Welcome to the end of the Stro Show

It’s not the first time Marcus Stroman trade rumors have been at the forefront of a lost Blue Jays season.
With Toronto in the midst of a rebuilding year, the future is more uncertain than ever for the 28-year-old all-star, who has been the team’s most valuable starter in 2019 by a distance. There’s a strong argument to be made that from the franchise’s soaring highs to the more recent lows, he’s been the Jays’ most consistent pitcher since he made his major-league debut in 2014.

Regardless of the outcome leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, Stroman will always be seen as a polarizing figure in the city. From the extraordinary comeback after an ACL injury in 2015 to his recent all-star selection — and every shoulder shimmy in between — the right-hander from Medford, N.Y. has always made headlines.
 To many, a line has been drawn in the sand when it comes to the Stro Show. Maybe the chip on his shoulder was too thick cut for some and left him alienated. But if Stroman does leave town, the Jays will be losing more than a top-of-the-rotation arm. According to several young hurlers, they’ll also lose an influential mentor to the next generation of Jays pitchers.

“He’s just a good guy to have in the clubhouse. He brings a good vibe. He really just sets the example for all the guys,” said 25-year-old Ryan Borucki, before his first start of the season last week. “As a young player, you’re trying to find yourself and you’re really trying to find your groove and if you just look at a guy like him — that has all the confidence in himself, in everything that he does when it comes to pitching — how can you not want to emulate that?”

That confidence has been a major talking point over Stroman’s career. It’s the attribute behind his mantra, HDMH (Height Doesn’t Measure Heart), which he turned into a clothing line and has used to inspire many young baseball fans. The boldness he brings on the mound and on social media has drawn plenty of criticism over the years. But Blue Jays prospects such as Jordan Romano, who made his big-league debut in June and is currently in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons, don’t see it that way.
“A lot of people just don’t know him. If you don’t know a guy, you can say whatever you want about him. But I think if people actually took the time to get to know him, they’d definitely have different opinions,” Romano said. “I’m telling you from experience, he’s a nice guy, a good teammate and does a lot of things for the younger guys to make us feel comfortable.”
As the Jays navigate a rebuild that tests patience and passions, the locker-room door at the Rogers Centre may as well have been taken off the hinges. Forty-five different players suited up through the first 100 games of the 2019 season — many of them for the first time in the majors.
The early days in a big-league clubhouse can be intimidating for a rookie ballplayer. For Romano, that wasn’t the case, thanks to a kind gesture that sparked an unlikely friendship between a minor-league hopeful and major-league starter that has now spanned three years.
“In 2016, I came down (to Dunedin, Fla.) early to work out. Stroman was in the big leagues, but I was working out with him and it kind of just felt like I was one of the guys,” Romano said. “It didn’t feel like I was in the minors, he was in the majors. We were all just guys going through the same thing.”

 

Just a year earlier, Romano and Stroman really were going through the same thing after both suffered significant injuries: Romano tore the UCL in his right elbow, Stroman tore the ACL in his left knee. When they first met at the team’s spring training facility, they were both preparing for their comeback seasons.
“I had a beat-up glove that I’d been using for five years. I had it through college and then pro ball. He saw my glove, and he’s like, ‘Man, what are you doing with that thing? Let me get you a new one.’ The next day he shows up with a brand new Nike glove and gives it to me. I was like, ‘Wow, this is Stroman’s glove.’”

Just weeks earlier, Stroman had brought friend and teammate Aaron Sanchez to his old stomping grounds at Duke University to train with hopes of a breakout season. Sanchez was vying for a spot in the Jays starting rotation after spending most of the previous year in the bullpen.
“I’m excited for you guys to see Aaron,” he told former Star columnist Richard Griffin in 2016. “We’ve been working at it pretty hard. He’s put on some really good weight and he’s really strong in areas where he wasn’t strong in the past, and I think you’re going to see a different Aaron this year.”
Sanchez went on to win 15 games over 192 innings for the Jays and was the league leader in ERA (3.00) in his first season as a full-time starter.
Whether he’s inviting them to hang out at his home in Tampa Bay or handing out piles of clothing from his endorsement deal with Adidas, Stroman has continued to share the wealth with younger teammates in recent years. He took Borucki and Trent Thornton on Louis Vuitton shopping trips after their first major-league wins. Thomas Pannone, who has been used as a spot starter this year, has greatly benefitted from sharing the same shoe size.
As much as Pannone loves the free cleats and sneakers, he says it’s the emotional support from Stroman that means the most.  “He was very welcoming when I got (called up to the Blue Jays). He’s got that upbeat personality and kind of welcomed me in and introduced himself,” Pannone said. “He said if I ever needed anything, come to him. He pretty much welcomed me the way a veteran of a pitching staff should.”

The Stro Show

Pannone, 25, shone in his debut with the Jays last August, tossing seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball in a win over the Baltimore Orioles. He was riding high until six days later, when those same Orioles touched him up for seven earned runs over 31/3 innings. He was crushed, until an unexpected text landed on his phone. It was Stroman keeping his word.
“Marcus texted me that night right when we got back to the hotel, and made sure that my mindset was in the right spot and that I was not gonna dwell on that outing,” Pannone said. “I think he did that because he knew what I’m capable of doing, and he was showing support that he was there for me in a tough time. He reached out to me and that was big. I’ll never forget that.”
While Stroman shares much of his life with his one million social media followers between Twitter and Instagram, his leadership style with the Jays has come behind the scenes — most of the time.
“You got my number bro. Whatever you need I got you always. Keep that work ethic,” he tweeted to Romano in December of 2018. “I need a signed jersey when you get called up bro!”
For now, Stroman remains the longest-tenured Blue Jay. And if he does get traded, he’ll be remembered fondly by the young pitchers who follow. At some point, he might even get that autographed jersey, too. “I don’t even have my jersey yet,” Romano said, laughing at his own expense. “I’ll definitely get him one — but I need mine first.”

I have no doubt that the curtain is coming down on Marcus Stroman and the Blue Jays, I just hope he gets to kick the can one more time.

Marcus , the stage is set.

Seems every team wants pitching...tick..tick...tick, the clocks ticks towards the deadline..

With the summer swap season whittled down to a single Trade Deadline -- Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET -- general managers have apparently embraced a flair for the dramatic. A slow-moving market is heading into what could be a frantic few final days, as there remains a long list of obvious needs among contenders.
 One last time before Deadline day, let’s explore those needs. We have to draw the line somewhere, so these are the 10 clubs that according to myself are given at least a 20 percent chance of reaching the playoffs and what they are -- or ought to be -- looking for, in order of urgency.

1) Brewers: Starting pitching
Even if it doesn’t appear anybody’s going to run away with the National League Central, the Brewers might struggle to keep pace with the Cubs and Cardinals if they don’t make a pitching move of some sort.
The loss of both Brandon Woodruff and Jhoulys Chacin to oblique injuries this week only further amplifies an already existing rotation need and threatens to overtax a bullpen that is ordinarily a team strength but has a 6.10 ERA in July. Maybe the Brew Crew instead goes after bullpen depth, but the rotation is the most obvious area to address.

2) Nationals: Bullpen help
Maybe you can win a World Series with a relief ERA of almost 6.00, but, uh, probably best not to try.
With GM Mike Rizzo having dipped into the system quite a bit within this window of contention in Washington, it will be interesting to see what he can pull off at this Deadline. Perhaps the Nats can be a club that improves by taking on some significant salary.

 3) Phillies: Starting pitching
The needs have been a moving target for a Phillies team that’s had a rollercoaster season, but the rotation has been a pretty consistent issue here, especially with Jake Arrieta having lost effectiveness while pitching with an iffy elbow.
The improved play of late increases the odds of Philadelphia doing something interesting at the Deadline, as the club already took an all-in approach to 2019 with its wild winter.

4) Yankees: Starting pitching
You wouldn’t expect a team in the lower-third in MLB in quality starts to be on a 105-win pace. But we should know by now that the ordinary rules somehow don’t apply to the Yankees.
Still, with Luis Severino having not thrown a pitch this season, there’s no obvious choice here for a Game 1 assignment, and the rotation is in a major rut right now. The Yankees, trying to avoid going a decade without a World Series appearance for the first time since the pre-Babe Ruth era, have rightly been in persistent pursuit of a controllable arm with sizzling stuff.

5) Rays: Pitching
Blake Snell’s arthroscopic elbow surgery is a big bummer for a Rays team that was already reeling in recent weeks. With Tampa Bay’s only realistic path to the postseason now the coin-flip Wild Card Game, it would be surprising to see a team so careful about the management of its controllable assets make a super-aggressive move. But with the rotation depth chart down to Charlie Morton and … Charlie Morton, the rotation is a clear need, and bullpen depth has been a need here all along.

 6) Twins: Bullpen help
A division lead that was once gaudy (as high as 11 1/2 games) is now gaunt, and the bullpen has been bleeding runs and bodies of late. In the last two weeks, Minnesota has designated four relievers for assignment.
The Twins do have some interesting arms in their system who are probably going to get a tryout at the big league level down the stretch (and they added veteran Cody Allen on a Minors deal), but a proven commodity would sure help a club trying to nail down its first division title in nearly a decade.

7) Dodgers: Bullpen help
The Dodgers are obviously in no danger of missing October, but there’s an argument for putting them No. 1 on this list given that they’ve lost the last two World Series and (a la the 2016 Cubs) should leave nothing to chance. This is no time to get cute!
While it’s true that the L.A. ‘pen could be bolstered by guys left off the October rotation (Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling, perhaps), there are enough questions about closer Kenley Jansen and setup man Joe Kelly that a reinforcement is in order.


8) Indians: A right-handed bat
Whether or not the Indians actually take the unusual step of trading their best starting pitcher (Trevor Bauer) in the middle of a division race, bringing in a right-handed stick for the outfield and/or infield (as a platoon mate for second baseman Jason Kipnis, who has labored against lefties) is a must.
The Indians beat up on a bunch of sub-.500 clubs to get back into contention, but their lineup will need bolstering as the schedule gets more difficult and the race with the Twins hits the home stretch.

9) Cubs: Better bench depth
While we could list the Cubs as yet another team in need of bullpen help (because it’s true), a noticeable difference between the 2019 Cubs and past Joe Maddon-managed clubs is the inability to rest and rotate players. The below-average production from Daniel Descalso, Albert Almora Jr., David Bote and the recently optioned Addison Russell has hurt the cause and created a need for a plug-and-play type.

10) Cardinals: Left-handed bullpen help
The Cards’ much-improved recent play could/should compel the front office into action, and there’s little question where they need the most help. Manager Mike Shildt told reporters earlier this week that his bullpen was running “on fumes,” with closer Carlos Martinez taking on a particularly worrisome workload given his shoulder issues in recent seasons.
So the Cards have a bullpen need in general, but particularly from the left-hand side, as they designated Chasen Shreve for assignment this week and need a companion for Andrew Miller.


Potential Bullpen fits: Kirby Yates, Edwin Diaz, Will Smith, Felipe Vazquez, Ken Giles, Shane Greene, Ian Kennedy, Shawn Kelley, Chris Martin, Alex Colome, Sam Dyson, Tony Watson, Mychal Givens, Austin Brice, Nick Anderson.
Heck maybe Joe Biagini gets a look, nah 

A little fireworks display

We know the Red Sox can swing with the best of them—they slugged their way to a World Series title last year, a mountain they scaled on the strength of 876 runs, 1,509 hits, 829 RBI, 355 doubles and a .268 batting average, all tops in baseball. No major league offense (excluding whatever dream lineup you may have curated on MLB: The Show) has ever operated at maximum efficiency but on Thursday, the Red Sox came as close as anyone ever has.

Besides the irreparable damage it did to Masahiro Tanaka’s ERA (12 runs in 3 1/3 innings will leave a mark), the Red Sox’s offensive explosion at the hands of their division rival probably won’t amount to much in the long run. Even with Thursday’s 19-3 blowout counting in their favor, the Sox are still just 2-6 against New York and—barring a Falcons-level collapse—Boston will be playing for silver in September while the Bombers coast to a division title. But even if it was just one night—one puppy-sized footprint in a six-month MLB marathon—boy did Sox fans get their money’s worth.

The Yankees have been a critical favorite (if their season was a movie it would be a 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), drawing widespread acclaim for their resiliency in the wake of countless early-season injuries, their penchant for summoning huge performances out of lesser-known names like Gio Urshela and Domingo German and of course, their murderer’s row bullpen led by late-inning sniper Aroldis Chapman. New York’s talent-flush roster is an embarrassment of riches, striking the perfect balance between proven veterans (DJ LeMahieu, J.A. Happ, Edwin Encarnacion) and promising up-and-comers (Gleyber Torres, German, Gary Sanchez). But if New York has an Achilles heel, it’s their starting pitching, a middling unit that some fear won’t measure up in the postseason. In their current form, the closest the Yankees have to a “big game” starter is Masahiro Tanaka but as Thursday night proved, even he’s not immune to the pressure of Fenway Park.

The Japanese ace put a new spin on Groundhog Day Thursday night, but instead of contending with Punxsutawney Phil and an endless loop of Sonny and Cher playing on the clock radio, Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts were the ones pulling the strings. Tanaka couldn’t make it out of the first inning in his previous encounter with the Red Sox June 29 in London (2/3 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 2 BB) but unfortunately for the right-hander, playing on a different continent didn’t improve his luck. Tanaka’s first-inning blues continued as Boston obliterated the two-time All-Star, putting a seven-spot on the board with three of those runs coming on a majestic, 451-foot lightning strike off the bat of Xander Bogaerts. That was the first of two home runs on the night for Bogaerts, whose bloated stat line (4-for-6 with four RBI) barely fit in the box score. While Xander evenly distributed his carnage throughout the night, Mookie peaked early, delivering both of his hits—a single and a two-run double—in the first inning. It looked like Tanaka might right the ship after blanking Boston in the second and third innings but that brief display of competence quickly gave way to more anarchy as the Red Sox bludgeoned him for five more runs in the fourth. The 12-run poison pill absolutely annihilated Tanaka’s ERA, which rose from 4.00 to 4.79 in the aftermath of Thursday’s horror show.
Boston spread the wealth in Thursday’s opener, combining for 23 hits including 13 (nine doubles, four homers) for extra bases. Every hitter in the Red Sox’s lineup save for Sam Travis, a late arrival who only played the last few innings, recorded at least one hit in Thursday’s slugfest. Even Michael Chavis, who subbed in for Brock Holt after the latter’s ejection for arguing balls and strikes, got into the act, supplying a pair of RBI doubles in the 19-run onslaught. Later the Sox took their licks against backup catcher Austin Romine, who was tasked with pitching the eighth inning to preserve the Yankees’ worn-down bullpen. It went about as you’d expect—Boston bombed him for four hits, two of which went out of the park. Romine was the third position player to pitch against Boston in the past week, an indicator that the Red Sox’s offense is firing on all cylinders.

Like Pacman gulping up everything in his path, the Red Sox haven’t figured out how to pace themselves. Case in point—after laying waste to the Orioles in a 17-run clinic Saturday night (Rick Porcello, the crown prince of run support, was the pitcher of record), Boston’s offense had nothing left to give the following day, losing Sunday’s one-hit struggle-fest in shutout fashion. Soon we’ll find out if the Red Sox have any juice left or if they spent it all Thursday night. The Yankees, intent on resuming their AL East dominance, are hoping it’s the latter.

Tulo -We hardly knew ya

AL Quick Hits: Troy Tulowitzki has decided to hang up his cleats after 14 seasons in MLB. The five-time All-Star accrued a .290 average, 225 homers and 780 RBI over 1,291 career games between the Rockies, Blue Jays and Yankees. … The Rays were dealt a critical blow Thursday with news that reigning Cy Young winner Blake Snell will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, a procedure that figures to sideline him for at least the next month.

At a Snell's pace

Snell will be a tough loss to overcome, but even with their playoff chances dwindling, the Rays reportedly have no plans to move ace Charlie Morton (AL-leading 2.60 ERA) ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. … The Rangers will be without Joey Gallo for at least the next four weeks as the All-Star outfielder underwent surgery Thursday to repair a broken hamate bone in his right wrist. His absence will open up playing time for Willie Calhoun, who was called up from Triple-A Nashville on Thursday. … Jonathan Lucroy is due to begin a rehab assignment, where he’ll catch 5-7 innings for High-A Inland Empire Friday night. This comes about three weeks after Lucroy suffered a concussion and broken nose after taking the brunt of a collision with Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick at home plate. Marisnick was later suspended two games for the incident. … It looks like Whit Merrifield is staying put as the Royals won’t be entertaining offers for the All-Star outfielder ahead of next week’s trade deadline. The 30-year-old is signed through 2023. … Felix Hernandez (lat) logged 22 pitches during a live batting practice session on Thursday and has been cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. He’ll throw 2-3 innings Sunday at Low-A Everett before advancing to Triple-A Tacoma. The former Cy Young winner is hoping to return for the Mariners’ stretch run in September. … Byron Buxton returned from a two-week absence on Thursday, contributing a pair of doubles in a win over the White Sox. The Twins outfielder had been out with a concussion and also had three wisdom teeth removed last week. Buxton’s teammate Nelson Cruz launched a career-high three homers spanning a combined distance of 1,336 feet in Thursday night’s victory. … Brett Gardner was sent to the injured list Thursday with left knee inflammation. Mike Tauchman has been working at left field in Gardner’s absence, though New York could look to fill its roster vacancy by promoting Clint Frazier from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Clint Frazier

NL Quick Hits: With San Francisco now emerging as a legitimate Wild Card threat in the National League, the Giants have reportedly scrapped their plans to trade Madison Bumgarner. With Bumgarner likely off the table, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Matthew Boyd figure to be the most coveted arms available at next week’s trade deadline. … Speaking of Syndergaard, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Thursday that the Mets are “fully intent” on trading their star right-hander. Marc Carig of The Athletic adds that New York is seeking at least a Top 30 prospect and “a couple of other solid pieces” in return for Thor, who logged seven innings of four-run ball Wednesday in what may have been his final start as a Met. … Edwin Diaz bowed out of Thursday’s game after being struck by a Manny Machado line drive, though luckily X-rays on his injured foot came back negative. The Mets closer is day-to-day. … Max Scherzer was back at it Thursday against the Rockies, taking a no-decision in his return from the injured list. A strained back cost the three-time Cy Young winner about three weeks of action. … The Dodgers are making a change behind the plate. Austin Barnes was demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday while Will Smith (No. 98 in MLB.com’s prospect rankings) is expected to join the Dodgers ahead of their series opener Friday against the Nationals. Smith should serve as L.A.’s primary catcher with veteran Russell Martin filling in the gaps. … Travis Shaw is headed back to the big leagues after a month-long stay in the minors. Shaw, who lost his starting job at second base to rookie phenom Keston Hiura, hit .286 with nine homers and 22 RBI over a 28-game span with Triple-A San Antonio. … After a two-year hiatus from the big leagues, Yasmany Tomas is finally ready to rejoin the Diamondbacks. He’ll be on hand for Friday night’s game in Miami. The 28-year-old has been a standout in Triple-A, hitting a robust .305 with 29 homers and 80 RBI over 390 at-bats for Reno this season.

Leave it to Bieber

The Bieber

Exactly one year ago, Shane Bieber was an unheralded rookie armed with pinpoint control (and a penchant for somehow being around the zone too much) coming off the worst performance -- a seven-run implosion against the Pirates in which he recorded only five outs -- of his brief major-league career. It’s amazing how quickly things can change. Bieber struck out 10 batters in a dazzling complete-game, one-hit shutout against the Blue Jays on Wednesday. The 24-year-old right-hander, who took home the MVP Award at the 2019 MLB All-Star Game a few weeks ago, carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a ground-rule double to Eric Sogard. It was the only hit he allowed in the contest. He generated a whopping 18 swinging strikes and needed only 102 pitches (68 strikes) to go the distance. It was the second complete-game effort of his career and fifth double-digit strikeout performance of the season. 

“He just pitched like a veteran. He’s maturing so fast,” Indians manager Terry Francona told reporters after the game. “He’s barely got a year under his belt. It seems like he’s going to get better and better. It’s fun to watch.” With the victory, Bieber improved to 10-3 with a 3.44 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a pristine 166/29 K/BB ratio across 21 starts. Among qualified starters, he ranks 23rd in ERA, sixth in WHIP, seventh in strikeouts and seventh in batting average allowed (.209). He’ll face a much tougher test in his next start against a formidable Astros’ lineup on Tuesday. It may feel too early to look ahead to the impending 2020 campaign, but there is an extremely high degree of probability that Bieber is selected as a top-10 starting pitcher in fantasy drafts next spring.

It is just a shame the night did not belong to Marcus .

Hiura hype machine revving up

Brewers’ rookie sensation Keston Hiura clobbered his 10th homer -- a 415-foot moonshot to center field in the fifth inning -- in a 5-4 win over the Reds on Wednesday. The 22-year-old second baseman has been one of the league’s hottest hitters since the All-Star break, hitting an absurd .469 with three homers and 12 RBI over 49 second-half at-bats. According to FanGraphs leaderboards, Hiura’s .445 wOBA (entering play on Wednesday) ranked 12 out of 194 qualified hitters since his recall from Triple-A San Antonio on June 28. We may not have enough of a sample size to draw any definitive conclusions regarding Hiura’s long-term potential, but given his lofty prospect pedigree and stellar production so far, it doesn’t feel like a stretch to suggest that he could out-produce every other second baseman in fantasy over the final two months of the 2019 campaign. He’s already up to 10 homers and six steals in just 40 games and has an outside shot at recording a 20-homer, 20-steal campaign, a feat accomplished by only 10 big-league hitters last season.

Puig Your Trade Target

Is there a mystery team willing to pony-up a prospect package big enough to land a wild horse? We’re about to find out. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Reds’ outfielder Yasiel Puig “appears a particularly strong candidate to be moved” in a trade by next week’s major-league trade deadline. While Reds president of baseball operations, Dick Williams, said at the All-Star break that the team planned to be buyers, they’ve lost eight of their last 13 games since that statement and find themselves seven and a half games out of a Wild Card spot less than a week away from the trade deadline. At this point, it may make more sense for them to explore selling off some of their veteran assets on expiring deals. Easily the most intriguing name among their plethora of trade chips is Puig, who is slated to hit free agency this offseason. In addition to performing his best Jack Sparrow impression and bizarrely electing to shave his mustache between at-bats, the 28-year-old outfielder has been tearing the cover off the ball lately. After a frosty two-month stretch to open the season, he’s hitting a rock-solid .312 (49-for-157) with 12 homers and six stolen bases in 42 game since June 1.

AL Quick Hits: Yankees placed Gary Sanchez on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 left groin strain. … Joey Gallo will visit a hand specialist in Dallas, but is likely headed to the injured list due to right wrist soreness. … Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported Wednesday that the Phillies and Indians have discussed a potential Trevor Bauer trade. … Eloy Jimenez (elbow) was able to play catch on Wednesday and swung the bat for the first time since his injury. … Byron Buxton (concussion, teeth) remained out of the Twins’ lineup against the Yankees on Wednesday. … Charlie Morton posted 11 strikeouts over seven innings of two-run ball in a win over the Red Sox … Tommy Pham blasted his 16th homer and swiped his 11th base of the season in the victory. … David Price racked up eight strikeouts over six innings and was saddled with a tough-luck loss. … Emilio Pagan hurled a scoreless ninth inning to net his seventh save in that one … Jose Altuve went 3-for-4 with a two-run dinger -- his 15th long ball of the season -- to lift the Astros to a victory over the Athletics … Roberto Osuna notched his 23rd save in that contest. … Didi Gregorius went 3-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Yankees to a narrow win over the Twins. … Edwin Encarnacion launched his 30th round-tripper of the season in that contest … Daniel Vogelbach slugged a pair of solo homers to propel the Mariners to a victory over the Rangers. … Rougned Odor clobbered a three-run homer in the loss. … Reynaldo Lopez recorded 10 strikeouts over eight innings in a loss to the Marlins. … Brad Keller fired seven scoreless innings in a win over the Braves. … Marcus Stroman yielded one run over seven innings in a loss to the Indians. … Kole Calhoun went 3-for-4 with a solo homer to power the Angels to a win over the Dodgers. … Domingo Santana underwent an MRI before Wednesday's game, but there's still no update on the results. … Jose Alvarado (oblique) could resume throwing off a mound next week. … Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday that Rangers relievers Chris Martin and Jose Leclerc are “drawing interest” from clubs. … Brad Peacock (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Sunday. … Twins designated Blake Parker for assignment.

NL Quick Hits: Kris Bryant told reporters after exiting Wednesday's game against the Giants due to right knee soreness that he'll be ready to play on Friday against the Brewers. … Jeff Passan of ESPN reported Wednesday that the Mets “have been open” to trading Edwin Diaz. … Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that closer Greg Holland does not appear to be hurt despite his early exit in the ninth inning on Wednesday. … Nick Senzel was removed from Wednesday's game against the Brewers due to illness. … Jon Gray was lifted from Wednesday's start against the Nationals due to a calf injury. X-rays came back negative and he’s expected to make his next scheduled start. … Jon Lester was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday in San Francisco due to illness. He’ll start on Saturday against the Brewers instead. … Dansby Swanson was removed from Wednesday's lineup against the Royals due to soreness in his heel … Jameson Taillon (elbow) has been shut down from throwing and will visit with doctors next week. … Paul DeJong went 4-for-4 with three home runs, five RBI and four runs scored in the Cardinals’ blowout win over the Pirates. … Javier Baez went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs scored in the Cubs’ win over the Giants. … Craig Kimbrel notched his seventh save in that one. … Zac Gallen posted a career-high nine strikeouts over seven scoreless innings against the White Sox to record his first major-league win. … Starling Marte went 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored in the Pirates’ loss to the Cardinals. … Fernando Tatis Jr. went 3-for-5 with and RBI in the Padres’ win over the Mets. … Manuel Margot walked twice and stole a pair of bases in that one as well. … Vince Velasquez fanned nine over 5 2/3 scoreless frames in a win over the Tigers. … Justin Turner collected three hits and slugged his 14th homer in the Dodgers’ loss to the Angels. … Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters that Jhoulys Chacin is very likely headed to the injured list with a right oblique strain. … Diamondbacks activated David Peralta from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. … Willson Contreras went 1-for-4 in his return from 10-day injured list on Wednesday. … Max Fried (blister) will return from the injured list to start on Saturday against the Phillies. … Gregory Polanco (shoulder) is beginning a "brief period of rest" in his rehabilitation. … Cubs optioned Addison Russell to Triple-A Iowa.

I want my trea cycle

Trea Turner

Nationals shortstop Trea Turner stole the spotlight on Tuesday, hitting for the cycle for the second time in his career against Colorado. Not only did he become the 26th player in major-league history to hit for the cycle multiple times in his career, but he’s the first hitter in franchise history to accomplish the extremely rare feat. He went 4-for-5 with a solo homer and a pair of RBI in the Nationals’ 11-1 blowout win over the Rockies. He kicked off the contest with a leadoff homer -- his eighth round-tripper of the season -- to left-center field, reached on an infield single in the second, tripled into the right-field corner in the fifth and doubled into the right-center-field gap to finish off the cycle in the seventh. The dynamic 26-year-old speedster hasn’t lived up to the lofty preseason expectations of fantasy owners who envisioned a potential 20-plus homer, 50-plus stolen base monster, but he’s been an extremely productive five-category impact contributor, hitting .282 (68-for-241) with 38 runs scored, 29 extra-base hits (five home runs), 21 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 56 games since coming off the injured list on May 17. It’s nights like this where we get a glimpse of his immense upside and are reminded that we haven’t come close to witnessing the peak version of Turner over a full-season just yet.

With the major-league trade deadline exactly one week away (4 p.m. ET on July 31), Tampa Bay is dealing with a rash of unexpected injuries and appears to be in the market for a big-name replacement on the trade market to reinforce their potential playoff push. After losing defensive stalwart, center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, to a sprained left thumb over the weekend, the Rays’ lineup -- which is already missing rookie sensation Brandon Lowe --  was dealt another significant blow Tuesday when third baseman Yandy Diaz landed on the 10-day injured list with a left foot contusion. The 27-year-old infielder was in the midst of an impressive breakout campaign, hitting .270/.343/.480 with a career-high 14 home runs in 344 plate appearances, before fouling a ball off his left foot during Monday's game against the Red Sox. The good news is that there is no fracture and that it appears to only be a deep bone bruise. There’s no exact timetable for Diaz’s return, but he’s expected to be sidelined for at least a few weeks. He’ll be replaced in the immediate future by veteran infielder Matt Duffy, who was activated from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. He’s been out all season due to back and hamstring injuries, and figures to garner the majority of the starts -- with Joey Wendle and Mike Brosseau also in the mix -- at the hot corner moving forward.

 

Further complicating matters for the Rays were reports that All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe, who has been sidelined since July 3 due to a deep bone bruise on his right shin, received a pain-killing injection on Tuesday, and will be shut down for the next two-to-three days. The 25-year-old slugger owns a stellar .276/.339/.523 triple-slash line with 40 runs scored, 16 home runs, 49 RBI and five stolen bases in 307 plate appearances. He’s the current frontrunner to take home the American League Rookie of the Year award at the end of the season, but doesn’t appear close to returning to the lineup. The team isn’t calling it a setback in his recovery, but at a bare minimum, it’s at least mildly concerning and confirms that his recovery is going slower than previously anticipated. This latest development comes on the heels of manager Kevin Cash telling reporters over the weekend that Lowe wasn’t moving well while fielding grounders. There isn’t an official timetable for his return to the lineup, but it could be awhile before he’s ready. This slew of injuries is striking the Rays at the worst possible time and it appears likely that they will be forced to cash in some of their prospect chips to acquire some help from outside the organization.

Losing the trio comprised of Kiermaier, Lowe and Diaz -- even for a few games -- could have a significant impact on the Rays’ playoff trajectory, especially since 10 of their next 12 games are against the division rival Red Sox and Blue Jays. They’re locked in an extremely tight race for a Wild Card berth and have been the subject of numerous trade rumors in recent days. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Tuesday that the Rays have “checked in” on a trade for Tigers’ outfielder Nicholas Castellanos, while also noting that there is no evidence of a deal being close. There were also numerous reports connecting them with the Rangers regarding a potential deal for veteran outfielder/designated hitter Hunter Pence. Perhaps the most interesting rumor came out late on Tuesday when Mark Feinsand and Juan Toribio of MLB.com reported that the Rays have also expressed interest in Brewers’ first baseman Jesus Aguilar. The 29-year-old slugger has endured a dismal 2019 campaign after his remarkable full-season breakout last year. However, he’s begun to heat up in recent weeks, hitting .342 with three home runs in 16 games since July 1.

There’s also a possibility that the Rays could target a lesser-known option to shore up their short-term hole at the keystone and provide some flexibility in a utility role. Someone like Eric Sogard, who has hit a remarkable .304/.367/.487 with 10 homers in 308 plate appearances for Toronto, would seem to be an ideal fit. Regardless of what direction the Rays elect to go in, it’s clear that their pitching staff, headlined by veteran righty Charlie Morton and reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, gives them an opportunity to win in the postseason. The central question is whether they have enough gas in the tank to make it across the finish line as currently constructed.

Robby hits three

Reports of Robinson Cano’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. As evidenced by a four-hit, three-homer performance against the rookie sensation Chris Paddack (who he took deep twice in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively) and the Padres on Tuesday night, the 36-year-old second baseman isn’t completely washed. Granted, he’s not the same hitter he was in his prime, but he doesn’t appear to have fully lost his mojo yet. He’s been snake-bitten by injuries, missing significant chunks of time due to a series of recurring quad and hand injuries, but appears to be rounding back into form in recent weeks. Not only did he record the first three-homer effort of his career, but he’s already gone deep five times in just 10 games since the All-Star break, which is more round-trippers than he recorded in the entire first half (four) of the season. There isn’t a ton of fantasy upside here, but considering the lack of quality options at the keystone, especially in deeper mixed leagues, Cano is a worthy trade target or speculative waiver wire pickup. He’s not done yet.      

AL Quick Hits: Joey Gallo was lifted from Tuesday night's game against the Mariners for precautionary reasons due to right wrist soreness. … Gary Sanchez was removed from Tuesday night's game against the Twins with an apparent right leg injury. … Mariners placed Dee Gordon on the 10-day inured list with a left quad strain. … Tim Anderson (ankle) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Charlotte. … Byron Buxton had three wisdom teeth pulled last Friday. He is reportedly symptom-free and the Twins are saying that he will be back soon. … Jesus Luzardo (shoulder) is expected to begin working off a mound in early August. … Domingo Santana was removed from Tuesday night's game against the Rangers due to soreness in his right elbow. … Mike Trout launched his 33rd round-tripper of the season to lead the Angels to a win over the Dodgers. … Chris Sale recorded 10 strikeouts over six innings in a win over the Rays. … Marcus Walden recorded a one-out save to ice the victory … Yonny Chirinos whiffed five batters over 5 2/3 frames in a no-decision. … Danny Duffy struck out a season-high 11 batters over six innings of one-run ball in a win over the Braves. … Ian Kennedy picked up his 18th save in that one. … Matt Olson went 2-for-5 with a game-tying three-run homer to lift the Athletics to an eventual win over the Astros in extra-innings. … Yuli Gurriel went 2-for-4 with a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the loss. … Justin Smoak slugged a game-tying homer and delivered a walk-off single to propel the Blue Jays past the Indians in a 10-inning affair. … Trevor Bauer struck out nine batters over 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a no-decision in that one. … Rougned Odor went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI to lead the Rangers to a win over the Mariners. … Renato Nunez went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and a pair of RBI in the Orioles’ blowout victory over the Diamondbacks. … Adalberto Mondesi (shoulder) likely won't be reevaluated until the Royals return to Kansas City on Thursday. … Hunter Strickland (lat) is expected to be activated off the injured list during the Mariners' upcoming road trip to Texas. … Astros placed Josh James on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder soreness. … Rangers optioned 1B Ronald Guzman to Triple-A Nashville. … Red Sox activated Mitch Moreland from the 10-day injured list and optioned Marco Hernandez to Triple-A Pawtucket. … Blue Jays designated Dalton Pompey for assignment.

NL Quick Hits: Max Scherzer (back) is scheduled to return to the Nationals' rotation Thursday against the Rockies at home. … Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported Tuesday that the Rockies could consider dealing Charlie Blackmon before the trade deadline. … Morosi also confirmed previous reports that the Yankees have contacted the Diamondbacks in “recent days” about southpaw Robbie Ray. … Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported Tuesday that Jason Vargas is the “most likely to go” of the Mets starting pitchers. … Zack Wheeler (shoulder) threw a round of live batting practice on Tuesday. … Rockies purchased the contract of Yonder Alonso from Triple-A Albuquerque. He belted a pinch-hit RBI double in his debut against the Nationals. … Jean Segura (heel) remained out of the Phillies’ starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Tigers. … Keston Hiura (quad) went 1-for-4 with a run scored in his return to the Brewers' starting lineup on Tuesday night against the Reds. … Paul Goldschmidt and Jose Martinez left the yard to power the Cardinals to a victory over the Pirates. … Dallas Keuchel whiffed a season-high 12 batters over six innings in a no-decision against the Royals. … Ronald Acuna stole his 22nd base of the season in that contest. … Caleb Smith carried a perfect game into the sixth inning and racked up nine strikeouts over seven frames of one-run ball in a win over the White Sox. … Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2-for-5 with an RBI double and a run scored in the Padres’ loss to the Mets. … Edwin Diaz converted his 22nd save of the season in that one. … Eugenio Suarez went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI to lead the Reds to a blowout win over the Brewers. … Joey Votto and Jesse Winker also left the yard in that one … Rhys Hoskins went 2-for-5 with a go-ahead RBI single in the 15th inning to push the Phillies past the Tigers. … Pablo Sandoval swatted a walk-off homer to power the Giants to a victory over the Cubs in extra-innings. … Madison Bumgarner recorded seven strikeouts over seven innings in a no-decision in that one. … Kris Bryant went 3-for-6 with a pair of RBI in the losing effort. … Cole Hamels (oblique) worked 2 1/3 shutout innings in a rehab start Tuesday night at Triple-A Iowa. … Erick Fedde will start the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Rockies with Patrick Corbin working the nightcap … Max Fried (blister) is on track to return to the Braves' rotation Sunday versus the Phillies. … Zach Eflin will take his next turn in the Phillies' rotation this weekend against the Braves. … Johnny Cueto (elbow) will face live hitters Wednesday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last August.

Alvarez continues to mash

The Astros didn’t call up Yordan Alvarez until June 9. He might just win the American League Rookie of the Year award, anyway.
Alvarez had another monster night Monday in the Astros’ 11-1 laugher over the Athletics, reaching base four times and hitting one of the team’s three home runs. Fellow Cubans Aledmys Diaz and Yuli Gurriel also went deep for Houston and Gerrit Cole fanned 11 across seven frames of one-run ball.
Alvarez’s solo home run in the second inning put him in a tie with Albert Pujols for the most RBI in a player’s first 30 games. His run-scoring double in the third inning gave him 35 RBI to set a new record.


In addition to the record number of RBI, Alvarez has already clubbed 11 home runs and 10 doubles over just 133 plate appearances. His batting line on the season is sitting at an utterly ridiculous .342/.421/.709. That’s a 1.130 OPS, which is 54 points lower than the 1.184 OPS he had at Triple-A Round Rock (to go along with another 23 homers and 71 RBI). Among players with at least 100 plate appearances, only Christian Yelich (1.156) has a higher OPS than Alvarez.
Alvarez’s strikeout rate is a bit elevated at 27.1 percent, and he’s probably not going to be riding a .414 BABIP forever. Still, it’s difficult to poke holes in his offensive profile. He’s absolutely crushing the ball, and the left-handed swinger is doing it against both righties and lefties. Did I mention that Alvarez turned just 22 less than a month ago?

Scherzer Nearing Return

It’s been over two weeks since Max Scherzer’s fantasy owners have gotten a start from the stud right-hander, but it doesn’t sound like they’ll be without him much longer.
Scherzer got through a full bullpen session Monday – his first since going on the injured list – with no issues and afterward declared himself ready to go.
“Really anxious. I really want to get going,” Scherzer said. “Everything feels good. Ball is coming out of my hand exactly the way it should feel like. I’m at 100 percent. Hopefully I can pitch here really soon.”
The next test for Scherzer’s readiness will come Tuesday, as the Nationals want to wait and see how he feels a day after the extended mound work. If the right-hander doesn’t report any issues, he’s expected to rejoin the rotation on Thursday against the Rockies or Friday versus the Dodgers.
The ailment that sent Scherzer to the IL was diagnosed as scapulothoracic bursitis, which is inflammation in the bursa under his right shoulder. He first felt soreness during his June 30 start versus the Tigers and dealt with it again in his next outing against the Royals.
You certainly wouldn’t know that he was pitching compromised based on his lines, as Scherzer allowed one run while striking out 25 over 15 innings in those two starts. Mad Max has reached double digits in strikeouts in six of his last seven starts (he had nine whiffs in the other outing) and still leads the National League in strikeouts by 27 even though he hasn’t pitched in 17 days.

Waiting for Woodruff

The Brewers got an official diagnosis on Brandon Woodruff Monday and the news wasn’t good. An MRI confirmed that the right-hander has a strained left oblique and he is expected to be sidelined for about six weeks.
“Kind of what we expected,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Obviously that’s significant. He’s going to miss some time, and he’ll do his best and we’ll do our best to get him back as fast as we can.”
Woodruff – who suffered the injury during Sunday’s start in Arizona – is in the midst of a breakout season, having posted a 3.75 ERA and 136/29 K/BB ratio over 117 2/3 innings covering 20 starts and making his first All-Star team. He’ll now be on the shelf until September.
Because of a couple upcoming off days, the Brewers can get by with four starters until August 3 against the Cubs. It sounds like that’s what they plan to do, although a trade deadline acquisition certainly would change things.
There was a good chance Milwaukee was going to pursue pitching help even before Woodruff was hurt, and that need is only magnified now. A foursome of Jhoulys Chacin, Gio Gonzalez, Zach Davies and Chase Anderson doesn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence for a team looking to close the gap on the Cubs in the NL Central.


National League Quick Hits: Eugenio Suarez went 2-for-5 with two homers including the go-ahead homer in the ninth inning to give the Reds a victory over the Brewers on Monday. … Paul Goldschmidt launched a go-ahead grand slam in the 10^th inning of the Cardinals’ win over the Pirates on Monday. … Tyler Saladino slugged a grand slam for the second time in as many days in the Brewers’ loss to the Reds on Monday. … Robbie Ray whiffed 10 while allowing three runs over six innings in Monday’s win over the Orioles. … Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is expected to rejoin the Mets' rotation on Friday against the Pirates. … Cole Hamels (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. … Matt Carpenter (foot) is expected to be activated from the injured list when first eligible on Friday. … David Peralta (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with the Arizona League Diamondbacks on Sunday. … The Reds placed Tyler Mahle on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. … The Nationals placed Ryan Zimmerman on the injured list with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

American League Quick Hits: Ivan Nova held the Marlins to one run in his ninth career complete game Monday. … Mitch Garver homered twice and scored three times in the Twins' victory over the Yankees on Monday. … The Astros have not decided whether Brad Peacock (shoulder) will be used as a starter or a reliever when he returns next month. … DJ LeMahieu went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a walk on Monday in a loss to the Twins. … The Rangers placed closer Shawn Kelley on the 10-day injured list with right biceps muscle soreness. … Eduardo Rodriguez limited the Rays to two hits over seven scoreless innings in Boston's win Monday. … Oscar Mercado homered, tripled and walked to help the Indians top the Blue Jays on Monday. … Jose Abreu homered, doubled and walked in Monday's rout of the Marlins. … Yandy Diaz will undergo X-rays after leaving Monday's game versus the Red Sox following a foul ball off his left foot. … The Twins put C.J. Cron on the IL Monday with inflammation in his right thumb. … Tim Anderson (ankle) said Monday that he expects to return "in a week or two". … Andrew Benintendi went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double against the Rays on Monday. … According to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com, the Rays have inquired on the availability of Hunter Pence. … Mitch Moreland (quad) will be activated from the injured list Tuesday and the corresponding move could be Michael Chavis (back) going on the IL

Top prospects for July

Several of these prospects are among the best in baseball, but for the purpose of this series, it’s just measuring potential impact for this season. Also, a reminder that prospects who are on MLB rosters are not eligible for this list, nor is any player that has exhausted his prospect eligibility. You can view my top 100 prospects for 2019 and my top prospects by position.

Without further ado, here’s the top 10 prospects that can help you in the 2019 season.

Bo Knows Hitting

1. Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

2019 stats: 54 G, .310/.373/.510, 7 HR, 15 SB, 21 BB, 42 SO at High-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo.

Welcome to the top spot, Bo. Bichette is actually going through a bit of a slump over his last four games with a 3-for-18 run, but obviously, that shouldn't be too concerning. With Luis Urias (finally) off to the majors, and the Brendan McKay situation -- more on that in a second -- Bichette is well-deserving of the top spot. There are rumors he'll be up before the end of the month, and his ability to hit for average, steal bases and provide some pop from the right side make him a must-add when he does get the call. It may be too late, so if you can stash him, by all means.

2. Brendan McKay, LHP/DH, Tampa Bay Rays 

2019 stats: 13 G, 1.22 ERA, 66.2 IP, 38 H, 15 BB, 88 SO at Triple-A Durham; 4 G, 3.72 ERA, 19.1 IP, 19 H, 1 BB, 18 SO at Tampa Bay.

One of the reasons why Bichette is in the top spot is because of his ability. In fact, it's the main reason. But let's talk about McKay, who was in the top spot the last two weeks after pitching and being sent down twice for the Rays. Yes, the 23-year-old struggled in his last start by allowing nine hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings, but this is more about how the Rays are going to use him the rest of the year. If he's going to be up-and-down every 10 games, it's tough to say how much fantasy value he can provide. He'll still be a quality streamer, but I'll take the (likely) everyday shortstop ahead of that. For now.

3. Gavin Lux, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

2019 stats: 82 G, .352/.415/.621, 20 HR, 7 SB, 39 BB, 75 SO at Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Goodness gracious. Lux continues to destroy Triple-A pitching, and before a 1-for-8 'slump' against San Antonio, he was hitting .531 in his 64 at-bats with Oklahoma City. A 2-for-4 day on Sunday now has his line with the Triple-A Dodgers at .487/.522/.961. These are the friendliest of friendly confines and the PCL pitching talent is not good. I care not. Lux is an elite offensive option in the middle infield, and if the Dodgers give him a chance, you should, too. He only ranks this low because of the lack of guarantees. 

4. Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

2019 stats: 85 G, .346/.397/.637, 21 HR, 32 SB, 18 BB, 83 SO at High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, and Triple-A Charlotte.

Robert's week ended on a down note, as he went 1-for-13 with five strikeouts in his three-game series over the weekend against Pawtucket. Prior to that, he had three-straight multi-hit games, and he homered three times with three steals over the week. Long story short, Robert continues to destroy every level of pitching he faces. The White Sox can't make the "work on his defense" excuse here, and he should get the chance to finish the year with Chicago. Should and will are often not the same things. 

5. Isan Diaz, 2B, Miami Marlins

2019 stats: 92 G, .305/.394/.586, 24 HR, 5 SB, 44 BB, 84 SO at Triple-A New Orleans.

Welcome to the list, Mr. Diaz. The 23-year-old has been outstanding with the Baby Cakes in 2019 as you can see from those numbers, and he's been even better as of late; hitting .386 over his last 10 games with four homers in the PCL. Starlin Castro is the subject of trade rumors, and as soon as Castro is dealt -- or as soon as the Marlins come to their senses and realize that Diaz needs to play right now -- you should undoubtedly pick up Diaz. The ability to hit for power from this position is an awful nice commodity. 

6. Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros

2019 stats: 91 G, .271/.355/.574, 25 HR, 21 SB, 37 BB, 87 SO at Triple-A Round Rock.

After the slow start to July, Tucker is starting to see his hits fall as of late, and he had a pair of two-hit games while adding that 25th homer at the end of the week. There have been some trades talks involving Tucker, and there's no denying that a move would improve his prospects for this year -- assuming he goes to a team that isn't as loaded in the outfield as the Astros, anyway. If not, Tucker still has a chance to make an impact for Houston this year, but it's going to take an injury or someone struggling or both. Doesn't mean you shouldn't monitor him, just the reality of the situation. The talent is exceptional.

7. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2019 stats: 40 G, .325/.399/.571, 8 HR, 5 SB, 15 BB, 40 SO at High-A Inland Empire and Double-A Mobile.

Adell is having his first tribulations of the season since his injuries, but I like to think it's just a way to prove that he's not a robot sent to hit baseballs a long way. In reality it's just a case of natural regression, because baseball is really hard. Adell is one of the five best overall prospects in baseball, and even with him playing in Double-A, he has a chance to be an impact player for the Angels in 2019.

8. Carter Kieboom, INF, Washington Nationals 

2019 stats: 77 G, .314/.413/.555, 15 HR, 3 SB, 48 BB, 70 SO at Triple-A Fresno; 11 G, .128/.209/.282, 2 HR, 4 BB, 16 SO at Washington.

Kieboom has extended his hit streak to nine games, and while seven of those contests saw him pick up one knock, the other two were of the three-hit variety. The 21-year-old has been excellent in 2019, and his 'low' placement on this list has more to do with where the Nationals are than anything he's done; including his struggles in the two-week sample with Washington earlier this year. No guarantees, of course, but Kieboom is talented enough to be a strong fantasy option if he gets the chance to hit for the Nats again this summer.

9. Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

2019 stats: 17 G, 3.10 ERA, 82 IP, 74 H, 31 BB, 96 SO at Triple-A Indianapolis; 3 G, 10.50 ERA, 12 IP, 21 H, 6 BB, 15 SO at Pittsburgh.

Keller had another strong start for the Triple-A Indians on Sunday; firing six innings of one-run baseball with five strikeouts against Durham. The 23-year-old clearly has the International League figured out, and there's not much to gain from these starts from a statistical standpoint. The MLB experiment didn't go well, but the experiment was too short to take too seriously. When Keller gets another chance this year, he's worth taking a risk on if you need the pitching help. 

10. Deivi Garcia, RHP, New York Yankees

2019 stats: 16 G, 3.17 ERA, 76.2 IP, 59 H, 38 BB, 124 SO at High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton.

Garcia made his first two appearances at the Triple-A level last week, and they went so-so. He allowed three runs with six strikeouts on Monday against Columbus, and while he allowed just one run in three innings with four strikeouts against Louisville, he also walked four. Don't get too high or too low about a two-game sample, but Garcia has legit swing-and-miss stuff, and while it's possible he makes his debut in a relief role, it's also feasible he joins the Yankees' rotation because of that ability to miss bats with a complete arsenal. 

Deivi Garcia