RADIO
Yangervis Solarte Doing Rehab Exercises
8/16:Toronto Blue Jays infielder Yangervis Solarte (oblique) is receiving treatment and has started his rehab exercises. He is expected to miss at least three weeks. That means he won't be back until sometime in September, limiting his fantasy contributions before the end of the year. He was slashing just .233/.287/.397 but was helping in deeper leagues with 17 home runs and his 53 RBI. His positional eligibility didn't hurt, either.Source: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith
Wil Myers is Out of the Lineup Thursday
8/16:San Diego Padres corner infielder/outfielder Wil Myers (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It appears Thursday is just a routine day off for Myers. Christian Villanueva will bat seventh and play third base against righty Clay Buchholz. Villanueva has struggled against right-handed pitching this season, so he can be avoided in DFS contests.Source: Padres
Kris Bryant Hitting Off Tee
8/16:Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (shoulder) has been hitting off a tee and in the cage while also tracking pitches off the machine and while pitchers throw bullpen sessions. The next step would be for him to face live pitching on the field. “There’s plenty of time for myself to get ready for hopefully a long playoff run," Bryant said. It's progress, but Bryant is coming along very slowly and may not be ready to rejoin the team until sometime in September. You obviously have to keep holding onto him, but he's been a big disappointment with just 11 home runs and 44 RBI on the season. The 26-year-old hasn't appeared in a game since July 23.Source: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney
Glenn Sparkman Making His First MLB Start on Thursday
8/16:Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Glenn Sparkman will make his first career MLB start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. He was recalled earlier this week with Danny Duffy (shoulder) being sidelined. Sparkman posted a 3.96 ERA over 16 starts in the minors this season. Duffy is expected to be back next week, so this is likely just a spot start for Sparkman. He can be avoided in fantasy leagues and DFS contests.Source: Blue Jays
Steven Matz Activated From DL, Starting Game 2
8/16:The New York Mets activated starting pitcher Steven Matz (arm) from the disabled list on Thursday, and he will start Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Phillies. Reliever Tim Peterson was optioned to the minors in a corresponding move. The left-handed Matz gave up seven runs and didn't make it out of the first inning in his last start against the Nats on July 31. He hasn't missed much time, but throwing him right back into the fire against a team battling for the division isn't the smartest move. Matz is 5-9 on the year with a 4.35 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 8.3 K/9 across 21 starts.Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Russell Martin is Out on Thursday
8/16:Toronto Blue Jays third baseman/catcher Russell Martin (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Martin will get a rest day, but seems to be heating up with the bat over the last two weeks. Aledmys Diaz is hitting eighth and playing third base against righty Glenn Sparkman on Thursday. Diaz has been hot over the last two weeks, hitting 295/.326/.636 with four home runs and six RBI. He's a cheap sleeper option for DFS contests on Thursday.Source: Blue Jays
Curtis Granderson is Sitting Out Thursday
8/16:Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Curtis Granderson (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Justin Smoak will serve as the DH and bat third, while Kendrys Morales will play first base and bat cleanup versus righty Glenn Sparkman. Smoak is hitting .259/.380/.518 with 14 home runs and 44 RBI off right-handed pitching this season. He's a fairly decent DFS option against a mediocre starter on Thursday.Source: Blue Jays
Adam Jones Placed on Bereavement List
8/16:Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (personal) will be placed on the bereavement list on Friday. Jones is not expected to miss much time. He has cleared revocable trade waivers, so Jones is eligible to be traded to any team. However, Jones has stated he wants to remain in Baltimore. Outfielder Craig Gentry will be activated off the DL on Friday. He could see some playing time with Jones out of the lineup. Gentry is not much of a fantasy option and is only worth looking at in AL-only leagues.Source: Roch Kubatko
Tyler Austin is Back in the Lineup Thursday
8/16:Minnesota Twins first baseman Tyler Austin is back in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers. Austin sat out on Wednesday, but will serve as the DH and bat fifth versus lefty Francisco Liriano on Thursday. Austin is hitting .246/.323/.544 with five home runs and 13 RBI against left-handed pitching this season. He has some pop in his bat, but is a risky DFS option.Source: Twins
Taylor Cole Starting on Thursday
8/16:Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Taylor Cole will get the start against the Texas Rangers on Thursday. He struggled during his first career start versus the Athletics, giving up three runs on three hits in just 1 1/3 innings. Cole has been solid out of the bullpen this season, but he's not worth adding in fantasy leagues. The Rangers don't have a great offense, but there is better DFS options than Cole on Thursday.Source: Angels
Shohei Ohtani Batting Cleanup on Thursday
8/16:Los Angeles Angels pitcher/hitter Shohei Ohtani will bat cleanup and serve as the designated hitter against Rangers' righty Ariel Jurado on Thursday. It's unclear when Ohtani will return to the mound, but at least he's able to swing the bat. He's a decent DFS option against the slow-tossing Jurado.Source: Angels
Adrian Beltre's Latest Injury Has Him Pondering Future
8/16:Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre's (hamstring) latest lower-body injury has him questioning how much longer he'll play in the big leagues. If he plays in 2019 he'll be 40 years old. “That brings the question of, ‘Is this going to keep happening more often? Isread more...
Joe Ross Has A Chance To Pitch In September
8/16:Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said "there's a good chance" that starting pitcher Joe Ross (elbow) will pitch for the team in September. Ross just made a successful rehab start in the minors, but it's unclear if he'd be an option for the rotation or out of the bullpen in relief. Ross is recovering from Tommy John surgery last year but had strikeout upside and a nasty slider when he was healthy. He'd only be an option in deeper leagues if he was starting down the stretch, which is a possibility.Source: The Washington Post - Chelsea Janes
Jeremy Hellickson To Undergo MRI
8/16:Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (wrist) will undergo an MRI exam on Friday. Manager Dave Martinez said Hellickson would need to be able to throw off a mound before he can make his next start. It seems as though it's unlikely Hellickson will be ready for his next outing. Depending on the results of the MRI, it seems likely that Hellickson will land on the disabled list, although he might only have to miss a start or two. The good news is that Stephen Strasburg (neck) could replace Hellickson in the rotation on Tuesday. The 31-year-old hasn't been bad in 18 starts, going 5-3 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 64 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings. He has been a streaming option in deeper leagues in enticing matchups.Source: MASN Sports - Mark Zuckerman
John Hicks Out 3-6 Weeks
8/16:Detroit Tigers catcher/first baseman John Hicks (hips) had successful surgery on Thursday on both of his hips. He will be out three to six weeks, ending his 2018 season. Hicks saw an everyday role once Miguel Cabrera was done for the year, but he didn't do much with it, hitting .260 with nine home runs and 32 RBI in 288 at-bats. He can be dropped in all leagues if he wasn't already. Jim Adduci figures to see most of the playing time at first base moving forward, but he's only a candidate to own in AL-only formats.Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky
