2 weeks agoPittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher
Aroldis Chapman was called upon to record the final two outs of Thursday's game against the Washington Nationals. The Pirates were leading by five runs, but got into some trouble during the final frame. They brought in Chapman to put out the fire, which he did with ease. The southpaw recorded his sixth save of the season on Thursday. He appears to be the favorite to lock down saves in Pittsburgh with
David Bednar being removed from that role. Fantasy managers looking for help with saves should check the waiver wire to see if Chapman is available.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
2 weeks agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 campaign. The 29-year-old was a solid middle-of-the-rotation option before this season, but he has shown he's capable of being an ace pitcher. On Thursday, Suarez threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits, and striking out four in the win. The left-hander has struggled at times during the second half of the season, but this was a promising outing. He'll look to keep the good times rolling against the Tampa Bay Rays during his next time out.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
2 weeks agoSeattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez was able to do some damage at the plate during Thursday's game against the Oakland Athletics. It has been a frustrating year for Rodriguez, but he appears to be turning a corner at the plate. On Thursday, Rodriguez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and scored twice in win over the A's. Rodriguez now has eight hits and five RBI over his last six games. It's still a disappointing season for the superstar outfielder, but at least Rodriguez can finish it on a strong note.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
2 weeks agoOakland Athletics outfielder
Brent Rooker continued his stellar campaign during Thursday's game against the Seattle Mariners. The 29-year-old took
Bryan Woo deep in the fifth inning and then homered off
Andres Munoz in the ninth inning to cap off a four RBI day for Rooker. He has been hitting everything at the plate as he extended his hitting streak to nine games on Thursday. Rooker is slashing .298/.372/.587 with 35 long balls and 97 RBI this season. Fantasy managers can continue to ride his bat into the postseason.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
2 weeks agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher
Blake Snell gave a short outing on the mound during Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Snell struggled heavily as he needed 42 pitches to get out of the first inning. He gave up two hits, allowed one earned run, and walked two batters during his short lived outing. The veteran southpaw didn't have his command, but will certainly get plenty of rest before his next start against the Milwaukee Brewers. Snell has been solid with five quality starts in his last five outings. These kinds of performances will frustrate fantasy managers, but they will need to stick with him.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
2 weeks agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Dean Kremer (forearm) is scheduled to take the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. This comes less than a week after Kremer was hit in the forearm by a comebacker on the mound. Luckily, it appears Kremer is fine and he should be able to handle his normal workload on the mound. This season, Kremer holds a 4.51 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 99/44 K/BB ratio across 20 starts. He could have some low-end streaming appeal for fantasy managers looking for pitching help. He'll look to rebound after giving up four earned runs in his last outing.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jake Rill
2 weeks agoThe Houston Astros are skipping right-hander
Ronel Blanco's spot in the starting rotation this weekend against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks with the intent of returning to a six-man rotation during a stretch of 16 games without an off day. Blanco has been Houston's most consistent starter this year in a season in which their rotation has been decimated by injuries, but he threw a career-high 52 innings during the regular season in 2023 and is already at 148 1/3 frames this year over his 26 starts. Eventually, it's expected that Blanco will shift to Houston's bullpen, either at the tail end of the regular season or for the start of the postseason. The 31-year-old has been great in 2024, though, throwing a no-hitter early in the year while going 10-6 with a 3.03 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and 144 strikeouts in 148 1/3 innings in his first full year in the team's rotation.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
2 weeks agoPhiladelphia Phillies third baseman
Alec Bohm (hand) remains sidelined for Thursday's series finale at LoanDepot Park against the division-rival Miami Marlins. With Bohm out yet again,
Kody Clemens will make another start at the hot corner for the Phils and will bat eighth against Marlins right-hander
Adam Oller. Bohm is missing his sixth straight game due to left-hand inflammation, but as long as he's able to return during the four-game series that stretches into the weekend in Miami, the Phillies expect the 28-year-old All-Star third baseman to avoid the injured list. Although Bohm's power (13 home runs) hasn't been very impressive, he leads the league with 44 doubles and has added 89 RBI with a .290/.343/.462 slash line with an .804 OPS. When Bohm returns to the lineup, he'll continue being a must-start for fantasy managers down the stretch in Philly's potent lineup.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
2 weeks agoPhiladelphia Phillies first baseman
Bryce Harper (elbow) is back at first base and batting third on Thursday in the series opener against the division-rival Miami Marlins and right-hander
Adam Oller at LoanDepot Park. Harper was hit by a pitch on his left elbow in the series finale in his first bat on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays and was forced from the game, but X-rays came back negative and Harper won't miss any time at all. The 31-year-old All-Star and former two-time MVP has been excellent in 2024 with 26 home runs, 76 RBI and a .282/.372/.521 slash line for fantasy managers in 123 games. The former first overall pick in 2010 has been even better in 13 games since Aug. 22, batting .362 (17-for-47) with seven doubles, although he hasn't homered and has drove in only three runs in that span. Either way, keep him in your starting lineups.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
2 weeks agoThe Philadelphia Phillies placed outfielder
Austin Hays (kidney) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 2) with a kidney infection on Thursday and recalled outfielder
Cal Stevenson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move. This explains why Hays had been losing playing time of late in Philly's outfield.
Brandon Marsh is in left field on Thursday, with
Johan Rojas in center field, but
Weston Wilson should also see more playing time moving forward when the team faces a left-handed pitcher. Given the nature of Hays' injury, it wouldn't be a surprise if he's required to miss beyond 10 days, putting his availability for the rest of the regular season in question. The 29-year-old hasn't really moved the fantasy needle all year with the Phils and Orioles, slashing .254/.305/.388 with a below-average .693 OPS, four home runs and 19 RBI in 224 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Phillies
2
weeks
agoThe
New
York
Mets
reinstated
designated
hitter
J.D.
Martinez
from
the
paternity
list
on
Thursday
and
optioned
outfielder
DJ
Stewart
in
a
corresponding
move.
The
Mets
also
claimed
outfielder
Joseread more...
2 weeks agoThe Philadelphia Phillies are planning to call up rookie right-hander
Seth Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make the start for Sunday's series finale against the division-rival Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park. Johnson was a shortstop in junior college in 2018 before being drafted with the 40th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019 out of Campbell. He was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in the trade that sent left-handed reliever
Gregory Soto to the O's at the trade deadline. Due to Tommy John surgery in 2022, the 25-year-old right-hander made only 37 starts in pro ball before this season. The Phillies' No. 15 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has a 2.33 ERA with 83 strikeouts and 42 walks in 88 2/3 innings for Lehigh Valley and Double-A Bowie and Reading in 2024. Johnson makes for an intriguing deep-league streamer in a good matchup against Miami, but he's going to need to show better command.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Kiley McDaniel
2 weeks agoThe Tampa Bay Rays selected the contract of left-handed pitching prospect
Mason Montgomery from Triple-A Durham on Thursday and also recalled infielder
Austin Shenton from Durham. In corresponding moves, the club designated catcher
Alex Jackson for assignment and optioned left-hander
Tyler Alexander to Durham. Montgomery began the 2024 season in the minors as a starter, but since being shifted to the bullpen recently at Durham, the 24-year-old southpaw has been much better, tossing 9 2/3 scoreless frames out of the bullpen with 20 strikeouts and only five walks. The former sixth-round pick in 2021 out of Texas Tech went 1-7 overall for Durham with a 6.26 ERA, a 1.61 WHIP and a 105:36 K:BB in 31 outings (14 starts). He'll most likely start in a relief role but could be an interesting arm in holds leagues in 2025 if he works his way into a high-leverage role in Tampa's 'pen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bally Sports Florida - Tricia Whitaker
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Angels infield prospect Christian Moore (knee) is dealing with a meniscus "injury" but will remain with Double-A Rocket City to finish out the year. Moore's injury will be treated conservatively, and it's possible that he will play again in 2024. The 21-year-old initially suffered the injury in a game for the Trash Pandas last Friday. Moore, who was taken eighth overall out of Tennessee by the Halos in this year's draft, played in just two games for Single-A Inland Empire before getting promoted to Double-A, where he has gone 26-for-86 (.302) with five home runs, three doubles, 10 RBI and two steals in 22 games played. Given how quickly the Angels have promoted some of their young prospects in recent years in what is widely considered the worst farm system in baseball, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Moore in the big leagues in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
2
weeks
agoThe
Kansas
City
Royals
reinstated
outfielder
Hunter
Renfroe
(hamstring)
from
the
10-day
injured
list
on
Thursday
and
optioned
right-hander
Steven
Cruz
to
Triple-A
Omaha
in
a
corresponding
move.
The
team
also
designated
right-hander
Danread more...
RADIO
