MLB News

Ben Joyce • RP • Angels

Ben Joyce Has Shoulder Impingement, Could Be Finished For Year

Los Angeles Angels rookie Ben Joyce has a shoulder impingement. His MRI results were not shared at this time. However, we can assume at this time that his season is over. The 23-year-old has two wins, four saves, and a 2.08 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 34 innings this season. Joyce could be the favorite to close next year for the Angels if they do not seek an upgrade through free agency. Joyce was placed on the injured list on Tuesday, and it would appear that his season is over.

5 days ago

Martín Pérez • SP • Padres

Martin Perez Returns From Paternity List

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Martin Perez (paternity) was activated off the paternity list on Saturday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Padres optioned left-handed pitcher Tom Cosgrove to Triple-A El Paso. The 33-year-old is now scheduled to make his next start on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants. Since joining the Padres in late July, Perez has looked quite solid, as he has posted a 2.84 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP across 38 frames. Earlier this summer in the Steel City, Perez held a 5.20 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP across 83 innings. Perez should continue to have a stable position in the Padres rotation going forward and could be worth streaming in deeper leagues in favorable matchups despite his modest strikeout potential.

5 days ago

Tyler Fitzgerald • SS • Giants

Tyler Fitzgerald Remains Out On Saturday

San Francisco Giants outfielder/infielder Tyler Fitzgerald (back) is not in Saturday's lineup as the Giants continue a three-game set with the San Diego Padres. The 26-year-old left Thursday's game early with lower-back tightness and will need at least another day to rest. As a result, this opens up the keystone for 23-year-old Marco Luciano. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Sunday's lineup, as Fitzgerald may be cleared to return to game action. Since the start of the month, Fitzgerald has held a strong .333/.385/.472 line with five doubles and one swiped bag. Luciano holds a mere .136 average since rejoining the big leagues in September and should be left out of your DFS lineups while facing Joe Musgrove.

5 days ago

Joey Loperfido • LF • Blue Jays

Joey Loperfido Exits Saturday Early

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido (hip) left Saturday's game early due to left adductor discomfort, according to Mike Wallner of the Toronto Star. The 25-year-old was lifted in the fifth inning after grabbing his hip in pain. He was replaced by infielder Luis De Los Santos after Addison Barger shifted to cover left field. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Sunday's starting nine, as the Duke product may need an extra day off. Since the start of the month, Loperfido has carried a .250/.276/.357 line with three doubles and three RBI. If Loperfido happens to miss an extended period of time, Davis Schneider will likely see an uptick in playing time in the outfield.

5 days ago

Ryne Nelson • SP • Diamondbacks

Ryne Nelson Hits 15-Day Injured List

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ryne Nelson (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday with right shoulder inflammation, according to Jesse Friedman of PHNX Sports. The 26-year-old has been in a bit of a slump across his past four starts, which may have been due to this injury. In his most recent outing, the right-hander allowed five runs, which was the most he has given up in a start since June. Prior to this rough stretch, Nelson held a stellar 2.73 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP from July 2 to August 16. While Nelson could still return before the end of the regular season, the Diamondbacks may opt to give him additional rest as they currently hold a wild card spot. As a result, fantasy managers should expect southpaw Jordan Montgomery or prospect Yilber Diaz to claim the open spot in the rotation.

5 days ago

Tyler Glasnow • SP • Dodgers

Tyler Glasnow Likely Done For The Season

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (elbow) is likely done for the season, according to David Vassegh of 570 LA Sports. Manager Dave Roberts expressed that the 31-year-old reportedly has a strained elbow and will now likely be sidelined for the remainder of the season. This is a tough blow for a Dodger team who has their sights set on competing in October. Glasnow initially hit the 15-day IL back in August with right elbow tendinitis and showed promising signs during his recovery process. Through his first season in LA, the hard-throwing right-hander held a 3.49 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a 35:168 BB:K ratio across 134 innings. Given his elite strikeout upside, Glasnow will likely be one of the first pitchers taken in drafts next season despite his injury concerns.

5 days ago

Jackson Holliday • 2B • Orioles

Jackson Holliday Sitting On Saturday

Baltimore Orioles second baseman/shortstop Jackson Holliday will take a seat on Saturday afternoon. The former No.1 prospect in baseball started at the keystone over the past three games. During this stretch, he has tallied only one hit while striking out five times. As a result, Livan Soto will cover second base on Saturday and bat in the eight-hole. While Holliday has struggled throughout his first professional season, he has begun to find stable playing time, which is a good sign for his fantasy stock going forward. Through his first 50 major league games, Holliday sits with a .171/.224/.300 slash line. Soto is best to leave out of your DFS lineup as he has yet to tally a hit this month.

5 days ago

Chris Stratton • RP • Royals

Chris Stratton Hits 15-Day IL

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Chris Stratton (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday afternoon with a right forearm flexor strain. The Royals promoted southpaw Angel Zerpa from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Stratton appeared in Friday's game but struggled as he served up two runs across one inning of work. The 34-year-old will be sidelined for the next 15 days, which puts him in danger of missing the rest of the regular season. Stratton was typically deployed in the seventh and eighth innings this summer and held a 5.55 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP across 58 innings of work. Fantasy managers should now expect Kris Bubic, James McArthur, John Schreiber, and Lucas Erceg to handle the high-leverage work down the stretch as the Royals compete for a playoff spot.

5 days ago

Christopher Morel • 3B • Rays

Christopher Morel Not In Saturday's Lineup

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder/third baseman Christopher Morel (Achilles) is not in the starting nine on Saturday as the Rays continue a series against the Cleveland Guardians. Morel was lifted early from Friday's game after suffering an Achilles injury while running. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Sunday's lineup as the 25-year-old may not need to be sidelined long. As a result, Yandy Diaz will shift to the designated hitter spot, which will open up first base for Brandon Lowe. Both Diaz and Lowe are worth a look at in DFS this afternoon as they face Cleveland southpaw Joey Cantillo, who has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen this summer. However, he looked quite sharp in his previous outing striking out 11 batters but still sits with a hefty 5.96 ERA.

5 days ago

Tyler Soderstrom • 1B • Athletics

Tyler Soderstrom Activated From 10-Day Injured List

Oakland Athletics first baseman/catcher Tyler Soderstrom (wrist) was activated off the 10-day injured list on Saturday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Athletics optioned Armando Alvarez. The 22-year-old was kept out of MLB action for just over two months due to a bone bruise on his left wrist. Before the injury, Soderstrom flashed high-upside power at times but struggled to find consistency as he posted a mere .219/.307/.404 line with seven round-trippers across 49 games. Under the hood, he boasted a 14.7% barrel rate and a 52.9% hard-hit rate, which suggests his power production was not a fluke. Fantasy managers looking for a second catcher with an upside for power should consider adding the former first-round pick, as he should see consistent playing time down the stretch.

5 days ago

CJ Abrams • SS • Nationals

CJ Abrams Remains Out On Saturday

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (shoulder) remained out of the lineup on Saturday due to a shoulder injury. The 23-year-old was kept sidelined on Friday as well. Fantasy managers should consider Abrams day-to-day for the time being as he could be cleared to return for the series finale against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. As a result, Nasim Nunez will cover shortstop Saturday afternoon and bat in the nine-hole. Abrams has enjoyed another excellent season this summer, launching 20 home runs and swiping 29 bags while holding a .239 AVG. Nunez has tallied four hits in his past five starts and could be a sneaky play in DFS as he will face Miami right-hander Valente Bellozo.

5 days ago

Yordan Alvarez • LF • Astros

Yordan Alvarez Hits 33rd Homer Of Season On Friday

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez blasted a solo shot in the ninth inning of the Astros' 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. The solo shot, his 33rd HR of the season, was Alvarez's only hit of the day though he did record a second RBI on a sacrifice fly in the second inning. The lefty has been on fire in the second half of the season, hitting for a 1.054 OPS and knocking 14 of his 33 HR in the second half. Fantasy managers should continue to keep Alvarez in their starting lineups at all costs. With the Astros holding a 4.5 game lead in the AL West they'll need Alvarez to continue his MVP caliber production until the division is locked up. Alvarez should continue dominating lefties on the road tonight as the Astros face off against Angels lefty Tyler Anderson, who Alvarez is 6-14 against in his career with two doubles and two HR. DFS managers specifically should target Alvarez tonight given his familiarity with Anderson combined his 205 wRC+ split against lefties on the road in 2024.

5 days ago

Francisco Lindor • SS • Mets

Francisco Lindor Not In Mets Lineup On Saturday, Could Be Available Off Bench

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) is not in the Mets lineup on Saturday, according to general manager David Stearns. The GM continued to add that Lindor may be available off the bench, which is a great sign for Mets fans and fantasy managers alike that were worried about the severity of Lindor's injury. The 30-year-old stated on Friday night that he would have pushed harder to stay in the Mets' 11-3 win over the Phillies if the game had been closer and that he had hoped to play Saturday. It would appear that the Mets are approaching this with a bit of caution in having him sit on Saturday. While the Mets have yet to officially release their lineup, they did recall infield prospect Luisangel Acuna from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday and optioned outfielder DJ Stewart to Triple-A. If Acuna gets the start on Saturday in place of Lindor, he likely won't be a great fantasy or DFS option, posting just a .654 OPS in Triple-A this year. Fantasy managers should simply wait for Lindor's eventual return. If he's back in the lineup on Sunday, then he will face off against Phillies scheduled starter Cristopher Sanchez.

5 days ago

Chris Stratton • RP • Royals

Chris Stratton Placed On 15-Day Injured List With Right Forearm Strain

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Chris Stratton was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm flexor strain on Saturday, and left-handed pitcher Angel Zerpa was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Stratton pitched the ninth inning in Friday night's 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and gave up two runs and three hits in the outing. With just over two weeks left in the regular season, Stratton won't pitch again until October if his forearm cooperates. The 34-year-old started the season solid but has been a disaster in the second half, posting a 7.08 ERA since the All-Star break. Fantasy managers have likely already moved on given his second-half struggles, but if they haven't, then now is the time to do so. Those needing bullpen help to finish out the season may want to consider Lucas Erceg, who leads the Royals with six saves over the last 30 days. His 5.40 ERA in that same timespan is worrisome, but the saves help balance that out from a fantasy perspective.

5 days ago

Kris Bryant • 1B • Rockies

Kris Bryant Not Close To Returning From Injury, Season May Be Over

Colorado Rockies first baseman Kris Bryant (back) is "probably not real close" to returning this season, according to manager Bud Black. The skipper went on to say that, "as each day goes on, it's becoming increasingly possible that Kris' season may be over." Bryant has been doing back exercises in hopes he can return to baseball activities and finish off the season with the Rockies, but it doesn't appear that there's a good chance of that. The 32-year-old has been the source of much frustration for Rockies fans and fantasy managers alike, as his tenure with Colorado has been injury-riddled; he's played in only 159 games for the Rockies since signing in 2022. His production at the plate when healthy has also subsided over the past couple years, as he's hit for just a .663 OPS in the last two seasons, well below his career .855 OPS. Fantasy managers that haven't already cut bait should do so now, as Bryant won't have any further impact in 2024. Those in dynasty leagues that are worried about Bryant's future may want to consider Michael Toglia, whose .363 xwOBA ranks in the 90th percentile and has helped him carve out an everyday starting job at first base for the Rockies.

5 days ago

Antonio Senzatela • SP • Rockies

Antonio Senzatela Expected To Be Activated Off IL, Make Season Debut On Monday

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela (elbow) is expected to be activated off the IL on Monday and make the start for the Rockies in their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Senzatela has been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and hasn't pitched in a Major League game since May of 2023. In his rehab assignments he has pitched to a 5.29 ERA in 17 innings while striking out 18 batters with a 1.176 WHIP. While the 18 strikeouts show a significant increase over Senzatela's normal strikeout numbers (career 5.97 K/9) it should be noted he didn't face above Double-A competition in his rehab assignments. His return will be more significant to the Rockies more than it will for fantasy managers. Senzatela will likely be on a short leash in his debut on Monday in his return, especially considering that current Diamondback batters have hit for a .432 wOBA against him in 148 PA. Fantasy managers and DFS managers alike should avoid Senzatela in his return and wait to see what 2025 brings for the 29-year-old.

5 days ago

Cal Quantrill • SP • Rockies

Cal Quantrill Expected To Return From Injured List On Sunday

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Cal Quantrill (triceps) is expected to be activated off the IL on Sunday and make the start in the series finale against the Chicago Cubs. Quantrill hasn't made a start since August 27th against the Miami Marlins but his return will be welcome for a Rockies rotation that's been dealing with a litany of injuries dating back to 2023. The 29-year-old has pitched to a 4.63 ERA in his first year with the Rockies, though he's been hit significantly harder in the second half of the season (.930 OPS) compared to the first half (.753 OPS). Quantrill's return to the rotation will likely mean much more to the Rockies than it will to fantasy managers given's Quantrill's second half struggles and lack of strikeouts. With the season nearing its end, only managers in deeper leagues that are desperate for help should consider the Rockies' righty. Better options can be found on the waiver wire for those in need.

5 days ago

Merrill Kelly • SP • Diamondbacks

Merrill Kelly Expected To Make His Next Start

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander Merrill Kelly (hamstring) is expected to make his next start after leaving his last outing on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers with hamstring cramping. Kelly's next start will be either on Monday or Tuesday at Coors Field against the division-rival Colorado Rockies, depending on how Kelly feels. "We're going to see it through Merrill's eyes. He's fine today, he should be fine tomorrow. If he continues to be fine every day, we will make a decision if it's going to be Monday or Tuesday," Lovullo said on Friday. Coors Field isn't an ideal location to pitch after an injury scare, but the 35-year-old Kelly will be close to a must-start in that one just based on the opponent. Kelly has been inconsistent in his six starts since returning from a long IL stint on Aug. 11, posting a 5.85 ERA with 23 K's, 10 walks and seven homers allowed in 32 1/3 innings.

5 days ago

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. • LF • Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. To Play In Rehab Game On Saturday

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (calf) is scheduled to play in a minor-league rehab game on Saturday at Salt River Fields. Gurriel has been on the 10-day injured list since Sept. 3 with a calf strain, and manager Torey Lovullo said he will likely return to the big-league lineup after catcher Gabriel Moreno (groin), who could be back next week in the series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. "If I had to choose between one or the other, I would say Gabi first then Lourdes," Lovullo said. "Their returns are coming and they are getting very close and they are both feeling very good." When he's ready, the 30-year-old will return to regular duties in left field in the desert. Veteran Randal Grichuk has seen more run in the starting lineup since Gurriel has been out. In 125 games this year, Gurriel has provided fantasy managers with 17 homers, 70 RBI and seven steals while hitting a respectable .274.

5 days ago

TJ Friedl • CF • Reds

TJ Friedl Homers, Collects Three RBI On Friday

Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored in Friday's 8-4 win over the Twins. It has been a season marred by injury for the 29-year-old but he's showing signs of life in September, hitting .262 with a pair of home runs, 11 RBI, six runs scored, and two stolen bases in 12 games. For the season, the left-handed hitter has a .221-12-51-32-9 line with a .302 wOBA and 87 wRC+. Friedl still boasts an 83.2% contact rate and a better-than-average strikeout rate of 16.0%, so there's hope he can finish strong and come into 2025 as a healthy multi-category contributor for fantasy.

5 days ago

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