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| Ortiz continues climb back | Thursday 5/1, 11:10 PM CT |
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David Ortiz had two hits on Thursday night to raise his average to, gulp, .196.
Our View: Ortiz has hits in nine of his last 11 games to boost his average up from .111, but it's shocking to see a sub .200 mark this far into the season. Still, Ortiz has produced 17 runs and 21 RBI, including 17 RBI in his last 11 games, so it's clear that he has fixed what was ailing him. |
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| Wakefield loses in seven | Thursday 5/1, 11:07 PM CT |
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Tim Wakefield didn't pick up a single K on the night but he still allowed only three runs over seven innings, though the result was his first loss of the year.
Our View: Seemingly 412 years old, the ageless Wakefield just keeps giving his team a chance to win, and often they do considering the offense he has behind him. If you have a kid and want him to play pro baseball, find someone to teach him how to throw a knuckleball. |
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| Burnett dominates the Red Sox | Thursday 5/1, 11:04 PM CT |
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A.J. Burnett was dealing on Thursday night as he held the potent Red Sox lineup to just three hits over 7.2 innings. Burnett struck out five though he also issues five free passes.
Our View: Burnett was pitching to the corners all night baffling the Sox hitters, but as is often the case with him the good came with some bad. Tonight the bad was five walks, though overall this was his best outing of the season. |
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| Lowell looking for stroke | Thursday 5/1, 11:01 PM CT |
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Mike Lowell went 1-for-4 on Thursday night and he continues to work on his stroke after missing time due to a sore left thumb.
Our View: Lowell is just 2-for-11 without a single run produced in three games since returning to the lineup. With Sean Casey on the DL and Kevin Youkilis back at first base, Lowell will need to pick things up to help the offense from third base. |
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| Rios homers, steals base | Thursday 5/1, 10:58 PM CT |
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Alex Rios had three hits including a long home run off of Tim Wakefield on Thursday night.
Our View: Rios has only three home runs over 103 AB, a pace for less than 20 after hitting 24 last year. Of course there is plenty of time for him to turn that around, and he has helped to offset the lack of power with his work on the bases (seven steals). |
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| Batista brilliant for seven | Thursday 5/1, 10:56 PM CT |
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Miguel Batista struck out six Indians while allowing just one run over seven innings to pick up a no-decision.
Our View: After allowing four earned runs in three straight starts, Bautista has now allowed four runs in his last three appearances (2.30 ERA). A versatile hurler, Batista is nothing more than a backend rotation option. |
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| Putz suffers blown save | Thursday 5/1, 10:53 PM CT |
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J.J. Putz suffered his second blown save of the season on Thursday night as he allowed two hits, two walks and one run to the Indians.
Our View: Putz must have been ticked off that he allowed the run as he picked up all three outs on strikeouts. Through five innings Putz has allowed five runs and 14 baserunners, so it's clear that he is not quite yet back to his dominating form. You might consider leaving him on your bench until he proves his control has returned. |
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| Byrd shuts down Mariners | Thursday 5/1, 10:50 PM CT |
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Paul Byrd lowered his ERA to 3.74 after holding the Mariners without a run over seven innings. Byrd allowed four hits and only one walk on the night.
Our View: Unfortunately for Byrd the bullpen blew the game thanks to some spotty defense, but Byrd continues to be a solid option in AL Only leagues, provided that you planned ahead and have your strikeouts from other sources. |
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| Ichiro knocks out three hits | Thursday 5/1, 10:46 PM CT |
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Ichiro Suzuki had three hits in five trips to the plate on Thursday night.
Our View: No one was happier to see the calendar flip to May that Ichiro who owns the highest batting average in the month of any active player (.371). You can only keep a good man down for so long, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him rip off one of his patented hot streaks really soon. |
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| Sexson has 6-game hit streak | Thursday 5/1, 10:44 PM CT |
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Richie Sexson hit his sixth home run of the season on on Thursday night though his average is still languishing at .230.
Our View: Sexson has 17 RBI in the early going, though again, that average is a real drain. Still he does have hits in six straight games, so hope for Sexson to return to a more usable .260 average versus the pathetic .205 that he posted last season. |
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| Hafner, Garko stroke two hits | Thursday 5/1, 10:40 PM CT |
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Travis Hafner went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his first game from the sixth hole in the lineup. Also joining him in the hit parade was Ryan Garko who had two hits to snap an 0-for-24 spell.
Our View: Both Hafner and Garko are being counted on to provide the pop in the middle of the Indians lineup, so it's great to see both have some success after a tough start to the year. |
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| Cabrera wins it in 11th | Thursday 5/1, 10:37 PM CT |
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Asdrubal Cabrera snapped an 0-for-14 slump by connecting for a game-winning bases loaded single in the 11th inning for the Indians.
Our View: Cabrera, dropped to the ninth hole, is hitting only .202 on the year without a home run and 19 K on the early season. Perhaps this will be the springboard he needs to find his stroke, but the team could always turn to Josh Barfield who is currently in the minors. |
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| Robertson struggles to victory | Thursday 5/1, 10:22 PM CT |
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Nate Robertson struggled to his first victory of the season on Thursday night as he allowed nine base runners and four runs in 5.2 innings of work.
Our View: Robertson has made six starts on the year, and not once has he allowed less than four earned runs. That's the definition of below average, which is how your fantasy staff will likely turn out if you run Robertson out there every week. |
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| Matsui extends streak to 11 | Thursday 5/1, 10:18 PM CT |
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Hideki Matsui had only one hit on Thursday night but it was enough to extend his hitting streak to 11-games.
Our View: With machine like efficiency Matsui just keeps producing solid seasons of around .300-20-100. Even though he plays for the Yankees, he sometimes is lost in the fantasy universe because of the fact that he is surrounded by so many talented players. |
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| Kennedy struggles again | Thursday 5/1, 10:14 PM CT |
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Ian Kennedy managed to pitch just 4.2 innings on Thursday as the Tigers were able to score four runs on five hits and three walks against him.
Our View: Kennedy wasn't quite as bad as his final line showed tonight, but he still wasn't anywhere near where the Yankees need him to be, especially with the recent news about Phil Hughes. Kennedy remains someone who should not be anywhere near your starting lineup right now. |
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| Ordonez on mini-streak | Thursday 5/1, 10:12 PM CT |
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Magglio Ordonez extended his meager hitting streak to five games on Thursday with two hits and three RBI.
Our View: Ordonez has seen his average climb from .281 to .315 with his mini-hot streak, and batting in front of Miguel Cabrera should ensure that he continues to see a whole bunch of good pitches to hit. |
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| Cabrera powers lineup | Thursday 5/1, 10:09 PM CT |
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Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a home run, his sixth, and two RBI for the Tigers.
Our View: Cabrera played his 14th game at first base tonight and is closing in on the magical 20 number which will give him even more flexibility this season. Still struggling a bit at the plate with a .279 average, Cabrera does have 22 RBI on the year. |
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| Bard in a funk | Thursday 5/1, 9:17 PM CT |
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Josh Bard went 0-for-3 on Thursday night to drop his average down to .209 for the Padres.
Our View: Bard has failed miserably to take advantage of the playing time he was given with the injury to Michael Barrett. Bard is now 1-for-18 over the last five games, and it doesn't get much worse than that for a career .271 hitter. |
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| Gonzalez goes yard | Thursday 5/1, 9:15 PM CT |
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Adrian Gonzalez hit his sixth home run of the season off of Randy Wolf, and he now has 21 RBI on the year.
Our View: Gonzalez has now gone deep four times in the last 10 games for the Padres as he continues to be one of the only productive bats in the Padres lineup. |
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| Burrell starts May well | Thursday 5/1, 9:13 PM CT |
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Pat Burrell had two hits and knocked in his 26th RBI of the season on Thursday.
Our View: Burrell started May the same way he ended April - hot. The average will certainly fall, but that doesn't mean he won't continue to produce a ton of RBI. |
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| Howard blasts sixth HR | Thursday 5/1, 9:09 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI including his sixth home run of the season on Thursday.
Our View: Howard is hitting only .184 thanks to a massive 39 K in just 103 AB meaning that he is striking out in almost 38% of his AB. All those punchouts are putting a terrible drain on his production, but you know that Howard will catch fire and put up those big power numbers by the end of the year. Be patient. |
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| Wolf continues K run | Thursday 5/1, 9:05 PM CT |
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Randy Wolf continued his early season run of solid starts as he allowed just two runs over six innings to the Phillies. Wolf also tied his season best with nine K.
Our View: Wolf has quietly racked up some extremely impressive strikeout numbers with 37 K in 35.1 innings as he is giving the Padres everything they hoped he would. Almost as impressive as the K totals is the fact that he has walked only 11 batters on the season leading to a 1.13 WHIP. |
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| Easton solid again | Thursday 5/1, 9:01 PM CT |
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Adam Eaton, surprisingly, pitched well on Thursday allowing only two runs in six innings against the Padres. Eaton walked two, struck out two, and permitted five hits in the no-decision.
Our View: Eaton continues to be a middling pitcher with a propensity to either blow up or end up injured. Don't let this start fool you, but it was his fifth time in six outings that he has allowed three of fewer runs. |
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| Lidge dominating hitters once again | Thursday 5/1, 8:59 PM CT |
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Brad Lidge worked his 12th inning, in his 12 appearance, and failed to allow a run for the 12th time on Thursday night. He also recorded his seventh save.
Our View: So much for those who felt Lidge was toast. Lidge has 13 K in those 12 innings, with a WHIP of 0.92, giving those Phillies fans nothing to boo about. |
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| Bruntlett settling in | Thursday 5/1, 8:48 PM CT |
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With the news that Jimmy Rollins will be sidelined a few extra days, the Phililes will continue to turn to Eric Bruntlett, according to MLB.com. "I feel like it's coming together for me," Bruntlett said. "It is getting better, and I know I have more work to do.
Our View: Bruntlett entered action on Thursday with an 8-game hitting streak (9-for-28), but his value will go back to basically nil once Rollins returns to action, hopefully some time next week. |
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| Sanchez hits first home run | Thursday 5/1, 8:42 PM CT |
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Freddy Sanchez hit his first home run of the season on Thursday, though it was his only hit of the day.
Our View: This is better news than it might seem because it might signal that his shoulder truly has regained the required strength needed to return to the .300 hitter he has been the past few years. This is a potential buy low opportunity you might want to look into to. |
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| Kearns finally puts up some hits | Thursday 5/1, 8:37 PM CT |
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Austin Kearns went 2-for-4 with a run scored and and RBI as he attempts to break out of an early season slump.
Our View: Kearns is batting a hideous .194 through 103 AB and has been a major source of disappointment so far. The smart money is on a regression to being the professional hitter that he is, but its been painful to watch up until this point. |
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| Doumit blasts fifth home run | Thursday 5/1, 8:30 PM CT |
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Ryan Doumit hit his fifth home run of the season on Thursday as he continues to make an excellent play at the catchers position.
Our View: Doumit is batting an amazing .351 over his first 77 AB which includes 13 hits in his last eight starts. |
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| Rauch settles into role | Thursday 5/1, 8:27 PM CT |
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Jon Rauch picked up his sixth save of the season on Thursday by pitching a perfect ninth inning against the Pirates.
Our View: Rauch has now allowed only one run over his last 10 appearances, and seems to be settling in quite well to the closers role that he just might be putting a stranglehold on even when Chad Cordero is healthy. |
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| Duke back on track | Thursday 5/1, 8:21 PM CT |
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Zach Duke rebounded from two rough starts to hurl seven innings of two run ball for the Pirates on Thursday. Duke allowed five hits and a walk while striking out one Nationals batter.
Our View: Zuke is the type of soft tossing starter that can have a lot of success one night and get lit up the next. Tonight he was on, the last two times he wasn't (11 ER in 10 IP). Tread carefully with him. |
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| Zumaya throws from hill | Thursday 5/1, 8:17 PM CT |
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Joel Zumaya threw a six minute session from the mound for the the Tigers on Thursday at the team's spring training complex, according to MLB.com. Zumaya was limited to fastballs and changeups in his first "intense" workout since his off-season shoulder surgery.
Our View: No one knows just how Zumaya will be able to respond from his surgery as it isn't the type of procedure normally performed on baseball players. The team is hoping to have him back around the all-star break. |
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| Rodney has successful outing | Thursday 5/1, 8:12 PM CT |
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Fernando Rodney (shoulder) threw a six minute session off the mound on Thursday at the team's spring training facility, according to MLB.com. This was the first throwing session for Rodney since he visited Dr. James Andrews and received a positive report. "He felt this was his best bullpen session to date," Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said.
Our View: The Tigers could certainly use a boost in the pen since they are trotting out a couple of guys most of you have likely never heard of before. This was nothing more than a first step, but it was still a very encouraging one for a guy who has had one setback after another this season. |
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| Gorzelanny to throw on Friday | Thursday 5/1, 7:57 PM CT |
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Tom Gorzelanny is dealing with back tightness and as a result the Pirates plan to monitor him very closely moving forward, according to MLB.com. Tom will throw on Friday and that will go a long ways toward determining the teams next move. "It's one of those things we'll monitor over the next few days," manager John Russell said. "If something changes, we'll re-evaluate."
Our View: The team is still saying that they expect Gorzelanny to make his next start, scheduled for Tuesday, as they really seem to think that there is nothing to this back tightness thing. Time will tell, but the safe move is to plan on replacing Tom in your lineup for at least the next week, and maybe much longer considering how poorly he has pitched this year. |
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| Dumatrait to start on Friday | Thursday 5/1, 7:48 PM CT |
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Phil Dumatrait will start for the Pirates on Friday taking over the rotation spot of the retired Matt Morris, according to MLB.com. "To be honest, I was kind of intimidated a bit," he said when referring to his performance last season (0-4 with a 15.00 ERA). "I was pitching away from guys."
Our View: Dumatrait has appeared in 10 games out of the pen this year with mixed results, and that makes the move to the starting rotation a bit risky at this point. Phil will likely be on a pitch count, probably well under 100, until he builds up the required arm strength. |
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| Edmonds batting seventh | Thursday 5/1, 7:44 PM CT |
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Jim Edmonds entered Thursday on an 0-for-23 dry spell, and as a result he has been relegated to the 7th hole in the batting order, according to MLB.com. "I don't think it [moving him down in the batting order] takes any pressure off a guy like Jim Edmonds," manager Bud Black said. He wants to do everything he can to help the team win."
Our View: Edmonds just isn't the same hitter that he used to be, that fact is painfully obvious. He can still pop the occasional long ball, but in truth, he is nothing more than a depth play in NL Only leagues at this point. |
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| Duncan in cleanup spot | Thursday 5/1, 7:39 PM CT |
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With Alex Rodriguez on the DL, manager Joe Girardi wants to break up all the left-handed bats in the middle of the lineup so Shelley Duncan will bat cleanup, according to MLB.com. "Shelley has hit left-handers in his career pretty well and Shelley played pretty well down at Triple-A. We're just trying to break it up so it's not so easy for them to bring in their lefties," Girardi said.
Our View: At Triple-A Scranton Duncan hit .309 with six home runs, so he has been swinging a solid bat. We still can't think that this arrangement will pick up any traction though, so don't go scrambling to add Shelley based on this news. |
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| Lo Duca hopes to return on Friday | Thursday 5/1, 7:35 PM CT |
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Paul Lo Duca will play one more game at Triple-A Potomac on Thursday with the hope of being activated to play with the big league club on Friday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Lo Duca will be given the starting role with Will Nieves and Johnny Estrada splitting the backup duties. Nieves would appear to have a hold on the #2 spot with Estrada likely serving as a pinch hitter on most nights. |
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| Hafner to hit sixth | Thursday 5/1, 7:31 PM CT |
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Travis Hafner returned to the Indians lineup on Thursday though he was dropped to sixth in the order, according to MLB.com. "We're going to give him a little bit of a break and let him see a few at-bats before he gets up there [the third hole]," manager Eric Wedge said.
Our View: David Dellucci will move up to the third spot in the order thanks to a seven game hitting streak. Casey Blake will move up to the second spot, largely on the strength of 13 RBI in 14 games. Ryan Garko will move down to the seventh hole as well because of his 0-for-24 spell. |
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| Young finding his stroke in Minny | Thursday 5/1, 7:07 PM CT |
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Delmon Young is finally finding his comfort zone with the Twins, according to the AP. "We’re just trying not to put too much pressure on him where he feels like he has to hit 40 home runs," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Just play and play the game the right way. And he’s done that."
Our View: Young has already stolen six bases after swiping only 10 all of last year, which helps to make up for the slow start in the power categories this year (zero HR, eight RBI). Young still has tremendous upside in all facets of the game, but he is still a ways away from tapping into all of that talent on a regular basis. |
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| Jackson to be traded? | Thursday 5/1, 7:03 PM CT |
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With Scott Kazmir nearing a return to the active roster, the team will have to make a decision on who to remove from the starting rotation. Edwin Jackson just might be that pitcher as several teams have shown interest in trading for him, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Jackson has long had a golden arm, and amazingly he is still only 24 years old, so one would think he could bring a nice little package in return if he is moved. |
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| Dunn could be traded this summer | Thursday 5/1, 6:58 PM CT |
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Adam Dunn, a free agent at the end of the season, is on many a team's wish list, according to MLB.com. Dunn hasn't engaged in any contract talks with the Reds, and though he has a no-trade clause in his contract through June 15th, after that he has only a limited clause that allows him to specify 10 teams which he would approve a trade to.
Our View: Dunn has been off to a painfully slow start in the 5x5 categories, but he still has a .391 OBP despite the struggles, and there is the little matter of history that is on his side as well (40 HR, 90 RBI, 90 runs in 4-straight seasons). If he does move, he will be one hell of an acquisition. |
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| Moss back with Sox | Thursday 5/1, 6:53 PM CT |
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Brandon Moss was recalled to help fill what is suddenly an injury filled Red Sox outfield, according to Pro Sox Blog. `He’s an interesting player,’’ manager Terry Francona said. "All of a sudden you’ve got a young left-handed hitter who can play three or four positions and hit a fastball. That’s pretty valuable.’’
Our View: Moss will likely only be a short term fill in for the injured J.D. Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury, but was saw earlier in the year that Moss can contribute if given the chance. |
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| Drew on slow path to recovery | Thursday 5/1, 6:51 PM CT |
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J.D. Drew is out of the lineup on Thursday due to a sore quadriceps, and he could also miss at least part of the weekend series with the Rays, according to MLB.com. "I really don't want to miss six weeks at a time," Drew said. "I had an injury like this [in 1999], just kind of had a little twinge in my quad like that and played the next day, and ended up blowing it up and missing six weeks."
Our View: Drew was able to jog on Thursday, but with he an Jacoby Ellsbury out injured, the team recalled Brandon Moss to help fill the void. |
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| Upton apparently OK | Thursday 5/1, 6:36 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier report, B.J. Upton's shoulder injury does not appear to be serious, according to the Tampa Tribune. “It looks bad right away. It feels bad right away,” Upton said. “But this is the best it’s ever felt right after, so we shouldn’t think too much of it.”
Our View: Upton will likely miss Friday's game, but what could have been a disaster appears to be simply a minor annoyance. Keep an eye on how he does once he returns. |
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| Boggs making impact | Thursday 5/1, 6:18 PM CT |
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Brandon Boggs has started his career with five hits in nine AB, and he will be in the starting lineup for Thursday in place of Milton Bradley who is suffering from a hamstring issue, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Boggs will try to establish himself as the team's fifth outfielder over the next few weeks or at least prove that he should be called up the next time someone else is hurt over Nelson Cruz. |
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| Astacio given unconditional release | Thursday 5/1, 6:11 PM CT |
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Olivo Astacio was released on Thursday for a "significant violation of organization policy", according to MLB.com. No further details were provided.
Our View: Astacio is a big flame throwing right hander who has spent the last two years in the Pirates minor league system. |
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| Izturis placed on DL | Thursday 5/1, 5:53 PM CT |
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Maicer Izturis was placed on the DL on Thursday because of a strained lower back, this according to The Sports Network. This move is retroactive to April 28th, the last time he played.
Our View: The team will likely go with Chone Figgins at second base until later in the week when the team hopes to have Howie Kendrick back in action. |
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| Lindstrom to avoid DL | Thursday 5/1, 5:21 PM CT |
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Matt Lindstrom has an injured lower back, but an MRI exam revealed no significant damage which means he will likely avoid the DL, according to MLB.com. "It's day-to-day," Lindstrom said.
Our View: The team has not announced when he will return to the hill, and given that he also suffered back problems last season, look for the Marlins to be very careful as to when they bring him back into the setup role. |
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| Liriano struggling in minors | Thursday 5/1, 5:18 PM CT |
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Francisco Liriano is continuing to work on his comeback from TJ surgery but he remains unable to locate his pitches and is still struggling at Triple-A Rochester, according to MLB.com. "I think he was a little confused, because he really thought that he had it all," manager Ron Gardenhire said Wednesday. "He thought he could come up here and dominate some people. It was an eye-opener for him, which is good. Because you need to have a little fear in you in this game -- it's not that easy."
Our View: Liriano allowed 13 BB in 10.1 innings over three starts with the Twins, and he followed that up with five BB in 4.1 innings in his first minor league start. Everyone comes back from surgery differently, and while Liriano should one day reclaim his previous dominating form, it really was foolish for anyone to expect him to recapture his past glory starting in April. |
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| Gomes still dealing with platoon | Thursday 5/1, 5:09 PM CT |
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Jonny Gomes continues to try and make the best of the platoon he finds himself in with the Rays, according to MLB.com. has he changed his game because of it? "Going 1-for-3 with a walk isn't going to get you in there the next day, while going 2-for-3 or 3-for-4 is going to get you in there the next day. So you just kind of come out of your approach to try and get yourself in the lineup."
Our View: We are still trying to figure out why the Rays won't play this guy everyday, especially with Cliff Floyd on the DL. Gomes brings passion and a power bat to the lineup, and though he has struggled against righties in the past he is batting .276 with a .883 OPS against them this season in 29 AB. It just seems like the Rays have given up on him being an everyday player no matter what the numbers say. |
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| Hughes out until July | Thursday 5/1, 5:03 PM CT |
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Here is an update on the injured right oblique of Yankees starter Phil Hughes. An MRI revealed that he actually has a stress fracture in one of his ribs and as a result he will be out until at least July, according to the AP.
Our View: Uh oh. Besides the fact that Hughes is now at least a couple of months away from contributing, the Yankees are now in desperate need of a starting pitcher. They could move Joba Chamberlain into the rotation, or just hope that Darrell Rasner steps up big time. With Ian Kennedy also struggling, it might be time for the Yankees to explore the trade market. |
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| Soria dominating hitters | Thursday 5/1, 4:57 PM CT |
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Joakim Soria hansn't allowed a run in 11 innings this season and he has allowed only four baserunners in a fantastic start to his season, according to MLB.com. "It's hard for [hitters] to pick up the ball," pitching coach Bob McClure said. "You'll see a lot of guys take so many strikes with him and a lot of guys swinging through balls. It's just a gift."
Our View: Whatever he's doing, he needs to keep it up. Over 80 innings in his career Soria has a 2.14 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and has allowed batters to hit .174. Dominance like that is money in the bank even if the guy pitches for the Royals. |
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| Turnbow could be demoted | Thursday 5/1, 4:46 PM CT |
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Derrick Turnbow has been bad this year, and he was hideous the other night, so the Brewers are considering sending Turnbow to the minors, according to MLB.com. "When we make a move, we'll let you know," GM Doug Melvin said. "It's not fair to Derrick Turnbow to tell the media what we're doing before we talk to Derrick Turnbow. If there's any move, we'll let you know."
Our View: The team could wait a week and release Turnbow and recall Dave Bush who they just sent down. Turnbow is out of minor league options, so if he refuses such a move by the team he could eventually become a free agent, though he would also have to forfeit roughly $2.5 million in salary. |
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| Fielder has another hitless outing | Thursday 5/1, 4:40 PM CT |
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Prince Fielder had another 0-for outing on Thursday as he went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .240.
Our View: Fielder has three home runs and eight RBI in his last eight games, this after one and 12 in his first 20 games so he has certainly heated up. Still, his SLG is below .450 and he clearly is still searching for his stroke. Pity the pitchers when he finds it. |
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| Gagne garners ninth save | Thursday 5/1, 4:36 PM CT |
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Eric Gagne picked up his ninth save of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth inning on Thursday.
Our View: Though his ERA (5.27) and WHIP (1.46) are ghastly, he does have 16 K in 13.2 IP. Still, he is just nine for 13 in save conversions, so it's really tough to get a handle on what to expect from Gagne moving forward. At least he has managed to stay healthy thus far. |
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| Soriano unsuccessful in return | Thursday 5/1, 4:34 PM CT |
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Alfonso Soriano returned to the top of the lineup on Thursday but he went 0-for-4 in his first game back from a calf injury dropping his average to .164.
Our View: Soriano didn't hit a single home run last year in April and still finished with 33 long balls, so he has clearly shown he can rebound from slow starts. Hopefully he can do the same thing this year as well. |
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| Fukudome goes 4-for-4 | Thursday 5/1, 4:32 PM CT |
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Kosuke Fukudome went 4-for-4 on Thursday to push his average up to .353.
Our View: Fukudome has only one home run through 102 AB, but he has that huge average and 22 runs scored providing the quality bat that the Cubs hoped they were bringing into the fold. Toss in his three SB, and Fukudome has also been a wonderful fantasy player as well. |
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| Gallardo solid again | Thursday 5/1, 4:30 PM CT |
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Yovani Gallardo had another solid outing on Thursday as he allowed three runs in six innings to the Cubs. Gallardo permitted nine hits and a walk while striking out four batters.
Our View: This was his worst performance in three outings, but it still qualifies as a quality start. Gallardo has rebounded very well from his knee injury and appears good to go as a potential fantasy ace. |
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| Zambrano continues with control | Thursday 5/1, 4:27 PM CT |
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Carlos Zambrano had another great outing on Thursday allowing only one run over 6.1 innings to the Brewers. Zambrano allowed seven hits and two walks, while striking out three in the no-decision.
Our View: Zambrano's well below his career K/9 rate of 7.83 this year (6.70), but he has also cut his walk rate in half (2.11 per nine). As long as he keeps throwing strikes, there is no reason to think he will be anything other than a fantasy stud this season. |
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| Wood blows third save | Thursday 5/1, 4:24 PM CT |
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Kerry Wood suffered his third blown save of the season, and his first loss, by allowing three runs to the Brewers in the ninth inning.
Our View: Those Carlos Marmol whispers are growing. Wood has 13 K and only three BB in 14 innings, and he has only been scored on in three of 13 outings, so he should be able to hang on to the closers role moving forward. You didn't think it would be a smooth ride with Wood did you? |
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| Hamilton struggles against Royals | Thursday 5/1, 3:59 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton had a tough day at the plate in a 2-1 win over the Royals on Thursday, as he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He was moved to the cleanup spot today, while Milton Bradley sat out with leg cramps.
Our View: Hamilton hit his first career grand slam last night and collected 32 RBI over 28 games, and was due for a letdown game. He should bounce back fine, and continue to generate strong fantasy numbers. |
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| Tulowitzki has tear in quad | Thursday 5/1, 3:53 PM CT |
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Troy Tulowitzki has sustained a torn tendon in his left quadricep and could be out until at least the All-Star break, July 14-16, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Tulowitzki underwent an MRI on Wednesday, and Rockies trainer Keith Dugger confirmed Thursday that the shortstop had suffered a tear in the quad near the hip area.
Our View: Tulowitzki was expected to land on the DL, but was not expected to be out of action until at least the All-Star break. This is a tough loss for fantasy owners, but he wasn't hitting well with only one homer over 26 games with a .152 average, which lessens the pain a bit. The fantasy value of Clint Barmes climbs following this news, and is worth targeting for your roster, especially if you have Tulowitzki and lack a worthy backup to fill his spot. Barmes is hitting .292 over 65 at-bats. |
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| Ponson strong in first win | Thursday 5/1, 3:47 PM CT |
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Sidney Ponson was in command as he nailed down his first win of the season in Thursday's 2-1 victory over Kansas City. Ponson only allowed one run on six hits over eight innings, with two walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: While that was a strong outing today, he was only facing the unimposing Royals. He cannot be depended on while serving as a starter in the Rangers' rotation. |
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| Greinke suffers first loss | Thursday 5/1, 3:39 PM CT |
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Zack Greinke suffered his first loss of the season on Thursday, as Kansas City was edged by Texas 2-1. It was a quality outing for Greinke, as he only allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings, with no walks and nine strikeouts.
Our View: Greinke moves to 3-1 and still holds a strong ERA at 1.47. He reached his highest strikeout total of the season today, and would have remained unbeaten if not for poor run support. |
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| Jones hits two-run homer in loss | Thursday 5/1, 3:15 PM CT |
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Adam Jones went 1-for-3 and hit a two-run homer in Thursday's 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
Our View: Jones has two homers and 10 RBI over 28 games. He has failed to make a big impact so far this season, but he still has loads of potential, and you could be rewarded for your patience if you can afford to hold him on your roster. |
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| Burres drops to 3-2 | Thursday 5/1, 3:10 PM CT |
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Brian Burres dropped to 3-2 in Thursday's 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay. He surrendered four runs on six hits over six innings, with three walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: Burres has been enjoying a solid campaign as he held a 2.49 ERA and 1.22 WHIP prior to today's loss. His six strikeouts today were his highest of the season. His fantasy stock remains on the rise, and he is worth a look if you need help at the position. |
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| Crawford collects two RBI | Thursday 5/1, 3:04 PM CT |
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Carl Crawford went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's 4-2 win over Baltimore.
Our View: Crawford has 16 RBI over 28 games, and holds a .294 average. He also scored 26 runs. |
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| Garza claims first win | Thursday 5/1, 2:59 PM CT |
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Matt Garza claimed his first win of 2008 in Thursday's 4-2 win over Baltimore. He only allowed two runs on three hits over six innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. Both earned runs came on an Adam Jones home run.
Our View: This was a strong outing for Garza, and he is safe to return to your lineups (following his bout with a forearm injury). |
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| Uggla has tough day at plate | Thursday 5/1, 2:53 PM CT |
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Dan Uggla had a tough day at the plate in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers, as he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Our View: He has now gone 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in back-to-back games against the Dodgers, and only has two hits over his last four outings. |
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| Ross blasts two-run homer | Thursday 5/1, 2:47 PM CT |
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Cody Ross went 1-for-3 and blasted a two-run homer in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers. That was his first home run of the season.
Our View: Ross is platooning with Alfredo Amezega in center field, and this was a good day for him in his bid to earn more playing time. He was only hitting .146 heading into today's contest. |
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| Pierre has strong outing | Thursday 5/1, 2:40 PM CT |
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Juan Pierre had a strong outing while replacing Andruw Jones in the starting lineup on Thursday, as he went 2-for-3 with two RBI in a 5-3 win over Florida.
Our View: Pierre has 10 RBI over 20 games. He is worth scooping up if you have Andruw Jones on your roster. |
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| Kuroda dealt no decision | Thursday 5/1, 2:35 PM CT |
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Hiroki Kuroda ended Thursday's 5-3 win over Florida with a no decision. He hurled a quality start as he allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Most of the damage came on a two-run homer by Cody Ross. The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 3-3 tie and held on for the win.
Our View: He pitched well enough to win, but the Dodgers bats came alive after he left the contest. |
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| Murton optioned to Triple-A | Thursday 5/1, 1:34 PM CT |
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Matt Murton has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa, according to the AP. Alfonso Soriano has been activated from the DL today, and Murton was seen as expendable.
Our View: Murton held no fantasy value prior to his demotion, while fighting for playing time in a crowded and talented Cubs' outfield. |
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| Upton injures shoulder | Thursday 5/1, 1:28 PM CT |
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B.J. Upton suffered an apparent shoulder injury and was forced to exit Thursday afternoon’s game against the Orioles, according to the AP. Upton suffered the injury while swinging at a 2-1 pitch with two outs in the fifth inning. The fourth-year pro fouled off a pitch before doubling over and clutching his left shoulder.
Our View: Nathan Haynes replaced him in the lineup. We will keep you posted on Upton's status when more details are released. |
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| Wigginton activated from DL | Thursday 5/1, 1:23 PM CT |
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Ty Wigginton has been activated from the DL. He had recovered from a small fracture in his left thumb. To make room for him on the roster, Houston optioned pitcher Jack Cassel back to Tiple-A Round Rock.
Our View: Wigginton will need a few games to shake off the rust and find his rhythm, so you may want to monitor his performance before penciling him back into your lineups. |
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| Soriano activated from DL | Thursday 5/1, 1:19 PM CT |
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Alfonso Soriano has been activated from the DL, and is batting leadoff against the Brewers today, according to ESPN. Manager Lou Piniella said, "We'd like for Soriano to come in nice and hot and give us a lift. We'll see." To make room on the roster, the team optioned outfielder Matt Murton back to Triple-A Iowa.
Our View: Soriano's right calf has reportedly healed favorably, but he still needs to find his swing, as he was only hitting .175 before landing on the DL. |
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| Soto set rookie record for April | Thursday 5/1, 1:13 PM CT |
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Geovany Soto set a Cubs' rookie record with 20 RBI in the month of April, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The rookie is proving to be a fantasy steal for 2008, as he is belting .333 with five homers and 20 RBI over 87 at-bats. He is generating strong numbers, despite striking out 23 times. |
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| Braun hitting well despite homer skid | Thursday 5/1, 1:05 PM CT |
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Ryan Braun has not generated a home run over his last 76 at-bats, but is still hitting well right now as he is 14-for-38 (.368) over his last nine games, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The reigning NL Rookie of the Year is only hitting .273 with three homers and 18 RBI overall, but is worth targeting if you can lure him away from a disappointed fantasy owner. He still has plenty of time to pick his numbers up and make a strong impact like he did in 2007. |
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| Gallardo to make third start today | Thursday 5/1, 12:58 PM CT |
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Yovani Gallardo is set to make his third start of the season today when the Brewers battle the Cubs in Chicago, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Gallardo has two no decisions so far, but it is due to poor run support. He has been pitching very well since his return to the rotation, as he only allowed one run over 14 innings, with nine strikeouts. Gallardo holds a 0.64 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, and he was worth the wait this season. |
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| Melhuse cleared waivers | Thursday 5/1, 12:53 PM CT |
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Adam Melhuse cleared waivers and is officially a free agent, according to MLB.com. The former backup catcher of the Rangers was released last week.
Our View: Melhuse only hit .200 over 20 at-bats, with 11 strikeouts, and held no fantasy value prior to parting ways with Texas. |
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| Shealy collected eighth homer | Thursday 5/1, 12:46 PM CT |
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Ryan Shealy collected his eighth home run in Triple-A Omaha's 4-1 loss at Sacramento on Wednesday, according to MLB.com. Shealy is only hitting .213, but has 13 RBI.
Our View: Shealy is displaying good power in Triple-A, but with Billy Butler, Ross Gload, and Mark Teahen firmly set on the Royals' roster, Shealy has a limited shot to get called up, unless one of them gets hurt. |
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| Greinke looks to remain unbeaten | Thursday 5/1, 12:42 PM CT |
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Zack Greinke will look to remain unbeaten in 2008 when he takes the hill against the Rangers, according to MLB.com. Greinke is 3-0 with a 1.25 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 36 innings, with 19 strikeouts.
Our View: Greinke is among the best pitchers in the American League in the early going, and is also proving to be among the biggest fantasy steals of 2008. He will be opposed by righty Sidney Ponson today. |
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| Rasner will be called up | Thursday 5/1, 12:31 PM CT |
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Darrell Rasner will be called up from Triple-A Scranton, according to the NY Daily News. He is expected to take over Phil Hughes’ spot in the rotation on Sunday against the Mariners.
Our View: Rasner is not a top pitching prospect like Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, or Ian Kennedy, but he has a good arm and will get his chance to prove his worth, starting this Sunday. He will fill in while Phil Hughes nurses his strained oblique on the DL, and is worth a look if you need help at pitcher, namely if you lost Hughes. |
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| Saltalamacchia starts today | Thursday 5/1, 12:23 PM CT |
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Jarrod Saltalamacchia is starting today at catcher against Zack Greinke and the Royals, according to the Star Telegram. He is batting eighth in the order.
Our View: Start him if you have him today. He is 2-for-7 so far, with one RBI. |
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