Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz is on the bench again for Wednesday's series finale against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Andruw Monasterio is starting at shortstop and batting eighth against Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams. Ortiz has been on the bench in two of the last three games against right-handed pitchers. The 26-year-old could continue to lose playing time with the Brew Crew if he doesn't pick it up offensively soon. Through his first 139 at-bats in 2025, Ortiz has struggled to a .173/.228/.223 slash line with a home run, six RBI, four steals, 15 runs, nine walks and 23 strikeouts in 151 plate appearances. Monasterios is hitless in his three at-bats this year and has never faced Williams in his career. In the eight-hole on Wednesday, DFS managers should be ignoring him.
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz will start the season at shortstop. During camp, Ortiz began to take reps at shortstop to fill the void left by Willy Adames. There was speculation that Brice Turang could also move to this position, but Ortiz was able to earn the job. Last season, the 26-year-old spent the vast majority of his time at the hot corner. Across 142 contests, Ortiz held a .239/.329/.398 slash line with 25 doubles, six triples, and 11 home runs. He drew walks at an elite 11.0 percent rate but generated a low .305 xwOBA. However, Ortiz was graded as an elite defender as he placed in the 96th percentile in range, according to Statcast. He also swiped 11 bags and placed in the 85th percentile in sprint speed. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should view Ortiz as a reliable depth infielder, as he should have an everyday role in the lineup and will carry multi-positional eligibility.
Joey Ortiz To Start At Shortstop In Cactus League Opener
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz is penciled in to start at shortstop and hit sixth in the team's Cactus League opener on Saturday against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds. Fantasy managers should take Milwaukee's first spring lineup with a grain of salt, but it's interesting that Ortiz will make the start at the 6 in the first game without Willy Adames, who signed with the San Francisco Giants in the offseason. Brice Turang, the other main candidate to take over at shortstop this year, will start at second on Saturday. The 26-year-old Ortiz showed a nice glove at the hot corner for the Brew Crew in 2024 and also slashed .239/.329/.398 with 11 home runs, 60 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 58 runs scored in 142 games in his first full year in the big leagues and with Milwaukee. Ortiz has 15-15 potential and could very well be adding SS eligibility, but he's more of an infield depth option in mixed fantasy leagues.
Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz (neck) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since the beginning of July due to neck inflammation. He'll jump right back in at bat eighth while covering third base versus Jackson Rutledge on Friday. In a corresponding move, infielder Vinny Capra has been optioned to the minors. Fantasy managers who have Ortiz rostered can get him back in their lineups on Friday.
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz (neck) was a full-go on Wednesday, and if all goes well, he could begin a short minor-league rehab assignment soon. Ortiz landed on the 10-day injured list a week ago due to neck inflammation that he couldn't get past, although it isn't too serious of an issue. The 25-year-old could definitely be ready to return to Milwaukee's big-league roster for the start of the second half of the season after next week's All-Star break. Until he's able to return, Andruw Monasterio should continue to serve as the team's regular third baseman. Ortiz has earned regular playing time in Milwaukee in 2024 in just his second year in the big leagues by hitting a respectable .269/.373/.444 with an .817 OPS, seven home runs, 28 RBI, five stolen bases and 32 runs scored in 216 at-bats for the first-place Brewers. UPDATE: Ortiz will start a rehab assignment with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday.
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz (neck) has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 2. Ortiz has been battling neck stiffness for some time, so the Brewers decided to finally shut him down for a bit. Ortiz returned on Monday after missing three games due to the same issue. It sounds like he aggravated the issue, so he'll take off a week or two. Vinny Capra has been recalled in a corresponding move to take his place on the roster. Andruw Monasterio will cover third base and bat ninth versus right-hander Dakota Hudson on Wednesday.
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz (neck) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Ortiz has missed the last three games due to neck discomfort. He'll make the start at third base and bat leadoff against left-hander Austin Gomber on Monday. The 25-year-old has been doing a solid job with a .275/.380/.455 slash line this season. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Ortiz back in their lineups ahead of first pitch.
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz (neck) remains out of the team's starting lineup on Sunday versus the visiting division-rival Chicago Cubs, but his absence from the lineup is still considered precautionary as he deals with neck soreness. With Ortiz out again, Andruw Monasterio will man the hot corner and will bat ninth for the Brew Crew against Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Ortiz was scratched from Saturday's lineup but could be back in Monday's lineup for the series opener at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. The 25-year-old has earned decent playing time this year in Milwaukee by hitting .275 (58-for-211) with seven home runs, 28 RBI, five steals and 32 runs scored. Monasterio should be avoided in DFS, as the Venezuelan infielder has gone just 8-for-46 (.174) in limited action in 2024 with a homer and six RBI.
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz has been scratched from Saturday's starting lineup against the Chicago Cubs due to neck soreness. Originally slated to play third base, Andruw Monasterio will instead man the hot corner for the second straight game and hit ninth against Cubs southpaw Justin Steele. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles as part of the package for ace Corbin Burnes, Ortiz has been fantastic in his first season in Milwaukee, hitting .275 with seven homers, five stolen bases, a 13.9% BB%, and a healthy .835 OPS across 72 games and 251 trips to the plate. The 25-year-old's counting stats haven't made him an exceptional fantasy contributor but dynasty managers should be encouraged by his potential following a breakout 2024 campaign.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said infielder Joey Ortiz (neck) is dealing with a neck issue that first cropped up in the recent series against the Los Angeles Angels, which is why he was pulled from Wednesday's contest early against the visiting Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old went 0-for-2 against Texas before departing the game in the sixth inning in an eventual extra-inning victory. Ortiz's injury doesn't sound too serious, so he could be right back in Milwaukee's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Chicago Cubs after a scheduled off day on Thursday. The former fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 out of New Mexico State has had a solid first season for the Brew Crew, slashing .278/.383/.459 with an .842 OPS, seven home runs, 28 RBI, five steals and 32 runs in 71 games played.
Joey Ortiz
• SS
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Brewers
