3 days agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-handed reliever
Luke Weaver could close "a lot" of games but didn't exactly anoint him as the closer, saying "it may turn out that Luke comes into a spot in the sixth inning and gets four or five important outs when the game is on the line."
Clay Holmes was recently demoted as the team's primary closer, and the 31-year-old Weaver has picked up two saves since then. In addition to his two saves, Weaver has been downright dominant with 16 strikeouts and only three walks in 7 1/3 scoreless innings since Holmes was demoted. He has been solid for the Yankees in 59 appearances out of their bullpen in his first full season with the Bronx, posting a 3.02 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 80 1/3 innings. With the way he's been pitching of late, Weaver is probably the best bet for save chances down the stretch and into the postseason in October.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Erik Boland
3 days agoAtlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies (wrist) will return from the 10-day injured list on Friday in time for the team's series opener in Miami against the division-rival Marlins. Because Albies was still dealing with discomfort in his wrist when swinging from the left side, the switch-hitting infielder is going to hit exclusively from the right side upon his return to the big leagues. The 27-year-old is recovered from a fractured left wrist that he suffered at the end of July. Because of all the time that Albies has missed and the fact that he isn't 100 percent, the Braves could choose to ease him into the lineup and could even have him platoon at the keystone with
Whit Merrifield as the team looks to get back into a wild-card spot in the National League. Albies was hitting .258/.310/.407 with eight home runs, 46 RBI and eight steals in 361 at-bats before injuries his wrist this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
3 days agoWashington Nationals second baseman
Luis Garcia Jr. (wrist) is out of the starting lineup again on Thursday at Wrigley Field for the contest against the hosting Chicago Cubs.
Darren Baker is manning second base for the Nats and will hit eighth against Cubs right-hander
Javier Assad. This will be Garcia's second straight game on the bench due to wrist discomfort, although it's not considered a very serious injury. Fantasy managers should consider the 24-year-old to be day-to-day. Garcia is in the midst of a career season, as he enters Thursday's action slashing .280/.319/.440 with a .759 OPS, 16 home runs, 25 RBI and 21 stolen bases in his 132 games played. He would surely like to return soon to finish off his strong 2024 season the right way. Baker, 25, will be playing in just his sixth major-league game on Thursday. He's gone 2-for-5 so far with a double and two strikeouts for the Nats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
3 days agoMilwaukee Brewers shortstop
Willy Adames is not in the starting lineup for the first time all year on Thursday at American Family Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Adames is taking the night off after three straight hitless, multi-strikeout games. It ends his bid to become the first Brewers player since
Prince Fielder to start all 162 games in a season. The Brewers clinched the National League Central title on Wednesday, so they are going to give the 29-year-old Adames the day off for Thursday's series opener against Arizona.
Joey Ortiz will start at the 6 and hit seventh against D-backs right-hander
Brandon Pfaadt. Adames has already set career-highs in 2024 in homers (32), RBI (109), stolen bases (18) and runs scored (87) in 152 games played. However, he's gone just 11-for-61 (.180) with five homers, two doubles, 14 RBI and 20 strikeouts in 16 games in September.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
3 days agoPittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder
Oneil Cruz (ankle) is starting in center field and is hitting third for the Bucs on Thursday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Erick Fedde at Busch Stadium. Cruz has been out of the starting lineup since Sunday, when he left the contest against the Kansas City Royals early due to discomfort in his left ankle. The 25-year-old's ankle injury was never considered to be serious, and he got a pinch-hit appearance in Tuesday's game. Cruz is fading down the stretch after just being moved to center field full time in Pittsburgh, but he's on the cusp of his first 20-20 season in his fourth year in the big leagues. In 14 games in September, he's gone 9-for-49 (.184) with a homer, three doubles, six RBI and 17 strikeouts in 56 plate appearances. In three career at-bats against Fedde, Cruz has a homer and one RBI.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3
days
agoTampa
Bay
Rays
infield
prospect
Junior
Caminero
is
getting
a
day
of
rest
on
Thursday
against
the
division-rival
Boston
Red
Sox
at
Tropicana
Field.
This
will
be
Caminero's
second
day
off
since
the
Rays
called
him
up
in
the
middle
of
last
month.
read more...
3 days agoToronto Blue Jays right-hander
Kevin Gausman (back) was removed from Thursday's game early against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field due to lower-back tightness. Before leaving, Gausman at least had a nice day on the mound, throwing five scoreless innings while walking one and striking out six to leave in line for the win. It's unclear how serious the 33-year-old's injury is, but with the season winding down and the Blue Jays not having anything to play for, they will not be rushing Gausman back to the starting rotation. If his injury isn't serious, he's scheduled to toe the rubber again next Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. After coming in third in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023, Gausman has taken a step back in 2024, entering Thursday's start with a 4.02 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 153 strikeouts and 52 walks in 170 innings over 29 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Blue Jays
3 days agoNew York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor (back) remains absent from the team's starting lineup for Thursday's contest at Citi Field against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Shortstop prospect
Luisangel Acuna, the younger brother of Braves superstar outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee), will make another start at the 6 in New York and will bat ninth against Phillies right-hander
Taijuan Walker. Lindor is now missing his fourth straight start due to a nagging back injury, but he said earlier this week he only hoped to miss around two to five days, so there's a chance he'll be back for the Mets this weekend in a pivotal divisional series. The 30-year-old resumed baseball activities on Wednesday and should be considered day-to-day. The 22-year-old Acuna has gone 7-for-15 with two homers, a double and four RBI in his first five MLB games and has quickly become a popular DFS sleeper.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoSeattle Mariners interim manager Dan Wilson said he didn't have a definitive timeline on right-hander
Luis Castillo (hamstring) and if he'd be able to be activated from the 15-day injured list when he's eligible next Tuesday. "Progressing as he should be ... I think as far as we know right now, he's doing well," Wilson said. Castillo was placed on the IL on Tuesday due to a Grade 2 left-hamstring strain, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to rejoin the team's starting rotation before the end of the 2024 regular season. He has already received a platelet-rich plasma injection. At best, Castillo might make two more starts for the Mariners the rest of the way as they look to secure a wild-card spot in the American League. The three-time All-Star hasn't been as dominant this year, but he's still been useful in all fantasy formats with a 3.64 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 175 strikeouts and 47 walks in his 175 1/3 innings over 30 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
3 days agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks released right-handed reliever
Dylan Floro earlier this week. Floro has been released after passing through waivers unclaimed after the D-backs designated him for assignment on Sunday. The 33-year-old veteran began the year with the Washington Nationals and ended up making only 15 appearances in relief for Arizona. In his 16 1/3 innings for the Snakes, he was way too hittable, allowing 17 earned runs on 23 hits (four homers) while walking four and striking out only eight. Overall this year, he has posted a 3.80 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and a 48:17 K:BB in his 68 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Nats and D-backs. Arizona acquired Floro at the trade deadline in late July from the Nationals, but he didn't work out as a relief arm for them. In Floro's nine-year MLB career, he has a 3.49 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP and 32 saves in 402 2/3 innings pitched.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoBaltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk later this week/weekend. Barring a setback with his sprained left wrist, Mountcastle should be able to come off the 10-day injured list to rejoin the major-league roster by the end of the regular season at the end of September. The 27-year-old right-handed slugger has been out since late August and could be eased back into first-base duties later this month as the O's look to have him firing on all cylinders for the start of the postseason in October. Mountcastle isn't a good bet to suddenly discover his power stroke after his wrist injury. He has disappointed in his fifth season in Baltimore in 2024, hitting .265/.305/.425 with a .730 OPS, 13 home runs and 61 RBI in 118 games as the team's primary first baseman.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
3 days agoBaltimore Orioles infielders
Jordan Westburg (hand) and
Ramon Urias (ankle) will both need multiple minor-league rehab games before returning to the big-league roster, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The skipper said he wouldn't be surprised if Urias comes off the injured list first. Westburg was expected to begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday as he works his way back from a fractured right hand that has kept him out since early August. The 25-year-old took batting practice on Tuesday and could rejoin the club early next week. Westburg is sitting on 18 homers on the year and should be Baltimore's preferred option at the hot corner when he's back, although they could ease him in and have him share playing time with Urias to close out the regular season in September. Urias has been out since late August with a right-ankle sprain.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jake Rill
3 days agoNew York Mets right-hander
Kodai Senga (calf) intends to pitch an inning in a minor-league rehab appearances for Triple-A Syracuse this weekend in advance of joining the Mets for at least part of their final road trip through Atlanta and Milwaukee. Senga will be eligible to return from the injured list on Sept. 25, though a team official cautioned that Senga is more likely to appear later next week. The Mets play the Braves from Sept. 24-26 before concluding their regular-season schedule against the Brewers from Sept. 27-29. The second-year Japanese hurler has pitched in just one game in 2024, throwing 5 1/3 innings on July 26 before suffering a left-calf strain. Before that, Senga was rehabbing a strained posterior right shoulder capsule in the first half of the season. He has been dynamic when healthy, but with where we are in the schedule, if Senga does return, it will be in a relief role for the Mets.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
3 days agoThe Toronto Blue Jays called up outfield prospect
Jonatan Clase, who they acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners in the
Yimi Garcia deal, on Thursday from Triple-A Buffalo. With the season winding down, the Blue Jays can get a good look at Clase, who is a gifted athlete with real upside in the long term. The 22-year-old is currently listed by MLB Pipeline as Toronto's No. 6 prospect. Especially with outfielder
Daulton Varsho (shoulder) out for the remainder of the year after shoulder surgery, Clase could get some nice run to close things out through the end of September in Toronto's outfield. The switch-hitting Dominican made his MLB debut with Seattle earlier this year and went 8-for-41 (.195) with a double, three RBI and three steals in 19 games. In 94 games with Buffalo and Triple-A Tacoma, Clase has hit .263/.344/.439 with 12 homers, 45 RBI and 38 steals in 426 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
3
days
agoSeattle
Mariners
outfielder
Victor
Robles
(hand)
has
been
scratched
from
the
starting
lineup
on
Thursday
against
the
New
York
Yankees
at
T-Mobile
Park.
Robles
suffered
a
bruised
right
hand
in
Tuesday's
contest
and
didn't
play
on
Wednesday
as
a
result.
It
appears
the
read more...
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