MLB Player News

Posey alluded to utilizing incumbent shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald in a versatile multi-position role instead of locking him in as San Francisco’s everyday shortstop next year. The 27-year-old rookie faded down the home stretch after exploding onto fantasy radar screens right around midseason, finishing with an .831 OPS along with 15 homers and 17 steals across 341 plate appearances. He projects as a borderline top 20 shortstop for fantasy managers heading into next season given his power/speed combination, but it’s worth noting there’s some legitimate risk the batting average department given his propensity to strike out and pedestrian exit velocities.

Acuña has caught fire down the home stretch following a prolonged slump coming out of the All-Star break, homering four times in his last 11 games. The 27-year-old generational talent took Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore deep in the opening frame and wound up reaching base safely in four of his six plate appearances in the one-sided affair. He’s looked like a fantasy superstar again of late, batting an absurd .346 (18-for-52) with four homers, 13 RBI and two steals over his last 15 games.

Nuñez walloped his first career leadoff homer when he took Atlanta ace Chris Sale deep to right field. It was his fourth round-tripper since returning to the big leagues back in early September. He came a few feet shy of his second big fly on the night a couple frames later and finished the one-sided affair with a season-high three hits, reaching base safely in four of his five plate appearances. He’s shown enough down the home stretch to be considered a serious contender for an everyday role next spring.

Harris kicked off an impressive three-hit performance with a 109-mph line-drive to right field that brought home Ha-Seong Kim from second base in the second inning. He scorched a run-scoring single as part of Atlanta’s five-run outburst in the ensuing frame. He wasn’t done yet as he drove in another run on a fielder’s choice in the fourth before adding a sixth-inning single. The three steals matched his previous career-high mark set back on July 16, 2022 during his stellar rookie campaign. It also puts him one theft shy of reaching the 20-steal threshold for the third time in the last four seasons.

It’s extremely rare to see a save credited in a contest where one side led by nearly a touchdown for most of it, but Suarez will get the second one of his career after scattering five hits over three shutout frames. The 27-year-old lefty has looked rejuvenated with a change of scenery, posting a strong 1.96 ERA across 18 1/3 innings over six appearances for Atlanta since coming over from the Angels back in March.

Sale received a touchdown and a two-point conversion worth of run support from Atlanta’s offense by the fifth inning and was cruising along, despite coughing up early solo homers to Nasim Nuñez and Dylan Crews, before Andrés Chaparro delivered a bases-clearing three-run single with two outs in the frame that slashed the deficit to three runs at the time. He managed to wriggle out of the jam without any further damage, finishing with six strikeouts and two walks in the shortened outing. He’ll close out the season on Sunday with a home matchup against the offensively challenged Pirates.

Gore served up a first-inning solo homer to Ronald Acuña Jr. and things only went downhill from there in the abbreviated outing as Atlanta tacked on another run in the second before chasing him from the contest in the ensuing frame after just 71 pitches (48 strikes). The 26-year-old southpaw battled some serious control issues in this one, handing out four free passes, and only notched three strikeouts. The unexpected implosion breaks up a decent late-season stretch for Gore since returning from the injured list back in early September. He’ll attempt to close out the season on a high note when he faces the White Sox on Sunday afternoon.

Pearson’s time in Chicago is over after he posted a lackluster 5.05 ERA across 41 innings of work in 30 appearances over the last two seasons. The 29-year-old former top pitching prospect was never able to make it work after converting to a full-time relief role. However, it’s possible there’s still an organization out there willing to bring him in this offseason as a reclamation project.

Harris will compete for a spot in Boston’s season-opening bullpen next spring after posting a respectable 4.15 ERA across 39 innings (31 appearances) this season for Triple-A Worcester. The 32-year-old righty last appeared in the big leagues during the 2023 campaign when he made 16 relief appearances for the Nationals.

Albies was diagnosed with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand following an awkward swing in the third inning of Monday’s game at Truist Park. It’s his second major left-hand injury in as many seasons after fracturing his wrist last July. Hamate fractures are notorious for sapping power, raising concern for Albies heading into next season given how much of his fantasy value comes from over-the-fence pop. Another looming question is whether surgery will influence Atlanta’s impending decision on his $7 million club option for 2026.

It’s a bit unclear whether Lowder is joining Cincinnati’s pitching mix since he was scratched from last Friday’s minor league rehab start due to a shoulder issue that prompted an MRI that didn’t reveal any structural damage. The 23-year-old prospect, who was selected seventh overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, has missed the entire season with elbow discomfort and an oblique strain. There should be some clarity on his future at some point ahead of Tuesday’s pivotal series opener against the Pirates.