3 weeks agoCleveland Guardians rookie first baseman
Kyle Manzardo is serving as the team's designated hitter and will bat out of the two-hole on Wednesday in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park against the division-rival Detroit Tigers and rookie right-hander
Keider Montero. In his only at-bat against Montero this year, Manzardo went down on strikes. The 24-year-old has entered as a pinch-hitter in each of the first two games of the Division Series against Detroit and has gone hitless in his two at-bats with one strikeout. The former second-rounder of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 out of Washington State played in his first 53 big-league games in 2024 and slashed .234/.282/.421 with a .703 OPS, five home runs, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored. Manzardo will be a low-cost DFS sleeper on Wednesday in a position to do some damage in the two-hole.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoNew York Mets outfielder/designated hitter
Jesse Winker is not in the starting lineup for Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. With Phillies left-hander
Ranger Suarez on the bump, Winker will take a seat in favor of the right-handed-hitting
J.D. Martinez, who will serve as the DH and bat sixth. In nine career at-bats versus Suarez, Martinez has gone 2-for-9 with a double, two RBI, one walk and three strikeouts. Winker got the start in the Game 3 win on Tuesday and homered, but he'll take a seat with a lefty on the mound. The 37-year-old Martinez has gone 3-for-10 with three RBI and a run scored so far in five postseason games this year, and he's hit a nice .295 with 10 homers and five doubles in 38 career postseason games. However, he hit .109 (6-for-55) with no homers and 15 K's in 16 games in September.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Mets
3 weeks agoPittsburgh Pirates infield prospect
Termarr Johnson (foot) was injured while playing in the Arizona Fall League on Tuesday night and had to be carried off the field while being unable to put any weight on his right foot. Johnson injured his foot swinging through a pitch. It's unclear exactly what the 20-year-old's injury is, but we should have an update on his status soon. Based on how the injury looked on the field, though, it wouldn't be a surprise if Johnson is shut down for the rest of the AFL season this fall. The former fourth overall pick in 2022 hit a combined .237/.367/.386 with a .753 OPS, 15 home runs, 54 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 124 games with High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona during the 2024 season. MLB Pipeline has him listed as Pittsburgh's No. 3 prospect. Depending on the severity of his injury, Johnson has a shot to make his MLB debut in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SI.com - Jack Sommers
3 weeks agoHouston Astros utility man
Mauricio Dubon (thumb) played the final month of the 2024 season with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, according to a person with knowledge of the injury. Dubon will need surgery to fix the ligament damage, which will be performed by renowned hand surgeon Dr. Thomas Graham. The typical recovery time for the injury is six to eight weeks, meaning Dubon should be at full strength for the start of spring training next February. He initially injured his thumb sliding into first base on Sept. 6 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, although X-rays showed no damage at the time. Dubon played well despite the injury in 18 games, hitting .291/.322/.346 over 59 plate appearances. MLBTradeRumors projects Dubon to earn $4.6 million this winter in his third time through the salary arbitration process. The 30-year-old hit .269/.296/.361 with four homers and three steals in 137 games in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
3 weeks agoCleveland Guardians rookie first baseman/outfielder
Jhonkensy Noel will retreat to the bench for Wednesday's Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the division-rival Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Noel will take a seat for the first time in the ALDS after going hitless in four at-bats with a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
Will Brennan will make the start in right field on Wednesday and will hit seventh against Tigers rookie right-hander
Keider Montero. Brennan, who hits from the left side, was much better against right-handers this year, going 82-for-295 (.278) against them with all eight of his home runs and 28 of his 30 RBI on the season. He has seen just one at-bat so far in the two games of the ALDS and was unable to record a hit. Brennan finished the final month of the regular season hitting .370 (17-for-46) with three doubles, two RBI and four runs scored in 18 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Zack Meisel
3 weeks agoDetroit Tigers rookie second baseman
Wenceel Perez is back in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday at Comerica Park against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians and right-hander
Alex Cobb, playing right field and batting fifth.
Zach McKinstry will start on the bench in this one. Perez supplied two hits and a run scored in the Game 1 loss to Cleveland on Saturday and didn't get the start in the Game 2 win on Monday. The 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter hit .242/.300/.383 with a below-average .683 OPS, nine home runs, 37 RBI and nine stolen bases in his first 112 major-league games in 2024. Perez did not face Cobb at all this year but was much more productive against right-handers as a lefty hitter this year, batting .251 (76-for-303) with eight of his nine home runs against them. He'll be a low-upside DFS sleeper for Wednesday's full slate of playoff action.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Tigers
3 weeks agoDetroit Tigers rookie right-hander
Keider Montero will take the ball for Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday at Comerica Park against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians with the series tied one game apiece. In his first MLB season in 2024, Montero went 6-6 with a 4.76 ERA (5.15 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP with 77 strikeouts and 31 walks in 98 1/3 innings pitched over 19 appearances (16 starts). His playoff debut came in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday out of the bullpen, when he tossed two scoreless innings while walking none and striking out three. Montero started against Cleveland back on July 8 in Detroit and tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings on three hits while walking one and striking out four. However, Montero hasn't started since Sept. 25 and is likely to have a very short leash in this pivotal game against the Guardians.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Tigers
3
weeks
agoLos
Angeles
Dodgers
shortstop
Miguel
Rojas
(groin),
who
has
been
playing
through
a
tear
in
his
left
groin
muscle,
left
Game
3
of
the
National
League
Division
Series
on
Tuesday
night
against
the
San
Diego
Padres
after
apparently
aggravating
it
while
stopping
read more...
3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that the team will go with a bullpen game in Wednesday's National League Division Series Game 4 against the Padres, per Orange County Register's Bill Plunkett. The Dodgers currently trail 2-1 in the series, so the team must feel that a bullpen-heavy approach will give them the best chance to avoid playoff elimination. The Dodgers' pitching staff currently has the highest post-season ERA at 7.27 with a 1.35 WHIP. 27-year-old
Landon Knack is the only starter on the NLDS roster who has yet to pitch, but he has just 69 innings of work in his big-league career, none of that coming in post-season play. He could be a sneaky DFS play in the event that the Dodgers turn to him as a bulk reliever, but the safer play would be to go with a declared traditional starter.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Bill Plunkett - X.com
3 weeks agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher
Dylan Cease is listed as the team's starting pitcher for Wednesday's National League Division Series Game 4 against the Dodgers. The 28-year-old, who pitched 3 1/3 innings on Saturday in Game 1 of the series, will get the nod ahead of his typical schedule with
Joe Musgrove (elbow) needing Tommy John surgery and the Padres up 2-1 in the series. While Cease had solid regular-season stats, he got hit around by the Dodgers in game 1, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He may rise to the occasion in a series-clinching game, but Cease's previous performance and lack of regular rest make him an uneasy DFS play.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole will take the mound in Thursday's American League Division Series Game 4 against the Royals. He will be opposed by
Michael Wacha. The 34-year-old, who missed the first few months of the season due to right elbow inflammation, had an erratic regular season but finished at 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 25.4% strikeout rate in 17 starts and 95 innings pitched. Cole did not pitch well in Game 1 of the series, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five IP. However, he owns a stellar career 3.05 post-season ERA in 18 starts and 109 1/3 IP. His historic success is encouraging, but his most recent outing does not inspire a ton of confidence for DFS leagues.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez did his best to keep his team in the game in Tuesday's National League Division Series Game 3 6-5 loss to the Padres. Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a grand slam, a walk, and a strikeout. The 31-year-old jumped on a third-inning
Michael King hanging sweeper, hitting it just over the wall to straightaway center field to bring the Dodgers to within one run. Hernandez had a strong bounce-back regular season, slashing .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs, 84 runs scored, 99 RBI, and 12 stolen bases in 652 plate appearances. He has carried his success into the playoffs batting .300 with six RBI and a stolen base in 10 at-bats.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoSan Diego Padres closer
Robert Suarez came up clutch in Tuesday's National League Division Series 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Suarez came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning up by one with two outs and a runner on first. He induced a pop-out and stayed in to pitch the ninth, turning in a 1-2-3 effort with two strikeouts. The 33-year-old had a breakout season, going 9-3 with 36 saves to go with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and a 22.9% strikeout rate in 65 innings of work. He has yet to allow a run in three post-season appearances, picking up two saves with a 0.30 WHIP and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 IP. Suarez was one of fantasy's most reliable closers in the regular season, making him a strong DFS option for the playoffs.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 weeks agoSan Diego Padres outfielder
Fernando Tatis Jr. continued his torrid offensive postseason in Tuesday's National League Division Series Game 3 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Tatis Jr. went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. The 25-year-old capped off a six-run second inning, obliterating an 0-2
Walker Buehler fastball into the left-field seats. Tatis Jr. put together a solid offensive regular season and has been on fire in the postseason, batting .556 with four HR and seven RBI in 18 at-bats. The Padres' lineup has performed well throughout the playoffs as well, making Tatis Jr. a standout DFS play.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Mark Sheldon - MLB.com
3 weeks agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Sean Manaea continued his stellar season in Tuesday's National League Division Series Game 3 7-2 win over the Phillies. Manaea pitched seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts. He also hit two batters. The 32-year-old became the eighth Met to allow three or fewer hits over seven-plus innings with one or zero runs in a post-season game. Manaea compiled a 3.47 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and a 24.9% strikeout rate in 32 regular-season starts. He has been even better in his two post-season starts, posting a 2.25 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 12 IP. He appears to be a reliable DFS option if or when he pitches again this postseason.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Anthony DiComo - MLB.com
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