Scott Cullen has injury updates on Sale, Trumbo, Lind, Hamilton and more, best fantasy adds and closer notes. INJURIES - White Sox ace LHP Chris Sale is on the DL with a strained flexor muscle. Though indications are favourable (ie. not requiring surgery), its also reasonable to expect that the White Sox will be cautious with any recovery timeline. Hes one of the best pitchers in the game and its not worth long-term trouble to have him come back a couple starts sooner. Anyway, the White Sox also have Felipe Paulino on the DL, so they have added Andre Rienzo and Charlie Leesman to the starting rotation. Rienzo had a 4.82 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 10 starts last season and a 3.93 ERA in 24 career starts at Triple-A. Hes whiffed 132 in 133 2/3 IP at Triple-A, but his strikeout rate in the bigs (6.0 K/9) isnt as promising. Leesman, a 27-year-old lefty, has struggled, with a 9.00 ERA in 18 major-league innings after he had a 2.92 ERA in 45 starts at Triple-A. A terribly low strikeout rate (3.2 K/9) in the minors and not much velocity figure to be issues in the bigs. - 35-year-old Rockies RF Michael Cuddyer has a strained hamstring and gets a turn on the DL as a result, putting a break in a strong start (.317 AVG, .906 OPS) to the season. Cuddyers absence leaves more regular playing time for Charlie Blackmon, whose .410 batting average ought to be good enough for that, but he plays all three outfield spots for the Rockies. Brandon Barnes, hitting .317 with three steals in 49 plate appearances, gets some time in right field as well. - Diamondback LF Mark Trumbo was off to a great start (7 HR, 19 RBI), at least in terms of power, since his .210 batting average is no prize, but hes out with a stress fracture in his foot -- likely for an extended period -- leaving Cody Ross as the regular left fielder in Arizona. Ross is off to a tough (1-for-22) start, so Roger Kieschnick, a 27-year-old who has an .888 OPS in 174 games at Triple-A, might have an opportunity to play some too. - Blue Jays DH Adam Lind hits the DL with a strained lower back (hitting .324 with a .924 OPS in 32 plate appearances), which gives Juan Francisco a regular shot in the lineup. Francisco, 26, hasnt been able to stick as a major-league regular yet, but has 32 home runs in 790 career plate appearances. He has power. - The Angels in the outfield include a couple of new faces because both LF Josh Hamilton and RF Kole Calhoun are out. Hamilton suffered a thumb injury and is still at least a month away from returning. Calhouns ankle injury should have him out for 3-5 more weeks, so he and Hamilton are in the same ballpark for return time. In their absence, though, the Angels have turned to J. B. Shuck and Collin Cowgill as the primary corner outfielders. Shuck offers bit of speed and no power and has a .296 average in 832 Triple-A at-bats. In 571 career major-league at-bats, 26-year-old Shuck has hit .280 with four home runs and 10 stolen bases. Cowgill, 27, is a .241 career hitter in the major leagues, but has been a productive Triple-A hitter (.313 AVG, .873 OPS in 903 plate appearances). Neither has done enough to warrant fantasy consideration yet. - Its not a huge deal that the ace of the Houston Astros pitching staff is out but, credit where its due, RHP Scott Feldman has been great in his first four starts (2-1, 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP), though Feldman has been the beneficiary of good fortune, with only nine strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings and a BABIP of .195. All that taken into account, hes still the de facto ace of a young Astros staff and is out with biceps tendinitis. In Feldmans absence, 26-year-old Collin McHugh -- who had nine career starts with the Rockies and Mets previously -- gets a look and his first start for the Astros, at Seattle, resulted in three hits and no walks allowed, along with 12 strikeouts. McHugh has a 3.64 ERA, with 166 strikeouts in 187 2/3 IP, in 35 career games at Triple-A, so he has some upside, but keep in mind that he wasnt considered good enough to make Houstons rotation out of spring training. - Cardinals RHP Joe Kelly is out with a strained hamstring, giving Tyler Lyons a chance in the Cardinals rotation. In 59 career major-league innings, Lyons has a 4.58 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, with 50 strikeouts. The 26-year-old has a 3.73 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 35 Triple-A appearances (34 starts), so hes a viable addition in deeper leagues, pitching for a strong team and all. - Royals CF Lorenzo Cain, sidelined with a groin strain, was off to a decent start (.333 AVG, 2 SB in 12 GP) before getting hurt. Speedster Jarrod Dyson gets more regular playing time with Cain out. In 21 plate appearances this year, Dyson is hitting .368 and has stolen three bases. - Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez is dealing with a knee injury, resulting in a move to the DL, and 25-year-old RHP Brandon Cumpton has taken his spot in the rotation. Cumpton has a 2.15 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in seven major-league appearances. No, hes not that good, but in 24 Triple-A appearances (22 starts), he had a 3.06 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 141 innings. - Mets CF Juan Lagares, off to a nice start (.314 AVG, .816 OPS) is out with a strained hamsring, giving Chris B. Young and Kirk Niewenhuis time in centre field. Young was once a power and speed guy, but has been a part-time player the past couple seasons, in part because his batting average is abysmal. Nieuwenhuis is a .234 career hitter, with 11 home runs in 394 at-bats. - Yankees LHP Ivan Nova is the latest in a long line of starting pitchers headed for Tommy John surgery. He had an 8.27 ERA through four starts and it looks like Vidal Nuno (3.68 ERA in 29 1/3 career IP) is first up to fill in for Nova in the Yankees rotation. BEST ADDS (Players available in at least 40% of TSN leagues) Adam Dunn, DH, Chicago White Sox - 5 HR, 11 RBI, .266 AVG, 11 R, 64 AB (Available: 86.5%) David Murphy, RF, Cleveland - 2 HR, 17 RBI, .290 AVG, 9 R, 62 AB (Available: 82.2%) Dayan Viciedo, RF, Chicago White Sox - 1 HR, 9 RBI, .377 AVG, 9 R, 69 AB (Available: 82.1%) Lucas Duda, 1B, N.Y. Mets - 4 HR, 10 RBI, .254 AVG, 10 R, 636 AB (Available: 91.1%) Scooter Gennett, 2B, Milwaukee - 1 HR, 7 RBI, .317 AVG, 5 R, 2 SB, 63 AB (Available: 95.9%) Jenrry Mejia, RHP, N.Y. Mets - 3-0, 1.99 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 25 K, 22 2/3 IP (Available: 80.4%) Alfredo Simon, RHP, Cincinnati - 3-0, 1.30 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 17 K, 27 2/3 IP (Available: 50.9%) Wily Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee - 3-0, 2.19 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 19 K, 24 2/3 IP (Available: 71.0%) Zach McAllister, RHP, Cleveland - 3-0, 2.28 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 17 K, 23 2/3 IP (Available: 79.8%) CLOSER NOTES - As the Reds wait for LHP Aroldis Chapman to return, RHP Jonathan Broxton has four saves in five appearances. Early indications are that Broxtons velocity is down and hes throwing more sliders than ever before. - Its not as if holding the closer title in Houston is a particularly valuable designation. Despite allowing a walk-off three-run home run in his last appearance, Josh Fields seems to have the edge on Chad Qualls. - In Oakland, the As have said that Jim Johnson is back in consideration for ninth-inning work after some early-season struggles. Luke Gregerson and Sean Doolittle are the other options to consider if Johnson falters again. - Trying to find a solution with Bobby Parnell done for the year, the Mets have turned to veteran Kyle Farnsworth, ahead of Jose Valverde. Daisuke Matsuzaka is also a possibility and hes been effective (1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 5 1/3 IP) out of the bullpen so far. - With control issues plaguing Pedro Strop and Jose Veras unable to get anyone out, the Cubs closer role could be going to Hector Rondon, the 26-year-old who has been their most effective reliever (0.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 11 K, 11 1/3 IP) this season. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Kendall Sheffield Jersey . -- Lindsey Vonn squeezed in a little freeskiing on Thanksgiving morning, a step in the right direction for a return to racing after reinjuring her right knee in a recent training crash. 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"The most important thing to come out of the game is that we did not get scored against," Laidlaw said.BALTIMORE – Jose Reyes ran the bases while Casey Janssen threw a bullpen session at Oriole Park on Saturday afternoon. Both men are close to being ready to play in minor league rehabilitation games. This is the one time when manager John Gibbons cant wait to see his starting shortstop and his closer leave the team. "The plan is theyre probably going to fly to Florida (on Sunday)," said Gibbons. "I know Reyes will probably start playing a game on Monday. Casey … its probably Monday or Tuesday." Janssen simulated a game situation during his side session. He warmed up like he normally would and then had hitters stand in the batters box to provide a game-like feel. He estimates he threw 35 pitches in total. "I think I threw pretty much as hard as I could without facing a hitter," said Janssen. "There wasnt any holding back or any questioning is it going to hurt type of stuff." While Janssen feels the worst is behind him, including the pain of his abdominal strain, theres still something there, although he struggles to describe it. "I feel stuff," he said. "It doesnt hurt. They say youre going to feel stuff and as long as it doesnt hurt well keep on going forward and thats what Ive been doing. Ive been able to do everything theyve asked me to do to this point and the next part of the progress is a game." Reyes, like Janssen, simulated game situations on the base paths. He reported feeling "good," much the same as when he first ran sprints before Fridays game. The plan, at the moment, is for Reyes and Janssen to play their rehab games for Single-A Dunedin, due to weather concerns surrounding both higher minor league affiliates in Buffalo and New Hampshire. While no firm timetable is set for either players return to the big league team, the Blue Jays have six games scheduled between Minneapolis and Cleveland through to next weekend. The air is still cool in both cities at this time of year. "I dont care about that," said Reyes. "If Im ready to play in Cleveland Im going to play." Dealing with the shift Every time Adam Lind steps into the batters box, he looks up and sees an exaggerated defensive shift to his pull side. Lind wonders if the man sometimes credited with inventing the sport is rolling over in his grave. "They said it in spring training, what would Abner Doubleday think? "He wouldnt even recognize it," said Lind. Very rarely will you see hitters change their approach to deal with the shift, which is typically applied against the dead pull power hitters. If they run into one, theyll elevate the ball but if they hit the ball on the ground, the defence will scoop it up.dddddddddddd "It depends on the pitcher," said Lind. "If its someone that I dont feel, that Im consistently late with then I just try to hit it to the left side." "Sometimes you get them tinkering with it and trying to flip balls the other way, I mean it does you a favour in a lot of ways, it takes them out of what their game is," said manager John Gibbons. "The only thing, we have concerns at times doing it, there are a couple of guys out there that will lay down a bunt on you. They dont have to be good bunters. Say its a tight ball game, leading off an inning, not a one-run game but like a two-run game, you fear somebody might drop it down, it doesnt have to be a good bunt, they beat it out to get an inning going." In the scenario Gibbons just illustrated, youll see the shortstop cheat in on the grass to discourage the bunt. Colby Rasmus is another grip it and rip it left-hander in the Blue Jays lineup. He said in spring training he doesnt like to be considered a dead pull hitter anymore but old habits die hard. It used to be a hitter like Rasmus could get a read on the type of pitch and pitch location based on the defensive alignment but thats out the window with the shift. "I try not to even pay attention to it because then you start thinking about where theyre going to play you, where theyre going to pitch you, thinking maybe theyre going to shift so maybe theyre going to throw me in, thinking that Im just going to hit it into the shift and then they throw you everything away," said Rasmus. Lind says the part of the shift thats affected him most is when the opposition places its shortstop in line with the pitcher behind second base. On Friday night, against Chris Tillman in the second inning, Lind lined out to the shortstop, who positioned himself right where Lind hit the ball prior to the pitch. If its anytime earlier in the at-bat, the ball gets through. Lind understands. "Youve got to do it," he said. "Like, if you show patterns, whats the point of having the third baseman there if you never hit it there?" BB-Bautista Jose Bautista walked three more times on Saturday night, spiking his major league-leading total to 16 on the young season. "Theyre not going to give him anything to hit until Eddie gets going," said manager John Gibbons. "Right now, my guess, theyre going to make Eddie beat them. When he gets going, then its a little bit different." Encarnacion singled in the second inning and went 1-5 on Saturday night. Hes hitting .160 through the first 12 games and is still looking for his first home run of the season. 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