MLB Player News

Rivera, who is 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI in the Fall Classic, in place of veteran Evan Longoria, who has gone 2-for-8 with an RBI so far, at the hot corner represents the lone change for the Diamondbacks as they square off against left-hander Andrew Heaney to open Game 4 on Tuesday evening in Arizona. Here’s the full lineup. Ketel Marte (2B), Corbin Carroll (RF), Gabriel Moreno (C), Christian Walker (1B), Tommy Pham (DH), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (LF), Alek Thomas (CF), Rivera (3B) and Geraldo Perdomo (SS).

Antonacci made the transition to left field look fairly seamless at Triple-A Charlotte this season, but he’ll make his big-league debut at his natural defensive home, while also batting in the middle of Chicago’s lineup. The versatile 23-year-old has flashed some emerging over-the-fence power over the last few weeks which he pairs with some of the strongest plate skills and hit tool in the minors. He’s at least worthy of a speculative roster spot in all fantasy formats.

Both Morillo and Paul Sewald pitched on Tuesday, and Morillo actually threw more pitches, but the Diamondbacks went with him to close the door in extra innings here. We wouldn’t read into this. It’s likely just an opportunity to give Sewald, who has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, an extra day off. Sewald remains the league leader in saves, but it’s nice to know that it would likely be Morillo who gets a shot if Sewald were to be sidelined.

In the top of the 10th inning, Del Castillo launched a 420-foot shot at 103.3 mph off the bat to give the Diamondbacks a three-run cushion. It was his first home run of the season, but Del Castillo has just found himself in a starting job with Gabriel Moreno (oblique) landing on the injured list. We know Del Castillo has big-time power, and he could be of interest in two-catcher formats while Moreno is sidelined.

Jackson launched a 387-foot home run off of Eduardo Rodriguez at 110.4 mph off the bat for his fifth home run of the season. He’s now slashing .340/.345/.604 with 14 RBI and has emerged as a full-time player for Baltimore. With Coby Mayo struggling and Jackson Holliday (wrist) still working his way back from offseason surgery, Jackson seems likely to remain in the starting lineup and should be rostered in pretty much all formats while he’s swinging it this well.

He also walked four and struck out three while posting just a five percent whiff rate. Rodriguez had looked good in his first three starts, but even then, he had just an 8.8 percent swinging strike rate. He was always primed for regression. However, he should remain on the streaming radar next week against the White Sox.

Bradish wasn’t great in this one, striking out four and walking one while posting a 23 percent whiff rate. However, he did throw 66 percent of his pitches for strikes, and two of the runs that he allowed came on a well-hit fly ball to left field that hit off the glove of Weston Wilson. The play was originally ruled an error and then was changed to a hit, which seems friendly to Wilson, who was making his first start in left field, since he got to the ball in the corner and had it hit off his glove without having to stretch too far for it. That would have made the line look much better. Bradish also started this game sitting 97.8 mph on his sinker and 96.2 mph on his four-seamer, but regressed significantly as the game went on. It seems like he is still finding his rhythm, but he can be trusted next week against the Royals.

Nuñez has seven steals in 15 games, which is great. He’s also slashing .192/.276/.212 in 58 plate appearances. His defense at second base has been good enough that he will continue to get a chance to start, but if he doesn’t start hitting soon, the Nationals may start shifting him to a pinch runner and defensive replacement. Jorbit Vivas will start at second base and bat seventh with Brady House at third base, Luis Garcia at DH, and Curtis Mead at first base.

Dingler is off to a strong start, slashing .271/.364/.500 with three home runs and 12 RBI. He also has a 55 percent hard-hit rate with a 92 mph average exit velocity that is up two mph from what he posted last year. It’s a small sample size, but Dingler is firmly on the radar in one-catcher leagues. Jake Rogers will catch and bat ninth.

Bohm has struggled to start the season, slashing .153/.227/.220 with one home run and 10 RBI in 66 plate appearances. What’s more, he is one of five qualified hitters who have not pulled a single ball in the air this season. He’s making plenty of contact, but he’s going to need to make a change to the type of contact he’s making if he’s going to be on fantasy radars.

Crews took a rehabbing Trey Yesavage deep in the first inning for his second home run of the season. Crews is now hitting .263 with two home runs, nine RBI, 11 runs scored, and four steals in 15 Triple-A games. He should get another chance in Washington’s outfield this summer.