1 week agoPittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said on his weekly appearance on 93.7 The Fan that as of right now, offseason back surgery is not on the table for third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes (back). The current focus is on strengthening Hayes' back. He has yet to resume baseball activities since landing on the injured list three-plus weeks ago. The 27-year-old tanked offensively in 2024, but most of his issues could stem from back issues that have plagued him all year. Hayes is not going to return in 2024, and his and the Pirates primary focus this offseason will be to get his back issues sorted out so that he can try to get back to form in 2025. The former first-rounder in 2015 struggled to a .233/.283/.290 slash line with a terrible .573 OPS, four homers, 25 RBI and 11 steals in 365 at-bats this year.
Jared Triolo has been the primary beneficiary at third in Pittsburgh with Hayes on the IL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Andrew Destin
1 week agoThe St. Louis Cardinals are calling up infield prospect
Thomas Saggese from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, according to sources. Saggese, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was acquired by the Cardinals from the Texas Rangers in the trade that involved left-hander
Jordan Montgomery being shipped to Texas last year. Saggese could be replacing the injured
Brendan Donovan (foot) on the active roster and could see regular playing time at the keystone in St. Louis to close out the year. The 22-year-old former fifth-rounder by Texas in 2020 gets his first big-league call after slashing .253/.313/.438 with a .752 OPS, 20 home runs, 67 RBI and nine stolen bases in 125 games for Memphis this year. Saggese came up as a shortstop but can also play second or third base in a pinch. None of his tools jump off the page exactly, but Saggese does have 15-plus-homer power as a middle-infielder.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
1 week agoCleveland Guardians right-hander
Ben Lively is getting the starting nod on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Rookie
Joey Cantillo got the start in Lively's place for the series opener against Chicago and was lights-out in seven innings of work. The Guardians were looking to give Lively an extra day of rest, and he'll now be even more attractive in the best matchup a pitcher could ask for. The 32-year-old has struggled of late, giving up 10 runs in his last two starts, but he now has the perfect bounce-back opportunity against the worst team in baseball. You better believe Lively will be a popular fantasy streamer on Tuesday. Since the All-Star break, Lively has struggled to a 4.98 ERA (5.33 FIP) with 18 walks and 30 strikeouts in his nine starts. In his two starts against Chicago in 2024, he's allowed six earned runs while walking four and fanning eight in 11 2/3 frames.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoLos Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Reid Detmers delivered another solid performance in Monday's 6-2 win over the Twins. Detmers pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits (including a solo home run) and two walks with eight strikeouts. The 25-year-old was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on September 3 and has allowed four runs in 12 IP with 18 strikeouts in his two starts back. Detmers has shown fantasy promise at times throughout his career but has also been very inconsistent. Fantasy managers may not be willing to trust him, but his next start could be an excellent one against the White Sox. Given the strong matchup and recent performance, he may be worth a fantasy start consideration if he were to make the start.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoPittsburgh Pirates rookie starting pitcher
Paul Skenes continued to dazzle in Monday's 3-2 win over the Marlins. Skenes pitched six innings, allowing one run on six hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. The 22-year-old has lived up to all the hype that came with being a No. 1 overall pick and is 10-2 with a 2.10 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and an 11.33 K/9 rate (151 strikeouts) in 20 starts and 120 IP. Not only did the start help Skenes break the Pirates franchise record for strikeouts by a rookie, but it put him in a select group of all historical pitchers with more strikeouts in their first 20 games. Skenes' next start is slated to be a favorable matchup at the Cardinals, although the team does not strike out much.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Alex Stumpf - MLB.com
1 week agoNew York Yankees catcher
Austin Wells continued his strong offensive second half in Monday's 10-4 win over the Royals. Wells went 2-for-5 with a double, a three-run home run, four RBI, and a strikeout. The 25-year-old backstop broke a seventh-inning tie by driving a
James McArthur fastball deep into the right-field seats for his 13th long ball of the season. While he has cooled off in September, Wells has put together a .295/.380/.511 second-half slash line with seven HR and 29 RBI in 135 at-bats. His current performance and exposure to an excellent Yankees lineup make him a potential fantasy option in most fantasy leagues down the stretch.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoCleveland Guardians starting pitcher
Joey Cantillo turned in the best start of his young career in Monday's 5-3 win over the White Sox. Cantillo, who was recalled from Triple-A Columbus ahead of the start, pitched seven innings, allowing one run on two hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts, earning his first career win. The 24-year-old prospect has made six appearances (five starts) with the Guardians and owns a bloated 5.96 ERA in 25 2/3 IP. He has pitched better at Triple-A, but it does not seem he necessarily has a clear path to playing time down the stretch in the big leagues. It is possible he could make a few more spot starts, but he seems to be a more relevant player in dynasty or keeper fantasy leagues at this time.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoBoston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter
Tyler O'Neill continued his second-half power surge in Monday's 12-3 win over the Orioles. O'Neill went 3-for-5 with a double, a pair of solo home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout. The 29-year-old went back-to-back with
Rob Refsnyder off
Cade Povich in the third inning and then again off
Cole Irvin in the eighth inning. O'Neill has provided power throughout the season with 29 HR, but he has really gotten things going in the second half. He now owns a .360/.448/.880 slash line with four HR and six RBI in 25 September at-bats. O'Neill could give fantasy managers an extra lineup boost down the stretch, particularly if the Red Sox continue to hit better as a team overall.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Rob Refsnyder had an excellent day at the plate in Monday's 12-3 win over the Orioles. Refsnyder went 4-for-4 with a single, a double, a solo home run, a two-run HR, five RBI, and a walk. The 33-year-old veteran took
Cade Povich deep to straightaway center in the third inning and took
Cole Irvin just beyond the Pesky Pole in the eighth inning. Refsnyder has put together a solid season slash line in limited playing time and is batting .400 with an .867 slugging percentage in September. However, he has managed just 15 at-bats in the month. Refsnyder could provide a hot bat to cap off the season, but he will need to translate his success into more playing time to put him in the fantasy roster conversation.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoNew York Mets pitcher
Tylor Megill turned in a solid outing in Monday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays. Megill, who got the nod after
Paul Blackburn (hand, back) faced a delay in his return from the injured list due to a lower back issue, pitched six scoreless innings. The 29-year-old allowed just one hit and two walks with nine strikeouts. Megill was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse at the end of August and has compiled a stellar 2.34 ERA in three starts. However, the Mets have stated that they are giving Blackburn a 48-hour window to assess his response to back treatment and that he will slot back into the starting rotation if able, with Megill moving to the bullpen. Even if Blackburn is unable to return, the next time around the rotation would be a tough matchup at the Phillies, so fantasy managers may want to avoid whoever makes the start.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Julia Kreutz - MLB.com
1
week
agoNew
York
Mets
right-hander
Paul
Blackburn
(back,
hand)
was
originally
expected
to
come
off
the
15-day
injured
list
to
start
on
Monday
in
Toronto
against
the
Blue
Jays,
but
those
plans
were
scrapped
due
to
a
back
issue,
and
Blackburn
will
not
pitch
read more...
1 week agoToronto Blue Jays first baseman
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (foot) fouled a ball off his toes on his left foot during Monday's 3-2 loss to the New York Mets at the Rogers Centre and underwent X-rays in the middle of the game, which came back negative. The Blue Jays will see how Guerrero feels on Tuesday, but it sounds like he has avoided a serious injury. Guerrero, who was serving as the designated hitter in this one, played the entire game and finished 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in the loss. Fantasy managers should consider Vlad to be day-to-day for now, but don't be surprised if Toronto holds him out of the starting lineup as a precaution on Tuesday. If the 25-year-old misses any time, rookie
Spencer Horwitz will see more time at first. Guerrero, who has been an All-Star each of the last four seasons, is having a great season with a .324/.395/.554 slash line, 28 homers and 94 RBI in 141 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
1
week
agoNew
York
Yankees
outfielder
Alex
Verdugo
made
the
start
in
left
field
while
batting
ninth
on
Monday
in
the
series
opener
at
Yankee
Stadium
against
the
visiting
Kansas
City
Royals,
but
it
seems
likely
that
he's
going
to
be
the
odd
man
out
read more...
1 week agoChicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that left-hander
Justin Steele's (elbow) catch play has gone well of late and that a bullpen session is next, and it could happen "on this road trip." The Cubs' current road trip ends this Sunday at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. If the 29-year-old southpaw can get through a successful bullpen session this week, he could move to a simulated game or live bullpen session next. Steele is currently on the 15-day injured list due to left-elbow inflammation, but barring a setback, he should be able to return at the end of the month of September for a start or two to close out the year. Steele, a first-time All-Star in 2023, has been similarly as good in 2024 despite spending some time on the IL due to injuries. He has an ERA just over 3.00 with a career-high 24.9% strikeout rate as a trusted weapon at the top of Chicago's starting rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Maddie Lee
1 week agoBaltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde thinks that first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) will be able to come off the 10-day injured list before the end of the 2024 regular season in September. "I think he's going to come back by the end of the regular season, I just don't know when," Hyde said on Monday. Mountcastle is recovering from a left-wrist sprain that he suffered on Aug. 22 against the Houston Astros during a slide into second base. The 27-year-old started swinging a bat last Friday and is slowly working his way up in baseball activities before potentially going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The O's won't rush him back with a postseason spot pretty secure, and Mountcastle is unlikely to help much in fantasy the rest of the way if he does come back in September. His power has been down yet again in 2024 with only 13 homers after hitting a career-high 33 in 2021.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
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