Fantasy News

• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Sitting versus lefty

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  Bleday is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Cardinals. The left-handed-hitting Bleday will take a seat as St. Louis goes with southpaw Steven Matz as its starting pitcher. Esteury Ruiz will cover center field for the Athletics in the series finale while Bleday hits the bench.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Heats up at plate Sunday

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Bleday went 3-for-4 with a double and a run in a win over the Nationals on Sunday. Bleday authored one of two three-hit efforts for the Athletics, and he scored the run that started Oakland's rally from a five-run deficit. In the process, the outfielder snapped out of a brief 0-for-10 skid that had encompassed his previous three games, and his productive afternoon gave his batting average a welcome 34-point boost to .262.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Stays hot with first homer

  Rotowire Apr 3, 2024

  Bleday went 1-for-3 with two walks and a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Red Sox. Bleday put the A's ahead 4-3 in the third inning with a two-run shot off Brayan Bello, his first homer of the year. The 26-year-old Bleday has gotten off to a fast start this season, going 8-for-23 with four extra-base hits out of the No. 3 spot in Oakland's lineup. Bleday slashed .195/.310/.355 with 10 homers and 27 RBI in 256 at-bats in 2023.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Only bright spot in loss

  Rotowire Mar 29, 2024

  Bleday went 2-for-4 with a double in an 8-0 loss to the Guardians on Thursday. Shane Bieber and three relievers allowed only four hits in the shutout victory, but Bleday picked up half of them. The encouraging start at the plate follows a productive spring for the 26-year-old outfielder in which he hit .348 with three doubles, one triple, two home runs and seven RBI across 51 plate appearances.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Standout day in Cactus League win

  Rotowire Feb 29, 2024

  Bleday went 2-for-3 with a two-run triple, a solo home run and an additional run in the Athletics' Cactus League win over the Giants on Wednesday. Bleday drew the start in center field and snapped the three-game hitless stretch he'd opened Cactus League play with in spectacular fashion. A first-round pick of the Marlins in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, Bleday landed in the A's organization a season ago and slashed .195/.310/.355 with 21 extra-base hits and 27 RBI across 82 games with the big-league club. His body of work at Triple-A Las Vegas was much more noteworthy -- he posted a .333 average and 1.111 OPS over 133 plate appearances with the Aviators -- but Bleday should have a solid chance to break camp with Oakland and open the season as a reserve option across all three outfield positions.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: First hit since IL activation

  Rotowire Sep 29, 2023

  Bleday went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run in a win over the Twins on Thursday. Bleday was playing in only his second game since returning from a stay on the injured list due to a knee sprain. After going hitless Wednesday, he got on base for the first time since Aug. 13, the last game he'd played prior to his absence. With the Athletics due to face right-handers Chase Silseth and Davis Daniel in the first two games of a season-ending weekend series against the Angels, the lefty-hitting Bleday should be set for another two starts in 2023 before potentially taking a seat against southpaw Kenny Rosenberg on Sunday.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Activated from injured list

  Rotowire Sep 26, 2023

  Bleday (knee) was activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Bleday has been sidelined since mid-August with an ACL sprain in his left knee, but he'll be available for the Athletics this week after appearing in a few rehab contests. The 25-year-old should see playing time, at least against righties down the stretch.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Stands out while playing full game

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Bleday (knee) took a full game's worth of plate appearances as the designated hitter in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Reno on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with a double, a solo home run, three total RBI and a walk. Bleday's night couldn't have gone much better, as the recovering outfielder continued to corroborate the improving health of his knee by suiting up for a second straight day. Bleday logged seven innings in the outfield during his rehab debut Friday night and reached safely twice in that contest, so he appears to be trending firmly in the right direction in all aspects. Bleday may be deemed to need only one more game with the Aviators before potentially being activated ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Twins.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Kicks off rehab stint

  Rotowire Sep 23, 2023

  Bleday (knee) started in left field in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Reno on Friday night and played seven innings, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Bleday had a solid showing all the way around in his first rehab game, getting in an extended stint on defense while providing some offense as well. The outfielder may need only a couple more games down on the farm before he's deemed ready for activation, which would enable him to get in multiple games at the big-league level before the conclusion of the regular season Oct. 1.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Beginning assignment Friday

  Rotowire Sep 19, 2023

  Bleday (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. With the Triple-A season nearing its end, Bleday will likely remain in Las Vegas for its final few games and could return to Oakland next week if everything goes as planned. Bleday has been out of action since mid-August due to a sprained ACL in his right knee.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Expected to up activity level

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2023

  Bleday (knee) is expected to run the bases sometime this week and may subsequently head out on a short rehab assignment, the Associated Press reports. Bleday was originally thought to very likely be done for the season when he was diagnosed with an ACL sprain in mid-August, but the outfielder has progressively been disproving that assumption over the last few weeks. Bleday's recovery has been going faster than expected, with his most recent benchmark being a live batting practice session Friday. If Bleday does indeed run the bases without setbacks in the coming days and then gets in a quick rehab assignment before the minor-league season wraps up, he could have a chance to get some big-league at-bats in before the end of the 2023 campaign on Oct. 1.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Live batting practice on tap

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2023

  Bleday (knee) took batting practice for the second time in three days Wednesday and is slated for a live batting practice session Friday against Austin Pruitt (forearm), the team's official site reports. Bleday continues to make unimpeded progress from his left ACL sprain, with the recent pair of batting practice sessions coming on the heels of the outfielder gaining clearance to resume running this past weekend. The progression to live batting practice could soon be followed by a brief minor-league rehab assignment, and it increasingly appears Bleday will have a chance to log some game action before the end of the regular season.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Out with sprained knee

  Rotowire Aug 15, 2023

  Bleday was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left knee sprain, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. The 25-year-old was held out of the lineup for Monday's matchup with the Cardinals and will be sidelined until at least the middle of next week. Carlos Perez (thumb) was reinstated from the injured list in a corresponding move, while it's likely Tony Kemp and Brent Rooker will see more action in the outfield while Bleday is on the shelf.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Bows out Monday

  Rotowire Aug 14, 2023

  Bleday is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals. Bleday started Oakland's first 11 games in August and posted an .898 OPS over the last six contests, but manager Mark Kotsay decided it was time for a day off. Bleday most frequently lined up in left field over the last week or so, but Esteury Ruiz will slide over and cover that spot Monday night.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Homers in Tuesday's loss

  Rotowire Aug 9, 2023

  Bleday went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Rangers. Bleday accounted for two of the five baserunners the Athletics generated in the contest. He's gone a paltry 3-for-24 (.125) with two walks over seven contests in August, but he could have a clearer path to playing time now that Ramon Laureano is out of the picture. Bleday is up to a .203/.316/.370 slash line with nine homers, five stolen bases, 26 RBI, 30 runs scored and 11 doubles through 73 contests this season. He started in right field Tuesday, though he can handle all three outfield positions and is likely to move around as the Athletics see fit.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Stuffs stat sheet

  Rotowire Jul 23, 2023

  Bleday went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, a stolen base and two total runs scored in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Astros. Bleday went 0-for-9 with three walks across the first three games of this series before breaking the slump Sunday. The outfielder is also starting to find a power swing with three homers over his last six contests. He's slashing .215/.332/.398 with eight homers, 24 RBI, 25 runs scored and five stolen bases across 61 contests. Bleday has improved on virtually everything except triples compared to his numbers as a rookie in 2022.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Home run, double in win

  Rotowire Jul 19, 2023

  Bleday went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Red Sox. Bleday tied the game 2-2 in the first inning with a two-run homer off Brayan Bello. The 25-year-old Bleday has now homered in back-to-back games after hitting just one in his previous 23 contests. Through 207 plate appearances this season, Bleday's slashing .218/.329/.397 with seven homers, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored and four steals.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Two-run homer in win

  Rotowire Jul 19, 2023

  Bleday went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Red Sox. Bleday went deep in the second inning with his first homer since June 23. The outfielder has hit safely in nine of 13 games in July, going 11-for-47 (.234) so far this month. He's up to a .212/.325/.371 slash line with career highs in homers (six), RBI (20) and runs scored (22) while adding four stolen bases and nine doubles over 56 contests.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Good wood on ball in loss

  Rotowire Jul 3, 2023

  Bleday went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI doubles and a run in a loss to the White Sox on Sunday. Bleday's recent productive stretch at the plate continued with his second straight two-RBI effort and first multi-hit tally since June 7. The 25-year-old outfielder is hitting a relatively modest .250 over his last eight games; however, he's complemented that figure with eight RBI thanks to a .400 average with men on base, as well as a .364 on-base percentage largely due to a 15.2 percent walk rate.

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• Athletics' JJ Bleday: Helps deliver win in extras

  Rotowire Jul 2, 2023

  Bleday went 1-for-5 with an RBI sacrifice fly, a run-scoring infield single and a stolen base in an extra-inning win over the White Sox on Saturday. Bleday was ultimately responsible for three of the Athletics' seven runs, even though he didn't get credit for an RBI on the most important one. The young outfielder hit a 10th-inning grounder bobbled by the White Sox's Elvis Andrus, an error that allowed Tyler Wade to score the game-winning run. Bleday's fourth steal of the season also tied his career high, and despite hitting just .182 over his last eight games, he continues to find his way on base and to home plate -- a .344 on-base percentage over that span fueled by a 21.9 percent walk rate has helped lead to him scoring five runs.

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