With an aside to the usual introduction, September 11th resonates on a personal level. As a first year teacher, a Tuesday in 2001 meant the first day my students would have an active physical education class, completing a lifelong goal to teach. As second period approached, my wife at the time called and implored me to get to a television. She could not explain what had transpired, so I did. In time to see the second plane hit the Twin Tower in New York City. With a heavy heart, I told my students we needed not to change for class due to something bigger happening in the world. Students were upset with family working in the city, they were picked up before buses arrived to leave early. A nuclear facility in Oswego was a reported target in the attacks, so my school dismissed after the attacks. There’s so many heroes and so much to remember. Proud to wear my official shirt of Engine 21, where one of my student’s uncle served as a captain in the Fire Department of New York, with the perfect phrase on the shirt, “We will never forget.”

Roster Updates and Machinations

Jon Lester left his start early due to “tightness” in his lower back. He will be considered day-to-day but stay tuned as an owner in case he loses a start this week.

Cleveland will welcome Josh Donaldson to the lineup on Tuesday when they activate him prior to their game in Tampa Bay.

Not only does Bryce Harper hit home runs while visiting Citizens Bank Park, he also pitches in with the grounds crew to try and play:

Perhaps foreshadowing to him actually raking baseballs if Harper decides to sign with Philadelphia? Harper’s hit 13 home runs in 168 at-bats as a visitor to Citizens Bank with a .941 on-base plus slugging percentage in 47 games.

So many moving pieces with the Cardinals but here’s the cliff notes:

Good news for Aaron Judge owners?

Same for Trevor Bauer ? He will throw a bullpen on Wednesday as the team gauges how to proceed in his rehab.

Weather remains an issue with games rained out cancelling out Jacob deGrom yet again and the Phillies versus Nationals game postponed. This not only wreaks havoc in head-to-head playoffs, but could prolong the season with a hurricane to make landfall in the next two days.

That Just Happened

Win number 15 for Justin Verlander during a return to Detroit and his 52nd career double digit strikeout game. Verlander allowed two earned runs on six hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts in seven innings. He’s struck out 258 on the year with 23 quality starts to remain on the periphery of the Cy Young Award debate in the American League. José Altuve did appear to hurt himself during this game but stayed in the lineup. Heed any news on him going forward.

Chris Taylor hit his 16th home run among his two hits with two RBI. He’s trying to salvage his season with a strong September. Taylor’s 7-for-14 this month with five runs, two doubles, two home runs and five RBI. But, he’s also a part of the Dodgers evolving splits based lineups.

Four more hits for Scooter Gennett as he resumes the lead in the National League batting average race. Gennett’s recorded 51 multiple hit games this year and presently hitting .320 with 22 home runs through 139 games this year. Eugenio Suárez hit his 32nd home run and leads the National League in RBI (101) despite missing 16 games in April. José Peraza continues his breakout campaign with two more hits extending his hit streak to six games and hitting .319 over his last 89 games with 20 doubles, eight home runs, 40 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

Corey Kluber shut out the Rays for seven innings on August 31st. He retired the first four batters on Monday night then did not pitch beyond the second inning leaving after 1.2 innings giving up five hits, four earned runs and a walk with four strikeouts. Then, Brad Hand suffered his first blown save with Cleveland yielding a walk-off two run home run to Ji-Man Choi . You cannot predict baseball.

Tommy Pham went 2-for-4 to move his hit streak to 14 games during which he’s batting .407 (24-for-59) with 11 RBI. Choi’s hit five home runs with 15 RBI over his last 23 games. Fun fact, Tampa Bay has the same record as the Braves and would lead the National League West.

Dominant outing by Josh Hader . He faced six hitters and retired all of them via a strikeout. Hader only needed 24 pitches generating 11 swinging strikes and seven called for his third outing this year of at least six strikeouts in less than three innings. Jeremy Jeffress notched his 11th save and Wade Miley gets his fourth win of the year.

Need speed? Terrance Gore leads the majors in steals in September with five while accruing only two at-bats. Gore’s swiped five bases in six games as a pinch runner and teams needing a boost in the category can add him as a flier, but with no other counting stats in the offing.

It’s boring to take J.A. Happ in drafts, but he won his 16th game of the season and sixth as a Yankee last night. Since his acquisition, Happ’s 6-0 in eight starts with a 2.70 ERA and 43:9 K:BB in New York. Gary Sánchez showed signs of life with the bat going 3-for-5 including a 460 foot home run. Of his last 40 hits, 23 have been for extra bases (10 doubles, 13 home runs).

Lucas Giolito recorded his seventh straight road quality start during which he’s 4-1 with a 3.11 ERA. Only Jacob deGrom (nine) and Justin Verlander (eight) have more quality starts in a row this year.

Jake Junis did not factor in the decision, but since his return on July 21 is 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. His last walk was over 30 innings ago on August 17th. Whit Merrifield hit his 12th home run and sixth leading off a game. He’s on a 11-game hit streak versus the White Sox during which Merrifield’s slashing .381/.435/.643 with eight runs, three home runs and 10 RBI. Ryan O’Hearn hit his 10th home run in his 30th game this year.

Entering last night’s start, Trevor Williams had allowed only four earned runs in his previous 54.2 innings. Then, he allowed four runs in only five in St. Louis. Baseball. Starling Marte hit his 19th home run and needs one more to become the third Pirate ever to hit at least 20 with 30 stolen bases in a season. Only Barry Bonds (four times) and Andy Van Slyke (twice) have done so for the franchise. Adam Frazier stayed hot with two more hits and has hit .350 his last 38 games with 15 doubles, five home runs and 21 RBI.

It was not pretty, but Carlos Martínez recorded his third save, and first as the closer on Monday night. Martinez has only allowed two earned runs as a reliever in 10.1 innings (1.68 ERA). Marcell Ozuna extended his hit streak to six games and he’s homered eight times over the last 15 games.

Colorado received another strong outing by German Marquez . He won his 12th game of the year striking out 11 in seven innings ceding only six hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk. Marquez has reached double digit strikeouts in three straight and has 44 over his last four, the most in a four game stretch in Rockies history. Trevor Story added his 32nd home run and David Dahl hit a grand slam in support.

While Arizona drifts in the standing, Paul Goldschmidt extended his road on-base streak to 46 games during which he’s hitting .395 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, 38 RBI and 28 walks.

Mike Minor won for the fifth time of his last six starts and his 12th of the season. Minor’s 2.70 ERA over his last eight starts hints at potential upside late in drafts for 2019. Speaking of upside, Jose Leclerc notched his 10th save extending his scoreless streak to 16 innings with 25 strikeouts against four walks in it.

Squeezing the last bit of value of Shohei Ohtani , he racked up two more hits and stole his ninth base. Ohtani’s in the midst of an eight-game hit streak during which he’s scored 11 runs with four home runs and 10 RBI. He needs one more home run and stolen base to reach a 20/10 season.

A much needed strong outing for Sean Newcomb in San Francisco. He struck out eight in six innings giving up only one earned run en route to his 12th win. Ozzie Albies showed signs of life with his 13th multiple-extra base hit game with a double and a triple. And, A.J. Minter turned in a clean ninth inning with two strikeouts for his 14th save.

What To Watch For

A doubleheader on tap in Philadelphia, so be sure to set lineups in daily leagues prior to three this afternoon.

How will Luis Castillo fare versus the Dodgers at home?

Take three for deGrom, slated to start once again this evening at home against Miami.

Chris Sale makes his return to the mound but will be on a pitch count in order to save bullets for postseason.

With many races taking shape, be sure to check back with Fantasy Alarm to stay ahead of the competition down the stretch.

Statistical Credits:

MLB.com

Fangraphs.com

BaseballSavant.com

Baseball-Reference.com