RADIO
Alex Gordon Is Hitting .091 In August
4 days agoKansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon found the fountain of youth for a little while early in the year, but that is nothing but a distant memory now. After a 1-for-4 day on Monday, Gordon is now just 5-for-55 in the month of August with a single home run. That's the worst batting average in Major League Baseball amongst anyone who has recorded 50 or more at-bats this month, but he still starts in left field on most days. His manager has a history of sticking with players who are clearly past their prime and letting them play every day instead of bringing young guys up, but maybe this time will be different and Gordon will sit some more days. He shouldn't be owned no matter what, but it would be nice to let some young guys get the chance instead.Source: MLB.com
Hunter Dozier Extends Hitting Streak To Eight Games
4 days agoKansas City Royals corner infielder Hunter Dozier isn't getting quite as much attention now since an injury earlier this year took him off the torrid pace that he was on in May, but he's quietly still putting up a stellar season. Dozier extended his hitting streak to eight games on Monday with a two-run single to help KC top the Orioles, and he's now hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games. He's raised his season average to .290, he's on pace to end up just shy of 30 homers and his ridiculous seven triples rank second among third basemen in the majors. Even though an injury kind of dampened his season-long stats a little, make no mistake, this has been a complete breakout year for Dozier.Source: MLB.com
Whit Merrifield's Average Drops Under .300
4 days agoKansas City Royals utility man Whit Merrifield drove in a run with a single on Monday to help his team top the Orioles, but it wasn't enough to keep his batting average at the .300 plateau. Merrifield has gone 2-for-17 over the last four games to drop his batting average following his most recent nine-game hitting streak, but both of those hits have come in the last two games, so maybe this is the start of his next impressive streak. The 30-year-old is still sitting pretty with 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases on the season, and he's scored a whopping 84 runs already this year, leaving him on pace to easily top his previous career-best of 88. The lack of stolen bases has hurt his value some this year, but for the most part, owners have gotten what they expected from Merrifield.Source: MLB.com
Kolby Allard Rocked By Angels
4 days agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher Kolby Allard allowed seven runs, six earned, in five innings of work Monday vs the Angels. Allard allowed seven hits and three walks against only three strikeouts but was spared the loss as the Rangers offense rallied against the Angels bullpen. Things could have been worse for the rookie as he gave up all his runs in the first two innings but was able to salvage some of his night with three scoreless innings after that. Allard now has a 6.60 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 15 innings through three MLB starts and his value is limited to keeper and dynasty leagues or AL-Only. He is yet to complete six innings so he won't provide length and an 11.6 percent walk rate and a 21.7 percent strikeout rate in Triple-A severely limit his upside.Source: MLB
Trevor Bauer Pitches Well In Loss To Padres
4 days agoCincinnati Reds right-hander Trevor Bauer pitched well in a 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on Monday. Bauer allowed three runs (two earned) over seven innings while striking out 11 and walking just one. With the loss, Bauer's record falls to 10-10 on the season, to go along with a 4.06 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 215 strikeouts in 179 2/3 innings of work. He has now made four starts for the Reds, compiling a 1-2 record and 5.87 ERA. He will look for his 11th win on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.Source: www.MLB.com
Kyle Gibson Struggles In Loss To White Sox
4 days agoMinnesota Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson struggled in a 6-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Monday. Gibson allowed five runs over 6 2/3 innings of work while striking out four and walking one. It goes down as a disappointing outing against a weaker opponent for the veteran right-hander. Gibson's record dropped to 11-6 with a 4.40 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 133 strikeouts in 139 innings of work. The 31-year-old has regressed this season after finally breaking out in 2018. Despite the lackluster outing on Monday, he will be a strong fantasy option in his next start, which comes against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.Source: www.MLB.com
Nelson Cruz Has Two Hits In Return To Lineup
4 days agoMinnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz (wrist) picked up two hits and drove in one in his return from the 10-day injured list on Monday. Cruz is dealing with a ruptured tendon in his left wrist but was activated as soon as he was eligible to return to action. The veteran slugger is apparently going to try to play through the injury, which didn't seem to slow him down on Monday. Cruz is hitting .296 with 32 homers, 59 runs, and 77 RBI in just 88 games with the Twins this season. Feel free to get him back in your starting lineup for Tuesday's matchup against Chicago White Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez.Source: www.MLB.com
Yordan Alvarez Registers Double In Win
4 days agoHouston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez smacked an RBI double in the Astros 4-3 win over the Tigers on Monday. The rookie phenom has actually cooled off lately, going only 6-for-29 (.206) over his last eight games. But of course, one of those games featured a two-home run performance, so Alvarez still is making a huge impact on the game. Not much seems to be slowing down the rookie anytime soon, and he is still slashing .348/.416/.742 in the month of August with five doubles, seven home runs and 20 runs batted in. Alvarez is a must-start in all fantasy formats right now.Source: Houston Astros
Yuli Gurriel Drives In Two To Lead Astros
4 days agoHouston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the Astros 4-3 win over the Tigers on Monday. Gurriel's white-hot second half continues and he now has 88 runs batted in on the season. After slashing only .277/.314/.482 in the first half of the season, the 35-year-old's season has taken off. In 34 games since the All-Star break, Gurriel is slashing an astounding .375/.411/.713 with 11 home runs, 13 doubles, 22 runs scored and 38 runs batted in. He is destroying the baseball at home this season, posting a .605 slugging percentage with 32 extra-base hits through 52 games at Minute Maid Park. Gurriel has ascended from fringe bench player to fantasy stud in a matter of months.Source: Houston Astros
Roberto Osuna Notches 28th Save
4 days agoHouston Astros closer Roberto Osuna struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 28th save of the season against the Tigers on Monday. Osuna allowed one hit but was able to convert on his fourth save of the month. Osuna has recently hit his first rough patch of the season, posting a 5.06 ERA over his last 15 appearances with two blown saves in that span. Osuna is still having an elite season and will take a 2.86 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP and a .200 opponents batting average into his next appearance.Source: Houston Astros
Wade Miley Earns 12th Win Of Season
4 days agoHouston Astros starter Wade Miley allowed three runs while striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings as the Astros edged the Tigers 4-3. Miley (12-4) allowed 10 hits but wiggled out of a few jams to earn his fifth straight win over his last seven starts. The left-handed starter has taken his veteran moxie to Houston and is benefiting greatly playing for a powerhouse like the Astros. Miley is now 5-0 with a 2.96 ERA since the All-Star break despite a slight uptick in his WHIP over that span. Miley doesn't have eye-popping stuff but is an excellent candidate to pick up a few more wins before the season is through.Source: Houston Astros
David Fletcher Trying To Turn Second Half Around
4 days agoLos Angeles Angels infielder/outfielder David Fletcher is 12-for-29 (.444) over his last seven games heading into Tuesday's action. Fletcher hit .295 in the first half of the season but is hitting only .267, with a slugging percentage of only .373, since the All-Star break. But Fletcher is showing signs of life, collecting hits in six of his last seven starts. Fletcher has surprised some by carving out a role for himself in the Angels offensive lineup this season but lacks the power to move the needle from a fantasy perspective. Fletcher currently is not fantasy viable.Source: Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout One Home Run Shy Of Career High
4 days agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout went 2-for-6 with one run scored in the Angels 8-7 loss in 11 innings to the Rangers. Trout is putting together another MVP-campaign and is already only one home run shy of his career-best of 41. Trout is currently slashing .321/.472/.696 in the month of August and has been lethal with runners in scoring position this season. In 83 at-bats, Trout is slashing .301/.488/.711 with eight home runs, 10 doubles and 54 runs batted in with RISP. Trout is the best offensive player in the American League right now and an elite fantasy option for the rest of the season.Source: Los Angeles Angels
Kole Calhoun Hitting Only .220 In August
4 days agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun went 1-for-5 with one RBI in the Angels loss to the Rangers in extra innings Monday. Calhoun is coming off the heels of hitting his career-high 27th home run of the season but, once again, the veteran has backed up a strong month with a dud. After slashing .272/.343/.576 in July, Calhoun is slashing only .220/.339/.440 over his last 50 at-bats. By season's end, Calhoun baseball card will show career-bests in almost all of his power categories. But fantasy owners will remember his inconsistency more than his slugging prowess.Source: Los Angeles Angels
Is Justin Upton Turning The Corner?
4 days agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder Justin Upton went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in as the Angels lost to the Rangers in extra innings on Monday. Upton now has hits in each of his last three games and has two home runs and 10 runs batted in over his last six games. This has been a lost season for a player who typically is a perennial 30-plus home run slugger. Upton is hitting only .223 this season but there still is time to finish up strong. He is slugging .500 in the month of August and, if he can stay hot, could provide value in the upcoming fantasy playoffs.Source: Los Angeles Angels
