1 week agoThe Minnesota Twins will activate shortstop
Carlos Correa (foot) from the injured list on Saturday and will option outfielder
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. to Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. Correa should be back in the starting lineup on Saturday at Target Field against the Cincinnati Reds and right-hander
Nick Martinez, but fantasy managers will want to check back later for further confirmation. The 29-year-old has been away from the Twins since the All-Star break due to plantar fasciitis, so there certainly could be a bit of a rust factor now that he's back. The Puerto Rican infielder was hitting a strong .308/.377/.520 with an .896 OPS, 13 home runs, 47 RBI and 51 runs scored in 279 at-bats before his injury, so fantasy managers are hoping he can somehow pick up where he left off. Don't be surprised if the Twins look to ease Correa back in at shortstop after all the time he has missed.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
1 week agoCincinnati Reds shortstop
Elly De La Cruz hit his first career grand slam in Friday's 8-4 win over the Twins. It was the 22-year-old's only hit of the night but gave the Reds a 7-1 cushion before they added another run an inning later. The dynamic youngster set the Reds' single-season record for home runs by a switch-hitter, now with 24 on the year. He's been scuffling at the plate recently, going just 5-for-32 (.156) over the last nine games. Still, he's put together a fine season, as the 2024 All-Star now has a .259-24-69-97-64 line with a .351 wOBA and 120 wRC+.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge went 2-for-3 with a walk and a go-ahead grand slam in Friday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox. The blast came in the seventh inning with the Yankees down 4-1 but would give them a one-run lead that they would not relinquish. It also snapped a 16-game homerless drought for the 32-year-old and gave him 52 long-balls on the year. It has, of course, been an incredible season for the veteran slugger, now with a .321-52-130-111-8 line with an astronomical .470 wOBA and 213 wRC+.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoSeattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez went 4-for-5 at the plate in Friday's 5-4 win over the Rangers, collecting a pair of singles, a double, and a go-ahead home run in the contest. The 23-year-old's home run was a three-run blast in the bottom of the eighth that would prove to be the eventual game-winner. It has been a disappointing season by Rodriguez's standards and for fantasy managers who drafted him where they did, but his BA (.263) and OBP (.319) are nearing career averages while there hasn't been a significant drop in contact rate or increase in strikeout rate, plus the barrel rate is still 9.6%. So, there's a chance for a strong finish and reason for optimism heading into 2025.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoColorado Rockies catcher
Hunter Goodman went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and collected seven RBI in Friday's 9-5 win over the Cubs. The first home run was a two-run shot in the second inning that gave the Rockies a 2-1 lead, while the second was a go-ahead grand slam that broke a 5-5 tie in the eighth, putting the Rockies up 9-5. The home runs gave the 24-year-old 11 of them on the season, but he has yet to string together a productive stretch of games at the plate, hitting just .191 with an OBP of .231 and a K% of 28.2% at the major league level this year. The power is legit, however, as the slugger had a span of eight games at Triple-A back in April in which he belted seven home runs. We'll see if this performance gets him going.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoKansas City Royals starting pitcher
Alec Marsh struck out 11 batters in 5.1 innings of dominating pitching in the Royals' 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. The 11 strikeouts matches a career high for Marsh who struck out 11 against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023. The righty improved his ERA to 4.52 and recorded the win, making him 8-8 on the season. Marsh has been a solid option for the Royals since getting recalled from the minors but Friday night's performance was easily his best performance of the season. With the Royals fighting to keep their 2.0 game lead in the wild card race, more high quality performances from Marsh will be needed. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues likely should consider adding Marsh to their rosters to finish out the season. Marsh currently doesn't have another scheduled start listed but Kansas City does have an open spot in their rotation set for next Wednesday when the Royals host
Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoDetroit Tigers pitcher
Brant Hurter was nearly perfect on Friday night, throwing 5 2/3 hitless innings with just one walk in the Tigers' 1-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. Hurter struck out eight and walked just one batter en route to picking up the win and improving his record to 5-1 on the season. Hurter has been very solid for the Tigers this season, generally pitching in relief after Detroit uses an opener for him. He's also been on the verge of positive regression, as his 3.00 ERA coming into Friday (2.56 ERA after Friday) was paired with a 2.47 xERA. Fantasy managers looking for pitching help may be wise to look at Hurter going forward as a reliable bullpen option. With the 26-year-old benefitting from an opener, he's not scheduled for a start soon, but he will likely get another rematch in Baltimore against these same Orioles next weekend.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1
week
agoTampa
Bay
Rays
third
baseman
Christopher
Morel
left
Friday
night's
game
early
with
right-Achilles
discomfort,
according
to
the
team.
Morel
was
replaced
by
Dylan
Carlson
in
the
top
of
the
third
after
recording
a
single
and
rounding
first
hard
before
read more...
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Tony Gonsolin (elbow) is set to make his second rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. Gonsolin pitched two scoreless innings in his first rehab start on Tuesday while allowing just two hits and striking out three batters. The 30-year-old has yet to pitch in 2024 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The progress in his rehab assignment gives a slight chance that Gonsolin could pitch in the Dodgers' postseason run, but the likelihood is still minimal given the stakes of the postseason. At best Gonsolin could be used as a bullpen arm instead of a starter in October. Fantasy managers in dynasty leagues will still want to hold onto Gonsolin but any managers that hoped for and needed the righty to return in 2024 can cut bait. Those looking for immediate help can look to
Landon Knack, who has posted a 3.00 ERA in 54 IP coming into Friday night.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Bill Plunkett
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Gavin Stone (shoulder) is expected to start his throwing program this weekend as he rehabs from shoulder inflammation. Stone was placed on the 15-day IL last Friday, putting him in a good spot to make a return for the Dodgers' playoff run. Stone was in the midst of a very solid rookie campaign, pitching to a 3.53 ERA and posting an 11-5 record in 25 starts. With as many injuries as the Dodgers have sustained over the past couple seasons, Stone's consistency was very welcome in their rotation. His return will help support the Dodgers in October. Fantasy managers shouldn't plan on the 25-year-old returning during the regular season. Any fantasy managers in need of starting pitching help to finish the season should turn to
Landon Knack. Knack had posted a 3.00 ERA in 54 IP coming into Friday night.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Bill Plunkett
1
week
agoNew
York
Mets
shortstop
Francisco
Lindor
left
Friday
night's
game
early
with
lower
back
soreness.
Lindor
was
replaced
by
Eddy
Alvarez
in
the
bottom
of
the
seventh
inning.
Lindor
was
tagged
out
at
second
after
an
awkward
sequence
of
events,
read more...
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers left-hander
Clayton Kershaw (toe) has thrown off a portable mound but is still dealing with pain in his toe. Kershaw was placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 31 with a bone spur in his left big toe. It's good news that the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer is throwing off a mound, but the fact that he still has pain in his toe probably makes him more of a long shot to return to the Dodgers' starting rotation before the end of September. And depending on how Kershaw recovers from here on out, there's a realistic chance he won't be stretched out enough to be considered an option in the playoffs. The three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP had offseason shoulder surgery and has only made seven starts in 2024, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP and a 24:9 K:BB in 30 innings pitched for the Blue.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
1 week agoSan Francisco Giants rookie outfielder/shortstop
Tyler Fitzgerald (back) underwent an MRI exam on his lower back that showed no structural damage, so the team is considering him day-to-day. Fitzgerald unexpectedly is out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's game at Oracle Park versus the visiting division-rival San Diego Padres. The 26-year-old felt tightness in his lower back on Thursday and was removed from the contest early against the Milwaukee Brewers. It doesn't sound like too serious of an injury, though, so fantasy managers will be hoping to get him back in the lineup against the Padres later this weekend. Fitzgerald has been a savior off the waiver wire this year, as he's hit .296 (80-for-270) with 14 homers, 31 RBI and 17 steals in 84 games after playing in just 10 games in 2023.
Brett Wisely is at short on Friday and is hitting eighth against Padres right-hander
Dylan Cease.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
1 week agoBaltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg (hand) is now hitting in the batting cages and has progressed from taking dry swings earlier in the week. He is doing full baseball activities, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The focus now is "building strength" in Westburg's hand/wrist. The Orioles could really use the 25-year-old back as their primary third baseman, especially with
Ramon Urias (ankle) also on the shelf. He has been out since late July with a fractured hand but appears to be tracking towards a return later this month. At the very least, Baltimore will be hoping to have Westburg available for the playoffs. Westburg has provided 18 home runs and 58 RBI in his 420 plate appearances in 2024 before his injury. In the meantime, struggling rookie
Coby Mayo and
Emmanuel Rivera figure to continue splitting time at third base.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Sun - Jacob Calvin Meyer
1
week
agoAtlanta
Braves
manager
Brian
Snitker
said
on
Friday
that
he's
unsure
if
second
baseman
Ozzie
Albies
(wrist)
will
play
again
this
year.
When
asked
if
Albies
would
return
and
hit
only
right-handed,
Snitker
said
they
haven't
had
that
conversation
with
him.
The
Braves
read more...
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