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
2 years agoArizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte ended a home run drought in the 4-0 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday by going 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a strikeout. The round-tripper was Marte's first since July 27. The 28-year-old Dominican is now hitting .244/.325/.410 with the 11 home runs, 50 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 511 plate appearances over 125 games played. He's been a pretty big disappointment for fantasy managers since his 2019 All-Star season, in which he hit .329 and clubbed a career-high 32 home runs in 144 games. Marte is hitting just .182 (8-for-44) with a homer, five RBI, four runs scored and 11 strikeouts in 13 games this month.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 years agoArizona Diamondbacks catcher
Carson Kelly went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a strikeout in the 4-0 shutout win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night. The home run snapped a streak of 34 games without a long ball for the 28-year-old backstop. Kelly has found it tough sledding at the dish in 2022, hitting just .214/.297/.346 with seven home runs, 33 RBI, 36 runs scored and a stolen base in 266 at-bats for the Snakes. In the month of September, he's gone just 5-for-34 (.147) with a homer, two RBI, six runs scored and five strikeouts in 12 games. It's unlikely that Kelly will suddenly turn things around to finish the 2022 campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 years agoOakland Athletics catcher
Sean Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double, triple, run scored and two strikeouts in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Houston Astros. Murphy is quickly becoming one of the better hitting catchers in the big leagues, as he currently sports a .253/.333/.443 slash line with 18 home runs, 33 doubles, 64 RBI, 61 runs scored and a stolen base in 479 at-bats over 132 games. He's been a bit cold in the month of September so far (.204 average with a homer and six RBI), but fantasy managers should keep riding him in their starting lineups the rest of the way. Murphy has gone 7-for-24 (.292) in his last six contests.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 years agoOakland Athletics rookie first baseman
Dermis Garcia went 1-for-4 on Thursday with two RBI and three strikeouts in the 5-2 loss to the Houston Astros. Garcia's two-RBI single in the fourth inning provided the only runs for the A's in the ballgame. He's now gone 17-for-59 (.288) with four home runs, 15 RBI and nine runs scored in his first 22 major-league games for the A's this year. Before being called up, the 24-year-old slashed .264/.349/.498 with an .847 OPS, 13 home runs, 44 RBI, 51 runs scored and four stolen bases in 278 plate appearances and 68 games with Triple-A Las Vegas. Garcia has proven to be a timely hitter so far for Oakland and could continue to contribute for fantasy managers in AL-only leagues down the stretch.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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