20 hours agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi (shoulder) allowed three earned runs on three hits (one home run) while walking two and striking out four in his minor league rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Friday night in three innings pitched. It was his first rehab start after he had tossed a 65-pitch simulated game earlier in the week. Barring any setbacks in his recovery, Eovaldi should be able to rejoin the Red Sox's rotation before the end of the regular season, but there won't be much time for him to make much of a fantasy impact. It's unknown where his next start will be, but he'll be a risky fantasy play if it's in the majors since he hasn't thrown for Boston since Aug. 12. The 32-year-old right-hander is 5-3 on the year with a 4.15 ERA (4.49 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, 96 K's and 18 walks in 99 2/3 frames and 18 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com
20 hours agoThe Atlanta Braves placed right-hander
Spencer Strider (oblique) on the 15-day injured list on Saturday with strained left oblique and optioned infielder
Rylan Bannon to Triple-A Gwinnett. In corresponding moves, the team reinstated infielder
Ehire Adrianza (quadriceps) from the 10-day injured list and recalled right-hander
Alan Rangel. Strider's IL stint is backdated to Sept. 21. The 23-year-old will miss the rest of the regular season, which is terrible news for fantasy managers, as Strider has been excellent in his second MLB season. Strider will finish 11-5 with a 2.67 ERA (1.83 FIP), a 0.99 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings over 31 outings (20 starts).
Bryce Elder is the leading candidate to take his spot in the rotation the rest of the regular season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Twitter
20 hours agoInitial X-rays on Texas Rangers outfielder
Adolis Garcia's wrist looked OK, according to interim manager Tony Beasley. The team will re-evaluate Garcia on Saturday after he was forced from Friday's game early against the Cleveland Guardians after taking a 100 mph cutter off his wrist. As of right now, the 29-year-old seems to be fine and should be considered day-to-day, but you shouldn't be surprised if he's not in Saturday's starting lineup. Garcia has been a must-start in fantasy this year, slashing .253/.304/.458 with 25 home runs, 95 RBI, 83 runs scored and 25 stolen bases in 566 at-bats for the Rangers. He hasn't been as strong in September, though, going just 16-for-70 (.229) with four homers, 15 RBI, 11 runs scored and three steals in 20 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
21 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals first baseman
Albert Pujols became only the fourth player in baseball history to reach the 700-home run mark in the 11-0 blowout win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Pujols went 2-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI, two runs scored and a strikeout in the contest to make history on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The 42-year-old future first-ballot Hall of Famer has cooled off a bit in the season's final month, but he's still excelling against left-handed pitchers and will remain a key part of the Cardinals' postseason run this year. He's hit .250 (15-for-60) with six home runs, 17 RBI and six runs scored in 20 games so far in the season's final month.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher
Yadier Molina (knee) will remain sidelined for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 40-year-old catcher will miss his third game in a row due to right knee soreness. The organization does consider him day-to-day, so hopefully he can avoid a trip to the injured list.
Andrew Knizner will cover behind the plate and bat eighth against left-hander
Andrew Heaney on Friday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoMinnesota Twins starting pitcher
Tyler Mahle (shoulder) will not take the mound again this season. The right-hander has been shut down since September due to lingering shoulder problems. This is a shame as Mahle only ended up making four starts as a member of the Twins roster. Although, he was solid throughout most of the season, so the hope is that it'll continue in 2023. Fantasy managers who were holding Mahle can safely drop him now.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Do-Hyoung Park
1 day agoMinnesota Twins infielder
Jorge Polanco (knee) continues to deal with a lingering issue that could sideline him for the rest of the season. Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey mentioned that Polanco is still battling with his left knee soreness. That being said, it seems extremely unlikely that Polanco gets back on the field this season. He wasn't hitting that well, so the team will likely opt to rest him over taking a risk and having him suffer a worse injury. Before going down, Polanco was hitting .235/.346/.405 with 16 long balls, 56 RBI through 104 games. Fantasy managers should look for another option if they still roster Polanco.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Do-Hyoung Park
1 day agoLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher
Craig Kimbrel will no longer be used in save situations, according to manager Dave Roberts. He continued by saying the team will look to use Kimbrel in other spots for the rest of the regular season. That being said, Kimbrel will basically lose all his fantasy value, assuming he doesn't get anymore saves chances. The most likely outcome is that the Dodgers decide to go closer by committee.
Brusdar Graterol,
Chris Martin,
Evan Phillips, and
Alex Vesia will likely all be in the mix for saves.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Bill Plunkett
1 day agoSeattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez (back) has been placed on the 15-day injured list. The 21-year-old slugger is dealing with a lower back strain, so hopefully he won't need additional time on the sideline. He underwent an MRI on Friday, so apparently the team saw something they didn't like during the testing. Rodriguez will be eligible to return for the final series of the regular season, assuming he's ready to go. In the meantime,
Taylor Trammell has been recalled from the minors. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect too much from his bat.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: CBS Sports
1 day agoNew York Mets outfielder
Brandon Nimmo (quadriceps) is back in center field and batting leadoff on Friday against the Oakland Athletics and left-hander
Cole Irvin. Nimmo won't end up missing much time after he left the game early on Wednesday with left quadriceps tightness, and he's back in the starting lineup after Thursday's off day. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter should be returned to starting lineups in single-year formats on Friday. Against lefty pitchers, Nimmo has been solid, hitting .262 (49-for-187) with five of his 14 home runs against them. In the month of September, he's gone 18-for-72 (.250) with two home runs, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored and three stolen bases in 20 games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press
2 days agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi (shoulder) is scheduled for a rehab start at Triple-A Worcester on Friday. He is set to throw four or five innings, and if all goes well he should return to the Red Sox rotation late next week and make two starts before the season ends. He has had his ups and downs this season, but was solid in his three August start before he was put on the IL, pitching to a 2.95 ERA and 1.30 WHIP while recording 16 strikeouts in 18 â…“ IP. Considering he hasn't pitched in the majors in over a month, he will be an extremely risky option heading into the final week of the season.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Christopher Smith
2 days agoColorado Rockies outfielder/third baseman
Kris Bryant (foot) worked out in baseball spikes on Friday, marking a significant step towards a possible late-season return. Depending on how he feels after the workout, he could progress fairly quickly into a rehab assignment and play games in the final week of the season. It has been a frustrating, injury-riddled season for Bryant and his fantasy managers, as he has missed time due to a multitude of injuries, with the latest being plantar fasciitis. When he has been healthy, Bryant has been good. He is slashing .306/.376/.475 on the season with five homers in 181 plate appearances. If only he could stay healthy and do it over the course of a full season. The 30-year-old will be an interesting player to debate during the offseason, as he has the talent to be a stud in fantasy, but he likely won't go high in drafts due to his injury history.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Thomas Harding
2 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman is not in the starting lineup Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals. It is just a routine day off for Freeman, who has only missed one game this season prior to Friday's contest. With the Dodgers set to clinch the top seed soon, expect the team to give their regulars quite a bit of rest heading into the postseason. Freeman has been tremendous all season, but has pushed his game to another level as of late. In September, he is slashing .347/.455/.542 with four homers, 18 runs, and 13 RBI. Obviously, fantasy managers in daily leagues will want to get him back in their lineup tomorrow, assuming he plays. He will be a borderline first-round pick again next season.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press
2 days agoBoston Red Sox shortstop
Xander Bogaerts is not in the starting lineup Friday against the New York Yankees. It appears to be a routine day of rest for the 29-year-old, who has played in 140 out of 149 games so far this season. As he has for most of the season, Bogaerts is having a terrific September, slashing .355/.423/.516 with two homers, 13 runs scored, and eight RBI. He should be back Saturday, and fantasy managers in daily leagues will want to get him right back in their lineups. Even with a lack of power this season, the slick shortstop should be drafted fairly high once again next year.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press
2 days agoSan Diego Padres first baseman
Josh Bell is out of the lineup Friday against the Colorado Rockies. It's a tough break for fantasy managers, who were likely hoping Bell would break out of his current slump with a series at Coors Field. Bell has now sat out three of the team's last seven games, as the Padres don't have the time to sit around and let the 30-year-old figure it out. He has an abysmal .196/.309/.288 slash line with the Padres and has only three homers, 23 runs and 11 RBI in 179 plate appearances with the Friars. If Bell doesn't show up this weekend, fantasy managers going into the finals in head-to-head leagues might want to look at another option for next week.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press
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