I'm not sure we expected a pitching matchup between the Yankees and Royals on Monday, but that's what we got. After a very slow start to the season, Jameson Taillon has really turned it on. Over his past seven starts (Monday included): Taillon has a 1.46 ERA with 39 strikeouts over 43.1 innings pitched. He's still allowing too many fly balls and not getting enough whiffs but... something is working. Taillon is also giving you volume, too. Given the type of layoff he was dealing with, it only makes sense that it took him this long to get going.

On the other side we had Carlos Hernandez, who's allowed just two earned runs over his past three starts. Hernandez is a flamethrower who has two different fastballs that average 96-97 MPH. I think he's learning on the fly, so the strikeouts aren't there yet but given his arsenal, I wouldn't be surprised if they arrive at some point. He's not a must-add but somebody you should pay attention to or add in deeper leagues. 

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After missing the majority of the 2021 season with an injury, Fantasy Baseball owners were unsure what they'd be getting from White Sox OF Eloy Jimenez when he returned, but if Monday was any indicator, they could be getting a potential league winner down the stretch run. Jimenez homered twice and drove in five runs Monday as the White Sox crushed the Twins 11-1. It was his second straight day where he ripped two homers. Even after ripping his home runs on Monday, Jimenez almost turned it into a memorable game when he ripped a groundout that came off the bat 107mph. 

The talented outfielder is now up to five homers, four doubles and 14 RBI in his 10 games since returning from the IL. He missed all of his games prior after tearing his pectoral muscle, which sometimes leads to a drop off in power that has certainly not been the case for Jimenez.

It was a tale of two seasons for Reds SP Luis Castillo heading into Monday night. Last Wednesday, Castillo got the win with six innings of one-run ball to go along with seven strikeouts. He generated 12 swinging strikes and brought his ERA down to 4.09,  which was a massive accomplishment considering what it fell to at one point. In his first 11 games, Castillo had a 7.22 ERA, 19.3% K, 9.2% BB rate. In his past 12: 1.91 ERA, 26.5% K, 10.2% BB.

On Monday night, however, Castillo looked a lot more like the version we saw in his first 11 games. Castillo was torched and credited for allowing eight runs in 3 1/3 innings by the Indians on Monday. He only had six swinging strikes on his 71 pitches so the under the hood numbers were just as bad. Prior to this bombing, Castillo hadn't allowed more than three runs since May 29. He draws the Phillies next. Earlier this season, Chris Towers was adamant you shouldn't panic on Castillo and shouldn't have sold low. He now once again doesn't think there's anything to be concerned about moving forward with Castillo. Scott agrees -- hold on to him.

• Padres SS Fernando Tatis hit on the field Monday. He's back on the IL with that same shoulder. We'll see if he can return, but apparently Kevin Acee already reported that Tatis will have shoulder surgery when the season is over. Apparently the rehab time for it is six months, which is quite worrisome for next season. 
• Twins OF Byron Buxton fielded fly balls, hit and ran the bases Monday. He's been out with a broken hand since late June.
• Dodgers 3B Justin Turner will be out a few days and then the Dodgers will re-evaluate. They haven't played yet if you want to get him out of your lineup. 
• Both SP Clayton Kershaw and Danny Duffy were shifted to the 60-day IL. Kershaw is first eligible Sept. 5 while Duffy is Sept. 15.
• Twins 3B Josh Donaldson was out again with that hamstring and has now missed nine of his last 11 games.
• White Sox OF Luis Robert made his return Monday, went 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI. As a result, Gavin Sheets was sent to the minors.
• Cardinals SP Kwang Hyun Kim was placed on the IL with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to Aug. 8.
• Marlins SP Pablo Lopez will throw a 30-pitch bullpen Tuesday. He's on the IL with a right rotator cuff strain.
• Marlins 2B Jazz Chisholm went to the IL after being scratched Sunday with flu-like symptoms.
• Yankees SS Gleyber Torres went on the IL with that thumb sprain and is expected to miss 10-20 days
• Yankees 3B Gio Urshela suffered a setback with his hamstring and will not return this week
• Yankees SP Luis Severino will make another rehab start Friday and could return after that one. He went four innings in Sunday's rehab outing. He's 72% rostered.
• Yankees SP Corey Kluber will make a rehab start at Double-A on Thursday. He's 59% rostered.
• Yankees 2B DJ LeMahieu was dropped to fifth in the lineup with, wait for it, Brett Gardner leading off. Yikes.

• Rays 2B Vidal Brujan in 13 games since getting sent back down -- .396 average with nine steals.
• Notable double dongs in the minors this weekend: Pirates 2B Nick Gonzalez, Red Sox 2B Nick Yorke, Mets C Francisco Alvarez
• The Royals promoted catcher MJ Melendez to Triple-A. He was batting .285 with 28 homers and a .999 OPS at Double-A. 

• Jo Adell 61% rostered
• Abraham Toro Hernandez 55%
• Rafael Ortega 40%
• Kyle Farmer 51%
• Elias Diaz 29%
• Brandon Belt 37%
• Carter Kieboom 26%
• Mike Moustakas 79%

• Daulton Varsho
• Harrison Bader
• Luis Urias
• J.D. Davis
• Jarren Duran