Ryne Stanek, Ryan Yarbrough Perfect For Eight Innings

Starting with two innings from opening pitcher Ryne Stanek, the Tampa Bay Rays took what would have been the first combined perfect game in MLB history into the ninth inning on Sunday, before follower Ryan Yarbrough allowed a leadoff single. Tampa Bay ultimately prevailed over the Baltimore Orioles, 4-1, with Oliver Drake and Emilio Pagan […]

Dellin Betances Cleared to Throw

As expected, New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances has been cleared to resume throwing. Betances has suffered from a right shoulder bone spur and a lat strain this season, but the team his confident he will be okay from here. Given that Betances has not pitched all season, it will be important to note […]

Daniel Poncedeleon to Rotation, Michael Wacha Out

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon will start on Wednesday, sending Michael Wacha to the bullpen. While the switch may not be permanent, any fantasy roster that has Wacha on it can afford to drop him for now. The 28-year-old has struggled to a 5.54 ERA and 6.22 FIP this season, so he was already […]

The Cut List (Week 16) - Time to Let Go?

Not a ton has changed since last week given the one combined real game from Monday through Thursday. Friday doesn't exactly give us enough new information, either: as if Josh Bell opening the second half 0-for-4 would make anyone panic. That said, there are still decisions to be made. Fewer, given the lack of new […]

Back Puts Max Scherzer on IL

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer was placed on the injured list Saturday, retroactive to July 10, with a mid-back strain. Catcher Spencer Kieboom was called up to take his place. There is no word yet on how long Scherzer may be out, but this is not good news after he had his next start […]

Max Scherzer Start Pushed Back

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer, originally scheduled to pitch on Sunday, will no longer be making that start on account of back tightness. Scherzer has been experiencing it since before the All-Star Break and obviously it remains an issue. It's not clear the extent of the pushback -- Scherzer himself anticipates a matter of […]

Power Hitting Risers & Fallers for Week 15 - Buy or Sell?

Welcome to the All-Star Break edition of Power Hitting Risers & Fallers. All stats are full season through Sunday, July 7 (unless otherwise noted). For the break, this week's risers and fallers were selected somewhat more scientifically than usual. Everyone who had 100 plate appearances in both 2018 and 2019 had the number of plate […]

The Cut List (Week 15) - Time to Let Go?

The All-Star Break will be here after today's games. For players who won't participate in the game on Tuesday, it's a chance to take a break from the grind for several days. And several players could use one, like perhaps the cut suggestions below. Despite the days off, there's nothing really about the break that […]

Max Scherzer On Paternity List

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer was placed on the paternity list on Wednesday. Infielder Adrian Sanchez temporarily takes his roster spot. Good news for fantasy owners is this will not affect Scherzer's pitching schedule: He will still face the Kansas City Royals on Saturday as planned.

Rays Send Andrew Velazquez to Indians

Infielder Andrew Velazquez was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Cleveland Indians Wednesday in exchange for international bonus pool money. Velazquez is a 4-for-22 hitter in his MLB career and also just .267/.331/.390 in the minors, so this is an organizational depth move. Cleveland designated pitcher Chih-Wei Hu, who has not appeared in […]

Ryan Zimmerman Off Wednesday

Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman will not start Wednesday, his second time out of the lineup in five games since returning from plantar fasciitis. The left-handed Matt Adams gets the start and bats fifth against Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara. Adams is a decent DFS play against Alcantara, if this game -- which starts […]

Hernan Perez Outrighted to Triple-A

Milwaukee Brewers infielder/outfielder Hernan Perez, who was designated for assignment on June 28, cleared waivers Wednesday and was sent to Triple-A San Antonio. Perez showed promise in 2016 with a .272 batting average, 13 home runs, and 34 stolen bases, but has not approached similar value since and was hitting just .235/.277/.383 in 160 plate […]

Brian Anderson Out of Lineup Wednesday

Miami Marlins outfielder/third baseman Brian Anderson is not in the team's lineup Wednesday after exiting Tuesday's game with an elbow contusion. For the most part, Anderson has been playing right field while Neil Walker starts at third base. Wednesday, Walker will stay at third and bat fourth, while Harold Ramirez takes Anderson's right field spot […]

Willie Calhoun Could See Second Base Time

Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun has done some work at second base in recent days, and could also start doing some third base work as well. This development would seem to be a damning statement on incumbent second baseman Rougned Odor, who has hit a dreadful .189/.259/.369 in 2019. Calhoun is unlikely to be any […]

Tyler Flowers Takes Turn At Catcher

Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers is the team's eighth hitter Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The rest of Atlanta's lineup is their standard arrangement. They are facing Phillies starter Nick Pivetta, who's been better since returning from a demotion on May 28, but still has just a 4.30 ERA, 32-10 K-BB ratio, and nine home […]

Dodgers Acquire Casey Sadler, Transfer Rich Hill

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired pitcher Casey Sadler from the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday in exchange for pitcher Nathan Witt. Rich Hill was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Sadler on the 40-man roster. Hill is now not eligible to return until August, but his left forearm injury was scary regardless […]

Lucas Duda In Lineup Wednesday

On Wednesday, Kansas City Royals first baseman Lucas Duda is starting for the first time since Sunday as Cheslor Cuthbert sits. Duda will bat sixth against Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger. Duda is hitting a mere .173/.266/.321 in 94 plate appearances in 2019 and hasn't been a plus bat since 2017, making him an […]

Derek Dietrich Returns to Lineup

Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Derek Dietrich is playing left field and batting sixth Wednesday after a day off Tuesday. Dietrich's bat has cooled significantly the past few weeks, with a .111/.304/.241 slash line in the last 28 days. His season line remains a strong .223/.351/.565, so OBP and OPS league owners should still be pleased with […]

Domingo German Officially Activated

As expected, New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German was activated from the injured list Wednesday to start vs. the New York Mets. Reliever Stephen Tarpley was optioned to make roster space. German was felled in early June by a left hip flexor strain with a 9-2 record, 3.86 ERA, and 1.11 WHIP in 13 […]

Jesus Luzardo Pulled From Start

Oakland Athletics starting pitching prospect Jesus Luzardo was removed from a Triple-A start on Tuesday night after throwing four innings. The organization is calling it lat tightness and he will be evaluated later Wednesday. Luzardo is expected to join the Athletics rotation soon, although this episode could push him back. He should already be stashed […]

Power Hitting Risers & Fallers for Week 14 - Buy or Sell?

Welcome to this week's Power Hitting Risers & Fallers. All stats are full season through Monday, July 1 (unless otherwise noted). The season is just over halfway done, and the home runs are still coming in bunches. That doesn't mean everyone's always hitting them all the time, and good thing for this column. Weekly reminders: […]

Trea Turner RBI Double Walks It Off

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner hit a walk-off RBI double for a 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins Tuesday. It capped a 2-for-5 day for Turner, who also scored a run. The shortstop is now hitting a solid .277/.333/.476 on the season, but it's his 17 steals in just 45 games (despite none tonight) that […]

Patrick Corbin Honors Skaggs Before Dominating Marlins

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin, wearing the number 45 instead of his usual 46 in honor of his friend the late Tyler Skaggs, went seven innings and allowed just one run to the Miami Marlins Tuesday. He also had to weather a third inning rain delay, but ultimately walked none and struck out seven. […]

The Cut List (Week 14) - Time to Let Go?

We're halfway there in the baseball season, but hopefully your fantasy team is living on more than a prayer. (By Jove, that's terrible. Apologies.) Unless it's a points league, categories are starting to take more precedence at this point. Every hitter on this week's Cut List comes with a list of categories in which a […]

Max Scherzer Dominant in Detroit Return

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer earned his eighth victory of 2019 with eight innings of one-run ball in his first start at Comerica Park since departing the Detroit Tigers in free agency in 2014. He struck out 14, including all three batters faced in the eighth inning. Scherzer has a 1.70 ERA in his […]

Ryan Zimmerman The Designated Hitter In Return

Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is batting sixth as the designated hitter Friday in his return from the injured list after a bout with plantar fasciitis. Fortuitously for Zimmerman and the Nationals, they are at Detroit for his return, providing the opportunity to ease him into action as the DH. Zimmerman likely won't get […]

Ryan Zimmerman Activated, Michael A. Taylor Demoted

The Washington Nationals activated first baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the injured list on Friday and optioned outfielder Michael A. Taylor to make room on the active roster. Zimmerman will be splitting time at first base with fellow infielders Howie Kendrick and Matt Adams, dinging all three players' fantasy value. Of the three, only Kendrick, who […]

Kyle Seager Tweaked Right Hand Tuesday

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager said Thursday that he tweaked his right hand on Tuesday but hopes to be ready for Seattle's next series against the Houston Astros. Tim Beckham is playing Seager's third base position on Thursday. Seager was out until May 25 this season with an injury to his left hand, so […]

Giancarlo Stanton Looking At August Return

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (knee) will likely be out of action through the month of July with his latest injury, this time a PCL strain. Clearly, it is not a minor strain, which is frustrating both for fantasy managers and the Yankees given how much time Stanton has already missed this year with other […]

Twins Recall LaMonte Wade

The Minnesota Twins recalled outfielder LaMonte Wade from Triple-A Rochester on Thursday to take the injured Willians Astudillo's spot on the roster. Wade has shown strong on-base skills in the minors with a .391 career OBP and more walks (292) than strikeouts (268). He has some power and speed, but not a lot with 40 […]