Houston Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco won his 12th game of the season Saturday over the Los Angeles Angels 10-4. Blanco went six strong innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts. The veteran is 12-6 with a 2.88 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and 163 strikeouts in 162 innings. Blanco has three wins in his last seven starts, with a 2.36 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts in 34 innings. He will look to continue his strong season with a start against the Cleveland Guardians this coming week.

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First baseman/outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. and third baseman Matt Chapman each homered twice in the San Francisco Giants' 9-0 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. The homers were the seventh and eighth for Wade Jr. and the 25th and 26th for Chapman. Both players knocked in two runs each. On the season, Wade Jr. is hitting .267 with eight home runs, 33 RBI, two stolen bases, and 44 runs scored. Chapman, who just signed a long-term extension to stay with the team, is hitting .249 with 26 home runs, 75 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 95 runs scored. Wade Jr. and Chapman should be key components for the Giants next season.

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Lefthander Sean Manaea continued his excellent season Saturday with a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Manaea went seven innings, surrendering three earned runs on three hits while nabbing six strikeouts. On the season, the veteran is 12-5 with a 3.29 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and 183 strikeouts in 178 innings. Manaea is a huge reason why the Mets are fighting for a playoff spot as the season winds down to its last week. He should get one more start this season against the Milwaukee Brewers this coming week.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber hit his 36th home run Saturday in a 6-3 loss to the New York Mets. It was his first homer in his last seven games, and his fourth in his last 15 games. On the season, the veteran is hitting .251 with 36 home runs, 99 RBI, five stolen bases and 106 runs scored. The leadoff hitter will look to continue his terrific season in the series finale tomorrow afternoon. Schwarber will look to have a hot final week leading into the playoffs, where the Phillies hope to have a long run into October.

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New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acuna hit his third homer of the season as part of a two-hit game in the Mets' 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday afternoon. Acuna's solo shot came in the second inning off of Phillies' starter Ranger Suarez. The 22-year-old has filled in phenomenally for the Mets as Francisco Lindor recovers from back issues and now is hitting for a 1.292 OPS in 26 AB. The small sample size needs to be considered, but it's given Acuna a chance to potentially be a part of the October roster should the Mets hold onto their wild card lead (currently 2.0 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves). Fantasy managers needing help at shortstop to finish the season should ensure Acuna is on their rosters and DFS managers may want to check for him when needing a cheap option at shortstop. Acuna will have a tough assignment on Sunday against Phillies scheduled starter Zack Wheeler. His at-bats Tuesday-Thursday will be met with much intrigue, though, as his Mets face off in a critically important season against his brother Ronald Acuna Jr.'s Atlanta Braves.

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz had a monster day at the plate on Saturday, racking up three hits and four RBI in the Reds' 7-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. De La Cruz smashed a three run shot off Jared Jones in the fourth inning, his 25th HR of the season. His final statline was 3-5 with four RBI and two runs recorded. The 22-year-old's sophomore season continues to be a stellar one. Though he won't win the NL MVP, he's very likely to receive MVP votes and finish in the top three along with likely winner Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. Fantasy managers have to be thrilled with De La Cruz's 2024 season and should look for more continued success in 2025 from the young superstar. He'll look to continue adding onto his impressive numbers on Sunday when he faces off against the Pirates' stellar rookie Paul Skenes.

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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith is out of the starting lineup for the Dodgers in their Saturday night tilt against the Colorado Rockies. Hunter Feduccia will be taking Smith's spot in his third start of the year, hitting ninth. Smith has gotten a few days off in September and, with the Dodgers having locked up a postseason spot while having a four game lead in the NL West, rest appears to be the priority for the 29-year-old. There is also a platoon advantage for the Dodgers here as Feduccia, a lefty, will face off against Rockies' right-hander Cal Quantrill. Smith has generally been a much better hitter against lefties in 2024. Fantasy managers that need help at the catcher position to finish the season may want to consider adding Feduccia, who is 3-8 with two walks in his short time in the majors. Otherwise expect Smith to be back in the lineup on Sunday against Rockies scheduled starter Antonio Senzatela.

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (forearm) was placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday with right forearm flexor tendinitis, officially ending his 2024 season. Gray stated that he received an MRI yesterday and that, "things are fine," however the decision to place him on the IL revolved more around the fact that the Cardinals' season is essentially over with them being eliminated from playoff contention. As part of the move, the Cardinals recalled RHP Kyle Leahy from Triple-A Memphis. Leahy has spent a bit of time at the major league level with the Cardinals this season, pitching in 47 innings and posting a 4.02 ERA. Fantasy managers in need of relief pitching help to finish the season may want to look his way. As for Gray, Cardinals fans and fantasy managers alike will have to wait for 2025 to see the 34-year-old pitch again.

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Washington Nationals first baseman and outfielder Joey Gallo smashed a three-run home run and went 2-3 with a walk in Washington's 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Gallo's homer was his ninth and he improved his OPS to .622 on the season. It was a positive game in a down season for the lefty, whose .622 OPS would be a career low outside of a 17-game season in 2016. Much of Gallo's 2024 has been marred with injuries, holding him back and limiting his playing time. Even with the missed playing time, this would be his third straight season with an xwOBA below .300, something fantasy managers simply aren't used to seeing. As an unrestricted free agent for the 2025 season, it may not be surprising to see Gallo sign with another team as the Nationals turn their heads to younger guys like Juan Yepez and Andres Chaparro at first base. A change of scenery may not be the worst thing for the 30-year-old as he works to get back to his old ways. He'll look to stay hot for the season's finish when the Nationals face their next righty on Wednesday against Alec Marsh and the Kansas City Royals.

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Washington Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore was solid on Saturday afternoon as he struck out nine Cubs in the Nationals' 5-1 win over Chicago. Gore went seven deep and allowed just one hit as he improved his record to 10-12 on the season. The young lefty now has five straight starts in a row allowing two earned runs or fewer. Gore has been a solid arm for the Nationals as Washington works to continue their rebuild in the NL East. His 160.1 innings pitched mark a career high for him. He's also posted a career best mark with a 3.62 FIP, suggesting that his 4.04 ERA could be even better going forward. Fantasy managers that need starting pitching help in the last week of the season may want to ensure Gore's in their lineups. Dynasty managers need to ensure Gore stays on their roster as the dynamic lefty will have plenty of value going forward. His final start of the 2024 season will come on Saturday when the Nationals host the Philadelphia Phillies.

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San Diego Padres infielder (shoulder) has begun a throwing program but has continued to feel discomfort in his ailing shoulder, according to MLB.com. Kim has still been able to make "light" throws but has still faced a few setbacks when attempting to throw harder. It is still unknown if Kim could return to San Diego before the conclusion of the regular season. Kim hit the injured list in late August with shoulder inflammation. Before the injury, the 28-year-old carried a stellar 12.3% walk rate with a .233/.330/.307 line. He hit 1 1 round-trippers and swiped 22 bags. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Kim on their bench in case Kim can return during the final week of the regular season. However, the team may opt to keep Kim sidelined until the playoffs.

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Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo (hamstring) could return from the injured list as early as September 23. The team remains optimistic their 31-year-old ace could be activated after a minimum stay on the 15-day injured list. Castillo hit the IL with a hamstring strain on September 10. Manager Dan Wilson did not express much detail about his progression, but seeing that the team remains optimistic is a promising sign. Before the injury, Castillo held a 3.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 47:175 BB:K ratio across 175 1/3 innings of work this summer with an 11-12 record. If Castillo returns next week, fantasy managers should expect right-hander Emerson Hancock to drop out of the rotation.

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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer (undisclosed) will not pitch Saturday evening, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The veteran was scheduled to get the starting nod against the Seattle Mariners this evening but will cede duties to Dane Dunning instead. Grant reports that the move seems to be injury-related, but there are no clear details yet. Fantasy managers should look on the waiver wire this weekend to find a replacement for Scherzer in case he is unable to pitch during the final week. The 40-year-old has dealt with numerous shoulder injuries this summer and has logged only 43 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.95 and a 1.15 WHIP. Dunning is worth a look as a streaming option and in DFS this evening, as the Mariners are holding a cumulative 25.8% K rate against right-handers this season.

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Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (shoulder) was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with left-shoulder inflammation. This will sideline the start corner infielder for the remainder of the 2024 season. The Red Sox promoted infielder Mickey Gasper from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Fantasy managers should expect Nick Sogard and Romy Gonzalez to cover the hot corner during the final week of the season. The 27-year-old will finish the campaign with a strong .272/.354/.516 line, 28 home runs, 83 RBI, and three stolen bases. Under the hood, Devers posted a 52.6% hard-hit and 13.0% barrel rates, which are among the highest marks in the sport. Devers should be expected to be drafted as one of the top third basemen in drafts next spring.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (back) will go through a full series of baseball activities on Saturday and is targeting a potential return on Tuesday when the Mets travel to Atlanta. This is an excellent sign for the MVP candidate, who has been sidelined throughout the week due to back pain. As a result, prospect Luisangel Acuna has filled in at shortstop and has held his own by hitting two home runs with a .375 AVG this past week. Lindor has enjoyed a stellar summer as he sits with a strong .271/.342/.494 slash line, 31 home runs, and 27 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Mets starting nine on Tuesday, as Lindor could return in the first game of a three-game set with significant playoff implications.

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Chicago Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes (wrist) was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to a left wrist contusion, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. The 25-year-old was scheduled to return to the Cubs lineup after sitting out on Friday afternoon but will need at least another day to rest. As a result, Luis Vazquez will cover the hot corner and bat in the nine-hole. Since joining the Northside at the trade deadline, Paredes has held an underwhelming .212/.317/.301 line with just three home runs and five doubles across a 45-game stint. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Paredes' status before Sunday's game. If the former Tampa Bay Ray remains sidelined, Vazquez and Patrick Wisdom should see an uptick in opportunities. Vazquez will face Washington southpaw MacKenzie Gore this afternoon and should be faded in all DFS formats.

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Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (shoulder) logged a clean frame on Friday evening in his return to the bump. The 36-year-old was battling a minor shoulder injury and has only pitched twice this week. However, seeing him return to his typical ninth-inning role on Friday is a promising sign that he is past this injury. Fantasy managers should expect the former Dodger to be called upon as a high-leverage option out of the Red Sox during the final week of the season. Through 53 2/3 innings this summer, the right-hander has held a 3.35 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 20:61 BB:K ratio. He has tallied 27 saves. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable relying on the veteran to see save opportunities during the final week of the 2024 season.

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Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams was demoted to Triple-A Rochester earlier on Saturday due to off-field actions. Jim Bowden of CBS Sports reported that Abrams was seen at Bally Casino past 8 am before a 1 pm game, according to multiple eyewitnesses. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring this situation over the season's final week and during the offseason, as the team did not approve of his behavior. Since the start of September, the infielder has held a .271/.308/.458 line with two home runs and four stolen bases. Overall, in his second full season in the big leagues, the 23-year-old has emerged as both a power and speed threat as he hit 20 long balls and swiped 31 bags while holding a .246 AVG. The former first-round pick will likely be one of the first shortstops taken in drafts next season due to his ability to contribute to all five standard categories.

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Washington Nationals second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (wrist) is back in the starting nine on Saturday afternoon as the Nationals continue a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs. The infielder has been sidelined for the past two games due to a wrist injury. He will return on Saturday but will serve as the designated hitter and bat in the three-hole. Fantasy managers should expect the 24-year-old to return to the infield very soon. Before the minor injury, Garcia was in the midst of a slump through September, holding a .175/.233/.300 line with just three extra-base hits. Throughout the summer, Garcia has posted a strong .280 AVG with 16 home runs and 21 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should feel confident starting him this afternoon as he will face Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks who carries a hefty 6.25 ERA.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young (shoulder) remains sidelined on Saturday as the Nationals continue a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs. The 25-year-old was held out of the starting nine on Friday afternoon due to a shoulder injury. Fantasy managers should consider the young outfielder day-to-day for the time being. Young has showcased his speed throughout his sophomore campaign this summer, stealing 32 bags. As a result, top prospect Dylan Crews will shift over to center field on Saturday and bat in the leadoff spot. Crews has held a mere .225/.244/.250 line across his past ten games but has a great opportunity against Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks to get back on track as Hendricks carries a high 6.25 ERA.

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