MLB News
Dylan Cease To Start NLDS Game 4 On Short Rest
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease is listed as the team's starting pitcher for Wednesday's National League Division Series Game 4 against the Dodgers. The 28-year-old, who pitched 3 1/3 innings on Saturday in Game 1 of the series, will get the nod ahead of his typical schedule with Joe Musgrove (elbow) needing Tommy John surgery and the Padres up 2-1 in the series. While Cease had solid regular-season stats, he got hit around by the Dodgers in game 1, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He may rise to the occasion in a series-clinching game, but Cease's previous performance and lack of regular rest make him an uneasy DFS play.
1 hour ago
Gerrit Cole To Start ALDS Game 4 Thursday
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole will take the mound in Thursday's American League Division Series Game 4 against the Royals. He will be opposed by Michael Wacha. The 34-year-old, who missed the first few months of the season due to right elbow inflammation, had an erratic regular season but finished at 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 25.4% strikeout rate in 17 starts and 95 innings pitched. Cole did not pitch well in Game 1 of the series, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five IP. However, he owns a stellar career 3.05 post-season ERA in 18 starts and 109 1/3 IP. His historic success is encouraging, but his most recent outing does not inspire a ton of confidence for DFS leagues.
1 hour ago
Teoscar Hernandez Hits Grand Slam In NLDS Game 3 Loss
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez did his best to keep his team in the game in Tuesday's National League Division Series Game 3 6-5 loss to the Padres. Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a grand slam, a walk, and a strikeout. The 31-year-old jumped on a third-inning Michael King hanging sweeper, hitting it just over the wall to straightaway center field to bring the Dodgers to within one run. Hernandez had a strong bounce-back regular season, slashing .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs, 84 runs scored, 99 RBI, and 12 stolen bases in 652 plate appearances. He has carried his success into the playoffs batting .300 with six RBI and a stolen base in 10 at-bats.
1 hour ago
Robert Suarez Earns Four-Out Save In NLDS Game 3
San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez came up clutch in Tuesday's National League Division Series 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Suarez came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning up by one with two outs and a runner on first. He induced a pop-out and stayed in to pitch the ninth, turning in a 1-2-3 effort with two strikeouts. The 33-year-old had a breakout season, going 9-3 with 36 saves to go with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and a 22.9% strikeout rate in 65 innings of work. He has yet to allow a run in three post-season appearances, picking up two saves with a 0.30 WHIP and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 IP. Suarez was one of fantasy's most reliable closers in the regular season, making him a strong DFS option for the playoffs.
1 hour ago
Fernando Tatis Jr. Hits Fourth Homer Of Postseason Tuesday
San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. continued his torrid offensive postseason in Tuesday's National League Division Series Game 3 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Tatis Jr. went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. The 25-year-old capped off a six-run second inning, obliterating an 0-2 Walker Buehler fastball into the left-field seats. Tatis Jr. put together a solid offensive regular season and has been on fire in the postseason, batting .556 with four HR and seven RBI in 18 at-bats. The Padres' lineup has performed well throughout the playoffs as well, making Tatis Jr. a standout DFS play.
1 hour ago
Sean Manaea Dominates In NLDS Game 3 Win
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea continued his stellar season in Tuesday's National League Division Series Game 3 7-2 win over the Phillies. Manaea pitched seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts. He also hit two batters. The 32-year-old became the eighth Met to allow three or fewer hits over seven-plus innings with one or zero runs in a post-season game. Manaea compiled a 3.47 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and a 24.9% strikeout rate in 32 regular-season starts. He has been even better in his two post-season starts, posting a 2.25 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 12 IP. He appears to be a reliable DFS option if or when he pitches again this postseason.
2 hours ago
Michael Wacha To Start Game 4 Against Yankees
Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro announced on Tuesday that veteran right-hander Michael Wacha will start Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium against the New York Yankees. Wacha will be hoping to bounce back against the Yankees at home this time after allowing three earned runs on four hits while walking three and striking out three in four innings in Game 1 on Saturday in the Bronx in a no-decision. The 33-year-old veteran was better at home in 2024 with the Royals, sporting a 2.89 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 68 strikeouts and 19 walks in 14 innings at Kauffman Stadium, as opposed to a 3.78 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 15 starts on the road. Wacha has struggled in the playoffs in his career, though, posting a 5.36 ERA with nine home runs allowed in nine appearances (seven starts).
6 hours ago
Dodgers Remove Michael Grove From NLDS Roster
The Los Angeles Dodgers removed right-hander Michael Grove (shoulder) from the National League Division Series roster on Tuesday due a shoulder injury and replaced him on the roster with right-hander Ben Casparius. If the Dodgers advance past the division-rival San Diego Padres and to the NL Championship Series, Grove would be ineligible to pitch. Grove went 4-4 during the regular season with a 5.12 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, 54 strikeouts and 16 walks in 51 innings over 39 appearances (only two starts) in his third year in the big leagues. He came in with the Dodgers trailing on Sunday in Game 2 against SD and allowed a home run and struck out a batter in just one-third of an inning. Casparius made his big-league debut in 2024 and appeared in three games out of the bullpen, allowing three runs (two earned) while walking four and striking out 12 in 8 1/3 innings pitched.
6 hours ago
Freddie Freeman In The Game 3 Lineup At Petco Park
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle) is at first base and is batting third in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on Tuesday against the division-rival San Diego Padres. Freeman sprained his ankle in the final week of the regular season and was held out of the final series before the postseason. The 35-year-old had two hits and even stole a base in the Game 1 win over the Padres in the NLDS on Saturday but was pulled after two at-bats on Sunday due to ankle discomfort. Freeman surely is not 100 percent and probably won't be for the rest of the year, but he had a day off to rest up on Monday and is feeling good enough to start as the series shifts to San Diego. In 10 career at-bats against King, Freeman has only two singles, a walk and two strikeouts. He probably won't be a super popular DFS pick because of the injury, but he can still do plenty of damage.
7 hours ago
Xander Bogaerts In Game 3 Lineup Against Dodgers
San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (hamstring) is starting at shortstop and hitting sixth for the Friars for Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday at Petco Park against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler. Donovan Solano will start on the bench, with David Peralta serving as the designated hitter and batting seventh. Bogaerts had to leave the Game 2 win on Sunday after hitting a home run due to a hamstring cramp, but after a day off on Monday, the 32-year-old is ready to go again. He's gone 3-for-8 with the homer and three RBI in the first two games of the NLDS but has just one hit in seven career at-bats with a strikeout against Buehler. Meanwhile, Peralta, who also homered in Game 2, has hit .226 (7-for-31) with two doubles, three RBI, four walks and six strikeouts against Buehler in his career.
9 hours ago
Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh Out In Game 3 Versus Lefty
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott and outfielder Brandon Marsh are both out of the Game 3 lineup on Tuesday in the National League Division Series at Citi Field with a left-hander on the mound for the New York Mets. Edmundo Sosa will make the start at the keystone and bat eighth, while Austin Hays makes the start in left field and will hit seventh against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. Stott had a big role in the Game 2 win on Sunday, hitting a two-run triple, but he'll take a seat with a lefty starting. Sosa has gone 4-for-8 in his career against Manaea with a homer, triple, double, three RBI and two strikeouts, so he'll be an intriguing DFS sleeper for Tuesday's games. Hays has only faced Manaea three times, but he does have two hits (one homer) and an RBI against him.
9 hours ago
Julian Aguiar To Miss All Of Next Season After Having Tommy John Surgery
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect Julian Aguiar (elbow) had Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2025 season. Aguiar, the team's No. 11 prospect per MLB Pipeline, also ended the 2024 season with a right-shoulder injury. The 23-year-old former 12th-round pick in 2021 out of Cypress College will now focus on rehab all of next year while hoping to be good to go for spring training in 2026. Aguiar made his major-league debut with the Reds in 2024 and made seven starts, struggling to the tune of a 6.25 ERA (6.86 FIP) and a 1.33 WHIP while striking out 19 and walking 12 in 31 2/3 innings pitched. He relies on a fastball-slider mix and occasionally mixes in a curveball and changeup. Aguiar didn't become a full-time pitcher until his junior year in college and was named the Reds' Minor-League Pitcher of the Year in 2023. He has the chance to be a back-end starter for the Reds in 2026.
9 hours ago
Jon Berti Could Get Another Start At First Base
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he's still "deliberating on" who will play first base for Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium against the Kansas City Royals. Infielder Jon Berti got the starting nod there in the Game 2 loss on Monday and has had some success against Royals right-hander Seth Lugo, going 3-for-6 against him in his career. Berti made his first career start at first base on Monday and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. The other options for the Yankees are Oswaldo Cabrera, who got the start in Game 1 on Saturday, and rookie Ben Rice. The 34-year-old Berti missed significant time during the regular season due to injury and only managed to play in 25 games for the Yankees in his first year in the Bronx, going 18-for-66 (.273) with one homer, six RBI and five steals. He lacks power but did steal a league-leading 41 bags in 2022 with Miami.
9 hours ago
Jeff McNeil Could Get At-Bats In Arizona Fall League
The New York Mets are looking at getting infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil (wrist) some live at-bats in Arizona Fall League games, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. It would give McNeil real game action before potentially rejoining the Mets' playoff roster if they advance past the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series to play in the Championship Series. The 32-year-old former batting champion has been out since fracturing his right wrist early in September. Facing live pitching is the last box he needs to check before being cleared. If the Mets advance and McNeil is added to the NLCS roster, he'd most likely be a utility bat/fielder off the bench given all the time he's missed of late. McNeil has really regressed in 2024, hitting just .238 with 12 homers and 44 RBI in 129 games played after winning the NL batting title just two years ago.
10 hours ago
Jesse Winker Serving As Mets DH In Game 3
New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting sixth on Tuesday for Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Citi Field against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Aaron Nola. Winker has extensive experience against Nola in his career, and the results haven't been good for the lefty-hitting veteran. In 24 total at-bats, Winker has only four hits (one home run), two RBI, two walks and two strikeouts for a .167 average and .522 OPS. The 31-year-old got the start in Game 1 on Saturday and was 0-for-1 with two walks before making way for J.D. Martinez at DH in Game 2 on Sunday. In 44 games for the Mets after being acquired in a trade from the Nationals in late July, Winker hit .243/.318/.365 with a below-average .683 OPS, only three home runs and 13 RBI in 129 trips to the plate. DFS managers will be hoping he can run into one as a sleeper on Tuesday.
10 hours ago
Alec Bohm Back In The Lineup For Game 3
After sitting out of the Game 2 win over the division-rival New York Mets in the National League Division Series on Sunday, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is back at the hot corner for Game 3 on Tuesday at Citi Field and is hitting fifth against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. Bohm did enter Game 2 late and was hitless in two plate appearances. The 28-year-old had a fine 2024 season for the Phillies, but he's slumping at the plate at the worst time and has just two hits in 33 at-bats in his last nine games. He'll be hoping to snap out of his funk against Manaea, who he has gone 2-for-10 against in his career with a home run, two RBI and three strikeouts. In 179 plate appearances against lefties in 2024, Bohm hit .287 with six of his 15 home runs. Just based on how Bohm has been swinging the lumber lately, fantasy managers setting DFS lineups will probably want to avoid him.
10 hours ago
Seth Lugo To Start ALDS Game 3 Wednesday
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo will take the mound for his team's American League Division Series Game 3 matchup at home against the Yankees. The 34-year-old made a solid start against the Orioles in the wild-card series, allowing one run over 4 1/3 innings pitched with one walk and six strikeouts. Lugo was a surprise asset for the Royals and fantasy managers in the regular season, going 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and a 21.7% strikeout rate in 33 starts and 206 2/3 IP. He pitched deep into both of his regular-season starts against the Yankees, allowing four runs in seven IP with four strikeouts in his first matchup and no runs in seven IP with 10 strikeouts in his second. His regular-season success and his above-average ground-ball rate could make him a useful DFS play despite the tough opponent.
Yesterday
Aaron Nola To Start NLDS Game 3 On Tuesday
The Philadelphia Phillies will turn to right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola for their National League Division Series Game 3 clash with the Mets on Tuesday. He will be opposed by Sean Manaea. This will be the 31-year-old's first appearance of the 2024 postseason. However, he owns a career 5-3 record with a 3.70 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a 24.9% strikeout rate in nine post-season starts. Nola had a nice regular season, compiling a 3.57 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and a 24.0% strikeout rate in 33 starts and 199 1/3 IP. He had mixed success against the Mets in his two regular-season starts against them, tossing a complete-game shutout with eight strikeouts in his first game and allowing six runs in 4 1/3 IP in his second matchup. This makes him a dubious fantasy start against a Mets offense that has scored the most runs of any team so far in the playoffs.
Yesterday
Maikel Garcia Collects Four Hits, Steal In ALDS Game 2 Win
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia acted as an offensive catalyst in Monday's American League Division Series Game 2 4-2 win over the Yankees. Batting in the leadoff spot, Garcia went 4-for-5 with four singles, an RBI, and a strikeout. He also stole his third base of the playoffs. The 24-year-old mostly provided speed in the regular season, slashing .231/.281/.332 with seven home runs, 84 runs scored, 58 RBI, and 37 stolen bases in 626 plate appearances. However, he has provided speed and batting average this postseason, batting .400 in 15 at-bats. The Royals have scored the third-most runs so far in the playoffs, so Garcia offers exposure to that production while hitting at the top of their lineup for DFS leagues.
Yesterday
Emmanuel Clase Allows Three-Run Homer In ALDS Game 2 Loss
Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase had an uncharacteristically poor outing in Monday's American League Division Series Game 2 3-0 loss to the Tigers. Clase came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning with the game tied 0-0, two outs, and runners on first and second. He got the third out on an incredible diving catch from Steven Kwan and stayed in to pitch the ninth inning. He got the first two outs on a strikeout and a pop-out but then allowed back-to-back singles, a go-ahead three-run home run, and another single before exiting the game, ultimately being saddled with the loss. Clase's performance was a complete contrast to his regular season results, as he went 4-2 with 47 saves, a 0.61 ERA, a 0.66 WHIP, and a 24.4% strikeout rate in 74 1/3 innings of work. The Guardians will need him to bounce back in order to get back into the series, as he is one of the best high-leverage relievers in baseball.
Yesterday
