MLB News

Brant Hurter • SP • Tigers

Brant Hurter Nearly Perfect On Friday Night, Picks Up Fifth Win Of Season

Detroit Tigers pitcher Brant Hurter was nearly perfect on Friday night, throwing 5 2/3 hitless innings with just one walk in the Tigers' 1-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. Hurter struck out eight and walked just one batter en route to picking up the win and improving his record to 5-1 on the season. Hurter has been very solid for the Tigers this season, generally pitching in relief after Detroit uses an opener for him. He's also been on the verge of positive regression, as his 3.00 ERA coming into Friday (2.56 ERA after Friday) was paired with a 2.47 xERA. Fantasy managers looking for pitching help may be wise to look at Hurter going forward as a reliable bullpen option. With the 26-year-old benefitting from an opener, he's not scheduled for a start soon, but he will likely get another rematch in Baltimore against these same Orioles next weekend.

6 days ago

Christopher Morel • 3B • Rays

Christopher Morel Leaves Game Early With Right-Achilles Discomfort

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Christopher Morel left Friday night's game early with right-Achilles discomfort, according to the team. Morel was replaced by Dylan Carlson in the top of the third after recording a single and rounding first hard before returning to the base, apparently tweaking his Achilles in the process. No further update has been provided by the team as of yet, but until then, it should be assumed that the 25-year-old's status is day-to-day. Morel has been subpar with the Rays since being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, hitting for just a 66 OPS+ in 150 plate appearances. Much of the drop in production has been due to a huge drop in power, hitting for a .583 OPS with Tampa compared to .675 with Chicago before he was traded. Fantasy managers likely haven't been counting on Morel, but if they need another option from the Rays to finish the season, they should consider Jonny DeLuca, who is hitting for a 125 wRC+ over the last 30 days in the Rays' outfield.

6 days ago

Tony Gonsolin • SP • Dodgers

Tony Gonsolin To Make Second Rehab Start On Sunday

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin (elbow) is set to make his second rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. Gonsolin pitched two scoreless innings in his first rehab start on Tuesday while allowing just two hits and striking out three batters. The 30-year-old has yet to pitch in 2024 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The progress in his rehab assignment gives a slight chance that Gonsolin could pitch in the Dodgers' postseason run, but the likelihood is still minimal given the stakes of the postseason. At best Gonsolin could be used as a bullpen arm instead of a starter in October. Fantasy managers in dynasty leagues will still want to hold onto Gonsolin but any managers that hoped for and needed the righty to return in 2024 can cut bait. Those looking for immediate help can look to Landon Knack, who has posted a 3.00 ERA in 54 IP coming into Friday night.

6 days ago

Gavin Stone • SP • Dodgers

Gavin Stone To Start Throwing Program This Weekend

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone (shoulder) is expected to start his throwing program this weekend as he rehabs from shoulder inflammation. Stone was placed on the 15-day IL last Friday, putting him in a good spot to make a return for the Dodgers' playoff run. Stone was in the midst of a very solid rookie campaign, pitching to a 3.53 ERA and posting an 11-5 record in 25 starts. With as many injuries as the Dodgers have sustained over the past couple seasons, Stone's consistency was very welcome in their rotation. His return will help support the Dodgers in October. Fantasy managers shouldn't plan on the 25-year-old returning during the regular season. Any fantasy managers in need of starting pitching help to finish the season should turn to Landon Knack. Knack had posted a 3.00 ERA in 54 IP coming into Friday night.

6 days ago

Francisco Lindor • SS • Mets

Francisco Lindor Leaves Game Early With Lower-Back Soreness

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor left Friday night's game early with lower back soreness. Lindor was replaced by Eddy Alvarez in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lindor was tagged out at second after an awkward sequence of events, likely triggering his injury. No update has been provided by the team on the 30-year-old's status, but for now it should be assumed that he is day-to-day until further notice. Fantasy managers should brace themselves for Lindor to rest at least on Saturday. Should the NL MVP candidate miss any time expect Jose Iglesias to pick up starts at shortstop. Iglesias has hit for a 132 OPS+, though he is due for negative regression as his .353 wOBA is backed with a .307 xwOBA, pointing to Iglesias being the beneficiary of a bit of luck. Fantasy managers may be fine with a spot start from Iglesias but their best route forward may just be hoping Lindor's injury results in minimal time missed. UPDATE: Lindor is dealing with back tightness, per manager Carlos Mendoza. He's day-to-day and could be back in the lineup on Saturday.

6 days ago

Clayton Kershaw • SP • Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw Still Has Pain In His Toe

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (toe) has thrown off a portable mound but is still dealing with pain in his toe. Kershaw was placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 31 with a bone spur in his left big toe. It's good news that the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer is throwing off a mound, but the fact that he still has pain in his toe probably makes him more of a long shot to return to the Dodgers' starting rotation before the end of September. And depending on how Kershaw recovers from here on out, there's a realistic chance he won't be stretched out enough to be considered an option in the playoffs. The three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP had offseason shoulder surgery and has only made seven starts in 2024, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP and a 24:9 K:BB in 30 innings pitched for the Blue.

6 days ago

Tyler Fitzgerald • SS • Giants

Tyler Fitzgerald Considered Day-To-Day, Not Playing On Friday

San Francisco Giants rookie outfielder/shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald (back) underwent an MRI exam on his lower back that showed no structural damage, so the team is considering him day-to-day. Fitzgerald unexpectedly is out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's game at Oracle Park versus the visiting division-rival San Diego Padres. The 26-year-old felt tightness in his lower back on Thursday and was removed from the contest early against the Milwaukee Brewers. It doesn't sound like too serious of an injury, though, so fantasy managers will be hoping to get him back in the lineup against the Padres later this weekend. Fitzgerald has been a savior off the waiver wire this year, as he's hit .296 (80-for-270) with 14 homers, 31 RBI and 17 steals in 84 games after playing in just 10 games in 2023. Brett Wisely is at short on Friday and is hitting eighth against Padres right-hander Dylan Cease.

6 days ago

Jordan Westburg • 3B • Orioles

Jordan Westburg Hitting In The Cages

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (hand) is now hitting in the batting cages and has progressed from taking dry swings earlier in the week. He is doing full baseball activities, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The focus now is "building strength" in Westburg's hand/wrist. The Orioles could really use the 25-year-old back as their primary third baseman, especially with Ramon Urias (ankle) also on the shelf. He has been out since late July with a fractured hand but appears to be tracking towards a return later this month. At the very least, Baltimore will be hoping to have Westburg available for the playoffs. Westburg has provided 18 home runs and 58 RBI in his 420 plate appearances in 2024 before his injury. In the meantime, struggling rookie Coby Mayo and Emmanuel Rivera figure to continue splitting time at third base.

6 days ago

Ozzie Albies • 2B • Braves

Braves Unsure If Ozzie Albies Will Play Again This Year

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said on Friday that he's unsure if second baseman Ozzie Albies (wrist) will play again this year. When asked if Albies would return and hit only right-handed, Snitker said they haven't had that conversation with him. The Braves could really use Albies back, as they entered played on Friday sitting a game back of the division-rival New York Mets for the final wild-card spot in the National League. The 27-year-old is trying to recover from a fractured left wrist that he suffered in late July, but he's making slow progress and still feels it in his wrist when he swings from the left side. If he is unable to return this season, veteran utility man Whit Merrifield should see most of the starts at the keystone, but he doesn't offer near the offensive upside that Albies does. It may be too much to overcome not having both Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) for most of 2024.

6 days ago

Tyler Glasnow • SP • Dodgers

Tyler Glasnow Has A Setback With His Elbow

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow (elbow) felt discomfort in his right elbow while warming up for his scheduled simulated game on Friday, and the Dodgers cut it short from there as a result. "It's a setback," manager Dave Roberts said. This pretty much assures that we won't see Glasnow again on the bump for the Dodgers until the start of the postseason. And even then, there's no guarantee he'll be ready by then, depending on how his rehab goes from here on out. The 31-year-old hard-throwing righty has been sidelined since Aug. 16 with right-elbow tendinitis and is running out of time to get stretched out for a potential return to the starting rotation. Glasnow was one of the most dominant arms in the big leagues in 2024 in his first year in LA, and it would be a huge blow to the Dodgers' pitching staff if he were unable to return this year.

6 days ago

Marcus Stroman • SP • Yankees

Marcus Stroman Moving To The Bullpen

New York Yankees right-hander Marcus Stroman will move to the bullpen for this turn through the starting rotation, with left-hander Nestor Cortes taking his next start. Manager Aaron Boone said that the Yankees could go to a five-man rotation the next time through as well. Stroman would be available in relief on Sunday at Yankee Stadium against the division-rival Boston Red Sox. This is the Yankees' way of giving some of their starters some rest at the tail end of the regular season so that they can be fully ready to go for a deep playoff run. It's obviously bad news for any fantasy managers relying on the 33-year-old Stroman with a championship on the line. He has mostly struggled in the second half, going 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA (3.54 FIP) with 31 strikeouts and 13 walks in nine starts over 43 1/3 innings. At best, Stroman might only make one more start in September.

6 days ago

Reese Olson • SP • Tigers

Reese Olson Could Return Next Week

Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson (shoulder) is trending towards returning from the injured list to pitch in the series next week against the division-rival Kansas City Royals that runs from Monday, Sept. 16, through Wednesday, Sept. 18. Left-hander Tarik Skubal (hand) is already projected to start on Wednesday, so Olson's turn would come either on Monday or Tuesday. An official announcement could come on Saturday. The 25-year-old has been out since July 20 but did toss three scoreless innings with five strikeouts in his latest minor-league rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Toledo. Olson's strikeout rate has been a bit down this year, but you can't argue with his results (3.23 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) in 19 starts before hurting his shoulder. He has streaming appeal down the stretch, although a matchup next week against KC will probably make fantasy managers nervous.

6 days ago

Jose Altuve • 2B • Astros

Jose Altuve Back On Friday

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (side) has returned to second base and is hitting leadoff on Friday in the series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels and rookie left-hander Samuel Aldegheri. Altuve injured his side in the game on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics and sat out of the series finale against the division rivals on Thursday before returning to start the weekend series in Anaheim. Fantasy managers will want to get the 34-year-old All-Star back into all starting lineups, especially against a young hurler without much experience. Altuve has been excellent for the Astros and fantasy managers all year and enters Friday's game with a .302/.357/.450 slash line, .806 OPS, 19 homers, 62 RBI, 20 steals and 86 runs scored in 576 at-bats as a contributor across all categories. He's been even better in September with a .389 average, a homer, four doubles and five RBI in nine games.

6 days ago

Jasson Domínguez • CF • Yankees

Jasson Dominguez Taking A Seat On Friday

New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox. Fantasy managers don't need to worry as this appears to be a routine rest day for Dominguez. Instead, the Yankees have decided to give Alex Verdugo the start in left field. The left-handed slugger has hit well against Boston this season with 13 knocks in 43 plate appearances. Verdugo appears to be a strong fantasy option for Friday's slate.

6 days ago

Tanner Houck • SP • Red Sox

Tanner Houck Scratched Ahead Of Friday's Start

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck (shoulder) has been scratched ahead of his scheduled start against the New York Yankees on Friday. The right-hander is reportedly dealing with right shoulder fatigue. Houck was given eight days of rest to overcome this issue, but it doesn't look like that was enough. It wouldn't be shocking to see Houck end up landing on the injured list. In his place, Richard Fitts will take the ball on four days rest on Friday. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for help with Fitts unlikely to have success against the tough Yanks lineup.

6 days ago

Steven Kwan • LF • Guardians

Steven Kwan Scratched On Friday

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan (undisclosed) has been scratched ahead of Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. It sounds like Kwan is being pulled from the game due to body fatigue. This should be a minor issue that only keeps Kwan out for a day or two. In the meantime, Daniel Schneemann will play left field and bat leadoff against right-hander Zack Littell. Schneemann hasn't been much of a fantasy option with a .227 batting average and 21 RBI on the season.

6 days ago

Tarik Skubal • SP • Tigers

Tarik Skubal Will Make His Next Start

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that left-hander Tarik Skubal's right hand checked out fine and he will start the third game in the upcoming series versus the division-rival Kansas City Royals next Wednesday. Skubal, one of the front-runners for the American League Cy Young in 2024, bruised his right (non-throwing) hand in his last outing on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies, but he still managed to throw six innings, allowing an earned run with no walks and six strikeouts in a no-decision. The matchup is a difficult one against the rising Royals next week, but Skubal has been matchup-proof all year and needs to be locked into starting lineups next week. The 27-year-old lefty has been lights-out in a breakout year, going 16-4 with a league-leading 2.50 ERA (2.56 FIP) while also leading the league with 214 strikeouts in 180 innings over 29 starts.

6 days ago

Gavin Sheets • RF • White Sox

Gavin Sheets Out Against A Lefty

Chicago White Sox outfielder Gavin Sheets will retreat to the bench on Friday against the Oakland Athletics at Guaranteed Rate Field with a left-hander on the mound. With Sheets starting on the pine, rookie Bryan Ramos will serve as the team's designated hitter and will bat leadoff against A's rookie left-hander Brady Basso. Sheets, who hits from the left side, has hit only .203 (15-for-74) with one of his eight home runs and 23 strikeouts in 82 plate appearances against southpaws this year. Ramos, who hits from the right side, has only had 60 plate appearances in his first 19 major-league games in 2024 and is slashing .211/.233/.298 with a .532 OPS, one homer, two doubles, four RBI and 11 strikeouts. He's in a favorable lineup spot against an inexperienced pitcher, but it's hard to recommend White Sox hitters as viable sleepers for DFS lineups.

6 days ago

Whit Merrifield • 2B • Braves

Whit Merrifield Returns To Action On Friday

Atlanta Braves infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield (foot) is back at second base and is hitting ninth on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Landon Knack at Truist Park. Despite fracturing his left foot on Sept. 6 when he fouled a ball off of it, Merrifield has avoided the injured list and will return to Atlanta's lineup after missing the last five games. The 35-year-old veteran should see most of the starts at second base moving forward, barring a setback with his foot, as long as Ozzie Albies (wrist) remains on the IL. Even though Merrifield's playing time is on the rise with the Braves late in the year, he doesn't really move the fantasy needle outside of NL-only leagues. The three-time All-Star is hitting .243/.359/.342 with a homer, four doubles, two triples, three RBI and five steals in 34 games since joining the Braves midseason.

6 days ago

CJ Abrams • SS • Nationals

CJ Abrams Scratched Due To Sore Shoulder

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (shoulder) has been scratched from the lineup on Friday against the division-rival Miami Marlins at Nationals Park due to a sore left shoulder after a diving play on Thursday night. With Abrams out, everyone in the batting order moves up a slot, with rookie outfielder Dylan Crews starting in right field and batting leadoff against Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera. Nasim Nunez slots in at the 6 in D.C. and will hit in the nine-hole. Fantasy managers should consider Abrams to be day-to-day for now and check back on Saturday to see if he is available to play against the Fish. The rookie Nunez has handled himself well in his first 37 big-league games in 2024 by hitting .345 (10-for-29), but he has yet to clear the fences and will have limited DFS appeal at the bottom of Washington's batting order.

6 days ago

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