MLB News

Joey Loperfido • LF • Blue Jays

Joey Loperfido Returning On Wednesday

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido (hip) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old has been out of the lineup since suffering a groin injury during Saturday's contest. It appears the rookie outfielder is ready to go and will cover center field and bat eighth versus left-hander Cody Bradford on Wednesday. Loperfido doesn't face left-handed pitching very often, but does have decent results in a small sample size. He's not a great DFS option for Wednesday, but fantasy managers in season-long formats can get him back in their lineups.

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Max Muncy • 3B • Dodgers

Max Muncy Heads To The Bench

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy will out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins. This is a much-needed day off for Muncy who has started in each of the last 10 games. The Dodgers also face a left-hander in Ryan Weathers, so probably not a bad time to give Muncy a day off. In his place, Kike Hernandez will cover third base and bat eighth versus Weathers. Hernandez has been quiet at the plate with a .214 batting average in 116 games this season.

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Kyle Tucker • RF • Astros

Kyle Tucker Takes A Seat On Wednesday

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the San Diego Padres. The Astros have been extremely careful with Tucker since his return from a shin fracture. He has already been absent from the lineup a handful of times since returning a few weeks ago. The good news is that Tucker has moved back to the outfield after being limited to the designated hitter spot when he first returned. In his absence, Jason Heyward will cover right field and bat seventh versus right-hander Dylan Cease. Heyward is slashing .235/.278/.441 with six RBI since joining the Astros roster in late-August. He'll be an avoidable streaming option against a elite arm in Cease.

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Kyle Higashioka • C • Padres

Kyle Higashioka Resting On Wednesday

San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros. This appears to be a routine rest day for Higashioka who has played in each of the last four games. In his absence, Elias Diaz will do the catching and bat eighth versus left-hander Framber Valdez. Diaz is having a decent season with the bat, but has only one hit in 10 plate appearances with the Padres. He'll be an avoidable streaming option against a tough southpaw on Wednesday.

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Luis Arraez • 1B • Padres

Luis Arraez Absent On Wednesday

San Diego Padres infielder Luis Arraez (knee) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros. Arraez suffered a knee injury during Monday's contest, but he was back in the lineup on Tuesday. Possibly, Arraez suffered a setback or this is a routine rest day against a tough left-handed pitcher. It's worth noting that Arraez had started in each of the last 15 games prior to Wednesday's contest. Jake Cronenworth will cover second base and bat seventh versus lefty Framber Valdez. Cronenworth is hitting under .200 against left-handers this season, so he can be avoided as a streaming option on Wednesday.

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Yennier Cano • RP • Orioles

Yennier Cano Recovering From Forearm Tightness

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Yennier Cano (forearm) battled right forearm tightness but was available to pitch last night. The 30-year-old has not pitched since September 11, and this minor injury could have been the primary reason. However, fantasy managers should expect the elite reliever to make his next appearance sometime this week. The right-hander has once again operated as the primary set-up man in Baltimore this summer and has held a strong 2.78 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Under the hood, he boasts a 5.5% barrel rate and a 65.1% ground-ball rate, which are among the best marks in the sport. Fantasy managers in holds leagues should slot Cano back in their lineup down the stretch, as Cano should return to his eighth-inning role very soon.

2 hours ago

Francisco Lindor • SS • Mets

Francisco Lindor Out On Wednesday, Remains Day-To-Day

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) remains out of the starting nine for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. DiComo noted that manager Carlos Mendoza expressed that the starting infielder remains "day-to-day." The 30-year-old has been battling a lingering back injury that has kept him out of the lineup for the past three games. As a result, top prospect Luisangel Acuna has served as the temporary shortstop in Queens and has performed quite well, holding a .455/.455/.818 line with a double and a home run across four games. Acuna will get another start later Wednesday evening and will bat in the nine-hole against Nationals southpaw DJ Herz. Acuna is worth a look as a temporary middle infield replacement down the stretch in all leagues.

2 hours ago

Clayton Kershaw • SP • Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw Seen Throwing Off The Mound

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (toe) was seen throwing off a mound on Wednesday, according to David Vassegh of SportsNet LA. The 36-year-old has been sidelined since late August due to a bone spur in his toe and is already starting to make significant progress in his recovery. The team has expressed that they do not expect the three-time Cy Young winner to return in the regular season but hope he will be available in October. Kershaw underwent offseason elbow surgery and missed a majority of the 2024 season before returning in late July. Through 30 innings this season, he has held a 4.50 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Kershaw would bring a much-needed boost to a decimated Dodger rotation in the playoffs.

2 hours ago

Brandon Williamson • SP • Reds

Brandon Williamson Set To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson (elbow) suffered a full UCL tear and will need Tommy John surgery, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Williamson has battled injuries all summer and just made his 2024 debut earlier in September. Through this small stint, the 26-year-old held a 3.77 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP across 14 1/3 innings of work. The TCU product made his MLB debut last season and posted a 4.46 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP across 117 frames. The former second-round selection should be expected to miss the entire 2025 campaign and will now set his sights on returning in the 2026 campaign.

2 hours ago

Lance Lynn • SP • Cardinals

Lance Lynn Hits 15-Day IL, Done For The Season

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (knee) was placed on the 15-day IL earlier on Wednesday due to right knee inflation and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2024 season. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals promoted their No.10 ranked prospect, Michael McGreevy, from Triple-A Memphis. Through his first season in St. Louis, the 37-year-old held a 3.84 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP with a 44:109 BB:K ratio. After struggling through the first half of the summer with a 4.96 ERA, Lynn settled down in the second half with a much-improved 1.29 ERA. McGreevy made one appearance in the big leagues earlier this summer, back in July, where he tossed seven innings of one-run ball. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to how McGreevy performs over the final week of the season as he could contend for a spot in the rotation next spring.

2 hours ago

Colin Rea • SP • Brewers

Colin Rea Could Be Shifting To Bullpen Role

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Colin Rea was deployed in a long-relief role on Monday and could be shifting to a permanent role in the bullpen, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. In addition, McCalvy noted that Rea does not appear among the probable starting pitchers in their weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Since the start of August, Rea has held a 6.05 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 4:33 BB:K ratio across 38 2/3 innings of work as a starter. Under the hood, the 34-year-old holds a 9.2% barrel rate and a 41.8% hard-hit rate, which place him in the bottom 21st and 23rd percentile among qualified pitchers, respectively. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Milwaukee rotation this weekend, as it could suggest who will be deployed as a starter in October.

4 hours ago

Jorge López • RP • Cubs

Jorge Lopez Activated From Injured List

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (groin) was activated from the injured list on Wednesday, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since the beginning of September and should return to a high-leverage role in the Cubs bullpen. Before the injury, Lopez carried a strong 2.42 ERA and 1.21 WHIP since the beginning of July and tallied two saves in August. However, while he was sidelined, Porter Hodge emerged as the ninth-inning option in the Northside and has tallied four saves since August 20. Fantasy managers looking to bolster their save count should look to add Lopez this weekend, as he could be in the mix for ninth-inning duties across the final week of the regular season.

4 hours ago

Craig Kimbrel • RP

Craig Kimbrel Designated For Assignment

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel has been designated for assignment, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Kimbrel has carried a rough 13.94 ERA, 2.23 WHIP, and a 9:12 BB:K ratio since August 11 and has taken two losses during this period. In addition, he has not recorded a save since July 7 after tallying 23 through most of the first half. While he has still been able to generate strikeouts at an elite 31.5% rate, he has given up hard contact at a very high rate, with a 10.6% barrel rate and a 43.1% hard-hit rate. 29-year-old Seranthony Dominguez has established himself as the go-to option in the ninth inning in Baltimore, as he has tallied nine saves across his past 12 1/3 frames of work. Kimbrel will now be a free agent and could eventually find a new home on a team looking to add a veteran piece to their bullpen.

4 hours ago

Michael McGreevy • SP • Cardinals

Michael McGreevy Set To Join Major-League Roster

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitching prospect Michael McGreevy is set to join the major league roster this afternoon, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. McGreevy got a brief taste of the major leagues earlier this summer as he allowed just one run across seven innings. At Triple-A this season, the No.10 ranked prospect in the St. Louis system has held a 4.02 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP through 150 innings of work. Woo further reported that the prospect is expected to be deployed in a long relief role for now but could eventually find his way into the starting rotation over the final week of the season. McGreevy could be a favorable streaming candidate if he were to make a start next week.

4 hours ago

Christian Scott • SP • Mets

Christian Scott To Undergo Hybrid Elbow Procedure

New York Mets rookie starting pitcher Christian Scott (elbow) is set to undergo a hybrid operation that combines a traditional Tommy John ligament replacement with an internal-brace procedure, according to Nate Heisler of the MLBAPA. The 25-year-old was placed on the 15-day IL back in July due to a UCL sprain and was not ruled out of returning later this summer. Unfortunately, the Florida product will now be sidelined for an extended period, and potentially all of the 2025 season, depending on the recovery timeline. Scott opened the season at Triple-A and held a strong 2.76 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 12:55 BB:K ratio across 42 innings of work before moving up to the majors. In the big leagues, Scott struggled with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The right-hander remains one of the better young arms in the Mets system and should continue to be stashed in all dynasty formats.

4 hours ago

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.

6 hours 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.

6 hours 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.

6 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.

6 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.

6 hours ago

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