Rotoworld MLB Daily Dose: Thursday 08/18/2016

[Rotoworld.com Fantasy Baseball] Rotoworld.com has all the tools you need to win your fantasy Baseball league. [Check out Rotoworld.com Season Pass] To read this article on Rotoworld.com [click here] [Player News] | [Columns] | [Injuries] | [Transactions] | [Depth Charts] | [Scoreboard] | [Tickets] Daily Dose: No More Nola - 08/18/2016 BY Drew Silva [NFL Draft Guide] LATEST FANTASY BASEBALL HEADLINES [- Yoenis Cespedes (quad) set to return Friday] [- Tomas hits two homers, nets six RBI in rout] [- A-Gone drills two bombs, drives in five runs] [- Sanchez flirts with a no-no over seven frames] [- Rich Hill (blister) to throw sim game Thurs.] [- Rockies pound Strasburg for nine earned runs] [- Carlos Martinez shines over seven vs. Astros] Follow [@drewsilv] and [@Rotoworld_BB] on Twitter. You probably could have guessed that [Aaron Nola]’s season was done when he landed on the disabled list August 3 with what was called a right elbow sprain, but it’s official now. The 23-year-old right-hander paid a visit earlier this week to Dr. James Andrews, who diagnosed him Wednesday with a low-grade sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament and a low-grade strain of his flexor tendon. The good news is those injuries won’t require surgery and Nola is expected to be ready for the beginning of spring training next February. “Right now all the doctors, Dr. [Michael] Ciccotti, Dr. [Steven] Cohen and Dr. Andrews have all suggested that they think rest and ramping him back up after that to confirm that he's still feeling good is the right plan of care,” [Phillies general manager Matt Klentak told CSNPhilly.com]. Nola registered a stellar 2.65 ERA and 85/15 K/BB ratio over his first 78 innings (12 starts) this season, then a 9.82 ERA and 36/14 K/BB ratio over his final 33 innings, spanning eight starts. His fastball velocity fluctuated from outing to outing during that brutal stretch and we can now blame the elbow and forearm injuries. “Aaron had a pretty good run this year,” [continued Klentak]. “Pitched for four months and obviously his first two months were pretty darn good. His second two months were not as good but I think we saw a lot of things from him this year that were really encouraging. Did he get to a certain innings limit or whatever that we would have ideally have him reach? No. But on the mound I think we saw a lot of really positive things.” [Jake Thompson] has taken over Nola’s spot in the Philadelphia starting rotation. Editor's Note: Don't whiff on this special FanDuel offer: win your first contest or get your money back (up to $10) to keep playing. [Try FanDuel now.] Hill Could Make L.A. Debut Next Week It sounds like veteran starter [Rich Hill] might finally be closing in on his Dodgers debut. Hill is scheduled to work a simulated game on Thursday in Arizona and Dodgers manager [Dave Roberts] said Wednesday that he could make a start during next week’s crucial three-game series against the rival Giants, presumably skipping a minor league rehab assignment. That series runs from Tuesday, August 23 to Thursday, August 25. It will be played at Dodger Stadium. Hill hasn’t pitched in a game at any level since July 17, when he lasted just five pitches in a start against the Blue Jays due to a blister on his left hand that began bothering him in early July and is still causing him trouble here in mid-August. He has already struggled through multiple starts and stops in his rehab and it’s no sure thing that Thursday’s simulated workout will go off without a hitch. Keep an eye [on our player news page] for updates. Los Angeles acquired Hill and outfielder [Josh Reddick] from Oakland at the August 1 trade deadline in exchange for right-handed pitching prospects [Frankie Montas], [Grant Holmes], and [Jharel Cotton]. Reddick is batting just .170/.228/.189 through 57 plate appearances with the Dodgers. Cotton has a 1.74 ERA, 0.677 WHIP, and 21/3 K/BB ratio through 20 2/3 innings (three starts) with the Triple-A affiliate of the A’s in Nashville. Maybe the trade will pay off for the Dodgers over the next seven-plus weeks, but it’s certainly off to a disappointing start. Hill, 36, had a shiny 2.25 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 90/28 K/BB ratio through 76 innings with Oakland. Moss Is Boss For Wild Cardinals Cardinals slugger [Brandon Moss] continued his hot-hitting ways on Wednesday afternoon against the Astros, registering his second straight two-hit game. This one included a massive three-run shot off lefty reliever [Tony Sipp] that put the Cardinals up 8-1 in the top of the seventh inning. They would go on to win 8-2, sweeping a two-game set at Minute Maid Park and maintaining their hold on the second National League Wild Card. Moss has nine hits, four home runs, and seven RBI over his last six games and he boasts a .924 OPS with 22 home runs in 90 total games this season. St. Louis is going to lean heavily on the 32-year-old down the stretch with [Matt Holliday] (thumb) and [Matt Adams] (shoulder) both sidelined and we think he has the goods to continue providing significant fantasy value. Moss was a highly productive hitter in Oakland before undergoing major surgery in 2014. He then floundered in Cleveland but has suddenly found new life in the National League. As he has moved further away from that hip procedure, his offensive numbers have continued to get better and better. Coincidence? Probably not. Moss is currently owned in only 38 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues. National League Quick Hits: Cubs right-hander [John Lackey] (shoulder) is expected to return to the rotation next Tuesday against the Padres … [Carlos Martinez] held the Astros to one run over seven innings Wednesday in a rout of the Astros … Braves shortstop prospect [Dansby Swanson] went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles in his MLB debut on Wednesday versus the Twins … [Vincent Velasquez] said he expects to make "three or four more starts" this season … [Stephen Strasburg] was lit up for nine earned runs over just 1 2/3 innings Wednesday in a loss to the Rockies … Reds outfielder [Adam Duvall] remains day-to-day with a bruised foot … [Ryan Braun] is not scheduled for an MRI or X-ray on his sprained left knee and could return to action later this week … [Adrian Gonzalez] drilled a three-run bomb in the fourth inning and a two-run tater in the seventh to lead the Dodgers over the Phillies on Wednesday … [Rubby De La Rosa] will attempt to rehabilitate his right elbow injury rather than undergoing surgery … Reds speedster [Billy Hamilton] (knee) shagged fly balls in the outfield on Wednesday, signaling that his return is close … [A.J. Pollock] (elbow) was scratched from a rehab game Wednesday at High-A Visalia after experiencing discomfort in his oblique … Cubs outfielder [Jorge Soler] went 2-for-4 and hit a three-run homer against the Brewers on Wednesday … [Tyler Glasnow] (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday without issue … Cubs placed reliever [Joe Smith] on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain … After meeting with Dr. James Andrews, [Colin Rea] (elbow) has decided not to undergo Tommy John surgery … Reds closer [Tony Cingrani] set down the side in order to snare his 15th save of the season on Wednesday versus the Marlins … Mets starter [Zack Wheeler] has been diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow … [Yasmany Tomas] had two homers, a triple, and six RBI on Wednesday night against the Mets … Cubs placed outfielder [Chris Coghlan] on the 15-day disabled list with a right rib contusion. American League Quick Hits: Red Sox manager [John Farrell] said Wednesday that it looks like [Eduardo Rodriguez] (hamstring) will make his next start Sunday against the Tigers … [Josh Donaldson] was diagnosed with a jammed right thumb after leaving Wednesday’s game against the Yankees … Yankees manager [Joe Girardi] confirmed Wednesday that [Brian McCann] is no longer the club's primary catcher … [Chris Archer] fired 7 1/3 scoreless innings Wednesday in the Rays' defeat of the Padres … [Roberto Osuna] tallied his 27th save of the season Wednesday in the Blue Jays' defeat of the Yankees … [Joe Mauer] is day-to-day with a sore quad … Red Sox GM Mike Hazen said Wednesday that he's on a "wait and see" with [Jonathan Papelbon] … Tigers right-hander [Anibal Sanchez] took a no-hitter into the seventh inning but settled for a no-decision against the Royals on Wednesday … [Miguel Sano] (elbow) remained out of the Twins’ lineup Wednesday … [Kevin Pillar] (thumb) remains on track to come off the disabled list when first eligible next Tuesday … Orioles right-hander [Chris Tillman] (shoulder) said that he expects to start against the Astros on Saturday … [Logan Forsythe] was held out again Wednesday with back spasms … [Kelvin Herrera] struck out two batters and did not allow a baserunner while notching his sixth save of the year on Wednesday versus the Tigers … Rays shortstop [Matt Duff][y] is day-to-day with soreness in his left Achilles … A's manager [Bob Melvin] said Wednesday that [Sonny Gray] (elbow) has not been ruled out for the season … [Jackie Bradley] Jr. had a homer, a double and four RBI in Wednesday's rain-shortened game against the Orioles … [Nick Franklin] was pulled from Wednesday’s game against the Pirates after getting struck on the helmet in the on-deck circle by [Kevin Kiermaier] backswing … Angels reliever [Cam Bedrosian] (finger) will resume throwing on Thursday … Rangers catcher [Jonathan Lucroy] hit his 20th homer and knocked in three runs Wednesday against the A's … [Trevor Plouffe] went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored in the Twins' win over the Braves on Wednesday … Rangers placed starter [Lucas Harrell] on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain … Angels placed catcher [Geovany Soto] on the 15-day disabled list with right knee inflammation. 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