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    Strahm allows walkoff grand slam to Clemens

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    KC Relief Pitcher #25
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    Matt Strahm allowed a walkoff grand slam to Kody Clemens on Thursday, raising his season ERA to 7.01.

    It is notable that the Royals didn’t turn to nominal closer Alex Lange in a save situation after he blew Tuesday’s game. It didn’t work out very well for Matt Quatraro, who had Lucas Erceg load the bases while getting two outs in a 3-0 game and then had Strahm unload them. It’s hard to be confident about any closer emerging here down the stretch, though it’s a bit surprising they haven’t at least dabbled with Daniel Lynch IV in the role since he’s the only Royals reliever who has been appreciably good this year.
Cubs stars struggle mightily in Wild Card round
James Schiano reviews the "disappointing" showing from the top of the Cubs lineup after getting swept by the Padres in the Wild Card round, particularly Pete Crow-Armstrong's

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  • KC Relief Pitcher #60
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    Erceg was demoted to Triple-A back on August 18th after a rough few weeks. He posted a 1.74 ERA and 13/3 K/BB ratio in 10 1/3 innings in Triple-A, so perhaps he figured something out. We still wouldn’t trust him for fantasy.
  • FA Relief Pitcher #25
    Strahm sustained the injury during the World Baseball Classic and tried to pitch through it during his time with the Royals, struggling to a 7.32 ERA over 41 appearances. He’s expected to be fully recovered for the start of the 2027 season. When healthy, Strahm has proven to be a capable setup man, which should give him plenty of suitors on the open market over the winter.
  • KC Relief Pitcher #60
    It’s been quite a fall from grace for Erceg, who still leads the Royals with 12 saves despite being removed from the closer’s role two months ago after blowing four saves in five chances. His fastball velocity has fallen in each of the last two seasons and he’ll head to Triple-A Omaha with an ugly 6.23 ERA, 31 strikeouts, and 29 walks across 43 1/3 innings.
  • FA Relief Pitcher #25
    The 34-year-old southpaw had been designated for assignment earlier in the week and passed through waivers unclaimed. A reliable setup option in years past, Strahm struggled to a 7.32 ERA over 41 appearances with the Royals this season. Given the lack of quality left-handed bullpen options around the league, it shouldn’t be hard for Strahm to find another opportunity where a team thinks they can fix what’s causing his struggles this season.
  • KC Relief Pitcher #64
    There were some long at-bats, but Cruz managed to work a clean ninth inning for his third save of the season. All three of those saves have come in the last two weeks and he seems to have unseated Alex Lange for closing duties in Kansas City. Cruz seems up for the task with a 100 mph fastball and cutter that has some serious bite to it.
  • KC Relief Pitcher #25
    The signs were there last year that Strahm was slipping, which is why the Royals were able to get him from the Phillies for Jonathan Bowlan, but the magnitude of his collapse is still stunning. He went from posting a 2.71 ERA the last three years to 7.32 in 41 appearances this season. There will be teams interested in taking a chance on him once he clears waivers, but if anyone was willing to take on the remainder of his $7.5 million salary, that would have happened prior to Monday’s deadline.
  • KC Relief Pitcher #56
    The Royals took a 2-1 lead into the ninth, but that was eliminated when Royce Lewis tripled high off the right-center wall off Lange with a pair on. That’s the third blown save for Lange, and his ERA is now an inflated 6.33 on the season. That’s also the third blown save in five changes for Lange, and it’s possible the Royals could look to make a change in who gets the ninth.
  • KC Relief Pitcher #64
    Cruz’s ERA is 4.62, which isn’t great. Matt Strahm (6.75), Lucas Erceg (5.26) and Alex Lange (6.00) do make it look better by comparison. Lange got the save on Saturday. Cruz struck out two batters Sunday, including winning a battle with Riley Greene to end the game. Cruz has a legitimate claim to being the best closing option for the Royals and at worst he should be considered next in line behind Lange.
  • KC Relief Pitcher #56
    Detroit’s former closer came back to haunt his old club, working around a pair of singles to spin a scoreless frame and protect a one-run advantage. It was his 10th save of the season and his first double-digit save total since recording 26 saves for the Tigers back in 2023.
  • KC Relief Pitcher #56
    Lange issued a one-out walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but there was never any real danger. Lange struck out two in the inning and earned his ninth save of the season. It was a much-needed bounce-back outing after Lange blew his last two saves. The right-hander has command issues and a 6.15 ERA, which makes it tough to trust him in fantasy leagues.

Rotoworld

  • SD 1st Baseman #30
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    Gavin Sheets was a late addition to the Padres’ starting lineup for Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday, replacing Ethan Salas.

    There’s nothing wrong with Salas, Padres’ skipper Craig Stammen simply had a change of heart and wanted to use Sheets instead. Sheets will step right into Salas’ spot in the lineup, batting sixth and serving as the club’s designated hitter.
  • ATL Relief Pitcher #58
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    Ray Kerr will work as an opener for the Braves in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Sunday.

    Kerr did an exceptional job in that role in a must-win situation in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Phillies, allowing just one hit and one walk over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. The expectation is that once again Grant Holmes will follow him in a bulk role, though that has not been confirmed yet.
  • NYY Right Fielder #99
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    Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone noted that Aaron Judge (calf) was scheduled to run and take live batting practice on Sunday.

    Judge continues to work his way back from a calf strain that has shelved him since September 16. While he wasn’t ready for the start of the ALDS, there’s growing optimism that he could be ready to go for the ALCS should the Yankees advance past the Rays.
  • CWS Relief Pitcher #18
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    White Sox’ manager Will Venable announced Sunday that Anthony Kay will start in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Guardians.

    Venable also noted that Sean Burke will work behind Kay in a bulk role. Kay threw 22 pitches over 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in Game 1, so he shouldn’t be expected to work more than an inning or two before giving way to Burke on Monday.
  • SD Starting Pitcher #27
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    Padres’ skipper Craig Stammen announced Sunday that Nick Pivetta will start in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Brewers.

    That had been the expectation all along with Robbie Ray and Michael King working in the first two games, but it’s now official. Depending on the outcome of Sunday’s game, it’s possible that Pivetta could be pitching for the Padres’ postseason life when he takes the mound against the Brewers on Tuesday evening in San Diego.
  • MIL Starting Pitcher #21
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    Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy announced that Dustin May will start Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres.

    Murphy noted that aside from his postseason experience and his success against the Padres this season, the Brewers specifically “brought him in to do that”. He’ll start opposite of Padres’ right-hander Nick Pivetta when the series shifts to San Diego on Tuesday evening.
  • MIL Right Fielder #10
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    Sal Frelick and David Hamilton will enter the starting lineup for the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Padres on Sunday afternoon.

    Frelick and Hamilton sat in favor of Luis Lara and Joey Ortiz with a left-hander on the mound for the Padres in Game 1 on Saturday, but they’ll jump into the lineup against right-hander Michael King. The Brewers have also shuffled up the order of their lineup. Here’s the full lineup: Jackson Chourio (LF), Brice Turang (2B), Jake Bauers (1B), William Contreras (C), Garrett Mitchell (CF), Christian Yelich (DH), Frelick (RF), Cooper Pratt (SS) and Hamilton (3B).
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    Ethan Salas will start as the Padres’ designated hitter and will bat sixth in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Brewers on Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee.

    The Padres are rolling with the same starting nine that they did in Game 1, the only change is that Salas and Xander Bogaerts have swapped lineup spots and Luis Campusano will do the catching with Salas serving as the DH. Here’s how they’ll line up against Brewers’ right-hander Logan Henderson on Sunday: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Salas (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Luis Campusano (C) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).
  • FA 3rd Baseman #37
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    Jonah Bride has elected free agency.

    The 30-year-old infielder will get a head start on free agency. Bride appeared in just two games with the Rangers during the 2026 season, going 1-for-5 in his limited action. At Triple-A Round Rock, he slashed a solid .279/.406/.410 with 10 homers and 78 RBI in 545 plate appearances.
  • FA Left Fielder #8
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    Drew Waters has elected free agency.

    Waters was sent outright to Triple-A Omaha in early September by the Royals. He spent the entire season at the Triple-A level, slashing .262/.323/.446 with 14 homers, 54 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 439 plate appearances. He has proven to be quality outfield depth and shouldn’t have any difficulty finding a new home this offseason.