Blue Jays righty Marcus Stroman is expected to be placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday after leaving Friday's start early with a blister on his right middle finger. It was Stroman's third consecutive start in which he was forced to leave early because of blister problems. Toronto hopes that an extended stay on the shelf will enable Stroman to fully recover and return to the rotation, possibly before September. The 27-year-old righty is 4-8 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP in 18 starts this season.
Yankees righty Luis Severino won after allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in five-plus innings Saturday vs. the Blue Jays. Severino was staked to a massive lead by the Bronx Bombers, who spotted him eight runs through the first five innings. Severino did not allow a run until the sixth. After a brief rough patch in late July and early August, Severino has gotten himself back on track by winning two of his last three outings. The 24-year-old righty is now 16-6 with a 3.28 ERA and 181 strikeouts, making him a down-ballot Cy Young contender. He's lined up to make his next start against the lowly Orioles in a doubleheader at Camden Yards on August 25.
Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored Saturday vs. the Blue Jays. Stanton connected for his 32nd big fly of the year in the fourth inning to give New York a 7-0 lead. The long ball was his second in as many days and his eighth already in August, as he continues to put his slow start in pinstripes behind him. The reigning NL MVP is now batting .285/.351/.544 with 79 RBI and 81 runs with four stolen bases. While he won't come close to touching last year's MLB-leading 59 homers and 132 RBI, Stanton still ranks among the game's premier sluggers in 2018.
Orioles righty Alex Cobb won after tossing a complete game against the Indians on Saturday, yielding just two runs on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Cobb was efficient in his first complete game since 2013, throwing 69 of his 100 pitches for strikes to pick up his fourth win of the season. His 15 losses are most in the Majors, however, as he has a 5.09 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP across 23 starts. He's only managed 88 strikeouts in 132 2/3 innings, resulting in a career-low 6.0 K/9 rate. Although he's ripped off five straight quality starts, fantasy owners will want to use caution before deploying him against the hard-hitting Yankees in his next start on August 24.
A's righty Trevor Cahill won after allowing one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts over seven shutout innings vs. the Astros on Saturday. Cahill turned in arguably his best outing of the year by one-hitting the Astros at home, improving to 5-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 15 starts. His 2.6 BB/9 rate is the lowest of his career, while his 3.4 K/BB ratio is also a personal best. Although he's been inconsistent since returning from the DL on July 12, his overall production this year has made him a strong fantasy option when healthy. He'll be a must-start in a favorable road matchup with the Twins on August 23.
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