2 years agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Charlie Blackmon is not in the starting lineup on Friday against the Chicago Cubs. Blackmon will take a seat after going 5-for-41 (.122) with no homers, four RBI, one run scored and 13 strikeouts in 11 games to begin the month of September. He's now hitting .258/.308/.412 on the year with 16 homers, 74 RBI, 57 runs scored and three stolen base in 493 at-bats. With Blackmon resting,
Michael Toglia is in right field and hitting sixth, while
Connor Joe will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh against Cubs right-hander
Marcus Stroman. Toglia, a 24-year-old rookie switch-hitter, has gone just 11-for-50 (.220) with two long balls and eight RBI in his first 14 big-league games for the Rockies.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press
2 years agoChicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa is not traveling with the team for their current road trip this weekend at the Detroit Tigers. The 77-year-old missed his 16th game of the year as he awaits medical clearance from his cardiologist to return to managing, and it remains uncertain whether he'll return for any of the team's last 18 games of the 2022 season. There is plenty of respect for La Russa, but there are also strong feelings that allowing bench coach Miguel Cairo to continue as acting manager through the rest of the season would be best for all involved. The White Sox are 11-5 under Cairo as the interim skipper and are playing with a level of urgency the front office has waited for all season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Daryl Van Schouwen
2 years agoThe Atlanta Braves reinstated second baseman
Ozzie Albies (foot) from the 60-day injured list on Friday. In corresponding moves, the club designated right-hander
Jay Jackson for assignment and placed infielder
Ehire Adrianza (quadriceps) on the 10-day injured list with a strained left quadriceps. Albies is finally back with the Braves after having surgery on July 15 for a broken right foot. The 25-year-old hit .333 with a home run, six RBI and four runs scored in seven minor league rehab games, and he should return to the starting lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Albies will serve as the club's everyday second baseman in his return, pushing rookie
Vaughn Grissom to more of a bench role.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Twitter
2 years agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Lance McCullers Jr. had a nice night on the mound on Thursday as he struck out 11 batters in his club's 5-2 win over the Athletics. He unfortunately settled for a no-decision after allowing two runs on two hits and four walks over six innings of work, throwing 99 pitches in the sharp performance. McCullers only ran into trouble in the fourth inning when he loaded the bases before giving up a two-run single, but he would go on to retire the next eight batters he faced to end his night. The 28-year-old will take a 2.34 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 37 K through 34 2/3 IP into his next start versus the Rays next week.
--Riley Mrack - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 years agoNew York Mets starting pitcher
Carlos Carrasco was superb on Thursday as he struck out 11 batters in his club's 7-1 win over the Pirates. The veteran allowed one run on four hits while walking a pair in the 104-pitch effort as he took his record to 15-6 on the season. Carrasco retired the last eight batters he faced with his only hiccup on the scoreboard coming off a
Michael Chavis RBI double in the second inning. He now holds a serviceable 3.70 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 143 K through 141 IP in his bounce back season as he sets his sights on the Brewers in his next matchup.
--Riley Mrack - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 years agoCincinnati Reds reliever
Alexis Diaz recorded his seventh save of the season on Thursday to close out his team's 3-2 win over the Cardinals. The 25-year-old did allow one run after loading the bases on a walk and two singles, but he limited the damage by allowing a sac fly to
Albert Pujols before getting a groundout to end the game. Diaz has been getting some run as the team's closer in the latter part of the season, and for good reason since he's posted a strong 1.93 ERA and 0.96 WHIP through 56 IP in his rookie campaign.
--Riley Mrack - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 years agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher
Bailey Ober (groin) will be activated off the injured list to start Friday's game versus the Guardians with
Jharel Cotton getting designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Ober hasn't pitched since June 1 after straining his groin, but he's pitched decent in his rehab starts in the minors. He got up to 66 pitches in his latest outing, so he should be stretched out enough to throw about 80 pitches. He'll be a risky fantasy play in his first start back in the majors, but managers could scoop him up and stash him for his start next week versus the Royals.
--Riley Mrack - RotoBallerSource: Betsy Helfand - Twitter
2 years agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
JT Brubaker threw just three innings during Thursday's start before getting removed with lat discomfort. The right-hander wasn't very sharp in the outing by giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks, but he was able to strike out five batters on the night. The team has yet to provide any further information of his injury, but with their season going nowhere, there was no need to push him any further. There's a good chance Brubaker misses his next scheduled start the Yankees next week, but look for the club to update his status within the next 24 hours.
--Riley Mrack - RotoBallerSource: Mike Persak - Twitter
2 years agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder
Randy Arozarena had a three-hit game on Thursday when his team beat the Toronto Blue Jays 11-0. He doubled, scored a run, and drove in one in five at-bats. Arozarena was in a minor slump before the game, going 3-for-24 over his previous six games. The speedster has been an all-around contributor again, hitting .268 with 19 HRs, 79 RBI, 66 runs, and 30 SBs over 138 games. His outstanding numbers make him a deserving starting outfielder across every format.
--Spencer Seguin - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
2 years agoThe Arizona Diamondbacks selected the contract of right-hander
Drey Jameson from Triple-A Reno on Thursday, and he will make his major-league debut in a start against the San Diego Padres. In a corresponding move, the team placed left-hander
Kyle Nelson (elbow) on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. Jameson, the club's No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, went a combined 7-13 with a 6.31 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 132 strikeouts and 46 walks in 132 2/3 innings over 26 outings (25 starts) for Double-A Amarillo and Reno this year. The 25-year-old went 5-12 with a 6.95 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in his 22 outings (21 starts) at Reno. We don't recommend streaming the youngster in his MLB debut against the Friars.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Diamondbacks Twitter
2 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Yency Almonte (elbow) threw 25 pitches of live batting practice to infielder
Gavin Lux (neck) on Wednesday. Almonte looked good during the session and could be ready to rejoin the Dodgers bullpen sooner than later. However, the 28-year-old will throw at least one more simulated game before potentially going on a minor league rehab assignment. In his first year in LA, Almonte has been excellent in his 31 1/3 relief innings, posting a career-low 1.15 ERA (3.27 FIP), a 0.89 WHIP, one save and a 30:10 K:BB.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
2 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
David Price (wrist) threw a bullpen session on Wednesday. It was the first time Price has thrown off a mound since he landed on the injured list on Sept. 4 with left wrist inflammation. Despite dealing with wrist problems for a while before that, the 37-year-old southpaw has gone 2-0 with a solid 2.58 ERA (3.84 FIP), a 1.17 WHIP, one save and 37 strikeouts in 38 1/3 relief innings for the Blue this year. Barring a setback, Price expects to return from the injured list before the end of the regular season, so they should have him available as a lefty specialist out of the bullpen for the postseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
2 years agoColorado Rockies shortstop prospect
Ezequiel Tovar is being promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, and the hope is that he finishes the 2022 season with the Rockies. Tovar just finished a rehab assignment after going on the injured list in July with hip and groin injuries. The team's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hit .318/.386/.546 with a .932 OPS, 13 home runs, 47 RBI, 39 runs scored and 17 stolen bases in 295 plate appearances over 66 games for Double-A Hartford before being promoted. The 21-year-old is one of the best defenders at the 6 in the minor leagues already, and he has also shown improved power this year as his frame matures and he gets stronger. For now, Tovar is only a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
2 years agoMinnesota Twins second baseman
Luis Arraez (hamstring) is not in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. Arraez was forced to leave Wednesday's game early with hamstring tightness, but he's considered day-to-day after an MRI exam showed no structural damage. He won't start on Thursday, but he could be available off the bench and could be back in the starting lineup as soon as Friday. With Arraez starting on the bench,
Jermaine Palacios will start at the keystone and hit eighth, while
Kyle Garlick is serving as the designated hitter and is batting leadoff against Royals left-hander
Daniel Lynch. Garlick profiles as a deep sleeper in DFS. He's hitting .254 (18-for-71) and has hit six of his nine home runs against southpaws in 2022.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press
2 years agoMinnesota Twins outfielder
Max Kepler (leg) remains out of the starting lineup on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. Kepler is dealing with a right leg contusion and will now miss his third straight game this week. Fantasy managers should continue to consider him day-to-day for now. The 29-year-old German native is batting just .227/.318/.348 on the season with nine home runs, 43 RBI, 54 runs scored and three stolen bases in his 388 at-bats.
Jake Cave is getting the nod in right field on Thursday and will hit ninth in the batting order against Royals left-hander
Daniel Lynch. DFS gamers should be able to find better options than Cave. He's hit just .196 (18-for-92) on the year with three home runs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press
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