Fantasy News

• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Makes splash in minors return

  Rotowire May 17, 2024

  Butler, optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, made his minor-league debut in Thursday's win over El Paso and went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs. Butler drew the start in center field in his first minor-league game of 2024 and made an instant impact while working out of the No. 2 spot in the order. Butler had a much different experience against big-league arms (.170/.273/.264), so he'll presumably need to have an extended stretch of success at the Triple-A level to earn a promotion.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Sent down to Triple-A

  Rotowire May 14, 2024

  Butler was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday. The 23-year-old was moved to Triple-A to make room for Zack Gelof (oblique), who was reinstated from the 10-day IL in a corresponding move. Butler saw regular action in the outfield early in the season but has struggled offensively with a .537 OPS in 41 contests.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Solid at plate again Saturday

  Rotowire May 12, 2024

  Butler went 0-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and a run in a win over the Mariners on Saturday. After a rare two-hit performance Friday, Butler was a table-setting presence near the bottom of the order Saturday while displaying some solid plate discipline. The stolen base was a nice bonus and Butler's third of the season overall, and if he's able to continue inching his on-base percentage upward, he could have some upside in that department considering his trio of double-digit steal tallies during his minor-league career.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Rare offensive success Friday

  Rotowire May 11, 2024

  Butler went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in a loss to the Mariners on Friday. Butler spared the Athletics from a shutout loss with his ninth-inning knock, which drove home Kyle McCann. The multi-hit effort was Butler's fourth of the season over 38 games, with the last prior to Friday coming back on April 14. Butler had been mired in a 1-for-19 funk over the previous nine games, so his season slash line still sits at an anemic .188/.284/.292.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: On bench against righty

  Rotowire May 8, 2024

  Butler is out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Rangers. The lefty-hitting Butler typically sits out against left-handed pitchers, but he'll bow out of the starting nine for Wednesday's early game while right-hander Michael Lorenzen takes the hill for the Rangers. Brent Rooker will serve as the Athletics' starting right fielder for Game 1, but Tyler Nevin may end up being the primary replacement for Butler against right-handed pitching moving forward if Oakland elects to give rookie Brett Harris a full-time role at third base.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Idle against southpaw

  Rotowire May 4, 2024

  Butler isn't in the Athletics' lineup for Saturday's game versus Miami. The Marlins will send left-hander Trevor Rogers to the mound for the beginning of Saturday's contest, meaning the lefty-hitting Butler will be forced to step out of the lineup. Tyler Nevin will fill the opening in right field, batting second.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Sits down against lefty

  Rotowire May 3, 2024

  Butler isn't in Oakland's lineup for Friday's game against Miami. The lefty-hitting Butler will retreat to the bench Friday as Ryan Weathers prepares to start on the bump for the Marlins. Tyler Nevin will replace Butler in right field and bat second.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Steals base as pinch runner

  Rotowire Apr 30, 2024

  Butler entered Monday's win over the Pirates as a pinch runner in the bottom of the seventh inning and remained in the game in right field, recording a stolen base but not logging a plate appearance. Butler was able to work himself into scoring position by swiping second after entering the game for Tyler Nevin, yet he was stranded when Ryan Noda struck out looking to end the frame. Butler's steal was his second of the season, but he continues to struggle to get going against big-league arms as evidenced by his .205 average and .660 OPS across 85 plate appearances. With Nevin thriving at the plate and capable of playing right field, Butler may be a candidate for a reduction in playing time in the near future if his difficulties persist.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Sits down versus lefty

  Rotowire Apr 25, 2024

  Butler isn't in Oakland's lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees. The left-handed bat of Butler will step out of the lineup with southpaw Nestor Cortes on the mound for the Yankees. Tyler Nevin will take over in right field, allowing Darell Hernaiz to start at third base and bat ninth.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: On bench against lefty

  Rotowire Apr 22, 2024

  Butler is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. The lefty-hitting Butler will hit the bench for the series opener with southpaw Carlos Rodon on the hill for the Yankees. The Athletics will replace Butler in the lineup with Tyler Nevin, who draws the start in right field.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Not in lineup

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  Butler is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. The left-handed-hitting Butler will grab a seat as St. Louis sends southpaw Steven Matz to the hill. Max Schuemann and Tyler Nevin are occupying the corner outfield spots for the Athletics in the series finale.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Collects first three-hit day

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Butler went 3-for-3 with a walk, one RBI and two runs scored during Sunday's 7-6 win over the Nationals. After collecting three strikeouts Saturday, Butler rebounded by reaching base in all four plate appearances and collecting the first three-hit game of his career Sunday. Included amongst the three hits for Butler was his third double of the season. Butler's performance Sunday managed to raise his batting average from .163 to .211 with one homer, three RBI and three runs scored.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Goes deep in victory

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2024

  Butler went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two RBI in Friday's win over the Nationals. Butler opened the game's scoring with his first homer of the season in the third inning, a 445-foot solo blast off Jake Irvin. The Oakland outfielder also singled home the game-winning run in the 10th inning. Butler has struggled to start the season, slashing .179/.304/.308 over his first 46 plate appearances, so perhaps Friday's stellar game could be the jump start he needs.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Multi-hit effort in win

  Rotowire Apr 8, 2024

  Butler entered Sunday's win over the Tigers in the fourth inning as a replacement for Brent Rooker (abdomen) and went 2-for-3 with a double. Butler originally had the day off in the midst of a multi-game funk, but the speedy outfielder's time on the bench didn't last long. The unexpected taste of action actually worked out well for Butler, who produced his first multi-hit effort of the season and snapped out of a 1-for-12 skid that had encompassed his previous four games. Despite a productive afternoon that also included his second extra-base hit of the season, Butler is still carrying a forgettable .185/.290/.259 slash line across his first 31 plate appearances of the new campaign.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Out against left-hander

  Rotowire Apr 5, 2024

  Butler is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Tigers. With southpaw Tarik Skubal toeing the slab for Detroit, the left-handed hitting Butler will sit in favor of Brent Rooker in right field while Abraham Toro handles designated hitter duties. It's the second straight game on the bench for Butler, who sat out versus a righty Wednesday.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Enjoying blistering spring

  Rotowire Mar 13, 2024

  Butler went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in a Cactus League win over the Mariners on Tuesday, pushing his spring average to .433. Butler has now reached safely in six straight exhibitions and has a pair of doubles in the last three games. The 23-year-old appears set to take a major step forward after his initial 42-game cup of coffee with the Athletics last season. Perhaps what is most encouraging is the fact that he has struck out a mere four times across 35 plate appearances this spring.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Confident mindset paying dividends

  Rotowire Feb 29, 2024

  Butler worked on improving several aspects of his game at four-time Gold Glove winner Marquis Grissom's training facility this offseason, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "I love the way he's come into camp," manager Mark Kotsay said. "You can tell he's got a mindset that he belongs here." The talented 23-year-old, who was promoted to the big leagues for the first time Aug. 11 of last season and ended up appearing in 42 games the rest of the way, entered spring camp penciled in as the starting center fielder. Butler prepared for what is expected to be his first full big-league campaign with Grissom and childhood friend/ascending Atlanta outfielder Michael Harris, among other players, focusing on getting a better jump on batted balls, improving his footwork on defense and sharpening his plate discipline after walking just four times in his first 129 big-league plate appearances. Butler has yet to draw a free pass through eight Cactus League at-bats, but he's rapped out three singles, recorded an RBI and two runs, and struck out just once.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Sitting out Saturday

  Rotowire Sep 30, 2023

  Butler isn't in the Athletics' lineup Saturday against the Angels. Butler will get a breather after going 4-for-22 with an RBI and three runs scored across Oakland's last seven games. Esteury Ruiz will start in center field with Butler out, allowing JJ Bleday to start in left and bat fourth.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Swats pair of doubles Wednesday

  Rotowire Sep 28, 2023

  Butler went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs in a loss to the Twins on Wednesday. The rookie produced the only multi-hit effort of the night for the Athletics and the second multi-extra-base-hit tally of his nascent career as well. Butler's productive night snapped a brief 0-for-10 skid that had encompassed his previous three games, but he's picked up the pace at the plate since mid-September by producing a .259 average in his last nine contests (30 plate appearances) despite the aforementioned mini-slump.

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• Athletics' Lawrence Butler: On bench Thursday

  Rotowire Sep 21, 2023

  Butler is absent from the lineup Thursday against the Tigers. Aledmys Diaz, Esteury Ruiz and Brent Rooker will start across the outfield as the Athletics roll with an all-righty lineup versus left-hander Tarik Skubal. The left-handed-hitting Butler has gone 4-for-27 (.148) with 11 strikeouts over his last 10 games.

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