The 2020 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-12-20, 02:18 AM

Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager began the season on a marvelous pace, but a back problem forced him out of their game against the Giants on Aug. 7, and he hasn’t played since. Manager Dave Roberts issued an update on Seager on Tuesday, saying (via Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times) that the 26-year-old is amid a “slow progression.” While Seager has been able to swing, run and play catch this week, the Dodgers haven’t ruled out a stint on the injured list for the two-time All-Star and former National League Rookie of the Year.
Seager was a durable and highly effective part of the club from 2016-17, but Tommy John surgery limited him to 26 games the next season. He also spent time on the IL last year because of hamstring issues, though Seager did appear in 134 games. His production then was closer to very good than great, but Seager once again looked like one of the elite shortstops in the game this year prior to suffering this injury. Through 54 plate appearances in 2020, he has slashed .340/.389/.600 (176 wRC+) with three home runs.
As always, the Dodgers are loaded with depth – they’ve had the luxury of plugging in Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez at short of late – though they’re certainly a better team when Seager’s available. LA has won seven straight NL West titles, but at 11-7, it’s staring up at the Rockies right now and tied with the Padres, who have beaten the Dodgers in back-to-back days.

**Otters27** · 08-12-20, 06:39 AM

How did the twins lose last night by 2

**koz-man** · 08-12-20, 08:53 AM

Here's to Wade Miley making a strong bounce back tonight,....

And of course a Reds Victory!!!!

**JMobile** · 08-12-20, 12:14 PM

I hope Rockies don't let me down today

**stevenash** · 08-12-20, 06:26 PM

He is not human that Mike Trout is.
He just hit another ding dong.
Whit just laced a double for KC.
Mondesi's stick is waking up, Dozier is back, Soler has hit a few bombs this year, Sal Perez is 100 percent healthy again, and the Duff Man's curve ball has been yakking all summer.
We'll be just fine.

Oh, I cringed when we signed Rosenthal, but he is shutting every one up and closing out every game without flaw.

**Carseller4** · 08-12-20, 10:14 PM

Cubs 12-3.

Best start to a season since 1970.

**stevenash** · 08-12-20, 11:04 PM

Yankees started their Junior Varsity squad tonight and still made minced meat out of the Braves.
Man that team is scary, they call up Clint Frazier, what's he do? He hits a bomb.

**batt33** · 08-12-20, 11:04 PM

Originally posted by Carseller4

Cubs 12-3.

Best start to a season since 1970.

Picked a good year for the hot start!

**jrgum3** · 08-12-20, 11:09 PM

Originally posted by Carseller4

Cubs 12-3.

Best start to a season since 1970.

Still need to do something about that bullpen of theirs. They're a good team but picking up an arm or two for the back end of their bullpen could make them the team to beat in the postseason.

**Otters27** · 08-13-20, 01:09 AM

Rockies give up 8 spot at Coors anything can happen

**Chi_archie** · 08-13-20, 07:49 AM

Originally posted by Otters27

Rockies give up 8 spot at Coors anything can happen

This is true

**BigSpoon** · 08-13-20, 08:03 AM

Jays hit 7 homers last night but lose 14-11 in 10 innings.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-13-20, 09:44 AM

9:45pm: Benintendi will probably miss more than 10 days, manager Ron Roenicke told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe and other reporters.
6:56pm: The Red Sox have placed left fielder Andrew Benintendi on the 10-day injured list with a right rib cage strain, per a team announcement. The club recalled right-hander Ryan Weber from its alternate training site in a corresponding move.
Benintendi’s IL placement continues what has been an abysmal start to 2020 for the typically sturdy producer. A former star prospect, the 25-year-old Benintendi combined for a line of .277/.354/.442 (109 wRC+) with 51 home runs, 52 steals and 9.0 fWAR in 2,052 plate appearances. So far this season, though, Benintendi has failed to hit a homer and batted an unsightly .103/.314/.128 (47 wRC+) across 52 PA, owing in part to a 32.4 percent strikeout rate that sits 13-plus percent above his lifetime figure. Benintendi has also seen his hard-contact rate plummet, and while he has never been a major power threat, his paltry .026 ISO represents a sharp decline and ranks third to last among 169 hitters who have racked up at least 50 trips to the plate.
Thanks in part to Benintendi’s drop-off, the Red Sox have opened 2020 at 6-11 – good for last in the AL East. They figure to go with a regular outfield alignment of Kevin Pillar, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Alex Verdugo while Benintendi’s unavailable. Pillar and Verdugo have been fairly productive so far, though Bradley has joined Benintendi in coming out of the gates slowly.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-13-20, 09:44 AM

Former Mets ace Matt Harvey may not be far from a return to the major leagues, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com writes. Now with the Royals, Harvey will throw an intrasquad game Thursday, after which the club will evaluate whether it should promote him to the bigs. General manager Dayton Moore has been encouraged by what he has seen from Harvey, whom the Royals signed to a minor league contract in late July.
“He’s throwing well,” Moore said (via Flanagan). “And he’s a guy who can serve a variety of roles for us. He can be a starter, he can be a long man, he might even be able to help us in the back of the bullpen. We’ll see.”
Harvey peaked with the Mets from 2012-15, a period in which he gave the club front-line production, but the Dark Knight also missed a full season (2014) because of Tommy John surgery. While Harvey bounced back brilliantly from that procedure, he hasn’t been able to rebound from the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent in 2016. For the most part, Harvey struggled mightily with the Mets, Reds and Angels over the previous three seasons. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 7, 2019, as a member of the Angels, and he finished last season on a minors pact with the Athletics.
Although his career has fallen off a cliff, there was no real harm in taking a low-cost chance on Harvey from the rebuilding Royals’ standpoint. If he ever does don their uniform, it’ll be intriguing to see how the 31-year-old fares.

**Mr KLC** · 08-13-20, 10:27 AM

Colorado Rockies' 3B Nolan Arenado scored an astonishing 15.0 fantasy points going 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs in a 13-7 loss to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

**JMobile** · 08-13-20, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by Otters27

Rockies give up 8 spot at Coors anything can happen

They let me down

**koz-man** · 08-13-20, 05:15 PM

The Pirates lighting up Reds Anthony DeSclafani. 9 runs first 2 innings..Oooohhh

the humanity

**Stallion** · 08-13-20, 09:38 PM

Matt Harvey is washed up.

**Cross** · 08-13-20, 09:56 PM

Yu Darvish for Cy Young, who says no?

**jrgum3** · 08-13-20, 11:09 PM

Originally posted by EmpireMaker

Former Mets ace Matt Harvey may not be far from a return to the major leagues, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com writes. Now with the Royals, Harvey will throw an intrasquad game Thursday, after which the club will evaluate whether it should promote him to the bigs. General manager Dayton Moore has been encouraged by what he has seen from Harvey, whom the Royals signed to a minor league contract in late July.
“He’s throwing well,” Moore said (via Flanagan). “And he’s a guy who can serve a variety of roles for us. He can be a starter, he can be a long man, he might even be able to help us in the back of the bullpen. We’ll see.”
Harvey peaked with the Mets from 2012-15, a period in which he gave the club front-line production, but the Dark Knight also missed a full season (2014) because of Tommy John surgery. While Harvey bounced back brilliantly from that procedure, he hasn’t been able to rebound from the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent in 2016. For the most part, Harvey struggled mightily with the Mets, Reds and Angels over the previous three seasons. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 7, 2019, as a member of the Angels, and he finished last season on a minors pact with the Athletics.
Although his career has fallen off a cliff, there was no real harm in taking a low-cost chance on Harvey from the rebuilding Royals’ standpoint. If he ever does don their uniform, it’ll be intriguing to see how the 31-year-old fares.

Harvey may be washed but why not take a shot if you're the Royals that he can regain some of the form that made him one of the best arms in the game a few short years ago.

**stevenash** · 08-14-20, 01:28 AM

Originally posted by Cross

Yu Darvish for Cy Young, who says no?

Just give it to the entire Cub pitching staff.

Name	Tm	W▼	L	ERA	WHIP	GS	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9	SO/W

Max Fried*	ATL	3	0	1.59	0.838	4	22.2	13	0	6	21	5.2	0	2.4	8.3	3.5
Sonny Gray	CIN	3	1	2.25	0.917	4	24	14	2	8	35	5.3	0.8	3	13.1	4.38
Kyle Hendricks	CHC	3	1	3.08	0.987	4	26.1	24	1	2	20	8.2	0.3	0.7	6.8	10
Antonio Senzatela	COL	3	0	3.91	1.261	4	23	24	2	5	18	9.4	0.8	2	7	3.6
Ross Stripling	LAD	3	1	3.97	1.147	4	22.2	20	5	6	20	7.9	2	2.4	7.9	3.33
Zach Davies	SDP	2	2	2.78	0.838	4	22.2	16	2	3	18	6.4	0.8	1.2	7.1	6
Jacob deGrom	NYM	2	0	2.45	0.955	4	22	16	2	5	28	6.5	0.8	2	11.5	5.6
Kyle Freeland*	COL	2	0	2.45	1.091	4	25.2	21	4	7	13	7.4	1.4	2.5	4.6	1.86
Dinelson Lamet	SDP	2	0	1.61	0.851	4	22.1	12	1	7	28	4.8	0.4	2.8	11.3	4
German Marquez	COL	2	2	2.08	0.923	4	26	18	2	6	27	6.2	0.7	2.1	9.3	4.5
Chris Paddack	SDP	2	1	3.18	1.015	4	22.2	20	4	3	21	7.9	1.6	1.2	8.3	7
Trevor Bauer	CIN	2	0	0.93	0.569	3	19.1	7	2	4	32	3.3	0.9	1.9	14.9	8
Tyler Chatwood	CHC	2	1	5.4	1.4	3	15	17	2	4	23	10.2	1.2	2.4	13.8	5.75
Patrick Corbin*	WSN	2	0	2.5	1	3	18	15	2	3	20	7.5	1	1.5	10	6.67
Yu Darvish	CHC	2	1	2.12	0.882	3	17	13	0	2	16	6.9	0	1.1	8.5	8
Merrill Kelly	ARI	2	1	2.29	0.966	3	19.2	18	4	1	15	8.2	1.8	0.5	6.9	15
Jon Lester*	CHC	2	0	1.06	0.647	3	17	7	1	4	9	3.7	0.5	2.1	4.8	2.25

**Cross** · 08-14-20, 01:40 AM

Steve Nash, he gets it!

**Otters27** · 08-14-20, 07:04 AM

Lol. Grienke tipping pitches and still getting guys out

**Chi_archie** · 08-14-20, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by jrgum3

Harvey may be washed but why not take a shot if you're the Royals that he can regain some of the form that made him one of the best arms in the game a few short years ago.

Take a flyer

**batt33** · 08-14-20, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by Otters27

Lol. Grienke tipping pitches and still getting guys out

That's pretty crazy

**EmpireMaker** · 08-14-20, 09:57 AM

Robert Gsellman’s first start as a member of the Mets’ rotation this week lasted just two innings, as the right-hander is still getting stretched out after opening the year in the bullpen. But manager Luis Rojas expressed confidence this week that the righty can “have some stamina for us” and “give us that depth to start a game” as he builds up (link via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo). The 27-year-old Gsellman said he “felt like a little kid again” as he prepped for his first start since 2017, and DiComo notes that a move back into the rotation has long been something for which Gsellman has hoped. Righty Seth Lugo, too, has expressed interest in getting back into a starter’s role, but the Mets are more reluctant to alter his role given the resounding success he’s enjoyed as a late-inning weapon in recent years. Lugo has a career 2.50 ERA out of the ’pen and has punched out 28.3 percent of the hitters he’s faced in a relief role. Those numbers dip to 4.06 and 19.2 percent, respectively, in a nearly equal sample of innings as a starter.
More on the Mets…

Amed Rosario has struggled to begin the season while top prospect Andres Gimenez has thrived in his early looks at shortstop. However, Rojas told reporters yesterday that Rosario is still the team’s starting shortstop (link via Newsday’s David Lennon). Rosario was out of action due to what the Mets termed as a stomach illness, but Rojas acknowledged after the game that the team is also “looking to get him back on track” at the plate. Rosario is hitting .207/.207/.310 to Gimenez’s .286/.327/.388. Gimenez has also played sharp defense and is tied for the MLB lead with five steals, but for now, it seems as though he’ll continue to slot in around the diamond. That could mean a move back to second base once Rosario is well enough to return to the lineup, but a changing of the guard at shortstop still doesn’t sound imminent. Gimenez, 20, has been generally considered to be among MLB’s top 100 prospects for the past couple of seasons, although Rosario himself was regarded as an elite prospect prior to his own ascension to the Majors.
Left-hander David Peterson exited yesterday’s outing after just 74 pitches and revealed that he’s dealing with some shoulder fatigue (link via Mike Puma of the New York Post). Peterson, the Mets’ first-round pick back in 2017, had held the Nationals to a run one hit and a pair of walks through five strong innings. He said after the game that he’s not concerned with his shoulder issue. The Mets can ill afford any further hits to their rotation, particularly a loss of Peterson, who has been a godsend in the absence of Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman. Through his first four MLB starts this year, Peterson has a 2.91 ERA and 3.96 FIP with a 17-to-8 K/BB ratio and just two homers allowed in 21 2/3 innings.

**stevenash** · 08-14-20, 11:58 AM

Originally posted by Otters27

Lol. Grienke tipping pitches and still getting guys out

Mo Rivera told the major leagues I have one pitch and one pitch only and you know what is and you know I'm going to throw it and I'll keep throwing that one pitch until you guys hit it, and Mo did that for 20 years and wound up in the Hall of Fame as the greatest ever at what he did.

**JMobile** · 08-14-20, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by Otters27

Lol. Grienke tipping pitches and still getting guys out

He's making other teams cheat

**koz-man** · 08-14-20, 04:02 PM

Mets' Jacob deGrom scratched from start vs. Phillies with neck tightness

Two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was scratched from his scheduled start against the Phillies in Philadelphia on Friday night because of neck tightness.The Mets ace (2-0, 2.45 ERA) said that the tightness has lingered throughout the week but that tests revealed no structural damage. He said he's hopeful to make his next start but that has yet to be determined.
Right-hander Walker Lockett (1-1, 8.34 ERA) will start in deGrom's place.

**BigSpoon** · 08-14-20, 04:05 PM

Originally posted by EmpireMaker

Former Mets ace Matt Harvey may not be far from a return to the major leagues, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com writes. Now with the Royals, Harvey will throw an intrasquad game Thursday, after which the club will evaluate whether it should promote him to the bigs. General manager Dayton Moore has been encouraged by what he has seen from Harvey, whom the Royals signed to a minor league contract in late July.
“He’s throwing well,” Moore said (via Flanagan). “And he’s a guy who can serve a variety of roles for us. He can be a starter, he can be a long man, he might even be able to help us in the back of the bullpen. We’ll see.”
Harvey peaked with the Mets from 2012-15, a period in which he gave the club front-line production, but the Dark Knight also missed a full season (2014) because of Tommy John surgery. While Harvey bounced back brilliantly from that procedure, he hasn’t been able to rebound from the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent in 2016. For the most part, Harvey struggled mightily with the Mets, Reds and Angels over the previous three seasons. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 7, 2019, as a member of the Angels, and he finished last season on a minors pact with the Athletics.
Although his career has fallen off a cliff, there was no real harm in taking a low-cost chance on Harvey from the rebuilding Royals’ standpoint. If he ever does don their uniform, it’ll be intriguing to see how the 31-year-old fares.

Good for Harvey I guess. Three months ago he was linked to some KBO clubs.

**jrgum3** · 08-14-20, 11:08 PM

Originally posted by Otters27

Lol. Grienke tipping pitches and still getting guys out

Figures he would do this against the Giants. Probably wouldn't do this against a team he actually feared like the Yankees and their lineup of sluggers.

**BigSpoon** · 08-15-20, 12:52 AM

Reds player tested positive, tonight's game between Reds-Pirates likely to be postponed.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-15-20, 01:32 AM

11:30pm: Strasburg’s still dealing with nerve irritation, according to manager Dave Martinez (via Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post). It’s unknown if Strasburg will miss more time because of it.
8:30pm: Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg’s early season injury issues continued Friday in a start against the Orioles. Strasburg departed in the first inning, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com was among those to report. The Nationals replaced him with righty Erick Fedde.
It’s unclear why Strasburg exited, but it’s worth noting that he missed the beginning of the season with a nerve issue in his pitching hand. Strasburg made his 2020 debut last Sunday and yielded five earned runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the Orioles. The O’s Anthony Santander smacked a home run off Strasburg on Friday before he had to leave his rematch against the club.
This has no doubt been an alarming way to open the season for Strasburg, whom the Nationals re-signed to a seven-year, $245MM contract in free agency last winter. Strasburg earned that mega-deal on the heels of a brilliant season that he finished as the World Series MVP for the Nationals, who won their first-ever championship. Like Strasburg, though, Washington has begun the season in less-than-ideal fashion, as it entered Friday with a 6-10 record.

**Otters27** · 08-15-20, 01:35 AM

I wish I was Gherrit Cole

**BigSpoon** · 08-15-20, 09:43 AM

Originally posted by BigSpoon

Reds player tested positive, tonight's game between Reds-Pirates likely to be postponed.

Update: the game is officially postponed.