Eye Opener for Eovaldi

It was another memorable day on the Major League Baseball diamond on Wednesday, but mostly because of outstanding pitching performances and not due to many offensive explosions. We've come to expect gems from Corey Kluber, Max Scherzer, etc. However, Nathan Eovaldi was a blast from the past, re-emerging as a useful fantasy option in his season debut. There were also a pair of players with the same last name swatting homers in Kansas City, although the two were not related. It was a fun day of action. Let's get started!




Wednesday's Fantasy Five

Eovaldi was making his first start in the majors since August 2016 after battling back from a pair of surgeries to his pitching elbow. It was uncertain how well he would pitch in his season debut, especially since he was touched for eight runs over just four innings in his final minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Durham. He lasted just 70 pitches in the debut, but the pitch restriction wasn't due to poor performance. Eovaldi sizzled by twirling six no-hit innings, yielding just one walk with four strikeouts in the victory, throwing 46 strikes. He recorded first-pitch strikes to 13 of the 19 batters he faced, impressing even the most skeptical fantasy owners. He'll be a very hot property off the waiver wire after this outstanding performance. He'll have a stern test next time out when he matches up with Max Scherzer in Washington D.C. next Tuesday. Perhaps we'll get a better understanding on how well he is back.

Speaking of Scherzer, he improved to 9-1 while lowering his ERA to 1.92 in another impressive outing. The multi-colored eyed starter spun eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, one walk and 12 strikeouts in a victory in Baltimore. His heroics spoiled a quality start by David Hess of the O's, who allowed just one earned run, four hits and a walk over six innings. Scherzer threw 83 of his 112 pitches for strikes, recording a game score of 89 in the peerless performance. He has recorded 11 or more strikeouts in four of the past five outings, and he has managed quality starts in nine of his past 10 assignments. He retired 24 of the 27 batters he faced, picking up his eighth straight win. Scherzer has struck out 10 or more batters on 72 different occasions.




Jorge Soler had a huge game in Wednesday's 11-8 win against the Minnesota Twins, racking up two singles, a double and a home run with two runs scored and two RBI. He might not have the fantasy following of many others on this list, but he certainly put smiles of the faces of those who rolled the dice on him in DFS. The 26-year-old Cuban outfielder entered the game with just one multi-hit game over the past 14 outings, going 6-for-56 (.107). So this was quite the surprise, as he racked up multiple extra-base hits in a single game for just the fourth time this season. He has a long way to go before he re-gains the trust of fantasy players in mixed formats, but he is a strong play in AL-only leagues while running hot.

Corey Kluber normally has a lot of trouble with Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox, but he dominates the rest of the team. The first baseman for the Pale Hose was hitless in three at-bats with a walk and two strikeouts, so you can imagine how well the Klubot did before seeing the exact stats. The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed just two singles and a double with no walks and 10 strikeouts over six scoreless innings against the ChiSox to move to 8-2 while lowering his ERA to 2.02. Is another Cy Young Award in his future?

Matt Kemp finished Wednesday's 8-2 victory against the Phillies by posting a double, a home run and four RBI across four at-bats, pushing his batting average up to .345. He has re-emerged as a No. 1 fantasy outfielder type in most formats, as he is up to 14 doubles, seven homers and 30 RBI. Kemp is on pace for 21 homers and 88 RBI, so he still has a long way to go if he wants to record his fifth-career 100-RBI season. Most of his production has come across the past couple of weeks, as he has 12 RBI over the past 11 outings.

Fantasy Game of the Night

The battle between the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals was a very entertaining affair. It was a rare victory for the Royals at home, as they're still just 9-19 in 28 games at Kauffman Stadium this season. We touched on Soler above, but he was not the only Kansas City hitter to shine. Mike Moustakas posted a double, his 12th home run and four RBI, giving him at least one extra-base hit in three consecutive outings. Hunter Dozier recorded his first Major League homer, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. It had to be rather confusing for the radio and television announcers, as Brian Dozier of the Twins, no relation, also went deep. Also unrelated, Alcides Escobar and Eduardo Escobar were on opposite sides facing one another. Ryan Goins showed off his wheels with his first triple of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI. Jon Jay went 1-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. It wasn't a memorable performance for Brad Keller, who was making his first Major League start. He lasted just three innings, allowing an earned run, three hits and a walk with one wild pitch and three strikeouts. There will be better days for Keller, who was replacing Erik Skoglund in the rotation.

As far as the Twins are concerned, it was a nightmare performance for Fernando Romero. He was touched for eight earned runs, nine hits and a walk while recording just five outs in the 52-pitch performance. Aaron Slegers, not necessarily someone to count on in fantasy just yet, yielded just two runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings of work out of the bullpen to give his team a chance. The hitting star was Miguel Sano, as he posted a single and a double with a run scored and three RBI across five at-bats. Ehire Adrianza posted his first homer of the season, going 2-for-4 while also adding a double, too. Still, he is batting just .234 and he is only worth a look in the very deepest of AL-only play. He was one of three Minnesota players to post two or more RBI.

American League Quick Hits: Eduardo Rodriguez was tremendous, allowing two earned runs, three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays, running his record to 6-1. … Craig Kimbrel secured his 18th save, while J.D. Martinez smacked his 18th bomb of the season. … Teoscar Hernandez was the hitting star for the Jays, collecting his eighth homer of the campaign. … Michael Brantley went 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, longest in the majors this season. He is hitting .343 overall, and .366 (20-for-82) during the impressive stretch. … Jose Ramirez and Edwin Encarnacion went back-to-back off of Chris Volstad for their 17th and 13th homers, respectively. … Luis Severino just missed the cut for the Fantasy Five, allowing two earned runs, four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over seven innings to improve to 8-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.31. Next up for Severino is a favorable matchup in Detroit in one of the doubleheader games on Monday. … Dallas Keuchel slipped to 3-7, allowing four earned runs, seven hits and three walks with seven strikeouts across five innings. He still has a rather solid 3.65 ERA, but run support continues to elude him. … Nicholas Castellanos collected three hits, including two doubles, pushing his average back to .325. He has hit safely in four straight, and nine of the past 10 outings while posting six multi-hit performances during the span. … Johnny Field racked up his fifth double and his fifth homer of the season, improving his overall average to .265. He is worth a look in deeper AL-only fantasy formats. … Matt Moore (elbow) was back from the 10-day disabled list, but he didn't have the same type of success as Eovaldi. He was knocked around for five runs - four earned - and eight hits with two walks in the no-decision. … Robinson Chirinos picked up a pair of singles, a double and three RBI over five at-bats but he is still hitting a dismal .204. … Jean Segura racked up his third consecutive multi-hit game, and he has hit safely in five in a row. He enters the final day of May with 14 games of two or more hits.

National League Quick Hits: Alex Reyes was making his season debut after recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery. He allowed just three hits and two walks over four scoreless innings, but he was lifted early due to fatigue. As long as he checks out he faces a favorable matchup next time out on Tuesday against the Marlins. … Adam Duvall cranked a grand slam, his 10th homer of the season, in a Hump Day loss to the Brew Crew. … Eugenio Suarez and Joey Votto each collected three hits in the win against Milwaukee. … Raisel Iglesias was back from the 10-day disabled list and he was used immediately, nailing down his ninth save. … Patrick Corbin registered 10 strikeouts, but he suffered just his second loss in seven decisions this season. … Jason Vargas outdueled Julio Teheran, yielding just two hits and a walk while working five scoreless innings in a win, his second in five decisions. … Brandon Nimmo and Adrian Gonzalez had identical stats, each going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. … Freddie Freeman was 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. … Robert Gsellman notched his second save of the season, working after Jeurys Familia. Manager Mickey Callaway elected to use Familia in the eighth inning to face the meat of the Atlanta order and he did a good job shutting them down for the hold. It isn't likely to be a permanent situation, but fantasy owners of Familia couldn't be pleased with Callaway's decision. … The Marlins didn't get a great performance from their closer Brad Ziegler. He coughed up two runs, two hits and a pair of walks while recording just one out in a blown save and loss in San Diego. It spoiled a quality start by Jose Urena, who was looking for his first win of the season. He remains 0-7, but he has a respectable 4.41 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. … Franmil Reyes homered for the third consecutive day, as he carries over the momentum from the minors. He had 14 homers at El Paso, most of any player at any level in the minors. … Mitchell Walding is off to an inauspicious start filling in for the injured Pedro Florimon (foot). Walding was wearing the golden sombrero in L.A., whiffing in each of his four at-bats.

Thor hits the DL

Noah Syndergaard is one of two reliable starters on the Mets’ roster, and they’re going to be without him for at least the next 10 days.

Syndergaard was placed on the disabled list Tuesday after being diagnosed with a strained ligament in his right index finger after a visit to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He was seen flexing the finger in the dugout during his last start Friday against the Brewers, in which he allowed three earned runs on six hits over six innings in a 4-3 loss. The Mets promptly sent him for an MRI when the finger issue worsened during his between-starts bullpen session on Monday.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway told reporters Tuesday that he’s optimistic Syndergaard will be able to return to the rotation as soon as he’s eligible -- or shortly thereafter -- but you can bet they won’t rush this process. Syndergaard was limited to seven starts in 2017 due to a torn right lat muscle.

To fill his spot, the Mets are pushing Jason Vargas up a day to work Wednesday’s game against the Braves. Vargas lasted just three innings in his last start Saturday against Milwaukee, yielding five runs on two walks and six hits, so he should be fine for an extended outing on short rest. But this obviously isn’t an ideal situation for anyone involved. Vargas, who signed a two-year, $16 million free agent contract with the Mets in mid-February, has registered a 10.62 ERA and 2.16 WHIP through his first 20 1/3 innings (five starts) this season.

Seth Lugo will work in Vargas’ place on Thursday night against the Cubs. He holds a sharp 2.48 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 34/9 K/BB ratio in 32 2/3 innings this season, but all of that has come in relief and he makes for a poor fantasy streaming option in what could be a short start against Chicago.

 

Mad Bum To Join Giants Next Week

In more uplifting starting pitcher news, Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area reports that Giants ace Madison Bumgarner is scheduled to make his season debut next Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.

Bumgarner, who’s been on the disabled list all year with a fractured left pinkie finger, struck out eight of the 12 batters he faced Saturday in his first minor league rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento, ultimately finishing with 3 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings. He is scheduled to make one more minor league rehab start Thursday at High-A San Jose and then it should be go time.

The 28-year-old left-hander made only 17 starts last year because he strained his shoulder and bruised his ribs in a late-April dirt bike accident, but he still managed a cool 3.32 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 101/20 K/BB ratio in 111 innings, and his fastball velocity was actually better than what it was in 2016.

That shoulder injury had no long-term effects, and this pinkie fracture shouldn’t either. There’s really no reason he can’t be one of the top fantasy pitchers over the final four months of the 2018 season.

Andrew Suarez could be sent back down to the minors to open up a spot for Bumgarner in the Giants’ rotation. The 25-year-old has registered a 5.65 ERA over his first seven major league starts.

Or maybe the Giants will have to place Jeff Samardzija on the disabled list, thus clearing a spot. Samardzija left his start Tuesday night against the Rockies after just one inning due to shoulder tightness.

Astros Lose McCann To Knee Injury

Astros catcher Brian McCann was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with what, for now, is being called “right knee soreness.” He is scheduled to be examined by team doctors back in Houston on Wednesday, at which point there should be a more informative diagnosis.

McCann also spent time on the disabled list last August with a similar issue and there’s at least some worry among Astros management that this could be a serious injury.

"It's something that he's battled before and something that he's had to deal with, and as we talked to him after the game, we felt like we needed to send him back to Houston to get him evaluated further,” manager A.J. Hinch told beat writer Brian McTaggart of MLB.com on Tuesday. “We won't know the extent of any sort of issue until he gets to Houston."

This injury to McCann will mean a big uptick in playing time for Max Stassi, who doubled in Tuesday night’s loss to the Yankees and is slashing .294/.362/.518 with four home runs and 14 RBI over 30 games (22 starts) this season. He’s worth consideration in mixed fantasy leagues.

National League Quick Hits: X-rays taken Tuesday on A.J. Pollock's left thumb showed that his avulsion fracture is not yet fully healed … Bryce Harper belted his National League-leading 17th home run in Tuesday's win over the Orioles … Reds top prospect Nick Senzel (vertigo) returned to the lineup at Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday after missing a little over three weeks … Kenta Maeda left his start Tuesday night against the Phillies with a right hip strain … Rhys Hoskins (mouth) was not in the Phillies' starting lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers … Carlos Martinez (lat) is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start Thursday with Double-A Springfield … Adam Eaton (ankle) did agility drills in the outfield at Camden Yards on Tuesday … Francisco Cervelli (illness) remained out of the Pirates' lineup on Tuesday … Dexter Fowler (knee) was out of the Cardinals' starting lineup again on Tuesday … Juan Soto reached base in all four of his plate appearances Tuesday in Baltimore … Mike Soroka (shoulder) is set to make a rehab start Friday with Low-A Rome … David Dahl (leg) was absent from the Rockies' starting lineup Tuesday against the Giants … Matt Carpenter belted a solo home run and reached base three times Tuesday against the Brewers … Daniel Murphy (knee) is scheduled to play at least two more minor league rehab games … Robbie Ray (oblique) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon at Chase Field … Steven Matz exited his start Tuesday night against the Braves with discomfort in his left middle finger and will undergo an MRI on Wednesday … Shelby Miller (elbow) struck out eight batters over five innings of one-run ball Tuesday in his rehab debut with High-A Visalia … Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Tyler Saladino (ankle) will be placed on the disabled list … Austin Meadows went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's loss to the Cubs … Wil Myers (oblique) did some light on-field drills Tuesday at Petco Park … Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said Tuesday that he will look at transitioning Homer Bailey to the bullpen … Anthony Swarzak (oblique) is scheduled to make two more minor league rehab appearances on Friday and Saturday … Nationals manager Davey Martinez said Tuesday that Ryan Madson (pectoral) will be activated off the disabled list Thursday.

American League Quick Hits: Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Tuesday that Adrian Beltre (hamstring) is getting "very close" to returning … Mookie Betts (side) is on track to return to the Red Sox lineup Thursday … Brett Gardner played hero ball in the Yankees' comeback win over the Astros Tuesday, hitting a solo home run and a game-tying, two-run shot in the ninth inning … Miguel Cabrera (hamstring) is expected to be activated off the disabled list within the next couple of days … Josh Donaldson (calf) was held out of the Blue Jays’ lineup Tuesday night against the Red Sox … Shohei Ohtani has been confirmed as the Angels' starter Wednesday in Detroit … Michael Brantley went 3-for-4 with a home run to extend his hitting streak to 18 games in Tuesday's win over the White Sox … Manny Machado launched a solo home run and added a single Tuesday versus the Nationals … Tigers placed starter Francisco Liriano on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain … Luis Valbuena went 3-for-5 with a pair of homers to lead the Angels over the Tigers on Tuesday … Zach Britton (Achilles) will make two rehab appearances with Triple-A Norfolk before being reevaluated … Joe Mauer said he hasn't had any concussion symptoms in 4-5 days … Matt Shoemaker had surgery on his right forearm Tuesday morning … Sandy Leon homered, doubled twice, and drove in three runs as the Red Sox topped the Blue Jays on Tuesday … Paul Blackburn (forearm) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with High-A Stockton … Angels reliever Blake Wood will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow … Danny Valencia was excused from the Orioles on Tuesday after his wife went into labor … Tim Lincecum (blister) will remain on his minor league rehab assignment for the time being … Jayson Werth agreed to extend the date of the opt-out in his minor league contract with the Mariners after coming down with a minor hamstring tweak last week … Darren O'Day (elbow) could be cleared to resume throwing Wednesday … Randal Grichuk (knee) has moved his rehab assignment to Triple-A Buffalo … Colby Rasmus (hip) could join Double-A Bowie this weekend for a minor league rehab assignment … Boog Powell (knee) took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since landing on the disabled list … Santiago Castilla (shoulder) could return from the disabled list when first eligible on June 5 … Chris Tillman (back) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday … Liam Hendriks (hip) has reported to Triple-A Nashville to begin a minor league rehab assignment … Ryan Buchter (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday … Red Sox signed first baseman Adam Lind to a minor league contract.

5 truths about the Baltimore Orioles

 

 

Five truths the Orioles must confront with Memorial Day and one-third of season having passed

Ever the pragmatist, Orioles manager Buck Showalter claimed to be unfamiliar with the idea that a team could be properly evaluated on Memorial Day, noting that this year it happened to fall on the occasion of Game 54 — one-third of the way through the season.

Forget that executive vice president Dan Duquette set this benchmark a month ago. Showalter's sidestepping the subject makes clear that there's at least some focus now on the field, even as the off-field speculation about the Orioles far outweighs the interest in what they're doing on a daily basis.
"I'm always evaluating kind of where we are and where we have the potential to head," Showalter said after Monday's 6-0 loss to the Washington Nationals. "It's got to get better, and I think our guys know that. It's very frustrating for them right now, and I'm sure, for everybody, including the fans."
Considering the Orioles are 17-37, percentage points ahead of the 16-35 Chicago White Sox for the worst record in the major leagues, there's really only one place all this could lead. If it's not clear to them yet, it's clear to everyone else.

So, as the Orioles hit this early-summer benchmark, here are five truths they'll need to confront about their slow start and their future, including how they got here and what the future could look like.

1. Injuries can't be the excuse anymore.

At one point in their slow start to the season, the Orioles could reasonably claim that they'd been undone wholly by injuries. Designated hitter-outfielder Mark Trumbo missed the start of the season with a quadriceps strain. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop pulled his oblique and missed several weeks. Outfielder Colby Rasmus and third baseman Tim Beckham were playing well below their capabilities because of hip and groin injuries, respectively, that landed them on the disabled list. Zach Britton still hasn't thrown a pitch, and fellow All-Star reliever Darren O'Day is out now, too.
That's certainly a lot, but it doesn't go very long in explaining what's been happening now. They're much more whole with Schoop and Trumbo back, and while third base is a hole without Beckham, the outfield depth to replace Rasmus certainly isn't an area the Orioles are lacking. The injuries probably contributed to the desperate feeling around the team that makes everyone grip the bat a little tighter, but this is still mostly the team they expected to have this season. It's proved to be a deeply flawed one, and whichever context they want to examine their season in going forward, the injuries they suffered early shouldn't be one of them.

2. Manny Machado and the Orioles have painted each other into a corner.

For something that everyone could see coming, the run up to Machado's free agency this offseason has included just about everything going badly that possibly could as the team decides how to deal with that future. His down year last season depressed his value going into the offseason, when the Orioles probably could have gotten the most significant haul for his services in a trade. They chose to keep him to start the season, ultimately betting that 2018 would go far better for the team than it has. His move to shortstop, and his frequent proclamations that he doesn't want to play third base anymore, might have limited his in-season trade partners, to say nothing of what it could do for his free agency.
It's essentially been about each side getting as much from the other as possible before the inevitable separation, and now that the time for that separation is fast approaching, nothing that has transpired over the past year puts either in a better position for it.

3. We're probably talking about the wrong players when it comes to a sell-off.

Machado and Britton and even reliever Brad Brach and center fielder Adam Jones — all the team's pending free agents — are going to be in the spotlight as the Orioles try to turn these short-term assets into long-term ones ahead of their contracts expiring. That's expected. But how long-term are we talking?
If the Orioles are committing fully to a rebuild, the next wave of pending free agents should be part of that. There have been some worthwhile rentals in recent years, but the real value for the Orioles is going to be in the likes of starter Kevin Gausman, Schoop, and even reliever Mychal Givens.
Gausman and Schoop are going to be free agents after next season, and Givens is still a few years away, but the prospect of multiple playoff runs with each, to go along with their high performance over the past year-plus, will help drive the return for any of them into the stratosphere they’ll likely be seeking. As good as all of this year's free agents are, the returns might not be the multiple impact pieces the Orioles will surely be asking for.

4. This team has a major Chris Davis problem.

Last week's furor around Hall of Famer and announcer Jim Palmer criticizing first baseman Chris Davis exposed a few things, mostly about those around the team and those who follow it more than the team itself. But even that will paint everything the Orioles do this year and going forward.
How can a team look toward the future if one of its few long-term assets is performing this badly, is the recipient of fervent fan dissatisfaction, and plays a position that will complicate giving young players a look down the road?
Leave Davis' own massive struggles at the plate off to the side and consider that he's already forced Trey Mancini to left field. Of the team's top position player prospects currently in the minor leagues, every single one likely has a corner outfield profile going forward, depending on how you view Ryan Mountcastle. That list also includes Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, DJ Stewart and even now Ryan McKenna. Attrition will ensure that the Orioles won't have to fit them all into one lineup, or onto one roster, this season. But Davis' mere presence means that however many they do need to fit into the big league picture during this inevitable rebuild, they'll have one fewer slot to work with.
And that, more than his lack of production and massive salary, is going to be a headache for the Orioles.

5. The makings of a good rotation are there, if that's the direction the Orioles want to go.

With Dylan Bundy in the fold for a long time, Alex Cobb signed long-term, and Gausman and Andrew Cashner contracted through the end of 2019, the Orioles have seen glimpses of four strong major league pitchers for their rotation. David Hess has made a nice first impression, and the high minors also include arms like Hunter Harvey who could get a shot before long.

Most of the Orioles' long-term uncertainty comes with their position players and bullpen. But there's a world in which the Orioles have a more-than-competent rotation that can help them into the next era, whatever that looks like. This team has been at its best, both recently and throughout its history, when the starting rotation has led the way. Even though the Orioles haven't done that this year with the same players, replacing some of the soon-to-be-departed players with stronger defenders could help spark a rotation that leads another run to relevance before long.

Playing the waiting game

Atlanta Braves fans and fantasy owners everywhere are collectively holding their breath, awaiting the results of an MRI and other exams that were performed on 20-year-old outfielder Ronald Acuna on Sunday.

Acuna was forced to leave Sunday’s game against the Red Sox with an apparent leg injury. He appeared to have hyperextended his knee while running through first base to hustle out an infield single. He flipped over and collapsed to the ground in pain. While he was able to walk off the field under his own power, that came with a noticeable limp and he was seen in a wheelchair while boarding the team flight.

The Braves admitted after the game that Acuna was dealing with knee and lower back pain, but offered nothing on the specifics or a potential timeframe for his return. He was then transported to the hospital to undergo further testing, which never seems like a good sign.

The Braves are either still awaiting his MRI results from his exam at a Boston-area hospital, or they’re simply waiting for him to see the Braves’ own team doctors on Monday before providing an update on his status.

While it’s difficult to speculate, there are concerns that he may have damaged the ACL and/or MCL in his left knee.

Braves’ manager Brian Snitker was thrilled just to see Acuna walk off the field after the injury. He told reporters, "I just like the fact he walked off, because when he did it I was thinking about what Bryce Harper did last year… It looked real similar. We'll know more later."

Nationals’ slugger Bryce Harper suffered a similar-looking injury when he tripped over first base on a soggy evening last August. He was fortunate to have avoided any structural problems, but was still forced to miss six weeks of action with a deep bone bruise.

All we can do now is wait and hope that the 20-year-old phenom hasn’t suffered a significant injury.

In the event that Acuna is forced to miss any time, Preston Tucker is likely to take back over as the club’s primary left fielder. It’s a role that he excelled in prior to Acuna’s call-up during the first month of the season and makes him a must-own in NL-only leagues.

The Closing Bell

Ronald Acuna isn’t the only fantasy commodity whose status is up in the air heading into a new week. Pirates’ closer Felipe Vazquez was removed from Sunday’s outing against the Cardinals due to left forearm discomfort.

Prior to his removal, the results weren’t pretty. Vazquez was put in a tough spot on Sunday, coming on with the bases loaded and the Pirates holding a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning. He allowed an RBI single to Harrison Bader, walked Yairo Munoz to force in another run, allowed a third run to score on a fielder's choice, then walked Greg Garcia before departing.

According to the Pirates, Vazquez felt the forearm issue in his final two pitches on Sunday.

Vazquez was being treated and evaluated and was not available for comment after the game. If the injury forces him to miss some time, Edgar Santana could be the next man up in the ninth inning for the Pirates and may be worth a speculative add in all formats.

Santana has been terrific out of the Pirates’ bullpen this season, registering a 2.45 ERA and 18/4 K/BB ratio across 22 innings. While he has never saved a game at the major league level, he certainly has the stuff to work in the ninth inning.

Quick Returns

Dodgers’ president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman confirmed Sunday that star southpaw Clayton Kershaw will return to the club’s starting rotation on Thursday against the Phillies.

Kershaw has been on the shelf since May due to tendinitis in his left biceps. He made it through four innings in a simulated game on Saturday without issue and will still throw a bullpen session on Tuesday prior to Thursday’s start.

Before landing on the disabled list, the 30-year-old hurler was 1-4 with a 2.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 48/10 K/BB ratio across 44 innings in his first seven starts. If the Dodgers deem him healthy enough to return, he should immediately be entered back into fantasy lineups without hesitation.

Kershaw isn’t the only ace left-hander from the National League West that appears to be on track to return this week. Madison Bumgarner could conceivably make his Giants’ season debut on Friday against the Phillies.

Bumgarner dominated in his first minor league rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, striking out eight over 3 ⅔ hitless innings. The only base runner that he allowed was a walk. He also singled at the plate for good measure.

Bumgarner only threw 47 pitches in that outing though and would be limited to around 70 pitches in his next start. Still, Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy said the club is “open-minded” about a potential return on Friday.

Fantasy owners may want to hold off on using him for that first start, if he’s indeed on a limited pitch count.

American League Quick Hits: Mookie Betts was a late scratch from the Red Sox’ lineup on Sunday due to tightness in his left side. He’s expected to sit out Monday’s game as well. He’s considered day-to-day for the time being, but if it’s actually an oblique issue instead of his side, there’s a chance he could wind up on the disabled list… Khris Davis (groin) took batting practice for the first time on Sunday and is hopeful that he’ll return from the DL when first eligible on Thursday… Matt Davidson missed his fifth straight game on Sunday due to back tightness and there’s an “outside possibility” that he could be placed on the disabled list… Justin Upton (forearm) sat out Sunday’s game but is expected to return to the Angels’ lineup in a day or two… Shohei Ohtani is tentatively scheduled to start on Wednesday against the Tigers in Detroit… The Blue Jays plan to keep Joe Biagini in the bullpen going forward... Jean Segura has cleared the concussion protocol and is expected to return to the Mariners’ lineup on Monday... Joe Mauer (concussion) is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Thursday… Miguel Cabrera (hamstring) could rejoin the Tigers during their upcoming nine-game homestand… Blaine Hardy struck out six over seven innings of one-run baseball to beat the White Sox… Chris Sale was rocked for six runs over 4 ⅓ innings in a loss to the Astros… Masahiro Tanaka whiffed eight over six innings of one-run ball to beat the Angels… Ryan Tepera worked a scoreless ninth inning against the Phillies to earn his second save, but manager John Gibbons was quick to note that he’s still employing a closer-by-committee approach in Toronto… Austin Pruitt earned his first save, working the final 5 ⅔ innings of Sunday’s victory over the Orioles… Jason Hammel punched out a season-high 10 batters over 5 ⅓ scoreless innings to defeat the Rangers… Ryon Healy went 3-for-4, including a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning, as the Mariners topped the Twins… Jose Altuve went 4-for-6 with two RBI as the Astros fell to the Indians in a wild game. Prior to lining out to center field in the ninth inning, Altuve had astonishingly collected hits in 10 straight at-bats. That feat set a new club record, beating his own of eight consecutive at-bats with hits set in June of 2017… Evan Gattis swatted a pair of home runs in a losing effort there… Greg Allen blasted a walk-off homer in the 14th to lead the Indians in that come-from-behind victory… Alex Colome worked a perfect ninth inning to collect a save in his Mariners’ debut on Sunday… Frankie Montas was terrific in his first start with the A’s, allowing just one run on three hits over six innings against the Diamondbacks.

National League Quick Hits: The Padres acquired Phil Hughes, cash and the 74th overall pick in this week’s first year player draft from the Twins for minor league catcher Janigson Villalobos. It’s a terrific haul for the Padres in exchange for taking on Hughes’ contract… Mike Montgomery will start for the Cubs on Monday in place of the injured Yu Darvish… Nick Kingham is expected to start for the Pirates on Tuesday if Ivan Nova (finger) is unable to go… According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, the Giants could consider releasing veteran outfielder Hunter Pence once his minor league rehab assignment is completed… Todd Frazier (hamstring) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas early this week… DJ LeMahieu (thumb, wrist) took batting practice for the first time since sustaining his injuries, though there remains no clear timetable for his return… Kris Medlen announced his retirement from professional baseball… Wilmer Flores was lifted from Sunday’s  game against the Brewers with lower back soreness and was flown back to New York for further evaluation… Yu Darvish will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the severity of his triceps injury...Pablo Sandoval made his first career start at second base in Sunday’s loss to the Cubs… Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts indicated that Max Muncy could get a look at second base… Jesus Aguilar homered for the second straight game and drove in four runs as the Brewers topped the Mets… Stephen Strasburg fired five shutout innings against the Marlins, striking out eight in the victory… Bryce Harper socked his National League-leading 16th homer in that victory… Ian Happ wasn’t in the Cubs’ starting lineup on Sunday due to a sore shoulder. He’s considered day-to-day… Mike Foltynewicz carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and fanned seven in a win over the Red Sox… Carlos Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer as the Rockies pounded the Reds… Walker Buehler struck out eight over seven frames of one-run ball as the Dodgers bested the Padres… Franchy Cordero (forearm) is expected to be placed on the 10-day disabled list on Monday as Hunter Renfroe (elbow) returns… Javier Baez blasted his 13th home run of the year and drove in three runs as the Cubs bested the Giants on Sunday Night Baseball.

Buy Low Sell High

Josh Donaldson, Third baseman (Blue Jays): Simply put, Donaldson is a mess right now (.227 average, five homers, 16 RBIs across 128 at-bats). The combination of his ineffectiveness and nagging shoulder injury have pushed his trade value to its lowest point since he broke out with the A’s in 2013. However, wise owners will remember that the slugger was struggling at a similar level at this time last year while dealing with a calf injury before going bananas (22 homers, 47 RBIs across 191 at-bats) during the final two months of the season. Owners who can get Donaldson at a significant discount will need to consider the potential for a sky-high reward down the road.

Brian Dozier, Second baseman (Twins): Dozier has been an across-the-board disappointment this season, posting one of the lowest batting marks (.238) of his seven-year career and falling off the paces of his previous three seasons in homers and swipes. Still, his control of the strike zone (0.50 BB:K ratio) is nearly identical to recent campaigns, and he has maintained his trademark style of a pull-heavy, fly-ball hitter. Owners who are looking for a discounted second baseman should consider the possibility that Dozier is simply a slow starter who heats up with the weather. After all, his second-half OPS in each of the past two seasons was roughly 200 points higher than his marks prior to the All-Star break.

Jay Bruce, Outfielder (Mets): Bruce has fallen on hard times this season, posting the second-lowest batting average (.226) and worst OPS (.649) of his 11-year career. While it’s certainly possible that the 31-year-old has lost his power stroke, he is not at an age when sluggers typically fall off a cliff. Bruce can likely be acquired right now at an extremely minimal cost, which is a rare occurrence for a player who is barely outside his expected prime and has averaged 30 homers and 94 RBIs across the previous seven seasons. Owners who have room to give him a brief reprieve on the bench can pick Bruce up with the expectation of receiving some powerful stretches during the summer.

Jose Peraza, Shortstop (Reds): Although Peraza continues to largely be a one-category asset, he is quietly trending in the right direction. The speedster is on pace for a career high of 25 steals, and his frequent lineup spot in front of superstar Joey Votto has put him on pace for 84 runs scored. His .243 average is a disappointing mark, but his batted-ball luck hasn’t been good (.267 BABIP) and he has been knocking on the door of a .300 average as recently as May 4. Overall, owners who are desperate for cheap speed should be willing to pick Peraza up before he starts collecting base knocks again.

Didi Gregorius, Shortstop (Yankees): Perhaps no player has endured more of a roller-coaster ride than Gregorius this season. The 28-year-old was a fantasy superstar during April (.330 average, 10 homers, 30 RBIs) before completely bottoming out (.123 average, one homer, four RBIs) this month. There are surely some Gregorius owners out there who are regretting their decision to believe that he could maintain some semblance of his hot start. However, his plate discipline has not been terrible during May (3:9 BB:K ratio across 76 plate appearances), and his ugly May batting average is mostly due to horrid batted-ball luck (.127 BABIP). Hitting among star sluggers Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez, Gregorius has the potential to post game-changing numbers once he emerges from his slump.

Sell High

Buster Posey, Catcher (Giants): Although he has homered just twice this year, Posey has retained his lofty standing among fantasy catchers. The 31-year-old sits second among qualified backstops with a .297 average, ranks third at his position in runs scored (20) and is one of just three catchers with multiple steals this year. Nevertheless, the power concerns linger for a player who plays at arguably the most pitcher-friendly park in baseball and has produced a total of 28 long balls since the outset of 2016. Further, Posey may be showing signs of wearing down from his heavy defensive responsibilities, as in each of the previous two seasons his second-half OPS was roughly 100 points lower than his mark prior to the All-Star break. This could be a good time for Posey owners to trade him to a catcher-needy club.

Jean Segura, Shortstop (Mariners): Segura has surprisingly joined Manny Machado as the two most valuable fantasy shortstops to this point in the season. While the speedster can be counted on for a .300 average, 90-100 runs and roughly 30 swipes, he has upped his fantasy stature by driving in 33 runs across 209 at-bats. Wise owners will see the lofty RBI total (which ranks 13th in the American League) as a fluke, as Segura came into this season with a career-high of 64 RBIs and has made no power gains (three homers, .445 SLG) this year. Some monthly RBI totals in the single-digits are likely on the horizon for the 28-year-old, at which time he will return to being a good, but not great, shortstop asset.

Brandon Belt, First baseman (Giants): Belt has been one of the best stories so far this season, bouncing back from multiple concussions to bat .316 with 11 homers and 29 RBIs across 171 at-bats. The slugger has fueled his power surge by producing elite rates of hard contact (46.3 percent) and fly balls (50.4 percent), but his batting mark has been inflated by a .384 BABIP. Additionally, owners can worry that even with a plus ability to produce hard contact, Belt may struggle to maintain his homer pace while calling home to offense-suppressing AT&T Park. Fears of regression can be combined with long-term injury concerns to make Belt a sell-high candidate for owners with another first base option.

Matt Kemp, Outfielder (Dodgers): For Kemp owners who cannot find a willing trade partner, holding onto him and riding out his early season hot streak is certainly a worthy option. But in many leagues, there will likely be an owner who sees Kemp’s strong start (.338 average, .907 OPS) and former glory, and assumes that this is a star player in some form of rebirth. With just six homers across 151 at-bats this year, the 33-year-old will likely return to being a marginal fantasy asset once inevitable regression (.402 BABIP) pulls his lofty batting average down to his lifetime .286 mark. Additionally, Kemp will likely soon stop batting an eye-popping .486 with runners in scoring position.

Mallex Smith, Outfielder (Rays): Smith appears in this space for a second time this season, as his owners still have time to sell high on his services. The 25-year-old has logged a lofty .296 average this year, but his improvement cannot be traced to improved skills. In fact, his rate of strikeouts, walks, hard contact, line drives and other performance indicators are virtually unchanged from last season. Overall, Smith has benefited from a .378 BABIP, which has pumped his batting average and has given him more opportunities to compile swipes. Once his luck returns to normal, the speedster will return to being a one-category asset.

Long Gone

 Red Sox to part ways with Hanley Ramirez

Ramirez, who is in the final season of a four-year, $88 million deal signed in December 2014, ranks third on the team with 44 starts.

 After the 2014 season, the Red Sox signed Hanley Ramirez to play left field. In 2018, the end of his tenure feels as if it has come out of the same position.

According to a major league source, the Red Sox informed Ramirez on Friday morning that they will designate him for assignment in order to open a spot on their major league roster for the return of Dustin Pedroia (offseason knee surgery) from the disabled list. In doing so, the Red Sox will walk away from more than $15 million remaining on Ramirez’s salary through the duration of this season. The Red Sox now have seven days to trade or release Ramirez.

 The decision to part ways with Ramirez may avoid a potentially awkward situation related to his $22 million vesting option for 2019. With a total of 497 plate appearances this year, Ramirez would be guaranteed another $22 million next season. He’d already accumulated 195, and was on pace to blow past the required number of plate appearances to secure his salary for next season. The Sox were prepared to let the 34-year-old stay in the lineup and let the option vest if his production warranted it.

The Sox were prepared to let Ramirez stay in the lineup and let the option vest if his production warranted it. But after he went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts Thursday, he is now hitting .254/.313/.395 for the season, with a .708 OPS that ranks 30th among 44 first basemen with at least 100 plate appearances.

Ramirez, who is in the final season of a four-year, $88 million deal signed in November 2014, ranks third on the team with 44 starts. He occupied the third spot in the lineup for 38 of the team’s 50 games, with a half-dozen appearances in the No. 2 spot.

In his self-proclaimed return to health following offseason surgery on his left shoulder, Ramirez opened the year as a middle-of-the-order force, hitting .330/.400/.474 with three homers through the end of April.

“I do feel this guy, he’s still has a lot in the tank,” manager Alex Cora said at the time. “He can change the game. He’s doing it so far. It’s not only on the field but off the field. He’s doing a lot in that clubhouse He’s upbeat, he’s healthy, he’s honest. That’s a great thing for me.”

Yet while Cora continued to pen Ramirez into the lineup, the production cratered this month. Starting with an 0-for-6 game May 1 and continuing through the 0-for-4 night Thursday that extended his hitless stretch to five games (0 for 20), Ramirez struggled to a .163/.200/.300 line this month while seeing his ground-ball rate soar (59 percent of balls in play in May).

The poor numbers aren’t isolated. They represent a step down from his 2017 struggles (.242/.320/.429), and likewise hearken to his 2015 season(.249/.291/.426). Over a two-season period beginning last year, Ramirez ranks in the bottom five among big league first basemen in Wins Above Replacement as calculated by Fangraphs. 

Despite his promising start to this season, Ramirez has been a below-average player over a significant period.

In contrast to Jackie Bradley Jr., another Red Sox player who has been in a tailspin this month but whose glove has kept him in the lineup, Ramirez offered negative defensive value at first base relative to former Gold Glover Mitch Moreland.

Given that Moreland is hitting .311/.390/.612 (his 1.001 OPS is second among big league first basemen), he increasingly looked like a superior lineup option. Yet through Thursday, Moreland has started just half (25 of 50) of the Red Sox’ games.

Still, there is risk involved in giving up a player who was considered good enough to hit in the upper third of the lineup and who, despite weak overall numbers, owned a solid .333/.378/.476 line on the season against lefties. Ramirez had a ridiculously low batting average on balls in play (.152) that offered a reasonable likelihood of improvement. He is just three weeks removed, after all, from looking like an impact hitter.

Yet the Sox were willing to take that risk rather than part with another player from the big league roster — whether by trading Blake Swihart, optioning Bradley or Brock Holt to Triple A, or placing Eduardo Nunez on the disabled list — for a few reasons.

First, Ramirez is limited to first base and designated hitter. Whereas Swihart (catcher, first, third, left), Holt (every position except catcher), and Nunez (third, short, second) all give the Red Sox depth options at a number of positions, Ramirez plays only a position where Moreland looks like the superior two-way option.

Swihart has theoretical upside that the Sox have been unable to explore, in part because he has been behind multiple players at every position he can play. The departure of Ramirez might open more playing time for Swihart at first, and it should maximize the roster flexibility. 

Moreover, had the Sox parted with Swihart, they would have left themselves in a vulnerable position with their catching depth should either Sandy Leon or Christian Vazquez suffer an injury.

Furthermore, an unknown loomed about how Ramirez might respond if reduced to a part-time role that would jeopardize next season’s earnings. He repeatedly said that he wasn’t concerned about the $22 million vesting option, and that his sole focus was the team’s performance, but in designating him, the Red Sox won’t have to test that proposition.

 

What the Rays are doing defies logic

The A’s had Money ball. The 76ers had The Process. And now the Rays have … well we don’t have a name for it yet (somebody get on that). But whatever this unnamed thing is, it’s weird … and I like it.

But not everyone is enjoying the Rays’ grand experiment. Zack Cozart, for one, thinks it’s blasphemy. “I feel like teams have an ulterior motive when they are doing this,” said the Angels third basemen, referring to Tampa Bay’s decision to start Sergio Romo, a reliever by trade, on consecutive days last weekend. “Less starting pitching means you don’t have to pay guys as much.” Cozart may have a point, but let’s not get hung up on the final ramifications of Tampa Bay’s new, upside-down brand of baseball. Strategically, it makes perfect sense.

Last weekend when Romo debuted as the league’s first-ever “opener,” the Rays were in Anaheim for a four-game set against the Angels. If you’ve followed the Angels this year, you’ll know the top of their lineup is excellent. They have Zack Cozart, an All-Star with Cincinnati last year, hitting out of the lead off spot followed by future Hall of Famer Mike Trout with Justin Upton rounding out the top three. That’s a tough way to start things off, especially for a youngster like Ryan Yarbrough, who has just three big league starts to his name. So here’s a million-dollar idea—let the veteran Romo handle the big boys in the first so Yarbrough can start the second inning with a clean slate? Not bad, right?

Starters, the good ones at least, can usually get through a lineup once without much issue. The hitters haven’t seen the pitcher’s cards yet, so he has the advantage. The second time through is more challenging—the hitter can learn from whatever mistakes he made in the first at-bat and apply that knowledge to at-bat No. 2. The third time through a lineup is when starters tend to come undone. Whatever aura of mystery the starter once had has evaporated. You know, unless you’re Justin Verlander or something.

Not to mix sports metaphors but I compare it to the Celtics’ plan for covering LeBron James in the Eastern Conference Finals. Slowing down LeBron, the best player in the league since Michael Jordan, is a near-impossible task and not just because he’s a 6’8’/260-pound behemoth who can lift a Jeep over his head—it’s because he’s smart as a whip. But by constantly switching defenders on LeBron, giving him different looks every trip down the floor, it’s harder for him to gain a tactical advantage. Similarly, the Rays have staggered their relievers in a way that Trout could conceivably see a different pitcher in every one of his at-bats. Trout is bound to win some of those battles—if baseball had an equivalent to LeBron James, he’d be it—but if there’s a way to beat The Millville Meteor, it’s by throwing the kitchen sink at him.

The Rays’ opener experiment last weekend went well enough for them to try it again in their upcoming series with Baltimore. Romo will open Friday and Sunday’s games with Ryne Stanek, another reliever, sandwiched in between. Obviously, Tampa Bay is hoping to neutralize Manny Machado, who has been absurdly hot in the early going with 15 homers and 44 RBI.

The Rays won’t be in the playoff hunt this year, but they’re hovering around .500, which is better than most expected. And they’re doing it with a team full of no-names, squeezing the absolute most out of their limited roster by embracing forward-thinking strategies, particularly in regards to pitching. It’s not exciting per se—I’m sure fans won’t be flocking to Tropicana Field to watch the Rays bombard Baltimore with an endless stream of relief pitchers. But even if it’s not aesthetically pleasing, give Tampa Bay credit for having the stones to try something new and different.

Fire Sale Coming?

As bad as it’s been for Kansas City this year—they enter Friday’s action at 17-33—it’s about to get a whole lot worse. According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Royals are putting up a “for sale” sign, letting teams know they’re open for business. It’s the right move but also a year late. The Royals were either in deep denial or overly nostalgic last season, holding onto the last remnants of their World Series team even when they had little chance of making the postseason. KC got draft-pick compensation for losing Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain in free agency, but both players, particularly Hosmer, would have fetched a king’s ransom at the trade deadline.

It would seem the Royals have finally acknowledged their mortality. It was a good run but the World Series days are over. Now everything must go. That includes closer Kelvin Herrera, who has gotten off to a blistering start with 10 saves and a 0.96 ERA over 20 relief outings this year. Relievers make all the difference in the postseason, which is why Herrera would be an ideal fit for Houston. I detailed the Astros’ ninth-inning instability in a Daily Dose earlier this month and while things seem to have settled down in recent weeks, Herrera would be an obvious upgrade on Ken Giles, who struggled to a dismal 11.74 ERA during last year’s playoffs. By contrast, Herrera holds an elite 1.26 ERA over 22 postseason appearances.

The Royals’ other big-ticket item will be Mike Moustakas. The 29-year-old was greeted by a frigid free agent market this past winter, but teams were likely scared off by the draft-pick compensation attached to his qualifying offer. Ultimately, he wound up back in KC, where he currently leads the Royals in both home runs (10) and RBI (31). With Moustakas on a one-year deal, trading him in July was always a possibility. Now it’s a near-certainty.

Heyman also named Whit Merrifield, Jon Jay and Lucas Duda as players the Royals would consider shopping. Like Herrera and Moustakas, Jay and Duda are both impending free agents, which should motivate Kansas City to trade them before July 31. Merrifield, however, is the most interesting of the three and would surely garner the biggest return should the Royals make him available. A .285 lifetime hitter, the 29-year-old broke out for 19 homers and 78 RBI last season while leading the American League with 34 steals. In addition to his enticing power/speed blend, Merrifield also offers positional versatility. This year alone he’s started at four different positions including first base, second base, center field and right field. Still in the pre-arbitration phase of his contract, Merrifield is due a shockingly reasonable $569,500 salary in 2018. Merrifield’s inexpensive salary could be a reason the Royals end up keeping him, though it’s also what makes him appealing to other teams.

If Kansas City’s rumored fire sale comes to fruition, it’s going to be a pretty bleak summer for the Royals (not that they’ve been much of a crowd pleaser early on). But if the Royals milk the trade deadline for all it’s worth, at least they’ll have a loaded farm system to show for it.

AL Quick Hits: Dustin Pedroia will return from the disabled list on Friday following a seven-month recovery from knee surgery. The All-Star second baseman hit just .071 (1-for-14) during a five-game rehab stint at Triple-A Pawtucket … Nathan Eovaldi will make his Rays debut Monday or Tuesday against the Athletics. The right-hander hasn’t pitched in the majors since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in 2016 … Rumors surfaced on Wednesday but now it’s official—Welington Castillo will serve an 80-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs after testing positive for the hormone Erythropoietin. Assuming the White Sox don’t bring in another backstop, Omar Narvaez will handle most of the catching duties during Castillo’s absence … Lucas Giolito’s struggles continued on Thursday as the right-hander allowed six hits, three walks and seven earned runs while recording just four outs in a loss to Baltimore. White Sox manager Rick Renteria said the team has no plans to demote Giolito despite him posting a sluggish 7.53 ERA in 10 starts this season … Carlos Rodon had a scare during Thursday’s rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte, leaving after taking a line drive off his head. Rodon wasn’t hurt and only left the game as a precaution. The left-hander has been out all year while recovering from arthroscopic shoulder surgery … Dylan Bundy went the distance Thursday against the White Sox. The right-hander registered a career-high 14 punch-outs as Baltimore rolled to a 9-3 victory … Shohei Ohtani was slated to go against Masahiro Tanaka in a matchup of Japanese hurlers Sunday at Yankee Stadium, but the Angels have decided the 23-year-old won’t pitch this weekend. Ohtani, who reached base four times in Thursday’s win at Toronto, could still face Tanaka as a hitter on Sunday … Miguel Sano was activated from the DL Thursday after missing 24 games with a strained hamstring. The 25-year-old slugger should be in the Twins’ lineup for Friday’s series opener at Seattle … According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, Roberto Osuna could be facing a “significant” suspension following an assault arrest earlier this month. The Blue Jays closer has spent the past two weeks on administrative leave … Alex Gordon was a late scratch Thursday versus Texas. Gordon felt stiffness in his hip and neck after coming down with a great catch in Wednesday’s win at St. Louis … Rangers hurler Bartolo Colon celebrated his 45th birthday on Thursday. Cake was involved.

 


NL Quick Hits: The Brewers activated Ryan Braun from the DL on Thursday. He missed the minimum 10 days with middle back tightness … Austin Meadows, the subject of my Daily Dose last Friday, stayed hot with three hits including a two-run homer in Thursday’s loss to Cincinnati. The 23-year-old has hit a ridiculous .440 with three round-trippers since his call-up last week … Jeurys Familia blew his league-leading fourth save against the Marlins on Wednesday but still has the support of Mets manager Mickey Callaway. “If you look at the numbers, he’s been our best reliever,” said Callaway. “He’s the best version of himself he’s ever been.” Despite all the blown saves, Familia still carries an impressive 2.35 ERA for the season … Mac Williamson will be activated from the DL on Friday. The Giants left-fielder has spent the past month recovering from a concussion … Are you guys ready for Alex Reyes? The talented right-hander struck out 13 over seven innings of one-hit ball Thursday in a rehab start for Triple-A Memphis. Reyes, who sat out last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery, has racked up an incredible 44 strikeouts in only 23 innings during his four-game rehab assignmen

Juan Soto rakes

Juan Soto has raked at every level of professional baseball he's reached thus far.

Now, he'll take on the highest one.

Multiple sources Saturday reported Soto would be promoted by the Nationals ahead of Sunday's game against the Dodgers. Nationals manager Dave Martinez wouldn't confirm the rumored move late Saturday.



The news is bittersweet, as it comes in the wake of the team losing Howie Kendrick to a season-ending right Achilles rupture. Kendrick suffered the injury in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers when he made a catch on the warning track.

If Soto is indeed called up by the Nats for Sunday's game, he'll debut as a 19-year-old who won't turn 20 until October 25. Soto's debut will have come after fewer minor league plate appearances than another phenom, Bryce Harper.

And what he's done in those minor league plate appearances has been nothing short of amazing. As a minor leaguer, Soto owns a .362/.434/.609 slash line in 122 games, reaching Double-A in recent weeks. In 39 games this season, Soto has 14 homers and 52 RBI.

Growing pains exist for every rookie, let alone a 19-year-old. Soto's pedigree and upside in a strong Nationals lineup make him worthy of an add in every league, though, where he's available.

'Not A Fun Time' For Hill

Rich Hill started Saturday, and the Dodgers won.

That doesn't tell nearly the story.

Hill threw just two pitches in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against the Nationals, exiting after a blister on his pitching hand ripped open. Hill left with the Dodgers trainer and revealed the injury after the game.

The team didn't make a move Saturday, but Hill and the club expect the southpaw to miss some time -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “This is as bad as I’ve seen it” -- with the ailment.

"As frustrating as it is for everyone I feel like it’s three times worse for me," Hill said after the game. "I want to go out there and pitch. That’s it. And this is preventing me from doing that. Not a fun time."

Blister issues are nothing new for Hill, especially in his Dodgers career. The club acquired Hill from the Athletics at the waiver trade deadline in 2016 -- while he was on the disabled list for a blister that had cropped up two weeks before. He had his first scheduled start for the Dodgers pushed back because of the blister, finally making his Dodgers debut on August 24. His next start was also pushed back, to September 3, for blister issues.

On Saturday, Hill said the issue -- a chunk of skin on his fingertip that ripped open -- is as bad as it was that time around, suggesting another extended absence. To that end, Roberts said Hill will require a rehab assignment to prove his readiness once the blister is healed.

Rangers Keep Losing Players, Games

Injury and insult have gone hand in hand for the Rangers this year, and Saturday was no exception.

Cole Hamels became the latest member of the Rangers to miss time due to injury, having his scheduled start scratched due to continued neck stiffness. The ailment was actually a holdover from earlier in the week, when his original start was pushed back for the same reason.

The Rangers' injury list already includes a host of names, including Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre and Matt Moore, among others. In a related note, the team's record is among the worst in the American League, sitting at 18-29 after a loss to the White Sox on Saturday.

Unlike some of the other injuries, Hamels isn't expected to miss much time. Rangers manager Jeff Banister said he anticipates Hamels will be able to start in next week's series against the Yankees.

National League Quick Hits: Josh Harrison (hand) will be activated from the disabled list Sunday, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Harrison has been working up to a return, playing in rehab games in recent days. Adam Frazier has been manning the keystone in Harrison's absence. The infielder was hitting .263/.328/.351 in 14 games before suffering the fractured hand in mid-April ... Brandon Belt (knee) was back in the Giants' lineup Saturday. Belt sat out Friday's game with some knee soreness but was OK in short order. He picked up right where he left off, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's win over the Rockies ... Odubel Herrera hit a two-run home run and drove in three runs to help the Phillies edge the Cardinals on Saturday. The homer was his seventh of the year, giving him 30 RBI and 24 runs scored. His line is robust, as one would expect from a guy who's reached base in 45 straight games dating back to last year, sitting at .353/.420/.558 after Saturday's game ... Jose Quintana got back on track Saturday, tossing seven innings of one-hit, one-run baseball in a win over the Reds. Quintana was in need of a sharp performance after surrendering three homers to the Mets last time out, and the Reds offered him the perfect rebound opponent to work on. He was brilliant throughout, at least setting aside the four walks that he issued. He struck out seven on the evening and finished his seven innings of work having thrown 101 pitches (63 strikes).

American League Quick Hits: Twins placed 1B Joe Mauer on 10-day disabled list with concussion-like symptoms. The Twins said Mauer suffered a cervical neck strain in Friday's game, but he was also experiencing some sensitivity to light and was sent home. Given his history of concussion issues, it's always concerning when he's feeling symptoms like that. Especially with his background, the team will be extra cautious with something like that, so there's no real timetable for a possible return at this point ... Corey Kluber held the Astros to two runs in seven innings and earned the win Saturday. Carlos Correa punished him with a two-run homer in the sixth inning but that was all the damage the Indians' ace would yield in the quality start. He punched out 10 batters without issuing a base-on-balls in the contest. He improves to 7-2 with a 2.36 ERA and 0.84 WHIP after 10 starts ... Gary Sanchez went 4-for-5 with two solo home runs, an RBI double and three total RBI in a win over the Royals. Sanchez raised his average from .204 to .225 with his hit barrage. Even with his struggles to find a level of consistency, Sanchez has already hit 12 home runs and driven in 33 runs in 39 games this year ...

Chad Pinder crushed a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning, propelling the Athletics to a victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon in Toronto. He finished the day 2-for-4 and is now slashing .280/.341/.507 with four homers and 10 RBI ... Daniel Robertson connected for his first-career grand slam in Saturday's road victory against the Angels. The 24-year-old middle infielder is 5-for-10 with two home runs, six RBI and five runs scored in the first three games of the series.