2 years agoChicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Hughes certainly earned his fifth save of the season in Monday's 5-2 win over the Mets. Hughes entered the game in the eighth inning up by four with one out and the bases loaded. He escaped the inning unscathed by inducing a flyout and a line out and stayed on to pitch the ninth. He got the first two outs on a flyout and a groundout, allowed a solo home run, and then got the final out on another groundout. Hughes has pitched well with a 3.24 ERA and 10.98 K/9 rate and has started to see some save opportunities of late. He has blown four saves this season but has converted both save opportunities in the last seven days, making him worth a look in roto leagues.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez was excellent in Monday's 7-0 win over the Tigers. Valdez pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing six hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. The 28-year-old has been a fantasy asset all season and is now 15-5 with a 2.50 ERA, 8.47 K/9 rate, and 3.06 BB/9 rate over 27 starts and 179 2/3 innings pitched. His next start should be another favorable one against the Athletics. Valdez has gotten fantasy managers to the playoffs and should continue to help them advance.--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin (forearm) threw a bullpen session on Sunday but he is still reportedly experiencing soreness in his right forearm. Gonsolin has been sidelined since August 29 with a strained forearm. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that he is confident that Gonsolin will be back by the playoffs, although he went on to say that he gets less confident every day that goes by that Gonsolin is not at full strength. Gonsolin is expected to throw again on Wednesday.--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: Jack Harris on Twitter

2 years agoNew York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (leg) tossed a scoreless and hitless inning on Sunday for Double-A Somerset, walking one and striking out three in the process. It was Chapman's first minor league rehab outing, but he's expected to return to the Yankees bullpen early this week, barring any setbacks. The 35-year-old southpaw has been sidelined since late August due to a left leg infection from a tattoo. When he's back in the Bronx, he'll serve as a late-inning setup man in front of closer Clay Holmes. Chapman has struggled in 2022 to the tune of a 4.70 ERA (4.78 FIP), a 1.43 WHIP and 35 strikeouts while saving nine games in 30 2/3 relief innings.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com

2 years agoWashington Nationals rookie left-hander MacKenzie Gore (elbow) made his first minor league rehab start for Triple-A Rochester on Sunday and tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out none and walking none. It was Gore's first game since late July while with the San Diego Padres. The 23-year-old southpaw made his first 16 big-league appearances (13 starts) for the Friars this year, posting a 4.50 ERA (4.12 FIP), a 1.47 WHIP, 72 strikeouts and 37 walks in 70 innings pitched. Now with a new organization, the post-hype prospect should have a chance to debut for the Nats sometime later this month to close out the 2022 regular season. But first he'll need to get his arm built up in the minor leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milb.com

2 years agoThe Texas Rangers activated right-hander Jon Gray (oblique) from the 15-day injured list on Monday and optioned right-hander Tyson Miller to Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move. Gray will make his return to the rotation on Monday against the Miami Marlins in the second game of a doubleheader after being sidelined since early August with an oblique injury. The 30-year-old will certainly be more of a shaky fantasy asset for his start on Monday, especially since he didn't make any minor league rehab starts before being activated. In his first year in Texas, Gray has gone 7-6 with a 3.83 ERA (3.49 FIP), a 1.17 WHIP and a 116:34 K:BB in 103 1/3 innings over his 19 starts. As long as he's healthy, he'll be useful in mixed leagues down the stretch.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rangers PR

2 years agoLos Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon (wrist) took batting practice on the field on Monday, and it's looking more likely that he could return at some point before the end of the season, which would allow him to start serving his five-game suspension. The 32-year-old had surgery on his right wrist on June 21, and it was widely believed then that he'd miss the rest of the year. Still, there is very little time left for Rendon to contribute for fantasy managers after he serves a five-game suspension. Before his injury, Rendon was hitting just .228/.324/.383 with five home runs, 24 RBI, 15 runs scored and two stolen bases in 162 at-bats. Matt Duffy should continue to see most of the playing time at third base if/when Rendon returns.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger

2 years agoCincinnati Reds rookie right-hander Hunter Greene (shoulder) said that his next start will be with the Reds this week after all went well on his minor league rehab assignment. It's likely that Greene will return from the 15-day injured list to start this weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals, which wouldn't be the greatest matchup for fantasy managers. The 23-year-old threw 66 pitches in his third and final rehab start at Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, giving up a run on four hits while striking out five and walking one. Expect the Reds to have a short leash on him in his return this week. Greene has plenty of long-term strikeout upside (127 K's in 102 2/3 innings), but he's also posted a 5.26 ERA (4.96 FIP) to go along with a 1.29 WHIP in his first 20 major league starts.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Bobby Nightengale

2 years agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (calf) is with the team on their three-game series against the Detroit Tigers and is playing catch in right field at Comerica Park. Verlander is hoping to return from the 15-day injured list to make a start during this weekend's series against the Oakland Athletics. The 39-year-old right-hander threw his second bullpen session on Sunday, and he won't need a minor league rehab assignment before returning to the rotation. Verlander might not have a very long leash in his first start back, but it's hard to argue leaving him out of your fantasy lineups. The two-time Cy Young winner is 16-3 with a league-leading 1.84 ERA (2.71 FIP), a league-leading 0.85 WHIP, 154 strikeouts and only 26 walks in 152 innings over 24 starts this year.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome

2 years agoThe Tampa Bay Rays added right-hander Cooper Criswell to their active roster on Monday and also added right-handers Javy Guerra and Kevin Herget to the active roster. In corresponding moves, the Rays optioned right-handers Calvin Faucher and Luis Patino to Triple-A Durham and placed left-hander Brooks Raley on the restricted list. Criswell is scheduled to get the start on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays, but fantasy managers should be looking to avoid him. The 26-year-old will be making only his second major league start, with the first coming in 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels. He's made eight appearances (only three starts) at Durham in 2022 and has a 3.95 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rays Communications

2 years agoPittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Oneil Cruz is not in the starting lineup on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. Cruz is just getting a normal day of rest against Reds left-hander Mike Minor. The 23-year-old Dominican is hitting just .227/.275/.462 on the year in 251 at-bats, but he's been red-hot in the month of September. Cruz has gone 14-for-38 (.368) with three home runs, nine RBI, five runs scored and a stolen base in nine games since Sept. 2, so fantasy managers will want to get him back into their lineups on Tuesday. Kevin Newman is at shortstop and is batting leadoff on Monday against Minor. Newman could be a DFS sleeper out of the leadoff spot, but he has just one home run on the year in 240 at-bats for the Bucs. He's gone 29-for-79 (.367) with no homers, seven doubles and seven RBI against lefties in 2022.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoTampa Bay Rays infielder Wander Franco isn't in the team's lineup on Monday for a matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays and right-handed starter Jose Berrios. The 21-year-old is hitting .265 this season with a .310 on-base percentage, five home runs, and five stolen bases in 258 plate appearances for Tampa Bay. He'll head to the bench with shortstop Taylor Walls stepping in at shortstop and batting ninth. Walls has logged 412 plate appearances so far for Tampa Bay, hitting .177 with a .267 on-base percentage, six home runs, and eight stolen bases. Fantasy managers in search of streaming options are probably better off looking elsewhere.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin

2 years agoMiami Marlins left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo struggled on Sunday in his start against the New York Mets. The 24-year-old threw 3.1 innings and gave up six hits, five earned runs, three walks, and a home run. He struck out three batters. The Marlins starter finished with a 23% CSW rate on 91 pitches and logged nine swinging strikes on the day, three each with his sinker, curveball, and changeup. For the season, Luzardo now owns a 3.81 ERA and a 3.34 FIP in 75.2 innings to go along with 85 strikeouts and 30 walks allowed.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Statcast

2 years agoThe Boston Red Sox claimed infielder Yu Chang off waivers on Monday. The 27-year-old was previously with the Tampa Bay Rays and has played for two other teams this season, hitting .216 with a .280 on-base percentage and four home runs in 164 total plate appearances. With experience at all four infield positions, he'll give the Red Sox some additional infield depth after the likes of Triston Casas, Trevor Story, Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers. Boston also designated outfielder Jaylin Davis for assignment.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Boston Red Sox

2 years agoCincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India isn't in the team's lineup for Monday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates and right-handed starter Bryse Wilson. India is hitting .262 this season with a .331 on-base percentage, 10 home runs, and a pair of stolen bases in 350 plate appearances. Instead, it'll be Alejo Lopez starting at second base and batting sixth against the Pirates. The 26-year-old is hitting .323 this season with a .385 on-base percentage, a home run, and three stolen bases in 109 plate appearances. He's worth a look as a streaming option for fantasy managers.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds