3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-handed reliever
Alex Vesia (ribs) was scheduled to throw to live hitters either on Tuesday or Wednesday. Both Vesia and right-handed reliever
Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) will be last-minute decisions as far as being included on the World Series roster for Game 1 this Friday at Dodger Stadium. Vesia injured his rib cage warming up in Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres and was removed from the roster for the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets as a result. The 28-year-old southpaw threw three scoreless innings with a walk and four strikeouts in his three playoff appearances before getting hurt. Graterol has been on the injured list since Sept. 26 and is more of a long shot to make the World Series roster than Vesia.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Yankees, following right-hander
Jack Flaherty in Game 1 on Friday. Yamamoto was welcomed rudely to the postseason by the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 5, when he allowed five earned runs while walking two and striking out one in three innings. But the Japanese hurler bounced back nicely, giving up two earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out 10 over his next two starts (9 1/3 innings) against the Padres and New York Mets. The 26-year-old tossed seven shutout innings with seven K's against the Yankees in the Bronx back on June 7, but he won't come without some risk against a potent Yankees lineup that is heating up heading into the World Series.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Bill Shaikin
3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Jack Flaherty will get the nod to start Game 1 of the World Series on Friday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Yankees. Flaherty will be on a full six days of rest to kick off the World Series against Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole. The 29-year-old has been hit or miss in his three postseason starts for LA this year, tossing seven shutout innings with six strikeouts in the Game 1 win over the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. But in his other two starts, he surrendered 12 earned runs on 13 hits (three homers) while walking five and striking out only two in 8 1/3 innings against the Padres and Mets. Flaherty did not face the Dodgers during the regular season and will be hoping to miss more bats against New York's potent lineup of sluggers. He'll be a high-risk, high-reward DFS play on Friday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Bill Shaikin
3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman (ankle) is confident that he'll be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series on Friday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Yankees and right-hander
Gerrit Cole. Freeman has been held out of several games during the postseason, including the series-clinching Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday, due to an ankle injury that he suffered during the final week of the regular season. The 35-year-old All-Star hasn't played since Game 5 of the NLCS on Oct. 18, so he'll be well-rested for the start of the World Series this weekend. Freeman has hit .219 (7-for-32) with an RBI, walk, steal, one run and six strikeouts in eight playoff starts this October. He's handled Cole well in his career, going 7-for-20 (.350) with a homer, three doubles, two RBI, one walk and seven K's.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
3 weeks agoThe Milwaukee Brewers announced on Monday that Al LeBoeuf and Eric Thielsen will be promoted from Triple-A Nashville to take over for Connor Dawson and Ozzie Timmons as the hitting coaches, according to president of baseball operations Matt Arnold. LeBoeuf will be the lead hitting coach. Dawson and Timmons had been the team's co-hitting coaches for the last three years. The 64-year-old LeBoeuf has been Nashville's hitting coach the last six years and joined the Brewers in 2010 after coaching in the farm systems of the Phillies, Mets, Royals and Blue Jays. Milwaukee ranked sixth in MLB in runs scored (777), eighth in batting average (.248), fourth in on-base percentage (.326), 13th in slugging percentage (.403) and 10th in OPS (.729) in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
3 weeks agoChicago Cubs second baseman
Nico Hoerner (elbow) underwent right flexor-tendon surgery on Oct. 11, the team announced on Monday. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister, and there is no timetable for Hoerner's return, although he should be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season, barring a setback. The 27-year-old was Chicago's starting second baseman all year in 2024 in his sixth season in the big leagues. In a career-high 151 games played, Hoerner slashed .273/.335/.373 with a .708 OPS, seven home runs, 48 RBI, 31 stolen bases and 86 runs scored in his 641 plate appearances. He makes plenty of contact, but it's inconsistent hard contact with little power. As long as Hoerner is healthy in 2025, he'll be a solid source of average, steals and runs scored for fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
3 weeks agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there's a "good chance" that left-hander
Nestor Cortes (elbow) will be included on the roster for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which begins this Friday at Dodger Stadium. Cortes is set to throw another live batting practice session on Tuesday, and if he gets through that without a setback, he could get the clearance to rejoin the roster. The 29-year-old has been out since late September due to a left flexor strain in his left elbow, so he's fully expected to come back and pitch out of New York's bullpen in the World Series. The Cuban southpaw went 9-10 during the regular season in 31 outings (30 starts), posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 162 strikeouts in 174 1/3 innings pitched. Cortes allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings at Yankee Stadium in a start against the Dodgers back on June 8.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
3 weeks agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-hander
Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 of the World Series on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Cole is expected to be followed in the rotation by left-hander
Carlos Rodon in Game 2 on Saturday, right-hander
Clarke Schmidt in Game 3 on Monday in the Bronx and right-hander
Luis Gil in Game 4 on Tuesday. Cole, who got a late start in 2024 due to an injury and made only 17 starts during the regular season, has allowed seven runs (six earned) on 19 hits (one homer) while walking six and striking out 12 in three playoff starts (16 1/3 innings) this October. The 2023 American League Cy Young winner hasn't been all that dominant in the postseason this year and will face one of the best offenses in baseball in Game 1 of the World Series.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
4 weeks agoNew York Mets third baseman
Mark Vientos did his best to keep his team alive in the postseason, hitting a two-run homer in a 10-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS. Unfortunately, Vientos couldn't do it all himself, and the Mets were eliminated from the playoffs. The 24-year-old was a shining star all postseason, hitting .327 with a .998 OPS while smacking five homers and driving in 14 runs over 55 at-bats. If nothing else, the Mets have found their third baseman of the future.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Sean Manaea had a tough outing in Game 6 of the NLCS on Sunday, taking the loss in a 10-5 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manaea allowed five earned runs in two innings, giving up six hits and two walks while striking out two. The 32-year-old lefty just didn't have it in this one in what was easily his worst start of the postseason. He finishes the postseason with two wins in four starts, a 4.74 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 19 IP. He should be back with the Mets in 2025 as a key part of their rotation.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Blake Treinen recorded the final six outs of Game 6 of the NLCS, earning the save in a 10-5 win over the New York Mets. The 36-year-old allowed one run on two hits while striking out four. Treinen was the seventh Dodgers reliever used in this one, as manager Dave Roberts elected to go with a bullpen game. It wasn't pretty, as five of the seven allowed a run, but they got the job done. As for Treinen, the run he allowed in this one was the first he has given up in eight postseason innings. Los Angeles will need him to continue that form against the New York Yankees in what should be an entertaining World Series.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher
Will Smith busted out of his postseason slump in a big way on Sunday, hitting a two-run homer to break open Game 6 of the NLCS. Smith got a hold of a
Phil Maton fastball and sent it over the center field wall in the third inning to put the Dodgers up 6-1. The veteran backstop has had a tough go in these playoffs, going 5-for-35 (.143 AVG) with one homer and four RBI coming into this one. That will all be forgotten now, though, as Smith made his mark on the series-clinching game and will look to ride this momentum in a blockbuster World Series matchup against the New York Yankees.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani set the table for the rest of the offense in Game 6 of the NLCS, going 2-for-4 with a walk in a 10-5 victory. Ohtani also scored two runs and drove in one. The 30-year-old had a terrific NLCS overall, going 8-for-22 (.364 AVG) with an astounding nine walks to set up the Dodgers offense for success all series. He also hit two homers, drove in six, and scored nine runs over the six games. Ohtani was certainly in contention for NLCS MVP, but just lost out to
Tommy Edman. The 700 million-dollar man will now get his first taste of the World Series in a matchup between two of baseball's biggest franchises, the Dodgers and the New York Yankees.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder
Tommy Edman was named the NLCS MVP after a series-clinching Game 6 win over the New York Mets. Edman had another big game to seal the honor, going 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double, two runs scored, and four RBI. The 29-year-old was an RBI machine in this series, driving in 11 runs over the six games. He also batted .407 and scored five runs. There was some tough competition with the Dodgers' star-studded lineup, but Edman proved himself worthy even if he isn't as big of a name. Los Angeles has to be pretty happy with their mid-season acquisition of Edman.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
4 weeks agoNew York Yankees designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton went 1-for-4 with a two-run shot in Game 5 of the ALCS and was named MVP of the series against the Cleveland Guardians. His two-run shot off Cleveland right-hander
Tanner Bibee tied the game in the sixth inning. During the ALCS, the 34-year-old hit four home runs in five games with seven RBI. Across October, Stanton has carried an excellent .294/.385/.794 line with five total home runs. The slugger will be a popular pick in DFS formats during the World Series, as he has been swinging a scorching bat.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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