4
weeks
agoNew
York
Yankees
starting
pitcher
Marcus
Stroman
was
left
off
the
ALDS
roster,
according
to
Bryan
Hoch
of
MLB.com.
Instead,
the
Yankees
opted
to
add
pinch-runner
Duke
Ellis
to
their
roster
in
favor
of
the
starting
pitcher.
As
read more...
4 weeks agoCleveland Guardians rookie outfielder
Jhonkensy Noel is making the start in right field and is batting seventh for the Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday against the division-rival Detroit Tigers and left-handed opener
Tyler Holton at Progressive Field. In his first year in the big leagues in 2024, Noel played in a total of 67 games and slashed .218/.288/.486 with a .774 OPS, 13 home runs, 28 RBI, 25 runs scored and 63 strikeouts in his 198 plate appearances. With Cleveland also facing a left-hander (
Tarik Skubal) in Game 2 on Monday, it's possible Noel will make two straight starts to begin the series. Noel hit .246 (14-for-57) with seven of his 13 long balls against left-handers this year, compared to .205 (25-for-122) against righties. Noel packs a punch from the right side of the plate, but he should be considered more of a DFS sleeper long shot on Saturday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cleveland Guardians
4
weeks
agoNew
York
Yankees
right-handed
reliever
Jake
Cousins
(pectoral)
has
been
included
on
the
team's
postseason
roster
for
the
American
League
Division
Series
against
the
Kansas
City
Royals.
Cousins
hasn't
pitched
for
the
Yankees
since
Sept.
19
due
to
a
strained
right
pectoral
read more...
4 weeks agoThe New York Mets moved right-hander
Paul Blackburn (back) to the 60-day injured list on Saturday in order to activate right-hander
Kodai Senga (calf, triceps) from the 10-day IL in order to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets put Blackburn on the 10-day IL in late August due to a hand injury before he injured his back and was diagnosed with a spinal fluid leak. The 30-year-old veteran is now done for the rest of the year and won't be able to join the Mets in the postseason, even if they were to make an improbable run to the World Series. Blackburn began the year with the Oakland Athletics and made nine starts for them before being dealt to New York at the deadline. In his five starts with the Mets, Blackburn has inconsistent, posting a 5.18 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 21 K's and seven walks in his 24 1/3 innings.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoThe Detroit Tigers left right-hander
Casey Mize off the roster for the American League Division Series against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians and included rookie right-hander
Keider Montero instead. Mize missed more time with injury in 2024 and finished the regular season in the bullpen after making 20 of his 22 appearances on the year in a starting role. The 27-year-old former first overall pick in 2018 out of Auburn wasn't good in his two relief outings and went 2-6 overall with a 4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and just 78 strikeouts in 102 1/3 total innings. Montero wasn't all that much better in his first MLB season, going 6-6 with a 4.76 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 77:31 K:BB in 19 outings (16 starts) over 98 1/3 innings. He wasn't included on the roster for the Wild-Card Series but did throw 6 1/3 shutout innings against Cleveland back on July 8. Montero will most likely be used in a long-relief role.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Tigers
4 weeks agoThe Cleveland Guardians chose to include veteran right-hander
Alex Cobb (finger) on the roster for the American League Division Series against the division-rival Detroit Tigers, with right-hander
Ben Lively being the odd man out. Injuries were the story for Cobb in 2024, as he opened the year on the injured list with the San Francisco Giants and then finished the season with the Guardians on the IL due to a blister issue on his right finger. The 36-year-old is apparently doing better now, but he'll most likely be used in a long-relief role out of the bullpen in the postseason. He only made three starts for Cleveland this year, posting a 2.76 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, 10 K's and three walks in 16 1/3 innings. In two career postseason games back in 2013 with the Tampa Bay Rays, Cobb gave up only two earned runs with 10 K's and three walks over 11 2/3 innings in his two starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cleveland Guardians
4
weeks
agoCleveland
Guardians
left-hander
Matthew
Boyd
is
expected
to
start
in
Game
2
of
the
American
League
Division
Series
on
Monday
against
his
old
team,
the
Detroit
Tigers,
at
Progressive
Field.
It
will
be
a
tough
assignment
while
being
opposed
by
Tigers
lefty
read more...
4 weeks agoNew York Mets right-hander
Luis Severino will make the start in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday. Right-hander
Kodai Senga is going to start Game 1 on Saturday despite making just one start in 2024. Severino got the win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the Wild-Card series on Tuesday, tossing a quality start (three earned runs allowed in six innings while walking two and striking out three). He faced the Phillies twice in 2024 -- once at home and once on the road in back-to-back outings on Sept. 14 and 19 -- tossing quality starts both times with six earned runs allowed on eight hits (three homers) while walking three and striking out 12 in 12 innings. Severino was much better at home (2.96 ERA) than on the road (5.00 ERA), and he'll be a volatile DFS play against a strong Phillies lineup.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Mike Puma
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
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