1 month agoKansas 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.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoThe 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.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoKansas 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.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoCleveland 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.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoDetroit Tigers outfielder/designated hitter
Kerry Carpenter came up huge for his team in Monday's American League Division Series Game 2 3-0 win over the Guardians. Carpenter, who came into the game at DH in the eighth inning, went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run. With the game scoreless in the top of the ninth inning, the 27-year-old launched an
Emmanuel Clase hanging slider into the right-field seats to score three. Carpenter had a great offensive regular season, slashing .284/.345/.587 with 18 HR, 37 runs scored, and 57 RBI in 296 plate appearances. One blemish in his game is his inability to hit left-handed pitching. Carpenter only had 32 regular-season plate appearances against lefties and hit a poor .107. He was not in the starting lineup for Game 2 because the Guardians started lefty
Matthew Boyd. This shouldn't affect him for Game 3, as the Guardians' probable starter will be righty
Alex Cobb.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Jason Beck - MLB.com
1
month
agoWhen
asked
whether
San
Diego
Padres
right-hander
Dylan
Cease
on
short
rest
would
be
able
to
start
Game
4
of
the
National
League
Division
Series
on
Wednesday
at
Petco
Park
against
the
division-rival
Los
Angeles
Dodgers,
manager
Mike
Shildt
said,
"All
options
read more...
1 month agoNew York Yankees left-hander
Nestor Cortes (elbow) threw for a second straight day on Monday after a successful throwing session on Sunday. Cortes landed on the injured list at the end of the regular season and was left off the roster for the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals due to a left-elbow flexor strain. He will continue to build up his arm with hopes of rejoining the Yankees' roster if they advance to the AL Championship Series. The 29-year-old southpaw won't be guaranteed a starting role if the Yankees advance, with right-hander
Luis Gil expected to re-enter the rotation if the team advances. After allowing five earned runs in four innings in his first start of September, Cortes turned things around in his last three regular-season outings (two starts), giving up only one earned run in 15 1/3 innings while walking seven and striking out 18.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
1 month agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he could see right-hander
Luis Gil in a bulk-relief role or in a high-leverage role for one or two innings in the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. If the Yankees advance to the AL Championship Series, Boone said that Gil would be in the starting rotation. New York has decided to go with right-hander
Clarke Schmidt over Gil in a starting role for Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium. Gil had a nice bounce-back season in 2024 in his first big-league action since 2022, but he struggled much more in the second half and dealt with injury. In his final two starts of the regular season, Gil gave up 10 earned runs on 11 hits (four homers) while walking four and striking out 10 in 11 innings. He'll surely be on a short leash in a starting role if the Yankees advance to the ALCS.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
1
month
agoLos
Angeles
Dodgers
manager
Dave
Roberts
said
on
Monday
that
first
baseman
Freddie
Freeman
(ankle)
was
getting
treatment
on
his
ankle,
and
his
status
for
Game
3
of
the
National
League
Division
Series
on
Tuesday
at
Petco
Park
against
the
division-rival
San
read more...
1 month agoNew York Mets infielder/outfielder
Jeff McNeil (wrist) rejoined the team on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park as he continues to rehab a fractured right wrist, and he didn't rule out the possibility that he'd be ready to return if the Mets advance past the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies to play in the National League Championship Series. To this point, McNeil has taken batting practice, fielded grounders and done some running, but he hasn't faced live pitching, which he'll need to do before joining the team's playoff roster. The 32-year-old former batting champion hasn't played since fracturing his wrist in early September and would most likely be just a utility option off the bench for the Mets if they advance to the NLCS. McNeil hit just .238 (101-for-424) on the year with 12 home runs, 44 RBI, five steals and 57 runs scored in 129 games in 2024 after winning the NL batting title just two seasons ago.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Mike Puma
1 month agoNew York Mets right-hander
Kodai Senga "continues to feel good" after his start in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, according to manager
Carlos Mendoza. It's sounding like Senga is going to be the team's starter for a potential Game 5 back at Citizens Bank Park this Friday. Senga would theoretically be able to go three innings to start the game. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler allowed one earned run on a solo home run while walking one and striking out three in just two frames in Game 1 of the NLDS, which was only his second start of 2024 due to various injuries. We know Senga has plenty of swing-and-miss stuff, but he obviously won't be too popular in DFS contests for a potential Game 5 on Friday under a limited workload.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
1
month
agoNew
York
Yankees
manager
Aaron
Boone
said
on
Monday
that
right-hander
Clarke
Schmidt
will
make
the
start
in
Game
3
of
the
American
League
Division
Series
at
Kauffman
Stadium
against
the
Kansas
City
Royals
on
Wednesday.
Schmidt
only
started
16
games
in
read more...
1 month agoNew York Mets left-hander
Jose Quintana will get the ball for Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Citi Field against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Not only was Quintana on point to end the regular season, but he backed it up by tossing six scoreless innings in Game 3 of the Wild-Card series on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers last week. The 35-year-old Colombian southpaw doesn't have explosive stuff but knows how to keep hitters off balance and generate weak contact. Quintana also has postseason experience, appearing in six playoff contests, dating back to 2017 with the Chicago Cubs. In his 24 2/3 innings pitched in the postseason, he has a 2.92 ERA with 20 strikeouts and seven walks in six outings (five starts). He had a solid 2.81 ERA with nine strikeouts and only two walks in 16 innings over his three starts against the Phils this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
1
month
agoPhiladelphia
Phillies
manager
Rob
Thomson
announced
on
Monday
that
left-hander
Ranger
Suarez
will
start
Game
4
of
the
National
League
Division
Series
against
the
division-rival
New
York
Mets
on
Wednesday
at
Citi
Field.
Suarez
was
among
the
best
pitchers
in
baseball
in
read more...
1 month agoDetroit Tigers rookie second baseman
Colt Keith will retreat to the bench for Monday's Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field with a left-hander on the mound.
Andy Ibanez will start at second base for the Tigers and will hit third in the batting order against Guardians left-hander
Matthew Boyd. The lefty-hitting Keith has never faced Boyd in his career and will take a seat in this one despite the fact that he hit .305 (25-for-82) with just one of his 13 home runs on the year against southpaws in 2024. Ibanez, meanwhile, hit .292 (40-for-137) against lefties this year, but he lacks enough punch at the plate to make him a very enticing DFS sleeper pick. The 31-year-old Cuban infielder slashed a modest .241/.295/.357 this year with only five home runs, 32 RBI and 30 runs scored in 224 at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Tigers
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