Nick

Allen

Less-than-ideal news. Peña will miss the World Baseball Classic based on this timeline. It does still give him a chance to be ready for Opening Day, but it’s of course possible that he misses more time than this based on the fact that they’re planning a later reevaluation. Nick Allen profiles as the Peña fill-in at shortstop on paper for the Astros if Peña misses the start of the season, and Allen won’t hack it as a fantasy option. It’s also possible that Carlos Correa could shift to shortstop in the short term and get Isaac Paredes in the lineup as a regular, though Correa has indicated that he’s trained only to play third base.

Allen was acquired for Mauricio Dubón back in November and figures to serve as a defensive replacement and utility backup infielder in Houston next season.

Allen was the starting shortstop for Atlanta in 2025, and while he posted just a .535 OPS in that season, he was one of the best defenders up the middle. The 27-year-old could be the starting second baseman for Houston in 2026, and he along with Jeremy Peña would be as good of double-play combination — defensively — as there is. It helps the Astros’ defense, but there’s zero fantasy value in Allen’s game.

With Ozzie Albies (hamate) out for the season, Atlanta seems to be settling on a platoon at second base. Brett Wisely will start against right-handed pitchers, and Nick Allen will start against lefties. Neither should be trust in fantasy leagues.

Kim was on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation when he was placed on waivers by the Rays. The Braves claimed him on Monday and now have put him on the active roster. Kim is expected to replace Nick Allen as the team’s starting shortstop, assuming his health allows it.

The Rays wanted out from under the $16 million Kim is owed in the form of a player option next season, because of course they did. The Braves are rolling the dice on Kim’s albatross contract in the hopes that he bounces back a full year removed from shoulder surgery. If Kim stays put, he’ll presumably be their shortstop next year. He’s currently on the 10-day injured list with back inflammation, but he’s expected back soon. Nick Allen presumably will turn into a bench player once that happens.

Harris went 8-for-24 last week, so this seems like a rather odd time to drop him below Nick Allen in the lineup. It must be because the Braves are hoping to have more runners on for Ronald Acuña Jr. at the top of the lineup. Allen, moving from ninth to eighth tonight, is batting .188/.284/.203 since the beginning of May.

Allen is back at shortstop and batting ninth on Sunday afternoon following a two-game absence stemming from a hit by pitch earlier this week.

Allen will sit for the second straight contest after being hit by a pitch on the hand during Thursday’s game against the Phillies. The 26-year-old middle infielder is a non-factor for fantasy purposes, but he’s played almost everyday this season for Atlanta as a result of his defensive prowess at shortstop. It’ll be Luke Williams filling in on Saturday against the Red Sox.

Arcia and Nick Allen continue to rotate at shortstop, and Allen will get the start at shortstop and hit ninth against Drew Rasmussen and the Rays.