MLB News

Jurickson Profar  • LF  •  Padres

Jurickson Profar Belts Two Homers On Friday Night

San Diego Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar smashed two homers, including a game-winner in the top of the ninth, during the Padres' 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. Both homers were two-run shots with the first being off Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez in the top of the sixth inning for his 17th HR of the season. The two-run game-winner came in the top of the ninth off Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel with two outs and was his 18th of 2024. Profar's turnaround in this season has been a major boost for the Padres. His .865 OPS is a career high and is helping to keep the Padres afloat as they fight to hold onto their Wild Card spot (one game lead over St. Louis) without superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. Profar will look to continue his dominating season on Saturday against Orioles scheduled starter Dean Kremer.
1 hour ago   
Shane Baz  • SP  •  Rays

Shane Baz Notches Seven Strikeouts In No-Decision

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane Baz had a strong outing on Friday night, notching seven strikeouts and giving up just two runs on two hits in the Rays 3-2 extra innings loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Baz's ERA now sits at 3.66 on the season after the no-decision. After two starts against the New York Yankees in which Baz failed to complete five innings, tonight's six inning performance was a great sign for the 25-year-old. Baz has had a lot of hype surround him in his career that was put majorly on hold over the last two seasons thanks to Tommy John surgery, but it appears he's on the right path to providing the Rays and fantasy managers alike a ton of value. His next scheduled start is set for next Friday when the Rays travel to Houston to face the Astros.
1 hour ago   
Pablo López  • SP  •  Twins

Pablo Lopez Throws Seven Strong Innings, Picks Up Win

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez was strong on Friday night, going seven innings deep and striking out seven in the Twins 9-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. Lopez picked up the win and improved his record to 9-7 while lowering his ERA to 4.73 on the season. After a spotty run in the middle of the season, the 28-year-old has now thrown three straight games of giving up two earned runs or less. While his strikeout numbers have not been as flashy as fantasy managers are used to lately, Lopez may be starting to turn a corner. With a 3.39 xERA to go along with his 4.73 ERA, the righty has positive regression coming his way. Fantasy managers with Lopez in their lineups should continue to trust him. His next scheduled start is set for Wednesday at Citi Field against the New York Mets.
1 hour ago   
Charlie Blackmon  • DH  •  Rockies

Charlie Blackmon On Bench Friday Against Southpaw

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon is out of the lineup on Friday night for Colorado's matchup against left-hander Kyle Harrison and the San Francisco Giants. This marks the second straight game that Blackmon will be on the Rockies bench. As of now there should be no concern in regards to the lefty's health, rather it'd appear he's getting a bit of rest while the Rockies trot out Kris Bryant in right field. The Rockies and Giants are also scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday, so this may just be a way to keep the 38-year-old fresh for the twinbill. Blackmon has hit for an .869 OPS in July, his best month in 2024 and should be expected to be back in the lineup at some point this weekend. The next chance Blackmon will get will be either against Blake Snell in the first game of the doubleheader or against Hayden Birdsong in the second game.
2 hours ago   
Ben Lively  • SP  •  Guardians

Ben Lively Notches Quality Start, Picks Up Win On Friday

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively struck out six and gave up just three hits in six innings during the Guardians 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Lively picked up the win and improved his record to 9-6 while his ERA dropped to 3.44 on the season. The 32-year-old has been having a very solid and under-the-radar season for the Guardians and has been a major boost for their rotation after Shane Bieber was forced to have Tommy John surgery at the beginning of the season. With a 1.17 WHIP, Lively should be on fantasy managers' radars as a sneaky pick-up that should provide consistent results. His next scheduled start is set for Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles.
2 hours ago   
Kodai Senga  • SP  •  Mets

Kodai Senga Suffers Calf Strain In First Start Of Season

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (calf) was able to walk off under his own power but suffered a left-calf strain in the top of the sixth inning in Friday night's game against the Atlanta Braves. Senga, in his season debut after recovering from a shoulder injury, was running off the mound to get out of the way during an infield pop-up and hit the ground after tweaking his calf. He was down on the field for about a minute before walking off under his own power. The right-hander had been dealing prior to the injury, striking out nine Braves in five innings and giving up just two runs prior to the injury. Any time missed would be unfortunate for the 31-year-old after missing over half the season. Given the nature of the injury, fantasy managers should brace for more missed time from Senga and look towards other options in the Mets rotation, such as left-handed starter David Peterson.
2 hours ago   
Michael Conforto  • LF  •  Giants

Reunion For Michael Conforto With Mets Is Possible

Per Mike Puma of the New York Post, the New York Mets are open to adding a left-handed bat at the trade deadline and have had discussions with the San Francisco Giants about outfielder Michael Conforto. The lefty played with the Mets for seven season before joining the Giants in 2023. Only three Mets are hitting for a wRC+ above 100 from the left side of the plate (Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, DJ Stewart). Conforto's 103 wRC+ would help stabilize an already pretty solid Mets outfield if a deal was to be struck. The Giants have been rumored to have made Conforto "available" so a reunion could be considered very plausible. Fantasy managers should continue to start Conforto in their lineups regardless of where he ends up but his .833 career OPS at Citi Field should be appealing compared to his season long .713 OPS in 2024.
2 hours ago   
José Abreu  • 1B

Jose Abreu Not Expected To Play Again This Year

Free-agent first baseman Jose Abreu will most likely not play for the remainder of the 2024 season, according to sources. It's believed that Abreu will take a break, and if conditions are right, he'll try to return in 2025 if he's given another opportunity with a big-league organization. The former American League MVP fell off a cliff this year and was released by the Houston Astros after hitting a miserable .124/.167/.195 with two home runs, seven RBI and 10 runs scored in 35 games played. The 37-year-old probably doesn't have much left, but he'll see if another team will give him an opportunity as a right-handed veteran bat next year. If this is the end for the Cuban slugger, he'll finish his MLB career with a .283/.345/.488 slash line with an .833 OPS, 263 home runs and 960 RBI in 1,446 games over 11 seasons in the league.
3 hours ago   
Ryne Stanek  • RP  •  Mets

Mets Acquire Ryne Stanek From The Mariners

After acquiring right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier on Friday, the Seattle Mariners traded right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek to the New York Mets on Friday in exchange for minor-league outfielder Rhylan Thomas, according to a league source. Thomas was listed by MLB Pipeline as New York's No. 30 prospect. The 33-year-old Stanek heads to the Big Apple after struggling of late, and the veteran reliever now holds a 4.38 ERA (4.02 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, a career-high seven saves and a 44:17 K:BB in 39 innings over 46 appearances out of Seattle's bullpen this year. Since June 30, Stanek has a 9.45 ERA, six walks, eight K's, three holds and two blown saves in 6 2/3 innings pitched. In New York, he'll work alongside Phil Maton as a late-inning setup man in front of closer Edwin Diaz.
3 hours ago   
Keaton Winn  • SP  •  Giants

Keaton Winn To Have Season-Ending Surgery

San Francisco Giants right-hander Keaton Winn (elbow) will have season-ending surgery on Monday and will have an ulnar-nerve transposition. Winn has been on the injured list since June with a nerve issue in his right elbow and he'll now be forced to miss the rest of the 2024 campaign. Because of the nature of his surgery, there's a good chance that the 26-year-old won't be ready for the start of spring training next year or the 2025 regular season. Before his right-elbow injury cropped up, Winn went 3-8 with a rough 7.16 ERA (4.82 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 20 walks in 55 1/3 innings over 12 starts in his second year in the big leagues with the Gigantes. Anyone that was holding onto him in deep NL-only leagues can now let go.
3 hours ago   
Brennon McNair  • SS  •  Royals

Brennon McNair Remains Inconsistent At Single-A

Kansas City Royals third base prospect Brennon McNair had a nice day at the plate on Thursday as he went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBI, and a walk. However, in his past eight games prior to Thursday, he tallied only one hit across 29 plate appearances. Through his second look at Single-A ball this summer, the 11th-round pick has struggled with a .207/.325/.389 line. Last summer, in a similar 63-game stint at Single-A, he held a .191/.313/.293 line. McNair remains outside of the top-30 prospects in Kansas City on MLB.com and could once again open next season at Single-A if he continues to remain inconsistent.
3 hours ago   
Alex Cobb  • SP  •  Giants

Alex Cobb Could Make Season Debut Next Week

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) will throw five innings in a minor-league rehab start for Single-A San Jose on Friday night, and if all goes well, he will return to make his 2024 debut for the Giants on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics. Cobb will essentially be replacing right-hander Jordan Hicks, who will make his last start of the year on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies before moving to the bullpen to protect his workload. The 36-year-old Cobb started the year on the injured list after having offseason hip surgery and then suffered a setback with his right shoulder along the way, keeping him out for the entire first half. Cobb has limited fantasy upside with a 19.9% career strikeout rate but could be a worthwhile deep-league streaming option in the right matchups when he returns to San Fran's starting rotation.
3 hours ago   
Cole Sulser  • RP  •  Rays

Rays Acquire Cole Sulser From The Mets

The Tampa Bay Rays continue to make moves and acquired right-hander Cole Sulser from the New York Mets on Friday in exchange for cash considerations. Sulser has been optioned to Triple-A Durham. The Rays got things started by dealing outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night and also sent right-hander Zach Eflin to the division-rival Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The move for the 34-year-old Sulser is the most insignificant of the trio of moves after the Mets designated him for assignment earlier this week. He allowed five earned runs in just 4 2/3 relief innings in New York in 2024 and has a 4.06 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and 15 career saves in his six years in the majors with five different teams. Sulser made his big-league debut with the Rays in 2019 after being drafted by Cleveland in the 25th round back in 2013 out of Dartmouth. He's not on the fantasy radar.
4 hours ago   
Raylin Heredia  • LF  •  Phillies

Raylin Heredia Tallies Season-High Five RBI

Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect Raylin Heredia went 2-for-4 with a triple, a long ball, and a season-high five RBI on Thursday evening. Heredia has held a strong .262/.328/.505 slash line with five home runs, three doubles, four triples, 23 RBI, and six stolen bases since June 11. The 20-year-old got a small taste of Single-A ball last summer and has continued to produce solid numbers in his second look. Heredia could push for promotion to Single-A in the coming weeks if he continues this hot stretch.
4 hours ago   
Mac Horvath  • OF  •  Rays

Rays Land Mac Horvath In Trade With Orioles

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired infield/outfield prospect Mac Horvath, right-hander Jackson Baumeister and outfielder Matthew Etzel from the division-rival Baltimore Orioles on Friday in exchange for right-hander Zach Eflin, according to sources. Horvath, who was Baltimore's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was a second-round pick last year out of North Carolina. The 23-year-old has hit .233/.328/.417 with nine home runs, 19 doubles, two triples, 41 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 317 trips to the plate over 71 games for High-A Aberdeen in his first full pro season in the minors. There's raw power in the 6-foot, 195-pounder's bat in addition to high-end speed. Horvath can play the middle infield and also has appeared as an outfield, which made him attractive to the Rays, who place a high emphasis on versatility. He's at least several years away from a potential MLB debut in Tampa.
4 hours ago   
Sabin Ceballos  • SS  •  Braves

Sabin Ceballos Continues To Showcase Speed

Atlanta Braves third base prospect Sabin Ceballos went 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base on Thursday evening. This was his second consecutive game swiping a bag and third time in his past four games. The Oregon product has tallied nine stolen bases this summer in his first full season of pro ball, as he logged only 14 games last summer across the Rookie League and Single-A. Ceballos has performed well in the batter's box this season, holding a .263/.358/.362 line with three home runs and 28 RBI. Ceballos is considered the 17th-best prospect in the Atlanta system and remains several seasons away from his major league debut.
4 hours ago   
Gregory Santos  • RP  •  Mariners

Gregory Santos Could Be Available On Saturday

Seattle Mariners right-handed reliever Gregory Santos (knee) underwent an MRI exam that "came back OK," according to manager Scott Servais. It sounds like Santos will avoid a trip to the injured list and could potentially be available out of the bullpen as soon as Saturday on the road in Chicago against the White Sox. Santos will go through pre-game exercises on Friday to test his right knee after he hurt it in the eighth inning of Wednesday's loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The 24-year-old Dominican began the year on the IL in his first year in Seattle and has pitched just four innings in 2024, allowing three earned runs on four hits. It's been a disappointing year in Seattle so far, which is partly why the M's went out and acquired reliever Yimi Garcia on Friday from the Toronto Blue Jays.
4 hours ago   
Casey Mize  • SP  •  Tigers

Casey Mize To Throw A Bullpen On Saturday

Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday as he continues to rehab from a left-hamstring strain that he suffered in late June. Saturday's session will be Mize's first time throwing off a mound since he hurt his hammy, and he'll likely need another bullpen before being cleared to face live hitters again. The 27-year-old former first overall pick in 2018 out of Auburn will also probably need a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining Detroit's starting rotation, so he's likely at least several weeks away from returning. In his first time in the majors since 2022, Mize has gone 2-6 this year with a 4.23 ERA (3.67 FIP) and 1.45 WHIP with a 58:21 K:BB in 16 starts (78 2/3 frames). His 16.8% strikeout rate has left a lot to be desire in fantasy circles in his first year back from injury.
4 hours ago   
Luis Lara  • CF  •  Brewers

Luis Lara Stays Hot At The Plate

Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara continued his hot streak on Thursday, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, and a walk. Since July 4, the eighth-ranked prospect in the Milwaukee system has held a strong .321/.371/.536 slash line with two home runs, four doubles, seven RBI, and four swiped bags. After posting a season-low .202 average and .264 on-base percentage in June, the 19-year-old has clearly begun to turn things around and get himself back on track. Lara got a small taste of High-A ball last summer and held a .290/.351/.377 line. However, this summer in a much larger 75-game stint, he holds a .248/.321/.330 line. Even though he has struggled at the plate at times, he is still showcasing elite speed with 26 total stolen bases. The switch-hitting outfielder should make a case to see time in Double-A next season.
4 hours ago   
Parker Meadows  • CF  •  Tigers

Parker Meadows Expects To Start Rehab Assignment Soon

Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows (hamstring) is scheduled to complete another baserunning session on Saturday and expects to begin a minor-league rehab assignment soon. Meadows continues to complete baseball activities daily as he recovers from a right-hamstring strain that he suffered in early July. The 24-year-old had his first baserunning session on Wednesday and should be cleared to begin a rehab assignment early next week if he avoids a setback with his hamstring on Saturday. The former second-round pick in 2018 has hit just .191/.298/.335 with six homers, 18 RBI and 12 steals in 72 big-league games since making his MLB debut in 2023, but his power/speed combination from the left side will make him attractive in at least deep-mixed leagues when he returns if he's playing regularly for Detroit.
4 hours ago   
LEGEND