4
days
agoNew
York
Mets
outfielders
Starling
Marte
and
Jesse
Winker
are
both
on
the
bench
for
Game
1
of
the
team's
big
divisional
doubleheader
on
Monday
at
Truist
Park
against
the
Atlanta
Braves.
read more...
5 days agoAtlanta Braves outfielder
Michael Harris II smacked three hits and stole a base on Sunday, doing his best to lead the Braves in a crucial 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Harris certainly did his part, cracking three singles out of the leadoff spot. Unfortunately, the rest of the offense had trouble getting anything going and Harris failed to record any runs or RBI. The 23-year-old is heating up at the right time, as he had a .317/.343/.614 line with eight homers in September coming into this game. He will look to set the table for the Braves again on Monday and send them to the postseason. The hot finish to the season should remind fantasy managers of why they were willing to spend a third-round pick on Harris before the season. He will likely go for a discount next year, and savvy managers should buy the dip.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoCincinnati Reds shortstop
Elly De La Cruz showcased his game-breaking speed on Sunday, going 1-for-5 with a triple and two stolen bases in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. De La Cruz finishes the season with 67 stolen bases, easily good enough for first in the majors. Interestingly enough, though, Elly only stole 10 bags in August and September combined, which equates to a 30-steal pace. That's not bad at all, but it's also not what fantasy managers would expect from the speedster. It was still a great season for the 22-year-old, who showed major improvements at the dish and contributed some power to go along with the speed. He will be a top-20 pick in most drafts next year and could rocket into the top 10 for those chasing upside.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor showed why he is an MVP candidate on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a homer and two stolen bases in a much-needed 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Lindor also walked, scored two runs, and drove in two. The switch-hitter will look to repeat his performance on Monday and send the Mets to the playoffs. He now has 32 homers and 29 steals on the season, so a stolen base will get him to the 30/30 mark. Lindor is one of the best five-category contributors in baseball and will be an early pick at a loaded shortstop position in fantasy drafts next year.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Yankees relief pitcher
Clay Holmes picked up his first save of September on Sunday, finishing off the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 6-4 win. Holmes struck out one in his inning of work and didn't allow a baserunner. The veteran righty was removed from the closer's role in mid-September after blowing multiple saves (13 on the year) and has been working in lower-leverage roles since. In this one, the Yanks used new closer
Luke Weaver in the eighth inning in a tie game. The Yankees then took the lead in the bottom of the inning and went with Holmes for the save in the ninth. This could mark a return to high leverage for Holmes, who has been good since being removed from the closer's role. They have no reason to move away from Weaver as the closer, but Holmes could make for a good setup man in the postseason.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Michael McGreevy was excellent against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, going eight innings and allowing just one run in a 6-1 win. McGreevy continued to impress in this one, allowing just five hits and walking none while punching out six. The 24-year-old now has a 1.96 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in a limited sample size of 23 IP. While he has been great in the majors, his minor-league stats are pretty mediocre. If nothing else, McGreevy has at least given himself a chance to aim for a rotation spot in Spring Training next year.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoSeattle Mariners starting pitcher
Logan Gilbert finished off an excellent season with another strong performance on Sunday, tossing 5 ⅔ scoreless innings in a 6-4 win over the Oakland Athletics. Gilbert had his way with the A's, allowing just one baserunner (a single) while striking out seven. He finishes the season with nine wins, a 3.23 ERA, a league-leading 0.89 WHIP, and 220 strikeouts in 208 ⅔ IP. The 27-year-old blossomed into an ace this year and should be one of the first pitchers off the board in fantasy drafts in 2025.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
David Peterson was at his best on Sunday, tossing seven shutout frames and earning the win in a 5-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Peterson allowed just one hit, walked three, and struck out eight in the terrific performance. The 29-year-old finishes the regular season with 10 wins, a 2.90 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts in 121 IP. It was a very solid year for the lefty, and he has a good shot to make the Mets rotation out of Spring Training next year. That said, his season might not even be over. If the Mets can win a game on Monday and get into the playoffs, he could end up pitching in Game 3 of the Wild Card series on short rest.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoSan Diego Padres infielder
Luis Arraez picked up his third batting title of his career on Sunday. Arraez went 1-for-3 with a single during Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That single was enough to push Arraez to a .314 batting average and win him the batting title. The 27-year-old has remained a force at the plate since being traded from the Miami Marlins early in the season. The assumption is that Arraez will remain at the top order heading into the postseason.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
5 days agoAtlanta Braves starting pitcher
Spencer Schwellenbach will be tasked with taking the mound for the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the New York Mets. The plan is for Schwellenbach to pitch in Game 1 and
Chris Sale to take the ball in the night cap. It's worth noting that the Braves would clinch a postseason berth if they win the first game. That being said, the Braves would likely save Sale then and go bullpen game for the night contest. Schwellenbach holds a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 122/23 K/BB ratio across 20 starts this season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Mark Bowman
5 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Tylor Megill has been named the starter for the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves. The Mets will clinch a postseason berth if they win the first game, so they'd likely go bullpen game if that happens for the night cap. If not,
Luis Severino seems like the favorite to take the ball for the second game. Megill holds a 3.98 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 83/30 K/BB ratio across 15 games (14 starts) this season. It seems like the Mets are in good hands heading into their most important day of the season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Andy Martino
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani had an unbelievable 2024 season, but sadly he just barely missed the triple crown. Ohtani loses the batting title to San Diego Padres infielder
Luis Arraez and came in second in home runs to
Aaron Judge. Despite that, Ohtani finished with an impressive .314 batting average with 54 homers, 130 RBI, and 58 steals. He's also the first 50-homer, 50-steal player ever. Ohtani also became the first Dodger to reach 50 homers in a single season. The expectation is that his batting numbers will probably take a dip next season, assuming he returns to the mound. However, Ohtani is still one of the best players in the league and is a must-watch hitter whenever he's at the plate.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: mlb.com
5 days agoHouston Astros designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez (knee) will reportedly hit on Monday, according to manager Joe Espada. The superstar slugger has been sidelined since September 22 due to a lingering knee issue. It sounds like Alvarez has been making solid progress and should be ready for the Wild Card series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. The expectation is that Alvarez is going to DH during that series. The Astros will take that as they'd be in serious trouble if their superstar slugger was unable to hit in the postseason.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
5 days agoNew York Mets outfielder/designated hitter
Jesse Winker is out of the starting nine for the second-straight game on Sunday afternoon as the Mets look to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers. As a result,
J.D. Martinez will serve as the designated hitter and
Brandon Nimmo,
Tyrone Taylor, and
Starling Marte will be in the outfield. Since the start of the month, Winker has held a poor .071 AVG with just one extra-base hit. Even though the Mets offense has struggled over the past week, they have a favorable matchup against Milwaukee right-hander
Colin Rea and are worth a look in DFS.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoAtlanta Braves catcher
Travis d'Arnaud is not in the starting nine on Sunday afternoon as the Braves look to complete a three-game sweep against the Kansas City Royals. The backstop was the hero on Saturday evening as he launched a walk-off home run. As a result,
Sean Murphy will slot in behind the dish and catch for right-hander
Charlie Morton. Fantasy managers should expect d'Arnaud to get the nod in at least one game of the doubleheader against the New York Mets on Monday. Murphy is a solid play in DFS this afternoon as he will bat in the seven-hole and should have many RBI opportunities against Kansas City right-hander
Alec Marsh.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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