2 years agoWashington Nationals outfielder Victor Robles (neck) is back in center field and is hitting eighth on Friday against the Miami Marlins and left-hander Jesus Luzardo. It will be the first time that Robles has been in the starting lineup since Sept. 7 due to neck stiffness. Before the injury, he had gone 3-for-10 with a run scored and a stolen base in five games to begin the month of September. Overall, the 25-year-old Dominican outfielder is hitting a mere .224/.283/.304 with four home runs, 28 RBI, 40 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in 349 plate appearances over 115 games. Robles is only attractive in deeper fantasy leagues because of his speed, and he's a low-upside DFS play.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoThe plan is for Cleveland Guardians right-hander Aaron Civale (forearm) to return to the starting rotation and pitch against the Chicago White Sox next Tuesday, according to manager Terry Francona. Civale surrendered four earned runs and allowed two home runs in 2 2/3 innings in his minor league rehab start on Thursday, but the Guardians feel he's ready to return to their rotation next week. The 27-year-old hasn't pitched well in the big leagues this year either, going 2-6 with a 5.40 ERA (3.92 FIP), a 1.31 WHIP, 75 strikeouts and 20 walks in 75 innings over his 16 starts. Civale won't particularly be an attractive streaming option for fantasy managers in his first start back, though he could be a two-start pitcher next week.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Akron Beacon Journal - Ryan Lewis

2 years agoThe Houston Astros activated starting pitcher Justin Verlander (calf) from the 15-day injured list on Friday and optioned Seth Martinez to the minors in a corresponding move. Verlander, who landed on the injured list on Aug. 30 with a calf injury, will make the start in a great matchup against the Oakland Athletics on Friday. There's a chance he could face a pitch count in his first start back, though, since he didn't go on a minor league rehab assignment while away from the team. Still, it's hard to leave the 39-year-old ace out of starting lineups, especially in the excellent matchup. The nine-time All-Star currently leads all of baseball in ERA (1.84), wins (16) and WHIP (0.85) while striking out 154 and walking just 26 in 152 innings over 24 starts.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome

2 years agoPhiladelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins (hand) is out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Atlanta Braves. Hoskins was hit on the hand by a pitch on Wednesday, although X-rays thankfully came back negative. He won't start the first game of the series against Atlanta, but there's a chance he'll start at some point this weekend. Hoskins is deserving of being returned to all starting fantasy lineups when he's back in Philly's lineup, as he's clubbed 28 homers and driven in 71 runs in 524 at-bats this year. Alec Bohm will shift to first base and hit second on Friday, while Yairo Munoz is starting at the hot corner and batting eighth against Braves left-hander Max Fried.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoChicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert (hand, wrist) remains out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Detroit Tigers. Robert continues to be a headache for fantasy managers due to lingering injuries. The 25-year-old will miss a second straight game, but he's had just 14 at-bats in the month of September due to his left hand/wrist injury. When healthy, though, Robert has produced, hitting .291/.327/.437 with 12 home runs, 56 RBI, 54 runs scored and 11 stolen bases in 371 at-bats. AJ Pollock will draw another start in center field and hit seventh in the batting order on Friday against Tigers right-hander Matt Manning. Pollock is hitless in his last three games, but he's gone 15-for-50 (.300) with two homers, five RBI, nine runs and a steal in 14 games this month.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoBoston Red Sox second baseman Trevor Story (heel) remains out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Kansas City Royals. Story will miss his third straight game, but the Red Sox believe he's close to returning, so there's a good chance he'll be back in there on Saturday. He remains day-to-day for fantasy managers. Christian Arroyo is getting another start at the keystone on Friday and is hitting seventh against Royals right-hander Jonathan Heasley. Arroyo has gone hitless in his last three games and is batting .226 (7-for-31) with a homer, eight RBI, two runs scored and seven strikeouts in nine games so far in September. Overall, he's slashing .278/.321/.416 with six homers, 30 RBI, 29 runs and five stolen bases in 245 at-bats for Boston.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoChicago Cubs right-hander Alec Mills (back) underwent a successful lower-back discectomy on Wednesday, according to the team. Mills has been out of action since early July and was moved to the 60-day injured late last month, so he obviously won't pitch again in 2022. The 30-year-old only appeared in seven games (two starts) for the Cubbies in 2022 before his injury this summer. In those seven appearances, he allowed 19 earned runs on 28 hits (seven home runs given up) while walking three and striking out 11 in 17 2/3 innings pitched.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian

2 years agoCleveland Guardians outfielder Myles Straw had a strong day at the plate on Thursday in the team's 8-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He went 3-for-4 with a run scored while hitting ninth in the batting order. Straw is still searching for his first home run of the season, but he's heating up at the plate in September, going 16-for-48 (.333) with two doubles, two RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases in 13 games played. Overall, the 27-year-old is slashing just .212/.281/.263 with 25 RBI, 60 runs scored and 17 stolen bases in 476 at-bats. Straw is mostly valuable for his speed in deeper fantasy leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoSt. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado went 1-for-4 with his fifth stolen base of the season and a strikeout in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Arenado is hitting a strong .298/.359/.550 with a .910 OPS, 29 home runs, 96 RBI, 69 runs scored and five steals in 562 plate appearances across 133 games in his second year in St. Louis. The seven-time All-Star remains a must-start in all fantasy formats, but he hasn't been as hot so far in the month of September. In 12 games this month, he's gone 9-for-45 (.200) with a homer, seven RBI and five runs scored. The good news is that he's in the midst of a modest five-game hitting streak.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoPittsburgh Pirates catching prospect Endy Rodriguez has handled himself quite nicely since getting the promotion to Double-A Altoona. In 29 games, he has slashed .357/.439/.696 with a 1.135 OPS, eight home runs, 32 RBI, 27 runs scored and a stolen base in 130 plate appearances. The switch-hitting catcher hit .302/.392/.544 with a .936 OPS, 16 long balls, 55 RBI, 63 runs scored and three steals in 88 games at High-A Greensboro before his call-up. Catcher Henry Davis is the team's top overall prospect, but Rodriguez checks in at No. 6, per MLB Pipeline, and he's quickly rising through the system. The 22-year-old has displayed both great defensive skills as well as maturing power from his 6-foot, 170-pound frame. He's surely one to monitor in dynasty/keeper leagues heading into the offseason.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Reference

2 years agoThe Tampa Bay Rays reinstated left-handed reliever Brooks Raley from the restricted list on Friday and optioned right-hander Kevin Herget to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Raley was unable to pitch this week in Toronto against the Blue Jays because of his vaccination status, but he'll be back in the Rays' bullpen this weekend for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. The 34-year-old southpaw has been excellent for Tampa this year, posting a 2.03 ERA (2.04 FIP), a 0.90 WHIP, six saves and 58 strikeouts in 48 2/3 relief innings. He has 10 holds and a 0.92 ERA in 19 outings since the All-Star break. Fantasy managers need to get him back into their lineups in holds leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rays Communications

2 years agoChicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (hand, wrist) remains out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. However, the good news is that his X-rays came back negative for structural damage after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand/wrist in Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. Fantasy managers should consider the 28-year-old Japanese outfielder as day-to-day heading into the weekend. With Suzuki out on Friday, rookie Nelson Velazquez is starting in right field and is batting eighth against Rockies right-hander German Marquez. Velazquez is hitting .211/.286/.375 with six home runs, 20 RBI, 18 runs scored and four stolen bases in his first 152 major-league at-bats. He'll be a low-upside DFS option at the bottom of the lineup.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoChicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) has progressed to light agility work in a running progression. Contreras sprained his left ankle recently and was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sept. 6. The Cubs have no reason to rush the 30-year-old All-Star back in a lost season, but it's good news that he's moving in the right direction. Skipper David Ross said that Contreras is likely around a week from returning to the team. Yan Gomes will continue to do most of the catching, while P.J. Higgins will occasionally mix in. Contreras made his third All-Star team this year and is currently hitting .246/.351/.471 with an .822 OPS, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 107 games. Keep him stashed everywhere.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian

2 years agoChicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (triceps) underwent an MRI exam on Friday and is meeting with a doctor to go over the results. Hoerner has missed the team's last four games with right triceps tightness and might have to be placed on the injured list. It would be a big blow for fantasy managers, as the 25-year-old has been a solid contributor all year. Hoerner is batting .291/.338/.421 with nine home runs, 49 RBI, 51 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 444 at-bats in 2022. With Hoerner still sidelined, rookie Christopher Morel will start at shortstop and bat ninth against Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez on Friday. Morel has 13 long balls in his first MLB season, but there won't be a ton of upside in DFS in the nine-hole.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian

2 years agoChicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (triceps) is not in the starting lineup on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. Hoerner will miss his fourth straight game this week while dealing with a triceps injury. If he's unable to return to the lineup this weekend, there's a good chance he could land on the injured list, which could end his 2022 season. The 25-year-old is having a solid year in his fourth big-league season, hitting .291/.338/.421 with nine home runs, 49 RBI, 51 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 444 at-bats. Rookie Christopher Morel is starting at the 6 on Friday and is batting ninth against Rockies right-hander German Marquez. Morel has 13 homers, 38 RBI, 50 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 335 at-bats, but he'll be a low-upside DFS play in the nine-hole.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press