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Twins rookie 3B Miguel Sano homered again on Thursday, giving him three for the week and six for the month. Over the last 30 days, the only third basemen with more homers than Sano are Chris Davis, Josh Donaldson and Matt Carpenter. Those guys are great, but they're owned in just about every fantasy league, while Sano is still available in 75.3 percent of FOXSports.com circuits.
Sano appears due for some speed bumps, as a high strikeout rate (34.7 percent) and hard-to-sustain BABIP (.405) suggest that his .284 batting average is likely to dip. However, the power is real - Sano has 25 home runs between the minors and majors this season, and hit 35 in 2013 (he missed the 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery). If you need some muscle at the hot corner for your stretch run, go get Sano.
In other news ...
The Giants acquired Marlon Byrd to shore up their injury-riddled outfield. The Byrd-less Reds started both Jason Bourgeois and Skip Schumaker in their outfield on Thursday - ugh.
In other Reds' news, closer Aroldis Chapman is day to day with a stiff shoulder, while 2B Brandon Phillips is in the same situation with a biceps injury.
Braves 3B Hector Olivera could make his big-league debut as soon as Monday. Olivera hasn't played much in the minors since arriving from Cuba, but scouts project him as a high-BA, 15- to 20-homer guy. If your mixed league is deeper than 12 teams, he's worth a look.
Twins closer Glen Perkins (bulging disk in neck) hopes to be able to pitch by early next week. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Kevin Jepsen is the favorite to close games during Perkins' absence. I had mentioned Trevor May for that role earlier this week, and I hope that didn't mess up anyone's closer plans.
Rays SP Chris Archer threw a one-hit shutout against the Astros on Thursday, striking out 11. Archer ranks third in the majors in strikeouts (205), ninth in WHIP (1.01), 11th in ERA (2.77) and T-17 in wins (11). By ADP, he was the 42nd starter off the board this season, just behind Andrew Cashner and Phil Hughes.
Rangers OF Josh Hamilton (knee) is back on the DL, but hopes to return by Aug. 31. Don't get sucked in again on Hamilton next year, OK?
With Anibal Sanchez (rotator cuff) joining Daniel Norris on the DL, the desperate Tigers have signed Randy Wolf and will start him against the Rangers on Saturday. The 38-year-old Wolf had a 5.26 ERA in 25 2/3 innings for the Marlins last season.
Rays RP Jake McGee (knee surgery) is probably done for the season. Manager Kevin Cash said that McGee's injury doesn't necessarily make Brad Boxberger the full-time closer, but Boxberger already has 29 saves, so who is Cash kidding?
Here are your weekly free-agent recommendations: Pirates C Francisco Cervelli (owned in 33.7 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) is batting .307, ranks seventh among catcher in runs (43) and 16th in RBI (37) ... Red Sox 1B Travis Shaw (8.5 percent owned) won't continue at his current power pace, but the Red Sox seem happy to play him, and he projects as a decent hitter. I saw him compared to James Loney recently, if that helps ... Cubs 2B/OF Chris Coghlan (2.9 percent owned) has 14 home runs with 11 steals, so maybe you can live with him sitting against lefties ... Aside from Sano, Miami's Derek Dietrich (1.5 percent owned) is a third-base option. He's got eight home runs in 146 at bats, and is also eligible at 2B/OF ... Indians SS Francisco Lindor (12.8 percent owned) has his BA up to .284, and over the past month ranks among the top 10 at his position in home runs, RBI and runs. And even though it doesn't affect you, his glove is fantastic ... I know FOX leagues are a bit different since we use only three outfielders, but is Dexter Fowler really owned in just 28.7 percent of leagues? Fowler is third at his position with 80 runs, and adds 13 homers with 17 steals to a very attractive fantasy package ... The formerly strikeout-averse Charlie Morton (12.8 percent owned) has whiffed 35 batters in 30 2/3 innings over his last five starts, and is still inducing his customary boatload of ground balls. I'll buy that package to see if it continues ... Junichi Tazawa (1.6 percent owned) got his second save in as many days for the Red Sox on Thursday.
Patrick Corbin got knocked around as our Thursday streaming starter. The weekend selections are: Oakland's surging Chris Bassitt (30.6 percent owned) at Tampa on Friday; White Sox rookie Carlos Rodon (23.7 percent owned) at Seattle on Saturday; and Cincinnati's hot, hot, HOT Raisel Iglesias (11.5 percent owned) versus the D-backs on Sunday.
DFS advice (based on 50/50 games, salaries from DraftKings): The Angels are not hitting, so if you want to spend on an SP, David Price ($12,300) is your man. I'll stay away from the Sale-Felix matchup ... Cheaper options are Jimmy Nelson ($8,200) and Bassitt ($6,900) ... Jonathan Lucroy ($2,900) is at a nice price vs. Gio Gonzalez ... Padres SP Andrew Cashner allows a horrible .387 wOBA vs. LHB, giving Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong ($3,300) and 3B Matt Carpenter ($3,900) to snap out of their slumps ... Dodgers SS Jimmy Rollins ($3,000) has tallied double digit DK points in three of his last five games, and has a decent matchup with Mike Fiers ... Andre Ethier ($2,800, .385 wOBA vs. RHP) looks like your budget-minded outfielder.
See you back here Monday morning.
