MLB Player News

Pujols had a terrific second half this season in St. Louis en route to joining the highly exclusive 700 home run club, but he’ll go forward with the plan to hang up his cleats for good. The 42-year-old -- 43 in January -- finishes with 3,384 hits, 703 homers, 2,218 RBI, and a lifetime .296/.374/.544 batting line across 22 major league seasons. He was an 11-time All-Star, a three-time NL MVP, and he won two World Series rings (2006, 2011) during his prime years with the Cardinals. Cooperstown awaits.

Freeman’s home run was his 22nd of the year. He hit a three-run shot off Aaron Bummer in the seventh inning. Freeman is 10-for-46 (.217) with three home runs and nine RBI in 14 games in September. He’s hitting .280 with an .860 OPS and 87 RBI on the season.

Fried gave up two hits, walked three and struck out seven. He bounced back nicely in a tough matchup after allowing 11 hits in his last start. He’s won just two of his last 12 starts. Fried is 9-10 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 151 strikeouts in 159 2/3 innings on the year. The 30-year-old left-hander is set to face the Marlins on the road this weekend.

Alcala had one horrible outing last month in which he gave up five runs to the Rangers, but he’s been really good for the most part; he has 16 holds and a 3.46 ERA on the season. He deserves better than this, but such is the curse of having option years.

Tovar got the Rockies on the board with a solo homer off Merrill Kelly in the sixth inning. The 23-year-old has homered three times in what has been a disappointing September, but he does now have a solid 24 homers on the year. This has been an uneven year to say the least for Tovar, but more than enough good to suggest he’s on his way to being a strong fantasy option for the next several years.

Kelly didn’t look bothered by his hamstring at all, which is good. So is allowing just one run over six innings. What’s not good is having your offense score only two runs for you, and your bullpen blowing the lead you left with an inning later. Still, a very solid start for Kelly where he allows just two hits and strikes out five against two walks. It lowers his ERA to 4.00, and he’ll look to lower it some more against the Brewers over the weekend.

This was Senzatela’s first time on the mound for the Rockies since May 10 of last year, and it didn’t start very well. He gave up a single to Corbin Carroll and a 460-foot bomb to Ketel Marte, but the 29-year-old was able to settle down and get through the rest of the start scoreless. Senzatela was once an intriguing streamer when he wasn’t pitching in Coors Field, but fantasy managers obviously shouldn’t trust him in any outings in 2024.

Yamamoto gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three. He’s yet to give up an earned run in two starts since returning from a shoulder injury. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, he’s pitched only four innings in each start. Yamamoto’s first major league season has been a bust considering his preseason ADP, but only because he got hurt. He’s 6-2 with a 2.63 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 82 innings over 16 starts this year. The 26-year-old right-hander is set to face the Rockies at home this weekend.

Wood’s stolen base was his 13th of the season. He’s hitting .273 with seven home runs and 36 stolen bases in 249 at-bats this year. Wood isn’t a finished product given his lack of pulled fly balls and he’s been caught stealing seven times. He’s just scratching the surface of what can be an excellent fantasy ceiling.