Daulton Varsho Unlikely To Be Ready For Opening Day
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) sounds unlikely to be ready for Opening Day in 2025, according to general manager Ross Atkins. "I don't want to limit him, but based on history, that could be unrealistic," said Atkins. Nothing is guaranteed at this time in the offseason, but it sounds like the Blue Jays aren't going to rush the 28-year-old in his recovery from surgery that he had on his right shoulder in late September. We'll have a better idea of his recovery timeline when the calendars flip to 2025, but Varsho's fantasy value will obviously take a hit if he's not ready for Opening Day. The former second-rounder had another below-average offensive season in Toronto in 2024, slashing .214/.293/.407 with a .700 OPS, 18 home run, 58 RBI, 10 steals and 73 runs scored in 136 games. Varsho's declining offensive profile and recovery from shoulder surgery won't make him very attractive in fantasy drafts next year.
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.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) will remain out of the starting nine on Sunday afternoon due to a sore left shoulder. Mike Wallner of the Toronto Star reports that this injury has kept the 28-year-old out of the lineup since Tuesday. As a result, Nathan Lukes will cover center field and bat in the leadoff spot. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Varsho's status before their game on Tuesday evening against the Texas Rangers. Throughout September, Varsho has carried a mere .148/.207/.296 line. Lukes has tallied 12 hits across his past nine games with two of them going for extra bases. He is worth a look in DFS this afternoon as he will face St. Louis right-hander Miles Mikolas, who enters Sunday with a 5.55 ERA.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho will start on the bench for Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rogers Centre. With Varsho out, rookie Joey Loperfido is in center field and is batting ninth, and Nathan Lukes is starting in left field and will hit out of the two-hole versus Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde. Neither Loperfido nor Lukes have ever faced Fedde before. Varsho is sitting against a right-hander because he has just four hits in his last 27 at-bats (.148) with a homer, double, two RBI, two walks and 11 strikeouts. He has double digits in homers (18) and steals (10) in 136 games in his second year in Toronto but is also hitting just .214 (98-for-459) with a .293 on-base percentage. Lukes is the better DFS sleeper because of his lineup position, and he's hit an impressive .357 (10-for-28) in eight games for the Blue Jays this year.
Daulton Varsho, Spencer Horwitz Sitting Against A Lefty
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho and rookie first baseman Spencer Horwitz are out of the starting lineup on Wednesday at Rogers Centre against the New York Mets with a left-hander on the mound. Rookie Joey Loperfido will handle center-field duties and will bat eighth, while George Springer will serve as the designated hitter and bat leadoff against Mets lefty Sean Manaea. Nathan Lukes is in right field and is hitting in the two-hole. Springer has the quite the history against Manaea in 37 career at-bats, hitting .324 with a .768 OPS and six RBI, so he'll be a nice under-the-radar DFS sleeper while hitting leadoff. Horwitz has hit well in just his second MLB season in Toronto, but he's batting .193 (11-for-57) with none of his 12 home runs against southpaws in 2024, hence why he is on the bench on Wednesday.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. The lefty slugger will miss his second game in a row while he continues to nurse a shoulder injury. The Jays have a scheduled off day on Monday, so hopefully Varsho can return on Tuesday. In the meantime, Joey Loperfido will cover to center field and bat sixth while Nathan Lukes plays left field versus right-hander Bailey Ober. Neither player offers much upside with the bat right now, but Loperfido is the better option between the two. However, the 25-year-old rookie only has one hit in his last five games. That being said, fantasy managers should probably look elsewhere for help on Sunday.
Daulton Varsho, Spencer Horwitz Sitting Versus Southpaw
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho and first baseman Spencer Horwitz will head to the bench ahead of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Fantasy managers don't need to worry about an injury as these moves appear to be matchup related. Varsho has a nine-game hit streak that will be held on hold unless he comes off the bench. Joey Loperfido will cover center field and bat second against left-hander Tyler Anderson. The rookie outfielder is heating up at the plate with eight hits over his last four games. He's well worth a look as a streaming option for Sunday's slate. As for Horwitz, he'll take a seat after starting in each of the last seven games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will cover first base and bat third, so fantasy managers should make sure to get him in their lineups.
Daulton Varsho Homers, Drives In Three On Wednesday
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho had a big game in his team's 9-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Varsho went 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, three runs, and three RBI to help power the Jays to the win. The veteran's homer, a three-run shot, came in the fifth inning, giving the Blue Jays a 6-0 lead. Varsho is now hitting .208 with 18 doubles, 15 homers, 60 runs, 51 RBI, and 10 steals across 375 at-bats this season. While his batting average is a drag in fantasy, he has been better in that area of late, hitting .280 with two homers over his past seven contests.
Daulton Varsho Leaves Early With Heat-Illness Symptoms
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (illness) was removed early from Wednesday's loss to the division-rival Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning with heat-illness symptoms. Before being pulled from the contest, Varsho went 0-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and a strikeout. He was replaced in center field by Steward Berroa. With the game pretty much decided late, it's possible the Blue Jays pulled the 28-year-old as a precaution. The team has an off day coming on Thursday before starting a series at Yankee Stadium on Friday against the division-rival New York Yankees, so fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if Varsho is feeling good enough to play. Varsho is hitting under the Mendoza Line in 2024 while adding a modest 13 home runs and nine stolen bases while adding 46 RBI and 50 runs scored in 330 at-bats for Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (knee) is back in left field and is batting fifth on Friday against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Ryne Nelson in the series opener. Varsho will return against his former team after missing Thursday's game after he was pulled early from Wednesday's contest against the San Francisco Giants with a left-knee contusion that he suffered diving into first base. The matchup is a rather friendly one against a pitcher that has given up a lot of hard contact in 2024, but Varsho is also hitting under .200 on the year while batting .102 (5-for-49) with a double, two RBI, one stolen base and 20 strikeouts in 57 plate appearances in 16 games since June 19. So far in July, Varsho has four hits in 24 at-bats with eight strikeouts in eight games.
Daulton Varsho
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