In The Field
OF Brian Goodwin has been on the 10-day IL with a right wrist contusion. Playing time is going to be scarce for Goodwin when he comes back with Upton, Trout, and Calhoun manning the outfield and Ohtani taking most of the DH at-bats. 2B Tommy La Stella is expected to be out until September with a right tibia fracture. 2B Luis Rengifo figures to get regular playing time and could be a source of speed while La Stella is out. C Jonathan Lucroy sustained a concussion and a broken nose in the home plate collision with Astros OF Jake Marisnick. His timetable for a return is unknown. The Angels are already down C Kevin Smith leaving C Dustin Garneau as the starting catcher. OF Justin Upton sat out the Angels last three games prior to All-Star break with left quad tightness. He is not expected to go on the 10-day IL. SS Carlos Correa is progressing in his rehab and is expected to be back before the end of July. OF Mitch Haniger's recovery from a ruptured testicle has been slower than expected. He was shut down on July 7 and was to be reevaluated. OF Hunter Pence is recovering slowly from his groin injury which means that OF Willie Calhoun should continue to see regular playing time until Pence comes back. 1B Ji-Man Choi was placed on the 10-day IL on July 3. The Rays called up 1B Nate Lowe to take his place and it is likely that Lowe gets sent back down when Choi returns. 2B Brandon Lowe is targeting a Saturday return. OF JaCoby Jones was placed on the 10-day IL on July 4th with back spasms. He is expected back when first eligible. Jones has shown his power/speed combo this year with 9 HR/6 SB in 250 PA. C Willians Astudillo has not started baseball activities as he tries to recover from an oblique injury. 1B C.J. Cron was placed on the 10-day IL on July 6 with a right thumb contusion. UTIL Marwin Gonzalez has slid over to first while Cron is out. OF Eddie Rosario (left ankle sprain) is expected back shortly after the All-Star break. This means that OF Luis Arraez will head back to the bench. SS Tim Anderson is moving around better on his sprained right ankle but he is still at least a couple of weeks away from returning. SS Leury Garcia has been filling in and batting leadoff which gives him value in Al-only leagues. 1B Luke Voit was placed on the 10-day IL on July 2 with an abdominal strain. This has meant that UTIL D.J. LeMahieu has shifted over to first base and 3B Gio Urshela is back in the lineup at third base.
On The Mound
Matt Harvey (back) was sent on a rehab assignment but he isn't fantasy relevant anymore. Marcus Stroman (pec cramp) missed his last start before the All-Star break but is not going to hit the IL and will start as normal after the break. Carlos Carrasco revealed that he has a treatable form of leukemia. He has been cleared to resume throwing but there is not a plan for when he will return to the Indians rotation. Corey Kluber (right arm fracture) has progressed to long toss. Hunter Strickland (lat strain) is progressing in his throwing program and should return to being the Mariners closer when he is healthy. Jake Odorizzi (blister) was placed on the 10-day IL prior to the All-Star break but is expected back when first eligible. Odorizzi is in the middle of a career season (3.15 ERA and 1.12 WHIP). Jose Urquidy has been sent back to Triple-A after two starts and Framber Valdez is most likely going to replace him in the Astros rotation. Valdez has a 4.57 ERA and 1.37 WHIP across 45.1 IP this year.
In The Bullpen
Jose Alvarado (oblique) is going to miss 2-6 weeks. The Rays closer job is a total mess right now. Emilio Pagan and Colin Poche are the two most likely to get a save chance right now but Diego Castillo (shoulder) could be a factor once he returns from the 10-day IL. Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) has started throwing off a mound. The Red Sox have said that Eovaldi will be their primary closer when he returns to the big league club which isn't likely before the end of July. Even with that being said, Eovaldi needs to be owned because saves are so scarce and the Red Sox are a team that could win a lot of games down the stretch. The Athletics look to be sticking with Liam Hendricks as their closer with Blake Treinen being the setup guy. This could obviously change in a heartbeat.
Players to add this week:
C Danny Jansen (TOR)- Danny Jansen was one of the more popular picks during draft season as a mid-round catcher that could break out. He simply has not lived up to the billing. On the year, he is hitting .211 with 8 HR, 22 R, and 27 RBI. Jansen has turned it around recently by hitting .370 with 4 HR, 6 R, and 7 RBI in the month of July. He also has good underlying skills (20% K, 9% BB, and 44% Hard).
1B Yuli Gurriel (HOU)- Yuli Gurriel is doing what we expected him to do. He is hitting for average .277 with 14 HR, 48 R, 50 RBI, and 3 SB. He might not be elite in any one category but he is a good hitter in a good lineup. Gurriel needs to be owned in most formats.
C Christian Vazquez (BOS)- Christian Vazquez is having a career season. He is hitting .299 with 14 HR, 38 R, 41 RBI, and 1 SB. He is a good defensive catcher which keeps him in the lineup on a daily basis. Vazquez has shown the ability to make contact (career 18% K) and this year he has improved the quality of that contact (34% Hard) which in combination with the livelier ball has made him one of the most valuable catchers in fantasy.
2B Cavan Biggio (TOR)- Cavan Biggio is hitting just .232 through his first 38 major league games. The good news is that he is playing every day and he is displaying a power/speed combo (6 HR/5 SB) that is valuable even without the batting average. He is striking out 27% of the time but his 50% Hard contact rate has allowed him to do damage (.192 ISO) when making contact. Don't expect a high batting average but he will provide both power and speed.
RP Nathan Eovaldi (BOS)- Nathan Eovaldi is currently rehabbing and trying to make his way back after having loose bodies removed from his pitching elbow. The Red Sox have said that Eovaldi is going to be their primary closer when healthy. He has never done it before but he has the power two-pitch arsenal to be an effective reliever. Now is the time to stash Eovaldi and pray the Red Sox don't bring in an established closer at the deadline.
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