MLB News

Rowdy Tellez • 1B • Pirates

Rowdy Tellez Goes Deep In First Game Of Doubleheader

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman and designated hitter smashed a two-run homer in a pinch-hit appearance during the Pirates' 5-3 loss on Saturday in the first game of their doubleheader. Tellez pinch-hit for Connor Joe in the bottom of the seventh and hit the two-run shot, his 13th of the season, off Nationals' right-hander Jacob Barnes. The lefty added on a walk in the bottom of the ninth before being pinch-ran for. The 29-year-old has started to turn things around after starting the season off very cold in April and May, hitting for an .853 OPS and knocking 11 of his 13 HR since June. Tellez's fantasy value is still somewhat subsided as he's mainly used as a platoon option vs right-handers, but he remains a solid option going forward. He's in the starting lineup for game two against Nationals left-hander Mitchell Parker and will likely sit on Sunday against Nationals' lefty Patrick Corbin. Fantasy managers should plan appropriately.

0 hour ago

DJ Herz • SP • Nationals

DJ Herz Throws Five Hitless Innings, Picks Up Win

Washington Nationals starting pitcher DJ Herz threw five hitless innings on Saturday and picked up the win in the first game of the Nationals-Pirates doubleheader as Washington won 5-3. Herz struck out five and walked three in the process, unable to go deeper in the game after throwing 87 pitches in five innings. The lefty has provided solid value for the Nationals in his rookie season, posting a 3.82 ERA in just over 75 innings pitched. With an xERA of 3.37 it'd appear that positive regression is likely for the lefty in his remaining starts this season. Fantasy managers looking for a late season find may want to consider adding Herz to their roster. The 23-year-old will look to continue improving in his next scheduled start on Thursday against the Miami Marlins. Herz previously faced the Marlins in June and struck out 13 in six innings. Fantasy managers and DFS managers should both target Herz for his start against Miami.

1 hour ago

Teoscar Hernández • RF • Dodgers

Teoscar Hernandez Avoids IL, Hopeful To Return By Monday

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (foot) said on Saturday that scans came back clean on his foot. He also stated he was feeling much better today and is hopeful he can return by Monday or Tuesday for the Dodgers' series against the Chicago Cubs. Hernandez left Friday night's game after being hit by a pitch. Initially it sounded like he wasn't doing great, according to manager Dave Roberts, so getting this news and avoiding the 10-day IL as initially expected is great news to hear. The 31-year-old has been very consistent for the Dodgers, hitting for a 130 OPS+ in 2024. His bat will certainly be missed in an important series against the Cleveland Guardians. Andy Pages is starting in left field for the Dodgers Saturday night in Hernandez's absence and should be expected to get starts that Hernandez will miss.

1 hour ago

Nolan Arenado • 3B • Cardinals

Nolan Arenado Starting In Cardinals Lineup

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is officially in the Cardinals' lineup for their Saturday night tilt against the Seattle Mariners and will start at third base as normal. Arenado was removed from Friday night's game in the ninth inning with left shoulder soreness. Given that the 33-year-old is back in the starting lineup and playing his normal defensive position, there shouldn't be much worry about the injury for Cardinals fans and fantasy managers alike going forward. Arenado has had a subpar season with his bat by his standards, hitting for just a 98 OPS+. With the Cardinals fighting for a wild card spot (6.0 GB) they will need Arenado to turn it up offensively for them to be able to have a shot at contention. He'll have a tough test on Saturday night facing off against Mariners' starter Logan Gilbert. Fantasy managers should keep Arenado in their starting lineups but DFS managers may want to temper expectations given the stout matchup.

1 hour ago

Trevor Story • SS • Red Sox

Trevor Story Officially Activated, Starting At Shortstop On Saturday

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (shoulder) was officially activated from the 60-day IL on Saturday and will start at shortstop in Boston's matchup against the Chicago White Sox. Story is set to bat seventh against White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet. The 31-year-old has been out since early April after injuring his shoulder diving for a ball in just his eighth game of the season. His return comes at an opportune time for Boston as the Red Sox fight to gain a wild card spot. Currently 5.0 GB of a spot, Boston will need Story to perform at his 2022 levels (102 OPS+) and not what he was in 2023 (53 OPS+). Fantasy managers that are looking for help at shortstop shouldn't hesitate to add Story to their rosters, though they should exercise caution as he works back from injury. Managers with Ceddanne Rafaela should be aware that Rafaela will lose playing time with Story's return but shouldn't cut him yet as he could slide back into short if Story falters.

1 hour ago

Jackson Jobe • SP • Tigers

Jackson Jobe Promoted To Triple-A

Detroit Tigers starting pitching prospect Jackson Jobe is being promoted to Triple-A Toledo. Jobe is considered the No.2 prospect in the Tiger system and the No.8 in the sport on MLB.com. The right-hander opened the campaign by getting his second look at High-A and needed just nine innings to move up to Double-A. At Double-A Erie, the former number-three overall pick held a stellar 1.95 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 38:81 BB:K ratio across 73 2/3 innings of work. Given how well Jobe has performed at Double-A, a late-season major league debut is not out of the question. Fantasy managers should follow Jobe's Triple-A debut very closely. Even if he does not reach the majors this season, he will be a popular breakout pick entering the 2025 season and remains a coveted asset in dynasty and keeper formats.

2 hours ago

Jo Adell • RF • Angels

Jo Adell Hits 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Strain

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday afternoon with a left-oblique strain. The outfielder left Friday's game early and will now sit out for at least the next ten games. In addition, Angels outfielder Kevin Pillar was also placed on the injured list. Since August 17, Adell has begun to find some rhythm at the plate holding a modest .242/.299/.435 line with four doubles, one triple, two home runs, eight RBI, and a stolen base. Fantasy managers should expect Jack Lopez and Mickey Moniak to see the majority of starts in right field while Adell remains out. This evening, Moniak will cover right field and bat fifth in what could be a favorable matchup against Texas Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter.

2 hours ago

José Soriano • SP • Angels

Jose Soriano Moved To 60-Day Injured List, Done For The Season

Los Angeles pitcher Jose Soriano (arm) was moved to the 60-day IL on Saturday afternoon, which will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the 2024 campaign. The 25-year-old originally hit the IL back in mid-August and is now ineligible to return this summer. Soriano typically operated as a starter this season (two relief appearances) and logged a 3.42 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 45:97 BB:K ratio across 113 innings of work. He held a stellar 60.1% ground ball rate and an above average 6.6% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should follow Soriano's development over the offseason as he may not have a stable spot in the rotation in 2025 given the young arms in the Angels system, Caden Dana and Samuel Aldegheri who have looked sharp in their late-season debuts.

3 hours ago

Victor Robles • CF • Mariners

Victor Robles Sitting Out On Saturday

Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles (elbow) is not in Saturday's lineup as the Mariners continue a three-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals. Robles was removed early from Friday's game after being hit by a pitch in his elbow and will need at least one more day to rest. Fantasy managers should consider the 27-year-old day-to-day for the time being. As a result, Mitch Haniger will cover right field and bat in the eight-hole. Haniger is in the midst of a rough 3-for-20 slump across his past seven games and should be left out of your DFS lineup as he will face St. Louis right-hander Kyle Gibson.

3 hours ago

Calvin Faucher • RP • Marlins

Calvin Faucher Hits 15-Day Injured List

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Calvin Faucher (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday with a right-shoulder impingement. The 28-year-old will now be sidelined for at least the next two weeks and may not have many opportunities to pitch this season. Faucher has been a strong piece in the Miami bullpen, holding a strong 2.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 5:19 BB:K ratio with six saves in his past 13 innings. 29-year-old Anthony Bender was also activated off the IL on Saturday and should now be one of the front runners to see save opportunities down the stretch. Fantasy managers in need of saves should pay close attention to who gets the first ninth-inning opportunity over the weekend while Faucher remains sidelined.

3 hours ago

Miguel Vargas • LF • White Sox

Miguel Vargas Returns To Starting Nine

Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas (eye) is returning to the starting nine on Saturday afternoon and will bat in the eight-hole. Vargas has been kept out of the lineup for the past two games with an eye abrasion that was caused by a collision on September 3. In his past eight games, the 24-year-old has held a .200/.333/.300 line with just four total hits. Fantasy managers should expect Vargas to continue to serve as the everyday second baseman for the remainder of the regular season on the Southside. Vargas does have a favorable matchup this afternoon against Boston right-hander Cooper Criswell who carries a 4.14 ERA but is best to leave off your DFS lineup.

3 hours ago

J.T. Realmuto • C • Phillies

J.T. Realmuto Remains Out On Saturday

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (knee) remains out of the lineup on Saturday afternoon as the Phillies continue a series against the Miami Marlins. The backstop left Friday's game early in the second inning after taking a foul ball to his left knee. As a result, Garrett Stubbs will be behind the plate and bat in the nine-hole. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Phillies lineup ahead of their game on Sunday. Stubbs has made just three starts since August 25 and is not worth putting in your DFS lineup as he will face Miami right-hander Darren McCaughan.

3 hours ago

Jeff McNeil • 2B • Mets

Jeff McNeil Done For The Season

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (wrist) is done for the season, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday, due to a fractured wrist. The 32-year-old exited Friday's game early after being hit by a pitch in his wrist. The second baseman will now have to wait until next spring to return to the diamond. As a result, the Mets will likely give Jose Iglesias the majority of starts at the keystone down the stretch. McNeil held a career-worst .238/.308/.384 slash line this season with 12 home runs and five swiped bags this summer. Iglesias is worth picking up in all leagues available as he currently sits with a stellar .312 AVG and should continue to see plenty of at-bats down the stretch, providing an excellent batting average with decent counting stats.

5 hours ago

Robbie Ray • SP • Giants

Robbie Ray To Throw Three Simulated Innings On Saturday

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray (hamstring) is set to throw another simulated game on Saturday afternoon, according to MLB.com. The southpaw logged his first simulated game (two innings) last week and will now look to stretch out further on Saturday by tossing three frames. Ray hit the 15-day IL with a hamstring strain on August 27. If the 32-year-old progresses well, he may only require one rehab assignment before returning to the big leagues. Before the injury, Ray held a 4.70 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP across 30 2/3 innings of work this summer, as his 2024 campaign began much later due to undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. Ray could be worth stashing in deeper leagues as he should be able to log a handful of starts during the final weeks of the season and possess a high strikeout upside.

5 hours ago

Kyle Tucker • RF • Astros

Kyle Tucker Out On Saturday

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker is not in Saturday's lineup as the Astros continue a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tucker returned from the 60-day IL on Friday but will take a day off on Saturday as he continues to be built back up. The Astros will likely be cautious with Tucker as the team would prefer for their star outfielder to be a full-go for the playoffs in October. As a result, Chas McCormick will cover right field and bat in the nine-hole. Tucker should be expected to return to the starting nine on Sunday night. McCormick has tallied four hits in his past four games and could be worth a look in DFS as he will face Arizona southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez, who enters Saturday with a hefty 5.33 ERA.

6 hours ago

Paul Blackburn • SP • Mets

Paul Blackburn Set To Return From Injured List On Monday

New York Mets starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (hand) is set to return from the 15-day injured list on Monday to face the Toronto Blue Jays. Blackburn hit the injured list on August 30 after suffering a right-hand contusion. Blackburn looked sharp in his lone rehab outing on September 3, where he logged six 2/3 innings of one-run ball while striking out four. Seeing how quickly the 30-year-old is set to return, fantasy managers should not expect him to face any serious innings limit on Monday. Blackburn could be worth keeping on your roster in deeper leagues, as he should remain in the Mets rotation during the final weeks of the season. This summer, Blackburn sits with a mediocre 4.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 21:59 BB:K ratio through 75 innings of work.

6 hours ago

Clarke Schmidt • SP • Yankees

Clarke Schmidt Activated From Injured List, Starting On Saturday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (lat) was activated off the 60-day injured list earlier on Saturday and will return to the bump to face the Chicago Cubs. Schmidt has not made a start since May before being shut down for over three months. The 28-year-old logged eleven 1/3 innings of rehab appearances and reached 70 pitches in his final start, suggesting he may not face a significant innings limit on Saturday afternoon. Before the injury, the right-hander held a strong 2.52 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 20:67 BB:K ratio across 60 2/3 innings of work. Schmidt could be worth a look in DFS this afternoon, as the Cubs hold a 23.3% K rate against right-handers.

6 hours ago

Miguel Amaya • C • Cubs |

Isaac Paredes • 3B • Cubs

Isaac Paredes, Miguel Amaya Sitting On Saturday

Chicago Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes and catcher Miguel Amaya are not in the starting nine on Saturday afternoon as the Cubs continue a three-game set against the New York Yankees. The third baseman is in the midst of a rough 2-for-17 slide since the start of the month, while Amaya has tallied just one hit since September 1. As a result, Patrick Wisdom will cover the hot corner and bat in the eight-hole, and Christian Bethancourt will be behind the dish batting ninth. Fantasy managers should expect Paredes and Amaya to return to the starting nine tomorrow as they are scheduled to face Yankee ace, Gerrit Cole. Both Wisdom and Bethancourt could be sneaky plays in DFS this afternoon as they will face Clarke Schmidt who will be making his return to the mound after not pitching since May due to a strained lat.

6 hours ago

Rowdy Tellez • 1B • Pirates

Rowdy Tellez Riding Pine In Game 1 Of Doubleheader

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez finds himself on the bench for Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday at PNC Park against the Washington Nationals with a left-hander on the mound. Connor Joe will make the start at first base and will bat seventh for Pittsburgh against Nationals rookie left-hander DJ Herz. Tellez has only 42 plate appearances against southpaws in 2024 and has gone 8-for-37 (.216) against them with two of his 12 homers on the year, so it's no surprise he's on the bench in this one, especially with two games on tap on Saturday in Pittsburgh. Joe, 32, represents a low-upside, deep-sleeper option for DFS lineups in the first game of the twin bill to kick off the action on Saturday. He has never faced Herz in his career and is hitting .245 (34-for-139) with three of his nine home runs on the year against left-handed pitching.

6 hours ago

Austin Adams • RP • Athletics

Austin Adams Nearing Rehab Assignment

Oakland Athletics right-handed reliever Austin Adams (forearm) threw to hitters on Friday and felt good, according to manager Mark Kotsay. If Adams feels good in the coming days, he could begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas. And if he doesn't suffer a setback on what is likely to be a short rehab assignment, Adams could rejoin Oakland's bullpen by sometime next week. The 33-year-old veteran previously threw a bullpen session on Tuesday as he attempts to return from right-forearm tendinitis. When the A's feel he's ready, Adams will return to a late-inning, high-leverage setup role in Oakland's big-league bullpen in front of lights-out closer Mason Miller. Adams is currently 1-2 on the year with a 3.92 ERA (4.49 FIP), a 1.48 WHIP, 53 strikeouts and 23 walks in 41 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

7 hours ago

MLB News

LEGEND