| Scar tissue causing Penny problems | Saturday 8/16, 11:53 PM CT |
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Brad Penny received the results of his latest MRI. He has increased scar tissue in the front of his right shoulder. It is impinging on his rotator cuff tendon and causing inflammation, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. Penny will rest until at least Tuesday and be re-evaluated early next week. He may not be back this season.
Our View: It's been a lost year for Penny, and it doesn't sound like fantasy owners have any reason to hold out hope for help in September. |
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| Upton will play on Sunday | Saturday 8/16, 11:49 PM CT |
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B.J. Upton will return to the lineup on Sunday, the Tampa Tribune reports.
Our View: The youngster was reprimanded with a bench spot on Saturday after he failed to hustle on Friday. Hopefully B.J. learned the lesson. |
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| Guillen back in the lineup | Saturday 8/16, 10:57 PM CT |
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Carlos Guillen went 1-for-4 with a solo homer on Saturday night. The bigger news was that he was in the lineup after missing three games due to a sore lower back.
Our View: Fantasy owners can feel free to use Guillen in their lineups moving forward. |
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| Flores injures calf | Saturday 8/16, 10:52 PM CT |
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Catcher Jesus Flores strained his right calf in the sixth inning on Saturday. Precautionary X-rays were taken, and he is considered day-to-day, the AP reports.
Our View: Flores has been one of the few true bright spots for the Nats this year, and we're happy to hear that this injury doesn't sound serious. |
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| Harrison throws a birthday party | Saturday 8/16, 10:11 PM CT |
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Matt Harrison posted easily the best performance of his young career on Saturday night. The southpaw celebrated his 23rd birthday by tossing eight shutout innings against the Rays. He allowed three hits, walked none, and struck out eight. Harrison improved to 5-2.
Our View: Fantasy owners will buy Harrison a bunch of cakes if he treats every outing like it's his birthday. He hadn't been impressive in seven starts leading up to this gem, and fantasy owners should wait at least one more start before thinking about him. |
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| Francoeur goes 4-for-5 | Saturday 8/16, 10:06 PM CT |
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Jeff Francoeur is on fire! He went 4-for-5 with a double, two runs, and two RBI in Saturday's win over the Giants. Francoeur also had three hits on Thursday.
Our View: Frenchy continues to have a nightmare season, and we're happy to report any signs of life in his bat. |
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| Matsui goes 1-for-3 | Saturday 8/16, 10:03 PM CT |
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Hideki Matsui went 1-for-3 with a single in his second rehab game on Saturday. He has been out since June 22 due to a sore left knee.
Our View: It sounds like the Yankees will push Matsui quickly if his knee responds well. He could be back next week and potentially help fantasy teams over the final five weeks or so. |
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| Palmer rocked by Braves | Saturday 8/16, 10:00 PM CT |
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Matt Palmer's major league debut didn't go as he likely dreamed. The rookie allowed seven hits and six runs over 2.1 innings against the Braves. He hurt his own cause by walking four and striking out none.
Our View: Palmer may be returning to Triple-A Fresno for his next start. Fantasy owners don't need to know his name. |
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| Sanchez picks up win | Saturday 8/16, 9:57 PM CT |
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Anibal Sanchez improved to 2-2 with an effective performance against the Cubs on Saturday. He allowed three hits and one run over 5.1 innings. Sanchez walked five and struck out six.
Our View: It wasn't the cleanest performance, but the Marlins will take it. Sanchez has looked pretty good in four starts since coming back from right shoulder surgery. The walks are a bit troublesome, but fantasy owners should be able to trust him in matchups against weaker opponents. |
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| Stewart drives in two | Saturday 8/16, 9:54 PM CT |
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Ian Stewart went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs, and two RBI on Saturday night. He has had a slow August but is still hitting .322-4-24-17 in 27 games since the All-Star break.
Our View: Stewart has a very promising bat, and we're glad to see the Rockies giving him regular playing time. We expect some ups and downs this season, but he is building up value for the 2009 rankings. |
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| Milledge goes 3-for-4 | Saturday 8/16, 9:51 PM CT |
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Lastings Milledge's bat looked good again on Saturday night. He went 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI, and two runs in a loss to the Rockies. He is hitting .371 with five homers and four steals in August.
Our View: If Milledge can continue to rake through the rest of this season, he'll shoot up draft boards for 2009. Lastings is still only 23 years old. |
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| Tulowitzki drives in three | Saturday 8/16, 9:48 PM CT |
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The Rockies routed the Nationals on Saturday night, and Troy Tulowitzki led the charge. He went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs, and three RBI.
Our View: It would be nice to see Tulo settle in and put up regular performances like this down the stretch. He has had a very disappointing season, and we're looking for reasons to trust the youngster in 2009. |
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| Harang knocked around again | Saturday 8/16, 9:45 PM CT |
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Aaron Harang was rocked again on Saturday. He served up seven hits and eight runs over 3.1 innings against the Cardinals. The carnage included three homers.
Our View: Can the Reds just shut Aaron down and let him rest up for 2009? Harang has been awful this year and clearly isn't himself. Fantasy owners have no reason to trust him. |
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| Pujols homers twice | Saturday 8/16, 9:43 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with two solo homers in Saturday's win over the Reds. The opposition found a way to stop him later in the contest. Pujols was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning.
Our View: Albert has clearly lost a lot. He has only eight homers, 27 RBI, and 27 runs in 30 games since the All-Star break. That's not cutting it. (Yes, that's sarcasm) |
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| Young swats grand slam | Saturday 8/16, 9:38 PM CT |
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Chris Young went 3-for-5 with a grand slam in Saturday's win over the Astros. His other two hits were singles. Young is hitting .286-4-19-17-4 in 27 games since the All-Star break.
Our View: Young turned his bat (and legs) up a few notches after the All-Star break in 2007, and he is doing it again this year... to a smaller degree. He has lost a lot of fantasy value this season. |
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| Cabrera hits 25th homer | Saturday 8/16, 9:35 PM CT |
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Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 with a homer, two runs, and one RBI in Saturday's win over the Orioles. He is up to 25 home runs on the season, including nine since the All-Star break.
Our View: Cabrera has been a fantasy stud over the past six weeks or so with 14 homers and 45 RBI over 38 games. What took you so long, Miggy? |
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| Montero drives in five | Saturday 8/16, 9:32 PM CT |
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Miguel Montero swatted a grand slam and finished Saturday night at 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs against the Astros.
Our View: The young backstop nearly doubled his season RBI total in one night. Montero remains the clear backup to Chris Snyder. |
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| Verlander back in the win column | Saturday 8/16, 9:25 PM CT |
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Justin Verlander bounced back from four straight rough outings and improved to 9-13 with a win over the Orioles on Saturday night. He held the O's to four hits and two unearned runs over six innings. Verlander walked three and struck out six.
Our View: It's too late for Verlander to salvage his very disappointing season, but it's nice to see him have an outing like this. It will be even nicer if he can string together a handful of effective showings. |
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| Another two hits for Reyes | Saturday 8/16, 9:22 PM CT |
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Jose Reyes went 2-for-5 with a triple, homer, and two RBI in Saturday's win over the Pirates. He has multiple hits in six of his last seven games.
Our View: The dynamic talent has really excelled since his rough April. He continues to lag behind our preseason expectations for stolen bases, but his other digits are excellent. |
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| Sanchez collects three hits | Saturday 8/16, 9:18 PM CT |
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Freddy Sanchez went 3-for-5 against the Mets on Saturday. He is 33-for-89 (.371) since the All-Star break.
Our View: Sanchez has been dealing with right shoulder issues all season, and many fantasy owners justifiably gave up on him. His work since mid-July, though, makes us believe he is worth another look. |
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| Pedro impressive against Pirates | Saturday 8/16, 9:16 PM CT |
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Pedro Martinez had his finest outing of the season on Saturday night. He held the Pirates to eight hits and one run over seven innings. Martinez walked one and struck out four. It was the first time all season (13 starts) that he had pitched seven innings.
Our View: Pedro now has a 2.59 ERA over four starts since returning from his father's funeral. For the first time all season, we might be able to truly say that we're ready to trust the former ace with a spot in fantasy lineups. |
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| Byrd shows the same feathers | Saturday 8/16, 8:37 PM CT |
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Paul Byrd made his Red Sox debut on Saturday and took the loss against the Blue Jays. The right-hander allowed 10 hits and four runs over 7.1 innings. He also walked none and struck out none.
Our View: Byrd pitched like, well, Paul Byrd. The veteran had been hot before moving to Boston, but we didn't expect that to last. Fantasy owners can feel free to use him for his win potential, but you shouldn't expect a great ERA. |
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| Rios goes deep | Saturday 8/16, 8:35 PM CT |
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Alex Rios went 2-for-4 with a triple and a two-run homer in Saturday's win over the Red Sox.
Our View: Rios has knocked five homers since the All-Star break, which bests his total (four) from prior to the mid-July festivities. He is still way below the total we expected. |
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| Ellsbury back in the lineup | Saturday 8/16, 8:33 PM CT |
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Jacoby Ellsbury returned to the starting lineup on Saturday, but he went 0-for-4 against Roy Halladay. The outfielder has missed four starts due to a bruise near his tailbone.
Our View: Fantasy owners can plan on using Ellsbury moving forward, and they shouldn't treat him too harshly for failing against one of the best hurlers in the majors. |
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| Halladay tosses complete game | Saturday 8/16, 8:31 PM CT |
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Roy Halladay tossed a complete game against the Red Sox on Saturday and improved to 14-9. The ace carried a shutout into the ninth inning, when he allowed a solo homer. Halladay finished with seven hits and one run against.
Our View: Doc isn't the frontrunner, but his name should be mentioned in Cy Young talk. He has now tossed eight complete games and ranks among the leaders in wins, ERA, WHIP, and BAA. Oh, and he's been excellent for fantasy teams. |
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| Torre not counting on Penny | Saturday 8/16, 8:18 PM CT |
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Manager Joe Torre doesn't expect pitcher Brad Penny to return this year. "Nothing anybody has said to me makes me say that," Torre tells the Los Angeles Daily News. "It's just (based) off what has happened this year. He did his time on the DL and did the slow process of coming back, of rehab and all that. There just seems to be something that just doesn't feel right, I guess."
Our View: Penny has made only two starts since June 14 due to right shoulder problems, and it sounds like fantasy owners shouldn't be counting on him to help them in September. |
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| Montanez sits with injured hand | Saturday 8/16, 8:16 PM CT |
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Lou Montanez was not available on Saturday due to an injured left hand and wrist. He was hit by a throw on Friday. "Montanez is not able to swing a bat," manager Dave Trembley informs MLB.com. "When he slid into second [Friday] night, he got hit. So he's sore and he's not in the lineup." The outfielder may be able to play on Sunday.
Our View: The ailment doesn't sound serious, and it hopefully won't cool off Montanez's hot bat. |
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| Feierabend to start on Sunday | Saturday 8/16, 7:37 PM CT |
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The Mariners will officially call up Ryan Feierabend on Sunday and have him start against the Twins, the AP confirms. The 22-year-old southpaw is 7-2 with a 2.49 ERA over 17 minor league starts this year.
Our View: The Mariners have no reason not to let Feierabend come up and make a handful of starts. He did not fare well over his 49.1 innings in 2007, but the youngster may be better prepared this time around. Fantasy owners shouldn't trust him, yet. |
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| Silva placed on DL | Saturday 8/16, 7:34 PM CT |
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The Mariners have placed Carlos Silva on the 15-day disabled list due to tendinitis in his right elbow, the AP reports. Ryan Feierabend has been called up and will start on Sunday.
Our View: We have a feeling that the Mariners won't rush Silva back. He has had a nightmare season, and the club might as well get a decent look at a youngster like Feierabend. |
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| Team not counting on Burnett in 2009 | Saturday 8/16, 7:18 PM CT |
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The Blue Jays aren't counting on A.J. Burnett being part of their team in 2009. "It certainly looks like A.J. won’t be here," manager Cito Gaston tells the Toronto Star. "I don’t know, but we might have a few guys who can pick that slack up." Burnett says he hasn't made up his mind about opting out of the final two years of his contract. He can earn $24 million over 2009 and 2010.
Our View: Given the funny money we've seen thrown at free agent pitchers in recent years, it makes financial sense for Burnett to hit the open market. He'd really need to love Toronto to stick around. |
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| Braun available to pinch-hit | Saturday 8/16, 6:57 PM CT |
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Ryan Braun will be available to pinch-hit on Saturday night, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. He remains out of the starting lineup due to a strained ribcage.
Our View: Braun could be back in the lineup as soon as Sunday, and fantasy owners can definitely plan on using him next week. |
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| Bradley scratched | Saturday 8/16, 6:55 PM CT |
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Milton Bradley has been scratched from Saturday's lineup due to an illness, the Dallas Morning News reports. Dr. Keith Meister will examine the DH/outfielder. Frank Catalonotto will start in his place.
Our View: We'll assume that Bradley is day-to-day until we know more. He previously missed time this month due to a strained quad. |
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| Meredith sent down | Saturday 8/16, 6:52 PM CT |
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The Padres have optioned reliever Cla Meredith to Triple-A Portland, MLB.com reports.
Our View: It wasn't too long ago that Meredith was a trusted setup man. He has given up a ton of hits over the past month (18 in 12 innings) and obviously has no fantasy value. |
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| K-Rod picks up 47th save | Saturday 8/16, 6:47 PM CT |
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Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 47th save of the season when he worked a scoreless ninth against the Indians on Saturday. He allowed one hit and struck out two. Rodriguez has tied his single-season career-high in saves, set in 2006.
Our View: There have only been 14 seasons of more than 47 saves in major league history, and K-Rod is only 10 short of tying Bobby Thigpen's record. He has dominated that fantasy category this year. |
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| Padilla pushed to Tuesday | Saturday 8/16, 6:43 PM CT |
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Vicente Padilla will miss his scheduled start on Sunda due to an inflamed muscle joint in his neck, the AP reports. Dustin Nippert will take his place against the Rays. Padilla is tentatively rescheduled to work on Tuesday against the Tigers.
Our View: Padilla has been a pain in the neck for fantasy teams since his solid work in April and May. We wouldn't count on him next week. |
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| Anderson owns 20-game hitting streak | Saturday 8/16, 6:40 PM CT |
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Garret Anderson went 2-for-4 on Saturday and extended his hitting streak to 20 games. He is batting .386 (32-for-83) over that time.
Our View: The veteran outfielder/DH is making up for his awful, awful June. Anderson remains a boring but mildly useful player in mixed fantasy leagues. |
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| Loe recalled | Saturday 8/16, 6:37 PM CT |
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The Rangers have recalled pitcher Kameron Loe, the Ticker reports.
Our View: Once a promising arm, the 26-year-old Loe simply hasn't developed as the organization had hoped. He has no fantasy value. |
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| Lackey notches 10th win | Saturday 8/16, 6:34 PM CT |
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John Lackey improved to 10-2 with a so-so performance against the Indians on Saturday. The ace allowed six hits and three runs over six innings. He walked three (two intentional), struck out three, and allowed two homers.
Our View: Lacker hasn't always had his best stuff recently, but he keeps on winning. He remains a very solid starter in fantasy leagues. |
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| Smith drops to 5-12 | Saturday 8/16, 6:32 PM CT |
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Greg Smith held the White Sox to two runs over five innings on Saturday, but he slipped to 5-12. The rookie allowed eight hits, walked two, struck out one, and tossed a wild pitch.
Our View: Smith hasn't helped fantasy owners very much since May and hasn't won since June, but we are willing to give the rookie some slack during his first major league season. He remains a nice value in keeper leagues. |
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| Danks effective against A's | Saturday 8/16, 6:29 PM CT |
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John Danks continues to do fine work for the Pale Hose. The southpaw improved to 10-5 by holding the A's to six hits and one run over six innings. Danks walked five and struck out five. He is 3-0 against the A's this year.
Our View: The A's helped out by hitting into three double plays over the first five innings. Danks continues to be one of the best surprise stories of the fantasy season. |
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| DeJesus returns | Saturday 8/16, 6:25 PM CT |
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David DeJesus returned to the lineup on Saturday and went 2-for-6 with a double. He had missed the previous two games due to a sore lower back.
Our View: DeJesus is having a fine season with the stick, but nagging injuries have punched holes in his playing time and ultimately kept his numbers down. If he can have a strong finish, his 2009 value could go way up. |
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| Ichiro collects two hits, two RBI | Saturday 8/16, 6:22 PM CT |
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Ichiro Suzuki went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's loss to the Twins. He is hitting .331 since July 1.
Our View: Ichiro hasn't performed up to his lofty standards this season, but he has been peppering the ball a little better over the last six weeks. |
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| Mauer stars in win over Mariners | Saturday 8/16, 6:18 PM CT |
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Joe Mauer scored the winning run in the thrilling 6-5 win over the Mariners on Saturday afternoon. The catcher went 3-for-4 with a homer, three runs, and two RBI, and he pushed his average to .321.
Our View: The 2006 AL batting champ is in the thick of the race again. He also happens to be one of the game's best fantasy catchers despite his lack of homers. |
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| Casilla takes batting practice | Saturday 8/16, 5:50 PM CT |
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Alexi Casilla took batting practice on Saturday and could begin a minor league rehab assignment early next week, MLB.com reports. He is trying to come back from a torn ligament in his right thumb. Casilla only hit from the right side on Saturday, as the thumb bothers him more when he hits left-handed. The Twins are cautiously hoping that Casilla could rejoin the club as early as August 21.
Our View: We're skeptical that Casilla will be ready by August 21, but we also didn't think he'd be this far along by now. We'll continue to update his status. |
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| Votto reinstated | Saturday 8/16, 5:40 PM CT |
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The Reds reinstated Joey Votto from the bereavement list on Saturday, the AP reports. Votto is not in the starting lineup and may sit out until early next week. "He hasn’t hit in a week," manager Dusty Baker explains. "He worked out a couple of times."
Our View: What? Did Joey forget how to hit during his week away? |
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| Encarnacion not in lineup | Saturday 8/16, 5:37 PM CT |
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Edwin Encarnacion is getting a day off on Saturday. Jeff Keppinger will start at third base against the Cardinals.
Our View: Encarnacion is hitting .163 this August, and a breather might be a good thing. He has shown good pop again this year, but the inconsistency is maddening. |
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| Cano scores two | Saturday 8/16, 5:34 PM CT |
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Robinson Cano wetn 2-for-6 with a triple, two runs, and an RBI in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Royals. He is hitting .327 since the All-Star break.
Our View: Cano's numbers remain well below what fantasy owners expected heading into the season, but a very strong finish could help ease some of the anger. |
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| Grienke solid against Yankees | Saturday 8/16, 5:31 PM CT |
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Zack Greinke held the Yankees to two unearned runs over 6.2 innings on Saturday afternoon. He served up six hits, walked two, and struck out five in the no-decision.
Our View: Grienke's ERA is 5.50 since the All-Star break and nearly that high since the end of May. He earned a lot of fantasy respect early in the year, but Zach needs a strong final six weeks to push up his 2009 value. |
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| Ramirez out again | Saturday 8/16, 5:28 PM CT |
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Aramis Ramirez is out of the lineup again on Saturday night due to a bruised left hip, the Palm Beach Post reports. Mark DeRosa will start at third base. Ramirez remains day-to-day.
Our View: The injury comes at a bad time, as A-Ram is hitting .390 in August. Ramirez has surpassed 145 games only once in the past four seasons, but he still has a shot to hit that total this year. Let's hope Aramis can get and stay healthy over the final weeks. |
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| Lee sitting on Saturday | Saturday 8/16, 5:24 PM CT |
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Derrek Lee is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Marlins, the Palm Beach Post reports. Daryle Ward will start at first base. Lee has played in 120 of the team's 122 games.
Our View: Lee is hitting only .227 since the All-Star break, and Ward punched out a game-changing three-run homer on Friday. We figure this move is just a way to get Lee a breather. |
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| Ross hitting second | Saturday 8/16, 5:22 PM CT |
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Cody Ross will bat second in Saturday's tilt against the Cubs, the Palm Beach Post notes. The outfielder has spent most of the season hitting either sixth or seventh.
Our View: Marlins No. 2 hitters have batted .244 this year, which ranks 28th in the majors. Ross seems like an unlikely cure, but it's interesting to know that he'll have the opportunity. The No. 2 spot could be very productive. |
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| Gardner delivers | Saturday 8/16, 5:16 PM CT |
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Brett Gardner came through with a game-winning RBI single on Saturday afternoon. He went 3-for-5 in the game, and his biggest hit came in the 13th inning. The Yankees defeated the Royals 3-2.
Our View: Gardner should play fairly regularly following the demotion of Melky Cabrera. He has pretty good speed and a decent bat. Gardner isn't a great fantasy addition, but he could help AL-only clubs. |
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| House promoted | Saturday 8/16, 4:59 PM CT |
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The Astros called up J.R. House from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, the Sports Network reports. House, 28, was hitting .303-17-55-61 over 119 games.
Our View: House was once a decent catcher prospect, and he now also plays at first. He has no fantasy value despite the pop in his bat. |
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| Matsui on DL with sore back | Saturday 8/16, 4:55 PM CT |
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The Astros have placed second baseman Kazuo Matsui on the 15-day DL due to an irritated disc in his back, the Sports Network reports.
Our View: The Astros have many of options at second, beginning with Mark Loretta and David Newhan. Those two could platoon while Matsui is out. |
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| Hafner to start assignment on Tuesday | Saturday 8/16, 4:52 PM CT |
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Travis Hafner will head to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports. He will serve as the DH. Hafner has been out since May 25 due to a strained right shoulder.
Our View: If Hafner can hit roughly .500-30-80 in September, fantasy owners will be able to forgive him for his awful season thus far. The Indians haven't posted a timetable for his minor league rehab, but we'd be surprised if it was any shorter than one week. |
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| Martinez to move up, catch on Tuesday | Saturday 8/16, 4:50 PM CT |
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Victor Martinez will move up his rehab assignment to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, and he will switch from DH to catcher, MLB.com reports. He is coming back from right elbow surgery. Martinez has also dealt with a lingering left hamstring issue this season.
Our View: We haven't seen an exact return date for Martinez, but we imagine the Indians will want to test his elbow for at least 3-5 days at Triple-A. We'll continue to update his progress as he attempts to come back and help fantasy teams in late August and September. |
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| Glavine at the end of the road? | Saturday 8/16, 4:46 PM CT |
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Tom Glavine is expected to undergo surgery to repair his left elbow, and the operation could end his career. He hopes the procedure will only result in a repair of the torn flexor tendon. If Glavine needs to replace his ligament, he would call it a career. "I think there’s a very low percentage that there might be something wrong with my ligament," he tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "And if there was, honestly, I’d leave it alone and I’d be done." Glavine will visit Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday.
Our View: Glavine's future will remain up in the air until the middle of next week. Even if the surgery is relatively minor, there's no guarantee he'll return in 2009. Glavine says he only wants to pitch for the Braves next season. |
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| Poreda could get the call? | Saturday 8/16, 4:29 PM CT |
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The White Sox are thinking about calling up pitcher Aaron Poreda for Tuesday's open start against the Mariners, MLB.com reports. "The bottom line is we have a lot of possibilities, but to tell you the truth, nothing has been discussed in depth yet," pitching coach Don Cooper says. Poreda, 21, is 7-8 with a 3.38 ERA over 24 starts split between High-A and Double-A.
Our View: It sounds like the White Sox aren't quite ready to promote the prized prospect, but it's interesting to know that they are even discussing it. Poreda is a nice keeper league hurler. |
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| Sandoval to start at first | Saturday 8/16, 4:21 PM CT |
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Pablo Sandoval will get a start at first base on Saturday against the Braves, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Our View: Sandoval, 22, is also a catcher, and the Giants will likely look to play him a lot at both spots down the stretch. He hit .350-20-96-90 over two minor league levels before his recent call-up. |
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| Quiroz to start on Saturday | Saturday 8/16, 4:18 PM CT |
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Guillermo Quiroz will start at catcher on Saturday in place of Ramon Hernandez, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Our View: It looks like Saturday is simply a day off for Hernandez, who has been swinging a strong bat since the All-Star break. |
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| Papelbon to work through migraines | Saturday 8/16, 4:14 PM CT |
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Jonathan Papelbon will be available on Saturday night despite suffering from migraines over the past two days, the Boston Globe reports. "I've had them pretty bad the last couple of days. When I get them it affects my whole body. But I should be OK. I take the medication. I should be OK," he explains.
Our View: Fantasy owners can safely use the dominant closer. |
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| Duensing leads Team USA to win | Saturday 8/16, 4:07 PM CT |
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Brian Duensing held Team Canada to one single over 3.1 innings and picked up a crucial win in the Olympics Preliminary Round. The southpaw walked none and struck out three in the 5-4 victory.
Our View: Duensing, 25, is 5-11 with a 4.32 ERA at Triple-A Rochester this season. He might be a No. 4 or 5 starter down the road, but he could also easily end up in long relief. The Twins are loaded with young pitching. A strong showing in the Olympics can only boost his confidence. |
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| Wagner suffers setback | Saturday 8/16, 3:54 PM CT |
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Mets closer Billy Wagner will likely not be ready to come off the disabled list on Monday, according to the New York Daily News. His elbow stiffened Friday after throwing on Thursday.
Our View: Wagner threw a simulated game today, though it was just 15 pitches. He says he has no problems with his velocity, but he is still lacking his desired movement. There was no immediate word on how much longer Wagner will continue to be out. |
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| Feierabend likely to get start | Saturday 8/16, 3:49 PM CT |
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The Seattle Mariners will likely call up pitcher Ryan Feierabend to make the start tomorrow should they put Carlos Silva on the DL as expected, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Our View: Feierabend did not perform well last season with Seattle, but he has been outstanding for Triple-A Tacoma with a 7-1 record and 2.04 ERA. Don't rush to put him on any fantasy teams yet, however. Wait and see how he does in his first start before adding him. |
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| Wakefield gets work in | Saturday 8/16, 3:40 PM CT |
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Tim Wakefield played catch for the first time in about a week as he begins to recover from shoulder tightness, according to the Providence Journal.
Our View: Wakefield made around 30 tosses and he will start to stretch that out before presumably going on a rehab assignment. Despite having just seven wins, fantasy owners were pleased with Wakefield's good WHIP (1.18) and and ERA (3.67). |
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| Martinez sees action | Saturday 8/16, 3:33 PM CT |
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Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez went 0-for-2 with a walk in his first rehab start since injuring his elbow, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Martinez played as the DH, but he will be the catcher early next week. He is on track, but no specific return date is known at this point. |
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| Silva to go on DL | Saturday 8/16, 3:29 PM CT |
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Mariners pitcher Carlos Silva will likely be put on the disabled list due to "arm fatigue," according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Our View: Silva's malady has likely been deemed "arm fatigue" because they don't have a medical term for horribleness. For $48 million, the Mariners have gotten one win from Silva since April. |
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| Capps to throw | Saturday 8/16, 3:22 PM CT |
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Pittsburgh closer Matt Capps will throw two innings on Sunday in his rehab assignment, and the team will then consider what the next course of action is, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Our View: Capps will likely be with the club next week, barring a setback. He was having a nice year for fantasy owners, and should resume closing upon his return. |
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| Estes back by September | Saturday 8/16, 3:13 PM CT |
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Shawn Estes will be back with the team on September 1, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Our View: Estes will make a few more rehab starts then join the club when rosters expand. He was having a nice season, with a 3.33 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, though that was on just four games started. |
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| Sanchez will not make start | Saturday 8/16, 3:01 PM CT |
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Giants pitcher Jonathan Sanchez was scratched from his start against the Braves tonight due to a left shoulder strain, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Matt Palmer will make the start instead.
Our View: There is no word on the seriousness of the injury, or if the team will put him on the DL. Sanchez was in a downward spiral, losing four consecutive starts and five out of six, and his fantasy value was waning. |
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| Upton rehab continuing | Saturday 8/16, 2:48 PM CT |
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Justin Upton is progressing well in his rehab from a left oblique strain, and he is now 6-for-14 in Triple-A Tuscon, according to the Arizona Republic.
Our View: Manager Bob Melvin wants Upton to continue to get more work in the minors, so he will not be back to the big leagues until sometime next week. Upton has little value in mixed league formats, and even in NL-only leagues he is a bit of a gamble. His season has been somewhat disappointing, as he has just 11 home runs and 31 RBI to go with a .242 average. |
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| Seanez is back | Saturday 8/16, 2:38 PM CT |
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Phillies reliever Rudy Seanez returned to the team after recovering from right shoulder inflammation that led to him being placed on the disabled list August 1, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Our View: Seanez will work the middle innings, and he does not have fantasy value, especially due to his control issues, which have him at 6.06 BB/9. |
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| Hill's season is over | Saturday 8/16, 2:35 PM CT |
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Second baseman Aaron Hill will not play again this season due to continued problems with a concussion he suffered in May, according to NationalPost.com.
Our View: Hill does not have a timetable for his return, and he is currently seeing specialists about the issue. |
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| Yankees fire scouts | Saturday 8/16, 2:29 PM CT |
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The New York Yankees have fired two scouts who are being investigated for paying players small amounts of their signing bonuses while keeping the rest, according to the New York Times.
Our View: The scouts are Carlos Ríos, who directed Latin American scouting, and Ramón Valdivia, who was the director of Dominican Republic scouting. The FBI is looking into the matter. |
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| Wagner throws | Saturday 8/16, 2:02 PM CT |
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Billy Wagner threw 15 pitches in a simulated game in Pittsburgh today, and everything went smoothly, according to the New York Post.
Our View: Wagner will probably come off the DL on Monday, barring any setbacks. |
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| Pirates ink Alvarez | Saturday 8/16, 2:00 PM CT |
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The Pittsburgh Pirates signed the second overall pick of the draft, infielder Pedro Alvarez, to a minor league deal that included a signing bonus of $6 million, according to the AP.
Our View: Alvarez is an outstanding hitter who could see his way to the big leagues within two years if he progresses as the team believes he will. |
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| Dickey goes back to bullpen | Saturday 8/16, 1:28 PM CT |
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Mariners hurler R.A. Dickey has been put back in the bullpen after his struggles as a starter, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Our View: As a reliever, the knuckleball specialist has held opponents to a .200 batting average, while as a starter, he was hit for a .313 average. Dickey has little fantasy value in his current role. |
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| Lidge alters mechanics | Saturday 8/16, 1:24 PM CT |
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Brad Lidge altered his mechanics during his time off dealing with shoulder soreness, and it has not only helped him deal with the pain, but it has also given him extra bite on his slider, according to Phillies.com.
Our View: Lidge has been out of sight this season, striking out nearly 12 batters per nine innings while shutting the door on opponents to accumulate 29 saves. |
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| Matsui may hit DL | Saturday 8/16, 1:12 PM CT |
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There is a chance that Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui will be placed on the disabled list if the soreness in his back does not improve soon, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Our View: Matsui has missed three straight games, and should his pain persist over the weekend, he'd likely be put on the DL. David Newhan has started in Matsui's place twice, but has no fantasy value. |
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| Upton benched | Saturday 8/16, 1:03 PM CT |
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B.J. Upton was removed from the game for a second time in a week for failing to hustle on Friday, and he will be benched again on Saturday, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Rays manager Joe Maddon explained it, saying, "I can’t make it any more plain, simple, obvious, black and white. There are no gray areas. I can’t have Aki (Iwamura) run like he is and (Carlos) Pena and Cliff (Floyd), who has two bad knees, etc., and permit that. I can’t permit it.”
Our View: Upton will learn one way or another that Maddon wants his squad to play a certain way, and he will sit if he does not. Fantasy owners who enjoy his numbers can only hope that he retains the information this time. |
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| Byrd has good match-up | Saturday 8/16, 12:33 PM CT |
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Paul Byrd could not have asked for a better team to make his Red Sox debut against than Toronto. Players on the Blue Jays current roster are hitting a combined .226 off Byrd with a .262 average and just one home run.
Our View: Byrd has dominated the current players on Toronto's squad for whatever reason. Not a single Blue Jay with at least 10 career at-bats against Byrd is hitting better than .267 off of him. If you have him on your fantasy roster, be sure he's active. |
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| Ibanez looking good | Saturday 8/16, 12:26 PM CT |
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Raul Ibanez has a great match-up Saturday when he squares off against Minnesota hurler Scott Baker. Ibanez has six hits, including two home runs, in 13 lifetime at-bats against Baker.
Our View: Ibaniez is having another very solid season, providing fantasy owners with 82 RBI and 19 home runs. |
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| Dunn cannot hit Backe | Saturday 8/16, 12:22 PM CT |
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Brandon Backe goes for the Houston Astros tonight when they face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which is bad news for Adam Dunn. In his career, Dunn is 0-for-12 against Backe, with six strikeouts.
Our View: Overall, Dunn is 3-for-12 with no home runs for the Diamondbacks, though he did knock in two runs in their victory over Colorado. |
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| Bennett done for season | Saturday 8/16, 11:01 AM CT |
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Catcher Gary Bennett is probably finished for the season as the plantar fascitis he is suffering from in his left foot simply has not healed, according to the L.A. Daily News.
Our View: Bennett was Russell Martin's backup, and in 21 at-bats he was hitting just .190. He was a non-factor in fantasy leagues. |
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| Treanor to play | Saturday 8/16, 10:56 AM CT |
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After watching catcher John Baker play for five consecutive games, Matt Treanor will get his turn today, according to the Miami Herald.
Our View: Baker was praised for his play, but he hit just .235 during those five games. Treanor recently came off the DL, though he is not an offensive powerhouse either, and his .241 average and 20 RBI are not good enough for fantasy play. |
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| Cameron has poor match-up | Saturday 8/16, 10:11 AM CT |
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Brewers outfielder Mike Cameron is having a much better August than he did other months, but he has a difficult opponent tonight in L.A.'s Derek Lowe. Cameron is just 4-for-30 in his career against the right-hander.
Our View: Cameron's average is a measly .133 against Lowe, and he he has also struck out 11 times against him. If you have another option, try to use him. |
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| Youkilis successful against Halladay | Saturday 8/16, 10:00 AM CT |
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When the Boston Red Sox take on the Toronto Blue Jays and starter Roy Halladay, there will be at least one player with good success against him - Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis has a career .361 average against the Cy Young candidate.
Our View: In his career, Youkilis has gone 13-for-36 with an OBP of .452 and slugging percentage of .556. The first baseman (and third baseman while Mike Lowell is on the DL) has been hot lately and looks to continue that success tonight for fantasy owners. |
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| DeJesus improving | Saturday 8/16, 9:53 AM CT |
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Royals outfielder David DeJesus said his lower back strain is improving, but there is no timetable for him to return to action, according to the Kansas City Star. “At night, I was waking up every two hours. It’s better. That’s not happening anymore," he said.
Our View: DeJesus hasn't been of much use to fantasy owners as of late, but that could change if he reverts to full health. |
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| Galarraga will be in rotation next year | Saturday 8/16, 9:34 AM CT |
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It would have been surprising if it had not happened, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland confirmed that hurler Armando Galarraga has secured a spot in the starting rotation next season, according to the Detroit Free-Press. "As we speak, he's earned a spot in the rotation," Leyland said.
Our View: We should hope so. Galarraga has posted very good totals, with a 3.11 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 11 wins. He has been one of the great pickups this season for fantasy owners on the waiver wire. |
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| Willis goes six innings | Saturday 8/16, 9:29 AM CT |
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Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis went six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking two in his start in Triple-A Toledo, according to the Detroit Free-Press.
Our View: Willis' fastball was between 88-90 MPH, which is acceptable, and his control seems improved, as two walks is much better than what he had been dishing out. There is still no timetable for his return. |
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| Phillies not interested in Sexson | Saturday 8/16, 9:08 AM CT |
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The Philadelphia Phillies are not interested in acquiring first baseman Richie Sexson despite their need for another power bat off the bench, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Our View: Why would they be? Why would anyone? Sexson has struck out 31% of his at-bats this season, and has gotten on base just 32% of the time. |
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| Myers is solid | Saturday 8/16, 8:59 AM CT |
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Brett Myers has been pitching very well since coming off the disabled list, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.48 ERA in five starts, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Our View: Myers is once again becoming the pitcher that fantasy owners had counted on. Five starts is not necessarily a large sample size, but NL-only owners should gobble him up, and mixed leaguers should take a long, hard look at him depending on their needs. |
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| Feliz to start rehab assignment | Saturday 8/16, 8:56 AM CT |
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Phillies third baseman Pedro Feliz will likely start a rehab assignment on Sunday with the team's Single-A affiliate in Clearwater, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Our View: Feliz has had a decent year, but does not do enough to be considered in mixed leagues, as his on-base percentage is barely hovering above .300, at .304. |
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| Chamberlain to remain starter | Saturday 8/16, 8:34 AM CT |
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Yankees manager Joe Girardi said New York hurler Joba Chamberlain will likely remain a starting pitcher when he comes off the disabled list, according to the New York Daily News. "We envision him as a big league starter," Girardi said.
Our View: There had been speculation that Chamberlain would move to the bullpen, but that probably will not be the case. |
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| Ramirez paying attendance dividends | Saturday 8/16, 8:30 AM CT |
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Manny Ramirez has not only helped the offense of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he's been a boon for the box office as well, according to the L.A. Times. The team has averaged an extra 5,000 fans per game since they acquired Ramirez from Boston.
Our View: Ramirez has been everything the Dodgers have hoped for and apparently more. No way they could have assumed such a big attendance increase. The only people upset over this deal are the fantasy owners in AL-only leagues who lost a top player. |
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| Smoak signs with Rangers | Saturday 8/16, 7:35 AM CT |
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First baseman Justin Smoak signed a deal with the Texas Rangers for a signing bonus of $3.5 million, according to the Dallas Morning News. The University of South Carolina product was the team's first-round selection.
Our View: Smoak and the team got the deal done with around 15 minutes left before the deadline for teams to sign their draft picks passed. |
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| Redding upset with Milledge | Saturday 8/16, 7:30 AM CT |
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Center fielder Lastings Milledge misplayed a ball in center field with two outs on Friday, leading to three extra runs in the Nationals 4-3 loss to Colorado, and pitcher Tim Redding was none too pleased, according to the Washington Times. "Any time you give up runs, period, it's frustrating. But the most frustrating is when you know the inning should have been over and you give up runs to guys that shouldn't have been at the plate," Redding said.
Our View: Losing can be a grind, so it's likely that had a lot to do with Redding's rant, especially because the Nationals have lost eight straight. However, Milledge is having a great month of August, and one misplay by a young player is going to happen from time to time. |
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| Posey signs | Saturday 8/16, 7:15 AM CT |
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Buster Posey, the fifth overall pick of the MLB draft, signed a deal for $6.2 million, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Our View: Apparently, negotiations literally came down to the final hour before both sides agreed. However, Posey had ridiculous numbers at Florida State and was considered a sure thing as a prospect. |
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| Blake leads Dodgers to win | Saturday 8/16, 12:34 AM CT |
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Casey Blake had three hits, including a three-run homer, in the Dodgers' win over the Brewers Friday.
Our View: Manny Ramirez has been getting all the ink as far as Dodgers' newcomers go, but Blake has been pretty darn good, batting .303 with four homers and 12 RBI in 20 games. |
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| Cust goes 3-for-3 with a pair of homers | Saturday 8/16, 12:14 AM CT |
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Jack Cust went 3-for-3 with a pair of homers in Oakland's 6-4 win Friday.
Our View: Cust is batting only .231 on the year, but the A's don't really mind the low average since it's come along with 22 homers and a .377 OBP. |
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| Maddux good, but not good enough | Saturday 8/16, 12:09 AM CT |
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Greg Maddux pitched well Friday, allowing only one run on five hits while striking out four over seven innings. However, it wasn't enough, as fellow veteran Jamie Moyer pitched the Phils to a 1-0 win.
Our View: Maddux deserves to get to double-digit wins again, but it doesn't look like he's going to get there. |
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| Moyer beats Maddux Friday | Saturday 8/16, 12:06 AM CT |
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Jamie Moyer won the old geezer battle Friday, tossing seven shutout innings to beat Greg Maddux and the Padres.
Our View: With a 3.64 ERA over 25 starts, the 45-year-old Moyer is putting together his best season since 2003. |
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| Colon leaves start due to illness | Saturday 8/16, 12:03 AM CT |
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Bartolo Colon left his rehab outing after one inning Friday due to illness, according to MLB.com. "He pitched one full inning, and he got sick," manager Terry Francona said. "That's all I have right now. We'll get more."
Our View: Give that Colon's daily caloric intake is probably in the vicinity of 20,000, we're not surprised his tummy got a little upset. We'll let you know when he plans to get back on the mound. |
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| Gallardo pitches off mound | Saturday 8/16, 12:00 AM CT |
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Yovani Gallardo threw off a mound Thursday for the first time since undergoing surgery for a torn ACL, according to MLB.com. However, he and the Brewers are downplaying his progress. "It's really not anything big," Gallardo said. "It was nothing to stressful. I still have to gain some strength."
Our View: GM Doug Melvin said it's still a "long shot" that Gallardo returns this year, and if he does, it will be relief. |
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