The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned center fielder Jake McCarthy to Triple-A Reno during their day off on Monday. Due to McCarthy's slow start to the 2025 season at the plate, Alek Thomas is now the team's go-to option in center field. The 27-year-old former first-rounder will surely be back up with the D-backs this year, but for now he'll head to the farm to work on his hitting after going 3-for-41 (.073) with a double, three RBI, one stolen base, two runs scored, four walks and six strikeouts in his first 14 games played for Arizona. Meanwhile, Thomas, who played in only 39 games in his third big-league season in 2024 due to injuries, has hit .283/.350/.415 with a career-best .765 OPS, three doubles, two triples, 10 RBI, three steals and seven runs scored in 17 games over his first 60 plate appearances. Thomas' stock in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues is certainly on the rise.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy (hand) will return to the team's lineup on Friday for their road outing against the Chicago Cubs. The Virginia product had been on the shelf since Sunday, when he took a pitch off the hand in Arizona's win over the Milwaukee Brewers. McCarthy has had a tough go to start 2025 -- batting an abysmal .091 (3-for-33) with one double, one run scored, three RBI, and a 5:3 K:BB ratio. Despite dropping his strikeout rate for the fifth straight season and raising his walk percentage from 2024, the 27-year-old holds a ghastly .184 OBP with a lone theft. McCarthy's leash may be shortening, particularly with teammate Alek Thomas being a far more efficient bat at the start of the year.
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Jake McCarthy are not in the starting nine when the Diamondbacks continue a series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. Moreno has only taken a seat once during the campaign so far. Across five games this season, Moreno has tallied six hits and held a 3:4 BB:K. He will cede catching duties to Jose Herrera, who will bat in the nine-hole. Jake McCarthy has started in center field in four games this season. Across the start of his campaign, the 27-year-old has not tallied a hit but has held a 2:3 BB:K and swiped a bag. Alek Thomas will start in center field this evening instead. Fantasy managers should expect Moreno and McCarthy to return to the starting lineup on Friday when they travel to D.C. to face the Nationals. Both Herrera and Thomas are worth considering as value options in DFS facing veteran pitcher Carlos Carrasco.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy is back in the lineup on Tuesday against the Yankees. He'll bat seventh and man left field for Arizona. McCarthy has started the season 0-for-8 with a 0:2 BB:K, but has managed to pick up two RBI along the way. Much of his fantasy appeal comes from his ability to steal bases, and he's yet to log one of those so far in 2025. He and the D-backs will take on the Yanks' Will Warren who will be making his first start of 2025. The righty had shown some solid stuff in the spring, but also allowed 11 earned runs over his final three starts (11 1/3 IP), so he was also very hittable at times. McCarthy had a breakout campaign last season, slashing .285/.349/.400 with eight home runs and 25 stolen bases, and has a good shot to get going Tuesday against the 25-year-old hurler.
Alek Thomas Making The Start Over Jake McCarthy On Friday
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alex Thomas will make the start in center field over Jake McCarthy on Friday in the second game of the season against the visiting Chicago Cubs and right-hander Jameson Taillon at Chase Field. Thomas will bat seventh in the lineup. Thomas comes into 2025 looking to bounce back after a very disappointing 2024 campaign in which he played in only 39 games at the big-league level due to injuries and poor performance. In 103 plate appearances for Arizona, the 24-year-old left-handed hitter went just 18-for-95 (.189) with three home runs, 17 RBI and four stolen bases. Defense has been his calling card so far early in his career, but with a likely platoon role in Arizona's outfield this year, it's hard to get excited about him as anything more than outfield depth in NL-only leagues. Thomas is hitless in only two career at-bats against Taillon.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the San Diego Padres. This is a much-needed rest day for McCarthy who has started in each of the last five games. He has put together a solid season with a .283 batting average with eight home runs, 54 RBI, and 25 stolen bases across 140 games. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Pavin Smith will cover the corner outfield spots against right-hander Yu Darvish on Friday. Gurriel should be started in most fantasy leagues right now.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. This is a much-needed day off for McCarthy who has started in 14 straight games. McCarthy was slowing down with the bat, so the team decided to give him a day off to recharge. Fellow outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (calf) has been activated from the injured list and will return to the lineup, while Corbin Carroll shifts to center field against right-hander Colin Rea. Fantasy managers who are rostering Gurriel or McCarthy should adjust their lineups ahead of first pitch.
Jake McCarthy Continues Blistering Stretch At Plate
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy hit his seventh homer in Monday's 9-6 win at the Miami Marlins. McCarthy's two-run homer off Marlins reliever John McMillon in the top of the eighth was his only hit. However, McCarthy scored twice to continue a blistering stretch at the plate, hitting .380/.426/.620 with four homers, 22 RBI, 16 runs scored, and five stolen bases in the last 30 days. McCarthy is hitting .309/.383/.457 with seven homers, 43 RBI, and 50 runs scored along with 18 steals in 22 attempts in 107 games. Fantasy managers who latched to McCarthy over the last month have benefited from one of the hottest hitters in the game who contributes in multiple categories.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy remained hot at the plate during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The biggest hit of the day for McCarthy was a two-out bases clearing triple in the fifth inning to help grow the lead to 8-2. He finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBI in the win. McCarthy is hitting over .300 with six home runs, 36 RBI, and 16 stolen bases this season. He could certainly help plenty of fantasy managers struggling to find production.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, and two runs scored in an 11-1 win over the Phillies. McCarthy now has three home runs in his last three games and has been swinging a hot bat lately. Since a five-hot game on July 27, the 27-year-old is slashing .429/.451/.714 and has stolen three bases. The left-handed hitter is now the author of a .298-6-32-44-16 line with a .354 wOBA and 128 wRC+. For managers looking for a hot bat who can nab you some steals, McCarthy is a worthwhile waiver add and he's available in 86% of Yahoo leagues.
Jake McCarthy
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Diamondbacks
