In The Field
3B Anthony Rendon (lower leg) told the media on Friday that his mystery injury was a fractured tibia. He has started baseball activities recently but is still doubtful to return before the end of the season. OF Mickey Moniak (lower back tightness) was placed on the 10-day IL on Friday. He was hitting .280 with 13 HR, 33 R, 43 RBI, and 6 SB in 83 GP. Moniak's overall line looks good but his underlying skills paint a scary picture. He has a poor plate approach (3% BB, 35% K, 49% O-swing) which makes it hard to buy into him for 2024. 3B Mike Moustakas was placed on the 10-day IL on Friday with a left forearm flexor strain. This is likely going to end his season. 1B Triston Casas was scratched from the Red Sox lineup due to right shoulder soreness on Friday and placed on the 10-day IL on Saturday. Casas had been red hot in the second half (.317 AVG with 15 HR, 32 R, 38 RBI, and 0 SB). 1B Ryan Mountcastle (shoulder) was not in the Orioles lineup on Friday. The Orioles called up prospect Heston Kjerstad this week and he started at DH on Friday. KJerstad hit .298 with 10 HR, 57 R, 32 RBI, and 2 SB in 76 GP at Triple-A. He showed good plate skills (21% K and 8% BB) and the ability to hit the ball hard (42% Hardhit). OF Leody Tavares (hand) pinch-hit on Thursday but was not in the Rangers lineup on Friday. OF Evan Carter got the start in center field. He has started six of the eight games since being called up. He is hitting .294 AVG with 1 HR, 5 R, 3 RBI, and 2 SB in 7 GP. C Mitch Garver had to leave Thursday's game early after fouling a ball off his foot. X-rays after the game came back negative and he has been diagnosed with a foot contusion. OF Adolis Garcia (knee) has started jogging and is expected to be activated next week. The Rangers are also expected to get 3B Josh Jung back on Monday. The Rangers are currently fighting for a wild card spot in the American League. 2B Luis Rengifo (biceps) was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. He ends the year hitting .264 with 16 HR, 55 R, 51 RBI, and 6 SB. OF Jasson Dominguez had surgery to repair his UCL in his right elbow on Wednesday. Dominguez showed promise in his short stint in the majors (.258 AVG with 4 Hr, 6 R, 7 RBI, and 1 SB). OF Riley Greene is seeking more opinions on his inflamed right elbow. He is currently on the 10-day IL and can't come off until September 22. Greene hit .288 with 11 HR, 51 R, 37 RBI, and 7 SB in 99 GP. He showed improvement in his strikeout rate (27%), Barrel rate (11%), and Hardhit (47%). He is not a finished project because he still hits too many ground balls (25% GB) but he is just 22 years old. OF Jarred Kelenic (foot) was out of the Mariners lineup on Tuesday and Wednesday but returned on Friday. OF Joey Gallo (foot) is expected to start a rehab assignment next week at Triple-A St. Paul. Gallo has hit .177 with 21 HR, 39 R, 40 RBI, and 1 SB in 111 GP. His days as a fantasy-relevant player are nearly over. It's going to be hard for him to find playing time going forward with a .177 AVG and 43% strikeout rate. OF Michael A. Taylor (hamstring) is expected to be activated off the IL soon. 3B Jose Miranda (shoulder) had surgery to repair his right shoulder impingement. OF Byron Buxton got a cortisone shot in his right knee on Sunday of last week. He had been trying to return from a hamstring injury and was attempting to play in the field when he injured his knee. He and the Twins are hopeful that he will return before the end of the season. 1B C.J. Cron (back) was able to take BP on Monday and he is expected to return before the end of the season. However, once he does return his playing time is likely going to be sporadic due to the presence of rookie 1B Nolan Schanuel. 3B Yandy Diaz was removed from Tuesday's game with testicular contusion but he was right back in the lineup on Wednesday. DH Shohei Ohtani (oblique) was placed on the 10-day IL on Saturday and his season is officially over. He ends his 2023 season hitting .304 with 44 HR, 102 R, 95 RBI, and 20 SB. OF Nick Gordon (tibia) started a rehab assignment on Thursday with Triple-A St. Paul. He hasn't played in a game since May 17. 3B Matt Chapman (finger) returned on Thursday from the 10-day IL. 1B Brandon Belt was placed on the 10-day IL with back spasms. OF Jose Siri was placed on the 10-day IL with a hand fracture and he is expected to miss three weeks which will make it dicey if he is able to return before the end of the season. Siri has provided power and speed (25 HR/12 SB) but has struggled to hit for average (.222 AVG with 36% K).
On The Mound
Triston McKenzie went 3 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, and 4 Ks in his most recent rehab start for Double-A Akron. Shane Bieber also went 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, and 4 K this week which puts both in line to make one more start or simulated game before returning to the Guardians. It will be interesting to see what the Guardians do with their rotation because if Bieber and McKenzie return they will have seven starters for five spots (Giolito, Bibee, Williams, Quantrill, Allen, McKenzie, and Shane Bieber). Cal Quantrill and Logan Allen would be the top two candidates to get bumped from the rotation but the Guardians could choose to sit down their young starters who have pitched quite a lot this year (Bibee 152 IP and Allen 142.2 IP). Chris Paddack struck out six over four innings pitched in his latest rehab start for Double-Wichita. He is expected to pitch in a multi-inning relief role if he does return. Max Scherzer will miss the rest of the season with a strained right shoulder. He finishes the year with a 3.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 21% K:BB, and 3.78 SIERA across 152.2 IP. Chase Silseth (concussion) has been on the IL since August 29. He needs to continue to build up his arm strength before returning. Silseth showed promise as a starter prior to the injury (4.09 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 23% K:BB, and 3.10 xFIP). John Means was activated off the 60-day IL on Tuesday. His first start was not great (5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, and 1 K) but it was nice to see him back on a major league mound. In his last full season, he posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 15% K:BB, and 3.99 SIERA. It isn't an elite profile but he is a solid starter that is pitching for a great team. He also lines up for two starts next week (@HOU and @CLE). His first start was not great (5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, and 1 K) but it was nice to see him back on a major league mound. In his last full season, he posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 15% K:BB, and 3.99 SIERA. It isn't an elite profile but he is a solid starter that is pitching for a great team. He also lines up for two starts next week (@HOU and @CLE). Mike Clevinger has been very good in the second half. He has a 3.29 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 18% K:BB across 52 IP. He has shown increased strikeouts (24% K) and better control (6%) which has been the reason for his success. He also gets two starts this week (@WSH and @BOS) which is an added bonus. Michael King has transitioned to starting which has gone well so far. He has a 1.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 30% K:BB) as a starter through 23.1 IP. Whether or not this works long-term doesn't matter at this point in the year. He is missing bats and getting starts which is more than enough to pick him up and profit. If everything lines up he will end the year with a home and away start against the Blue Jays. Not great matchups but if you need strikeouts King is a good add. Ken Waldichuk's overall line is bad (5.14 ERA and 1.56 WHIP) but he has been much better in the second half (3.17 ERA and 1.17 WHIP). He has shown better stuff (24% K) and has been fortunate on balls in play (.236 BABIP). He has a plus matchup at home against the Tigers this upcoming week which makes him a viable streaming option.
In The Bullpen
Felix Bautista (elbow) was able to throw long toss on Friday. He is trying to make it back before the end of the season. In order for that to be serious he will need to progress to mound work within the next week. Kenley Jansen was placed on the COVID-19 IL on Wednesday after testing positive. Chris Martin figures to be the closer while he is out. The Rays produced four saves this week with three going to Pete Fairbanks and the other going to Robert Stephenson. Gregory Santos picked up the only White Sox save this week with Bryan Shaw getting the hold.
Players to add this week:
OF Heston Kjerstad (BAL)- The Orioles called up prospect Heston Kjerstad this week and he started at DH on Friday. KJerstad hit .298 with 10 HR, 57 R, 32 RBI, and 2 SB in 76 GP at Triple-A. He showed good plate skills (21% K and 8% BB) and the ability to hit the ball hard (42% Hardhit).
SP/RP Michael King (NYY)- Michael King has transitioned to starting which has gone well so far. He has a 1.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 30% K:BB) as a starter through 23.1 IP. Whether or not this works long-term doesn't matter at this point in the year. He is missing bats and getting starts which is more than enough to pick him up and profit. If everything lines up he will end the year with a home and away start against the Blue Jays. Not great matchups but if you need strikeouts King is a good add.
SP Cal Quantrill (CLE)- Cal Quantrill gets two starts next week (@KC and BAL). He has not been good this year (5.40 ERA and 1.45 WHIP) but there aren't many two-start weeks left on the waiver wire. The start against the Royals is a good one but a matchup against the Orioles is not ideal. This is a desperation play for those looking for innings and potential wins.
SP Mike Clevinger (CWS)- Mike Clevinger has been very good in the second half. He has a 3.29 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 18% K:BB across 52 IP. He has shown increased strikeouts (24% K) and better control (6%) which has been the reason for his success. He also gets two starts this week (@WSH and @BOS) which is an added bonus.
SP John Means (BAL)- John Means was activated off the 60-day IL on Tuesday. His first start was not great (5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, and 1 K) but it was nice to see him back on a major league mound. In his last full season, he posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 15% K:BB, and 3.99 SIERA. It isn't an elite profile but he is a solid starter that is pitching for a great team. He also lines up for two starts next week (@HOU and @CLE).
2B Willi Castro (MIN)- Willi Castro is playing every day and if you need speed he is the guy to pick up. He is hitting .253 with 7 HR, 52 R, 31 RBI, and 31 SB. It isn't a great profile but he has been very good at stealing bases (31 for 36) this year.
SP Ken Waldichuk (OAK)- Ken Waldichuk's overall line is bad (5.14 ERA and 1.56 WHIP) but he has been much better in the second half (3.17 ERA and 1.17 WHIP). He has shown better stuff (24% K) and has been fortunate on balls in play (.236 BABIP). He has a plus matchup at home against the Tigers this upcoming week which makes him a viable streaming option.
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