San Francisco Giants DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

The San Francisco Giants placed right-hander Randy Rodriguez (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with right-elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander Spencer Bivens from the minors in a corresponding move. In his first season in the big leagues, Rodriguez has gone 3-2 with a 3.89 ERA (3.28 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP and a 52:16 K:BB in 50 1/3 innings pitched over 33 appearances (one start). It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old Dominican reliever will be able to return to San Francisco's bullpen before the end of August. In the meantime, Bivens will take his spot with the big-league pitching staff. The 30-year-old, who is also a rookie, has been a bit fortunate he's allowed only five earned runs on 19 hits while walking six and fanning 18 in 22 2/3 innings over his 11 outings (one start).

San Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Conforto and infielder Brett Wisely are both out of the starting lineup against a left-handed pitcher for Thursday's series finale against the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park. Jerar Encarnacion is starting in left field and is batting fifth, while Casey Schmitt is at the keystone and hitting seventh against Braves left-hander Max Fried. Conforto has only had 85 plate appearances against left-handers this year, but he's hitting .316 (24-for-76) with five of his 12 home runs against them. He's had a good start to the month of August, too, going 14-for-42 (.333) with two homers, four doubles, a triple and 10 RBI in 13 games played. Neither Encarnacion nor Schmitt are particularly attractive low-cost DFS sleepers for Thursday's slate of action against Fried.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell fanned 11 batters in Monday's 1-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Snell finished with a no-decision despite taking a no-hitter into the seventh and allowed just two hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings. He has struck out at least 11 batters in three of his last four starts and is on a six-start stretch which has seen Snell fan 57 batters in 40 1/3 innings. He is 2-3 with a very deceptive 3.91 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, striking out 91 and walking 28 in 69 innings. Snell gets a solid matchup in his next start when he faces the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.

San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada (wrist) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday. Recovering from a sprained left wrist, Estrada is ready to get in some game action and should be back with the Giants either sometime later this week or early next week. The 28-year-old infielder has been a major disappointment in his fourth year with the Giants this season, slashing a pitiful .216/.249/.353 with nine home runs, 14 doubles, and 43 RBI over 329 at-bats. Although he makes for a weak stash overall in fantasy leagues, Estrada should return to an everyday role at the keystone for San Francisco when he's activated from the injured list.

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Ryan Walker earned his first save of the season on Saturday afternoon. Walker allowed two baserunners, one via walk and the other via a single. He tallied two punchouts and did not surrender a run. Walker was recently named San Francisco's closer as Camilo Doval was optioned to Triple-A. Walker operated as a high-leverage option and held a stellar 2.20 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 14:73 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, Walker sports an excellent 30.5% K rate, 31.2% hard-hit rate, and a 29.9% whiff rate. Walker should be added in all formats, as he should be in line to see all save opportunities in the Bay going forward while also providing elite ratios.