Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon has been in a prolonged slump, something very uncharacteristic for the ninth-year veteran who holds a .303 career batting average. In the month of July (48 at-bats), Blackmon is hitting .167/.216/.208with no home runs and just three RBI. His K/BB ratio is 14/3 over that stretch as he is clearly not seeing the ball well right now. Despite the slump, Blackmon has been one of the top fantasy assets on the season, hitting .313/.360/.591 with 20 homers, 59 RBI, 70 runs scored, and two steals. He reaps the rewards of being a leadoff hitter at Coors Field, which once again ranks at the top of the park factor rankings. His advanced hitting metrics also remain very solid. It seems safe to assume that Blackmon will break out of this slump sooner rather than later, and fantasy owners would be wise to hold on to him and continue starting him for the time being.]]>
Houston Astros infielder Yuli Gurriel smacked his 17th home run of the season in the Astros 4-3 win over the Rangers. Gurriel is suddenly one home run shy of his career high and continues his torrid streak of hitting. Gurriel now has 12 home runs over his last 20 games and has hits in 19 of those contests. It truly has been a remarkable stretch for the 35-year-old, who is slashing .390/.429/.915 in the month of July with four doubles, nine home runs, 15 runs scored and 20 runs batted in over his last 59 at-bats. If available, Gurriel needs to be picked up and played in all fantasy formats right now.]]>
Houston Astros first baseman Yordan Alvarez hit his 10th home run of the season in the Astros 4-3 win over the Rangers. The rookie needed only 107 at-bats to reach double-digit home runs as he continues to be one of the bigger offensive surprises of the season in the American League. Alvarez has missed a game or two over the past few weeks due to a lingering knee injury but is slashing .340/.392/.638 in the month of July with three home runs, five doubles and 11 runs batted in through 11 games played. Alvarez is absolutely worth a fantasy look in all formats and has played only one game this season with a batting average below .300.]]>
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 2-for-4 with a home run in the Astros 4-3 win over the Rangers. For the first time in over a year, Altuve is flashing the type of elite production that made him an MVP two seasons ago. Over his last seven games, Altuve is slashing .394/.412/.667 with two home runs, three doubles and eight runs batted in. He's hitting .328 in July, spanning 64 at-bats, and is hitting the ball with authority to all fields. Altuve is a player trending upwards for this weekend's DFS tournament action.]]>
Houston Astros closer Roberto Osuna earned his 21st save of the season in the Astros 4-3 win over the Rangers on Friday. Osuna has now converted on each of his past four chances and has a 2.70 ERA during that span. Osuna had blown two saves in the month of June but remains one of the top closing options in the game. Osuna has allowed only 28 hits all season through 40 2/3 innings pitched this season and should see plenty of save chances on a first-place team moving forward.]]>
Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander struck out 12 hitters through six strong innings as the Astros beat the Rangers 4-3 on Friday. Verlander (12-4) made it through six innings for the 19th time in 21 starts this season and now is tied for the American League lead in wins. The veteran's ERA continues to hover just under three but continues to post a sparkling WHIP of 0.84 and has 172 strikeouts through only 138 2/3 innings. He will be a must-start when he takes the mound next week.]]>
Los Angeles Angels starter Matt Harvey has been designated for assignment and will be released. Harvey returned to the rotation on July 13, tossing 5 2/3 innings of one-run baseball to beat the Mariners. But Harvey really struggled in his next start as the Astros tagged him for six runs on seven hits through six innings. The Angels are making a push right now and, despite the desperate need for starting pitching, have run out of patience with 'The Dark Knight'. The Angels gave Harvey 11 million this season but the former All-Star is currently 3-5 with a 7.09 ERA, a 1.54 WHIP with 13 home runs allowed through only 59 2/3 innings pitched. The right-handed pitcher has a history of success in the majors but it is hard to envision a team giving him a chance right now.]]>
San Diego Padres infielder Luis Urias has been recalled and is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Urias has been crushing the ball, hitting .315/.398/.600 with 19 home runs and 50 RBI in the minors this season. He hasn't done much during his short time in the majors, but should get more playing time as the season goes on. He'll bat seventh and play second base versus lefty Jose Quintana on Saturday. Urias is worth looking at in mixed leagues, but he might not have much value unless he starts regularly.]]>
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant will draw the start in right field versus the San Diego Padres on Saturday. Jason Heyward will get the day off to rest against the left-handed starter. Bryant will play right field and bat third versus lefty Joey Lucchesi. Bryant is always a threat to do damage at the plate.]]>
Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres. Schwarber will get the day off against the left-handed starter. Robel Garcia will draw the start in left field and bat fifth versus lefty Joey Lucchesi. Garcia has been hot with the bat since being called up to the big league roster. He could be a cheap DFS option for Saturday.]]>
New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (rest) is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Sanchez will get a routine day off here to rest, but should be back in the lineup next game. Austin Romine will draw the start behind the plate and bat eighth versus righty Antonio Senzatela. Romine doesn't have much upside with the bat, so he can be ignored in fantasy leagues.]]>
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Edwin Jackson has been released by the organization on Saturday. The veteran pitcher struggled with the Jays and was designated for assignment on Tuesday. He passed through waivers unclaimed and the Jays opted to let him go rather than have him pitch in the minors. Jackson had an 11.12 ERA in eight games with the Jays. This was his 14th major league team, but it's unclear if he'll get another chance at a major league roster.]]>
Houston Astros first baseman Tyler White has been designated for assignment by the organization on Saturday. White is out of minor league options and hasn't played well enough to stay on the big league roster. He's hitting .225 with three home runs and 21 RBI with the Astros this season. White hit much better last year, but could regain some fantasy value if he lands on a team with an opportunity to play regularly. He's not worth grabbing right now, but wait and see where he ends up.]]>
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Mike Morin has been acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations. Morin was designated for assignment earlier in the week, but hasn't pitched bad for the Twins this season. Morin owns a 3.18 ERA in 23 appearances, but has only struck out 11 batters all season. He should pitch in middle relief for the Phillies, so he won't have much fantasy value.]]>
San Diego Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon has been called up to the big leagues from Double-A. He will skip Triple-A and join the big league bullpen in San Diego. Morejon is one of the better pitching prospects in baseball right now, so he should be added in all dynasty leagues. He probably won't have great fantasy value out of the bullpen, but should get his chance in the Padres' rotation at some point.]]>
Boston Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) has been activated from the 60-day injured list on Saturday. He had surgery in April to remove loose bodies from his elbow. The Red Sox want to use Eovaldi out of the bullpen in high leverage situations. He could have some fantasy value as a closer in some leagues. He's worth throwing on a watch list, since he pitched well last season.]]>
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 3-for-5 to go along with three runs scored in Friday's 12-1 win over the Tigers. The 20-year-old also added an RBI in the contest to raise his overall batting average to .245 on the season. It was Vladdy's first multi-hit game since July 7 against the Orioles, and the run batted in was just his fourth of the month. Guerrero Jr. has gotten off to a slow start in his first Major League season with totals of eight home runs, 27 RBI, 33 runs, a .245 batting average and .713 OPS, but there is no reason to give up on the 20-year-old phenom in any type of fantasy format as better numbers are ahead.]]>
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Eric Sogard went 3-for-6 with two runs, two RBI and a double in Friday's 12-1 blowout win over the Tigers. The 33-year-old leadoff hitter is enjoying a career season with the Blue Jays in 2019, as he's on his way to posting personal best numbers in runs, hits, RBI, doubles, batting average and OPS. Sogard's overall numbers sit at a .304 batting average, 10 home runs, 30 RBI, six stolen bases and 42 runs scored. Sogard is definitely worth owning in deep mixed leagues with daily at-bats in Toronto's lineup, but he is a candidate to be moved at the upcoming trade deadline.]]>
Toronto Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman was fantastic in Friday's 12-1 win over the Tigers, going seven scoreless innings while striking out five, allowing just six hits, and issuing no walks to pick up his sixth win of the season. Stroman's brilliant outing lowered his ERA to 3.06 in what could have been his final start as a member of the Blue Jays, with scouts from multiple teams in attendance. The 28-year-old has been heavily linked in trade rumors all season long, and with the trade deadline approaching, he's almost guaranteed to be moved prior to July 31. Wherever Stroman ends up, his fantasy value is surely to spike dramatically in all formats on a contending team.]]>
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Tyler Mahle gave up four runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 12-11 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Mahle struck out five and walked one in a no-decision. The young right-hander has been mostly solid this season, although he has allowed 10 earned runs in his two starts since the All-Star break. Mahle has a 2-10 record, 4.93 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 106 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings of work. He will look for his third win on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.]]>