Baseball Daily Dose: Dose: Bring On Baez
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Fire up those September callup beacons.
Tis the season.
Every year when rosters expand we get our first look (or another look) at players who have been grinding away for much of the summer in the minor leagues. Most will fill bench roles — your pinch runners, emergency catchers, and defensive subs — but some can provide significant fantasy production if they enter the right situation with the right set of skills.
Javier Baez might be one of those productive types.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon told Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com on Saturday evening that Baez will be included in the team’s first wave of September callups. Maddon wouldn’t offer up an exact date, but it’s a pretty safe guess that the 22-year-old infield prospect is going to arrive at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, September 1 for the second of three games against the Reds.
Baez entered play Saturday with a .316/.380/.530 batting line, 13 home runs, 60 RBI, and 17 stolen bases in 67 games at Triple-A Iowa and he singled in the sixth inning versus the Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Giants to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. He batted just .169/.227/.324 with 95 strikeouts in 52 games last season for the Cubs, but the kid possesses rare bat speed and he has become accustomed to handling multiple positions on the infield.
There’s going to be playing time available to him if he hits, and there’s every reason for hope that Baez will hit.
“There’s a lot of things he can do to help you win right now,” Maddon said Saturday at Dodger Stadium. “He’s playing well. (They’re) moving him all over the place, so he gets used to that. Good at-bats, more consistent at-bats in regards to being under control, that kind of stuff. So he’s been doing well.”
We talked extensively about potential September callups in the latest Rotoworld Fantasy Roundtable.
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EE Goes Off On The Tigers
Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion had the most productive game of his highly productive 11-year major league career on Saturday afternoon in Toronto, tallying nine RBI on three homers against the visiting Tigers. EE hit a three-run shot in the first inning, a two-run shot in the sixth, and a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh. He also scored after reaching base on a fielding error in the bottom of the third inning, ending the night with four total runs scored.
Encarnacion battled a shoulder injury in June that weighed down his first-half numbers, but he’s scorching hot now in the middle of a lethal Blue Jays lineup. The 32-year-old Dominican had a .794 OPS on August 1. He’ll carry an .896 OPS into Sunday’s slate. He’s tallied 10 home runs, 34 RBI, and 22 runs scored in 21 games since the end of July.
National League Quick Hits: Cardinals starter Lance Lynn suffered a sprained right ankle in his outing Saturday against the Giants, but he expects to make his next scheduled start … Brandon Crawford (oblique) is aiming to return to the Giants’ starting lineup on Monday … Jordan Zimmermann tossed seven innings of one-run ball Saturday in the Nationals’ defeat of the Marlins … Padres outfielder Wil Myers (wrist) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday … Cardinals outfielder Stephen Piscotty finished 4-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored in Saturday’s win over the Giants … J.A. Happ tossed 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball Saturday in a win over the Rockies and now boasts a 1.98 ERA in his first 27 1/3 innings with the Pirates … Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar remains day-to-day with a hand injury … Jay Bruce went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run, a double, and three runs scored Saturday in the Reds’ defeat of the Brewers …Michael Taylor was held out of the Nationals’ starting lineup Saturday against the Marlins with a bruised right knee … Mets acquired reliever Addison Reed from the Diamondbacks … Dodgers infielder Jose Peraza went 2-for-4 with an RBI double, two stolen bases, and two runs scored Saturday against the Cubs.
American League Quick Hits: Astros shortstop Carlos Correa missed another game Saturday due to tightness in his left hamstring … Red Sox right-hander Joe Kelly was sharp again Saturday against the Mets, finishing August with a 6-0 record and 2.68 ERA … Mike Moustakas went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI in Saturday’s win over the Rays … Red Sox slugger Hanley Ramirez remains day-to-day with left shoulder fatigue … Drew Hutchison allowed just one run on six hits over seven strong innings Saturday in the Blue Jays’ defeat of the Tigers … Yankees rookie Luis Severino fired six shutout innings Saturday in the Yankees’ win over the Braves … Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor remains day-to-day with a cracked fingernail … Mike Fiers pitched well in the Astros’ victory over the Twins on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits over six innings … Yan Gomes drove in five runs Saturday in the Indians’ rout of the Angels … Astros placed catcher Jason Castro on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quad … Gavin Floyd (elbow) will rejoin the Indians as a reliever on Tuesday … Alex Rios was scratched from the Royals’ lineup on Saturday due to illness … Drew Pomeranz picked up his third save of the season Saturday in the A’s defeat of the Diamondbacks … Red Sox right-hander Jean Machi picked up his third save Saturday versus the Mets … Astros closer Luke Gregerson earned his 25th save of the season Saturday versus the Twins … Robinson Cano went 4-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and a walk Saturday as the Mariners beat the White Sox … A’s catcher Stephen Vogt finished 3-for-3 with three RBI in Wednesday’s win over Arizona.
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