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...
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Tyler Glasnow (elbow) felt discomfort in his right elbow while warming up for his scheduled simulated game on Friday, and the Dodgers cut it short from there as a result. "It's a setback," manager Dave Roberts said. This pretty much assures that we won't see Glasnow again on the bump for the Dodgers until the start of the postseason. And even then, there's no guarantee he'll be ready by then, depending on how his rehab goes from here on out. The 31-year-old hard-throwing righty has been sidelined since Aug. 16 with right-elbow tendinitis and is running out of time to get stretched out for a potential return to the starting rotation. Glasnow was one of the most dominant arms in the big leagues in 2024 in his first year in LA, and it would be a huge blow to the Dodgers' pitching staff if he were unable to return this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
1 week agoNew York Yankees right-hander
Marcus Stroman will move to the bullpen for this turn through the starting rotation, with left-hander
Nestor Cortes taking his next start. Manager Aaron Boone said that the Yankees could go to a five-man rotation the next time through as well. Stroman would be available in relief on Sunday at Yankee Stadium against the division-rival Boston Red Sox. This is the Yankees' way of giving some of their starters some rest at the tail end of the regular season so that they can be fully ready to go for a deep playoff run. It's obviously bad news for any fantasy managers relying on the 33-year-old Stroman with a championship on the line. He has mostly struggled in the second half, going 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA (3.54 FIP) with 31 strikeouts and 13 walks in nine starts over 43 1/3 innings. At best, Stroman might only make one more start in September.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
1 week agoDetroit Tigers right-hander
Reese Olson (shoulder) is trending towards returning from the injured list to pitch in the series next week against the division-rival Kansas City Royals that runs from Monday, Sept. 16, through Wednesday, Sept. 18. Left-hander
Tarik Skubal (hand) is already projected to start on Wednesday, so Olson's turn would come either on Monday or Tuesday. An official announcement could come on Saturday. The 25-year-old has been out since July 20 but did toss three scoreless innings with five strikeouts in his latest minor-league rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Toledo. Olson's strikeout rate has been a bit down this year, but you can't argue with his results (3.23 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) in 19 starts before hurting his shoulder. He has streaming appeal down the stretch, although a matchup next week against KC will probably make fantasy managers nervous.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit News - Chris McCosky
1 week agoHouston Astros second baseman
Jose Altuve (side) has returned to second base and is hitting leadoff on Friday in the series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels and rookie left-hander
Samuel Aldegheri. Altuve injured his side in the game on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics and sat out of the series finale against the division rivals on Thursday before returning to start the weekend series in Anaheim. Fantasy managers will want to get the 34-year-old All-Star back into all starting lineups, especially against a young hurler without much experience. Altuve has been excellent for the Astros and fantasy managers all year and enters Friday's game with a .302/.357/.450 slash line, .806 OPS, 19 homers, 62 RBI, 20 steals and 86 runs scored in 576 at-bats as a contributor across all categories. He's been even better in September with a .389 average, a homer, four doubles and five RBI in nine games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
1 week agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Jasson Dominguez is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Fantasy managers don't need to worry as this appears to be a routine rest day for Dominguez. Instead, the Yankees have decided to give
Alex Verdugo the start in left field. The left-handed slugger has hit well against Boston this season with 13 knocks in 43 plate appearances. Verdugo appears to be a strong fantasy option for Friday's slate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
1 week agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher
Tanner Houck (shoulder) has been scratched ahead of his scheduled start against the New York Yankees on Friday. The right-hander is reportedly dealing with right shoulder fatigue. Houck was given eight days of rest to overcome this issue, but it doesn't look like that was enough. It wouldn't be shocking to see Houck end up landing on the injured list. In his place,
Richard Fitts will take the ball on four days rest on Friday. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for help with Fitts unlikely to have success against the tough Yanks lineup.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Chris Cotillo
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