Yahoo Sports Fantasy Baseball

  • Could rejoin rotation next week
    The Yankees are expected to decide this weekend whether Cole (elbow) will need another rehab start or if he's ready to rejoin the Yankees' rotation, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

    Advice: Cole was dominant in his third rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, pitching 4.1 innings during which he allowed an unearned run on two hits and no walks while striking out 10 batters. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner tossed 70 pitches in the outing, so he'd likely have his workload managed to some extent if his next trip to the mound is with the big club. If it's determined that Cole needs another rehab start, it would be for ramp-up reasons rather than due to effectiveness -- he's dominated minor-leaguers in his three appearances, posting a 19:0 K:BB while allowing just one earned run over 12.1 frames. Should Cole next move back into the Yankees' rotation, his season debut could come during the team's three-game set versus Baltimore next week. Rotowire.com Today, 8:23 am
     
  • Salvador Perez exits Friday with knee discomfort
    Salvador Perez was removed from Friday’s game against the Dodgers with right knee discomfort.

    Advice: Perez exited Friday’s contest in the eighth inning and told reporters afterwards that he felt a tweak in his right knee earlier in the game when he stood up quickly to catch a high fastball from Royals ace Cole Ragans. The 34-year-old ironman will presumably head for some additional testing and imaging to determine the severity of the issue if he’s not feeling better this weekend. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for the moment. Rotoworld Today, 5:57 am
     
  • Alexis Díaz allows four to reach in earning save
    Alexis Díaz recorded his 15th save despite allowing two runs — one earned — in the ninth Friday versus the Brewers.

    Advice: Díaz survived yet again after allowing three hits and walking a batter in a sloppy ninth inning. He’ll probably be available Saturday, but if not, the save chance could go to Lucas Sims or Fernando Cruz. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:24 pm
     
  • Removed with knee discomfort
    Perez was pulled from Friday's game against the Dodgers due to right knee discomfort.

    Advice: Perez hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to give Kansas City a 3-0 lead, but his knee caused him to come out of the game during the eighth. It's unclear how severe the backstop's injury is, but the Royals should know more before Saturday's contest. If he does have to miss any amount of time, Freddy Fermin would be the next man up to serve as Kansas City's catcher. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:21 pm
     
  • Freddie Freeman drives in go-ahead run in eighth
    Freddie Freeman singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to give the Dodgers a 4-3 win over the Royals on Friday.

    Advice: With the score tied at 3-3, Freeman drove in a run with an RBI single to give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead and ultimately the victory. The 34-year-old has now driven in 42 runs, and nine of those have come in the first half of June. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Freeman remains one of the best first baseman — and hitters regardless of position — in the sport. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:19 pm
     
  • Escapes with save
    Diaz allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk Friday while earning a save over Milwaukee.

    Advice: Diaz was tasked with holding the 6-3 lead in the ninth inning Friday and ran into some trouble. He walked in a run after an error loaded the bases and allowed what would've been the game-tying hit if not for Will Benson throwing out Jake Bauers at home. Diaz has converted eight straight saves and 15 of his 17 chances this season. Despite his relative success in those situations, his ERA is up to 5.47 with a lackluster 27:19 K:BB through 26.1 innings. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:14 pm
     
  • Big night vs. former team
    Verdugo went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and four total RBI in Friday's 8-1 win over the Red Sox.

    Advice: It was a memorable return to Fenway Park for Verdugo, who belted a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw in the first inning from Brayan Bello before driving in two more runs later in the game. It was the first homer since May 29 for Verdugo -- he's up to nine long balls on the season, just four shy of his career high. Overall, the 28-year-old outfielder is slashing .266/.319/.438 with 41 RBI and 35 runs scored through 69 games this year. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:09 pm
     
  • Alex Verdugo exacts revenge in return to Fenway
    Alex Verdugo exacted revenge in his return to Fenway Park on Friday night, going 3-for-5 with a homer, double and four RBI as the Yankees vanquished the Red Sox 8-1.

    Advice: Verdugo brought the pain on the first pitch that he saw in his former home park, blasting a 406-foot (104.0 mph EV) two-run shot to give the Yankees an early 2-0 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. He also added an RBI double in the fifth inning that made it a 4-1 ballgame and capped off the scoring with a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning. With his three-hit attack, the 28-year-old outfielder is now hitting .266/.319/.438 to go along with nine homers and 40 RBI on the season. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:48 pm
     
  • Gerrit Cole strikes out 10 in final rehab start
    Gerrit Cole delivered a dominant performance in his final minor league rehab start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday night, racking up 10 strikeouts over his 4 1/3 innings of work.

    Advice: Cole surrendered just an unearned run on two hits on the night and didn’t walk a batter. He threw 70 pitches — 46 of them for strikes. The Yankees plan to meet in the next day or two to discuss Cole’s status, but it would be shocking at this point if his next start didn’t come in pinstripes. Rotoworld Yesterday, 5:27 pm