1 week agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Michael Harris II went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI on Thursday afternoon to lead the Braves to a statement victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The 23-year-old hit his first long ball of the afternoon in the eighth inning and went deep again in the following frame. Harris has launched four home runs in his past three games and is riding a three-game home runs streak. Since returning from the IL on August 14, Harris has gone deep ten times with a .254 AVG and .493 SLG. The budding outfielder missed a majority of the campaign due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain but looks to be rounding into form as the Braves hope to claim one of the final wild card spots. Harris should remain locked into all starting lineups during the final week of the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoNew York Yankees All-Star outfielder
Juan Soto (knee) is set to undergo X-rays on his left knee, but manager Aaron Boone emphasized that the star outfielder should be fine, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Soto further noted that he will see how he feels on Friday before returning to the starting nine. On Thursday, Soto attempted to make a catch while crashing into the wall along foul territory. He was able to remain in the game, so the injury does not look to be too serious. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Yankees lineup over the weekend before putting Soto into their lineups, as he may be kept out of a few games for cautionary reasons. In his first season in the Bronx, Soto has exceeded all expectations by posting an incredible .286/.418/.575 slash line with 40 round-trippers.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Garry Phillips
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani went 6-for-6 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases en route to becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and swipe 50 bags in a single season. This game was the culmination of the remarkable season the 30-year-old has had. Through his first season in Los Angeles, the two-time MVP winner has carried a stellar .293/.375/.624 slash line with 51 home runs and 51 stolen bases. Under the hood, he boasts an incredible 20.7% barrel rate, 59.3% hard-hit rate, and a 95.4 mph average exit velocity, which are the top marks in each statistic among qualified hitters. Despite only serving as a designated hitter this season, Ohtani has cemented himself as the front-runner for the NL MVP award after making history. Next season, Ohtani is expected to return to the mound as well and should be the consensus No. 1 pick in fantasy drafts next spring.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoToronto Blue Jays right-hander
Kevin Gausman (back) said his back tightened up on his last warm-up pitch before being pulled early in Thursday's start against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, but as of now, he isn't overly concerned and expects to make his final regular-season start next Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. Regardless, the 33-year-old veteran will be a bit more risky for fantasy managers that are still playing for a championship next week against Boston. Before being pulled on Thursday, Gausman tossed five scoreless innings with one walk and six strikeouts to pick up his 13th victory of the season in the team's 4-0 win over Texas. He now has a 3.91 ERA and 1.22 WHIP on the season heading into the final week of the regular season. In two starts against Boston in 2024, Gausman has allowed nine runs (seven earned) while walking four and striking out nine in 11 2/3 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith
1 week agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-handed reliever
Luke Weaver could close "a lot" of games but didn't exactly anoint him as the closer, saying "it may turn out that Luke comes into a spot in the sixth inning and gets four or five important outs when the game is on the line."
Clay Holmes was recently demoted as the team's primary closer, and the 31-year-old Weaver has picked up two saves since then. In addition to his two saves, Weaver has been downright dominant with 16 strikeouts and only three walks in 7 1/3 scoreless innings since Holmes was demoted. He has been solid for the Yankees in 59 appearances out of their bullpen in his first full season with the Bronx, posting a 3.02 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 80 1/3 innings. With the way he's been pitching of late, Weaver is probably the best bet for save chances down the stretch and into the postseason in October.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Erik Boland
1 week agoAtlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies (wrist) will return from the 10-day injured list on Friday in time for the team's series opener in Miami against the division-rival Marlins. Because Albies was still dealing with discomfort in his wrist when swinging from the left side, the switch-hitting infielder is going to hit exclusively from the right side upon his return to the big leagues. The 27-year-old is recovered from a fractured left wrist that he suffered at the end of July. Because of all the time that Albies has missed and the fact that he isn't 100 percent, the Braves could choose to ease him into the lineup and could even have him platoon at the keystone with
Whit Merrifield as the team looks to get back into a wild-card spot in the National League. Albies was hitting .258/.310/.407 with eight home runs, 46 RBI and eight steals in 361 at-bats before injuries his wrist this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
1 week agoWashington Nationals second baseman
Luis Garcia Jr. (wrist) is out of the starting lineup again on Thursday at Wrigley Field for the contest against the hosting Chicago Cubs.
Darren Baker is manning second base for the Nats and will hit eighth against Cubs right-hander
Javier Assad. This will be Garcia's second straight game on the bench due to wrist discomfort, although it's not considered a very serious injury. Fantasy managers should consider the 24-year-old to be day-to-day. Garcia is in the midst of a career season, as he enters Thursday's action slashing .280/.319/.440 with a .759 OPS, 16 home runs, 25 RBI and 21 stolen bases in his 132 games played. He would surely like to return soon to finish off his strong 2024 season the right way. Baker, 25, will be playing in just his sixth major-league game on Thursday. He's gone 2-for-5 so far with a double and two strikeouts for the Nats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
1 week agoMilwaukee Brewers shortstop
Willy Adames is not in the starting lineup for the first time all year on Thursday at American Family Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Adames is taking the night off after three straight hitless, multi-strikeout games. It ends his bid to become the first Brewers player since
Prince Fielder to start all 162 games in a season. The Brewers clinched the National League Central title on Wednesday, so they are going to give the 29-year-old Adames the day off for Thursday's series opener against Arizona.
Joey Ortiz will start at the 6 and hit seventh against D-backs right-hander
Brandon Pfaadt. Adames has already set career-highs in 2024 in homers (32), RBI (109), stolen bases (18) and runs scored (87) in 152 games played. However, he's gone just 11-for-61 (.180) with five homers, two doubles, 14 RBI and 20 strikeouts in 16 games in September.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
1 week agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder
Oneil Cruz (ankle) is starting in center field and is hitting third for the Bucs on Thursday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Erick Fedde at Busch Stadium. Cruz has been out of the starting lineup since Sunday, when he left the contest against the Kansas City Royals early due to discomfort in his left ankle. The 25-year-old's ankle injury was never considered to be serious, and he got a pinch-hit appearance in Tuesday's game. Cruz is fading down the stretch after just being moved to center field full time in Pittsburgh, but he's on the cusp of his first 20-20 season in his fourth year in the big leagues. In 14 games in September, he's gone 9-for-49 (.184) with a homer, three doubles, six RBI and 17 strikeouts in 56 plate appearances. In three career at-bats against Fedde, Cruz has a homer and one RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1
week
agoTampa
Bay
Rays
infield
prospect
Junior
Caminero
is
getting
a
day
of
rest
on
Thursday
against
the
division-rival
Boston
Red
Sox
at
Tropicana
Field.
This
will
be
Caminero's
second
day
off
since
the
Rays
called
him
up
in
the
middle
of
last
month.
read more...
1 week agoToronto Blue Jays right-hander
Kevin Gausman (back) was removed from Thursday's game early against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field due to lower-back tightness. Before leaving, Gausman at least had a nice day on the mound, throwing five scoreless innings while walking one and striking out six to leave in line for the win. It's unclear how serious the 33-year-old's injury is, but with the season winding down and the Blue Jays not having anything to play for, they will not be rushing Gausman back to the starting rotation. If his injury isn't serious, he's scheduled to toe the rubber again next Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. After coming in third in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023, Gausman has taken a step back in 2024, entering Thursday's start with a 4.02 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 153 strikeouts and 52 walks in 170 innings over 29 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
1 week agoNew York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor (back) remains absent from the team's starting lineup for Thursday's contest at Citi Field against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Shortstop prospect
Luisangel Acuna, the younger brother of Braves superstar outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee), will make another start at the 6 in New York and will bat ninth against Phillies right-hander
Taijuan Walker. Lindor is now missing his fourth straight start due to a nagging back injury, but he said earlier this week he only hoped to miss around two to five days, so there's a chance he'll be back for the Mets this weekend in a pivotal divisional series. The 30-year-old resumed baseball activities on Wednesday and should be considered day-to-day. The 22-year-old Acuna has gone 7-for-15 with two homers, a double and four RBI in his first five MLB games and has quickly become a popular DFS sleeper.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoSeattle Mariners interim manager Dan Wilson said he didn't have a definitive timeline on right-hander
Luis Castillo (hamstring) and if he'd be able to be activated from the 15-day injured list when he's eligible next Tuesday. "Progressing as he should be ... I think as far as we know right now, he's doing well," Wilson said. Castillo was placed on the IL on Tuesday due to a Grade 2 left-hamstring strain, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to rejoin the team's starting rotation before the end of the 2024 regular season. He has already received a platelet-rich plasma injection. At best, Castillo might make two more starts for the Mariners the rest of the way as they look to secure a wild-card spot in the American League. The three-time All-Star hasn't been as dominant this year, but he's still been useful in all fantasy formats with a 3.64 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 175 strikeouts and 47 walks in his 175 1/3 innings over 30 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
1 week agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks released right-handed reliever
Dylan Floro earlier this week. Floro has been released after passing through waivers unclaimed after the D-backs designated him for assignment on Sunday. The 33-year-old veteran began the year with the Washington Nationals and ended up making only 15 appearances in relief for Arizona. In his 16 1/3 innings for the Snakes, he was way too hittable, allowing 17 earned runs on 23 hits (four homers) while walking four and striking out only eight. Overall this year, he has posted a 3.80 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and a 48:17 K:BB in his 68 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Nats and D-backs. Arizona acquired Floro at the trade deadline in late July from the Nationals, but he didn't work out as a relief arm for them. In Floro's nine-year MLB career, he has a 3.49 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP and 32 saves in 402 2/3 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk later this week/weekend. Barring a setback with his sprained left wrist, Mountcastle should be able to come off the 10-day injured list to rejoin the major-league roster by the end of the regular season at the end of September. The 27-year-old right-handed slugger has been out since late August and could be eased back into first-base duties later this month as the O's look to have him firing on all cylinders for the start of the postseason in October. Mountcastle isn't a good bet to suddenly discover his power stroke after his wrist injury. He has disappointed in his fifth season in Baltimore in 2024, hitting .265/.305/.425 with a .730 OPS, 13 home runs and 61 RBI in 118 games as the team's primary first baseman.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
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