May 15, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a solo home run during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The Nationals thought Bryce Harper was OK after bruising his left knee on Monday night, but after Harper reported to Dodger Stadium Tuesday with "significant swelling" in the knee, he was scratched from the starting lineup.
Harper isn't sure if he'll play today, and with the Nats playing late on the West Coast, you'll want to keep him out of your fantasy lineup if you need to set it early.
In other news ...
Rangers SP Cole Hamels has been scratched from his Thursday start due to a sore left groin. Hamels isn't expected to go on the DL.
Yasiel Puig is ON FIRE! OK, maybe he just had one big game, with a homer and five RBI, but this year that qualifies as tremendous news.
Phillies 3B Maikel Franco left Tuesday's game after getting hit in the left wrist by a pitch. X-rays were negative, and the diagnosis was a bruise, but Franco might get today off.
Remember yesterday's post here, when we noted that Jean Machi was the most likely Red Sox closer? Machi pitched the eighth inning of Tuesday's game, while Junichi Tazawa came on in the ninth and blew the save. Ryan Cook might get into this mix, too. Your guess is as good as mine as to what will happen next with the Sox bullpen.
In other Red Sox news, Mookie Betts (concussion) was back in the lineup on Tuesday, while Hanley Ramirez (foot) took a rest. Jackie Bradley Jr. is probably headed back to the bench to make room for Ramirez.
Lefty James Russell got the Cubs' save on Tuesday. Why? Because manager Joe Maddon plans to have his team's save opportunities "spread among the masses" for the rest of the season. Stay away from this mess if you can, but hold Hector Rondon if you own him.
In other Cubs' news, is Starlin Castro going to get more time at second base? He sure isn't the team's shortstop anymore. If you still own Castro in a mixed league, cut bait now, as he's likely to be a part-time player for the rest of the season.
D-backs OF Yasmany Tomas left Tuesday's game with calf tightness, and might not play today.
Someone named Xavier Cedeno got Tuesday's save for the Rays, but there's an explanation. Cedeno is a southpaw, and was called on to get a couple of the Braves' lefty hitters (Nick Markakis, A.J. Pierzynski). Also, the Rays' "plan was to give All-Star Brad Boxberger, Jake McGee and Steve Geltz an extra day off after a busy weekend," according to the Tampa Bay Times. There's no need to pick up Cedeno in any fantasy league.
The Tigers think Miguel Cabrera (calf) might come off the DL as soon as this weekend.
White Sox rookie lefty Carlos Rodon has had an inconsistent season, but games like Tuesday's 11-strikeout performance make you think he can have a big 2016 if he throws a few more strikes. Rodon's stuff is nasty.
Marlins OF Christian Yelich was scratched Tuesday due to a bruised knee, and is day to day.
Five afternoon games appear on today's schedule, starting with a trio of 3:40 p.m. ET matchups. Set your lineups accordingly.
Blue Jays 1B Edwin Encarnacion missed Tuesday's game due to "irritation" in his left middle finger, but it doesn't sound serious. Without E5, the Jays continued their recent tradition of winning every single day.
What's scarier: The Walking Dead, or David Buchanan's pitching line from Tuesday night? The horror.
Erasmo Ramirez was downright nasty as Tuesday's streaming starter. Today's pick is Red Sox rookie lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (owned in 21.2 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) at Miami. If you throw out a horrible July 20 start at Anaheim, Rodriguez has a 2.72 ERA in his six other outings dating back to June 30.
DFS advice (based in 50/50 games, salaries from DraftKings, night games only): Cole-Wacha and Kershaw-Zimmerman are pretty good matchups, but I'll stay away. A deGrom/Odorizzi pairing looks good, and while expensive at $21,300, it's probably my play. The least-expensive with whom I'd feel comfortable is Edinson Volquez ($7,600) vs. the Royals ... Indians C Yan Gomes ($3,100) is hot, and faces the very hittable CC Sabathia ... Mets 2B/SS Wilmer Flores ($3,200) has a .377 wOBA vs. LHP, and will probably bat sixth ... Indians SS Francisco Lindor ($3,400) has averaged 11.2 DK points over his last five games, with 10 hits and eight runs over that span ... Angels OF Shane Victorino ($2,700) has led off in his last two games, and has always crushed LHP. He gets a bad one in John Danks ... Mets 3B Juan Uribe ($2,800) looks like a solid option vs. Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa.
See you back here tomorrow morning.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.