Fantasy News

• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Sits for sixth straight game

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  Burleson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics. Burleson opened the season in a strong-side platoon role, but he's lost his grip on a regular spot in the lineup versus right-handed pitching in the wake of Lars Nootbaar's return from the 10-day injured list last week. The 25-year-old will find himself on the bench Wednesday for a sixth consecutive game.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: On bench Wednesday

  Rotowire Apr 3, 2024

  Burleson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres. Burleson is absent from the lineup while St. Louis faces a right-hander (Joe Musgrove) on Wednesday, but the 25-year-old should still play fairly regularly against righties for the early part of the season until the Cardinals get two of Lars Nootbaar (rib), Dylan Carlson (shoulder) and Tommy Edman (wrist) back from the injured list. While Burleson takes a seat Wednesday, Willson Contreras will get a day off behind the dish and will serve as St. Louis' designated hitter.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Garners start at DH

  Rotowire Mar 28, 2024

  Burleson will serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Thursday's season opener against the Dodgers. The Cardinals have been hamstrung by injuries, but Burleson also earned a spot in the Opening Day lineup with a .988 OPS this spring. At least to start the season, the lefty-hitting Burleson looks to have earned the strong side of a platoon role at designated hitter over fellow lefty hitter Matt Carpenter.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Favorite to fill in for Nootbaar

  Rotowire Mar 8, 2024

  Burleson will receive starter's reps in left field while Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is sidelined, John Denton of MLB.com reports. The team hasn't officially ruled Nootbaar out for Opening Day as he recovers from two fractured ribs, but a stint on the injured list seems very likely. It had seemed not long ago that Burleson might be on the outside looking in to even make the roster, but with Nootbaar and Tommy Edman (wrist) out, he could now receive regular starts versus right-handed pitching. The 25-year-old is 7-for-18 with a 0:3 K:BB in his first eight Grapefruit League contests.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Making good contact

  Rotowire Mar 4, 2024

  Burleson has gone 6-for-17 over seven Grapefruit League games. Burleson has two RBI, one run scored and a walk this spring. The 25-year-old outfielder shed some weight in the offseason to improve his defense -- he struggled in the outfield particularly, but lacks an everyday path to playing time at first base or designated hitter due to Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Gorman being the likely starters at those positions. A lefty hitter, Burleson could push to be the Cardinals' fourth outfielder, which is more likely to happen if Tommy Edman (wrist) begins 2024 on the injured list.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Drops weight over offseason

  Rotowire Jan 13, 2024

  Burleson revealed Saturday that he's lost 12 pounds so far this offseason in an effort to become a more reliable defender, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Burleson graded out at minus-9 in Statcast's Outs Above Average in 2023, with most of that coming in the outfield. The 25-year-old has implemented a stricter diet this offseason and also worked on increasing his mobility, leading to weight loss and, he hopes, improved defense. Burleson posted just a .691 OPS last season, but a 13 percent strikeout rate and 41 percent hard-hit rate offered some promise. He currently projects as a reserve for the Cardinals but could see semi-regular starts between the outfield, designated hitter and first base.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Goes on IL with thumb fracture

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2023

  St. Louis placed Burleson on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left thumb fracture. Burleson suffered the season-ending injury while sliding into third base Tuesday night against the Brewers and underwent surgery Wednesday morning. The 24-year-old finishes the 2023 campaign with a .244/.300/.390 slash line, eight home runs, 20 doubles and 36 RBI in 107 major-league games.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Picks up second steal

  Rotowire Sep 16, 2023

  Burleson went 1-for-4 with one RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Phillies. Burleson has two steals this season, and they've come over his last eight games. He's hit safely in his last three contests, and he could be gaining some traction in the lineup against right-handed pitchers. The 24-year-old is up to a .240/.293/.383 slash line with eight home runs, 35 RBI and 32 runs scored through 103 games. The Cardinals will likely want to get a long look at Burleson over the last two weeks of the season to evaluate his progress this year.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Notches first steal

  Rotowire Sep 7, 2023

  Burleson went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 11-6 win over Atlanta. The steal was Burleson's first of the season, which came on his second attempt. The outfielder has had a tough time breaking into the Cardinals' lineup on a regular basis, as the team has typically used the designated hitter spot to get some rest for lineup regulars. Through 311 plate appearances this season, Burleson has a .245/.297/.399 slash line with eight home runs, 33 RBI and 31 runs scored. He should primarily play against right-handed pitchers when he's in the lineup, as he has a paltry .499 OPS over 27 plate appearances versus southpaws this year.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Out against lefty

  Rotowire Aug 30, 2023

  Burleson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. He'll join fellow left-handed hitter Nolan Gorman on the bench with the Padres bringing southpaw Rich Hill to the bump in the series finale. Burleson could soon see his opportunities to play against right-handed pitching take a hit, too, as the Cardinals could get Lars Nootbaar (groin) back from the 10-day injured list as soon as this weekend.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Hits bench Monday

  Rotowire Aug 21, 2023

  Burleson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates, John Denton of MLB.com reports. The Pirates are deploying a right-hander (Thomas Hatch) as their opening pitcher, but with southpaw Bailey Falter likely to cover the bulk of the innings behind him, the lefty-hitting Burleson will head to the bench. Catcher Andrew Knizner will essentially fill Burleson's spot in the lineup while Willson Contreras gets a day off behind the plate and serves as St. Louis' designated hitter.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Not starting Friday

  Rotowire Aug 18, 2023

  Burleson isn't in the Cardinals' lineup Friday against the Mets, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. After going 0-for-1 with a sacrifice fly in Thursday's series opener, Burleson will once again retreat to the dugout to begin Friday's game. Burleson's absence opens up a chance for Paul Goldschmidt to serve as the DH, allowing Luken Baker to start at first base.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Sitting versus lefty

  Rotowire Aug 17, 2023

  Burleson is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Mets. Burleson went 2-for-4 with a double out of the cleanup spot Wednesday against the Athletics, but he'll head to the bench Thursday with left-hander Jose Quintana toeing the slab for New York. Tyler O'Neill, Tommy Edman and Jordan Walker are starting across the outfield while Willson Contreras serves as the Cardinals' designated hitter. Andrew Knizner will catch.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: On bench versus lefty

  Rotowire Aug 14, 2023

  Burleson is not in the lineup Monday against the Athletics. Luken Baker will take a turn as the Cardinals' designated hitter with left-hander JP Sears toeing the slab for Oakland. Tyler O'Neill, Lars Nootbaar and Jordan Walker are starting across the outfield. The left-handed-hitting Burleson has slashed .182/.250/.227 in 24 plate appearances versus southpaws this year.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Sitting versus lefty

  Rotowire Aug 12, 2023

  Burleson isn't in the Cardinals' lineup Saturday against the Royals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. With lefty Cole Ragans starting on the mound for Kansas City, the left-handed Burleson will step out of the lineup to begin Saturday's contest. Willson Contreras will serve as St. Louis' DH, allowing Andrew Knizner to start behind the plate.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Re-enters lineup

  Rotowire Aug 8, 2023

  Burleson is serving as the Cardinals' designated hitter Tuesday against the Rays and batting sixth, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Burleson was originally slated for a day off Tuesday, but he will enter the lineup to replace Tyler O'Neill, who was scratched due to knee tightness. Burleson has been heating up at the plate recently, going 6-for-13 with two homers and four RBI since the beginning of August.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Bright spot in loss

  Rotowire Aug 4, 2023

  Burleson went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Twins. Burleson has gone yard in back-to-back games to snap a 14-game homer drought. He's starting to carve out more playing time between first base and designated hitter, and Brendan Donovan (arm) being out for the year should allow Burleson to be in the lineup versus most right-handed pitchers. For the season, the 24-year-old is slashing .249/.298/.425 with eight homers, 25 RBI, 27 runs scored, 13 doubles and a triple over 239 plate appearances.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Slams three-run homer

  Rotowire Aug 3, 2023

  Burleson went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run Wednesday in a 7-3 win against the Twins. Burleson got the start at DH for St. Louis and capped the team's scoring with a three-run blast to right field in the third inning. The homer more than doubled his RBI total since the All-Star break -- coming into Wednesday, he had driven in just two runs over 38 second-half at-bats. Burleson hasn't been getting much playing time of late, as his start Wednesday was just his second over the Cardinals' past five games.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Back on bench Tuesday

  Rotowire Aug 1, 2023

  Burleson is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Burleson has now hit the bench for three of the Cardinals' last four matchups with right-handed starting pitchers, and unless St. Louis elects to trade one of its everyday position players leading up to Tuesday's deadline, he'll have to settle for a part-time role. The 24-year-old has shown excellent bat-to-ball skills (10.8 percent strikeout rate in 231 plate appearances), but the power he displayed at Triple-A Memphis in 2022 hasn't quite carried over to the big leagues.

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• Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Sitting in third straight

  Rotowire Jun 11, 2023

  Burleson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. Burleson is on the bench for the third straight game and looks to have lost hold of a strong-side platoon role in the wake of Dylan Carlson returning from the injured list earlier in the weekend. Since Burleson won't offer the Cardinals much value in a bench role as a lefty hitter with limited defensive flexibility, it wouldn't be overly surprising if he is demoted to Triple-A Memphis the next time St. Louis needs to make a roster move.

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