4 weeks agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Alex Verdugo will start in left field for the Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday at Yankee Stadium against the Kansas City Royals and right-hander
Michael Wacha, according to league sources. There was some question as to whether it would be Verdugo or young outfielder
Jasson Dominguez starting in left field to open the playoffs for the Bombers. Verdugo hit .233/.291/.356 with a below-average .647 OPS, 13 homers, 61 RBI and 74 runs in 559 at-bats in his first year in the Bronx. He hit .234 (15-for-64) with two homers, seven RBI, four walks and eight strikeouts in 19 games in September to close out the regular season. Verdugo has faced Wacha 11 times in his career, picking up three hits (one double) with a walk and a strikeout. He'll likely be slotted near the bottom of the Yankees' batting order on Saturday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SNY - Andy Martino
4 weeks agoOakland Athletics designated hitter
Brent Rooker (forearm) underwent right-forearm extensor surgery earlier this week, according to Athletics general manager David Forst. Rooker had been dealing with an elbow issue all year, though it did not hinder his ability to hit. The 29-year-old hadn't played in the field since May 30, so if it affected his throwing abilities, it would not have been noticed over the last few months. Rooker had an incredible season at the plate, hitting for a 165 OPS+. Should his recovery from surgery go well and if he doesn't experience any setbacks, Rooker will be a prime target in fantasy drafts, as his bat will continue to drive value for the A's as they move into Sacramento for the 2025 season. Dynasty managers shouldn't worry about Rooker's surgery much given that it didn't affect his ability to hit. Assuming all goes well, he'll continue to be one of the strongest bats in the A's lineup.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Martin Gallegos
4 weeks agoNew York Yankees first baseman
Anthony Rizzo (fingers) told reporters on Friday that he won't be on the ALDS roster. Rizzo was hit by a pitch last Saturday in the Yankees' matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates and fractured multiple fingers. The 35-year-old is confident, though, that if the Yankees advance to the ALCS that he would be able to contribute. Rizzo hit for an underwhelming 81 OPS+ in the regular season, though his prior postseason success would have potentially been a decent boost for the Yankees. With Rizzo out, it is expected that
Ben Rice will get the start at first base. Rice exploded onto the scene when he debuted in June, but he tapered off and hit only for a 72 OPS+ when all was said and done. DFS managers willing to take a risk on Rice may not like the results they get as the Royals' pitching staff allowed just one run in their two-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles in the wild card round.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Bryan Hoch
4
weeks
agoSan
Diego
Padres
starting
pitcher
Michael
King
will
likely
start
Game
3
of
the
NLDS
against
the
Los
Angeles
Dodgers.
Padres
manager
Mike
Schildt
said
that
after
Dylan
Cease
starts
Game
1,
Yu
Darvish
will
likely
read more...
4 weeks agoDetroit Tigers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal (calf) is set to start Game 2 of the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians. Skubal was dominant in his postseason debut on Tuesday against the Houston Astros despite dealing with calf cramping, pitching six shutout innings while striking out six. Skubal faced Cleveland just once this season and gave up 10 hits to the Guardians in July, though those 10 hits only yielded one run. The likely AL Cy Young winner has been very good against current Guardians hitters, who have only hit him for a .278 wOBA in 63 plate appearances. Only
Jose Ramirez has had much success against Skubal when he's faced the Guardians, going 9-for-21 with three doubles and a triple against him. Skubal will be a must-start on Sunday in all DFS formats, though, and DFS managers shouldn't worry much about his 10-hit outing in July being replicated in October. If the 27-year-old can limit production from Ramirez, then it should be smooth sailing for Skubal and the Tigers.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Evan Woodbery
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Tyler Glasnow (elbow) said on Friday that he doesn't know anything more about his recovery plan as he works to recover from an elbow sprain that has sidelined him until 2025. He said he is still not throwing and will have more imaging at some point. Once the imaging is complete then a more definitive recovery plan will likely follow. Glasnow joined the Dodgers this season after signing a five-year, $136.5 million contract in the offseason. He was able to start 22 games for the Dodgers and pitch to a 3.49 ERA before noticing elbow pain in mid-August. His absence will loom large for the Dodgers who have seen their rotation battle injuries all season. Dynasty managers shouldn't overreact to yet another injury holding back Glasnow's potential but his pattern of injuries warrants a bit of worry about his future.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Bill Plunkett
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman (ankle) said that he will play Saturday in Game 1 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres. At the time of his injury, he was told that it normally takes four to six weeks on the injured list before a player normally returns, but he will "try to do it in a week." The lefty ended the season strong before injuring his ankle, hitting for a .774 OPS in September. His presence will be a huge boost for the Dodgers, who get a tough matchup to start their series in
Dylan Cease. Freeman has three hits in nine plate appearances against Cease in his career, including a double. DFS managers will certainly want to target the Dodgers' first baseman on Saturday, though they should approach him with optimistic caution given his ankle injury and the high stakes of the series opener.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: Bill Plunkett
4
weeks
agoPhiladelphia
Phillies
manager
Rob
Thomson
said
that
left-hander
Cristopher
Sanchez
will
take
the
ball
and
start
Game
2
of
the
National
League
Division
Series
on
Sunday
at
Citizens
Bank
Park
against
the
division-rival
New
York
Mets.
Right-hander
read more...
4 weeks agoNew York Mets right-hander
Kodai Senga (calf, triceps) will start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, according to manager
Carlos Mendoza. "We'll see," Mendoza said when asked what Senga can actually give the Mets on Saturday. "We're going to let it play out." Senga is an interesting choice to open the series after pitching in just one big-league game all year due to shoulder, calf and triceps injuries. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler's one start came on July 26 against the Atlanta Braves, when he allowed two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and only one walk. Senga figured to only be a relief option for the Mets if he was included on their playoff roster, so he should operate as more of an opener on Saturday than a traditional starter. We wouldn't recommend using him in DFS on Saturday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SNY
4
weeks
agoSan
Diego
Padres
right-hander
Joe
Musgrove
(elbow)
will
undergo
Tommy
John
surgery,
according
to
general
manager
A.J.
Preller.
It
was
announced
earlier
on
Friday
that
Musgrove
would
not
be
available
for
the
National
League
Division
Series
against
the
division-rival
Los
Angeles
Dodgers,
read more...
4 weeks agoAtlanta Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said that the team is planning to exercise their 2025 club options for catcher
Travis d'Arnaud ($8 million) and left-handed reliever
Aaron Bummer ($7.25 million). d'Arnaud saw much more playing time than expected in 2024, even when
Sean Murphy was healthy. He was the better offensive backstop of the two also, hitting .238/.302/.436 with a .739 OPS, 15 home runs, 48 RBI and 40 runs scored in 99 regular-season games for Atlanta. The 35-year-old veteran should be expected to split duties at catcher with Murphy again in 2025. Bummer, 31, could be Atlanta's primary late-inning left-hander in 2025. In his first year with the Braves in 2024, he went 4-3 with a 3.58 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP and 69 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings over his 56 appearances out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
4
weeks
agoAtlanta
Braves
president
of
baseball
operations
Alex
Anthopoulos
said
that
the
team
is
planning
to
exercise
their
club
option
for
the
2025
season
on
outfielder/designated
hitter
Marcell
Ozuna
for
$16
million.
It's
a
no-brainer
decision
after
Ozuna
made
the
All-Star
team
for
read more...
4 weeks agoAtlanta Braves left-hander
Chris Sale (back) threw a side session on Friday and felt great. President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos told Sale earlier this week that he would have been on the roster for the National League Division Series had the Braves advanced past the San Diego Padres in the Wild-Card Series. Sale had to be scratched from Game 2 of Monday's divisional doubleheader against the New York Mets and then was unavailable to pitch in either of the two games of the Wild-Card Series in San Diego on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was a disappointing end of the season for the 35-year-old veteran, who is the front-runner to win the National League Cy Young this year after going 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 225 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings over his 29 starts in his first year with the Braves. The eight-time All-Star obviously still has lots of upside, but he's also a big injury risk at his age.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
4 weeks agoAtlanta Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said it's too early to know when right-hander
Spencer Strider (elbow) will be back and said it could be as soon as Opening Day in 2025 or as late as early June, if for some reason he needed more time. Right now, there have been no setbacks for Strider or reason to think his timetable would be on the longer end. The 25-year-old had an internal-brace procedure done on his right elbow in the middle of April to fix UCL damage in his right elbow. Strider previously had Tommy John surgery on the same elbow, but the hope is that the internal-brace procedure will help him return sooner than later. Fantasy managers looking to draft Strider as their ace should have more clarity on a specific timetable once he gets deeper into his rehab this winter. Strider won a league-high 20 games for Atlanta in 2023 but started just two games in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien
4
weeks
agoAtlanta
Braves
president
of
baseball
operations
Alex
Anthopoulos
said
that
it's
too
early
to
know
when
outfielder
Ronald
Acuna
Jr.
(knee)
will
be
back.
Anthopoulos
said
it
could
be
as
soon
as
Opening
Day
or
as
late
as
early
June,
if
read more...
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