John Means Business in Win Over Rays

Unheralded Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means was brilliant on Saturday, going seven innings in a victory over Tampa Bay while only allowing one run and striking out seven. With the victory, Means is now 9-9 on the year with a 3.61 ERA over 117 innings, and he has quietly been a top-75 pitcher in […]

Kolby Allard Punches Out Eight

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kolby Allard tossed a gem on Saturday night, pitching 6 2/3 innings of shutout baseball while striking out eight in a 4-0 win over the White Sox. Since being traded from Atlanta at the deadline, Allard has allowed 11 runs in 15 innings over three starts but was until very recently […]

Edwin Encarnacion Gets Closer to Returning

Out since Aug. 3 with a fractured wrist, New York Yankees designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (wrist) resumed baseball activities on Saturday, taking grounders, playing catch and doing tee work. Still with no firm timetable for his return, the news is nevertheless positive as the Yankees midsummer acquisition looks to rejoin the roster sometime in September. He […]

Willson Contreras Takes Next Step in Rehab

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras advanced in his rehabilitation prior to Saturday's game against the Nationals, progressing to making throws to second base. Out since August 3 with a hamstring injury, Contreras has spent the last few days taking part in running and agility drills and could return to the Cubs lineup by early September. […]

Shohei Ohtani Throws 35-Pitch Bullpen

Los Angeles Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani (elbow) continued to progress in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery 11 months ago, throwing a 35-pitch bullpen before the Angels game on Saturday. Ohtani ramped up his intensity in this latest session, throwing fastballs, sliders and curveballs without incident. Manager Brad Ausmus described the pitching as "free and […]

Pablo Sandoval's Season to End With Tommy John Surgery

In the middle of his best season in years, San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval will have his year ended by Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The 33-year old Sandoval, who's been on the shelf with elbow inflammation since August 24, had 14 home runs, 41 RBI, and 42 runs scored in […]

Peter Alonso Ties Mets Record With 41st Home Run

New York Mets first baseman Peter Alonso tied the team's franchise record for home runs in a season on Saturday night, hitting a go-ahead three-run home run in the fifth inning against Max Fried of the Braves. New York would eventually lose 9-5 to Atlanta, but Alonso's 41st home run puts him within striking distance […]

Corey Dickerson Has Four Hits in Win Over Marlins

Philadelphia Phillie outfielder Corey Dickerson went 4-for-5 on Saturday night, as the Phillies beat the Marlins 9-3. Dickerson had two doubles and five RBI but is still only slashing a disappointing .250/.246/.517 since being acquired from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. Over the past 30 days, Dickerson is ranked as the #52-outfielder in standard Yahoo […]

H2H Category Streamers - Week 22 Waiver Wire

There are plenty of strategies that fantasy managers explore in hopes of getting an advantage over their opponent. Heavy lineup, heavy starting pitchers, no catcher, all (or mostly) reliever staff, no reliever staff, etc. Even if you play a balanced lineup, injuries can cause holes. A few weeks without a key player won’t kill a […]

Mitch Keller Superb in Friday's Win

Pirates rookie pitcher Mitch Keller may have not been credited with a win on Friday night but he did turn in the best start of his young career, as Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati 3-2 with a ninth-inning comeback. Keller went six innings in the no-decision, striking out nine Reds while allowing only a solo home run […]

Dylan Cease Has Best Start of Season

Chicago White Sox rookie and heralded prospect Dylan Cease has had a rough start to his career, going 3-6 with a 5.46 ERA since being called up on July 3. But Cease said he had his best stuff of the year on Friday night when he went six innings and struck out nine as the […]

Willie Calhoun Won't Stop Raking

Texas outfielder Willie Calhoun continued to shine on Friday in Chicago, hitting a three-run home run in the top of the first inning off of White Sox starter Dylan Cease. The Rangers would eventually lose 8-3 but Calhoun continues to hit like he has no intention of going back to the minors, with nine home […]

Austin Meadows Homers in Second Straight Game

A night after helping Baltimore set the record for the most home runs allowed in a season, Tampa Bay outfielder Austin Meadows hit a grand slam on Friday, defeating the Orioles 7-1. Meadow's first career slam was his third home run in his last six games, with seven of his 23 HR having come in […]

Jon Berti Collects Three More Hits

Miami Marlins 29-year-old rookie Jon Berti continued his improbable run of productivity on Friday night, going 3-for-6 with a home run, two RBI, and a stolen base in a 19-11 win over the Phillies. In 87 plate appearances since returning from the injured list on July 31, Berti is slashing .308/.379/.526 with three home runs, […]

Jake Cave Continues Wave of Production

Minnesota Twins second-year outfielder Jake Cave kept up his hot streak on Friday night, hitting two home runs in a 9-6 losing effort against the Tigers. The two solo-shots give Cave four home runs on the year and over the last ten games, he's slashing .485/.541/.788 with a 250 wRC+. Keep spelunking with him while […]

Didi Gregorius Hits Two Home Runs In Rout of Dodgers

The New York Yankees trounced the Dodgers on Friday night 10-0, with shortstop Didi Gregorius accounting for half of the Yankees runs. He first chased starter Hyun-Jin Ryu from the game with a fifth-inning grand slam that put the Yankees up 7-1, before adding a cherry on top with a ninth-inning solo shot. Gregorius now […]

J.D. Martinez Continues Assault on Month of August

Boston outfielder and perennial crusher of lasers, J.D. Martinez had disappointed his owners this season with a lackluster first-half. But Martinez has absolutely dominated the last month and hit two more home runs on Friday night in an 11-0 win over the Padres, giving him 30 HR for the season. Over his last 25 games, […]

Hyun-Jin Ryu Roughed Up Again

Los Angeles Dodger starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu struggled in his second straight start on Friday night, allowing seven earned runs in a 10-2 loss versus the visiting Yankees. Ryu has given up 11 earned runs in his last two starts and has now thrown 152 2/3 innings on the year, his most since 2013. If […]

Jason Kipnis (2B/OF, CLE) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of leagues ANALYSIS: After two completely mediocre seasons, Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis is having a bit of a mini-renaissance as of late, seemingly drawing upon the last well of his old-man strength. After hitting .230 for the previous two years, with an 89 and 83 […]

Tom Murphy (C, SEA) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Two-Catcher Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of leagues ANALYSIS: Poor Tom Murphy...All he wants to do is mash home runs and no one will let him. Well not exactly, as Seattle has let him for mash for 194 plate appearances this year as the backup to Omar Narvaez, to which Murphy has responded by […]

Dinelson Lamet (SP, SDP) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of leagues ANALYSIS: If players on the waiver wire continue to perform well, their ownership naturally rises and eventually reaching a point of inflection, wherein a player transitions from a streamer to a keeper. It's the savvy fantasy player that pounces before that point, saving themselves the heartbreak […]

Willy Adames (SS, TB) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 17% of leagues ANALYSIS: Now presenting Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames, showing for the umpteenth time that the development of prospects is not always a linear process. The 23-year-old has had an up-and-down first two seasons, with a solid rookie year where he slashed .278/.348/.406, with 10 […]

Vince Velasquez (SP, PHI) - Week 22 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: Philadelphia pitcher Vince Velasquez - who occasionally moonlights as a human gas-can - was a lot easier to recommend before his last start, a 2.2 inning bonfire against the Marlins. Even though Miami had a .285 wOBA and .663 wOBA against right-handers that were […]

Mike Gesicki Leads Offense in Preseason Win

Second-year tight end Mike Gesicki was the offensive star in Miami's preseason victory over the Jaguars on Thursday night, hauling in all three of his targets for a total of 59 yards. This included a 29-yard catch-and-run to start off the second quarter with Gesicki catching a 16-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick before scampering for […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Homers In Loss

The Toronto Blue Jays may have lost in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday night when the Dodgers scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win 3-2, but at least Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 15th home run of the year while collecting three hits. Guerrero missed two games earlier in the week with […]

Austin Meadows Helps Make Orioles History

Tampa Bay outfielder Austin Meadows made history in a 5-2 victory over the Orioles on Thursday night, swatting his 22nd home run of the year in the third inning and marking the 259th home run that the Orioles have given up in 2019. That breaks the record for the most home runs allowed by a […]

Gleyber Torres Doubles Up Again

New York Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres continued to prove that he can hit home runs against more teams than just the Orioles, cranking two more in a 5-3 loss against Oakland on Thursday night. Torres now has 31 home runs on the year, tying him for second-most among second basemen. The Yankees continue their West Coast […]

Ronald Acuna With Another Walk-Off Win

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna walked it off against the Marlins on Thursday night, hitting a game-winning single off of Ryne Stanek with two outs in the bottom of the ninth after Freddie Freeman had tied the game at two in the eighth inning. Acuna is in the middle of a transcendent season, now with 36 […]

Freddie Freeman Ties Career High In Home Runs

Atlanta Braves superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman went 1-for-4 on Thursday night, clubbing his 34th home run of the year as the Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 3-2. The home run ties Freeman's previous career high from 2016, and he continues to cement himself as the most valuable first baseman in fantasy. With three home runs […]

Nolan Arenado Hits 32nd Home Run In Loss

Perennial MVP candidate Nolan Arenado hit his 32nd home run of the year on Thursday, as the Rockies fell 6-5 to the Cardinals. Arenado now has 99 RBI and 82 runs scored and is slashing .301/.360/.561. Coors or no Coors, Arenado is a top-10 fantasy player and will continue to be for the rest of […]