The Texas Rangers declined the 2019 options on catcher Robinson Chirinos ($4.5 million) and starting pitchers Martin Perez ($7.5 million), Matt Moore ($10 million) and Doug Fister ($4.5 million), making them all free agents. Chirinos hit just .222/.338/.419 but had 18 home runs and 65 RBI in 360 at-bats, making him one of the more attractive power-hitting catchers now on the open market. Perez and Moore, both left-handers, struggled mightily and won't enter next year as mixed league options no m[...]

Welcome to our surprising starts series. Every week we'll be going over a few surprising starting pitcher performances around the majors to determine whether these starts were smoke and mirrors or something more. This week we're looking at another of the Rays' pseudo-starters, a brand new Yankee, and a surprising second half from a Ranger. Yonny Chirinos is back after a long absence from the majors due to injury and extended time at Triple-A. Lance Lynn has been dominant since coming to th[...]

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Doug Fister (knee) will not return this season, according to Levi Weaver. Fister is still rehabbing, but by the time he was healthy enough to return, the regular season would've basically been over already. The veteran righty has been sidelined since early June with a right knee strain. Fister was not much of a fantasy option this season anyway, but he can be left on the waiver wire now.

It did not feel like we would ever get here, but finally, Cole Hamels was traded from the Texas Rangers. Very little in baseball has been more up and down than Hamels' performances this season. However, the Rangers finally found a trade partner in the Chicago Cubs, who were willing to give them the return they desired. The Rangers traded Hamels and cash considerations for right-handed pitchers Eddie Butler and Rollie Lacy as well as a player to be named later. The Chicago Cubs rotation now b[...]

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Doug Fister has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right knee. The early impression from Jeff Bannister is that this is going to be more than a minimum stay for Fister. The right-handed pitcher has a 4.50 ERA with a 1-7 in 12 starts this season, and has now been on the DL twice. Fister's 40 strikeouts in 66 innings mean there has been little upside to starting him. [...]

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Doug Fister "left Friday night's game against the Astros with right knee soreness after throwing one pitch in the sixth inning. He will be evaluated on Saturday," wrote Dave Sessions of MLB.com. Fister was 1-6 with a 4.13 ERA entering the game against the Astros. Although Fister made a very exciting between-the-legs play earlier in the game, he is not an exciting option for any fantasy owner in most formats.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Doug Fister will be looking to pick up his second win of the season against his former team. Fister's only win of 2018 came against the Houston Astros in his first start of the season. Since then Fister is 0-6, wit a 4.34 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 56 innings. The lack of strikeouts means that Fister has a low ceiling for fantasy owners. This start is full of danger, and the potential for a rough outing combined with the lack of upside means I would look to avoid usi[...]

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Doug Fister will consider himself unlucky to have taken a loss on Sunday. Little was expected of Fister, who has struggled against right-handed pitching this season, but he surpassed expectations. Fister allowed three runs on four hits in six innings. Since winning his first start of the season, Fister has yet to register another win with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.38 [...]

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Doug Fister will have to improve on recent performances if he is to have success Sunday. The Los Angeles Angels have a primarily right-handed lineup and Fister has struggled when facing righties this season. Right-handed hitters have a .333 batting average and a .509 slugging percentage when facing Fister this season, compared to .208 and .318 respectively last season. In addition, Fister is 0-3 with a 5.10 ERA in his last five starts. These numbers make Fister a [...]

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels has been scratched from Thursday's start with neck stiffness. Hamels may now hit the disabled list, but retroactive to his previous start. It is possible that this is the only start Hamels misses, but there is also a chance this stiffness lingers. Doug Fister will start in Hamels' place against the Chicago [...]