2 years agoNew York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (groin) is listed as the team's scheduled starter on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. He'll be activated at some point before the start from the 15-day injured list after he landed on the IL on Aug. 25 with a left groin strain. The 27-year-old southpaw didn't make a minor league rehab start while he was away from the team, but he did throw a 45-pitch live batting practice session last weekend. He was a first-time All-Star in 2022 and has gone 9-4 with a career-low 2.68 ERA (3.40 FIP), a 0.96 WHIP and a 133:30 K:BB in 131 innings over his 23 starts, but he could be on a strict pitch count in his return to the rotation on Thursday, making him a risky fantasy play.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoNew York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (toe) will be placed on the injured list with a sprained toe, according to skipper Aaron Boone. LeMahieu had not been in the team's starting lineup since Sunday, and he'll now miss another week of action, at the very least. It's another big blow to a struggling Yankees team that is already without first baseman Anthony Rizzo (back, head). With LeMahieu now on the shelf, the Yankees figure to use a platoon at first base between veteran Marwin Gonzalez and Ronald Guzman. The 34-year-old LeMahieu has been a nice source of production at the top of the Yankees lineup this year, slashing .262/.358/.381 with 12 home runs, 46 RBI, 74 runs scored and four stolen bases in 451 at-bats.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Bergen Record - Pete Caldera

2 years agoWashington Nationals outfielder Victor Robles (neck) was scratched from the team's starting lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals due to neck stiffness. With Robles out, Alex Call got the start in left field and was hitting ninth, while Lane Thomas moved to center field and hit leadoff against Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright. Fantasy managers should consider Robles to be day-to-day until we know more about his status moving forward. The 25-year-old Dominican has mostly been useful for his speed in deeper fantasy leagues. In 312 at-bats for the Nats this year, he's hitting just .224/.283/.304 with four home runs, 28 RBI, 40 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jessica Camerato

2 years agoChicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa "is going to be OK" after an extensive medical checkup, according to his friends. La Russa is hoping to rejoin the team as early as next week after he stepped away due to an unspecified health issue. The White Sox have dealt with numerous injuries in 2022, but they remain in the thick of the postseason race in the American League with only several weeks left to play. Interim manager Miguel Cairo has gone 6-3 at the helm since La Russa stepped away, and he's been praised for his communication skills. It's unknown exactly when the 77-year-old La Russa will return to the White Sox next week.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

2 years agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (forearm) played catch from 90 feet on Thursday and will do so again from 120 feet on Friday. After that, he'll progress to a bullpen session, and he could return to the starting rotation without making a minor league rehab start. That's good news for fantasy managers, as time is running out in the 2022 regular season for Wheeler to make an impact. The 32-year-old right-hander was scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Miami Marlins, but he could return to the rotation early next week, barring a setback over the next couple of days. Before his injury, Wheeler had a 3.07 ERA (2.97 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP, 148 strikeouts and 33 walks in 138 innings over 23 starts for his fantasy managers.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb

2 years agoThe Milwaukee Brewers optioned outfielder Esteury Ruiz to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday and reinstated infielder Mike Brosseau (oblique) from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Ruiz has gone hitless in eight at-bats with two runs scored over three games after Milwaukee called up him at the start of September when rosters expanded. The 23-year-old rookie struggled in 14 games with the San Diego Padres earlier this year, too, before he was sent to the Brewers at the trade deadline, going 6-for-27 (.222) with two RBI, one steal and a run scored. In 99 minor league games in 2022, though, he's slashed .332/.450/.523 with a .973 OPS, 13 homers, 51 RBI, 100 runs scored and 70 stolen bases. The team's No. 8 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, should only be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Brewers Twitter

2 years agoUpdating a previous report, St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that outfielder Tyler O'Neill (neck) woke up with a stiff neck on Thursday, which is why he was scratched from the starting lineup against the Washington Nationals. If the game had been later, he likely would have played. It doesn't sound like much of a concern for the 27-year-old, who could be back in the lineup as soon as Friday for the start of a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. With O'Neill out Thursday, Ben DeLuzio is getting the nod in center field and is batting ninth against Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray. DeLuzio has played in just four major league games in his rookie season and is still searching for his first hit in two plate appearances.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Belleville News - Jeff Jones

2 years agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole was on his game in the 7-1 win over the Minnesota Twins in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. Cole struck out a season-high 14 batters while allowing just one earned run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He also walked two batters and allowed a solo home run. The 32-year-old is now 11-7 on the year with a 3.20 ERA (3.16 FIP), a 1.02 WHIP, a league-leading 218 strikeouts and 42 walks in 171 1/3 innings over his 28 starts. Cole has had three straight quality starts, and he's now had eight games with double-digit strikeouts in 2022. He's finishing strong and should remain a must-start fantasy ace for the rest of the season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoAn MRI exam on Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) on Wednesday confirmed that he's dealing with a left ankle sprain. Contreras was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to return when he's first eligible on Sept. 13. The 30-year-old has been one of the better catching options for fantasy managers this year, hitting .246/.351/.471 with an .822 OPS, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 462 plate appearances over 107 games played. However, fantasy managers may not get all that much production out of him the rest of the way in September. In his absence, Yan Gomes and P.J. Higgins will split playing time behind the plate in Chicago.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Maddie Lee

2 years agoCincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Senzel (ankle) is back in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs, serving as the designated hitter and batting seventh against right-hander Adrian Sampson. Senzel sprained his ankle in the game on Tuesday and didn't play on Wednesday, but he won't end up missing much time after all. The 27-year-old hasn't done much for fantasy managers this year, and he's even less appealing near the bottom of the Reds batting order. In his 331 at-bats in 2022, he's hitting .242/.306/.314 with four homers, 24 RBI, 41 runs scored and eight stolen bases. Since the beginning of August, he's slashing .216/.303/.296 with a homer, six RBI, seven runs scored and 16 strikeouts in 24 games played.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoSt. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill was scratched from the team's starting lineup on Thursday against the Washington Nationals due to undisclosed reasons. Rookie outfielder Alec Burleson is also making his major league debut in right field, and he will hit seventh in the batting order against Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray. Check back for an update on why O'Neill was scratched. Ben DeLuzio is starting in center field and hitting ninth in O'Neill's place. Burleson, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was one of the better hitters in the International League this year and slashed .332/.373/.534 with 20 home runs for Triple-A Memphis. As long as O'Neill doesn't miss extended time with an injury, though, it might be tough for Burleson to find consistent at-bats down the stretch.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoAtlanta Braves right-hander Huascar Ynoa (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm. Dr. Keith Meister performed the procedure in Arlington, Texas. The 24-year-old hadn't pitched in the minor leagues for Triple-A Gwinnett since Aug. 24, and now we know why. After going under the knife for elbow reconstruction, Ynoa will likely miss all of next season as well as the rest of the 2022 campaign. He made two starts for Atlanta this year, allowing 10 earned runs on 11 hits while striking out eight and walking six in 6 2/3 innings. In 18 outings (17 starts) for Gwinnett, Ynoa had a 5.68 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP and an 87:35 K:BB in 77 2/3 frames.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Twitter

2 years agoPhiladelphia Phillies right-hander Zach Eflin (knee) will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He'll start the game but treat it like a relief appearance. Eflin will return to the major league roster this month and pitch out of the bullpen, so he won't be stretched out on his rehab assignment. The 28-year-old won't be an option in fantasy the rest of the way as a relief option for the Phillies. Before his injury, Eflin went 3-5 with a 4.37 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, 56 strikeouts and 15 walks in 68 innings over just 13 starts. He wasn't much of a fantasy option to begin with, outside of deeper leagues, and he can be ignored the rest of the way.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb

2 years agoToronto Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (hamstring) is going for an MRI exam on Thursday after he left Wednesday's game early against the Baltimore Orioles with what the team described as left hamstring discomfort. Gurriel landed awkwardly at first base while trying to beat out an infield ground ball. Toronto will view his MRI results on Thursday before determining his next steps. Fantasy managers should be prepared for a potential stint on the injured list. The good news is the Blue Jays are off on Thursday, but the 28-year-old could very well be out on Friday for the series opener against the Texas Rangers. Gurriel is hitting a strong .291/.343/.400 with five home runs, 52 RBI, 52 runs scored and three steals in 453 at-bats in 2022.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling

2 years agoTampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (hand, wrist) will meet with the team in New York and is set to be activated from the injured list this weekend, possibly as early as Friday, according to president of baseball operations Erik Neander. Wednesday's minor league rehab game with Triple-A Durham was a big step for Franco, who has gone 6-for-11 with a double and a walk in three games with Durham. The 21-year-old Dominican has been out since July 9 and was hitting .260/.308/.396 with five home runs, 23 RBI, 34 runs scored and five stolen bases in 227 at-bats before his injury. The Rays and fantasy managers could really use Franco's contributions down the stretch to close out the month of September.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin