4 weeks agoWith a right-hander on the mound for the Baltimore Orioles in Game 2 of the wild-card series on Wednesday at Camden Yards, Kansas City Royals veteran outfielder
Tommy Pham will start on the bench.
Hunter Renfroe will instead get the nod in right field and will bat seventh against Orioles right-hander
Zach Eflin. In the Game 1 win over the O's on Tuesday, Pham made the start in right field and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in the victory. Neither veteran outfielder is particularly attractive in DFS while hitting near the bottom of the Royals' batting order. The 32-year-old Renfroe doesn't move the needle much offensively these days after slashing .229/.297/.392 with a below-average .689 OPS, 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 120 games this year for KC. He hit just .177 (9-for-51) with three homers, five RBI and 16 strikeouts in 16 games in the month of September.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
4 weeks agoPhiladelphia Phillies right-hander
Spencer Turnbull (lat) is hoping to get the final spot on the pitching staff for the National League Division Series, which begins on Saturday against either the Milwaukee Brewers or New York Mets. "I feel like I'm ready," Turnbull said. He is scheduled to pitch in an intrasquad game on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park. Turnbull last pitched for the Phillies on June 26, when he left after three innings in Detroit. He was later diagnosed with a right-lat strain and went on the 15-day injured list. He was eventually moved to the 60-day IL on Aug. 17. Turnbull threw 52 pitches in live batting practice on Sept. 27, which followed two innings in a minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sept. 22. If the 32-year-old is on the team's playoff roster, it will be in a relief role for the Phils.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoNew York Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said the team won't make a call on their Game 3 starter for the American League Division Series until they get through Game 1 on Saturday, with the possibility that right-handers
Clarke Schmidt or
Luis Gil could be used out of the bullpen in Game 1 against either the division-rival Baltimore Orioles or Kansas City Royals. Schmidt missed a big chunk of the 2024 campaign due to injury but has been excellent when healthy, going 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and 93 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings pitched over 16 starts for the Yankees. In his first big-league season since 2022, Gil also stood out for the Bombers, going 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA (4.14 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, a career-high 171 strikeouts and a league-high 77 walks in 151 2/3 frames over 29 innings. Gil was solid for the Yankees this year, but his lack of command could get him trouble in October.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
4 weeks agoNew York Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon will start Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday at Yankee Stadium against either the division-rival Baltimore Orioles or the Kansas City Royals. Right-hander
Gerrit Cole will take the ball for Game 1 of the series on Saturday in the Bronx. Rodon managed to stay healthy in 2024 and make 32 starts (175 innings pitched) for the Bombers, going 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA (4.39 FIP), a 1.22 WHIP and a 195:57 K:BB. Home runs have continued to be an issue for him, as he allowed a career-high 31 round-trippers in his second year with the team. Rodon had his share of ups and downs for fantasy managers, but the good news for the Yankees is he pitched well entering the postseason, not allowing more than two earned runs in any of his final five starts in September with 34 K's and 10 walks over 28 2/3 frames.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: YES Network - Jack Curry
4
weeks
agoDetroit
Tigers
outfielder
Kerry
Carpenter
will
serve
as
the
designated
hitter
and
bat
second
in
Game
2
of
the
wild-card
series
on
Wednesday
against
the
Houston
Astros
and
right-hander
Hunter
Brown
at
Minute
Maid
Park.
Carpenter
read more...
4
weeks
agoDetroit
Tigers
infielder
Wenceel
Perez
will
retreat
to
the
bench
for
Game
2
of
the
wild-card
series
on
Wednesday
against
the
Houston
Astros
at
Minute
Maid
Park.
The
left-handed-hitting
Colt
Keith
will
man
the
keystone
and
read more...
4 weeks agoHouston Astros left-hander
Yusei Kikuchi said he was told "a few days ago" that he may be used in Game 2 of the wild-card series on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park in a relief role. Kikuchi will be available out of the bullpen on Wednesday, but he would start a deciding Game 3 on Thursday if it happens and he's not used in relief on Wednesday. The Astros aren't going to hold anything back on Wednesday to try and avoid elimination after losing Game 1 on Tuesday, so it's not a guarantee that the 33-year-old southpaw starts on Thursday. The Astros would be wise to use Kikuchi on Wednesday if the game is close, as he was great in 10 starts after joining Houston in a trade from Toronto, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, 76 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 60 innings pitched down the stretch.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
4
weeks
agoHouston
Astros
first
baseman
Jon
Singleton
and
outfielder
Jake
Meyers
are
on
the
bench
for
Game
2
of
the
wild-card
series
on
Wednesday
against
the
Detroit
Tigers
at
Minute
Maid
Park.
read more...
4 weeks agoMilwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Frankie Montas will take the mound in Wednesday's must-win wild-card Game 2 against the Mets. He will be opposed by
Sean Manaea. Montas had an inconsistent regular season with the Reds and Brewers, going 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and a 22.6% strikeout rate in 30 starts and 150 2/3 innings pitched. The 31-year-old faced the Mets once this season in his last start, allowing two runs on two hits (including a home run) and three walks with six strikeouts through four innings. The Brewers kept Freddie Peralta on a short leash in Game 1's 8-4 loss, so it would not be surprising if they treated Montas the same.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Adam McCalvy - X.com
4 weeks agoThe Detroit Tigers announced on Tuesday that relief pitcher
Tyler Holton will serve as the opener for Wednesday's wild-card Game 2 against the Astros. The 28-year-old made an appearance in Game 1's 3-1 win, recording a single out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Holton excelled as both an opener and late-inning reliever throughout the regular season, going 7-2 with eight saves and 14 holds with a 2.19 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, and a 21.8% strikeout rate in 66 appearances (nine starts) and 94 1/3 IP. He offers intriguing fantasy value given his late-inning role, although that value will be capped in 2025 if he continues to serve part-time as an opener.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Jason Beck - X.com
4 weeks agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Hunter Brown will be called upon to keep the team's playoff hopes alive in Wednesday's wild-card Game 2 against the Tigers. The 26-year-old enjoyed a strong second half of the regular season, bringing his totals to 11-9 with a 3.49 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a 25.1% strikeout rate in 31 appearances (30 starts) and 170 innings pitched. He owns a 1.69 post-season ERA in 10 2/3 IP, but this will be his first post-season start. Brown had two successful starts against the Tigers in the regular season, allowing just one run in 12 IP with 16 strikeouts.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Matt Kawahara - X.com
4 weeks agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Luis Severino got the job done in Tuesday's wild-card Game 1 8-4 win over the Brewers. Severino pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He also hit a batter. The 30-year-old has changed his game approach from earlier in his career but had a successful regular season, going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a 21.2% strikeout rate in 31 starts and 182 IP. He will turn things over to
Sean Manaea for Wednesday's Game 2 with the opportunity to clinch a spot in the National Leagues Division Series with a road sweep.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoSan Diego Padres outfielder
Fernando Tatis Jr. got things started in Tuesday's wild-card Game 1 4-0 win against the Braves. Tatis Jr. went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk. The 25-year-old wasted no time getting the offense going, launching a first-inning
AJ Smith-Shawver first-pitch fastball deep into the left-field seats to ignite the Padres faithful. Tatis Jr. had another overall successful regular season, slashing .276/.340/.492 with 21 HR, 61 runs scored, 49 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 438 plate appearances. He has only reached 600 plate appearances once in his career, but there is no doubt that Tatis Jr. is one of fantasy's best offensive options on a game-by-game basis.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
4 weeks agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher
Michael King was locked in for Tuesday's wild-card Game 1 4-0 win over the Braves. King pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and no walks with 12 strikeouts. The 29-year-old's performance made him just the third pitcher ever to record at least 10 strikeouts with no walks in his first postseason start. King had a great first season with the Padres, going 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 27.7% strikeout rate. He should be a fantasy target in 2025, and his stock could jump even higher if he gets more post-season opportunities to impress.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: AJ Cassavell - MLB.com
4 weeks agoDetroit Tigers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal dealt with several health scares but earned the win in Tuesday's Game 1 wild-card 3-1 game against the Astros. Skubal pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk with six strikeouts. The 27-year-old lefty took a comebacker off the base of his glove hand in the second inning and worked through cramping in the sixth inning. Skubal became just the third pitcher in Tigers history to post a scoreless outing of six or more innings in his postseason debut. This followed a regular season where he led the American League in ERA, wins, and strikeouts. Skubal emerged as a fantasy ace this season and will look to continue into the playoffs.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Jason Beck - MLB.com
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