In The Field
3B David Fletcher has been placed on the 10-day IL with an ankle injury. The Angels offense has been dismal and Fletcher had been one of the few bright spots. This means increased playing time for newly acquired 2B Franklin Barreto. Barreto is worth a speculative add as he has never really gotten regular playing time at the big league level. 2B Jose Altuve (knee) was placed on the 10-day IL. OF Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) is not close to returning so the Yankees will continue to play a combination of Clint Frazier, Mike Tauchman, Brett Gardner, and Aaron Hicks. Whoever isn't in the outfield has been DH'ing. SS Gleyber Torres (quad and hamstring)was activated. SS Alex Bregman (hamstring) is close to a return. 3B Yandy Diaz has been placed on the 10-day IL with a strained hamstring. 3B Mike Brousseau and 2B Joey Wendle will get playing time while Diaz is out. OF Jacoby Jones fractured his hand on Wednesday and is out for the season. OF Dylan Moore (wrist) could come off the IL this weekend. 3B Gio Urshela (elbow) has been placed on the 10-day IL. SS Bo Bichette is progressing well in his rehab and is scheduled for a simulated game. He could be back as early as next week but how he responds to game-like action will be the real test. OF Max Kepler (left adductor strain) hit the IL. The Twins called up C/UTIL Willians Astudillo and OF Brent Rooker. How the playing time shakes out will remain to be seen between OF Jake Cave and Brent Rooker. One would have to get regular playing time to be fantasy relevant. 2B Luis Arraez left Wednesday's game with a recurrence of his left knee injury. It is not going to send him to the IL but will be something that he has to manage the rest of the way. The lack of value outside of batting average and sporadic playing time makes Arraez hard to roster in mixed leagues. OF Anthony Santander (oblique) left Friday's game early and was placed on the 10-day IL. There was talk of him missing the rest of the season so a big blow to the Orioles and fantasy managers that have been riding his breakout. 1B Bobby Dalbec will get plenty of opportunity at 1B with 1B Mitch Moreland being traded to the Padres. Dalbec has undeniable power (59 HR combined last two seasons in minors) but is going to strike out a ton. SS Niko Goodrum was placed on the IL with a side injury. OF Danny Santana (elbow) is going to miss the remainder of the season. OF Jorge Soler left Saturday's game early with a possible injury.
On The Mound
James Paxton (elbow) has been throwing but isn't close to a return to a big-league game. A.J. Puk (shoulder) is expected back this weekend. He is likely going to return as a reliever but it will be useful to see him healthy for 2021 purposes. Chris Devenski (elbow), Jose Urquidy (undisclosed), and Brad Peacock (shoulder) traveled with the team on their weekend road trip. Peacock and Urquidy were activated. Jose Urquidy is the only one with fantasy potential and that is fully dependent on his role. He got the start on Saturday so that was a positive sign. Clarke Schmidt made his major league debut in relief on Friday (1.1 IP, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K). His role going forward is unknown but the back end of the rotation is struggling. The Yankees could give both Deivi Garcia and Schmidt a chance to stick in the rotation but publicly they have made no such announcement so as a fantasy owner you would have to speculate. Lance McCullers Jr. was seen by the trainers but stayed in the game and was later pulled in the first inning. No injury was announced but this seems very odd and is worth monitoring. He has struggled this year (5.79 ERA and 1.42 WHIP) and has not looked like his pre-injury self.
In The Bullpen
Jonathan Loaisiga (undisclosed) has been placed on the IL. He had been excellent in the bullpen (3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 29% K, 5% BB). Nick Anderson was activated off the IL on Friday and promptly picked up his fourth save. Diego Castillo pitched the 8th which puts him next in line for saves behind Anderson if something were to happen. Gregory Soto could not hold the lead in the ninth on Friday which leaves the Tigers closer situation wide open. Joe Jimenez ended up taking the loss in the 8th so it could be anyone taking the ball the next time the Tigers are in a save opportunity. The Angels were going with a committee at closer that included Ty Buttrey and Felix Pena but Buttrey had to be removed in the 9th and was charged with 3 ER. Pena has the opportunity to take this job and run with it. Trevor Rosenthal was traded to San Diego which left the Royals closer's role open. Greg Holland picked up the only save opportunity since Rosenthal left. He has pitched well this year (2.70 ERA and 1.15 WHIP) and the skills are solid (24% K and 7% BB). The other option for saves is Scott Barlow (2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 29% K, 9% BB). Josh Staumont has been a popular name and the skills are there (43% K) but he walks too many batters (17% BB) and has yet to record a save. I would prioritize Holland, Barlow, Staumont in that order with Holland being the most likely to get save chances.
Players to add this week:
RP Felix Pena (LAA)- With Ty Buttrey struggling it looks like Felix Pena has a chance to take the Angels closer role by the horns. Pena has been dominant this year (1.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 31% K, 5% BB).
OF Josh Naylor (CLE)- Josh Naylor is going to get everyday at-bats in Cleveland. He doesn't have any elite skills but he is solid across the board which is enough to make him rosterable in 15 team leagues. He is going to provide some power and has shown a good hit tool in the minors. More of a floor than ceiling type player.
RP Greg Holland/Scott Barlow (KCR)- Trevor Rosenthal was traded to San Diego which left the Royals closer's role open. Holland picked up the only save opportunity since Rosenthal left. He has pitched well this year (2.70 ERA and 1.15 WHIP) and the skills are solid (24% K and 7% BB). The other option for saves is Scott Barlow (2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 29% K, 9% BB).
1B/2B/3B Ty France (SEA)- Ty France should get regular playing time for the Mariners down the stretch. France dominated Triple-A last year (.399 AVG, 27 HR in 76 GP). He is also playing well in limited time this year with a .310 AVG, 2 HR, 10 R, 11 RBI, and 0 SB. The power is real and the playing time should be there.
SP Dane Dunning (CWS)- Dane Dunning has now made three starts and the results are encouraging. He has a 3.86 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. Dunning has also shown the ability to miss bats (31% K, 18% SwStr). His walk rate (10% BB) is not ideal but workable if he continues to miss bats at an elite level.
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