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Every team will bemoan the number of injuries they’ve dealt with, but the Rays have seemingly been hit harder than most clubs.
On Monday, they announced that they were dealt yet another blow when it was revealed Wander Franco will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair a fractured right hamate bone. His projected timetable is 5-8 weeks.
Even if Franco comes back on the early portion of that timeline, that means he’ll still be out until mid-August. Also, we’ve seen many instances in the past where players struggled to hit for much power initially upon their return from hamate surgery.
It’s the second time this season that Franco has been on the injured list, as he missed nearly a month of action with a strained quad. He had a huge April (.313/.333/.578, four home runs, three stolen bases) but has been underwhelming since then, batting just .229/.294/.292 with one long ball and two steals across 38 contests.
Should fantasy managers wait it out with Franco? Certainly, if you have the roster space you can. However, he could easily miss more games than he plays the rest of the way and, as mentioned, it’s an injury that can be tough to come back from initially.
As written by Adam Berry of MLB.com, five of the nine players from the Rays’ Opening Day lineup are currently on the injured list, and seven of their top 12 players in terms of Baseball-Reference’s version of WAR from last year are hurt.
Attempting to pick up the slack at shortstop will be Taylor Walls, who boasts a slick glove but also a lowly .509 OPS going into play Monday.
Starting Pitchers with an EDGE
Max Scherzer vs. ATL – 7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 9 K
Scherzer was electric again in his second start back from the injured list, giving up an Austin Riley solo home run and that’s it as the Mets took the first game of a big series against the Braves. The veteran right-hander has allowed just one run on five hits and zero walks while striking out 20 over 13 frames in those two outings. His ERA in his first 10 starts this season for the Mets now sits at 2.15.
Brad Keller vs. DET – 7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K
Keller befuddled the Tigers’ bats for the second time already this month, spinning seven innings of one-run ball in the afternoon tilt of a doubleheader. His eight strikeouts were a season high (he had reached six punchouts only once before) and his 15 swinging strikes on 91 pitches were just one off a season high. Keller has been inconsistent this season but overall much better than he was during his disappointing 2021 campaign.
Mitch Keller vs. MIA – 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K
It’s Kellers wild in this space today! The Pirates’ Keller went seven innings for the first time in his major league career Monday night in Miami, limiting the Marlins to just one run. Strangely, Keller’s velocity was actually down considerably in this one, particularly with a slider which was his much-used pitch. His spin rate was up with the slider, though, so perhaps it was done intentionally. Either way, the results were there, and given how disappointing Keller has largely been, he’ll take it.
Hitters with an EDGE
Vinnie Pasquantino vs. DET – 4-for-7, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R
Pasquantino’s performance thus far at the major league level hasn’t been anything to write home about, but he had a big showing in the Royals’ doubleheader sweep of the Guardians on Monday. After hitting a solo home run and an RBI single in the first game, the big first baseman singled twice and added a pair of walks in the nightcap. Pasquantino has been hitting the ball hard even if the results haven’t always been there, and he’s walked more times than he’s struck out. Perhaps this is the beginning of things starting to turn for him.
Nolan Jones vs. CWS – 2-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI
Jones continued his big start to his major league career with a two-RBI single and a two-RBI double as the Guardians bested the White Sox on Monday. In his first four big league games, the 24-year-old has gone 7-for-16 with one home run, two doubles and eight RBI. Jones, by the way, is currently eligible only at third base right now at Yahoo, but he’s only played the outfield thus far for Cleveland so he’ll be adding eligibility there soon.
Corey Dickerson vs. PHI – 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
Dickerson had a much-needed big game for the Cardinals in their win over the Phillies on Monday. After singling in a run in the fifth inning, the outfielder added a two-run home run in the seventh. It’s the first home run at home this season for Dickerson, who had a two-homer game last month at Wrigley Field but that’s it. The 33-year-old could potentially be playing for his roster spot once the St. Louis outfield gets healthier, so he could use more showings like this.
Priority Pickup
Jonathan Schoop, 1B/2B, Tigers – Available in 77 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues
Schoop got off to a poor start last season before exploding for 10 home runs in June on his way to his usual solid year. He has taken a bit longer to get going this season but has finally perked up in July, entering play Monday with a .378/.425/.405 batting line in his first 10 games. He has yet to homer over that stretch but has done his best to make up for it by suddenly turning into a stolen base threat with four steals. For reference as to how out of the ordinary that is, he had never stolen more than two bags in a season prior to 2022. You can’t count on the speed sticking around, but Schoop has always been a reliable power threat and is heating up at the dish.
Closing Time
Scott Barlow was busy during the Royals’ doubleheader sweep of the Guardians on Monday. After nailing down a save with a thrifty six-pitch inning in the afternoon contest, Barlow was called upon in the nightcap with a four-run lead and closed out the game on just 13 pitches. He hasn’t been getting as many strikeouts this season as we’ve come accustomed to, but Barlow has been very effective nonetheless.
With David Bednar unavailable after pitching each of the previous two days, Yerry De Los Santos picked up a four-out save Monday against the Marlins, with all outs coming via the strikeout. He came on in the eighth with a runner on and two out and pitched around a catcher’s interference with a strikeout. The rookie then walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth before recording three straight punchouts. De Los Santos has become the clear next-in-line guy for saves in Pittsburgh.
Brett Martin notched his third save in as many appearances Monday as the Rangers outslugged the Athletics. The left-hander gave up a two-out single and a walk to put the tying run on base but was able to squash the rally with a game-ending strikeout. Martin has picked up all three save chances for the Rangers since Joe Barlow’s demotion.
Tuesday’s Matchup of the Day
Chris Sale (BOS) vs. Corey Kluber (TB)
It will be the season debut for Sale after he missed the first three months of the season following a stress fracture in his right rib cage suffered in spring training. Sale was wild during his final rehab start with Triple-A Worcester and took his frustration out on some things in the tunnel leading to the clubhouse. Overall, though, his results were encouraging, with a 2.38 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings. Sale’s stuff reportedly has looked good, as well. He’ll be limited to around 85 pitches. As far as Kluber, he’s been solid in his first season with the Rays and shut these same Red Sox out over six frames in his last outing.
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American League Quick Hits: Bobby Witt Jr. had a total of six hits and three stolen bases on Monday in the Royals’ doubleheader sweep of the Tigers. … The A’s hope that Frankie Montas (shoulder) will be ready to rejoin the rotation this weekend in Houston. … Rafael Devers (back) sat out again Monday but is expected back in the Red Sox’ lineup Tuesday. … Nathan Eovaldi (back) is in line to rejoin the Red Sox’ rotation on Friday for a showdown versus the Yankees. … Brandon Lowe (back) will remain on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham through Thursday before potentially being activated this weekend. … Dane Dunning landed on IL Monday with a right ankle impingement. … Austin Meadows has been pulled off his rehab assignment due to soreness in both Achilles. … Yandy Díaz went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three runs scored, three RBI and a hit by pitch Monday versus the Red Sox. … Ramón Laureano singled and launched a two-run homer on Monday in Texas. … The Tigers are slated to recall Akil Baddoo prior to Tuesday’s game.
National League Quick Hits: A strained right oblique has sent Bryan Reynolds to the IL. … Tyler O’Neill (hamstring, wrist) did some throwing and took batting practice Monday and is in line for activation later this week. … Kenley Jansen (heart) might not return Tuesday as expected after throwing a bullpen session Monday, but he’s expected back soon. … Miles Mikolas struck out five while tossing 7 1/3 frames of one-run ball Monday versus the Phillies. … Jake Cronenworth homered and reached base four times on Monday versus the Rockies. … Jack Flaherty (shoulder) has been moved to the 60-day IL, meaning he can’t return until at least late August. … J.T. Realmuto, Aaron Nola and Kyle Gibson will be placed on the restricted list ahead of the Phillies’ upcoming series in Toronto due to being unvaccinated. Alec Bohm might also join them, although he could go on the IL with a dislocated finger. … C.J. Abrams went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer Monday in Colorado. … Jake Marisnick homered, doubled and walked Monday in Miami. … Rhys Hoskins singled and hit a long solo homer Monday in St. Louis. … Outfield prospect Esteury Ruiz has joined the team’s taxi squad in Colorado. … Kris Bryant and Jeff McNeil went on paternity leave Monday. … The Royals acquired outfield prospect Drew Waters, pitching prospect Andrew Hoffmann and infield prospect CJ Alexander from the Braves for a competitive balance selection in this year’s Draft.
