J.D. Martinez Continues Assault on Month of August

Boston outfielder and perennial crusher of lasers, J.D. Martinez had disappointed his owners this season with a lackluster first-half. But Martinez has absolutely dominated the last month and hit two more home runs on Friday night in an 11-0 win over the Padres, giving him 30 HR for the season. Over his last 25 games, […]

Hyun-Jin Ryu Roughed Up Again

Los Angeles Dodger starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu struggled in his second straight start on Friday night, allowing seven earned runs in a 10-2 loss versus the visiting Yankees. Ryu has given up 11 earned runs in his last two starts and has now thrown 152 2/3 innings on the year, his most since 2013. If […]

Brewers Cut Jhoulys Chacin

The Milwaukee Brewers designated starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin for assignment on Saturday. The Brewers also recalled infielder Cory Spangenberg from Triple-A San Antonio in a corresponding move. Chacin fell flat this year, going 3-10 with a 5.79 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 80 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings over 19 starts. Spangenberg has been in the […]

Corey Seager Out Against Yankees

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager is not in the starting lineup on Saturday. Chris Taylor will take over at the 6 and will hit fifth against Yankees left-handed starter CC Sabathia. Taylor recently returned from the injured list and is hitting .271/.343/.476 with nine home runs, 37 runs, 45 RBI and seven stolen bases […]

Gary Sanchez Resting Saturday

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is not in the starting lineup on Saturday in a National League park. Austin Romine will be behind the dish and will bat eighth against Dodgers opener Tony Gonsolin. Romine has been mediocre this year as a backup, hitting .266/.289/.410 with six home runs and 28 RBI in 173 […]

Nick Senzel Out Of Lineup

Cincinnati Reds rookie outfielder Nick Senzel is not in the starting lineup on Saturday. Phillip Ervin is in center field and is hitting eighth against Pirates starter Trevor Williams. Senzel has been one of the most impressive rookies this year, hitting .261/.316/.431 with 10 home runs, 50 runs, 38 RBI and 12 stolen bases in […]

Wade LeBlanc Moving To Bullpen

With Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (shoulder) returning to the rotation on Saturday against the Blue Jays, the team is moving pitcher Wade LeBlanc into a long-relief role, according to manager Scott Servais. Seattle's five-man rotation will include Hernandez, rookie Justus Sheffield, Marco Gonzales, Yusei Kikuchi and Tommy Milone. LeBlanc has been bad all […]

The Waiver Wire Watch List: Week 22

Throughout the season, you want to get the jump on your competition and sniff out the breakout players before they break out. That's what this list is all about--using some in-depth research and advanced analytics to find the players who aren't quite there yet but are on their way. Some of these may suit your […]

Jason Kipnis (2B/OF, CLE) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of leagues ANALYSIS: After two completely mediocre seasons, Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis is having a bit of a mini-renaissance as of late, seemingly drawing upon the last well of his old-man strength. After hitting .230 for the previous two years, with an 89 and 83 […]

Tom Murphy (C, SEA) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Two-Catcher Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of leagues ANALYSIS: Poor Tom Murphy...All he wants to do is mash home runs and no one will let him. Well not exactly, as Seattle has let him for mash for 194 plate appearances this year as the backup to Omar Narvaez, to which Murphy has responded by […]

Dinelson Lamet (SP, SDP) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of leagues ANALYSIS: If players on the waiver wire continue to perform well, their ownership naturally rises and eventually reaching a point of inflection, wherein a player transitions from a streamer to a keeper. It's the savvy fantasy player that pounces before that point, saving themselves the heartbreak […]

Willy Adames (SS, TB) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 17% of leagues ANALYSIS: Now presenting Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames, showing for the umpteenth time that the development of prospects is not always a linear process. The 23-year-old has had an up-and-down first two seasons, with a solid rookie year where he slashed .278/.348/.406, with 10 […]

Vince Velasquez (SP, PHI) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: Philadelphia pitcher Vince Velasquez - who occasionally moonlights as a human gas-can - was a lot easier to recommend before his last start, a 2.2 inning bonfire against the Marlins. Even though Miami had a .285 wOBA and .663 wOBA against right-handers that were […]

Curt Casali Returns from Injured List

Cincinnati Reds catcher Curt Casali (knee, hamstring) has been activated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday. He missed about a month of action due to nagging hamstring and knee issues. He's hitting .253 with six home runs and 24 RBI this season with the Reds. He's been solid for them, so it wouldn't be […]

Nicholas Castellanos is Great Option for Saturday

Chicago Cubs outfielder Nicholas Castellanos is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals. Castellanos has been hitting a home run just about every single night it seems since he joined the Cubs. He'll bat second and play right field versus righty Joe Ross. Castellanos has been carrying the Cubs' offense at […]

Howie Kendrick is At First Base on Saturday

Washington Nationals first baseman Howie Kendrick will be in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Kendrick has been splitting time with Matt Adams, but he's hitting well enough to start. Kendrick is hitting .325/.376/.558 with 14 homers and 54 RBI this season. He'll bat fifth and play first base versus lefty […]

Joe Ross Will Start on Saturday

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Joe Ross (leg) will draw the start against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Ross suffered a leg injury last start, but appears to be fine. He was able to get through a bullpen session fine on Thursday. Ross has allowed just one run in his last four starts. The Cubs have […]

Manny Machado's Nightmare August Continues

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado went 0-for-2 before being lifted in Friday’s blowout loss to the Boston Red Sox. Machado is still looking for his first homer in August as he endures a brutal month, slashing .197/.247/.224 with just two extra-base hits. The swoon has his season OPS down to .801. For the […]

Chris Paddack Thrashed By Red Sox

San Diego Padres starter Chris Paddack was thrashed for six earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings Friday against the Boston Red Sox. Four of the seven hits surrendered went for extra bases and the whiff artist failed to strike out anyone. The flop spikes his season line to a 3.84 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. […]

Justus Sheffield Has Shaky Outing Friday

Seattle Mariners pitcher Justus Sheffield threw four innings Friday against the Blue Jays, picking up a no-decision in his first ever major league start. The 23-year-old southpaw gave up three runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking three in the inefficient 86-pitch effort. It was his second appearance of the season with […]

Mallex Smith Swipes A Pair In Win Friday

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mallex Smith upped his league-leading steal total to 36 with a pair of thefts Friday versus the Blue Jays. The speedster went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the contest as he now holds a .235 batting average with five homers, 57 runs, and 33 RBI through 107 games […]

Kyle Seager Stays Hot With Two Doubles

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager continued his second-half surge Friday with a pair of doubles in the team's win over the Blue Jays. He now has 13 extra-base hits in August including eight home runs and a .338 batting average after a miserable first half where he hit a measly .203. Seager missed the […]

Omar Narvaez Launches 18th Homer

Seattle Mariners catcher Omar Narvaez belted his 18th homer of the season in Friday's contest versus the Blue Jays. He finished the night going 2-for-4 with a walk, upping his batting average to .286 on the year. Narvaez remains one of the better assets at the position in the batting average category and has also […]

Jakob Junis Labors Through Loss

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jakob Junis struggled against the Indians on Friday, throwing 94 pitches in just four innings. Junis was tagged for four earned runs and took the loss after KC only scored one. Junis allowed six hits and two walks in the short outing, but he also struck out four. That gives […]

Kyle Zimmer Only Going From The Stretch

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kyle Zimmer has decided to embrace his conversion to the bullpen by ditching the wind-up. It's a move that is fairly common amongst short relievers, but it seemed like every member of the Royals organization has held their breath and hoped for a magical turnaround with the oft-injured pitcher. Zimmer has […]

Hunter Dozier Triples In Loss

Kansas City Royals corner infielder Hunter Dozier was the lone member of the team to knock in a run on Friday when he smacked a triple to right to bring in Nicky Lopez in the sixth inning. Dozier has heated up again following a mid-summer lull, hitting safely in 13 of his last 15 games. […]

Miguel Sano Homers Twice In Losing Effort

Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano had a big night in a 9-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Friday. Sano went 2-for-4 with two homers and three RBI in the loss. His first homer came off starter Drew VerHagen in the second inning and he followed that up with another shot in the eighth […]

Jose Berrios Done In By Five-Run Sixth

Minnesota Twins right-hander Jose Berrios pitched well against the Detroit Tigers until he ran into a five-run sixth inning which was fueled by a Ronny Rodriguez grand slam. Berrios wound up allowing five runs over 5 1/3 innings of work while striking out five and walking two. The young hurler took the loss, dropping his […]

Aristides Aquino Doubles, Homers In Loss

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, and two RBI in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. The homer gives Aquino 12, to go along with a .338 average, 17 runs, and 25 RBI, all in just 71 at-bats. The rookie slugger is one homer away from […]

Anthony DeSclafani Solid In No-Decision

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani pitched well in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. DeSclafani allowed just one run over six innings of work while striking out four and walking two. The veteran hurler now has an 8-7 record, 4.27 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 131 strikeouts in 128 2/3 innings of work. […]