Ryan Blaney Finishes Fourth In Race One At Michigan

Penske Racing's Ryan Blaney started 11th and finished fourth in Saturday's FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Blaney also led the field for 27 laps in the middle portion of the race. Blaney was near the front during the first couple of stages, but poor pit strategy kept him out of contention for a […]

Trea Turner Remains Steal-less Through Rough Start To 2020

Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner came off the board as a first-round pick in many fantasy drafts in 2020. Through his first 11 games, he has performed vastly below expectations, yet to record a stolen base while leading the Majors with three times caught stealing. It’s not just his legs that have been slumping, it’s […]

Keston Hiura’s 2020 Start Marred By Strikeout Totals

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Keston Hiura was lauded as a Top 50 fantasy asset coming into the 2020 year after a 104-game debut last season that saw him deliver a .938 OPS as a 22-year-old. But while the power numbers were exciting, the fact that he struck out in 30.7% of his plate appearances was […]

Rafael Montero Delivers Second Straight Save

Texas Rangers right-hander Rafael Montero has now reeled off saves in back-to-back contests, seemingly having taken over the closer’s role with Jose Leclerc on the injured list. Prior to Friday, Montero had never recorded a save in his career, but he has retired all six batters that he has faced in the ninth. After being […]

Josh Hader Untouched In 2020, But Few Chances Had

Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader has allowed just one baserunner through his team’s first 12 games. The issue is that Hader has pitched in just three innings combined of those contests, having earned two saves with three strikeouts to his credit. An elite closing option, Hader has been little utilized, even as he has not […]

Daniel Castano Struggles A Bit In His Debut

Miami Marlins rookie starting pitcher Daniel Castano made his major league debut on Saturday and despite some good signs, he struggled overall. He ended up pitching 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk. He struck out four while allowing two home runs. Castano was squeezed quite a bit […]

Miguel Castro Locks Down First Save Of 2020

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Miguel Castro worked the ninth inning of Saturday's win over the Nationals, picking up his first save of the season. While it’s unclear if Castro has permanently supplanted right-hander Cole Sulser, he has now compiled 10 strikeouts across 7 ⅓ scoreless innings out of relief this season. A stalwart of the Baltimore […]

Kevin Harvick In A League Of His Own, Wins Race One At Michigan

Stewart-Haas Racing's Kevin Harvick continued his dominance at Michigan International Speedway by winning Saturday's FireKeepers Casino 400. Harvick was in his own zip code, winning both stages, and leading 92 of the 161 laps. Harvick started in third and found the front very early. His No. 4 Ford seemed to be the only car that […]

Huascar Ynoa Set To Make First Major League Start Sunday

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Huascar Ynoa has been tabbed to start the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Phillies, which will mark the first big league start of his career. Atlanta’s pitching staff has been in flux since ace Mike Soroka went down earlier in the week with an Achilles tear, ending his season. […]

Ryan O'Hearn Exits Early Due To Shin Injury

Kansas City Royals first baseman Ryan O'Hearn departed Saturday’s contest against the Twins early due to a right shin contusion, having been replaced by Franchy Cordero in the lineup. O’Hearn reached base in all three of his plate appearances Saturday, bringing his on-base percentage on the season up to .359 with eight RBI to his […]

Ryan Braun Won’t Be Activated Sunday, Need For AB’s Cited

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Braun is continuing to progress from the index finger infection on his right hand that landed him on the injured list, but he will not be activated ahead of Sunday’s game against Cincinnati. Manager Craig Counsell cited Braun’s lack of at-bats dating back to Summer Camp as a reason for […]

Max Muncy Playing Through Fractured Finger

Los Angeles Dodgers first/second baseman Max Muncy revealed Saturday that he sustained a fractured ring finger on his left hand during Summer Camp, an ailment that he has played through up to this point. Muncy’s 67 plate appearances entering play Saturday leads the Majors, but his .182 batting average has been vastly below expectations. Muncy […]

Jesse Winker Exits Saturday Following HBP On Elbow

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker departed Saturday’s contest against Milwaukee after having been hit in the right elbow by a pitch. Travis Jankowski entered the game to take his place in the outfield, while also serving as a candidate to see increased playing time should Winker’s absence last beyond Saturday. After having reached base on […]

Giancarlo Stanton Likely Headed To IL With Hamstring Injury

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton left the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Rays due hamstring tightness. Manager Aaron Boone said after the game that he believes a stint on the 10-day injured list is in Stanton’s future. Stanton served as the designated hitter for both legs of the DH, having been replaced […]

Ken Giles Feeling Better, But Still Hasn’t Played Catch

Since July 26, Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles has been shut down to right elbow soreness. Manager Charlie Montoyo said Saturday that while Giles hasn’t progressed enough to even play catch, he indicated that the right-hander was feeling vastly better as he does arm and running exercises. Still, that update indicates that if Giles […]

Trevor Rosenthal Pushing Ian Kennedy For Closer’s Role

The Kansas City Royals appear to be utilizing the duo of Trevor Rosenthal and Ian Kennedy as their closer to begin the 2020 year. Manager Mike Matheny has demurred as it pertains to naming one man to the role after Rosenthal locked down the save Friday, his second of the year. If owners are in […]

Steven Brault To Start Sunday, Joe Musgrove Scratched

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed pitcher Steven Brault will get pushed up to start Sunday against the Tigers due to a sore ankle that has been bothering right-hander Joe Musgrove, who has been scratched. Brault appeared out of relief Friday, but threw just 32 pitches without recording an out. In three appearances (two starts) in 2020, Brault […]

Oscar Mercado Not A Feasible Fantasy Asset In 2020

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado was a top 150 draft choice in most formats entering the 2020 season, but after his treacherous 13-game start, he can no longer be rostered in any sized format. It’s tough to have seen such a precipitous drop off coming from a player that hit 15 home runs and stole […]

Wade Miley Expected To Make Return Next Week

Cincinnati Reds left-handed pitcher Wade Miley is slated to rejoin the starting rotation for either Tuesday or Wednesday’s contest against the Royals, per manager David Bell. Miley has made just one start this season before hitting the injured list with a groin strain. Not much went right in that one outing, as he yielded six […]

Jake Diekman Picks Up Fourth Hold

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Jake Diekman allowed one hit and picked up one strikeout while earning his fourth hold of the season Saturday vs Houston. Diekman has been the A's primary setup man for closer Liam Hendriks and has been stellar thus far in 2020. Diekman has a 36 percent strikeout rate and is among […]

Eduardo Escobar Has Seen Extra-Base Power Zapped In 2020

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eduardo Escobar was an extra-base-hitting savant last season, amassing 74 such hits in 158 games. But through his first 14 games of 2020, he has just two extra-base hits, with his OPS+ sitting at a paltry 39. Of the 39 batted balls that he has put into play this season, Escobar […]

Marcus Semien Has Big Afternoon Saturday

Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien filled the stat-sheet Saturday with a big game vs the Astros. Semien went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and a stolen base in the all-around strong performance. Semien has gotten off to a slow start this season but has had back-to-back multi-hit games and still bats leadoff […]

Rafael Montero (RP, TEX) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: Rafael Montero was activated off the injured list on Friday and promptly added his name to the seemingly never-ending list of pitchers who have recorded a save in 2020, striking out two in a clean ninth inning. The Texas Rangers are more likely […]

Eric Hosmer Activated Off IL, Rejoins Lineup Saturday

San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer has been activated from the injured list ahead of Saturday’s contest against the D-backs and right-hander Merrill Kelly. Hosmer has been out of the lineup since July 28 as he has battled gastritis, but he rejoins the starting nine to hit fifth Saturday, allowing rookie Jake Cronenworth to […]

Matt Chapman Stays Hot Vs Houston

Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in a win vs the Astros Saturday. After a slow start, Chapman has been hot lately with eight hits in his last seven games and six runs scored in that span. Chapman is still batting just .211, but he's making […]

Nikola Jokic Nearly Tallies 30-point Triple Double In Win

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic's all-around play resulted in a double-overtime victory against the Jazz. With a stat line of 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, he was just three dimes short of his 14th triple-double of the season. Jokic converted on 11 of his 21 field-goal attempts, and he also came up with three […]

Gerrit Cole Strikes Out 10 On Saturday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed three runs over 4.2 innings while striking out 10 against the Rays on Saturday. A two-run home run from Jose Martinez bruised what was otherwise an excellent outing from Cole, in which the pitcher posted an impressive 21.5% swinging-strike rate, including a 20% swinging-strike rate on his […]

Yusei Kikuchi (SP, SEA) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Seattle Mariners signed Yusei Kikuchi prior to the 2019 season and his debut year was a disappointment, ending with a 6-11 record and a 5.46 ERA in 161.2 IP. You may be forgiven for thinking this year is going to be similar with a 5.28 […]

Rhys Hoskins Off To Ice Cold Start In 2020

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins has gotten off to an underwhelming start during the shortened 2020 campaign. While his walk rate remains terrific (29%), Hoskins amassed just one extra-base hit in his first seven games, still searching for his first home run. The .167 xBA is a concern, as is the 68 OPS+. His […]

Liam Hendriks Picks Up Fifth Save

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Liam Hendriks allowed a run, but picked up his fifth save of the season Saturday vs Houston. Hendriks was called on to protect a three-run lead and allowed two of the first three batters faced to reach base, one of them scoring. That was all the Astros could muster, however, as […]