced back strong this season after a down year in 2023, improving his ERA from 4.84 to 3.41 with today's performance. It also marked Taillon's fourth straight quality start. Fantasy managers that need help to finish the season certainly should be getting Taillon into their lineups. Though the right-hander has a 3.98 xERA to go along with his 3.41 ERA, he has been able to get reliably consistent results throughout the season. He'll finish 2024 with his final scheduled start on Wednesday when the Cubs finish a three game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoThe Boston Red Sox recalled middle infielder
Vaughn Grissom from Triple-A Worcester on Friday and placed outfielder
Rob Refsnyder (forearm) on the 10-day injured list with a right-forearm strain in a corresponding move. Grissom was expected to be Boston's primary second baseman in his first year in Beantown in 2024, but injuries have limited him to 23 big-league games for the second straight season. The 23-year-old didn't enter the starting lineup for Friday's contest at Fenway Park against the visiting Minnesota Twins, but he could get some playing time at the keystone to close out the year if the Red Sox fall any further from wild-card contention in the American League. Grissom struggled in his 87 plate appearances for Boston earlier this year, going just 12-for-81 (.148) with a double, three RBI and 19 strikeouts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
1 week agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto (knee) has been scratched from Friday's starting lineup against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum due to soreness and swelling in his left knee, according to manager Aaron Boone. Soto injured his left knee when he crashed into the outfield wall on Thursday, but X-rays came back negative, and he was initially scheduled to play in the series opener against the A's on Friday. It sounds like the Yankees are just playing it safe with the superstar outfielder, as no additional testing on his knee is scheduled. Soto should be considered day-to-day for now. Fantasy managers need to bench him on Friday and check back on Saturday to see if he's feeling good enough to play. Soto has been an absolute beast in his first year with the Bombers in 2024 and has already set a new career-high with 40 homers and is eight RBI shy of a new career-high in RBI in a single season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Tyler Glasnow (elbow) said follow-up imaging on his right elbow didn't show anything more serious than an elbow sprain and he is confident he will not need any kind of surgical procedure on his arm. However, Glasnow also said it's "extremely frustrating" that he won't be able to pitch in the playoffs in his first year with the Dodgers. The 31-year-old was diagnosed with a right-elbow sprain last Saturday and was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday, ruling him out for the rest of the regular season. Glasnow could come off the 60-day IL if the Dodgers make a deep postseason run, but the Dodgers aren't going to bring the hard-throwing right-hander back. Glasnow should be a full-go for the start of spring training in 2025, where he'll be an injury-prone, risk-reward fantasy ace. LA's starting rotation is a big question mark heading into October this fall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Mike DiGiovanna
1 week agoColorado Rockies center fielder
Brenton Doyle (knee) has been scratched from the starting lineup on Friday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium due to left-knee soreness. With Doyle taking the night off,
Sam Hilliard will make the start in center field and will hit seventh against Dodgers right-handed opener
Ryan Brasier. For now, fantasy managers should consider Doyle to be day-to-day and check back on his status on Saturday to see if he's available. Hilliard has never faced Brasier in his career and is hitting .259 (29-for-112) in 2024 in a part-time role with eight long balls, 25 RBI and four stolen bases in 50 games in his return to Colorado after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Rockies. Hilliard comes into Friday's game riding a three-game hitting streak in which he's gone 4-for-8 with a homer and four RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
1 week agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Rob Refsnyder (forearm) has been placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday. The 33-year-old was trying to avoid this, but has been dealing with discomfort for over a week now. There isn't enough time for Refsnyder to return before the end of the regular season. He'll finish his season with a .283/.359/.471 slash line with 11 home runs and 40 RBI. In a corresponding move, infielder
Vaughn Grissom has been recalled from the minors. He figures to see play in a handful of games before the end of the season, but isn't someone worth snagging in fantasy formats.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Mac Cerullo
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