In The Field
OF Darin Ruf (hamstring) resumed baseball activities on Wednesday. He is still likely weeks away from returning but is trending in the right direction. 2B Tommy La Stella (hamstring) participated in some baseball activities (cage work, ground balls, and sprints) on Wednesday. The Giants could benefit from having La Stella back in the lineup. OF Mike Yastrzemski was activated off the 10-day IL on Saturday. OF Trent Grisham started a rehab assignment on Thursday. He played center field and hit leadoff. Grisham was activated and returned to the lineup on Saturday. He hit second behind OF Tommy Pham. This move will cut into the playing time of OF Jurickson Profar and OF Wil Myers who will be battling for playing time. 1B Colin Moran (hand) was hit on the hand by a pitch on Wednesday. Thursday's X-rays were negative and he was able to pinch-hit on Friday. This is good news for the Pirates because their offense has been dismal and Moran has been one of the few bright spots. SS Miguel Rojas (finger) has progressed to taking batting practice. He will need a rehab assignment but is getting close to a return. SS Jazz Chisholm will continue to play shortstop and 2B Jon Berti figures to slide back into a utility role when Rojas returns. OF Aristides Aquino (wrist) is expected to return when eligible on Sunday. The Reds outfield is currently full with Jesse Winker, Nick Castellanos, and Tyler Naquin playing every day. Aquino could get the occasional start against a left-hander but that isn't enough to roster him. 3B Travis Shaw has been placed on the 10-day IL with a dislocated shoulder and isn't expected back until August. 3B Luis Urias is going to slide over to third and the Brewers will go with a combination of 2B Jace Peterson and 2B Daniel Robertson at second but neither will play enough to be fantasy relevant. 2B Kolton Wong (oblique) is expected to be activated on Thursday. C Jorge Alfaro left Friday's game after getting hit on the elbow with a pitch. If he were to miss an extended time C Sandy Leon would be the main beneficiary. SS Corey Seager was able to start some baseball activities and is two weeks away from a rehab assignment according to manager Dave Roberts. OF Kole Calhoun (hamstring) is targeting a June 27 return which would be when he was first eligible to come off the IL. OF Brandon Nimmo is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week. Once he returns it will likely shift OF Billy McKinney and OF Kevin Pillar into a platoon for the other outfield spot. 2B/3B Mike Moustakas ran bases and took grounders on Friday. He is getting close to a rehab assignment and could return sometime next week. It will be interesting to see what the Reds do with their infield when he returns. SS/3B Eugenio Suarez was terrible at SS but there is not another great option with 2B Jonathan India playing well. 2B Jeff McNeal (hamstring) is expected back next weekend meaning 2B Luis Guillorme and 2B Jose Peraza will shift back into bench roles. SS Paul DeJong was activated off the 10-day IL. 2B Max Muncy exited Friday's game early with right-side tightness. 3B Eugenio Suarez was removed from Friday's game with a cut on his finger. OF Cody Bellinger is day-to-day with hamstring tightness. The immediate beneficiary would look to be OF Matt Beaty who has been good when in the lineup this year (.281/.378/.406). 2B Max Muncy was placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique injury. 1B Albert Pujols will likely play first in his absence. OF Billy McKinney was scratched from the lineup on Saturday with a sore right knee. He is considered day-to-day.
On The Mound
Kwang Hyun Kim (back) threw a side session on Friday and he is expected to be activated soon without a rehab assignment. The Cardinals rotation is in major need of quality arms. Erick Fedde (illness) is scheduled to start one of the games of the Nationals doubleheader Saturday. Jon Gray is throwing up to 100 feet and is tracking towards a July return. Max Scherzer left his start on Friday after 12 pitches with a groin injury. Imaging showed inflammation and not a strain which is good news. He could possibly make his next start or the Nationals could be cautious with their best pitcher. Jacob deGrom was dominating the Padres (6 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 10 K) but was unable to come out for the 7th due to right flexor tendonitis. This is obviously bad news for the right-hander. Any injury to the elbow for a pitcher is a nightmare but especially for deGrom who has dealt with injury seemingly all year and despite all of this has been otherworldly. deGrom doesn't expect to miss much time after talking about how he has had this similar injury before. He was seen throwing in the Mets bullpen Saturday which is an encouraging sign. Madison Bumgarner (shoulder) has started throwing but is without a timetable for his return. The Diamondbacks could desperately use help in the rotation. Zac Gallen (elbow) is on tap for another simulated game on Saturday. The next step from here would be a rehab assignment. Sonny Gray (groin) will miss multiple starts. The Reds are expected to call up RHP Tony Santillan for Sunday's start. He has a 2.51 ERA and 34% K through six starts at Triple-A. Merrill Kelly (shoulder) expects to make his next start after being hit with a line drive off the bat of Shohei Ohtani. Mitch Keller was optioned to Triple-A to work on his struggles. Wil Crowe was called up to start on Sunday and will seemingly get a chance to stick in the rotation. He is an option in NL-only leagues. Trevor Rogers was placed on the IL but it is believed to be Covid related.
In The Bullpen
Tejay Antone has been placed on the 10-day IL with right forearm inflammation. The Reds bullpen has not been good outside of Antone so this is a major problem. Lucas Sims is the closer and he has picked up three saves over the past seven days. Antone is the most talented and effective reliever but Sims has the role right now. Reyes Moronta (elbow) has not been able to resume throwing which puts his return in jeopardy. Drew Pomeranz has stretched out his throwing to 120 ft. which is a good sign but also an indication that he is still not close to returning. Mark Melancon also has a death grip on the Padres closer's role. Daniel Hudson was placed on the 10-day IL with elbow inflammation. This gives Brad Hand even more leash as the Nationals closer.
Players to add this week:
SP Tony Santillan (CIN)- Tony Santillan was called up to start on Sunday. He had a 2.51 ERA and 1.08 WHIP through six starts. Santillan showed the ability to miss bats (34% K) but there could be control issues at the major league level (9% BB). He also gives up a fair amount of fly balls (44% FB) which could be a problem in Great American Ballpark. Regardless, given the state of pitching and injuries, someone with his strikeout upside is worth adding.
2B Jonathan India (CIN)- Jonathan India is hitting well in June (.323 AVG with 3 HR and 1 SB) and is currently the Reds leadoff hitter. He is showing good plate skills (21% K and 11% BB) giving him a nice floor. India needs to be rostered during this hot streak.
SP Tucker Davidson (ATL)- Tucker Davidson has now made three starts at the major league level. He has gone 17.2 IP and given up 3 ER, 7 BB, and 14 K. The walk rate looks high but that is because he walked five in his first start. He has a good slider and good velocity from the left side. Davidson doesn't have elite upside but he has a high enough floor to be rostered in almost all formats.
SP Sammy Long (SFG)-Sammy Long made his major league debut in relief. He threw 4 IP and struck out seven. Long made four starts at Double-A this year and had a 3.00 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 37% K and 7% BB. The skills are there for him to succeed and the Giants have an opening in the rotation. He has a four-pitch mix (FB, CT, CB, and CH) with good command from the left side. He is worth an add to see what he can bring as a starter.
1B Dan Vogelbach (MIL)- The Brewers sent Keston Hiura back to Triple-A which means that Daniel Vogelbach should get regular run. At a minimum, he should be on the strong side of a platoon. He is not going to help your average (career .204 AVG and 26% K) but hits for power (career .199 ISO) in a good hitters park.
Potential Streamers (matchup subject to change):
Adam Wainwright (STL)-Wainwright gets two starts (MIA and @ATL). Wainwright has a 4.03 ERA and 1.14 WHIP and 16% K-BB this year. The Braves start is scary but a home matchup against the Marlins should help counter-balance it.
Tyler Anderson (PIT)-Tyler Anderson has two starts (@WSH and CLE). Anderson's traditional numbers are not great (4.52 ERA and 1.21 WHIP) but he has shown the ability to miss bats (22% K) and control the strike zone (7% BB). The Nationals rank 22nd in wRC+ (90) and Cleveland 24th (88).
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