2 years agoBoston Red Sox starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (shoulder) threw three innings of live batting practice at Fenway Park on Tuesday, which likely puts him in line to make a minor league rehab start next, perhaps as soon as this weekend. "Everything feels good. I feel ready to go," Eovaldi said. "This time, we're just trying to make sure we don't skip these steps and we dot our I's and cross our T's." The 32-year-old hard-throwing right-hander is nearing a return to Boston's starting rotation, but he's quickly running out of time to make a difference for his fantasy managers down the stretch. In 18 starts for the BoSox this year, Eovaldi is 5-3 with a 4.15 ERA (4.50 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP and a 96:18 K:BB in 99 2/3 innings thrown.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoCincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (head) is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fraley was forced from the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday against the Pirates after he was hit in the helmet by a fastball from Manny Banuelos. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter didn't play in Game 2 and remains out on Wednesday, but the good news is he hasn't displayed any concussion symptoms. Consider Fraley to be day-to-day for now. With Fraley out again on Wednesday, TJ Friedl will get the start in left field and will bat leadoff against Pirates right-hander Roansy Contreras. Friedl, who also bats from the left side, has been better against lefties in a small sample size this year, but five of his six homers have come against right-handers.Source: Baseball Press
2 years agoNew York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (oblique) will make a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, according to the team. The three-time Cy Young winner missed his last scheduled start due to discomfort in his left oblique after being sidelined more than a month earlier this year with a left oblique injury. Barring any setbacks in his outing on Wednesday, the 38-year-old right-hander should return to the Mets starting rotation next week. When healthy, Scherzer continues to be lights-out, going 9-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 20 starts in his first season with the Mets in 2022. When he returns next week, he'll be a must-start for fantasy managers, likely against the Milwaukee Brewers.Source: The Syracuse Post-Standard - Nate Mink
2 years agoThe Los Angeles Angels placed infielder Andrew Velazquez (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a right meniscus tear and recalled infielder Michael Stefanic from Triple-A Salt Lake in a corresponding move. Velazquez tore his meniscus in the game on Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians and will miss the rest of the 2022 season. Barring any setbacks over the winter, the 28-year-old should be just fine for the start of next year. In a career-high 125 games (349 plate appearances) in his first year in Anaheim, Velazquez slashed just .196/.236/.304 with nine home runs, 28 RBI, 37 runs scored and 17 stolen bases.Source: Angels PR
2 years agoCincinnati Reds rookie right-hander Hunter Greene (shoulder) is lined up to return from the injured list to start one of the games of a doubleheader on Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Greene landed on the 15-day injured list in early August with a right shoulder strain, but he made three minor league rehab starts for Triple-A Louisville and looked good, allowing two earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out 15 in seven innings pitched. The 23-year-old built up to 66 pitches in his final rehab outing, although Cincy is unlikely to push him too much to close out the 2022 regular season. Greene has lots of strikeout upside, but he's gone 4-12 with a 5.26 ERA (4.96 FIP), a 1.29 WHIP and 127 strikeouts in 102 2/3 innings in 20 starts in his first big-league season this year.Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Bobby Nightengale
2 years agoCleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie's start has been pushed back from Thursday to Friday against the Minnesota Twins. Rookie Hunter Gaddis will be recalled from the minors to start against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. It's unclear as of now why the Guardians made the decision to move McKenzie back a day. The 25-year-old right-hander has been very good for Cleveland and fantasy managers in 2022, posting a 3.05 ERA (3.87 FIP), a 0.97 WHIP, 159 strikeouts and 43 walks in 165 1/3 innings over his 27 outings (26 starts) in his third MLB season. Gaddis, 24, will be making just his second major-league start on Thursday. In his first start on Aug. 5 against the Houston Astros, he allowed eight earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out two in just 3 1/3 innings.Source: MLB.com - Mandy Bell
2 years agoHouston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers. It will just be a routine day of rest for the 25-year-old slugger, but fantasy managers need to act accordingly. Alvarez has been hot so far in the month of September, going 10-for-33 (.303) with two home runs, four RBI and six runs scored in nine games played. He'll need to be returned to all starting lineups when he's back in Houston's lineup. Trey Mancini is starting in left field on Wednesday and is hitting sixth against Tigers left-hander Joey Wentz. Mancini has really struggled since being traded to Houston, going 21-for-106 (.198) with seven homers, 20 RBI and 14 runs scored in 33 games. He also hasn't been quite as good against lefties in 2022, hitting .248 (38-for-153) with only three of his 17 home runs against them.Source: Baseball Press
2 years agoSan Diego Padres relief pitcher Josh Hader picked up his 32nd save of the season in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Mariners. Hader came in to pitch the ninth inning up by two. He struck the first two hitters out, allowed a single, and got the final out on another strikeout. Hader has been able to get back on the right track after a rough patch and has now converted all but three save opportunities with a 5.98 ERA, 15.05 K/9 rate, and 4.12 BB/9 rate. Fantasy managers may not feel the most comfortable with Hader at this time, but his recent history of being one of baseball's top closers makes his upside too great to sit.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoMiami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara fell to 12-8 in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Phillies. Alcantara pitched 7 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits (including a two-run home run) and a walk with four strikeouts. The 27-year-old has been one of fantasy's top starters overall this season, but he has been more pedestrian in the second half, posting a 3.64 ERA in eight starts since August. Regardless, Alcantara is too good for fantasy managers to not start, and he will have a good chance to turn in another strong start this weekend at the Nationals.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoPhiladelphia Phillies relief pitcher David Robertson picked up his 20th save of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Marlins. The veteran came in to shut things out with a one-run lead and did just that, delivering a 1-2-3 ninth inning with no strikeouts. Robertson has had a resurgent season with the Cubs and Phillies, converting 20 of 27 save opportunities with a 2.34 ERA, an 11.71 K/9 rate, and a 4.37 BB/9 rate. The walks have been an issue, but Robertson has been a solid source of saves for fantasy managers so far this season and should continue to be down the stretch.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoBaltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista picked up his 13th save of the season in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Nationals. Bautista entered to pitch the ninth inning up by one. He allowed a leadoff walk and got the first two outs on a strikeout and flyout. The tying run advanced to second on a stolen base, but Bautista ended things there with another strikeout. It was nice to see the big flamethrower back for the O's, as he had missed several games with arm fatigue. Bautista has emerged as a solid fantasy closer, converting all but one save opportunity with a 1.60 ERA and an 11.90 K/9 rate. He should continue to be a strong fantasy option down the stretch as the O's compete for a playoff spot.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoNew York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom pitched well but took the loss in Tuesday's 4-1 game against the Cubs. deGrom pitched 6 innings, allowing three runs on four hits (including a solo home run) and no walks with 10 strikeouts. The veteran has been exactly what fantasy managers had hoped for since his return from the injured list, compiling an excellent 2.01 ERA with a 13.32 K/9 rate in eight starts. His next start should be a great matchup at home against the Pirates.Source: MLB.com
2 years agoBoston Red Sox relief pitcher Jeurys Familia was designated for assignment after Tuesday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Yankees, per Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo. Familia took the loss in the game, allowing three runs (two earned) on a hit and three walks in the 10th inning. The veteran struggled this season with both the Phillies and Red Sox, compiling a 6.09 ERA in 44 1/3 innings pitched. The cleared roster spot will likely go to recently-claimed infielder Yu Chang.Source: Chris Cotillo - MassLive.com
2 years agoAtlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (foot) had a huge game at the plate in Tuesday's 5-4 win with Triple-A Gwinnett, going 5-for-5 with four singles, a walk-off solo home run, and three RBI. The 25-year-old has now played six rehab games at Triple-A and is hitting .348. It looks as though Albies is ready to go, so hopefully, he will be back with the Braves and fantasy managers soon. Albies slashed .244/.289/.405 with eight HR, 33 RBI, and three stolen bases before landing on the injured list. Fantasy managers should continue to look for updates on Albies' potential recall.Source: MiLB.com
2 years agoNew York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge continued his climb towards history Tuesday, hitting two more home runs in a 3-for-4 day at the plate. He also was intentionally walked and scored three runs. The only blemish on the day was his third caught-stealing of the season in 19 attempts. Judge is now 20 homers ahead of Kyle Schwarber for the major-league lead in the category, and he has a 1.106 OPS with 57 long balls, 16 steals, 116 runs scored, and 123 RBI. Fantasy managers are enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime campaign from the slugger.Source: MLB.com