In The Field
OF Mookie Betts exited Thursday's game after he sustained a knee injury when he collided with an outfield wall but was back in the lineup the next day. Betts remains a must-start fantasy OF this week. 3B Eduardo Nunez left Friday's game with a minor wrist sprain but was back in action on Saturday. Nunez remains a viable infield play in most leagues this week. 2B Dustin Pedroia may return this week as he works his way back from a knee injury but it's unclear at what point he'll get the call. He'll be worth a look in some deeper leagues once he's activated but it wouldn't be surprised if he's not back until rosters expand on Friday. OF Jackie Bradley Jr. will likely miss most of the regular season after spraining his thumb last week. Keep Bradley stashed in case of a sooner-than-expected return but that may be wishful thinking. Newly acquired Rajai Davis should see solid playing time with Bradley out and is worth adding in deep leagues where he's available. The White Sox are playing shorthanded after losing 2B Yoan Moncada (shin) and 3B Nick Delmonico (wrist) to the DL last week. Moncada has struggled but is still worth stashing away in deeper leagues as a depth option in case he can turn his season around. Delmonico may not see regular playing time with the return of 3B Matt Davidson from the DL last week and isn't worth stashing away. 1B Carlos Santana returned to the Indians' lineup on Friday after missing most of the week with a tight back. Santana is a viable play in most leagues this week. 2B Jason Kipnis was placed on the 10-day DL with a strained hamstring last week and isn't likely to return for another couple weeks. Keep Kipnis stashed away in deeper leagues. Kipnis' injury has resulted in Giovanny Urshela seeing more playing time but he's not a recommended fantasy play. 3B Nick Castellanos remains day-to-day after missing Friday and Saturday's games with a wrist injury. Castellanos is a viable play in some deeper leagues this week if healthy, but owners will have to keep an eye on his status before starting him. 1B Miguel Cabrera is playing amid appeal of a 7-game suspension which was handed down following his participation in a home plate dust up with the Yankees last week. Keep Cabrera active until his appeal is heard but be aware that an extended absence could be on the horizon. 2B Jose Altuve returned to the Astros' lineup on Saturday after missing Friday's game with a sore neck. Altuve remains an elite fantasy play this week. The Astros welcomed back C Evan Gattis from the DL last week after he recovered from his concussion. Gattis a viable catching option in most leagues this week. Brian McCann was also activated from the DL after recovering from his sore knee. McCann is also worth a look this week at a thin catcher position. SS Carlos Correa has resumed a minor-league rehab assignment and it looks like he'll be activated when rosters expand on Friday. Keep Correa in your plans for the weekend slate. 3B Mike Moustakas remains day-to-day as he continues to deal with a sore knee. Keep an eye on the powerful third baseman's status before starting him this week. 3B Yunel Escobar has resumed baseball activities as the Angels still hope he can return this week. Escobar will only be a low-end option once he returns. 3B Miguel Sano remains day-to-day with a nagging shin injury, leaving his status for this week up in the air. Sano owners will want to keep a close eye on his status as his absence looks likely to extend at least into the early stages of this week. C Gary Sanchez continues to play amid appeal of a 4-game suspension which was handed down following last week's home plate skirmish with the Tigers. Keep Sanchez in your lineups for now but know that he could miss a significant chunk of action once his appeal is heard. 1B Greg Bird is back with the Yankees after missing much of the season with a nagging ankle injury. Bird is worth a flier in deeper leagues now that he's back. 2B Starlin Castro returned to the Yankees' lineup last week after missing over a month with a strained hamstring. He's a solid 2B option in most leagues going forward. SS Marcus Semien returned to the A's lineup on Wednesday after injuring his wrist in Monday's game. Semien is a viable play in some deeper leagues again this week. 2B Robinson Cano remains day-to-day with a hamstring injury but could return to the lineup as early as today. Keep an eye on Cano's status but plan on having the veteran 2B available this week. OF Jarrod Dyson remains on the DL with a groin strain but is eligible to return the Mariners' lineup today. It'd be a surprise to see him back that quickly but a return for the speedy outfielder isn't out of the question for this week's games. OF Carlos Gomez was activated from the DL last week after missing a couple weeks after having a cyst removed from his shoulder. Gomez may not be playing every day down the stretch so he's better left as a matchup play in deep leagues. 3B Joey Gallo was placed on the 7-day concussion DL last week but the team hopes he'll be ready to return when first eligible on Tuesday. Plan on having the powerful slugger available this week.
On The Mound
David Price continues to push for a late season return as he's resumed throwing long toss but he has a ways to go before he'll be back on the mound for the Red Sox. Given how little of the season is actually left, it's probably not worth it to hold onto the veteran lefty any more. Drew Pomeranz was able to start Wednesday's game despite leaving his previous start with a back injury. Pomeranz remains a solid starting option in most leagues this week. Danny Salazar was placed on the 10-day DL on Tuesday with inflammation in his pitching elbow and isn't likely to return this week. Keep Salazar stashed away. Josh Tomlin should return on Wednesday to give the Indians rotation a boost in the wake of Salazar's injury but he's not an advisable fantasy start. Lance McCullers is expected to make one more rehab start this week before potentially returning from his back injury during the following scoring frame. Keep McCullers stashed away this week but plan on having him available soon after. Danny Duffy was placed on the 10-day DL last week with a elbow impingement but the Royals hope he can return after missing just one start. Keep Duffy stashed away until details become clearer. Eric Skoglund will take Duffy's spot in the Royals' rotation but isn't a recommended fantasy start at this point in the season. Masahiro Tanaka was solid in his return from the DL last week allowing just three runs in 7.0 innings against the Tigers. He's a solid starting option in most leagues now that he's back from his shoulder injury. James Paxton (pectoral) and Felix Hernandez (shoulder) continue to push toward late season returns but both players are still unlikely to begin throwing off of a mound until next week at the earliest. At this point it seems unlikely they'll be able to contribute much down the stretch as even a late injury return would come with concerns that the Mariners' starters will have to knock off the rust before being trusted in fantasy lineups. Alex Cobb was activated from the DL last week after recovering from a toe injury. Cobb is worth a look in most leagues this week. Cobb took over the rotation spot vacated by Jacob Faria who landed on the DL last week with an abdominal strain. Keep Faria stashed away in hopes his recovery allows him to return in the next couple weeks. Tyson Ross' struggles continued last week and the Rangers' pitcher was moved to the bullpen. Ross wasn't likely owned in many leagues after a stretch of terrible starts but owners holding on in hopes of seeing the Tyson Ross from a few seasons ago should go ahead and cut ties. Nick Martinez will take his place in the rotation but isn't a recommended fantasy SP. Joe Biagini will get a second crack in the Blue Jays rotation beginning with a start today. If Biagini pitches well in the outing, he'll be worth a look in deep leagues.
In The Bullpen
Zach Britton's MRI last week revealed no damage to his knee and the Orioles' closer is expected to pitch without much pain for the rest of the season. He remains a solid fantasy relief option this week. Ken Giles is good-to-go after he was unavailable mid-week with a stiff neck. He remains a top fantasy relief play during this scoring frame. Kelvin Herrera cause a little panic in fantasy owners last week when he experienced tightness in his forearm during Tuesday's game but the Royals' closer is ready to go this week. Keep Herrera in your lineups.
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