2B and SS Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14

We have now completed three months of the 2019 MLB campaign, and find ourselves reanalyzing our options on July 1st with baseball fresh off of its London debut. When I think of overbearing summer heat, I picture it coming in July, right as Jaws is making his way into Amity. With the arrival of July […]

Dinelson Lamet Could Join Rotation This Weekend

San Diego Padres pitcher Dinelson Lamet threw a bullpen session at Petco Park Monday, which would line him up for a potential start Thursday or Friday against the Dodgers. Lamet missed the entire 2018 campaign after undergoing Tommy-John surgery in spring training which was disappointing after he was touted by many experts to break out. […]

Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers - Buy or Sell for Week 14

Welcome back to the strikeout rate risers and fallers series for Week 14! Each week we will take a look at two K% risers and two fallers, analyze what is behind those changes, and then decide if they are actionable. A pitcher can best control their fate by generating swings and misses, so this exercise […]

Hunter Renfroe Batting Cleanup Monday

San Diego Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe is back in the lineup Monday after sitting out the entire weekend series against the Cardinals with an illness. He slides immediately into the cleanup spot as the club takes on Jeff Samardzija and the San Francisco Giants in the series opener. Renfroe is having a tremendous season despite […]

Dereck Rodriguez Optioned To Triple-A

The San Francisco Giants have optioned pitcher Dereck Rodriguez to Triple-A and recalled outfielder Austin Slater to take his roster spot. Rodriguez began the year in the rotation for the Giants, but was sent down to the minors after eight underwhelming starts. He returned to the club at the end of May, this time in […]

Brewers Pick Up Drew Smyly On Minor League Deal

The Milwaukee Brewers have signed pitcher Drew Smyly to a minor league contract and will insert him into the rotation with their Triple-A affiliate. The left-hander posted a 1-5 record with an ugly 8.42 ERA and 1.91 WHIP through 13 appearances (nine starts) with the Rangers earlier this year before getting released last month. It's […]

Ender Inciarte To Begin Rehab Assignment Monday

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte will begin a rehab assignment with the High-A affiliate Florida team Monday as he works his way back from a back strain. He's been shelved since May 15 after slashing and underwhelming .218/.300/.323 with two homers and three thefts in 40 games. With Austin Riley still hitting well and improving […]

Francisco Mejia Returns To Lineup Monday

San Diego Padres catcher Francisco Mejia is back in the lineup Monday and batting sixth as the team squares off against Jeff Samardzija and the San Francisco Giants. The 23-year-old took a pitch off of his forearm Saturday forcing him from that contest and sat out Sunday as well as a precaution. Mejia has caught […]

Diego Castillo is Expected to Return Friday

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Diego Castillo (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday, according to manager Kevin Cash. Castillo has been sidelined since June 23 due to a shoulder impingement. He wasn't great for the Rays before the injury, but should get some saves chances once he's healthy. […]

Brad Boxberger Released by Royals

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Brad Boxberger has been released by the organization on Monday. He was designated for assignment by the team after going 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 27 strikeouts with 17 walks in 29 games. It's likely that Boxberger lands elsewhere, but he isn't a valuable fantasy target at the moment.

Dylan Bundy Gets Start Pushed Back

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dylan Bundy was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday, but instead will be pushed back until Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Bundy is expected to make the first start after the All-Star break as well. Asher Wojciechowski is the favorite to make the start on Tuesday, but the team has not […]

Brendan McKay Makes Hitting Debut Monday

Tampa Bay Rays hitter/pitcher Brendan McKay will make his hitting debut against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. He threw six scoreless innings versus the Texas Rangers on Saturday. McKay wasn't too impressive with the bat in the minors, but we'll see what he can do in the MLB. He'll bat eighth and serve as the […]

Thomas Eshelman Draws the Start Monday

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Thomas Eshelman will make his major league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. The right-hander has a 4.46 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 17 walks in 74 2/3 innings this season in the minors. It's unclear whether the Orioles are making a fill-in start here or if Eshelman is […]

Yasiel Puig Sits Out on Monday

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Puig will get a rare day off here to rest, but he hasn't been that reliable with the bat this season anyway. Jesse Winker will bat leadoff and cover right field versus righty Adrian Houser. Winker […]

Orlando Arcia Takes a Breather

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Arcia will get the day off to rest, but should be back in there next game. Tyler Saladino will cover shortstop and bat ninth versus righty Tyler Mahle. Saladino is 0-for-9 to start the season, so […]

Ryan Braun is Out on Monday

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. This is a normal rest day for Braun, so he should be back in there next game. Ben Gamel will cover left field and bat seventh versus righty Tyler Mahle. Gamel doesn't have enough upside to […]

Willson Contreras is Sitting Against Pirates

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This appears to be a routine day off for the slugging catcher. Victor Caratini will draw the start behind the plate and bat seventh versus righty Trevor Williams. Caratini has four hits in his last 19 […]

Tyler Skaggs Passes Away At Age 27

The Los Angeles Angels confirmed left-handed starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs passed away in Texas at the age of 27. "It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas," the club released in a statement. "Tyler has, and always will be, an important part of the Angels Family. Our […]

George Springer Hitting .292 Since IL Return

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer is slashing .292/.370/.417 over his last 24 at-bats since returning from the injured list with a hamstring ailment. The powerful leadoff hitter is having a fantastic season and has hits in four of the six games he has played since his return. Even after missing a month of baseball, Springer's […]

Gerrit Cole Has 10-Plus K's In Nine Starts This Season

Houston Astros starter Gerrit Cole allowed only one run with 10 strikeouts in seven innings as the Astros beat the Mariners 6-1 on Sunday. For Cole, it was the ninth time he has struck out at least 10 batters in one start and leads all of baseball this season with 161 strikeouts. After a couple […]

David Fletcher Hitting Only .210 Since Shoulder Injury

Los Angeles Angels infielder/outfielder David Fletcher has enjoyed a very solid first half of the season but is ending it on a down note heading into Monday's action. Fletcher has emerged as reliable piece in the Angels lineup but his offense has tailed off since missing several games at the beginning of June with a […]

Jonathan Lucroy Providing Zero Offense

Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy continues to struggle heading into the final week before the All-Star break. Lucroy began the season showing flashes of having a bounce back season and slugged .493 in the month of May. The month of June has been a completely different story as the veteran's offense has completely fallen […]

Andrelton Simmons 2-For-11 Since Return

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons has two hits over his first 11 at-bats since returning from the injured list with an injured ankle. Simmons was having an excellent start to his season before the injury so fantasy owners have to stay patient as he works his way back into game shape. Simmons was hitting […]

Kole Calhoun Slumping On Offense

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun has struck out 13 times over his last 38 at-bats heading into Monday's action against the Rangers. Calhoun is on pace to set a career-high in home runs but has been streaky at the plate at times. Right now the veteran slugger is streaking the wrong way, hitting .174 […]

Justin Upton Has Hits In Nine Of First 11 Starts

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Justin Upton has collected at least one hit in nine of his first 11 starts heading into Monday. Upton has missed almost the entire first half of the season due to a knee injury but has produced thus far through 44 at-bats. He is slugging .500 in this short stretch with […]

Shohei Ohtani Is On Fire

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani heads into the final week of the first half of the season on fire at the dish. Over his last 23 at-bats, Ohtani is hitting .478 with two doubles and three home runs over his last seven games. Ohtani wraps up an excellent month of June, slashing .340/.379/.713 […]

Paul DeJong Named to the All-Star Team

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong was named to the 2019 All-Star Team as the only representative for the Cardinals. DeJong is hitting .260/.345/.458 with 13 home runs and 36 RBI. He's an excellent defender, which has led to a 2.9 fWAR despite his mostly pedestrian offensive numbers. He's on pace to pass his career […]

Mike Trout In A Lull At The Plate

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout will try and finish up the first half of the season strong when the team opens up a series with the Rangers on Monday. Trout is in a small funk at the plate recently, going 6-for-29 (.214) over his last seven games and has not recorded an extra-base hit […]

Tommy La Stella Hitting .367 Over Last Seven Games

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Tommy La Stella is officially a first-time All-Star and is hitting .367 over his last seven games heading into this week's action. La Stella's career-high in home runs coming into this season was 10 but already has 16 through 280 at-bats. It has truly been an astonishing breakthrough for the […]