In The Field
DH Shohei Ohtani was removed from Thursday's game early due to left knee inflammation. His imaging came back negative, which is good news for the Dodgers and fantasy owners. Ohtani has hit .333 with 7 HR, 27 R, 27 RBI, and 2 SB since April 1st. OF Jordan Lawlar (wrist) was activated off the 60-day IL on Friday. He hit .333 with 1 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, and 1 SB in 20 PA before the injury. He is a high upside pickup at this point in the year, but he is going to need to play well to stick in the lineup. C Will Smith was placed on the 10-day IL on Thursday, but it was retroactive to Monday due to neck inflammation. He is expected to be out just the minimum, and C Dalton Rushing will see the majority of the starts while he is out. Smith is hitting .249 with 6 HR, 23 R, 23 RBI, and 0 SB, while Rushing is batting .277 with 8 HR, 20 R, 21 RBI, and 0 SB. OF Jake McCarthy was out of the Rockies lineup on Wednesday-Saturday due to an illness. He has quietly been a solid fantasy contributor (.282 AVG with 4 HR/11 SB). OF Luis Robert Jr. (spine) is optimistic that he can make it back before the end of the season. He is reportedly making progress in his recovery. OF Adolis Garcia left Wednesday's game early after pulling a muscle in his right shoulder. He was placed on the 60-day IL with a torn right lat. C Endy Rodriguez left the Pirates game early on Wednesday due to left hip discomfort and was not in the lineup on Thursday. He is hitting .217 with 1 HR, 7 R, 5 RBI, and 2 SB in 59 PA. The Pirates called up Rafael Flores Jr. while C Henry Davis was on the paternity list. Flores Jr. proceeded to hit his first major league home run on Thursday. OF Oneil Cruz was placed on the 10-day IL with fractures in his left hand. He is expected to be out for a month. This is tough news for him and the Pirates because he had been one of their better hitters to start the year (.264 avg with 14 HR, 45 R, 44 RBI, and 21 SB). The Pirates will continue to mix and match in the outfield while he is out. OF Jake Mangum hits for average and has speed, but needs every day at-bats, and OF Esmerlyn Valdez has legitimate power, but he is a rookie. It makes it hard to pick either one up, knowing that neither will get regular playing time, and 1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn also gets reps in RF. SS Konnor Griffin (elbow) has started a throwing program and has been able to hit, so he is expected to return before the end of the month. The Pirates have not given a timetable for his return, but he is progressing towards a rehab assignment. OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL on Wednesday. SS Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) was able to do fielding drills on Wednesday and had a follow-up MR on Friday that will determine the next steps in his return. The MRI revealed he is 90% healed. SS Willy Adames was out of the Giants' lineup on Wednesday with lower-body pain. He was back in the lineup on Friday. Adames has swung the bat better in June and is up to a .234 AVG with 11 HR, 34 R, 29 RBI, and 1 SB in 288 PA. C Drake Baldwin (oblique) had live BP on Thursday and Friday. He is expected to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett in the near future. OF Brenton Doyle (oblique) has not resumed baseball activity. He has not had a setback. OF Jordan Beck (hamstring) has started baseball activities (run and throw). OF Mickey MoniakJorge Polanco had an MRI earlier in the week on his ankle/Achilles, and it came back negative. SS Francisco Lindor (calf) is ramping up baseball activities. He has been out since late April. He is expected to start rehab games next week. OF Tyler Freeman was placed on the 7-day concussion list on Monday. OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (hamstring) has started his rehab assignment and is expected back next week. 2B Tommy Edman (ankle) is expected to return on Tuesday, according to manager Dave Roberts. He is most likely going to take over as the primary 2B, which is going to end 2B Alex Freeland's playing time. SS Ezequiel Tovar was not in the Rockies lineup on Friday due to left leg soreness. OF Miguel Andujar was placed on the 10-day IL on Saturday, retroactive to Thursday, with a left hamstring strain.
On The Mound
Justin Wrobleski (hamstring) left his start early on Thursday after taking a line drive off the back of his leg. He is expected to make his next start. Kodai Senga (arm) went 6 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, and 5 K in his latest rehab start for Double-A Binghamton. He was able to get to 75 pitches in this outing, so there is a chance he will be activated next week. Matthew Boyd (knee) was going to return this weekend to start against the Giants, but that has been postponed because he felt shoulder soreness after his last rehab start. Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) gave up 3 ER on 5 H, 2 Bb, and 0 K's in 3.2 IP at the Brewers Complex League. He threw 68 pitches and averaged below 91 mph on his fastball. He is also working on a lower arm slot, which is not ideal in the middle of the season. It is unknown what his stuff will look like and how quickly he makes the adjustment to the lower arm slot. He is trending in the wrong direction for fantasy purposes. Chase Dollander (elbow) is meeting with his doctor to determine the next steps in his recovery. Earlier in the week, surgery was not on the table, but it now appears that he will have surgery, according to manager Warren Schaeffer. Jameson Taillon (hamstring) is going to be out until the All-Star break. Javier Assad is going to take his spot in the rotation. Joe Musgrove (elbow) has started playing catch. He has had one setback already and is looking at a post-All-Star break return. Matt Waldron (forearm) threw a bullpen on Tuesday and is expected to start a rehab assignment on Sunday. Coleman Crow was placed on the 15-day IL with a right forearm flexor strain. Spencer Strider left his start early on Friday due to right arm soreness. His velocity was down considerably in his last inning. He was 95-96 to start the game, and his last fastball was just 90.8 mph. Strider has a 5.31 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 28% K, and 12% BB in 39 IP. Strider was placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday with elbow inflammation.
In The Bullpen
Paul Sewald picked up his 16th SV and has been very good for the Diamondbacks (3.20 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 30%K, and 6 % BB). The Reds' bullpen struggled this week. Tony Santillan blew a save on Wednesday. Brock Burke, Sam Moll, and Chase Petty took losses this week. Antonio Senzatela blew a save on Wednesday but was able to get the win. He now has 6 W, 3 SV, 2.11 ERA, and 1.02 WHIP. Tanner Scott saved his seventh game on Thursday. He has been much better this year (2.84 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 32% K, and 3% BB). Pete Fairbanks picked up a win and a save this week. His ratios are bad (6.63 ERA and 1.47 WHIP), but he continues to miss bats 31% K) and needs to improve his command (13% BB and 1.42 HR/9). Devin Williams picked up back-to-back saves on Thursday and Friday. Williams has a 5.01 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 36% K, 14% BB, and 10 SV. Jhoan Duran sandwiched a blown save with two saves earlier in the week. He continues to be one of the best relievers in baseball (3 W, 17 SV, 1.99 ERA, and 1.01 WHIP). Gregory Soto continues to be the lone bright spot in the Pirates' bullpen. He has a 3.38 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 9 SV. Caleb Killian has officially been named the Giants' closer by manager Tony Vitello. Wilber Dotel was placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday with a lat strain.
Players to add this week:
RP Antonio Senzatela (COL)-Antonio Senzatela is someone to add if he is still available. He has worked his way into save opportunities, and he has been awesome this year (6 W, 3 SV, 2.11 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 22% K, and 7% BB).
SP Christian Scott (NYM)-The strikeout upside is what makes Christian Scott such an intriguing fantasy arm. Through 40.2 IP, he owns a 3.10 ERA and 1.35 WHIP while striking out 26% of opposing hitters. The biggest hurdle has been the command (11% BB), but his 3.98 SIERA suggests he has pitched better than his ERA would indicate. If Scott can trim the walks even a little, he has the upside to develop into a fixture in fantasy rotations.
SS Mauricio Dubon (ATL)-Mauricio Dubón has swung the bat well over the past two weeks, hitting .297 with 3 HR, 6 R, 8 RBI, and 1 SB across 43 PA. The power spike has been supported by an improved 13% Barrel rate, although his overall contact quality remains below average. On the season, Dubón is hitting .259 with 6 HR, 28 R, 37 RBI, and 1 SB through 260 PA. His multi-position eligibility and recent hot streak make him a viable pickup in deeper mixed leagues.
C Dalton Rushing (LAD)-Dalton Rushing has been productive lately, batting .333 with 1 HR, 6 R, and 4 RBI over his last 34 PA while cutting his strikeout rate to 15%. On the season, he is hitting .277 with 8 HR, 20 R, 21 RBI, and 0 SB through 127 PA. Rushing has shown a balanced offensive profile with solid plate discipline and enough pop to matter at catcher. That combination makes him one of the better catching options available in many leagues especially with C Will Smith on the 10-day Il.
2B Matt McLain (CIN)-Matt McLain has started to heat up over the past two weeks, hitting .242 with 3 HR, 7 R, 5 RBI, and 3 SB across 39 PA. More importantly, he has rediscovered his impact contact, posting 18% Barrels and 55% HardHit during that span. On the season, McLain is hitting just .205 with 8 HR, 28 R, 25 RBI, and 10 SB through 257 PA, but his blend of power and speed still gives him intriguing fantasy upside. If the bat continues to come around, he could be a difference-maker over the final few months.
SP Shane Drohan (MIL)- Shane Drohan has a 3.11 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 13 GP and 3 GS. He has struck out 24% of batters while walking 7%. Drohan has league-average stuff but has good control/command. The upside is that the Brewers have an excellent track record with pitching, specifically starting pitching.
OF Carson Benge (NYM)-Carson Benge has continued his breakout over the last two weeks, hitting .313 with 4 HR, 11 R, 6 RBI, and 1 SB across 51 PA. The underlying metrics have backed it up, highlighted by 15% Barrels and 50% HardHit. On the season, Benge is hitting .256 with 7 HR, 36 R, 26 RBI, and 10 SB through 259 PA. The power-speed combination makes him an easy waiver wire pickup in any league where he is still available.
OF Cole Carrigg (COL)-Cole Carrigg made his major league debut this week. He is hitting .267 with 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, and 0 SB in 16 PA. At Triple-A, he was hitting .338 with 6 HR, 55 R, 42 RBI, and 30 SB in 257 PA. He has a very fantasy-friendly profile.
1B Bryce Eldridge (SFG)-Bryce Eldridge has been on an absolute tear over the past two weeks, hitting .440 with 4 HR, 15 R, and 10 RBI across 56 PA. He has paired the production with excellent quality of contact (10% Barrels and 59% HardHit) while cutting the strikeout rate to 20%. On the season, Eldridge is batting .316 with 5 HR, 18 R, 13 RBI, and 0 SB through 113 PA. The combination of plate discipline and power gives him the look of a player who could make a significant fantasy impact the rest of the way.
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