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Stats

JR Ritchie rocked for six runs in loss to Cubs

JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

Player Stats

JR Ritchie allowed seven hits and six runs with two walks and five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.

Ritchie dealt with a lot of chaos early in this game and was ineffective overall. In the first inning, he walked two batters and gave up a double but got out of that inning with just one run on the board because of a double play and Alex Bregman being thrown out trying to take an extra base. Then he let up a double to start the second, but wriggled out of that jam with two timely strikeouts. Solo home runs from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman followed in the next two frames and a three-run rally in the fifth and Ritchie was yanked then and there. He now has a 5.03 ERA as a rookie and it would be difficult to see the Braves trusting him as part of their playoff staff. Before then, he could get another start against the Reds at home next week given all the uncertainty in Atlanta’s rotation.

- James Schiano

Recap

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Diaz is a 'massive linchpin' in Rays' lineup

Eric Samulski and James Schiano break down why Yandy Diaz is a crucial piece to the Tampa Bay Rays' lineup in this World Series and how he is one of the most underrated hitters in the MLB.

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Lane Thomas

ATL Left Fielder #20

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Lane Thomas (intercostal) has been added to the NLDS roster by Atlanta.

Thomas was dealing with an intercostal strain and left off the Wild Card roster by Atlanta for their series against the Phillies. He, AJ Smith-Shawver and JR Ritchie are the new editions; while Dominic Smith, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Luke Williams have been taken off.
JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

JR Ritchie allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the Marlins on Sunday.

Ritchie’s final start of the season saw him allow seven hits and walks, and he struck out just two. The right-hander went 1-5 on the year with a 4.91 ERA, but there were positives moments for the 23-year-old, and assuming there aren’t drastic changes, there’s a decent chance he’ll be a rotation option for Atlanta in 2027. He’s more dynasty play than redraft next year, but the stuff is good enough that it could lead to a breakout next summer.
JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

JR Ritchie was handed a tough loss after allowing one run in five innings and striking out eight Tuesday against the Reds.

The run came on an Elly De La Cruz homer. Ritchie fell to 1-4 with a 4.79 ERA. He’s probably not in the Braves’ plans for next week’s Wild Card series, so he could make a traditional start against the Marlins on Sunday.
JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

Braves recalled RHP JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett

Ritchie will come up to take Reynaldo Lopez’s spot on the roster and likely start on Wednesday against the Cubs. Ritchie has a 4.50 ERA and a 53/36 K/BB ratio across 58 innings with the Braves this season and would not be a recommended streaming option for this one.
JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

Braves optioned RHP JR Ritchie to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Ritchie has compiled a serviceable 4.50 ERA and 53/36 K/BB ratio across 58 innings at the highest level this season. There isn’t really a spot for him with Atlanta after they picked up a couple arms at the trade deadline.
JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

Braves recall RHP JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett.

As expected, with Reynaldo López (knee) landing on the injured list, the Braves bring back Ritchie with the expectation that he’ll start on Sunday against the Nationals. The 23-year-old hurler has registered a 4.50 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 49/33 K/BB ratio across 54 innings in 13 appearances (seven starts) for the Braves this season.
JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

JR Ritchie will likely be called up to start Sunday for the Braves as a result of Reynaldo López’s knee inflammation.

Ritchie had been scheduled to start for Triple-A Gwinnett tonight, but he was scratched. With Sunday’s scheduled starter, Martín Pérez, instead pitching tonight, Ritchie tomorrow seems like the obvious move.
JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

Braves optioned RHP JR Ritchie to Triple-A Gwinnett.

After a great MLB debut, it’s been a tough rookie season for Ritchie, who now has a 4.50 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 49/33 K/BB ratio in 54 MLB innings. There will likely need to be some pitch mix changes if he’s going to develop into a usable starter for the Braves at the MLB level.
JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

JR Ritchie gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings after relieving Reynaldo López in the fifth inning Tuesday against the Padres.

Ritchie surrendered homers to Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. in the 8-3 loss. He’ll be unavailable for a few days after throwing 68 pitches tonight, so it seems pretty likely that he’ll be the pitcher sent down to make room for Martín Pérez on Wednesday.
JR Ritchie

ATL Starting Pitcher

JR Ritchie worked 4 1/3 innings of one-run baseball in a relief appearance against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Ritchie worked behind opener Danny Young, who was charged for a run while going 2/3 of an inning. Ritchie allowed just one hit after taking over, and he walked two and struck out a pair before exiting before the start of the sixth. The 23-year-old has long-term potential and deserves some plaudits for pitching well enough in this game, but there’s still as much risk as there is reward in his fantasy profile.

Rotoworld

Michael Kelly

FA Relief Pitcher #49
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Free agent Michael Kelly is drawing interest from Japanese teams, says MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

When he wasn’t serving a 162-game suspension for betting on baseball, Kelly was effective for the A’s in 2024 and ’25, amassing a 2.92 ERA in 70 innings between the two season. His 2026 was a total bust, though, and he sat out the second half after being released by the A’s. He’ll almost certainly have to take a minor league deal if he remains in the U.S.
- Matthew Pouliot

Source: Chris Cotillo

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Yordan Alvarez

HOU Designated Hitter #44
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The Astros are hiring Conner Watson as their director of hitting, The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reports.

Not having a GM or a manager isn’t keeping the Astros from adding to their staff. Watson has been an assistant hitting director for the Guardians the last two years.
- Matthew Pouliot

Source: Chandler Rome
Cleveland Guardians
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Liam Hicks

TB Catcher #34
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Liam Hicks (forearm) told reporters that he was fine after being drilled in the forearm by a pitch during Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night.

Hicks was clipped by DL Hall when leading off the sixth inning. He stayed in the game to run the bases for himself and caught another two innings but was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. The 27-year-old backstop ensures that he’ll be available for Game 3 on Monday in Tampa Bay.
- David Shovein

Source: Ben Nicholson-Smith

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Quinn Priester

MIL Starting Pitcher #46
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Brewers’ right-hander Quinn Priester (shoulder) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

The 26-year-old righty underwent decompression surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in June and was initially given a recovery timeline of 8-10 months. He has made solid progress in his recovery though and is now expected to land on the shorter side of that estimate, making it so he could be ready for the start of the 2027 season. While he has done a terrific job for the Brewers when healthy, he’ll face stiff competition for a spot in the club’s rotation to open the 2027 campaign.
- David Shovein

Source: Todd Rosiak

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Pablo López

MIN Starting Pitcher #49
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Pablo López (elbow) is on track to be ready for the start of spring training.

The 30-year-old hurler underwent Tommy John surgery in late February. He has been throwing since late August and should be able to go through a familiar offseason routine. Some inconsistency is always to be expected when pitcher’s return from the procedure, but Lopez could represent a nice value in early fantasy drafts.
- David Shovein

Source: Bobby Nightengale

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Cooper Pratt

MIL Shortstop #87
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Cooper Pratt hit the go-ahead single in the Brewers’ 5'4 win over the Rays in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday.

Pratt’s day got off to a rough start, as he made an error that allowed Yandy Díaz to reach second base and score one of four runs for the Rays in the first inning. It was all Brewers from that point on, and Pratt made up for the gaffe with an opposite-field single that scored Brice Turang in the seventh that gave the Brew Crew a 5-4 lead and ultimately the victory. Pratt has now made four errors and a few other mistakes in the field, but he has hit .286 in the postseason, and he now has Milwaukee two wins away from their first ever championship. Game 3 will take place Monday with the series moving to Tampa Bay.

- Christopher Crawford

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Sal Frelick

MIL Right Fielder #10
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Sal Frelick hit a game-tying solo homer to help the Brewers to a Game 2 World Series victory over the Rays on Saturday.

With the Brewers trailing 4-3, Frelick took left-hander Ian Seymour over the center-field wall to tie the game at 4-4. It was the first homer of the postseason for the outfielder, and he’s driven in four runs while hitting a solid .273/.370/.409 thus far. He’ll likely hit near the bottom of the order again in Game 3 as the Brewers are two wins away from their first ever championship.
- Christopher Crawford

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Liam Hicks

TB Catcher #34
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Liam Hicks hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Brewers on Saturday in Game 2 of the World Series.

Hicks extended the Rays’ lead to 4-0, and it came in the first inning on a two-run homer off Logan Henderson. The Rays wouldn’t score another run, and Hicks was thrown out at home plate on a send that was at best aggressive and at (accurately) worst insane. Hicks has been able to drive in eight runs thus far in the postseason, and he’ll try and add to that total in a must-win game for the Rays on Monday in Game 3.
- Christopher Crawford

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Aaron Ashby

MIL Relief Pitcher #26
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Aaron Ashby worked the final 1 2/3 innings without giving up a run to pick up a save in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday against the Rays.

Ashby got the final two outs in the eighth inning, and the Brewers stuck with the southpaw for the final frame. He did allow a double to Jonny DeLuca to begin that inning, but he fanned Victor Mesa, got Ben Williamson to groundout meekly to second, and struck out Yandy Díaz to end the game. Trevor Megill will likely get a save chance if it’s there in Game 3, but it’s to say that Ashby isn’t the best reliever for the Brewers going right now.
- Christopher Crawford

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Drew Rasmussen

TB Starting Pitcher #57
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Drew Rasmussen didn’t factor into the decision Saturday in his Game 2 of the World Series start against the Rays while allowing three runs over 3 2/3 innings.

Rasmussen was handed a four-run lead in the top half of the first inning, but that was halved when he allowed a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. He gave up another in the third in what was at best a lackluster effort for the 31-year-old; especially when you consider how dominant he’s been in the postseason. He was also hurt by his defense, with Jonathan Aranda dropping a foul ball that ended up coming him an out and run in the first, and what could have been a double-play ball hit to Aranda was booted by the first baseman to allow another run to score. It seems pretty likely that Rasmussen will start again in this series, but whether that happens in Game 5 or 6 remains to be determined.
- Christopher Crawford

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