2 weeks agoDetroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal will look to stay dominant on Thursday when he gets the ball to kick off a four-game set with the Oakland A's on the road. The left-hander hurled seven innings of one-run ball while allowing just three hits with nine strikeouts and no walks his last time out against the Angels, continuing a stretch that has seen him surrender just five earned runs over his last four starts with two earned runs or fewer surrendered in five of his last six. Skubal has lowered his ERA to a healthy 3.25 mark on the season while he also sports an eye-popping 2.28 FIP, 2.99 SIERA, and a big-time 25.9% K-BB% across his 13 starts on the campaign. He certainly appears to be a budding ace and a major dynasty league asset at the age of 26.--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 weeks agoNew York Mets pitcher David Peterson will be in search of more strikeouts on Thursday when he takes the ball on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies. Peterson tossed 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball against the Reds his last time out but also racked up a hefty 10 strikeouts in the process. The left-hander hasn't had a great season as he sports a 5.22 ERA across 25 outings (19 starts) but his 4.45 FIP, 3.97 SIERA, 55.4% ground-ball rate, and 25.3% K% report he has been far better than his surface ERA suggests. However, he has been battered for a 7.35 ERA on the road where he also sports a 1.84 HR/9 versus a tidy 3.18 ERA and 0.88 HR/9 at Citi Field this season.--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 weeks agoToronto Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios will take aim at a division rival Thursday night when he takes on the New York Yankees in the Bronx. It's yet another crucial game for the Blue Jays, who have won five in a row, as they sit in the second Wild Card spot in the American League but remain just a single game ahead of both the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners. The right-hander has enjoyed a nice bounce-back season, working to a 3.49 ERA across 30 starts while he is coming off of a seven-inning shutout effort over the Red Sox his last time out. Berrios tossed six innings of three-run ball in his lone start against the Yankees this season but also owns a 5.52 ERA across six career starts at Yankee Stadium.--Brenton Kemp - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 weeks agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder Randal Grichuk (head) is back in left field and is hitting leadoff for the Halos on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Zach Eflin in the series finale. Grichuk took a pitch to the helmet on Tuesday and left the game early and sat out as a precaution on Wednesday, but he's back in there now after clearing the concussion protocols. The 32-year-old veteran is hitting a solid .270 (106-for-393) on the year, but he hasn't done much for the Angels since they acquired him at the trade deadline from the Colorado Rockies. In 44 games in Anaheim, Grichuk has gone 32-for-153 (.209) with seven home runs, eight doubles, a triple, 16 RBI and 17 runs scored in 165 plate appearances.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 weeks agoMiami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (forearm) will make a minor-league rehab start on Thursday for Triple-A Jacksonville. Alcantara threw a bullpen session on Monday and is getting close to rejoining Miami's starting rotation as they look to secure the National League's final wild-card spot. The 28-year-old won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022, but he hasn't been as effective in 2023, going 7-12 with a 4.14 ERA (4.03 FIP), 1.21 WHIP, 48 walks and 151 strikeouts in 184 2/3 innings over 28 starts. He's attempting to return from a UCL sprain in his right elbow, but it remains to be seen how effective he'll be for the Fish down the stretch if he's able to get through his rehab start on Thursday night. Even if Alcantara is able to return in the final 10 games of the regular season, fantasy managers can't expect much.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sports Grid - Craig Mish

2 weeks agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (back) continues to sit out on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Yelich has played for the Brewers just one time since Sept. 8 due to lingering back issues, and it's a surprise at this point that he hasn't been placed on the injured list. Mark Canha will get the nod in left field in this one and will hit third in the order against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas. With just 10 games remaining in the 2023 regular season, fantasy managers may not see Yelich play another game as the Brew Crew looks to get him rested up for a potential lengthy playoff run. Yelich has had a nice bounce-back season for fantasy managers, but it's a shame that it appears to be ending on a low note.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 weeks agoLos Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson (knee) is having his start pushed back to Sunday against the Minnesota Twins on the road because of some knee discomfort. Davis Daniels will be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to pitch for the Angels on Friday, and they may use an opener in front of him. Left-hander Kenny Rosenberg will take the mound in Minnesota on Saturday. It's not a serious injury for Anderson, but it's something that will make him even more risky as a deep-league streamer for fantasy purposes. The 33-year-old southpaw was good for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022, but he hasn't been nearly as good with the Halos this year, posting a 5.43 ERA in his 27 outings (25 starts).--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher

2 weeks agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that outfielder Luke Raley (neck) will miss some time. There's no timetable for him, but he's very sore on Thursday after reporting numbness in his left arm after a pinch-hitting appearance in the loss to the Los Angles Angels on Wednesday. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam on Thursday, so we should know more about the specifics of his injury once the results are known. The Rays have already locked up a playoff spot, so there's a good chance that fantasy managers won't have Raley for most, if not all, of the 2023 regular season. Raley hasn't started a game since Sept. 15 when he crashed into a staff member during pre-game batting practice.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bally Sports Florida - Tricia Whitaker

2 weeks agoThe Detroit Tigers are hiring Jeff Greenberg as their new general manager on Thursday, according to sources. Greenberg, who is currently an associate GM with the Chicago Blackhawks, worked with Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris with the Chicago Cubs and will be his No. 2 guy in Detroit moving forward. The 37-year-old will be the 20th GM in the 123-year history of the organization, dating back to 1901. Before working for the Blackhawks, Greenberg spent 11 seasons with the Cubs, including his final three seasons as an assistant GM. He also held roles as director of pro scouting and baseball operations and director of baseball operations. He played a key role for the Cubs that helped them scout and develop talent that led to five playoff appearances during his tenure, including a World Series title in 2016.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

2 weeks agoThe Tampa Bay Rays reinstated right-hander Jason Adam (oblique) from the 15-day injured list on Thursday and optioned left-hander Jalen Beeks to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Adam was on the shelf for three weeks due to a left-oblique strain but is now back with the Rays and ready to rejoin their bullpen for the stretch run and the postseason. The 32-year-old veteran has been great for Tampa as a high-leverage reliever in 2023 when he's been healthy, going 4-2 with a strong 2.67 ERA (3.76 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, a career-high 12 saves, 20 walks and 69 strikeouts in 54 relief innings. Adam may not see many more save opportunities the rest of the way, but he could be an asset in holds leagues again now that he's back.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bally Sports Florida - Tricia Whitaker

2 weeks agoToronto Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah (arm) received multiple injections to his pitching arm in recent weeks following extensive visits with medical professionals, according to industry sources, and he's been officially shut down in 2023. The shots were intended to reduce inflammation and discomfort after no structural issues were found by doctors. In 2022, Manoah finished third in American League Cy Young voting with a 2.24 ERA in 196 2/3 innings. Early season struggles in 2023 caused him to be demoted to the Florida Complex League on June 6. He eventually returned to Toronto on July 7 and made six more starts, but he was mostly ineffective and was optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo. It's going to be an interesting offseason for the 25-year-old, and needless to say he's probably not going to be on many fantasy radars in 2024 until he proves his 2022 form is back.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith

2 weeks agoNew York Yankees relief pitcher Wandy Peralta (triceps) is dealing with some "tricep stuff," according to manager Aaron Boone. Peralta hasn't pitched in almost a week and could be in danger of missing the remainder of the 2023 regular season. If this is the end of the line for the 32-year-old Dominican southpaw, he will finish the year with a 4-2 record, a solid 2.83 ERA (5.05 FIP), 1.22 WHIP, four saves, 30 walks and 51 strikeouts in 54 relief innings over 63 appearances out of the bullpen for the Yankees. Peralta has been pretty fortunate to have an ERA under 3.00 on the year with a bloated 13.2 percent walk rate, his highest walk rate since 2018 when he was with the Cincinnati Reds.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips

2 weeks agoTampa Bay Rays outfielder Luke Raley (arm) said his left arm felt numb and had no strength on his last swing in Wednesday's loss to the Los Angeles Angles during a pinch-hitting appearance in the seventh inning, and he'll head for an MRI exam on Thursday morning. Before his appearance on Wednesday, Raley hadn't played in a game since Saturday when he collided with a staff member during batting practice before the game. Depending on the results of his MRI exam, this could be an injury that sends the 29-year-old outfielder to the injured list to close out the 2023 regular season. Until then, though, consider him day-to-day. Raley has had a breakout season in his third year in the big leagues, hitting .250/.334/.492 with an .826 OPS, 19 homers, 49 RBI, 14 stolen bases and 56 runs scored in 117 games. The Rays at least hope they can use the left-handed power/speed threat for the postseason.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin

2 weeks agoSeattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (hand) is undergoing precautionary X-rays on Wednesday after getting hit by a pitch on his left hand in the game against the Oakland Athletics. Rodriguez was hit in the hand in the third inning but stayed in for the entire game, so it doesn't seem to be an injury that will keep the 22-year-old All-Star out for an extended period of time. In the 6-3 victory, J-Rod went 1-for-4 with his 31st home run of the year (a solo shot), the hit by pitch and two strikeouts. We'll keep an eye on his X-ray results, but with an off day coming on Thursday, he could be right back in the lineup for the start of a big series on Friday against the division-rival Texas Rangers. Rodriguez is now only the third player in franchise history with a 100-RBI season by the age of 22.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Seattle Times - Ryan Divish

2 weeks agoMinnesota Twins outfielder/designated hitter Byron Buxton (knee) will start a minor-league rehab assignment and serve as the DH for Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday. St. Paul's season comes to an end this Sunday, so Buxton will have a limited amount of time to play in rehab games through this weekend before the Twins consider activating him from the injured list for the stretch run. The 29-year-old initially was rehabbing a strained hamstring when he hurt his knee on Sept. 1 and has his rehab assignment shut down. Buxton could make his way back to the Twins before the end of the regular season, and they hope he'll also be a factor for them in the postseason. He has yet to play the outfield in the big leagues in 2023 and is barely hitting over .200 with 17 homers, 42 RBI and nine steals in 304 at-bats this year.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes