2 years agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that second baseman Brandon Lowe's (back) MRI exam showed some inflammation in his back, and he's seeking additional medical opinions to determine the best course of action. The Rays remain hopeful that Lowe will play again this year, but fantasy managers shouldn't be holding out as much hope, especially since the 28-year-old left-handed hitter has disappointed to the tune of a .221/.308/.383 slash line with eight home runs, 25 RBI, 31 runs scored and a steal in 266 plate appearances over 65 games played. The Rays will just be hoping that Lowe can contribute if the club makes it to the postseason. Isaac Paredes is starting at second base on Wednesday, but Jonathan Aranda and Taylor Walls could mix in for however long Lowe is sidelined.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin

2 years agoTampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said right-hander Tyler Glasnow (elbow) came out of his second minor league rehab appearance on Tuesday well, but he will make "multiple" more outings for Triple-A Durham. In his two short rehab outings for Durham, the 29-year-old starting pitcher has given up a run while walking three and striking out four in only 2 1/3 innings. Glasnow hasn't pitched at all this season, and the Rays aren't rushing him back, so it's looking likely that he won't have any fantasy appeal the rest of the way. However, Tampa could decide to use him as a hard-throwing relief option out of the bullpen should they make the postseason.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin

2 years agoWashington Nationals designated hitter Nelson Cruz (eye) has inflammation in his left eye and is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles. His doctor gave him eye drops for treatment, and skipper Dave Martinez said Cruz is day-to-day. Fantasy managers need to remove him from their daily lineups. The 42-year-old left the game early on Tuesday due to blurred vision, but hopefully he'll be able to return to the lineup in short order. Washington has a day off on Thursday before starting a series against the Miami Marlins on Friday. With Cruz out Wednesday, Luke Voit is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup against Orioles right-hander Tyler Wells.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Bobby Blanco

2 years agoHouston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez (hand) clarified that he wasn't out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers due to hand soreness, as was previously reported. Alvarez was getting a normal day of rest on Wednesday and was available off the bench. He'll be back in the lineup on Thursday for the start of a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics. The 25-year-old has dealt with hand soreness late this season, but apparently that hasn't become an issue again. That's great news as he looks to finish off his first All-Star campaign in the big leagues. Alvarez is currently slashing .295/.403/.598 with a 1.000 OPS, 33 home runs, 84 RBI, 84 runs scored and one steal in 494 plate appearances and 118 games. Get him back into your starting lineups on Thursday.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ATT Sportsnet Southwest - Julia Morales

2 years agoWashington Nationals rookie right-hander Cade Cavalli (shoulder) has been cleared to throw and played catch on Wednesday, according to manager Dave Martinez. The goal is to get Cavalli back on the mound before the offseason, but Martinez said that probably won't come in an actual game. The Nationals won't rush their No. 4 prospect back with nothing left to play for in 2022. The 24-year-old made his major-league debut on Aug. 26 against the Cincinnati Reds and allowed seven earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out six in 4 1/3 frames. He had a 3.71 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 104:39 K:BB in 97 innings (20 starts) for Triple-A Rochester before his call-up. As long as he's fully healthy, Cavalli should be given a chance to open the 2023 season in the starting rotation.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Bobby Blanco

2 years agoNew York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (leg) will rejoin the team in Milwaukee and is expected to be activated from the injured list on Friday for the start of a series against the Brewers, according to skipper Aaron Boone. Chapman has been away from the team since Aug. 19 and landed on the injured list due to a leg infection related to a tattoo. The 35-year-old veteran southpaw looked good in two minor league rehab innings earlier this week, and he's in line to return to a setup role in the Yankees bullpen ahead of closer Clay Holmes this weekend. Without being the team's primary closer, Chapman has lost a ton of fantasy value, and he's struggled to the tune of a 4.70 ERA (4.78 FIP), a 1.43 WHIP, nine saves and 35 strikeouts in 30 2/3 relief innings in 2022.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch

2 years agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (shoulder) is on track to throw another live batting practice session on Sunday, and he could still make a minor league rehab outing before he returns to Boston's rotation. The team isn't rushing him back. Eovaldi tossed a three-inning live batting practice session on Tuesday and continues to make progress from a strained shoulder. The 32-year-old right-hander has had multiple stints on the injured list in 2022 and has made just 18 starts, posting a 4.15 ERA (4.50 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, 96 strikeouts and 18 walks in 99 2/3 innings. Eovaldi has been useful in mixed leagues, but he may only have time to make one or two starts by the time he's activated from the injured list.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo

2 years agoBoston Red Sox second baseman Trevor Story (heel) is likely to return to the starting lineup on Friday for the first game of a series against the Kansas City Royals. Story is missing another game on Wednesday against the division-rival New York Yankees, but he resumed baseball activities. The 29-year-old has now missed two games since leaving Sunday's contest with left heel pain, but he's merely day-to-day. Enrique Hernandez is getting the start at the keystone on Wednesday against Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes. On the year, Story is hitting a disappointing .238 with a .303 on-base percentage, but he's also chipped in 16 home runs, 66 RBI, 53 runs scored and 13 stolen bases in 357 at-bats.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo

2 years agoHouston Astros starter Cristian Javier was masterful Wednesday afternoon when his team edged out the Detroit Tigers 2-1. The right-hander threw six scoreless innings, striking out eight, walking none, and allowing just two hits to earn his ninth win of the season. Javier has made 22 starts this year while appearing out of the bullpen five times, producing a 2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 173 strikeouts across 131.2 innings. He's one of many Astros starters with strong numbers, and he should remain a great fantasy asset as the season comes to an end.--Spencer Seguin - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoBoston Red Sox second baseman Trevor Story (heel) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the division-rival New York Yankees. Story hasn't played since leaving the game early on Sunday due to left heel pain, but the team thinks there's a good chance he'll return on Friday after an off day on Thursday. In his first year in Beantown, the 29-year-old is hitting .238/.303/.434 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI, 53 runs scored and 13 stolen bases in 357 at-bats. Enrique Hernandez is getting the start at the keystone and is batting eighth on Wednesday against Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes. Hernandez hasn't done much for fantasy managers in 2022, but he has been better against lefties this year, with four of his six long balls coming against them.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoAtlanta Braves right-hander Ian Anderson (oblique) strained his left oblique while pitching for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sept. 8 and will be out at least a month. It basically rules out any chance that he could have returned to Atlanta's rotation for the end of the regular season and even possibly the postseason now. Anderson was demoted to the minors last month when the Braves acquired righty Jake Odorizzi from the Houston Astros at the trade deadline. The 24-year-old had a 5.00 ERA (4.25 FIP), 1.51 WHIP and 97 K's in 22 starts for the Braves before being demoted. In his four starts at Gwinnett he hasn't been any better, surrendering 13 earned runs on 25 hits while walking 10 and striking out 23 in 21 2/3 frames.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - David O'Brien

2 years agoCleveland Guardians outfielder Oscar Gonzalez is enjoying a solid rookie campaign, including a big day on Wednesday when he was 3-for-4 with a solo home run to help beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3. He's now 12 for his last 27 at-bats and is hitting .298 on the season. Gonzalez has also displayed some power, slugging nine homers over 70 games and has added 26 runs, 35 RBI and one stolen base. If the 24-year-old is still on the waiver wire, fantasy managers may want to make a play as he's one of the best under-the-radar multi-category contributors and gets consistent playing time.--Spencer Seguin - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

2 years agoThe Tampa Bay Rays are set to reinstate left-hander Shane McClanahan (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to have him start on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. McClanahan was eyeing a Thursday start after he threw a successful 50-pitch simulated game last Friday. The 25-year-old All-Star didn't make a minor league rehab start, though, so he could be on a shorter leash in his first big-league start since Aug. 30. Fantasy managers should be stoked about his return for the final stretch of the regular season, though. Before his injury, McClanahan was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in 2022, going 11-5 with a 2.20 ERA (2.64 FIP), a 0.86 WHIP, 182 strikeouts and 30 walks in 147 1/3 innings over 24 starts in his second MLB season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin

2 years agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals and left-hander Patrick Corbin. Mullins is an everyday fantasy player, but he's struggled against southpaws this year, going 33-for-163 (.203) with three of his 14 home runs, 12 RBI and 44 strikeouts against them. With the 27-year-old getting a day of rest, Ryan McKenna will man center field for the O's and bat seventh in the lineup against Corbin. On the season, McKenna is hitting .245/.303/.353 with only two home runs, 11 RBI, 22 runs scored and two stolen bases in 139 at-bats. In nine plate appearances over seven games so far this month, he has a single and three strikeouts. McKenna is a low-upside DFS dart throw.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoSeattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger (back) remains out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres. Haniger suffered a back injury on Sunday and may not be able to return to the lineup until after an off day on Thursday for the start of a weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. The oft-injured 31-year-old veteran is hitting .233/.288/.399 with seven home runs, 23 RBI and 19 runs scored in only 163 at-bats on the season. Sam Haggerty will get another start in right field on Wednesday and will hit eighth against Padres right-hander Mike Clevinger. Haggerty went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in a start on Tuesday, and he's hitting just .188 (3-for-16) with a homer and two RBI in 10 games so far in September.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press