Matz goes one inning as opener vs. O’s

Max Fried (elbow) will be activated from the injured list prior to the nightcap of Saturday’s twin bill at Yankee Stadium. Beck provides New York’s bullpen with a fresh arm after Cam Schlittler and three relievers combined on a five-hit shutout during Friday’s pivotal series opener.

Lee was back patrolling right field and hitting fifth following a two-game absence due to an elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch earlier this week. He picked up his 11th stolen base of the season and reached safely in two of his four plate appearances. He’s graded out as a reliable top-30 range fantasy outfielder this season, hitting .289/.328/.422 with 61 runs scored, nine homers, 47 RBI and 11 thefts in 497 plate appearances. He’s on track to play nearly a full season for the second straight year after being limited to just 37 games due to injury in his stateside debut back in 2024.

Bichette wound up missing just one game after fouling a ball off his left foot against the Brewers earlier this week. He hasn’t exactly exceeded expectations in his Mets debut, but hasn’t been a total disaster either, slashing .262/.309/.390 with 64 runs scored, 14 homers, 66 RBI and one steals in 572 plate appearances.

Bauers walked three times and reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances after missing three games due to shin splints earlier this week. The unheralded 30-year-old masher has been an unexpectedly solid fantasy contributor, delivering borderline top-10 value among outfielders this season. He’s hit a robust .275/.389/.504 with 78 runs scored, a career-high 23 homers, 75 RBI and 10 steals in 481 plate appearances. Score one for the “old and boring veterans in the late rounds of a draft” strategic approach.

DeLauter has been battling a lingering left hamstring issue that cost him six games over the past two weeks. The 24-year-old rookie is probably going to have to manage the ongoing problem for the final month of the season, but appears likely to avoid the injured list for now.

Rutschman returned to Boston’s lineup following a two-game absence for precautionary reasons due to an elbow issue. Unfortunately, the Red Sox had zero answers (once again) for Yankees emerging ace Cam Schlittler, who combined with three relievers on a five-hit shutout in Friday’s series opener.

Alexander was back in Baltimore’s lineup after missing six weeks with a fractured hand. There’s plenty of competition for at-bats with the Orioles, but he figures to play regularly between several defensive spots against left-handed starters for the final month of the season.

At this point, it’s nearly impossible to predict what comes next for the two-way superstar. Ohtani could potentially take the ball as an opener for Sunday’s series finale against the Tigers, with Tyler Glasnow following in a bulk-relief role, or the Dodgers could push him back to Tuesday’s series opener against the Cardinals. His return to Los Angeles’ rotation feels imminent, even if the exact timing remains murky. There should be some much-needed clarity by the end of the weekend.

Jenkins scalded a 102.3 mph single to right field in the fourth inning after flying out to deep center field in his first at-bat. He also drew a walk in the sixth, reaching safely in two of his four plate appearances. The 21-year-old top prospect, who was selected fifth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, boasts a plethora of fantasy-relevant skills and projects as an immediate five-category contributor heading into the final month of the season, especially with Byron Buxton battling a lingering hip issue. He slashed an impressive .321/.417/.559 with 14 homers and 17 steals in 324 plate appearances at the Triple-A level earlier this season. Jenkins has missed time with various injuries, including a shoulder issue earlier this year, since being drafted. However, he’s the type of impact talent that offers significant fantasy upside. He should be rostered in all leagues until further notice.

Jonathan Bowlan converted the save chance in his place against the Angels. Duran should be day-to-day.