In The Field
OF Mookie Betts (hip) is expected to miss all weekend as he deals with a hip injury which will put him at over a week of not playing but not on the injured list. Recently acquired OF Billy McKinney started on Friday night in his place. Betts could require a trip to the injured list if his hip doesn't start to make progress. OF Kyle Schwarber (hamstring) has been able to hit on the field but still does not have a concrete timetable for a return. This news makes it seem like he is ahead of schedule but hitting is a far cry from running which puts more stress on the hamstring. C Yan Gomes was able to take swings in the cage on Friday. This is good news as he recovers from an oblique injury. He is going to need a rehab assignment to get his timing back. 1B Daniel Vogelbach (hamstring) is getting close to a rehab assignment. When he is ready to return it will be interesting to see what the Brewers decide to do because they acquired 1B Rowdy Tellez via trade after Vogelbach's injury. Giving Tellez an extended run makes more sense than going with Vogelbach in which you know what you are getting (power, low batting average). 3B Travis Shaw (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week. This will also create a playing time dilemma for the Brewers because 3B Luis Urias has played well in his absence and will not have a spot to move to now that 2B Kolten Wong is back. 2B Jon Berti has been placed on the 7-day concussion IL. OF Lorenzo Cain (hamstring) is expected to rejoin the Brewers early next week as long as he has no setbacks with his hamstring. This will shift the Brewers back into sharing outfield playing time between OF Jackie Bradley Jr., OF Avisial Garcia, and Cain. This is a hit to the value of all three because playing time is so important for them to accumulate stats. OF Jeff McNeil was withheld from the lineup on Friday due to leg fatigue which is a very vague injury and something worth keeping an eye on. OF Nick Castellanos (wrist) has been placed on the 10-day IL with a micro-fracture of his right wrist. He is eligible to return on July 30 but there has been no official timetable given. While he is out the main beneficiary is going to be OF Aristides Aquino who figures to get most of the at-bats. OF Nick Senzel would be a logical replacement but he hasn't started a rehab assignment yet. This could change next week and he is eying a return in early August. 2B Josh Rojas (finger) was not in the lineup on Friday and was placed on the 10-day IL on Saturday. C Travis d'Arnaud (thumb) has joined the major league team and was able to do some baseball activities. He isn't considered to be close to a return because he hasn't faced live pitching nor started a rehab assignment. 2B Tommy La Stella (hamstring/thumb) had his rehab paused recently but resumed on Thursday. The Giants could use La Stella at the top of their lineup. 1B Brandon Belt (knee) is also getting closer to a return as he was running over the weekend and has been doing baseball activities. He is going to need a rehab assignment before being activated. 3B Kris Bryant (hamstring) returned to the lineup on Friday. SS Jazz Chisholm (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon and return in late July/early August. 3B Alec Bohm (illness) will start a brief rehab assignment before being activated. C Austin Nola (knee) returned from the IL on Thursday. He figures to split time with C Victor Caratini initially due to the injury (knee) but is expected to take over the full-time role once he proves to be 100% healthy. 1B Colin Moran (wrist) has been able to start swinging a bat. He will need a rehab assignment prior to being activated This means that 1B John Nogowski will continue to see everyday at-bats while Moran is out. 2B Max Muncy was placed on the paternity list on Friday and will miss the weekend series with the Rockies. 3B Evan Longoria (shoulder) has started hitting and doing other baseball activities. Until he gets started on a rehab assignment it is hard to nail down a return date. The hope is that he can begin a rehab assignment soon and return when first eligible in early August.2B Ketel Marte (hamstring) is close to a full recovery and has been able to take live at-bats. The next step is a rehab assignment but Marte is getting close to a return to our fantasy rosters. SS Corey Seager is expected to be activated any day now. C Carson Kelly is scheduled to move his rehab assignment to High-A on Sunday. His return is unknown but if everything continues to progress he should be back sometime next week. OF Cody Bellinger was not in the lineup on Saturday after leaving Friday's game early with hamstring tightness. This has been a dismal season for Bellinger. 3B/OF Brian Anderson (shoulder) has been activated off the 60-day IL and was in the lineup on Saturday. OF Ender Inciarte was activated and then designated for assignment. The Nationals recalled 3B Carter Kieboom. There are no expectations for Kieboom because he has struggled at the major league level.
On The Mound
Jack Flaherty (oblique) could begin a rehab assignment (Tuesday) next week according to manager Mike Shildt. This would be huge news for the Cardinals and fantasy managers who have been missing their ace. Joe Ross (elbow) was able to throw another bullpen on Friday and there is a possibility that he will not need a rehab assignment. Ross was experiencing elbow discomfort so this is a delicate injury but he had been pitching well prior to the injury (4.02 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 25% K and 8% BB). Jacob deGrom (forearm) is playing catch and the next step is to get on a mound. Once he gets a bullpen session on a mound we will get a better understanding of when he will return. Stephen Strasburg (neck) has had to back off of his throwing program after experiencing discomfort in his neck. This is the second time he has had to pause during this trip to the injured list. In re-draft leagues, it is getting very difficult to hold onto him if he hasn't been cut already. Daniel Ponce de Leon (shoulder) threw a scoreless inning on Thursday in a rehab start. He needs to continue to build up his pitch count before he can return to a major league mound. Ian Anderson (shoulder) was able to play catch on Thursday and came away feeling good. He will likely need a brief rehab stint prior to coming back and shoulder injuries are never easy so keep an eye on each time he is scheduled to throw. Huascar Ynoa (hand) was able to throw a live batting practice session (30 pitches) on Thursday. The next step for him is to get him on a rehab assignment early next week. He is tracking towards an early August return depending on what the Braves want to do with him the rest of the season (bullpen or rotation?). Aaron Sanchez (biceps) went 5.1 IP in a rehab start on Thursday. He looks to be ready to return to the big league club but currently, he isn't a better option to start than Logan Webb or Alex Wood which puts his role in jeopardy and makes it hard to justify having him on a fantasy roster. Sammy Long (back) was able to throw a 30-pitch live BP session on Thursday. The Giants haven't made a decision on whether he will need a rehab assignment before being activated. When he does return it is likely going to be in a long-relied/multi-inning relief role which is hard to roster in fantasy. Sixto Sanchez had successful shoulder surgery on Tuesday. He is going to be out for the rest of the season and there is hope he is ready for the beginning of 2022 but it is a shoulder injury for a pitcher so that is not a guarantee. Ryan Weathers (ankle) returned from the IL and started for the Padres on Saturday. Steven Brault (lat) felt good after his initial rehab start. He will need to continue to build up his pitch count before returning to the rotation. Carlos Carrasco (hamstring) is ready to return but the Mets have decided that he will make another rehab start before returning to the Mets. Rich Hill was traded from the Rays to the Mets on Friday. Pitching in the National League and in Citi Field is a great spot to be so this is a good move for Hill who has a 3.87 ERA and 1.16 WHIP through 19 GS. Jake Arrieta (hamstring) is going to throw a simulated inning on Monday. How he responds will determine the next steps in his recovery. David Peterson (oblique) was transferred to the 60-day IL which means he won't be eligible until early September. Freddy Peralta threw just 51 pitches (4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 5 K) in his start on Friday. The Brewers plan on limiting his innings down the stretch and if this is how they do it, it is a major blow to his fantasy value because he won't get a chance at wins and the strikeouts will take a major drop. Trevor Rogers was placed on the 10-day IL with back spasms. He was going to have some sort of innings restriction this year so the Marlins want to be cautious with their breakout left-hander. Max Scherzer was scratched from his start on Saturday with right tricep discomfort. He doesn't believe the injury is serious and that it should be short-term.
In The Bullpen
Devin Williams (elbow) was scheduled to throw a bullpen on Saturday. He is progressing but needs to face live hitters before we get a more accurate sense of his return. Amir Garrett was placed on paternity leave on Friday and is expected to miss the weekend series but be back on Monday. The Reds bullpen continues to be a mess with a closer committee that includes Brad Bach, Amir Garrett, and Heath Hembree. Corey Knebel (lat) is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon. This is something to keep an eye on because Kenley Jansen has been struggling this week. Miles Mikolas (forearm) is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Saturday. He is going to need to make multiple rehab starts in order to build his pitch count up and to prove that he is healthy. Joakim Soria has cemented himself as the closer in Arizona with three saves since the All-Star break. Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee saved games this week which continues the trend of getting saves based on matchups.
Players to add this week:
1B John Nogowski (PIT)- John Nogowski is old (28-years-old) for breaking into the majors but his last stop in the minors in 2019 he showed he could hit (.295 AVG with 15 HR, 77 R, 75 RBI, and 1 SB in 117 GP). So far for the Pirates, he has hit .306 with 1 HR, 11 R, 11 RBI, and 0 SB. He will continue to play until Colin Moran comes back and is a serviceable 1B/CI while playing every day.
SP Touki Toussaint (ATL)- Touki Toussaint made his season debut this past week (6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 5 K). He has struggled at the major league level but has the raw stuff to succeed. His biggest issue has been a lack of control (career 14% BB) which if corrected could lead to a successful run for the right-hander. Pitching on the wire is not great especially this time of year so taking a shot on Toussaint's upside might be the way to go over the veteran starter.
SP Huascar Ynoa (ATL)- Huascar Ynoa will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday. He was more than likely dropped so now would be the time to pick him up before he is on the major league roster. Ynoa showed prior to getting injured that he could miss bats (28% K and 13% SwStr) and control the zone (6% BB). Hopefully, his recovery is smooth but that upside is hard to find on the wire.
SP Josiah Gray (LAD)- Josiah Gray is scheduled to make his first major league start on Sunday. He is the Dodgers' top pitching prospect and has a dominant track record in the minors. Gray showed the ability to miss bats and control the zone which is a great combination when pitching for any organization but especially for the Dodgers who have a good track record with pitchers. He figures to stick in the rotation with Trevor Bauer out indefinitely, Clayton Kershaw on the IL, and Dustin May out for the year.
3B Patrick Wisdom (CHC)- Picking up Wisdom is based on the potential for more playing time with Kris Bryant's name heavily being mentioned on the trade market. Wisdom has shown the ability to hit for power (14 HR, .326 ISO, 61% Hard Hit, and 19% Barrels) but does swing and miss a lot (40% K). You would be rostering him in deeper formats hoping for a major increase in playing time and for power.
C Daulton Varsho (ARI)- Daulton Varsho has been hot of late hitting .364 with 3 HR, 6 R, 7 RBI, and 2 SB over the past 14 days. Carson Kelly is coming back soon but Varsho should be the primary catcher until he does return. He has always had the power/speed potential he has shown of late but hasn't been able to do it consistently at the major league level.
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