MLB Player News

So you're at the point, with the season winding down, where you have to win at all costs. Seems straightforward enough. The only problem is your bench is overflowing with players you can't actually use -- ones that are injured but too valuable to drop, like Brett Lawrie, Brandon Phillips, Adam Eaton, Michael Wacha, Paul Goldschmidt, Yadier Molina, Ryan Zimmerman, Joey Votto, Carlos Gonzalez or Masahiro Tanaka.

Or maybe your albatross isn't injured but just doesn't inspire much confidence right now, like Pedro Alvarez, Justin Verlander or Mike Minor.

I've got news for you: This late in the year, when winning is paramount, you can consider dropping them. Granted, it shouldn't be the goal because the competition can only benefit from whatever you forfeit, but sometimes, it's your only choice.

I break it down player-by-player in my latest post to the Fantasy Baseball Today blog, so if you could a little assistance with that season-shifting dilemma, be sure to check out.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is hoping to begin "baseball activities" soon, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Manager Bryan Price is hoping Votto will start those activities in late August. It's unclear how soon the club expects Votto to return to action. He was hitting .255/.390/.409 over 220 at-bats prior to the injury. 

The Angels announced Sunday they recalled reliever Vinnie Pestano and pitcher Caleb Clay from Triple-A Salt Lake. To clear space on the roster, pitcher Cam Bedrosian and first baseman C.J. Cron were optioned to the minors.

Need a sleeper for Fantasy Week 20 (Aug. 11-17)? Caleb Joseph, Chris Carter, Kolten Wong, Casey McGehee, Danny Santana and Corey Dickerson are all players to consider.

Find out why in the latest Start and Sit Hitters.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman slammed the third two-run home run in the first two innings against Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg on Friday night. His 375-foot drive gave his team a 6-0 lead.

Freeman, who has provided consistent production all year, has eight hits in the last five games.

The Twins optioned first baseman Chris Colabello after Friday's game to clear a roster spot for Saturday starter Trevor May.

Colabello hasn't provided much offense since the All-Star break, going 5 for 34 with no extra-base hits. He owns a .229/.282/.380 line with six home runs and 39 RBI in 205 at-bats.

It comes as no surprise that Wilmer Flores is starting ahead of Ruben Tejada on Friday night. The former has apparently supplanted the latter as the top shortstop with the Mets, per ESPN, following a conference between Terry Collins and general manager Sandy Alderson.

Flores has earned consistent playing time since late July, though he has not exactly sizzled at the plate. He has five hits in 21 at-bats without a multi-hit game during his recent stretch.

Phillies embattled first baseman Ryan Howard saved his heroics for his last at-bat Thursday against Houston. He cranked out a grand slam in the eighth inning to wrest victory from the jaws of defeat.

Howard, whose homer came against left-hander Tony Sipp, has two homers and eight RBI in the last three games. Despite the criticism, he's on pace to slug 27 home runs with 106 RBI this season.

Astros designated hitter Chris Carter, who has shed his all-or-nothing tag with productive hitting recently, continued to roll Thursday in Philadelphia.

Carter smashed two-run homers in the first and third innings to give him five blasts in the last 13 games. But he also added a single and has 34 hits in his last 104 at-bats to raise his average from .182 to .225. and his slugging perentage nearly 100 points to .494.

Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo has been given the day off for the Thursday game at Colorado. His spot has been taken by Chris Valaika.

Rizzo has just one hit in his last 12 at-bats, but has produced this season to the tune of a .281/.384/.506 stat line with 25 home runs.