1 week agoNew York Yankees first baseman
Anthony Rizzo (fingers) said the days off this week before the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers have been valuable in helping his broken fingers heal. "The biggest thing is getting the swelling out between games. It really blows up from the pressure. The bones are still broken, but to be able to get the swelling out has been key," Rizzo said. The 35-year-old left-handed slugger fractured two fingers on his right hand in the second-to-last game of the regular season and was held out of the American League Division Series before going 6-for-14 with a double, two walks and a run scored in five games (four starts) in the AL Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians. He should be good to go to start in Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers, and the Yankees will need Rizzo's bat to keep up with LA's high-powered offense in the series.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
1 week agoThe Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan plan on posting left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara this offseason. It will be the first time that the Dragons have allowed a player to move to the U.S. since Akinori Otsuka in 2003. The Dragons selected Ogasawara as their first pick back in 2016 out of Tokai University Sagami High School. He became the youngest opening pitcher in Chunichi's history in 2018 and won double-digit games for the first time in 2022. Ogasawara went 5-11 in 2024 with a 3.12 ERA in 144 1/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old southpaw has impeccable control (3.7 percent walk rate this year), but he also didn't miss many bats at all (13.6 percent strikeout rate), which could become a much bigger issue in the big leagues in the States.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Yahoo Japan
1 week agoNew York Mets right-hander
Paul Blackburn (back) is expected to miss four to five months after undergoing a cerebrospinal fluid leak repair on his back on Oct. 11, according to the team. While there's enough time for Blackburn to get ready before the start of the 2025 regular season, the Mets probably aren't going to rush him in spring training, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the veteran hurler isn't an option to begin the regular season in New York's starting rotation. The 30-year-old began 2024 with the Oakland Athletics before getting traded to the Big Apple in late July. He was slightly more effective in his nine starts with the A's before the trade, as he went 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA (4.69 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and seven walks in his five starts over 24 1/3 innings with the Mets while missing time with multiple injuries.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
1 week agoCleveland Guardians catcher/outfielder/designated hitter
David Fry (elbow) is scheduled to meet with Dr. Keith Meister next week about his right elbow. Surgery could be on the table for Fry after he injured his right elbow in late June, after which he played just one game on defense (at catcher) the rest of the regular season and playoffs. If the 28-year-old requires surgery, he could be in danger of missing the start of the 2025 campaign, depending on the exact nature of the operation. The former seventh-rounder by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018 out of Northwestern State University of Louisiana was a first-time All-Star in 2024 in his second year in the majors after slashing .263/.356/.448 with 14 homers and 51 RBI in 122 regular-season games. Fry went 8-for-28 (.286) with two homers, a double, and four runs scored in 10 games in October.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Zack Meisel
1 week agoSt. Louis Cardinals left-handed reliever
JoJo Romero (forearm) is scheduled to start a throwing program this week. Romero was placed on the 15-day injured list in the last week of the regular season due to left-forearm inflammation. With the 28-year-old southpaw already starting a throwing program before the start of the World Series, he'll have plenty of time to rehab this offseason in order to be ready to go for the start of spring training in mid-February. The former fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016 out of Yavapai College made a career-high 65 appearances out of St. Louis' bullpen in 2024 and posted a career-best 3.36 ERA (4.27 FIP), a 1.15 WHIP, one save, a career-high 51 strikeouts and 16 walks in 59 innings pitched. If healthy, he could have another workhorse role in the Cards' bullpen next year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Belleville News - Jeff Jones
1 week agoSt. Louis Cardinals right-hander
Sonny Gray (forearm) is expected to have a regular offseason after he ended the 2024 regular season on the 15-day injured list due to right-forearm flexor tendinitis. The injury only caused Gray to miss his final start of the year. The 34-year-old veteran and three-time All-Star finished his first season with the Cardinals with a 13-9 record, 3.84 ERA (3.12 FIP), a 1.09 WHIP and a 203:39 K:BB in 166 1/3 innings over his 28 starts. It was only the second time in Gray's career that he had 200-plus strikeouts. He was the runner-up for the American League Cy Young in 2023 while pitching with the Minnesota Twins, but he improved to a 30.3% strikeout rate and a career-best 5.8% walk rate in St. Louis. Gray has above-average control, but fantasy managers shouldn't be banking on another 30% strikeout rate in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Belleville News - Jeff Jones
1 week agoSt. Louis Cardinals shortstop
Masyn Winn (hand) had surgery to remove a cyst from his hand at the end of the 2024 regular season at the end of September, and it isn't expected to impact his offseason training. Winn is heading into his third MLB season in 2025 after slashing .267/.314/.416 with a .730 OPS, 15 home runs, 57 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 85 runs scored in 637 plate appearances over 150 games played in his first full big-league campaign. The 22-year-old is the future at the position in St. Louis and is a superior athlete with strong bat-to-ball contact skills and a strong arm at shortstop. Winn has superior bat speed as well, but so far early in his career it hasn't led to a ton of power. As he matures, hopefully Winn can provide more power and speed for fantasy managers as he heads into his second full season in MLB.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Belleville News - Jeff Jones
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-handed reliever
Alex Vesia (ribs) was scheduled to throw to live hitters either on Tuesday or Wednesday. Both Vesia and right-handed reliever
Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) will be last-minute decisions as far as being included on the World Series roster for Game 1 this Friday at Dodger Stadium. Vesia injured his rib cage warming up in Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres and was removed from the roster for the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets as a result. The 28-year-old southpaw threw three scoreless innings with a walk and four strikeouts in his three playoff appearances before getting hurt. Graterol has been on the injured list since Sept. 26 and is more of a long shot to make the World Series roster than Vesia.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Yankees, following right-hander
Jack Flaherty in Game 1 on Friday. Yamamoto was welcomed rudely to the postseason by the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 5, when he allowed five earned runs while walking two and striking out one in three innings. But the Japanese hurler bounced back nicely, giving up two earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out 10 over his next two starts (9 1/3 innings) against the Padres and New York Mets. The 26-year-old tossed seven shutout innings with seven K's against the Yankees in the Bronx back on June 7, but he won't come without some risk against a potent Yankees lineup that is heating up heading into the World Series.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Bill Shaikin
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Jack Flaherty will get the nod to start Game 1 of the World Series on Friday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Yankees. Flaherty will be on a full six days of rest to kick off the World Series against Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole. The 29-year-old has been hit or miss in his three postseason starts for LA this year, tossing seven shutout innings with six strikeouts in the Game 1 win over the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. But in his other two starts, he surrendered 12 earned runs on 13 hits (three homers) while walking five and striking out only two in 8 1/3 innings against the Padres and Mets. Flaherty did not face the Dodgers during the regular season and will be hoping to miss more bats against New York's potent lineup of sluggers. He'll be a high-risk, high-reward DFS play on Friday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Bill Shaikin
1 week agoLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman (ankle) is confident that he'll be ready to go for Game 1 of the World Series on Friday at Dodger Stadium against the New York Yankees and right-hander
Gerrit Cole. Freeman has been held out of several games during the postseason, including the series-clinching Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Sunday, due to an ankle injury that he suffered during the final week of the regular season. The 35-year-old All-Star hasn't played since Game 5 of the NLCS on Oct. 18, so he'll be well-rested for the start of the World Series this weekend. Freeman has hit .219 (7-for-32) with an RBI, walk, steal, one run and six strikeouts in eight playoff starts this October. He's handled Cole well in his career, going 7-for-20 (.350) with a homer, three doubles, two RBI, one walk and seven K's.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
1 week agoThe Milwaukee Brewers announced on Monday that Al LeBoeuf and Eric Thielsen will be promoted from Triple-A Nashville to take over for Connor Dawson and Ozzie Timmons as the hitting coaches, according to president of baseball operations Matt Arnold. LeBoeuf will be the lead hitting coach. Dawson and Timmons had been the team's co-hitting coaches for the last three years. The 64-year-old LeBoeuf has been Nashville's hitting coach the last six years and joined the Brewers in 2010 after coaching in the farm systems of the Phillies, Mets, Royals and Blue Jays. Milwaukee ranked sixth in MLB in runs scored (777), eighth in batting average (.248), fourth in on-base percentage (.326), 13th in slugging percentage (.403) and 10th in OPS (.729) in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press
1 week agoChicago Cubs second baseman
Nico Hoerner (elbow) underwent right flexor-tendon surgery on Oct. 11, the team announced on Monday. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister, and there is no timetable for Hoerner's return, although he should be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season, barring a setback. The 27-year-old was Chicago's starting second baseman all year in 2024 in his sixth season in the big leagues. In a career-high 151 games played, Hoerner slashed .273/.335/.373 with a .708 OPS, seven home runs, 48 RBI, 31 stolen bases and 86 runs scored in his 641 plate appearances. He makes plenty of contact, but it's inconsistent hard contact with little power. As long as Hoerner is healthy in 2025, he'll be a solid source of average, steals and runs scored for fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Tribune - Meghan Montemurro
1 week agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there's a "good chance" that left-hander
Nestor Cortes (elbow) will be included on the roster for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which begins this Friday at Dodger Stadium. Cortes is set to throw another live batting practice session on Tuesday, and if he gets through that without a setback, he could get the clearance to rejoin the roster. The 29-year-old has been out since late September due to a left flexor strain in his left elbow, so he's fully expected to come back and pitch out of New York's bullpen in the World Series. The Cuban southpaw went 9-10 during the regular season in 31 outings (30 starts), posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 162 strikeouts in 174 1/3 innings pitched. Cortes allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings at Yankee Stadium in a start against the Dodgers back on June 8.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
1 week agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-hander
Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 of the World Series on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Cole is expected to be followed in the rotation by left-hander
Carlos Rodon in Game 2 on Saturday, right-hander
Clarke Schmidt in Game 3 on Monday in the Bronx and right-hander
Luis Gil in Game 4 on Tuesday. Cole, who got a late start in 2024 due to an injury and made only 17 starts during the regular season, has allowed seven runs (six earned) on 19 hits (one homer) while walking six and striking out 12 in three playoff starts (16 1/3 innings) this October. The 2023 American League Cy Young winner hasn't been all that dominant in the postseason this year and will face one of the best offenses in baseball in Game 1 of the World Series.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Greg Joyce
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