Sal Frelick is ready for football season with this catch in traffic:

https://x.com/MLB/status/1701349118688350604?s=20

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In a big upset, we’re apparently still making Sal’s:

ARE YOU SERIOUS @SalFrelick !!! pic.twitter.com/xAU80lDM13

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 10, 2023

On the Agenda:

1. News and Notes
2. Bumps and Bruises
3. Streaming Pitchers

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The TARP MONSTER strikes again!

That was some wild wind but we got it covered before the rain.

🎥: Someone in the press box https://t.co/iX7HgnTrBX pic.twitter.com/aebZ4uSccG

— Trey Wilson (@treywilson757) September 8, 2023

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Can I get my taco with a side of oppo sauce, please?

Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the @Marlins are taking it to the NL West leaders. pic.twitter.com/aB3p6xaxAy

— MLB (@MLB) September 7, 2023

On the Agenda:

1. News and Notes
2. Bumps and Bruises
3. Streaming Pitchers

News and Notes

Shohei Ohtani missed another game on Wednesday after imaging revealed he was dealing with inflammation in his oblique. Those rostering Ohtani should be currently hearing the “Jaws” theme in their heads/making other plans for their UT slots.

Gary Sánchez has a fractured wrist and is done for the season, finishing exactly as you might expect, with a .217 AVG and 19 HR in 267 PA.

James Paxton will have his turn in the rotation skipped this week and won’t pitch again until Tuesday against the Yankees. Paxton has a 4.50 ERA for the year but has been getting lit up lately, most recently lasting just 1.1 IP against the Royals while giving up 6 ER.

Mason Miller (elbow) was activated from the IL on Wednesday but won’t be headed back to the rotation, with manager Mark Kotsay saying he’ll be used in the middle of games and will be limited to 50 pitches. Typically, this would render someone mostly useless in fantasy but that might not be the case with Miller, depending on your league and the circumstances of the current standings. If you’re looking for excellent strikeouts with a side of ratios, Miller might still be your guy. For example, in his return to action last night, he pitched two clean innings, striking out three, with the heater averaging 99.6 mph and hitting 102.4 mph.

Jarred Kelenic could be activated soon after playing in full games in the field on his rehab assignment on back-to-back days, going 4-for-9 with a home run and three doubles.

The Dodgers canceled Julio Urías’s bobblehead night on Wednesday due to him being a complete and utter loser who won’t pitch again this season and probably not next year either. At least, not in MLB. Imagine loving domestic violence more than 100+ million dollars.

Bumps and Bruises

The Marlins might still be in the Wildcard hunt and are currently on a six-game win streak but things just got a whole lot more difficult. Sandy Alcantara (forearm) and Jorge Soler (oblique) were both placed on the IL on Wednesday with what could be season-ending injuries considering the state of the calendar. Edward Cabrera and Dane Myers were recalled to take their places. Cabrera is obviously the most interesting from a fantasy view and has trucked along in his five starts at Triple-A since being demoted at the start of August, posting a 2.22 ERA over 28.1 IP, with 30 strikeouts. But sledding could be really tough early on, with his first two starts currently scheduled to come at Philadelphia on Sunday and at home against Atlanta next Friday.

Things just keep getting worse for the Texas Rangers – Adolis García was removed in the second innings of last night’s loss to the Astros with knee discomfort after landing awkwardly following a failed attempt to bring back a Michael Brantley home run. Consider him day-to-day.

Giancarlo Stanton hit his hardest ball of the season on Wednesday – unfortunately, the 119.5 mph liner ran directly into the foot of Detroit pitcher, Matt Manning. Manning, who already missed over two months earlier in the season after being hit with a comebacker on the same foot back in April, is out for the season. He’ll finish his year with a 3.58 ERA (4.81 FIP) over 78 IP, with 50 K.

Corbin Carroll was pulled in the fifth inning of Arizona’s 12-5 win over Colorado last night after taking a hit-by-pitch to the wrist. X-rays were negative but consider him day-to-day.

Andrew McCutchen is officially done for the season after imaging revealed a partial tear in his Achilles tendon from running out a double on Monday. Expect Pittsburgh to replace him with someone who is in no way fantasy relevant.

Glass Joe Tim Anderson was scratched with a stiff neck on Wednesday. Consider him day-to-day.

Lane Thomas (back) missed his second game in a row on Wednesday but will get another day off today to try and get right for the weekend.

Streaming Pitchers

Streaming Pitcher for Today: Ryan Pepiot, LAD @MIA – Mr. Up-and-Down has a solid streaming matchup on a short-slate Thursday, even if the Marlins are currently rolling. In three appearances in the majors this season (1 start, 2 bulk relief), Pepiot has a 1.29 ERA and 0.71 WHIP, including one against these same Marlins on August 19 when he allowed 1 ER over 5 IP, with one walk and five strikeouts.

High Risk for Today: Adam Wainwright, STL @ATL – Ba-hahahahaha, we are laughing. Only if you’re playing in a reverse fantasy league.

Streaming Pitcher for Tomorrow: Reese Olson, DET vs CHW – Olson has allowed just 1 ER in his past two starts, including his most recent one where he blanked these same White Sox over seven innings, allowing just four hits and walking none.

Nice assist!

Kickball 🤝 Baseball

(MLB x @Woodbridge_Wine) pic.twitter.com/Sx6KwqAcHb

— MLB (@MLB) September 6, 2023

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Have your friend’s back like Elly does:

The old 1-4-6-3 putout that only Elly De La Cruz could pull off. 🤯

(MLB x @Woodbridge_Wine) pic.twitter.com/mXLml22DDr

— MLB (@MLB) September 4, 2023

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Add this to the list of things I have never seen:

This UMPIRE was ejected from the game for getting into it with a player 😳

Have you ever seen an umpire get thrown out?

(via @JomboyMedia) pic.twitter.com/flo0fdnx7m

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 28, 2023

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Ya know, I’m starting to think Sarah Langs might just be onto something – baseball really is the best:

Braves pitcher Darius Vines went six strong innings in his MLB debut and his mother was brought to tears when being asked about it pic.twitter.com/GO17Xg5PmL

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 31, 2023

On the Agenda:

1. ‘Tis the SZNs
2. Bumps and Bruises
3. Comeback Trails
4. Streaming Pitchers

‘Tis the SZNs

With New York hopes of contending far in the rearview and center fielder, Harrison Bader, recently placed on waivers, top prospect Jasson Domínguez will be called up in time for this weekend’s series against Houston. The 20-year-old whetted our fantasy dreams with 15 HR and 37 SB over 507 PA at Double-A this season and has put up a .494 wOBA and 187 wRC+ over a brief eight-game sample at Triple-A.

Dominguez will be joined by catcher, Austin Wells, who has 17 HR and 7 SB across three levels this year, most recently slashing .262/.355/.467 over 141 PA at Triple-A.

Ronny Mauricio is expected to be called by the Mets this weekend. Mauricio has laid waste to Triple-A this season, slashing .295/.349/.511 over 527 PA, with 23 HR and 24 SB, with a .371 wOBA.

Ceddanne Rafaela got his first start in the bigs at shortstop on Wednesday, with Trevor Story getting the night off, going 1-for-4, with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Rafaela has dominated at two levels this season (.302/.349/.520, 20 HR, 36 SB) but doesn’t necessarily have a path to everyday playing time.

Bumps and Bruises

Julio Rodríguez missed his second straight game on Wednesday with a pinched nerve in his foot, with manager Scott Servis hopeful he’ll be able to return in time for this weekend’s series against the Mets.

Salvador Perez was scratched with a tight back on Wednesday. Consider him day-to-day.

Lane Thomas was pulled in the seventh inning yesterday with a balky back. Consider him day-to-day.

After getting pulled on Tuesday with a hip issue, Jorge Soler was out again on Wednesday. Consider him day-to-day for now but do be aware that hips don’t lie and Soler also had issues with his in 2022.

Comeback Trails

Ranger Suárez (hamstring) will be activated to start Philadelphia’s series finale in Milwaukee on Sunday.

J.D. Martinez (groin) is expected to start a brief rehab assignment soon before rejoining the Dodgers this weekend. Martinez has been out of action since August 19, having slashed .262/.338/.446 in the second half, with 3 HR in 76 PA.

Ryan Helsley (forearm) is likely to be activated from the IL on Friday. Considering he hasn’t pitched in the majors since early June and has had multiple starts and stops to his rehab track, it’s hard to assume he’ll immediately move back into the St. Louis closer role.

Marcus Stroman (rib) got some long-toss in on Wednesday but is running out of time to rejoin the Cubs rotation for any meaningful amount of fantasy contributions before the regular season ends.

Streaming Pitchers

Ahh, the shortest of the short-slates…We have a whopping four games today!

Streaming Pitcher for Today: Umm, no.

High Risk for Today: Joan Adon, WSN vs MIA – Look, we’re picking bones here. Adon has a 5.25 ERA (4.64 FIP) for the year but will get a rematch against a Marlins team that he just shut out for six innings in his last start, allowing three hits and striking out three.

Matt Manning, DET @NYY – Since allowing a total of 19 runs (17 ER) over an earlier three-start stretch, Manning has been solid for his most recent three starts, allowing just 1 ER (4 R) over 17.2 IP. But being backed by a languid Detroit offense that has only scored a total of 11 runs over their current five-game losing streak and a miniature 15% K%, Manning’s value ceiling is extremely limited.

Unreal effort:

This AMAZING catch by Austin Slater ends the 8th inning to keep Alex Cobb's no-hit bid alive! pic.twitter.com/hAJSRVHpYx

— MLB (@MLB) August 30, 2023

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The last month of the season is going to be fun:

Live look at the AL West division race pic.twitter.com/lfj8ddulMY

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 28, 2023

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