| | | | Monday, September 18, 2023 | | The weekend brought good news for pitchers who've given us reason to worry of late. Framber Valdez went seven innings without allowing an earned run Sunday, but perhaps of greater note, he got his cutter back, throwing it more than in any start since June 20. Chris Sale dominated for the first time in seven chances since returning from a shoulder injury, striking out 10 in six two-hit innings at the Blue Jays. Carlos Rodon, facing the Pirates Sunday, also struck out 10 after striking out nine at the Red Sox last time out. Lucas Giolito had maybe the best outing of all, though, striking out 12 while allowing just two hits in seven innings against the Rangers Friday. He's doubled his changeup use in his past two starts and has been far more effective as a result. | | | | Other weekend standouts | | Those four are back to being advisable starts this week, particularly given their favorable matchups. A few other pitchers who were already leaning that way became firmly entrenched over the weekend. Grayson Rodriguez tossed eight shutout innings against the Rays on Saturday. Tarik Skubal struck out nine over seven one-run innings at the Angels Friday. Cole Ragans didn't end up with an amazing stat line against the Astros Saturday, giving up five earned runs in six innings, but mostly because the Royals left him in too long. The important thing is that the wildness from his previous start, which he left after airmailing three consecutive pitches to the backstop, didn't return. I'd trust him even with a repeat outing at the Astros next time out. | | Jazz Chisholm was the standout hitter of the weekend, hitting a grand slam both Saturday and Sunday. He also stole three bases on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ronald Acuña hasn't played since Friday because of a calf injury. It sounds like the Braves, who've already clinched their division, are using an abundance of caution. Unless you think he will miss the entire week (and I don't), then you should probably stick with him. A partial week from Acuña is likely better than a full week from anyone you could plug in for him. | | Let's look at some potential pickups off the waiver wire ... | | | | Waiver wire players to add now | | Sawyer Gipson-Long, SP, Tigers | | Gipson-Long is already 25, doesn't rank particularly high among Tigers prospects, and had only a 4.33 ERA between two minor-league stops this year. But he also had 11.4 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 between those stops, an outstanding ratio that suggested he may be more than just rotation filler. We now have two major-league starts to support the claim, the biggest being an 11-strikeout, two-hit effort Saturday at the Angels. It was short, spanning only five innings, but it was dominant, yielding 23 swinging strikes on just 82 pitches. Gipson-Long leaned mostly on his slider and changeup but showed a knack for mixing in his two-seamer and four-seamer at opportune moments, making up for their middling velocity. The long ball was his downfall in the minors and may prove to be in the majors as well, but given his matchups against the Athletics this week and the Royals the following week, perhaps we should focus on the upside. In leagues of 15 teams or more, Gipson-Long could be a godsend. | | Jake Burger, 3B, Tigers | | Jake Burger's top-of-the-scale power was evident even as he was fighting for at-bats with the White Sox. What's changed since joining the Marlins, other than him having a job all to himself, is the amount of contact he's making, striking out 20.9 percent of the time with them compared to 31.6 percent with the White Sox. His batting average has climbed from .214 to .247 during that time, and he's certainly showing no signs of slowing down, going 9 for 18 with two homers and three doubles over his past four games. Those home runs were hit 111 and 113 mph, so the improved contact certainly hasn't compromised the power. With two series against the Mets and one against the Pirates remaining, Burger could give you a nice lift whether at first, second or third base. | | Bryan Woo, SP, Mariners | | While Sawyer Gipson-Long is getting all the headlines today, Bryan Woo might be the better pickup for this week. He gets not only the same favorable matchup at the Athletics to begin the week but also a second turn at the Rangers to end it -- a more difficult matchup, yes, but generally speaking, two is better than one. That's especially true if the pitcher is any good, and there's ample reason to believe Woo is. He has a 2.61 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in four starts since returning from a mild forearm issue, most recently registering eight strikeouts (with 19 swinging strikes) in 5 2/3 shutout innings against the Angels. His overall 4.16 ERA might give you pause, but his 3.29 xERA is more representative of the way he's actually pitched. He's not my No. 1 sleeper pitcher for this week, but he's the highest-ranked of those that didn't also appear in a Waiver Wire article last week. | | | | News and Notes | | So you're saying there's a chance! Felix Bautista threw a bullpen Sunday in Baltimore, his first mound work since he was diagnosed with a partial tear of the UCL.Mike Trout has been holding a bat and taking dry swings without much soreness for about a week. He went back on the IL August 22 with soreness in his left hand/wrist. He suffered a hamate bone fracture earlier in the season.Joe Musgrove will officially not pitch again this season. He was placed on the IL with inflammation in his right shoulder capsule on August 4. Christian Yelich returned to the Brewers lineup Friday and then was out again Saturday and Sunday as he deals with back stiffness. Play to use somebody else instead?Josh Jung will rejoin the Rangers on Monday after an encouraging weekend of rehab. He had surgery on August 9 to repair a fracture in his left thumb. If he's back, do you get him in your lineups?Ha-seong Kim was scratched Sunday due to abdominal discomfort. He'll undergo tests to determine whether it's internal or muscular. Edward Cabrera is expected to start Monday after serving as a bulk reliever in his previous two outings.Bryan De La Cruz has missed two straight with an ankle injury. Jorge Soler was reinstated and in the lineup Sunday.Kenley Jansen is expected to be activated from the COVID IL Wednesday.Salvador Perez was out of the lineup Sunday with a head injury. He's been cleared of a concussion but remains day-to-day. Ryan Mountcastle has missed four straight with a left shoulder injury. Heston Kjerstad has only started one game.Adbert Alzolay played catch Saturday. He went on the IL last Monday with a right forearm strain.Michael Lorenzen and Cristopher Sanchez will indeed be used in a piggyback role Tuesday against the Braves.Kyle Harrison was sent back to Triple-A. Ross Stripling was reinstated from the IL. Marcus Stroman was activated Friday and then pitched in relief both Friday and Saturday. It appears he'll remain in the bullpen until he can get built back up.Reid Detmers was scratched Sunday with an illness. Hope you weren't hoping to stream him!Brett Baty has missed three straight with a mild groin injury.Joey Wiemer was optioned to Triple-A Sunday.Graham Ashcraft will undergo season-ending surgery on his right big toe Tuesday. Dbacks pitcher Drey Jameson needs Tommy John surgery, which means he'll miss all of next season, too | | | | | | | | CBS Sports Golazo Network | | 24/7 Sports News | CBS Sports Golazo Network, the first-of-its-kind, free, 24/7 channel dedicated exclusively to global soccer coverage is NOW STREAMING on the CBS Sports App, Pluto TV and Paramount+!
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