2 years agoThe New York Mets are still in the process of deciding whether starting pitcher Max Scherzer (oblique) will make his next scheduled start on Friday against the Miami Marlins or get pushed back a start. Scherzer left his previous outing early with oblique fatigue. The Mets don't want to push the 38-year-old right-hander and cause him to miss the final stretch of the regular season, so fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he skips a start this week. As usual, Scherzer has been a must-start in fantasy in his first year in Queens, going 9-4 with a 2.26 ERA (2.53 FIP), a 0.92 WHIP, 153 strikeouts and only 23 walks in 127 2/3 frames over his 20 starts in 2022. We'll probably know for sure whether he'll make his start on Friday by Wednesday.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Mike Puma

2 years agoThe game between the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins on Tuesday has been postponed due to the forecast of sustained inclement weather. It will be made up on Wednesday, Sept. 7, as the first game of a doubleheader, beginning at 3:05 pm ET. Right-hander Gerrit Cole was scheduled to start for the Yankees on Tuesday, with right-hander Joe Ryan opposing him for Minnesota. Fantasy managers should expect these two starters to be pushed back to the first game of the doubleheader on Wednesday. Fantasy managers will also need to make sure they remove any players from these two teams they may have already had in their starting lineups for Tuesday's action.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Yankees Twitter

2 years agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty turned in an encouraging outing in his return from the injured list on Monday. The right-hander scattered six hits, a walk, and an earned run in five innings against the Washington Nationals. Flaherty threw 91 pitches against Washington, struck out six batters, and logged 14 swinging strikes. While he wasn't able to come away with a win as the Cardinals were shut out, the 26-year-old did turn in a quality 31% CSW rate. The former first-round pick has given up six earned runs and 10 walks in 13 Major League innings this year, while striking out 12 batters.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Statcast

2 years agoTampa Bay Rays pitcher Luis Patino made his return to the team's rotation on Monday with a start against the Boston Red Sox. After being called up, the right-hander scattered five hits, three earned runs, and three walks in five innings of work against the Red Sox. He struck out four batters and also allowed a home run. Overall, Patino turned in 14 swinging strikes and finished with a solid 31% CSW rate. The 22-year-old has now logged a 4.34 ERA and a 5.63 FIP in 18.2 innings in the Majors this season to go along with 11 strikeouts and nine walks.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Statcast

2 years agoCincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley isn't in the team's starting lineup on Tuesday for a matchup with the Chicago Cubs and left-hander Wade Miley. Fraley is hitting .245 with a .333 on-base percentage in his first season with the Reds, adding eight home runs and three stolen bases in 159 plate appearances. Cincinnati will instead start Stuart Fairchild in left field against Miley and the Cubs. Fairchild is batting seventh on Tuesday. The 26-year-old is hitting .250 with a .341 on-base percentage and four home runs in 41 plate appearances in the Majors for the Reds. He's worth a look as a streaming option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds

2 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney struggled in his Monday outing against the San Francisco Giants. Heaney threw 5.1 innings and gave up six earned runs, four home runs, and a walk. He did strike out eight batters, log 19 swinging strikes, and post a 38% CSW rate, but the home runs certainly didn't help. Monday marked the first time this season that Heaney has given up more than three earned runs in a start. He's currently sporting a 2.94 ERA and a 4.07 FIP in 52 innings of work this year to go along with 78 strikeouts and 13 walks.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Statcast

2 years agoSan Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb came away with the victory on Monday in his start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran threw six innings against Los Angeles, allowing seven hits, three runs, two earned runs, and a home run in those six innings. He also struck out six batters, logged 11 swinging strikes, and posted a 30% CSW rate. For the season, the 25-year-old owns a 2.89 ERA, a 3.19 FIP, 134 strikeouts and 46 walks allowed in 28 starts spanning 171 innings.--Ben Rosener - RotoBallerSource: Statcast

2 years agoChicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday, with the move being retroactive to Sept. 2. The earliest he can return will be on Sept. 17. Steele hasn't pitched for the Cubs since Aug. 26, also being put on the restricted list because of his vaccination status for a series in Toronto against the Blue Jays. With the 27-year-old on the shelf, pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski was called up from Triple-A Iowa and is a leading candidate to start this weekend against the San Francisco Giants in his MLB debut. Steele has been solid in 2022, going 4-7 with a 3.18 ERA (3.20 FIP), a 1.35 WHIP and a 126:50 K:BB in 119 innings pitched over his 24 starts.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoThe Chicago Cubs have selected the contract of right-hander Hayden Wesneski from Triple-A Iowa. In corresponding moves, the team placed left-hander Justin Steele (back) on the 15-day injured list and designated right-hander Kervin Castro for assignment. Wesneski, the team's No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, appears to be the leading candidate to take Steele's spot in the starting rotation this weekend against the San Francisco Giants. The 24-year-old was acquired from the New York Yankees at this year's trade deadline. He's posted a 3.92 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 106 K's and 36 walks in 110 1/3 innings over 24 outings (23 starts) between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Triple-A Iowa this year. Wesneski will be making his MLB debut when he gets into a game.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoThe Minnesota Twins are calling up right-hander Louie Varland from Triple-A St. Paul for his major league debut on Wednesday against the New York Yankees. Varland is a St. Paul native who was drafted out of Concordia University in 2019, and he's the reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the Twins. He'll be the first Twins pitcher to debut with a start at Yankee Stadium. The 24-year-old was recently promoted to Triple-A after posting a 3.34 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 105 innings over 20 outings (19 starts) at Double-Wichita. He allowed just four earned runs while striking out 27 over four starts at St. Paul. Varland has increased his velocity in recent years and also has a nasty changeup and slider. He could stick in the rotation the rest of the season, making him attractive in deeper leagues. Varland is the team's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman

2 years agoBoston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford (shoulder) was scratched from his start on Sept. 4 and went on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. He has gone 3-6 with a 5.47 ERA (4.34 FIP), a 1.42 WHIP, 77 strikeouts and 29 walks in 77 1/3 innings in 21 appearances (12 starts) in his first full major league season. The good news is the team expects him back soon. "We feel like he'll be right back as soon as he is eligible to come off the IL," said manager Alex Cora. Josh Winckowski took Crawford's start on Sunday, but it remains to be seen if Crawford will return to the starting rotation when he's activated from the injured list.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Sept. 2, and the plan is for him to repeat the exercise at some point during a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Boston thinks Eovaldi will pitch again this year, but manager Alex Cora said Eovaldi will need to go on a minor league rehab assignment first. The 32-year-old isn't progressing as quickly as the team had hoped when he initially landed on the injured list, but it looks like they'll get him back at some point this month. That won't help fantasy managers all that much, though, with time running out in the final month of the regular season. In 18 starts this year, Eovaldi has gone 5-3 with a 4.15 ERA (4.50 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, 96 K's and 18 walks in 99 2/3 innings.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoBoston Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta (calf) tested his injured left calf with a bullpen session at Tropicana Field on Monday. As long as there are no ill effects from the side session, Pivetta will take his regular spot in the starting rotation on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 29-year-old left his previous start early on Friday against the Texas Rangers with a left calf contusion when he was hit by a comebacker. In 27 starts for the Red Sox in 2022, Pivetta has gone 9-10 with a 4.37 ERA (4.13 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, 145 strikeouts and 56 walks in 150 1/3 innings pitched. It looks like fantasy managers will have him available to them this week in the series finale against the Rays. He's the lone Boston pitcher this year to make off of his starts, and it looks like that won't change this week.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Franchy Cordero (ankle) jammed his right leg into the left field wall in the fifth inning of Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays and had to be carted off the field. The official diagnosis was a right ankle sprain. Skipper Alex Cora said Cordero will undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday to see if there's ligament damage. "In the beginning, it felt really bad, but as I was coming to the clubhouse it was feeling better," said Cordero. "At first, I felt it was something worse than it was." The 28-year-old went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts before departing, so it was a rough day for Cordero. He's unlikely to play on Tuesday, but it remains to be seen if he'll miss the rest of the season. With Triston Casas now on the major league roster, Cordero is unlikely to see regular playing time in Boston's outfield.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoChicago White Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech (knee), who has been on the 15-day injured list with a left knee strain since leaving his last start early against the Kansas City Royals on Aug. 22 after facing just four hitters, could return to the rotation to start the series finale against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, Sept. 7, according to acting manager Miguel Cairo. Kopech must first be cleared by head athletic trainer James Kruk and pitching coach Ethan Katz. The 26-year-old threw a bullpen session on Sunday, so as long as he comes out of that fine, he should return to the rotation this week. Kopech will return to a 4-9 record, 3.58 ERA (4.44 FIP), a 1.21 WHIP, 98 strikeouts and 55 walks in 110 2/3 innings over 23 starts this year.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com