RADIO
Jose Altuve Expected to Resume Swinging Soon, Astros Await Offensive Boost
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (oblique) is expected to resume swinging a bat within the next few days as he continues recovering from a left oblique injury. Altuve exited the May 16 game after experiencing discomfort in his side and has since traveled to Florida to continue his rehab process. Before landing on the injured list, the veteran infielder was slashing .245/.326/.380 with a .706 OPS after cooling off from a strong start to the season. The career .302 hitter remains one of baseball's most reliable contact bats, and his return would provide a major boost for a Houston lineup searching for more offensive consistency.
Source: Matt Kawahara
Source: Matt Kawahara
Tony Santillan Blows Third Save for Reds, Time to Cut Ties?
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tony Santillan suffered another setback Saturday, blowing a save opportunity in an eventual extra-inning win vs. the Chicago Cubs. Santillan allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks, including a home run in the ninth inning. The 29-year-old has now blown three saves this season and continues to trend in the wrong direction after surrendering nine earned runs over his last seven appearances. Opposing hitters have consistently punished mistakes in the strike zone, and Santillan's 10.2 Barrel/PA rate is the highest mark of his career by a wide margin. The Reds may begin exploring alternative late-inning options if the struggles continue, making Santillan a risky fantasy investment for managers chasing saves.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Kirby Yates Earns Save for Angels, Worth Monitoring in Deeper Leagues?
Los Angeles Angels veteran reliever Kirby Yates picked up his first save of the season in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers. The right-hander delivered a clean ninth inning and struck out one batter while continuing his recent turnaround after an uneven start to the year. Yates now carries a 4.26 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP, but his recent appearances have looked far more encouraging than his early-season results. The 39-year-old could begin seeing more save opportunities as Angels closer Jordan Romano continues to struggle with a 10.13 ERA. Yates has extensive late-inning experience and may quickly become a fantasy option for managers searching for saves.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Dylan Cease to Undergo an MRI on his Hamstring
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease (hamstring) was removed early during Sunday's outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cease was pulled from the contest after 4.2 innings due to a left hamstring issue. After the game, Jays' manager John Schneider confirmed that Cease will undergo an MRI on his left hamstring. Schneider mentioned that the early testing has come back positive, but the team wants further imaging to get the whole picture. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for the MRI results, as those will likely determine the next steps for Cease. For now, Cease is scheduled to take the ball against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Fantasy managers will need to check back to see if Cease is actually going to be able to make the start.
Source: Mitch Bannon
Source: Mitch Bannon
Logan Webb Should Return This Week
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (knee) is reportedly extremely close to making his return to the mound. Giants manager Tony Vitello said on Sunday that Webb is a "good option" to return from the 15-day Injured List during the team's upcoming three-game homestand. It sounds like Webb is feeling physically ready to return after making a rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. The Giants will likely wait and see how Webb feels after a bullpen session before they make a final decision. Fantasy managers should check back on Monday for another update on his status. Trevor McDonald is likely going to be the odd man out once Webb is cleared to return to the mound.
Source: Justice De Los Santos
Source: Justice De Los Santos
Corey Seager to Miss Another Week
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) isn't scheduled to be re-evaluated for "probably" another week, according to Shawn McFarland. Seager was slated to face live pitching on Sunday, but that session was delayed due to his lack of progress in his recovery from his back injury. The Rangers were hopeful that Seager could return for the upcoming homestand that begins on Monday. That isn't going to happen, so fantasy managers are likely going to be without Seager for at least another week. The organization should continue to give updates on his status. The left-handed slugger hasn't suited up for a game since May 13 due to a back injury. Ezequiel Duran should continue to fill in until Seager is ready to play again.
Source: Shawn McFarland
Source: Shawn McFarland
Luis Castillo Set to Start on Monday
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo is set to make the start during Monday's game against the Athletics. Mariners manager Dan Wilson confirmed that Castillo will start and Bryce Miller will work behind him in a piggyback role. The Mariners tried this strategy on Tuesday, but Miller started, and Castillo worked the final few innings. Castillo tossed 2.1 innings, allowing two earned runs in the first relief appearance of his big league career. The Mariners will reverse the order in which they pitch together and hope for better results from Castillo. The veteran right-hander holds a 6.41 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, so fantasy managers shouldn't put much faith in him right now. Miller will likely pitch the bulk of the innings, so Castillo won't be a recommended fantasy option.
Source: Ryan Divish
Source: Ryan Divish
Connor Norby Exits After Getting Hit by a Pitch
Miami Marlins first baseman Connor Norby (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the New York Mets. Norby was hit by a pitch on his left elbow during the fourth inning of Sunday's contest. He took his base and played another inning before exiting the contest due to left elbow discomfort. Before leaving, Norby was 0-for-1 at the plate with his lone time reaching base being a hit by pitch. The expectation is that the organization will have Norby undergo further testing. It wouldn't be shocking to see Norby miss a game or two from this issue. Graham Pauley replaced him at first base and could see increased playing time going forward.
Source: Jordan McPherson
Source: Jordan McPherson
Jose Quintana Exits with Elbow Discomfort
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Quintana (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Quintana only made it into the second inning before exiting due to left elbow discomfort. The veteran southpaw was crushed for six earned runs on six hits before leaving. The expectation is that Quintana will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Ryan Feltner (elbow) is nearing a return from the Injured List and could take his spot in the rotation if Quintana heads to the shelf. The veteran southpaw can be left on the waiver wire in most fantasy formats. UPDATE: Quintana will head back to Denver to undergo an MRI exam on his left elbow.
Source: Thomas Harding
Source: Thomas Harding
Bryce Miller Demoted to Bullpen Role for Monday's Game
Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo is set to start Monday's game against the Athletics. Bryce Miller will come out of the bullpen and follow in the piggyback role. Castillo has struggled this season, posting a 6.41 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts across 46 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old struggled in his only relief appearance, taking the loss, while allowing two runs on a hit, two walks, and a HBP while striking out four over 2 1/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox. It's unclear how many innings Castillo will throw on Monday, but Miller has pitched well since returning from the injured list on May 13. The 27-year-old owns a 1.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, a 22.7K%, and a 4.5 BB% through 11 innings. Even though Miller is coming out of the bullpen, he's still worth holding onto in deep league formats, but can likely be dropped in 10-12-team leagues until he solidifies a spot in Seattle's rotation.
Source: Ryan Divish
Source: Ryan Divish
Dylan Cease Removed From Sunday's Start With Hamstring Discomfort
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease (hamstring) was removed from Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with mild left-hamstring discomfort. After a few visits from the trainers, Cease was pulled from the game during the fifth inning. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out eight across 4 2/3 innings before exiting. The 30-year-old will likely undergo additional tests to determine the severity of his hamstring issue. He owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 92:26 K:BB across 62 innings so far this season. Cease is tentatively scheduled to face the Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Fantasy managers should monitor the situation as the Blue Jays continue to provide updates on his status.
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Exits Sunday's Game Early with Elbow Contusion
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (elbow) was removed in the bottom of the fifth inning during Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after being hit by a pitch. He reached base in all three plate appearances and scored a run before exiting. X-rays of the Guerrero Jr.'s elbow were negative for a fracture, and he was officially diagnosed with an elbow contusion. The 27-year-old appears to have avoided a major injury and is day-to-day for now. His next chance to return to the lineup will be on Monday against the Miami Marlins. Lenyn Sosa replaced Guerrero Jr. on Sunday and would see an uptick in at-bats if he were to miss any additional time. UPDATE: Manager John Schneider said after Sunday's loss to the Pirates that Guerrero is "definitely a possibility" to play in Monday's series opener against the Fish.
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Source: Toronto Blue Jays
Reds-Cardinals Game Postponed on Sunday
Sunday's game between the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals has been postponed due to inclement weather. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on August 17. Reds right-hander Brady Singer was set to take on Cardinals left-hander Brycen Mautz. With Sunday's game being postponed, Singer will now be skipped and won't start until Friday against the Atlanta Braves. The 29-year-old has struggled this season with a 6.26 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 46 innings. Mautz was promoted from Triple-A Memphis to make his MLB debut on Sunday, but could now be sent back down as the Cardinals no longer need the spot start. St. Louis will begin their three-game road series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Source: Cincinnati Reds
Ian Happ Sitting for Second Straight Game, Should Managers be Concerned?
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Houston Astros for a "mental breather." Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, "he told him to take Saturday off completely, and Sunday, he's been hitting and doing other typical pregame work. The 31-year-old has struggled mightily over his last six games, slashing .042/.115/.083 with 14 strikeouts across 26 plate appearances. Overall, Happ had been solid, slashing .214/.350/.429 with 10 home runs, 20 RBI, 35 runs, and two stolen bases through 220 plate appearances. His walk BB% has increased from 13.1% last season to 16.4%, while his K% has ballooned from 22.8% to 33.2%. Although there is cause for some concern, fantasy managers should continue to hold onto Happ as he works his way back through his slump. Happ is expected to return to the Cubs lineup for Monday's contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Source: Jared Wyllys
Source: Jared Wyllys
Cubs Place Edward Cabrera on the 15-Day Injured List
The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Edward Cabrera (finger) on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger, retroactive to May 21. He was pulled from Wednesday's start against the Milwaukee Brewers early after allowing our runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters across three innings. Before landing on the injured list, Cabrera owned a (3-2) record with a 4.00 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 47:20 K:BB across 54 innings this season. The Cubs recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks in a corresponding move, and he will take Cabrera's spot in the rotation. Wicks owns a 4.44 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts across 26 1/3 innings with Triple-A Iowa. The 26-year-old has pitched well recently, posting a 0.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts over 15 innings. Wicks is scheduled to start on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. He is mainly a streaming option in deep and NL-Only leagues for now.
Source: Taylor McGregor
Source: Taylor McGregor
