2 weeks agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Nestor Cortes (elbow) is set to throw another bullpen session early next week and could make the World Series roster, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. The southpaw has been progressing well from the flexor strain he suffered in September and has begun to log successful bullpens over the past week. If the 29-year-old is able to have another successful session in the coming days, he could return in time to help the Yankees capture their 28th World Series. During the summer, Cortes held a 3.77 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 174 1/3 innings of work.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Chris Kirschner
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman (ankle) was seen participating in batting practice on Saturday, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Ardaya further reported that the first baseman should be expected to return to the starting nine on Sunday after sitting out earlier in the series due to an ankle injury. The 35-year-old has been dealing with a lingering ankle injury throughout October and has been unable to find consistency in the batter's box as he carries a mere .219/.242/.219 line through the postseason. During the regular season, the former World Series champion saw a slight decline in production but still boasted an excellent .282/.378/.476 slash line. Despite his recent struggles, Freeman will be a popular pick in DFS this evening as he will likely bat in the top half of the Los Angeles starting nine.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher
Will Smith (hand) was lifted from Game 5 of the NLCS after taking a foul ball off his hand. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports that the backstop was taken for X-rays, but the tests were negative. As a result, DFS players should expect the primary catcher to be behind the dish this evening as the Dodgers hope to clinch the series victory over the New York Mets. During the postseason, the 29-year-old has posted an underwhelming .143/.268/.229 line with one home run and four RBI. He will face a difficult matchup this evening against Mets southpaw
Sean Manaea, who has held a strong 2.65 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP across 17 innings in October.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians starting pitcher
Tanner Bibee hopes to keep Cleveland's season alive as they face the Yankees in a potential elimination game on Saturday evening. Bibee got the starting nod in Game 2 of the ALCS but lasted only 1 1/3 innings after allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) with only two strikeouts. During the ALDS, Bibee made two starts and logged eight 2/3 innings, only allowing two runs while striking out nine. During the regular season, the right-hander posted a solid 3.47 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP after 173 2/3 innings of work. The 25-year-old remains a solid pick in DFS formats but faces a tough Yankee lineup that has hit right-handed pitching at a strong .803 OPS this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Carlos Rodon looks to clinch the ALCS for the Bronx Bombers on Saturday evening against the Cleveland Guardians. The southpaw got the nod in the series opener and performed exceptionally well, as he tossed six frames of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out nine. This was an excellent bounce-back for Rodon, as he served up four earned runs and seven hits across 3 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS. During the regular season, the 31-year-old posted a 3.96 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Rodon will be a popular pick in DFS due to his ability to generate whiffs but faces a tough task, as the Guardians have hit left-handed pitching quite well this summer at an .813 OPS.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians outfielder
Will Brennan remains out of the starting nine for Game 5 of the ALCS. Brennan has made only two starts this entire postseason so far, one in each series. As a result,
Jhonkensy Noel will cover right field and bat in the six-hole. Brennan has carried an underwhelming .167 AVG throughout the postseason with four strikeouts. Noel has begun to heat up at the plate after going hitless during the ALDS. In the ALCS, Noel has gone 2-for-4 with a two-run shot but faces a difficult matchup on Saturday evening against
Carlos Rodon, who allowed just one run in his previous outing.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians first baseman/designated hitter
Kyle Manzardo is not in the starting nine for Game 5 of the ALCS. Manzardo has tallied a hit in each of the past three games in the ALCS but will take a seat as the Yankees send out southpaw
Carlos Rodon in hopes of clinching the series victory. As a result,
David Fry will serve as the designated hitter, and
Josh Naylor will cover first base. During the postseason, the former second-round pick has carried an impressive .294/.294/.529 line with one home run and two RBI. Manzardo will likely be deployed as a pinch-hitter later in the game, but it is best to leave out of your DFS lineup as he may only get one at-bat.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians catcher
Bo Naylor is returning to the starting nine for Game 5 of the ALCS after sitting out in Game 4. Naylor will be behind the dish and bat in the seven-hole. Naylor did not tally a hit during the ALDS and has begun to work out of his slump, as he is currently gone 2-for-7 against the Yankees with one extra-base hit. During the regular season, the 24-year-old posted an underwhelming .204/.264/.305 line with 13 home runs and six stolen bases. He will face Yankee southpaw
Carlos Rodon, who is coming off a strong outing where he held the Guardians to just one run across six frames while striking out nine and is best to fade in DFS.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton is returning to the cleanup spot on Saturday evening after batting in the five-hole in the previous game. As a result, third baseman
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is moving down to the five-hole. Stanton has been swinging a scorching bat through the entire postseason, and he is currently carrying an impressive .300/.400/.767 slash line with four home runs and nine RBI. The 34-year-old has only gone hitless in two games during October. The power hitter will be a popular play in DFS formats this evening, facing
Tanner Bibee, as he has gone deep in two straight games.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians closer
Emmanuel Clase's rough 2024 postseason continued on Friday night against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. Clase was brought into a 6-6 tie game in the ninth inning and proceeded to allow two earned runs on three hits while walking one and striking out one in his inning of work to take the loss, his second in six appearances this October. An error by shortstop
Brayan Rocchio didn't help matters, but Clase now has a 10.29 ERA (7.17 FIP), two losses and a blown save in his six playoff outings this year after he was the best closer in baseball during the regular season. It looks like the 26-year-old Dominican flamethrower has tired down the stretch, but the Guardians will need him to turn it around if they hope to win three straight and get back to the World Series.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees right-handed reliever
Tommy Kahnle got the nod in a save chance in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians and disappoint, slamming the door in an 8-6 victory for his first save of the postseason. In his scoreless inning of work, Kahnle allowed a hit, walked one and struck out a batter to put the Yankees up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, one game away from a trip to the World Series. Normal closer
Luke Weaver blew the save in epic fashion in Game 3 and has been used heavily of late, so the Yankees elected to give him a break on Friday and go with Kahnle instead. The 35-year-old only had one save during the regular season but has been a key relief arm for the Yanks in October, tossing seven shutout innings with six walks and six strikeouts in six appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Juan Soto flexed his muscles in the team's 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Friday night in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series by going 1-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored, a walk and a strikeout. Soto's home run was a two-run shot off right-handed starter
Gavin Williams in the first inning, and it was his second long ball of the ALCS against Cleveland. The win gave the Yankees a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Aaron Judge has been cold in the postseason, but Soto and
Giancarlo Stanton have picked him up offensively. Soto is now hitting .286 (8-for-28) with two home runs, a double, five RBI, seven walks and five runs scored in eight playoff starts this October. He'll look to keep it rolling in Game 5 on Saturday against right-hander
Tanner Bibee.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoNew York Yankees designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton is having a memorable 2024 postseason for the Yankees at the plate. Stanton went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and two strikeouts in the team's 8-6 win in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night. With the mammoth homer, Stanton became just the second-ever Yankees player in history to hit four home runs in multiple postseasons, joining Mr. October Reggie Jackson in the record books. The 34-year-old DH heads into Game 5 on Saturday in Cleveland with a .300 average (9-for-30) with four homers, two doubles, nine RBI, five walks, a stolen base and five runs scored in eight playoff starts this October. Stanton's three-run bomb on Friday night came in the sixth inning off of right-hander
Cade Smith and put the Yankees up 6-2 at the time.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 weeks agoCleveland Guardians right-hander
Tanner Bibee will start Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday at Progressive Field against the New York Yankees as the Guardians look to keep their season alive and force a Game 6 back at Yankee Stadium. Bibee only made it through 1 1/3 innings in the Game 2 loss to the Yankees, allowing two earned runs on five hits while waking one and striking out two on Tuesday. He was much better in his two starts in the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, giving up two earned runs, walking three and striking out nine in 8 2/3 frames. The 25-year-old will be going on short rest on Saturday after not even completing two full innings earlier this week. It will be a tall task against a hot Yankees offense, and limiting the long ball will be key if Bibee wants to go deeper into this start.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell
2 weeks agoNew York Mets outfielder
Starling Marte knocked three doubles and collected three RBI as part of a four-hit night in the Mets' 12-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Marte went 4-for-5 at the plate and added a run as part of his huge night. The 36-year-old has started to heat up a bit in the NLCS, now posting his second game of the series with three or more hits. His postseason OPS rose to .785 after Friday's explosion. The Mets will continue to need his bat to produce as they fight to force a Game 7 on Sunday. Coincidentally, the Mets have won both games where Marte has recorded three or more hits in the NLCS. DFS managers can expect Marte to be back in the lineup on Sunday in Los Angeles, where the Mets are expected to face a bullpen game from the Dodgers.
--Kevin Larson - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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