Around the League - AL and NL

Call-Ups

Kole Calhoun was called up by the Angels after Albert Pujols was placed on the DL. He has been batting leadoff against RHP and is worth a pickup if you need an OF with some decent power/speed. Calhoun had been red-hot at AAA before being called up, hitting .500 with 5 HR in his last 10 games. Although he is a left-handed hitter, he was actually performing better against LHP than RHP at AAA. Calhoun was playing in a hitter-friendly league (PCL) but it's hard to doubt the progress he has made this season, especially with his even 32-32 K:BB ratio. I wouldn't hesitate to add him, even in a mixed league, if I was in need of an all-around contributor from the outfield position. The main worry is that Peter Bourjos will cut into Calhoun's playing time upon being activated from the DL in a couple weeks but Calhoun has the ability to prevent that if he continues to perform as well as he has thus far.

Brad Peacock will be called up to start against the Twins tomorrow. He's been impressive at AAA in the PCL this season and could be a decent matchup play over the last two months of the year. I like his chances against the Twins but only recommend taking a chance on him if you are in a really deep league and really need SP help.

Ethan Martin was called up by the Phillies but I don't see him as fantasy-relevant at this point.

Andrew Albers will join the Twins rotation next week against the Royals but he should be ignored until we see a couple starts out of him. Alberts is, at 27 years of age, a little old for a prospect but has had a strong season in the minors with an ERA under 3 and K:BB ratio of almost 4:1.

Notes

The Biogenesis suspensions will be revealed on Monday.

If you want to speculate on saves then think about adding Dane De La Rosa of the Angels. If Ernesto Frieri continues to struggle then De La Rosa could get a chance to replace him as closer.

Tom Wilhelmsen has been removed from his closer role for the second time this season. Yoervis Medina, Charlie Furbush, and even Danny Farquhar are worth pickups (in that order) if you are speculating.

I could purely guess here about the Astros closing situation but it's really a tough and unclear situation. They don't have anyone who stands out as a decent candidate to even produce average results as closer the rest of the way. Whoever gets saves for the Astros will be a high risk to ruin your ERA/WHIP in the process. Be careful.

Xander Bogaerts has started playing third base at AAA and I expect him to be called up within the next couple weeks. He's ready.

Injuries

Miguel Cabrera may need to be placed on the DL with an abdominal injury. Between Cabrera and Infante's injury issues, Jose Iglesias will still receive regular playing time for now.

Ryan Ludwick will be back next week and is worth a pickup in most mixed leagues. He should provide above average power over the final two months of the season.

David Wright will be out for at least a couple weeks with a hamstring injury.

There's a chance that Albert Pujols will miss the rest of the season. At the very least he'll be out for most of August. Owners who need Pujols back for their H2H playoffs in September should definitely have a backup plan.

Brett Anderson has a chance to return in about two weeks and would be worth a pickup in all formats if that happens.

Derek Jeter will sit out the rest of this weekend with a calf issue. Missing time here and there will likely be something that Jeter owners should come to expect at this point.

Jason Vargas should be back by the end of the month.

Jason Hammel should return in a couple weeks from his forearm injury.

Melky Cabrera was placed on the DL and could miss more than the minimum two weeks if his knee injury is deemed to be serious.

Paul Maholm will likely return within a couple weeks.

Marco Estrada should be back in the Brewers rotation in a couple weeks.

Yovani Gallardo will spend at least a couple weeks on the DL with a hamstring injury.

Yadier Molina's knee injury has been said to not be serious but I wouldn't be surprised if it affects his fantasy production after he returns from the DL in a few weeks.

Miguel Montero will miss a couple weeks with a back injury. Wil Nieves is worth a flier in NL-only leagues.

Matt Kemp experienced a setback and will be out at least until mid-August.

Alex Cobb will likely rejoin the Rays rotation in a couple weeks.

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