Yahoo Sports

George Kirby debuted a new curveball grip in Tuesday’s start, making the change “on the fly” before the game.

Advice: Kirby didn’t like how his curveball was performing against right-handed batters this season, so he decided to try a new grip before Tuesday’s start in order to “find something that has a little more depth and [he] can stay on the plate with it.” It seemed to work on Tuesday as Kirby threw just six curveballs but got five swings and two whiffs. The other swings resulted in foul balls and one groundout. Kirby mentioned that it’s a grip he’s used in the past and one he knows Zac Gallen uses. “I throw it a little bit harder, but it just kind of eliminates the horizontal movement, which, especially to righties, I kind of had a hard time with.” After a successful first attempt at the new grip, the modification may stay around, giving Kirby a little more fantasy upside in what is already a good season. Rotoworld Today, 8:05 am

Kimbrel earned a save against the Guardians on Wednesday, walking one batter and striking out three in a scoreless ninth inning.

Advice: Kimbrel issued a two-out walk but otherwise overpowered Cleveland with three punchouts. The veteran closer rebounded well after blowing a save against the Yankees during his previous trip to the mound. Kimbrel is 17-for-21 in save chances on the season and has registered an elite 13.3 K/9 while posting a 2.54 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 28.1 innings. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:56 pm

George Kirby struck out seven and allowed one run over six innings on Wednesday in a win over the Rays.

Advice: Kirby coughed up an early run-scoring single to Yandy Díaz, but managed to keep Tampa Bay’s lineup quiet from the third inning onwards to net his seventh win of the season. He induced 13 swinging strikes, including six on his four-seam fastball, and finished with a pedestrian 28 percent CSW. Of course, he also didn’t hand out a free pass in this one. It wasn’t his most dominant effort of the season, but was more than enough to lead Seattle to a much-needed win. The 26-year-old righty has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six consecutive starts dating back to May 29. He’ll carry a strong 3.35 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 96/9 K/BB ratio across 99 1/3 innings (17 starts) into a tough come outing on Wednesday against the Orioles. Rotoworld Yesterday, 1:21 pm

Gallen (hamstring) threw 67 pitches in a simulated game Monday and will next have a bullpen session Thursday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Advice: The Diamondbacks were preparing for Gallen to throw Monday, whether in a sim game or live batting practice, and decided on the sim game. He next heads to Chase Field on Thursday for a bullpen session, which will be caught by Gabriel Moreno, who is nursing a sprained left thumb. If all goes well Thursday, then Gallen could return during Arizona's series against Oakland that begins Friday. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 4:35 am

Zac Gallen (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Thursday.

Advice: Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters they’ll make a decision on Gallen’s next step following his latest throwing session. The hope here for fantasy managers is that the 28-year-old ace will be ready to jump right back into Arizona’s starting rotation without needing a rehab assignment. There should be a decision on his status at some point later this week. Stay tuned. Rotoworld Tuesday, 5:07 pm