Atlanta Braves infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield (foot) is back at second base and is hitting ninth on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Landon Knack at Truist Park. Despite fracturing his left foot on Sept. 6 when he fouled a ball off of it, Merrifield has avoided the injured list and will return to Atlanta's lineup after missing the last five games. The 35-year-old veteran should see most of the starts at second base moving forward, barring a setback with his foot, as long as Ozzie Albies (wrist) remains on the IL. Even though Merrifield's playing time is on the rise with the Braves late in the year, he doesn't really move the fantasy needle outside of NL-only leagues. The three-time All-Star is hitting .243/.359/.342 with a homer, four doubles, two triples, three RBI and five steals in 34 games since joining the Braves midseason.
Atlanta Braves infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield (foot) remains out of action for the team's contest on Tuesday against the division-rival Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Merrifield, who has dealt with some bad injury luck this year, will sit out for the fourth straight game after fracturing his foot recently when he fouled a ball off of it. The 35-year-old is hoping to make it back for the team's three-game series this weekend versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, but there's also a chance Merrifield lands on the injured list. With Ozzie Albies (wrist) still recovering from a fractured wrist, Atlanta is forced to roll with Luke Williams for another start at the keystone. Williams is hitting ninth against Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore and should be avoided as a sleeper in DFS lineups for Tuesday's slate of games.
Whit Merrifield Removed After Fouling Ball Off His Foot
Atlanta Braves infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield (foot) was pulled from Friday's contest early at Truist Park against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays after fouling a ball off his left foot. Before being replaced at second base by Luke Williams, Merrifield was hitless in his two at-bats with a walk in the eventual 3-1 win. The 35-year-old veteran was returning on Friday for the first time after missing the team's previous two contests after being hit in the head by a pitch earlier this week. Merrifield has dealt with some unlucky injuries in his short tenure with the Braves, and it's unclear how serious his latest foot ailment is. Consider him day-to-day for now. He's been slightly better since joining the Braves recently but is really only relevant in very deep-mixed and NL-only leagues for his speed. In 265 total at-bats in 2024 with Atlanta and Philly, Merrifield has slashed a weak .219/.312/.317 with four home runs, 14 RBI and 16 steals.
Atlanta Braves utility man Whit Merrifield (head) is back in the starting lineup at second base and will bat in the two-hole on Friday at Truist Park against one of his former teams, the Toronto Blue Jays, and right-hander Kevin Gausman. Merrifield avoided a concussion when he was hit in the noggin by a pitch on Tuesday, but he sat out the team's last two games as a precaution. The 35-year-old veteran is now back in the fold in a favorably lineup spot but in a tough matchup against Gausman, although he has recorded a hit in both of his career at-bats against him. Merrifield has been much better in his 33 games for the Braves this year than he was earlier this season with the Phillies, as he's gone 27-for-109 (.248) with a homer, three RBI and five steals. He should continue to see decent playing time in Atlanta until Ozzie Albies (wrist) makes his return from the injured list.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Whit Merrifield was 5-for-5 in Monday's 10-6 win at the Minnesota Twins, scoring two runs out of the leadoff spot. Merrifield had four singles and a double and is now hitting .237/.331/.347 with four homers, 13 RBI, 38 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases in 19 attempts between the Philadelphia Phillies and Braves. Merrifield's versatility and speed make him a good option in deeper leagues if he's on the waiver wire. His value is strongest in NL-only leagues as Merrifield will continue to see at-bats for a Braves team hammered with injuries.
Atlanta Braves infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield (finger) took a ball off a finger on his right hand before Monday's contest against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, but he avoided a fracture and is considered day-to-day. It comes on the same day that Merrifield signed a major-league deal with the Braves to help provide depth at second base with Ozzie Albies sidelined with a fractured wrist. When he gets past his finger issue, the 35-year-old veteran should bounce around as a utility player for Atlanta between second base and a corner-outfield spot. Once a must-start player in fantasy mainly for his speed, Merrifield is probably only an NL-only asset nowadays. Before being released by the Philadelphia Phillies this year, he was slashing a weak .199/.277/.295 with a career-low .572 OPS, three homers, 11 RBI and 11 swipes in 53 games played.
The Atlanta Braves will reportedly sign utility player Whit Merrifield. The veteran, who was recently released by the Philadelphia Phillies, will sign a major league deal with the Braves according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Merrifield hit .199 for the Phillies this year in 53 games, with three homers and 11 RBI to go with 11 stolen bases. The 35-year-old is expected to provide depth for the Braves with starting second baseman Ozzie Albies projected to be out for eight weeks with a left wrist fracture.
The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Friday that they released infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield and called up outfielder Weston Wilson from the minors to replace him on the active roster. Wilson is actually starting in left field and batting seventh on Friday against the Oakland Athletics with left-hander Hogan Harris on the mound. Merrifield, a three-time All-Star, will look for work elsewhere around the league now after slashing just .199/.277/.295 with a .572 OPS, three home runs, 11 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 53 games for the Phillies. The 35-year-old former ninth-round pick in 2010 out of South Carolina was once a fantasy start back in his days with the Kansas City Royals because of his speed, but he's no longer an everyday player and has never had a 20-homer season in eight big-league campaigns. Merrifield should latch on with another team as a super-utility man.
Philadelphia Phillies utility man Whit Merrifield is starting in left field and is batting eighth on Monday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and left-hander Andrew Abbott. Brandon Marsh is moving to center field, which pushes Johan Rojas to the bench. Merrifield wasn't in the team's Opening Day lineup last Thursday, but he's started each of the last three games with left-handers on the mound. The 35-year-old three-time All-Star is looking likely to play anytime the Phils face lefties and to help fill in when others need days off throughout the year. So far through his two games played, he's gone 1-for-7 with a walk in eight plate appearances. As long as Merrifield sticks near the bottom of the Phillies' batting order, he's not going to have a very high fantasy ceiling on a daily basis.
Philadelphia Phillies utility player Whit Merrifield will get the start in left field on Saturday opposite Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried. The veteran was said to get some playing time this weekend with the Braves facing lefties both Saturday and Sunday. With Johan Rojas winning the everyday center field job, Merrifield will be relegated to the short side of a platoon alongside Brandon Marsh in left field this season. The 35-year-old inked a one-year pact with the Phillies this winter after hitting .272 with 11 home runs and 26 steals across 145 appearances with the Blue Jays last season. He'll have his hands full against Fried who posted a 2.55 ERA across an injury-shortened 14 starts a season ago.