In The Field
3B Josh Jung (wrist) was supposed to swing a bat on Friday but that was pushed back to Saturday. The Rangers will take it slow with Jung even when he is activated by giving him planned days off. 3B Josh Smith has been the primary third baseman of late so that means he will fill in for Jung when he is not playing and slide into a utility role but his at-bats will be fewer lowering his fantasy value. 2B Brandon Drury (illness) was not in the Angels on Friday and hasn't played since June 18 due to an upper-respiratory illness. He is still considered day-to-day. OF Luke Raley (shoulder) was out of the Mariners lineup on Friday due to shoulder soreness. He also missed Wednesday's game due to the injury. The Mariners have been playing OF Luke Raley and OF Dominic Canzone alongside OF Julio Rodriguez on most nights. OF Mitch Haniger has slowly lost playing time due to his struggles (.213 AVG with 6 HR, 22 R, 30 RBI, and 0 SB). C Adley Rutschman (hand) was out of the Orioles lineup on Friday to give him a day of rest after getting hit on the hand by a foul ball on Thursday. X-rays came back negative so he should be back in the lineup on Sunday which is good news for the Orioles and fantasy owners because Rutschman has been great this year (.300 AVG with 15 HR, 43 R, 55 RBI, and 1 SB). 2B Brandon Lowe (toe) was not in the Rays lineup on Friday against the Nationals. He hasn't played since he fractured his toe on June 22. A trip to the IL hasn't happened yet but the Rays can't go much longer a man short on the bench. The Rays face a RHP so we should get a good idea of how healthy Lowe is. OF Gavin Sheets (heel) was not in the White Sox lineup on Friday due to the heel contusion he suffered on Wednesday. SS Carlos Correa (wrist) was back in the Twins lineup on Friday which was a huge development considering how he left the game on Thursday night after getting hit by a pitch on his right wrist. X-rays came back negative and he was diagnosed with a right wrist contusion. OF Will Brennan was placed on the 10-day IL on Thursday due to rib cage inflammation. OF Daniel Schneemann has played right field in his absence. Schneemann was hitting .297 with 10 HR, 39 R, 39 RBI, and 4 SB in 53 GP at Triple-A. He has hit the ball hard (11% Barrels and 50% Hardhit) in his limited time in the majors (61 PA). He is worth adding in deeper mixed leagues because he should provide value across the board. C Daulton Varsho (back) was out of the Blue Jays lineup last Sunday through Wednesday due to his back. He returned on Thursday. Varsho is hitting .202 with 11 HR, 41 R, 35 RBI, and 8 SB. 1B Triston Casas (ribs) was able to take approximately 20 swings in the batting cage on Wednesday. He is going to need a fairly lengthy rehab assignment because he has been out since late April with a tear in his left ribcage. 3B Anthony Rendon (hamstring) is close to a rehab assignment. OF Kerry Carpenter (back) took swings on Monday and was running on Tuesday. He still has multiple steps in his recovery before heading out on a rehab assignment. SS Javier Baez (back) is not going to be activated from the 10-day IL on the team's road trip until July 7 according to manager AJ Hinch. They want Baez to have a lengthy rehab assignment before returning because he has struggled so mightily (.183 AVG with 1 HR, 15 R, 25 RBI, and 6 SB). OF Kyle Tucker (shin) took swings on this week and is expected to start baseball activities this weekend. He has been out much longer than the Astros expected but there is light at the end of the tunnel. OF George Springer left Friday's game early due to a left hand contusion. He was hit by a pitch but X-rays came back negative and he is considered day-to-day. Springer has provided value in terms of HR/SB but has been a major disappointment in batting average (.204 AVG). 2B Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) has been cleared for running and is close to starting a rehab assignment. He has been out since June 2. The Red Sox currently don't have a regular role for Grissom with SS David Hamilton play regularly at shortstop and 2B Emmanuel Valdez playing well as the strong side platoon option at second. Valdez has a .244/.472/.760 triple slash against right-handed pitching. SS Bo Bichette returned from the IL on Tuesday and has played short and hit leadoff in each game. The move to leadoff has been a recent development that changes his profile slightly because he was hitting in the middle of the order as more of a run producer. The additional at-bats will be a plus if he sticks at the leadoff spot. OF Juan Soto was not in the Yankees lineup on Saturday but X-rays came back negative on his right hand contusion.
On The Mound
Clarke Schmidt (lat) has started a throwing program on Monday. He has been out since June 18 with a lat strain. Prior to the injury, he was in the midst of a breakout season (2.52 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 19% K:BB). Corbin Burnes was placed on the paternity list on Friday and is expected to make his scheduled start next week against the Mariners. Burnes has been everything the Orioles needed when they traded for him (2.28 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 18% K:BB). Luis Garcia (elbow) has started a rehab assignment in the Astros Florida Complex League. He is going to need the full 30-day rehab window to get his pitch count built up before returning to the Astros rotation. The Astors rotation is currently in need of viable starters given their rotation: Ronel Blanco, Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and a struggling Spencer Arrighetti. Mike Clevinger (elbow) had his rehab start pushed back due to neck stiffness. It is not considered a setback and he is expected to need one more rehab start before being activated. Clevinger had a 6.75 ERA, 1.94 WHIP, and 8% K:BB in 4 GS prior to hitting the IL. Gavin Williams (elbow) gave up 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, and 6 K in his most recent rehab start with Triple-A Columbus. The Guardians have not announced when he will make his season debut but he has to be activated on Sunday. Dean Kremer (triceps) allowed 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, and 5 K in his rehab start on Thursday. He has built his pitch count up to 75 pitches which means that he is ready to return to the Orioles rotation but he has struggled on his rehab (11 ER in 8.2 IP). He has been out since the end of May with a tricep strain. Jake Bloss (shoulder) played catch on Wednesday and said that his shoulder felt fine. Until he is throwing at full speed it will be hard for the Astros to give a timeline for his return. J.P. France (shoulder) had season-ending surgery on his right shoulder on Monday. Justin Verlander (neck) hasn't been able to throw and isn't going with the team to New York. He was expected to be ready when first eligible on Monday but that isn't looking likely considering he won't be traveling with the team this weekend and hasn't thrown. Max Scherzer looked good in his debut (5 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, and 4 K) but left early due to thumb soreness. There was some doubt about whether he would make his next start but he took the mound on Friday night against the Orioles (5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, and 4 K). Patrick Sandoval was moved to the 60-day IL on Tuesday after he was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his left elbow. In a corresponding move, Chase Silseth was activated off the 60-day IL and optioned to Triple-A. Bryan Woo was placed on the 15-day IL with a hamstring injury. Woo has dealt with an injury to his forearm/elbow so this was a surprise. He has been dominant when on the mound this year (1.77 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, and 17% K:BB). Shane McClanahan (elbow) has increased his throwing distance to 135 ft and has been doing well in his recovery. He is still a long shot to return to a major league mound this year. Chris Paddack was placed on the 15-day IL with right forearm fatigue.
In The Bullpen
Jordan Romano (elbow) has been shut down from throwing after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow. He has been out since June 1 and has been shut down twice since then. With Yimi Garcia also on the 15-day IL, Chad Green will fill in as the Blue Jays closer. He has real value given that there is no guarantee that Romano returns anytime soon. Green has been very good this year (1.53 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 17% K:BB). Craig Kimbrel had another solid with two saves and is now up to 18 SV with a 2.45 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Pete Fairbanks had a big week picking up all three of the Rays saves. Michael Kopech was 2 for 2 on his save chances this week. James McArthur completed both of the Royals save chances and now is 14 for 18 in save chances with a 4.41 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He is still one of the most likely closers to eventually lose their job. Carlos Estevez picked up two saves and has quietly righted the ship. He has 16 SV with strong ratios (3.12 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with 25% K:BB).
Players to add this week:
RP Chad Green (TOR)- Jordan Romano had another setback. Chad Green has filled in as the Blue Jays closer since Yimi Garcia is also on the 15-day IL. Green has real value given that there is no guarantee that Romano returns anytime soon. Green has been very good this year (1.53 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 17% K:BB).
SP David Festa (MIN)- David Festa made his major league debut for the Twins this week. He went 5 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, and 2 K. It was not the most inspiring start but the minor league numbers were good. He had a 3.77 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 35% K and 10% BB. The walk rate is not great but he definitely has the stuff to miss bats. This makes him worth picking up and the Twins have a good track record of getting the most out of their pitchers. Festa also gets the Tigers next week which is a plus matchup.
3B Colt Keith (DET)- Colt Keith came into the year with high expectations especially after he got his contract but struggled out of the gate. His overall line isn't great (.232 AVG with 4 HR, 21 R, 23 RBI, and 4 SB). He has skills that are encouraging (18% K and 7% Barrels) and he has been much better since the beginning of May (.280 AVG with 4 HR, 16 R, 18 RBI, and 2 SB). This was good for a 106 wRC+ which is not bad for a rookie making his adjustments to big league pitching.
3B Jose Miranda (MIN)- Jose Miranda has been getting regular at-bats at 3B or DH. He has also hit cleanup against LHP lately. He is hitting .294 with 8 HR, 26 R, 35 RBI, and 2 SB. Miranda has good plate skills (6% BB and 14% K) to go along with solid quality of contact (8% Barrels and 41% Hardhit). He isn't going to be elite in any category but should provide enough value to be mixed league relevant.
OF Heston Kjerstad (BAL)-Heston Kjerstad is getting more playing time than in past callups. He has started 4 of 6 games since coming back up. The Orioles mix and match more than people think. The only guys in the lineup every night are C Adley Rutschman, SS Gunnar Henderson, 3B Jordan Westburg, and OF Anthony Santander. Everyone else gets days off based on matchups. The Orioles seem to be giving Kjerstad an opportunity to earn more playing time at the expense of Austin Hays and potentially Colton Cowser. Kjerstad has shown the ability to it for average and power in the minors (.300 AVG with 16 HR in 56 GP) but don't expect much speed.
C/1B Tyler Soderstrom (OAK)-Tyler Soderstrom is hitting .229 with 7 HR, 12 R, 18 RBI, and 0 SB. He is hitting the ball extremely hard (17% Barrels and 56% Hardhit) which allows him to make up for the high strikeout rate (30% K). Depending on your league rules he may have catcher eligibility as well. However, he has only played catcher once this year so he most likely is just 1B eligible. It is a flawed profile but the power potential is real and the Athletics are going to play him every day.
2B Spencer Horwitz (TOR)- Spencer Horwitz is playing playing most nights and against RHP. This sets him up to have success. He is hitting .333 with 2 HR, 9 R, 6 RBI, and 0 SB in 65 PA. He has plus plate skills (17% BB, 11% K, and 25% O-swing) and hits the ball hard (11% Barrels). He is more of a deep league play because he is platooning and he isn't going to be elite in any category.
OF Daniel Schneeman (CLE)- OF Daniel Schneemann has played regularly of late for the Guardians. Schneemann was hitting .297 with 10 HR, 39 R, 39 RBI, and 4 SB in 53 GP at Triple-A. He has hit the ball hard (11% Barrels and 50% Hardhit) in his limited time in the majors (61 PA). He is worth adding in deeper mixed leagues because he should provide value across the board.
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