San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb is expected to remain with the organization for the upcoming 2024 season. The organization is reportedly planning to pick up the $10 million team option on Cobb. The veteran right-hander was a reliable piece to the Giants rotation this past season. He registered a 3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 131/37 K/BB ratio over 151 1/3 innings in 28 starts. It's worth noting that Cobb did recently undergo hip surgery, which will sideline him for six months. That being said, Cobb is likely to miss at least the first month of the 2024 season.

As expected, the Boston Red Sox declined their 2024 option on right-hander Corey Kluber (shoulder) on Friday, while third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner declined his $13.4 million 2024 option. Both players are now free agents. Turner will receive a $6.7 million buyout. Turner is nearing 40 years of age (he's 38), but he didn't lack for production in his lone season in Beantown in 2023, hitting 23 home runs and driving in a career-high 96 runs. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting him to match that in 2024, but he will certainly have suitors. Kluber, 37, had a 7.04 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 55 innings over 15 games (nine starts) in his first and only year in Boston before being shut down for good in mid-September with a shoulder injury. He should be ready for the start of 2024, but the two-time Cy Young winner doesn't appear to have much left and could be ticketed for a full-time relief role wherever he lands.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip) is scheduled to have surgery on his left hip on Tuesday to address his labrum and ongoing impingement issues, according to the team. It makes him unlikely to be ready for the start of the 2024 season, as he's not expected to return to pitching for six months. Given the fact that Cobb is already 36 years old, the Giants may decide not to pick up his $10 million team option for the 2024 campaign now. Cobb had only 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 2023, but he was also a first-time All-Star and went 7-7 with a solid 3.87 ERA (4.01 FIP), 1.32 WHIP, 37 walks and 131 strikeouts in 151 1/3 innings over his 28 starts in his second year in the Bay Area.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley will hit out of the two-hole on Sunday for Game 6 of the ALCS. Mauricio Dubon had been slotted there the last two games but hasn't done much with the bat. Brantley was the two-hitter for the Astros in Game 3 but went 0-for-5 himself. Houston has been searching for a combination they like at the top paired with Jose Altuve in this series. Alex Bregman started the first two games as the two hitter, Dubon has gotten two games in that spot and this will now be Brantley's second game hitting second in the ALCS. Brantley is in left field while Dubon patrols center, sending Chas McCormick to the bench.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley is back in left field and is hitting sixth in the batting order on Wednesday for Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins and right-hander Joe Ryan. Chas McCormick has returned to center field and is in the seven-hole. Brantley has gone 2-for-7 with a walk and two strikeouts in two games of the Division Series against Minnesota, with McCormick going 2-for-8 with an RBI and two strikeouts so far in two games. Brantley has only faced Ryan two times in his career, walking once. McCormick has faced the Twins starter seven times, picking up two hits (one home run) and two RBI while striking out three times.

The Atlanta Braves informed relief pitcher Jesse Chavez on Friday that he will not be on the NLDS roster versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite Chavez's strong 1.56 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 39:12 K:BB through 34 2/3 innings pitched, rookie right-hander Daysbel Hernandez (three runs over 3 2/3 IP), who hasn't pitched in the big leagues since late July, made the NLDS team instead. Chavez returned on Sep. 20 from a three-month absence with a microfracture in his left shin. The 40-year-old right-hander tossed 6 1/3 scoreless frames during the postseason of Atlanta's 2021 World Series run and will hope to crack a roster spot if the Braves move on to the NLCS.

San Diego Padres left-hander Rich Hill intends to pitch again next season. The well-traveled 43-year-old seems to feel he's got some more left in the tank ahead of free agency, despite registering the worst ERA (5.41) and WHIP (1.52) over his 146 1/3 innings pitched in a decade of play. Hill looked his age after joining San Diego for the stretch run, slinging to a ghastly 8.23 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 27 1/3 IP. We'll have to wait and see where the southpaw's merry-go-round will land him next, after pitching for 13 MLB teams throughout the course of his journeyman career, but Hill shouldn't be fantasy relevant in 2024 drafts.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said on Thursday that he's not sure how much outfielder/designated hitter Michael Brantley will be able to offer during the upcoming ALDS versus the Minnesota Twins. The 36-year-old contact hitter didn't make much of an impact overall during the regular season, slashing .278/.298/.426 with two home runs and seven RBI in a mere 54 at-bats. Brantley's right shoulder surgery from last summer cost him over a year of action, truncating his 2022 season to 64 games, and his 2023 debut didn't arrive until Aug. 29. The Astros will take whatever they can get out of the five-time All-Star on their quest for a championship.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The veteran outfielder made his season debut in August after missing over a year due to shoulder surgery. He also missed eight games earlier this month due to soreness in the same shoulder. Brantley has been a solid hitter when healthy, but keeping him in the lineup has been a struggle. Chas McCormick will cover left field and bat sixth versus right-hander Merrill Kelly on Saturday.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Brantley will make his return to the lineup after missing nine of the last 10 games due to a right shoulder soreness. The veteran outfielder has been available off the bench over the last few days, but will officially be back in the lineup for the first time on Wednesday. He'll cover left field and bat sixth versus right-hander Bryce Miller.

The Houston Astros didn't need him in their big win over the division-rival Seattle Mariners on Monday night, but manager Dusty Baker said before the game that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) would be available off the bench. Brantley didn't make his 2023 debut until Aug. 29 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery late last year, and he's now dealing with more shoulder issues and hasn't played since Sept. 17. The 36-year-old has gone 11-for-42 (.262) with two home runs, six RBI and six runs scored in his 12 games played. It sounds like he's improving, but it remains to be seen how much he'll play in the final week of the regular season or if the Astros will even include him on their postseason roster once the playoffs begin in October.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (general soreness) is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals. This marks the fifth game in a row that Brantley has sat out due to what the team is calling general soreness. The veteran outfielder has been banged up most of the season as shoulder issues stopped him from debuting until August. At this point, it's unclear if he'll play again with eight games left in the regular season. Chas McCormick will cover left field and bat sixth versus right-hander Jordan Lyles on Saturday.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (general soreness) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals. This marks the fourth straight game that Brantley has missed due to what the team is calling general soreness. There's a good chance that the 36-year-old was going to be sidelined again versus left-hander Cole Ragans on Friday. Chas McCormick will cover left field and bat seventh versus Ragans here. It's uncertain how much more time Brantley is going to miss due to this issue.

The San Francisco Giants placed right-hander Alex Cobb (hip) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday and recalled left-hander Kyle Harrison and right-hander Sean Hjelle from Triple-A Sacramento in corresponding moves. The team also placed right-hander Keaton Winn (illness) on the COVID injured list (retroactive to Sept. 19). Cobb has been dealing with a nagging left-hip injury for most of the second half of the season and had to be pulled from his start early on Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks when it flared up on him. The 35-year-old could return to start games for the Gigantes if they secure the final wild-card spot in the National League, but Cobb won't be of any use to fantasy managers in single-year leagues at this point. He finishes the 2023 season by going 7-7 with a 3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 131 K's in 151 1/3 innings over 28 starts.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip) was removed from his start on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks after two pitches in the third inning and was clearly bothered by his left hip. Cobb grabbed at his hip as he walked off at the end of the second inning. Before hitting the showers early, the 35-year-old veteran allowed a whopping five earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one in just two innings of work to raise his season ERA to 3.87. Given the circumstances and where we're at in the season, there's a good chance we won't see Cobb again this season. But until we know more, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley is not in the starting lineup Monday against the Baltimore Orioles and left-hander John Means. The veteran is 0-for-9 with a strikeout over his last two games and will take a seat against the lefty on Monday while Chas McCormick takes over in left field. A shoulder injury kept Brantley out until late August and he hasn't been at his best since returning. The 36-year-old has hit .262 with two homers and a .702 OPS across 44 plate appearances on the season, and while he has struck out just twice in that time, he has also drawn just a single walk so far this season. His lack of power and speed at this stage in his career has kept Brantley off the fantasy radar over the last several seasons.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Corey Kluber (shoulder) won't pitch again this season, according to MLB.com. The 37-year-old was in the middle of a rehab assignment but will instead focus on getting healthy during the offseason from shoulder inflammation that's kept him on the shelf since June 20. Kluber's first season in Boston wasn't pretty, as he sported a 7.04 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with 42 punchouts over 55 innings split between the rotation and bullpen. The former MVP will likely enter 2024 as a free agent, as the Red Sox hold a club option, and he'll look to start fresh elsewhere.

The San Diego Padres put left-hander Rich Hill on waivers on Tuesday to see if another team will pick him up for the last few weeks of the regular season, according to a source. If nobody comes calling, he'll remain with the Padres for the rest of the year. The 43-year-old just hasn't been good in 29 appearances (27 saves) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Padres in 2023, so there's a good chance he'll go unclaimed. The 43-year-old southpaw was acquired from Pittsburgh in a trade in early August, and he's been even worse in his time in San Diego, giving up 25 runs (23 earned) on 31 hits (eight home runs) while walking 10 and striking out 19 in 22 1/3 innings over seven outings (five starts). Hill is well over the hill and doesn't appear to have much left in his career.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip) was checked by trainer Dave Groeschner after nine pitches in his outing on Monday against the Cleveland Guardians and he looked uncomfortable all night, but he ended up making it through five innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out two. Cobb received a cortisone injection for a left-hip impingement and avoided a trip to the injured list, but he may not be completely past the issue. Coming into his start on Monday, the 35-year-old veteran had allowed 22 earned runs on 36 hits (seven home runs) while walking six and striking out 24 in 32 1/3 innings in his last six starts to raise his season ERA to 3.74 and WHIP to 1.32. It's something to watch moving forward.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb (hip) is likely to start Monday's game versus the Cleveland Guardians instead of Sunday's contest vs. the Colorado Rockies. The 35-year-old received a cortisone shot to alleviate a left hip impingement, which has bothered him since mid-June. Cobb followed up an Aug. 29 shutout by struggling in three innings and giving up four runs in his next start on Sep. 3. The right-hander will see just as favorable a matchup as he would have on Sunday, so fantasy managers can prepare to start Cobb for Monday's tilt. The 2023 All-Star owns a dependable 3.74 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 128:35 K:BB in 144 1/3 frames overall.