A small sampling of the player notes provided to subscribers daily:
Giancarlo Stanton (OF-MIA) - By the time you read this, it's possible we'll know more about Stanton's condition after the MVP candidate was taken from the field by an ambulance after being beaned in the face in Thursday's game. It was an ugly scene, as Reed Johnson entered the game for Stanton and was promptly hit in the hand by that same pitcher, Mike Fiers - on the very next pitch no less. Predictably brawling and ejections ensued, but all we really want to know is the status of Stanton for the rest of the year. Despite fanning in 26.6% of his PA's, he's Clayton Kershaw's stiffest MVP competition given he leads the NL in HR (37) and RBI (105). Should Stanton miss time, Johnson and others would have to fill in. Stay tuned.
Maikel Franco (3B-PHI) - Franco was 0-for-3 with a walk Thursday, his first big league walk by the way. He's just 4-for-22 so far this year, but given where the Phillies are, he's most likely going to be playing every day the rest of the way. Franco hit a disappointing .257/.299/.428 in Triple-A this season, a year after breaking out with 31 home runs. He did however finish strong and earned the callup. On a roster filled with aging and overpaid veterans, Franco represents the organization's best hope for an immediate infusion of young and cheap talent, but he's going to have to hit this month to have a leg up on a 2015 job. With Ryan Howard and Cody Asche assumingly in the mix next year as well, performance will dictate Franco's playing time.
Francisco Liriano (SP-PIT) - It was vintage Liriano Thursday against the Phillies, as the ex-ace tossed eight innings of three-hit shutout ball with 12 strikeouts and a pair of walks. Lirano's ERA is down to 3.54, and in his last four starts, Liriano has allowed just two runs in 27 innings with a 34:10 K:BB. Despite an up and down season and a 5-10 record, Liriano still has a 10.0 K/9, and he's still just 30 years of age, so there's probably plenty left in his tank. He's seeing his control regress this year with a 4.3 BB/9 versus last year's 3.5, so if he can make some progress in that area next year, fantasy owners will like the results.
Gregory Polanco (OF-PIT) - Starling Marte's x-rays were negative after he was hit by a pitch Thursday, so Polanco probably remains a #4 OF for right now. Polanco came into the game Thursday and went 1-for-3 with his 13th stolen base. At .238/.313/.342, it's been a disappointing rookie seasons, but Polanco should have no trouble beating out the likes of Travis Snider (if he's still around) for a 2015 starting job. For now though, Snider will probably get the lion's share of the RF at-bats ahead of Polanco and Andrew Lambo. Polanco has posted an encouraging 0.55 EYE while fanning a shade over 18% of the time, so there is still quite a bit of 2015 breakout potential in his bat.
Cliff Pennington (SS-ARI) - The Diamondbacks are bursting at the seams with average middle infielders, but Pennington is doing his best to prove he's more than a long-term utility guy. In going 2-for-3 with a triple Thursday, Pennington is now batting .257/.354/.368 with two HR and six SB in 152 at-bats. Pennington's career highs are eight HR and 29 SB, and he's solid defensively, so it's entirely possible that he could rise above the likes of Didi Gregorius and be a starting middle infielder next year. Keep his name in mind in deeper formats.
