I would say I hate starting this newsletter negatively, but I've realized I do it quite often. Somebody has to talk about the bad, and I guess that somebody is me! Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is awesome but he's also 22 years old and human. He's allowed to have slumps like any other player. I will just point out that along with hitting just .230 in August, he has a 56% ground ball rate in the month. That's exactly what's held him back in the past. Also, he had just a .706 OPS in 62 plate appearances at Rogers Centre entering Tuesday compared to 1.180 at Sahlen Field and 1.418 at TD Ballpark. It could be nothing but hey, I thought you should know.

While I'm not actually worried about Guerrero, I am concerned about Matt Barnes and Aroldis Chapman, two would-be closers in the American League East. Following another home run allowed by Barnes on Tuesday night, he has a 16.88 ERA in August. After the game, manager Alex Cora said adjustments need to be made. Does he mean in the closer's role? Chapman entered with a two-run lead then loaded the bases and allowed a run to score. He was pulled for Wandy Peralta who recorded the final out. This is now the second time Chapman has been pulled in the ninth since returning from the injured list. I'm not dropping either yet, but this is a pretty bad look for both. 

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Phillies SP prospect Ranger Suarez didn't come with the fanfare of those call-ups before him, but he continues to look the part. On Tuesday, Suarez went 6 2/3 and allowed just one earned, six hits and one walk. He also struck out seven while racking up nine swinging strikes on 99 pitches.

This was the start Scott White was hoping Suarez would have in his last outing. Suarez is ready to start going length after his time in the bullpen, and he did just that on Tuesday by nearly making it seven strong. What sets Suarez apart is his 64% groundball rate. At a time in MLB history when runs are primarily being scored on home runs, it's incredibly valuable to keep the ball on the ground. This skill is becoming increasingly scarce. This is a big reason why Suarez has a 1.46 ERA on the season.

It's time to pick up Suarez in all leagues. And yet he is still just 39% rostered! What differentiates Suarez from other groundball pitchers is that he's also able to generate strikeouts. That's the key and why we suggested adding Logan Webb earlier, and the same goes for Suarez.

After being inside Scott White's five prospects on the verge for almost a month, Marlins SP prospect Edward Cabrera got the call up to the majors. This is a pretty big deal. Cabrera has serious swing-and-miss stuff. In six starts, Cabrera has a 3.68 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a whopping 48 strikeouts over 29 1/3 innings pitched.

He is currently just 28% rostered and Scott is guessing it might get around 50% because there is obviously a lot of upside with this swing and miss arsenal. Cabrera had a breakout in 2019 with a sub-3 ERA that year. The big reason is that he had command and control in 2019. Those control issues have come back though this season in Triple-A. He has issued at least three walks in five of his eight starts. 

Scott is skeptical of scooping Cabrera due to his control issues and the chance that this could be a one-and-done start for Cabrera with Trevor Rodgers nearing a return. If Jesus Luzardo continues to struggle, that might not be the case, but Cabrera's playing time and control issues combined leave Scott unenthused. Throw in the cherry on top -- how prospects called up have struggled to adapt this season -- and he won't be rostering him in many places.

• Jack Flaherty gave up four earned runs over two innings on Tuesday and was pulled due to shoulder tightness. His last three fastballs were all below 89 MPH (averaging 93.5 MPH this season).
• Jacob deGrom will undergo an MRI on Wednesday. That will very likely determine if he has a chance to return this season.
• Finally! We get some big names back: Francisco Lindor was activated, batting third and playing shortstop. Mets' Javier Baez shifted to second base, batting cleanup. 
• According to Dusty Baker, Alex Bregman should be activated in the next day or two. 
• OF Kyle Tucker was activated from the COVID IL but not in the lineup Tuesday.
• Clayton Kershaw threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and will throw another one later in the week that includes some breaking balls.
• Craig Counsell said Freddy Peralta will likely throw off the mound at some point this week. Peralta is on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.
• Yu Darvish could return Thursday against the Dodgers though nothing is official yet.
• Kevin Gausman was placed on the COVID IL due to vaccine side effects. 
• Tim Anderson was out of the lineup again and has missed four straight with leg soreness. He did say he expects to return Wednesday.
• Trevor Rogers started a rehab assignment Tuesday at Low-A. He'll make two starts before returning to the Marlins rotation.
• Kenta Maeda was sent for a second opinion on his forearm injury, with the Twins concerned about potential UCL issues. Definitely affects Maeda's keeper/dynasty value. 
• Eduardo Escobar went to the IL with a right hamstring strain and will miss about two weeks.
• Cole Irvin left his start with a minor hip issue.
• Evan Longoria went to the IL with a right hand contusion.
• In his first game back, Tejay Antone once again left with an injury. It could be that forearm again. 
• Spencer Howard, Dane Dunning and three other Rangers were placed on the COVID IL. 
• Anthony DeScalfani played catch Tuesday and could be activated to start during the upcoming weekend series in Atlanta.
• Travis d'Arnaud was back from the paternity list Tuesday.
• Better late than never: Nelson Cruz made his first career start at first base in a NL park on Tuesday. It makes sense if they have aspirations of making the World Series. He'll need a place to play for those NL games.
• Akil Baddoo made his return and was leading off. 
• Leody Taveras was recalled by the Rangers and led off Tuesday. He was batting .245 with 17 HR and 13 steals at Triple-A, 8% rostered.
• Corey Kluber made another rehab start at Double-A Tuesday. 
• Caleb Smith was handed a 10-game suspension for having a foreign substance on his glove during last Wednesday's game. He has appealed and will remain active until the league comes to a final decision.

I think I've found the most under-rostered hitter in all of CBS Leagues and I can't figure out what is going on. Giants 1B Brandon Belt continues to make hard contact and deliver box score stats and yet no one seems to be wanting to roster him anywhere. On Tuesday, Belt dropped a double dong and went 4-for-5. He has now started six straight games. He has seven games next week and Belt is still just 33% rostered. That is way too low.