1 week agoThe Baltimore Orioles will have Adley Rutschman as their designed hitter for Tuesday's game at the Boston Red Sox, giving the All-Star catcher a night off behind the plate while James McCann gets the start. Rutschman is hitting .255/.323/.400 with 18 homers, 72 RBI, 62 runs scored, and a stolen base in 132 games. He has struggled over the past month, hitting .195/.269/.256 with a homer, four RBI and four runs scored. Rutschman and the Orioles will face Red Sox hurler Kutter Crawford, against whom Rutschman is 3-for-10 with two homers and three RBI. This is a matchup that daily fantasy players should exploit.Source: Grand Slam Picks on X
1 week agoNewly-acquired infielder Eddy Alvarez is in the New York Mets' lineup for Tuesday's game at the Toronto Blue Jays and will bat ninth as he faces Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt. The infielder/outfielder was traded by the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations on Monday and was added to the active roster before Monday's game, where he scored as a pinch-runner. Alvarez was hitting .247/.348/.463 with 18 homers, 77 RBI, 73 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases for Triple-A Worcester, offering enough pop for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to consider while making for a low-end option in daily fantasy play.Source: Grand Slam Picks on X
1 week agoThe Houston Astros are promoting shortstop/third baseman Brice Matthews to Triple-A Sugar Land. Matthews is Houston's third-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline and is hitting .286/.405/.531 with 15 homers, 39 RBI, 49 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases in three minor league stops. Drafted 28th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Matthews' fast rise gives the Astros a near-major league-ready prospect, something the franchise has lacked in recent years. A strong finish in Triple-A will give Matthews an early jump on making a bid to crack the Opening Day roster next year, making him a player to watch in dynasty formats.Source: Mlib Central on X
1 week agoChicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch had a day at the plate in Monday's 10-4 win over his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, at Dodger Stadium. Busch finished 4-for-5 with a home run, double, three RBI and three runs scored in the series opener on the road. For Busch, his home run was his first since Aug. 7. He got off to a hot start early in his first season with the Cubs but hasn't been as good since, and he's also hitting just .217 (5-for-23) with his home run last night, a double, four RBI, three walks and three strikeouts in seven games since the calendar flipped to September. Since the All-Star break in mid-July, Busch is slashing .216/.298/.373 with five home runs, seven doubles, a triple, 19 RBI, 18 walks, 43 strikeouts and one stolen base in 171 trips to the plate over 44 games played. He has certainly not been as good for fantasy managers in deeper leagues in the second half in 2024.Source: MLB.com
1 week agoSan Francisco Giants rookie right-hander Landen Roupp will toe the rubber for his first major-league start on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Roupp has made 19 appearances out of the bullpen for the Giants in his first season in the majors in 2024 and has pitched to a 3.41 ERA (3.40 FIP) with a 1.36 WHIP, 33 strikeouts and 19 walks in 31 2/3 innings pitched. The 26-year-old went a season-high four innings out of the bullpen his last time out on Sept. 5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing no runs while walking two and striking out five. Roupp hasn't gone more than four innings in any of his outings with San Fran or at Triple-A Sacramento before his call-up, so fantasy managers should be looking to avoid the rookie as a streamer on Tuesday, especially against the first-place Brew Crew.Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
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.Source: 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.Source: 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.Source: MLB.com
2 weeks 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.Source: MLB.com
2 weeks 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.Source: Alex Stumpf - MLB.com
2 weeks 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.Source: MLB.com
2 weeks 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.Source: MLB.com
2 weeks 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.Source: MLB.com
2 weeks 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.Source: MLB.com
2 weeks 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.Source: Julia Kreutz - MLB.com