Nestor Cortes (SP-NYY) was effective against the Astros on Saturday afternoon as he returned from the IL after being sidelined for a little over two months because of a rotator cuff strain. As expected, the 28 year-old southpaw's workload was limited, as he completed just 4 IP in which he allowed 1 run on 1 hit and 1 walk while racking up 8 punchouts on 64 pitches (43 strikes). The lone Houston run came on a Jose Altuve solo homer. Cortes now owns a 4.97 ERA, 9.5 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 4.82 xFIP through 12 starts (63.1 IP) on the year. His fantasy owners will have to hope that his performance on Saturday marks the beginning of a turnaround for Cortes, whose control had not been as sharp as usual before he landed on the IL (his BB/9 was just 2.2 last year). He lines up for a turn in Miami next weekend.
Bryce Elder (SP-ATL) got knocked around by the Cubs on Saturday as he allowed 7 runs (5 earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3 over 4.1 IP. The 24 year-old righty threw 55 of his 97 offerings for strikes and surrendered a pair of big flies in the outing. Regression has come for Elder, as he entered the outing with a 3.18 ERA against a 4.23 xFIP, and he now owns a 3.43 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and 4.29 xFIP across 22 starts (126 IP) on the year. He simply doesn't miss bats (sub-9% swinging-strike rate), surrenders a fair amount of hard contact (37%), and his control isn't anything to write home about. He's a sell-high candidate in fantasy if one who owns him can find someone interested. It looks like Elder should take the hill in Pittsburgh next week.
Jeremy Pena (SS-HOU) went 0-3 with a pair of strikeouts and a walk against the Yankees on Saturday. The 25 year-old enjoyed a nice rookie campaign last year (.253 average, 22 homers, 63 RBI, 72 runs scored, and 11 steals across 558 PA, with a wRC+ of 102), but his impatience at the plate (55% swing rate, including a 41% chase rate) and poor contact rate (71%) combined to produce a 4% walk rate and 24% strikeout rate. His hard-hit rate was low (29%) while he tended to pull the ball (46%). This year, most of those figures have slightly improved, as his swing rate and chase rate are both down a little (53% and 39%, respectively), his contact rate is up a bit (74%), his walk rate has ticked up (6%), his strikeout rate has dipped (22%), and his hard-hit rate is up (32%). However, his production - especially his power output - has been hampered by a 54% groundball rate. Despite the improvements noted above, none of those figures are still good, and the bottom line is that Pena's aggressive approach at the dish is a problem. He's now hitting a disappointing .238 with 10 dingers, 39 RBI, 50 runs scored, and 10 steals (on 17 attempts) across 427 PA, with a wRC+ of just 85.
Jake Bauers (1B/OF-NYY) went 2-4 with a solo homer and a strikeout as he batted leadoff against the Astros on Saturday afternoon. The 27 year-old is seeing regular playing time with Anthony Rizzo (post-concussion syndrome) on the IL and is hitting .235 with 11 homers, 24 RBI, 23 runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases across 191 PA on the campaign. True to form, Bauers has fanned a lot (32%) while drawing some walks (10%). But unlike in the past, he's also recorded a healthy hard-hit rate (39%) that has proven productive in Yankee Stadium as he's logged a career-high 44% flyball rate and has pulled the ball at a 47% clip. The contact issues (70% contact rate and 14% swinging-strike rate) limit his average potential, but there's plenty of power upside as he seems to have adjusted his swing and/or approach to hit for more power, which is especially interesting given the short porch in right at Yankee Stadium.
Johan Oviedo (SP-PIT) is worth considering as a streamer or DFS play on Sunday as he's slated to take on the Brewers in Milwaukee. The 25 year-old righty owns a meh 4.42 ERA, 8 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, and 4.59 xFIP through 22 starts (124.1 IP) on the campaign, but he's been more effective since the All-Star break, with a 3.00 ERA, 9 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, and 4.20 xFIP across 24 IP (4 starts). Oviedo has allowed exactly 1 earned run while completing 6+ innings in 3 of his 4 outings since the break. He'll face a Brewers lineup that ranks #25 in the majors in team OPS (.693) against righties. Oviedo is available on the waiver wire in about 88% of ESPN leagues.
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