As a Trevor Bauer investor this year I’m tempted to just write: &$*3$*@#& and that’s it. Since Grey was his biggest advocate before the season, I know he’d understand. Stash or Trash: Stash for now. He’s a top-3 Cy Young finalist if not for this injury and we’re waiting for more news. That dastardly Jose Abreu lined a pitch of Bauer’s ankle in their game on Saturday. A stress fracture often occurs due to repeated compressive force on a bone (often in the leg, foot or ankle.) This type of injury is common in frequent runners. Bauer’s was obviously caused by the velocity of Abreu’s line drive hitting at just the right spot. Here’s the bad news: the typical healing time for a stress fracture in your fibula is 6 weeks. However, everyone is different — some can need more time or less — it’s hard to predict really. I’m labeling Bauer a stash until we find out more. If we find out tomorrow that it isn’t a complete fracture or that he’s got that Adrian Peterson DNA he might be back sooner. Fill In: Tyler Glasnow (19.3%.) Let’s get this easy one pick up out of the way — if you’re in a league where Tyler Glasnow isn’t owned yet you need to remedy this situation. Glasnow is now back to being a starter after going from the Pirates to the Rays. He’s made three starts so far each one inning more than the last. 12 innings pitched total with 20 K’s to only 3 walks and 6 hits allowed? His next start will be his biggest test against the Red Sox. Why haven’t you hit CTRL-T yet?!
Danny Duffy, SP, Shoulder Impingement: Early reports are that Duffy will only miss one start which is good news. However, being that this involves his throwing shoulder should have you concerned. Also that he’s allowed 19 runs in his last 4 starts should have you even more concerned. Stash or Trash: Trash. Shoulder injury + Awful Performance = you’re gonna have a bad time. Fill In: Joey Lucchesi (17.5%.) Unfortunately, Lucchesi has only pitched 6 innings three times this season, however one of those times was in his most recent start against the Phillies so hopefully that is a start of a trend. Lucchesi put up a stinker after he returned from an injury in mid-June, but then rifled off 5 solid (albeit short) starts allowing only 6 ERs in 23+ IP. Then, he had another bad start against the D-Backs but responded nicely in his last two starts allowing only 2 ERs in 11.2 IP with 15 Ks. I think he’ll keep the good vibes rolling in his next start.
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Biceps Inflammation/Bruised Hand: E5 was officially placed on the DL with a bruised hand, but he also had an MRI on his bicep this weekend so it could be a combo of the two. No time frame yet, but I can’t see him missing too much time if it’s just a bruised hand. Stash or Trash: Stash. He’s second in RBI among first basemen with 81 and has 25 HRs to go with it. Yea, I see the average. Still stash him. Fill In: Ryan Zimmerman (36.1%.) I know for Razzballer’s he might not be available in your league anymore, but for the 64.9% of you in leagues where Zimm is still unowned you gotta wake up! He sucked before he got injured — I know it, you know it, hell he knows it! But since he’s returned he’s hitting .360 with 4 HRs and 19 RBI. Zimm is making hard contact at the highest percentage of his career (43.9%) and his low BABIP of .276 should be telling you everything you need to know. He’s hitting it hard, but is hitting right at the defense. Grab him now and enjoy the ride.
Kelvin Herrera, RP, Rotator Cuff Impingement: With the last place Royals 25.2 IP, 3 ER, 22 K’s. With the Nationals: 17 IP, 9 ERs, 15 K’s. Maybe going from the team with the worst reliever team ERA to the team with the 12th best reliever team ERA was too much pressure for Kelvin. He is on a mission to bring that number back to where he is more comfortable. Stash or Trash: Luckily, there’s no structural damage and he’s starting to throw again already so he might not be out for too much longer. The bad news here is that Sean Doolittle is also close to returning. However, he’ll almost certainly get hurt again. Which “he” do I mean in that sentence? Pick one. Fill In: Addison Reed (4.1%.) With Fernando Rodney on his way to Oakland and Trevor Hildenberger clearly showing that he wants no additional responsibility (9 ERs in his last 4 appearances) Reed should be the next man up. Reed’s 4.74 ERA doesn’t inspire much confidence either, but maybe pitching in the 9th can help Reed rediscover the skills that lead him to a 2.40 ERA in 153.2 IP in 2016 and 2017.
Kenley Jansen, RP, Irregular Heartbeat: This irregular heartbeat issue dates all the way back to 2011 unfortunately. Jansen did throw a bullpen session on Monday and are hopeful he might beat the 4-6 week timetable. But, doctors have also said he’s going to eventually need the same surgery he had in 2012 to remedy this irregular heartbeat situation. Stash or Trash: Stash for now in hopes that he will be able to come back this year. After the yips in his first 7 appearances Jansen has rediscovered his stride allowing only 7 ERs in 47.2 IP. Fill In: You might think it would be Scott Alexander here, but he’s allowed 7 ERs in his last 6.2 IP. Instead, I think you should be the one ahead of the curve and grab Josh Fields (0.7%) who, yes, is on the disabled list himself, but has been one of the Dodgers best pitchers and should be returning soon.
CC Sabathia, SP, Knee Inflammation: No timetable yet for CC, but he had 50 cc’s of fluid drained from his knee and had something called a synvisc injection according to Rotowire. What is a synvisc injection you ask? According to their website it is a “gel-like mixture made from a substance called hyaluronan that comes from chicken combs. That’s the red dangly skin bits that hang off a chicken’s face. So CC got some red chicken dangly bits injected into his knee to heal it? Modern medicine! Stash or Trash: Stash. Wait until we hear more about a timetable. Cy Young CC is dead and gone, but this latest model really isn’t terrible as your last starting pitcher who you stream in good matchups against lineups bad vs lefties. Fill in: Ryan Borucki (15.6%.) Okay so just don’t start him against the Red Sox — got it? Borucki has made 8 career starts and 6 of them were quality starts. The other two? A 3 inning, 4 ER performance in mid-July and a 5 inning, 4 ER performance on August 9th. Progress! He’s about to start pitching against the Royals as I write this so I’m expecting another quality start.
Tyler Skaggs, SP, Adductor Strain: Nasty Boy Skaggs came back returned from a groin injury, got lit the hell up and limped his way right back to the disabled list. Early predictions are that he’s going to miss more time this stay to make sure the injury goes away. Stash or Trash: I’d still stash him even with the added time missed. Before letting up 17 earned runs in his last two starts, Skaggs had a 2.62 ERA and 115 K’s in 110 innings pitched. Hopefully he can get fully healthy and return to his early season performances. Fill in: Jacob Nix (5.2%.) I was really hoping he was the son of the late, great Laync Nix, but oh well. Let’s talk about the season Jacob Nix was having in the minors this year that lead to his promotion. 10 starts, 58.2 IP, 12 ER (1.84 ERA/2.82 FIP), 44 Ks, 0.903 WHIP. Padres call him up, give him a shot: 6 IP, 0 ER, 4 Ks. Money. Up next he’ll get a tougher test in the Diamondbacks, but if he keeps doing what he’s doing he’ll be juuussstttt fine!
Yangervis Solarte, 3B, Strained Oblique: You know my hate affair with oblique injuries. Sure, the report says “10 day DL” but oblique injuries turn into 2 month issues once they’re finally healed up. Stash or Trash: Trash. There aren’t as many weeks left in the fantasy season as you think. Also: Solarte sucks. After his 7 HRs in the first month of the season – he went on to only hit 4 in May, 4 in June, 2 in July (while hitting .151) and hadn’t homered yet in August. Nothing worth owning here and even when the oblique injury is “healed” it isn’t really healed at all. Fill in: David Bote (3.8%.) He has fewer than 100 plate appearances, but right now Bote is the latest guy to become a Cubs legend after hitting a walk-off grand slam against the Nationals on Monday night. This has just continued the trend of Bote hitting the ball with authority. Taking a look at Baseball Savant you’ll see the usual names in the top-5 in average exit velocity: Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. But at the top? You bet it’s Bote! Bote is filling in for Kris Bryant who has only started fielding recently so we still might be without him for 2 or 3 weeks.
