2 years agoThe Los Angeles Angels reinstated outfielder Mickey Moniak (finger) and right-hander Michael Lorenzen (shoulder) from the injured list on Friday and optioned right-hander Touki Toussaint to Triple-A Salt Lake and designated outfielder Ryan Aguilar for assignment in corresponding moves. Moniak will merely serve as outfield depth for the Halos to close out another disappointing season. He's gone 10-for-60 (.167) with two homers, five RBI and eight runs scored in 23 combined games with the Angels and Phillies in 2022. Lorenzen will make the start on Friday against the Houston Astros. The 30-year-old right-hander didn't look great on his three-start minor league rehab assignment and is an extremely risky fantasy streamer on Friday in a tough matchup.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Angels PR

2 years agoBaltimore Orioles shortstop Jorge Mateo is not in the starting lineup on Friday against the Boston Red Sox. Mateo appears to just be getting a regular day of rest on Friday. Fantasy managers need to act accordingly. The 27-year-old is hitting .226/.275/.394 with 12 home runs, 45 RBI, 55 runs scored and 30 stolen bases in his 421 at-bats for the O's this season. Shortstop prospect Gunnar Henderson is starting at the 6 instead and will bat fifth against Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello. Henderson is the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline, and he's gone 9-for-33 (.273) with a homer, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in his first nine big-league games. There's plenty of upside to be had with Henderson as a DFS play.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoChicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is not in the starting lineup on Friday against the San Francisco Giants and left-hander Carlos Rodon. The 28-year-old switch-hitter will get a day of rest against a tough lefty in Rodon. It's been a tough start to the month for Happ, as he's gone 3-for-22 (.136) with a solo homer and five strikeouts in six games to start September. He'll most likely return to the lineup on Saturday. With Happ starting on the bench, rookie Christopher Morel will start in left field and hit ninth against Rodon. Morel has had his moments in his first MLB season, but he won't carry much DFS option at the bottom of the Cubs batting order.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoChicago Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega will take a seat on Friday against the San Francisco Giants and left-hander Carlos Rodon. It will be the third straight game that Ortega has started on the bench. He's hit .191 (4-for-21) with four RBI and nine strikeouts in eight games over the last two weeks and only has four hits in 19 at-bats (.211) against southpaws in 22 plate appearances in 2022. In his place, Christopher Morel will start in left field and bat ninth on Friday against Rodon. The 23-year-old rookie is hitting .248/.312/.443 on the season with 13 home runs, 38 RBI, 49 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 323 at-bats, but he'll have low upside in DFS in the nine-hole.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoCincinnati Reds rookie starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft (biceps) is tentatively scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment next Wednesday. Ashcraft has been out with biceps soreness and was placed on the injured list on Aug. 23. After throwing a bullpen session earlier this week and a live batting practice session on Friday, the 24-year-old is ready to make appearances in the minor leagues with hopes of returning to the Reds before the 2022 season is over. With very little time left to make an impact for fantasy managers, the right-hander can probably be left to the waiver wire in deeper leagues. In 16 starts for the Reds this year, he's gong 5-3 with a 3.97 ERA (3.93 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, 64 strikeouts and 23 walks in 93 innings pitched.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith

2 years agoChicago Cubs rookie outfielder Nelson Velazquez (illness) was scratched from the starting lineup on Friday against the San Francisco Giants with an illness. Velazquez should be considered day-to-day for now. He's struggled in his first 147 major league at-bats this year, slashing .204/.282/.374 with six home runs, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored and four stolen bases. With him under the weather, Michael Hermosillo will start in center field and bat seventh against Giants left-hander Carlos Rodon. Hermosillo should be avoided in DFS formats on Friday in a tough matchup. In 28 at-bats for the Cubbies in 2022, he has just two hits, two RBI, two runs scored and 14 strikeouts.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoA pitch clock, the banning of shifts and larger bases have been approved by Major League Baseball on Friday in a vote of the competition committee. The changes will take effect next year. The competition committee consists of four active players, six members appointed by the league and one umpire, and it was created as part of the 2022-26 Collective Bargaining Agreement. A formal rule change for the automatic ball-strike system has not been made to the committee and is not expected for the 2023 season. There will be a 30-second timer between batters. Between pitchers there will be a 15-second timer with the bases empty and a 20-second timer with runners on. Defensive teams must have four players on the infield (all in the dirt), with at least two infielders on either side of second base. Bases have traditionally been 15 inches square, but they'll now be 18 inches square. Home plate is unchanged.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Heyman

2 years agoCincinnati Reds pitcher Ian Gibaut allowed one hit while striking out two to secure the save during Thursday's 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. He entered the game in the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead. The Red used primary closer Alexis Diaz in the seventh and eighth innings and turned to Gibaut to close out Thursday's win. It was Gibaut's first career save. The 28-year-old owns a 4.33 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and a 39:12 K: BB across 27 innings in 2022. Diaz is the Reds' top option for save opportunities, making Gibaut a speculative add in deep-league formats with the category saves and holds.--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB

2 years agoNew York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes (groin) allowed two runs on two hits while striking out two in four innings in Thursday's loss against the Minnesota Twins. He did not factor into the decision. The 27-year-old returned Thursday after missing the last two and half weeks due to a groin strain. He was limited and threw only 58 pitches before being removed. The southpaw owns a 9-4 record with a 2.73 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 135:30 K:BB across 135 innings in 2022. Cortes will look to throw more innings in his next start scheduled for next Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers.--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB

2 years agoMinnesota Twins pitcher Michael Fulmer allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning, earning the save in Thursday's 4-3 win against the New York Yankees. He entered the game in the ninth inning with a runner on first base to protect a two-run lead. The 29-year-old loaded the bases and allowed a run before retiring the last two batters to end the game. Since being acquired by the Twins at the MLB trade deadline, he owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB in 16 innings across 18 appearances. Fulmer is used in high-leverage situations but is called on for the occasional save, making him more of a fantasy asset in deep-league formats.--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB

2 years agoChicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom (finger) took batting practice on the field ahead of Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since August 25 with a left ring finger sprain. He is eligible to come off the injured list, but it's unclear if Wisdom will require a rehab assignment before rejoining the lineup. Wisdom is slashing .217/.311/.438 with 22 home runs, 58 RBI, 60 runs, and seven stolen bases over 471 plate appearances in 117 games in 2022. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Wisdom in all league formats.--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Tony Andracki

2 years agoNew York Mets right-hander Taijuan Walker (finger) will start Sunday's game against the Miami Marlins. He dealt with a blister on his right index finger in his last start Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 30-year-old owns a 10-4 record, a 3.60 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 96:40 K:BB across 127 2/3 innings in 2022. The right-hander won't miss a turn in the rotation and will start Sunday's game. Fantasy managers can use Walker as a streamer in all league formats, but he has allowed 11 earned runs over his last five appearances.--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Mike Puma

2 years agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is unsure outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (foot) will be in the lineup for Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. "We'll see. I'm not sure yet.," said Boone. Stanton appeared as a pinch hitter in Thursday's loss to the Twins. He went 0-for-1 with a strikeout. The 32-year-old has been out of the lineup for the last three games with a foot injury. He is slashing .213/.296/.451 with 24 homers, 64 RBI, and 40 runs across 371 plate appearances in 2022. Fantasy managers should be back on Friday to ensure Stanton is in the lineup Friday before inserting him into their starting lineups.--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Pete Caldera

2 years agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher Sonny Gray was sharp on Thursday as he struck out seven batters in his club's 4-3 win over the Yankees. Unfortunately Gray ended up settling for a no-decision as he allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk over his six frames and 79 pitches of work. The damage on the scoreboard came in the second inning when Miguel Andujar connected for his first homer of the year to plate two as he's now allowed two runs or less in five straight starts. The 32-year-old veteran will take a 3.09 ERA and 1.14 WHIP into his next scheduled start versus the Royals at home next week.--Riley Mrack - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoMilwaukee Brewers reliever Taylor Rogers secured his 31st save of the season as his club defeated the Giants 4-2 in the second game of a twin bill on Thursday. The lefty threw nine of his 13 pitches for strikes as he struck out the side in order to close out the game after Devin Williams closed out the team's first game earlier in the day. It's been an up-and-down season for Rogers in 2022 as his save total between the Padres and the Brew Crew is terrific, but it's come at the price of a 4.69 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Managers who have rode with him this long should keep hanging on as he's bound to pick up a few more saves before the season has concluded.--Riley Mrack - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com