Yulieski Gurriel (UT-HOU) - With Alex Bregman having 12 hits and four home runs in his last seven games, he's clearly locked down an everyday role. Where does that leave Gurriel? Likely in a utility role, seeing time at DH, left field, and on occasion, third base. Perhaps he'll even pick up a first baseman's glove given A.J. Reed is batting just .191 in 110 plate appearances. Gurriel exited his first game with a hamstring injury Sunday, but he did return for a pinch-hit appearance Monday and he's not expected to miss further time. Gurriel hit .250 in 56 minor league at-bats before getting recalled to Houston, and given he's 32, he's not expected to return to the minors any time soon given he inked a five-year $47 million deal just last month. I'm not rushing out to grab Gurriel in 10-12 team mixed leagues, as he's likely on the tail end of his prime at best and he's not going to help you in steals. Too bad this isn't 2009 when he hit a pair of home runs in the World Baseball Classic.
Carlos Gomez (OF-TEX) - Gomez will reportedly get called up on Thursday after playing one more "tune up" game for Triple-A Round Rock. Gomez is 4-for-9 so far with a double and triple through two games after batting just .210/.272/.322 with an ugly 100:21 K:BB in 295 at-bats for the Astros. That's a 31% K% after Gomez posted sub-22% marks in the prior two seasons. He still managed to steal 13 bases despite the back of OBP, but what can we expect in his new environment? Some guys thrive in new environments and Gomez is still just 30 with elite fantasy seasons as recently as 2014, so it's possible he'll turn things around in Texas. Gomez is set to be the team's everyday left fielder, taking time away from Jurickson Profar and Delino DeShields Jr. He's worth a speculative add in deeper formats, though I'd hold off in 12-team mixed leagues unless you have a bench spot to speculate on him with. Gomez was once a first round pick after averaging 22 HR and 37 SB from 2012-2014.
Joe Musgrove (SP-HOU) - Musgrove had a rough outing Tuesday against the Pirates, allowing five runs on eight hits while lasting just four innings. After allowing just three runs in his first 18.1 innings with a 21:2 K:BB, Musgrove has hit a bit of a wall in his last two starts, allowing 13 runs on 19 hits over 9.1 innings while striking out just four and walking one. Musgrove blew through Double-A this year, allowing just one run over 26.1 innings, though he wasn't quite as good in Triple-A with a 3.81 ERA in 10 starts, though his 57:7 K:BB in 59 innings speaks to perhaps a bit of a bit of bad luck. Musgrove has a bright future, but now it's his turn to adjust.
Yordano Ventura (SP-KC) - Ventura continued to pitch like the team's ace as the Royals push hard for a playoff spot. Tuesday, Ventura tossed six shutout innings against the Marlins to improve to 9-9. It was his ninth consecutive start allowing three runs or less. Ventura has struggled with the home run ball at times this year (20 of them) and his 3.6 BB/9 isn't the walk rate of an ace, but in his last three starts, he's lowered that to 1.9. We don't know whether that is sustainable, but if he keeps issuing fewer free passes and keeps his emotions in check, Ventura is the guy who can front a rotation, at least in short spurts.
Derek Holland (SP-TEX) - Holland was a tough-luck loser against the Reds on Tuesday, allowing just one run over six innings while allowing four hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. Once again, injuries have derailed Holland's season for the third consecutive season. In fact, since making 33 starts of a 3.49 ERA in 2013, Holland has made just 29 starts since, and his ERA this year sits at 4.92 in 15 starts, an ERA likely affected by his shoulder woes. That said, it was his first big league start in over two months, so perhaps the rest did him good. Holland may very well be a shell of his former self, but if the shoulder is finally right, he has the ability to provide some mixed league value down the stretch.
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