Baseball Daily Dose: Dose: Stroman, Saturday

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Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman tore the ACL in his left knee back in early March while doing a routine spring training fielding drill. He underwent surgery a few days later and was fully expected to miss the entire 2015 season, yet here we are …

Stroman has been cleared to join the Blue Jays’ starting rotation this Saturday in a massively important game at Yankee Stadium. He got shelled for eight hits, four walks, and four runs in a rough three-inning rehab appearance Monday with Triple-A Buffalo, but the Jays need a starter because Mark Buehrle is again having some trouble with his left shoulder and is headed back to Toronto for a cortisone shot. Stroman was very good in his rehab debut September 2 at Low-A Lansing, striking out seven batters over 4 2/3 scoreless frames.

It’s hard to know what to expect from a fantasy perspective out of Stroman, but he is among the top young starting pitching talents in the American League and he was being selected in the top-150 of most fantasy drafts this spring before he suffered the major knee injury. It’s time to give him another look with so few attractive streaming options left on the board here in early-to-mid September.

Stroman, who turned 24 years old in May, registered a 3.65 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 111/28 K/BB ratio over his first 130 2/3 major league innings last season with Toronto. He should have three starts in him before the playoffs begin.

Toronto won in Boston on Tuesday and the Yankees lost to the Orioles, so the Jays will enter play Wednesday with a 1 1/2 game lead in the American League East standings.

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Harvey Struggles Amid Controversy, But Mets Win

The biggest game of the night Tuesday was between the Mets and Nationals. And it was a doozy.

With much negativity hanging over his head after a week of battling a very nasty and very public innings-limit controversy, right-hander Matt Harvey put up a stinker. Washington struck for two runs in the first inning, one run in the second inning, and four runs on a Little League grand slam by Michael Taylor in the bottom of the sixth inning. Harvey was lifted at 74 pitches, having allowed eight hits and two walks in 5 1/3 frames and with the Mets trailing 7-1.

But a six-run rally by New York in the top of the seventh inning set up Kirk Nieuwenhuis to crank a pinch-hit go-ahead solo shot off Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon in the top of the eighth. The score would stay 8-7 over the next one-and-a-half frames and the Mets now boast a six-game lead over the Nats in the NL East standings.

Harvey is expected to make one more start for the Mets and then enter a shutdown period. He could return for the team’s final regular-season series against the Nationals, or the Mets could further store his bullets for the postseason if he’s not needed. Harvey won’t throw over 200 innings this year.

Harvey, 26, is currently sitting on a 2.88 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 164/36 K/BB ratio after 171 2/3 frames.

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Ross Will Finish Breakout Rookie Season In Relief

That late rally from the Mets on Tuesday night in Washington probably ended the Nationals’ season. It’s already essentially over for 22-year-old starting pitcher Joe Ross, who has been moved to the bullpen for the final three weeks as a way to protect his overall 2015 workload.

Ross is well beyond his previous career high in innings pitched and showed definite signs of fatigue in his last two outings. The right-hander made it just 4 1/3 innings Sunday against the lowly Braves and he was lifted after only 2 2/3 innings last Tuesday in St. Louis.

Tanner Roark is going to take over the rotation vacancy for Washington. He hasn’t been very sharp this year in a swingman role and probably won’t be a great fantasy bet in a starting role down the stretch.

Ross is sitting on a 3.79 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 68/20 K/BB ratio through 73 2/3 innings (13 starts) in his rookie campaign. He will almost certainly be a member of the Nationals’ season-opening starting rotation in 2016.

National League Quick Hits: Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford made an early exit Tuesday with tightness in his left calf and left oblique … Jeurys Familia navigated through the ninth inning to earn his 38th save as the Mets topped the Nationals on Tuesday … Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto hit a traditional homer and an inside-the-parker in Tuesday’s defeat of the Brewers … Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been diagnosed with a strained left oblique and could miss over a week of action … Starlin Castro finished 2-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored, and four RBI as the Cubs topped the Cardinals on Tuesday … Phillies youngster Aaron Nola earned his sixth win on Tuesday night, tossing seven shutout innings against the Braves … Kyle Schwarber (rib) was used as a pinch-hitter Tuesday and expects to return to the Cubs’ starting lineup on Wednesday … Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal remains day-to-day with inflammation in his left shoulder … Jung Ho Kang went 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored Tuesday against the Reds … Randal Grichuk (elbow) lifted a pinch-hit two-run home run in Tuesday’s loss to the Cubs … Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco will try swinging off a tee on Wednesday and could be shut down if he feels any discomfort in his wrist … Dee Gordon went 2-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases in Tuesday’s win over the Brewers … Noah Syndergaard will return to the Mets’ starting rotation on Saturday in Atlanta … Cubs closer Hector Rondon pitched a scoreless ninth inning against the Cardinals on Tuesday to earn his 27th save … Joe Panik, making his first start since August 1, went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, and a solo home run in Tuesday’s win against the Diamondbacks … Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong remains day-to-day with tightness in his left calf … Braves center fielder Cameron Maybin (eye) will be out a few more games … Jimmy Rollins was held out again Tuesday due to discomfort in his right index finger, with Corey Seager drawing another start at shortstop … Wil Myers hit his first home run since May 8, helping the Padres edge the Rockies on Tuesday … Clayton Kershaw improved to 13-6 on Tuesday night in Anaheim, limiting the Angels to two runs (one earned) in seven innings … Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria has missed five straight starts with a left hamstring strain … Paco Rodriguez (elbow) won’t join the Braves this season.

American League Quick Hits: Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz remained sidelined Tuesday with a strained right quad … Alex Rodriguez hit his 30th home run of the season on Tuesday and passed Rickey Henderson on the all-time career hits leaderboard … Adam Jones was held out of the Orioles’ starting lineup Tuesday with shoulder discomfort … Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has received two more injections in his right leg and remains on crutches … Masahiro Tanaka struck out 10 batters over eight innings of one-run ball Tuesday in a no-decision against the Orioles … Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields missed Tuesday’s game against the Mariners with a left knee strain … Orioles closer Zach Britton pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 31st save Tuesday night against the Yankees … Greg Holland delivered a scoreless ninth inning against the Twins on Tuesday, earning his 30th save of the season … Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner was held out of action Tuesday due to a jammed shoulder … Jose Abreu went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday’s win over the Tigers … Twins closer Glen Perkins could need another cortisone injection for his lingering back injury … Sonny Gray bested the Astros in Tuesday’s win, firing seven scoreless innings … Yankees right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) is not expected to throw another pitch in the regular season … Victor Martinez missed a second straight game Tuesday with flu-like symptoms … Carlos Carrasco (shoulder) lasted just 2 2/3 innings in his return to the mound Tuesday, allowing four runs in a loss to the White Sox … Tigers starter Daniel Norris (oblique) will throw a simulated game this weekend … Steven Souza (hand) will play in rehab games Tuesday and Wednesday with High-A Charlotte and could then rejoin the Rays … Michael Brantley hit his 13th home run of the season in a loss against the White Sox on Tuesday … Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday that it “could be a while” before Stephen Vogt (groin) returns to the lineup … Jurickson Profar (shoulder) won’t appear in a game this season for the Rangers … J.D. Martinez hit his 36th home run of the season in Tuesday’s win over the Rays.

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