2 years agoNew York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (foot) and third baseman Josh Donaldson are back in the starting lineup on Saturday against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Corey Kluber. Stanton is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second after missing the last four games after he fouled a ball off his foot on Monday. Fantasy managers will want to get the power-hitting right-hander back into their lineups immediately. Donaldson was reinstated from the paternity list and will return to the lineup after missing the last three games following the birth of his child. He's starting at third base and hitting cleanup for the struggling Bombers. Hopefully for the Yankees, the return of both Stanton and Donaldson can get them going offensively.Source: Baseball Press
2 years agoBraves shortstop Dansby Swanson reached base twice on Friday, going 1-for-4 with a walk, a home run, and two RBI during the 6-4 win over the Seattle Mariners. The big fly was his 19th of the year but just his fourth since the All-Star break. And after posting a .833 OPS with 14 SBs in the first half, Swanson owns just a .700 mark with three steals since. Across 138 games this year, the former first overall pick's slashing .284/.340/.448 with 90 runs and 82 RBI. The overall numbers are still valuable, so fantasy managers can keep starting Swanson, hoping he turns things around.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoPhiladelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto was perfect in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a hit-by-pitch, a run, and two RBI. The backstop's having one of the best fantasy seasons of his career, slashing .273/.344/.464 with 16 HRs, 64 runs, 73 RBI, and a career-high 17 SBs. Realmuto's always been fast for a catcher, but his increased aggressiveness on the basepaths has been wonderful for fantasy managers. The 31-year-old stands out as the best catcher in roto leagues.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is on a tear, as he hit his fifth home run in five days on Friday. He was 1-for-4 overall, and his homer was a two-run shot. Not only has Trout gone deep for five straight games, but across his last 15 contests, the superstar is batting .317 with nine bombs and a 1.169 OPS. Even though the 31-year-old missed over a month of baseball with a back and rib injury, he's having a sensational year, slashing .277/.366/.619 with 33 HRs, 69 runs, 64 RBI, and one stolen base over 98 games. Trout's been one of the best all-around fantasy players during his career, and that hasn't changed this season.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoBaltimore Orioles right-hander Dillon Tate got the final four outs of Friday's 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox. He pitched 1.1 clean innings, allowing one hit and striking out a single batter to earn his fourth save of the season. Tate's having his best season in the big leagues, posting a 2.66 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with a 21.7% strikeout rate and 14 holds. With closer Felix Bautista unavailable due to arm fatigue, the 28-year-old looks to be the replacement until Bautista's back. Fantasy managers hunting for saves can add Tate and hope he's the ninth inning man for as long as possible.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin (forearm) is expected to throw a bullpen session on Sunday. This will mark the first time Gonsolin will throw off the mound since landing on the injured list with a forearm strain at the end of August. If all goes well, the 28-year-old could head off on a rehab assignment after Sunday's session. Gonsolin has a 16-1 record, 2.10 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 116 strikeouts over 128 1/3 innings of work in 2022.Source: Fabian Ardaya on Twitter
2 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander Brusdar Graterol (elbow) is expected to throw a bullpen session on Sunday. This will mark the first time the reliever has thrown off of the mound since landing on the injured list with inflammation in his pitching elbow at the beginning of September. Graterol could be in line to be activated in the middle of the month if he continues to show progress. Graterol has a 2-3 record, 3.02 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, three saves, and 39 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings of work in 2022.Source: Fabian Ardaya on Twitter
2 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux (back) is unlikely to return to action until the Arizona Diamondbacks series next week, at the earliest. Lux hasn't played in a week and needed to go for a cortisone shot on Saturday. The 24-year-old's sore back has been doing better since but he is still going to be out at least until Tuesday. Lux is hitting .293 with six homers, 62 runs, 42 RBI, and seven steals on the season.Source: Jack Harris on Twitter
2 years agoTampa Bay Rays left-hander Brendan McKay (elbow) will go in for Tommy John surgery next week, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin. McKay threw just one pitch in a rehab start for Triple-A Durham in late August after recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome earlier in the season. The once highly-prized prospect hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2019. McKay is likely to miss all of the 2023 season with a 2024 return to the field the most likely timeframe for his recovery.Source: Marc Topkin on Twitter
2 years agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (calf) threw a 30-pitch bullpen Friday, and pitching coach Josh Miller reported that "everything went well" during the session. Verlander has been progressing nicely after hurting his calf in a start two weeks ago and expects to return to the Astros rotation before the season is over. That being said, there is no concrete timeline and the team is likely to wait until they are sure Verlander is healthy, considering their current position in the standings. Still, Verlander can do a lot of good for fantasy managers in a small number of starts, so he should be kept around in hopes he returns soon.Source: Brian McTaggart
2 years agoTampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow (elbow) is set for another rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Durham after his first rehab outing went well. He only threw one inning in said start, but managed two strikeouts and came out of it feeling good. He will likely throw multiple innings in his next start as he gets stretched out to return to the Rays late in the season. He likely doesn't hold much value, as his rehab will be long after recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he could be worth a stream in the final week if truly needed. He will definitely help the Rays out in the postseason though, granted they make it there.Source: Marc Topkin
2 years agoWashington Nationals left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Friday and could join Triple-A Rochester for a rehab start on Sunday. Gore was initially placed on the injured list on July 26 after experiencing left elbow inflammation, but he has begun a throwing program and is ready to progress into rehab starts provided everything feels right. The former top prospect has had an up-and-down 2022, but he has certainly shown signs that he could end up being the type of high-end talent that he was expected to be. Overall, Gore has a 4.50 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP while tallying 72 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched. He could be a worthy streamer down the stretch if his matchups are solid.Source: Andrew Golden
2 years agoTampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher Shane McClanahan (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Friday and could be ready to get back into the rotation when he is first eligible on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. This is huge news for the Rays and fantasy owners, who could get their ace back at a crucial time in the season. After a few rough outings at the end of July and start of August, Shane O'Mac looked like his dominant self over his final three starts before being put on the IL, posting 1.89 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while striking out 21 batters in 19 innings pitched. Even with a tough matchup and a possible innings limit, McClanahan should be started in most leagues if he does pitch next week.Source: Marc Topkin
2 years agoOakland Athletics starting pitcher James Kaprielian (finger) has been scratched from his start Friday against the Los Angeles Angels with a middle right finger laceration. Kaprielian was set to make his return to the Athletics rotation after getting bumped out of it last week, but won't make his start after cutting a finger on his pitching hand. It is not yet known if the Athletics plan to start him later in the weekend or if he will be skipped. The 28-year-old had a tough go of it in August, posting a 1-4 record, 5.59 ERA, and 1.79 WHIP over 29 IP. Still, he could have been a somewhat appealing streaming candidate in deeper leagues against a bad Angels lineup. Alas, the Athletics will instead have a bullpen game on Friday, with Austin Pruitt opening.Source: Martin Gallegos
2 years agoWashington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (groin) will be shut down for three weeks, which in all likelihood ends his season. Ruiz was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier in the day, and manager Dave Martinez has since said that Ruiz will meet the team in Philadelphia, but will be shut down. The move certainly isn't ideal for Ruiz's fantasy owners, as Riley Adams and Tres Barrera, who will split time at the position in Ruiz's absence, aren't exactly sought-after assets.Source: Mark Zuckerman