Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo has been out since August 26 due to a lower back strain. There have been reports that Rizzo will return to action this week - perhaps as soon as today - but his status remains unclear. According to the Cubs' website, manager Rick Renteria said on Sunday, "That one I will reserve for [Monday] ... we're trying to get him out there running. I'd still look more ahead, and take anything sooner as a plus." If you own Rizzo, your level of risk you should take probably depends on your level of desperation. The guess here is that he'll be back over the next few days.
Sunday's studs & duds
Stud: Two runs, Clayton Kershaw? Step it up, man.
Stud: Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts homered and had four RBI in Sunday's win over the Royals. Someone told you in a recent Free Agent Frenzy that Bogaerts would play well down the stretch. Who was that brilliant fantasy analyst, anyway?
Dud: Phillies' closer Jonathan Papelbon gave up four runs to the Marlins, and then got ejected after grabbing his crotch in response to some booing fans. Nice job, Pap.
News & notes
Cuban signee Rusney Castillo is expected to join the Red Sox on Tuesday, but how much (or when) he'll play is unclear. If you need speed in an AL-only league, grabbing Castillo now makes sense, but otherwise it's hard to see him contributing much from a fantasy perspective. Here's a FanGraphs' scouting report if you'd like to learn more about Castillo.
This Cardinals' notebook addresses John Lackey getting pushed back to Friday, Michael Wacha being scratched from his Sunday start, and 1B Matt Adams getting scratched Sunday due to his oblique issues. The Cards hope to get Adams back on Tuesday, but are worried that Wacha won't pitch again this season.
Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado is day to day after leaving Sunday's game with bruised ribs. The Rox also hope that 1B Justin Morneau (intercostal strain) will be back in the lineup "soon," but they're not being very clear about what soon means.
In case you missed it, Orioles 1B/3B Chris Davis has been suspended and will miss the rest of the regular season. The O's alternated Jimmy Paredes and Kelly Johnson at the hot corner over the weekend. If you need a third baseman, consider Chase Headley (34.6 percent owned), who hopes to return to the Yankee lineup tonight after getting hit in the face with a pitch on Thursday. If you're looking at either of the Orioles in an AL-only league, Paredes has 24 steals between the minors and majors this season.
Vance Worley has lost his rotation spot with the Pirates, who will start Charlie Morton on Tuesday. Morton has been on the DL with a sports hernia.
Streaming starters
Vidal Nuno got knocked around on Friday and Jeff Locke wasn't so good on Saturday, but Edinson Volquez was solid on Sunday; we're at 95-57 for the season. Today's pick is Miami's Jarred Cosart (owned in 22.5 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) at CitiField against the Mets, while Tuesday's selection is Bartolo Colon (23.6 percent owned) versus the Giancarlo Stanton-less Marlins.
See you back here tomorrow morning.
