Morning Java - 09/22: Yesavage Activated for Toronto's Final Push, Bateman Leaves With Hip Discomfort, River Ryan Sharp in Tigers Debut

TL;DRSkim

The five fastest-moving roster calls of the morning, in priority order:

• HOLD - Trey Yesavage (48% owned) was activated for Toronto's final week. Track how the Blue Jays use him - his profile is a starter's, but this week's role may be relief.
• WATCH - Brett Bateman left with right hip discomfort after a sliding catch. X-rays negative; day-to-day pending further evaluation today.
• STASH - River Ryan (3% owned) threw three scoreless innings in his Tigers debut with his fastball averaging 96.5 mph.
• DROP - Spencer Arrighetti (11% owned) was optioned to the Blue Jays' spring training complex, ending his season.
• STASH - Marcelo Mayer came off the IL and made his Giants debut at DH after a deadline trade from Boston.

Yesavage Activated as Toronto Reshuffles

HOLD · TOR · SP

Trey Yesavage (48% owned) was activated, with Toronto optioning Spencer Arrighetti to the spring training complex and designating Joe Mantiply for assignment. Chad Dallas handled 2⅔ innings with four strikeouts in relief.

Yesavage has been built up as a starter all season, but with five days left and Dylan Cease likely done, Toronto's usage this week is the open question.

Action: HOLD - Don't expect a full starter's workload. If he gets a start, it'll be short; if he's used in relief, he's a holds-league piece only.

Bateman Leaves With Hip Discomfort

WATCH · TOR · CF

Brett Bateman left Monday's game against Baltimore with right hip discomfort after a sliding catch and walked off with a trainer's help. X-rays were negative for a fracture, and John Schneider expects more clarity today. Toronto is 77-79 with six games left.

Action: WATCH - Check today's lineup. A hip issue after a sliding catch with six games left is unlikely to be worth waiting on in redraft.

Ryan Sharp in Tigers Debut

STASH · DET · SP

River Ryan (3% owned) threw three scoreless innings against Washington in his Detroit debut, allowing two hits and a walk with three strikeouts on 43 pitches. His fastball averaged 96.5 mph and he generated six whiffs, three on the changeup. A.J. Hinch kept him on a short leash.

The opening is in the rotation: Troy Melton is headed to the 15-day IL with right arm fatigue, which ends his season.

Action: STASH in dynasty. Ryan came over from the Dodgers in the Skubal trade and is a rotation piece long-term. A three-inning debut with five days left has no redraft value.

Arrighetti Optioned

DROP · TOR · SP

Spencer Arrighetti (11% owned) was optioned to the spring training complex to make room for Yesavage.

Action: DROP - His season is over.

Mayer Debuts for San Francisco

STASH · SF · DH

Marcelo Mayer came off the IL and made his Giants debut at DH. Acquired from Boston at the deadline, he said he's grateful for a fresh start after facing fan backlash and threats in Boston.

Action: STASH in dynasty. The former top prospect's long-term value is the story; five games of DH at-bats on an eliminated club isn't a redraft add.

Cease's Shoulder Inflammation Likely Ends His Season

DROP · TOR · SP

Dylan Cease described his shoulder as "heavy and achy," a feeling he traced to his complete game against Boston on July 25. An MRI showed inflammation; the Blue Jays' medical staff determined surgery isn't needed and 2027 isn't at risk. Toronto hasn't formally ruled him out, but another regular-season outing is unlikely.

Action: DROP in redraft. HOLD in keeper and dynasty - no structural damage is the best outcome available here.

Keith to IL With Thumb Sprain

DROP · DET · 3B

Colt Keith (5% owned) was placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to Sept. 20 with a left thumb sprain, ending his season. Hao-Yu Lee (3% owned) picks up the at-bats.

Action: DROP Keith. Lee is an AL-only fill-in only.

Tidwell Exits With Elbow Discomfort

WATCH · SF · SP

Blade Tidwell left early against Minnesota with elbow discomfort and will be examined today.

Action: DROP in redraft. Elbow discomfort with five days left means no more starts worth holding for.

Davidson Debuts in Right Field

STASH · SF · OF

Bo Davidson made his major-league debut in right field for the Giants against Minnesota and collected his first hit.

Action: STASH in dynasty only.

Matthews Fans Nine, Allows Five

HOLD · MIN · SP

Zebby Matthews (22% owned) struck out nine over five innings but allowed five earned runs. He gained 12.4 points on the add tracker, the biggest move among pitchers.

Action: HOLD in AL-only formats. The strikeouts are real, but with the season ending Sunday he likely doesn't get another start.

Valencia 12-for-19 Over Six Games

WATCH · DET · OF

Eduardo Valencia is 12-for-19 with five doubles and two walks over his last six games.

Action: ADD in 14-team-plus leagues if you need outfield at-bats for the final week. Confirm his team before claiming - the source is a Detroit beat writer, though the draft listed him as a Twin.

Roden Hitting .293 in the Second Half

HOLD · MIN · OF

Alan Roden has hit .293/.358/.414 over 68 second-half plate appearances.

Action: HOLD if rostered. Sixty-eight plate appearances is a small sample for a final-week add.

Báez Ends 106-At-Bat Homer Drought

HOLD · DET · 2B/3B

Javier Báez hit his first home run in 106 at-bats, his third of the season and first since April 24.

Action: No action. One homer doesn't change a season this far below replacement.

Orioles Snap 19-Inning Scoreless Streak

WATCH · BAL · RP

Baltimore broke a 19-inning scoring drought, and Rico Garcia (12% owned) recorded the save with two strikeouts in a clean inning.

Action: WATCH - Garcia got this save, but Félix Bautista was reinstated from the IL on Saturday and was described as available for save situations. The ninth inning in Baltimore isn't settled; don't spend FAAB on one appearance.

Holliday Unlikely This Weekend

DROP · BAL · SS

Jackson Holliday (23% owned) is unlikely to play this weekend with persistent left wrist inflammation. Jeremiah Jackson (5% owned) is next in line at shortstop.

Action: DROP in redraft - if he's unlikely for the final weekend, he's done for fantasy purposes.

Astros' Top Three Starters Dominate Atlanta

HOLD · HOU · SP

Peter Lambert, Hayden Wesneski and Hunter Brown combined for a 1.72 ERA over 15⅔ innings against the Braves. Houston's bullpen posted a 10.32 ERA over 11⅓ innings in the same series.

Action: HOLD Houston's starters. Avoid Astros relievers in holds leagues this week.

Malgeri Keeps Making an Impression

STASH · DET · OF

Ben Malgeri hit a 105 mph double and made a diving catch in the same inning.

Action: STASH in dynasty. He's already a perfect 5-for-5 on steal attempts since his callup, so the speed is the fantasy hook.

Bernal Has 17 RBI in 18 Games

STASH · STL · C

Cardinals rookie catcher Leo Bernal, a switch-hitter, has driven in 17 runs in 18 games.

Action: ADD in two-catcher leagues if you need a final-week catcher; STASH in dynasty.

Herz Settles in After Rough Start

WATCH · WSH · SP

DJ Herz (0% owned) returned to a big-league mound for the first time in nearly two seasons. The first two batters reached and two runs scored before he settled, finishing with two strikeouts and touching 95 mph.

Action: STASH in dynasty only. The Nationals are out of it and he'll be tightly managed.