3 days agoThe Los Angeles Dodgers called up pitching prospect
Edgardo Henriquez from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, according to sources. Henriquez had been on the Dodgers' radar for pitching help at the big-league level despite starting the 2024 season at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. His fastball has been clocked at up to 104 mph this year, so he could become an option out of the bullpen to close out the final week of the regular season and for the playoffs in October when they're looking for a key late-inning punchout. The 22-year-old Venezuelan right-hander has posted a 2.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 88 strikeouts and 29 walks in 53 innings over 43 appearances (five starts) at four minor-league levels in 2024. The team's No. 15 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, obviously has swing-and-miss stuff at all levels, but his command could get him in trouble quickly.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
3 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander
Clayton Kershaw (toe) is in "a holding pattern," and there are currently no plans for him to face live hitters. "I'll pitch when I can pitch," Kershaw said. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer threw a 30-pitch bullpen session last Friday, but the fact that there are no plans for him to progress to the next step of his throwing progression likely means that he isn't going to be an option for LA's pitching staff once the playoffs begin. There's a good chance the Dodgers will have a first-round bye, but even then, Kershaw needs more time to build his arm up. Kershaw's injured big left toe -- he was dealing with a bone spur in it -- isn't 100% healed and he hasn't started a big-league game since Aug. 30. After recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Kershaw has managed to make only seven starts in 2024 for the Blue.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
3 days agoHouston Astros outfielder/designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez (knee) said he's able to put more weight on his leg on Tuesday but still isn't able to turn his knee at all. Alvarez said he's hoping to get some at-bats this weekend in the final series of the regular season against the Cleveland Guardians, but that will be contingent on the swelling in his knee. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger was diagnosed with a right-knee sprain after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday. It's the worst possible time for the Astros to lose one of the best all-around hitters in baseball with the playoffs beginning next week. If he is unable to get some at-bats this weekend against the Guardians, there's no guarantee that Alvarez will be ready to go for the start of the postseason.
Jason Heyward is going to benefit from extra playing time in the outfield in Houston with Alvarez dinged up.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
3 days agoNew York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor (back) had a bone scan of his back on Monday that confirmed he doesn't have any structural damage. Lindor said he could pinch hit as soon as Tuesday's series opener against the division-rival Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. The bad news, though, is that Lindor is still feeling discomfort and was wearing a heavy heat wrap around his back while doing some running before the game on Tuesday. The 30-year-old missed his eighth straight game on Tuesday due to a back injury but is still hoping to return at some point in the final week of the regular season to try and get his team into the playoffs next month. Lindor is having a fantastic season in 2024, but this is the worst possible time for New York to be without its best player. Rookie
Luisangel Acuna has looked great early on since his call-up, but the Mets would surely prefer if Lindor could overcome his back injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
3 days agoTexas Rangers infielder
Ezequiel Duran is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Duran will get a breather after going 6-for-13 at the plate over the weekend series against the Seattle Mariners. The 25-year-old is hitting .253 with three home runs and 20 RBI over 89 games this season.
Jonathan Ornelas will cover the hot corner and bat ninth versus right-hander
Mitch Spence on Tuesday. The rookie infielder hasn't done much in his short time with the team and can be avoided for fantasy purposes.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
3 days agoOakland Athletics infielder
Darell Hernaiz has been recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday. Hernaiz was optioned towards the end of August after struggling with a .193 batting average across 44 games with the A's. The 23-year-old was hitting better in the minors, so the A's are ready to give him another look. Hernaiz will cover third base and bat ninth versus right-hander
Nathan Eovaldi on Tuesday. Fantasy managers can ignore Hernaiz, but it's nice to see the A's giving their young hitters more chances.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
3 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies outfielder
Austin Hays (kidney) has been activated off the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. This was expected to happen after Hays missed about a month of action due to a kidney infection. He'll cover left field and bat sixth against left-hander
Justin Steele on Tuesday. Hays has been on a tear at the plate against left-handed pitching this season. He's hitting .350 with one home run and eight RBI across 48 games versus the southpaw. That being said, Hays is looking like a viable fantasy option for Tuesday's slate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
3 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Max Muncy (side) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres. The left-handed slugger was scratched from Sunday's game due to soreness in his side. The Dodgers had a scheduled off day on Monday, which appears to have been enough for Muncy to get fully healthy. He'll cover third base and bat sixth versus right-hander
Michael King. Muncy has been limited to 68 games this season, but he does have 15 home runs to his name. His ability to go deep gives him viable fantasy value.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
3 days agoColorado Rockies catcher
Hunter Goodman is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Goodman will get a night off after recording only one hit over the weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rockies are hopeful that Goodman can be a key piece to this offense long term. However, the 24-year-old has struggled to the tune of a .190 batting average with 13 home runs and 36 RBI in 68 games.
Jacob Stallings will do the catching and bat seventh versus right-hander
Michael McGreevy. Stallings is having a surprisingly solid season at the plate with a .261 batting average and nine home runs with 36 RBI across 79 contests.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
3 days agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Nolan Jones is out of the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. This appears to be a routine rest day for the young slugger who has been in a slump at the plate lately. Jones is hitting .209 with three home runs and 25 RBI in 74 games this season.
Sam Hilliard will cover left field and bat sixth while
Jordan Beck takes over right field against right-hander
Michael McGreevy. Hilliard could be a low-end streaming option as he's posted a .254 batting average with nine long balls this season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
3 days agoChicago Cubs outfielder
Ian Happ (back) has returned to left field and will bat leadoff on Tuesday in Game 2 of the series at Citizens Bank Park against the Philadelphia Phillies and left-handed opener
Tanner Banks. Happ is returning to the lineup after missing the last two games due to tightness in his lower back, but apparently he's feeling good enough to go on Tuesday. The 30-year-old switch-hitter has hit .250 (35-for-140) with seven of his 25 home runs on the year against southpaw pitchers. He's batting .284 (23-for-81) with two home runs, a double, a triple, nine RBI and two stolen bases in 19 games in the month of September, but he's also gone hitless in three of his last four games before sitting out a few games with his back injury. Happ will be a nice DFS target against a Phillies team expected to be hungover on Tuesday after celebrating winning the National League East on Monday night.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Cubs
3 days agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Brenton Doyle (knee) is starting in center field and is batting third for the Rockies on Tuesday at Coors Field against the St. Louis Cardinals and rookie right-hander
Michael McGreevy. Doyle will return on Tuesday after missing the three-game series over the weekend versus the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers due to right-knee soreness. The 26-year-old will now hope to finish off the 2024 season on a strong note in the final few days. Even if he doesn't, it's been a standout year for Doyle, who comes into Tuesday's contest with a .264/.321/.449 slash line, .770 OPS, 22 home runs, 71 RBI, 29 stolen bases and 81 runs scored in 145 games in just his second year in the majors. Doyle's power-speed combination at Coors Field will make him a popular fantasy outfielder heading into 2025 drafts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
3 days agoKansas City Royals right-hander
Michael Lorenzen (hamstring) will make the start for the team on Wednesday at Nationals Park against the Washington Nationals, with right-hander
Alec Marsh moving to the bullpen to close out the 2024 regular season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Lorenzen will come off the 15-day injured list to make his first start since late August due to a hamstring strain, so don't be surprised if he doesn't go very deep into his start after the long layoff. It is an enticing matchup for fantasy managers still playing for something in the final week of the season. The 32-year-old veteran will be hoping to pick up where he left off after being acquired by the Royals, as he's pitched to a 1.85 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and 10 walks in 24 1/3 innings over his first five starts in KC. Lorenzen began the year in Texas.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
3 days agoMinnesota Twins right-hander
Chris Paddack (forearm) faced live hitters on Monday and plans to throw again on Thursday, with a decision point possibly coming after that this weekend as to whether the team will activate him from the 15-day injured list. The 28-year-old has been out since late July with a strained right forearm, though, so he would almost certainly return in a relief role for Minnesota at the tail end of the regular season. The Twins are currently on the outside looking in for a wild-card spot in the American League, so they have work to do this week if Paddack wants to pitch at all in the postseason. Before his injury earlier this year, Paddack was inconsistent as a starter for the Twins, posting a 4.99 ERA (4.18 FIP), a 1.39 WHIP and a 79:21 K:BB in his 17 starts covering 88 1/3 innings pitched. He also had a career-low 20.6% strikeout rate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Do-Hyoung Park
3 days agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Max Kepler (hip, knee) isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list in the regular season, which ends this Sunday, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. Knee tendinitis sent Kepler to the IL at the beginning of the month, and he also received a cortisone injection for his hip pain last week. If the Twins secure a spot in the postseason this week, the 31-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder could rejoin them for a playoff run in October. The Twins probably aren't banking on Kepler being a big part of their offense if they are playing in October, though, as he battled injuries all year long and has hit a very mediocre .253/.302/.380 with only eight home runs, 42 RBI and 43 runs scored in 368 at-bats over 399 plate appearances. Since the All-Star break, Kepler has hit .246 (30-for-122) with two homers, 10 RBI and 28 K's in 33 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Do-Hyoung Park
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