3 days agoCincinnati Reds second baseman
Jonathan India (head) is back at second base and atop the batting order as the leadoff hitter for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Chicago Cubs and right-hander
Jameson Taillon at Wrigley Field. India was hit in the head by a pitch from Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Tanner Bibee on Tuesday and entered the league's concussion protocol. The 27-year-old only missed Wednesday's contest with the Reds having Thursday off. He'll be back in there for the final three games of the regular season this weekend. India has two hits with an RBI in four career at-bats against Taillon but enters Friday's contest on a cold streak of late, going 6-for-28 (.214) with a homer, triple, two RBI and three strikeouts in nine games since Sept. 15. The former National League Rookie of the Year in 2021 will be looking to finish off his 2024 campaign strong.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3
days
agoChicago
Cubs
first
baseman
Michael
Busch
(triceps)
is
serving
as
the
designated
hitter
and
batting
fifth
for
the
Cubbies
on
Friday
against
the
division-rival
Cincinnati
Reds
and
right-hander
Nick
Martinez
at
Wrigley
Field.
Busch
was
hit
by
a
read more...
3 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki (ankle) remains out of the lineup for Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field versus the division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Suzuki suffered a sprained right ankle in Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies and will now miss his second straight start as a result. The Cubs are eliminated from the postseason, so it wouldn't be a surprise if Suzuki is unable to return for the final three games of the season. For now, the 30-year-old should be considered day-to-day. With Suzuki out again, rookie
Kevin Alcantara, who was just called up this week, will make another start in right field and bat ninth against Reds right-hander
Nick Martinez. The 22-year-old Dominican will be playing in just his second MLB game after going 1-for-4 with a strikeout in his debut on Wednesday in the loss to the Phillies.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Alex Verdugo launched a pinch-hit homer in a blowout victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Verdugo didn't start the game, but came in as a pinch-hitter for
Jasson Dominguez late in the game and took advantage of the opportunity. The lefty has seen his playing time dwindle lately due to poor performance and the depth of the Yankees outfield. Verdugo will have a hard time cracking the lineup for the postseason and will likely be a bench option. The same can be said for the 2025 season, causing his fantasy value to tank.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole dominated the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, tossing 6 ⅔ shutout frames in a 10-1 victory. Cole allowed just two hits and a walk while punching out five in this one. The 34-year-old veteran has looked like himself since the start of August, allowing three or fewer runs in nine of his 10 starts since then. His upward turn is a good sign for the Yankees heading into the postseason, and a good sign for fantasy managers that are hoping he can return to ace level in 2025.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Tyler Alexander was excellent on Thursday, holding the Detroit Tigers scoreless over five innings in a 4-3 loss. Alexander allowed four hits, didn't walk a batter, and struck out six. It was the best outing of the season for the 30-year-old, who owns a 5.10 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 2024. Aside from the ratios, Alexander also has the problem of not pitching deep into games, as the Rays usually pull him after four or five innings. He doesn't have much utility in fantasy.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoColorado Rockies relief pitcher
Seth Halvorsen picked up his second save of the season on Thursday, shutting down the St. Louis Cardinals and preserving a 10-8 win. Halvorsen allowed a hit and struck out one in his inning of work. The 24-year-old has now gotten the Rockies' last three save opportunities, converting two of them. It appears the team wants to try the youngster out and see what they have headed into next year. Nothing is ever certain with the Rockies, especially with pitchers, but he is probably the favorite for saves heading into 2025. He could be a good late-round flier for those looking for cheap save sources.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoDetroit Tigers closer
Jason Foley tossed a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. Foley didn't allow a baserunner and struck out a pair in his inning of work. The 28-year-old hasn't been dominant in the closer role, but he's been the best Detroit has and has gotten the job done most of the time, converting on 27 of his 31 save chances. With the Tigers playing better of late, Foley has actually become one of the best sources of saves in September, notching eight of them in the month. It will be interesting to see if the Tigers are happy with Foley as their closer come next year because if they are he should be a relatively sought-after fantasy asset.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher
Chris Flexen was on his game in Thursday's 7-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, tossing 6 ⅓ frames of shutout ball and earning his third victory. Flexen limited the Angels to five hits and a walk while notching seven strikeouts. While the 30-year-old has been good in three of his last four starts, it doesn't do much to salvage a season where he went 3-15 with a 4.95 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. Hopefully next year Flexen won't be on the White Sox and can be a viable streamer in the right matchups, but he has a long way to go.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoNew York Yankees designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton had a big game on Thursday, hitting a three-run double and a solo homer en route to a 10-1 mashing of the Baltimore Orioles. Stanton finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. The hulking slugger isn't the same hitter he used to be, but he is still productive and hits the ball as hard as ever. His 162-game pace is 39 homers and 104 RBI, so on a per-game level he is great for fantasy. Obviously he isn't going to stay healthy for a full year, but it's worth having him for when he is on the field.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Aaron Judge continued his scorching stretch at the plate on Thursday, homering in his fifth consecutive game on the way to a 10-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Judge finished the day 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored, and two RBI. After a "cold" stretch in late August and early September, Judge has returned to form with seven homers and 18 RBI in his last 12 games. He now has 58 dingers on the year and will look for his second 60-homer season over the final weekend.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Brent Honeywell (fingernail) was placed on the 15-day IL on Thursday with a cracked right fingernail. It is another tough loss for a pitching staff that has gone through the wringer this year in terms of injuries. Honeywell has been a quality relief option that can pitch multiple innings and can be used in any situation, so it'll be tough for the Dodgers to replace come playoffs. The severity of the injury is unknown, but he will be out until at least part of the way through the Wild Card series due to his placement on the IL.
Anthony Banda was activated off the IL and is taking Honeywell's spot, so the news isn't all bad for the Dodgers.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
3 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman left Thursday's game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning after suffering an ankle injury. Freeman was running out a ground ball and tried to avoid a tag at first base, but stumbled awkwardly and appeared to twist his ankle. He was seen after the game in a walking boot and on crutches. While the severity of the injury is unknown, the Dodgers will almost certainly take a cautious approach after clinching the NL West with a win on Thursday. In daily lineup leagues, be prepared to find a fill-in for Freeman for the final weekend.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Juan Toribio
3 days agoA judge in the Dominican Republic ruled on Thursday that the evidence presented against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop
Wander Franco merits a trial, according to multiple reports. Franco is charged with human trafficking, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor. The charges stem from the 23-year-old's relationship with a then-14-year-old girl that started in December of 2022, when Franco was 21. If he is convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. No date for the trial has been set for Franco, who obviously has been on the restricted list all year and hasn't played since August of 2023. Judge Pascual Valenzuela "repeatedly pointed out to him that the decision is not an opinion of guilt," but that the evidence is considered worthy of the case moving to the trial stage. The Rays still owe Franco $172 million from the 11-year, $182 million deal he signed after his debut season in 2021.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
3 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Sean Manaea is listed as Friday's starter as the Mets open a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers. The southpaw was initially scheduled to start on Thursday against the Atlanta Braves, but that game was postponed due to inclement weather. The 32-year-old has posted a 3.29 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP across 178 innings in Queens this summer. Since the start of the month, the southpaw has held a stellar 2.36 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, and a 9:34 BB:K ratio. Fantasy managers should view Manaea as a solid option in DFS formats, as the Brewers hold an underwhelming .708 OPS against left-handed pitchers this summer.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
RADIO
