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| Gorzelanny shows better stuff | Sunday 4/13, 11:54 PM CT |
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Tom Gorzelanny showed improvement on Sunday, thanks to a better approach. "He was more aggressive in the strike zone," manager John Russell tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "The quality of his pitches was better. He got ahead of guys and put them away. His command and his stuff was more consistent than it had been." Gorzelanny was roughed up in his April 7 but held the Reds to one run over 6.1 innings on Sunday.
Our View: We still believe the southpaw will be able to produce a sub-4.00 ERA before the season is out, but we are worried about the shoulder soreness that has been popping up. You should start him in NL-only leagues, but mixed league owners may want to continue to wait and see if he is indeed back. |
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| Matsuzaka gets wild win | Sunday 4/13, 11:46 PM CT |
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Daisuke Matsuzaka can thank his teammates for his 3-0 record. The right-hander picked up a win on Sunday despite walking six batters and allowing five hits and four runs over five innings. His ERA rose to 2.70.
Our View: That's the third time Daisuke has walked four or more batters in a game this season, which isn't a good sign. He was wild in his rookie season, too, but he has taken it to another level early in this campaign. Hopefully these walks are a temporary glitch. |
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| Giambi goes deep | Sunday 4/13, 11:42 PM CT |
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Apparently the Red Sox are the only team that can't figure out Jason Giambi. He went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and two runs on Sunday. Coming into this weekend, Giambi had only one hit, but he managed to smack two long balls in the series against the Red Sox.
Our View: Way to push that average over .100, Jason. |
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| Youkilis drives in two | Sunday 4/13, 11:37 PM CT |
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Kevin Youkilis went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Yankees. He owns seven RBI over the last six games.
Our View: Youkilis is currently 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position this season. He obviously won't keep up that pace, and fantasy owners should get over-excited about his early production. |
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| Hughes rocked by Red Sox | Sunday 4/13, 11:32 PM CT |
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Phil Hughes put forth the worst effort of his young career on Sunday. He lasted only two innings and allowed six hits and seven runs (six earned) against the Red Sox. Hughes walked three, struck out three, and needed 65 pitches to work just two frames.
Our View: Hughes is off to a rocky start, as is fellow youngster Ian Kennedy. It's a bit of a nightmare scenario for a team counting on these right-handers. Fantasy owners may want to bench Hughes until he shows us something better. |
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| Nice night for Ellsbury | Sunday 4/13, 11:28 PM CT |
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Jacoby Ellsbury went 1-for-3 with one run, two RBI, a walk, and a stolen base on Sunday. It was his second straight game with a pilfered pillow.
Our View: We were hoping that Ellsbury would be more active on the basepaths than he's been thus far. Hopefully this is the start of something good. |
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| Damon steals two bases | Sunday 4/13, 11:25 PM CT |
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Johnny Damon broke out his running shoes on Sunday. The outfielder walked three times and stole two bases. He chipped in one run and one RBI on a night in which he went 0-for-1 at the plate.
Our View: What's going on? We thought the Yankees stopped trying to steal bases. Damon's two swipes were the first for the team all season. |
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| Young Jr. swipes three at Double-A | Sunday 4/13, 11:21 PM CT |
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Eric Young Jr. went 1-for-2 with three steals and three runs scored for Double-A Tulsa on Sunday.
Our View: The son of the former major league second baseman is now batting .350 with five steals on the season. He hit .291 with 73 steals at High-A last season and could have a future in Colorado if Jayson Nix does not work out. If he does ever get a starting role, he clearly has the speed to be a fantasy stud. |
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| Harden could return this month | Sunday 4/13, 11:19 PM CT |
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The A's think there's a chance Rich Harden could be back in the rotation by the end of the month, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Harden is out due to a muscle strain under his right arm. He did not play catch on Sunday due to the cold weather.
Our View: We won't really have a good feel for Harden until he advances beyond things like playing catch. |
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| Minor leaguer Carrasco gets win | Sunday 4/13, 11:12 PM CT |
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Carlos Carrasco, arguably the Phillies’ best prospect, picked up his first win of the season at Double-A on Sunday. He allowed two runs on five hits in six innings and fanned seven batters.
Our View: The 21-year-old Carrasco has now made two solid starts at Double-A this season, and he has shown far superior control to what he showed at the same level last season. With the Phillies’ struggles to fill the back of their rotation adequately, Carrasco has a chance to make an impact in the majors late this year. |
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| Cards prospect Perez developing | Sunday 4/13, 11:10 PM CT |
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Chris Perez converted his third save of the season at Triple-A on Sunday by pitching a perfect ninth inning.
Our View: Perez has struggled somewhat in the early going, but he does only have one walk in 4.2 innings. Potentially the Cardinals’ closer of the future, Perez had serious problems with walks last season, allowing 41 in 54.2 innings. |
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| Redman ready to go | Sunday 4/13, 10:07 PM CT |
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Mark Redman will be able to start on Wednesday against the Padres, MLB.com confirms. The southpaw tested his bruised left foot in a bullpen session on Sunday.
Our View: It might be a good time to start your Padres hitters. |
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| Papelbon to rest Sunday | Sunday 4/13, 10:05 PM CT |
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Jonathan Papelbon won't be available to pitch on Sunday night, MLB.com confirms. He had to wait through a long rain delay to close the game on Saturday and is simply getting the day off.
Our View: Fantasy owners shouldn't panic if they see someone else work the ninth (if necessary) on Sunday. |
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| Garza gets good news | Sunday 4/13, 10:02 PM CT |
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The Rays are offering up more optimistic news on Matt Garza. The right-hander is recovering well from radial nerve irritation in his right arm and could be back in 2-4 weeks, MLB.com reports.
Our View: This injury put a big damper in what we hoped would be a breakout season for the promising young right-hander. If he heals properly and is back around May 1, though, it would be excellent news. |
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| Barajas injures groin | Sunday 4/13, 9:53 PM CT |
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Rod Barajas injured his groin on Sunday and left the game in the sixth inning, according to the AP. He was 2-for-3 with two RBI at the time.
Our View: We're not doctors, but we figure a groin injury makes it awful tough for a guy to catch. Gregg Zaun is the starter, but the Jays may need to find a new backup. Curtis Thigpen is the likely choice to get the call should Barajas end up on the DL. |
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| Glavine unsure of severity | Sunday 4/13, 9:49 PM CT |
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Tom Glavine is not sure of the severity of his hamstring injury, and the team will wait until Monday or Tuesday to decide his potential DL status. "I'm not concerned that it's going to be a long time, but I really don't have anything to go on to know whether I'm going to be throwing in five days either," Glavine tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Tomorrow, if it's really sore, obviously that'd be an indication I might be in some trouble."
Our View: All we can do is wait, just like the Braves and Glavine. The club is thin on good options to help fill out the rotation, and we're a number of different names will pop up within the next day or two. |
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| Lo Duca hit on hand | Sunday 4/13, 9:46 PM CT |
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Paul Lo Duca was hit on the right hand by a pitch on Sunday and sustained a bruise. The veteran tells the AP that he hopes to play on Tuesday.
Our View: If Lo Duca were out, Johnny Estrada would get the call. Neither backstop is a great option for fantasy leagues. |
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| Posada to test shoulder Monday | Sunday 4/13, 8:36 PM CT |
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Jorge Posada will throw on Monday to test his sore right shoulder, MLB.com reports. He hasn't been behind the plate since Tuesday, but he has stayed in the lineup at DH.
Our View: Posada's bat hasn't suffered, so fantasy owners shouldn't be terribly concerned. |
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| Morse injures shoulder | Sunday 4/13, 8:30 PM CT |
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Mike Morse suffered a left shoulder subluxation on Sunday. He will undergo an MRI on Sunday night, the Seattle Times reports.
Our View: The Mariners picked up a rash of injuries over the weekend, and Morse may need to go on the DL simply to help cover depth at other spots. We'll update his status when more is known. |
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| Ryan notches first save | Sunday 4/13, 8:27 PM CT |
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B.J. Ryan came off the DL and quickly picked up a save. He worked the 10th inning in Sunday's win over the Rangers. Ryan allowed one hit and kept the Rangers off the board. It was his first save since April 11, 2007.
Our View: The Blue Jays will still take it easy with Ryan and keep Jeremy Accardo in the closer mix, at least for a little while. |
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| Beltre sits with sore hamstring | Sunday 4/13, 8:24 PM CT |
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Adrian Beltre did not play on Sunday due to tightness in his right hamstring. The injury is not believed to be serious, the Seattle Times notes. Miguel Cairo started in his place, and Beltre will be re-assessed on Monday.
Our View: We'll update Beltre's status when more is known. Hopefully this is as minor as suggested. |
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| Lackey gets in bullpen session | Sunday 4/13, 8:20 PM CT |
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John Lackey threw 47 pitches in a bullpen session prior to Sunday's game. He mixed in some breaking balls for the first time during his recovery from a strained right triceps. "It was another positive step," pitching coach Mike Butcher tells the Orange County Register. "We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves but right now he looks good."
Our View: We're still looking at a May return date, even though this is obviously good news. |
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| Putz throws off mound | Sunday 4/13, 8:15 PM CT |
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J.J. Putz threw off the mound for six minutes (27 pitches) on Sunday. "I felt real good," he tells MLB.com. Putz is out due to inflammation in his right torso, and he was able to throw all his pitches at about 80-to-85 percent during the session. He could throw a simulated game late next week.
Our View: The Mariners are still working on an exact timetable, but it sounds like Putz is at least one more week away. |
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| Hunter rests toe | Sunday 4/13, 8:11 PM CT |
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Torii Hunter was given the day off on Sunday to rest his big left toe. He banged the digit into a wall on Friday and was the DH on Saturday. "He feels all right today," manager Mike Scioscia tells MLB.com. "He was limping a little yesterday. I want to get this behind him. Today's a good day to get him a rest." Hunter is day-to-day.
Our View: We expect Torii to be back on Monday, but he might not be stealing many bases in the near future. |
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| Baek rocked by Angels | Sunday 4/13, 8:09 PM CT |
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Cha Seung Baek failed to fill in ably for an injured Erik Bedard on Sunday. The right-hander allowed seven hits and four runs over 4.1 innings. His line actually looked good compared to his replacement, Eric O'Flaherty. The reliever served up six runs over 2.2 frames.
Our View: Baek is better than this, but he once again proved that long relief may ultimately be his best role. |
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| Figgins steals two bases | Sunday 4/13, 8:05 PM CT |
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Chone Figgins went 2-for-5 with one run, one RBI, and two stolen bases on Sunday. He has already attempted nine steals through 13 games.
Our View: Figgins is hitting .404 and has an OBP of over .530, so he has created ample opportunity for a green light. He won't be able to keep up this pace, of course, but he's looking like a threat for over 50 steals. |
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| Ibanez drives in three more | Sunday 4/13, 8:02 PM CT |
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Raul Ibanez continues to try and carry the middle of the Mariners offense by himself. He went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI on Sunday. Ibanez has driven in 13 runs thus far.
Our View: Raul is showing no signs of slowing down, and there is no reason he can't drive in over 100 runs for the third straight year. |
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| Kendrick injures hamstring | Sunday 4/13, 7:58 PM CT |
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Howie Kendrick's injured thumb clearly isn't a problem. After a 3-for-4 outing on Saturday, he went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI on Sunday. Unfortunately, Kendrick injured his hamstring on his second double and had to leave the game, the AP reports.
Our View: Kendrick is an excellent hitter, but injuries continue to mar his record. We don't know how bad this current ailment is and we'll update you when more info is available. |
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| Cook picks up first win | Sunday 4/13, 7:54 PM CT |
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Aaron Cook picked up his first win of the season on Sunday, a bit of redemption following his previous outing. Cook allowed eight hits and three runs over six innings against the Diamondbacks, and the offense had his back, putting up 13. In his prior start, Cook held the Braves to two hits and one run but left with a no-decision.
Our View: It's nice when things sometimes even out. Cook is far from being a fantasy stud, but he has good enough stuff to post a 4.20 ERA and potentially win 13-16 games. |
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| Snyder gets off the schneid | Sunday 4/13, 7:51 PM CT |
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Chris Snyder shook off his slow start and went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs, and one RBI against the Rockies on Sunday. He entered the game only 3-for-27 on the season.
Our View: Snyder was a pretty good fantasy catcher late last season, and his bad start was disappointing to some. He remains a decent No. 2 option in mixed leagues. |
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| Holliday hurts D'Backs | Sunday 4/13, 7:48 PM CT |
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Matt Holliday went 3-for-5 with a double, homer, two runs, three RBI, and a stolen base on Sunday. He is 12-for-33 (.364) with three long balls and 11 RBI over his last eight games.
Our View: There's a good reason Holliday was a top-five pick in many fantasy leagues. |
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| Drew collects three hits | Sunday 4/13, 7:45 PM CT |
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Stephen Drew went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs, and an RBI on Sunday against the Rockies. His average bumped up to .317, thanks in large part to three multi-hit games out of his last four.
Our View: Drew was a disappointment in 2007, but the 25-year-old shortstop is loaded with talent. It wouldn't be surprising if his numbers took a sizable leap this year. |
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| Big day for Barmes | Sunday 4/13, 7:42 PM CT |
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Clint Barmes started at shortstop on Sunday and went 3-for-6 with a homer, two runs, and four RBI. He gave Troy Tulowitzki the day off.
Our View: Tulo is struggling a bit at the moment, but there is no controversy to worry about here. If anything, Barmes could earn himself more looks at second base. |
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| Salazar fills in nicely | Sunday 4/13, 7:41 PM CT |
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Jeff Salazar got a rare start on Sunday and went 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI against the Rockies. He gave center fielder Chris Young a day to rest, at least until the starter was called upon to pinch-hit.
Our View: Salazar is decent with the stick and can play all three outfield positions, which mean he's likely to get 100 or so at-bats throughout the year. There's not much fantasy value here. |
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| Atkins hits first homer | Sunday 4/13, 7:21 PM CT |
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Garrett Atkins hit his first homer of the season on Sunday. He also added a double and went 3-for-6 with two runs and three RBI.
Our View: Atkins has a short history of starting a bit slow (especially in May) and turning it up over the second half of the season. It's good to see him finally get in a big outing, but fantasy owners may need to continue to show patience. |
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| Hoffman keeps Dodgers off the board | Sunday 4/13, 7:17 PM CT |
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Trevor Hoffman served up a double, but he held the Dodgers scoreless and picked up his fourth save on Sunday. The veteran closer had allowed a run in each of his previous two outings.
Our View: Hoffman just needed to get that ERA under 10. It'll be smooth sailing from here on out, right? We're still a little worried about his ancient arm, but it wouldn't surprise anyone if Hoffman turned back into a steady stud. |
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| Billingsley sharp in loss | Sunday 4/13, 7:13 PM CT |
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Chad Billingsley bounced back from a rough opening start and pitched well on Sunday. He held the Padres to one run and four hits over five innings. Billingsley walked two and struck out eight. He unfortunately earned a loss, as the Dodgers were unable to score.
Our View: We really like that Billingsley pounded the strike zone more this time out, as that was a huge problem for him in his last outing. |
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| Wilson records third save | Sunday 4/13, 7:10 PM CT |
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Brian Wilson provided a little excitement on Sunday. He came on in the ninth inning and allowed two singles before striking out two hitters and ending the game on a fly ball. Wilson earned his third save.
Our View: Wilson has been shaky early in the season, but the Giants have no reason not to stick through any tough times with the young closer. |
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| Maddux, bullpen silence Dodgers | Sunday 4/13, 7:07 PM CT |
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Greg Maddux and the Padres were brilliant on Sunday. They pitched a shutout against the Dodgers. Maddux took care of the first five innings and allowed only two hits. Four reliever combined to serve up three hits over the final four frames. Maddux is now 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA on the season.
Our View: We hear this Maddux guy is pretty good. The kid has a bright future. Oh, and happy 42nd birthday, Greg. |
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| Lewis doubles again | Sunday 4/13, 7:04 PM CT |
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Watch out, Earl Webb. Fred Lewis is coming after you. The Giants outfielder went 2-for-4 with a double and a run on Sunday. Lewis has ripped six doubles over the last four games.
Our View: We're joking, of course. Lewis is not going to threaten Webb's record of 67 doubles in a single season, but Fred could help a lot of NL-only league fantasy teams while Dave Roberts remains out. |
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| Ludwick stays hot | Sunday 4/13, 7:01 PM CT |
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Ryan Ludwick continues to quietly produce. The outfielder hit fourth on Sunday and went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI against the Giants. Ludwick is hitting .343 with three long balls, 10 RBI, and seven runs through 10 games.
Our View: The Cardinals have every reason to continue giving Ludwick regular at-bats. History suggests his bat will cool off soon, but NL-only owners should play him while he's hot. |
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| Lincecum strikes out 11 | Sunday 4/13, 6:57 PM CT |
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Tim Lincecum struck out 11 Cardinals on Sunday en route to his second win of the season. The young right-hander allowed six hits and two runs over six innings. His ERA rose a little, to 2.25, and he now owns 22 strikeouts over 16 frames.
Our View: What else can we say? Lincecum is a stud stuck on a pretty bad club. The Giants are 3-0 in games he's pitched this season. |
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| Pineiro rocked by Giants | Sunday 4/13, 6:52 PM CT |
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The Cardinals had one of the league's best rotations, until Sunday. Joel Pineiro made his return from shoulder inflammation and proceeded to serve up 10 hits and six runs over 3.2 innings against the Giants.
Our View: On the bright side, Pineiro didn't walk anyone. The club may want to re-think that Brad Thompson demotion. |
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| Bowker homers again | Sunday 4/13, 6:48 PM CT |
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John Bowker entered the weekend as an unknown, but he'll undoubtedly generate some Google searches on Sunday night and Monday morning. The rookie outfielder went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI against the Cardinals on Sunday. He is 4-for-7 with two long balls and seven RBI in his first two major league games.
Our View: Who does this guy think he is, Shane Spencer? Bowker hit .307-22-90 with a .523 slugging percentage at Double-A in 2007, so maybe the power is legit. The Giants have a lot of old and some younger outfielders hanging out in front of Bowker, but the rookie may be worth a one-buck flier in NL-only leagues. |
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| Burnett shaky again | Sunday 4/13, 6:42 PM CT |
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A.J. Burnett continues to struggle. He allowed seven hits and four runs over 5.2 innings against the Rangers on Sunday. The Rangers scored in the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings off of Burnett, who also walked two and struck out three. Burnett threw 114 pitches.
Our View: Burnett was okay in his opener, but his last two starts have been pretty ugly. What's really worrisome is the lack of strikeouts thus far (seven in 16.1 innings), as A.J. has always been able to make batters miss. |
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| Feldman decent in spot start | Sunday 4/13, 6:38 PM CT |
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Scott Feldman gave the Rangers a chance to win on Sunday, which is all the team could have asked. The right-hander held the Blue Jays to three runs over six full innings. Feldman served up eight hits and two walk but kept the Blue Jays from having a big inning. The former reliever took a no-decision.
Our View: Feldman was only up for a one-start outing, but his decent showing may mean he'll get a call the next time the Rangers need a starter. |
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| Wells continues to rake | Sunday 4/13, 6:35 PM CT |
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Vernon Wells continued his hot start by going 2-for-4 with one run on Sunday against the Rangers. He added in a walk.
Our View: Wells has thus far bounced back even more than we would have expected. |
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| Butler extends hitting streak | Sunday 4/13, 6:32 PM CT |
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Billy Butler extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single on Sunday. He finished the contest against the Twins at 1-for-1 with three walks.
Our View: The streak and the batting average are nice, but Butler has yet to go deep this season and has driven in only four runs. |
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| Hamilton collects two more RBI | Sunday 4/13, 6:30 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton went 1-for-5 with a solo homer and an RBI sac fly against the Blue Jays on Sunday. He owns 13 RBI through 12 games.
Our View: Many people think Hamilton is on the verge of becoming a superstar, and he's currently driving in runs like a stud. It remains to be seen if he can stay healthy for a full campaign, though. |
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| Gordon does it all | Sunday 4/13, 6:25 PM CT |
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Alex Gordon spent his Sunday hurting the Twins with both his power and his speed. The third baseman went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, double, walk, three runs, and a stolen base. Gordon owns a eight-game hitting streak and is batting .333 through 12 games.
Our View: Gordon looks fairly locked-in at the moment, and fantasy owners should enjoy the ride. |
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| Shaky return for Liriano | Sunday 4/13, 6:21 PM CT |
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Francisco Liriano failed to impress in his first major league start since September 13, 2006. The southpaw allowed six hits and four runs over 4.2 innings against the Royals. Liriano struck out four batters, but he doomed himself with five walks. "I couldn't establish the fastball. I couldn't throw my fastball," Liriano tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "If I can establish my fastball, I can do better. I was kind of nervous the first couple of innings, but then I got loose."
Our View: You can't expect anyone to dominate in their first major league game coming off Tommy John surgery. Liriano also didn't look sharp in his minor league outings, and we imagine it will simply take time for him to find his groove again. |
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| Bannister improves to 3-0 | Sunday 4/13, 6:16 PM CT |
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Brian Bannister improved to 3-0 after tossing a complete game against the Twins on Sunday. He held the AL Central rival to three hits and one unearned run. Bannister walked one, struck out three, hit a batter, and saw his ERA fall to 0.86.
Our View: Wow. Bannister flew under the radar a bit during his solid rookie campaign, but people are definitely noticing Floyd's kid now. He's a smart pitcher who clearly knows how to get guys out. |
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| Bourn shows muscle | Sunday 4/13, 6:10 PM CT |
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Michael Bourn flexed his muscles a bit on Sunday. The speedy outfielder hit his first home run (a solo shot) of the year off rookie hurler Burke Badenhop. Bourn added a single and a second run over five at-bats.
Our View: Bourn now owns two homers over 174 career major league at-bats. That pace sounds about right. |
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| Badenhop takes loss in first start | Sunday 4/13, 6:08 PM CT |
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Burke Badenhop first career start didn't go as hoped. He allowed seven hits and four runs over five innings against the Astros. The rookie served up two homers and two doubles, walked one, hit a batter, and struck out three. He took the loss.
Our View: We didn't expect Badenhop to light up the world upon his move to the majors, and we're not reading too much into his first outing. There's some reason to think he can be a back-end addition in NL-only leagues. |
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| Towles leaves early | Sunday 4/13, 6:05 PM CT |
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J.R. Towles did in the Marlins with his bat and his patience on Sunday. The catcher socked a two-run homer and drove in a third run via a bases-loaded walk. He then left the game after getting hit on the left hand with a pitch in the eighth inning.
Our View: We'll update his status when more is known. Towles has shown more pop than expected in his brief time in the majors. His batting average should increase once he gets over some nagging injuries and settles in a little more. |
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| Willingham provides only offense | Sunday 4/13, 6:02 PM CT |
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Josh Willingham provided the Marlins only offense on Sunday, as his solo homer was the only run the club scored against the Astros. Willingham was 1-for-4 on the day.
Our View: The outfielder is off to a decent start with three long balls on the year. Fantasy owners can be fairly certain he'll settle in for a something like .270-23-80 before all is said and done. |
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| Rodriguez dominates at home, again | Sunday 4/13, 5:58 PM CT |
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Wandy Rodriguez started at home on Sunday and once again looked like an ace. He held the Marlins to five hits and one run over seven innings. Rodriguez added seven strikeouts versus only one walk.
Our View: What's new, right? It's too bad Wandy stinks to bad on the road. He remains arguably the most split pitcher in fantasy baseball leagues. |
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| Vazquez dazzles Detroit | Sunday 4/13, 5:56 PM CT |
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After a couple so-so outings, Javier Vazquez delivered a gem on Sunday. He struck out nine batters over seven scoreless innings against the Tigers. Vazquez allowed five hits and walked none.
Our View: Vazquez is coming off an excellent 2007 season and once again looks like a high-end No. 2 fantasy hurler. |
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| Thomas whiffs four times | Sunday 4/13, 5:53 PM CT |
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Clete Thomas has been doing a solid job as a fill-in for the Tigers, but he looked overmatched on Sunday. The 24-year-old outfielder went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts against the White Sox.
Our View: Thomas will likely head back to the minors once Curtis Granderson is healthy. |
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| Crede goes grand again | Sunday 4/13, 5:49 PM CT |
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Joe Crede owns two grand slams in less than a week. The third baseman took Tigers pitcher Zach Miner deep in the fifth inning on Sunday and ended the day 1-for-2 with four RBI. He also launched a grand slam against the Twins on Monday. Crede is up to .341 with four homers and 15 RBI on the season.
Our View: That sure was some back surgery, huh? Crede is swatting the ball around better than he ever did in the past, albeit only in a very short period to begin the season. We're sure he'll come back to Earth before too long. |
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| Ortiz to sit Sunday night | Sunday 4/13, 5:42 PM CT |
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David Ortiz will get the night off on Sunday. "I just think it's the right thing to do," manager Terry Francona explains to the Boston Globe. "I don't know if you guys were in the room when he came in, but he came in kind of with a little bounce to his step, a little more light-hearted than he's been. He needed a break, that's the best way to put it." Ortiz adds that he needed a little mental break after his 3-for-43 start to the season.
Our View: If a one-day break turns Ortiz back into the Big Papi of recent history, we're all for it. Heck, take two days, David. We remain relatively unworried about his slow start. |
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| Tigers shut out for second straight day | Sunday 4/13, 5:39 PM CT |
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The Detroit Tigers posted a goose egg for the second straight day on Sunday. It's the fourth time they've been shutout through 13 games.
Our View: Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen are the only two regulars who've hit somewhat consistently thus far. We figure it's only a matter of time before Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, and Gary Sheffield catch fire together, though. |
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| Konerko drives in five | Sunday 4/13, 5:32 PM CT |
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Paul Konerko provided all the early offense for the White Sox on Sunday. He hit an RBI single in the first inning and added a grand slam in the third frame. Konerko finished the day 2-for-4 with five RBI.
Our View: Konerko had a rough 2007, but there's no reason to think he's on the way down quite yet. He should be a lock for 30 homers, 100 RBI, and 85 runs if he stays healthy. |
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| Big day for Werth | Sunday 4/13, 5:28 PM CT |
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With Shane Victorino on the DL, Jayson Werth will have a chance for a lot more action. He took advantage on Sunday by starting in center and going 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs, two RBI, and two steals against the Cubs.
Our View: Wrist injuries robbed Werth of much of his prime hitting years, but he's a guy with pretty good pop and the chance to swipe an occasional bag. He's worth employing in NL-only leagues while Victorino is out. |
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| Marquis wildly effective | Sunday 4/13, 5:24 PM CT |
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Jason Marquis recovered from his illness well enough to hold the Phillies to two runs over 5.0 innings on Sunday. The right-hander made Cubs fans a little sick by adding in five walks (two intentional), hitting a batter, tossing a wild pitch, and throwing only 46 of his 86 pitches for strikes.
Our View: Outings are rarely clean when Marquis is involved, but he managed to limit the damage this time around. Luckily, Marquis may be flying a bit under the radar because Rich Hill is having even worse troubles. |
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| Bruntlett socks rare homer | Sunday 4/13, 5:18 PM CT |
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Eric Bruntlett hit a homer on Sunday. Yes, you read that right. Eric Bruntlett sent a ball over the wall and it wasn't foul. The infielder, who is filling in for Jimmy Rollins, hadn't gone yard since April 18, 2005.
Our View: We can only assume the league tested Bruntlett immediately after the game. |
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| Rough return for Cordero | Sunday 4/13, 5:15 PM CT |
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Chad Cordero failed to close the door in his first outing since coming off the DL. He entered a one-run game against the Braves and immediately recorded two outs. Cordero then walked a batter, served up a double, and intentionally walked another hitter before turning the ball over to Jon Rauch. Only eight of Cordero's 21 pitches were strikes.
Our View: Don't read too much into this, folks. The Nats stuck with Cordero through a rough April in 2007, and there's no reason to think his job is in serious jeopardy. |
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| Lee swinging well | Sunday 4/13, 5:10 PM CT |
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Derrek Lee had another productive day on Sunday, going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI against the Phillies. The first baseman has eight extra-base hits and eight RBI over the last eight games.
Our View: Lee is in the midst of a streak that makes one believe he can get back to his 2005, MVP-like level. It's too early to make such claims, but fantasy owners have to love the start. |
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| Pena scores hat trick | Sunday 4/13, 5:05 PM CT |
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Wily Mo Pena wasted no time in recording his first hat trick of the season. The outfielder came off the DL on Sunday and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts against the Braves.
Our View: Pena is rarely cheated at the plate. He'll whiff a lot, but he also has a ton of power. We can only hope the Nats didn't rush him back too quickly. |
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| Wood earns win | Sunday 4/13, 5:02 PM CT |
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Kerry Wood picked up a win on Sunday, but the bigger news may be that he worked two innings for the first time all season. Wood worked the eighth and ninth innings in a tie game against the Phillies. Bob Howry came on after the Cubs scored in the 10th and earned the save.
Our View: Fantasy owners shouldn't read anything into Howry getting the save, as Wood worked through a critical period of the game. We thought they might protect Kerry by only asking him to work one inning per outing, but we suppose it's good news if his arm can take on more. |
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| Redding picks up second win | Sunday 4/13, 4:57 PM CT |
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Tim Redding picked up his second win of the season on Sunday, and he needs to thank his bullpen. The starter allowed six hits and three runs over 5.0 innings, and the bullpen held the Braves to one unearned run over the final four frames. Redding is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
Our View: Redding has had a strange string of starts thus far. He walks too many guys and doesn't miss many bats, but he's somehow come out looking good. Don't count on the good numbers to last. |
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| Chipper launches homer | Sunday 4/13, 4:53 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones went 3-for-5 with a homer, double, one run, and two RBI in a loss to the Nationals on Sunday. He has a six-game hitting streak and is batting .408 on the young season.
Our View: On a per-game basis, few hitters produce as well as Larry. It's just too bad Chipper is almost certain to miss 25 or 30 games before the season is over. |
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| Chipper goes deep | Sunday 4/13, 4:52 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones went 3-for-5 with a homer, double, one run, and two RBI in a loss to the Nationals on Sunday. He has a six-game hitting streak and is batting .408 on the young season.
Our View: On a per-game basis, few hitters produce as well as Larry. It's just too bad Chipper is almost certain to miss 25 or 30 games before the season is over. |
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| Milledge goes 3-for-3 | Sunday 4/13, 4:49 PM CT |
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After a couple 0-fer days against the Braves, Lastings Milledge went 3-for-3 with a double and his first stolen base of the season on Sunday. He chipped in a run and a walk.
Our View: Many people predicted a breakout year for Milledge, who just turned 23 on April 5. He's off to a pretty good start, but we need to see some sustained success before we'll give him a high-five or listen to his rap songs. |
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| Hart singles four times | Sunday 4/13, 4:43 PM CT |
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Corey Hart has been in a small rut, but he broke out with a 4-for-5 day against the Mets on Sunday. All four hits were singles, and Hart added a run and an RBI.
Our View: We're still waiting for Hart's first homer of the season, but we're generally fine with him at this point. The power should come soon. |
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| Two more hits for Escobar | Sunday 4/13, 4:39 PM CT |
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Yunel Escobar keeps on producing. He went 2-for-3 with a run on Sunday and extended his hitting streak to seven games. Escobar owns multiple hits in three of the last four contests.
Our View: If you thought last year's .328 average was a mirage, Escobar may be out to prove you wrong. We have a long, long way to go, but the second-year infielder looks every bit the .300 hitter thus far. |
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| Weeks does a bit of everything | Sunday 4/13, 4:33 PM CT |
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Rickie Weeks did a little bit of everything on Sunday against the Mets. He hit a solo homer, walked once, stole a base, and scored three runs. All in all, not too shabby for a 1-for-4 day.
Our View: You know the story by now. Weeks has the talent to be a serious fantasy baseball contributor, but it's all about steering clear of injuries and figuring out how to hit for a decent average. |
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| Rough day for Perez | Sunday 4/13, 4:29 PM CT |
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Oliver Perez wasted little time in washing away his 0.00 ERA on Sunday. The southpaw served a two-run homer in the first inning and allowed eight hits and six runs over 4.1 frames against the Brewers. Perez ended up with a no-decision and now stands at 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA.
Our View: It obviously wasn't Oli's day, but he earned himself a lot of leeway with two scoreless outings to open the year. We're not concerned. |
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| Gagne shuts the door | Sunday 4/13, 4:25 PM CT |
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Eric Gagne has made it two straight. The closer shut the door on the Mets with a scoreless, hitless ninth inning on Sunday. Gagne earned his second save in as many days and his third overall.
Our View: Gagne blew two out of his first three chances, and it's good to see him instill a little stability into his value. He remains on somewhat shaky ground. |
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| Schneider drives in three | Sunday 4/13, 4:23 PM CT |
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Brian Schneider collected three singles and drove in three runs in Sunday's loss to the Brewers. He is up to six RBI on the season.
Our View: It was a nice day for a very boring fantasy baseball option. Schneider will end up at .255 with 6-8 homers and 55 RBI by the time the season is over. |
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| Kapler stays hot | Sunday 4/13, 4:19 PM CT |
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Gabe Kapler went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, three runs, and three RBI in Sunday's win over the Mets. He is hitting .423 with four homers and 11 RBI on the young season.
Our View: It took two injuries (Mike Cameron, Tony Gwynn) for Kapler to see regular playing time, and no matter how well he hits, it's tough to foresee Kapler getting many at-bats past the end of this month. |
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| Crawford getting better | Sunday 4/13, 4:09 PM CT |
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Carl Crawford showed a bit of life today, putting recent struggles in the peripheral to go 1-for-4 at the plate.
Our View: Crawford drove in two RBIs, posted one run scored, and stole his fourth base of the season. His average, now sitting at .208, serves as a reminder of the struggles thus far, but today might mark a change in fortune for this talented left fielder. |
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| Upton hits first HR | Sunday 4/13, 4:08 PM CT |
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Young slugger B.J. Upton drove his first homer of the season over the fence today in support of Tampa Bay’s 2-6 win over the Orioles. Upton went 1-for-3 with one walk and one strike out, leaving two men on base but driving in three RBIs.
Our View: The performance brings Upton to an average of .302 on the season. |
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| Huff continues to disappoint | Sunday 4/13, 4:06 PM CT |
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Aubrey Huff was atrocious for the Baltimore Orioles in today’s 2-6 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays. Huff went 0-for-4 at the plate, striking out twice and leaving a whopping seven runners on base.
Our View: Huff’s seasonal average drops to .244 on the season as the Orioles, who started hot, may be starting to see a drop in production (a drop many were predicting from Day 1). |
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| Niemann hurls for win in debut | Sunday 4/13, 4:04 PM CT |
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Young Jeff Niemann enjoyed a strong performance in his first ever major league start, earning the win as the Tampa Bay Rays put six runs on Baltimore SP Brian Burres, winning 2-6. Niemann threw six full innings, giving up just one run on six hits (the one run earned on a Nick Markakis HR).
Our View: Niemann walked just one batter while striking out 5, an outstanding performance for this young prospective ace. |
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| Hafner hits well but leaves men on | Sunday 4/13, 3:52 PM CT |
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Travis Hafner put forth strong numbers in support of the Indians’ 1-7 win over Oakland today, but there remains concern moving forward. Hafner went 2-for-5 at the plate, posting two RBIs on the day.
Our View: However, Hafner, hitting .261 on the season, left three runners on base today, all missed opportunities from a power hitter that, in season’s past, has rarely let such gifts be robbed. |
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| Sizemore swings it for Cleveland win | Sunday 4/13, 3:50 PM CT |
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Grady Sizemore continues to build his status as a top MLB player, helping the Indians to a big 1-7 win over the Oakland Athletics. Sizemore batted 2-for-4 with one walk, gathering three RBIs and two runs scored on the day.
Our View: Sizemore now carries a seasonal batting average of .313 and is well on his way to the potent campaign we all expected. |
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| Lee shines bright in cooling A's | Sunday 4/13, 3:49 PM CT |
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Cliff Lee was brilliant off the mound for the Cleveland Indians today, earning the win as the Tribe beat up on the A’s, 1-7. Lee pitched through 8 innings of work, allowing just one run on two hits.
Our View: Lee failed to surrender a single walk but garnered EIGHT strikeouts on the day, bringing his ERA to a lowly 0.61 on the season. With just 102 pitches thrown, Lee totaled 67 strikes and ruled the day in a big win for the Indians, bringing Lee to 2-0 on the season. |
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| Cueto shows positive signs in loss | Sunday 4/13, 3:36 PM CT |
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Johnny Cueto battled through a rough outing today, taking the loss in a 1-9 rout by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cueto pitched through six innings, giving up five runs (all earned) on five hits, and while the end result was a loss, Cueto posted just one walk and earned six strikeouts on the day.
Our View: Giving up two homers hurts, but you can see the potential that arm carries. |
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| Bay hits 3rd homer | Sunday 4/13, 3:34 PM CT |
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Jason Bay hit his third home run of the season in support of Pittsburgh’s 1-9 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Our View: Bay went 2-for-4 at the plate, hitting his homer in the 7th with two runners | |
