Yahoo Sports Fantasy Baseball

  • Roansy Contreras labors through three innings
    Roansy Contreras lasted just three-plus innings on Wednesday against the Athletics and allowed one earned run with two walks and two strikeouts.

    Advice: This was Contreras’ first start of the season and he was stretched out to 61 pitches after not topping 50 yet this season. Working as a starter, he leaned far more on his slider than he had in his relief appearances and threw it more often than his fastball. Contreras used that slider as his primary pitch often last season in Pittsburgh as his fastball effectiveness waned. That fastball still isn’t great and he had trouble putting hitters away, as he seemingly always has. Rotoworld Today, 3:48 pm
    Roansy ContrerasLAA - SP,RP
    W, 5-2 vs OAK
    New Player Note
     
  • Dylan Cease fans nine in dominant win over Nats
    Dylan Cease delivered an impressive performance in Wednesday’s victory over the Nationals, racking up nine strikeouts over seven innings of shutout baseball.

    Advice: The 28-year-old right-hander allowed just one hit — a two-out single by Nick Senzel in the fifth inning — while issuing a pair of walks in the contest. Cease generated 16 swings and misses in the ballgame — nine of those on his slider — while registering a strong CSW of 33 percent. He now sits at 7-6 on the season with a 3.84 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 125/30 K/BB ratio over 98 1/3 innings through his first 17 starts on the season. He’ll try to replicate this brilliant outing when he squares off against the Rangers in Arlington on Wednesday. Rotoworld Today, 3:46 pm
     
  • DJ Herz hit hard in loss to Padres on Wednesday
    DJ Herz was hit hard in a losing effort against the Padres on Wednesday afternoon, surrendering four runs on six hits in just 3 1/3 innings of work.

    Advice: The left-hander also issued a pair of free passes while recording only one strikeout in the ballgame. Kyle Higashioka tagged him for a two-run blast to open the scoring in the second inning, then the Padres scratched out another pair of runs while chasing Herz in the fourth inning. The 23-year-old hurler got three swings and misses on 66 pitches on the day, posting an uninspiring CSW of 23 percent. He’ll try to improve upon his 5.48 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 27/7 K/BB ratio (21 1/3 innings) when he takes on the Mets at home on Tuesday. Rotoworld Today, 3:43 pm
    DJ HerzWSH - SP
    L, 5-8 @SD
    New Player Note
     
  • Beginning rehab assignment
    Priester (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Priester has been on the injured list since June 6, but he has been given the green light to test his injured lat in a competitive setting. The Pirates haven't specified how many rehab outings the 24-year-old will need, but it's likely he returns from the IL before the All-Star break. Rotowire.com Today, 3:35 pm
     
  • Rough return to majors
    Ashcraft (4-4) took the loss Wednesday as the Reds were downed 6-1 by the Pirates, surrendering six runs on nine hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

    Advice: Making his first start in the big leagues since June 5, Ashcraft served up a solo shot to Rowdy Tellez in the fourth inning and a two-run blast to Andrew McCutchen in the fifth. The right-hander has been touched up for 11 long balls in 67.2 innings with Cincinnati this season, helping to fuel his 5.45 ERA. It's not clear how long Nick Lodolo will be sidelined with a blister, but the Reds don't seem to have a better option for his rotation spot. Assuming he gets another start, Ashcraft's homer issues will make him a very risky fantasy play in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Yankee Stadium. Rotowire.com Today, 3:34 pm
     
  • Plays catch Wednesday
    Bloss was spotted playing catch on the field Wednesday prior to the Astros' game against the Rockies, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: The Astros had initially planned for Bloss to resume playing catch Friday, but he was able to perform the activity a little sooner than expected. He indicated that all was fine with his right shoulder following the workout, but the real test for Bloss will come once he gets back on the mound and throws at full velocity. The rookie could play catch on a few more occasions before the Astros are comfortable clearing him for bullpen sessions. Rotowire.com Today, 3:20 pm
    Jake BlossHOU - SP
    W, 7-1 vs COL
    New Player Note
    IL15
     
  • Brady Singer settles for no-decision vs. Marlins
    Brady Singer allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings on Wednesday in a no-decision against the Marlins.

    Advice: Singer surrendered a run-scoring single to Nick Fortes in the second inning, which represented the lone tally against him in this one. Unfortunately, Kansas City’s offense didn’t respond with any run support until after his exit from the contest when they put up five runs in the eighth inning. The 27-year-old righty finished with five strikeouts and only issued one walk in his longest outing of the year so far. He’ll bring a strong 3.12 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 85/26 K/BB ratio across 89 1/3 innings (16 starts) into a home matchup on Tuesday against the Rays. Rotoworld Today, 2:23 pm
     
  • Spencer Arrighett whiffs 10 in seven-inning gem
    Spencer Arrighetti struck out 10 over seven shutout innings on Wednesday in a win over the Rockies.

    Advice: Arrighetti put together the strongest outing of his rookie campaign yet on Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park, scattering three hits over seven scoreless frames, while recording his first-ever double-digit strikeout performance. The 24-year-old top pitching prospect generated 13 swinging strikes and finished with a near-elite 39 percent CSW. It’s notable that this unexpectedly brilliant effort comes after he was torched by the White Sox and Tigers, respectively, in his previous two outings. There’s definitely some streaming appeal here for fantasy managers in deeper mixed leagues, but he’s been the quintessential boom-or-bust dice roll over the last few weeks. He’ll square off against the struggling Blue Jays on Tuesday in his next outing. Rotoworld Today, 1:59 pm
     
  • Ryan Feltner gives up four runs in loss to Astros
    Ryan Feltner allowed four runs over six innings on Wednesday in a loss to the Astros.

    Advice: Feltner managed to hang in there into the middle innings, limiting Houston’s formidable lineup to just a pair of run-scoring singles, until the metaphorical wheels came off in the seventh inning. He was lifted after giving up back-to-back singles to open the frame, but reliever Tyler Kinley allowed both of those inherited runners to eventually cross the plate. He finished with two strikeouts and only handed out one free pass. He’ll bring an inflated 6.02 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 75/23 K/BB ratio across 86 2/3 innings (16 starts) into a home matchup on Wednesday against the Brewers. Rotoworld Today, 1:58 pm