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| Abreu continues to play at high level | Thursday 4/24, 11:58 PM CT |
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Bobby Abreu had two hits, two RBI and scored a run on Thursday for the Yankees.
Our View: Every year this guys is overlooked because of his declining power, and every year he returns a profit because of his all-around game. Don't expect this year to be any different. |
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| Bannister loses second straight | Thursday 4/24, 11:50 PM CT |
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Brian Bannister lost his second straight outing on Thursday by giving up only two earned runs over 6.2 innings to the Indians.
Our View: Bannister is still sitting pretty with a 2.48 ERA and stellar 0.89 WHIP, and let's be fair, he only allowed two runs in another fantastic outing so cut him some slack with the loss as it wasn't his fault. |
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| Lee hurls CG shutout | Thursday 4/24, 11:48 PM CT |
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Cliff Lee continued to dazzle on Thursday night as he pitched a complete game shutout against the Royals to improve to 4-0.
Our View: Lee is totally out of his mind right now having allowed one earned run over four starts, not to mention his 29 K, two BB ratio. Who knows what to predict from here other than a regression at some point, and given his recent history now might be time to bail on him and trade him when the trading is good. |
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| Crawford fills up scorecard | Thursday 4/24, 10:52 PM CT |
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Carl Crawford pushed his average over the .300 mark on Thursday night with three hits, and he also scored a run, knocked one in and stole two bases.
Our View: You can only keep a good man down for so long. Crawford now has seven steals and 20 runs scored through 22 games for the former Devil Rays. |
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| Stairs loses hit streak | Thursday 4/24, 10:50 PM CT |
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Matt Stairs lost his 11-game hitting streak on Thursday as he went 0-for-3 for the Blue Jays.
Our View: Stairs figures to see his fair share of work at DH with Frank Thomas out of town, and it seems like he may be able to hit forever despite his advancing age making him a very useful part AL Only leagues. |
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| Sonnanstine earns third win | Thursday 4/24, 10:48 PM CT |
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Andy Sonnanstine permitted three runs on six hits and two walks over 6.1 innings to pick up his third victory.
Our View: Sonnanstine will remain a useful pitcher in deep AL Only leagues, and with just a little improvement he could even be considered for spot duty in mixed leagues. |
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| McGowan walks everyone | Thursday 4/24, 10:45 PM CT |
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Dustin McGowan had a brutal outing on Thursday as he walked seven batters on his way to his second loss of the season. McGowan allowed five runs, four earned, in four innings.
Our View: This was the first time in five starts that McGowan has allowed more than tree runs, and his seven walks tonight almost matched the nine he had in 24 innings previously. Look for him to bounce back next time on the hill. |
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| Church has two more bingos | Thursday 4/24, 10:42 PM CT |
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Ryan Church went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI on Thursday for the Mets.
Our View: Church is now hitting a blistering .350 through 80 AB, and he is proving the Mets faith in him to be well founded in the early going. |
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| Cordero to play long toss on Friday | Thursday 4/24, 10:40 PM CT |
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Chad Cordero will play long toss on Friday and if all goes well he hopes to be able to pitch on Saturday, according to the AP.
Our View: We still don't know how much velocity that Cordero has regained in his weakened shoulder, but it would be wise to expect the team to continue to go with Joe Rauch in the closers role for at least the next little while. |
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| Perez saddled with first loss | Thursday 4/24, 10:36 PM CT |
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Oliver Perez didn't have his best stuff on Thursday and it showed as he allowed six hits, four walks and five runs in 5.2 innings to pick up his first loss.
Our View: Perez owns a respectable 3.62 ERA after five starts, but that WHIP is in the danger zone at 1.54. Another concern are all the walks, 16 of them, way too many even with his 26 K in 27.1 IP. |
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| HIll solid in no decision | Thursday 4/24, 10:32 PM CT |
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Shawn Hill allowed six hits, three walks and two earned runs over five innings to pick up a no-decision on Thursday.
Our View: Hill has now been limited to five innings in each of his outings, but he does have 11 K and just three walks in those 10 innings marking him as someone to potentially target if he's still on waivers. |
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| Lopez hits grand slam | Thursday 4/24, 10:30 PM CT |
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Felipe Lopez had two hits on Thursday including a grand slam which led to a career-high tying six RBI for the Nationals.
Our View: You would have to think he would have to go about 0-for-15 to work his way out of the starting lineup with the way he has hit of late. Ronnie Belliard owners should be very nervous and looking for other options. |
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| Willingham continues to rope | Thursday 4/24, 10:27 PM CT |
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Josh Willingham continued to pound the ball on Thursday as he hit his sixth home run amongst his three hits against the Braves. Willingham also knocked in four runs on the night.
Our View: Who wouldn't take a .329-6-16 line from just about anyone in baseball, let a lone a guy who was drafted as third/fourth outfield type? |
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| Acosta earns second save | Thursday 4/24, 10:25 PM CT |
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Manny Acosta picked up his second save of the season on Thursday despite allowing two walks in two innings of work.
Our View: Acosta now has a dangerously low 1.17 K/BB ratio, a horrible number for any pitcher let alone a closer. Look for that number to improve substantially, or there could be trouble in his future. |
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| James hangs on for win | Thursday 4/24, 10:21 PM CT |
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Chuck James improved to 2-1 on the year but it wasn't pretty as he allowed four runs, five hits and five walks in five innings.
Our View: Face it, James is not someone you can count on no matter how badly you want him to be. He has now allowed three home runs in three starts while permitting 14 hits and seven walks in 13 innings. He might win some games, but those ratio's don't figure to be too pretty. |
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| Chipper continues unbelievable start | Thursday 4/24, 10:19 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones celebrated his 36th birthday by going 3-for-3 with his seventh home run of the season on Thursday. On his birthday in his career he is hitting an amazing .500-5-8-10 in 36 AB.
Our View: Chipper is hitting .442 through 86 AB in just about the hottest stretch of his HOF career, which of course means he is just about ready to blow out something. |
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| Betancourt picks up first save | Thursday 4/24, 10:02 PM CT |
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The Rafael Betancourt era began on Thursday as he picked up his first save since Joe Borowski was placed on the DL.
Our View: Betancourt should not only do a better job than Borowski, he could actually be a tremendous performer if the club decides to stick with him even when Borowski is good and healthy. |
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| Carmona wins without control | Thursday 4/24, 9:59 PM CT |
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Fausto Carmona improved to 3-1 on the season despite allowing four runs in five innings on Thursday.
Our View: Carmona walked another four batters on the day and he now has 22 BB in 28 IP. He has been able to get by to this point, but if he doesn't reign in his stuff, it could get ugly quickly. |
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| Tomko ripped by Indians | Thursday 4/24, 9:54 PM CT |
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Brett Tomko started the season well, but that all changed on Thursday when he was bombed for seven runs, six earned, and 11 hits in just four innings to pick up his third loss.
Our View: The Royals have been adamant that they want Tomko in their starting rotation, but this outing today might change their minds. Tomko has never been able to harness his stuff and he remains rosterable only in AL Only leagues. |
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| DeJesus has two hits, two runs | Thursday 4/24, 9:51 PM CT |
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David DeJesus had two hits, two runs, an RBI and a BB in Game 1 of the Royals double header on Thursday.
Our View: DeJesus is now 9-for-21 on the year (.429), and so far the only thing that has been able to stop him is his own injured ankle. |
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| Sizemore has big day | Thursday 4/24, 9:49 PM CT |
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Grady Sizemore went 4-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base in the Indians Game 1 victory over the Royals on a day when the two teams are playing a double header.
Our View: Sizemore pushed his average up to .289 with this effort, and though he has six steals in the early going, he still has scored only 10 runs in 21 games, a terrible total for a guy who has scored at least 118 runs in each of the past two seasons. |
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| Pujols pushes average to .377 | Thursday 4/24, 9:46 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols did it again on Thursday with two hits, two walks and an RBI for the Cardinals.
Our View: Pujols is now hitting .377 with an OBP of over .500 as he continues to reward those fantasy gamers who had the guts to draft him early this season. |
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| Nady extends hit streak | Thursday 4/24, 9:44 PM CT |
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Xavier Nady may have only gone 1-for-4 on Thursday, but that hit allowed him to extend his hitting streak to 12-games.
Our View: During the hitting streak Nady is hitting .370 (17-for-46), and he is hitting .341 with 20 RBI through 22 games on the season making him one of the best hitting outfielders in baseball in the early going. |
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| Gorzelanny walks ballpark | Thursday 4/24, 9:42 PM CT |
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Tom Gorzelanny limped home to his third loss on Thursday, and though he allowed just three runs in five innings, the number that jumps out at you is his seven walks.
Our View: Gorzelanny just can't find the strike zone with any frequency this season with an amazing 22 BB in 22.1 IP. You just can't have a guy like that in your lineup no matter how desperate you are. |
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| Pineiro dominates Pirates | Thursday 4/24, 9:39 PM CT |
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Joel Pineiro held the Pirates in check for seven innings to pick up his first win of the season. Pineiro allowed one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out six.
Our View: In his first outing he allowed six earned runs, in his second three, so tonight's total of one sure seems to say that he is improving, no? |
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| Schneider in hospital with infection | Thursday 4/24, 8:57 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier report, Brian Schneider has been hospitalized due to an infection his left thumb, according to MLB.com. The team does not believe that Schneider will need to go on the DL, but they purchased the contract of catcher Gustavo Molina while designating outfielder Brady Clark for assignment.
Our View: Raul Casanova will serve as the starter until Schneider returns, and the team is holding out hope that Brian will be able to return within a week's time. |
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| Estrada dealing with sore elbow | Thursday 4/24, 8:53 PM CT |
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Johnny Estrada is once again dealing with soreness in his elbow, and with Paul Lo Duca on the DL, the Nationals are being forced to go with Will Nieves on Thursday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Estrada should be in the lineup on Friday, but he is hitting just .208 in 24 AB and has done nothing to take advantage of the injury to Lo Duca. |
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| O'Connor to replace King | Thursday 4/24, 8:41 PM CT |
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Mike O'Connor was recalled on Thursday as the Nationals optioned Ray King to Triple-A Columbus, according to MLB.com. "With our bullpen right now, we can't afford to have a lefty specialist like Ray to pitch to one or two guys," manager Manny Acta said. "We need a guy who can give us more than one inning, could pitch to lefties and righties and bridge the gap -- like O'Connor."
Our View: O'Connor had four starts posting a 2-0 record with a 1.96 ERA for the Clippers and will offer an arm out of the Nationals pen. This really isn't a very relevant move, that is unless O'Connor ends up in the starting rotation at some point. |
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| Bruney may be DL bound | Thursday 4/24, 8:37 PM CT |
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Brian Bruney might have to go on the DL because of a sprained foot that has him in a protective boot, according to MLB.com. Bruney injured the foot on Tuesday when he was covering first base and slipped.
Our View: Bruney has been a wonder this season with 12 K and a 1.59 ERA through 11.1 innings, but it sure sounds like he will need to spend some time on the DL which will force LaTroy Hawkins and Kyle Farnsworth to pick up their games. |
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| Rios ejected for tossing equipment | Thursday 4/24, 8:12 PM CT |
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Alex Rios, who missed the past two games with the flu, was ejected on Thursday for throwing his bat and batting helmet to the ground after striking out, according to the AP. Rios is now one for his last 10 and has seen his average dip to .295.
Our View: It doesn't seem like he did anything over the top, so don't expect the league to step in with any type of suspension. |
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| Gordon finally pitching better | Thursday 4/24, 8:09 PM CT |
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Tom Gordon picked up his first victory on Thursday as he lowered his ERA to 7.27, a marked improvement from his 135.00 mark after his first outing, according to MLB.com. Over his last 8.1 IP, Gordon has posted a 2.16 ERA.
Our View: Gordon is working his way back to being the team's secondary save option in the bullpen behind Brad Lidge, but with the way Lidge is going, don't look for Gordon to pick up any save chances unless Lidge is injured. |
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| Pie has two hits | Thursday 4/24, 7:20 PM CT |
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Felix Pie was the only Cub batter who had more than one hit on Thursday as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI against the Rockies.
Our View: Pie is still hitting just .237 and with 12 K and just one BB, and he is still searching for his legs at the major league level. At this point, he just doesn't excite us at all in terms of his fantasy potential this season, especially with Reed Johnson hitting so well. |
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| Podsednik excels in start | Thursday 4/24, 7:17 PM CT |
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Scott Podsednik made a rare start on Thursday but he went 3-for-5 with a run scored and a SB for the Rockies.
Our View: In just 23 AB Podsednik has done a remarkable job of allowing the team to rest Willy Taveras without losing a single thing. Finally healthy, Podsednik should steal at least 20 bases, even with part time work, giving him a lot of value in the right situation. |
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| Fuentes picks up first save | Thursday 4/24, 7:14 PM CT |
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Brian Fuentes took all of one appearance to cement his new standing as the team's closer as he pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his first save of the season.
Our View: Fuentes is obviously no stranger to the role with at least 20 saves in each of the last three seasons, so if he continues to succeed he may not find himself back in the setup role any time soon. |
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| Marquis solid in no-decision | Thursday 4/24, 7:12 PM CT |
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Jason Marquis had another solid outing for the Cubs permitting eight hits, two walks and two runs in seven innings against the Rockies.
Our View: In each of his last three starts Marquis has held the opposition to two or fewer runs, and when he gets on one of these runs he can be good for a long period of time. Marquis will win his share of games, but his ratio's will be borderline average so you'll need to look for production in those categories elsewhere. |
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| Cook masterful in win | Thursday 4/24, 7:09 PM CT |
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Aaron Cook was wonderful on Thursday as he held the Cubs to two runs over eight innings to pick up his third victory. Cook had five K on the day while he allowed four hits and three BB.
Our View: Through five stars Cook has and ERA of 2.91 with a WHIP of 1.03, though we are doubtful that he will be able to maintain that level for much longer given that he has a poor K/BB ratio (1.55) and that his track record is one that is full of injury. Still, he will continue to be a solid starter in NL Only leagues as long as he is healthy, albeit one with no strikeouts. |
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| Ludwick taking advantage of work | Thursday 4/24, 6:56 PM CT |
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Ryan Ludwick may not have a starting spot in the Cardinals lineup anytime soon, but that doesn't mean that he isn't a valuable member of the team's outfield mix, according to MLB.com. "No one is as hot as Ryan, but there's no one really struggling," manager Tony La Russa said when asked about why Ludwick wasn't in the lineup every day. Ludwick will start on Thursday night.
Our View: Not many team's can boast of a fourth outfielder who is hitting .358 with an OPS of 1.207, and Ludwick will continue to play enough to be a valuable member of any NL Only outfield. |
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| Gomez returns with two hits | Thursday 4/24, 6:52 PM CT |
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Carlos Gomez returned to the lineup a day after being benched to go 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI from the leadoff spot.
Our View: It was great to see Gomez make a statement today, but he is still getting on base at well under a .300 clip and with 24 K and just two BB, his plate discipline needs a ton of work. His speed is his calling card, but if the rest of his game doesn't come around, he could lose playing time. |
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| Murphy goes deep twice | Thursday 4/24, 6:46 PM CT |
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Donnie Murphy hit his first two home runs of the season on Thursday on his way to three hits, three runs and four RBI for the A's.
Our View: With the A's pounding Francisco Liriano, almost all their batters enjoyed some success. Jake Hannahan is only hitting .185 on the year, so Murphy could see a few more starts at third base based on today's performance. |
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| Davis has strong debut | Thursday 4/24, 6:43 PM CT |
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Rajai Davis had a great debut with the A's picking up three hits and scoring a run from the ninth spot in the order.
Our View: It remains to be seen just how much playing time Davis will pick up given the plethora of bats that the team has to fit into the outfield, but he figures to at least be a useful pickup in AL Only leagues because of his speed. |
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| Smith wins second game | Thursday 4/24, 6:31 PM CT |
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Greg Smith had another strong outing on Thursday as he limited the Twins to just two runs over seven innings to pick up his second win. Smith has a sterling 2.88 ERA in four starts.
Our View: Smith has squarely placed himself amongst the best early season pick ups in AL Only leagues, and if he keeps this up much longer, he will have done the same thing in mixed leagues as well. |
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| Liriano looks awful | Thursday 4/24, 6:27 PM CT |
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Francisco Liriano allowed six runs on five hits and three walks while lasting just two outs against the A's on Thursday.
Our View: Liriano looked terrible on the day taking 35 pitches to get just two outs. He is now 0-3 on the year with a 11.32 ERA and it just looks like Liriano doesn't belong anywhere near a major league mound right now. We don't know if the Twins will send him down to work on his location, but he should certainly be on your bench for the moment. |
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| Chavez transferred to 60-day DL | Thursday 4/24, 6:16 PM CT |
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Eric Chavez was moved to the 60-day DL to make room on the roster for newly acquired Frank Thomas, according to the AP.
Our View: This is more a procedural move than anything else. Chavez will begin baseball activities soon, and the team is hopeful he will be able to return when eligible on May 27th. |
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| Cuddyer to be activated on Friday | Thursday 4/24, 6:11 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier report, Michael Cuddyer (finger) will be activated from the DL on Friday, this according to Sports Network. To make room for Cuddyer, the team will send down outfielder Denard Spahn.
Our View: Cuddyer is looking is looking to rebound from a solid but unspectacular season of .276-16-81 a year after he hit .284-24-109. A return to the 100-RBI level may be asking too much, but Cuddyer can still be a very useful outfielder in mixed leagues. |
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| Matthews has three hits, RBI | Thursday 4/24, 6:04 PM CT |
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Gary Matthews Jr. had three hits and three RBI on Thursday as he boosted his average to .266.
Our View: Matthews has now hit in 4-straight games, and with seven RBI in his last four games, he has pushed his season total up to 18 as he settles into the #2 spot in the Angels order. |
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| K-Rod picks up ninth save | Thursday 4/24, 6:02 PM CT |
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Francisco Rodriguez earned his ninth save of the season on Thursday despite throwing only five pitches to pick up one out against the Red Sox.
Our View: K-Rod is now 9-for-10 on the year in converting saves, and he has allowed just one baserunner in his last three appearances as he deals with his sore ankles. |
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| Saunders improves to 4-0 | Thursday 4/24, 5:59 PM CT |
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Joe Saunders improved to 4-0 thanks to holding the Red Sox to three runs in six innings on Thursday. On the afternoon, Saunders allowed seven hits, three walks and struck out three.
Our View: Saunders has been great to start the year, especially that 2.55 ERA and 1.02 ERA, and he has more than justified the team's faith in him when, well, they honestly didn't have any better options with Kelvim Escobar and John Lackey out injured. |
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| Masterson excels in first start | Thursday 4/24, 5:54 PM CT |
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Justin Masterson had a fantastic start to his big league career as he held the Angels to just one run in six innings of work. Masterson allowed just two hits, but he did walk four batters along with four K.
Our View: Masterson will likely be sent back down once the team is certain that Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka are healthy, but Masterson acquitted himself very well on this afternoon. |
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| Crisp steals two bases in return | Thursday 4/24, 5:52 PM CT |
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Coco Crisp had a triumphant return to the lineup on Thursday going 2-for-4 with a run scored, two RBI and two SB for the Sox.
Our View: Jacoby Ellsbury continues to play well, but Crisp is really starting to make his mark, that is if he can stay on the field. Crisp is now hitting .341 with four SB in just 14 games, so his value in AL Only leagues continues to grow. |
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| Hansen back in minors | Thursday 4/24, 5:46 PM CT |
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Craig Hansen was returned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for spot starter Justin Masterson on Thursday, according to the AP.
Our View: Hansen is still in the team's plans moving forward, but with each passing missed opportunity, the window for him being an impact reliever is shrinking. |
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| Bruce to stay in minors for now | Thursday 4/24, 5:28 PM CT |
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Jay Bruce will not be rushed to the majors before the Reds feel he is ready to contribute and stick with the club, this according to MLB.com. "It's very tempting to think only of today vs. thinking what's right for them and us in the long run, for years to come," manager Dusty Baker said in referring to Bruce and uber-pitching prospect Homer Bailey.
Our View: Bruce is tearing it up in the minors hitting .315-3-12, but where would he play? The team is committed to Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr., and Corey Patterson and Ryan Freel bring the speed that the club needs, and it makes no sense for Bruce to sit on the bench. Be patient if you own him in a keeper league, and those in redraft leagues keep an eye on when the club finally decides to bring up Bruce. |
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| Bailey to continue to work in minors | Thursday 4/24, 5:24 PM CT |
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Homer Bailey will not be rushed to the majors before the Reds feel he is ready to contribute and stick with the club, this according to MLB.com. "It's very tempting to think only of today vs. thinking what's right for them and us in the long run, for years to come," manager Dusty Baker said in referring to Bailey and uber-outfield prospect Jay Bruce.
Our View: With Bronson Arroyo pitching like a batting practice machine, the team could understandably be tempted to call up Bailey who is 3-1 with a 1.03 ERA in four minor league starts. Bailey will certainly be up at some point, and this patience will likely benefit him in the long run. |
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| Capuano begins to throw | Thursday 4/24, 5:19 PM CT |
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Chris Capuano still hopes to avoid surgery on his pitching elbow and he has begun a throwing program to attempt to do just that, according to MLB.com. "The feeling of the therapist was [the possible need for surgery] won't surface until he goes through his throwing program," assistant GM Gord Ash said.
Our View: Capuano re-injured his elbow in the preseason and the feeling is that he will likely need a second TJ surgery to continue his career. If he suffers any setbacks in this throwing program his season, and possibly his career, could be over as very few pitchers can come back from the surgery a second time. |
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| Weathers progressing well | Thursday 4/24, 5:15 PM CT |
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David Weathers' rehab on his ulnar nerve irritation in his pitching elbow is coming along well, this according to MLB.com. "I'm getting there," Weathers said. "I should be right on schedule."
Our View: Weathers threw on Thursday in the bullpen, and if he is indeed on schedule, that would put his return at May 5th when he would likely slide back into a 6th or 7th inning role until he proves he is healthy. |
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| Bush likely to move to bullpen | Thursday 4/24, 5:07 PM CT |
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With the news that Ben Sheets will be back to start on Tuesday, it appears that Dave Bush will move to the bullpen, according to MLB.com. There is also a chance that he could be sent down to the minors to work on his game. "I'm confident when I'm on the field. One, I'm prepared. I've done everything I can between starts. And then when I'm out there, I'm giving everything I've got."
Our View: With Sheets basically a 50/50 proposition to make basically every start, Bush will more than likely be back in the rotation at some point this season, but his value is to the point where he should be on waivers in most mixed leagues. |
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| Sheets to start next Tuesday | Thursday 4/24, 5:03 PM CT |
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Ben Sheets is progressing well in his rehab from right triceps tightness and he is on track to start on Tuesday in Chicago, according to MLB.com. "It's slow, but we've got a couple of days to go," Sheets said. "It's getting better every day."
Our View: Sheets remains the ultimate risk/reward play. At this point you can't get any value if you were to trade him, so you just have to hope he returns to continue his dominance on the hill. If he has a handful of strong starts, you should give serious consideration to moving him since he just can't stay healthy. |
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| Oswalt to remain in Houston | Thursday 4/24, 4:58 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt isn't going anywhere despite rumors that he might be traded even though he possesses a no-trade clause, just ask him. "I don't know where that came from," Oswalt said, according to MLB.com. GM Ed Wade seconded that feeling. "I haven't had any discussions with any of our players that have no-trade clauses," Wade said.
Our View: Oswalt has had a rough start to the year, but over his last two starts he is 2-0 while allowing only four runs, so he seems to have turned around whatever ailed him in the early going. |
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| Rolen will return on Friday | Thursday 4/24, 4:54 PM CT |
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Scott Rolen will likely return from his broken middle finger on Friday, this according to the AP. “I’m ready to play,” Rolen said. “I still have a pretty significant bone bruise. I can feel it when I throw, feel it when I hit. I think my options are, take a month and do nothing and wait for it to heal or play. It’s time to play.”
Our View: Well that's a ringing endorsement. Sounds like Rolen isn't sure what he can do, and given that he went 0-for-9 on his rehab assignment, we would caution against anyone counting on Rolen until he proves he is back in the swing of things. |
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| Grudzielanek has back injury | Thursday 4/24, 4:50 PM CT |
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Mark Grudzielanek had an exam on his back which revealed that he has an irritated disk in his lower back, according to the Kansas City Star. “He’s got some discomfort,” manager Trey Hillman said. “A little rest, hopefully, will calm it down sooner rather than later."
Our View: Grudzielanek doesn't appear likely to hit the DL, but he might sit out a few days to make sure the injury doesn't become serious. Alberto Collaspo will likely fill in with his .348 average. |
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| Sheffield pondering future | Thursday 4/24, 4:05 PM CT |
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Gary Sheffield had some surprising news today, he might consider retiring if his shoulder doesn't come around, according to the AP. “It hurts. I can’t continue to go out there and play like that," Sheffield said. I’m not going to put myself through (more surgeries and rehabs) like the past. I’m not going to do that." He received a second cortisone shot on Wednesday to help with the pain.
Our View: Often times players talk of retirement when injured, but most often it's just talk. Sheffield is hitting only .192 on the year, and there is no doubt he is hurting, but we would be pretty shocked to see him call it quits in the middle of the season. |
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| Braun registers lone RBI for Brewers | Thursday 4/24, 3:58 PM CT |
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Ryan Braun went 3-for-4 and registered the Brewers' lone RBI in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Phillies.
Our View: Braun only hit three homers so far, but has 24 hits and 14 RBI over 21 games played. He needs to show better discipline at the plate though, as he registered 19 strikeouts and only three walks. Being more selective at the plate will bring him better pitches to hit, which will help bring up his power numbers. |
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| Utley goes 3-for-4 | Thursday 4/24, 3:53 PM CT |
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Chase Utley went 3-for-4 in Thursday's 3-1 win over Milwaukee, but he did not register an RBI.
Our View: Utley has now raised his average to .385 (35-for-91), and impressively still leads the MLB with 10 homers. He has 21 RBI as well, and would have more if Jimmy Rollins didn't go down. |
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| Lidge nails down another save | Thursday 4/24, 3:47 PM CT |
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Brad Lidge nailed down his fifth save of the season as he allowed one hit in the ninth inning in Thursday's 3-1 win over Milwaukee.
Our View: Lidge is yet to allow a run in 10 innings of work. He regained his former dominance with a fresh start in Philadelphia, and his fantasy stock will continue to rise, and is proving to be a steal for those who took a chance on him. |
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| Werth hits fourth homer | Thursday 4/24, 3:43 PM CT |
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Jayson Werth went 2-for-5 with one RBI in Thursday's 3-1 win over Milwaukee, while collecting his fourth homer of the season.
Our View: He continues to do a solid job as he fills in for the injured Shane Victorio in the Phillies' outfield. Keep him in your lineup while he holds a starting spot. |
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| Ordonez generates four RBI | Thursday 4/24, 3:28 PM CT |
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Magglio Ordonez went 3-for-4 and generated four RBI in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Rangers. Two of his hits went for homers as well, giving him five for the season.
Our View: He served as the team's DH in place of the injured Gary Sheffield, and the position really agreed with him today. He will return to his post in right field when Sheffield comes back, likely on Friday. |
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| Hamilton has tough day at plate | Thursday 4/24, 3:24 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton had a tough day at the plate in Thursday's 8-2 loss to Detroit, as he went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts, while leaving five men on base.
Our View: Hamilton has been performing well as he held a .310 average with four homers and 21 RBI heading into today's game, and was due for a disappointing outing. He should bounce back and remain a solid source of production for the Rangers, as well as your fantasy squad. |
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| Bonderman has control issues | Thursday 4/24, 3:20 PM CT |
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Jeremy Bonderman had some control issues in today's no decision against Texas. He allowed two runs on only two hits over 4.2 innings of work, but registered seven walks (and seven strikeouts).
Our View: Bonderman has now served up 21 walks over 29.1 innings pitched. He already had a dismal 1.76 WHIP prior to today's outing as well. Keep him on your bench until he finds his control on the mound. |
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| Jennings remains winless | Thursday 4/24, 3:15 PM CT |
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Jason Jennings has fallen to 0-4 for the season as he allowed five runs on five hits over five innings, in Thursday's 8-2 loss to Detroit. He had four strikeouts, with five walks, and most of the damage came on three home runs.
Our View: Jennings has now allowed eight homers over five starts, and he already had a dismal 7.08 ERA and 1.67 WHIP before today's performance. He should not be on your fantasy team. |
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| Schneider could land on DL? | Thursday 4/24, 3:08 PM CT |
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Brian Schneider has been sent to New York with an infected left thumb that may send him to the DL, according to the NY Daily News. If he does go on the DL, the team would be expected to bring up Gustavo Molina.
Our View: Scheider has looked good, as he holds a .309 average over 55 at-bats, with eight RBI, and eight walks. Raul Casanova would step into the starting role if he is to miss time. We will keep you posted on Schneider's status.
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| Griffey knocks in 15th RBI | Thursday 4/24, 3:02 PM CT |
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Ken Griffey Jr. went 1-for-4 in Thursday's 5-3 loss to Houston, and knocked in his 15th RBI of the season.
Our View: Griffey is only 21-for-82 (.256), but has four homers and 15 RBI over 23 games. He is playing healthy as well, which is most important. |
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| Berkman collects sixth homer | Thursday 4/24, 2:56 PM CT |
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Lance Berkman collected his sixth homer in Thursday's 5-3 win over Cincinnati. He went 3-for-3 overall, with three RBI and a stolen base.
Our View: He pushed his batting average back over the .300 mark with today's grand effort, and now has 20 RBI over 22 games. The veteran remains the leader for the Astros, and he should remain a solid source of production for your fantasy team. |
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| Cueto dealt another loss | Thursday 4/24, 2:49 PM CT |
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Johnny Cueto has been dealt another loss today, and is now 1-2 for the season. He got rocked for five runs on seven hits over seven innings in a 5-3 final against Houston. He only registered two strikeouts as well.
Our View: He hasn't won since racking up 10 strikeouts on opening day. He has lost his billing as a rookie phenom, but can still serve as a solid starter this season. He has 31 strikeouts over 33.1 innings. See if you can lure him away for a low price following today's disappointing outing. |
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| Jones leaves action with contusion | Thursday 4/24, 2:41 PM CT |
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Jacque Jones was forced out of action in the fourth inning against the Tigers today due to a left knee contusion, according to the AP. X-rays were negative, and Jones is listed as day-to-day.
Our View: Ryan Raburn moved from third base to cover his spot in left field. Brandon Inge could also fill his spot in the outfield if he is to miss time. |
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| Cassel nails down win | Thursday 4/24, 2:37 PM CT |
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Jack Cassel has just been called up from Triple-A Round Rock and won his first start of the season today, as he allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings against the Reds, with one strikeout and no walks. He made the start in place of the injured Wandy Rodriguez (groin ailment).
Our View: He made a blip on the fantasy radar following today's solid effort and his stock is on the rise, at least until Rodriguez comes off the 15-day DL. |
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| Lowe's injury not serious | Thursday 4/24, 2:29 PM CT |
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Derek Lowe was removed from Wednesday’s start against Arizona for precautionary reasons and is not expected to miss any additional time, according to the AP. He left action in the bottom of the fifth with tightness in his right elbow. Team doctors have examined Lowe and said he should be ready for his next start, which is scheduled for Tuesday night against the Marlins.
Our View: This is good news, as Lowe is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA and a solid 1.19 WHIP. He is pitching well, and should continue to be a solid starter, albeit one who doesn't produce a lot of strikeouts. |
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| James has good record vs. Florida | Thursday 4/24, 2:14 PM CT |
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Chuck James will take the hill against the Marlins tonight, a team he has a good record against, according to MLB.com. He is currently 1-1 with a 7.88 ERA over eight innings, but went 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA against the Marlins last season.
Our View: James is not pitching well, but still has a passable 1.38 WHIP. He has been dealing with forearm pain, and may be worth keeping an eye on when he gets healthy. |
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| Willingham riding hit streak | Thursday 4/24, 2:06 PM CT |
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Josh Willingham is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak, according to MLB.com. He will look to keep it going tonight against Braves' lefty Chuck James.
Our View: Willingham is in a nice groove right now, as he maintains a .308 average over 21 games, with five homers and 12 RBI. Keep him penciled into your starting lineups. He is worth trading for if you can get him for a favorable price as well. |
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| Ramirez has poor record vs. James | Thursday 4/24, 2:02 PM CT |
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Hanley Ramirez has a poor track record against Chuck James, tonight's opposing hurler for Atlanta, according to MLB.com. Ramirez is 0-for-9 over his career against the Braves' lefty.
Our View: Ramirez will have a good chance to break that trend however, as he is hot right now, and holds a .349 average with seven homers and 17 RBI over 21 games. |
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| Howard held out of lineup | Thursday 4/24, 1:43 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard was held out of the Phillies' lineup today, according to MLB.com. Manager Charlie Manuel gave him the day off to clear his head during his current slump and stated, "I think he's trying too hard. I think he thinks that in one swing he can get 10 hits. I didn't want to sit him down, but I think it's time. I think it will be good for him to sit there and watch the game and get things off his mind."
Our View: Howard has four homers, but only nine RBI, with a mere 15 hits over 83 at-bats (with 32 strikeouts). He gravely isn't playing up to high expectations as a first round fantasy pick, but you can use that to your advantage by trying to lure him away from a disappointed owner for a reduced price. |
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| Granderson smashes first homer | Thursday 4/24, 1:34 PM CT |
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Curtis Granderson smashed his first homer of the season in only his second game back from injury today against Texas. It was a solo shot off of Jason Jennings.
Our View: That didn't take long, and he is seemingly back to his old self again. Welcome back Curtis! |
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| Angels like Kotchman's power | Thursday 4/24, 1:30 PM CT |
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The Angels are impressed with Casey Kotchman's power, according to MLB.com. Batting coach Mickey Hatcher stated, "One thing we preach is not to try to hit home runs. I see him going the other way when pitchers are trying to go the other way. He knows how to turn on it, how to use his hands to get inside a fastball inside. Guys who can stay inside a ball like he does are going to have potential to drive the ball. A lot of parks play to that for a left-handed hitter." Manager Mike Sciosca added, "I think Kotch is getting some pitches to hit and is doing a great job of squaring balls up. I think Kotch's swing is geared toward the line drive, using the whole field. Lately, he's getting some pitches to drive and is not missing them. What you're going to rate offense on is the number of runs you're driving in and scoring. Kotch was very productive last year without hitting a lot of home runs. If home runs come, great. But I don't think it's anything you can force. There's power potential there, but he's so gifted he's got a chance to be a perennial .300 hitter and drive in 100 runs without hitting 25 homers. For a selective hitter, Kotch is pretty aggressive. He's waiting for a ball in his zone, and he'll turn it loose, get his hands inside and put a good swing on it."
Our View: Kotchman ranked second in the American League in sluggling percentage with a .618 mark on Thursday, and was tied for the AL lead in homers with six. His fantasy stock will continue to rise. |
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| A-Rod not expected back tonight | Thursday 4/24, 1:18 PM CT |
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Manager Joe Girardi said that he would be shocked if Alex Rodriguez returned to action tonight against the White Sox, according to the NY Daily News. He will rejoin the team in Chicago tonight, but is not expected to actually play until Friday, at the earliest. A-Rod is still nursing his strained quad, but Girardi added, "If he comes in and says he's ready, believe me, I'm putting his name in there. You go day-to-day. He's going to have to run and test it, and when he comes back, he's going to have to be a little cautious like Jeter was."
Our View: Assume he won't play, and adjust your lineups accordingly. The Yankees are doing fine without him, as they won both of their games against the White Sox in the series. |
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| Buck placed on DL | Thursday 4/24, 1:10 PM CT |
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Travis Buck has been placed on the 15-day DL due to shin splints, according to the AP. The move is retroactive to April 19.
Our View: Buck is only hitting .154 over 65 at-bats, with 20 strikeouts and no homers, and he won't be missed while he is gone. |
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| Perez designated for assignment | Thursday 4/24, 1:03 PM CT |
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Tomas Perez has been designated for assignment, according to the Houston Chronicle. The team did the move to make room for pitcher Jack Cassel, who had been called up to start against the Reds today in place of the injured Wandy Rodriguez.
Our View: Perez had two hits over 10 brief at-bats, with two strikeouts, and he held no fantasy value prior to his designation. |
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| Fuentes unseats Corpas as closer | Thursday 4/24, 12:56 PM CT |
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Brian Fuentes has unseated Manny Corpas as the Rockies' closer, according to the Denver Post. Corpas has blown four save chances, including three straight, which led to his demotion today.
Our View: Manager Clint Hurdle believes Fuentes is close to being as effective as he ever was with the exception of his changeup, which still needs some adjustment. Fuentes holds a 1.18 WHIP over 11 innings, with eight strikeouts. Fuentes should be targeted in your league if available, especially if you are stuck with Corpas.
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| Corpas unseated as closer | Thursday 4/24, 12:52 PM CT |
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| Manuel Corpas has reportedly been unseated as the Rockies' closer by Brian Fuentes, according to the | |
