AL Week 12 Strategy-June 30, 2018

Phil Double

Jul 1, 2018

In The Field

SS Zack Cozart is going to have surgery to repair a torn labrum and is out for 6-8 months which means that his 2018 season is over. 1B Jefry Marte has started a rehab assignment and could be back within the next week. DH Shohei Ohtani (elbow) has been cleared to resume hitting. He is going to continue to take batting practice on the field and face live BP instead of a rehab assignment according to general manager Ben Eppler. SS Carlos Correa was placed on the 10-day DL with back stiffness retroactive to June 26. In the meantime UTIL Marwin Gonzalez will see the majority of playing time at SS and DH position will be rotated around to give guys days off. The Astros and fantasy owners will benefit from a healthy Correa as he has been alright (.268, 13 HR, 46 R, 49 RBI, 2 SB) but both expected him to take another step forward this year. 3B Matt Chapman took 30 swings off a tee on Friday and could be close to a rehab assignment. 3B Josh Donaldson is going to be re-evaluated in three weeks which is a huge blow to fantasy owners. Donaldson can't seem to recover from this nagging calf injury and he can now be labeled injury prone due to recurring lower body injuries. OF Craig Gentry was placed on the 10-day DL with a left rib fracture. 1B Ronald Guzman was placed on the 7-day concussion DL. This has opened up playing time for both Jurickson Profar and Rougned Odor to play at the same time. Odor had been losing playing time but has started to come around in June with a .265 AVG while reducing his strikeout rate to 22% and increasing his walks to 9%. This is encouraging for young infielder. 3B Christian Arroyo has increased his activity as he returns from an oblique strain. Arroyo is going to have a hard time finding playing time when he returns because Matt Duffy has been playing well (.315/.361/.428). 2B Dustin Pedroia (knee) is not close to returning and the Red Sox recent signing of Brandon Phillips to play both 2B/3B is very concerning for Pedroia's status for the rest of the year. OF Byron Buxton (toe) has been on rehab assignment since June 19 and the Twins are not sure that he will be activated once the maximum 30 days is up. This is a crucial time for the once top prospect. SS Taylor Motter was placed on the 7-day concussion DL on Thursday. C Gary Sanchez was placed on the 10-day DL on 25 and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks. This means increased playing time for C Austin Romine but he is not a great fantasy option.

On The Mound

John Lamb (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day DL on June 27. Shohei Ohtani (elbow) has been cleared to resume hitting because an MRI revealed improvement in his Grade 2 UCL sprain. GM Ben Eppler would not comment on whether Ohtani would pitch again this year but did say that he hasn't seen anything that indicates surgery which is a good sign. Garrett Richards (hamstring) pitched in a rehab start on Friday throwing 63 pitches and allowing 7 hits, 5 ER over 3.1 IP. The Angels have not indicated whether Richards is going to get another rehab start or whether he'll join the big league club. Nick Tropeano (shoulder) is doing physical therapy but has not resumed throwing and does not have a timetable for his return. Brett Anderson (shoulder) allowed 6 runs on 7 H over 3.2 IP on Thursday night. This was to be his final rehab start but it will be interesting if the Athletics give him another start or activate him. Trevor Cahill (achilles) has resumed throwing and was able to complete a 30-pitch bullpen on June 29. He will need a rehab assignment prior to being activated. Daniel Mengden (foot) was placed on the 10-day DL on June 27. An MRI revealed no structural damage but Mengden has been unable to push off the rubber which is a big deal. Andrew Triggs (right arm nerve irritation) has been shut down from throwing and is going for a second opinion on July 2. Carlos Carrasco (elbow) started his rehab assignment on Saturday and is expected back by July 6. This means that the Indians are going to have to send down either Shane Bieber or Adam Plutko. Bieber has a 2.22 ERA over 24.1 IP with solid skills to back up his success (26% K, 4% BB, 51% GB). Plutko is likely going to be the odd man out considering he has a 4.65 ERA with below average skills (17% K). Danny Salazar (shoulder) has been throwing and Indians manager said this week that the Indians are gathering all of their information together and then will announce a decision on his status. Salazar is undergoing exploratory surgery. This sounds like troubling news for Indians once top pitching prospect. Dylan Bundy (ankle) was placed on the 10-day DL with an ankle sprain retroactive to June 6 and is not expected to miss much more than the minimum. Chris Tillman (back) has started a rehab assignment. Doug Fister (knee) was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 17 so he won't be available until mid August. Martin Perez (right elbow) has now made two rehab starts and could be back with the Rangers very soon. Chris Archer (abdominal strain) is expected to begin a rehab assignment on July 3 after experiencing a setback as he tries to recover from an abdominal strain. Jake Faria (oblique) threw a 30 pitch bullpen on June 25 and isn't expected back until late July at the earliest. Right after officially joining the Rays rotation Wilmer Font was placed on the 10-day DL with a right lat strain which typically entails a lengthy recovery. He is expected to be out eight weeks. The only two starter the Rays have on their roster are Blake Snell and Nathan Eovaldi. This means there will be more "bullpen" games than usual which means an increased workload for Ryan Yarbrough who has pitched well this year (3.76 ERA, 4.01 SIERA). Drew Pomeranz (bicep/neck) is slated to begin a rehab assignment on July 2. The Red Sox hope a healthy Pomeranz is a productive Pomeranz because he has been a major disappointment this year (1-3 with a 6.81 ERA). Steven Wright (knee) was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to June 23. Daniel Norris (groin surgery) is getting close to a rehab assignment but is still a long way away from returning to a major league mound. Ervin Santana (finger) started his rehab assignment on Saturday at Class A Advanced. Miguel Gonzalez (rotator cuff) had another setback and his 2018 return is up in the air. Masahiro Tanaka (hamstring) is expected to make a rehab start this week and is close to a return to the Yankees if everything goes well.

In The Bullpen

Jim Johnson (back) has resumed throwing but the Angels do not have a timetable for a rehab assignment. Joe Smith (elbow) was sent on a rehab assignment at Double-A on June 29. Andrew Miller (knee) has been throwing off of flat ground as of June 29 and the next progression would be working off the mound. It sounds like he is at least a week if not more away. Darren O'Day (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day DL on June 27. Matt Bush (elbow) is going to be out until mid August after receiving a stem cell injection in his pitching elbow. Jonny Venters (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day DL. Ryan Tepera (elbow inflammation) was placed on the 10-day DL which means that Tyler Clippard will likely be the Blue Jays closer. The Blue Jays also came out and said that Roberto Osuna will be the closer when he returns from suspension. Tyler Thornburg (TOS Surgery) has begun a rehab assignment. Jose Alvarado picked up a two out save on Friday night. Sergio Romo had converted the Rays last six save opportunities so it looks like Romo is still the leading candidate for saves but the Rays bullpen is hard to trust. Romo was able to convert the save on Saturday. Wily Peralta has now picked up the Royals last two saves opportunities. Hector Rondon has five of the Astros last six save chances.