September 13, 2024
Atlanta Braves infielder/outfielder
Whit Merrifield (foot) is back at second base and is hitting ninth on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander
Landon Knack at Truist Park. Despite fracturing his left foot on Sept. 6 when he fouled a ball off of it, Merrifield has avoided the injured list and will return to Atlanta's lineup after missing the last five games. The 35-year-old veteran should see most of the starts at second base moving forward, barring a setback with his foot, as long as
Ozzie Albies (wrist) remains on the IL. Even though Merrifield's playing time is on the rise with the Braves late in the year, he doesn't really move the fantasy needle outside of NL-only leagues. The three-time All-Star is hitting .243/.359/.342 with a homer, four doubles, two triples, three RBI and five steals in 34 games since joining the Braves midseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
September 10, 2024
Atlanta Braves infielder/outfielder
Whit Merrifield (foot) remains out of action for the team's contest on Tuesday against the division-rival Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Merrifield, who has dealt with some bad injury luck this year, will sit out for the fourth straight game after fracturing his foot recently when he fouled a ball off of it. The 35-year-old is hoping to make it back for the team's three-game series this weekend versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, but there's also a chance Merrifield lands on the injured list. With
Ozzie Albies (wrist) still recovering from a fractured wrist, Atlanta is forced to roll with
Luke Williams for another start at the keystone. Williams is hitting ninth against Nationals left-hander
MacKenzie Gore and should be avoided as a sleeper in DFS lineups for Tuesday's slate of games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Braves
September 6, 2024
Atlanta Braves infielder/outfielder
Whit Merrifield (foot) was pulled from Friday's contest early at Truist Park against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays after fouling a ball off his left foot. Before being replaced at second base by
Luke Williams, Merrifield was hitless in his two at-bats with a walk in the eventual 3-1 win. The 35-year-old veteran was returning on Friday for the first time after missing the team's previous two contests after being hit in the head by a pitch earlier this week. Merrifield has dealt with some unlucky injuries in his short tenure with the Braves, and it's unclear how serious his latest foot ailment is. Consider him day-to-day for now. He's been slightly better since joining the Braves recently but is really only relevant in very deep-mixed and NL-only leagues for his speed. In 265 total at-bats in 2024 with Atlanta and Philly, Merrifield has slashed a weak .219/.312/.317 with four home runs, 14 RBI and 16 steals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
September 6, 2024
Atlanta Braves utility man
Whit Merrifield (head) is back in the starting lineup at second base and will bat in the two-hole on Friday at Truist Park against one of his former teams, the Toronto Blue Jays, and right-hander
Kevin Gausman. Merrifield avoided a concussion when he was hit in the noggin by a pitch on Tuesday, but he sat out the team's last two games as a precaution. The 35-year-old veteran is now back in the fold in a favorably lineup spot but in a tough matchup against Gausman, although he has recorded a hit in both of his career at-bats against him. Merrifield has been much better in his 33 games for the Braves this year than he was earlier this season with the Phillies, as he's gone 27-for-109 (.248) with a homer, three RBI and five steals. He should continue to see decent playing time in Atlanta until
Ozzie Albies (wrist) makes his return from the injured list.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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