RADIO
Framber Valdez Tosses Six Innings Out Of 'Pen
9/23:Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez came in to replace an injured Charlie Morton on Sunday, pitching six innings of one-run baseball against the Angels. Valdez (4-1) struck out nine batters in relief and could be in line for a start with Morton suffering from shoulder discomfort. Valdez has allowed one run or less in four of his five starts this season so he will have plenty of sleeper value for his next start in DFS.Source: Houston Astros
Marwin Gonzalez Hitting .348 Over Last Seven Games
9/23:Houston Astros infielder/outfielder Marwin Gonzalez went 2-for-3 on Sunday with a double and an RBI against the Angels. Gonzalez is now hitting .348 over his last seven games and is slugging .490 in the month of September. It has been a disappointing season for Gonzalez after driving in 90 runs in 2017. But with the final week of the season approaching, Gonzalez is beginning to heat up at the right time. For the season, Gonzalez is slashing .251/.328/.418 with three triples, 16 home runs, 25 doubles and 67 runs batted in.Source: Houston Astros
Evan Gattis Adds Three Hits In Win Over Angels
9/23:Houston Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in as the Astros beat the Angels 6-2 on Sunday. Gattis now has five hits in his last seven at-bats with four runs batted in. Gattis has lost playing time recently due to the emergence of Tyler White but the slugger has swung the bat well the past few games. After a torrid finish to the first half of the season, Gattis is slugging only .333 over his last 15 games played. For the season, Gattis is slashing .232/.288/.466 with 17 doubles, 25 home runs and 77 runs batted in through 393 at-bats.Source: Houston Astros
Yuli Gurriel Stays Hot With 13th Home Run
9/23:Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel went 2-for-5 on Sunday, including his 13th home run of the season, in the Astros 6-2 win over the Angels. Gurriel has now driven in 10 runs over his last three games and is hitting .433 (13-for-30) over his last seven games. Gurriel is getting hot at just the right time and his 84 runs batted in is a new career-best for the 34-year-old. Gurriel is worth a look for the final week of the season and is slugging .600 over his last 15 games.Source: Houston Astros
Xander Bogaerts Day-To-Day
9/23:Updating a previous report, Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) is day-to-day after leaving the game Sunday night as a precaution after injuring his shoulder while swinging. The Red Sox are being careful with the top seed in the American League locked up and just a week left in the regular season. Bogaerts has been a must-start fantasy shortstop, but don't expect much from him in the final week.Source: Boston Sports Journal - Sean McAdam
Xander Bogaerts Injured Sunday Night
9/23:Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) left the game early on Sunday night after injuring his left shoulder on a swing. Bogaerts had a single and two walks in three plate appearances before departing the game. This could be concerning for a Boston team looking for another World Series ring this year. Expect Boston to be cautious with Bogaerts in the final week of the regular season, depending on the severity of his injury. He's hitting a cool .285/.357/.510 with 21 homers, 68 runs scored, 95 RBI and eight steals on the season as one of the more valuable fantasy shortstops in 2018. Brock Holt and Tzu-Wei Lin could split time at shortstop for however long Bogaerts is out.Source: Boston Sports Journal - Sean McAdam
Daniel Mengden To Start Monday
9/23:Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Daniel Mengden will get the start on Monday against the Mariners, which will push Brett Anderson and Edwin Jackson each back a day. Mengden hasn't been terrible this year, but he hasn't started a game for the A's since June 23, so he'll be extra risky for those in AL-only leagues on Monday as a streamer. Anderson will no longer make two starts in the final week of the regular season.Source: MLB.com - Jane Lee
Steven Souza Jr. Removed From Game Sunday
9/23:Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr. (back) was pulled from the game early on Sunday with a lower back spasm. Souza was hitless with a strikeout in two plate appearances to drop his season line to .217/.306/.354 with four homers, 28 RBI and six steals on the year. He has been incredibly cold this month and has lost playing time because of it. You can't rely on him in the final month of the season, especially now that he's injured.Source: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
Charlie Morton To Make Another Start This Year
9/23:Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch said that starting pitcher Charlie Morton (shoulder) will make another start this year. Hinch said the team pulled Morton after an inning on Sunday against the Angels as a precaution because his velocity was down. It's good news, but Morton's shoulder injury is something to keep an eye on, as it already sent him to the disabled earlier this year. When Morton is on the mound, he's been a must-start for fantasy owners.Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Chase Anderson Won't Start Monday
9/23:Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said starting pitcher Chase Anderson won't make the start against the Cardinals in a big game on Monday. Instead, the team will go with a bullpen game, and Anderson will be available to pitch. Anderson has a 3.06 ERA in four starts this month but has failed to go beyond five innings. With this game and series being huge for playoff implications, the Brewers will piece things together. Anderson may not see another start over the final week of the season.Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak
Didi Gregorius' Season In Doubt
9/23:New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (wrist) tore cartilage in his wrist while sliding into home plate on Saturday and might not be able to return the rest of the season, according to manager Aaron Boone. Gregorius sat out on Sunday, but it's unclear if he'll be able to return if the team advances past the wild-card game against the A's. If so, it's a huge loss to the Yankees and their offense. Gregorius has been one of the better shortstop options for fantasy owners, hitting .268/.336/.498 with 27 home runs, 86 RBI, 86 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Expect Adeiny Hechavarria to fill in at shortstop for however long Gregorius is out.Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Charlie Morton Dealing With Shoulder Discomfort
9/23:Houston Astros starting pitcher Charlie Morton (shoulder) left his start early on Sunday with right shoulder discomfort. Morton allowed one earned run on one hit while striking out two in just one inning against the Angels before leaving the contest. It's bad timing for this injury, which landed him on the disabled list earlier this year. There's a chance Houston won't have Morton ready for the start of the playoffs, which would be a big blow. The right-hander is 15-3 on the season with a 3.18 ERA and impressive 10.81 K/9.Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
Kevin Kiermaier Day-To-Day
9/23:Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (back, shoulder) is being listed as day-to-day by manager Kevin Cash after he banged his back into the outfield wall trying to make a catch on Sunday. Kiermaier was hitless with a strikeout in three plate appearances on Sunday. He should be fine to return sometime in the final week of the season. Kiermaier has missed valuable time due to injury in 2018 and is hitting a weak .220/.284/.376 on the year with just seven home runs, 29 RBI and 10 stolen bases.Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Breyvic Valera Injures Finger Sunday
9/23:Baltimore Orioles infielder Breyvic Valera (finger) left the game early on Sunday with a bruised left index finger. Valera had a triple and a strikeout in three plate appearances before leaving the game. He's hitting just .234/.301/.266 with no homers and eight RBI in 75 plate appearances for the O's this year. You can keep avoided him in fantasy.Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
Alex Cobb Leaves Early Again Sunday
9/23:Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Alex Cobb (finger) threw just four pitches on Sunday before leaving the game with another blister issue. Cobb continues to be hampered by blister issues this month and will likely be shut down for the rest of the season now. While he was pitching much better in the second half, Cobb still finishes the 2018 season with a 5-15 record, 4.90 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and mediocre 6.0 K/9 over 27 starts.Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
