In The Field
SS Bo Bichette was scratched from the Blue Jays lineup on Wednesday with a right finger contusion. He was placed on the 10-day IL on Tuesday. Bichette has been a major disappointment this year (.225 AVG with 4 HR, 29 R, 31 RBI, and 5 SB in 81 GP). OF Victor Robles (hand) left Tuesday's game early with a bruised hand. He was also out of the lineup on Wednesday but returned on Friday. Robles has been hitting well for the Mariners (.333 AVG with 4 HR, 31 R, 20 RBI, and 25 SB in 69 GP). 3B Jordan Westburg (hand) started a rehab assignment on Thursday. He has been out since August 1 with a fractured right hand. Westburg was having a fine season before the injury (.269 AVG with 18 HR, 55 R, 58 RBI, and 6 SB). He also had the underlying skills to back it up (21% K, 12% Barrels, and 47% Hardhit). 3B Ramon Urias (ankle) has also started a rehab assignment. Both players should be back at the same time. The Orioles are going to want to get both players as many reps as possible before the playoffs. 3B Colt Keith (shoulder) was out of the Tigers lineup on Wednesday. He returned on Friday. Keith is having a solid rookie season (.264 AVG with 13 HR, 53 R, 58 RBI, and 7 SB). OF Mickey Moniak (hand) was out of the Angels lineup on Wednesday and hadn't played since getting hit on the hand on Sunday. OF Jordyn Adams has been playing regularly. 2B Brandon Drury (hamstring) missed five straight games before returning to the Angels lineup on Wednesday. Drury has struggled mightily this year (.166 AVG with 4 HR, 27 R, 15 RBI, and 0 SB). OF Max Kepler (knee) got a cortisone shot in his hip on Monday to try to reduce inflammation. He is expected to start a rehab assignment this weekend before returning next week. Kepler is hitting .253 with 8 HR, 43 R, 42 RBI, and 1 SB. He isn't going to move the needle enough to warrant a pickup in the last two weeks because he isn't going to play every day as the Twins platoon him. OF Daulton Varsho was placed on the 10-day IL on Tuesday with a shoulder injury. It is a season-ending injury because the team wants him to have rotator cuff surgery as soon as possible. Varsho finishes the season hitting .214 with 18 HR, 73 R, 58 RBI, and 10 SB. It was a disappointing season overall. His average continues to fall as his strikeout rate increases and he did not run as often this year. Varsho was drafted as a potential 20 HR/2 SB bat with a lower batting average. He will head into 2025 with major question marks with regards to his health (shoulder) and playing time (declining production). OF Steven Kwan has been placed on the 10-day IL with mid-back inflammation. He had previously missed five straight games and the Guardians want Kwan to get healthy before the playoffs start. He has been an integral part of their offense this year. He has been the Guardians' leadoff hitter and is hitting .291 with 13 HR, 81 R, 43 RBI, and 12 SB. OF Angel Martinez has taken his spot in the outfield and as the leadoff hitter. Martinez is hitting .248 with 3 HR, 14 R, 10 RBI, and 3 SB in 155 PA. 1B Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) has started a rehab assignment and is expected back before the end of the season. Mountcastle has been out since August 22 with a sprained left wrist. He was hitting .265 with 13 HR, 53 R, 61 RBI, and 3 SB. OF Mike Trout is reportedly open to moving off of centerfield. The ideal situation would be for the Angels to DH him similar to what they did with Ohtani but Trout doesn't appear open to that. OF Juan Soto underwent X-rays on his left knee after he crashed into the wall during Thursday's game against the Mariners. He was able to finish the game. Soto was out of the lineup on Friday but returned on Saturday. The Orioles sent 3B Coby Mayo back to the minors. This is because they are getting Westburg and Urias back soon. It is also because Mayo has struggled in his limited at-bats (.098 AVG with 48% K). 3B Rafael Devers (shoulder) is likely going to miss the remainder of the season according to manager Alex Cora. He was placed on the 10-day IL on Saturday. 3B Romy Gonzalez is expected to get a chance to be the regular third baseman for the last week. He is hitting .270 with 5 HR, 22 R, 24 RBI, and 10 SB in 83 GP.
On The Mound
Tanner Houck (shoulder) was scratched from his start last Friday versus the Yankees with what the team called "dead arm". He returned on Wednesday to start against the Rays (4 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, and 4 K). Jeffrey Springs (elbow) is feeling better according to his manager Kevin Cash but a return this season has been ruled out. Springs had decent results (3.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP) but the underlying skills were concerning. His Stuff+ has a career low at 87. This is because his fastball velocity fell to 89.9 mph which was the lowest it's been since entering the league. It appears that he was never healthy. This makes Springs a very volatile player heading into 2025 because we won't know about his potential until we get velocity readings in Spring Training. The Orioles' general manager Mike Elias mentioned that Grayson Rodriguez (lat) could pitch out of the bullpen when he returns. This is because he isn't going to have time to build up his pitch count before the season ends and the Orioles would rather have him contribute in the playoffs in whatever way possible. Kevin Gausman left his last start early due to lower-back tightness. He expects to make his next scheduled start. Gausman has a 3.91 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 175 IP. Max Scherzer was scratched from his start on Saturday with what is believed to be an injury. Scherzer has had an injury-riddled season. He has a 3.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 17% K:BB in 9 GS. Cody Bradford has been excellent for the Rangers this year. He has a 3.59 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through 72.2 IP. Bradford has had success by missing just enough bats (23% K) and having elite command (4% BB). He has just enough stuff to get by and he gets matched up against the Athletics in a pitcher-friendly park to end the year. He should be one of the top available arms this week. Joey Cantillo has a 4.63 ERA and 1.20 WHIP through 35 IP. They are not encouraging numbers but he has enough underlying skills to be excited. He is missing bats (26% K) and getting ground balls (48% GB). The area he needs to improve is his control (9% BB) which will help him limit baserunners. He also gets a home matchup against the Reds who have a bottom 10 offense away from Great American Ballpark. Kumar Rocker will make his final start against the Athletics in Oakland which is an excellent matchup. Rocker has shown enough flashes through two starts to be picked up. He has struck out 35% of batters and gotten 50% GB. There is risk given he has walked six batters in two starts but the stuff is electric.
In The Bullpen
Kenley Jansen finished the save out on Wednesday night for his 27th save of the year. However, he was visited by the trainers during his appearance, and manager Alex Cora said after the game that Jansen is battling a shoulder injury. He has not been placed on the 15-day IL but this is a situation to keep an eye on and Chris Martin would be worth picking up (3.35 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 28% K:BB). Pete Fairbanks (lat) is unlikely to be back this season. He is progressing but there isn't enough time left for him to make it back to a major league mound. The Rays continue to be matchup based with Garrett Cleavinger, Hunter Bigge, and Drew Rasmussen picking up saves this week. Edwin Uceta is the best option as closer in the Rays' pen but they have not committed to him. He has been lights out this year (1.42 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 33% K:BB). The Orioles released Craig Kimbrel after his struggles. Seranthony Dominguez blew his only save chance but overall has been good for the Orioles (3.66 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 24% K:BB). Luke Weaver picked up a win and a save this week as he has seemingly taken over as the Yankees preferred option at the end of games. Weaver has been very good as a reliever this year (2.99 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 22% K:BB). The White Sox bullpen continues to be a disaster with Justin Anderson and Chad Kuhl blowing saves this week. It is a situation to stay away from. Emmanuel Clase picked up two more saves this week and continues to have one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory (0.63 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, and 46 of 49 saves). The Tigers are playing good baseball and had four save chances this week with three going to Jason Foley and Will Vest getting the other. The Twins used Jhoan Duran in high leverage this week so Griffin Jax picked up two saves as he continues to be one of the best non-closers in baseball (2.10 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 4 W, and 10 SV). Josh Hader had a big week with three saves and a win after he blew the save. Hader now has 8 W and 33 SV. Mason Miller is now up to 27 SV after picking up two this week. He has a 2.34 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 32% K:BB in his first season as closer.
Players to add this week:
SP Kumar Rocker (TEX)- Kumar Rocker will make his final start against the Athletics in Oakland which is an excellent matchup. Rocker has shown enough flashes through two starts to be picked up. He has struck out 35% of batters and gotten 50% GB. There is risk given he has walked six batters in two starts but the stuff is electric.
RP Luke Weaver (NYY)- Luke Weaver has seemingly taken over as the Yankees closer. This makes him a must-add. He has been dominant as a reliever this year (2.99 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 22% K:BB). Weaver is another example of a failed starter turning it around as a reliever.
SP Joey Cantillo (CLE)- Joey Cantillo has a 4.63 ERA and 1.20 WHIP through 35 IP. They are not encouraging numbers but he has enough underlying skills to be excited. He is missing bats (26% K) and getting ground balls (48% GB). The area he needs to improve is his control (9% BB) which will help him limit baserunners. He also gets a home matchup against the Reds who have a bottom 10 offense away from Great American Ballpark.
2B Zack Gelof (OAK)- Zack Gelof has been swinging the bat better since the beginning of August (.256 AVG with 4 HR, 19 R, 13 RBI, and 11 SB). He barrels the baseball (9%) but struggles with contact (34% K). He's been swinging a hot bat so he is worth adding for the final week. He also offers power/speed even if the average isn't there.
3B Justin Turner (SEA)- Justin Turner hasn't been spectacular but he continues to be a solid major-league hitter. He is hitting .256 with 11 HR, 57 R, 49 RBI, and 0 SB. He doesn't strike out much (18% K) and has been hitting near the middle of the Mariners lineup on a regular basis. If you are looking for someone that offers low risk Turner would fit into that category.
1B Spencer Horwitz (TOR)- Spencer Horwitz is hitting .272 AVG with 12 HR, 45 R, 36 RBI, and 0 SB. He has plus plate skills (11% BB and 18% K) and barrels the ball consistently (9% Barrels). This is enough to make him viable and he is lined up to start against six right-handed starters.
OF Taylor Ward (LAA)- Taylor Ward is hitting leadoff every night and has been red hot since the beginning of August (.295 AVG with 9 HR, 24 R, 17 RBI, and 2 SB). He has good plate skills (9% BB and 25% K) and has hit the ball harder more consistently than ever this year (14% Barrels). If someone gave up on him after a slow first half and he is still on the wire he needs to be picked up immediately.
SP Cody Bradford (TEX)- Cody Bradford has been excellent for the Rangers this year. He has a 3.59 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through 72.2 IP. Bradford has had success by missing just enough bats (23% K) and having elite command (4% BB). He has just enough stuff to get by and he gets matched up against the Athletics in a pitcher-friendly park to end the year. He should be one of the top available arms this week.
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