| Hudson registers lone RBI for Arizona | Friday 7/4, 11:59 PM CT |
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Orlando Hudson went 1-for-3 and registered the Diamondbacks' lone RBI in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Padres. His hit was good for a double, his 22nd of the season.
Our View: Hudson maintains a .300 average, and has seven hits and two RBI over his last three games. Keep him active as a middle infielder in NL-only leagues while he is hot. |
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| Baek fires six scoreless | Friday 7/4, 11:55 PM CT |
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Cha Seung Baek fired six scoreless innings, with only two hits allowed, in Friday's 5-1 win over the Diamondbacks, with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Our View: He enjoyed a strong outing tonight, but has been very erratic, and is only worth using in deeper NL-only leagues. |
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| Haren pitches well in loss | Friday 7/4, 11:50 PM CT |
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Dan Haren only surrendered two earned runs on seven hits over seven innings in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Padres, with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Our View: He pitched well enough to win, but a lack of run support dropped his record to 8-5. He only allowed one earned run over his previous three starts heading into tonight, and should remain a must-start in all fantasy leagues. |
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| Ramirez blasts 21st homer | Friday 7/4, 11:35 PM CT |
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Hanley Ramirez went 3-for-6 with two RBI in Friday's 18-17 loss to Colorado. Ramirez hit a single, a double, and a solo home run. Florida held a 13-5 lead through the first four innings.
Our View: Ramirez notched his 21st homer of the season, with four coming over his last six games. He has also scored 75 runs over 85 games. |
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| Atkins notches five hits | Friday 7/4, 11:28 PM CT |
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Garrett Atkins went 5-for-6 with three RBI in Friday's 18-17 win over the Marlins. He hit a double, a two-run homer, and three singles.
Our View: Atkins has racked up 10 hits, two homers, and seven RBI over his last three games. He is off to a tremendous start in July. |
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| Ross generates five RBI in loss | Friday 7/4, 11:24 PM CT |
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Cody Ross went 3-for-5 with five RBI in Friday's 18-17 loss in a slugfest against the Rockies at Coors Field. He hit a double and two singles. He has recorded three hits in back-to-back games against Colorado.
Our View: He extended his hitting streak to eight games, with nine RBI over the span. He is worth starting in NL-only leagues while he is hot. |
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| Holliday generates five RBI in slugfest | Friday 7/4, 11:18 PM CT |
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Matt Holliday went 3-for-6 with five RBI in Friday's wild 18-17 win over the Marlins at Coors Field. Two of his hits went deep into the Colorado air for home runs.
Our View: Holliday extended his hitting streak to eight games, with four multi-hit efforts over the span. He also snapped a eight-game skid without a homer. |
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| Rios performs well in loss | Friday 7/4, 11:03 PM CT |
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Alex Rios went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's 8-2 loss to the Angels. Both hits were singles. He also racked up a pair of stolen bases.
Our View: Rios had nine multi-hit games in June, and is off to a good start in July. |
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| Anderson goes 3-for-4 | Friday 7/4, 10:58 PM CT |
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Garret Anderson went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in Friday's 8-2 win over the Jays. His other two hits went for singles.
Our View: Anderson has racked up eight homers and 39 RBI over 77 games, and raised his average a few more points to .265. |
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| Burnett drops to 8-8 | Friday 7/4, 10:51 PM CT |
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A.J. Burnett was rocked for eight runs (six earned) on 12 hits over seven innings in Friday's 8-2 loss to the Angels, with no walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: Burnett can only be solid for so long, and tonight's punishing loss snapped a two-game winning streak. He has given up six or more earned runs in three of his last seven starts. |
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| Weaves moves to 8-8 | Friday 7/4, 10:46 PM CT |
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Jered Weaver was strong in Friday's 8-2 win over Toronto, as he only gave up two earned runs on six hits over 7.1 innings, with one walk and six strikeouts.
Our View: He evened his record to 8-8, and lowered his ERA to 4.17. He has allowed two or less earned runs in three-straight starts, with 18 strikeouts over the span. He should remain active in your roto-rotation. |
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| Pujols collects 300th homer | Friday 7/4, 10:38 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, which accounted for the Cardinals' only RBI in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Cubs.
Our View: That was his 18th homer of the season, and the 300th of his career, making him the fifth youngest player (28 years, 170 days) to reach the milestone. |
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| Soto goes 3-for-3 | Friday 7/4, 10:33 PM CT |
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Geovany Soto went 3-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 win over the Cardinals. His other two hits were singles.
Our View: Soto has 14 homers and 51 RBI over 80 games, with a .290 average. He has recorded multiple hits in three of his last five outings. |
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| Looper pitches well in loss | Friday 7/4, 10:27 PM CT |
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Braden Looper only allowed two earned runs on six hits over seven innings in Friday's close 2-1 loss to the Cubs, with one walk and five strikeouts.
Our View: He pitched very well, despite being dealt his sixth loss of the season. He will have to wait for his next outing to challenge for his 10th win. |
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| Zambrano hurls six scoreless | Friday 7/4, 10:22 PM CT |
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Carlos Zambrano, who was activated from the DL prior to the game, hurled six scoreless innings with only four hits issued, in Friday night's close 2-1 win over the Cardinals. He had two walks with five strikeouts.
Our View: That was his first win since June 2, and the fourth time he held a team scoreless. |
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| Shoppach goes 3-for-3 | Friday 7/4, 10:14 PM CT |
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Kelly Shoppach went 3-for-3 with two RBI in Friday's 12-3 loss to Minnesota. He hit two singles and a two-run homer.
Our View: That was his second homer over his last three games. He also has registered multiple hits in two of his three outings in July. He is worth starting in AL-only leagues while he is hot. |
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| Young racks up four RBI | Friday 7/4, 10:10 PM CT |
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Delmon Young went 3-for-5 with four RBI in Friday's 12-3 bashing of the Indians. Most of his damage came on a three-run homer, his third of the season.
Our View: Young is hot as he has recorded three hits in back-to-back games, and has homered in two of his last five outings. He raised his average a few more points to .289. |
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| Byrd suffers 10th loss | Friday 7/4, 10:05 PM CT |
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Paul Byrd was rocked for six earned runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings in Friday's disheartening 12-3 loss to the Twins in Minnesota, with three walks and four strikeouts. He gave up two homers, one to Nick Punto and the other to Delmon Young.
Our View: Byrd drops to 3-10, and has lost five-straight decisions. He has also given up 23 homers over 17 starts. |
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| Hernandez earns ninth win | Friday 7/4, 9:57 PM CT |
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Livan Hernandez gave up three earned runs on five hits over six innings in Friday's 12-3 win over the division rival Indians at home, with three walks and four strikeouts. He allowed two homers, one to Kelly Shoppach and the other to Ben Francisco.
Our View: Hernandez improves to 9-5, and is 3-1 over his last four starts. |
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| Berkman performs well in loss | Friday 7/4, 9:50 PM CT |
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Lance Berkman went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Braves. The Astros only managed six hits in the game.
Our View: He ended a three-game skid without a hit (or a RBI), and raised his average back up to .355. |
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| Johnson blasts two-run homer | Friday 7/4, 9:45 PM CT |
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Kelly Johnson went 1-for-4 and blasted a two-run homer in Friday's 6-2 win over the Astros at home.
Our View: That was only his eighth homer of the season, and his first since June 14, snapping a 16-game drought. |
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| Moehler falls to 4-4 | Friday 7/4, 9:41 PM CT |
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Brian Moehler surrendered five earned runs on six hits over six innings in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Braves in Atlanta, with three walks and one strikeout.
Our View: Tonight's loss snaps a streak of three-straight starts in which he only allowed one earned run. He is still worth consideration for the bottom half of your rotation in NL-only leagues. |
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| Hudson nails down ninth win | Friday 7/4, 9:35 PM CT |
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Tim Hudson enjoyed a strong outing in Friday's 6-2 win over the Astros, as he only gave up one earned run on four hits over seven innings, with three walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: He improves to 9-6, and trimmed his ERA to 3.19. He bounced back nicely from his last outing, when he surrendered six earned runs in a loss to Toronto. Hudson is now 2-2 over his last four starts. |
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| Thome notches lone RBI for Sox | Friday 7/4, 9:30 PM CT |
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Jim Thome went 2-for-4 and notched Chicago's lone RBI in Friday's tough 7-1 loss to Oakland at US Cellular Field. His hit went for a double, which was also the club's only extra base hit of the game.
Our View: That was his 44th RBI of the season, with six coming over his last six games. |
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| Cust leads Oakland with two-run shot | Friday 7/4, 9:26 PM CT |
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Jack Cust led the Athletics in Friday's 7-1 win over the White Sox, as he went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer.
Our View: He is only hitting .236 but has 15 homers and 43 RBI. He has homered in back-to-back games against Chicago, and it was his third over his last six outings. |
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| Buehrle falls to 6-7 | Friday 7/4, 9:22 PM CT |
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Mark Buehrle surrendered four earned runs on 10 hits over 5.2 innings in Friday's disappointing 7-1 loss to the Athletics at home, with three walks and five strikeouts. Half of the damage came on a two-run homer by Jack Cust.
Our View: Buehrle falls to 6-7, with a 3.91 ERA. Tonight's loss snaps a three-game winning streak, in which he only allowed a total of three earned runs. |
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| Blanton shuts down Chicago | Friday 7/4, 9:17 PM CT |
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Joe Blanton was dominant from the hill, as he only allowed one earned run on six hits over seven innings in Friday's 7-1 win over the White Sox at US Cellular Field, with two walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: Blanton is 2-1 over his last three starts, and only allowed one earned run in each of his two wins over the span. |
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| Victorino wins game for Phillies | Friday 7/4, 9:12 PM CT |
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Shane Victorino went 1-for-4 and delivered a game-winning RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Mets.
Our View: The Phillies returned home from a nine-game road trip, in which they went 5-4. |
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| Reyes registers 29th stolen base | Friday 7/4, 9:04 PM CT |
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Jose Reyes went 0-for-3 with a walk in Friday's 3-2 win over the Phillies. He contributed a stolen base, his 29th of the season.
Our View: That was his first stolen bag since June 27, snapping a seven-game drought. |
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| Santana pitches well in no decision | Friday 7/4, 8:56 PM CT |
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Johan Santana pitched well despite ending his night with a no decision, as he only allowed two earned runs on six hits over eight innings in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Phillies, with no walks and six strikeouts. The battle was tied 2-2 when he exited.
Our View: He had another strong performance, but his bad luck continues, as he is now winless in six-straight starts. He has allowed two or less earned runs in four of those outings, and should remain active in your lineups. |
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| Howard extends streak | Friday 7/4, 8:50 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's close 3-2 win over the Mets at home. Both of his hits were singles.
Our View: Howard collected his 73rd RBI of the season, and extended his hitting streak to seven games. |
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| Izturis expects to be activated Sat. | Friday 7/4, 8:45 PM CT |
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Cesar Izturis, who is recovering from a strained right hamstring, expects to be activated from the DL on Saturday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Izturis is feeling the best he has felt since he injured the hamstring, and expects to return to the Cardinals' lineup as soon as Sunday. |
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| Casilla scratched from lineup | Friday 7/4, 8:41 PM CT |
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Alexi Casilla was scratched from Friday's lineup due to soreness in his left middle finger, according to the Star Tribune.
Our View: Casilla iced the ailing finger five or six times on Thursday's off day. But he woke up Friday to more swelling and had trouble getting the finger loose prior to the game. Nick Punto covered second base tonight, and Brendan Harris roamed shortstop.
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| Bootcheck activated, and optioned | Friday 7/4, 8:34 PM CT |
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Chris Bootcheck has been activated from the 15-day DL, and optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, according to the Sports Network. He been on the shelf since June 9 due to a strained right forearm.
Our View: Bootcheck is not worth waiting for as a fantasy reliever, ad he surrendered 18 earned runs, 30 hits, and 12 walks over 16 innings this season. |
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| Salazar designated for assignment | Friday 7/4, 8:22 PM CT |
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Jeff Salazar has been designated for assignment by Arizona, according to the AP. The team recalled outfielder Alex Romero from Triple-A.
Our View: Salazar held little to no fantasy value prior to his designation, as he was only hitting .202 over 99 at-bats, with two homers and 10 RBI. |
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| Romero recalled | Friday 7/4, 8:18 PM CT |
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Outfielder Alex Romero has been called up from Triple-A Tucson, according to the AP. Outfielder Jeff Salazar has been designated for assignment, as an adjoining move.
Our View: Romero isn't likely to make a solid impact, as he only hit .229 over 35 at-bats in his previous stint with the club this season. |
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| Robertson optioned to Tucson | Friday 7/4, 8:15 PM CT |
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Pitcher Connor Robertson has been optioned to Triple-A Tucson, according to the AP. The team recalled infielder Emilio Bonifacio as a corresponding move.
Our View: Robertson fared well as he only allowed one run and two hits over four innings of work from the Diamondbacks' bullpen, but he will have to wait for another chance to prove his worth to the club. |
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| Gonzalez leaves game | Friday 7/4, 8:10 PM CT |
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Carlos Gonzalez left tonight's game against the White Sox, apparently due to tightness in his right hamstring, according to the AP.
Our View: We will keep you posted when more is known regarding the injury. He was replaced in center field by Rajai Davis. |
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| Bonifacio recalled | Friday 7/4, 8:08 PM CT |
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Infielder Emilio Bonifacio has been recalled from Triple-A Tucson, according to the AP. The team also optioned pitcher Connor Robertson to Tucson.
Our View: He displays solid speed and could hold value in the stolen bases department, but may not get to play enough to consider adding to your roto-squad. |
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| Grudzielanek notches homer in loss | Friday 7/4, 7:57 PM CT |
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Mark Grudzielanek went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 11-2 loss to the Rays. The Royals only mustered four hits in the game.
Our View: Grudzielanek extended his hitting streak to six games, and is hitting .461 (12-for-26) over the span. |
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| Pena delivers five RBI in big win | Friday 7/4, 7:51 PM CT |
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Carlos Pena carried the Rays in Friday's 11-2 win over the Royals at Tropicana Field, as he went 2-for-5 with five RBI. He hit a single and a three-run homer, his 12th of the season.
Our View: He reached his highest RBI total since April 11, when he recorded six against the Orioles. He also hit his first homer since June 3. |
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| Bannister slips to 7-8 | Friday 7/4, 7:46 PM CT |
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Brian Bannister was rocked for seven runs (six earned) on eight hits over five innings in Friday's 11-2 loss to the upstart Rays at Tropicana Field, with one walk and six strikeouts.
Our View: Bannister slips to 7-8, with a 5.15 ERA. He is 2-2 over his last four starts, and has given up 13 earned runs over his last two. |
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| Jackson shuts down Royals | Friday 7/4, 7:42 PM CT |
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Edwin Jackson was in top form on the mound in Friday's 11-2 win over the Royals at home, as he only allowed one earned run on four hits over eight innings, with one walk and two strikeouts.
Our View: Jackson improves to 5-6, and trimmed his ERA to 4.08. This was his first win since June 9. |
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| Damon is day-to-day | Friday 7/4, 7:23 PM CT |
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An MRI revealed that Johnny Damon suffered a contusion and sprain of his left shoulder during Friday's battle against the Red Sox, according to the AP. Manager Joe Girardi said, "I think the big thing is tomorrow to see how sore he is, to see what type of range of motion he has."
Our View: He is considered day-to-day and will be re-evaluated on Saturday. |
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| Kinsler extends streak | Friday 7/4, 7:19 PM CT |
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Ian Kinsler went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's 10-4 loss to the Orioles in Baltimore.
Our View: Kinsler extended his hitting streak to 16 games, with eight multi-hit efforts over the span. |
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| Jones registers two RBI in win | Friday 7/4, 7:15 PM CT |
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Adam Jones helped lead the Orioles to a 10-4 win over the Rangers on Friday, as he went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Both of his hits went for singles.
Our View: He extended his hitting streak to eight games, and recorded two RBI in three of his last four outings. He is worth targeting if still available on the waiver wire. |
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| Bradley notches three RBI in loss | Friday 7/4, 7:09 PM CT |
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Milton Bradley went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Friday's 10-4 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards. He hit a single and a double.
Our View: He raised his average to .323 and has 54 RBI, with five coming over his last two games. |
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| Guthrie earns fifth win | Friday 7/4, 7:05 PM CT |
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Jeremy Guthrie allowed four earned runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings in Friday's 10-4 win over Texas at Camden Yards, with two walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: Guthrie improves to 5-7, and is 2-0 over his last four starts. |
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| Perry recalled from Richmond | Friday 7/4, 6:58 PM CT |
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Outfielder Jason Perry has been recalled from Triple-A Richmond, according to Scout.com. The team demoted Jeff Francoeur to Double-A Mississippi as a corresponding move.
Our View: He is making his first start in right field tonight against the Astros. He hit .302 at Richmond and displays good power. He is worth consideration in NL-only leagues if you need some help in your outfield, namely for depth. |
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| Rowand goes 3-for-4 | Friday 7/4, 6:51 PM CT |
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Aaron Rowand went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in Friday's 10-7 loss to the Dodgers at home. He registered two singles and a double, his 25th of the season.
Our View: Rowand generated five hits over his last two games, and raised his season average to .299. |
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| Ethier chips in three RBI | Friday 7/4, 6:47 PM CT |
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Andre Ethier went 3-for-6 and chipped in three RBI in Friday's 10-7 win over the Giants. He hit a single, a double, and a solo home run, his 10th of the season.
Our View: Ehier has now homered in three-straight games, with seven hits over the span. He is worth starting in mixed-leagues while he is hot. |
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| No decision for Sanchez | Friday 7/4, 6:41 PM CT |
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Jonathan Sanchez allowed three earned runs on five hits over five innings in Friday's 10-7 loss to the Dodgers at home, with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Our View: He exited the game with a 5-3 lead and was dealt a no decision. He has not lost in three-straight starts, and only allowed one earned run in each of his previous two outings. |
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| Lowe improves to 6-8 | Friday 7/4, 6:36 PM CT |
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Derek Lowe was tagged foir five runs (four earned) on eight hits over five innings, in Friday's high scoring 10-7 win over the Giants, with no walks and two strikeouts.
Our View: It wasn't a great outing for Lowe, but the Giants provided enough run support for him to improve to 6-8. He snapped a two-game losing streak. |
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| Cabrera records lone RBI for Tigers | Friday 7/4, 6:29 PM CT |
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Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, and accounted for the Tigers' lone RBI in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Mariners.
Our View: That was his 12th homer of the season, and his first since June 24. |
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| Ibanez records 10th homer in win | Friday 7/4, 6:26 PM CT |
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Raul Ibanez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-1 victory over the Tigers at home.
Our View: That was his 10th homer of the season, and his second against the Tigers. |
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| Rogers drops to 6-6 | Friday 7/4, 6:22 PM CT |
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Kenny Rogers allowed four earned runs on six hits over 7.2 innings in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Mariners in Seattle, with two walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: Rogers drops to 6-6, and his ERA climbs to 4.60. He is 2-2 over his last four starts. |
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| Bedard claims sixth win | Friday 7/4, 6:18 PM CT |
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Erik Bedard was in solid form in Friday's 4-1 win over the Tigers at home, as he only surrendered one earned run on five hits over five innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. The only run came on a Miguel Cabrera home run.
Our View: Bedard has pitched well when healthy this season, and he now has a two-game winning streak, and has only allowed one run in both outings. He is 6-4 and trimmed his ERA to 3.67. Keep him active in your lineups. |
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| Inge progressing | Friday 7/4, 6:14 PM CT |
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Brandon Inge hit a round of soft-toss, did some jogging, and fielded ground balls on Friday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: He is making favorable progress in his recovery from a pulled left oblique, but skipper Jim Leyland does not expect him back before the All-Star break, and he will not be rushed back into action. |
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| Padilla injury update | Friday 7/4, 6:09 PM CT |
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Vicente Padilla has sustained a bruised right thumb, which forced him to leave Friday's game against the Orioles in the third inning, according to the AP. He was struck in the hand by a hard single from Freddie Bynum.
Our View: His X-rays came back negative, but his status for his next start on Wedneday is to be determined. |
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| A-Rod registers two RBI in loss | Friday 7/4, 6:03 PM CT |
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Alex Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in Friday's tough 6-4 loss to the Red Sox at home. He hit a single and a double, his 18th of the season.
Our View: A-Rod raised his average to .319 over 67 games, with 49 RBI. |
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| Lowell crushes three-run homer | Friday 7/4, 5:59 PM CT |
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Mike Lowell helped lead the Red Sox to a 6-4 win on Friday against the rival Yankees in the Bronx, as he went 2-for-4 with four RBI. He hit a double and a three-run homer.
Our View: He has 53 RBI for the season, with six coming over his last two battles against New York. |
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| Padilla injured | Friday 7/4, 5:54 PM CT |
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Vicente Padilla was forced out of action tonight due to an apparent leg injury, after allowing eight earned runs over 2.2 innings against the Orioles.
Our View: We will keep you posted when more details regarding his injury are revealed. |
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| Rasner dealt seventh win | Friday 7/4, 5:50 PM CT |
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Darrell Rasner was lit up for six earned runs on 10 hits over five innings in Friday's 6-4 loss to the rival Red Sox, with three walks and two strikeouts. Mike Lowell took him deep for a three-run homer.
Our View: Rasner is 4-7, and has lost three-straight decisions. He is best left on your bench. |
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| Beckett nails down win in the Bronx | Friday 7/4, 5:47 PM CT |
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Josh Beckett was in control on the mound in Friday's 6-4 win over the Yankees in the Bronx, as he allowed three earned runs on four hits over six innings, with two walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: Beckett improves to 8-5, with a 3.70 ERA. That was his second win at hostile Yankee Stadium this season. |
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| Ascanio optioned | Friday 7/4, 5:41 PM CT |
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Reliever Jose Ascanio has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa, according to the AP. Carlos Zambrano has been activated from the DL, and Ascanio was viewed as expendable to make room on the roster.
Our View: Ascanio held no fantasy value as a middle-reliever, as he allowed five earned runs and four walks over 5.2 innings, with only three strikeouts. |
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| Zambrano officially activated | Friday 7/4, 5:38 PM CT |
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Carlos Zambrano has been officially activated from the DL, and is set to start against the Cardinals tonight, according to the AP. Jose Ascanio has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room on the roster.
Our View: Zambrano should be penciled into your lineups for tonight. |
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| Koshansky called up | Friday 7/4, 5:31 PM CT |
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First baseman Joe Koshansky has been recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs, according to the AP. He was brought in to fill the open roster spot for Todd Helton, who landed on the DL due to his ailing back.
Our View: Koshansky is hitting .281 with 18 home runs and 78 RBI over 82 games for Colorado Springs. He could be worth a look in NL-only leagues, especially if you lost Helton from your lineup. |
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| Helton lands on DL | Friday 7/4, 5:26 PM CT |
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Todd Helton has been placed on the 15-day DL due to a sore back, according to the AP. Skipper Clint Hurdle said, "He feels probably more discomfort today than yesterday. We feel we’re best served by shutting this thing down for a while and give him a chance to heal rather than pushing his way through this one. I don’t think he’s capable of pushing his way through this one."
Our View: Helton was only hitting .182 over his last 22 games. This is his third trip to the DL in his 11-year career. |
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| Loaiza back with Sox | Friday 7/4, 5:09 PM CT |
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Esteban Loaiza has been recalled from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte, according to the AP. The 36-year-old vet landed on the DL on June 13 due to right shoulder inflammation.
Our View: Loaiza isn't worth adding to your roster, as he will fight for innings as a middle-reliever, and allowed 16 earned runs over 27 innings of action this season. |
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| Konerko begins rehab | Friday 7/4, 5:05 PM CT |
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Paul Konerko has been sent to Triple-A Charlotte to begin his rehab assignment, according to the AP. He is recovering from a left oblique strain. Konerko said, "It’s good we’re winning. My focus is solely on this team getting to the playoffs. I have no other motives, nothing else. It’s about this team getting to the playoffs." The team also recalled veteran hurler Esteban Loaiza from his injury rehab assignment at Charlotte.
Our View: Konerko isn't expected back until after the All-Star break. Hopefully he will have a stronger second half of the season, as he currently holds a .215 batting average. |
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| Young goes 2-for-2 in shutout loss | Friday 7/4, 4:59 PM CT |
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Dmitri Young went 2-for-2 in Friday's 3-0 shutout loss to the Reds in Cincinnati. He hit a single and a double, which accounted for the Nationals' only extra base hit of the day.
Our View: Young should remain a serviceable infielder for NL-only leagues. |
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| Griffey carries Reds in home win | Friday 7/4, 4:55 PM CT |
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Ken Griffey Jr. carried the Reds in Friday's 3-0 victory over the Nationals at the Great American Ballpark, as he went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer.
Our View: That was his 11th homer of the season, and the 604th of his career. |
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| Bergmann handed another loss | Friday 7/4, 4:45 PM CT |
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Jason Bergmann allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings in Friday's 3-0 shutout loss to the Reds, with three walks and five strikeouts. Both earned runs came on a Ken Griffey Jr. two-run homer.
Our View: Bergmann falls to 1-6, and hasn't won a decision since May 15, when he fired seven scoreless innnings against the Mets. |
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| Arroyo hurls six scoreless | Friday 7/4, 4:40 PM CT |
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Bronson Arroyo was dominant on the mound in Friday's 3-0 win over the Nationals, as he hurled six scoreless innings, with only five allowed, and had three walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: Arroyo pulls closer to the .500 mark, as he is now 6-7. He has been inconsistent, but has won two straight decisions. |
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| Hundley called up | Friday 7/4, 4:34 PM CT |
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Nick Hundley has been called up from Triple-A Portland, according to the AP. The Padres placed Michaell Barrett on the 15-day DL as a corresponding move.
Our View: Hundley has power as he belted 12 homers in Triple-A, but will play his home games at pitcher-friendly PETCO Park, and may not get many at-bats, meaning he does not merit fantasy attention. |
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| Barrett placed on DL | Friday 7/4, 4:29 PM CT |
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Updating a previous report, Michael Barrett has been placed on the 15-day DL after suffering multiple facial fractures and a broken nose that will require surgery, according to the AP. The Padres purchased the contract of catcher Nick Hundley from Triple-A Portland, to fill his spot on the roster.
Our View: Barrett held very little fantasy value this season, as he was hitting .202 over 30 games, with two homers. |
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| Nady registers lone RBI for Pirates | Friday 7/4, 4:21 PM CT |
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Xavier Nady went 2-for-4 and registered the Pirates' lone RBI in Friday's 9-1 loss to the Brewers. His hit went for a double, his 23rd of the season.
Our View: Nady extended his hitting streak to six games, with 10 hits over the span. |
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| Hardy extends streak | Friday 7/4, 4:17 PM CT |
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J.J. Hardy went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer in Friday's convincing 9-1 win over the Pirates at Miller Park. His other three hits were singles.
Our View: Hardy has impressively gone 4-for-5 in back-to-back contests, and extended his hitting streak to 16 games. Hardy looks to be headed for a strong second half of the season. |
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| Gorzelanny falls to 6-7 | Friday 7/4, 4:08 PM CT |
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Tom Gorzelanny was rocked for seven earned runs on 11 hits over 4.2 innings in Friday's 9-1 loss to the Brewers, with four walks and four strikeouts. He gave up two homers, one to Bill Hall and the other to JJ Hardy.
Our View: Gorzelanny now has a losing record at 6-7, with a 6.57 ERA. He only lost one decision in June, but is now back to his losing ways in his first start of July. |
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| Sheets claims 10th win | Friday 7/4, 4:04 PM CT |
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Ben Sheets only allowed one earned run on eight hits over 5.2 innings in Friday's 9-1 win over the Pirates, with three walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: Sheets improves to 10-2, with a 2.77 ERA. He is 4-1 over his last five starts. |
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| Chuch gets day off | Friday 7/4, 3:53 PM CT |
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Ryan Church will not be in the lineup tonight against the Phillies and lefty J.A. Happ, according to the New York Daily News.
Our View: Happ is a lefty, but Church hits lefties to the tune of .317. The team is probably just being careful with him since his return from post-concussion syndrome. |
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| Lopez available | Friday 7/4, 3:44 PM CT |
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Nationals infielder Felipe Lopez is available for trade, according to Nationals.com "We are open to any trade that will make us better long-term," general manager Jim Bowden said.
Our View: Lopez was once a highly touted prospect who many thought would turn out to be great. And for one season in 2005, he was. He stole a few bases in past years, making him a tolerable fantasy player, but this year he has been terrible, and a change of scenery isn 't likely to change that. |
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| Ellis struggles against Buehrle | Friday 7/4, 3:39 PM CT |
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Mark Ellis does not have a good matchup tonight when the A's face off against the Chicago White Sox and Mark Buehrle. He hits .176 off him, with just six hits in 34 at-bats against the Chicago lefty.
Our View: Ellis is 6-for-17 in his last four games, but has a terrible time against Buehrle. If you normally deploy him on your fantasy team, look for other options. |
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| Blevins recalled from Triple-A | Friday 7/4, 3:35 PM CT |
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Jerry Blevins has been recalled from Triple-A in order to take the roster space which opened when Keith Foulke went on the disabled list, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Blevins did not have great numbers last season, but he has been very good in the minors this year, with a 2.78 ERA and 10 saves for the Triple-A Sacramento. He may hold value in fantasy leagues that utilize holds. |
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| Foulke hits DL | Friday 7/4, 3:32 PM CT |
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Keith Foulke has been placed on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Foulke had decent numbers, but little impact in fantasy leagues. |
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| Sampson will start Saturday | Friday 7/4, 3:18 PM CT |
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Chris Sampson will make the start on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, taking the turn of Roy Oswalt, who will throw on Tuesday instead, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Our View: Sampson has not been effective as a starter, carrying a 6.04 era in the ten games he started this year.. He is much better in relief, and has a 2.16 ERA in that role. If you have him as a reliever in NL-only leagues, make sure you don't allow him to make the start on Saturday. |
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| Sexson has good matchup | Friday 7/4, 3:08 PM CT |
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Richie Sexson has a good matchup tonight against Kenny Rogers. For his career, Sexson has punished Rogers for a .435 batting average and OPS of 1.349.
Our View: Amazingly, Sexson has hit .348 in his last seven games, while scoring five runs. If you have Sexson stashed on your bench in a deep AL-only league, give him a shot at first base tonight. |
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| Repko sent down | Friday 7/4, 2:55 PM CT |
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Jason Repko was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas in order to make room for Andruw Jones and Nomar Garciaparra, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Repko has seven at-bats in his time in the majors, struck out four times and failed to get a hit. You won't miss him on your fantasy squad. |
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| Sweeney heads to DL | Friday 7/4, 2:54 PM CT |
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Mark Sweeney was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Sweeney was hitting .094 and should only have been on your fantasy roster if you were trying to come in last place. |
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| Garciaparra makes return from DL | Friday 7/4, 2:51 PM CT |
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Nomar Garciaparra has been activated from the disabled list, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Garciaparra will likely see some playing time because the Dodgers are not exactly an offensive juggernaut. Be wary of putting him on your fantasy roster only to see him get injured again, however. |
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| Jones retruns from DL | Friday 7/4, 2:46 PM CT |
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Andruw Jones was activated off of the DL today, according to The Sports Network. He was hitting just .165 when he went on the DL with torn cartilage in his knee.
Our View: Jones has been in a two year slump and does not belong on fantasy rosters at this point. Until he starts hitting at least .200 with some power, don't even think of him as an option. |
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| Lillibridge demoted to Triple-A | Friday 7/4, 2:40 PM CT |
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Brent Lillibridge was demoted to Triple-A in order to make room for the return of Martin Prado on the big league roster, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Lillibridge was having a poor season in the minors when he was called up, and he continued those struggles in the majors, hitting .154 in 26 at-bats. He should not have been on anyone's fantasy roster. |
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| Prado activated from DL | Friday 7/4, 2:37 PM CT |
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Martin Prado was activated from the disabled list, and went 0-for-3 yesterday against the Phillies, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: In three at-bats, Prado's average dropped 20 points. He is not a viable option for fantasy teams right now, but he has good plate discipline and the offensive potential is there, so keep your eye on him. |
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| Damon leaves game with injury | Friday 7/4, 2:11 PM CT |
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Johnny Damon has left today's Red Sox - Yankees contest after slamming into a fence attempting to make a catch, according to the Hartford Courant.
Our View: The extent of Damon's injuries are not known at this time. We will keep you updated. |
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| Brignac in lineup | Friday 7/4, 2:05 PM CT |
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Reid Brignac will be in the Rays lineup hitting ninth, according to the Tampa Tribune.
Our View: He did not have wonderful offensive numbers in Triple-A, so it would be wise to hold off on putting him in any fantasy lineup. |
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| Bruney makes rehab appearance | Friday 7/4, 2:03 PM CT |
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Brian Bruney went two innings, giving up two hits and one run in a rehab appearance, according to the Associated Press. "My arm felt great, so I'm excited," he said.
Our View: Bruney was good in relief this year, and though he doesn't hold much value in traditional fantasy formats, he may accumulate some holds when he comes back. |
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| Kobayshi to get chance at saves | Friday 7/4, 2:00 PM CT |
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Masa Kobayashi may get the first opportunity to earn some saves, but the Indians will likely use a closer-by-committee, according to Indians.com.
Our View: Kobayashi has been relatively good, at least compared to Joe Borowski, so if you are in need of saves, pick him up, but be warned: the situation could change at any minute. |
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| Hughes throws from 90 feet | Friday 7/4, 1:55 PM CT |
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Yankees starter Phil Hughes threw 90 feet from flat ground today, according to the Associated Press. He will attempt to throw off a mound in the coming weeks.
Our View: Hughes has tantalized fantasy owners with his talent but has yet to really put it all together. He needs to stay healthy and put a few quality starts together in order to prove he is worthy of a spot on fantasy teams. |
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| Harang start pushed back | Friday 7/4, 1:48 PM CT |
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Aaron Harang will move his next start to Tuesday because of right forearm stiffness, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: This season has not been what Harang or fantasy owners must have envisioned for him. He has been a big disappointment with only three wins, and an ERA of 4.47. |
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| Hopper needs Tommy John surgery | Friday 7/4, 1:46 PM CT |
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Norris Hopper is out for the remainder of the season, according to The Sports Network.com. An MRI revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament, and he will need Tommy John surgery, but he should be ready for spring training.
Our View: Hopper only had 10 hits in 50 at-bats, so this will not be a factor for fantasy teams. |
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| Gonzalez sent down | Friday 7/4, 1:25 PM CT |
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Alberto Gonzalez was sent down to Triple-A, according to the Associated Press. "He needs to get some at-bats," Yankees manager Joe Girardi opined.
Our View: Fantasy owners likely won't miss his .173 batting average. |
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| Traber back in bigs | Friday 7/4, 1:23 PM CT |
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Billy Traber has been recalled by the Yankees from Triple-A, according to the Associated Press. "We felt we just needed another arm," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Our View: Traber has not been good for the Yankees in his limited work this year. Do not consider him an option in fantasy leagues. |
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| One week since Papelbon's last appearance | Friday 7/4, 1:13 PM CT |
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Jonathan Papelbon has not stepped on the mound in exactly one week, according to RedSox.com. "It's good, because you know there will be that period where I throw a bunch of days in a row," said Papelbon.
Our View: Fantasy players with Papelbon on their squad would sure like to see the streak end at some point, but it should be nothing to worry about. These things happen with closers from time to time. |
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| Slocum recalled from Triple-A | Friday 7/4, 1:07 PM CT |
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Brian Slocum has been recalled from Triple-A, according to The Sports Network. Like Jensen Lewis, he is taking over one of the roster spots vacated when Joe Borowski and Rick Bauer were designated for assignment.
Our View: Slocum was with the Indians in 2006, but was not very good and holds no value in fantasy baseball. |
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| Lewis recalled to bigs | Friday 7/4, 1:05 PM CT |
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Jensen Lewis has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to the big leagues, according to The Sports Network. He is taking over one of the roster spots vacated when Joe Borowski and Rick Bauer were designated for assignment.
Our View: Lewis has been okay in Buffalo, but he does not retain any fantasy value. |
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| Zambrano will be activated from DL | Friday 7/4, 12:57 PM CT |
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Carlos Zambrano will be activated from the disabled list today in order to make tonight's start against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Zambrano is absolutely dominant in the Gateway City, with an ERA of 0.70. Be sure to get him in your lineup in time for tonight's game. |
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| Zimmerman working back in to shape | Friday 7/4, 12:54 PM CT |
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Ryan Zimmerman took 40 swings, but did not hit a ball, in order gauge how his shoulder felt, according to the Washington Post. He hopes to start a rehab assignment after the All-Star break, but it's still possible he'll have surgery.
Our View: This is a small dose of good news, and signals Zimmerman may be on his way back. He is a productive fantasy third baseman when healthy, so keep an eye out on his progress as he is likely on your league's waiver wire. |
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| Young closer to returning | Friday 7/4, 12:40 PM CT |
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Chris Young will be examined on Monday, and if it goes well, he will be on his way to a minor league rehab assignment, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Our View: In his 10 games this season, Young hasn't been as dominant as he was last year, and with the way the Padres offense struggles, it's hard to envision him getting too many victories from here on out. |
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| Barrett fractures face | Friday 7/4, 12:34 PM CT |
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Michael Barrett suffered multiple facial fractures and a broken nose that will require surgery after he fouled a ball off that hit him in the face, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Our View: That was a completely freak injury, and the result of bad luck. Barrett's fantasy numbers are not, however. There is no use for him and his .202 average in even the deepest of NL-only leagues. |
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| Cruz Triple-A All Star | Friday 7/4, 12:21 PM CT |
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Nelson Cruz was named a Pacific Coast League All-Star for the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 16 in Louisville, this according to the Dallas News.
Our View: Cruz, who opened the season with the Rangers in 2007, is starting to lose his prospect status. The outfielder is hitting .348 with 25 home runs and 70 RBI for Texas' top affiliate. |
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| Rupe the best the Rangers have | Friday 7/4, 12:13 PM CT |
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Josh Rupe has developed into the primary long reliever in the Texas bullpen, this according to the Star Telegram. Kaz Fukumori, Kameron Loe, Wes Littleton and Robinson Tejeda have all failed where Rupe has succeeded. The right-hander sports a 3.47 ERA while the bullpen as a whole is at the bottom of the league with a 5.06 ERA.
Our View: Rupe has no traditional fantasy value. In truth, his 4.44 K rate is sub par and his 3.28 BB rate is far too high. So if Rupe is the best the Rangers bullpen has to offer, the Texas starters have little hope for "wins" unless they can pitch deep into games with a substantial lead. |
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| Cuddyer knuckled under | Friday 7/4, 12:06 PM CT |
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According to the St Paul Pioneer Press, Michael Cuddyers hand injury is a sprained knuckle, and the Twins outfielder expects to return from the disabled list when he is eligible (July 12). That's two days before the Twins' four-day all-star break.
Our View: Don't expect Cuddyer to return until after the All Star break. |
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| Lester will carry heavy load | Friday 7/4, 11:58 AM CT |
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Red Sox manager Terry Francona says that Jon Lester is a pitcher who can throw a lot of innings, according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: Lester has already thrown 117.2 innings this season, but they have been great. Fantasy owners aren't complaining, not with his 7-3 record and 3.21 ERA. Red Sox fans may not be in love with the idea of him going so many innings, however. |
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| Braun returns to lineup | Friday 7/4, 11:52 AM CT |
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After two days off, Ryan Braun will return to the lineup for the Brewers today when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He will bat in the number three hole.
Our View: Braun returns to face Pittsburgh lefty Tom Gorzelanny, who he is 4-for-9 off of, with one home run. Feel free to put him back in your fantasy lineup. |
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| Suzuki not getting extra bases | Friday 7/4, 11:46 AM CT |
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Ichiro Suzuki set a career record on Thursday, going 80 consecutive plate appearances without getting an extra-base hit, and hitting his 24th consecutive single, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Our View: Suzuki's slugging percentage is a poor .379, but one advantage for fantasy players is that all those singles mean more stolen base attempts. He has 33 stolen bases on the year and has been caught only twice. |
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| Furcal could be lost for year | Friday 7/4, 11:35 AM CT |
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Rafael Furcal could be out for the remainder of the season, according to the Los Angeles Times. He will undergo a a microdiscectomy on his back today. The procedure involves removing a piece of bone to relieve pressure on a nerve.
Our View: It was known Furcal was going to be out at least eight weeks, but the rest of the season had not been publicly talked about. Furcal was tearing it up in fantasy play, with a .366 average and eight stolen bases. |
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| Renteria returns to lineup | Friday 7/4, 11:23 AM CT |
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Edgar Renteria will return to the Tigers lineup today against the Seattle Mariners after getting the day off yesterday, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Our View: Renteria will be back at shortstop today to face Erik Bedard. Renteria is 2-for-4 for his career off the left-hander. |
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| Zumaya may start in future | Friday 7/4, 11:20 AM CT |
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Joel Zumaya may become a starter at some point in the future, according to the Detroit Free Press. "I've been thinking about that, to be honest with you, but it's not something that I'd do right now," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland.
Our View: Putting Zumaya in a starting role could be very interesting. It would clearly increase his value in fantasy baseball, although for the time being he should probably just be concerned with getting healthy. |
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| Brocail ejected from game | Friday 7/4, 11:14 AM CT |
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Doug Brocail was ejected from yesterday's game after walking Matt Kemp, according to the Houston Chronicle. The umpire thought he was complaining, but Brocail says he was just emotional. "I guess we're not supposed to give a (shoot) and (not) play with emotion," Brocail said.
Our View: Brocail has been a very solid reliever all year for the Astros, but in fantasy terms, he only carries high value in leagues that use holds. He is fourth in the NL with 15. |
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| Brewers could make play for Sabathia soon | Friday 7/4, 11:03 AM CT |
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The Milwaukee Brewers may be in position to make a trade for C.C. Sabathia very soon, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He believes they might give up top prospect Matt LaPorta in order to land Sabathia.
Our View: Sabathia would certainly make the Brewers a contender, not only for the National League Central division, but the World Series as well. A duo of Sabathia and Ben Sheets would be very tough to beat. |
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| Atkins crushing lefties | Friday 7/4, 10:57 AM CT |
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| Garrett Atkins destroys left-handed pitching, and after his 2-for-3 night off Florida hurler Andrew Miller, his batting average against southpaws climbed to .470, according to the Denver Post.< | |
