MLB Player News

Chapman is batting .362 with five homers and 15 RBI in his last 15 games. It’s pretty nuts that no one wanted to pay a legit top-30 player when he was available in free agency last winter.

Mesa failed to go deep for the first time in three games, but he supplied plenty of fantasy goodness with a pair of run-scoring singles in addition to picking up his fourth stolen base of the season. The 24-year-old boasts strong plate skills and has been makes frequent hard contact, which is a recipe for sustained success. He’s making the most of his opportunity with Tampa Bay recently and is at least worthy of a speculative roster spot in deeper fantasy leagues heading into the final two months.

Lee had a monster game here in a big win for his Twins. He helped get a rally churning with a run-scoring single in the third inning and broke this game open with a three-run homer in the fourth. That long ball was especially painful for the Guardians since it came after an error let that inning get to Lee. Overall, he’s been solid in an everyday role this season with a .254 batting average, .746 OPS, 15 home runs, and 56 RBI. Those power numbers are already approaching his totals from last season in 41 fewer games.

By the end of the second inning, Ober had already faced 12 batters, thrown 53 pitches and allowed three runs. He let up one more in the fourth to close out this ineffective start. For a pitcher who doesn’t have much velocity to begin with, it was down even further in this one. His fastball averaged 87 mph – yes, averaged – and he didn’t crack 89 mph one time. It’s practically impossible to be effective in this day and age with that low of velocity and Ober showed why here. He left this start with an ugly 4.56 ERA, 60 strikeouts, and 22 walks through 80 innings on the season and is scheduled for a two-start week against the Royals and home and Mariners on the road next week.

Being activated somewhat surprisingly and not playing in a single rehab game after breaking his hamate bone about six weeks ago, Ramírez wasted no time making an impact in his return from the injured list. He singled in the first inning, tagged to second base on a fly ball, and then came around to score. He also legged out an infield single in the second that pushed another run across. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows though. Ramírez made a throwing error to start the eighth that opened the door for a big Twins rally and he grounded out with the bases loaded to end the bottom of that inning. Regardless, it’s great news for the Guardians and fantasy managers alike that Ramírez is back.

Cecconi was greeted rudely by Trevor Larnach who hit a lead-off home run off him. From there he didn’t pitch particularly well, but his defense didn’t do him many favors either. Kyle Manzardo made an error at first base in the second inning that didn’t lead to any runs. Then, shortstop Brayan Rocchio made a throwing error in the fourth that led to a big inning. Alan Roden reached base on the error, scored a few batters later on an infield single, and then Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer with two outs. Thus, four unearned runs on Cecconi’s line. Oddly enough, Roden was at the plate for both of those errors and another one later on! Nevertheless, Cecconi has had a poor season with a 4.60 ERA across 103 2/3 innings this season and could lose his spot in this rotation should the Guardians make an upgrade at starting pitcher before the trade deadline.

Baker got the call to protect a two-run lead in the final frame and required just nine pitches to mow down the heart of Toronto’s lineup. He got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to ground out and struck out George Springer before coaxing a game-ending fly out from pinch-hitter Luis Urías. The unheralded 31-year-old has emerged as one of the more reliable closers in the fantasy landscape and one of the most impactful early-season waiver wire pickups.

Jax struck out five and only issued one walk. The lone run against him came on an RBI ground out by George Springer in the opening frame. It was a much-needed bounce-back effort after getting torched for seven runs over five innings by the Red Sox his last time out. The 31-year-old has made a flawless transition to Tampa Bay’s rotation, emerging as one of the better in-season waiver wire pickups for fantasy managers with a 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 82/27 K/BB ratio across 81 innings of work. He has a two-start week up next with matchups against the Rangers and White Sox.

Acuña got five at-bats at DH out of the leadoff spot in his seventh rehab contest. The 28-year-old fantasy superstar could potentially be activated for Thursday’s series finale against San Diego, but he seems far more likely to get one final tune-up under his belt prior at Triple-A before returning for Friday’s series opener on the road in Baltimore.

Caratini was forced to depart in the middle of a fifth-inning at-bat after fouling a ball off his right knee. It sounds like initial X-rays came back negative for any fractures, which is a positive sign. He’s day-to-day for now.