Francisco Lindor Still Absent On Thursday: New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) remains absent from the team's starting lineup for Thursday's contest at Citi Field against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Shortstop prospect Luisangel Acuna, the younger brother of Braves superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee), will make another start at the 6 in New York and will bat ninth against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker. Lindor is now missing his fourth straight start due to a nagging back injury, but he said earlier this week he only hoped to miss around two to five days, so there's a chance he'll be back for the Mets this weekend in a pivotal divisional series. The 30-year-old resumed baseball activities on Wednesday and should be considered day-to-day. The 22-year-old Acuna has gone 7-for-15 with two homers, a double and four RBI in his first five MLB games and has quickly become a popular DFS sleeper. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:54:05
No Definitive Timeline On Luis Castillo: Seattle Mariners interim manager Dan Wilson said he didn't have a definitive timeline on right-hander Luis Castillo (hamstring) and if he'd be able to be activated from the 15-day injured list when he's eligible next Tuesday. "Progressing as he should be ... I think as far as we know right now, he's doing well," Wilson said. Castillo was placed on the IL on Tuesday due to a Grade 2 left-hamstring strain, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to rejoin the team's starting rotation before the end of the 2024 regular season. He has already received a platelet-rich plasma injection. At best, Castillo might make two more starts for the Mariners the rest of the way as they look to secure a wild-card spot in the American League. The three-time All-Star hasn't been as dominant this year, but he's still been useful in all fantasy formats with a 3.64 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 175 strikeouts and 47 walks in his 175 1/3 innings over 30 starts. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:32:01
Diamondbacks Release Dylan Floro: The Arizona Diamondbacks released right-handed reliever Dylan Floro earlier this week. Floro has been released after passing through waivers unclaimed after the D-backs designated him for assignment on Sunday. The 33-year-old veteran began the year with the Washington Nationals and ended up making only 15 appearances in relief for Arizona. In his 16 1/3 innings for the Snakes, he was way too hittable, allowing 17 earned runs on 23 hits (four homers) while walking four and striking out only eight. Overall this year, he has posted a 3.80 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and a 48:17 K:BB in his 68 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Nats and D-backs. Arizona acquired Floro at the trade deadline in late July from the Nationals, but he didn't work out as a relief arm for them. In Floro's nine-year MLB career, he has a 3.49 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP and 32 saves in 402 2/3 innings pitched. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:24:27
Ryan Mountcastle To Start His Rehab Assignment Soon: Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk later this week/weekend. Barring a setback with his sprained left wrist, Mountcastle should be able to come off the 10-day injured list to rejoin the major-league roster by the end of the regular season at the end of September. The 27-year-old right-handed slugger has been out since late August and could be eased back into first-base duties later this month as the O's look to have him firing on all cylinders for the start of the postseason in October. Mountcastle isn't a good bet to suddenly discover his power stroke after his wrist injury. He has disappointed in his fifth season in Baltimore in 2024, hitting .265/.305/.425 with a .730 OPS, 13 home runs and 61 RBI in 118 games as the team's primary first baseman. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:20:03
Jordan Westburg, Ramon Urias Need Multiple Rehab Games: Baltimore Orioles infielders Jordan Westburg (hand) and Ramon Urias (ankle) will both need multiple minor-league rehab games before returning to the big-league roster, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The skipper said he wouldn't be surprised if Urias comes off the injured list first. Westburg was expected to begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday as he works his way back from a fractured right hand that has kept him out since early August. The 25-year-old took batting practice on Tuesday and could rejoin the club early next week. Westburg is sitting on 18 homers on the year and should be Baltimore's preferred option at the hot corner when he's back, although they could ease him in and have him share playing time with Urias to close out the regular season in September. Urias has been out since late August with a right-ankle sprain. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:16:17
Kodai Senga Plans To Make Rehab Appearance This Weekend: New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (calf) intends to pitch an inning in a minor-league rehab appearances for Triple-A Syracuse this weekend in advance of joining the Mets for at least part of their final road trip through Atlanta and Milwaukee. Senga will be eligible to return from the injured list on Sept. 25, though a team official cautioned that Senga is more likely to appear later next week. The Mets play the Braves from Sept. 24-26 before concluding their regular-season schedule against the Brewers from Sept. 27-29. The second-year Japanese hurler has pitched in just one game in 2024, throwing 5 1/3 innings on July 26 before suffering a left-calf strain. Before that, Senga was rehabbing a strained posterior right shoulder capsule in the first half of the season. He has been dynamic when healthy, but with where we are in the schedule, if Senga does return, it will be in a relief role for the Mets. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:12:01
Blue Jays Call Up Jonatan Clase: The Toronto Blue Jays called up outfield prospect Jonatan Clase, who they acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners in the Yimi Garcia deal, on Thursday from Triple-A Buffalo. With the season winding down, the Blue Jays can get a good look at Clase, who is a gifted athlete with real upside in the long term. The 22-year-old is currently listed by MLB Pipeline as Toronto's No. 6 prospect. Especially with outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) out for the remainder of the year after shoulder surgery, Clase could get some nice run to close things out through the end of September in Toronto's outfield. The switch-hitting Dominican made his MLB debut with Seattle earlier this year and went 8-for-41 (.195) with a double, three RBI and three steals in 19 games. In 94 games with Buffalo and Triple-A Tacoma, Clase has hit .263/.344/.439 with 12 homers, 45 RBI and 38 steals in 426 plate appearances. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:06:02
Victor Robles Scratched From Thursday's Lineup: Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles (hand) has been scratched from the starting lineup on Thursday against the New York Yankees at T-Mobile Park. Robles suffered a bruised right hand in Tuesday's contest and didn't play on Wednesday as a result. It appears the 27-year-old needs at least one more day to heal up before returning to the field. In his absence, Dylan Moore will draw into the lineup at second base and will hit eighth against Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt. Jorge Polanco is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth for the M's. Moore has a homer and two RBI in two career at-bats against Schmidt, while Polanco has gone hitless in his only at-bat against Schmidt. Robles should be fine to play this weekend on the road in Texas against the division-rival Rangers. He's been excellent since joining Seattle, hitting .333 (66-for-198) with four homers, 20 RBI and 25 steals in 69 games. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:02:01
Bo Bichette Done For The Year With Fractured Finger: Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (finger) suffered a fractured right middle finger and has been placed on the 10-day injured list, ending his season. It officially ends what has been one of the most disappointing seasons for any player in baseball in 2024. Bichette ended up playing in just 81 games and slashing .225/.277/.322 with a career-worst .598 OPS, four home runs, 31 RBI and five stolen bases in 336 trips to the plate. The 26-year-old managed to play in just one game, going 2-for-5 with an RBI on Sept. 17, since returning from a lengthy stint on the IL due to a calf injury that had been bothering him since the first half of the season. Bichette will now focus on getting his finger healthy this offseason, but he should be fully recovered in time for spring training as he attempts to have a bounce-back season in 2025. Ernie Clement and Leo Jimenez should share time at the 6 in Toronto the rest of the way. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:49:46
Kumar Rocker Starting On Thursday: Texas Rangers right-handed pitching prospect Kumar Rocker is making his second career major-league start on Thursday at Globe Life Field against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. Rocker, the team's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, went four innings in his major-league debut on Sept. 12 against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and allowed just one earned run on three hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out seven to earn another start. With the Rangers out of playoff contention despite winning the World Series last fall, they have elected to give Rocker a little run in the big leagues to close out the year after he was dominant down on the farm in 2024 after coming back from Tommy John surgery. Rocker may not go deep in Thursday's contest, but he still has plenty of strikeout upside. There's a good chance he'll make one more start before the season is over. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:44:01
Kenley Jansen Dealing With Shoulder Issue: Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (shoulder) apparently was dealing with a shoulder issue during his 27th save of the season on Wednesday in the 2-1 win over the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Jansen walked two and struck out two in his scoreless inning of work and also showed decreased velocity, but he stayed in the game and finished out the victory. The Red Sox's training staff went out to look at the 36-year-old veteran before letting him continue. There's a good chance that Jansen won't be available out of the bullpen for at least a few days as he works through his shoulder issues. If he is forced to miss any save situations, Chris Martin or Josh Winckowski might be the best bets for a few save chances down the stretch. Jansen, a four-time All-Star, has a 3.42 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 61 K's and 20 walks in 52 2/3 innings this year in addition to his 27 saves. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:38:01
Josh Jung Taking The Day Off: Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's contest at Globe Life Field against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. Ezequiel Duran will fill in at the hot corner and bat seventh against Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman. Jung was a first-time All-Star for Texas in his first full season in the big leagues in 2023, but his 2024 campaign has been defined by a fractured wrist that he suffered early in April. In total, he's played in only 46 games this year and has hit .264/.298/.421 with a .719 OPS, seven home runs, 16 RBI and four stolen bases in 188 plate appearances. Jung has swung the bat well in September, going 16-for-56 (.286) with three homers, a double and seven RBI. Duran has gone hitless in three career at-bats versus Gausman. The 25-year-old Dominican is a low-upside DFS sleeper in a tough matchup. He has only three homers and 19 RBI in 241 at-bats in 2024. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:34:01
Will Benson Out Again Versus Braves: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson (finger) is out of the lineup again on Thursday versus the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park. Benson injured his left middle finger on Sept. 12 and hasn't played since, but apparently he's feeling better after coming off the bench in the team's last two games. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger will continue to be an outfield bench bat to close out the season. He does have 14 round-trippers on the year and 14 stolen bases in 328 at-bats, but he's hitting just .192 (63-for-328). Benson has played in just seven games in the month of September and has only one hit, an RBI, three walks and five strikeouts in his 13 plate appearances. Since the All-Star break, he's hit .200 (14-for-70) with four homers, four doubles, 10 RBI, nine walks and 30 strikeouts in 79 plate appearances. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:24:03
Brooks Lee On The Bench On Thursday: Minnesota Twins rookie infielder Brooks Lee is back on the bench on Thursday for the contest against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Willi Castro is starting at the 6 and is batting ninth against Guardians rookie left-hander Joey Cantillo. Lee has now been on the bench for the last two games, and with Carlos Correa back from his foot injury, the majority of Lee's playing time will most likely come at second base down the stretch and in the postseason if the Twins lock up a wild-card spot in the American League. The 23-year-old switch-hitter will battle for playing time at the keystone with Edouard Julien and Kyle Farmer as a utility infielder. Lee should definitely be rostered in all dynasty/keeper formats at this point. In his first 152 major-league at-bats in 2024, he's hit .217/.258/.316 with three homers, 25 RBI and three stolen bases. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:10:02
Trevor Story Homers, Swipes Bag On Wednesday: Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Rays. It was the third multi-hit game in the last five for the 31-year-old, although he was hitless in the other two games, and is hitting .286 (10-for-35) with two home runs, four RBI, five runs scored, and four stolen bases since coming off of the IL on September 7. The veteran gave fantasy managers high hopes coming into the season healthy and having a strong spring, but it has been a lost season after missing most of the season with a dislocated shoulder. Hopefully he'll finish on a high note and take that momentum into 2025. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 11:30:04
Freddie Freeman Collects Three Hits, Steals Base In Win: Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Marlins. The 35-year-old now has a mini five-game hit streak going during which he's gone 7-for-19 (.368) with two doubles, a home run, five RBI, six runs scored, a 3:3 BB:K, and a stolen base. It's another strong season overall for the veteran, posting a .283-22-88-81-8 line with a .369 wOBA and 140 wRC+. He'll try to change his luck against Thursday's starter for the Marlins, however, who he is 0-for-6 off of lifetime with a walk and two strikeouts. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 11:26:01
Dylan Cease Shuts Out Astros In 14th Win: San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease took a one-hitter into the ninth inning of Wednesday's 4-0 victory over the Astros, allowing one more hit before being pulled in favor of a lefty-lefty matchup with reliever Tanner Scott against Yordan Alvarez. Cease's final line was no runs on two hits and no walks while striking out five over eight-and-two-thirds innings pitched on the way to earning his 14th win of the season. The 28-year-old now has 16 quality starts in 32 games started this season, posting a strong 3.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 220 strikeouts in 184 1/3 IP (10.7 K/9). He'll take on the Dodgers in his next start with potential division race implications next Wednesday in L.A. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 11:12:01
Manny Machado Homers Twice On Wednesday: San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado hit a pair of solo home runs in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Astros, giving him 29 on the season. One more home run would give him 30 for the third straight season and would be the eighth time in his career. The multi-hit performance marked the third consecutive game with at least two hits and the eighth time in his last 11 games, going 17-for-45 (.378) with six home runs, 18 RBI, and seven runs scored over that stretch. The veteran is a big reason the Padres own the top Wild Card spot and are just 3.5 games behind the Dodgers for the division lead, amassing a .279-29-104-74-9 line with a .346 wOBA and 126 wRC+ on the season. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:55:02
Luisangel Acuna Homers In Second Consecutive Games: New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acuna went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored in Wednesday's 10-0 win over the Nationals. It was the second home run of the 22-year-old's career, homering in back-to-back games now for the big league club. He's shown well so far in limited action, going 7-for-15 (.467) with three extra-base hits, four RBI, and five runs scored. We have yet to see his speed put on display though after stealing 40 bases in 131 games at Triple-A this season before his call-up. He should get at least one more start while Francisco Lindor deals with his back problem, but it remains to be seen if he'll stick with the team once Lindor returns. Acuna's speed could be an asset off the bench in tight games down the stretch as the Mets push for a playoff berth. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:27:00
Bo Bichette Day-To-Day With Finger Contusion: Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was scratched from Wednesday's lineup after taking a ground ball off his middle finger in pregame warmups. The 26-year-old will have x-rays with the results expected Thursday. For now, he's considered day-to-day. The 2x All-Star had just returned from the IL, playing in just one game before this new injury. Bichette was having an uncharacteristically poor season as it was, slashing just .225/.277/.322 with four home runs in 81 games, compared to a career .290/.332/.466 slashline while averaging 24 home runs from 2021-23. Look for an update on his status sometime Thursday prior to the Jays' afternoon matchup with the Rangers. - as of Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:12:01