


Detroit Tigers rookie outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy is starting in left field and is hitting third for the Tigers on Saturday against the New York Yankees and left-hander Carlos Rodon at Comerica Park. Malloy hasn't been able to get comfortable in any one lineup spot for the Tigers of late, as he hit sixth in the series-opening loss on Friday night and has also hit leadoff a few times in the last week. The 24-year-old will be in a much more favorable spot on Saturday than he was the day before, but it won't be an easy matchup against Rodon. The former sixth-rounder of the Atlanta Braves in 2021 is hitting just .216 (38-for-176) on the year with eight home runs and 20 RBI. However, he's gone 11-for-30 (.367) with two of his eight long balls in 2024 against southpaws. Malloy will be a DFS sleeper on Saturday.


Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup on Saturday at Comerica Park against the New York Yankees and left-hander Carlos Rodon, serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup. Keith did not play in the series-opening loss on Friday night due to a sore left hamstring but is back in action for the second game of the series. The 23-year-old is hitting .249/.302/.378 with a below-average .680 OPS, 11 home runs, 43 RBI and six stolen bases in 386 at-bats in his first year in the big leagues in 2024. He's faced left-handers only 54 times this year but his hitting .294 (15-for-51) against them with one of his 11 home runs. Keith has never faced Rodon on his career.


Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter and rookie infielder Trey Sweeney will both head to the bench on Saturday at Comerica Park against the New York Yankees with a left-hander on the mound. Carpenter recently came off the 60-day injured list due to a back injury and has gone 5-for-16 since returning with three home runs and five RBI in four games while serving as the designated hitter. Second baseman Colt Keith (hamstring) is serving as the DH on Saturday and will hit cleanup against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon. Carpenter, 26, could sit occasionally against lefties, but he needs to be rostered in most fantasy formats now that he's healthy. He's had only 161 at-bats in 2024, but he's already cleared the fences 11 times and driven in 34 runs for the Tigers while hitting .286 (46-for-161).


Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (knee) is not in the starting lineup on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners at PNC Park. It doesn't come as a huge surprise after McCutchen tweaked his knee while running to first base late in Friday night's series-opening victory. Until we know more about the 37-year-old veteran's injury, consider him day-to-day. Shortstop Oneil Cruz is serving as the DH on Saturday and will hit second against Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo. Cruz is a must-start in all fantasy lineups and has been on fire in the month of August. McCutchen, meanwhile, has provided a decent 16 long balls in 378 at-bats for a player in his 16th MLB season. He's also been excellent this month, going 11-for-30 (.367) with three homers and 10 RBI in nine games played.


Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds is getting the day off on Saturday in Game 2 of the series against the Seattle Mariners at PNC Park. Bryan De La Cruz will take his spot in left field and will bat fifth against Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo. Reynolds appears to just be getting a normal day off after going hitless in eight at-bats with five strikeouts in his last two games. The 29-year-old two-time All-Star is a must-start when he's in the lineup, though, and has hit .273 (15-for-55) with a homer, three doubles, eight RBI and six runs scored in 13 games so far in August. De La Cruz has hit only .167 against Castillo in his career, but only in a sample size of six at-bats. The 27-year-old has some nice power, but he has yet to go deep in 12 games with the Pirates and has gone 10-for-50 (.200) with a walk and 19 strikeouts since being acquired in a trade from the Miami Marlins.
