In The Field
OF Ender Inciarte (hamstring) has started jogging but is still a couple of weeks away from returning. OF Nick Markakis (wrist) has started throwing but hasn't hit yet. OF Austin Riley is playing in rehab games at Triple-A and should be back soon. OF Rafael Ortega, OF Matt Joyce, and OF Johan Camargo have been filling in but don't have a ton of fantasy value. OF Lorenzo Cain has been dealing with kneecap soreness and is considered day-to-day. 2B Keston Hiura was placed on the 10-day IL on August 31. This has meant that 3B Travis Shaw has been getting starts at third base while he is out. Shaw has shown no signs of turning things around and is not on fantasy radars. 2B Mike Moustakas (hand) is considered day-to-day as he deals with soreness in his left hand. SS Javier Baez (thumb) was not in the lineup Sept. 2-7 and had an MRI on Saturday to determine the severity of the injury. The MRI revealed a fractured thumb for Baez and a visit to a hand specialist on Monday is going to determine how much time he is going to miss. 3B Kris Bryant was scratched from the lineup on September 3 with right knee soreness but returned on Friday. 2B Max Muncy (wrist) has been able to take grounders and do light hitting this week. If everything progresses he could be back next week but how his wrist responds to live swings will determine the actual timeline. OF Alex Verdugo (back) had a setback and has shut down his rehab after experiencing back stiffness. This means that OF Joc Pederson and INF Matt Beaty will continue to play against RHP with OF Chris Taylor and UTIL Kike Hernandez against LHP. 3B Pablo Sandoval had Tommy John surgery which is going to end his 2019 season. 2B Jed Lowrie is going to remain on rehab and the Mets don't seem overly willing to call him up due to the lack of playing time for him. OF Adam Eaton was out of the lineup Sept 3-5 with a bruised right knee. The one benefit of Eaton being on the bench has been OF Victor Robles moving up to the two spot in the order increasing his plate appearances. This is only going to last until Eaton comes back. C Francisco Mejia (oblique) has been able to do some baseball activities like throw and catch but he is still not close to returning. OF Corey Dickerson is dealing with a sore foot but received good news when the x-rays came back negative. He has been playing every day and hitting well for the Phillies so the hope is he makes it back soon. SS Kevin Newman has been in and out of the lineup this week due to hip discomfort. Newman is in the middle of quietly, strong season (.314 AVG with 10 HR/13 SB). OF Gregory Polanco (shoulder) has been shut down and will miss the rest of 2019. This puts his fantasy stock in free fall because the health of his shoulder is going to be a huge unknown heading into 2020. Eugenio Suarez (hand) returned to the lineup on Thursday. OF David Dahl (ankle) is struggling to make it back from his high ankle sprain. He has started light jogging which is a step in the right direction but signals that he is not overly closer to returning. OF Starling Marte sat out Wednesday and Thursday with a presumed injury but the Pirates didn't publicly comment on it but he was in the lineup on Friday. OF Nick Senzel (shoulder) has sat out four straight games and is considered day-to-day. OF Bryce Harper was hit on the hand by a pitch on Friday night but received good news when the x-rays came back negative.
On The Mound
Brandon Woodruff (oblique) has been able to start a throwing program and has progressed to bullpens. He is still a couple of weeks away at a minimum which kills his fantasy value for 2019. Yu Darvish (elbow) missed his last start due to elbow soreness but was able to throw a bullpen this week and could start Saturday. Darvish has been on a roll in the second half so a speedy return is what fantasy owners want to hear. Luke Weaver (elbow) threw a simulated game on Friday. It would be nice to see Weaver healthy and on a major league mound before the end of the year but the Diamondbacks might just play it safe heading into 2020. Rich Hill (elbow) threw a simulated game on Friday. He is expected to rejoin the Dodgers rotation on Thursday. Dustin May (head) cleared the concussion protocol and threw a simulated game on Wednesday. The Dodgers have not announced a plan for May but he is likely to rejoin the Dodgers rotation. Johnny Cueto (TJS) has had his return delayed by back stiffness. There is still hope that he gets on a major league mound before the end of the season but he has no real fantasy value. Adrian Morejon (shoulder) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Garrett Richards (TJS) has been making rehab appearances and has reportedly looked good. He is someone to keep an eye on for 2020 drafts as it is unlikely he makes it back to a major league mound this year. Chris Paddack is someone to keep an eye as it is likely that the Padres will shut him down soon after only throwing 90 IP last year. He is currently at 129.2 IP this year which should allow him to be a full go next year without any restrictions. Chris Archer (shoulder) has progressed to playing catch but at this point in the year, it is unlikely that he makes it back in time. Mitch Keller (wrist) appears to be okay after taking a line drive off his pitching wrist but there is no timetable for when he is going to start next. Alex Wood (back) was scratched from his start and said that he hoped to make it back this season which is not a good sign. Robbie Ray left Friday nights start with a blister but hopes to make his next scheduled start.
In The Bullpen
Reyes Moronta (shoulder) is out for the season with a torn labrum. Roenis Elias (hamstring) left Thursday nights game with hamstring discomfort. This is the same injury that he has been dealing with over the past couple of weeks. He is likely to miss some time to let it heal properly. Craig Kimbrel was placed on the 10-day IL with right elbow inflammation. Pedro Strop and Steve Cishek have gotten save chances in the past while Kimbrel was out, so expect much of the same. Rowan Wick is someone to keep an eye on as well because he has gotten the last two save opportunities.
Players to add this week:
RP Seth Lugo (NYM)- Edwin Diaz has completely come off the rails leaving the Mets closer job to Seth Lugo. Lugo has the skills (2.87 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 32% K, and 6% BB) to be a closer and should be owned in all formats.
RP Jose Urena (MIA)- Jose Urena has moved into the closer's role for the Marlins. It's not a great spot given the lack of wins from the Marlins but a closer is a closer at this time of the year. Urena doesn't have the skill set of a traditional closer with high strikeouts but he does have plus velocity with a FB/SL combo that could play up in the bullpen. He also gets a ton of ground balls (50% GB) which helps limit the damage.
OF Josh Rojas (ARI)- If Josh Rojas is still available he needs to be picked up. He has an everyday role in Arizona with David Peralta out for the year. Rojas has performed well in his absence (.266 AVG, 2 HR, 9 R, 10 RBI, and 1 SB in 20 GP). He has shown in the minors that he has some power and speed with plus plate skills.
SP Tony Gonsolin (LAD)- The Dodgers have a very good track record with starting pitching and Tony Gonsolin is another example of that. He has made five starts for the Dodgers and has a 2.89 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. His strikeout rate is not great at 20% but his 11% swinging strike rate suggests more could be coming and he has shown plus control with 5% BB. Gonsolin also gets 45% GB which helps him limit the damage.
SP Logan Webb (SFG)- Logan Webb is going to get a two-start week with excellent matchups against the Pirates and Marlins both at home. Webb's overall stats aren't great (6.50 ERA and 1.78 WHIP) but that is mostly due to starting just four games and the fact that he gave up 7 ER over 2.2 IP the last time out. In his two home starts he has gone 10.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, and 14 K.
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