Rotoworld MLB Daily Dose: Wednesday 09/21/2016

[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: Giant Problems? - 09/21/2016 BY Ryan Boyer [Ever Wonder? By NBCSports] LATEST FANTASY BASEBALL HEADLINES [- Padres calling up Renfroe, Margot and others] [- Cueto (groin) to undergo MRI Wednesday] [- Herrera stuffs stat sheet in win over ChiSox] [- Lester fires another gem to improve to 18-4] [- Mackanin may consider a change at closer] [- Big Papi delivers three-run homer on Tuesday] [- Giants list Crawford (finger) as day-to-day] Follow [@Rotoworld_BB] and [@RyanPBoyer] on Twitter. The Giants’ bullpen finally hung on to a lead Tuesday so the team could pick up a win. However, the club suffered not one, but two, big losses earlier in the game. [Brandon Crawford] had to exit Tuesday’s contest versus the Dodgers in the second inning when he injured his left pinkie finger on a slide into third base. He was later diagnosed with a dislocated finger. A dislocated finger is something hitters can often play through, especially since it’s on Crawford’s glove hand. It can be popped back into place and is simply a pain tolerance issue. However, manager [Bruce Bochy] [indicated after the game] that he expected [Ehire Adrianza] to see some time at shortstop, so it sounds like Crawford will probably miss at least one game. When he does return it’s certainly possible that the injury will affect him, particularly at the plate. In the sixth inning, [Johnny Cueto] suffered a strained left groin while delivering a pitch. He initially remained in the game but then motioned for manager [Bruce Bochy] to come get him after he threw a couple balls to walk [Andrew Toles]. Cueto [will undergo an MRI Wednesday] to determine how severe his strain is. It didn’t look to be too debilitating, and you’d have to think, given the situation the Giants are in, that Cueto will try to pitch even if he’s only like 50 percent healthy. Of course, as is the case with Crawford, even if he’s able to pitch with some pain, his effectiveness certainly could be compromised. Cueto’s next scheduled start is currently slated for Sunday in San Diego, but we’ll just have to wait for an update on him Wednesday before knowing whether he might take the ball then. With the Mets losing and Cardinals and Giants winning Tuesday, all three clubs are now sitting at 80-71 and locked into a three-way tie for two National League Wild Card spots. It should be a fun final push. 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.] Bryce Banged Up? The question about [Bryce Harper]’s health has been a hot topic for over a month now. The answer changes depending on who you ask. Tom Verducci of SI.com first reported [back on August 12] that Harper had been playing through an upper right shoulder/neck injury for two months. It’s an injury he’s believed to have suffered on a head-first slide back in June. The report was refuted by Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, although Harper wound up missing a week of action with what the club called neck spasms. There was another report from Verducci [on Tuesday] stating that Harper is still playing hurt, with a source close to the outfielder saying he "could barely throw the ball 40 feet" at one point. Verducci also said that manager [Dusty Baker] admitted to him that Harper has been bothered by “the shoulder thing.” The skipper then [said later in the day] that the report was “inaccurate,” adding in reference to Verducci that "I don't know where he's getting that from." Harper has refused comment when asked, which probably speaks volumes. The Nationals may want to downplay concerns about Harper’s health or dismiss them altogether, but something is clearly up here. The fact that Harper doesn’t want to address it (a.k.a. use it as an excuse) is telling. Of course, the most obvious reason to believe that Harper is playing compromised is by simply looking at his numbers. Harper has batted .223 with only eight homers since the beginning of July. It’s been much worse so far in September, as he’s hitting .167 with just one home run. He has one hit over his last 23 at-bats. This is a guy who batted .330/.460/.649 with 42 homers last season on his way to becoming the unanimous National League MVP. It seems obvious that he’s playing hurt. We may find out more about Harper’s health status after the season. Hopefully it’s something that won’t require surgery and he can get over after some rest over the winter. Baseball fans and Harper’s fantasy owners want to see him at 100 percent heading into 2017. Fernandez Foils Nats If the Marlins are going to make a late push for one of the National League Wild Card spots, they’re going to need some special performances down the stretch. [Jose Fernandez] gave them one Tuesday. Fernandez limited the Nationals to just three hits and no walks across eight shutout innings Tuesday, striking out 12 batters in the process as the Marlins emerged victorious 1-0. It was the stud right-hander’s first zero-walk game of the second half and just his fifth of the season. However, it was Fernandez’s ninth 11+ strikeout game of the campaign. He now has a ridiculous 253 strikeouts over 182 1/3 innings this year. The Marlins looked totally done after a five-game losing streak earlier this month, but they’ve now reeled off five wins in their last seven contests to stay within shouting distance (four games) of the Mets, Cardinals and Giants. After one more with the Nats on Wednesday, the Marlins have four with the Braves and then three with the Mets to complete their homestand before finishing with three in Washington. If things should turn sour for the Marlins over the next handful of days, it could mean bad news for Fernandez’s fantasy owners. The righty is slated to face the Braves on Sunday, but if the Marlins aren’t in the Wild Card hunt by the last weekend of the season, Fernandez is expected to be shut down. That means Fernandez owners would be without their ace in the final week as they push for a fantasy championship. National League Quick Hits: [Odubel Herrera] went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two stolen bases in a victory over the White Sox on Tuesday … [Jon Lester] struck out five across seven frames of one-run ball versus the Reds on Tuesday … [Adonis Garcia] went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's victory over the Mets … Phillies manager [Pete Mackanin] said after [Jeanmar Gomez] nearly blew a save versus the White Sox Tuesday that he’s considering a change at closer. [Hector Neris] would be the obvious first candidate to inherit the ninth inning … [Steven Matz] (elbow) said Tuesday that he feels great and expects to rejoin the Mets’ rotation Friday against the Phillies. He will be limited to around 50 pitches … … [Daniel Murphy] (leg) missed a third straight start Tuesday but is expected to return Wednesday … [Starling Marte] (back) was expected to go through a full pregame workout on Tuesday before being re-evaluated … [Jacob deGrom] will undergo season-ending surgery later this week to repair ulnar nerve damage in his right arm. He should be ready to go for spring training … [Randal Grichuk] went 3-for-4 with an RBI single and four runs scored in Tuesday’s win over the Rockies … [Michael Foltynewicz] (calf) is expected to throw a bullpen session in the next few days and hopes to rejoin the Braves’ rotation soon … Cardinals manager [Mike Matheny] said Tuesday that [Aledmys Diaz] is having issues with arm strength since returning from the disabled list. Diaz didn’t start Tuesday but is expected back in there Wednesday … [Jedd Gyorko] went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored against the Rockies … [Brett Anderson] (finger) will rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation on Thursday versus the Rockies … [Jorge De La Rosa]’s start Tuesday versus the Cardinals was his last this season for the Rockies. He’s not injured, but the club wants to get a look at other since the lefty is an impending free agent … American League Quick Hits: [Ian Kinsler] (concussion) sat out Tuesday’s contest. His status going forward is up in the air … [Edwin Encarnacion] had a two-run double and solo homer in Tuesday’s win over the Mariners … [David Ortiz] singled and launched a three-run homer against the Orioles on Tuesday … [Matt Boyd] recorded seven strikeouts over eight shutout frames on Tuesday in a win over the Twins … [Sean Manaea] struck out seven across six shutout innings in a no-decision against the Astros Tuesday … [Nomar Mazara] went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday’s victory over the Angels … [Gary Sanchez] delivered a go-ahead, three-run home run in the seventh inning of Tuesday's victory over the Rays … [Jacoby Ellsbury] (knee) sat out again on Tuesday but expects to be back in the lineup Wednesday … [Dustin Pedroia] sat out Tuesday with a sore left knee but expects to play Wednesday … [Miguel Cabrera] doubled and swatted a two-run homer in Tuesday’s win over the Twins … [Michael Pineda] punched out 11 batters and allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision versus the Rays … [Sonny Gray] (forearm) is scheduled to face live hitters over the weekend and could make a start for the A's in the final week of the regular season … [Nick Castellanos] felt lingering discomfort in his fractured left hand while facing live pitching Monday. He’ll scale back to taking regular batting practice for now … [Eddie Rosario] has been diagnosed with a fractured thumb and is done for the rest of the season … [Victor Martinez] didn’t play Tuesday due to swelling in his right knee. He’s considered day-to-day … [Nick Franklin] was diagnosed with a moderate strain of his left hamstring and might be done for the rest of the season … Rotoworld.com © 2016 You received this newsletter because you are a registered subscriber of Rotoworld.com's Daily Dose. To unsubscribe, or to update your preferences, [click here.] Please DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. For all inquiries, please [click here]. If you are having problems contacting us, send a letter c/o Webmaster to 1 Blachley Road Stamford, CT 06902.