1
month
agoBaltimore
Orioles
first
baseman
Ryan
O'Hearn
and
outfielder
Austin
Slater
are
not
included
in
the
starting
lineup
for
Game
1
of
the
wild-card
series
against
the
Kansas
City
Royals
at
Camden
Yards
on
Tuesday.
In
addition,
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1
month
agoBaltimore
Orioles
rookie
infielder
Jackson
Holliday
is
not
in
the
starting
lineup
for
Game
1
of
the
wild-card
series
on
Tuesday
against
the
Kansas
City
Royals
at
Camden
Yards
with
a
lefty
on
the
mound.
Jordanread more...
1 month agoNew York Mets outfielder
Jesse Winker (back) didn't play in the last four regular-season games and had his back taped up on Monday. If he's unavailable to play in the wild-card series this week against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field, the Mets have an opening for a left-handed hitter. As such, third baseman
Brett Baty is currently on the taxi squad and could be added to the playoff roster if Winker isn't included. It sounds as though the 31-year-old Winker won't be available against Milwaukee. It would mean more action for veteran designated hitter
J.D. Martinez against the Brewers, with Baty likely just filling a bench role for the Mets. After being acquired in a trade from the Washington Nationals at the deadline, Winker hit .243 (28-for-115) in New York with three homers, five doubles and 13 RBI in 44 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Tim Healey
1 month agoNew York Mets right-hander
Tylor Megill was excluded from the roster for the wild-card series this week against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. The Mets added right-hander
Max Kranick instead. Megill tossed 100 pitches over his 5 2/3 innings during Game 1 of the doubleheader against the division-rival Atlanta Braves on Monday in which the Mets punched their ticket to the 2024 postseason, so he was not going to be available to pitch in the three-game wild-card series this week anyway. However, if the Mets upset the Brew Crew and advance to the NLDS to face the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, the 29-year-old Megill will most likely be added to the roster as a starter. In his 16 outings (15 starts) in his fourth year in New York, Megill went 4-5 with a career-best 4.04 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 91:32 K:BB in 78 innings. Kranick will serve in a long-relief role.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Mike Puma
1
month
agoKansas
City
Royals
outfielder
Hunter
Renfroe
is
not
in
the
team's
starting
lineup
for
Game
1
of
the
wild-card
series
on
Tuesday
against
the
Baltimore
Orioles
at
Camden
Yards.
With
Renfroe
riding
pine,
the
Royals
will
roll
with
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1 month agoNot only was Kansas City Royals first baseman
Vinnie Pasquantino (thumb) included on the team's playoff roster for the wild-card series this week, but he's serving as the designated hitter and batting third in Game 1 on Tuesday versus the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Corbin Burnes at Camden Yards. Pasquantino was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday after recovering from a fractured right thumb that required surgery in early September. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger healed rapidly to give him a shot to contribute for the up-and-coming Royals in October. However, given the layoff and the nature of his injury, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Pasquantino struggle at the plate upon his return.
Yuli Gurriel is starting at first base and is batting fifth against Burnes. Pasquantino hit .262 on the year with 19 homers and 97 RBI in his 496 at-bats for KC.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Royals
1 month agoHouston Astros outfielder
Chas McCormick (hand) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and has been added to the team's roster for the wild-card series this week at Minute Maid Park against the Detroit Tigers. McCormick is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 on Tuesday, but he is back with the team to provide outfield depth after suffering a fractured right hand in the middle of September. The 29-year-old will most likely see at-bats versus left-handed pitching, although he's not starting against lefty
Tarik Skubal, who won the American League pitching Triple Crown this year. McCormick had his best year in the big leagues last year but failed to replicate that success in 2024, as he finished the regular season hitting .211 (51-for-242) with a career-low five home runs, 27 RBI and eight stolen bases in a career-low 94 games. In just seven September games, he went 9-for-23 (.391) with a double and three RBI for the 'Stros.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
1
month
agoThe
Houston
Astros
have
left
right-hander
Justin
Verlander
off
the
roster
for
the
wild-card
series
this
week
at
Minute
Maid
Park
against
the
Detroit
Tigers.
It's
crazy
to
think
that
a
three-time
Cy
Young
winner
won't
be
on
the
Astros'
playoff
roster,
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1 month agoHouston Astros outfielder/designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez (knee) is serving as the DH and is batting second for Game 1 of the wild-card series on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers and left-hander
Tarik Skubal at Minute Maid Park. Alvarez sprained his right knee while sliding over a week ago and was forced to sit out the final week of the regular season as a result. The 27-year-old lefty slugger did some hitting and running on Monday and was cleared to be part of the postseason roster. When healthy, Alvarez is one of the best all-around hitters in baseball, but it's unclear how healthy he actually is, and he'll be facing Skubal, who won the American League pitching Triple Crown in 2024. Alvarez was an All-Star this year for the third straight season and hit a cool .308/.392/.567 with 35 homers, 86 RBI and six steals in 147 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
1 month agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates will not be bringing back hitting coach Andy Haines or bullpen coach Justin Meccage for the 2025 season, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Noah Niles and Andrew Destin. The team did get consistent offensive production from outfielder
Bryan Reynolds and shortstop/outfielder
Oneil Cruz, but the rest of the lineup was unable to provide much over the course of the season. Their .672 OPS in 2024 was 27th in baseball and they finished in the bottom third in OPS for each of Haines' three seasons. While the Pirates had several exciting young starting pitchers, their bullpen left a lot to be desired.
David Bednar lost his closer's role and was a big disappointment from a fantasy and real-performance perspective, among other issues. Meccage was in the Pirates organization for over a decade. It has been some time since the Pirates have provided ample fantasy value, so fantasy managers likely know the few bright spots to target.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Noah Niles and Andrew Destin - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
1 month agoThe Toronto Blue Jays will reportedly not be bringing back Guillermo Martinez as the team's hitting coach for the 2025 season, per TSN's Scott Mitchell. Martinez had served as the team's hitting coach for the last six seasons. The team had successful seasons between 2022-23. However, they finished 2024 in last place in the American League East with a 74-88 record. Their .702 team OPS was tied for 17th this season and their 671 runs scored was 23rd.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. performed like a high-end fantasy player, but the rest of the lineup was unable to string together consistent production throughout the season. Fantasy managers will have to see if the Blue Jays change up their roster this off-season, but they could potentially be a relative dry spot for offensive fantasy value again in 2025.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: Scott Mitchell - X.com
1 month agoAtlanta Braves right-handed pitcher
Grant Holmes stepped up when it mattered most in Monday's Game 2 3-0 win over the Mets. In a must-win situation, Holmes was slotted into the starting lineup after
Chris Sale (back) was scratched due to back spasms. Making just his seventh start of the season, Holmes pitched four innings, allowing one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts. The 28-year-old pitched mostly out of the bullpen this season, going 2-1 with a 3.56 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 9.22 K/9 rate in 26 appearances (seven starts) over 68 1/3 IP. It will be interesting to see how he may be utilized in the postseason and what his role could be for 2025. He only notched one hold this season, so he would likely need to be slotted into a higher-leverage role next season to offer fantasy value.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoNew York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor stepped up when it mattered most in Monday's Game 1 8-7 win over the Braves. Lindor went 2-for-5 with a single, a two-run home run, and three RBI. With their playoff hopes on the line, Lindor came to the plate in the top of the ninth inning down by one with a runner on first and one out. He sent a
Pierce Johnson breaking ball just over the fence into the right-center bullpen to put the Mets up for good. The 30-year-old finished the regular season with excellent all-around numbers, slashing .273/.344/.500 with 33 HR, 107 runs scored, 91 RBI, and 29 stolen bases in 689 plate appearances. His batting average has waivered at times throughout his career, but he has consistently shown the ability to be a high-end, five-category fantasy contributor.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1
month
agoBoston
Red
Sox
chief
baseball
officer
Craig
Breslow
said
Monday
that
"everything
is
on
the
table"
when
asked
if
the
team
has
any
untradeable
players
heading
into
the
2025
season,
per
The
Athletic's
Jen
McCaffrey.
The
Red
Sox
finished
the
2024
season
with
an
81-81
record,
missing
the
read more...
1 month agoSt. Louis Cardinals team owner and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. announced on Monday that Chaim Bloom will succeed John Mozeliak as president of baseball operations following next season, and he has agreed to a five-year contract. Bloom was previously a former front-office executive with both the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. The Cardinals finished 83-79 in 2024 to miss the playoffs for the second straight season. Bloom spent the year as an adviser for the Cardinals. DeWitt described the move as a "period of transition" for the organization. Current general manager Mike Girsch was reassigned to vice president of special projects, while Mozeliak will work closely with Bloom in his final year on the job. St. Louis has had just one losing season (2023) since Mozeliak took over as the GM in 2007, but they have fallen behind on player development recently. Player development will continue to be Bloom's primary area of focus.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Lynn Worthy
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