With the passing of the July 31 trade deadline, we head into August and the dog days of summer. That time of the year when the weather and the pennant races heat up, so we will keep track of any player movement that happens and check in on injuries as they occur. Now some of you might be thinking that there shouldn’t be any movement since the trade deadline just passed. That is true but the July 31 deadline is the “non-waiver” trade deadline. From now until August 31, players can change teams through the trade waivers process. Basically what that means is that teams can trade players by putting waivers on them. However, other teams could block this if they put a claim in and they have a worse record than the team trying to claim a player.
Big name players can be traded in that process like what happened in 2012 when the Dodgers and Red Sox pulled off the massive nine-player swap that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto to Los Angeles. Also, check out the article by Fantrax’s Doug Anderson as he looks at the Fantasy implications of the trades that took place at the deadline.
Keep up with all the latest Fantasy Baseball happenings with Van Lee, Jeff Zimmerman and Rob Silver on the Launch Angle Podcast.
MLB News, Notes, & Injuries for August 6
Springer exits game with a thumb injury
George Springer exited in the third inning of the Astros’ series finale against the Dodgers with what appeared to be a grisly left thumb injury. Springer hit Dodgers starter Walker Buehler’s first pitch of the game for a solo home run. In the third, he coaxed a two-out walk before attempting to steal second base. He laid on the dirt squirming in pain, clutching his left hand as he departed the field with the Astros’ training staff. Jake Marisnick replaced Springer in center field. Fortunately, X-Rays came by negative so we wait to see how injured that thumb is. Monitor this situation.
Trout misses last four games
The Angels will hold out Mike Trout for the fourth straight game while he recovers from a right wrist contusion. Trout had stated earlier in the weekend that he hoped to return but will have to throw and swing a bat without any issues before he returns. A situation for fantasy owners to keep an eye on.
Mike Trout injured, still out of Angels lineup https://t.co/abrwrHSQLY
— Halo Space (@HaloSpace) August 5, 2018
Puig struggles with oblique
Yasiel Puig continues to have issues with soreness in his right oblique and may end up back on the DL. With the Dodgers having a day off on Monday, the decision may not happen until Tuesday. Enrique Hernandez, Joc Pederson, and Chris Taylor would see increased playing time if Puig has to go back on the DL.
McCullers leaves a game with elbow pain
Fantasy owners will also want to monitor the situation with Astros pitcher Lance McCullers after he left Saturday’s 14-0 win over the Dodgers with right elbow discomfort. McCullers said he felt forearm/elbow tightness while pitching in the fourth inning and didn’t swing the bat because of it when he batted in the top of the fifth. After attempting to warm up the next inning, he was removed from the game. On Sunday, the Astros placed him on the 10-day DL. Collin McHugh, Brad Peacock, and Cionel Perez are options to get stretched back out to rejoin the rotation.
Lance McCullers injured in Astros' rout of Dodgers https://t.co/gtZFXTOsHA
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) August 5, 2018
Cardinals get pitching help
The Cardinals claimed pitcher Tyson Ross off waivers from the Padres. He posted a 3.32 ERA and 90/35 K/BB ratio over 95 innings across 16 starts through the end of June, but since then he holds an 8.26 ERA and 17/17 K/BB ratio over 28 1/3 frames. The Cardinals need some pitching help with Carlos Martinez and Michael Wacha hurting. If he can regain his earlier form he would make a nice addition to fantasy rosters.
Pham head to DL after two games in Tampa
The Tampa Bay Rays have placed outfielder Tommy Pham on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured right foot. Pham was hit on the foot by a pitch from Angels pitcher Andrew Heaney in his fourth-inning at-bat on Thursday, in just his second game with the Rays. The team hopes to have him back in the lineup within a month although it depends largely on how he heals.
Dexter Fowler also has foot issues
Not to be outdone by his former teammate, Dexter Fowler sustained a broken left foot and was put on the 10-day disabled list. This is an injury that is likely to keep him out several weeks if not the rest of the season. Rookie outfielders Harrison Bader and Tyler O’Neill will be given more opportunities in the interim as will Yairo Munoz, who filled in for Fowler on Friday. Also, Kolten Wong will come off the DL to fill Fowler’s roster spot. All would make nice replacements on fantasy rosters.
Dexter Fowler fractures foot on foul ballhttps://t.co/nMCTwQQo40
— MILAN MILAN! (@MILANFERNANDEZ) August 5, 2018
Andrew Miller returns to Indian lineup
The Indians announced that they have activated reliever Andrew Miller from the 60-day disabled list. Miller has been on the DL since May 26 with right knee inflammation. He has missed 72 games total this season in two separate DL stints. The Indians are in need of bullpen help and could provide some help to them and fantasy owners as he could he get a save opportunity on occasion.
Rays bring up a top prospect
If you are looking to add a player for the future, take a look at Brandon Lowe. The Rays promoted the infield/outfield prospect from Triple-A Durham on Saturday as Daniel Robertson may be done for the season as due to needing surgery on his injured left thumb. Lowe has had a huge season so far, dominating at both the Double- and Triple-A level with a combined .297/.391/.558 batting line, 22 home runs and a .949 OPS through 445 plate appearances. You can pick him up right away in a Fantrax league but as of Sunday, his name was not listed in other major sites.
#Rays call up 2B Brandon Lowe to replace the DL-bound Daniel Robertson. Lowe is having a moster season split between AA and AAA.
Here's his scouting profile from MLB: pic.twitter.com/hnHYlBnjOd
— Bay Invasion – Tampa Bay Sports (@BayInvasion) August 4, 2018
Sonny Gray heads to Yankee bullpen
Another poor outing for Sonny Gray has led to his demotion to the bullpen. Lance Lynn, recently acquired from the Twins, will take Gray’s spot in the rotation. Lynn has a 4.89 ERA with a 105/62 K/BB ratio in 106 2/3 innings this season. He would make a nice replacement for Gray on fantasy rosters.
