MLB Player News

The 34-year-old was released by the Royals earlier in the week, but it didn’t take him long to find a new opportunity. Given their track record, they’ll probably turn him back into a viable late-inning reliever at the big-league level before the regular season is through.

Clase will take the spot of Bo Bichette, who landed back on the IL with a fractured finger. The 22-year-old speedster could see starts in center field with Daulton Varsho also hurt and his speed would be a major factor in fantasy leagues, so this is a situation to monitor.

It’s a tough break for Bichette, who was just activated from the IL on Tuesday and then immediately got hurt again. Perhaps we can chalk this up to a lost season for the 26-year-old but his stolen base outputs have been trending down for multiple years and his aggressive approach at the plate has led to declining power production as well. He could be a great value in 2025 drafts if he is able to rebound, but it’s hard to feel confident taking him in the early rounds of drafts anymore.

It’s not a surprise considering Urías is coming back from a sprained ankle and Westburg is coming back from a fractured right hand. Hyde mentioned that both players will need “multiple games before returning” to the Orioles’ lineup, but fantasy managers in weekly waiver leagues could find some value in adding either player on Sunday night since it seems like they should be back at some point next week.

Mountcastle was placed on the IL on August 26th and has struggled to get over the hump in his recovery. However, things seem to be turning the corner for the 27-year-old, who could return to the Orioles lineup sometime next week. It may be too late for fantasy managers, but the Orioles will certainly welcome it.

It was trending this way after Holmes entered the rotation for an injured Reynaldo Lopez on Tuesday; however, it’s nice to see it now be confirmed. Holmes was limited to just four innings against the Reds as he begins to stretch back out into a starter’s workload, but he should be able to go at least five innings this weekend, which gives him a good chance to earn a win in a plus matchup. He’s firmly back on the streaming radar.

That’s now four straight starts for Laureano, who seems to have taken the left field job back from Jarred Kelenic after the Braves, somewhat questionably, decided to give Kelenic another stretch as the starter to begin the month. Laureano is hitting .309 in 44 games since the All-Star break with six home runs, 18 runs, 18 RBI, and four steals. If you dropped him when it seemed like he had been relegated to the bench, you should go ahead and add him again.

This is the second straight start for Noel against a right-handed pitcher with Will Brennan seemingly starting to slide to a bench role. It’s an odd choice since Brennan has gone 10-for-29 (.345) in 11 games in September while Noel is hitting just .114 in 13 games in September and went 0-for-3 last night with two strikeouts. Perhaps the Guardians see something in the matchup with Simeon Woods Richardson that they feel favors Big Christmas.

Since being recalled from Triple-A on Wednesday, Schmitt has started two straight games at third base with Brett Wisely shifting to the bench, which is notable since both games have come against right-handed pitchers and Wisely bats left-handed. Schmitt has hit just .213 with five home runs in 89 at-bats at the MLB level this year but was slashing .274/.343/.469 in 74 games at Triple-A with 13 home runs and 11 steals. He could provide some deep league value in the final week if he keeps the job.

It appears to be a routine day off for Ramos, who has struggled since the All-Star break, hitting .229 with 58 strikeouts in 53 games. He does have seven home runs and four steals over that span, so he hasn’t been giving you nothing, but he has not been worth putting in lineups in most fantasy leagues. Michael Conforto will slide to left field with Jerar Encarnacion in the lineup at designated hitter.

Rosario has filled a short-side platoon role since signing with Cincinnati, so he will get the start against left-hander Chris Sale while Jake Fraley heads to the bench.