St. Louis Activates Matt Wieters From IL, Option Andrew Knizner

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Matt Wieters has been activated from the injured list prior to Friday’s contest against the Cubs, with Andrew Knizner being optioned to the club’s alternate site to make room on the active roster. Wieters last appeared Aug. 19, having been sidelined due to a toe contusion. With Yadier Molina firmly entrenched […]

Clayton Kershaw Returns To Cy Young Form In 2020

Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw is firmly back in the National League Cy Young hunt following another scoreless outing Thursday. Through his first six starts, Kershaw has amassed a 1.50 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 36 innings, having allowed a combined 10 hits in his last four appearances. The southpaw owns a 0.72 […]

Ramon Laureano Shifts To Leadoff Spot Friday

Oakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano will bat leadoff for the second time this season Friday with Marcus Semien (side) unavailable. Laureano will square off with San Diego right-hander Zach Davies, and despite his August malaise, will have considerable DFS appeal hitting atop the order. Many of Laureano’s Statcast metrics are right in line with his […]

Austin Slater Nears Return To Big League Roster

San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater has been out of the mix since Aug. 21 due to a strained left groin, but he is reportedly nearing a return to the Major League roster. Prior to his injury, Slater was in the midst of a career year, slashing .347/.458/.653 across his first 59 plate appearances, adding […]

Billy Hamilton Sees Mets Tenure End Friday

Outfielder Billy Hamilton was designated for assignment Friday, just hours after he made a crucial baserunning error during Thursday’s contest against the Yankees in which he was thrown out trying to steal third base. Hamilton appeared in 17 games with the Mets primarily as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner, but slashed just .045/.083/.045 in 25 […]

Luis Campusano Makes MLB Debut Friday, Serves As DH

San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano is among the starting nine for Friday’s contest against Oakland, which will mark his big league debut. Ranked as the Padres’ No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Campusano had never played a game above Class A Advanced before Friday, but he did slash .325/.396/.509 with 47 extra-base hits as […]

Carlos Martinez Likely To Return To Rotation Tuesday

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher Carlos Martinez is in the plans to start one of the games during Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Twins. Martinez made just one start this season prior to being shut down following a positive COVID-19 test. After having spent 2019 as a reliever, there was some question as to what role […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Sits For Game 2 Of DH Friday

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman/designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not among the starting nine for Game 2 of the club’s doubleheader against the Red Sox. Guerrero went 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts during the afternoon affair, dropping his OPS on the season to .770 through his first 37 contests. Should Guerrero not appear […]

Andrew Miller Faces Activation As Soon As Saturday

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller could rejoin the club’s relief corps as soon as Saturday, per manager Mike Shildt. Miller last appeared Aug. 23 and has since been sidelined due to fatigue in his pitching shoulder. The club has utilized Giovanny Gallegos as its closer without Miller in the mix, although it’s unclear […]

Jon Gray Hits IL With Shoulder Inflammation

Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Jon Gray was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Friday’s contest against the Dodgers due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder. Gray has struggled mightily in 2020, allowing a Major League-high 29 earned runs through his first eight starts. Coors Field has again been a bugaboo for Gray, having […]

Marcus Semien Not In Starting Lineup Friday

Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien is not among the club’s starting nine for Friday’s contest against San Diego and right-hander Zach Davies. Vimael Machin will hold down the shortstop gig with Semien (side) still unavailable despite taking swings in the cage earlier in the day. He indicated that he was optimistic about returning soon, while […]

Jose Altuve Misses Weekend Series With Knee Sprain

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has been diagnosed with a sprained right knee stemming from a slide into third base Thursday. Manager Dusty Baker made it clear that Altuve was out for Saturday and highly unlikely to play Sunday, pushing his absence into next week. The duo of Abraham Toro and Aledmys Diaz figure […]

Cubs Bring Back Pedro Strop

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with relief pitcher Pedro Strop. Strop spent the last six and a half years with the Cubs, but signed with the Reds this offseason. Strop has only thrown 2 1/3 innings this season and allowed three runs over that span. The right-hander spent most of his season on […]

Alex Avila Exits Friday Due To Back Tightness

Just a day after being scratched from the starting nine due to a back ailment, Minnesota Twins catcher Alex Avila was removed early from Friday’s contest against Detroit due to tightness in his back. Ryan Jeffers took over behind the dish in both instances, as the club remains without primary backstop Mitch Garver (oblique). Through […]

Jeff Samardzija, Drew Smyly Set For Sim Games Saturday

San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija and left-hander Drew Smyly are both in line to work three innings during a simulated game Saturday. Samardzija landed on the IL on Aug. 8 due to an impingement in his right shoulder, while Smyly has been out since Aug. 2 with a strained finger on his left […]

Alex Cobb Lands On IL After Being Scratched Friday

Baltimore Orioles right-handed pitcher Alex Cobb was scratched from his start Friday and ultimately placed on the injured list. Thomas Eshelman was tabbed to take Cobb’s starting spot, although it’s unclear if he’ll join the starting staff on a semi-permanent basis. Cobb has posted a 4.33 ERA through his first seven starts in 2020. Despite […]

Ryne Stanek Gets Activated Friday, Rejoins Bullpen

Miami Marlins right-handed pitcher Ryne Stanek was activated off of the injured list prior to Friday’s contest against the Rays. Caught up in the COVID-19 outbreak that decimated the early part of 2020 for Miami, Stanek has made just one appearance out of relief this year, yielding three runs in one frame. Acquired from Tampa […]

Ryan Braun Not An Option At First, Could Return Saturday

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Braun is not a candidate to see time at first base during September, manager Craig Counsell stated Friday. Braun was last among the starting nine last Sunday as the club attempts to manage his perpetual back ailment, but there’s a possibility that he gets back in Saturday versus Cleveland. Despite […]

Cleveland Expects To Have Roberto Perez Back Soon

Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez has been shut down while dealing with shoulder fatigue, but Cleveland president Chris Antonetti indicated before Friday’s contest that the team hoped to have Perez back in the mix within the next few days. In the meantime, Sandy Leon and Austin Hedges figure to share duties behind the dish, with […]

Dylan Moore Returns To Lineup Friday, Bats Second

Seattle Mariners utilityman Dylan Moore got back among the starting nine Friday as expected, batting second and manning the keystone against the Rangers and right-hander Kyle Cody. Moore last appeared Aug. 20, having been sidelined due to a sprained right wrist. Prior to the ailment, Moore was in the midst of a breakout campaign, having […]

Steven Matz, Dellin Betances Toss Off Flat Ground Friday

New York Mets left-handed pitcher Steven Matz and right-hander Dellin Betances both played catch off flat ground Friday, the first step on the comeback trail from their respective ailments. Matz landed on the IL on Sunday due to discomfort in his pitching shoulder, while Betances hit the IL on the same day due to discomfort […]

Aaron Judge In Line To Return For Postseason

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has played in one game since Aug. 11 due to a lingering calf injury. Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that he expects Judge to return before the start of the postseason, which while a positive, is also something of a surprise that the slugger would need to be sidelined […]

Ian Happ Sits Friday After Taking Foul Ball Off Face

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is out of the starting nine for Friday’s contest against the Cardinals and right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty just a day after a foul ball struck him near the eye, forcing him from the game. Happ should avoid a stint on the IL, with Cameron Maybin slotting into center field Friday. […]

Jose Alvarado Could Rejoin Bullpen For Playoff Run

Tampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher Jose Alvarado appears on track to returning at some point in 2020, although it may not be during the regular season. Currently on the IL since Aug. 15 due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder, Alvarado has struck out 13 batters in nine innings of relief this season. But while […]

Jo Adell Struggling To Make Impact

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell has failed to make an impact 80 at-bats into his career heading into Friday. Adell really impressed the coaching staff during Spring Training but is slashing only .163/.230/.263 with 35 strikeouts through those 80 plate appearances during the regular season. Young players struggling out of the gate is nothing […]

Anthony Rendon In 4-For-22 Skid

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon will be looking for some home cooking when the Angels host the Astros on Friday. Rendon currently is stuck in a 4-for-22 slump but he has been absolutely fantastic hitting at Angel Stadium this year. Through 20 home games, Rendon is slashing .313/.483/.687 with five doubles, six home […]

Mike Trout Posting 1.157 OPS At Home

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout will look to continue to stay hot at home Friday when the Angels host the Astros. Trout is starting to heat up again, slashing .320/.438/.720 over his last 25 at-bats with three home runs and nine runs batted in. The perennial All-Star has also been white-hot at home, slashing […]

Lance McCullers Jr. Out To Solve Road Woes

Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers will start Friday against the Angels in Anaheim. McCullers Jr. (3-2) has struggled heavily on the road this season, going 0-2 in three starts with a 11.37 ERA while allowing a .370 opponents batting average away from Minute Maid Park. McCullers Jr. was rocked by the Angels in their home […]

Dylan Bundy Hopes August Success Continues

Los Angeles Angels starter Dylan Bundy (4-2) will take the mound Friday against the Astros after an excellent month of August. Bundy is 3-1 over his last five starts with a 2.32 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 32 strikeouts over his last 31 innings. The 27-year-old has been one of the biggest pitching surprises this season, […]

Bo Bichette Could Return Sooner Than Expected

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (knee) might be ahead of his September projection, according to Rob Longley. On Thursday, Bichette went through a workout that included base running and batting practice. That was the first time he was able to do those activities since going down with his right knee injury. The Blue Jays […]