One of the hardest parts about roster management at this time of year is dealing with MLB teams that don’t have anything to play for. In the American League, the Yankees and Astros are going to win their respective divisions and are only worried about home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The same is true for the Braves and Dodgers in the National League. What this means is that those teams will rest players more liberally down the stretch. Anyone that so much as sneezes could get a day off. During the last two weeks of the season, it also shouldn’t surprise anyone if starters were given a week off or removed after throwing a certain amount of pitches, regardless of how many innings they have thrown. The MLB playoffs are what matters to these teams, not the fantasy playoffs.
Risers
Cameron Maybin, New York Yankees: The Yankees received terrible news Monday when it was announced that Mike Tauchman would be lost for the remainder of the season due to a calf injury. Tauchman was having a breakout season for the Yankees and now that leftfield job will go to Maybin or at least he will get first crack at the job. Maybin has been bothered by a sore wrist so if he doesn’t look right the Yankees could always go back to Clint Frazier, but the Yankees still seem to be searching for any and every reason not to play Frazier.
Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta Braves: Don’t look now but Foltynewicz finally looks like he has cured whatever ailed him earlier this season. Foltynewicz started the season late due to injury and then was extremely ineffective and sent to the minors. One could’ve argued that he was expected to be the ace starter for Atlanta to begin the season. He is finally starting to live up to those expectations. Over his last five outings, Foltynewicz has only given up six earned runs in 28.1 IP. The biggest problem for him now is his ability to go deeper into games, but his owners can’t be complaining right now after what a disaster he was earlier this year.
Kevin Pillar, San Francisco Giants: No one has any right to be surprised about any player setting a new career record for home runs in a season. Pillar has already hit 21. His previous best was 16. The power is nice from someone you weren’t expecting it from, but what could make him valuable is the stolen base or two he might gather between now and season’s end. Power is easy to find, speed is not.
Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks: Gallen has been nothing short of fantastic since being called up by Arizona this season. Gallen has an ERA of 2.50 and WHIP of 1.23. He is striking out more than a batter an inning. Wins have been tough to come by but that is rarely something a starting pitcher can be responsible for. There is nothing Gallen can do if his offense doesn’t hit on the days he starts, just ask Jacob deGrom. The best news is that the Dbacks have announced that there won’t be an innings restriction for Gallen, at least not yet anyway.
Jason Heyward, Chicago Cubs: Heyward is never going to live up to the expectations of those who expected him to earn that massive contract he signed, but he’s a solid fifth outfielder or reserve player on your bench. Hey, not everyone can be a superstar. We all need players that can fill a certain role on our team, even if that role is just as someone who won’t hurt you in any categories.
Fallers
Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs: Bryant has been dealing with some kind of knee discomfort during most of the second half of the season according to the Cubs. The knee has been bothering Bryant enough that he had a cortisone injection Sunday. The problem is two-best. Obviously, the injury is a concern, but even when he plays, his numbers have taken a nosedive. Since the beginning of August, Bryant has a .241/.328/.414 slash line. Yeah, that’s not so good.
Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets: If you live in New York, you already know the story, Thor doesn’t want to throw to catcher Wilson Ramos. When Thor found out before the game Sunday that Ramos would catch him, he apparently had a heated conversation with manager Mickey Callaway. The numbers back Thor up as his ERA is over five when Ramos is catching and almost two runs less with anyone else. The problem is, Ramos can hit while any other catcher the Mets might start, not so much. Thor needs to forget about who is catching and just pitch, but that might be easier said than done.
Yuli Gurriel, Houston Astros: As mentioned above, certain teams have little to no reason to push a player into returning from injury. Gurriel is dealing with a hamstring injury and we all know how tricky they can be. If he were to come back to early, it could jeopardize his availability for the playoffs. Gurriel is not in the lineup Tuesday and it could be several days before that situation changes.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins: Kepler has had a fantastic season, but that last couple of weeks he has been trying the patience of his fantasy owners. First, there was a knee injury, then a leg injury, then a chest, now a shoulder injury. Apparently, none have required an IL stint, but each one has required him to miss a game or two. It’s frustrating, to say the least. Personally, I’d rather have a player be placed on the IL so I can replace him or play him, no in-between. There is no fun guessing as to if and when Kepler will play.
