MLB News

Rob Refsnyder • LF • Red Sox

Rob Refsnyder Good To Go

Boston Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder (wrist) was unavailable during the team's four-game series against the division-rival New York Yankees in the Bronx last weekend due to right-wrist soreness, and while the soreness isn't completely gone, he is available this week during the series in Tampa against the division-rival Rays. The Rays are starting three right-handers in the series, so the right-handed-hitting Refsnyder will most likely be used off the bench. The 33-year-old was scratched from the lineup last Thursday in the series opener against the Yanks and hasn't had an at-bat since Sept. 10 against the Orioles. Refsnyder is mostly valuable in deeper fantasy leagues for outfield depth and is a nice DFS sleeper target when the Red Sox face left-handers. He's hitting .284/.361/.472 on the year with an .833 OPS, 11 homers and 40 RBI in his 271 at-bats.

1 hour ago

Bryan Mata • SP • Red Sox

Bryan Mata Likely Out For The Season

Boston Red Sox right-hander Bryan Mata (elbow, lat) injured his right hamstring in spring training and started the season on the injured list. He went on four separate rehab assignments, but each of them ended with a setback, most of them arm-related. "He came out of his last one a little bit sore so we're back to, not step one, but we're running out of time," manager Alex Cora. "Pretty unlikely [he will pitch for Boston this season]." The hope was that Mata, who was once the team's top pitching prospect, would at least make his major-league debut in 2024, as the 25-year-old is out of options. It's been a frustrating year for the Venezuelan hurler as he tries to make his way to the big leagues for the first time. Mata pitched at four different levels of the minors in 2024 but threw only 22 2/3 innings over 11 outings (seven starts), giving up 12 runs (11 earned) while walking nine and fanning 20 hitters.

1 hour ago

Tanner Houck • SP • Red Sox

Tanner Houck Officially Starting On Wednesday

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced following Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field that right-hander Tanner Houck (shoulder) would start on Wednesday night. Houck, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 4 due to right-shoulder fatigue, was supposed to return last Friday to face the division-rival New York Yankees in the Bronx, but he was scratched less than an hour before first pitch. He has a career-low 21.1% strikeout rate in 2024 but also a career-best 6.6% walk rate. Despite the lack of strikeouts, the 28-year-old has been solid for the Red Sox and fantasy managers when healthy this year, going 8-10 with a 3.24 ERA (3.34 FIP), a 1.17 WHIP and a career-high 150 strikeouts in 28 starts (169 2/3 innings) as a first-time All-Star. He has been lights-out facing the Rays twice this year, giving up just three runs (one earned) while walking four and striking out 12 in 12 2/3 frames.

2 hours ago

Charlie Blackmon • DH • Rockies |

Ryan McMahon • 3B • Rockies

Ryan McMahon, Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Jones Out On Wednesday

Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon and outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Jones are all out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale at Coors Field against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez on the bump. Aaron Schunk will start at third and hit out of the nine-hole, Sam Hilliard will start in left and bat seventh, and catcher Jacob Stallings will be the designated hitter and bat fifth. Hunter Goodman is catching and hitting sixth. Hilliard has hit .250 (27-for-108) in his return to the Rockies this year with eight homers and 23 RBI in 49 games played. Stallings has hit .260 (59-for-227) with a career-high nine homers in 76 games, and Schunk has hit just .194 (14-for-72) with one homer and three RBI in his first 32 big-league games. None of Colorado's replacements are particularly attractive DFS sleepers, even at Coors Field.

2 hours ago

Alek Thomas • CF • Diamondbacks

Alek Thomas Back From Minor-League Injured List

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas (oblique) was reinstated from the seven-day minor-league injured list at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday. In his return to the field with the Aces on Tuesday, Thomas went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. The 24-year-old has been out of action for the past month with a strained right oblique but is working his way back and could be able to rejoin the big-league roster before the end of the regular season at the end of September. If Thomas does rejoin the D-backs and they make the postseason, he'll likely be a bench player and potential late-game replacement for his defense in center field. Thomas has played in a career-low 37 games in Arizona in 2024 in his third year in the majors and has hit just .191 (18-for-94) with three homers, 17 RBI and four steals. Jake McCarthy has essentially taken over for Thomas at the big-league level.

2 hours ago

Randal Grichuk • RF • Diamondbacks

Randal Grichuk Back In Wednesday's Lineup

Arizona Diamondbacks veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk (lower body) is back in the starting lineup as the designated hitter and is batting third for Wednesday's series finale against the division-rival Colorado Rockies and left-hander Austin Gomber at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Grichuk will return to the lineup after he was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to lower-body tightness, and he sat out each of the last two games of the series against his old team before returning on Wednesday. The 33-year-old has been a platoon player for the Snakes in 2024 and has hit an impressive .288/.344/.508 with an .852 OPS, 10 home runs and 41 RBI in his 97 games played. He's been a lefty killer as well, hitting .305 (47-for-154) with half of his 10 homers against southpaws, making him an attractive DFS play on Wednesday at Coors Field.

2 hours ago

Jared Shuster • RP • White Sox

Jared Shuster The Opener In A Bullpen Game

Chicago White Sox left-hander Jared Shuster will serve as the team's opener on Wednesday in the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in what will be a bullpen game for the Pale Hose. Shuster has appeared in 36 games for the White Sox in 2024, but only three of those outings have been starts. The 26-year-old former 25th overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2020 out of Wake Forest has posted a 4.54 ERA (4.69 FIP) and a 1.50 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 29 walks in 67 1/3 total innings, so he hasn't exactly been dominant in his second year in the big leagues. His last start actually came recently on Sept. 9, when he allowed three earned runs with no walks and five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings in a loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Shuster has not gone over three innings of work since July 26 and should be avoided as a fantasy streamer, even in the good matchup.

2 hours ago

JJ Bleday • CF • Athletics

JJ Bleday Sitting Against A Southpaw

Oakland Athletics outfielders JJ Bleday and Seth Brown and infielder Max Schuemann are all out of the starting lineup in Wednesday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field with a left-hander on the mound. As a result, Daz Cameron will start in center field and bat cleanup, Tyler Nevin will man left field and hit eighth, and Nick Allen will start at the hot corner and hit ninth against Cubs left-hander Justin Steele, who is making his first start off the injured list. Bleday has hit a pedestrian .246 (133-for-540) in his third year in the big leagues in 2024, but he has quietly hit the 20-homer mark and driven in 56 runs in 149 games for a bad A's team. He's hit .229 (25-for-109) with six of his 20 long balls on the year against southpaws. Cameron has the most DFS upside in the four-hole, but he's hit just .201 with five homers and five steals in 159 at-bats.

2 hours ago

Juan Soto • RF • Yankees

Juan Soto Hits 200th Career Homer Tuesday

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto had a milestone game for several reasons in Tuesday's 11-2 win over the Mariners. Soto went 2-for-2 with a double, a two-run home run, and two walks. The 25-year-old lined a fourth-inning Bryan Woo fastball over the center-field wall for his 40th HR of the season and the 200th of his career. Not only did he become the eighth player to reach 200 HR before turning 26 years old, but Soto's homer in T-Mobile Park completed his quest to hit a HR in all 30 current MLB ballparks. Soto is having a career power season, slashing .287/.417/.576 with 120 runs scored, 103 RBI, and five stolen bases in 671 plate appearances. He has been a high-end fantasy player throughout his career and has fit in perfectly with a strong Yankees lineup. Despite being a free agent at the end of this season, Soto will continue to be a top fantasy pick regardless of where he lands.

13 hours ago

Luisangel Acuña • SS • Mets

Luisangel Acuna Hits First Career Home Run Tuesday

New York Mets shortstop prospect Luisangel Acuna had a milestone evening in Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Nationals. The 22-year-old went 3-for-4 with a single, a double, a solo home run, and two RBI. Acuna crushed an eighth-inning Joe La Sorsa offering deep to left-center field for his first big-league long ball. Acuna, who is the Mets' No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has hit .455 with an .818 slugging percentage in his first four games. His numbers with Triple-A Syracuse weren't so stellar that fantasy managers should be placing their trust in him at the end of this season, but they should certainly keep an eye on him for the rest of September.

13 hours ago

Spencer Steer • LF • Reds

Spencer Steer Hits 20th Homer Of Season Tuesday

Cincinnati Reds utilityman Spencer Steer had a solid offensive game in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Braves. Steer went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk, and a strikeout. The 26-year-old lined a seventh-inning Pierce Johnson curveball into the left-center seats to put the Reds up for good. Steer has provided useful counting stats this season but has not provided the batting average, slashing .232/.327/.419 with 20 HR, 74 runs scored, 91 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 621 plate appearances. His low average may impact his perceived fantasy value next season, but his power-speed combination and multi-position eligibility make him a useful option.

14 hours ago

Shea Langeliers • C • Athletics

Shea Langeliers Hits Two More Homers Tuesday

Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers continued to flex his muscles in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Cubs. Langeliers went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a two-run HR. The 26-year-old drilled a first-inning Jordan Wicks fastball into the left-center seats to plate two and got Wicks again deep to left field in the fifth inning. Langeliers has provided expected fantasy value this season, slashing .220/.280/.448 with 28 HR, 54 runs scored, 74 RBI, and four stolen bases in 500 plate appearances. He won't help fantasy managers in batting average, but catcher is such a weak position that Langeliers' power contributions make up for it.

14 hours ago

Ian Happ • LF • Cubs

Ian Happ Collects Three Hits, Two Homers Tuesday

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ continued his strong offensive September in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Athletics. Happ went 3-for-5 with a single and a pair of solo home runs. The 30-year-old took Mitch Spence deep to right field in the third inning and lined a ninth-inning, 103-mph Mason Miller fastball just over the left-field wall for his 25th home run of the season. Happ has put together his best offensive month in September, slashing .308/.357/.446 with two homers, nine RBI, and two stolen bases in 65 at-bats. The Cubs have been one of baseball's hottest lineups lately, so Happ could be a bat that fantasy managers could lean on to finish the season on a high note.

14 hours ago

Bobby Witt Jr. • SS • Royals

Bobby Witt Jr. Makes History With 30-Homer, 30-Steal Season

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. had a historic evening in Tuesday's 3-1 extra-inning loss to the Tigers. Witt Jr. went 0-for-2 with three walks, a strikeout, and his 30th stolen base of the season. The 24-year-old now has 32 home runs and 30 stolen bases this season, his second consecutive season with at least 30 HR and 30 stolen bases. Only six shortstops in MLB history have ever recorded a 30-30 season and Witt Jr. is now the only shortstop to record multiple 30-30 seasons. He has provided everything for fantasy managers this season, slashing .331/.386/.598 with 123 runs scored and 108 RBI in 671 plate appearances. Witt Jr. has cemented himself as a top fantasy pick for the foreseeable future.

14 hours ago

Blake Snell • SP • Giants

Blake Snell Carves Up Orioles With 12 Strikeouts

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell continued his stellar second half in Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Orioles. Snell pitched six innings, allowing just one hit and two walks with 12 strikeouts. The 31-year-old was barely startable for fantasy managers in the first half of the season but has been outstanding in the second half. He now owns a 4-0 record with a 1.59 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP, and 94 strikeouts in 11 second-half starts and 62 1/3 IP. Snell will face another tough matchup in his next start at the Royals, but fantasy managers should have him in their rotation for his final few starts of the season.

14 hours ago

Victor Robles • CF • Mariners

Victor Robles Suffers Right-Hand Contusion

Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles (hand) left Tuesday night's game at T-Mobile Park against the visiting New York Yankees with a right-hand contusion, but X-rays came back negative. Robles had an eventful first inning, getting hit by a pitch and then being thrown out while trying to steal home plate. He was serving as the designated hitter in this one and was replaced by pinch-hitter Mitch Garver before his second plate appearance. The 27-year-old should be considered day-to-day, and fantasy managers in deeper leagues should check back to see if he's available to start on Wednesday against the Yanks. Robles has been a lineup regular for the Mariners since being acquired from the Washington Nationals, and he's been excellent in Seattle, slashing .333/.401/.475 with four homers, 20 RBI and 25 steals in 227 trips to the plate over 67 games.

14 hours ago

Colt Keith • 2B • Tigers

Colt Keith Injures His Shoulder On Tuesday

Detroit Tigers rookie second baseman Colt Keith (shoulder) banged up his right shoulder on a dive in the fifth inning of Tuesday's 3-1 extra-inning win over the division-rival Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium and was removed from the game early. Keith will undergo more testing on Wednesday, at which point we'll have a better idea of how much time he may have to miss. Either way, the 23-year-old probably won't be available to play on Wednesday. Before being replaced at the keystone by Zach McKinstry, Keith went 1-for-2 with a walk at the plate. If Keith's injury is serious enough to keep him out to close out the 2024 season, McKinstry and Andy Ibanez would be the primary options for playing time at second in Detroit. Keith came into Tuesday's game hitting .263 (129-for-491) with 13 homers, 58 RBI and seven steals in 138 games in his first year in the majors.

14 hours ago

Luis García Jr. • 2B • Nationals

Luis Garcia Jr. Removed As A Precaution On Tuesday

Washington Nationals second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (wrist) said his right wrist was bothering him after his last swing in Tuesday's contest at Citi Field against the division-rival New York Mets, and manager Dave Martinez removed him as a precaution. Before he was pulled, Garcia went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before eventually being replaced at the keystone by Jose Tena. The 24-year-old's injury doesn't appear to be too serious, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the Nationals give Garcia a day to rest on Wednesday. It's been a breakout season in 2024 for Garcia in his fifth year in the big leagues for Washington, as he entered Tuesday's action slashing .281/.320/.442 with career-highs in OPS (.762), home runs (16), RBI (65) and stolen bases (21) in 131 games played. If Garcia misses additional time, either Tena or Ildemaro Vargas will pick up playing time at second base.

15 hours ago

Max Kepler • RF • Twins

Twins Hope To Get Max Kepler Back For Final Homestand

Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler's (hip, knee) knee is doing better, but he experienced soreness in his hip area that led to him getting a cortisone injection on Monday, according to president of baseball operations Derek Falvey. The hope is that Kepler can get into minor-league rehab games with Triple-A St. Paul and possibly return to the Twins for their final homestand against the Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles that runs from Tuesday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 29. The Twins are trying to ramp the 31-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder for a possible postseason run in October. He has been dealing with tendinitis in his knee since early September, although his hip injury is now the bigger concern. Kepler is having a down year with only eight homers and a .682 OPS in 105 games, but the Twins are still hoping he can be an option for them against right-handed pitchers to close out the year.

16 hours ago

Alex Call • LF • Nationals

Nationals Hoping Alex Call Can Play Again This Year

The plan is for Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call (foot) to go on a quick minor-league rehab assignment soon so that he can play in the majors before the end of the regular season at the end of the month. The Nationals put Call on the 10-day injured list at the end of August with a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot. The fact that the 29-year-old even has a chance to return before the end of the 2024 season is a bit of a surprise. Call hit .200 (75-for-375) with eight home runs in his first full big-league season in 2023 in D.C. In only 30 games this year, he's been much better with a .343/.425/.525 slash line, a career-best .950 OPS, three homers, 14 RBI and five steals. Even before outfield prospects James Wood and Dylan Crews reached the big leagues, Call was mainly considered a fourth-outfielder type with a better glove than bat.

16 hours ago

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