In The Field
2B/OF Brandon Drury was back in the D-backs'
lineup on Friday after injuring his knee in Wednesday's game. He's
worth a look in deeper leagues this week. C Devin Mesoraco was
activated from the DL on Friday after recovering from hip and shoulder
injuries that kept him out of action for most of the last two seasons.
Mesoraco is a player to watch now that he's back but it may be awhile
before he's seeing regular starts behind the plate. He certainly has
the offensive upside to warrant stashing away in large roster leagues
though. OF Ian Desmond has resumed playing in extended spring
training games as he's recovered from his broken hand. There are
rumblings that there is a chance Desmond could join the Rockies as early
as tomorrow so owners will want to keep an eye on his status as his
return could come a little sooner than expected. OF David Diehl
has resumed swinging a bat but has yet to be cleared for full baseball
activities. Keep stashing him away until his return which likely won't
be for another 3-4 weeks. 1B Adrian Gonzalez continues to play
through a forearm injury that is clearly hurting his production at the
plate, but the Dodgers seem content to let him work his way through it.
For now, owners should consider other 1B options. OF Joc Pederson
was placed on the 10-day DL last week with a groin strain but could
return as early as Friday. Pederson was struggling a bit before the
injury and owners outside of deep leagues should look elsewhere this
week even if Pederson returns. Pederson's injury did open the door for
Dodgers' top prospect Cody Bellinger to join the big-league
roster but the team plans to send him back to Triple-A once the Dodgers'
outfield gets healthier. He may still have a week left with the
big-league club, and potentially even more if Adrian Gonzalez's forearm
injury doesn't improve. He's worth a flier if you've got room on your
roster. 2B Logan Forsythe remains on the 10-day DL with a broken
toe and has yet to resume running or fielding. Keep Forsythe stashed
away as it will probably be another 2-3 weeks before he's back with the
Dodgers. Brewers' OF masher Eric Thames returned the lineup on
Friday after leaving Wednesday's game with hamstring tightness. Thames
is absolutely mashing right now and should be starting in all leagues
where he's owned. 1B/3B Travis Shaw is day-to-day with a hand
contusion after he was hit with a pitch on Saturday. Shaw owners will
need to monitor his status through roster deadlines before plugging him
in this week. 1B Lucas Duda should be able to return for the
full slate of games this week as he's recovered from a hyperextended
elbow. Duda could be activated as early as today and is worth a look in
deeper league lineups. The Mets lost OF Yoenis Cespedes to the
DL last week with a hamstring injury. Cespedes could potentially return
after this week's slate of games as the team is saying the injury isn't
serious but owners will have to stash him away this week. 3B David
Freese was placed on the 10-day DL last week with a hamstring
injury. Freese owners in deep leagues will need to stash him away as
he'll be out until at least early next week. Freese's absence has
opened up playing time for Gift Ngoepe but he isn't a recommended
fantasy add. OF Denard Span remains on the shelf with a sprained
shoulder and likely won't return for another two weeks. Keep Span
stashed away in deeper leagues. Drew Stubbs got the call to fill
the void left by Span but isn't likely to contribute much in fantasy
leagues. SS Brandon Crawford was activated from the bereavement
list but was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to last Tuesday with a
groin injury. Crawford could return as early as Saturday, but it seems
more likely he'll be out for the entire scoring frame. OF Dexter
Fowler's heel injury didn't wind up costing him any playing time
last week. Fowler remains a solid fantasy OF option this week. Bad
news for the Nationals as OF Adam Eaton is out for the season
after tearing his ACL last week. Eaton can be dropped in all re-draft
leagues. Michael Taylor should take over in center but hasn't
provided consistent enough fantasy value to warrant adding outside of
deep leagues.
On The Mound
Shelby Miller is done for the season as
he'll need Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his pitching
elbow. Miller can be dropped in all re-drafts. Zach Godley got
the first crack at filling the rotation but it's unclear if the team
will stick with him or give Archie Bradley another shot in the
rotation. R.A. Dickey is expected to make his next start despite
leaving his previous start with quad spasms. Dickey is only worth a
look in NL-only leagues as a spot starter at this point in his career.
Reds' starter Rookie Davis returned from the DL and turned in
another underwhelming start this week. Davis, one of the pieces in the
Aroldis Chapman trade from the 2015 offseason will need to turn things
around before he'll warrant a fantasy roster spot. Rich Hill
could be activated soon from the DL as his blister issues appear to have
subsided again, but with Alex Wood securing a spot in the
Dodgers' rotation and Julio Urias getting the call to join the
rotation, it's looking likely that Hill may be headed to the bullpen.
It's a difficult decision for fantasy owners as Hill has been extremely
valuable since his return to the big leagues when he's in the starting
rotation, but a trip to the bullpen would most certainly mean he should
be dropped. Speaking of Urias, it appears that the Dodgers are
committed to their young stud starter in the rotation making him a
player that should be snagged in any leagues where he's still
available. Brewers' starter Junior Guerra threw a bullpen
session last week and could begin a rehab assignment soon as he's nearly
recovered from a calf strain. He'll be worth adding in deeper leagues
once he gets closer to a return. Noah Syndergaard was scratched
from Thursday's start with biceps tendinitis but the move was likely
precautionary as he's still lined up for a start today. Syndergaard
should be starting in fantasy lineups as long as he's healthy this
week. Stephen Matz has increased his throwing distance but is
still looking at another month of rehab before he re-joins the Mets'
rotation. Keep him stashed away. Aaron Nola will miss his next
1-2 starts as he recovers from a lower back injury. Keep Nola stashed
away this week. Nick Pivetta will get a shot in the Phillies
rotation and is worth a flier in NL-only leagues given how dominant he
was in his three minor league starts this year. Jhoulys Chacin
didn't miss a start after fouling a ball off of his foot in Monday's
game. Chacin isn't a recommended fantasy play right now after a
predictably rough start to the season. Stephen Strasburg is back
with the Nationals after missing a start last week to be present for the
birth of his child. Strasburg should be plugged right back into lineups
this week.
In The Bullpen
Fernando Rodney had a rough week, blowing
saves against the Padres and Rockies. Rodney probably isn't in danger
of losing his grip on the closer role just yet but a few more poor
outings and the D-backs may turn to J.J Hoover. Hector Neris
continues to get the nod to close out games for the Phillies despite
not officially being named the team's closer over veteran Joaquin
Benoit. Neris is the reliever to own in Philadelphia and is a solid
RP2/3 relief option to turn to. The Nationals closer situation is in
flux once again as Koda Glover who had been seeing save
opportunities landed on the 10-day DL with a hip impingement. Keep
Glover stashed as it appeared he was starting to get the edge over
Shawn Kelley to close games, but for now Kelley is a viable relief
play in most leagues.
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