| Batista works scoreless ninth | Friday 6/20, 11:49 PM CT |
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With the game well out of reach, Miguel Batista worked a scoreless ninth inning for the Mariners.
Our View: With Brendan Morrow not available Batista worked the final inning in a lopsided game, perhaps signaling that he could pick up a save chance or two until Morrow is ready to resume the closing duties he inherited from J.J. Putz. |
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| Lopez has big night with four RBI | Friday 6/20, 11:46 PM CT |
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Jose Lopez was the Mariners big bat on Friday night as he had three hits and four RBI in the 10-2 victory over the Braves.
Our View: Lopez is hitting .295 with 39 RBI in his attempt to make us all forget his dreadful second half to the 2007 season that included terrible performance on the field, and personal tragedy off it. |
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| Lee knocks in two runs | Friday 6/20, 11:41 PM CT |
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Carlos Lee had two hits on Friday night which led to his 54th and 55th RBI of the year for the Astros.
Our View: Lee is only hitting .272 on the season, but the rest of his production is pretty much up to his usually excellent standards. Continue to ride El Caballo.
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| Catcher continues productive hitting | Friday 6/20, 11:40 PM CT |
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Dioner Navarro went deep for the fourth time on the year, his only hit in a 1-for-4 outing against the Astros.
Our View: Navarro continues to be a solid option behind the dish with a .324 average and 28 RBI for the Rays. |
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| Catcher continues productive hitting | Friday 6/20, 11:36 PM CT |
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Dioner Navarro went deep for the fourth time on the year, his only hit in a 1-for-4 outing against the Astros.
Our View: Navarro continues to be a solid option behind the dish with a .324 average and 28 RBI for the Rays. |
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| Garza continues uneven work | Friday 6/20, 11:35 PM CT |
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Matt Garza allowed four runs, three earned, to lose to the Astros on Friday night. Garza fell to 4-4 though he was able to pile up eight strikeouts on the night.
Our View: Garza has been all over the map with his K numbers with as many games with at least eight strikeouts in his last five outings (two) as games with three making it hard to know what you will be getting from start to start.
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| Oswalt ends losing streak | Friday 6/20, 11:28 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt helped the Astros to snap an 8-game losing streak on Friday night by holding the Rays to two runs over 7.2 innings in his sixth win of the year.
Our View: If someone had told us that Oswalt would be 6-7 with a 4.84 ERA we would have said no way. Still, that is where he sits after this outing, and though his stuff is no longer what it once was, this outing was a very encouraging sign for a guy who has been in search of one. |
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| Mientkiewicz scores winner | Friday 6/20, 11:22 PM CT |
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Doug Mientkiewicz knocked out three hits for the Pirates on Friday night to end the evening hitting a robust .250.
Our View: OK, that isn't exactly a robust average, but we had to do something to spice up what was a terrible offensive night for the Pirates though they did manage to score the lone run in a 12-inning 1-0 victory over the Jays. |
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| Rios hits two doubles | Friday 6/20, 11:20 PM CT |
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Alex Rios went 2-for-5 on Friday night with two doubles, though he failed to score a run of knock one in.
Our View: Rios continues to be a huge disappointment to his owners with a measly three home runs at nearly the mid-point of the season. Wasn't this guy once upon the time in the home run derby? |
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| Duke throws seven shutout innings | Friday 6/20, 11:17 PM CT |
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Zach Duke matched Roy Halladay almost pitch for pitch on Friday night as he held the Blue Jays scoreless for seven innings. Duke allowed six hits while walking just a single batter on the night.
Our View: Duke has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his last five starts thanks to greatly improved control. He is still a risk in mixed leagues given his inability to make batters swing and miss, but he looks solid for the time being. |
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| Halladay takes liner off head | Friday 6/20, 11:14 PM CT |
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Roy Halladay pitched seven shutout innings against the Pirates before having to leave the game after taking a line drive off his right temple, according to the Globe and Mail. Halladay was not taken for x-rays and was in the clubhouse until the end of the game in the 11th inning.
Our View: Great news that he seems to have avoided a major injury, but we would think the Jays will be extremely cautious with their ace in the coming week meaning he could easily miss a start or two. |
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| Schumaker making most of shot | Friday 6/20, 11:08 PM CT |
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Skip Schumaker only had one hit in five trips to the plate on Friday night but the one hit was a home run, his fifth of the season, a two run shot off of Tim Wakefield.
Our View: Schumaker has hits in six of the past seven games with three of his five home runs as he continues to reward Tony LaRussa's faith in him. |
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| Lugo hits first home run | Friday 6/20, 11:07 PM CT |
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Julio Lugo Went 1-for-2 with two RBI on Friday night in part because of his first home run of the year off of Kyle Lohse.
Our View: Lugo now has a hit in 5-straight games as he continues to provide a decent bat toward the end of the Sox lineup. He only has nine steals after swiping 33 bags last season, so his owners are certainly hopeful that the second half will offer more than a hollow .278 average. |
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| Wakefield solid but loses | Friday 6/20, 11:04 PM CT |
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Tim Wakefield allowed four runs, three earned, in his fifth loss of the season on Friday night. Wakefield was taken deep twice while allowing seven hits overall.
Our View: Other than the two long balls it was pretty much vintage Wakefield yet again tonight as he continues to defy Father Time by giving the Sox a chance to win more often than not. |
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| Lohse wins sixth straight | Friday 6/20, 10:57 PM CT |
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Kyle Lohse limited the Red Sox to one earned run over six innings to pick up his sixth straight victory. On the night, Loshe gave up six hits, walked two and struck our for Sox batters.
Our View: Lohse is now an amazing 9-2 on the year with a 3.63 ERA providing a tremendous return for those who spent a late round selection on him in mixed leagues. The luck doesn't figure to last with such a small K rate (4.20), but when he has his control like he did on this night, he is hard to beat. |
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| Sherrill notches 25th save | Friday 6/20, 10:53 PM CT |
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George Sherrill picked up two walks on his way to a scoreless ninth inning during his 25th save of the season for the Orioles.
Our View: With a 4.86 BB/9 mark, Sherrill continues to play with fire on most nights. Lucky for him he is striking out almost a batter an inning while holding batters to less than a .180 average. |
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| Suppan stinks in loss | Friday 6/20, 10:51 PM CT |
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Jeff Suppan was brutal on Friday night as he allowed six runs, three of which were earned, while recording just five outs to fall to 4-5 on the year.
Our View: Soft tossers like Suppan regularly get beat around the yard when they don't have their control, and that was obvious from the start tonight. Still, he is sporting a 3.97 ERA, though a better measure of his value is his 1.23 K/BB ratio and WHIP north of 1.50. |
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| Fielder goes deep again | Friday 6/20, 10:48 PM CT |
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Prince Fielder hit a home run for the second straight game and the fourth time in eight games for the Brewers.
Our View: Fielder has virtually no shot at matching last years total of 50 bombs, hut he is still within hailing distance of his average over the past two years of 39 which would be a quite an accomplishment considering how slowly he started the year. |
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| Huff launches two long balls | Friday 6/20, 10:40 PM CT |
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Aubrey Huff had a huge night on Friday going deep twice on his way to four hits, two runs and three RBI for the Orioles while playing first base.
Our View: With the big night Huff is up to 14 home runs and 42 RBI as he has been blistering the ball over his last 10 games with five home runs and 11 RBI as he had raised his average from .239 to .275. It's safe to say, Huff is back. |
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| DeJesus quietly making noise | Friday 6/20, 10:35 PM CT |
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David DeJesus had a hit, stole a base and scored two runs for the Royals in their 9-4 loss to the Giants.
Our View: DeJesus has hits in 6-straight games during which time he has scored six runs, gone deep three times and knocked in eight runs. If he is still on waivers in your league, he would certainly make a solid pick up while hitting like this. |
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| Durham excels, then injured | Friday 6/20, 10:32 PM CT |
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Ray Durham went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI on Friday night before being forced from the game due to a sprained ankle, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Emanuel Burriss replaced Durham and could see at-bats this weekend if the oft injured Durham is unable to go on Saturday. |
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| Hochevar struggles against Giants | Friday 6/20, 10:25 PM CT |
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Luke Hochevar lasted just 4.2 innings against the Giants as he was pulled after allowing nine hits, two walks and four runs with zero punchouts.
Our View: Hochevar has a bright future but he continues to allow well over a hit per IP and that just isn't a recipe for success. He could find himself demoted to build some confidence and refine his control, though what do the Royals really have to lose by running him out there every fifth game? |
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| Cain starts slow, finishes strong | Friday 6/20, 10:23 PM CT |
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Matt Cain allowed three runs in the first inning but after the he shutdown the Royals over seven scoreless innings to improve his record to 4-5 on the year.
Our View: All told Cain allowed just one walk with eight K as he totally dominated an overmatched Royals lineup after that first inning. Cain now has 19 K over his last 15 innings as he has once again found his strikeout stuff. |
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| Monroe takes Unit deep | Friday 6/20, 10:19 PM CT |
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Craig Monroe went deep for the sixth time this season with a two run shot off of Randy Johnson on Friday night.
Our View: Monroe is hitting a poor .211, but he continues to display a solid power bat. However, with 38 K and just 10 walks, his plate discipline is so poor that it's hard to say that he doesn't deserve that low batting average. |
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| Hudson climbs over .300 | Friday 6/20, 10:16 PM CT |
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Orlando Hudson pushed his average over .300 by going 3-for-4 with a run scored on Friday night.
Our View: After hitting .379 in May, Hudson has slowed .282 in June, but that still equates to .328 over his last 38 games as he continues to push for a big contract. |
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| Baker continues solid work | Friday 6/20, 10:14 PM CT |
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Scott Baker won for the first time in over two months on Friday night as he held the Diamondbacks to just one earned run over six innings. Baker walked one and struck out seven in the win.
Our View: Baker is only 3-2 despite a 3.47 ERA and strong 1.19 WHIP as he continues to baffle hitters on his way toward establishing himself as a legitimate fantasy starter. |
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| Big Unit stuck on 288 wins | Friday 6/20, 10:11 PM CT |
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Randy Johnson hasn't won since May 18th and on this night he allowed 11 hits and seven runs in a complete game loss to the Twins.
Our View: Somehow Johnson threw a complete game with only one strikeout. His ERA currently rests at 5.09 after his second straight game of seven runs allowed signifying that he clearly is nowhere near the pitcher he once was before his constant back issues sapped his stuff. |
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| Ortiz could swing in a week | Friday 6/20, 10:08 PM CT |
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David Ortiz (wrist) could be cleared to begin swinging the bat as early as late next week, according to MLB.com. "David is doing real well," said manager Terry Francona. "He's doing his strength and conditioning, doing mobility with his wrist. I think there's a hope that he may be a week to 10 days from picking up a bat."
Our View: There is still no timetable for his return to active duty as it will completely depend on his continued progress. |
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| Hill on shelf indefinitely | Friday 6/20, 10:04 PM CT |
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Aaron Hill still is unable to overcome his concussion related symptoms, and as a result he is out indefinitely as the team awaits for his facilities to return, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Hill wont do any baseball related activities for at least two weeks, at which time he will be reevaluated in what is quickly shaping up to be a lost season a year after his breakout performance of last season. |
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| Cabrera has four hits, injured | Friday 6/20, 10:01 PM CT |
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Jolbert Cabrera went 4-for-4 at shortstop for the Reds before being forced to leave the game due to a hand injury on Friday night.
Our View: The mighty Paul Janish and his .179 average entered the game in place of Cabrera. |
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| Cano slowly coming around | Friday 6/20, 9:58 PM CT |
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Robinson Cano had two hits in three AB on Friday night while producing an RBI, his 25th of the season.
Our View: Cano is now hitting .232, the highest since it was at .333 after opening day. Wow, how shocking is that for a guy who owns a .302 career mark? |
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| Izturis removed with hammy injury | Friday 6/20, 9:55 PM CT |
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Cesar Izturis strained his right hamstring on Friday night and had to be removed from the game in favor of Brendan Ryan, according to MLB.com.
Our View: If Izturis is forced to the DL, look for the Cardinals to call up Brian Barden, D'Angelo Jimenez or Jarrett Hoffpauir to fill the roster spot. |
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| Mussina stuck on 10 wins | Friday 6/20, 9:53 PM CT |
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Mike Mussina lost his fifth game of the year in a matchup with the Reds Edinson Volquez on Friday night. Mussina allowed 10 hits and two walks, in permitting the Reds to score four runs.
Our View: Mussina allowed double digit hits tonight for the first time this season, though he still made it through eight innings with just 110 pitches. Don't let the 10-5 record fool you, Mussina's margin for error is pretty slim these days. |
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| Volquez wins 10th game | Friday 6/20, 9:49 PM CT |
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Edinson Volquez won his 10th game of the season on Friday by holding the Yankees to just two runs over seven innings for the Reds. Volquez walked only one batter while striking out five Yanks on the evening.
Our View: Somebody stop this guy. Volquez continues to be just about the best story on the hill in baseball this year as he now owns a 1.71 ERA after 15 starts. Truly amazing. |
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| Vlad warming with the weather | Friday 6/20, 9:37 PM CT |
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Vladimir Guerrero had three hits and three RBI with one of the hits going over the fence for his 11th home run of the year.
Our View: Vlad has bosted his average from .250 to .285 the past 10 games thanks to six games of at least two hits in that time. You can only keep a good man down for so long, and Vlad is certainly due for an extended run of production given his early season woes. |
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| Kendrick knocks our four hits | Friday 6/20, 9:34 PM CT |
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Howie Kendrick had four hits on Friday night to boost his average up to .333 over 111 AB this season.
Our View: No one can doubt this man's ability to hit, but with a track record of health that not even J.D. Drew would envy, we certainly would love to see Howie stay healthy for an extended stretch so that we can truly see what he can do. |
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| Eaton awful in loss | Friday 6/20, 9:32 PM CT |
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Adam Eaton was torched for 12 hits and six runs in five innings against the Angels as he fell to 2-5 on the year.
Our View: Eaton was actually on a run of 5-straight games allowing three of fewer runs, a streak that came to a crashing halt tonight. Eaton just isn't worth starting in mixed leagues as the upside just isn't worth enough to out pace the risk. |
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| Santana dominates Phillies | Friday 6/20, 9:27 PM CT |
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Ervin Santana dominated the Phillies on Friday night on his way to picking up his ninth win of the year. Santana allowed just one run, unearned, while giving up two hits, two walks and striking out nine.
Our View: Just when it looks like he is going to regress into the enigma he has been, he rebounds with an effort like this one. No one's a sure thing, but it's clear that this hurler has arrived. |
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| Chipper leaves game with strained quad | Friday 6/20, 9:03 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones was forced from the Braves game on Friday night due to re-aggravating his strained right quadriceps, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: The good news is that even though he appeared to suffer the injury in the fourth inning, he continued to play until being removed in the eighth for defensive purposes. Given the fact that he has been hampered for weeks by this injury, we wouldn't be shocked to see him miss the rest of the weekend series just to make sure he doesn't blow the muscle out. |
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| Murphy activated from DL | Friday 6/20, 8:59 PM CT |
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Donnie Murphy was activated from the DL on Friday, according to MLB.com. To make room on the active roster, Gregorio Petit was sent down to Triple-A. "Everyone knows they have a chance to get in the lineup," Geren said. "When you're playing a National League team, you could go through a whole roster."
Our View: Murphy will be utilized against NL teams, but when the game returns to AL parks he will have virtually no value with Eric Chavez back in the lineup. |
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| Does three go into two? | Friday 6/20, 8:55 PM CT |
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With no DH available for interleague play, Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora and Kevin Millar will have to share two spots in starting lineup (1B and 3B), according to MLB.com. "We have so many guys that can play different positions -- he should be able to get us all in," said Huff. "I'll probably start the next two then sit against the lefty on Sunday. ... I'll rotate around, play some third, giving Melvin a day off. Kevin gets a day off and I'll play first. It's a nice little [rotation]. I think he's going to try to get us two out of three games, which is fair."
Our View: Huff has been the hottest hitter of late as both Millar and Mora have been dealing with some minor injuries. The team has no other choice but than to try and rotate these three, so is the wonder of interleague play. |
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| Kearns steadily improving | Friday 6/20, 8:34 PM CT |
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Austin Kearns, out due to elbow surgery, hasn't suffered any setbacks and he could begin baseball related activities as soon as next week, according to MLB.com. "Pretty soon, he's gonna be on the field with the other players, taking batting practice," manager Manny Acta said.
Our View: Kearns will obviously need some minor league seasoning to find his stroke, but the good news is that in his absence Elijah Dukes and Wily Mo Pena have failed to step up their play meaning Kearns could reclaim a starting spot around the all-star break. |
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| Laird injures hamstring | Friday 6/20, 8:28 PM CT |
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Gerald Laird beat out a bunt attempt but in the process he strained his right hamstring, according to the Star Telgram. He was replaced by Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Our View: If Laird is placed on the DL, Salty could finally be given the chance to run out there every day for a couple of weeks which could lead to some big time production from the youngster. |
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| Soriano not ready to return | Friday 6/20, 8:25 PM CT |
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Rafael Soriano is still experiencing soreness in his elbow and as a result he will almost certainly not be activated from the DL on Saturday when eligible, according to MLB.com. "He still doesn't feel real good," manager Bobby Cox said. "When he throws about 90 percent, he can feel it."
Our View: Since the team hasn't even scheduled a bullpen session of yet, it's clear that Soriano isn't close to coming back. Mike Gonzalez should be your target if you are looking for saves in Atlanta as he would be the at least the fifth option they have turned to this season because of all the injuries. |
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| Kotsay hopeful of return to field | Friday 6/20, 8:21 PM CT |
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Mark Kotsay, out with an ailing back, will look to return to action next week after taking 30 swings in the batting cage on Friday, according to MLB.com. Of course, that could change at any moment. "There's nothing definite with this whole procedure and plan," Kotsay said.
Our View: Kotsay was hitting near .300 when he was injured, providing the Braves with great defense and a reliable bat at the top of the order. Even when active, he isn't worth much of a look unless you play in a very deep league. |
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| Doumit to miss weekend series | Friday 6/20, 8:17 PM CT |
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Ryan Doumit won't play this weekend because of concussion related symptoms, and he will likely not be ready to play until at least Tuesday of next week, according to MLB.com. "With the symptoms, all it's going to take is one real good foul tip and it will set him back to where he was again, or even worse," manager John Russell said. "We just want to make sure that we get this thing completely under control. We don't want to mess around with this."
Our View: Raul Chavez will start for the Pirates behind the dish with Doug Mientkiewicz serving as the backup. With both Doumit and Xavier Nady out of action, you should feel comfortable starting Blue Jays pitchers this weekend. |
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| Nady to miss weekend series | Friday 6/20, 8:13 PM CT |
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Xavier Nady (shoulder) will miss the weekend series with the Blue Jays, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Nady has been able to swing the bat and even took BP on Friday, but he is still a way from returning. He will be reevaluated on Monday, and if he isn't ready to go by then, look for the team to finally place him on the DL. |
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| Bedard forced from start | Friday 6/20, 7:42 PM CT |
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Erik Bedard pitched three scoreless innings before being forced from his start on Friday night with an apparent injury that is being called back spasms, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Based on his work thus far, Bedard can be labeled as an unqualified bust so far having dealt with numerous health issues which have led to merely average numbers. |
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| Benson progressing well with rehab | Friday 6/20, 6:59 PM CT |
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Kris Benson worked two innings facing 13 batters and allowing five runs in a Single-A appearance on Friday, according to MLB.com. "He made progress, and that's the important thing," Phillies GM Pat Gillick said. "He's a little bit better than his last time out [in an extended spring training outing]. "His arm was OK. He has to have better control. If he's going to pitch with the fastball that he had last night, he needs to have better control."
Our View: Benson was working in the 90-91 mph area with his fastball, and that should be enough to have some success if he can indeed regain the feel on his pitches. He is still a ways away from making a contribution at the big league level. |
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| Boone late scratch | Friday 6/20, 6:55 PM CT |
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Aaron Boone was a late scratch on Friday night due to lingering soreness in his knee, according to MLB.com. "It's just a little banged up from the last couple of days," Boone said. Kory Castro started in his place.
Our View: Boone felt that this was simply some minor irritation and that he should be ready to go soon, possibly before the end of the weekend. |
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| Morrow out with back spasms | Friday 6/20, 6:53 PM CT |
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With closer J.J. Putz on the DL, Brandon Morrow has been handed the closers role in Seattle. Unfortunately, Morrow will likely not be available this weekend due to back spasms, according to MLB.com. "We felt rather than make the long flight [on Thursday], he'd felt he might feel better in the next day or two and be able to get on a flight," manager Jim Riggleman said. "I'm not sure when that will be. I think it's literally day-to-day when he might be able to get on a plane."
Our View: Back to the drawing board go the Mariners. Ryan Rowland-Smith or Miguel Batista will likely fill in for the ninth inning role, and that's a pretty scary proposition. |
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| Jones to test free agency | Friday 6/20, 6:48 PM CT |
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Jacque Jones has decided that he won't report to Triple-A an instead will take his chances on the free agent market, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Jones had only 37 AB while wearing a Marlins uniform hitting .108. Jones figures to catch on somewhere, but as his rough ride this year has proven, his value lies in being a platoon bat, thereby limiting his fantasy impact. |
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| Catcher has 14-game hitting streak | Friday 6/20, 6:44 PM CT |
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A.J. Pierzynski hit his hit his fifth home run of the season on Friday afternoon to extend his hitting streak to 14-games.
Our View: A.J. is hitting .306, this a year after suffering through a prolonged drought that led to just a .263 average. Whether you love or hate the guy, his production has certainly been a nice bonus this year, especially with other catchers failing to live up to expectations. |
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| Lilly on a roll | Friday 6/20, 6:41 PM CT |
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Ted Lilly hurled a "quality start" on Friday in a no-decision against the White Sox. Lilly lasted 6.2 innings during which time he permitted three runs on seven hits and three walks while he struck out eight batters.
Our View: Lilly has now struck out 30 batters over his last four starts (26.2 IP) during which time his ERA is 2.70. His overall numbers still aren't great, but he has certainly turned around a poor start of late. |
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| Danks continues to deal | Friday 6/20, 6:37 PM CT |
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John Danks was removed after throwing just 85 pitches and holding the Cubs to one run over six innings in a game that the Sox bullpen blew late.
Our View: Danks lowered his ERA to 2.80 with this effort, and he will continue to have success if he limits his walks while producing strikeouts like he did today (zero BBB, five K). |
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| Bat finally talking for Swisher | Friday 6/20, 6:36 PM CT |
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Nick Swisher went 2-for-3 on Friday to extend his modest hitting streak to five games during which time his average has gone from .218 to .236.
Our View: So far Swisher has been a tremendous disappointment, but it appears that he has finally rediscovered his swing as he is hitting .339 over his last 62 AB. Hopefully you had the patience to wait for the turnaround. |
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| Ramirez hits walk-off HR | Friday 6/20, 6:32 PM CT |
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Aramis Ramirez tied the game with a home run in the seventh inning, then won it in the bottom of the ninth with his second home run of the day in the Cubs matchup with cross town rivals the White Sox.
Our View: With a .293-12-47 line, Ramirez is once again in line to be selected to the mid-summers classic. A notoriously streaky hitter, Ramirez is a near lock for 25 HR and 90 RBI, numbers he has reached in each of the past five seasons. |
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| Weeks nearing return from DL | Friday 6/20, 6:13 PM CT |
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Rickie Weeks (knee) took ground balls before the Brewers game on Friday and there is a growing belief that he will be ready to be activated from the DL on Sunday when eligible, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Our View: This is tremendous news for Weeks' owners since the belief was the he would likely miss at least three weeks with the injury. Monitor his movement when he's activated as a lot of his value is generated by those legs. |
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| Mathis headed to DL | Friday 6/20, 6:07 PM CT |
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Doug Mathis has been placed on the DL with shoulder inflammation, according to the Star Telegram. Luis Mendoza has been recalled to take his roster spot.
Our View: Not exactly a big loss considering the guy has a 6.85 ERA and 2.28 WHIP. Mendoza will once again look to establish himself with the club. |
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| Bradley to miss third straight game | Friday 6/20, 6:03 PM CT |
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Milton Bradley will miss his third straight game on Friday due to his strained right quadriceps though the team expects him to return at some point this weekend, according to the Star Telegram.
Our View: The only thing that has been able to slow down Bradley to this point has been injury, and though it is frustrating, it certainly is par for the course with Bradley. |
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| Thompson sent down, Parisi recalled | Friday 6/20, 5:49 PM CT |
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Just a day after being recalled to make an emergency start, and pitching well, Brad Thompson has been optioned back to Triple-A as the Cardinals called up Mike Parisi, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Parisi will add some bullpen depth for what could turn out to be a high scoring series against the Boston Red Sox this weekend. |
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| Wilson should be Rangers closer | Friday 6/20, 5:46 PM CT |
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C.J. Wilson should be the closer for the Rangers if you ask Nolan Ryan, according to the Dallas Morning News. "I think if you look at our organization, he's our closer," Ryan said. "I think you have to continue to run him out there. C.J. is the one most suited to be our closer at this point in time."
Our View: While all of that might be true, it can't be argued that Eddie Guardado, who has been serving as the set up man, is pitching better of late. The team clearly wants Wilson to establish himself, but if he continues to struggle with his control, the team will have to consider going with Guardado, even if it's just a short term fix. |
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| Scherzer placed on DL | Friday 6/20, 5:37 PM CT |
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It hasn't been a good couple of weeks for Max Scherzer. First he was demoted to the minors and now he has been placed on the minor league disabled list due to shoulder fatigue, according to MLB.com. "Basically he needs to strengthen his shoulder," D-backs director of player development A.J. Hinch said. "He's not going to throw for a few days, and get [his strength training] underway. Then we'll see how he recovers. As the plan moves forward, we'll get him back on the mound. I don't anticipate it being a long-term deal."
Our View: While Scherzer can be activated on the 25th, there is zero chance of that happening. Hopefully, he will be back in a couple of weeks, but there has been no specific timeline established and you know the team won't rush back their top arm, so it could conceivably be a bit longer. |
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| Matsui back in lineup | Friday 6/20, 5:32 PM CT |
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Hideki Matsui has missed the last two games with a sore knee, but that streak will end on Friday as he will be in the lineup to face the Reds, according to MLB.com. "He seems fine," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He gave me a thumbs up when he came in today. Obviously he'll take BP, and I don't think there's any restrictions.
Our View: Matsui will continue to be used as the designated hitter, a fact that should help him to keep the movement with his wonky knee to a minimum. |
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| MRI reveals shoulder strain for Zambrano | Friday 6/20, 5:29 PM CT |
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The MRI results are back, and the news is good for Carlos Zambrano, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The test showed that his labrum was intact and that he is merely suffering from a minor shoulder strain.
Our View: No decision has been made as to whether or not he will be placed on the DL, but he will miss his next start as the team will recall Sean Marshall to start on Tuesday. |
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| Contract talks on hold for Webb | Friday 6/20, 5:24 PM CT |
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Brandon Webb still wants to remain with the D'backs but contract talks have been put on hold for the moment, according to MLB.com. Webb is under contract for 2009 and the club holds an option for the 2010 season ($8.5 million).
Our View: Arizona is simply being fiscally responsible here as they control Webb for two more years, and with the fragile nature of pitcher's arms, it will probably prove beneficial if they remain patient with their ace. |
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| Crisp to play on Friday | Friday 6/20, 5:20 PM CT |
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Coco Crisp (hand) will be in the lineup for the Red Sox on Friday, this according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: Crisp will look to build on his total of 12 steals tonight as the Red Sox take on the Cardinals. |
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| Cameron out for weekend | Friday 6/20, 5:11 PM CT |
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Mike Cameron is not in the Brewers lineup for the second straight time on Friday due to a hyperextended big toe, and he will miss the entire series with the Orioles, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gabe Kapler will start in his place.
Our View: This should be a short-term issue, but those of you looking for at-bats could run to the waiver-wire and target Gross who should see some action over the weekend. |
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| Zumaya activated, ready to go | Friday 6/20, 5:08 PM CT |
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As previously reported, Joel Zumaya has been activated on Friday as the team designated Denny Bautista to make room on the roster, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The club has 10-days to decide what to do with Bautista, but the big news here is obviously the activation of the fireballing Zumaya. Look for him to move into the setup role in short order and to challenge for saves by the end of the year if he is healthy. |
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| Kershaw looking for first win | Friday 6/20, 3:59 PM CT |
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Clayton Kershaw will be looking for his first win of the season when the Dodgers host the Indians tonight, according to MLB.com. Kershaw is 0-1 over five starts, with a 3.75 ERA and poor 1.58 WHIP.
Our View: Kershaw threw four scoreless innings with only two hits allowed in his last outing against the Tigers until a 47-minute rain delay ended his night. He has only allowed two earned runs in his previous two starts in June, but issued eight walks over the span. He could prove to be a solid fantasy hurler, if he can just improve his control. He has 21 strikeouts over 24 innings. |
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| Lee shooting for 11th win | Friday 6/20, 3:51 PM CT |
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Cliff Lee will be shooting for his 11th win on the season when the Indians battle the Dodgers in Los Angeles tonight, according to MLB.com. Lee is 10-1 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 88.1 innings, with 76 strikeouts.
Our View: Lee has allowed two or less earned runs in nine of 13 starts this season, and has issued zero walks five times. |
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| Oswalt gearing up for 16th start | Friday 6/20, 3:37 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt will make his 16th start of the season tonight at Tampa Bay, according to MLB.com. Oswalt is 9-6 in 22 career inter-league starts, but this will be his first meeting with the Rays.
Our View: Oswalt is a disappointing 5-7 this season, with a 5.04 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. He only had two strong outings this season, and has allowed at least three earned runs 13 times. He could continue to struggle against the 43-29 Rays, who are only 1.5 games back in the AL East. |
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| Halladay to challenge Pirates | Friday 6/20, 3:29 PM CT |
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Roy Halladay will challenge the Pirates tonight in inter-league action, according to MLB.com. Halladay is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in one career start against the Pirates.
Our View: Halladay is 8-6 this season, with a 3.09 ERA and strong 1.03 WHIP. He has allowed two or less earned runs in eight starts, and has only issued three total walks over his last seven outings. |
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| Troncoso to be recalled? | Friday 6/20, 3:15 PM CT |
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Reliever Ramon Troncoso is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, according to the LA Times.
Our View: He would provide an extra arm in the bullpen when Chan Ho Park makes a spot start on Saturday. Troncosco allowed six earned runs over 5.2 innings during his previous stint with the Dodgers this season, and will hold no fantasy value. |
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| Escobar update | Friday 6/20, 3:06 PM CT |
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Kelvim Escobar, who is recovering from a torn right labrum, is on his way to Tempe, Arizona to continue his rehab stint, according to MLB.com. He will throw a simulated game on Tuesday, and could pitch two innings in an Arizona Summer League game sometime next week.
Our View: He remains on pace to return to the Angels in late July, but his fantasy value won't be as high as when he won 18 games in 2007, especially since he could end working out of the bullpen. |
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| Santana to battle Phillies | Friday 6/20, 2:59 PM CT |
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Ervin Santana will battle the Phillies at Philadelphia today, according to MLB.com. Santana is 8-3 with a 3.40 ERA and 1.08 WHIP this season, and this will be his first meeting against the Phillies.
Our View: Santana surrendered six earned runs in his last start (against Atlanta), but only allowed two in each of his previous three outings. He is worth starting, despite a tough game on the road. |
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| Theriot comments on a all-Chicago WS | Friday 6/20, 2:42 PM CT |
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Ryan Theriot commented on the possibility of a Cubs/White Sox World Series, according to MLB.com. Theriot said, "That would be awesome. That would be great for the city of Chicago, great for both organizations. It'd be a lot of fun. Perfect travel. It'd be awesome. It'd definitely be something the city of Chicago deserves."
Our View: The Sox and Cubs will clash tonight at Wrigley Field, and both are in first place in their division, which could be a preview for October. |
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| Mussina aiming for 11th win | Friday 6/20, 1:36 PM CT |
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Mike Mussina will be aiming for his 11th win of the season tonight when the Yankees host the Reds in inter-league action, according to MLB.com. Mussina is 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA and solid 1.22 WHIP.
Our View: He hasn't faced the Reds since June 4, 2003, when he allowed six earned runs and eight hits over 5.1 innings. He has allowed two or less earned runs in nine of 15 starts this season, and hasn't issued a walk in either of his last two outings. |
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| Volquez in action tonight | Friday 6/20, 1:30 PM CT |
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Edinson Volquez will be in action tonight against the Yankees in the Bronx, according to MLB.com. Volquez is 9-2 with a strong 1.64 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 88 innings, with 105 strikeouts.
Our View: He has allowed two or less earned runs in 14 of 15 starts, and has reached at least eight strikeouts seven times. |
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| Owings could be used as DH? | Friday 6/20, 1:17 PM CT |
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Pitcher Micah Owings is being considered as a possible candidate to serve as DH during the D-Backs' trip to Minnesota and Boston, according to the East Valley Tribune. Manager Bob Melvin said, "It depends on how he’s swinging." Owings added, "It’d be a great opportunity to get in there. But as far as the other guys we’ve got here, we’ve got a lot of good guys that can swing it. If I get the opportunity, great, and I’ll do the best that I can."
Our View: Owings holds a .299 average with five homers over 107 career at-bats. |
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| Aguila clears waivers | Friday 6/20, 1:03 PM CT |
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Outfielder Chris Aguila has cleared waivers and will report to Triple-A New Orleans, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The 29-year old outfielder holds no fantasy value this season. |
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| Cook shooting for 11th win | Friday 6/20, 12:56 PM CT |
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Aaron Cook will be shooting for his 11th win of 2008 when the Rockies host the Mets tonight, according to MLB.com. Cook is 10-3 with a 3.29 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 15 starts.
Our View: Cook is the third hurler in Rockies' history to reach 10 wins before the All-Star break, and needs one more to tie Shawn Chacon for the club record, set back in 2003. Cook threw a complete game with only one run allowed in his last meeting against the Mets (at Coors) on May 25. |
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| Maine on mound at Coors | Friday 6/20, 12:50 PM CT |
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John Maine will take the mound tonight against the Rockies at Coors Field, according to MLB.com. Maine surrendered three earned runs on three hits over six innings in his previous visit to Colorado on May 25, while registering a season-high eight strikeouts.
Our View: Maine allowed a season-worst five earned runs in his last start (against Texas), and has allowed at least four earned runs in four of his last six outings. |
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| Gibbons gets hook in Toronto | Friday 6/20, 12:37 PM CT |
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John Gibbons has reportedly been fired as the manager of the Blue Jays, according to Fox Sports. The club is in last place in the AL East. The Jays have also fired first base coach Ernie Whitt, third base coach Marty Pevey and hitting coach Gary Denbo.
Our View: Gibbons will be relieved by Cito Gaston, who won two World Series' while managing the team from 1989 to 1997. |
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| Stetter recalled | Friday 6/20, 12:13 PM CT |
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Lefty hurler Mitch Stetter has been recalled from Triple-A Nashville, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The team optioned Tim Dillard as a corresponding move.
Our View: Stetter had an earlier stint with the Brewers and performed well at the beginning, but eventually lost his control, while walking eight of 12 batters he faced before being sent down to Nashville. He is one of two lefties in the pen (Brian Shouse is the other), and the team is hopeful he has worked out his control issues during his time in Nashville. He still does not merit fantasy consideration, however.
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| Dillard optioned to Triple-A | Friday 6/20, 12:04 PM CT |
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Pitcher Tim Dillard has been optioned to Triple-A Nashville, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The team recalled lefty Mitch Stetter, as an adjoining move.
Our View: Dillard could not record three outs with a 9-1 lead in the ninth on Thursday, as he allowed four earned runs over 2/3 of an inning, which led to today's demotion. |
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| Morgan to be recalled | Friday 6/20, 10:53 AM CT |
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Nyjer Morgan is being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis today, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Our View: This could be a sign that Xavier Nady is headed for the DL due to his injured left shoulder. If so, Nady would be eligible to return on June 30. Morgan holds little to no fantasy value, as he failed to make an impact in his previous stint with the club this season with a .161 average over 31 at-bats, with no homers. |
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| Haad designated for assignment | Friday 6/20, 10:30 AM CT |
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Catcher Yamid Haad has been designated for assignment by the Indians, according to Fox Sports. The team claimed veteran catcher Sal Fasano from the Braves, and Haad was expendable to free up a roster spot.
Our View: Haad did not make an appearance with the Indians this season, and held no fantasy value prior to his designation. |
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| Indians pick up Fasano | Friday 6/20, 10:28 AM CT |
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The Indians have picked up catcher Sal Fasano from the Braves for a player to be named, according to Fox Sports. Assistant GM John Mirabelli said, "This was an opportunity for us to bring in a quality, veteran guy to help complement our current catching situation. Here is a guy that has a lot of experience, and is a very good receiver." To make room on the roster, the team designated Yamid Haad for assignment.
Our View: The 36-year-old Fasano was hitting .193 with two home runs and nine RBI over 26 games with Atlanta's Triple-A Richmond affiliate. Kelly Shoppach will continue to handle most of the catching duties while Victor Martinez recovers from right elbow surgery, and Fasano does not merit fantasy consideration. |
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| Doumit hopes to return today | Friday 6/20, 9:58 AM CT |
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Ryan Doumit missed a second-straight game due to a mild concussion, but is hopeful he could return to action on Friday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Our View: He had a light workout with some running and stretching, and should return during the weekend, if not tonight. Manager John Russell will remain cautious with Doumit, who is hitting .341 this season. |
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| Giles to undergo MRI on shoulder | Friday 6/20, 9:52 AM CT |
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Brian Giles will undergo an MRI on his sore left shoulder, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Giles said, "I've had a bad shoulder before, back in the early part of spring training, and that's kind of what it feels like now. They're thinking there's something irritating the rotator cuff."
Our View: He has not missed any playing time due to the ailment, and the pain is most severe when he throws the ball or makes a bad swing. He maintains a .300 average over 70 games, with 35 runs scores. |
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| Kouzmanoff will undergo MRI on back | Friday 6/20, 9:47 AM CT |
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Kevin Kouzmanoff will undergo an MRI on his strained back, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Our View: Kouzmanoff was expected to miss 3-5 days due to the ailment, and manager Bud Black noted that a trip to the DL is a remote possibility. He missed five games last season with a similar ailment. |
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| Taveras ahead of 2007 pace | Friday 6/20, 9:21 AM CT |
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Willy Taveras has 32 stolen bases in only 63 games, which is one shy of his production for the entire 2007 season, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View: He has only played in 170 games with Colorado, but already ranks fifth on their career list with 65 steals. |
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| Tulowitzki has rejoined Rockies | Friday 6/20, 9:16 AM CT |
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Troy Tulowitzki has completed a seven-game rehab stint and has rejoined the Rockies, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View: Tulowitzki underwent a final evaluation by the Rockies' medical team, and participated in pregame infield drills and batting practice in hopes of being activated from the DL before the series opener today against the Mets.
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| Schilling to undergo surgery | Friday 6/20, 9:12 AM CT |
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Curt Schilling will undergo shoulder surgery on Monday, and his bid to return to the Red Sox in 2008 has ended, according to the Providence Journal. The 41-year old hurler stated, "There's a decent chance that I have thrown my last pitch, forever."
Our View: Following last year's championship campaign, Boston signed Schilling to a one-year deal that includes $8 million guaranteed, with a possible $6 million in additional bonuses for making weight, plus pitching incentives that Schilling will not be able to reach.
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| Edmonds targeting Saturday | Friday 6/20, 9:07 AM CT |
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Jim Edmonds, who is nursing a sore left foot, believes he will be ready to return to the field on Saturday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View: He is the left-handed bat in the outfield platoon with Reed Johnson, but is only hitting .231 this season. |
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| Johnson thinks he is ready to return | Friday 6/20, 9:01 AM CT |
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Reed Johnson, who is battling back spasms, thinks he is ready to return to action, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Johnson said, "I don't want to say I am 100 percent yet, but the way it's been progressing the last couple days, if I continue to go that direction, I'll be OK."
Our View: With Soriano out, the Cubs needs his speed on the basepaths, as he racked up 12 doubles and four stolen bases over 56 games this season. |
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| Hart relieved injury is minor | Friday 6/20, 8:55 AM CT |
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Kevin Hart is relieved that his injury turned out to be minor, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Hart was violently hit in the back of the head by a line drive while pitching for Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday night, and only sustained a concussion.
Our View: The Cubs' pitching prospect is not expected to be out more than four or five days. |
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| Soriano to undergo X-rays | Friday 6/20, 8:51 AM CT |
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Alfonso Soriano will undergo an X-ray on his injured hand on Friday to get a more accurate idea as to when he may return to the diamond, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He is still targeting Monday to take batting practice for the first time since sustaining the injury on June 11. He said, "That's what I say. It feels good. We'll see." He will need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated, and the original estimate was six weeks from the injury.
Our View: He is also aiming for a quick enough recovery to participate in the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, where he used to call home. |
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| Ricciardi sorry for Dunn remarks | Friday 6/20, 8:44 AM CT |
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Jays' GM JP Ricciardi has apologized for his negative comments regarding Adam Dunn and his lack of passion for baseball, according to the AP. Ricciardi said, "It’s my fault, I take full responsibility for it. I tried to get Adam’s phone number from the Reds, and if he wants to talk to me, I’ll talk to him and apologize personally. But I apologize to him and the Reds. I need to be better than that. I let my guard down”.
Our View: The Reds battle the Jays beginning Tuesday, and Ricciardi is hoping he calmed Dunn down. Dunn will still undoubtedly going to carry a vendetta into Toronto. |
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| Konerko isn't sure he'll do rehab stint | Friday 6/20, 8:37 AM CT |
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Paul Konerko, who is recovering from a strained left oblique, will ride a stationary bike over the weekend, and isn't sure if he'll do a rehab stint, according to the Daily Herald. He said the plan is to start doing some light core work with a medicine ball next week and see where it goes from there. He commented that a possible rehab stint would be up to GM Kenny Williams.
Our View: He is eligible to come off the DL on June 30. If he does get sent on a rehab assignment, he hopes he completes it soon enough to be activated the first day eligible. |
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| Johnson solid in rehab start | Friday 6/20, 8:17 AM CT |
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Josh Johnson, who is trying to rebound from right elbow surgery, was solid in his rehab start (Class-A Jupiter) on Thursday against the Palm Beach Cardinals, according to FishChunks.com. He threw 85 pitches, 51 on target for strikes, and allowed three earned runs in 5.1 innings of work.
Our View: Johnson continues to make great strides in his recovery from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery undergone early last August. Barring a setback, he could be activated by the Marlins at some point in July. He was a 12-game winner as a rookie back in 2006. |
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| Cintron to see more action at SS | Friday 6/20, 8:11 AM CT |
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Manager Dave Trembley commented that Alex Cintron is going to see more action at shortstop, according to the Baltimore Sun. Trembley said, "I want to take a little better look at Cintron. He will see more time. Against left-handed pitching, I think Cintron would play shortstop more often than not."
Our View: Regular shortstop Freddie Bynum is struggling with a .158 average over 15 games in June, and Cintron went 3-for-4 last night against the Astros, and is hitting 6-for-18 (.333) in the month. Cintron is worth a look in AL-only leagues if you really need help or depth in your middle infield. |
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