| King Felix falls to 7-7 | Saturday 8/2, 11:56 PM CT |
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Felix Hernandez allowed two earned runs on eight hits over five innings in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Orioles at home, with two walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: He has not lasted past the sixth inning in any of his last five starts, but has 34 strikeouts over the span. He is having control issues with too many walks, but isn't allowing a high number of runs, and should remain active in all leagues. |
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| Jones goes 3-for-5 | Saturday 8/2, 11:50 PM CT |
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Adam Jones went 3-for-5 and scored two runs in Saturday's 3-1 win over Seattle at Safeco Field. All three of his hits were singles.
Our View: Jones has been solid as he scored nine runs over his last seven games, and should remain active in AL-only leagues. |
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| Guthrie hurls complete game | Saturday 8/2, 11:46 PM CT |
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Jeremy Guthrie was dominant on the hill in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Mariners, as he only allowed one earned run on four hits over nine innings, with one walk and two strikeouts.
Our View: He evened his record to 8-8 and notched his first complete game of the season. He has only allowed one earned run in back-to-back starts, and should remain active in fantasy lineups for the upcoming week. |
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| Ludwick collects another homer | Saturday 8/2, 11:41 PM CT |
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Ryan Ludwick went 1-for-4 with a home run in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Phillies.
Our View: He hit his 26 homer of the season, with three coming over his last two games against the Phillies. He should remain a solid source of power down the stretch for fantasy owners. |
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| Howard crushes 31st homer | Saturday 8/2, 11:37 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard went 1-for-1 and crushed a solo home run in Saturday's close 2-1 victory over the Cardinals. He drew three walks in the game.
Our View: Howard's homer was his 31st of the season, but only his second over his last 13 games. |
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| Blanton shuts down Cardinals | Saturday 8/2, 11:32 PM CT |
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Joe Blanton shut down the Cardinals in Saturday's 2-1 win, as he only issued one earned run on four hits over seven innings, with two walks and five strikeouts. The only score came on a Ryan Ludwick home run.
Our View: He earned his first win as a member of the Phillies, and could be headed for a solid stretch run of the season as he tries to do his part to claim the NL East division title. |
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| Young has tough night at plate | Saturday 8/2, 11:25 PM CT |
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Michael Young had a tough night at the plate in Saturday's 6-4 loss to Toronto, as he went 0-for-4, while leaving three men on base.
Our View: He went hitless in four of his last five games, and is clearly having problems playing through his fractured right ring finger. |
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| Rios goes 2-for-3 | Saturday 8/2, 11:11 PM CT |
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Alex Rios went 2-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-4 victory over Texas. Both of his hits were singles.
Our View: Rios is hot as he recorded two hits in three straight games. Keep him active in fantasy lineups. |
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| Burnett claims 13th win | Saturday 8/2, 11:07 PM CT |
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A.J. Burnett allowed four earned runs on six hits over 5.2 innings in Saturday's 6-4 win over Texas, with two walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: Burnett has extended his winning streak to three games, and has 13 for the season. |
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| Holliday hits two homers in loss | Saturday 8/2, 11:01 PM CT |
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Matt Holliday went 3-for-4 with two solo homers in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Marlins.
Our View: He has 20 homers for the season, and registered multiple hits in three of his last four games. He is off to a strong start in August. |
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| Willingham goes 2-for-3 | Saturday 8/2, 10:56 PM CT |
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Josh Willingham went 2-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Rockies at home. He hit a double and a triple, and scored two runs.
Our View: Willingham is hitting .473 (9-for-19) over his last six games. He has also registered an RBI in three straight contests, and should remain active in fantasy lineups while he is hot. |
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| Nolasco fires 13 strikeouts | Saturday 8/2, 10:50 PM CT |
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Ricky Nolasco allowed three earned runs on four hits over eight innings in Saturday's 5-3 victory over the Rockies, with no walks and 13 strikeouts.
Our View: He improves to 11-6 for the season, and reached double digits in strikeouts for the second time (registered 12 against the Rays on June 15). He also snapped a four-game skid without a win. |
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| Slowey drops to 7-8 | Saturday 8/2, 10:44 PM CT |
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Kevin Slowey surrendered five earned runs on six hits over six innings in Saturday's 5-1 loss to Cleveland, with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Our View: Slowey has three complete games and two shutouts to his credit this season, but has been erratic, and remains an unstable fantasy hurler. He falls to 7-8 over 17 starts. |
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| Morneau registers lone RBI for Twins | Saturday 8/2, 10:39 PM CT |
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Justin Morneau went 0-for-3 and registered the Twins' lone RBI on a sacrifice fly in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Indians.
Our View: Morneau notched his 87th RBI of the season, with 12 coming over his last seven games. |
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| Dellucci goes 3-for-4 | Saturday 8/2, 10:34 PM CT |
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David Dellucci went 3-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's 5-1 win over Minnesota. He hit a single, double, and a two-run homer.
Our View: He enjoyed a big night, but was only hitting .226 over 248 at-bats heading into the game, and shouldn't be active in anything but deeper AL-only leagues. |
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| Byrd shuts down Twins | Saturday 8/2, 10:29 PM CT |
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Paul Byrd shut down the Twins in Saturday's 5-1 win, as he only allowed one earned run on six hits over seven innings, with two walks and one strikeout.
Our View: Byrd remains hot as he won his third straight start, with only two earned runs allowed over 20 innings. He should remain active in AL-only league lineups. |
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| Matsui racks up seven total bases | Saturday 8/2, 10:23 PM CT |
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Kazuo Matsui went 2-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Mets. He hit a triple and a solo home run.
Our View: Matsui is hot as he homered in back-to-back games, and extended his hitting streak to nine games. He is worth starting in NL-only leagues for the upcoming fantasy week. |
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| Oswalt handed no decision | Saturday 8/2, 10:18 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt issued four earned runs on six hits over six innings in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Mets, with three walks and seven strikeouts. The Astros were down 4-1 when he exited the game, but rallied to score four runs and pulled out a win in the 10th inning.
Our View: Oswalt remains at 8-8 and has allowed four runs in each of his last two starts. Hopefully he can get on track and pitch up to his billing as the Astros' "ace" down the stretch. |
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| Easley homers in tough loss | Saturday 8/2, 10:12 PM CT |
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Damion Easley went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in Saturday's tough 5-4 loss to Houston. His other hit was a single.
Our View: Easley has homered in two of his last three games, and has six RBI over the span. Keep him active in your lineups while he is hot. |
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| Santana strong in no decision | Saturday 8/2, 10:08 PM CT |
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Johan Santana only surrendered one earned run on three hits over 6.1 innings in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Astros, with two walks and three strikeouts. He pitched great but was dealt a no decision as he left the game with a 4-1 lead, before Houston rallied back to win it in the 10th inning.
Our View: Santana allowed two or less earned runs in three straight starts, yet he only has one win over the span. His record remains at 9-7, and he trimmed his ERA to 2.86. |
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| Votto collects three RBI | Saturday 8/2, 9:50 PM CT |
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Joey Votto went 1-for-4 and collected three RBI in Saturday's 10-6 loss to Washington.
Our View: That was his highest RBI output since July 19, when he also registered three against the Mets. He should remain a decent corner infielder in mixed-leagues. |
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| Bruce blasts two-run homer | Saturday 8/2, 9:47 PM CT |
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Jay Bruce went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Saturday's 10-6 loss to the Nationals. His other hit went for a single.
Our View: Bruce has registered a hit in six straight games, and has homered in each of his last two. The rookie should return to starting lineups in NL-only leagues for the new fantasy week. |
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| Milledge homers in win | Saturday 8/2, 9:42 PM CT |
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Lastings Milledge went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Saturday's 10-6 win over the Reds.
Our View: Milledge is starting to post better numbers, but still isn't worthy of starting lineups in anything but deeper NL-only leagues. |
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| Kearns goes 3-for-5 | Saturday 8/2, 9:38 PM CT |
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Austin Kearns went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 10-6 win over the Reds. All three of his knocks were singles.
Our View: He has a hit in four straight games, and snapped a 10-game skid without an RBI. |
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| Brown only source of scoring | Saturday 8/2, 9:31 PM CT |
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Emil Brown went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, and was the Athletics' only source of scoring in Saturday's 12-2 loss to Boston.
Our View: Brown has three homers and five RBI over his last seven games and remains a serviceable option in AL-only leagues. |
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| Eveland yanked after two innings | Saturday 8/2, 9:27 PM CT |
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Dana Eveland was yanked after two innings in Saturday's disheartening 12-2 loss to Boston, as he was lit up for nine earned runs on eight hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.
Our View: He falls to 7-8 and his ERA climbs to 4.46. He is winless in his last four starts, and has only pitched 17 innings over the span. |
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| Youkilis crushes two homers | Saturday 8/2, 9:21 PM CT |
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Kevin Youkilis led the Red Sox to a convincing 12-2 victory over Oakland at Fenway Park on Saturday, as he went 2-for-5 with four RBI. Both of his hits went for home runs.
Our View: Youkilis has 20 homers, and extended his hitting streak to nine games, with four multi-hit efforts over the span. |
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| Lester earns 10th win | Saturday 8/2, 9:18 PM CT |
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Jon Lester only issued two earned runs on seven hits over seven innings in Saturday's 12-2 blowout win over Oakland at Fenway Park, with one walk and five strikeouts.
Our View: Lester has won three straight decisions, and has 10 wins for the season. He hasn't been dealt a loss since May 25th, and should remain a strong fantasy starter down the stretch. |
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| Cabrera goes 3-for-3 | Saturday 8/2, 9:11 PM CT |
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Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's 9-3 loss to the Rays. He hit one double with two singles.
Our View: Cabrera has 11 hits and nine RBI over his last seven games, and should be solid down the stretch. |
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| Rogers torched by Rays | Saturday 8/2, 9:06 PM CT |
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Kenny Rogers was torched for seven earned runs on six hits over a mere 3.1 innings in Saturday's 9-3 loss to the Rays, with four walks and eight strikeouts.
Our View: He falls to 8-8 for the season, and has allowed 12 earned runs over his last two starts. He should only be active in larger AL-only leagues. |
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| Longoria blasts 21st homer | Saturday 8/2, 9:03 PM CT |
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Evan Longoria went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Tigers at home. He hit a single, double, and a solo homer.
Our View: He has homered in back-to-back games, and has 21 for the season. The rookie phenom should remain active in all leagues. |
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| Sonnanstine locks up 11th win | Saturday 8/2, 8:59 PM CT |
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Andy Sonnanstine only allowed two earned runs on seven hits over six innings in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Tigers at Tropicana Field, with one walk and six strikeouts.
Our View: Sonnanstine locked up his 11th win of the season, and snapped a three-game losing streak. |
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| Ankiel close to returning | Saturday 8/2, 8:46 PM CT |
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Rick Ankiel, who is recovering from a sore abdomen, could return to the Cardinals' lineup as early as Tuesday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Our View: Ankiel has been a solid source of power with 22 homers over 93 games, and fantasy owners should be able to pencil him back into lineups next week. |
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| Hill to begin rehab | Saturday 8/2, 8:21 PM CT |
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Shawn Hill is expected to begin a throwing program as part of his rehab from a right forearm strain, according to MLB.com.
Our View: He has a full throwing program laid out, and his goal is to return to the Nationals in early September. This is good news for him, but Hill is not worth stashing as a fantasy hurler, as he holds a 1-5 record with a 5.83 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over 12 starts this season. |
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| Carrasco promoted to Triple-A | Saturday 8/2, 8:09 PM CT |
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Carlos Carrasco has been promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Carrasco is a top pitching prospect, and the Phillies want him to be challenged by more advanced hitters on the Triple-A level. If he fares well, he could push for a spot in the Phillies' rotation in 2009. |
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| Hairston out for a few days | Saturday 8/2, 7:41 PM CT |
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Jerry Hairston Jr. was unable to run at full speed Friday and won't play over the next few days, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Our View: It appears that the team may have activated him from the DL (hamstring) too soon. We will keep you posted when more details are released regarding his status. |
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| Wainwright close to return | Saturday 8/2, 7:33 PM CT |
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Adam Wainwright threw a bullpen session on Saturday, and the AP reports he is close to returning from a sprained middle finger that has kept him on the DL for nearly two months. He said, "I’m very shocked right now. I can’t believe how good I threw. I told the training staff before I threw today, I said the last two days I’ve felt a 200 percent difference in my hand, just holding stuff, grabbing things, even grabbing a remote or something. It just felt good all of a sudden. Today I went at it 100 percent and tested it completely."
Our View: The next step for Wainwright is a simulated game on Tuesday. If all goes favorably without a setback, Wainwright will likely make one or two rehab starts before rejoining the team.
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| Hudson will have surgery | Saturday 8/2, 7:13 PM CT |
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Tim Hudson will undergo ligament-transplant elbow surgery to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament late next week, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery.
Our View: Hudson has already spoken with Braves' hurlers John Smoltz, Mike Gonzalez and Peter Moylan about what to expect after "Tommy John" surgery. All three have had the procedure.
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| Borowski offered minor league deal | Saturday 8/2, 7:06 PM CT |
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Joe Borowski has reportedly been offered a minor league deal by the Red Sox, according to the Boston Herald. If the Sox sign Borowski, he would be eligible to pitch in the postseason even if he does not appear in the major leagues until after September 1. MLB rules require only that a player be part of an organization before September 1 in order to maintain postseason eligibility.
Our View: Borowski would not see any save chances in Boston if Jon Papelbon remains intact, and his innings would be very limited in a strong bullpen. |
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| German generates three RBI | Saturday 8/2, 6:56 PM CT |
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Esteban German went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Saturday's exciting 9-7 win over the White Sox. He almost hit for the cycle, as he registered a single, double, and a triple.
Our View: This was another strong outing in his bid to earn more playing time with the Royals. |
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| Butler leads Royals against Sox | Saturday 8/2, 6:51 PM CT |
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Billy Butler led the Royals to a 9-7 win against the White Sox on Saturday, as he went 3-for-5 with two RBI. He hit two singles and a two-run homer.
Our View: He has racked up multiple hits in four of his last six outings, with seven RBI over the span. Butler could be headed for a solid second half, and is worth targeting if you can get him for a low price. |
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| Dye collects 26th homer | Saturday 8/2, 6:46 PM CT |
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Jermaine Dye went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 9-7 loss to the Royals.
Our View: Dye has 26 homers, with three coming over his last seven games. He should remain active in all leagues. |
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| Buehrle issues 14 hits | Saturday 8/2, 6:40 PM CT |
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Mark Buehrle issued eight earned runs on 14 hits over a mere 4.1 innings in Saturday's disappointing 9-7 loss to the Royals, with no walks and one strikeout.
Our View: He has lost back-to-back starts and falls to 8-10 for the season, with a 4.07 ERA. |
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| Clement released | Saturday 8/2, 6:35 PM CT |
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Matt Clement has been released by the Cardinals, according to the AP. He has not pitched in the major leagues since 2006, when he underwent right shoulder surgery.
Our View: He will now have to continue his comeback bid with another team. |
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| Zumaya out of action | Saturday 8/2, 6:32 PM CT |
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Joel Zumaya will not be available to pitch for the next few days due to tenderness in his upper right arm-shoulder area, according to the AP. Manager Jim Leyland said, "We’re hoping Tuesday he’s able to pitch."
Our View: Fantasy owners should keep him stashed, as he could be line for some save opportunities with Todd Jones on the DL. |
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| Kendrick collects two hits in loss | Saturday 8/2, 6:27 PM CT |
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Howie Kendrick went 2-for-4 in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Yankees. He hit a single and a double, accounting for two of the Angels' three hits in the game.
Our View: Kendrick is hitting .333 and should remain active in fantasy lineups. |
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| Weaver rocked for six runs | Saturday 8/2, 6:23 PM CT |
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Jered Weaver was rocked for six earned runs on eight hits over five innings in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Yankees in the Bronx, with one walk and five strikeouts. He gave up four home runs in his nightmarish outing.
Our View: He drops to 9-9 and his ERA climbs to 4.37. He has looked great at times this season, but has struggled with consistency and remains an unstable fantasy starter. |
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| Dukes scratched | Saturday 8/2, 6:19 PM CT |
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Elijah Dukes was scratched for Saturday's game after reporting late to the ballpark, according to the Washington Post.
Our View: He was replaced in left field by Ryan Langerhans. |
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| A-Rod homers in win | Saturday 8/2, 6:14 PM CT |
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Alex Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 8-2 win over the Angels in the Bronx.
Our View: He has registered multiple hits in four of his last seven contests, with three homers over the span. |
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| Mussina nails down 14th win | Saturday 8/2, 6:10 PM CT |
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Mike Mussina enjoyed another strong outing in Saturday's 8-2 win over the Angels at Yankee Stadium, as he only allowed one earned run on two hits over seven innings, with two walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: Mussina improves to 14-7, and trimmed his ERA to 3.44. He bounced back nicely, as he was lit up for six earned runs over five innings in his last start against Baltimore on July 28. |
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| Helton suffers another setback | Saturday 8/2, 6:05 PM CT |
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The Denver Post states that Todd Helton has suffered another setback in his recovery from a back ailment. Helton hit off a tee and did soft-toss in the batting cage on consecutive days this week, after which his back problems flared up. The team is classifying his ailment as back spasms, though they believe it is related to his lower disk injury.
Our View: There is now more uncertainty as to when he may return to the Rockies. He will rest for the remainder of this weekend and be re-evaluated Monday when the Rockies return to Coors Field.
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| Spilborghs playing catch | Saturday 8/2, 6:02 PM CT |
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Ryan Spilborghs, who is recovering from a left oblique strain, played catch this week, according to the Denver Post.
Our View: He is making steady progress, and is just feeling normal soreness. He could return to Colorado in mid-August. |
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| Johnson goes 2-for-4 | Saturday 8/2, 5:51 PM CT |
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Kelly Johnson went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Brewers.
Our View: He registered two hits in three of his last four games, and is worth starting while he is hot. |
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| Morton pitches well in loss | Saturday 8/2, 5:47 PM CT |
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Charlie Morton only allowed two earned runs on four hits over seven innings in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Milwaukee, with one walk and four strikeouts.
Our View: He pitched well, but was dealt a loss due to poor run support from his Braves' team-mates. His record drops to 2-5, and should only be on rosters in deeper NL-only leagues. |
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| Fielder crushes two homers | Saturday 8/2, 5:44 PM CT |
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Prince Fielder went 2-for-3 with three RBI as he led the Brewers to a 4-2 win over the Braves on Saturday. Both of his hits were home runs.
Our View: Fielder has impressively homered in four straight games, and has 25 for the season. |
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| Sabathia claims 11th win | Saturday 8/2, 5:40 PM CT |
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CC Sabathia was in control in Saturday's 4-2 win over Atlanta, as he only issued two earned runs on six hits over 8.1 innings of work, with one walk and nine strikeouts.
Our View: He claimed his 11th win of the season, and is yet to lose a start with the Brewers. |
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| Lugo resumes running | Saturday 8/2, 5:34 PM CT |
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The Providence Journal indicates that Julio Lugo is running again for the first time since straining his left quad. He said, "It feels good. It's coming along."
Our View: If he continues to progress, he will begin a minor-league rehab soon. He could return to Boston at some point in mid-August. |
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| Woods recalled | Saturday 8/2, 5:28 PM CT |
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Jake Woods has been recalled from Triple-A Tacoma, according to the AP.
Our View: The 26-year-old hurler went 6-1 with a 4.08 ERA in 32 appearances with Tacoma. He will likely serve as a long reliever during his stint with the Mariners, and does not merit fantasy attention in standard leagues. |
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| Griffey leaves with cramps | Saturday 8/2, 5:22 PM CT |
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Ken Griffey Jr. left Saturday's game against the Royals due to leg cramps, according to the AP.
Our View: He is listed as day-to-day. He should be fine, as he was in good spirits in the dugout while talking with his new team-mates after leaving the game. |
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| Ring designated for assignment | Saturday 8/2, 4:30 PM CT |
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Royce Ring has been designated for assignment by the Braves, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The left-handed specialist maintained a 8.46 ERA and 1.88 WHIP over 22.1 innings of relief, and his designation holds no fantasy significance. |
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| Nunez recalled | Saturday 8/2, 4:26 PM CT |
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Vladimir Nunez has been recalled from Triple-A Richmond, according to MLB.com. He will fill the roster spot for Royce Ring, who has been designated for assignment.
Our View: The 33-year-old reliever does not merit fantasy attention. |
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| Colon set for rehab start | Saturday 8/2, 4:21 PM CT |
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Bartolo Colon, who is recovering from back stiffness, is set to make a rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket Tuesday, according to the Boston Herald.
Our View: It will mark his first game appearance since June 16, when he strained his back at Philadelphia. Barring a setback, he could return to the Sox at some point in mid-August, and is worth keeping stashed away in AL-only leagues. |
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| Aardsma to throw Sunday | Saturday 8/2, 4:16 PM CT |
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David Aardsma, who is recovering from a strained right groin, is scheduled to throw an inning at Triple-A Pawtucket Sunday, according to the Boston Herald.
Our View: Barring setbacks, the middle reliever could return to Boston in mid-August. He hasn't pitched since July 18 due to his groin ailment. |
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| Anderson placed on DL | Saturday 8/2, 4:10 PM CT |
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Marlon Anderson has been placed on the 15-day DL due to a strained left hamstring, according to the AP. Daniel Murphy has been recalled from Triple-A New Orleans as the corresponding move.
Our View: Anderson held little fantasy value prior to landing on the DL, as he maintained a .222 average over 126 at-bats. |
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| Bush named fifth starter | Saturday 8/2, 4:05 PM CT |
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Dave Bush has been named the Brewers' fifth starter in the rotation, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Seth McClung will be moved to the bullpen. Bush surrendered six earned runs in his last start, and 10 runs over his last two. He only holds fantasy value in deeper NL-only leagues. |
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| Lowell in lineup | Saturday 8/2, 4:00 PM CT |
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Mike Lowell is in Boston's lineup Saturday after being forced out of Friday's game with a strained hip, according to the Providence Journal.
Our View: Lowell hasn't been hitting well since the All-Star break, but fantasy owners should be pleased his hip ailment appears to be minor. |
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| Cano sits | Saturday 8/2, 3:59 PM CT |
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Robinson Cano was not in today's lineup against the Angels due to an unspecified hand injury, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Wilson Betemit started at second in place of Cano. No word on what the injury is yet, but we'll keep you updated. |
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| Jones will be back from DL Friday | Saturday 8/2, 3:50 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones will make his return from the disabled list on Friday, according to MLB.com. He fielded ground balls and took some batting practice on Saturday and says he is ready to go. "I feel great. Everything feels good. I'll be ready by Friday," he said.
Our View: Good news for fantasy owners, who have gotten a lot out of Chipper this season. His batting average will likely dip from the .369 it is at right now, but he should still be a valuable asset. |
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| Beltran hitting second | Saturday 8/2, 3:27 PM CT |
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Carlos Beltran is hitting second in the Mets lineup tonight against Houston and pitcher Roy Oswalt, according to the New York Daily News. Beltran has a career .471 on-base percentage against his former teammate.
Our View: As noted by his on-base percentage, Beltran has had success against Oswalt, albeit in just 16 plate appearances. He also has one home run and six RBI off of the righthander. |
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| Izturis is out | Saturday 8/2, 3:17 PM CT |
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Maicer Izturis will not play in tonight's game against the Yankees due to a jammed thumb he suffered last night, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Izturis should only be used in AL-only leagues, as his .263 average and lack of power limit him. He does have 10 stolen bases though, which is one of the things that fantasy owners no doubt like about him. |
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| Johnson has solid game | Saturday 8/2, 2:57 PM CT |
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Reed Johnson went 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base while scoring two runs in the Cubs 5-1 win over Pittsburgh.
Our View: Johnson does not get enough regular playing time to have much fantasy value, but his versatility is certainly something that can help major league teams win. |
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| Doumit still hitting | Saturday 8/2, 2:53 PM CT |
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Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit just keeps on hitting. He went 3-for-4 against the Cubs, with two doubles and a run scored.
Our View: Doumit hit .317 in July and just keeps on chugging. Fantasy players looking for him to come back to earth haven't seen it yet, and he is now hitting in the number four spot in the order with Jason Bay and Xavier Nady gone. |
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| Maholm hit hard | Saturday 8/2, 2:48 PM CT |
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Paul Maholm saw his record go to 7-7 as he took the loss in the Pirates 5-1 loss to Chicago. Maholm threw six innings and surrendered five runs on eight hits.
Our View: Maholm really has had only one bad month, and that was May. Otherwise, his numbers were solid. However, with the way Pittsburgh purged their team of good players, it isn't likely he will maintain what he had been doing. |
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| Lilly wins 11th game | Saturday 8/2, 2:45 PM CT |
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Cubs hurler Ted Lilly won his eleventh decision of the season as the Cubs beat the Pirates 5-1. Lilly went 6.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out five.
Our View: After a great June, Lilly had an average July, but has started out August well. With the amount of wins and strikeouts he has, Lilly can be of some use to fantasy teams. |
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| Smith recalled | Saturday 8/2, 2:00 PM CT |
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Jason Smith was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to replace the injured Mark Grudzielanek, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Smith was hitting just .253 in the minor leagues and has no fantasy value. |
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| Grudzielanek hits DL | Saturday 8/2, 1:59 PM CT |
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Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek has been placed on the 15-day disabled list after he sprained his right ankle, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Grudzielanek doesn't offer much to mixed league fantasy players, but those in AL-only leagues will have to find a suitable replacement in the meantime. |
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| Griffey hitting second | Saturday 8/2, 1:36 PM CT |
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Ken Griffey Jr. will hit second and play center field in the White Sox game against the Royals and pitcher Kyle Davies tonight, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our View: Griffey has six career at-bats against Davies, and has three hits and one walk against him. If you are in an AL-only league and have Griffey, it won't hurt to leave him in your lineup tonight. |
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| Yabuta designated for assignment | Saturday 8/2, 1:33 PM CT |
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Reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta was designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals, according to the Chicago Tribune. He signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the team in the offseason.
Our View: That was an expensive mistake. Not only was Yabuta hittable, giving up 10.92 hits per nine innings, but he lacked control, with a 4.88 BB/9 rate. |
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| Gardenhire suspended one game | Saturday 8/2, 1:26 PM CT |
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Minnesota Twins manager has been suspended one game after his outburst and ejection Thursday against Chicago led to Twins fans throwing things on the field, according to the AP.
Our View: Gardenhire will miss tonight's game against Cleveland. He was also fined for the incident. |
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| Rogers usually gets best of Crawford | Saturday 8/2, 12:54 PM CT |
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Tampa outfielder Carl Crawford is not having a particularly good year, and those struggles may continue tonight, as Crawford and his Rays teammates square off against Kenny Rogers. Crawford hits only .208 against the Detroit lefty, with five hits in 24 at-bats.
Our View: Crawford have not been the player many fantasy owners hoped he would be when they undoubtedly took him in the first or second round. It doesn't seem likely that he will start to turn that around against Rogers, either. |
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| Teixeira struggles against Mussina | Saturday 8/2, 12:43 PM CT |
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Don't necessarily look for big numbers tonight from new Halos first baseman Mark Teixeira. Against tonight's starting pitcher for the Yankees, Mike Mussina, Teixeira is just 4-for-25 (.160) with six strikeouts and zero extra-base hits.
Our View: Teixeira has only had 10 at-bats for the Angels in his three games there, and he does have three hits. Fantasy owners waiting for him to hit his first home run in a Halos uni may have to wait yet another day, though. |
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| Tejada hits Santana well | Saturday 8/2, 12:29 PM CT |
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Not many hitters hold an advantage over Johan Santana, but Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada certainly does. When Houston plays the Mets tonight, Tejada will go into the game with a .333 batting average and .438 on-base percentage against the Cy Young Award winning lefty.
Our View: In 27 at-bats, Tejada has two home runs off Santana, and has walked five times. Tejada had a cool July, hitting under .260, but maybe he will begin a hot streak tonight with a few hits off Santana. |
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| Morneau has great match-up | Saturday 8/2, 12:23 PM CT |
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Twins first baseman Justin Morneau has a great match-up tonight when Minnesota takes on the Cleveland Indians and pitcher Paul Byrd. For his career, Morneau is 17-for-40 with seven extra-base hits off the righty.
Our View: Morneau has three home runs against Byrd, and a slugging percentage of .775 off of him. Make sure he is in your lineup and expect big things. |
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| Gathright starts throwing | Saturday 8/2, 11:55 AM CT |
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Royals outfielder Joey Gathright started to throw and in a few days he will begin hitting, according to the Kansas City Star.
Our View: Gathright is a good option for fantasy players needing stolen bases, but only if you can live with that .302 on-base percentage. But if you are in a league that uses slugging percentage, he probably isn't worth the trouble. Among his 62 hits, just three have gone for extra bases. |
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| Aviles is Royals player of month | Saturday 8/2, 11:52 AM CT |
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Shortstop Mike Aviles was named the Royals player of the month for July, according to the Kansas City Star. He hit .330 with 12 extra base hits during the month.
Our View: Aviles remains a very sound fantasy option, as he is hitting .325 on the season with six home runs and 28 RBI. |
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| Lieber will began rehab assignment | Saturday 8/2, 11:12 AM CT |
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Cubs pitcher Jon Lieber has been throwing and will begin a minor league rehab assignment soon, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View: Lieber had a role in the Cubs bullpen, and threw well, with a 3.43 ERA and just five walks in 44.2 innings. His fantasy value is very small, however. |
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| Miller designated for assignment | Saturday 8/2, 11:02 AM CT |
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Catcher Corky Miller was designated for assignment by the Braves, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: Brian McCann has been cleared for activity, and Miller was hitting an awful .093 in 54 at-bats. |
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| Peguero demoted | Saturday 8/2, 10:47 AM CT |
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Just days after being recalled, Arizona righthander Jailen Peguero was demoted to the minor leagues, according to the Arizona Republic.
Our View: Peguero did not pitch an inning in his brief stint. |
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| Cruz activated from DL | Saturday 8/2, 10:45 AM CT |
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Juan Cruz was activated from the disabled list on Friday, and he will join the team in his former role in the bullpen, according to the Arizona Republic.
Our View: Cruz can give fantasy teams a lift in very deep leagues if they are in desperate need of strikeouts. He has a 13.50 K/9 mark so far this year. |
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| Scherzer lights out in minors | Saturday 8/2, 10:42 AM CT |
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Coming back from the minor league disabled list with shoulder fatigue, Diamondbacks prospect Max Scherzer threw well Thursday in Triple-A, according to the Arizona Republic. Scherzer tossed three innings, allowing one hit while striking out seven.
Our View: Scherzer is a candidate to rejoin the Diamondbacks rotation later on this month. Should he not get recalled this month, surely he will be up on September 1. Even if he comes back in a relief role, he still has fantasy value because of the strikeouts he can pile up. |
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| Montanez killing ball | Saturday 8/2, 10:35 AM CT |
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Orioles minor leaguer Luis Montanez has been crushing the ball all year, and recently hit for the cycle, making it harder for the Orioles to ignore him, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: Montanez is hitting .332 with 25 home runs and 94 RBI in Double-A. Though at age 26, he's too old to be considered a true prospect, if he keeps clubbing the ball like this, the Orioles will at least have to consider calling him up. |
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| Castillo could be back next week | Saturday 8/2, 10:11 AM CT |
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Mets second baseman Luis Castillo played the first game in his rehab stint and went 0-for-2 in rookie ball, according to the New York Daily News.
Our View: Castillo has been on the DL with a strained hip flexor, but it has been estimated he will be back in a week, after a few more rehab contests. |
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| Muphy joins Mets | Saturday 8/2, 10:08 AM CT |
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One day after being promoted from Double-A to Triple-A, Mets prospect Dan Murphy has been recalled to the big league team, according to the New York Daily News.
Our View: Murphy went 1-for-4 in his one Triple-A game, but in Double-A he was pounding the ball, hitting over .300 with 13 home runs. He can play many positions, but he'll likely see the most playing time in left field. |
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| Paulino will throw simulated game | Saturday 8/2, 9:52 AM CT |
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Houston pitcher Felipe Paulino will throw his second simulated game today as he recovers from a pinched nerve in his right arm, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Our View: Paulino will throw two innings at 20 pitches per inning and barring any setbacks, he will begin his rehab assignment. |
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| Walrond recalled | Saturday 8/2, 9:37 AM CT |
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The Phillies recalled lefthanded pitcher Les Walrond to take the roster spot of the disabled Rudy Seanez, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Our View: Walrond is a journeyman type who does not have fantasy value. |
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| Seanez hits DL | Saturday 8/2, 9:33 AM CT |
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The Philadelphia Phillies put reliever Rudy Seanez on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Our View: Seanez has a respectable ERA of 3.58, but he walks far too many people and his WHIP was 1.62. He holds little fantasy value. |
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| Turnbow will start physical therapy | Saturday 8/2, 9:20 AM CT |
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Derrick Turnbow and the Brewers have decided the reliever will start physical therapy instead of surgery to try and repair his torn right rotator cuff, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Our View: Turnbow will not pitch again in the 2008 season, and even when he did, he was awful. The righty threw 6.1 innings, walked 13, gave up 12 hits, had an ERA of 15.63, a WHIP of 3.95, a H/9 of 17.05 and a BB/9 of 18.47. |
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| Gonzalez will lose time to Iguchi | Saturday 8/2, 9:04 AM CT |
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Second baseman Edgar Gonzalez will see his playing time reduced now that regular second baseman Tadahito Iguchi has returned from the DL, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Our View: After a fantastic June, Gonzalez slumped in July, and ended the month with an OBP under .300. Fantasy players should look in a different direction for second baseman now. |
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| Capps will throw simulated game | Saturday 8/2, 8:36 AM CT |
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Pirates closer Matt Capps will throw a simulated game today and if he feels well, will start a rehab assignment next weekend, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Our View: Capps has performed well as the team's closer and fantasy owners should be happy that he'll be back soon. However, with the purging of the team's roster, how many opportunities he'll receive to close out games is a question mark. |
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| Rangers fire pitching coach | Saturday 8/2, 8:28 AM CT |
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The Texas Rangers fired pitching coach Mark Connor and bullpen coach Dom Chiti, according to the AP. Triple-A pitching coach Andy Hawkins will take over the same role in the big leagues, and Jim Colborn will become the team's bullpen coach.
Our View: The Rangers have the worst ERA in all of baseball, and the worst in the AL by more than half a run. Texas is the only team in baseball whose bullpen and starters have an ERA over 5.00. This change certainly can't hurt. |
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| Aurilia's playing time to diminish | Saturday 8/2, 8:18 AM CT |
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Rich Aurilia will no longer see much playing time, as the Giants move in a younger direction, according to the San Jose Mercury News. "He'll still get in there two or three times a week," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said.
Our View: Only players in NL-only leagues may have Aurilia on a fantasy roster, and if you do, it's time to cut bait and find a replacement. |
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| Vizquel wants to play next season | Saturday 8/2, 8:16 AM CT |
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Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel has confirmed that he wants to play again next year because his knee was feeling better, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Our View: That will be yet another season fantasy players can completely ignore him. |
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| Ramirez wanted to stay in Boston | Saturday 8/2, 8:12 AM CT |
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Manny Ramirez wanted to stay in Boston after all, according to the Boston Globe. After being informed of the trade, Ramirez had his agent, Scott Boras, call Sox GM Theo Epstein and tell him if the club would drop the option year on Ramirez's contract, he would be on his best behavior the rest of the season.
Our View: So after all Ramirez did about clamoring to be traded, and saying the Red Sox did not deserve a player like him, he doesn't want to leave? As the story noted, that just confirms that Ramirez's behavior wasn't just "Manny being Manny." He was Manny being a disruption on purpose. |
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| Duncan has serious injury | Saturday 8/2, 8:00 AM CT |
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Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan will undergo surgery to install a prosthetic disc in place of a herniated disc in his neck and is out for the regular season, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The procedure is relatively new and thought never to be done on an athlete before. It has been called something that could be career threatening.
Our View: While he is certainly not a fan favorite in St. Louis, and of little consequence in fantasy baseball, you don't want to see someone's career end so early because of injury. |
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| Manny has two hits for Dodgers | Saturday 8/2, 12:36 AM CT |
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Manny Ramirez had two hits in four AB in his first appearance for the Dodgers though he did ground into a double play in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Our View: How weird is it to see him in a Dodgers uniform? Try very. Manny will hit no matter where he is, and he started doing just that on this night with two base knocks. |
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| Lyon gains revenge | Saturday 8/2, 12:34 AM CT |
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Brandon Lyon picked up his 24th save of the year on Friday night as he pitched a scoreless ninth inning to lower his ERA to 3.50.
Our View: Lyon has run off four straight saves without allowing a run after a brutal showing on July 20th against the Dodgers (five runs in 0.2 IP). |
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| Johnson working on scoreless streak | Saturday 8/2, 12:33 AM CT |
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Randy Johnson had a great night on the hill on Friday as he allowed the Dodgers to score only one run, it was unearned, over six innings in his ninth victory of the year.
Our View: Johnson struck out six without allowing a single walk in his third straight outing without allowing an earned run. He may not be the flame thrower of old with only 12 K in his last 20 IP, but he certainly is proving he can still be highly effective. |
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| Wilson leads NL in saves | Saturday 8/2, 12:16 AM CT |
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Brian Wilson pulled a Whodini act on Friday night as he loaded the bases before inducing a game ending double play for his NL leading 29th save of the season.
Our View: The guy just can't do things the easy way. Wilson owns a poor 1.54 WHIP, and his ERA isn't great at 4.46, but he is 29 for 31 in converting saves and isn't in danger of losing his spot at the back end of the Giants bullpen. |
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| Gonzalez goes opposite field | Saturday 8/2, 12:13 AM CT |
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Adrian Gonzalez hit an opposite field home run, his 26th of the year, in the Padres extra inning loss to the Giants.
Our View: Adrian has 26 bombs and 83 RBI, staggering production for a batter who calls Petco Park home. If he played in a more offensively prone ballpark, the numbers could be huge. |
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| Kershaw shuts down D'backs | Saturday 8/2, 12:11 AM CT |
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Clayton Kershaw pitched six scoreless innings against the D'backs on Friday night allowing just four hits and one walk on the night.
Our View: The key tonight was Kershaw's control as he walked only one batter. This is the second straight top shelf outing for the rookie as he has now gone 12 innings in his last two starts with only two walks and not a single run allowed. |
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| Lopez has 19-game streak | Saturday 8/2, 12:10 AM CT |
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Jose Lopez extended hit hitting streak to 19 games on Friday night as he went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Our View: A .306 average for guy who plays second base and was a late round pick is great value. Lopez is proving that last years regressing was due to off field family issues and not the result of pitchers figuring him out. |
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| Olsen strong in win | Saturday 8/2, 12:08 AM CT |
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Garrett Olson took a shutout into the ninth inning before settling for 8.1 innings of three run ball in his eighth win of the year.
Our View: Olsen continues to give up hits at an alarming rate with 11 tonight and 119 in 98.1 innings, but he only walked one batter on this night to keep the runs scored to a minimum. |
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| Washburn horrible in loss | Saturday 8/2, 12:06 AM CT |
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Jarrod Washburn allowed all of eight runs over his last four starts, but on this night he was pounded for six runs over 4.2 innings in his 10th loss of the season.
Our View: Washurn's ERA skyrocketed to 4.77 as perhaps the letdown of not being moved to the Yankees got to him. Whatever happened it ended a run of eight outings in nine appearances in which he allowed two or fewer runs. |
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| Markakis has three hits | Saturday 8/2, 12:05 AM CT |
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Nick Markakis had three hits, one run scored, and was caught stealing in the Orioles 10-5 victory over the Mariners on Friday night.
Our View: Markakis is working on a seven game hitting streak that has produced seven hits over the past three games. During the streak, he has knocked in just three runs. |
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