In The Field
OF Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) is not going to return after the All-Star break as expected. The Yankees and Stanton have not decided if he is going to need a rehab assignment before returning. He was expected to miss four weeks and that appears to be the timeline. C Jose Trevino (quad) has a Grade 2 quadricep strain. He was placed on the 10-day IL on Saturday and is expected to miss more than the minimum. C Austin Wells is going to step in as the primary catcher. He is hitting .216 with 6 HR, 24 R, 20 RBI, and 1 SB in 194 PA. SS Bo Bichette sat out Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks which was the fourth game in a row that he has missed due to a calf strain. The Blue Jays hope that he will be able to return after the All-Star break but that is no guarantee. Bichette is hitting .221 with 4 HR, 29 R, 30 RBI, and 5 SB. OF MJ Melendez left Sunday's game early with a left ankle sprain. The Royals were hopeful that it wasn't a serious injury because Melendez had finally started to turn it on in July (.290 AVG with 3 HR, 5 %, 4 RBI, and 0 SB) but they ended up putting him on the 10-day IL on Tuesday retroactive to July 15. He will be eligible to return on July 26. SS Carlos Correa is dealing with plantar fasciitis according to manager Rocco Baldelli. Correa has had a strong season to date (.308 AVG with 13 HR, 51 R, 47 RBI, and 0 SB) but this is an injury that he is going to need to manage for the rest of the season. The plus side is that Correa doesn't run so it shouldn't be a huge hit to his fantasy value. 3B Jose Miranda was placed on the 10-day IL on Sunday with a lower back strain. Miranda was red hot before the injury (.325 with 9 HR, 35 R, 43 RBI, and 2 SB). The Twins are expected to fill his spot in the lineup against RHP with OF Matt Wallner. SS Javier Baez (back) was not placed on the 10-day IL after leaving Saturday's game early and sitting out Sunday. He is expected to be back in the Tigers lineup on Friday. OF Mark Canha (wrist) also expects to be back in the Tigers lineup on Friday. 2B Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) had his rehab assignment moved to Triple-A. However, when he does return there is no guarantee that he has a regular role. OF Austin Hays left Saturday's game with adductor soreness. Hays is not playing regularly and hasn't provided much fantasy value (.262 AVG with 3 HR/0 SB). OF Heston Kjerstad was placed on the 7-day concussion IL. OF Kyle Stowers was recalled in a corresponding move. 3B Abraham Toro (hamstring) is expected to start a rehab assignment following the All-Star break. He has been out since June 22. 1B Tyler Soderstrom got better news when he found out that he suffered a stress reaction not a fracture of his wrist. He is still going to miss more than the minimum. OF Esteury Ruiz (wrist) has been playing in rehab games and should be back coming out of the All-Star break. Ruiz was hitting .200 with 2 HR, 10 R, 8 RBI, and 5 SB. C Salvador Perez left Friday's game with cramping but was back in the Royals lineup on Saturday and Sunday. SS Kyle Farmer was placed on the 10-day IL on Friday with a right shoulder strain. OF Dominic Canzone was placed on the 10-day with a right adductor strain. 3B Yoan Moncada (adductor) started a rehab assignment last Tuesday and figures to be back before the end of July. OF Mike Trout (knee) has started swinging a bat and is hopeful that he can return before the end of July. Trout was hitting .220 with 10 HR, 17 R, 14 RBI, and 6 SB before the injury. It will be interesting to see if he continues to run when he returns because the six stolen bases before getting injured were the most since 2019. The White Sox signed recently released 3B Nick Senzel to a major league contract. Senzel hit .209 with 7 HR, 25 R, 18 RBI, and 1 SB in 235 PA with the Nationals. The White Sox don't currently have a starting job for Senzel so he will be in a utility role until someone gets hurt.
On The Mound
Justin Verlander was able to complete a 25-pitch bullpen session on Sunday. Once he starts a rehab assignment we should get a clearer picture of his return date. Mike Clevinger (elbow) made another rehab start on Sunday for Triple-A Charlotte. He is ready to rejoin the rotation but the White Sox have not committed to him returning to their rotation. Dane Dunning (shoulder) pitched in a game on Sunday for Double-A Frisco. He is going to return soon and it will be in the Rangers bullpen. Jeffrey Springs (elbow) completed 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, and 2 K in his rehab outing at Triple-A Durham. He is expected back before the end of July. The Rays also plan on using Drew Rasmussen as a reliever this year before transitioning back to a starter next year. Jacob deGrom threw a 30-pitch bullpen on Tuesday of last week. He is throwing only fastballs and changeups at this point. Until he starts facing live hitters we will not have a clear timeline for his return this season. Bryan Woo (hamstring) was activated off the 15-day IL on Friday for his start against the Angels (3.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, and 1 K). Despite this lackluster start, Woo has still been very good in limited action (2.45 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 14% K:BB). Jake Bloss (shoulder) returned from the 15-day IL on Thursday to start against the Marlins (4 IP, 2 ER, 1 BB, and 4 K). Luis Garcia (elbow) has been pulled off his rehab assignment because he did not respond as expected after his last outing. The Astros have limited him to just playing catch in the interim. They said this is not a major setback but they are being cautious as he returns from Tommy John surgery.
In The Bullpen
Chad Green picked up two saves but also took a loss this past week. On the year, he has a 2.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 15% K:BB, and 6 SV. Yimi Garcia (elbow) is expected to be activated off the 15-day IL and join Chad Green as the Blue Jays closer since Jordan Romano (elbow) is out until September. Green has been very good but Garcia has been better (2.57 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 5 SV) and has more of a traditional closer's profile (35% K, 13% SwStr, and 7% BB). The Royals traded for Hunter Harvey prior to the All-Star break. Harvey has been solid this year (4.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 26% K, and 6% BB). His SIERA (3.00) is much better than his ERA because it factors in a 66% LOB and .325 BABIP. Harvey should get save chances at some point if not right away. James McArthur does not have the skills to be a good closer (3.99 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 19% K, and 4% BB). Pete Fairbanks picked up two saves this past week and now has a 3.21 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 17 SV. Josh Hader added two saves to his season total (18 SV)over the past week. He has quietly righted the ship and been dominant this year (3.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 40% K, and 7% BB). Kirby Yates continues to be one of the best closers in the AL. He has a 1.05 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 23% K:BB, and 16 SV.
Players to add this week:
RP Yimi Garcia (TOR)- Yimi Garcia is expected to be activated following the All-Star break. Garcia has been dominant this year (2.57 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 28% K:BB). He has the skills to be a closer because he can miss bats (35% K) and limits baserunners (7% BB).
3B Colt Keith (DET)- Colt Keith has been a quality major league hitter since his dreadful first month in the majors (.154 AVG and 10 wRC+). Since the beginning of May, he has hit .299 with 9 HR and 3 SB. Kieth doesn't have fantasy superstar potential because he doesn't have elite power or speed and plays in a pitcher-friendly park. However, he can help your team across the board which makes him a valuable asset and it doesn't hurt that people are still sleeping on him because of his terrible first month.
RP Ben Joyce (LAA)- The Angels are going to be sellers at the trade deadline which means that Carlos Esteves could be moved which would open up the closer's role. This makes Ben Joyce an interesting speculative add. He has pitched well this year (2.76 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 24% K, and 8% BB).
2B Spencer Horwitz (TOR)-Spencer Horwitz is hitting .320 with 4 HR, 13 R, 11 RBI, and 0 SB. He has plus plate skills (12% BB and 14% K) and hits the ball hard (9% Barrels). It is a profile that will allow him to continue to play on a regular basis. This is important because he is going to need to get as many at-bats as possible to accumulate counting stats because he isn't going to be above average in any one category.
SS Angel Martinez (CLE)- Angel Martinez has settled in as the Guardian's #2 hitter between Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez. Martinez is hitting .277 with 2 HR, 6 R, 4 RBI, and 0 SB in 13 GP. At Triple-A he was hitting .316 with 5 HR, 20 R, 15 RBI, and 2 SBin 26 GP. Over the course of a full season he would be a 10 HR/10 SB profile with a .260-.270 AVG. It isn't a league-winning profile but a more than adequate replacement in deeper leagues.
3B Brooks Lee (MIN)- Brooks Lee has been batting third for the past two games while Carlos Correa has been out. Lee is hitting .273 with 2 HR, 5 R, 9 RBI, and 1 SB in 11 GP. At Triple-A, he was hitting .329 with 7 HR, 20 R, 21 RBI, and 1 SB. Speed isn't going to be a big part of his game he should hit for a good average and respectable power.
OF Matt Wallner (MIN)- The Twins have played Matt Wallner every day since being called up on July 7. Wallner is a power-only option. He has played in 20 games this year and is hitting .213 thanks in large part to a 46% strikeout rate. When he does make contact it is hard contact (24% Barrels) and in the air (52% FB).
OF Esteury Ruiz (OAK)- Estuary Ruiz is close to returning to the Athletics roster. Ruiz is expected to be activated after the All-Star break. Ruiz was hitting .200 with 2 HR, 10 R, 8 RBI, and 5 SB. If you need speed he is someone to prioritize. He stole 67 bases last year in 132 GP. He was showing improved quality of contact before getting hurt (10% Barrels) but it came with an increased strikeout rate (31% K).
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