Heaney to the rescue

Need a starting pitcher for the stretch run who might not be on the radar for the more casual fantasy baseball players? Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney might be your man.

The 26-year-old threw a bullpen session in front of Angels coaches and trainers on Tuesday afternoon in Washington, D.C. and he could be cleared to make his 2017 debut on Friday or Saturday in Baltimore if he reports back to Nationals Park on Wednesday with no abnormal discomfort.

Heaney registered a promising 2.60 ERA and 29/5 K/BB ratio over 27 2/3 innings on a minor league rehab assignment that took him from the rookie-level Arizona League to Triple-A Salt Lake.

“He’s had just a seamless recovery and rehabilitation from [Tommy John surgery],” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register on Tuesday evening. “Everything to this point has gone as well as you could ever expect. I think where he is right now, we’re very excited about it. We want to finish this off and hopefully we’ll get him back out there.”

The former Marlins prospect put up a 3.49 ERA over his first 18 starts with Anaheim in 2015.

His ownership rate in Yahoo leagues as this Daily Dose goes live is just three percent.

And it should be noted that the Angels are very much alive in the AL Wild Card race.

Anderson Back For Brew Crew

Brewers manager Craig Counsell announced Tuesday that right-hander Chase Anderson will return to the starting rotation on Sunday in Colorado, forgoing a planned third rehab start.

He allowed five earned runs over 7 2/3 innings between Low-A Wisconsin and Triple-A Colorado Springs -- not the most promising results for a two-start rehab stint -- but Anderson was sporting a 6-2 record, 2.89 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 85/27 K/BB ratio through 90 1/3 innings (16 starts) with Milwaukee when he landed on the disabled list June 29 because of a left oblique strain.

The bigger concern for Anderson’s fantasy owners is that he will pitch in the thin air of Coors Field in his first start back and will then face a juggernaut Dodgers team on the road next week.

But the Brewers’ schedule will get easier in September as they look to stay in the hunt in the NL Central.

Barraclough Activated, Possible New Closer

We’ve already talked up two stretch-run sleepers in this Daily Dose. Now let’s do a third.

Marlins reliever Kyle Barraclough, currently owned in only 12 percent of Yahoo leagues, was activated off the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday afternoon amid growing chatter that he could step into Miami’s closer return for the stretch run. 37-year-old veteran Brad Ziegler has been filling that role since A.J. Ramos got traded to the Mets three days before the July 31 deadline.

“[Barraclough] is capable of doing it,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly told the Miami Herald on Sunday. “He has ‘swing-and-miss’ stuff. What we’d like to see more of him is throw the fastball when he wants and get it where he wants. He’s got a great slider and when it’s going, it’s pretty much unhittable.”

Barraclough has struggled with walks this season and he allowed a solo homer to Ryder Jones in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s loss to the Giants, but he also struck out two batters in that appearance -- his first since July 24 -- and the 27-year-old right-hander boasts a 2.95 ERA and 193 strikeouts over 144 1/3 career major league frames. Ziegler is no spring chicken, and his overall ERA this season is 5.56.

“That’s always been my goal,” Barraclough said a few days before his activation, when asked about becoming a closer. “It’s a matter of time. I just have to take care of my business. It’s for the coaches to decide if and when that time is right and go from there.”

National League Quick Hits: Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton hit his MLB-leading 44th home run of the season on Tuesday night against the Giants … Pirates placed outfielder Gregory Polanco on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to August 13, with a left hamstring strain … Trea Turner took on-field batting practice Tuesday for the first time since fracturing his right wrist in late June … Nolan Arenado (hand) homered in his return to the Rockies’ lineup Tuesday … Noah Syndergaard (lat) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon … Odubel Herrera was held out of the Phillies’ starting lineup Tuesday against the Padres after injuring his left hamstring late Monday night … Sean Doolittle notched his ninth save for the Nationals and 12th save of the season Tuesday against the Angels … Reds rookie Luis Castillo had to settle for a no-decision but was superb Tuesday night against the Cubs, whiffing seven batters over six shutout frames … Johnny Cueto (forearm) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon … Matt Harvey (shoulder) will make his next rehab start Wednesday with Low-A Brooklyn … David Peralta (paternity leave) is likely to rejoin the Diamondbacks on Thursday … Orlando Arcia was scratched from the Brewers' starting lineup Tuesday due to back spasms … Devin Mesoraco is expected to be sidelined for the next 3-6 weeks with a fractured left foot … Denard Span went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, a walk, a steal, and three runs scored as the Giants topped the Marlins on Tuesday … Jeurys Familia (shoulder) will begin his minor league rehab assignment on Wednesday … Zach Davies limited the Pirates to one run over 6 2/3 innings Tuesday to earn his 14th victory … Reds closer Raisel Iglesias allowed a run but hung on to convert a five-out save in Tuesday's win over the Cubs … Giants placed second baseman Joe Panik on the 7-day concussion disabled list … Mets first base prospect Dominic Smith swatted an opposite-field, two-run shot for his first major league home run in Tuesday's loss to the Yankees … Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Adrian Gonzalez (back) will be activated sometime this weekend … Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino worked a perfect ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts Tuesday in Colorado for his seventh save of the season … Addison Russell (foot) jogged on the field and hit in the batting cages on Tuesday … Mets placed right-hander Seth Lugo on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder impingement … Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Francisco Cervelli (hand, wrist) will get three days off … Brewers outfield prospect Lewis Brinson (hamstring) has been placed on the disabled list at Triple-A Colorado Springs … Phillies placed outfielder Daniel Nava on the 10-day disabled list with a lower back strain … Mets acquired outfielder Travis Snider from the Rangers for cash considerations; assigned him to Triple-A Las Vegas … Mets released right-hander Fernando Salas … Padres released right-hander Zach Lee.

American League Quick Hits: Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman felt tightness in his hamstring on the final play of Wednesday's game against the Mets … Carlos Correa (thumb) could progress to taking batting practice this weekend … Alex Cobb (toe) is expected to resume throwing off a mound on Wednesday … Kyle Seager was held out of the Mariners’ starting lineup Tuesday against the Orioles due to a stomach virus … Rafael Devers reached base three times and scored a pair of runs Tuesday as the Red Sox routed the Cardinals … Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada was claimed off revocable waivers, but a trade is unlikely … Joey Gallo hit his ninth homer of the month and 34th of the year Tuesday in the Rangers’ defeat of the Tigers … Gary Sanchez continued to swing a hot bat Tuesday, slugging a solo homer and adding a single and a sac fly in a win over the Mets … Wilson Ramos went 3-for-4 and homered for the second straight game in Tuesday's win over the Blue Jays … White Sox manager Rick Renteria said Tuesday that the team's closer situation is "fluid” … David Price (elbow) played catch on flat ground Tuesday at Fenway Park … Josh Donaldson stayed red-hot Tuesday, slugging a three-run homer and reaching base three times in the Blue Jays’ loss to the Rays … Carlos Santana went 3-for-3 with two homers and two walks Tuesday night against the Twins … Kevin Kiermaier (hip) will play center field for High-A Charlotte on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday … Mike Moustakas launched his 35th home run of the year Tuesday in the Royals’ victory over the Athletics … Yankees placed right-hander Luis Cessa on the 10-day disabled list with a rib cage injury … Joe Biagini is expected to join the Blue Jays' rotation after one more start with Triple-A Buffalo … Athletics acquired reliever Chris Hatcher from the Dodgers for international slot money … Rays right-hander Matt Andriese (hip) is scheduled to make a second rehab start Friday with High-A Charlotte … Twins left-hander Hector Santiago has been pulled off his minor league rehab assignment due to renewed back discomfort … Angels starter Garrett Richards (biceps) is expected to face live hitters this week … Blue Jays released utility-man Chris Coghlan.