Sean Doolittle Throwing Off Flat Ground During Rehab

Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher Sean Doolittle has progressed to throwing off of flat ground during rehab for his fatigued right knee. The southpaw tossed 20 pitches Tuesday, and is on track to throw again Wednesday should he not report any lingering injury concerns. Doolittle opened the year as the Nationals’ closer, but quickly ceded the […]

Cristian Pache Earns First Major League Callup

Atlanta Braves outfielder Cristian Pache has been brought up to the Major League roster for the first time. Ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the Majors per MLB Pipeline, the 21-year-old Pache compiled an .802 OPS with 57 extra-base hits in 130 games across Double-A and Triple-A last season. Pache’s best grades are in […]

Mallex Smith Optioned To Club’s Alternate Training Site

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mallex Smith has been demoted from the Major League roster amidst his slow start to the 2020 season. Just a year removed from leading the Majors in stolen bases (46), Smith has swiped just two bags in his first 14 games, having produced a lacking .133/.170/.178 slash line. The move presumably paves […]

Charlie Morton Could Rejoin Rotation This Weekend

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton could be brought back to the Major League roster as soon as this weekend after coming out of his latest bullpen session with no injury concerns. Morton has been sidelined since Aug. 9 due to a shoulder ailment, having compiled a 5.40 ERA across his first four starts. […]

FanDuel MLB DFS Lineup Picks (8/18/20): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

Even with a handful of day games Tuesday, the main slate is still chock full of talent at every position. So long as the Reds are given the thumbs up to get back into action after a positive COVID-19 test over the weekend, this should mark the first time since the early portion of the […]

Salvador Perez Sees Eye Specialist, Uncertain For Wednesday

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez would not have been available for Tuesday’s contest against the Reds due to a fluid-filled particle in his left eye. Perez was sent to see a specialist and will now be viewed as day-to-day moving forward, putting his availability for Wednesday’s doubleheader in question. His Statcast metrics back up […]

Mike Moustakas Expected To Be Activated Wednesday

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Mike Moustakas is set to come off the injured list Wednesday against Kansas City after having been sidelined due to a quad bruise. Moustakas came up with the Royals organization and will be playing his former team for the first time in his career. The move zaps Josh VanMeter of any […]

David Peterson Won’t Start Tuesday, To IL With Shoulder Fatigue

New York Mets left-handed pitcher David Peterson has been scratched from Tuesday’s start against the Marlins due to fatigue in his pitching shoulder, an ailment that will land him on the 10-day injured list. Corey Oswalt has been brought up and will start in Peterson’s place, although he has very little DFS intrigue as an […]

Luke Voit Bats Leadoff Tuesday For First Time In Career

New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit has started games at every spot in the batting order in his career sans the leadoff and No. 9 spot. But following Tuesday’s contest, he will be able to check the No. 1 hole in the order off as he will bat leadoff against Rays left-hander Blake Snell. […]

Jose Iglesias Placed On IL With Quad Ailment

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jose Iglesias has been placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday’s contest against Toronto due to a left quad injury. Iglesias has continuously battled the ailment over the past few weeks, needing days off from playing in the infield. Despite being hampered, Iglesias is having the best offensive season of […]

Brendan McKay To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman/left-handed pitcher Brendan McKay will see his 2020 season come to a close without appearing on a big league mound. McKay is slated to undergo season-ending surgery on his pitching shoulder, with the team not risking any kind of comeback in a hitter-only scenario. McKay, Tampa Bay’s No. 2 prospect per […]

Alex Wood Tabbed For Pair Of Sim Games Before Activation

Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher Alex Wood is working his way back toward rejoining the big league roster, it just may take at least another 10 days before he is able to do so. Wood is slated to throw a three-inning simulated game Tuesday, with the plan calling for a bullpen session at week’s end, […]

Ian Gibaut Receives Three-Game Suspension, Will Appeal

Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Ian Gibaut has been hit with a three-game suspension for throwing behind Padres third baseman Manny Machado during Monday’s contest. Gibaut will appeal, while manager Chris Woodward, who received a one-game suspension, will be absent for Tuesday’s contest. Gibaut has been hit hard out of relief this season, yielding a 53.6 […]

George Springer Scratched Tuesday, Myles Straw In CF

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer was scratched just before first pitch Tuesday against Colorado and right-hander Antonio Senzatela. Myles Straw took his place in center field and held down the leadoff spot. Springer recently missed four games due to a wrist ailment, but had played in each of Houston’s past six contests. His ailment makes […]

Jason Castro Out Of Lineup Tuesday, Battling Neck Ailment

Los Angeles Angels catcher Jason Castro remains out of the lineup Tuesday against San Francisco and right-hander Trevor Cahill as he continues to battle neck stiffness. Manager Joe Maddon indicated that Castro’s ailment is “definitely improving,” which lends credence to the thought that he may be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. […]

David Dahl Scratched From Tuesday’s Lineup

Colorado Rockies outfielder David Dahl was a last-minute scratch from Tuesday’s starting nine against the Astros and right-hander Zack Greinke due to lower back tightness. Sam Hilliard will take his spot in the lineup and slide down to the No. 8 spot in the order. It has been a frigid start to 2020 for Dahl, […]

Matt Harvey To Make Season Debut Wednesday, Start In DH

Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Matt Harvey has been brought up to the active roster to start one of the two contests in Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Reds. Harvey pitched for Cincinnati in 2018, which was the last time that he had sustained success on a big league mound. The injury to Jakob Junis (back) […]

Ketel Marte Out Of Lineup Tuesday For First Time In 2020

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was not a part of the starting nine Tuesday for the first time this season. Eduardo Escobar shifts over to second base against A’s right-hander Frankie Montas on Tuesday, with Marte getting a regular day of rest. While the MVP candidate has delivered a .330 average across his first […]

Yordan Alvarez Lands On IL Due To Knee Ailment

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to knee discomfort. Alvarez made an immediate impact by homering in his first plate appearance of the season Friday, and he has gone a combined 2-for-8 at the dish across his first two outings. Alvarez now joins Michael Brantley (quad) […]

Reds-Royals Cancelled Tuesday, DH Set For Wednesday

The Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals have had their contest Tuesday night postponed until Wednesday, in which the clubs will play a pair of seven-inning games. The Reds had a player test positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, but have since had the entire club test negative. Kept off the field since Friday night, […]

Justin Verlander Tosses Off Flat Ground In Return Attempt

Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander threw off of flat ground Monday, the latest step in his attempted comeback from a right forearm strain that has shut him down since Opening Day. Astros pitching coach Brent Strom relayed that the session “went very well,” an indicator that Verlander did not have any injury maladies coming […]

Albert Pujols Not In Tuesday’s Starting Lineup

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols was back out of the lineup Tuesday against the Giants and right-hander Trevor Cahill. His absence marks the third time in the club’s last four games that Pujols has been on the pine with Tommy La Stella shifting over to first base. A two-hit night Monday pulled Pujols’ […]

Elvis Andrus Out Of Lineup Again Tuesday

Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is not among the starting nine for Tuesday’s contest against San Diego and left-hander Adrian Morejon. Andrus’ absence marks his second day in a row not in the lineup, although Monday was planned to be a day of rest for the veteran. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will again hold down the shortstop […]

Francisco Mejia Hits Injured List With Thumb Ailment

San Diego Padres catcher Francisco Mejia has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left thumb contusion. With Mejia hitting the IL, Luis Torrens has been recalled and will have his opportunity to stick behind the dish. It’s been an early struggle at the plate for Mejia, who has produced a .079/.146/.184 […]

Nick Castellanos Continues Elite Production To Open Year

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos ranks second in the Majors with 22% of his balls put in play having been deemed barrels. He is yet to miss a game for the Reds this season, having become a staple in the Nos. 2 or 3 spot in the order. A large part of his early production […]

Kirby Yates Expected To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates saw a specialist for his injured elbow Monday and he got back word that he has been recommended to have surgery that would take six weeks to recover from, effectively ending his season. Emilio Pagan is the likeliest candidate to see the vast majority of save chances in […]

Madison Bumgarner Tosses Simulated Game Monday

Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner (back) threw 46 pitches during a simulated game Monday, the latest step in his return to the mound. Manager Torey Lovullo has been pleased with Bumgarner’s progress to this stage and believes that he should be able to rejoin the rotation after missing just two starts. Much has gone sideways […]

Edwin Rios Lands On Injured List, Adam Kolarek Recalled

Los Angeles Dodgers first/third baseman Edwin Rios has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to left hamstring tightness which forced him from Sunday’s contest. Taking his place on the active roster is left-hander Adam Kolarek, who has vultured a pair of wins out of relief this season and not allowed a run in […]

Oscar Mercado Optioned To Club’s Alternate Training Site

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado has been sent down to the organization’s alternate training site in wake of his rough start to the 2020 season. Having opened the year just 5-for-45, Mercado has accumulated a staggering -22 OPS+ through his first 17 games. He had lost the vast majority of his playing time over the […]

Josh Donaldson Takes BP While On Comeback Trail

Minnesota Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson worked out Monday, taking ground balls and hitting in the batting cage. Donaldson is reportedly feeling better as he makes his way back from a calf ailment that has kept him out of the lineup since July 31. There has still been no timetable announced for when the slugger […]