RADIO
Jose Altuve Could Serve As DH In Game 3
10/15:Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch is "considering" using second baseman Jose Altuve (knee) as the designated hitter in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox on Tuesday. Altuve's knee caused him to go on the disabled list earlier this year and is still bothering him after he aggravated it in Game 2 of the Division Series. Although he has a home run, Altuve is just 5-for-22 (.227) with four strikeouts in five playoff games so far this year. Considering he isn't 100 percent, he might not be worth his DFS price.Source: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome
Chris Taylor Out Of Lineup In Game 3
10/15:Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor is not in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against Brewers right-hander Jhoulys Chacin. Cody Bellinger will start in center field and hit fifth. Taylor has been hot this postseason, going 6-for-12 with a triple, homer, four runs scored and three RBI, but he'll take a seat against the righty. Both Joc Pederson, who is leading off, and Bellinger will be popular DFS picks. Bellinger is 5-for-12 (.417) with a triple, two homers and five RBI in his career against Chacin, while Pederson has three hits in 13 at-bats, with two of those hits being homers.Source: Baseball Press
Anthony Iapoce To Become Cubs Hitting Coach
10/15:Texas Rangers hitting coach Anthony Iapoce is leaving the team for the same position with the Chicago Cubs, according to a source. Iapoce was the special assistant to the general manager with the Cubs before becoming the Rangers hitting coach in 2016. The Cubs fired Chili Davis as their hitting coach last week after just one season. Chicago ranked first in overall hits (1,453), 11th in home runs (167), fifth in RBI (722), first in overall average (.258) and fifth in OPS (.744) in the National League in 2018.Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Jeff Wilson
Braves Open To Moving Ronald Acuna To Right Field
10/15:The Atlanta Braves are open to moving outfielder Ronald Acuna to right field if they were to acquire a player in the offseason that is a better fit for left field. Nick Markakis is a pending free agent and while they have interest in re-signing him, it's not a foregone conclusion. Acuna's fantasy value won't change regardless -- he's one of the best young hitting outfielders in the game. He'll turn just 21 this winter and hit .293/.366/.552 with 26 home runs, 64 RBI, 78 runs scored and 16 stolen bases in 111 games in his rookie season. He's here to stay.Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Gabe Burns
Rangers To Interview Dusty Wathan For Manager Job
10/15:The Texas Rangers will interview Philadelphia Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan for their managerial opening later this week, according to a baseball source. The 45-year-old Wathan was a finalist for the Phillies job last year before they chose Gabe Kapler. Wathan played professionally for 14 seasons and managed 10 seasons in the Phillies minor league system. Texas is looking to replace Jeff Banister after the team missed out on the playoffs each of the last two seasons.Source: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Jim Salisbury
Twins Interviewing Brandon Hyde Monday
10/15:The Minnesota Twins are interviewing Chicago Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde for their managerial opening on Monday, according to a source. The Twins are looking to replace Paul Molitor after the team disappointed with a 78-84 record after earning a wild-card spot in 2017. Hyde has also received interest in the Rangers and Angels jobs.Source: 1500 ESPN - Darren Wolfson
Angels Interview Brandon Hyde for Manager Job
10/15:The Los Angeles Angels have interviewed Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde for their vacant managerial position. Hyde has also interviewed for the open Rangers position as well. The Angels and Mike Scioscia departed after nearly 20 years together. Hyde has been coaching since 2004, first with the Marlins and then in the Cubs organization from 2012 until this last season. He would bring a younger, fresher experience to the Angels if he were offered the position.Source: Jon Morosi
Braves Give Brian Snitker Two-Year Extension
10/15:The Atlanta Braves signed manager Brian Snitker to a two-year contract extension on Monday. The deal includes a third-year team option. Snitker certainly earned it after directing a young and talented Braves team to a 90-72 season and the National League East title. He is 221-227 in his three years with the team. Expect Atlanta to be in contention again in 2019 with their bright young core of players, led by outfielder Ronald Acuna and second baseman Ozzie Albies.Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Gabe Burns
Braves Have Interest In Retaining Nick Markakis
10/15:Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said the team has interest in re-signing pending free-agent outfielder Nick Markakis. However, the Braves aren't expected to extend the veteran a qualifying offer after he hit .297/.366/.440 with 14 home runs, 93 RBI and 78 runs scored in 162 games -- the first time in his career he played a full season. The soon-to-be 35-year-old is great at hitting for contact and a high average, but he typically doesn't help fantasy owners much in the power departments and counting stats. A solid young Braves team in 2018 gave him plenty of opportunities to drive in runs this year, however. Markakis will remain more of a fourth or fifth fantasy outfielder, but his value will remain the highest if he stays in Atlanta.Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Gabe Burns
Carlos Martinez To Open 2019 As Starter
10/15:St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez, who finished out the 2018 season as the team's closer, will enter spring training next year in a starting role once again. Martinez went to the bullpen in August while feeling unable to continue as a starter due to three stints on the disabled list with right arm issues. “I think the front office and everybody would like to see him show up in spring training as a starter. I like those sentiments,” manager Mike Shildt said, diplomatically. In order to avoid injuries in 2019, Martinez will stay diligent in adding strength and taking care of his body. If the right-hander can stay healthy, he could have a nice season as a bounce-back option for fantasy owners. In the late innings, there wouldn't be a set guy to handle the ninth inning, but one option would be Jordan Hicks, who has a 100 mph fastball and a wipeout slider.Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Rick Hummel
Marwin Gonzalez Hoping To Play In Game 3
10/15:Houston Astros infielder/outfielder Marwin Gonzalez (back, neck) is hoping to play in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox after crashing into the Green Monster in Game 2 on Sunday night while trying to make a leaping catch. He received an IV before returning to the game and is hopeful that he'll feel better after the off day on Monday. "I'm pretty sore, but nothing that will get me out of the field," Gonzalez said. "Let's see how I wake up tomorrow." Gonzalez hit a two-run home run in the Game 2 loss and has been one of the team's most productive hitters this postseason, driving in seven runs, which is tied with outfielder George Springer.Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
Nathan Eovaldi To Start Game 3 Of ALCS
10/15:Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi will start Game 3 of the American League Championship Series at the Astros on Tuesday. Eovaldi pitched masterfully against the Yankees in the Division Series, giving up five hits and just one run while walking none and fanning five in seven innings. He'll have a tougher time around this time on the road in Houston against a team that scored four runs on four homers off him in six innings on June 20 when he was pitching for the Rays. Eovaldi will be a boom/bust DFS pick on Tuesday.Source: NBC Sports Boston - Evan Drellich
Jackie Bradley Jr. Smacks Three-Run Double In ALCS Game 2
10/14:Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. made his presence felt with his bat and his glove in a 7-5 victory during Game 2 of the ALCS. Bradley thumped a three-run double off of The Green Monster in the bottom of the third inning and gave the Red Sox a lead that they would not relinquish. He also made several nice defensive plays in centerfield. Bradley has generally been considered a bit of a liability offensively, but that was a big-time play when the Red Sox desperately needed a spark. Even with the clutch hit, Bradley still lacks much appeal in DFS formats.Source: MLB.com
Mookie Betts Delivers RBI, Two Runs In Game 2 Win
10/14:Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts showed the Houston Astros why he is an MVP candidate on Sunday night. Betts was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI double and two runs scored in a 7-5 Red Sox win. The 26-year-old was just 4-for-20 in the 2018 postseason heading into this game. Betts is a five-tool player that can impact a game in a variety of ways. He is one of the best bats in the MLB and can be rolled out in DFS formats any time he takes the field.Source: MLB.com
David Price Continues To Struggle In Postseason Play
10/14:Boston Red Sox starter David Price allowed four runs on five hits during 4 2/3 innings of work in Game 2 of the ALCS. He struggled with his control as he issued four walks in the game. Luckily for him, the Red Sox offense excelled en route to a 7-5 win. Price did not get the victory, but he was not saddled with a loss either. It was the first time in 11 postseason starts that Price's team ended up winning the game. Whether it is nerves or something else entirely, the 33-year-old cannot perform once the bright lights of October are on. He should be avoided in daily fantasy formats whenever he takes the mound in the playoffs.Source: MLB.com
