Anthony Rizzo
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Feb 21 2025Rizzo said Friday that he is fully healthy and remains eager to play in 2025 despite not having a team heading into spring training, Ken Rosenthal and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic report. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Rizzo may still want to play in the majors, it doesn't seem there are many teams interested in bringing in an aging veteran who is coming off his worst regular season in 13 years (.636 OPS) and hasn't reached the 100-game mark since 2022 due to troubles staying healthy. He most recently suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand after getting hit by a pitch in late September, which forced him to sit out until the ALCS. His hand has since fully recovered, and he's been going through his normal offseason routine, though the three-time All-Star acknowledged that if enough time passes and he still remains on the open market, it may be time to start thinking about retirement.
Nov 2 2024The Yankees declined Rizzo's $17 million club option for 2025 on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo slashed just .228/.301/.335 with 35 RBI across 375 plate appearances in 2024 -- his worst season at the plate since his rookie year with the Padres in 2011. Despite his significant drop in production, the 35-year-old first baseman should still be able to attract some attention in the open market, though he likely won't receive anything close to the $17 million average annual salary he'd been getting from New York.
Oct 23 2024Rizzo said Wednesday that the time off between the ALCS and World Series has allowed swelling in his fractured fingers to subside, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The two fractured fingers on Rizzo's right hand have not yet fully healed, which led to the digits swelling up between ALCS contests. However, the five days off between the ALCS and World Series has, unsurprisingly, been beneficial for the first baseman. Rizzo will likely still have to play through some discomfort against the Dodgers, but he'll be the Yankees' primary first baseman during the Fall Classic.
Oct 17 2024Rizzo is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS in Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo returned from two fractured fingers to reach base twice in each of the first two games of the series, but with southpaw Matthew Boyd on the hill for the Guardians in Game 3, the left-handed-hitting Rizzo will begin the contest on the bench. Jon Berti is starting at first base and batting sixth.
Oct 14 2024Rizzo fared well in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians and is expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday for Game 2, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo picked up a single and drew a walk in Monday's series opener, and skipper Aaron Boone noted after the game that he pulled the veteran first baseman after he seemed emotionally drained, per Hoch. The training staff will likely check on Rizzo again Tuesday morning, but all signs point to Rizzo being back in the starting nine for Tuesday's clash.
Oct 13 2024Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Rizzo (finger) could be on New York's ALCS roster, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo fractured two fingers on his right hand late in the regular season and wasn't part of the Yankees' roster for their ALDS victory versus Kansas City. He resumed baseball activities in early October and is set to ramp up further Sunday, per Boone, but his inclusion on the ALCS roster is far from a certainty. If he does return for the series against the Guardians, he would likely take over the starting role at first base, which was handled twice each by Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti during the ALDS.
Oct 4 2024Rizzo (fingers) will not be on the Yankees' ALDS roster against the Royals, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo admitted Friday that he hadn't progressed far enough in his recovery program to contribute at a high level, though he did express optimism that he could return should the Yankees make it to the ALCS, per Meredith Marakovits of YES Network. Two of Rizzo's fingers on his right hand were fractured after being hit by a pitch in the penultimate game of the regular season, and he has yet to resume baseball activities, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Ben Rice will serve as the Yankees' first baseman for the ALDS.
Oct 3 2024Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that Rizzo (fingers) has yet to resume baseball activities, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in the penultimate game of the regular season. He remains a longshot to be included on the ALDS roster, but the ALCS would seemingly be more realistic if the Yankees are able to advance. Ben Rice and Oswaldo Cabrera are in line to handle first base for the ALDS.
Sep 29 2024Rizzon (fractured finger) is not expected to be available for the ALDS, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is viewed as a "long shot" to be available for the Yankees' first series of the postseason according to manager Aaron Boone. The first baseman suffered a fractured finger in Saturday's 9-4 loss to Pittsburgh and if he's unavailable, Ben Rice will likely remain with the team to open the postseason.
Sep 28 2024Rizzo was diagnosed with a fractured finger after leaving Saturday's game against the Pirates, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo suffered the injury after getting hit in the hand by a pitch during the seventh inning. Manager Aaron Boone said after the game that Rizzo's injury doesn't necessarily rule him out for the start of New York's playoff run, and the first baseman's availability will depend on pain tolerance. That being said, it's likely he sits out Sunday's regular-season finale.
Sep 27 2024Rizzo is absent from the lineup for Friday's game versus the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo had been in there for each of the previous four tilts, reaching base eight times, but he'll get a day off Friday. Oswaldo Cabrera is at first base and hitting ninth for the Yankees.
Sep 21 2024Rizzo isn't in the Yankees' lineup Saturday versus Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Rizzo will take a seat Saturday against the lefty-throwing JP Sears while Oswaldo Cabrera starts at first base and bats eighth.
Sep 15 2024Rizzo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo started the previous 10 games but will hit the bench Sunday after going 5-for-33 with one double and four walks during that span. Oswaldo Cabrera will take over at first base and bat eighth in the series finale versus Boston.
Sep 3 2024Rizzo is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo started each of the first two games off the injured list against right-handers but will begin Tuesday's game on the bench as the Rangers send lefty Andrew Heaney to the hill. DJ LeMahieu will draw the start at first base Tuesday.
Sep 1 2024The Yankees reinstated Rizzo (forearm) from the 60-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at first base and bat seventh in the Yankees' series finale with the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After Saturday's 6-5 loss to St. Louis, New York optioned Ben Rice to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to reopen a spot on the active roster for Rizzo, who had been on the shelf since June 18 with a right forearm fracture. Rizzo avoided surgery to treat the injury and kicked off a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset on Aug. 23, with the 35-year-old going 2-for-13 with a solo home run and a 2:6 BB:K in six games in the minors before being activated. Rizzo should replace Rice as the Yankees' primary first baseman against right-handed pitching, though he could lose work versus lefties to either DJ LeMahieu or Oswaldo Cabrera. Before being shut down in June, Rizzo was in the midst of a rough season at the plate, with his .630 OPS over 291 plate appearances representing his worst mark since his 2011 rookie campaign with the Padres.
Aug 31 2024Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals that Rizzo (forearm) will "likely" be activated Sunday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been out since mid-June with a fractured right forearm, but he is now on the verge of activation after a handful of rehab games in the minors. While Rizzo's performance has declined dramatically in recent years, he figures to slot back in as the team's primary first baseman, especially with fill-in Ben Rice struggling mightily of late. Rizzo sits with a .223/.289/.341 slash line and eight homers through 291 plate appearances this season.
Aug 30 2024Rizzo (forearm) could be activated from the 60-day injured list when rosters expand Sunday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has gone 2-for-8 with a home run and two walks in four rehab games with Double-A Somerset, serving as the designated hitter twice before playing first base the last two contests. He will play 7-to-9 innings at first base Friday and could rejoin the Yankees shortly after that. With the club struggling for production at first base, Rizzo should immediately become the primary option there at least versus right-handed pitching.
Aug 28 2024Rizzo (forearm) went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in a rehab appearance with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo began his rehab assignment Friday and has gone 2-for-6 with two walks, two strikeouts and two runs through three contests. The veteran first baseman is closing in on a return from the 60-day injured list, and he took another step toward that goal Tuesday by playing first base after serving as the designated hitter in his first two games in the minors. Rizzo could immediately reclaim his starting role at first base upon his return to the big club, as Ben Rice has batted .063 with no extra-base hits and a 28.9 percent strikeout rate over 32 at-bats in August following a promising start to his big-league tenure.
Aug 21 2024Rizzo (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset during the weekend, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will serve as a designated hitter for the first several games of his assignment before eventually moving back to first base. The Yankees haven't said how long the 35-year-old will remain in the minors, though he figures to return to New York sometime in early September.
Aug 11 2024Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Rizzo (forearm) recently hit "full bore" off a Trajekt pitching machine, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has resumed taking batting practice in recent days, but despite seemingly making good progress in his recovery from a fractured right forearm, the Yankees aren't yet willing to offer up a timeline for his return from the 60-day injured list. If or when Rizzo makes it back from the IL, he may not be guaranteed an everyday role at first base. Rookie Ben Rice (.713 OPS in 150 plate appearances) has outproduced Rizzo (.630 OPS in 291 plate appearances) since getting a promotion from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 18, when Rizzo was initially placed on the IL.
Aug 2 2024Rizzo (forearm) participated in fielding drills Friday and has also begun hitting, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo began going through on-field workouts in late July, and it seems he's finally been cleared for baseball activities. There are still no plans in place for him to begin a rehab assignment, though it's still possible the first baseman meets his goal of returning to the Yankees before the end of August.
Jul 23 2024Rizzo (forearm) went through agility drills on the field Tuesday, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo had been limited to weight-room activities as he recovers from a fractured right forearm, but he's finally been cleared for on-field workouts. He'll continue to ramp things back up, with a return sometime in August being the goal.
Jul 14 2024Rizzo continues to be restricted in his recovery from a fracture of his right forearm, as he's currently limited to activities in the weight room, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo said he'd be unable to resume baseball activities for 4-to-5 weeks following his placement on the injured list June 18, so it's not a surprise that he hasn't yet begun to ramp up. The veteran slugger said Friday that he's "feeling good" and that the forearm has "progressed a lot" while acknowledging that he still has "some pain." While Rizzo has been out of action, rookie Ben Rice has stepped up to assume an everyday role at first base.
Jun 19 2024The Yankees transferred Rizzo (forearm) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran first baseman is expected to be sidelined eight weeks after he landed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a fractured right forearm, so the move to the 60-day IL doesn't come as a major surprise. Rizzo will be shut down from baseball activities for up to five weeks. Gerrit Cole (elbow) was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding transaction and is making his season debut Wednesday against the Orioles.
Jun 18 2024The Yankees placed Rizzo on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right forearm fracture. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Rizzo will be shut down from all activities for up to five weeks, and it will be eight weeks until he's ready to play in games. Ben Rice is up to take his roster spot and is starting at first base Tuesday against the Orioles in his major-league debut. The Yankees also figure to use DJ LeMahieu at first base and Oswaldo Cabrera at third base some days while Rizzo is shelved.
Jun 17 2024Rizzo (arm) suffered a fracture to the radial neck of his right arm and could miss 4-to-6 weeks, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo suffered the injury in the seventh inning of Sunday's 9-3 loss and he'll now likely be sidelined until at least the All-Star break. With the Yankees off Monday, the first baseman seems set to be officially placed on the injured list Tuesday, while his replacement on the roster is still unknown. In Rizzo's absence, DJ LeMahieu could see the majority of his workload over at first base while Oswaldo Cabrera picks up some starts at the hot corner.
Jun 16 2024Rizzo (arm) suffered a right lower-arm injury in Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Red Sox, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo went down in a heap after a collision with Boston reliever Brennan Bernardino at first base in the top of the seventh inning, suffering an apparent right arm injury. The first baseman will see the team doctors and undergo imaging to determine the severity of the injury in New York on Monday.
Jun 13 2024Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The first baseman snapped a streak of 27 games without a long ball when he took John Schreiber deep in the eighth inning. Rizzo received back-to-back days off earlier this week for a mental reset, and he entered Thursday's game in a 2-for-37 slump during June. He currently sits at .223/.282/.344 slash line with eight home runs and 27 RBI for the season.
Jun 10 2024Rizzo is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yankees manager Aaron Boone had indicated the struggling Rizzo would receive a second straight day off, and that's exactly what will happen. Rizzo has just one hit over his last 29 at-bats. DJ LeMahieu will handle first base Monday while Oswaldo Cabrera plays third base.
Jun 9 2024Rizzo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has gone 1-for-29 over the past seven games and will hit the bench Sunday after starting the previous eight contests. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, manager Aaron Boone said the veteran first baseman may also be held out of the lineup Monday in Kansas City, which would give him a couple days for a mental reset. DJ LeMahieu will shift to first base while Oswaldo Cabrera starts at the hot corner.
May 30 2024Rizzo isn't in the Yankees' lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo owns a .351 OPS across his past six games, so the Yankees will give him a rare day off Thursday so he can clear his head. DJ LeMahieu will shift to first base while Oswaldo Cabrera starts at the hot corner, batting ninth.
May 11 2024Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a home run and two total RBI in Friday's 2-0 win over Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo accounted for both runs in the contest, knocking an RBI single in the fourth inning and providing some insurance with a solo homer in the ninth. The veteran first baseman has reached base safely in all but one of his eight games so far in May, slashing .296/.406/.519 with two homers and seven RBI over that stretch. With seven long balls and 22 RBI through 39 games on the campaign, Rizzo is already more than halfway to the totals he posted over 99 contests last season.
May 5 2024Rizzo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo started the Yankees' first 35 games of the season but will receive his first day off Sunday, giving him two straight days of rest since a team day off follows Monday. Oswaldo Cabrera is stepping in at first base while Jon Berti starts at the hot corner.
Apr 28 2024Rizzo went 4-for-4 with a two-run home run, two doubles, a walk and three runs scored in Sunday's 15-5 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was once again spectacular Sunday, ripping a double in his first at-bat, before later adding another double, a single and a two-run homer later in the contest. The long ball was his fifth of the season, and he has now gone deep in back-to-back games and four times in his last six contests. Rizzo is batting .277 with five home runs, 15 RBI and 15 runs scored over 112 at-bats in 29 games in 2024.
Apr 25 2024Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 34-year-old first baseman appears to be heating up. Rizzo has gone yard in back-to-back games after managing only one homer in his first 23 contests this season. His .242/.314/.358 slash line and 11 RBI remain below expectations, but after a tough, concussion-marred 2023 campaign, Rizzo's beginning to look more like the player who slugged 32 homers in 2022.
Apr 24 2024Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the A's. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Paul Blackburn left a 92.4 mph fastball up in the zone in the first inning, and Rizzo clubbed it over the fence in right-center field. The veteran first baseman snapped a 14-game homer drought with the blast, and he's still looking for his first sustained hot streak of 2024. Over 24 contests, Rizzo is slashing .231/.307/.319 with two doubles, two homers and 10 RBI.
Apr 7 2024Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer in New York's win over the Blue Jays on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo finally joined the party in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run shot off Mitch White to score Aaron Judge and increase New York's lead to six runs. It was the first baseman's first home run of the season and he's now hit safely in three straight games after starting the month 0-for-7.
Mar 25 2024Rizzo (lat) will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup for the Yankees in Monday's game against the Mets, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo had to be scratched from the lineup Friday due to some lat tightness, but he's feeling well enough to hit Monday and should be fine to play first base in Thursday's opener in Houston. The 34-year-old has looked sharp at the dish this spring, sporting a 1.189 OPS with two home runs.
Mar 24 2024Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday he expects Rizzo (lat) to be available for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Astros, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran first baseman recently expressed confidence that he'd be available for the season opener, and Boone is now reinforcing that idea. Rizzo was scratched from Friday's spring lineup due to lat tightness, and it's not surprising the Yankees are exercising caution in the lead-up to Opening Day.
Mar 22 2024Rizzo (lat) said Friday that he's "fully confident" he'll be ready for Opening Day, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was a late scratch from Friday's lineup with some lat tightness, which is something he said he deals with from time to time during the regular season. However, the move was made out of an abundance of caution and he's expected to be fine. Fantasy managers who draft this weekend shouldn't have trepidation about picking Rizzo.
Mar 1 2024Rizzo went 2-for-2 with a walk, two home runs and five RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League win over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo ended last season on the 60-day IL due to a concussion, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in early December that the veteran first baseman was expected to be fine for spring training. That has proven to be the case, as Rizzo has played in four Grapefruit League contests so far and is slashing .429/.600/1.429 with the pair of homers and six RBI over 10 plate appearances. Rizzo will be looking to bounce back in 2024 after playing in just 99 contests last year and posting a .706 OPS, his lowest mark since his 49-game stint as a rookie with the Padres in 2011.
Dec 5 2023Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Rizzo (concussion) was probably "game ready" by the end of the regular season and is expected to be fine for spring training, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This tracks with what Rizzo told reporters in late September. The veteran first baseman wound up being limited to just 99 games during the 2023 season and didn't play after early August due to a concussion which he initially suffered back in late May. It sounds like Rizzo has put the issue in the rearview mirror, though, and will look to bounce back in 2024.
Sep 26 2023Rizzo (concussion) said Monday that he is feeling significantly better and expects to have a normal offseason, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo's 2023 season officially ended Sept. 12 when he was moved to the 60-day IL. He had been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome in early August and has shown gradual improvement since then, though it wasn't enough for him to return during the current campaign. Nonetheless, Rizzo said Monday that he is feeling "a lot clearer and pretty strong," adding that he's continued to stay active during his time on the injured list. The veteran first baseman indicated that he may start his offseason training program earlier than usual due to his shortened campaign and stated that he expects to be a full-go for spring training next year.
Sep 12 2023The Yankees transferred Rizzo (concussion) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of right-hander Zach McAllister, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Rizzo had already been ruled out for the season as he continues to recover from concussion symptoms.
Sep 5 2023Manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Rizzo (concussion) will be shut down for the rest of the 2023 season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran first baseman continues to make cognitive improvements but won't be rushed back to game action this year with the Yankees eight games back of the final wild-card spot in the American League. Rizzo faced live pitching in late August for the first time since he landed on the injured list Aug. 3 with post-concussion syndrome, and he should continue working through his rehab program even though he won't be back in the lineup in 2023. The 34-year-old is under contract for 2024 at $17 million and will have over six months to prepare for the start of spring training.
Aug 27 2023Rizzo (concussion) took live at-bats at the Yankees' spring training complex in Florida on Saturday, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo stepped in against live pitching for the first time since he went on the injured list Aug. 3 with post-concussion syndrome. The veteran first baseman had recently advanced to hitting drills, and he appears to be working toward a return to the Yankees before the end of the campaign. Manager Aaron Boone indicated that Rizzo came away from Saturday's session well and has said that the slugger's status is "week-to-week."
Aug 25 2023Rizzo (concussion) took batting practice on the field both Wednesday and Thursday, Max Goodman of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo reported Wednesday that he was feeling good about his progress after being diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome in early August. The veteran slugger is working toward a return, though his status is still considered week-to-week. The Yankees have lost 10 of 11 contests to fall 10 games out of a wild-card spot, but the organization appears willing to be patient with Rizzo and not rush his return.
Aug 19 2023Rizzo (concussion) has been feeling better and showing improved reaction times, and he hit in a batting cage Friday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo landed on the injured list Aug. 3 due to post-concussion syndrome, and an initial timeline for a return was uncertain. Though it's still not clear when the first baseman may return to the field, he's at least confident that he will be back this season. Rizzo said Thursday that recent tests have shown that he's improving, explaining that "all signs are pointing towards quicker, faster, sharper [reaction times]." The veteran added that he hopes to be playing within the next few weeks, stating, "it's about getting back as fast as possible -- obviously as healthy as possible -- but no, shutting down, for me, is not an option, and it hasn't been discussed."
Aug 14 2023Rizzo (concussion) will undergo tests Tuesday in New York, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was reported Friday that Rizzo was close to resuming baseball activities, and the exams he is set to take could reveal whether or not he is ready to do so. Rizzo, per the report, "feels like he is progressing," but it was also noted that he has only done "some light agility in the outfield and walked at an incline on the treadmill."
Aug 11 2023Rizzo (head) said Friday that he is aiming to ramp up his baseball activities within the next week, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was placed on the injured list Aug. 3 due to post-concussion syndrome, stemming from a collision with Fernando Tatis back in late May. He has already played some catch and said he's been performing better in his concussion protocol tests. There's no exact timetable for Rizzo's return to the Yankees' active roster, but the veteran first baseman seems to be moving in an encouraging direction.
Aug 3 2023The Yankees placed Rizzo on the 10-day injured list Thursday with post-concussion syndrome, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This concussion apparently stems all the way back to Rizzo's collision with Fernando Tatis in late May. He passed through concussion protocol at the time but has recently been experiencing residual fogginess, per Hoch. Jake Bauers is playing first base Thursday against the Astros and should continue to get a lot of run there while Rizzo is on the shelf. There is currently no timetable for his return.
Aug 2 2023Rizzo is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jake Bauers will play first base and bat fifth with ace left-hander Shane McClanahan set to start for Tampa Bay. The left-handed-hitting Rizzo has actually fared better versus lefties than righties this year, but he carries a disappointing .706 OPS across 421 overall plate appearances.
Jul 23 2023Rizzo went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 8-5 victory over Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was a huge day for Rizzo after he'd gone just 1-for-21 over his last five games. His home run, a solo shot off Jordan Lyles in the third inning, was his first since May 20, ending a 45-game drought. It's certainly the type of game the Yankees needed from the 33-year-old Rizzo, who came into the game batting just .154 with a .459 OPS in 38 games since the start of June. Overall, he's slashing .253/.338/.398 with 44 runs scored and 41 RBI through 390 plate appearances this season.
Jul 19 2023Rizzo is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is in the middle of a prolonged slump, sporting a .156/.275/.195 batting line with zero home runs since the beginning of June. DJ LeMahieu will handle first base for the Yankees on Wednesday.
Jul 2 2023Rizzo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was set to sit Friday due to an elbow issue before the game was postponed, but he started both games of Saturday's twin bill and went 1-for-6 with three walks. The trip to the bench will end a stretch of 17 straight starts for the 33-year-old. Jake Bauers will man first base in his place Sunday while Oswaldo Cabrera receives a start in left field.
Jul 1 2023Rizzo (elbow) is starting as the Yankees' designated hitter in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After taking a pitch to the elbow Thursday, Rizzo was slated for an off day Friday before the game was postponed. After a day of rest, Rizzo will return to the lineup without missing a game. The 33-year-old first baseman is 3-for-15 with three runs scored across his last five games.
Jun 30 2023Rizzo (elbow) is not in the lineup Friday at St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As expected, Rizzo will get the night off after taking a pitch off his elbow late in Thursday's series finale against the Athletics. X-rays turned up negative for any fractures, and he should be able to return Saturday. DJ LeMahieu is starting at first base and batting leadoff.
Jun 29 2023X-rays came back negative on Rizzo's elbow after he got hit by a pitch in Thursday's win over the Athletics, Max Goodman of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo made an early exit from the contest and Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that the veteran first baseman will likely sit out of Friday's series opener in St. Louis, but it's not an overly serious concern. Rizzo finished 1-for-3 with the HBP and a run scored Thursday in Oakland and is batting .269/.357/.430 with 11 homers and 37 RBI across 75 games this season.
Jun 21 2023Rizzo went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in Tuesday's win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo notched just his second multi-hit game since May 26 and picked up just his second and third extra-base hits since May 23. The 33-year-old has been going through a miserable slump at the plate and had just four hits in 13 games during June before Tuesday's three-hit effort. He has five RBI over his last four games but is still homerless since May 20. Rizzo is now slashing .270/.345/.441 with 11 homers, 37 RBI, 34 runs and a 21:64 BB:K over 287 plate appearances.
Jun 10 2023Rizzo will sit Saturday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo missed the last three games of May while dealing with a neck issue. He's since returned to start the first seven games of June but went 1-for-27 at the plate, a slump which could indicate that he's not yet back to full health. DJ LeMahieu starts at first base Saturday.
Jun 2 2023Rizzo (neck) is hitting third and playing first base versus the Dodgers on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo missed missed three consecutive games while dealing with his neck issues, but the veteran first baseman is back in the middle of the lineup to begin the three-game set against the Dodgers. Jake Bauers retreats to the bench with Rizzo back in the fold.
May 31 2023Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that he plans for Rizzo (neck) to return to the lineup Friday against the Dodgers, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boone also noted that Rizzo would be available off the bench for Wednesday's contest against Seattle. Rizzo has now missed three starts due to neck problems, but there seems to be a definite end in sight.
May 30 2023Rizzo (neck) will remain out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in an interview on the Talkin' Yanks podcast. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The team had initially expressed confidence Rizzo wouldn't miss any starts after he exited Sunday's game versus the Padres with a neck injury, but he'll now be out of the lineup for a second straight day. Boone didn't reveal what his full lineup would be, so it's not yet clear who will be playing first base in Rizzo's place.
May 29 2023Rizzo (neck) is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo exited Sunday's win over the Padres with a neck injury he suffered in a collision with Fernando Tatis at first base on a pickoff attempt. While he had been expected to start Monday, the Yankees have ultimately elected to sit him. DJ LeMahieu will play first base and Oswaldo Cabrera will be at third.
May 28 2023Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Sunday's 10-7 win over the Padres that he anticipates Rizzo (neck) being able to play Monday in Seattle, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo hurt his neck after colliding with Fernando Tatis on a pickoff attempt at first base in the top of the sixth inning, but the former was initially able to stay in the game before exiting the contest when the Yankees returned to the field in the top of the seventh. Boone indicated that initial tests on Rizzo revealed nothing concerning, supporting the notion that the 33-year-old's removal from the contest was precautionary. Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a run scored prior to his exit.
May 24 2023Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a double, a run and an RBI in Tuesday's extra-inning victory against Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was the only player on either side with three hits in the contest, and his fifth-inning double knocked in a run. The veteran first baseman has three multi-hit performances over his past four games, batting .444 (8-for-18) with two homers and six RBI over that span. He's on pace for one of his best campaigns at the plate, slashing .310/.388/.533 with 11 long balls, 29 RBI and 30 runs through 209 plate appearances.
May 20 2023Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's win over the Reds in 10 innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo feasted on the Cincinnati bullpen, driving in Gleyber Torres in the fifth inning on a single off Alex Young and hitting a two-run home run off Ian Gibaut in the 10th inning to give the Yankees a 7-4 advantage. Saturday's long ball was his second in as many games and fifth in his last eight appearances to bring his season total up to 11. Though the left-hander has done his damage against the Reds on the road, Rizzo remains a massive beneficiary of Yankee Stadium's short right-field porch, with eight of his 11 home runs coming at home.
May 16 2023Rizzo is not in the Yankees' lineup for Tuesday's game in Toronto, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a rare day off for Rizzo in the divisional matchup. DJ LeMahieu will play first base and Isiah Kiner-Falefa will be at third base.
May 15 2023Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been red hot of late -- he now has three home runs in three games while going 19-for-48 with a 1.130 OPS in his last 12 contests. The 33-year-old first baseman is slashing .312/.395/.526 with nine homers, 27 runs scored and 22 RBI through 177 plate appearances this season.
May 13 2023Rizzo went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Friday's 6-5 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran first baseman played hero for the Yankees on his own bobblehead night, taking Tampa Bay opener Trevor Kelley deep for a solo shot in the first inning before launching what proved to be the game-winning, two-run blast in the eighth off Jason Adam. Rizzo has caught fire in May, delivering six multi-hit performances in the last 10 games and batting .375 (15-for-40) with three of his eight homers on the year over that stretch.
May 7 2023Rizzo went 1-for-3 with three walks and a solo home run in Sunday's 8-7 loss to Tampa Bay in 10 innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo's sixth home run of the year opened the scoring in the third, marking his first long ball since April 23. He has hit safely in four straight games and earned his first three-walk outing of the season Sunday. Rizzo is off to a great start in his second full season with New York and isn't facing any competition for playing time, though the 33-year-old may still take an occasional day off to stay fresh.
Apr 4 2023Rizzo is not in the Yankees' lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo swatted his first home run of the season Monday but will grab a seat a day later with the Phillies throwing left-hander Matt Strahm. DJ LeMahieu is at first base.
Apr 3 2023Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk Monday in an 8-1 win against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo recorded his first long ball of the campaign in the fifth inning, swatting a two-run shot to right field to give New York a 5-1 lead. The first baseman has hit safely in all four of New York's contests this season, going a collective 4-for-12 with four RBI and a 4:2 BB:K.
Mar 14 2023Rizzo (back) is back in the Yankees' Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday versus the Blue Jays, Erik Boland of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo had to be scratched from Sunday's lineup with a back issue, but he took batting practice Monday and is at first base and hitting third Tuesday. The veteran's back has given his problems off and on the last few years and will likely require maintenance days in 2023, but it's not much of a concern right now.
Mar 13 2023Rizzo (back) took batting practice Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been down for a couple days due to a back injury that has given him trouble off and on for a few years now. He's expected to be fine, though, and could return to Grapefruit League action as soon as Tuesday.
Mar 12 2023Manager Aaron Boone said Rizzo was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup due to a "cranky back," Erik Boland of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 33-year-old managed back stiffness throughout the 2022 campaign, and it appears he'll battle the issue again this season. Boone doesn't believe the flare-up is serious this time around, and Rizzo could be back in the lineup Tuesday. However, it's worth keeping an eye on Rizzo as the rest of camp progresses, as the injury seems likely to linger given his past issues in the area.
Feb 20 2023Rizzo said Monday that the back stiffness that hampered him throughout last season is no longer bothering him, though he added that he expects to have to manage it during the coming campaign, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo's back issues caused him to miss time in each of the final three months of the regular season last year, though that didn't keep the Yankees from re-signing him to a two-year, $34 million contract in November. The veteran first baseman acknowledged Monday the likelihood of the issue rearing its head again, saying, "I think I'd be crazy to sit here and say I won't have any back issues here." Rizzo added that he used the offseason to focus on helping his back recover and that he's confident that the area can be managed with daily preparation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone voiced the same opinion, stating, "[I]t's really important that he stays on top of his daily routine -- his tedious exercise routine, tedious exercises from a core standpoint that put him in the best position to navigate [the back issue]."
Nov 15 2022Rizzo is re-signing with the Yankees on Tuesday for two years and $34 million with a $17 million club option for 2025, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Yankees will bring at least one of their free-agent sluggers back after Rizzo rejected the qualifying offer. Rizzo's left-handed power is a great fit in Yankee Stadium and in this righty-heavy lineup. The 33-year-old first baseman hit .224/.338/.480 with 32 home runs and six steals in 130 games this past season.
Nov 7 2022Rizzo has opted out of his 2023 contract with the Yankees and has become a free agent, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo's contract included a $16 million player option for the 2023 campaign, but he's elected to decline that option and test the waters in free agency. He slashed .224/.338/.480 with 32 homers, 75 RBI, six stolen bases and 77 runs scored through 130 games in 2022 with the Yankees.
Oct 24 2022Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored and was hit by a pitch in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Astros during Game 4 of the ALCS. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo reached base on his first three at-bats Sunday night, getting hit by a pitch in the first inning, hitting an RBI double in the second and tying the game with an RBI single in the fourth. The 33-year-old bounced back after two hitless performances, recording his eighth RBI of the postseason, but his efforts were not enough as the Astros escaped with a one-run victory to close out the ALCS. Rizzo finished the 2022 postseason hitting .276 with two homers and eight RBI.
Oct 19 2022Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, one walk and a hit-by-pitch during the 4-2 loss to the Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo hit a fastball from Rafael Montero 387 feet to right field in the top of the eighth inning, but the Yankees were unable to complete the comeback in Game 1. The 33-year-old first baseman has continued to do a solid job of reaching base during the postseason. He is now 6-for-19 with four walks and two HBP, which has helped accumulate a .480 OBP. On the surface, Rizzo has a tough matchup against southpaw Framber Valdez in Game 2, but he actually achieved better numbers across the board versus lefty pitching than righty pitching in the last two seasons.
Oct 4 2022Rizzo is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo went 0-for-3 during Game 1 and will take a seat for the nightcap. DJ LeMahieu will move to first base while Oswaldo Cabrera covers the keystone for New York.
Oct 3 2022Rizzo isn't starting Monday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is getting a day off after he went 2-for-12 with two runs and four strikeouts over the last three games. DJ LeMahieu will take over at first base and bat fifth.
Sep 28 2022Rizzo isn't in the lineup Wednesday against Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was productive over the first two games of the series in Toronto, going 4-for-8 with a double and an RBI. He'll get a breather for the series finale while Marwin Gonzalez starts at first base and bats sixth.
Sep 25 2022Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in a 7-5 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh inning by taking John Schreiber deep to right center for his 32nd home run of the season. Rizzo has now tied his career-high total. He has previously reached the 32-HR mark on three separate occasions in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Rizzo appears on the brink of setting a new career-high home run total in what remains of the season.
Sep 23 2022Rizzo isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo holds a .895 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, but he will sit out the start of Friday's game with Rich Hill on the mound for the Red Sox. Marwin Gonzalez will take his spot at first base and bat eighth.
Sep 18 2022Rizzo went 3-for-6 with a solo homer and two total runs during Sunday's 12-8 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo returned from the injured list for Sunday's series finale against Milwaukee after missing 17 days due to a head injury. He didn't miss a beat in his return to the lineup, and he's now hit .324 with three homers, seven runs and four RBI over his last 10 games.
Sep 16 2022Rizzo (head) participated in live batting practice Friday, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo "looked good" according to Scott Effross, who threw against Rizzo as part of his own rehab from a shoulder injury. The Yankees are hoping to activate Rizzo on Sunday ahead of their final game in Milwaukee.
Sep 13 2022Rizzo (head) will not play until this weekend in Milwaukee at the earliest, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo said Tuesday that he is targeting a return either this weekend in Milwaukee or next week at home for the Pirates. A few days ago it was reported that Rizzo is no longer experiencing headaches. Marwin Gonzalez has been starting at first base lately.
Sep 10 2022Rizzo (head) received a blood patch Friday, which has helped alleviate his migraines, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo received an epidural injection last week to address lower-back pain, and he was experiencing headaches in recent days. The 33-year-old rejoined the Yankees on Saturday and is expected to ramp up baseball activities. Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that he hopes Rizzo will be able to return prior to the end of the Yankees' upcoming road trip.
Sep 9 2022Rizzo (head) will attempt to resume baseball activities soon and could start ramping back up if his headaches are gone, per MLB.com. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been dealing with migraines since receiving an epidural injection last week to alleviate the pain in his lower back. He was directed by doctors to rest for 48 hours before attempting to resume activities, and he's scheduled to start "moving around" Friday. If that goes well and the headaches have subsided, Rizzo could be on track to return when eligible next week.
Sep 6 2022Rizzo, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, is dealing with headaches that will require additional testing, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports. The team believes the epidural improved Rizzo's back issue. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He had been out with a back issue and was trending toward returning to the lineup soon, but these headaches will be what delays his return. Rizzo's timeline and status could become more clear following the additional tests. Ronald Guzman was promoted to offer first base depth in the short term.
Sep 5 2022Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Rizzo (back) could be able to rejoin the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After Rizzo received an epidural Friday to address his lingering back injury, the Yankees were initially targeting Tuesday for his return to the lineup. However, while Rizzo's back is improving, he experienced headaches related to the injection and is back home recovering. While a Tuesday return now looks to be off the table, Rizzo may still be just two days away from playing if he continues to move in the right direction in his recovery. DJ LeMahieu is out of the lineup for Monday's series opener with Minnesota but is expected to continue serving as the Yankees' primary first baseman for the duration of Rizzo's absence.
Sep 2 2022Rizzo (back) received an epidural Friday and will likely be unavailable until at least Tuesday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been dealing with a back issue for a few days and recently remained in California to see a specialist. He'll be forced to miss the Yankees' weekend series against the Rays, but manager Aaron Boone hopes that the first baseman will be able to avoid a trip to the injured list.
Sep 1 2022Rizzo remained in California to visit a back specialist and could miss the Yankees' weekend series against the Rays, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo's injury didn't seem particularly serious at the time of the diagnosis, as manager Aaron Boone said a stint on the injured list was not in consideration. However, the visit to a specialist is a noteworthy development -- at least until further word emerges on the results of the evaluation.
Aug 31 2022Rizzo is absent from Wednesday's lineup due to a back injury, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Aaron Boone said a trip to the injured list isn't currently being considered, though Rizzo could be out of the lineup for a couple days. The 33-year-old will have the benefit of two consecutive days off before Friday's series opener in Tampa Bay since New York has a scheduled day off Thursday.
Aug 30 2022Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo homered for the second straight game, taking Mike Mayers deep in the second inning Tuesday. This long ball was Rizzo's 30th of the season, making this the first time he's reached that threshold since 2017. He's only two homers shy of his career high, a mark he reached in three of four seasons between 2014 and 2017. In 2022, the first baseman is slashing .225/.339/.493 with 71 RBI, 71 runs scored and six stolen bases through 116 contests.
Aug 26 2022Rizzo isn't starting Friday against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will get a day off after going 5-for-15 with three runs, an RBI, two walks and five strikeouts over the last four games. DJ LeMahieu is shifting to first base while Gleyber Torres starts at the keystone.
Aug 18 2022Rizzo went 1-for-4 with one homer, one RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 8-7 victory over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo led off the eighth inning with a home run off lefty reliever Brooks Raley to tie the game for the Yankees. After hitting homers in four straight games from July 29 to August second, the first baseman has fallen into a slump with a .097 batting average and .410 OPS in 31 at-bats over his last nine games. The 33-year-old is more productive at home with a .545 slugging percentage and 18 home runs in 200 at-bats compared to a .440 slugging percentage and 10 home runs in 175 at-bats away from Yankee Stadium.
Aug 10 2022Rizzo (back) is starting at first base and batting third in Wednesday's series finale against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will be back in the lineup after missing the last five games while nursing lower-back tightness. Prior to going down with the injury, the 33-year-old went 6-for-19 with four homers, eight RBI and six runs over his last five games.
Aug 9 2022Rizzo (back) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will sit out for the fifth straight contest as he continues to deal with lower-back tightness. According to Jack Curry of YES Network, manager Aaron Boone said the 33-year-old will go through a full workout Tuesday, and if all goes well he should be back in the lineup Wednesday. DJ LeMahieu will remain at first base with Gleyber Torres receiving another start at the keystone.
Aug 8 2022Rizzo (back) isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is set to miss his fourth consecutive contest due to lower-back tightness. He'll continue to be considered day-to-day until more information on his status becomes known. DJ LeMahieu draws another start at first base in Rizzo's absence.
Aug 7 2022Rizzo (back) remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: DJ LeMahieu will pick up another start at first base while Rizzo takes a seat for the third consecutive game as he continues to contend with lower-back tightness. Per Erik Boland of Newsday, manager Aaron Boone said Rizzo is "better" Sunday, but the Yankees are likely to stay away from the 32-year-old as a pinch-hitting option off the bench with the hope he's ready to rejoin the lineup for Monday's series opener in Seattle.
Aug 6 2022Rizzo (back) is unlikely to play Sunday against the Cardinals, according to Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo did not rule out taking the field Sunday, but when asked if he would play, he responded, "realistically probably not." Rizzo's status will be known for sure when the Yankees release their starting lineup for Sunday's contest.
Aug 5 2022Rizzo, who was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Cardinals, is dealing with lower-back tightness, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He missed four games due to lower-back stiffness in early July, as Rivera notes. For now it seems like Rizzo is day-to-day with the issue, and the Yankees have enough depth to give him a few days to get right if necessary. Aaron Hicks was added to Friday's lineup after Rizzo was scratched.
Aug 3 2022Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two total runs scored in Tuesday's loss to Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo first scored in the fourth inning on a Josh Donaldson double. He then hit a solo shot in the sixth inning, his 27th home run of the year. Rizzo is tied with Pete Alonso for the fifth most home runs in baseball. The Yankees' first baseman extended his hit streak to four games after Tuesday's performance, bringing his batting average up from .225 to .230 during that span.
Aug 1 2022Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Monday's 7-2 victory versus the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo gave the Yankees an early lead with his three-run home run in the first inning. This was the veteran's third straight game with a long ball and his second consecutive contest with three RBI. Rizzo is tied for sixth in the majors with 26 homers on the season.
Jul 30 2022Rizzo isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo started the last seven games and slashed .240/.387/.520 with two homers, a double, five runs, two RBI, two walks and three strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Aaron Judge serves as the designated hitter with Aaron Hicks starting in center field.
Jul 27 2022Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday in a loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo hit the second of back-to-back homers with Aaron Judge in the first inning, though the Yankees scored only one more run over the remainder of the contest. The long ball was Rizzo's first in a span of 15 games and his 23rd of the campaign. Rizzo's power has been streaky this season -- he hit nine homers in April and 10 in June but only two apiece in May and July to date.
Jul 21 2022Rizzo isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo started at first base during Thursday's matinee and went 1-for-4. He'll get a breather while Aaron Judge serves as the designated hitter with Tim Locastro starting in right field.
Jul 17 2022Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a double and three runs Saturday in the Yankees' 14-1 win over the Red Sox. He was also hit by a pitch. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has failed to produce a home run in his last nine games, but he's gotten on base at a .378 clip over that stretch to ensure the prolific Yankees offense keeps humming. He came around to score each time he reached base Saturday, with Matt Carpenter driving him in each time as part of a seven-RBI day.
Jul 10 2022Rizzo went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run, two RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo missed four games due to lower-back stiffness, but he was productive in his return to action Saturday. The veteran knocked in a run with a double in each of the sixth and 10th innings, and he felt spry enough to try to steal third after the latter two-bagger (though he was thrown out). Rizzo had gone just 4-for-34 at the plate over his previous 11 games prior to the injury absence, but he had homered three times in his past four contests.
Jul 9 2022Rizzo (back) is starting Saturday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo missed the last four games due to lower-back stiffness but is starting at first base and batting third during Saturday's matchup at Fenway Park. The 32-year-old hit just .148 with three home runs, five runs, three RBI, seven walks and nine strikeouts over his nine games prior to his absence.
Jul 8 2022Rizzo (back) remains on the bench Friday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will miss his fourth consecutive game while dealing with lower-back stiffness. He went through a full pregame workout Friday, per Meredith Marakovits of YES Network, which seemingly gives him a chance to return Saturday. DJ LeMahieu starts at first base Friday.
Jul 7 2022Rizzo (back) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will be out of the lineup for a third consecutive game after he was scratched Tuesday due to lower-back stiffness. He hasn't appeared in either of the last two games, but it's not yet clear whether he could be available off the bench for Thursday's series opener in Boston.
Jul 6 2022Rizzo (back) isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to lower-back stiffness and will be held out for a second consecutive matchup Wednesday. It's not yet clear if he'll be available off the bench or able to return to the starting nine for Thursday's series opener against the Red Sox. Giancarlo Stanton is serving as the designated hitter while Matt Carpenter starts in right field.
Jul 5 2022Rizzo was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Pirates due to lower-back stiffness, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was penciled in to start at first base, per usual, but the back issue will result in him sitting out at least one game. DJ LeMahieu will shift to first base and Gleyber Torres will move to the keystone while Matt Carpenter enters the lineup as the designated hitter.
Jul 2 2022Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in a 6-1 win over the Guardians in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo got the Yankees on the board with a fourth-inning blast. The first baseman has hit safely in three of the last four games after enduring a brutal 0-for-18 skid near the end of June. He's slashing .225/.338/.513 with 22 homers, 52 RBI, 47 runs scored, six stolen bases and 10 doubles through 76 contests, and he's received a couple of breathers lately to reset as he looks to get back in a rhythm at the plate.
Jul 1 2022Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Thursday's loss to Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Yankees were mostly stifled by Astros pitching in the loss, but Rizzo ensured that they didn't get shut out with his solo blast off Luis Garcia in the sixth inning. The long ball was just his second hit over his past 27 at-bats, though both of those knocks have left the yard. Rizzo finished June with a .234/.357/.553 slash line along with 10 homers, 22 RBI and three stolen bases over 27 contests.
Jun 29 2022Rizzo is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo exited late in Monday's win over Oakland after he was hit in the right elbow by a pitch, but he was able to start at first base in Tuesday's 2-1 victory, finishing 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. The Yankees haven't indicated that Rizzo's elbow is still bothering him, so his absence Wednesday looks to be the result of the two teams playing a day game after a night game. DJ LeMahieu will cover first base in Rizzo's stead.
Jun 28 2022Rizzo (elbow) will start at first base and bat third in Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo looked to be in considerable pain after he took a 95 mile-per-hour fastball off his right elbow in Monday's 9-5 win, prompting the Yankees to pull him from the contest an inning later. His early exit looks to have been mostly precautionary, as Rizzo wasn't diagnosed with any structural damage to the elbow and is back in the lineup just one day later. Rizzo's ability to quickly bounce back from the injury scare is a welcome sight for fantasy managers, whom he rewarded with his 20th home run of the season Monday prior to his departure.
Jun 27 2022Rizzo (elbow) expects to be in the lineup Tuesday against Oakland, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was forced to exit Monday's game in the eighth inning after getting hit by a pitch in the elbow. However, he was diagnosed with just a bruise and is not expected to need further testing. Prior to being removed, Rizzo recorded his 20th home run and scored a pair of runs.
Jun 21 2022Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Monday in a 4-2 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo gave the Yankees an early lead, going deep to right field in the first inning. He added a sixth-inning single but struck out in his other two at-bats. Rizzo appears to have regained his power stroke, smashing four home runs and driving in eight runs over his past five games.
Jun 20 2022Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a solo home run Sunday in a loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was initially given the day off, but he came in to pinch hit for Kyle Higashioka in the eighth inning and lined a solo homer to right field. He received another at-bat in the ninth but grounded out to end the game. Rizzo has gone deep in three of his past four games and is batting .545 (6-for-11) with seven RBI and a stolen base over that stretch.
Jun 19 2022Rizzo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo started the past 14 games and will receive a day off after posting a .992 OPS with six home runs and 16 RBI during that stretch. DJ LeMahieu will man first base while Gleyber Torres starts at the keystone.
Jun 18 2022Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a walk, a grand slam and a second run scored in Friday's 12-3 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His fifth-inning blast off Trevor Richards capped an eight-run frame for the Yankees that put the game out of reach. Rizzo has gone yard in back-to-back games while batting .271 (16-for-59) through 15 contests in June with six of his 17 homers and 18 of his 47 RBI on the season.
Jun 17 2022Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, a home run and two RBI on Thursday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo delivered his 16th home run of the season in dramatic fashion to walk off the Rays. He now has five homers in his last 12 games, delivering 12 RBI and nine runs scored in that span. Rizzo also tallied his sixth stolen base of the season, matching his total for the entire 2021 campaign. Overall, he has a .223/.321/.485 line across 265 plate appearances.
Jun 14 2022Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base in a 2-0 win Tuesday over Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo singled and eventually stole third base in the eighth inning. The veteran has reached base safely in 11 straight games, posting a .267/.340/.533 with four homers. While he's posting his lowest batting average and OBP of his career, his .477 SLG is his highest since 2019.
Jun 12 2022Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in an 8-0 victory versus the Cubs on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo hit the last of the Yankees' six solo homers in the game, going deep to right field in the fifth inning. The long ball was his fourth over his past eight contests and 15th overall this season. Rizzo is on pace to notch his first 30-homer season since he hit 32 for the Cubs in 2017.
Jun 8 2022Rizzo went 1-for-6 with one homer, three RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's victory over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Although Rizzo picked up only one hit in the game Tuesday, he made it count, sending Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu home on the seventh-inning blast. After hitting only two homers in May, Rizzo already has three in June. Things could be looking up for Rizzo going forward as he looks to improve on his .213/.314/.487 slash line.
Jun 5 2022Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a run and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo homered in the first two games of the series against the Tigers and showcased his speed in Sunday's series finale despite failing to record an extra-base hit. Over his last six games, the 32-year-old has hit .227 with two homers, a double, seven RBI, four runs, a stolen base and four strikeouts.
Jun 2 2022Rizzo isn't in the lineup for the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader, but he'll get a breather in the nightcap. DJ LeMahieu will shift to first base while Marwin Gonzalez enters the lineup at the hot corner.
May 25 2022Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in a 7-6, extra-innings victory versus the Orioles on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo kicked off the scoring in the contest with a solo shot to right field in the first inning. The long ball was just his second in May after he went deep nine times in April. Rizzo has struggled this month, slashing .189/.307/.351 with 13 runs, five RBI and a stolen base across 21 games.
May 19 2022Rizzo was ejected from Thursday's game against the Orioles in the top of the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and a strikeout to begin Thursday's matchup, but he was tossed after striking out in the eighth inning. The 32-year-old has now recorded hits in seven of his last eight games and will likely be available for Friday's series opener against the White Sox.
May 17 2022Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 6-2 victory against Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo scored the game's first run after reaching on a fielder's choice in the third inning, and he gave New York some extra cushion with a ninth-inning solo shot to left field. The long ball was Rizzo's first since April 29. The veteran got off to a hot start with a .284 average and nine homers over his first 20 games, but he has cooled off with a .146/.241/.271 slash line, one homer and three RBI over 13 contests in May.
May 14 2022Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in a loss to the White Sox on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo extended his modest on-base streak to five games with an infield single in the eighth inning, and he subsequently stole third base. However, the first baseman has gone 12 games without a long ball after slugging nine homers across his first 20 contests of the campaign. He's slashing .233/.350/.526 across 137 plate appearances overall.
May 13 2022Rizzo will sit Friday against the White Sox, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo sits for just the third time this season. He's impressed in his first full season as a Yankee, hitting .232/.353/.536 with nine homers, though he's slipped to a .493 OPS over his last 11 games. DJ LeMahieu will handle first base Friday.
May 9 2022Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Monday's win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo plated the only run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning on a double to left center. It marked the first baseman's first double since Apr. 28 against Baltimore and his first RBI of the month after going just 2-for-20 in his first six games of the month.
May 1 2022Rizzo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will get a well-deserved breather after he started in each of the Yankees' last 11 games while turning in a monstrous 1.195 OPS fueled by six home runs and three doubles. DJ LeMahieu will fill in for Rizzo as the Yankees' first baseman.
Apr 30 2022Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 12-2 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran first baseman crushed a Kris Bubic fastball to center field in the first inning, setting the tone for the night. Rizzo has hit safely in nine straight games, slashing .359/.375/.897 over that stretch with six of his nine homers on the season and 13 of his 21 RBI.
Apr 26 2022Rizzo went 3-for-4 with three home runs, a walk, four runs scored and six RBI in a 12-8 win Tuesday over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo homered off Jordan Lyles in the third and fifth innings and capped off his career night with a long ball off lefty Alexander Wells in the eighth. It was the first three-homer game of his career. The first baseman now leads all of baseball with eight home runs, half of those coming in the last two contests. With a .283/.411/.733 batting line this year, Rizzo is looking more like the player that hit .284/.388/.513 from 2014 to 2019 that the one that hit .240/.343/.432 the last two seasons.
Apr 24 2022Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs, two RBI and a strikeout in Sunday's 10-2 win over the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo extended his hitting streak to five games during Sunday's victory, and he has four extra-base hits across that span. The 32-year-old has showcased plenty of power early in 2022, slashing .250/.382/.571 with five homers, three doubles, 12 RBI, nine runs and two stolen bases.
Apr 20 2022Rizzo went 0-for-2 with three walks, a run and a stolen base Tuesday in a 4-2 victory versus the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo came into the contest having gone 1-for-13 over his previous four games. Though he wasn't able to produce any hits Tuesday, he reached base three times via walks and stole his first base of the campaign. Rizzo is hitting just .200 on the season but has a .404 on-base percentage thanks to an 8:7 BB:K across 47 plate appearances.
Apr 17 2022Rizzo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Erik Boland of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo started the first nine games of the season but will take a seat for Sunday's series finale. DJ LeMahieu will man first base in his place while Gleyber Torres starts at the keystone.
Apr 14 2022Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a single, a walk and a strikeout during Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo clubbed his third homer of the season in the fifth inning off Toronto starter Jose Berrios and continues to mash as the Yankees' de facto leadoff hitter. Through the first week of the season, the veteran lefty is slashing .300/.481/1.281.
Apr 9 2022Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-2 victory against Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second straight game, Rizzo kickstarted the Yankees' offense with a long ball, as he drove a two-run homer to right field in the fourth inning Saturday to tie the score 2-2. The veteran first baseman has gone 2-for-7 with four RBI through his first two games.
Apr 8 2022Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in Friday's 6-5 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Red Sox scored three runs in the top of the first inning Friday, but Rizzo helped to bring the score closer by homering in his first plate appearance of the 2022 campaign. He hit .249 with eight homers, 32 runs, 21 RBI and two steals across 49 appearances with the Yankees last year and will attempt to build upon his results in his age-32 season.
Apr 3 2022Rizzo went 2-for-2 with a home run and an additional run scored Saturday in a Grapefruit League win over the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo left the yard for the first time this spring when he belted a solo shot to right field in the third inning. The veteran first baseman has seen action in nine exhibition games, slashing .333/.429/.500 with three RBI and two stolen bases over 28 plate appearances.
Mar 15 2022Rizzo agreed to a contract with the Yankees on Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a two-year deal worth $32 million that includes an opt out after the first year, per Rogers, as Rizzo will return to the Yankees after being acquired from the Cubs ahead of the 2021 trade deadline. New York was also in the mix to sign Freddie Freeman but will instead bring back a familiar face. Rizzo hit .248/.344/.440 with 22 home runs and 61 RBI in 141 total games last year, and he'll be back with the Yankees for at least one full season.
Oct 6 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two strikeouts in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Game. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo brought Tuesday's winner-take-all game within two runs with his homer in the sixth inning, but the rest of the team was unable to generate enough offensive production to spark a comeback. The 32-year-old appeared in 141 games with the Cubs and Yankees this year, and he slashed .248/.344/.440 with 22 homers, 61 RBI and six stolen bases. He's slated to become a free agent this winter.
Oct 2 2021Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's 12-2 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The first baseman took Shane Baz deep in the bottom of the first inning, but the Yankees were already in a 3-0 hole at that point. After going 16 games without a homer, Rizzo has gone yard twice in the last three games to give him 22 on the year, including eight since joining New York at the trade deadline.
Sep 30 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo made his lone hit of the contest count, and he now has 21 home runs on the season. It was his first long ball since Sept. 10, and he had hit just .226/.349/.283 in 16 games since heading into Thursday's action. On the campaign, Rizzo has chipped in 72 runs scored and 60 RBI while maintaining a .339 wOBA and 112 wRC+.
Sep 22 2021Rizzo isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo started each of the last three games and went 4-for-9 with three runs, an RBI and a walk. Luke Voit will start at first base and bat second.
Sep 18 2021Rizzo is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has gone 3-for-22 at the plate over his last seven games. He'll hit the bench Saturday, with Luke Voit taking over at first base.
Sep 13 2021Rizzo is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo sits after starting 13 straight games at first base. He hit .292/.370/.542 over that stretch but went hitless in his last two contests. Luke Voit starts at first base.
Sep 11 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 10-3 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Yankees were routed against their crosstown rivals Friday, so Rizzo's ninth-inning solo shot had little impact on the overall result. Still, the long ball was his second in as many days and extended his hitting streak to six games. Over that stretch, Rizzo is slashing .348/.375/.609 with five RBI.
Sep 9 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 6-4 loss to Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The first baseman tied the game at 2-2 with his sixth-inning blast off Toronto starter Jose Berrios, but the score didn't stay even for long. Rizzo has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games, going 17-for-52 (.327) in that span. The recent surge has lifted his season slash line to .252/.345/.447 with 19 homers, 56 RBI, 60 runs scored and six stolen bases across 493 plate appearances.
Sep 1 2021Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo went deep off Jaime Barria in the fourth inning, putting the Yankees up 1-0. In addition, he doubled and scored in the eighth. That was only his second home run in August, as he hit just .209 in the month. The 31-year-old is slashing .248/.345/.448 with 18 long balls, 52 RBI, 57 runs and six steals in 461 plate appearances this season.
Aug 31 2021Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk an RBI and three runs scored in Monday's 8-7 loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo got things rolling quickly Monday with an RBI double to left his first time up to give the Yankees an early 1-0 lead. He would later score that inning and scored each of the two other times he reached base. Rizzo had been struggling to a .156/.222/.188 slash line over the last nine games entering Monday's contest since returning from the COVID-19 injured list Aug. 18. The team is hoping it can continue to roll with him at first base but the Yankees have Luke Voit on deck if Rizzo's struggles persist.
Aug 29 2021Rizzo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After posting a .963 OPS in his first nine games with the Yankees before landing on the COVID-19 injured list earlier this month, Rizzo has struggled to recapture his prior form upon returning to the active roster. In his eight games since being activated, Rizzo is slashing .161/.229/.194 with one extra-base hit (a double). The Yankees aren't yet ready to pull the plug on him as their everyday first baseman, but with a quality backup option on hand in Luke Voit, Rizzo could begin to see more than one day off per week if his bat doesn't start heating up soon.
Aug 20 2021Rizzo is not starting Friday agains the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is 1-for-7 with three RBI in two games since returning from the COVID-19 IL. He'll yield first base duties to Luke Voit to start Friday's contest but should be a top option off the New York bench.
Aug 19 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Returning to the lineup for the first time since Aug. 7 following his recovery from a positive COVID-19 test, Rizzo came up big for the Yankees in his second at-bat of the contest. With two outs and runners on first and second, Rizzo scorched a line drive off the glove of Bobby Dalbec that scored both runners and gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead. He's now driven in eight runs through his first 10 games with the Yankees, and run-producing and run-scoring opportunities figure to remain plentiful for Rizzo while he occupies the No. 2 spot in a potent lineup.
Aug 18 2021Rizzo (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list and will start in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Sweeny Murti of Sports Radio 66 WFAN reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 32-year-old tested positive for COVID-19 on Aug. 8, but he participated in baseball activities Tuesday after he cleared the league's health and safety protocols. He'll return from the IL to bat second in Wednesday's series finale against Boston, while Luke Voit will move into a backup role now that Rizzo is back in action.
Aug 17 2021Rizzo (illness) was cleared to participate in baseball activities on the field prior to Tuesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Rizzo appears to have cleared all health and safety-related protocols after testing positive for COVID-19 more than a week ago, the Yankees won't yet activate him from the injured list. Instead, the Yankees will likely wait and see how he feels physically after taking batting practice and going through drills Tuesday before determining if he's ready to return for Wednesday's series finale with Boston. Whenever Rizzo is reinstated from the IL, he should quickly take back everyday duties at first base from Luke Voit.
Aug 16 2021Rizzo (illness) will go through a cardiac screening Monday, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Aaron Boone is hopeful that Rizzo will be able to hit and take grounders at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday if Monday's screening goes well. While the 32-year-old won't be activated right away, he appears to be trending toward a return. Rizzo has been sidelined since Aug. 8 after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Aug 14 2021Rizzo (illness) is feeling much better and could resume baseball activities Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been out since Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19. It remains unclear exactly when he'll return, but the Yankees don't believe he'll require much time to build back up to full strength once he's cleared to practice.
Aug 8 2021Manager Aaron Boone announced Sunday that Rizzo tested positive for COVID-19 and will be placed on the injured list, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo started all nine games since being acquired from the Cubs ahead of the trade deadline, but he'll now be unavailable for at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19. Luke Voit (knee) was activated from the injured list in a corresponding move and should see the bulk of the playing time at first base in the meantime for the Yankees.
Aug 4 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 10-3 win over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The first baseman continues to make an impact early on in his Yankees tenures, as this was his third homer in six games since he was traded from the Cubs. Rizzo also has an RBI in all six of his games in pinstripes. Overall, he's slashing .257/.357/.469 with 17 long balls, 46 RBI, 50 runs scored and four stolen bases through 403 plate appearances this season.
Aug 1 2021Rizzo went 2-for-2 with a home run, two additional runs scored and two walks in Saturday's win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has now homered in his two games with the Yankees after being traded from the Cubs before the deadline, and while the sample size is extremely small, the slugging first baseman has gone 4-for-5 with two homers and three walks. Already, Rizzo has done something no other Yankees player ever has. He's the first to reach base eight times in his first two games with the franchise.
Jul 30 2021Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two total runs scored in Friday's 3-1 win over Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The first baseman opened the scoring for his new team with a sixth-inning blast. Rizzo has gone 10-for-25 (.400) with four home runs, six RBI and eight runs scored during a seven-game hitting streak. He batted cleanup in his Yankees debut, which could be a strong indication of his placement in the lineup going forward. For the year, he has a .252/.350/.457 slash line with 15 long balls, 41 RBI, 43 runs scored and four stolen bases.
Jul 29 2021Rizzo was traded from the Cubs to the Yankees in exchange for Kevin Alcantara and Alexander Vizcaino (arm) on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs had been in talks with the Red Sox about a trade involving Rizzo leading up to Friday's deadline, but he'll head to their AL East rival. The 31-year-old spent the last 10 seasons with the Cubs, and he's slashed .248/.346/.446 with 14 homers, 41 runs and 40 RBI in 92 games to begin the 2021 campaign. He'll add another strong left-handed bat to the Yankees' lineup after they acquired Joey Gallo from the Rangers on Wednesday, and he should take over as the team's starting first baseman.
Jul 27 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo went deep against Cincinnati starter Vladimir Gutierrez in the first inning, giving the first baseman 15 home runs and 40 RBI this season. Those figures are a bit behind his usual expectations, as is his .795 OPS, but Rizzo is showing signs of life lately with home runs in three straight games. If the Cubs do decide to move the 31-year-old this week before the deadline, he's at least giving his trade value a late boost.
Jul 25 2021Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo followed a two-run bomb by Kris Bryant with a home run of his own in the first inning, giving him 12 this season. It's been a sluggish campaign for the first baseman, whose .773 OPS would be his worst since 2013, excluding the shortened 2020 campaign. Rizzo might also finish the season with a new team, as the 49-51 Cubs are expected to explore deals for some of their core players before Friday's trade deadline.
Jul 16 2021Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in a 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo's fourth-inning home run gave Chicago the lead for good and he tacked on a single in the eighth. The long ball was his first of the month and puts the first baseman on pace for a career-low 22 along with his lowest OPS since 2014 at .789.
Jul 7 2021Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo played a key role in a badly needed win, as the Cubs had lost 11 games in a row before Wednesday's contest. The first baseman missed three games during the skid with back tightness, and since returning on Friday, he's gone 6-for-22 with two extra-base hits. If Chicago has any chance of getting back into the NL Central race, it'll need Rizzo to stay healthy and get hot at the plate in a hurry.
Jul 2 2021Rizzo (back) is back in the starting lineup Friday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo missed the last three games after he left Sunday's game against the Dodgers with lower back tightness. The first baseman said he was targeting a weekend return and he will indeed rejoin the lineup as the cleanup hitter Friday.
Jun 30 2021Rizzo said Wednesday that his tight lower back has shown improvement of late, and he hopes to rejoin the Cubs lineup "in a couple days," Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Based on his comments, Rizzo appears set to remain on the bench for a third consecutive game Wednesday against the Brewers, but the first baseman is apparently optimistic that he'll ready to go for the Cubs' weekend series with the Reds following Thursday's team off day. Rizzo hasn't appeared in a pinch-hitting capacity either of the past two days, so the Cubs would presumably prefer not to use him in Wednesday's series finale.
Jun 29 2021Rizzo (back) remains on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo left Sunday's game against the Dodgers with a tight lower back and did not participate in Sunday's contest. He's battled recurring back issues throughout the past few years, so it's difficult to say exactly how much time he'll miss this time around. Patrick Wisdom will handle first base in his absence.
Jun 28 2021Rizzo (back) is out of the lineup Monday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo exited Sunday's loss to the Dodgers with tightness in his lower back and will be held out at least one game. Back issues have been a recurring theme for the veteran first baseman over the past few years, and it's unclear if the current injury will require a stint on the injured list or if he'll only need a day or two off before rejoining the lineup.
Jun 27 2021Rizzo was removed from Sunday's game against the Dodgers due to left lower back tightness, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo went 0-for-2 with a strikeout to begin Sunday's contest, but he was replaced defensively in the bottom of the fourth inning. The first baseman has dealt with back issues in recent seasons, and he missed six games at the end of May due to back stiffness. It's not yet clear whether his most recent injury will force him to miss additional time.
Jun 26 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 loss against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo hit a solo shot off Julio Urias in the fourth inning to get the Cubs on the board. He is in a bit of a cold stretch, going 5-for-32 over his last 10 games. On the season, he is slashing .250/.346/.446 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI and 30 runs scored in 280 plate appearances. He is still on pace for a 20-homer season, but his RBI and runs are down compared to his last two full seasons in 2018 and 2019.
Jun 22 2021Rizzo is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The first baseman gets a day off amidst a tough, 12-game stretch in which he's hit just .154. Rizzo has homered three times in that span, though. Kris Bryant will fill in at first base Tuesday, with Patrick Wisdom playing third.
Jun 16 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is quietly getting going at the plate, as he now has nine home runs, 31 RBI and an .809 OPS this season. He's hit four of those long balls this month already, so while his overall numbers aren't jumping off the page compared to his usual standards, the slugging first baseman should produce good stats for fantasy managers the rest of the way.
Jun 15 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the third homer in the last six games for the first baseman, giving him eight long balls on the year. Rizzo has found his stroke at the plate in June, slashing .286/.327/.531 with 11 RBI in 13 games as he looks to erase a sluggish start to the season.
Jun 11 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo made his lone hit count, connecting for his seventh home run of the season in the sixth inning. The slugging first baseman isn't delivering his usual power production, though he's chugging along with a .308 batting average this month. If he keeps making consistent contact, expect more balls to leave the yard in short order.
Jun 8 2021Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a home run, double, two runs and four RBI in Tuesday's 7-1 triumph over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo laced a two-run double as part of a four-run sixth and later launched a two-run home run the next inning to extend the lead to 7-0. The long ball was a welcome sight as it was only the veteran first baseman's sixth all season and his first since May 2. While Rizzo's on base and average are near his career rates, a .445 slugging is well below a career .483.
Jun 2 2021Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-1 win over San Diego. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In the fifth inning, Rizzo put the Cubs ahead with a two-RBI double. The first baseman has gone 5-for-8 in two games since he returned from back stiffness. For the year, he's slashing .275/.377/.455 with five home runs, 21 RBI, 22 runs scored and three stolen bases across 199 plate appearances.
Jun 1 2021Rizzo (back) is in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Padres after missing the previous six games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo said earlier Tuesday that he expected to be back in the lineup and now he's officially slated to bat third and play first base against the Friars.
May 31 2021Rizzo (back) isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo participated in running and fielding drills ahead of Monday's contest, but he'll still he held out for a sixth consecutive game. Kris Bryant will start at first base while Patrick Wisdom takes over at the hot corner.
May 30 2021Rizzo (back) is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The slugger will miss his fifth straight game, with Kris Bryant sliding over to first base once again. It's unknown whether Rizzo will be a pinch-hitting option during the series finale.
May 29 2021Rizzo (back) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will be out of the lineup for a fourth consecutive game as he continues to manage back stiffness. He hasn't come off the bench in the last three contests, so it's not yet clear whether he'll be available Saturday. Kris Bryant will shift to first base while Rafael Ortega starts in right field.
May 28 2021Rizzo (back) will remain on the bench for Friday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo finds himself sitting for the third straight game due to back stiffness. He didn't appear off the bench in either of the last two, so it's unclear whether or not he'll be available Friday. Kris Bryant remains the starter at first base in his absence.
May 27 2021Rizzo (back) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will miss his second straight game while he contends with a stiff back. Rizzo apparently isn't feeling 100 percent a day later, so the Cubs will give some additional maintenance. Kris Bryant will fill in at first base in place of Rizzo.
May 26 2021Rizzo isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Pirates due to back stiffness, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo could be available as a pinch hitter Wednesday if needed, but manager David Ross wanted to give the first baseman a day off to prevent a more serious issue. Kris Bryant will start at first base while David Bote takes over at the hot corner.
May 21 2021Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and two RBI in Friday's 12-3 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was all over the box score in the easy win. The slugger has been good this month, batting .321 with 10 RBI across 17 games. Like a lot of Chicago's big-name players, Rizzo got off to a slow start, but it looks like he's back to his usual level of solid production.
May 20 2021Rizzo (back) is starting Thursday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was held out of Wednesday's game after he left Tuesday's contest due to lower back tightness. However, he'll start at first base and bat second in Thursday's series finale against Washington.
May 19 2021Rizzo (back) isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was removed from Tuesday's win over Washington as a precautionary measure due to tightness in his lower back. He's currently considered day-to-day but could be available off the bench if needed Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. Kris Bryant will take over at first base while David Bote starts at the hot corner.
May 18 2021Rizzo exited Tuesday's game against the Nationals with tightness in his lower back, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs labeled the 31-year-old's removal as a precaution, so the injury may not be a serious concern. Rizzo went 0-for-2 before leaving the contest, and he should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status.
May 16 2021Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and three RBI in Saturday's 9-8 extra-inning loss to the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's been a relatively slow start for Rizzo, but he's shown more signs of life in May, as he has an .870 OPS this month compared to the .768 mark he posted in April. Those numbers aren't too far off from the .756 OPS Rizzo recorded in the shortened 2020 season, but he had a .925 OPS in his last full season back in 2019. Still just 31 years old, the slugging first baseman is certainly capable of upping his production the rest of the way.
May 5 2021Rizzo went 1-for-1 with a walk and an RBI in Wednesday's 6-5, 11-inning win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo didn't start the game but he was able to finish it, delivering a walkoff hit against Garrett Cleavinger in the bottom of the 11th inning. After the heroics, the first baseman should be back in the starting lineup for the Cubs' next game Friday, as this was his first day off this season. Rizzo is slashing .231/.336/.444 through his first 108 at-bats.
May 2 2021Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 13-12 loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is now up to five home runs through 28 games though he's only batting .222 with a .765 OPS, so he's not reached his usual level of production quite yet. Fantasy managers will just want to remain patient, as the first baseman's track record suggests that he'll continue to heat up as the season progresses.
Apr 29 2021Rizzo went 3-for-6 in Thursday's 9-3 win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All three hits were singles, and Rizzo was unable to score any of the Cubs' nine runs, but it was still a solid night. He also hit leadoff for the second straight game, and that could quickly become a more regular thing if he continues to excel in the spot. Ian Happ, who started the season as the team's leadoff hitter, was out of the lineup for the second straight day. When he returns, it will be interesting to see how the Chicago lineup shakes out.
Apr 28 2021Rizzo went 1-for-4 in Wednesday's 10-0 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The batting line and final score are nothing to write home about, but more noteworthy here is the fact that Rizzo batted leadoff. It was his first time doing so this season, though the Cubs have experimented with this in the past. Ian Happ didn't start in this one, and he could potentially return to the top of the order, but Chicago is 10-14 and looking for an offensive spark. If Rizzo can help do that from the leadoff spot, he may be able to stick there.
Apr 23 2021Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a home run, one double, two RBI and two runs in Friday's 15-2 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo put the Cubs on the board with an RBI double in the first inning before he hit a solo blast with one out in the second. The 31-year-old is now slashing .246/.359/.508 with four home runs, 12 runs and seven RBI to begin the season.
Apr 21 2021Rizzo went 1-for-2 with three walks, three runs scored and an RBI in Wednesday's 16-4 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo displayed great patience at the plate and contributed to the dominant Chicago win. While the star first baseman hasn't produced to his typical levels yet, the fact that he's seemingly seeing the ball well is a good sign that big numbers could be coming soon.
Apr 18 2021Rizzo went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 13-4 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Atlanta jumped on Chicago with four home runs in the first inning and ran away with the game, but Rizzo was able to respond with a little power of his own, taking Bryse Wilson deep twice in the first three innings. The first baseman is up to three home runs this season and has been locked in lately, as he's riding a five-game hitting streak. Three of the five games have been multi-hit performances, helping Rizzo push his batting average up to .250.
Apr 17 2021Rizzo went 1-for-3 with two walks in Friday's loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Like many of Chicago's regulars, Rizzo is struggling with a .182 batting average through 13 games, but he's at least been able to record a hit in three straight contests. The slugging first baseman is too talented to stay down for long, so fantasy managers will just need to remain patient and hope a hot streak is around the corner.
Apr 13 2021Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Rizzo didn't score a run or drive anyone in, it was still a productive day for the first baseman. Perhaps this will help him get going, as he's still batting just .162 even after the two-hit performance. Before Tuesday, Rizzo had gone 0-for-11 across his last three games. He's too talented to stay down for much longer, so fantasy managers may want to see if they can buy low before a full-blown hot streak.
Apr 8 2021Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was off to slow start, slashing just .105/.250/.158 through six games coming into Thursday, so his first home run of the season was a welcome sight. Kris Bryant and Javier Baez also went deep in the win, and if all three players get going, the Cubs could have a fairly strong offensive attack, with Rizzo right in the center of the action.
Apr 7 2021Rizzo went 0-for-3 with a walk in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers and is slashing just .105/.250/.158 through six games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo delivered an RBI double on Opening Day and had another hit in the Cubs' second game, but he's gone hitless since then. The Chicago lineup is struggling across the board, which was a trend during the 2020 season as well. Rizzo is clearly talented enough to get hot in a hurry, but so far he hasn't provided much to fantasy managers.
Mar 29 2021Rizzo and the Cubs have not agreed to a contract extension during spring training and remain far apart in negotiations, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There was some thought that the two sides might reach a deal during the spring, but now it looks like Rizzo will play out the last year of his contract and become a free agent next offseason. The Cubs are potentially looking at a rebuild, with big decisions coming on cornerstone players such as Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez. A lot will depend on how the team performs this year, and if Chicago falls out of contention, Rizzo could find himself with a new organization sooner versus later.
Mar 17 2021Rizzo, who slotted in as the No. 3 hitter for Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Padres, could hit there regularly this season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Willson Contreras batted second Wednesday and might do the same during the regular season, and manager David Ross has hinted that he will bat Rizzo third and Kris Bryant fourth. The Cubs have a strong lineup on paper, though a lot of their big names struggled in 2020. If they get back on track, Rizzo should be able to post strong numbers from the premium lineup spot.
Mar 13 2021Rizzo said he is "very optimistic" about reaching a contract extension with the Cubs during spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The star first baseman is set to become a free agent next offseason unless he and the Cubs agree on an extension. Rizzo is currently playing on a $16.5 million team option for the 2021 season, and he'll be looking to bounce back after his OPS dipped to .756 during the shortened 2020 season, his lowest mark since 2013.
Mar 3 2021Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo hit his first spring home run, joining Joc Pederson in slugging a two-run shot for Chicago. The 31-year-old first baseman had his $16.5 million team option picked up during the offseason, and he'll look to bounce back this year after posting a .756 OPS in 2020, his worst mark since 2013.
Oct 31 2020Rizzo's option was picked up by the Cubs on Saturday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo will earn $16.5 million in 2021. Even after a disappointing season that saw him hit just .222/.342/.414, and even with a depressed market predicted for this winter, the decision was likely an easy one for the Cubs, as they bring back a team leader who has a long track record of success for the club. Just 31 years old, there's reason to believe Rizzo will demonstrate next season that his 2020 struggles were more of a small-sample blip than the start of a dramatic aging curve. It's certainly not out of the question that he could return to something close to his form from 2019, when he hit .293/.405/.520 with 27 homers.
Sep 27 2020Rizzo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs have nothing really to play for in the regular-season finale with their playoff seeding set, so they will give Rizzo, Javier Baez, Ian Happ and others the day off. Jason Kipnis will serve as the first baseman against righty Reynaldo Lopez.
Sep 24 2020Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo opened up the game with a solo shot to right field to put the Cubs up 1-0 but was unable to reach base for the remainder of the night. The big lefty has homered in back-to-back contests as he now stands at a .221/.336/.415 slash line with 11 home runs, 24 RBI and 26 runs scored across 232 plate appearances.
Sep 22 2020Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo's 10th home run of the season was all the offense the Cubs could muster. The first baseman is having a down year by his standards with a .741 OPS, which would be his lowest mark since coming to Chicago in 2012, but he can quickly put that behind him if he performs well in the upcoming postseason.
Sep 12 2020Rizzo isn't in Saturday's lineup against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been in a slump recently as he's gone just 3-for-24 with a home run, three RBI, one walk and one strikeout over the past six games. He'll get a day off Saturday as Kris Bryant shifts to first base with David Bote starting at third.
Sep 6 2020Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo took Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson deep in the first inning, almost straight to center field. The long ball was Rizzo's ninth of the year and first since he slugged a pair Aug. 29 versus the Reds. The first baseman has added 18 RBI, 22 runs scored and a stolen base through 40 games.
Sep 5 2020Rizzo is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader with the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo went 0-for-4 in Saturday's first game, so manager David Ross decided to hold him out of the lineup for the nightcap. David Bote will start at first base in Rizzo's place.
Sep 2 2020Rizzo went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo beat a drawn in Pirates' infield to collect a two-RBI single in the seventh inning. With the performance, he now has at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games, racking up three home runs with eight RBI and six runs scored in that span. Overall, Rizzo is hitting .232/.366/.456 across 153 plate appearances for the season.
Aug 29 2020Rizzo went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yu Darvish was busy shutting down the Cincy offense in an eventual 3-0 win, so Rizzo's blasts were all the offense the Cubs would need. Although a 5-for-39 (.147) skid over his prior nine games sabotaged his overall slash line, the veteran first baseman headed into the nightcap Saturday with eight homers and 15 RBI through 32 games.
Aug 28 2020Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His first-inning long ball off Tyler Mahle snapped a 12-game homerless streak. Rizzo's walk and strikeout rates have held up throughout his recent cold stretch, and Statcast has him close to career norms in terms of xwOBA and xwOBA on contact. Rizzo has not sat yet this season and may be due for some time off soon, though he will likely lobby manager David Ross to play both ends of Saturday's twin bill.
Aug 15 2020Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, two RBI and a run scored Saturday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo smacked his fifth home run -- a solo shot -- of the season in the first inning off Adrian Houser. One frame later, he added an RBI double to continue his strong performance. For the season, he's hitting .254/.405/.509 with nine RBI and 12 runs scored across 79 plate appearances.
Aug 12 2020Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Wednesday against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo took Carlos Carrasco deep to lead off the third inning, his fourth home run of the season. He had been in a bit of a power drought of late, as he had no extra-base hits in his last 10 contests, dating back to July 27. Still, Rizzo has managed a .400 on-base percentage despite racking up just 12 hits in 65 plate appearances.
Jul 31 2020Rizzo went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk during Friday's 6-3 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo smacked a two-RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ. The slugging first baseman has hit safely in five of Chicago's first seven games and, even though he is still searching for his first multi-hit game of the season, he has already racked up three homers and five RBI in only 20 at-bats.
Jul 27 2020Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a walk, a solo home run and three runs scored in Monday's 8-7 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger has kicked 2020 off with a bang, going yard in three of the first four games. It's slightly disappointing that all three homers have come with the bases empty, but Rizzo made up for that Monday by coming around to score two additional times. As long as his back holds up, he should be able to continue staking an early claim to the NL home run crown during the shortened season.
Jul 26 2020Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: That's two home runs in three games for Rizzo, which is a welcome sign given the back issues he dealt with during summer camp. The Cubs will likely use Victor Caratini some at first base to keep Rizzo fresh, but the latter looks healthy to begin the 2020 season and should post big numbers batting second in a strong Chicago lineup.
Jul 25 2020Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 3-0 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo batted second and was productive in a game in which the Cubs only recorded five total hits. The slugging first baseman missed some time in summer camp due to a back issue, but he looks healthy to begin the season. The team might still get Victor Caratini some starts at first to keep Rizzo fresh during the 60-game sprint.
Jul 22 2020Rizzo (back) went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's scrimmage against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been dealing with back problems for most of summer camp and recently missed some exhibition contests, but he looked comfortable in his return to the lineup. The 30-year-old seems ready to go for the regular season, though his back will be worth monitoring during a condensed schedule that is light on off days.
Jul 21 2020Rizzo (back) took live batting practice Tuesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has battled back issues over the past two weeks, though he remains in contention for Opening Day. Assuming he checks out fine following Tuesday's workout, he could be cleared to play in Wednesday's exhibition game against the Twins.
Jul 20 2020Rizzo (back) is expected to face live pitching Tuesday and could be cleared to play in Wednesday's exhibition game against the Twins, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Wednesday scrimmage against Minnesota will be the Cubs' final tune-up before Friday's season opener, so if Rizzo is able to go against the Twins, it would seem he'll be ready for Opening Day. Manager David Ross said the first baseman "continues to move in the right direction," and the team should have a better idea of Rizzo's health after Tuesday's workout.
Jul 19 2020Rizzo (back) remains hopeful that he'll be ready for Opening Day, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has dealing with a back issue in recent days, but he's been able to steadily increase his workload. He isn't starting in Sunday's exhibition game against the White Sox, but he expressed optimism that he could play in Wednesday's exhibition matchup against the Twins. The 30-year-old was able to hit without pain Sunday and was able to play the field Saturday, but he said that he wants to be able to regain a full range of mobility without pain. He said that serving as the designated hitter at times to begin the season could be an option to preserve his long-term health and also said that he could take some extra games off once the regular season gets underway. Rizzo remains day-to-day ahead of Opening Day on Friday.
Jul 18 2020Rizzo (back) took batting practice and worked in the field Saturday, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been limited recently while dealing with rib inflammation on his left side that led to back spasms, but he appears to be slightly increasing his workload as he was able to take grounders Saturday. Manager David Ross still considers the first baseman to be day-to-day. Whether he'll be ready for the start of the season remains to be seen.
Jul 16 2020Rizzo (back) stood in against live pitching Thursday but didn't take any full swings, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo saw 17 pitches during Thursday's limited BP session, bunting six while simply tracking the remaining pitches. The first baseman also did some light jogging around the bases but remains limited as he battles back spasms stemming from rib head inflammation on his left side. Rizzo remains day-to-day. If he's forced to miss any time to begin the season, Victor Caratini or Kris Bryant could fill in at first base, with David Bote likely seeing time at the hot corner should Bryant make the move.
Jul 15 2020Rizzo's MRI revealed rib head inflammation on his left side as the source of his back spasms, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The issue is one Rizzo has dealt with before. He's being considered day-to-day and will continue to receive treatment, though with Opening Day just over a week away, a trip to the injured list hasn't been ruled out. If he's forced to miss time, the Cubs could use backup catcher Victor Caratini at first base or slide Kris Bryant over from third to first, opening up the hot corner for David Bote.
Jul 14 2020Rizzo underwent tests on his tight lower back Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been dealing with the issue for about a week after it popped up following a batting-practice session. He was able to hit again Sunday and was reportedly doing better at the time, but he's seemingly back to doing worse again. He's still considered day-to-day, though time is getting tight for him to get into game shape by the start of the season.
Jul 12 2020Rizzo (back) took batting practice Sunday and is "doing better" according to Chicago manager David Ross, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has sat out the past few intrasquad games, but he's still getting work in, as he participated in drills Saturday followed by the Sunday's batting practice. With the start of the regular season less than two weeks away, the Cubs seem to be exercising some caution with their first baseman, though he appears to be on track to play Opening Day.
Jul 11 2020Rizzo (back) participated in fielding drills and took some swings Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has missed the team's last two intrasquad games with lower back tightness, but the fact that he worked out Saturday is encouraging. The 30-year-old has dealt with intermittent back issues throughout his career, so the Cubs are just likely exercising some caution with their slugging first baseman. He remains day-to-day to return to game action.
Jul 7 2020Rizzo didn't participate in Tuesday's intrasquad game due to lower back tightness, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old has battled intermittent back issues throughout his career, so it's not much of a surprise to see the Cubs being cautious early in summer camp. Still, it's a somewhat worrying development following the extended hiatus, especially with scheduled off days at a premium during the shortened 60-game season. Rizzo may lay low for a couple days but hopefully will make a relatively quick return to the field. Manager David Ross plans to bat his first baseman second in the order, with Kris Bryant batting leadoff.
Jun 29 2020Chicago manager David Ross said he plans on batting Rizzo second behind Kris Bryant this season, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs will get the benefit of a DH during this abbreviated season, but Ross plans on batting his corner infielders 1-2, likely followed by shortstop Javier Baez and then possibly catcher Willson Contreras. Rizzo primarily batted third in 2019 while also getting time in the cleanup and leadoff spots. Previous manager Joe Maddon was known to freely move players around the batting order and the diamond, but it remains to be seen if Ross will be more consistent with his lineups.
Mar 30 2020Rizzo said he enjoys playing in Chicago and would like to stay with the Cubs beyond 2020, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The team picked up Rizzo's $16.5 million 2020 club option back in November, and it can do so one more time next year if it wants. The slugging first baseman said he wants to stay in Chicago long term, but he also called the business side of baseball "as cutthroat as ever" in January when the Cubs shut down contract extension talks. Rizzo has been a cornerstone player for the Cubs since 2012, but if the team gets off to a sluggish start when the 2020 season is able to resume, management could begin to move some bigger pieces as part of a rebuild.
Mar 8 2020Rizzo is batting just .176 with no home runs through his first 17 Cactus League at-bats. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is no stranger to slow starts, as the career .273 hitter has just a .241 mark in March and April. Fantasy owners will need to be patient with the slugger, but when everything is said and done, he will likely post a strong average and approach 30 home runs and 100 RBI once again assuming he stays healthy.
Mar 7 2020Rizzo (finger) is starting at first base and hitting second Saturday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to a blister, but it was clearly a minor issue.
Mar 5 2020Rizzo was scratched from Thursday's spring game against the Rangers due to a blister, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Corban Joseph will enter the lineup at first base in place of Rizzo, who should be considered day-to-day after a blister opened up on his right middle finger. With three weeks to go until Opening Day, it doesn't sound like this issue will affect Rizzo's availability for the start of the season.
Feb 20 2020Rizzo confirmed Thursday that he'll serve as the Cubs' No. 2 hitter this season, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: First-year manager David Ross will keep the tandem of Kris Bryant and Rizzo in back-to-back lineup spots, though both players will move up one slot in the order after the pair most commonly batted second and third, respectively, in 2019. Assuming the Cubs stay committed to Rizzo as the No. 2 hitter, the first baseman could make a legitimate push for 700 plate appearances for the second time in his career if he's able to avoid any absences due to injury. Rizzo has some limited prior experience as a No. 2 hitter, slashing .300/.401/.515 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI in 237 career plate appearances out of that lineup spot.
Nov 3 2019The Cubs exercised Rizzo's (ankle) $16.5 million club option for 2020 on Sunday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move comes as no surprise with Rizzo finishing 2019 with a .293/.405/.520 slash line, 27 home runs and 94 RBI in 146 games. The 30-year-old suffered an ankle sprain in mid-September and was shut down once Chicago was eliminated from the playoffs, but he initially played through the injury and it shouldn't impact his status for 2020. Rizzo is primed for another season starting at first base in the Windy City.
Sep 29 2019Rizzo (ankle) is not in Sunday's lineup against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He last played Sept. 25 and with the Cubs out of the playoff mix they will elect to hold him out for the season finale. Rizzo's injury is not expected to affect his offseason. Victor Caratini is starting at first base.
Sep 28 2019Rizzo (ankle) remains on the bench Saturday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo's sprained ankle is clearly still bothering him, as he hasn't played since Wednesday. With the Cubs out of the playoff picture, it's quite likely that he won't play again this season. Victor Caratini will be the first baseman Saturday.
Sep 27 2019Rizzo (ankle) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There were some indications earlier in the week that Rizzo could be shut down after the Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention, and he'll now sit for the second straight game after leaving Wednesday's contest early. The 30-year-old suffered a right ankle sprain in mid-September that wasn't allowed to fully heal since he played through the injury, so it makes sense for the team to remain cautious. Victor Caratini receives another start at first base in his place.
Sep 26 2019Rizzo (ankle) is not in the lineup Thursday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cubs are resting most of their starters for Wednesday's series finale, with Victor Caratini starting at first base in place of Rizzo. With Chicago eliminated from playoff contention, Rizzo -- who is still nursing a right ankle sprain -- may be withheld from the lineup over the team's final four games.
Sep 25 2019Rizzo could be held out of the final four games of the regular season due to his right ankle sprain, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo exited Wednesday's game following the third inning and may not return for the final four games of the season with the Cubs now eliminated from playoff contention. The 30-year-old suffered a moderate right ankle sprain Aug. 15 but ended up missing only three games as he decided to fight through the issue for the stretch run. Rizzo is 8-for-20 with one home run and one double in the six games since rejoining the lineup, but it would make sense for the team to remain cautious if he's still less than 100 percent.
Sep 22 2019Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a double in Saturday's 9-8 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Somewhat surprisingly, Rizzo didn't cross the plate despite the three-hit effort as the leadoff hitter in a high-scoring game. It's still good to see the slugging first baseman productive after suffering a sprained ankle on Monday, which kept him out of the lineup for a few games.
Sep 20 2019Rizzo (ankle) will remain in the lineup Friday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo suffered a moderate ankle sprain Sunday but was back in the lineup just four days later, hitting a solo homer in Thursday's loss to the Cardinals. Manager Joe Maddon cast some doubt on Rizzo's ability to play back-to-back games right away, but the first baseman is evidently able to tough it out. His presence is certainly a boon for the Cubs, who now sit one game out of the second wild-card spot after Thursday's loss. Rizzo will lead off and play first base Friday.
Sep 19 2019Manager Joe Maddon is unsure if Rizzo (ankle) will be able to play Friday against the Cardinals, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo was a surprising addition to Thursday night's lineup, and while he did contribute with a solo home run, the slugger obviously wasn't close to 100 percent. His availability for the remainder of the series should become more clear after he's re-evaluated Friday. Victor Caratini figures to take over at first base if Rizzo is unable to go.
Sep 18 2019Rizzo (ankle) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It doesn't come as a surprise that Rizzo is being held out, given that it was reported earlier in the week he would spend several more days in a boot. Victor Caratini will start at first base Wednesday for the second time in three days.
Sep 16 2019Rizzo was diagnosed with a moderate lateral right ankle sprain Monday and will not require surgery, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's certainly not a well-timed injury for Rizzo and the Cubs, but he's at least avoided a fracture, a ligament tear or a more severe category of sprain. He's expected to spend the next 5-to-7 days in a boot and will be re-evaluated following that period. That will leave him with at most a handful of games to play for the rest of the regular season, and there's been no indication that he's expected to be cleared immediately after the boot comes off, so there's a very real chance his regular season campaign is over.
Sep 15 2019Rizzo was diagnosed with a sprained right ankle after X-rays came back negative Sunday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old sustained the injury during the third inning of Sunday's game, when he twisted his ankle attempting to field a bunt. The initial X-rays cleared Rizzo of a fracture, but he'll undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the sprain. He seems unlikely to be available for the next few days, at least.
Sep 13 2019Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and two runs in a 17-8 victory against the Pirates on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Joe Maddon's experiment with Rizzo in the leadoff spot worked Friday, as he reached base three times and still received a big opportunity with the bases loaded in the third and took advantage with a grand slam. Rizzo is now 6-for-16 (.375) with two homers and six RBI in four games out of the leadoff spot this year. Overall, he's batting .286 with 26 home runs, 91 RBI, 86 runs and five steals in 489 at-bats this season.
Sep 2 2019Rizzo went 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI in Monday's 5-1 win over the Mariners. He was also hit by a pitch twice.
Sep 1 2019Rizzo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Aug 31 2019Rizzo (back) is starting at first base and hitting cleanup Saturday against the Brewers.
Aug 30 2019Rizzo (back) has "an outside shot" to play Saturday against Milwaukee, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Aug 29 2019Manager Joe Maddon said he "would be surprised" if Rizzo (back) returned Friday against the Brewers, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Aug 28 2019Rizzo (back) is hoping to return against the Brewers over the weekend, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Aug 27 2019Rizzo (back) might return to the starting lineup by the end of Chicago's three-game series with New York, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Aug 25 2019Rizzo (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Aug 24 2019Rizzo exited Saturday's contest with back tightness, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Aug 22 2019Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and three runs Wednesday in the Cubs' 12-11 win over the Giants.
Aug 20 2019Rizzo went 3-for-3 with a walk, two solo home runs and three runs scored in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Giants.
Aug 18 2019Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and three walks in a win over Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Aug 15 2019Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBI on Thursday against the Phillies.
Aug 4 2019Rizzo went 4-for-5 with four singles in Sunday's 7-2 win over Milwaukee.
Jul 24 2019Rizzo was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Giants, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune<\/a> reports. He finished 1-for-3.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 19 2019Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a walk and a grand slam in Friday's 6-5 win over the Padres.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 13 2019Rizzo is starting at first base and batting fourth<\/a> in Saturday's game against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 5 2019Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a walk, a triple, an RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 11-3 win over the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 4 2019Rizzo will start at first base and bat cleanup<\/a> Thursday against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 22 2019Rizzo is out of the lineup<\/a> for Saturday's game against the Mets.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 16 2019Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 14 2019Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 14 2019Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 10 2019Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in the Cubs' 6-5 defeat to the Rockies on Monday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 7 2019Rizzo will start at first base and bat leadoff<\/a> Friday versus the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 2 2019Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 27 2019Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Astros.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 24 2019Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 23 2019Rizzo went 4-for-5 with a solo home run, three runs and three RBI in the Cubs' 9-7 defeat to the Phillies on Thursday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 22 2019Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a walk, a three-run home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Phillies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 20 2019Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday in the Cubs' 6-5 win over the Nationals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 18 2019Rizzo (back) went 1-for-5 with a run scored in Friday's 14-6 win over the Nationals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 17 2019Rizzo (back) returns to the lineup<\/a> Friday against Washington.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 16 2019Manager Joe Maddon said the hope is that Rizzo (back) will be ready to rejoin the lineup Friday against the Nationals, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 16 2019Manager Joe Maddon said he hopes Rizzo (back) will be ready to rejoin the lineup Friday against the Nationals, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 16 2019Rizzo (back) is not in the lineup<\/a> Thursday against the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 15 2019Rizzo (back) is not in the lineup<\/a> Wednesday against the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 15 2019Rizzo (back) said he'll most likely rejoin the lineup Thursday against the Reds or over the weekend against the Nationals, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 14 2019Rizzo (back) still needs \"a couple days\" before returning to the lineup, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 14 2019Rizzo (back) isn't in Tuesday's starting lineup<\/a> against the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 12 2019Rizzo is out of the lineup for Sunday night's game against the Brewers due to back tightness, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 9 2019Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Marlins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 6 2019Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Marlins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 22 2018Rizzo is starting at first base and batting leadoff in Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals.If it's not broken, don't fix it. Rizzo is 13-for-24 as a leadoff hitter with seven walks in the last seven games, so Cubs manager Joe Maddon is going to keep the alignment for the time being. The 28-year-old has raised his batting average 22 points during this stretch, and while batting leadoff hampers his RBI potential, it also gives him the opportunity to score more runs.
Jul 21 2018Rizzo led off both games of Saturday's doubleheader and combined to go 5-for-7 -- including three walks in the first game a 4-for-5 effort in the second -- with one RBI and a run scored.That puts him at 13-for-24 as a leadoff hitter with seven walks in the last seven games. Rizzo has yet to hit a homer in July -- reflective of his overall down season of .258/.359/.426 with 12 big flies -- but he still has plated 63 RBI and scored 40 times as a member of this productive Cubs lineup. For however long manager Joe Maddon sticks with this configuration, expect Rizzo's RBI pace to taper off while he possibly finds more chances to cross the plate.
Jul 19 2018Rizzo went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 9-6 win over the Cardinals.Rizzo batted leadoff in this one, which is something the Cubs have experimented with a little bit the last two seasons. The slugging first baseman is batting just .249 with a .759 OPS, so maybe the lineup shuffle will get him going. Still, Rizzo is best suited to hit in the middle of the order, and the Cubs will likely move him back there at some point in the near future.
Jul 15 2018Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored Sunday against the Padres.Rizzo enjoyed a productive weekend series against the Padres, totaling six hits -- including three doubles -- two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base in 14 at-bats. He's suffered from a disappointing first-half of the season, highlighted by a paltry .401 slugging percentage, though he does rank sixth in the National League with 61 RBI.
Jul 10 2018Rizzo is on the bench Tuesday against the Giants.The first baseman has struggled lately, going hitless in his last three games and hitting just .224/.306/.303 over his last 20. Victor Caratini will start at first base in his place.
Jul 8 2018Rizzo, who went 0-for-5 with a strikeout in Sunday's win over the Reds, is now batting 4-for-22 (.182 average) in July.Rizzo hasn't hit his usual stride yet this season, as he's now batting .244 with a .748 OPS. Both of those would be his lowest marks since 2013, which was his second season in Chicago. Since then, Rizzo hasn't posted an average lower than .273 or an OPS lower than .899. Despite his struggles to date, the 28-year-old's track record suggests that a better second half is a distinct possibility.
Jul 4 2018Rizzo is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Tigers.Three of the Cubs' top left-handed bats in Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward will all be spectators for the Fourth of July matinee game with lefty Francisco Liriano on the bump for Detroit. The newly recalled Victor Caratini will draw the start at first base in place of Rizzo, who rested just once over the Cubs' previous 27 games.
Jun 28 2018Rizzo went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and three RBI in Thursday's 11-5 win over the Dodgers.It was Rizzo's first multi-hit performance since June 15 and his first three RBI game since May 28. The lefty slugger brought his season average up to .243 with 53 RBI and 23 extra-base hits.
Jun 27 2018Rizzo is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Dodgers, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.He is hitting .188/.289/.377 with four home runs in 69 at-bats over his last 20 games. Ian Happ will get the start at first base and hit eighth against lefty Alex Wood while David Bote gets a rare start at the hot corner, hitting seventh.
Jun 16 2018Rizzo went 3-for-3 with a double, a run and a stolen base in Friday's win over the Cardinals.Rizzo hit a ground-rule double -- his ninth two-bagger of the year -- off Michael Wacha in the fifth and later came around to score on a Kyle Schwarber home run. After a very slow start to the season, Rizzo hit .303 in the month of May and is so far hitting .295 in June. On the season he's hitting .249/.346/.442 with 11 home runs, 46 RBI and 30 runs scored.
Jun 7 2018Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Phillies.Rizzo went deep for the second straight contest and the fourth time in his last 10 games, giving him 10 home runs on the season. After a slow start to the year, the 28-year-old first baseman is heating up at the plate as he looks to record 30 or more home runs for the fifth straight season.
Jun 6 2018Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Phillies.Rizzo continued his hot streak at the plate, as he's now 14-for-36 over his last 10 games with three home runs and eight RBI. The slugging first baseman figures to continue posting strong numbers all summer.
Jun 5 2018Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Phillies.Rizzo was productive in this one but his teammates didn't offer a ton of support around him, notching just one other extra-base hit all game. The 28-year-old first baseman has been trending in the right direction at the plate, as he's batting .412 over his past 10 games with two home runs and eight RBI. The good stretch has Rizzo's season average up to .250 to go along with a .773 OPS.
Jun 3 2018Rizzo is not in the lineup Sunday against the Mets.Rizzo will receive the afternoon off for some additional rest following the team's 14-inning tilt against the Mets on Saturday night. The first baseman went 3-for-6 in that contest and is now hitting .344 over his past 15 games. It appears that Rizzo has put his cold start behind him. Ian Happ draws the start at first base Sunday.
Jun 3 2018Rizzo went 3-for-6 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI in Saturday's 7-1 extra-innings win over the Mets.The first baseman has now reached base safely in 15 straight games, posting a scorching .344/.446/.525 slash line over that stretch with two homers, one steal, seven runs and 15 RBI. Rizzo has endured a rough start to 2018, but he's locked in right now and rewarding fantasy GMs who were patient with the 28-year-old.
May 29 2018Rizzo went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double and a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.Rizzo extended his hitting streak to 11 games and he now has home runs in the last two contests. The 28-year-old first baseman got off to a slow start this season, but it looks like he's rounding into his usual form at the plate.
May 28 2018Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and three RBI in Monday's win over the Pirates.Rizzo extended his hitting streak to 10 games, and during that time he's 13-for-39 with a home run and 13 RBI. The 28-year-old slugger is still hitting just .228 for the season, but his track record and recent hot streak suggest that we'll see that number continue to climb.
May 20 2018Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and three RBI in a 10-0 win over the Reds in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.Rizzo is still batting just .203 this season, though he does have a modest three-game hitting streak going at the moment. The 28-year-old has batted .273 or better in each of the past four seasons, so it would be reasonable to expect his current average to continue to rise.
May 18 2018Rizzo went 2-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 8-1 win over the Reds.The performance snapped an 0-for-11 skid over his prior four games. Rizzo's .202/.302/.357 slash line on the season remains ugly, but he is hitting a more palatable .273 (15-for-55) in May with five homers, 12 runs and 16 RBI in 14 games.
May 12 2018Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer and two runs scored Saturday against the White Sox.Rizzo's home run came in the first inning off James Shields, opening up a three-run lead before the Cubs made a single out. After a slow start to the season, the first baseman has picked things up lately, earning at least one hit in eight of his last nine games and hitting five homers over that stretch.
May 9 2018Rizzo went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and five RBI in Wednesday's 13-4 win over the Marlins.Despite a .210/.282/.371 slash line on the season, Rizzo has been able to stay productive with 13 runs and 19 RBI in 25 games. He's hitting .355 (11-for-31) over his last seven contests with four of his five homers on the season, though, and the first baseman's batting average should climb quickly now that he's busted out of his slump.
May 7 2018Rizzo is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.Rizzo has started 17 straight games since returning from a back injury, but he'll head to the bench for Monday's series opener as manager Joe Maddon stacks right-handed bats against southpaw Jarlin Garcia, who has held lefties to a .096 average this season. While the first baseman is off to a slow start to the season, hitting .177/.259/.302 through 23 games, he's picked it up since the calendar turned to May, going 6-for-22 (.273) with three homers in five games. Victor Caratini will start at first base and hit sixth in Rizzo's stead.
May 5 2018Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals.Rizzo seems to be breaking out of his early-season slump, as he now has hits in four straight games, with three home runs and four RBI during the spurt. He's still hitting just .187 with a .594 OPS, but expect both of those numbers to climb rapidly.
May 2 2018Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Rockies.Rizzo had a brutal opening month of the season, but he's now left the park in consecutive games -- his first two blasts since a solo shot on Opening Day. The 28-year-old has just a .171/.269/.280 slash line on the year, but should eventually start turning it around as he's been plagued by an unsustainably low .164 BABIP.
May 1 2018Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a leadoff home run in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies.Rizzo has been struggling this season, so manager Joe Maddon moved him up in the order Tuesday in an effort to get him going, and it paid immediate dividends in the first inning. The slugging first baseman went 15-for-50 with five homers and 12 RBI in a limited run as the leadoff hitter last season, and after Tuesday's blast, he'll likely get a few opportunities there at least in the short term.
May 1 2018Rizzo is starting at first base and batting leadoff Tuesday against the Rockies.Rizzo is off to a very slow start to the season, hitting just .149/.259/.189 with one homer through 18 games, so manager Joe Maddon will bump him up to the top of the order in an attempt to get him going at the plate. Maddon did something similar last season and Rizzo responded well, going 15-for-50 with five homers and 12 RBI in the leadoff spot.
Apr 19 2018Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run and an RBI in Thursday's win over the Cardinals.This was just Rizzo's second game back from a stint on the 10-day disabled list and his first hits since returning. It looks like the back tightness that sidelined him is no longer an issue, so the slugging first baseman should be good to go moving forward.
Apr 17 2018Rizzo (back) was activated from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.As expected, Rizzo will return to the lineup Tuesday, taking his normal spot at first base and in the three-hole of the batting order. To make room for him on the active roster, Efren Navarro was sent to Triple-A.
Apr 16 2018Rizzo (back) is set to return from the disabled list Tuesday against the Cardinals, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Rizzo was expected to be activated before the Cubs' game Monday, but that game was postponed due to inclement weather. He'll now have one extra day to rest his sore back before returning to the field Tuesday.
Apr 15 2018Rizzo (back) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Monday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.Rizzo was placed on the disabled list April 9 but has been able to progress through his rehab schedule with no setbacks. Manager Joe Maddon reported Sunday that he expects Rizzo back in the lineup Monday, but that the team will be sure to monitor his condition throughout the game, especially due to the cold temperature.
Apr 12 2018Rizzo (back) spent time in the batting cage Thursday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Rizzo should be back in action when he's eligible to return from the DL on Monday prior to the series opener against St. Louis. In his place, Victor Caratini has picked up a few starts at first base while Ben Zobrist will get the nod during Thursday's game versus Pittsburgh.
Apr 10 2018Rizzo (back) had an MRI which came out clean Tuesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.Rizzo's back tightness wasn't expected to be a major issue, and the MRI confirms that's the case. He'll be eligible to return Monday and expects to do just that, saying he feels much better already. Assuming no setbacks, the extra bit of rest could help keep Rizzo fresh down the stretch. Efren Navarro was called up to replace him on the Cubs' active roster.
Apr 9 2018Rizzo (back) is again not in the lineup Monday against the Pirates.Rizzo has been out of the lineup since Friday while dealing with back tightness. The issue isn't thought to be a major one, but he'll now have missed four games. The Cubs have an off day Tuesday and it sounds as though Rizzo may be back in the lineup Wednesday against Pittsburgh. Ben Zobrist starts at first base in his place Monday.
Apr 9 2018Rizzo (back) was placed on the 10-day DL on Monday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.As planned, the Cubs have placed Rizzo on the disabled list so that he can recover from a recent spell of back tightness. It isn't expected that he'll be on the shelf for an extended period of time, as he'll be eligible to return April 16, but a more specific timeframe for his eventual return should be available soon. With Rizzo out, look for Victor Caratini to continue seeing time at first base. The team has yet to announce a corresponding move after sending Rizzo to the DL.
Apr 9 2018Rizzo (back) is expected to be placed on the disabled list, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.If Rizzo ends up on the DL, he'll be eligible to return April 16 for the Cubs' series opener against the Cardinals, as the move would be retroactive to April 6. Although there hasn't been any indication that Rizzo's bout of back tightness is a serious injury, the club will take a cautious approach with the star first baseman. Until Rizzo is ready to return, expect Victor Caratini to occupy first base for the Cubs.
Apr 8 2018Rizzo (back) may remain out of the lineup Monday against the Pirates, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.The Cubs are being patient with Rizzo, so it's entirely possible that he'll be withheld from the lineup for the fourth consecutive game. The team has Tuesday off, which would give Rizzo an additional day to rest before potentially returning Wednesday. If Rizzo sits out Monday, look for Victor Caratini to start at first base.
Apr 8 2018Rizzo (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.The Cubs are proceeding cautiously with the star first baseman and will hold Rizzo out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game. The team plays host to the Pirates on Monday but has a scheduled off-day on Tuesday, so it's possible that it may hold Rizzo out until Wednesday. Victor Caratini will handle first base duties Sunday while Rizzo remains a day-to-day case.
Apr 7 2018Rizzo (back) is not in the lineup against Milwaukee on Saturday.Rizzo will be held out for a second straight game due to back tightness. Manager Joe Maddon acknowledged that the first baseman might need at least two days off when describing Rizzo's injury prior to Friday's affair, so this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. Victor Caratini will draw another start at first in his stead.
Apr 7 2018Rizzo could remain out Sunday against the Brewers, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Rizzo's back tightness doesn't appear to be a major issue, but the Cubs see no reason to rush one of their star players. He's missed games Friday and Saturday and may miss Sunday as well, though there haven't been any reports suggesting that a trip to the disabled list will be necessary.
Apr 6 2018Rizzo was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Brewers with lower back tightness, Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com reports.It appears as though Rizzo was removed due to precautionary reasons, as the first baseman has dealt with this same minor issue in previous years at random points throughout the season. Consider Rizzo day-to-day ahead of Saturday's contest. In his place, Victor Caratini will man first base and bat sixth in the order.
Mar 29 2018Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the Marlins.Rizzo's blast came in the second inning off of Miami starter Jose Urena. The slugging first baseman posted exactly 32 home runs in three of the last four seasons (and had 31 the other year), so expect him to once again fall into that range if he stays healthy.
Mar 14 2018Rizzo is batting .333/.375/.593 through 27 Cactus League at-bats with two home runs, eight RBI and six runs scored.Coming off of his second straight 32-home-run, 109-RBI season, Rizzo should again be one of the elite players in fantasy baseball this year. The 28-year-old has also been fairly durable, as he's played 155 or more games four times over the last five seasons. Rizzo should be an early-round pick who posts very strong returns in 2018.
Feb 23 2018Rizzo (personal) will take the field against the Rangers on Saturday for the club's second Cactus League contest, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.Rizzo stepped away from the Cubs' camp for a few days in the wake of the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. where he graduated from in 2007. The first baseman returned to Chicago's spring training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. and will ready to go moving forward.
Feb 15 2018Rizzo left the Cubs' spring training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. and returned to his native Florida following the deadly shooting Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which the 28-year-old attended from 2003 through 2007, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.The Parkland, Fla. school holds a special place for Rizzo, who previously donated $150,000 to cover the cost of lights for its baseball field. Rizzo is expected to take the next several days to be with his family and the local community before returning to Arizona next week. The time away from spring camp shouldn't delay Rizzo's preparations for the 2018 season in any significant manner. After hitting 30-plus home runs and amassing 100-plus RBI and 90-plus runs for the third straight season in 2017, Rizzo once again profiles as a dependable early-round building block in fantasy drafts.
Sep 29 2017Rizzo is not in the lineup against the Reds on Friday.Rizzo will occupy a spot on the bench for the second consecutive day following the club's division title. In his place, Alex Avila will man first base and bat seventh in the order.
Sep 28 2017Rizzo is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.The Cubs wrapped up a division title Wednesday, so manager Joe Maddon will rest his starters in Thursday's series finale. Victor Caratini is starting at first base and batting sixth in his place.
Sep 27 2017Rizzo went 0-for-4 with a walk in Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals.Rizzo has been scuffling a bit lately, as he has just one hit in his last 15 at-bats and he's hitting just .241 this month. Rizzo is too talented to stay in a slump for long, and hopefully he's able to break out soon.
Sep 14 2017Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, two runs, and two stolen bases in Thursday's victory over the Mets.Rizzo collected just five hits over 30 at-bats (.167) in the nine games prior to Thursday's, but he showed signs of getting back on track by walking four times Wednesday, and he had no trouble seeing the ball in the finale of the Cubs' three-game sweep of the Mets. The two steals, which give him 10 for the year, don't hurt either.
Sep 8 2017Rizzo went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Pirates.Rizzo was locked in at the plate in this one as he snapped an 0-for-11 slump that stretched back the past three games. With a .280/.396/.532 slash line to go along with 31 home runs and 102 RBI, Rizzo is once again producing at an elite level this season.
Sep 5 2017Rizzo is out of Tuesday's lineup against the Pirates.The Cubs will give Rizzo his first day off in almost a month. Victor Caratini, a catcher by trade, gets a start at first base, hitting seventh. Look for Rizzo to play almost every day over the rest of the season.
Aug 30 2017Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, two RBI and three runs against the Pirates on Wednesday.Not that Rizzo ever seems to go cold, but he's been even hotter than usual over the last six games, racking up 12 hits --
Aug 29 2017Rizzo went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI Tuesday against the Pirates.Rizzo has been tearing the cover off the ball of late with five extra-base hits and nine RBI over his past four games. The first baseman's line has shot up to .279/.396/.532.
Aug 26 2017Rizzo went 3-for-5 with two home runs, three runs and five RBI against the Phillies on Saturday.Rizzo crushed his 29th and 30th home runs of the season to help lead the Cubs to a blowout victory over the Phillies. He's closing out a strong month in which he's hitting over .330 with six homers, and he's been an excellent fantasy option for the entire season with a .526 slugging percentage.
Aug 23 2017Rizzo went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, an RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Reds.After picking up National League Player of the Week honors on Monday, Rizzo showed no signs of slowing down Tuesday. He's slashing a ridiculous .423/.531/.692 over his last seven games with four doubles, a home run and nine RBI. Fantasy owners should sit back and enjoy the ride.
Aug 22 2017Rizzo was named National League Player of the Week on Monday after going 12-for 28 with two home runs and 13 RBI over his past seven games, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.This is the second time Rizzo has received this honor in his career, with the other coming in 2014. The 28-year-old is slashing .292/.391/.523 since the All-Star break and should be a key contributor during fantasy playoffs.
Aug 18 2017Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's loss to the Reds.Rizzo has been on a tear over the last four games, as he's gone 9-for-17 with three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI. He figures to continue providing outstanding fantasy value the rest of the way from the heart of a strong Cubs lineup.
Aug 17 2017Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and two runs scored during Wednesday's win over Cincinnati.Rizzo hit two home runs and drove in nine runs during the three-game series and is up to a .265/.385/.513 slash line for the season. He remains a high-end asset in all settings, and Rizzo might even have earned second-base status in some leagues after being scored at the keystone for the 10th time Monday. It's a potentially huge fantasy boost.
Aug 14 2017Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and five RBI during Monday's win over Cincinnati, and he also was scored with his 10th game as a second baseman.Rizzo snapped an 11-game homer drought with Monday's bomb, and he had just a single RBI during that slump. The slow stretches haven't lasted long for Rizzo over the past few seasons, and with a .262/.384/.505 slash line, 27 homers, 76 RBI and 67 runs for the year, they've also been few and far between in 2017. It's also worth reiterating that Rizzo was scored with his 10th appearances at second base Monday, so it's worth double-checking his positional eligibility in all leagues.
Aug 9 2017Rizzo is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Giants.Manager Joe Maddon will give Rizzo the day off after eight straight starts with left-hander Madison Bumgarner on the hill. In his place, Willson Contreras slides over to first while Alex Avila sets up behind the plate.
Aug 8 2017Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in Monday's win over the Giants.That's hits in three straight games and five out of the last seven for Rizzo, who has his season slash line up to .264/.389/.514. He should remain one of the most productive first basemen in fantasy baseball the rest of the way.
Aug 2 2017Rizzo went 3-for-5 with two home runs, three runs scored and three RBI in Tuesday's win over the Diamondbacks.The Cubs scored 16 runs in this one, and Rizzo was right in the middle of it. He took Arizona starter Patrick Corbin deep in the third inning with a runner on, then added a solo shot off reliever Rubby De La Rosa. Rizzo now has three home runs in his last four games and 26 for the season.
Aug 1 2017Rizzo (back) is starting Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, playing first base and batting third.Rizzo was forced to sit out of Sunday's series finale with the Brewers, but Monday's off-day seems to have been just what he needed to get back into action. He'll resume his role in the Cubs' lineup as a main run producer for the north siders.
Jul 30 2017Rizzo is dealing with a sore back and is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.Rizzo never appeared to explicitly injure his back during Saturday's contest, so it appears that he may be dealing with some general back soreness that comes with the wear and tear of a long season. The Cubs are off Monday, so the star first baseman will be given at least two full days to rest his ailing back. Victor Caritini draws the start at first base in his stead, batting eighth.
Jul 28 2017Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a steal in Thursday's win over the White Sox.Rizzo now has four home runs and 11 RBI since the All-Star break. With 24 home runs on the season, the slugging first baseman has a good shot of topping his career high of 32 home runs in a season, a mark he reached in 2014 and 2016.
Jul 27 2017Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI during Wednesday's win over the White Sox.The first baseman now has three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, seven runs and an .886 OPS through 12 games out of the All-Star break. With the Cubs beginning to click offensively, Rizzo projects to have a strong second half, and he's already positioned himself to top 30 homers and 100 RBI for the third consecutive campaign.
Jul 17 2017Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during Monday's win over Atlanta.The first baseman has now homered in three consecutive games and sports a .260/.383/.522 slash line with 23 bombs, 60 RBI and 56 runs for the season. He could be in the beginning stages of a huge second half, and it's further encouraging that the Cubs have won four straight games out of the All-Star break.
Jul 16 2017Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run against Baltimore during Sunday's win.Rizzo also homered Saturday and now sports a solid .257/.380/.514 slash line with 22 bombs, 59 RBI and 55 runs. He's well on his way to his fourth consecutive 30-homer campaign, and statistical improvement to his .238 BABIP is probably ahead.
Jul 15 2017Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a solo homer on Saturday against the Orioles.Rizzo crushed his 21st bomb of the season in the eighth inning of a blowout victory. Although the slugger has a fairly weak batting average, he more than makes up for it with his .509 slugging percentage.
Jul 7 2017Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer Friday against the Pirates.Rizzo blasted his 20th homer of the campaign as part of a three-run fourth inning that led to a divisional victory. Although his batting average is far from elite, he's been a major source of power for fantasy owners, as evidenced by his excellent .518 slugging percentage.
Jul 6 2017Rizzo went 2-for-3 with two walks, two RBI, a double and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Rays.Rizzo recently shifted back to his more typical No. 3 spot in the lineup, and he was effective there Wednesday. While he did well as the Cubs' leadoff hitter, the slugging first baseman is probably best suited for the middle of the order.
Jun 29 2017Rizzo is batting third and playing first base Thursday against the Nationals.The first baseman had been excelling while leading off, but with the sudden rash of Cubs injuries -- chiefly to masher Kris Bryant (sprained ankle) -- Rizzo was needed again in the middle of the order.
Jun 29 2017Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a home run in Wednesday's loss to the Nationals.After getting bumped down to No. 2 in the order Monday, Rizzo has now batted leadoff the last two games, and it looks like manager Joe Maddon is pretty comfortable with his first baseman there. Rizzo now has 18 home runs this season, and while batting first could limit his RBI potential, he should still supply plenty of power and maybe an uptick in runs.
Jun 27 2017Rizzo is starting at first base and batting leadoff Tuesday against the Nationals.Rizzo is back in the leadoff spot after hitting second in Monday's series opener against the Nationals. Manager Joe Maddon said he dropped Rizzo from the top of the order because of his unimpressive career numbers against southpaw Gio Gonzalez, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. Rizzo will likely stick in the leadoff spot for the time being, as he is slashing .333/.400/.714 with four homers and 11 RBI in 11 games leading off this season.
Jun 26 2017Rizzo is starting at first base and batting second Monday against the Nationals.Manager Joe Maddon is looking for anything to get the Cubs going at the plate, so he'll again switch up the batting order as lefty-throwing Gio Gonzalez is set to take the mound for the Nationals. Willson Contreras will bat leadoff for the first time in his career as Rizzo slides down to the two hole.
Jun 24 2017Rizzo is not in the lineup Saturday against the Marlins.Rizzo is just 1-for-10 over his last three starts, so he'll head to the bench for a breather as manager Joe Maddon shuffles the Cubs' lineup around. Kris Bryant is starting at first base in Rizzo's absence, with Ian Happ getting the nod at the keystone and Javy Baez sliding over to the hot corner.
Jun 21 2017Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a leadoff home run and a walk in Tuesday's win over the Padres.Rizzo set the tone for the game with a first inning blast off of San Diego starter Jhoulys Chacin. In seven games out of the leadoff spot, Rizzo is 12-for-28 with four home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs scored. The first baseman isn't a conventional No. 1 hitter, but as long as he and the team are having success, don't expect manager Joe Maddon to tinker with the order.
Jun 19 2017Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and three runs scored during Sunday's win over Pittsburgh.Rizzo is now 9-for-22 with three homers, two doubles, eight RBI and six runs through five games as Chicago's leadoff hitter. The move to the top of the lineup clearly hasn't hindered his long-standing tear, as Rizzo sports a 1.125 OPS with 10 homers, eight doubles, 26 RBI and 26 runs through his past 110 at-bats.
Jun 15 2017Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a leadoff home run in Wednesday's loss to the Mets.Rizzo took Matt Harvey deep to begin the game. Cubs manager Joe Maddon moved Rizzo up to No. 1 in the order on Tuesday to spark the offense, and the team responded with 14 runs. It's unclear how long this experiment might last, but for now, expect an uptick in runs but possibly a decrease in RBI opportunities for Rizzo.
Jun 13 2017Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, a walk, three RBI and two runs against the Mets on Tuesday.His move to the leadoff spot was a smashing success, as the Cubs broke out for 14 runs. Rizzo's now hit safely in eight straight games, and he has a ridiculous 10:3 BB:K in that span. His greatest worth has come in formats that count OBP and/or OPS, but Rizzo's 14 homers, 40 RBI and five steals are valuable stats in any fantasy setting.
Jun 13 2017Rizzo is playing first base and batting leadoff Tuesday against the Mets.Rizzo is in the midst of a seven game hitting streak and is batting .371 (13-for-35) with a 4:12 K:BB since the beginning of June, so manager Joe Maddon will push him up to the top of the order in an attempt to kickstart the Cubs' struggling offense. While he's batting just .249 on the season, his 14 percent walk rate has his OBP at an impressive .390. This will mark Rizzo's first big league start in the leadoff spot.
Jun 9 2017Rizzo went 1-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Rockies.He and Kris Bryant drew six walks between them as Colorado pitchers (intentionally or otherwise) didn't give Chicago's two big sluggers a chance to beat them. Rizzo's .247 batting average on the season remains far below expectations, but he's now 9-for-20 (.450) over his last six games with seven walks.
Jun 6 2017Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a homer, four RBI and two runs in a winning effort against the Marlins on Tuesday.His three-run shot in the fifth inning ended up providing all the margin the Cubs would need. Rizzo had been slumping recently, going just 4-for-23 (.174) without a homer over the past seven games -- part of a season-long struggle to hit for average, as he's lingering at .236. However, he's also walked more than he's struck out, and there's no way he won't bring that .216 BABIP up as the season wears on.
Jun 5 2017Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Cardinals.With Kris Bryant going 0-for-4 in front of him, Rizzo didn't get as many RBI opportunities as fantasy owners may have liked. But a three-hit performance is still nice, especially considering Rizzo entered the contest mired in a 1-for-15 slump the last five games. Rizzo is still hitting just .236, but after hitting .292 a season ago, there's reason to believe that number will rise.
May 25 2017Rizzo went 3-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs in Wednesday's win over the Giants.Rizzo took San Francisco starter Matt Moore deep in the second and fourth innings. The slugging first baseman now has home runs in two straight games and three of his last four. Rizzo is still hitting just .238, but it appears that he's heating up as we head into June.
May 23 2017Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's win over the Giants.Rizzo's two-run homer in the fourth inning came on Johnny Cueto's first offering of the at-bat. Rizzo's team-leading 25th and 26th RBI doubled the Cubs' advantage, providing more than enough insurance for starter Jon Lester. Rizzo's production has been down in May, but he is now seven for his last 24 (.292) with three home runs over his last seven games. Look for his bat to continue to heat up as the temperature does.
May 21 2017Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 13-6 rout of the Brewers.The home run was his eighth of the year, and the RBI were his 23rd and 24th of 2017. The power hasn't been in question, but his slow start may have his owners a tad worried. However, The 27-year-old slugger is sporting an unusually low BABIP (.224), so one should expect much better days ahead, especially with Chicago's lineup as a whole starting to heat up recently.
May 17 2017Rizzo went 2-for-4 with his seventh home run of the season in Tuesday's win over the Reds.Even after the good showing Tuesday, Rizzo is still slashing just .221/.358/.407. Last season, that line was .292/.385/.544. His BABIP is down nearly 100 points (.219 this season, .312 in 2016), but his strikeout and walk rates remain pretty similar. That suggests Rizzo has been getting a bit unlucky, so expect his numbers to climb as his BABIP normalizes a bit.
May 10 2017Rizzo is not in the Cubs' lineup Wednesday against the Rockies.Rizzo played both games in Tuesday's doubleheader and is still recovering from a sore wrist, so it appears to be a routine day of rest for the slugger. Rookie Jeimer Candelario will man first base in Wednesday's series finale.
May 8 2017Rizzo (wrist) is playing first base and batting third Monday against the Rockies.It appears Rizzo isn't feeling any ill-effects after getting plunked on the wrist by Aroldis Chapman during Sunday's loss to the Yankees. He wasn't forced to leave the game and X-rays afterwards came back negative, so it isn't too surprising to see him back out there. The 26-year-old is slashing .224/.353/.416 with six homers through 12 at-bats this season.
May 8 2017X-rays on Rizzo's left wrist revealed no fracture after he was hit by an Aroldis Chapman fastball during Sunday's 18-inning loss to the Yankees, Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports.While Rizzo was able to finish the marathon game after taking a Tylenol, he was seen tending to his wrist multiple times after getting plunked. "Luckily, there's nothing significant," Rizzo said. "I thank my parents I drank my milk when I was a kid and have some decent bones." The 27-year-old is set to be re-evaluated before Monday's game and although he expects to play, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Cubs hold him back as precaution after playing 18 innings Sunday.
Apr 29 2017Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run during Saturday's win over Boston.The blast was Rizzo's fifth in eight games, and it also pulled the Cubs within a run of the Red Sox in top of the fourth inning. The first baseman is up to 16 runs, six home runs, 17 RBI, four stolen bases and a .269/.382/.516 slash line. While that's a juicy five-category return, any contribution in the stolen bases column should probably be viewed as a bonus going forward.
Apr 27 2017Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Pirates.His two-run shot off Daniel Hudson in the eighth inning brought the Cubs to within one, but they weren't able to complete the comeback. Rizzo now has five homers on the season -- four of which have come in his last six games -- and a strong 12:12 BB:K through 21 games has him on pace for a career-high .400 OBP.
Apr 23 2017Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Sunday's loss to Cincinnati. It was his third consecutive game with a homer.Up to 10 runs, five doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI and three stolen bases with a .296/.412/.535 slash line, Rizzo has kick-started 2017 as expected. He's a set-and-forget option at first base and offers a high fantasy floor because of the strong supporting cast surrounding him in the Chicago lineup.
Apr 22 2017Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double, a three-run homer, a walk and three runs in Saturday's victory over the Reds.Rizzo's third homer of the season was a three-run shot to give the Cubs a first-inning lead of a game they'd win easily. He's now homered and back-to-back contests, and it's very possible that he might be ready to go on an extended power surge, which is exactly what fantasy owners were looking for when spending a high draft pick on him.
Apr 21 2017Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer and a walk in Friday's 6-5 win against the Reds.Rizzo's second blast of the season erased a three-run deficit in the ninth inning, helping the Cubs pull off an extra innings victory. Although he's struggled to find his power stroke this month, there's no doubt that it's just a matter of time until he goes on a tear and puts up the type of numbers that made him a top fantasy pick.
Apr 13 2017Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI during Thursday's win over Los Angeles.This was Rizzo's second consecutive multi-hit game, and it appears his slow start (4-for-25 through the first six games) is in the rearview mirror. Expect the proven slugger to string together a heater sooner than later, as he's a key cog in the heart of a potent lineup, after all.
Apr 10 2017Rizzo went 1-for-4 with the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning in Monday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers.Believe it or not, it was Rizzo's first RBI of the year, as he's off to a slow start with a .172 average in his first seven games. The hit was off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, though, so it was well-earned. Rizzo is also still searching for his first long ball of the 2017 season, but the All-Star first baseman should get it going soon and remains one of the most consistent on-base and power forces at his position.
Mar 9 2017Rizzo went 2-for-3 and hit his first home run of spring training in Thursday's loss to the Mariners.After missing some time with a back injury last week, it's good to see Rizzo look healthy at the plate. Rizzo took Seattle lefty James Paxton deep in the first inning. The Cubs slugger only hit eight of his 32 home runs against lefties last season, so any gains he makes in that department only enhance his fantasy value.
Mar 6 2017Rizzo (back) returned to action Monday, going 1-for-3 with a run scored in the spring training win over the Angels.Rizzo had been held out the past few days with lower-back tightness, so it's good to see him back on the field. Cubs manager Joe Maddon relayed Sunday that Rizzo would play Monday and Tuesday, so assuming he has no setbacks, the star slugger should be right back out there in the exhibition game against Team Italy.
Mar 5 2017Cubs skipper Joe Maddon confirmed that Rizzo (back) will play in Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Rizzo has been out the last couple of days with lower-back tightness, but the first baseman was never at much risk of a long-term absence. Maddon indicated that in addition to playing Monday, Rizzo will also take the field in Tuesday's exhibition with Team Italy in their preparation for the World Baseball Classic.
Mar 5 2017Rizzo (back) says that he expects to play in Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Rizzo has been dealing with lower back tightness over the past few days, but says that it is nothing serious. His return to action is a welcome sight for the Cubs.
Mar 4 2017Rizzo (back) is expected to play in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic game against Team Italy, Jesse Rogers of ESPN reports.Rizzo has been battling tightness in his lower back for the past several days, but it appears to be nothing of serious concern. That said, Rizzo's condition should still be monitored throughout the WBC, which runs through March 22.
Mar 3 2017Rizzo (back) remains out of the Cubs' Cactus League lineup Friday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Chicago remains conservative with the Cubs' masher after scratching him from the starting order Thursday. Fantasy drafters shouldn't panic, but they should remain diligent in reading updates on the prospective first-round pick in mixed leagues as their draft approaches.
Mar 2 2017Rizzo is experiencing lower back tightness and has been scratched from the Cubs' Cactus League lineup Thursday, Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports.It appears to be a safety measure, but Chris Dominguez will replace him at first base. Rizzo's status is worth watching, but unless the injury worsens in the coming days or weeks, the 27-year-old should remain a steady first-round mixed fantasy pick.
Oct 1 2016Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-RBI single and a run in Friday's 7-3 victory over the Reds.The slugging first baseman came through with a timely hit in the eighth that plated Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant. Rizzo has enjoyed a solid September and has hit safely in eight of his last 11 while knocking in seven runs over that span.
Sep 29 2016Rizzo is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.Rizzo started the last 10 games at first base after receiving back-to-back days off, but manager Joe Maddon decided to hold him out in order to rest. Javier Baez will cover first base for the Cubs.
Sep 23 2016Rizzo went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, another two-bagger and a run in Friday's 5-0 victory over the Cardinals.The slugging first baseman now has hits in seven straight, with four multi-hit efforts over that span. Rizzo has smacked three doubles and five homers overall in September as well, after notching only a pair of round-trippers in August. His 105 RBI are a new career high and he remains just a homer short of equaling the career-best 32 he posted in 2014.
Sep 17 2016Rizzo is not in the lineup Saturday against Milwaukee.As was the case Friday, Rizzo will get the day off as the Cubs continue to rest a number of regulars after clinching the division. Kris Bryant will get the start at first base and hit in the No. 2 spot Saturday.
Sep 16 2016Rizzo is out of the lineup Friday against the Brewers.Manager Joe Maddon is resting his star players, as the team plans to celebrate, win or lose, after Friday's day game. Chris Coghlan will get the start at first base and hit fifth Friday.
Sep 15 2016Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in a 7-0 victory over the Cardinals on Wednesday.The two homers were Rizzo's 30th and 31st of the season. He needs just two more to set a new career high. Rizzo also has a .290 average, .938 OPS and 101 RBI, all of which are either career bests or tied with previous career highs.
Sep 7 2016Rizzo went 2-for-4 with his 29th homer Wednesday, accounting for the Cubs' only run in a 2-1 loss to Milwaukee.The next long ball Rizzo delivers will give him his third consecutive 30-homer season, and he's just three short of racking up 100 RBI for the second straight year as well. Indeed, it's been another fantastic year for the lefty-hitting slugger -- yet he still has only the second-best set of stats on his own team, thanks to the star turn Kris Bryant's taken.
Sep 3 2016Rizzo is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants, according to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald.Rizzo will get a day off with the Cubs using a lineup full of right-handed hitters against Giants starter Madison Bumgarner. Rizzo tallied two hits Friday, but a day off Saturday may not be the worst thing, given that he is 3-for-16 (.188) with seven strikeouts lifetime against Bumgarner. Kris Bryant will fill in at first base in Rizzo's place.
Aug 30 2016Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.Rizzo's first-inning blast was his 26th of the season, but just his second this month and first since Aug. 14. Despite the dip in power, the first baseman has been racking up the hits this month, going 36-for-108 (.333) in August to raise his season's average to .294.
Aug 28 2016Rizzo went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Dodgers.The slugging first baseman plated Dexter Fowler with a run-scoring single in the first, his 89th RBI of the season. Rizzo now has hit safely in seven of his last eight games and has thrived in August overall, but has only one homer during the month. However, he's enjoyed a stellar season at the plate overall, slashing .300/.397/.558 with a whopping 66 extra-base hits (37 doubles, four triples, 25 round-trippers) in 464 at-bats.
Aug 26 2016Rizzo is in the lineup Friday against the Dodgers.Rizzo had a rare day off Wednesday, so it's no surprise to see him return to the lineup Friday evening. Rizzo has continued his phenomenal performance at the plate recently and is hitting .362/.383/.500 over his last 14 games. He'll hit third against Bud Norris and the Dodgers.
Aug 24 2016Rizzo is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Padres.He has started every game since July 30, and the Cubs will take advantage of their unmatched depth to give him a day off while still deploying a pretty intimidating lineup Wednesday. Kris Bryant will man first base and hit second while Ben Zobrist steps into Rizzo's typical spot in the three hole.
Aug 23 2016Rizzo went 4-for-5 and scored a run in Monday's win over the Padres.Rizzo has just one home run in 20 games in August, but he has been making opposing pitchers pay in other ways. He owns a solid 9:10 BB:K and mashed his eighth double of the month in Monday's win. His batting line for August sits at a cool .383/.451/.568, proving he can be plenty productive even when he isn't depositing the ball into the bleachers.
Aug 14 2016Rizzo finished 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Cardinals.Rizzo spread out his production, singling in runs in the first and sixth innings before launching a solo home run to right in the eighth inning that gave the Cubs a glimmer of hope. The homer was Rizzo's first in 22 games, but he still sports what would be a career best .972 OPS and he sits third in the National League with 85 RBI.
Aug 12 2016Rizzo went 2-for-5 and drove home the game-winning run with a bases-loaded walk in the 10th inning of a victory over the Cardinals on Thursday.Though Rizzo hasn't hit a home run since he hit two of them on July 20, he's still been hitting and driving in runs, as he's slashing .278/.376/.458 with 12 runs and 11 RBI in 19 games. Meanwhile, the Cubs have won their last 10. We could be looking at the MVP.
Aug 1 2016Rizzo went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in a 3-for-3 game in Monday's win over the Marlins.Rizzo had been relatively cold, as his last multi-hit game came July 20 against the Mets. He fell a home run short of the cycle as he managed a double and a triple, and the addition of a walk brought his OBP up to .396, which would be a career high. He has been the total package this year, with a 53:73 BB:K showing he has plenty of discipline to go with his obvious power.
Jul 30 2016Rizzo is not in Saturday's lineup as the Cubs face Seattle.It seems as though Rizzo will be getting a rare day off during Saturday's matinee against Wade Miley and the Mariners. The slugging first baseman hasn't missed a game since June 24 when he was battling back stiffness, but will be replaced in the field by Willson Contreras, while Ben Zobrist moves into the third spot in the order.
Jul 29 2016Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a bases-clearing double and a run in Friday's 12-1 victory over the Mariners.The slugging first baseman helped to break the game wide open with his sixth-inning, bases-loaded two-bagger, plating Jon Lester, Chris Coghlan and Kris Bryant. Rizzo came up with the bases jammed again in the seventh, and his double play groundout allowed Matt Szczur to score on a fielder's choice. The 26-year-old has enjoyed a solid July, raising his average 18 points since the first game of the month.
Jul 20 2016Rizzo hit his 23rd and 24th home runs of the season Wednesday off Bartolo Colon in the Cubs win over the Mets.Rizzo easily shook off Tuesday's golden sombrero performance, coming back with a fury against the Mets. Overall, Rizzo has been quite hot of late, hitting .345/.436/.726 in his last 30 games. Both of Wednesday's homers travelled more than 435 feet, a testament to his incredible power. He now has 71 RBI on the season, tied for most in the NL with Nolan Arenado. Rizzo continues to prove he's one of the league's premier hitters.
Jul 20 2016Rizzo struck out four times Monday night for the first time in his career.Considering how well Rizzo has been hitting of late, he was bound to have a clunker eventually. For the year he's hitting .290 with 22 home runs and 68 RBI in 90 games.
Jul 18 2016Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Monday's victory over the Mets.Rizzo now has 22 home runs this season and two in his last seven games. The first baseman had a rough start to the season, but has watched his batting average rise from .238 to .293 since the start of June. His 68 RBI places him behind only Nolan Arenado in the National League.
Jul 17 2016Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-RBI double in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Rangers.The slugging first baseman plated Tommy La Stella and Miguel Montero with a third-inning two-bagger, allowing the Cubs to overcome an early 1-0 deficit. The double, Rizzo's sixth over the last four contests, extended Rizzo's hitting streak to 11 games. Rizzo's recent stretch of success at the plate has raised his average 18 points since July 2.
Jul 11 2016Rizzo went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Pirates.After posting a huge .378/.467/.744 slash line in June, Rizzo's kept his momentum going in July, racking up a .400/.478/.700 line with two homers, five RBI and eight runs scored in 10 games. He's on pace for career highs in homers, RBI and runs as well as all three slash categories, and don't be surprised if he's in the MVP conversation at the end of the year.
Jul 10 2016Rizzo went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and a run in Saturday's 12-6 loss to the Pirates.His bat has caught fire in July, as he now has hit safely in eight straight games while slashing .343/.439/.629 over 35 at-bats. Rizzo has his average up to .290, a figure that's complemented by a stellar .410 OBP and .581 slugging percentage.
Jul 9 2016Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and two walks in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Pirates.The 26-year-old continues to wield a hot bat, with his hitting streak now at seven games. Rizzo has also hit safely in 18 of his last 19 contests, with six multi-hit efforts over that span. The recent hot streak has raised his average 23 points to .282, and the homer Friday was his fourth in the last 12 games.
Jul 3 2016Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI against the Mets on Saturday.Rizzo looks well on his way to a berth in the All-Star Game, as his 20 home runs and 60 RBI have him well ahead of his pace from last season, when he finished with 31 homers and 101 RBI.
Jun 29 2016Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a three-run, inside-the-park home run Wednesday against the Reds.The first baseman drove a deep fly ball to left-center field, but did not run full speed out of the box as it looked like the ball would be caught. A near collision left Reds' outfielder Billy Hamilton injured on the ground, and Rizzo realized the ball dropped and took off full speed to come around and score. Rizzo topped out at 18.6 mph once he hit full stride and it took him 17.5 seconds to round the bases, according to Statcast. The home run was Rizzo's 19th of the season and his first career inside-the-park homer.
Jun 25 2016Rizzo is back in the lineup, playing first base and batting third against Miami on Saturday.Rizzo, who's missed the last two games due to back stiffness, is making his return for Game 3 of the Cubs-Marlins series. During his absence, Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras had been filling in for him at first base with Chris Coghlan seeing action in left field. Rizzo will resume a five-game hit streak that included two homers and five RBI when he returns.
Jun 24 2016Manager Joe Maddon said it's "possible" Rizzo (back) could play Saturday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.Of course, everything will depend on how Rizzo feels Saturday morning, but the skipper's words seem to indicate that a prolonged absence is not expected. Rizzo dealt with a slight back issue earlier this month but said his current issue is different. Kris Bryant will start at first base Friday in Rizzo's absence, just his third career start at the position.
Jun 24 2016Rizzo (back) remains out of the lineup Friday against Miami.Rizzo is missing a second straight game with back stiffness as Kris Bryant takes his place at first base. Rizzo dealt with a back injury earlier this month so it could be a flare up of the same problem. There's been no word that he's headed for a DL stint, however, so consider him day-to-day for now.
Jun 23 2016Rizzo (back) is out of the lineup against Miami on Thursday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Rizzo left Wednesday's game early with back stiffness and will get an off day Thursday to rest up. With left-hander Wei-Yin Chen on the mound for Miami, the Cubs don't lose much by starting righty Willson Contreras at first, who's hit two homers and driven in five RBI since his call up last week. Rizzo continues to be day-to-day as he nurses his stiff back.
Jun 22 2016Rizzo left Wednesday's game against the Cardinals due to back stiffness, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Rizzo was scratched from a start earlier this month with back stiffness but returned after missing just one game. The 26-year-old has been scorching hot in June, hitting .287/.473/.758 with six home runs, 17 RBI and 13 runs in 18 games.
Jun 19 2016Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and a pair of runs scored in Sunday's win over the Pirates.The Cubs offense ran rampant Sunday, hanging 10 runs on Pittsburgh despite promising rookie Jameson Taillon starting the contest, and Rizzo got the party started with an RBI single in the first before launching a solo homer in the sixth. He rounded off his night with another RBI single an inning later, raising his average to .272, which is his highest mark in over a month.
Jun 12 2016Rizzo went 3-for-6 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI in Sunday's 13-2 rout of the Braves.He continues to rake in June, and Rizzo is now hitting .395 (15-for-38) on the month with three homers, 10 RBI and eight runs scored. His 47 RBI also puts him in second place in the NL, just two ahead of Kris Bryant for the team lead.
Jun 11 2016Rizzo (back) will rejoin the lineup Saturday, hitting in his usual cleanup spot.Rizzo was a late scratch Friday due to some back tightness, but it appears he's loosened up since then. Rizzo will prepare to face the Braves' Matt Wisler, while Javier Baez will sit after moving over to play first in his place Friday.
Jun 10 2016Rizzo is day-to-day after being scratched from Friday's lineup with back tightness.Javier Baez will slot into first, hitting sixth, in Rizzo's place. There's no indication yet how much time Rizzo will have to miss, but back injuries with power hitters can be a real problem, so check back later for an update. This will be Rizzo's third missed start of the year.
Jun 5 2016Rizzo is out of the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks.The opposing Diamondbacks are sending southpaw Patrick Corbin to the hill, so the timing was right for Rizzo to get just his second day off of the season, as he's hitting just .186 against lefties on the year. Kris Bryant will take over for Rizzo at first base, while Javier Baez gets the nod at the hot corner.
Jun 4 2016Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Saturday's 5-3 victory over Arizona.After a lackluster May, Rizzo's bat has come alive in June. The 26-year-old slugger has gone 6-for-16 with a double, two homers, three RBI and a pair of walks over four contests in the new month. The pair of round-trippers has been particularly encouraging, considering Rizzo went deep only three times over 100 at-bats during May.
Jun 3 2016Rizzo was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in the Cubs' win over Arizona on Friday afternoon.Rizzo is hitting just .246 on the season, but he likes to produce when it matters and now has 39 RBI on the year. On Friday he looped a double over the center fielder's head to break up a scoreless tie and propel the Cubs to another win.
May 30 2016Rizzo went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Monday's win against the Dodgers.The first baseman has now driven in a run in each of his last two games after a brutal 3-for-41 slump. Rizzo has still been a strong run producer despite his struggles at the plate this year, recording 11 home runs and driving in 37 batters. He should propel his average closer to last season's .278 in short order.
May 27 2016Rizzo is out of Friday's lineup.He'll get a rare day off for Friday's matinee against the Phillies. Surprisingly, Kris Bryant will get his first start at first base of the season -- a position he has played just once in the big leagues. The Cubs are using Thursday's off day to give players like Rizzo and Jason Heyward a nice two-day rest in advance of a 12-game stretch without an off day.
May 26 2016Rizzo went 0-for-4 with a walk in a victory over the Cardinals on Wednesday.Rizzo's current slump might even be worse than the one he had in April, as he is just 3-for-38 with two RBI in his last 10 games. He has a respectable 5:6 BB:K in that span, but he's had trouble hitting 'em where they ain't. He's slashing .234/.371/.497 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI this season.
May 15 2016Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer, four RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 8-2 victory over the Cubs.The lefty slugger has now reached safely in 22 straight games, and is tallying an outstanding .373/.475./.686 in May. Rizzo has raised his average 61 points since the beginning of the month, and is clearly wielding one of the hottest bats in the majors at present. His remarkable month now includes six multi-hit outings, along with seven doubles, three homers and nine RBI.
May 8 2016Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-5 victory over the Nationals.The fifth-year pro has exploded in May, after entering the month with a paltry .218 average. He's slashing .407/.515/.852 over his first 105 at-bats of the month, with six doubles, two homers, four RBI and four walks. Saturday's effort marked the fourth multi-hit effort in the last six for Rizzo, who's seen his season line climb to .267/.417/.648, and whose 10 homers and 28 RBI lead the Cubs.
May 6 2016Rizzo was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a solo home run in Chicago's win over the Nationals on Friday afternoon.It's taken him a while to build his average up to it's current .257 level after a slow start, but he's getting on base at a .409 pace, while the power and RBI numbers have not faltered. He now has 10 home runs and 28 RBI despite the rather pedestrian batting average, and that's what his fantasy owners were really looking for when they drafted him.
May 4 2016Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and three runs in the 6-2 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon.The Cubs first baseman had an extremely slow start to the season, but he has three straight multi-hit games. Rizzo has also reached safely in 11 of his last 12 games. Despite the poor batting average, Rizzo has been on base and hitting home runs all season long. He has nine home runs, a .467 on-base percentage and 1.159 OPS in 96 at-bats this season.
Apr 25 2016Rizzo went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI against the Reds on Sunday.That 3-for-38 slump seems to be over as, Rizzo feasted on the Reds over the weekend. In his last five games, he has five home runs and 10 RBI. For the year he has eight home runs and 21 RBI, both figures second in the National League to Bryce Harper.
Apr 21 2016Rizzo got a piece of the offensive party in Thursday's 16-0 rout of the Reds, going 1-for-6 with a three-run homer and two runs scored.It's been a slow start to the year for the star first baseman, who's still under the Mendoza Line, but has homers in consecutive games and 16 RBI in as many contests. We'll take the bad with the good until he inevitably lifts the ol' average back to its normally solid level.
Apr 20 2016Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a home run and RBI-single in the loss against the Cardinals on Wednesday.After a strong start to the year, Rizzo has gone cold at the plate, so it was good to see him get multiple hits Wednesday. Coming into the game, Rizzo was 2-for-31 (.065) in the last 10 contests. Fortunately, he does have four home runs and 13 RBI.
Apr 20 2016Rizzo went 0-for-3 with a walk against the Cardinals on Tuesday. In his last 11 games, he is 3-for-38 with just two RBI.Rizzo cost plenty on draft day this year, and though he's driven in 11, nine of those RBI came in the first three days and his slash line is down to .163/.339/.388 slash line. It's possible you could pry him away from a nervous owner at a slight discount.
Apr 16 2016Rizzo was 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Rockies.Rizzo and Jorge Soler went back-to-back with solo homers in the fourth versus Christan Bergman. It was the slugger's first dinger since Apr. 7 versus the D-Backs, ending a seven-game drought. Despite the power surge Saturday, Rizzo is only 2-for-22 over his last six outings, and is hitting .200 over his first 11 games.
Apr 15 2016Rizzo went 0-for-4 against the Reds yesterday, his fourth hitless game in a row.Rizzo drove in six runs on Apr. 7, but since then he's just 1-for-22 with the lone hit a single. On the plus side, he's drawn five walks in that span. There's absolutely no reason to worry about him right now.
Apr 8 2016Rizzo went off in Arizona on Thursday, going 3-for-6 with a triple, a homer, six RBI and three runs.Yeah, that's the stuff. Three games into the season, Rizzo already has two homers, nine RBI and more walks (three) than strikeouts (two). Last season's 17 steals seem unlikely to be repeated, but it wouldn't at all be surprising to see Rizzo set new career marks in homers and batting average this year.
Apr 1 2016Rizzo is slashing .304/.404/.587 this spring.Rizzo was removed from a Tuesday's game a little early, but that was just a precaution. He's been filling the box score all spring, as he has three home runs, two stolen bases, 10 runs, and 12 RBI in just 46 at-bats. He's primed for a big season, and may be the best first baseman on the board after Paul Goldschmidt.
Mar 29 2016Rizzo left Tuesday's spring training game early, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Rizzo collided awkwardly with Andrew Lambo, so the early removal was likely a result of that. The nature of the setback is currently unclear, and it's possible the move was simply a precautionary one, but the club will likely offer more clarity on the situation if it turns out to be anything worth monitoring.
Mar 17 2016Rizzo returned to the lineup Thursday and went 0-for-1 with a walk, run, and stolen base.Rizzo missed a game after being hit by a pitch Tuesday, but the injury was minor. His lofty position on most cheatsheets should be unaffected by this week's events.
Mar 15 2016Rizzo left Tuesday's spring training game after being hit by pitch, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.It sounds as though it's more of a precautionary measure, as Rizzo was just grazed by the pitch. He should be able to return to action by the end of the week, if not sooner, but the club will likely offer up more details if it's longer than that.
Mar 7 2016Rizzo is 0-for-5 and has yet to reach base through two games this spring.There is no reason to be concerned as Rizzo is one of the best first basemen in the league and will feast in the middle of the Cubs' lineup this season. The 26-year-old is a legitimate MVP candidate heading into the 2016 season.
Oct 2 2015Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a homer, a walk, three RBI and two runs in Friday's win over the Brewers.Rizzo is smoothing out another strong season for his young career, setting personal highs in hits, extra-base hits, runs, RBI and steals. Though he is hitting just .171 in his last 35 at bats and having an off-and-on month, he has remained productive, ranking first and fourth in runs and RBI, respectively, among league first basemen over the past 30 days with 20 apiece.
Oct 2 2015Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI against the Brewers on Friday.Rizzo is one RBI away from reaching the century mark for the first time in his career. He won't win the NL MVP this year, but he'll get a few votes.
Sep 28 2015Rizzo is out of the lineup Monday against the Royals.Rizzo has now gone hitless in four of his last five games following a 0-for-3 performance at the dish Sunday. Kris Bryant will slide over from third base to replace him at first Monday, while Tommy La Stella will enter the lineup at third, batting cleanup.
Sep 16 2015Rizzo went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a steal, a walk and a run scored in a win over the Pirates on Wednesday.The stolen bag marks his 16th of the season and it's his first since August 6. The steals are a bit of a surprise for the power-hitting first baseman and if that continues next year, it'll only raise his value going forward.
Sep 15 2015Rizzo went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Pirates.Rizzo had only one hit over seven at-bats in Tuesday's doubleheader but made it count, plating Austin Jackson on a two-out single to open the scoring in the first inning. After a strong start to September that saw him hit safely in six out of his first eight games, including three multi-hit performances and three homers, Rizzo has gone only 2-for-22 in his last six contests. The power-hitting first baseman will need to rediscover his stroke over the last two weeks of the season in order for the Cubs to stay in the hunt for a wild-card spot.
Sep 9 2015Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in a 4-3 loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday.Rizzo is in the midst of a nice seven-game stretch in which he has three homers, two doubles, 10 RBI, and eight runs scored. It's been the breakout season that most expected for the youngster and the trade from the Padres seems to be an absolute steal at this point. Theo Epstein is doing his magic and Rizzo is a major beneficiary in a deep lineup. He now has a .285 average with 29 home runs and 88 RBI in 137 games played this season.
Sep 8 2015Rizzo hit his 29th home run in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals. He finished 2-for-4 with three RBI.Rizzo is now hitting .285/.393/.535 and is on pace for career highs in both on-base and slugging percentages. Rizzo leads all National League first basemen in home runs, but it'll be tough to beat Joey Votto (.318/.460/.562) or Paul Goldschmidt (.319/.433/.554) for the Silver Slugger.
Sep 5 2015Rizzo hit a grand slam against Arizona on Friday.Rizzo topped his career high in RBI with the blast, and he's only four home runs away from last year's career-high 32. He may not win the NL MVP this year, but his name is going to be all over the ballot.
Aug 28 2015Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers on Friday.It was impressive to see Rizzo take Clayton Kershaw deep with how sharp the ace was. Rizzo is mired in a bit of a slump right now as he has failed to record a multi-hit game in his last 12 games. The power is still there though, as he has seven homers and 21 RBI in the month of August.
Aug 22 2015Rizzo went 1-for-4 Saturday with his 25th home run of the season.He's actually improved on last season's breakout performance, and Rizzo is now slashing .291/.401/.541 (all career highs) with 76 RBI and 15 steals to go along with the homers.
Aug 20 2015Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in a 7-1 win over Atlanta on Thursday.Rizzo has been hovering just below the .300 mark for awhile now and while the power is still reliable, the steals have completely disappeared. Since July 25, Rizzo has seven homers, but just one steal. While steals weren't something we expected from Rizzo at the beginning of the season, he's proven he can swipe some bags and it makes him one of the most versatile first basemen in baseball. With career-highs across the board, Rizzo is establishing himself as one of the elite hitters in the game.
Aug 13 2015Rizzo smashed his 22nd homer, drew a walk and scored two runs Thursday against the Brewers.This was a banner day for the Cubs' ex-Red Sox, with Jon Lester striking out 10 and Rizzo hitting yet another homer as he continues what's been his best season yet. If his fantasy line has any flaws, it's that he's on pace to fall short of hitting either 100 RBI or 100 runs. That silence you're hearing is the sound of Rizzo's fantasy owners complaining.
Aug 1 2015Rizzo homered for the third straight game in Friday's 4-1 win over the Brewers.Rizzo's seventh-inning blast to right field gives him 19 homers on the campaign, putting him right on pace to reach 30 if health permits the rest of the way. In addition to being an ample power source in the middle of the Cubs' lineup, Rizzo has shown improved plate discipline, as evidenced by his sterling 51:57 K:BB ratio this season.
Jul 29 2015Rizzo busted out with a two-run homer among four at-bats Wednesday against the Rockies.He'd been ice-cold since the All-Star break, with just a .163 average and no homers, but you can't keep Rizzo down for too long. He'll be hard-pressed to reach 30 homers again this year, as he's sitting on just 17 through 99 games, but the speed element Rizzo's added to his game coupled with his generally reliable .280-something batting average makes him a five-category fantasy asset.
Jul 28 2015Rizzo went 0-for-3 with a walk in a loss to the Rockies on Tuesday.Rizzo has just three hits in his last nine games and is slashing .163/.260/.186 since the All-Star break.
Jul 5 2015Rizzo is out of the lineup Sunday against the Marlins.Rizzo had started each of the Cubs' first 79 games at first base, but will rest Sunday in favor of Mike Baxter. Over his last eight games Rizzo is 3-for-28 at the dish, so a day off could help him right the ship.
Jun 22 2015Rizzo's power surge continued Sunday as he finished 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a pair of runs scored against the Twins.After a slight dip in the power numbers, Rizzo has bounced back in his last five games, launching four home runs to go with six RBI and six runs scored. He had been contributing in other areas even before this hot stretch, as his 10 stolen bases, 43 RBI and .309 average will indicate, and is one of the top across-the-board producers in fantasy at the moment.
Jun 20 2015Rizzo was the entire offense for the Cubs on Friday, belting two solo homers in a 7-2 loss to the Twins.The Cubs only had four hits Friday, though at least they limited themselves to just four strikeouts as well. Rizzo has 14 home runs on the season and is among the NL leaders in nearly every significant offensive category.
Jun 17 2015Rizzo went 2-for-4 with his 12th homer and two RBI in Wednesday's win over Cleveland.He'd hit a little rough patch, going 0-for-17 over the last four games -- good for a 21-point drop in batting average -- but you can't keep Rizzo down for long. He's just too good.
Jun 7 2015Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored Sunday against the Nationals, extending his hitting streak to 12 games.The 25-year-old is now batting a cool .332 on the season and has added 33 runs scored to his already impressive fantasy resume. Rizzo has been a big part of the Cubs' resurgence and should continue to provide plenty of value in the middle of a talented lineup.
Jun 5 2015Rizzo was 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in a losing effort against the Nationals on Friday night.One of baseball young guns, Rizzo has been relatively quiet lately - at least on the power front - but he now has 11 long ones to go with 34 RBI and a nifty .325 average. The Cubs are loaded with talented young position players, and Rizzo is right in the center of their rejuvenated offense.
Jun 5 2015Rizzo extended his hitting streak to nine games with a 2-for-4 performance against the Nationals on Thursday.It's been a pretty thin hitting streak, as has just 11 hits and two RBI in that span. On the other hand, six of those hits have been for extra bases and his 6:4 BB:K ratio during the streak indicates he's seeing the ball well.
May 24 2015Rizzo doubled, homered and drove in six runs Saturday in Arizona.Rizzo had been uncharacteristically quiet over the prior five games, going just 2-for-18, but bounced back with yet another big night. He's been one of the hardest outs in baseball this year, and it'd be no surprise whatsoever to see him blow past last season's stats in every category.
May 11 2015Rizzo hit his fourth home run in May on Monday against the Mets, a solo shot off Jacob deGrom in the seventh inning.Rizzo is now slugging .593 on the season, and .756 in the month of May. He has four RBIs in his past four games and has a hit in four straight games.
May 2 2015Rizzo went 1-for-3 Saturday with his third home run of the season, a solo shot that accounted for all the Cubs' offense in a loss to the Brewers.While the power has been in shorter supply than anticipated, Rizzo is still slashing .324/.480/.500 on the season, and his six steals so far have been a surprising bonus for any fantasy players who invested in him.
Apr 28 2015Rizzo went 0-for-4 Tuesday against the Pirates, but stole his career-high sixth base of the year in the win.With 16 runs, 14 walks, and six stolen bases in just 19 games this year, Rizzo is turning into a completely different fantasy beast. When he starts hitting the ball out of the park again - he has just two home runs this year - he could be the top fantasy first baseman in the league.
Apr 21 2015Rizzo will bat second Tuesday against the Pirates.Rizzo has logged 15 at-bats in the two-hole this season (39 total at-bats), but this marks his first start there since last Wednesday. A lefty in Francisco Liriano in on the bump for Pittsburgh. Manager Joe Maddon figures to keep breaking up Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant, two right-handed bats, with Rizzo in the No. 3 spot against right-handed pitching.
Apr 18 2015Rizzo went 2-for-5 Saturday with two runs scored and his first two steals of the season.He came into the game with just 16 career steals, so Rizzo's sudden friskiness on the basepaths isn't likely to be repeated any time soon. He's working on a modest five game hitting streak, raising his slash line on the season to .281/.467/.406.
Apr 15 2015Rizzo hit his first homer of the year Wednesday in a win over the Reds.The first-inning two-run shot was the finishing touch on a strong series for Rizzo against Cincinnati. After he started the season just 2-for-14, Rizzo went 4-for-10 with three walks and no strikeouts over three games with the Reds in town.
Apr 12 2015Rizzo has already been hit by four pitches this season.Just in case you were wondering why Rizzo had a .500 on-base percentage despite just two hits and two walks this year. Expect more balls to hit his bat and fewer to hit his body in the coming months.
Apr 10 2015Rizzo went hitless in the Cubs' opening two-game series against the Cardinals, but reached base three times and scored the winning run in Wednesday's game.It's only two games, no reason to panic that Rizzo isn't going to be a top first baseman this season. Especially since he's headed to Coors Field to play the Rockies this weekend.
Mar 22 2015Rizzo went 1-for-2 with an RBI double in a win over the Mariners on Saturday.Rizzo is just 4-for-28 this spring, and Saturday's double was his first extra-base hit, but his place in the Cubs' lineup is secure.
Sep 28 2014Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a home run in the Cubs' 5-2 win over the Brewers on Sunday.He has three multi-hit games since returning from injury Sept. 15. he's hit in eight of 11 games in that span. He'll end his season with strong numbers, with 32 home runs and 78 RBIs.
Sep 18 2014Rizzo is out of the lineup Thursday against the Dodgers, MLB.com reports.Sticking with the Cubs' plan to play him every other day while he nurses a back issue, Rizzo will sit after going 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored Wednesday. Mike Olt, who figures to form the other half of the timeshare at first base, will enter Thursday's lineup.
Sep 16 2014Rizzo will likely play every other day going forward, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.After hitting a walk-off home run to win Monday's game, Rizzo is out of the lineup Tuesday as he continues to struggle with a lingering back issue. With the Cubs out of contention and looking to preserve the slugger's health, Rizzo will play every other day until further notice.
Sep 16 2014Rizzo is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.Rizzo is coming off a lengthy absence and is just 2-for-18 (.111) in his career against Reds starter Johnny Cueto, so manager Rick Renteria decided to hold him out Tuesday. Chris Valaika will get the start at first base for the Cubs.
Sep 15 2014Rizzo played the hero Monday night, hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning.It was a nice return for Rizzo, who had missed the last 18 games with a back issue. The slugging first baseman collected two hits on the night and now has 31 home runs and 72 RBI for the season. After an All-Star first half, Rizzo has not slowed down since the Mid-Summer Classic, hitting .284 with 11 homers after the break.
Sep 15 2014Rizzo (back) will return to the lineup Monday, batting third against the Reds.The Cubs' starting first baseman has been sidelined with the back injury since Aug. 26, and will return for owners at a perfect time for those in weekly leagues. It has truly been a breakout season for Rizzo, and he'll be among the first handful of first basemen drafted in fantasy leagues in 2015.
Sep 14 2014Rizzo (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.Rizzo appears on the verge of a return after taking part in baseball activities Friday, but he will be held out Sunday to get another day of rest. Rizzo could be back in the lineup as soon as Monday.
Sep 13 2014Rizzo (back) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Pirates.Rizzo took on-field batting practice and ran the bases prior to Friday's game, typically the final hurdles a player must clear before returning to action. The hope seems the be that he'll be back in the lineup for Monday's series opener against Cincinnati.
Sep 12 2014Rizzo (back) took batting practice and ran the bases before Friday's game, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.Rizzo appears to be getting closer and closer to a return to the field, but the indication is still that Monday will be his return date. Either way, the Cubs will enjoy a boost to the middle of their lineup when he finally returns.
Sep 11 2014Rizzo (back) took batting practice on the field prior to Wednesday's game, the Associated Press reports.He's increasing his activity this week, having taken a lighter BP session prior to Tuesday's game. Rizzo could return in the coming days, but the Cubs have no incentive to push him back into the lineup if he's still feeling any pain in his back.
Sep 10 2014Rizzo (back) remains out of the lineup Wednesday.He took grounders and light batting practice before Tuesday's game, but is still likely a few days away from returning to the Cubs' lineup. Mike Olt will start at first base.
Sep 9 2014Rizzo (back) fielded grounders and took light batting practice prior to Tuesday's game, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.After taking part in on-field activities for a second straight day, Rizzo said that he hopes to return to the lineup before the end of this weekend's series in Pittsburgh. Manager Rick Renteria was predictably non-committal, but did say that Rizzo didn't seem to have any residual effects from his first on-field batting practice Monday. While the Cubs have nothing to gain by rushing him back, it sounds like Rizzo will be back in action no later than early next week.
Sep 8 2014Rizzo (back) remains out of the lineup Monday.Mike Olt will get the start at first, which is no surprise, as Rizzo remains out indefinitely. The Cubs said that Rizzo would be on the DL right now if rosters hadn't expanded this month, so it's conceivable he could miss another week or more with the back injury.
Sep 8 2014Rizzo (back) took pain-free batting practice Monday and is optimistic he'll be able to return for the Cubs' weekend series with the Pirates, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.Rizzo hasn't played since Aug. 26, sitting out each of the club's last 12 games. There was some worry that he might be at risk of missing the rest of the season after the Cubs ruled him out indefinitely early last week, so the reported progress is somewhat reassuring for those fantasy owners who continued to hang onto him. The first baseman will likely still have to go through a more strenuous circuit of exercises before he's given clearance to return, leaving Mike Olt to assume the bulk of the duties at the position until Rizzo is ready to go.
Sep 2 2014Rizzo (back) is out of the lineup again Tuesday.Rizzo has been out of the lineup much longer than expected, and will miss his eighth straight game Tuesday. He also reportedly could undergo a precautionary MRI on his back to determine if there is a more severe ailment causing his back pain. With expanded September rosters, Rizzo will not require a DL stint, but it's unclear at this point when he will be able to return to the lineup.
Sep 2 2014Rizzo (back) is out indefinitely and would be on the disabled list if the rosters didn't expand at the start of September, Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago reports.Rizzo left last Tuesday's game with lower back tightness, and his return date has been pushed back multiple times since. The most recent puts him out for an undetermined amount of time, leaving his availability for the remainder of the season in doubt. Chris Valaika has taken on the duties at first base in his absence, and should continue to do so until he returns.
Sep 1 2014Rizzo (back) could undergo a precautionary MRI on Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.The Cubs certainly didn't expect Rizzo to miss seven games when he first experienced back soreness last week, raising concern that a more severe ailment may be in play. If the issue doesn't clear up enough for Rizzo to return to the lineup Tuesday against the Brewers, it would make sense for the Cubs to take a closer look at his condition just to be on the safe side. Fortunately, the recently-expanded roster will allow the Cubs to give Rizzo as much time off as he needs to recover, without having to worry about a lack of depth at the position.
Sep 1 2014Rizzo (back) remains out of the lineup Monday against the Brewers.Rizzo targeted Monday as the day for his return, but his back must not be cooperating. He will instead sit again and yield the start to Chris Valaika at first base, who will bat eighth for the Cubs.
Sep 1 2014The Cubs hope Rizzo (back) can return to the lineup Monday, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.They also hoped he could return to the lineup Friday...and Saturday...and Sunday. He's been out of action since he left Tuesday's game with a tight lower back.
Aug 30 2014Rizzo (back) will not play this weekend, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.Rizzo described the lack of progress with his lower-back issue as "frustrating," but the hope is that a few days of rest will allow him to return during the team's homestand next week. Chris Valaika will man first base in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, as he did Friday, but Luis Valbuena can play the position as well if the Cubs get in a pinch.
Aug 30 2014Rizzo (back) remains out of the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals on Saturday.Rizzo was hoping to rejoin the lineup Friday but didn't and now won't play in the first game of the doubleheader Saturday. It's possible that he will take the day game off and play in the night game, but he also may not be ready to return yet.
Aug 29 2014Rizzo (back) is out of the lineup Friday against the Cardinals.Rizzo hoped to return to the lineup Friday, but his back injury appears to be lingering around. With the Cubs out of the playoff race, they aren't inclined to rush him back, and will give the start to Chris Valaika again Friday, batting eighth for the Cubs.
Aug 29 2014Rizzo (back) hope to return to the lineup Friday, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.He woke up feeling better Thursday morning, but his back still bothers him when he extends it by swinging. The Cubs made the prudent move by giving him an extra day off to recuperate. He should be back in the lineup soon.
Aug 28 2014Rizzo (back) is out of the lineup Thursday against the Reds, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.Rizzo, who said he first experienced the back tightness during a rain delay Tuesday, will miss his second straight game. He was initially hopeful to return to the lineup Thursday, but he'll have to delay those plans at least another day while he takes some more time off to recuperate.
Aug 27 2014Manager Rick Renteria said Rizzo (back) is day-to-day and the team hopes that after treatment Wednesday, Rizzo will be back in the lineup Thursday, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.He's out of the lineup Wednesday after being lifted from Tuesday's game with lower-back tightness, but fortunately it sounds like he'll be back in the middle of the Cubs' lineup in short order.
Aug 27 2014Rizzo (lower back) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Reds, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.Rizzo was lifted from Tuesday's game after experiencing lower-back tightness. The Cubs haven't issued any word regarding the severity of Rizzo's condition other than labeling him as day-to-day. Chris Valaika will step into the lineup at first base Wednesday.
Aug 26 2014Rizzo left Tuesday's game against the Reds in the eighth inning with lower-back tightness, C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.It's not apparent when exactly Rizzo suffered the injury, but it's possible it occurred while he was running out a ground out in the seventh inning. The first baseman did reach the 30-homer plateau with a solo shot in the first inning, before he was replaced by Chris Valaika later on. More information regarding the extent of his injury should become available after the game.
Aug 20 2014Rizzo went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's rain-shortened 2-0 win over the Giants.With Tuesday's game being called after the top of the fifth inning, Rizzo's homer held up as the game-winner. It was also the 13th of his 29 homers that has given the Cubs the lead -- no small feat considering the team is 15 games under .500. He's been simply superb for the Cubs since May and looks like he'll be a cornerstone piece in a lineup that should vastly improve over the next couple of seasons.
Aug 18 2014Rizzo hit his 28th home run of the season in Monday's win over New York, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.Rizzo continues to put up very good numbers for the Cubs this year, now hitting .276/.376/.507 with 67 RBI.
Aug 14 2014Rizzo was 1-for-4 with his 27th home run of the season Wednesday in a 4-2 win against the Brewers.Rizzo went back-to-back with rookie Javier Baez in the third inning. It's the second homer in as many games for the first baseman, who is now slashing .278/.378/.507 with 65 RBI and 77 runs over 442 at-bats.
Aug 10 2014Rizzo went 2-for-6 with a pair of singles and one RBI in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Rays.Despite a modest week at the plate, Rizzo continues to swing the bat well in the middle of the Cubs' lineup. The 25-year-old slugger has now hit safely in 18-of-21 games since the All-Star break, batting a solid .299 to go with five homers, 13 RBI and 13 runs scored over that span.
Aug 8 2014Rizzo is back in the lineup Friday against the Rays.Rizzo received a rare day off Thursday, but will be back in action against Chris Archer and the Rays. The lefty first baseman is hitless in his last two contests, but was previously riding an eight-game hit streak after hitting .308 in July.
Aug 7 2014Rizzo is out of the Cubs' lineup Thursday against the Rockies.Rizzo will receive a well-deserved day off Thursday, his first since May 30. Chris Valaika will man first base in his absence, with Starlin Castro moving up to the three-hole in the order against left-hander Yohan Flande.
Jul 23 2014Rizzo slugged his 24th and 25th home runs of the year Tuesday, while going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored in the Cubs' 6-0 win over the Padres.Rizzo continues to mash and his 25 home runs now lead the NL. With a .283/.385/.539 slash line through 360 at-bats, Rizzo keeps on building on a fantastic breakout campaign.
Jul 18 2014Rizzo hit his 21st and 22nd homers of the year against the Diamondbacks on Friday as he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.The Cubs first baseman did his job, but Rizzo's teammates in total could only manage four hits on the night. Rizzo (.278/.382/.516) is one of the better power hitters in the game right now and is in a wonderful groove where he's totaled 12 homers since June 1.
Jul 8 2014Rizzo homered for the second straight day Tuesday, going 3-for-5 with a solo shot in the second half of a doubleheader against the Reds.Technically, the bombs came with a homerless game sandwiched between them, as Rizzo went 0-for-3 in the first half of the doubleheader. Owners won't mind, though, as he's now up to 19 on the year to go with a very impressive 57 runs and 47 RBI. The 24-year-old's average of .277 is over 30 points higher than his career mark of .246, which could very well be a sign that he is maturing as a contact hitter and is a nice treat for those that drafted him for his power.
Jul 7 2014Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer Monday against the Reds.The Cubs only scored three runs Monday, but their stud young first baseman came through with yet another homer. He is having an excellent season so far as he is hitting .274 with a .381 on-base percentage, 18 home runs and 47 RBI.
Jun 26 2014Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a double and a run Thursday against the Nats.Though he went hitless Wednesday, Rizzo's got 14 hits in his last 32 at-bats (.438), with fully half of those hits going for extra bases. He's become the guy fantasy owners expected him to be last year.
Jun 23 2014Rizzo provided the only offense of the night for the Cubs on Monday, launching a solo home run in the team's 6-1 loss to Cincinnati.Rizzo now has two home runs in his last three games and has hit safely in his last five. The first baseman is enjoying a breakout season in Chicago, hitting .281 with 16 home runs and 43 RBI.
Jun 22 2014Rizzo hit a two-run homer off Vance Worley on Saturday.Rizzo is having a good month, as he has knocked in 14 and scored 15. Meanwhile, his five home runs has helped him to a .304/.407.609 slash line in 69 June at-bats. With 48 runs and 42 RBI this year, a 100-100 season is not out of the realm of possibility for Rizzo.
Jun 20 2014Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and also scored a run on Friday against the Pirates.Rizzo started the scoring for the Cubs in third inning with the double and later scored on a Starlin Castro home run. He has reached base safely in eight straight games, recording three RBI and scoring five runs over that period. The two RBI on Friday also gave him his 40th on the season, tying him for 18th on the list this season before the Friday night games.
Jun 11 2014Rizzo was a beast Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer, three RBI and three runs scored against the Pirates.Rizzo has been sizzling since the end of May, belting five homers, knocking in 12 and scoring 11 runs in his last 10 games. He's also 14-for-36 (.389) during that span and leads the Cubs in runs (42), homers (14) and RBI (36).
Jun 6 2014Rizzo went 2-for-6 with four RBI including a walk-off home run in the Cubs' victory over the Marlins on Friday afternoon.He continues to produce at an excellent clip, while the blast was Rizzo's 12th of the season. With the multi-hit effort Friday, Rizzo's 2014 line now sits at .276/.402/.493.
Jun 1 2014Rizzo was ejected from the fourth inning of Sunday's game against the Brewers after arguing balls and strikes.After disagreeing with a called third strike during his second at-bat, Rizzo snapped at the home plate umpire and was quickly tossed from the game. The Cubs were trailing 8-0 at the time of his dismissal, so his loss for the remainder of the game. Despite playing what essentially amounted to just a game and a half during the weekend series with the Brewers, Rizzo managed to make his mark with two home runs and four RBI over five at-bats.
May 31 2014Rizzo went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI on Saturday.Rizzo was largely responsible for Wily Peralta's worst outing of the year, hitting two two-run home runs. His two hits Saturday also extended his hitting streak to four game and raised his average to .269 for the season. The young lefty now has double-digit dingers for the year (10) to go along with 28 RBI.
May 30 2014Rizzo is not in the lineup Friday against the Brewers.Rizzo is just 1-for-21 in his career against Marco Estrada, Friday's starter for Milwaukee, so it seems like a perfect time for him to get his first day off of the season. The 24-year-old should be back in the lineup Saturday looking to end May on a high note.
May 23 2014Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in the Cubs' win over the Padres on Thursday.The blast came against San Diego lefty Eric Stults, and was the eighth of the season for Rizzo. Entering play Friday, Rizzo is hitting .275/.410/.463, sustaining a similar level of power to his 2013 numbers (.188 ISO) but pushing his walk rate to a career-high 17.5% through 200 plate appearances.
May 8 2014Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a double, two-run homer and three runs scored in Thursday's 12-5 win over the White Sox.Rizzo is off to a great start this season, hitting nearly .300 while leading the Cubs in homers and RBI with seven and 18, respectively.
May 2 2014Rizzo was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, three RBI, and a home run in the Cubs' win over St. Louis on Friday afternoon.It was his fifth long ball and he now has 15 RBI on the year to go with a tidy .295 average. He's bounced back nicely this season and should continue to be a productive bat as long as opposing pitchers feel obliged to pitch to him. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of protection in the Cubs' lineup so he's going to need to stay selective at the plate.
Apr 30 2014Rizzo was 1-for-1 with a two-run homer, four walks and three runs scored in Wednesday's victory over the Reds.Reds pitchers didn't mess around with Rizzo after he launched a two-run shot in the first inning, as he showed exceptional patience by racking up four free passes. He currently sits with a .283 average to start the season, but Wednesday's performance brought his OBP up to an impressive .407.
Apr 24 2014Rizzo hit a solo home run in Thursday's loss to Arizona. It was his third long ball of the season.Rizzo has shown great patience during the first month of the season, posting an awesome 13:12 BB:K ratio. The Cubs don't have a potent lineup, but Rizzo should put up solid counting stats anyway.
Apr 20 2014Rizzo (back) went 2-for-3 with two walks in Sunday's loss to the Reds.As promised, Saturday's departure with back spasms was merely precautionary. After a five-game last week, Rizzo and the Cubs don't have an off-day until May 1.
Apr 20 2014Rizzo (back) will be in the lineup Sunday against the Reds, Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald reports.After expressing some uncertainty about whether Rizzo would be back in the lineup Saturday following his early exit Saturday due to back spasms, manager Rick Renteria apparently felt comfortable with how the first baseman progressed in his recovery overnight. Barring a recurrence of the back woes during Sunday afternoon's tilt, fantasy owners in weekly leagues shouldn't have too much reservation about inserting Rizzo into their lineups.
Apr 19 2014Rizzo was removed from Saturday's game with back spasms but is OK, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.Rizzo made it seven innings before his back starting acting up, and it sounds like his removal was largely precautionary. That said, manager Rick Renteria was non-committal when asked about Rizzo's status for Sunday, saying "we'll see."
Apr 19 2014Rizzo hit two singles in four at-bats Friday, upping his batting average to .345.Though the Cubs are struggling to score runs, it's not Rizzo's fault, as he has a hit in 10 of his last 11 games. More importantly, he's making contact, as he has struck out just once in his last 23 at-bats. Not bad for someone who struck out 127 times and hit just .233 last year.
Apr 13 2014Rizzo was 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in the first inning, but the Cubs weren't able to hang on to the early lead, falling 6-4 to the Cardinals on Sunday.Rizzo is off to a solid start to the season, hitting .319/.389/.489 with two home runs and eight RBI through the Cubs' first 12 games.
Apr 10 2014Rizzo had four hits Wednesday, his fourth multi-hit game in a row.Though he has only one home run in 32 at-bats this year, a .375/.459/.531 slash line is a nice start at the plate. The power will come.
Mar 15 2014Rizzo homered twice and drove in three runs in a split-squad loss to the Mets on Saturday.Rizzo has been a bright spot for the Cubs this spring. The home runs were his first two of the spring, and considering that the 24-year-old first baseman has 39 home runs in his big-league career, he'll hit plenty more before he's done.
Mar 5 2014Rizzo hit two singles and scored twice in Tuesday's split-squad victory over Oakland.By default, Rizzo is the best hitter on the team, but his .233 batting average in 2013 is going need to come up a bit for him to retain that distinction.
Sep 28 2013Rizzo went 1-for-3 with his 23rd home run of the season in the Cubs' loss to the Cardinals on Saturday.The home run cracked the Cubs' 20-inning scoreless streak. He certainly didn't live up to expectations after signing a $41 million extension in May, but he will get another shot at the No. 3 spot in the Cubs' lineup in 2014.
Sep 13 2013Rizzo was 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in the Cubs win over Pittsburgh Friday night.He has now accumulated 22 home runs and 75 RBI, but he has struggled throughout the second half and productive games like this one have been scarce. Now hitting a poor .230 on the year, he has the solid power credentials, but he'll need to show more consistency to take his game to the next level in 2014.
Aug 27 2013Rizzo is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers.Rizzo has fared a bit better lately but still owns an ugly .185/.272/.370 slash line in the month of August. He'll catch some rest Tuesday, while Cody Ransom gets the nod at first base.
Aug 23 2013A day after hitting two home runs against the Nationals, Rizzo had a rare 0-for-6 Thursday.Rizzo has just five hits in his last 40 at-bats, and that includes his three hits Wednesday. While he didn't have any problems surpassing his counting stats from 2012, his .229 batting average has to be considered disappointing. He's below the Mendoza Line in 126 at-bats since the break.
Aug 21 2013Rizzo went yard twice and drove in three runs in Wednesday's loss to the Nationals.Rizzo broke out of his slump in a big way Wednesday, contributing his third multi-homer game of the season. His average still sits at an ugly .232, but he has reached the 20 home run plateau for the first time in his big league career. His unusually low .254 BABIP indicates that there are better times ahead for the young first baseman.
Aug 20 2013Rizzo went 0-for-4 in his return to the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals.He missed Monday's game with an illness, but wasted no time getting right back to his struggles at the plate. His .254 BABIP (compared to .310 in 2012) suggests he's been pretty unlucky, but it also means he's probably had some pretty weak contact. Still, the fact that he's maintained an OBP of .321 and slugged .422 while carrying a .228 average in a somewhat unlucky year points to a bright future for Rizzo.
Aug 20 2013Rizzo (illness) is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals.Rizzo only needed one game to recuperate and return to his usual spot at first base. He is looking to shake out of a rough month of August, in which he has hit .150 with a .555 OPS. One bright spot has been that he has hit three home runs, but those long balls account for 33 percent of his hits on the month.
Aug 19 2013Rizzo (illness) is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.With Rizzo out, Cody Ransom will step in to man first base and bat eighth. It's not likely Rizzo will miss extended time, but consider him day-to-day for now.
Aug 7 2013Rizzo is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.Rizzo homered Tuesday, but he'll get some rest for just the second time this season. He will likely return to the lineup for Thursday's game, which is also against the Phillies.
Aug 6 2013Rizzo went 1-for-5 with a solo homer Tuesday in a loss to the Phillies.He's gone yard four times in his last six games, showing signs of life after an extended power slump that ate up much of his first half. He homered just four times from May 19 to July 30.
Aug 1 2013Rizzo launched a pair of solo home runs Thursday in a loss to the Dodgers.Thursday marked the second time of the season Rizzo has gone deep twice in a game, and the third time of his career. Rizzo has been on a recent hot streak at the dish, hitting .450 with three home runs over the last six games. He now has 17 home runs on the season, which is a new career high in the major leagues.
Jul 25 2013Rizzo scored three runs Wednesday, including the eventually game-winner in the 12th inning.Rizzo walked twice, giving him nine in his last eight games. Despite hitting a run-scoring double Wednesday, he's still just hitting .242, but the 47 walks on the year give him an almost-respectable .334 on-bas percentage. He's on pace for 23 home runs, 95 RBI, 47 doubles, and eight stolen bases, so it's still been an excellent year for the not-quite-24-year-old first baseman.
Jun 21 2013Rizzo hit a towering solo home run in the fourth inning to kick off the scoring for the Cubs in a 3-1 win over the Astros on Wednesday.Rizzo also added a single in the game, but all the talk understandably centered around his 410-foot blast off Dallas Keuchel that exited Wrigley Field. The fourth-inning home run was Rizzo's first since May 18 and broke up a 4-for-40 slump at the plate.
Jun 18 2013Rizzo is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.Rizzo has started every game for the Cubs up to this point, but with him hitting just .157 this month, and the Cubs facing Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright on Tuesday, manager Dale Sveum decided to give Rizzo his first day off of the season. Cody Ransom will get the start at first base Tuesday night.
Jun 14 2013Rizzo was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in the Cubs win over the Mets on Friday night.Like most of the Cubs hitters, Rizzo has been mired in a horrendous slump this month (he was hitting .135 during June entering this game). The three hits raised his average back up to .251 and he'll hope to build on that going forward. The northsiders don't have a lot of pop in their lineup, and desperately need Rizzo to get back on track soon.
Jun 14 2013Rizzo went 0-for-5 in Thursday's 14-inning win over the Reds.He walked twice, but given that the Cubs got 15 hits, it would have been nice if their first baseman had gotten one or two. Rizzo is hitting just .135/.347/.162 in June, as pitchers have found they don't need to put it in the strike zone to get him out. He has 12 walks this month - almost as many as in April and May put together - so at least he has been able to help fantasy owners in OBP leagues.
May 25 2013Rizzo broke out of an 0-for-23 slump with a 3-for-3 performance against the Reds on Saturday.Rizzo raised his batting average 15 points Saturday with three hits, including two doubles. It hasn't been pretty for Rizzo this past week, but he's leading the Cubs in homers (10) and RBI (32), and he's already swiped one more bag than he did last season, in 40 fewer games.
May 25 2013Rizzo went 0-for-5 Friday and is mired in an 0-for-23 slump with nine strikeouts.Rizzo signed a big contract extension a couple of weeks ago, and he's hardly hit the ball since. While his 10 home runs and 31 RBI easily lead the Cubs, his batting average is all the way down to .249 and he's struck out 43 times in 185 at-bats.
May 13 2013The Cubs agreed to a seven-year, $41 million contract extension with Rizzo, WLS 890 AM reports. The deal includes two additional years of club options that could make the deal a nine-year, $73 million deal.Rizzo has come on strong after a slow April and is now hitting .280/.352/.538 with nine homers on the season. This seems like a pretty club-friendly contract, though Rizzo of course gets a lot of security for his pre-arbitration years.
May 6 2013Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and four RBI in Monday's 9-2 win over the Rangers.Rizzo is currently working on a seven-game hitting streak and is 13-of-28 with a home run, six doubles, six RBI, and six runs during the streak. Though his .262 batting average for the season isn't particularly impressive, 18 of Rizzo's 32 hits have gone for extra bases, leaving him with a rock solid .262/.348/.557 slash line in the middle of the Cubs' lineup.
May 3 2013Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Reds.Friday's three-hit performance raised Rizzo's average on the year to .243, the highest it's been since Opening Day. The 23-year-old seems to be finding his groove, with eight hits in his last 17 at-bat, although he hasn't gone deep in his last seven games.
Apr 26 2013Rizzo was 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs, and all four RBI in the Cubs 4-2 win over the Marlins Friday night.Rizzo and the Cubs haven't had a lot to cheer about as even with the three-hit night his average is just .200 on the season. He does have eight long ones now, and 18 RBI, but his teammates are going to need to be more productive if the Cubs are going to make any noise in 2013.
Apr 18 2013Rizzo went 1-for-4 with his fourth homer of the season Thursday against the Rangers.Rizzo's hit safely in three straight games now, but still has just one multi-hit game on the year. Oddly, the lefty hitter's had trouble hitting for average against right-handed pitching this year (just .156 coming into Thursday), but look for Rizzo to heat up soon -- he's too talented not to.
Apr 11 2013Rizzo hit his third homer of the year Thursday against the Giants, a two-run shot that was his only hit in five at-bats.Therein lies the problem: Rizzo's got just one multi-hit game against four hitless efforts so far this year, and the result is the meager .188 average he sports through nine games. Still, it's a small sample and the Cubs are committed to their young first baseman, so don't get too worried yet.
Apr 1 2013Rizzo hit a home run in his first at bat of the season Monday, a two-run shot off of A.J. Burnett.That would be the only hit Rizzo recorded in the game. Rizzo has the potential to provide some serious power for the Cubs, as he hit 15 bombs in just 337 at bats last season.
Mar 14 2013Rizzo hit a three-run double in Italy's loss to Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday, the MLB.com reports.With Italy eliminated from the WBC, Rizzo will head back to Arizona to play with the rest of the Cubs. He looks primed for a breakout year in Wrigley.
Apr 9 2012Rizzo hit two home runs as part of a 3-for-3, three-RBI performance at the plate Monday, the Cubs' web site reports. Rizzo has started the year hitting at a .474 clip (9-for-19) with three home runs and nine RBIs in his first five games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is probably major-league ready now, but Bryan LaHair has produced the last two games and will be given a chance to keep the job all year. It's conceivable that Rizzo could force his way up and LaHair could be moved to a corner outfield spot at some point, but the Cubs would have to clear out space for that - assuming LaHair could even handle the job defensively.
Mar 24 2012Rizzo was sent to Triple-A Friday, the Cubs' web site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo had a big spring, hitting .364 including five hits in 10 at-bats against lefties. Bryan LaHair will begin the year as the team's first baseman, but should he struggle, Rizzo could get called up later this year.
Mar 23 2012Despite Rizzo's hot spring and Bryan LaHair's struggles, Rizzo will start the season at Triple-A, the Cubs' web site reports. "You want to finish those guys off the right way," GM Jed Hoyer said. "They're not finished products yet. Our goal is to make sure these guys play in Chicago for a long time and are finished products. We have to take the long-term view of that, more than anything. You don't want to rush a guy and ruin his confidence and then spend a year and a half rebuilding that confidence." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In other words, Rizzo's going to have to rake at Triple-A again before the Cubs will call him up, and if LaHair hits all year, that might not happen until September. But if LaHair struggles, and Rizzo hits, we could see Rizzo up sometime in June.
Jan 7 2012Rizzo will begin the 2012 season in Triple-A and Bryan LaHair will initially serve as the Cubs' starting first baseman, Chicago Tribune writer Paul Sullivan reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo's .141 average in the majors last year implies that he could use a bit more polish before taking up a starting role, but the Cubs presumably didn't trade for him to keep him in the minors for long, relatively speaking. Still, LaHair did fairly well for himself last year, hitting .288 in 20 games, so Rizzo will need to earn it.
Sep 20 2011Rizzo is planning on playing winter ball, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres have been very specific with Rizzo about what he needs to work on when he gets to Arizona. "He's working on some things now that will help him as he moves into winter ball," said Padres manager Bud Black. "A little of it has to do with his stance, where he is at in the [batter's] box, and his [swing] path to the ball." It's hard not to see Rizzo as the team's primary option moving forward, but you would have to wonder if all the baseball in 2011 will affect him in 2012.
Sep 17 2011Rizzo started at first base Saturday and went hit-less in three at-bats. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres have moved Jesus Guzman to left field a few times over the past week, which has opened up playing time at first for Rizzo. Rizzo has to be in the conversation for the Padres' first base job in 2012 given his gaudy Triple-A stats and the fact that the Padres dealt Adrian Gonzalez for him.
Sep 11 2011Rizzo will start at first against the Diamondbacks on Sunday, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This will be his third start since the Padres re-recalled him in early-September as Jesus Guzman still has a firm hold on the position.
Sep 4 2011The Padres recalled Rizzo from Triple-A Tucson on Sunday, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's getting the start at first on Sunday. He's likely to get a number of starts against right-handers over the course of September, although he'll compete with Jesus Guzman and Kyle Blanks for playing time, too.
Jul 21 2011The Padres optioned Rizzo to Triple-A Tucson on Thursday, MLB.com's Corey Brock reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo struggled at the dish in his first big league stint, hitting just .143 while striking out 36 times in 98 at-bats. Rizzo probably won't be challenged much in Triple-A - he hit .365 in 52 games with Tucson earlier this year - but hopefully a few weeks in the minors helps him get his confidence back. Jesus Guzman and Kyle Blanks figure to share the Padres' first base duties for the time being, but it's very likely that we'll see Rizzo back in San Diego before the end of the season.
Jul 20 2011Rizzo is not in the starting lineup Wednesday, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The inconsistent playing time continues for the rookie first baseman, while Jose Guzman is making another start in his place against the Marlins on Wednesday night.
Jul 17 2011Rizzo is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants, according to the Padres' official Twitter page. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll sit for the second time in three days with another lefty, Barry Zito, on the mound for the Giants. With Rizzo sitting against southpaws and hitting just .138 against righties, he is not much of a fantasy option in most leagues right now.
Jul 15 2011Rizzo is not in the starting lineup Thursday, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With lefty Madison Bumgarner on the hill for San Francisco, it appears as though manager Bud Black is giving his young first baseman a rest in favor of Jesus Guzman. Don't be surprised if Rizzo continues to sit against southpaws throughout the final two-plus months of the season.
Jul 7 2011Rizzo is sitting Thursday in his second straight game, both against left-handed pitchers, according to the Padres' official site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres are facing Barry Zito on Thursday. Rizzo should return to the lineup Friday against Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsly.
Jul 6 2011With the Padres facing Madison Bumgarner, Rizzo is not in Wednesday's lineup. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is hitting .178 since being recalled on June 9 and is actually better (.200) against lefties, but manager Bud Black is opting for Jesus Guzman instead. It will be interesting to see what Black does Thursday, when the Padres are facing Barry Zito.
Jun 30 2011Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run single and his first career steal Wednesday in a win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The steal was of third, no less. Rizzo flashed some speed in the minors, but that was his first attempt in the bigs, largely because he hasn't been on base much. There are, however, some things to like in his stat profile -- chiefly a solid walk rate and the fact that eight of his nine hits have been for extra bases. Rizzo's been cut loose in a lot of yearly leagues because of his lack of production, but he's a guy to keep an eye on.
Jun 28 2011Rizzo is not in Monday's starting lineup, according to the Padres' official site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo is the everyday player at first base, the team wouldn't call him up to sit despite the slow start to his career (.167 batting average). He's just getting a day off.
Jun 26 2011Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored in Friday's win over the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was just the second multi-hit game for the young lefty, and he really needed a game like this. Rizzo has struggled at the plate for the most part since being his call-up June 9, and with Kyle Blanks hitting well in Triple-A, he's going to need more nights like this to solidify his roster spot.
Jun 19 2011Rizzo went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts and walk in Saturday's loss at Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 2-for-4 with a homer on June 11, Rizzo has just one hit in his last 20 at-bats. On the bright side, Rizzo holds a solid 11:8 K:BB ratio.
Jun 7 2011Rizzo is rumored to be in line to get called up by the Padres on Wednesday, XX1090 Sports Radio reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo has been outstanding at Triple-A Tucson this season, hitting .365 with 16 home runs, 63 RBI, and five steals in just 200 at-bats. Brad Hawpe started in right field Monday for the first time this season, and the belief is that this move for Hawpe could be in preparation for Rizzo's rumored pending callup.
May 9 2011Rizzo has three homers in last five games for Triple-A Tucson and is batting .397, with 10 HR and 42 RBI in just 29 games, Gordon Edes reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The first-base job at the major-league level is anything but secure, with only Brad Hawpe and Jorge Cantu manning the position.
Dec 4 2010The Red Sox will likely send Rizzo, Casey Kelly and Reymond Fuentes to San Diego in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez, the North County Times' Dan Hayes reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rizzo led Boston's minor league affiliates with 25 homers and added 100 RBI while hitting .260 between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland. With Gonzalez now out of the picture in San Diego, the Padres may view Rizzo as their first baseman of the future.
Jun 11 2003Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in the Padres' loss Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was the only Padre to eke out an extra-base hit against Nationals starter John Lannan, and he had two of them. Rizzo proved he homer in spacious Petco Park, and his minor league track record points toward him hitting many in the majors.
Jun 10 2003Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a triple and two walks in his major league debut Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: That's quite a nice debut for the 21-year-old first baseman. We suspect that Petco will hurt his power - it's been especially tough on lefties over the years. But his ability to control the strike zone should help him keep afloat until he hits the road and makes up some ground in the power department.
Jun 9 2003Rizzo was officially recalled from Triple-A Tucson Thursday and is batting seventh and playing first base. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This marks Rizzo's major league debut and will be hitting between Nick Hundley and Alberto Gonzalez. The expectations are huge for the 21-year old, but don't be surprised if there is an adjustment period moving forward.
Jun 8 2003Rizzo (thumb) will be called up by the Padres on Thursday, Dan Hayes of the North County Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Corresponding moves will have to be made to add Rizzo to the 40-man roster, but for those in a position where he's still available on the waiver wire, the race is on to pick him up as the Padres will almost certainly give him everyday playing time as their primary first baseman the rest of the way.