• Nolan Jones sits out Thursday with back issue
    Nolan Jones (back) remained out of the lineup for Thursday’s series finale against the Padres.

    Advice: It seems like Jones will be ready to return for this weekend’s highly-anticipated series against the Astros in Mexico City after sitting out a pair of contests against the Padres following an early exit from Tuesday’s game due to back stiffness. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. There should be some clarity on his status at some point later this week. Rotoworld 26 minutes ago
    Nolan JonesCOL - 1B,OF
    W, 10-9 vs SD
     
  • Freddie Freeman scalds RBI double in Dodgers’ win
    Freddie Freeman went 2-for-3 with an RBI double on Thursday, lifting the Dodgers to a 2-1 victory over the Nationals.

    Advice: Freeman has flown a bit under the radar with Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani justifiably stealing the early-season spotlight. However, his latest multi-hit performance puts his batting average back above the .300 mark for the first time this season. The 34-year-old fantasy stalwart has shown zero signs of slowing down at this stage of his career and remains an elite four-category contributor also capable of chipping in the occasional stolen base. Rotoworld 32 minutes ago
     
  • Joey Meneses posts three hits, RBI in losing effort
    Joey Meneses went 3-for-4 with an RBI on Thursday in the Nationals’ loss to the Dodgers.

    Advice: Meneses was one of the few bright spots for the Nationals in a low-scoring series finale against Los Angeles. The unheralded 31-year-old slugger’s eighth-inning single off veteran reliever Daniel Hudson was responsible for Washington’s lone run of the contest. Rotoworld 35 minutes ago
    Joey MenesesWSH - 1B
    L, 1-2 vs LAD
     
  • Mookie Betts tallies two hits, steals base in win
    Mookie Betts went 2-for-3 with his sixth stolen base of the season on Thursday in the Dodgers’ win over the Nationals.

    Advice: Betts continues to serve as Los Angeles’ primary offensive catalyst, which is even more unbelievable considering he’s playing shortstop everyday for the first time in his professional career. It’s unreal. The 31-year-old fantasy superstar’s latest multi-hit effort raises his batting average to a sublime .374 (40-for-107) mark to go along with 27 runs scored, six homers, 21 RBI and six steals through 27 games. Rotoworld 37 minutes ago
    Mookie BettsLAD - 2B,SS,OF
    W, 2-1 @WSH
     
  • Evan Phillips nets seventh save Thursday vs. Nats
    Evan Phillips struck out two in a perfect ninth inning on Thursday against the Nationals to record his seventh save of the season.

    Advice: Phillips was called upon to guard a one-run lead in the ninth inning and needed just 14 pitches (10 strikes) to slam the door for the second time in the brief three-game series. The 29-year-old righty has converted each of his seven save opportunities this season to go along with a microscopic 0.84 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 13/4 K/BB ratio across 10 2/3 innings (11 appearances). Rotoworld 39 minutes ago
  • MacKenzie Gore allows one run in loss to Dodgers
    MacKenzie Gore yielded one run over six innings on Thursday in a loss to the Dodgers.

    Advice: Gore coaxed an impressive 17 swinging strikes, but it only led to four strikeouts and a pedestrian 27 percent CSW. He gave up only seven hits as a second-inning solo shot by Teoscar Hernández represented the lone tally against him in this one. Yet, it was still enough to hand him a loss as Washington’s offense mustered only one run on seven hits combined. He’ll bring a respectable 3.12 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 38/8 K/BB ratio across 26 innings (five starts) into a challenging road matchup on Tuesday against the defending World Series champion Rangers. Rotoworld 44 minutes ago
     
  • Nabs another start Sunday
    Elder is slated to start Sunday's game against the Guardians in Atlanta.

    Advice: Elder staged a successful 2024 MLB debut Monday, holding the Marlins scoreless over 6.2 innings while striking out four and allowing nine baserunners in a winning effort. He joined the Atlanta rotation as a replacement for Darius Vines and should have some staying power with the big club due to Spencer Strider (elbow) being out for the season. Elder compiled a 3.81 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 128:63 K:BB across 174.2 innings with Atlanta in 2023. Rotowire.com 53 minutes ago
  • Being optioned
    The Astros are optioning France to Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of their trip to Mexico City on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: France is being optioned to clear a spot for Framber Valdez, who will start Sunday. In France's last outing Tuesday, he took the loss while allowing five runs on five hits and four walks over five innings against the Cubs. The 29-year-old has now given up multiple home runs in consecutive starts. The move prompts questions about how the Astros rotation lines up going forward. Rotowire.com Today, 3:30 pm
  • Report: Astros demoting J.P. France to Triple-A
    The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reports the Astros plan to demote J.P. France to Triple-A Sugar Land.

    Advice: Nothing official yet, but France appears headed back to the minors with ace Framber Valdez set to return for Sunday’s showdown against the Rockies in Mexico City. The 29-year-old righty holds an inflated 7.46 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 22/12 K/BB ratio across 25 1/3 innings (five starts). The real surprise here isn’t that France is getting demoted, but that top pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti appears to be sticking around, despite his initial struggles at the highest level. Rotoworld Today, 3:27 pm