Max Scherzer Sees Production Dip During Shortened Season

Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer has been one of the preeminent arms of his generation, but his shortened 2020 campaign hasn’t been up to the elite expectations that many set for the likely future Hall of Famer. The .419 xSLG and .311 xwOBA that he has compiled over his first 11 starts this season... Read More

Roman Quinn Tossed From Monday’s Contest

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Roman Quinn was ejected from Monday’s game versus Washington after he was called out on strikes in the third. Manager Joe Girardi was ejected right after him by home plate umpire Junior Valentine. Mickey Moniak entered the game to take over for Quinn, whose average dropped to .218 on the year following... Read More

Jose Alvarado Progressing In Comeback Attempt

Tampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher Jose Alvarado (shoulder) isn’t expected to be available to the club until the postseason, but he threw a 26-pitch bullpen, with his next step being an outing in a simulated game Thursday. Alvarado hasn’t appeared for the Rays since Aug. 14 due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder, but he... Read More

Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz Take Batting Practice Monday

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi (hamstring) and third baseman Yandy Diaz (hamstring) both participated in batting practice Monday as they work their way back to the active roster. Assuming that both feel strong Tuesday, they could progress to a live batting practice soon. Without either in the mix, Nate Lowe has been one... Read More

Cole Hamels To Miss Remainder Of 2020 Season

Updating a previous report, Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels (shoulder) is done for the remainder of the 2020 season due to the shoulder ailment that he self-reported Monday. The club placed Hamels on the injured list earlier in the day, but general manager Alex Anthopoulos went so far as to request the removal of... Read More

Anthony Rendon Ejected Monday For Arguing Strike Call

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon was ejected from Monday’s contest versus Texas for arguing balls and strikes. Rendon was rung up for strike three in the seventh, before a discussion with home-plate umpire Kyle McCrady resulted in Rendon being sent packing. Prior to his departure, Rendon struck out three times in a contest... Read More

Ildemaro Vargas Lands On Injured List Monday

Chicago Cubs infielder Ildemaro Vargas (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Monday’s contest versus Pittsburgh due to a strained right hamstring. The club decided not to make a corresponding move for his roster spot immediately, meaning that David Bote and Nico Hoerner will likely handle any backup infield duties. Vargas has... Read More

Yuli Gurriel Dealing With Bothersome Hand Ailment

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel indicated Monday that he is still bothered by a hand injury, with the wrap that he is utilizing to protect himself causing further discomfort. Gurriel has homered just once since Aug. 15, with a .176/.185/.255 slash line over his past 15 games. Despite his everyday presence in the Houston... Read More

Cole Hamels Lands On Injured List With Shoulder Ailment

Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Monday’s contest against Miami. Hamels’ injury is the latest in a long line of starting pitcher setbacks that Atlanta has experienced in 2020, as Hamels has made just one start this season in his own right. The timing of... Read More

Jake Marisnick Lands On Injured List

New York Mets outfielder Jake Marisnick (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Monday’s contest against the Rays due to tightness in his right hamstring. The timing of the injury ends Marisnick’s season at just 16 games played with 34 plate appearances. Despite his extremely limited playing time, Marisnick was able to... Read More

Kyle Higashioka Set To Continue Catching Gerrit Cole

New York Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka appears to be the personal catcher for right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole for the foreseeable future. Higashioka will be behind the plate Tuesday when Cole faces Toronto, whom Higashioka throttled for three home runs last Wednesday. Even with the playoffs on the horizon, it appears that Gary Sanchez will either... Read More

Nolan Arenado Hits Injured List

Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (shoulder) will miss the remainder of the 2020 season due to inflammation in his left shoulder. Outfielder Sam Hilliard was recalled from the club’s alternate training site to take his spot on the active roster, while Ryan McMahon will start at the hot corner Monday versus right-hander Johnny Cueto.... Read More

Jared Oliva Receives First Big League Call-Up Monday

The Pittsburgh Pirates summoned outfielder Jared Oliva from the club’s alternate training site prior to Monday’s contest versus the Cubs. Oliva, ranked as the team’s No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, tagged the ball to the tune of an .886 OPS in 26 Arizona Fall League games last year, all while adding 11 stolen bases.... Read More

San Francisco Moves On From Justin Smoak

First baseman/designated hitter Justin Smoak’s tenure with the San Francisco Giants lasted just three games, as he was designated for assignment Monday after going 0-for-6. Smoak had begun the season with Milwaukee before the Giants scooped him up, but with no path to extended playing time over the final week of the year, the club... Read More

George Springer Sits Monday After Two-Homer Performance

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer clobbered a pair of home runs during Sunday’s win over Arizona, but he finds himself out of the starting nine Monday versus the Mariners and left-hander Marco Gonzales. Instead, Myles Straw will draw the start in center and bat leadoff, giving him DFS punt play appeal at his supremely low... Read More

Giovanny Gallegos, Dexter Fowler Return To Roster Monday

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher Giovanny Gallegos (groin) and outfielder Dexter Fowler were both activated off of the injured list prior to Monday’s contest against Kansas City. Gallegos’ return clouds the Cardinals bullpen scene, as he was serving as the club’s closer prior to being placed on the IL. With a 0.79 WHIP and 11.1 K/9,... Read More

Domingo German Out Of Equation Until 2021 Season

New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Domingo German was eligible to return off of the restricted list come the start of the 2020 postseason, but manager Aaron Boone confirmed Monday that the club will not have time to ramp him up, with an eye toward his return coming in ‘21. In addition to being suspended for... Read More

Matt Shoemaker Activated, Julian Merryweather Hits Injured List

The Toronto Blue Jays swapped in one right-handed pitcher for another Monday when Matt Shoemaker (shoulder) was activated off of the injured list, with Julian Merryweather (elbow) hitting the IL due to tendinitis in his pitching elbow. Shoemaker will start Monday against the Yankees, marking his first appearance since Aug. 21. The nature of New... Read More

Jeff Samardzija A Candidate To Start In Doubleheader Friday

San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) is up for consideration to return Friday against San Diego when the clubs play a doubleheader. Samardzija has not appeared for the Giants since Aug. 7 due to a right shoulder impingement, having allowed 16 runs (15 earned) in 13 ⅔ frames over his first three starts... Read More

Ken Giles Set To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Ken Giles (elbow) is slated to miss the remainder of the 2020 season and likely most of 2021 due to impending Tommy John surgery. Giles had attempted to battle his way back from a forearm strain earlier this season, but with a flexor strain shutting him down for good after four... Read More

Jose Quintana Returns To Mix Tuesday; Faces Pitch Count

Chicago Cubs left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana (lat) will return to the club Tuesday and start against Pittsburgh, albeit on a pitch count. Quintana last appeared Aug. 30 before being shut down again, having made just two appearances out of relief this season. Previously bothered by a thumb injury, in addition to the recent lat inflammation,... Read More

Michael Conforto Absent From Starting Lineup Monday

New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto is not among the starting nine for Monday’s contest against Tampa Bay and left-hander Josh Fleming. Guillermo Heredia will instead draw the start, with Brandon Nimmo shifting over to right field. While it’s been a breakout 2020 for Conforto with 21 extra-base hits and a .944 OPS in 53... Read More

Alex Dickerson Rejoins Lineup Monday

San Francisco Giants outfielder Alex Dickerson was activated off of the paternity list prior to Monday’s contest versus Colorado and right-hander German Marquez. Dickerson will bat leadoff and have considerable DFS appeal due to the .528 SLG that he has amassed over his first 44 appearances. Despite his successes at the dish this year, San... Read More

Jorge Soler Returns To Lineup Monday

Kansas City Royals outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler (oblique) was activated off of the injured list prior to Monday’s contest versus the Cardinals and right-hander Adam Wainwright, slotting immediately into the cleanup spot. Soler has been out of the fold since Sept. 5, but with a .456 SLG through his first 39 games, there’s plenty of... Read More

Daniel Vogelbach Draws Second Straight Start At First Base

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach is back to holding down the first base spot Monday versus Cincinnati and right-hander Luis Castillo. Having homered twice Sunday during his first start at first with Milwaukee, the Brewers are running the power-hitting left-handed bat back out again Monday. Having vaporized the ball to the tune of... Read More

Kris Bryant Drops To Fifth Spot In Order Monday

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant will bat fifth Monday against Pittsburgh and right-hander JT Brubaker, the first time in 2020 that he will start below the No. 3 spot in the order. Bryant has been mired in a season-long slump, having compiled just a .588 OPS this year. He continued to hold nightly DFS upside... Read More

Heath Hembree Lands On Injured List With Elbow Strain

Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitcher Heath Hembree (elbow) has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right elbow. Hembree, alongside fellow righty Brandon Workman, was acquired from Boston in August as a means of helping a lacking Phillies bullpen string together outs. For Hembree, the move hasn’t paid dividends, as he has... Read More

Albert Pujols Not In Starting Lineup Monday Against Righty

Los Angeles Angels first baseman/designated hitter Albert Pujols will cede way to Jared Walsh at first base for Monday’s contest against Texas and right-hander Kyle Gibson. Pujols has doubled his home run total in 2020 during the month of September, benefitting from Shohei Ohtani being utilized as the DH primarily only versus right-handed pitching. With... Read More

Joc Pederson Rejoins Active Roster Monday

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson returned off of the family medical emergency leave list Monday, making him eligible to participate when the club next takes the field Tuesday against the A’s. After a near off-season deal, Pederson has scuffled mightily at the dish, batting just .174 with a .644 OPS. With just two extra-base... Read More

Andrew Stevenson Shifts Up To Leadoff Spot Monday

Washington Nationals outfielder Andrew Stevenson will hit leadoff Monday against Philadelphia and right-hander Zack Wheeler. Stevenson has hit primarily at the bottom of the order during his tenure with the Nationals, but with two steals in seven games this year, he’ll now hit ahead of Trea Turner and Juan Soto, making for an intriguing DFS... Read More