Báez returns from injury, Lindor to follow for Mets
Javier Báez has returned to the New York Mets’ lineup after missing 11 games with back spasmsAUGUST 22, 2021•ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ryan O'Hearn - Takes seat SundayO'Hearn is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
ImpactThe lefty-hitting O'Hearn will be squeezed out of the lineup against a right-hander (Alec Mills), mostly as a result of no designated hitter being available in Chicago. Hunter Dozier will pick up a start in right field, the position O'Hearn manned in the first two games of the series.
AUGUST 22, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Matt Duffy - Starting at second SundayDuffy is starting at second base and batting fifth in Sunday's game against the Royals.
ImpactWith David Bote getting a day off, Duffy will slide in at the keystone. Duffy is more or less occupying Bote's old role, as the former now gives the team depth at multiple spots across the infield with Bote settling into a steadier role at second. The uneven playing time puts a cap on Duffy's fantasy value, and he's only mustered one home run and 13 RBI in 63 games this year, so he hasn't been the most exciting option to date.
AUGUST 22, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Austin Romine - Starting SundayRomine is starting at catcher and batting seventh in Sunday's game against the Royals.
ImpactWith Robinson Chirinos getting the day off in the series finale, Romine will slide into the lineup. Chirinos has become the team's primary catcher with Willson Contreras (knee) on the injured list. That's elevated Romine to the backup role, which doesn't give him a ton of fantasy value, though he'd see an uptick if anything happened to Chirinos.
AUGUST 22, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Hunter Dozier - Cleared to start SundayDozier (illness) will start in right field and bat sixth Sunday against the Cubs.
ImpactDozier was out of the starting nine for the first two games of the series in Chicago while he felt under the weather, but the Royals never provided any indication that his absence was the result of a COVID-19-related concern. With the 30-year-old seemingly reporting to the ballpark healthy Sunday, he'll draw back into the starting nine for the series finale.
AUGUST 22, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Salvador Perez - Ready to go SundayPerez (neck/head) will start at catcher and bat third Sunday against the Cubs.
ImpactPerez exited Friday's 6-2 win in the series opener with posterior neck soreness, but a headache was attributed to him being scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's 4-2 victory. The one-day respite appears to have provided enough time for Perez to recover from both issues, as he'll be back behind the plate for the series finale. With a .275 average, 32 home runs, 80 RBI, 57 runs and a stolen base across 492 plate appearances this season, Perez has been the most valuable catcher in the vast majority of fantasy formats.
AUGUST 22, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Robinson Chirinos - On bench SundayChirinos is not starting Sunday's game against the Royals.
ImpactChirinos has hit .257 with a home run, three doubles and three RBI in 15 games since the beginning of August. Austin Romine is catching and batting seventh Sunday.
AUGUST 22, 2021•ROTOWIRE
