1 month agoHouston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on Thursday that right-handers
Cristian Javier (elbow) and
Jose Urquidy (elbow) are both projected to return at the end of July in 2025, "hopefully earlier." Javier and Urquidy both had Tommy John surgery in June of this year, so they will most likely miss all of the first half of next season as they recover. Javier is the more attractive fantasy option, but neither pitcher is going to be able to make any kind of impact until after the All-Star break, and even then, they'll both be risky coming of TJ surgery. The 27-year-old Javier only made seven starts for Houston in 2024, going 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 27 K's and 19 walks in 34 2/3 innings. Urquidy was unable to pitch at all in the big leagues in 2024, and he only appeared in 16 (10 starts) games in 2023 due to injuries as well.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
1
month
agoHouston
Astros
veteran
right-hander
Justin
Verlander
said
he
plans
to
continue
his
career
and
pitch
in
2025.
Verlander,
who
dealt
with
injuries
in
2024
and
pitched
in
only
17
games,
wasn't
even
included
on
the
team's
playoff
roster
for
the
Wild-Card
Series
read more...
1
month
agoSan
Diego
Padres
right-hander
Joe
Musgrove
(elbow)
will
undergo
an
MRI
exam
on
his
right
elbow
after
leaving
his
start
on
Wednesday
in
Game
2
of
the
Wild-Card
Series
against
the
Atlanta
Braves
at
Petco
Park
with
right-elbow
tightness
in
the
fourth
read more...
1 month agoMLive's Evan Woodbery expects Detroit Tigers left-hander
Tarik Skubal to pitch Games 2 and 5 of the American League Division Series against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Although it's unlikely, short-rest starts would allow Skubal, the pitching Triple Crown winner in the American League this year, to pitch in Game 1 and Game 3, plus Game 1 of a potential AL Championship Series on normal rest. Skubal, the front-runner for the AL Cy Young award, threw 88 pitches in the Game 1 win over the Houston Astros in the Wild-Card series on Tuesday. He worked exclusively on regular rest throughout the regular season, which makes him unlikely to start Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday on short rest. Skubal has already thrown 198 innings in 2024, 50 more than his previous career-high, so using him on short rest in the playoffs would bring added risk.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLive - Evan Woodbery
1
month
agoKansas
City
Royals
left-hander
Cole
Ragans
(calf)
is
lined
up
to
start
Game
2
of
the
American
League
Division
Series
against
the
New
York
Yankees
at
Yankee
Stadium
on
Monday.
Veteran
right-hander
Michael
Wacha
will
get
read more...
1
month
agoKansas
City
Royals
right-hander
Michael
Wacha
has
been
tabbed
to
start
Game
1
of
the
American
League
Division
Series
on
Saturday
against
the
New
York
Yankees
at
Yankee
Stadium.
Left-hander
Cole
Ragans,
who
dealt
with
cramping
read more...
1 month agoPhiladelphia Phillies right-hander
Spencer Turnbull (lat) threw an inning during the team's intrasquad game at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday and touched 92 mph on the radar gun, but he was also "erratic," according to manager Rob Thomson. The skipper said the team won't put a ton of weight into Turnbull's outing, but he also said he needs some work, in his opinion. The 32-year-old is attempting to return from a strained right lat that has kept him out of action since late June. It's not that big of a surprise that the Phillies are hesitant to include a pitcher on their postseason roster that has had such a long layoff. If Turnbull were to be included on the roster for the National League Division Series, which begins on Saturday, it would be in a relief role. In his first year in Philly before the injury, Turnbull was looking good, posting a 2.65 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings pitched over 17 outings (seven starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Alex Coffey
1 month agoPhiladelphia Phillies right-handed reliever
Jeff Hoffman (neck) didn't pitched during the team's intrasquad at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday because he came in with a "little stiff neck." However, manager Rob Thomson said the team held him back out of precaution and said "he'll be fine" for Game 1 of the National League Division Series against either the Milwaukee Brewers or division-rival New York Mets. The 31-year-old should be ready to roll out of the bullpen for the Phillies as they look to get back to the World Series for the second straight season. Hoffman is a key member of the team's bullpen as a late-inning, high-leverage arm after making his first All-Star appearance in 2024. He has gone 3-3 this season with a career-best 2.17 ERA (2.52 FIP), a 0.96 WHIP, a career-high 10 saves, a career-high 89 strikeouts and only 16 walks in 66 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Alex Coffey
1 month agoLos Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said that shortstop
Miguel Rojas (groin) is "progressing." Rojas tweaked his groin in last week's game against the division-rival San Diego Padres and didn't end up playing in the final series of the season last weekend versus the Colorado Rockies. However, with time off this week with the Dodgers having a first-round bye in the playoffs, Rojas fully expects to be in the starting lineup at the 6 for Game 1 of the National League Division Series this Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the Padres. The 35-year-old Venezuelan veteran is mostly known for his stellar defense at shortstop, but he's also quietly had a nice year at the plate in 307 at-bats, batting .283/.337/.410 with six home runs, 36 RBI and eight stolen bases in 103 games in his second year in LA. Anything that Rojas gives the Dodgers offensively in the postseason will be an added bonus.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
1 month agoLos Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said first baseman
Freddie Freeman (ankle) is "progressing" and is expected to face live pitching during the team's workouts this week "at some point." Freeman injured his right ankle late last week and was forced to sit out of the final three games of the regular season against the Colorado Rockies. With extra time off this week with the Dodgers having a first-round bye in the postseason, the 35-year-old veteran is expected to be ready to go for the start of the National League Division Series this Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the division-rival San Diego Padres. The fact that Max Muncy hasn't been working at first base this week suggests the Dodgers are confident that Freeman will be ready. Freeman hit a strong .282 (153-for-542) with 22 homers, 89 RBI and nine steals in 147 games played in his 15th year in the big leagues in 2024 and hopefully won't be impacted by his recent ankle injury in the postseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
1 month agoLos Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said the plan is to start right-hander
Jack Flaherty in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the division-rival San Diego Padres. Right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is lined up for Game 2 on Sunday. Flaherty had a bounce-back campaign in 2024 with the Dodgers and Detroit Tigers, finishing with a 13-7 record, 3.17 ERA (3.48 FIP), a 1.07 WHIP and a 194:38 K:BB in 162 innings over 28 starts. He went 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 61 K's in 55 1/3 frames over 10 starts for the Dodgers after they acquired him in a trade from Detroit in late July. His 29.9% strikeout rate ranked seventh among all pitchers in 2024. Flaherty faced the Padres just once in his final start on Sept. 25, when he allowed three earned runs in five innings while walking three and fanning five for a no-decision.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SB Nation - Eric Stephen
1 month agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher
Max Fried was hit in the hip with a comebacker in the second inning of Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Padres, with manager Brian Snitker stating during the broadcast that the impacted area was bothering Fried and that was why he ultimately decided to take him out. Fried was masterful his last time out against the Royals at the end of the regular season but did not fare as well Wednesday, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, then being held responsible for five earned runs in the second inning. The southpaw allowed eight hits and no walks while striking out two in two innings of work. With the Braves eliminated, the 30-year-old will be good to go next season, although at this point it's not certain whether or not it will be with Atlanta.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Justin Toscano
1
month
agoNew
York
Mets
veteran
left-hander
Jose
Quintana
will
start
Game
3
of
the
Wild-Card
series
versus
the
Milwaukee
Brewers
at
American
Family
Field
on
Thursday.
In
a
win-or-go-home
game,
just
about
everyone
will
be
available
to
pitch
for
the
Mets.
Quintana
certainly
read more...
1 month agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher
Joe Musgrove (elbow) was humming along in Wednesday's wild-card matchup before showing signs of an injury in the fourth inning. Musgrove left with what the Padres are describing as elbow tightness after tossing three-and-two-thirds innings of one-run ball, allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out four. It is unclear at this point if the injury will affect the veteran's availability for the remainder of the postseason, but the righty has had a history of elbow issues so the Padres will hope it's nothing serious this time around. Keep an eye out for an update regarding the severity before the NLDS begins on Saturday.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: San Diego Padres
1 month agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder
Colton Cowser (hand) was hit by a pitch in the left hand during Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Royals, eliminating the Orioles from the playoffs. It was a double whammy for the 24-year-old, as it resulted in a fractured hand and also went down as a strike instead of a hit-by-pitch because he was in the act of swinging, which wound up as a strikeout. With the O's out of the playoffs, the left-handed hitter will be fully recovered by spring training. He finished the regular season with a strong rookie year, putting together a .242-24-69-77-9 line in 561 PA.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Roch Kubatko - MASN
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