MLB Player News

Hinds is hitting .354/.475/.771 in 61 plate appearances at Triple-A with five home runs and 16 RBI. He is also chasing out of the zone far less than he did last year, and his Triple-A swinging strike rate is down to 11 percent from 17.5 percent. His contact rate is also up from 68.6 percent to 76.6 percent. We’re dealing with small sample sizes here, but Hinds has tremendous raw power, so if he has really made gains in his swing decisions and contact rates, he could become an interesting add on waiver wires. We’d wait to see it first, though.

Jones had been designated for assignment by the Brewers before the All-Star break and passed through waivers unclaimed. He went just 2-for-23 (.087) with a 10/0 K/BB ratio in his limited action with the big league club. He’s now free to peddle his wares on the open market.

Detmers has been a viable fantasy option for most of the first half of the season despite winning only three games, as he registered a 4.19 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 123/35 K/BB ratio across 108 2/3 innings through his first 19 starts. He’ll be followed in the Angels’ rotation by Grayson Rodriguez and Ryan Johnson in their weekend series against the Tigers. Jose Soriano and Walbert Urena will pitch on Monday and Tuesday respectively against the Cardinals.

The 29-year-old right-hander had a terrific first half for the Astros, compiling a 3.14 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and an 81/33 K/BB ratio across 86 innings through his first 15 starts. At this stage, he should be considered a viable weekly option in all mixed leagues. Spencer Arrighetti will follow him on Saturday with Hunter Brown getting the ball in Sunday’s series finale in Houston.

He’ll be followed by Taj Bradley on Saturday afternoon and Zebby Matthews on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The expectation is that Joe Ryan would then start on Monday against the Guardians in Cleveland. Ober is coming off of a decent first half where he registered a 4.40 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 51/19 K/BB ratio over 71 2/3 innings in his first 13 starts.

The Rays are expected to go with Mason Englert, either as a traditional starter or behind an opener for the second game of Friday’s doubleheader. Ian Seymour will then get the ball on Saturday and Shane McClanahan will start in Friday’s series finale.

Cole will be followed by Ryan Weathers on Saturday and Cam Schlittler on Sunday. The 35-year-old hurler had a solid first half in his return from Tommy John surgery, posting a 4.04 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 47/11 K/BB ratio over 49 innings of work through his first nine starts.

He’ll take the roster spot that was vacated when Tommy Troy (shoulder) landed on the injured list. Lockler, 25, has slashed an impressive .313/.394/.502 with eight homers and 36 RBI in 241 plate appearances over 54 games at Triple-A Reno this season. He should get an opportunity to see regular action at first base and could make for an interesting deep league or NL-only pickup.

He’ll be followed by Emmet Sheehan on Saturday and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Sunday. The Dodgers have not announced when Shohei Ohtani will return to the rotation. That makes it likely that it’ll be Justin Wrobleski and Eric Lauer in some order for the first two games against the Phillies in Philadelphia to open next week.

He missed Friday and Saturday with the injury before the All-Star break, and sat Sunday as well though he debatably wouldn’t have played against a left-handed starter either way. There’s no real fantasy value for Crawford at this point as he’s hitting just .263/.312/.353 with 12 stolen bases, but it’s good to see him back in the lineup.

He was used as a pinch-hitter on Saturday and Sunday while resting ahead of the second half, but Bichette looks to be full go coming off the layoff.