Wed Sep 18 | 14:52 | Colin Rea Could Be Shifting To Bullpen Role | Colin Rea | SP | Brewers | Free Agent |
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Colin Rea was deployed in a long-relief role on Monday and could be shifting to a permanent role in the bullpen, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. In addition, McCalvy noted that Rea does not appear among the probable starting pitchers in their weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Since the start of August, Rea has held a 6.05 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 4:33 BB:K ratio across 38 2/3 innings of work as a starter. Under the hood, the 34-year-old holds a 9.2% barrel rate and a 41.8% hard-hit rate, which place him in the bottom 21st and 23rd percentile among qualified pitchers, respectively. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Milwaukee rotation this weekend, as it could suggest who will be deployed as a starter in October. |
Source: Adam McCalvy | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Sep 18 | 12:31 | Ryan McMahon, Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Jones Out On Wednesday | Charlie Blackmon | RF | Rockies | Free Agent |
| | | Ryan McMahon | 3B | Rockies | Free Agent |
| | | Nolan Jones | 3B | Indians | Free Agent |
Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon and outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Jones are all out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale at Coors Field against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez on the bump. Aaron Schunk will start at third and hit out of the nine-hole, Sam Hilliard will start in left and bat seventh, and catcher Jacob Stallings will be the designated hitter and bat fifth. Hunter Goodman is catching and hitting sixth. Hilliard has hit .250 (27-for-108) in his return to the Rockies this year with eight homers and 23 RBI in 49 games played. Stallings has hit .260 (59-for-227) with a career-high nine homers in 76 games, and Schunk has hit just .194 (14-for-72) with one homer and three RBI in his first 32 big-league games. None of Colorado's replacements are particularly attractive DFS sleepers, even at Coors Field. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Sep 18 | 00:56 | Juan Soto Hits 200th Career Homer Tuesday | Juan Soto | RF | Nationals | Free Agent |
New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto had a milestone game for several reasons in Tuesday's 11-2 win over the Mariners. Soto went 2-for-2 with a double, a two-run home run, and two walks. The 25-year-old lined a fourth-inning Bryan Woo fastball over the center-field wall for his 40th HR of the season and the 200th of his career. Not only did he become the eighth player to reach 200 HR before turning 26 years old, but Soto's homer in T-Mobile Park completed his quest to hit a HR in all 30 current MLB ballparks. Soto is having a career power season, slashing .287/.417/.576 with 120 runs scored, 103 RBI, and five stolen bases in 671 plate appearances. He has been a high-end fantasy player throughout his career and has fit in perfectly with a strong Yankees lineup. Despite being a free agent at the end of this season, Soto will continue to be a top fantasy pick regardless of where he lands. |
Source: Bryan Hoch - MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Sep 18 | 00:21 | Ian Happ Collects Three Hits, Two Homers Tuesday | Ian Happ | CF | Cubs | Free Agent |
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ continued his strong offensive September in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics. Happ went 3-for-5 with a single and a pair of solo home runs. The 30-year-old took Mitch Spence deep to right field in the third inning and lined a ninth-inning, 103-mph Mason Miller fastball just over the left-field wall for his 25th home run of the season. Happ has put together his best offensive month in September, slashing .308/.357/.446 with two homers, nine RBI, and two stolen bases in 65 at-bats. The Cubs have been one of baseball's hottest lineups lately, so Happ could be a bat that fantasy managers could lean on to finish the season on a high note. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Sep 18 | 00:07 | Blake Snell Carves Up Orioles With 12 Strikeouts | Blake Snell | SP | Padres | Free Agent |
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell continued his stellar second half in Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Orioles. Snell pitched six innings, allowing just one hit and two walks with 12 strikeouts. The 31-year-old was barely startable for fantasy managers in the first half of the season but has been outstanding in the second half. He now owns a 4-0 record with a 1.59 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP, and 94 strikeouts in 11 second-half starts and 62 1/3 IP. Snell will face another tough matchup in his next start at the Royals, but fantasy managers should have him in their rotation for his final few starts of the season. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 23:54 | Victor Robles Suffers Right-Hand Contusion | Victor Robles | CF | Nationals | Free Agent |
Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles (hand) left Tuesday night's game at T-Mobile Park against the visiting New York Yankees with a right-hand contusion, but X-rays came back negative. Robles had an eventful first inning, getting hit by a pitch and then being thrown out while trying to steal home plate. He was serving as the designated hitter in this one and was replaced by pinch-hitter Mitch Garver before his second plate appearance. The 27-year-old should be considered day-to-day, and fantasy managers in deeper leagues should check back to see if he's available to start on Wednesday against the Yanks. Robles has been a lineup regular for the Mariners since being acquired from the Washington Nationals, and he's been excellent in Seattle, slashing .333/.401/.475 with four homers, 20 RBI and 25 steals in 227 trips to the plate over 67 games. |
Source: Mariners PR | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 22:56 | Luis Garcia Jr. Removed As A Precaution On Tuesday | Luis GarcĂa Jr. | 2B/SS | Nationals | Free Agent |
Washington Nationals second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (wrist) said his right wrist was bothering him after his last swing in Tuesday's contest at Citi Field against the division-rival New York Mets, and manager Dave Martinez removed him as a precaution. Before he was pulled, Garcia went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before eventually being replaced at the keystone by Jose Tena. The 24-year-old's injury doesn't appear to be too serious, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the Nationals give Garcia a day to rest on Wednesday. It's been a breakout season in 2024 for Garcia in his fifth year in the big leagues for Washington, as he entered Tuesday's action slashing .281/.320/.442 with career-highs in OPS (.762), home runs (16), RBI (65) and stolen bases (21) in 131 games played. If Garcia misses additional time, either Tena or Ildemaro Vargas will pick up playing time at second base. |
Source: The Washington Post - Andrew Golden | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 18:53 | Justin Steele To Start On Wednesday | Justin Steele | SP | Cubs | Free Agent |
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) is set to come off the injured list and take the mound against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Steele has been out since late August due to elbow tendinitis. This is a welcoming sight for the Cubs who aren't quite eliminated from playoff contention yet. The return of Steele will push the rest of the starters back a day, according to manager Craig Counsell. Steele holds a 3.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 131/34 K/BB ratio this season. He'll be a favorable fantasy option for his first start back on the mound. |
Source: Taylor McGregor | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 18:35 | Ketel Marte Gets A Breather | Ketel Marte | 2B | Diamondbacks | Free Agent |
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. This appears to be a routine rest day for Marte who is in the middle of a fantastic 2024 season. Marte is hitting .292 with 32 home runs and 87 RBI across 124 games this season. The expectation is that Marte is available off the bench and should be back in the lineup after this game. In the meantime, Luis Guillorme will cover second base and bat eighth versus right-hander Ryan Feltner. Guillorme has struggled since joining the D-Backs and won't be a viable fantasy option for Tuesday's slate. |
Source: mlb.com | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 18:09 | Victor Robles Returning To The Lineup | Victor Robles | CF | Nationals | Free Agent |
Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles (undisclosed) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees. The 27-year-old is back in the mix after exiting early during Sunday's contest. It's uncertain what was wrong with Robles, but he appears to be fine after an off day on Monday. Robles has been one of the hottest hitters in the league over the last few weeks. He's hitting .463 with five RBI and eight steals over his last 13 games. Robles will serve as the designated hitter and bat leadoff against right-hander Luis Gil on Tuesday. Fantasy managers who have Robles rostered can get him back in there. |
Source: mlb.com | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 17:35 | Daulton Varsho Placed On 10-Day Injured List | Daulton Varsho | C/CF | Diamondbacks | Free Agent |
The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 14) with a right-shoulder strain and recalled outfielder Steward Berroa from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move. Given the timing and the fact that Varsho hasn't played in a game since Sept. 11, there's a good chance that his 2024 season might be over. If this is it for the 28-year-old left-handed slugger, he'll finish his second year in Toronto with a weak .214/.293/.407 slash line with 18 home runs, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 137 strikeouts in 513 plate appearances over 136 games played. His injury should open up more time for Nathan Lukes in center field for the rest of the season. In 11 games in just his second year in the big leagues, Lukes is swinging it well with a .357 average (15-for-42) with two doubles, five RBI and a stolen base for Toronto. |
Source: Toronto Blue Jays | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 17:22 | Oneil Cruz Remains Out On Tuesday | Oneil Cruz | 3B | Pirates | Free Agent |
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder Oneil Cruz (ankle) remains out of the team's starting lineup on Tuesday at Busch Stadium against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. Michael Taylor will man center field for the Bucs and will hit ninth against Cardinals right-handed veteran Lance Lynn. Cruz left Sunday's contest against the Kansas City Royals early with soreness in his left ankle and has missed the last two games as a result. For now, fantasy managers can continue to consider the 25-year-old day-to-day. The Pirates recently made the move to put Cruz in center field full time, which has allowed Nick Gonzalez to shift over to shortstop and the Bucs to recall infield prospect Nick Yorke. Taylor won't be very attractive as a DFS sleeper in the nine-hole, but he is hitting .294 in his career with an .804 OPS, a home run and an RBI in 17 career at-bats against Lynn. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 17:13 | Francisco Lindor Still Out On Tuesday | Francisco Lindor | SS | Mets | Free Agent |
As expected, New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) remains out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's contest at Citi Field against the division-rival Washington Nationals. With Lindor sitting out again, rookie Luisangel Acuna is getting the start at shortstop and will bat ninth against Nationals left-hander Mitchell Parker. Lindor said on Monday that he could miss from two to five games as he deals with a back issue that has kept him out recently. Acuna, the younger brother of Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr., will be playing in just his third major-league game on Tuesday after recently being called up by the Mets. In his first three games, he's gone 2-for-7 with a strikeout. The Mets can't afford to be without the 30-year-old Lindor for too long as they try to secure a wild-card spot in the National League, as he's having an MVP-caliber season in 2024. |
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 17:01 | Sandy Alcantara Faces Live Hitters On Tuesday | Sandy Alcantara | SP | Marlins | Free Agent |
Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow) faced live hitters in a live batting practice session at LoanDepot Park on Tuesday, and according to a source, he was pumping 99 mph on his fastball. It's a notable development, as it represents the first time that Alcantara has faced live hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery early last October. The 29-year-old continues to progress from elbow reconstruction and will spend all offseason getting up to speed that he can be ready to rock for the start of the 2025 campaign next spring. The Dominican hurler won the National League Cy Young award in 2022 before regressing to a 4.14 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 28 starts last year before having TJ surgery in October. As long as Alcantara doesn't have any setbacks in the offseason or in spring training next year, he'll likely be a sought-after fantasy selection as a high-end bounce-back candidate in fantasy. |
Source: Fish On First - Isaac Azout | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 12:27 | Unclear If Austin Adams Will Pitch Again This Year | Austin Adams | RP | Padres | Free Agent |
Oakland Athletics right-handed reliever Austin Adams (forearm) was scheduled to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas during the week of Sept. 9, but he was pulled back after experiencing a setback with his right-forearm tendinitis. Adams returned to Oakland on Sept. 12 to be re-evaluated by team doctors but still hadn't been seen as of Monday. At this point, it's unclear if Adams will pitch again for the A's in 2024. With the season winding down and the A's not in playoff contention, it would be a surprise if we saw the 33-year-old veteran back with Oakland before the end of September. If this is it for Adams in 2024, the former eighth-rounder will finish his first year in the Bay Area with a 1-2 record, 3.92 ERA (4.48 FIP), a 1.48 WHIP and a 53:23 K:BB in 41 1/3 innings out of the bullpen for the A's. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 12:16 | Nick Martini Goes Deep Twice In Rehab Game | Nick Martini | LF | Cubs | Free Agent |
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Martini (thumb) started a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday and hit two home runs on Sunday for the Bats. Martini is recovering from a left-thumb sprain that has kept him out since July 6. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback while playing in rehab games in the minors, Martini figures to be able to rejoin the Reds' big-league roster before the end of September. The 34-year-old former seventh-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 out of Kansas State has mostly been a bench outfielder for Cincinnati in 2024, hitting .212/.272/.370 with five home runs, 24 RBI and 23 runs scored in 146 at-bats. The left-handed-hitting outfielder has a .252 career average in his five major-league seasons with only 13 home runs and 70 RBI in 193 games played with the Reds, A's, Padres and Cubs. |
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Sep 17 | 01:04 | Ben Gamel Heading To Injured List | Ben Gamel | LF | Pirates | Free Agent |
The Houston Astros will place outfielder Ben Gamel (knee) on the 10-day injured list due to a left-knee contusion. Gamel injured his left knee on Saturday and didn't play on either Sunday or Monday, and now he'll be out for even more time. In his short time with Houston this year, Gamel has been a bench bat against right-handed pitching and was helping to fill in before outfielder Kyle Tucker returned from a lengthy stint on the IL due to a fractured shin. In his 20 games with the Astros, Gamel has gone 15-for-58 (.259) with a homer, three doubles and four RBI in 69 plate appearances. The 32-year-old will be hoping to return just before the end of the 2024 regular season. In his absence, fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Jason Heyward will see a bit more playing time against right-handed pitching, mainly in left field. |
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Sep 16 | 22:31 | Ryan Weathers Listed As Wednesday's Probable Starter | Ryan Weathers | SP | Padres | Free Agent |
The Miami Marlins are listing left-hander Ryan Weathers (finger) as their probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at LoanDepot Park. Weathers is coming off five scoreless innings in a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville. Wednesday's start will be his first game action in the big leagues since June 7, so he'll be a shaky fantasy streamer with a likely short leash in terms of his pitch count. The matchup against the first-place Dodgers is another reason to fade Weathers in his return to Miami. Before his finger injury, the former seventh overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2018 had a solid 3.55 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP, 67 strikeouts and 20 walks in his first full year with the Fish. He had a quality start in his lone start against LA on May 8, when he allowed three earned runs with one walk and three K's in six innings pitched. |
Source: Fish On First - Isaac Azout | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Sep 16 | 21:51 | Trevor Williams Expected To Return This Weekend | Trevor Williams | SP | Cubs | Free Agent |
MASN's Mark Zuckerman writes that it's looking good for Washington Nationals right-hander Trevor Williams (elbow) to come off the injured list to rejoin the team this weekend in Chicago at Wrigley Field for their series against the Chicago Cubs. After getting up to 73 pitches in his most recent minor-league rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, the 32-year-old appears primed to rejoin Washington's starting rotation this weekend in Chicago. Because of the fact that he has been out of action since late May with a right-flexor strain in his elbow, Williams will be a risky fantasy streamer for anyone still playing for a championship. However, Williams was having an excellent start to the year before going down, posting a perfect 5-0 record, a 2.22 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 47:16 K:BB in his 11 starts covering 56 2/3 innings. |
Source: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Sep 16 | 19:02 | Brendan Rodgers Returning On Monday | Brendan Rodgers | 2B | Rockies | Free Agent |
Colorado Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rodgers is back in the mix after sitting out the last two games due to right hamstring tightness. He'll cover second base and bat fifth versus right-hander Merrill Kelly on Monday. Rodgers has been better with the bat during the second half of the season. He's hitting over .280 with seven home runs and 22 RBI since the All-Star break. Fantasy managers in season long formats can get Rodgers back in their lineups on Monday. |
Source: mlb.com | RotoBaller.com |