Me trying to finish off the 2023 season:
Blooper out here on the football field stiff-arming kids 💀
(via @supershawnyb) pic.twitter.com/weRXJB5c4T
— MLB Life (@MLBLife) September 25, 2023
Unreal efforts by Jeff McNeil:
Oh, baby, fellow Nick – that’s how you save a game:
A game-saving throw from Nick Castellanos! #SeptemberBaseball pic.twitter.com/MATmt6PtT4
— MLB (@MLB) September 20, 2023
On the Agenda:
Cool to see Waino get to 200 wins:
I know that the Braves love to Braves in the postseason but damn, do they seem overwhelming:
Braves win 4-1 and clinch the NL East for the 6th year in a row! pic.twitter.com/WDQrAQPsKR
— Atlanta Braves Radio Network 🎙️ (@BravesRadioNet) September 14, 2023
On the Agenda:
News and Notes
In the latest, “Why Would You Purposely Trade for Mets Cursed Players?” news, Max Scherzer is done for the regular season after straining his teres major during a start on Tuesday. The 39-year-old is unlikely to need surgery but a playoff return seems to carry about the same odds. Hopefully, the Rangers didn’t trade some all-world bloodlines that is slashing .300/.366/.419 at Double-A this season, with an 18% K% and 56 SB, in order to acquire him.
Kenley Jansen was placed on the COVID-IL on Wednesday after being pulled early on Tuesday with fatigue. He’ll have to stay on the list for at least seven days, with Chris Martin likely to take over closing duties in the interim. Martin only has one Save this season but has been quietly impressive while grabbing 22 Holds, posting 1.14 ERA (2.50 FIP) over 47.1 IP, with a 1.01 WHIP.
Nolan Gorman was placed on the 10-day IL with a Grade 2 hamstring strain after injuring it while running out a single on Tuesday. This likely ends Gorman’s season, with the Cardinals slugger finishing with 27 HR in 464 PA. But the bigger bright side comes with his improvement vs LHP; an 86 PA-sample isn’t anything to get too excited about but you can’t help but like Gorman slashing .260/.360/.479 vs LHP, with an .840 OPS and 28% K%. St. Louis called up Juniel Querecuto in a corresponding roster move but Richie Palacios will likely end up with the biggest bump in playing time.
He might not have his jets of old but don’t let Ronald Acuña Jr.’s ridiculous season make you forget for a second what a fantasy force Mookie Betts has been. Stealing two more bases on Wednesday, Betts is now up to 39 HR, 120 R, 103 RBI, and 13 SB for the year, while slashing .312/.412/.607 over 628 PA. Betts is currently ranked 3rd on the Razzball Player Rater, at a value of $46.6! That’s so good – until you see Acuña Jr. at $70.8. Seriously, it’s ridiculous and I just wanted to point it out again.
Bumps and Bruises
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was removed in the fourth inning last night after appearing to injure his right leg while running out a groundout. Consider him day-to-day, which in Jazz-speak might mean a season-ender:
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has exited tonight's game in Milwaukee after trying beat out a throw to first base
(via @BallyMarlins)pic.twitter.com/UZpc0sry8x
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 14, 2023
Ryan Mountcastle said he felt his shoulder “pop” in the first inning last night, ultimately being removed two frames later. Consider him day-to-day until his imaging comes back but any combination of “shoulder” and “pop” generally isn’t a good thing for hitters.
Christian Yelich remained on the bench yesterday, now having not played since his back flared up last Friday. Keep considering him day-to-day.
Speaking of banged-up Brewers outfielders, Mark Canha missed Wednesday’s game after being pulled on Tuesday with a sore left wrist. He received a cortisone shot but will likely miss at least a few more games. Canha has been low-key effective for fantasy since being traded to Milwaukee, slashing .303/.394/.459, with a .371 wOBA over 142 PA, with 4 HR, 18 R, 21 RBI, and 1 SB. Until he returns, expect Joey Wiemer to move back into regular playing time.
Jarred Kelenic missed Wednesday’s contest with a foot that was still sore from him fouling a ball off of it on Monday. But luckily, it’s not the same foot that he broke earlier in the summer and Kelenic was reportedly available off of the bench.
Brett Baty was removed prior to the seventh inning in last night’s game with groin tightness and will require an MRI. Consider him day-to-day. If this ends up being an extended absence, expect Mark Vientos to take over at third base and Dan Vogelbach to see increased time at DH. Why? Because what is Vogelbach may never die.
Comeback Trails
Sandy Alcantara went on the IL on September 6 with what was eventually revealed to be a sprained UCL but the Marlins won’t commit to whether he’ll be able to return this season. Alcantara played catch yesterday for the first time since going on the IL and claims to feel “100 percent good” but there’s no word on whether he’ll be good to go when eligible to come off the IL on Tuesday.
Shohei Ohtani missed his 10th game in a row with right oblique “discomfort”…Because it’s definitely not a strain, right? That “Jaws” music we warned about last week should probably be super loud right now.
In “Perpetually Evergreen” news, Byron Buxton apparently got a cortisone injection on Sunday for the ailing knee that caused him to be pulled from his rehab assignment early. The Twins remain hopeful he’ll return before th-….Bahaha-haha, almost made it. C’mon people – he’s done for the year.
Triston McKenzie (elbow) began a rehab assignment on Wednesday at Double-A, allowing 1 ER on one hit and one walk, facing 11 batters and striking out four. While McKenzie could return in the regular season, he might be impossible to trust for fantasy purposes given the likely governer on his workload.
Starling Marte (groin) went through his regular pregame routine on Wednesday but is still only aiming for a return by the last week of the regular season. IE Probably fantasy worthless so any stashers can give up the ghost.
Streaming Pitchers
Streaming Pitcher for Today: Reese Olson, DET vs CIN – Olson has continued to be a solid source of streaming lately after starting the second half by posting a 6.49 ERA over seven starts. But Olson has only allowed a total of 3 ER over his last three starts and will face a Reds offense that has an 87 wRC+ vs RHP (24th) in the second half, with a 27.1% K% (3rd).
High Risk for Today: Tanner Houck, BOS vs NYY – Houck has been really hard to count on for consistent success but he’ll face a Yankees team that he’s previously handled well twice this season, allowing a total 3 ER in 10 IP in back-to-back starts in June. But with 5-6 IP generally being his cap and the Yankees having won eight of their last 11, it’s not a start I’m rushing to run out.
Streaming Pitcher for Tomorrow: David Peterson, NYM vs CIN – Perhaps this should be placed in a “High Risk Tweener” bucket as Peterson does enjoy his 5+ ERA outings. But Cincinnati has been nearly as bad vs LHP in the second half as against RHP, posting an 85 wRC+ (23rd) and 24% K% (11th).
20 MPH more and I can be a Major League pitcher:
Sal Frelick is ready for football season with this catch in traffic:
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:
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
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:
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.