Fantasy Sports

Just a bit of a step forward for Hancock. His previous career high for strikeouts was nine, and he’d never topped seven prior to this season. He didn’t overwhelm with his 31 percent CSW tonight, but the Royals couldn’t string hits together while combining for eight total bases in seven innings. Hancock’s 2.59 ERA is going to force the Mariners to make a tough decision when Bryce Miller is activated. It seems clear now that Hancock would be the better choice than Luis Castillo for the fifth spot in their rotation. Hancock is slated to face the White Sox next.

The Mariners are being very elusive about this, as the unknown injury that got Raleigh scratched required imaging, the results of which are still unknown. Maybe he’ll prove to be just fine in a day or two, but the lack of transparency seems like a reason for concern.

Acuña left Saturday’s game with the hamstring injury, and Atlanta will make sure there’s no structural damage. There’s a good chance that the 28-year-old won’t be in the lineup Sunday regardless, but fantasy managers need to be prepared for a potential extended absence.

Burke was outstanding again, this time in a traditional start. The 26-year-old didn’t give up a single extra-base hit, and he threw 66-of-88 pitches for strikes without issuing a walk. Over his last three outings, Burke has given up a total of two runs — none in his last two — and he’s looked the part doing so. There could be something here, even if it’s understandable if fantasy managers are skeptical. He’ll face the Mariners in Chicago on Friday.

Sale was exceptional, generating 20 swings-and-misses while giving up just two hits and three walks. The left-hander did allow six hard-hit balls, but it sure didn’t feel like it while throwing 70-of-102 pitches for strikes. That’s 20 strikeouts over his last two games, and his ERA has dwindled to 2.14 with a 49/12 K/BB ratio. Sale has a marquee matchup coming Friday, as he’ll take on the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

The Cardinals will probably have Nootbaar spend the full 20 days in the minors or at least something very close to it. Once back, he’ll probably serve as the team’s left fielder. Nathan Church could potentially slide to center if he’s still outplaying Victor Scott II at that point.

It’s not great timing for Torres to get hurt, as the Tigers already have Zach McKinstry and Javier Báez on the IL. McKinstry, though, is almost ready to return. The Tigers can still mix and match Hao-Yu Lee and Jace Jung at second.

Chourio finished the at-bat, but he didn’t come back out for defense. The Brewers said he was pulled as a precaution. He was playing in his third Triple-A game as he makes his way back from a broken hand.

Mlodzinski surrendered two runs in the first inning on a walk and two doubles. A solo homer by Will Benson brought in a third run before he stranded the bases loaded in the second inning. Mlodzinski tossed a clean third, striking out the side. He gave up one run on two hits in the fifth and left with a runner on and two outs in the sixth. The inherited runner would come in to score. Mlodzinski struck out ten on 17 whiffs. The 27-year-old right-hander will carry a 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and a 40/13 K/BB ratio across 34 innings into a start against the Giants in San Francisco next Friday.

Langeliers has been scorching at the plate over the last week, with Saturday’s three-hit game his fifth multi-hit contest in seven games. He got the scoring started with a two-run homer off Slade Cecconi in the first inning, then added a solo homer in the fifth for his second of the game. Langeliers later singled in the seventh for his third hit. The 28-year-old catcher is hitting an incredible .336/.390/.627 with ten homers, 24 runs scored, and 18 RBI across 146 plate appearances.