Matt Breida, Alfred Morris Active For Week 4

San Francisco 49ers running backs Matt Breida (knee) and Alfred Morris (knee) are active Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. This was the indication all week so both will revert to their normal running back by committee duties. Breida has been the better runner through three weeks and is safe to fire up as... Read More

Eric Lauer Finishes 2018 Strong

San Diego Padres rookie starter Eric Lauer wrapped up his season Friday with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball (none earned). Lauer caps off the year with an impressive 1.33 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 across 20 1/3 frames in September and is firmly in the driver’s seat for a starting job next season.... Read More

Eric Hosmer Goes Yard In Loss

San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer went deep for his 18th homer Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Friars free-agent splash of 2018 has endured a disappointing year, slashing .252/.320/.398 with seven steals and 140 R+RBI. Hosmer’s strikeouts were way up this year and his OPS has dipped over 160 points compared to last... Read More

Brett Kennedy Undergoes Knee Surgery

San Diego Padres starter Brett Kennedy (knee) underwent debridement surgery in his left knee on Wednesday. His rehab should take a couple months and he expects to resume throwing in November. Kennedy earned his first crack at the big leagues this season with an impressive 10-0 record at Triple-A El Paso but struggled in the... Read More

Matt Breida A Game-Time-Decision

San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s tilt against the Los Angeles Chargers. Breida, who turned in a full practice Thursday, was limited Friday. Breida was quoted as saying he’s a game-time-decision. It’s uncertain if the development is a setback or merely just dependent on how Breida feels... Read More

Freddy Galvis Displaying Talent For Potential Suitors

San Diego Padres shortstop Freddy Galvis is finishing 2018 on a high note, currently riding a four-game hitting streak and collecting 20 knocks in his last 43 at-bats (.465 average). After a poor offensive showing early on, Galvis walloped six homers in August and is batting .298 with 10 extra-base hits in September. His .247/.300/.382... Read More

Alfred Morris At Risk Of Unfavorable Game Flow

San Francisco 49ers running back Alfred Morris (knee) enters Week 4 with an established role but game flow could be a risk to his fantasy contribution. With second-year quarterback C.J. Beathard under center, the 49ers could struggle to consistently move the chains against the Los Angeles Chargers. Morris has handled at least 12 carries in... Read More

Matt Breida Looks To Build Off Strong Start

San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (knee) was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. He should be ready to roll in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers, who are ninth-worst in the NFL with 120.3 rush yards allowed per game. Breida is tied for the NFL rushing lead with 274 yards (8.6 YPC)... Read More

George Kittle A Top-10 Option Even With Beathard

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle remains fantasy-relevant even with second-year quarterback C.J. Beathard taking the helm in Week 4. Kittle leads all 49er skill players with a 78 percent snap share and has grabbed 12-of-20 targets for 191 yards. He is still looking for his first touchdown. However, Kittle fantasy owners should recognize... Read More

Kirby Yates Should Secure Padres 2019 Closer Role

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates worked around two walks to collect his 12th save Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants. Handshakes have been rare for the 31-year-old journeyman since he took over for Brad Hand, but Yates has amassed six saves in September. He holds exceptional season numbers with a 2.07 ERA, 0.92... Read More

49ers Defense Not Appealing In Week 4

The San Francisco 49ers defensive unit should not be trusted in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Niners have allowed the sixth-most points through three weeks and struggled to defend the pass, surrendering a 104.0 rating to opposing quarterbacks. The team is also one of two squads yet to record an interception and... Read More

Marquise Goodwin's Limited Status Not Concerning

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (quadriceps) was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Goodwin went through the same routine last week as he returns from a quad injury that sidelined him in Week 2. Goodwin nabbed 3-of-4 targets for 30 yards and a score in Week 3 but will just be a low-floor WR3 with... Read More

Matt Breida On Track To Play In Week 4

Updating a previous report, San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (knee) was limited in Wednesday’s practice. The development is encouraging as an earlier update indicated Breida would not practice. This puts him on track to suit up Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Breida is tied for the NFL lead with 274 yards on... Read More

Marquise Goodwin, Pierre Garcon Difficult To Trust In Week 4

San Francisco 49ers wide receivers Marquise Goodwin and Pierre Garcon suffered a material impairment to their fantasy value with the season-ending injury to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Week 4 presents a daunting challenge against a Los Angeles Chargers secondary that has struggled this year but allowed the third-fewest passing yards in 2017. While both Goodwin and... Read More

Nick Mullens Promoted From Practice Squad

The San Francisco 49ers promoted quarterback Nick Mullens from the practice squad on Wednesday. The move was expected after the Niners placed Jimmy Garoppolo (knee) on injured reserve. Mullens is an undrafted second-year player out of Southern Miss who passed for almost 12,000 yards in four collegiate years. His next NFL snap will be his... Read More

Franmil Reyes' Late-Game Heroics Fall Short

San Diego Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes went 3-for-5 in Tuesday’s loss to the San Francisco Giants. Reyes punched in the game-tying run in the ninth but the Friars ultimately fell in extra innings. More impressive is the sustained performance of Reyes who continues to command fantasy attention with a .355/.410/.500 slash in September. While he’s... Read More

Robbie Erlin Makes Bid For 2019 Starting Gig

San Diego Padres starter Robbie Erlin allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants. Erlin surrendered four hits, no walks and fanned four. Having mostly worked out of the bullpen in 2018, Erlin posted a 5.11 ERA in 10 starts since August. With his final appearance in the books,... Read More

49ers Work Out Seven Quarterbacks

The San Francisco 49ers worked out seven free-agent quarterbacks Tuesday, including veterans Landry Jones, E.J. Manuel, Kellen Clemens, Tom Savage and T.J. Yates. The two other participants were Matt Simms and Kyle Allen. Whoever the Niners decide to sign will backup second-year quarterback C.J. Beathard as he takes the reins following Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending knee... Read More

C.J. Beathard Back Under Center For Niners

San Francisco 49ers second-year quarterback C.J. Beathard will be under center for the foreseeable future starting Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. With Jimmy Garoppolo (knee) out for the year, Beathard is expected to be the team’s primary signal caller even as the Niners work out several free agent quarterbacks. In 2017, the third-round... Read More

Jose Pirela Possibly Playing Last Tune As Padre

San Diego Padres second baseman Jose Pirela went 3-for-4 with a solo homer in Monday’s win against the San Francisco Giants. The long ball was his just his fourth of the season and first since July 7. The 28-year-old offered some fantasy appeal after stroking 10 homers and a .837 OPS last season but crashed... Read More

Bryan Mitchell's Starting Hopes Stay Alive

San Diego Padres starter Bryan Mitchell turned in a brilliant performance Monday, recording 8 2/3 shutout innings in a victory against the San Francisco Giants. Entering the game with a 6.16 ERA in 15 appearances (10 starts), this came out of nowhere. The righty surrendered seven hits and three walks in the contest while striking... Read More

Statcast Pitcher Risers/Fallers - Early 2019 Sleepers and Fades (Week 26)

Welcome back to Rotoballer’s series using Statcast to extrapolate, dig into, and commiserate over data to examine pitching performances. The weekly series utilizes the myriad tools and information provided by Statcast to pinpoint encouraging and worrying trends underneath the hood of headline numbers. Well, we’ve reached the endgame. Week 26 marks the last of the... Read More

Aaron Nola Receives No Run Support

Philadelphia Phillies starter Aaron Nola took a loss Sunday despite allowing two earned runs in six innings. Nola’s outing was interrupted mostly by Atlanta Braves outfielder Lane Adams who tagged him for an RBI double and solo home run. Nola allowed four hits and a walk in total, punching out six. While he’s scuffled with... Read More

Miguel Andujar Providing Consistent Returns

New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar collected two hits and an RBI in Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Andujar provided an RBI single in the first inning then added his 43rd double later in the contest. The ascending 23-year-old rookie has remained a steady bat in New York’s lineup, rocking a .298/.331/.523 slash... Read More

Joey Lucchesi Roughed Up In Los Angeles

San Diego Padres starter Joey Lucchesi was thrashed for seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Four of the seven knocks he surrendered were of the extra-base variety including three home runs. The poor outing drops Lucchesi to 8-9 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 9.9 K/9. Optically,... Read More

Austin Hedges Out Of Lineup

San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges is out of Sunday’s lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 26-year-old backstop will yield to prospect Francisco Mejia. Hedges has been a reliable asset behind the dish in deep leagues with a .240/.291/.446 slash, 14 homers and three steals but should be taken out of fantasy squads on... Read More

Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Hicks Absent From Lineup

New York Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks and shortstop Didi Gregorius are all out of Sunday’s lineup against the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees are likely just giving these guys a breather after clinching a Wild Card spot Saturday night. Giancarlo Stanton will man right field, with Andrew McCutchen in center and Adeiny Hechavarria... Read More

Luke Voit Keeps Mashing

New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit launched his 12th homer Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles. The revelation continues for Voit who now rocks a .314/.385/.648 slash with 11 bombs since joining the pinstripes in August. He’s collected four long balls in his last four contests. Voit should continue playing first every day for the... Read More

Jake Arrieta Falters Against Braves

Philadelphia Phillies starter Jake Arrieta struggled Saturday, relinquishing four earned runs in only two innings against the Atlanta Braves. Arrieta drops to 10-10 on the season with a 3.94 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. The veteran hasn’t pitched well since the All-Star break, posting a 5.09 ERA in 12 starts. Arrieta has one start... Read More

Aaron Hicks Plays Hero As Yankees Clinch

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks laced a walk-off double Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles to clinch his team a Wild Card spot. Hicks finished the evening 2-for-5 and also cracked his 26th homer. The streaky switch-hitter is now riding a six-game hitting streak, batting .375 (9-for-24) with five extra-base hits. Hicks also escaped an... Read More