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| Batista has awful outing | Tuesday 5/6, 11:58 PM CT |
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Miguel Batista delivered an awful performance on Tuesday night. He allowed three hits and six runs over 2.1 innings against the Rangers. Batista was his own worst enemy, as he walked six batters and threw only 45 of his 85 pitches for strikes.
Our View: Over his last four starts, Batista has delivered two gems and two major duds. It's maddening. Fantasy owners should avoid him if they possibly can. |
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| Bruntlett smacks double, homer in loss | Tuesday 5/6, 11:55 PM CT |
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Philadelphia SS Eric Bruntlett was one of few offensive highlights for the Phillies in a 6-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bruntlett went 2-for-5 at the plate with his 2nd double and 2nd home run of the season, totaling three RBIs.
Our View: Bruntlett's average has been bouncing around .230 all season long, but he is now 4-for-10 over his last two games. |
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| Duchscherer wins second straight | Tuesday 5/6, 11:54 PM CT |
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Justin Duchscherer picked up his second straight win on Tuesday night. The right-hander held the Orioles to four hits and two runs over seven innings. Duchscherer walked two, struck out four, and stands at 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA.
Our View: Duke has pitched well since coming back from a biceps ailment, and he could easily be 4-0 at this point. This was the first time all year that he worked more than five innings, and it may be time to look at him more seriously in mixed leagues. |
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| Drew leads the way for Diamondbacks | Tuesday 5/6, 11:51 PM CT |
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Arizona SS Stephen Drew carried the load on offense for the Diamondbacks this evening in the team's 6-4 win over Philadelphia. Drew went 2-for-4, hitting his fourth home run of the season to total three RBIs on the evening.
Our View: Drew hasn't been swinging the hottest of bats this season, but he is now 4-for-9 over his last two. |
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| Big Unit picks up second win | Tuesday 5/6, 11:48 PM CT |
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Arizona LHP Randy Johnson earned his second win of the season, leading the Diamondbacks to a 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Johnson pitched six innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on six hits, walking two and striking out six.
Our View: He gave two homers in his deepest outing thus far this season. |
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| Brown drives in another run | Tuesday 5/6, 11:39 PM CT |
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Emil Brown remains the top producer in the A's lineup. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI against the Royals on Tuesday. Brown owns 28 RBI through 33 games.
Our View: Brown has bounced back from an awful 2007 season. We like what he's doing thus far, but fantasy owners shouldn't rely too heavily on him. Brown is 33 and working under a one-year contract, which means the A's might easily push him aside if their record sours as the season continues. |
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| Huff extends hitting streak | Tuesday 5/6, 11:35 PM CT |
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Aubrey Huff went 1-for-4 with an RBI single on Tuesday against the A's. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Our View: Huff is having a decent year thus far and is borderline useful in mixed leagues. He's not going to win any fantasy titles, but he's not bad as a short-term injury replacement. |
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| Casilla knocks down save | Tuesday 5/6, 11:33 PM CT |
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Santiago Casilla worked another scoreless inning and earned his first save of the season on Tuesday. He has yet to allow a run over 17.1 innings.
Our View: Casilla was presumably used on Tuesday because Huston Street pitched the previous two days. Street remains the closer, but it seems like Casilla is the No. 2 guy is at this point. |
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| Iannetta getting warm for the Rocks | Tuesday 5/6, 11:26 PM CT |
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The Rockies struggled to produce offense as a team, taking the 6-5 loss from St. Louis, but catcher Chris Iannetta did what he could to keep them in the mix. Iannetta went 2-for-4 at the plate, hitting his 6th double and his 3rd home run of the season to total three RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: Iannetta's bat has been warming up a bit, going 8-for-16 over his last five games. |
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| Looper earns 5th win | Tuesday 5/6, 11:16 PM CT |
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Cardinals RHP Braden Looper picked up his fifth win of the season, pitching 8 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on 10 hits to lead the Cards to a 6-5 victory. Looper failed to allow a single walk and struck out just one.
Our View: Looper hasn't been terribly strong this season, but wins are wins. |
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| Harden sharp in rehab outing | Tuesday 5/6, 11:11 PM CT |
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Rich Harden was mostly brilliant in his second rehab start on Tuesday. He allowed only three hits over six scoreless innings and struck out nine batters. Harden walked none but did plunk three guys. He was pitching for High-A Stockton. Harden has been out since April 2 due to a right shoulder strain.
Our View: The A's will likely update his timetable on Tuesday night or Wednesday. He could be back in the majors by Sunday, May 11 if he's deemed to be ready. |
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| Ludwick goes 4-for-4 in win | Tuesday 5/6, 11:10 PM CT |
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The St. Louis Cardinals managed to find a one-run, 6-5 win over the Colorado Rockies this evening, and it was OF Ryan Ludwick that found his best game to lead the charge. Ludwick was a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk at the plate, hitting two doubles to post one RBI and one run scored.
Our View: Ludwick has reached base via hits in six consecutive games, but this is his first multi-hit performance since April 17th. |
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| Catalanotto gets start at first | Tuesday 5/6, 11:08 PM CT |
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Frank Catalanotto got the start at first base on Tuesday night. Manager Ron Washington is searching for better hitting out of the spot. "I certainly expected a lot more production than I'm getting out of it," Washington tells MLB.com. "Sometimes you get off to a bad start, and my first basemen have gotten off to a bad start." Ben Broussard, Chris Shelton, and Jason Botts have also played first base, and the group has combined to hit .161 with five homers, 13 RBI, and a .546 OPS.
Our View: We don't know why the Rangers are being stubborn about not using Jarrod Saltalamacchia at first base. That decision might need to be reversed soon. |
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| Chacon suffers another no decision | Tuesday 5/6, 11:01 PM CT |
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Houston RHP Shawn Chacon pitched well but managed to give up a few runs and suffer the non-decision in Houston's 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals. Chacon pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Chacon earned eight strike outs versus four walks, giving up two home runs along the way.
Our View: Chacon has the game to do much better, but in seven starts this season, he has yet to register a win or loss. |
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| Lee grabs 3 RBIs in win over Nats | Tuesday 5/6, 10:57 PM CT |
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Houston OF Carlos Lee hit the park running today, doing all he could to secure the 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals. Lee went 3-for-4 at the plate, hitting two doubles to total a team-high three RBIs on the evening.
Our View: Lee has been grinding along with little blips of greatness like this from time to time. The power is there to do better, but the consistency has lacked. |
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| Berkman goes off in win over Nats | Tuesday 5/6, 10:49 PM CT |
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Houston 1B Lance Berkman has been enjoying another great season thus far, and in tonight's 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals, he continued to show why he is one of the more feared hitters in the game. Berkman went 5-for-5 at the plate, hitting two doubles to gather just one RBI but four runs scored.
Our View: Berkman is now hitting .353 and is proving why he deserves a modest place among the game's elite.
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| Reyes improving | Tuesday 5/6, 10:43 PM CT |
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Al Reyes played catch from 130 feet on Tuesday and mixed in some curveballs. He had no discomfort in his right shoulder, the Tampa Tribune reports. Reyes will throw off a mound on Friday. The veteran is on the DL due to a shoulder impingement.
Our View: The Rays might not want to bring Reyes back. Their bullpen has been outstanding. We're joking with that first line, but they have little reason to rush his recovery. |
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| Johnson takes free bases in loss to Houston | Tuesday 5/6, 10:42 PM CT |
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The numbers may not immediately jump from the page, but Washington 1B Nick Johnson contributed a strong effort to the cause in a 6-5 loss to the Houston Astros. Johnson went 1-for-1 with three walks on the evening, making that one swing good for his 5th homer of the season and his 17th RBI.
Our View: Johnson has been struggling in recent weeks and is hoping this can help him get back on track. |
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| Kearns goes long versus Houston | Tuesday 5/6, 10:38 PM CT |
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Washington OF Austin Kearns put forth a strong effort to keep the Nationals in the mix, but in the end his team suffered the heartbreaking 6-5 loss to the Houston Astros. Kearns went 2-for-4 at the plate, hitting his third home run of the season for his 14th RBI.
Our View: This is Kearns' first homer since April 20th, but it also marks his fourth multi-hit game in five May matchups, a definitive sign of change for the better. |
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| Gonzo goes 4-for-4 in win over Brew crew | Tuesday 5/6, 10:29 PM CT |
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Florida OF Luis Gonzalez has more than his fair share of seasons in the majors under his belt, and tonight he showed why experience can be your best friend. Gonzo went 4-for-4 in the Marlins' 3-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, picking up his 6th RBI of the season and raising his seasonal batting average to .273.
Our View: Gonzo is now 6-for-7 over his last two games, hoping to get his bat going in the right direction. |
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| Ramirez grabs stolen base versus Milwaukee | Tuesday 5/6, 10:24 PM CT |
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Florida SS Hanley Ramirez continues to make fantasy owners smile, putting another strong performance on the field as the Marlins put a 3-0 whopping on the Milwaukee Brewers. Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate, striking out twice but posting one runs scored and one stolen base along the way.
Our View: Ramirez now touts 11 stolen bases on the season, though his batting average has dipped to .318 on the season. |
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| Olsen dominates Brewers | Tuesday 5/6, 10:16 PM CT |
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Florida LHP Scott Olsen continues to shine for the Marlins, picking up his fourth win of the season in leading Florida to 3-0 shutout victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Olsen pitched 8 2/3 innings, failing to allow a single run on just two hits surrendered. He walked four, struck out eight, and completely dominated the Brewers' lineup from top to bottom.
Our View: This is Olsen's first win since he racked up three consecutive victories in mid-April, and it easily ranks as his best to date. |
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| Vlad collects two hits | Tuesday 5/6, 10:11 PM CT |
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Vladimir Guerrero went 2-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs, and a walk against the Royals on Tuesday.
Our View: Vlad missed some RBI opportunities on Tuesday night, but we're still happy to see the multi-hit outing. Hopefully he can continue to bury his mini-slump as this week rolls along. |
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| Nady swinging big stick for Pirates | Tuesday 5/6, 10:08 PM CT |
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Pittsburgh OF Xavier Nady continues to exert his value as one of the most coveted young players on the Pirates' roster, a player other teams are sure to target with trade offers. Nady went 2-for-4 with a walk in the Pirates 12-6 win over the San Francisco Giants this evening, hitting his 12th double of the season to gather two RBIs and one run scored.
Our View: Over his last five games, Nady has gone 11-for-21 with five walks and eight RBIs, steadily raising his seasonal batting average to .352. |
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| Adenhart shaky again | Tuesday 5/6, 10:07 PM CT |
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Nick Adenhart toiled again on Tuesday night, but he held the Royals to three runs over 4.1 innings. The rookie allowed six hits and walked five batters before departing.
Our View: The 21-year-old right-hander still has a bright future, but he's now walked 10 batters over 6.1 innings. He clearly has some things to work on back at Triple-A, which is where he'll likely head soon. |
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| Bannister loses fourth straight | Tuesday 5/6, 10:05 PM CT |
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Brian Bannister dropped his fourth straight decision on Tuesday night. He served up 13 hits and five runs over 6.2 innings against the Angels. Bannister walked two, struck out three, and tossed a wild pitch. He has now allowed five homers over his last three outings.
Our View: That brilliant 3-0 start is beginning to look like an aberration. Bannister had never allowed as many as 13 hits in a game before, and it may be time for his adjustments. Fantasy owners certainly shouldn't give up on him, but we all need to look back at his 2007 digits for a reality check. |
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| Sanchez, McLouth set tone for Pirates | Tuesday 5/6, 10:02 PM CT |
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The top of the order provided a strong lift in Pittsburgh's 12-6 win over the San Francisco Giants this evening. 2B Freddy Sanchez went 3-for-4 with three singles and a walk, totaling two RBIs and two runs scored. OF Nate McLouth followed going 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs for three RBIs on the evening.
Our View: That's five runs scored from the first two batters in the order, a strong effort that bolstered an offensive explosion for the Pirates. |
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| Anderson drives in five | Tuesday 5/6, 10:01 PM CT |
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Garret Anderson went 3-for-5 with a homer and five RBI in Tuesday's win over the Royals. The veteran also went deep and drove in two runs on Monday.
Our View: Is this the beginning of a hot streak? Only time will tell, but fantasy owners may want to pay attention to Anderson again. He hit only .231 in April, but he's capable of reeling off some quality numbers. |
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| Dye takes Twins deep | Tuesday 5/6, 9:57 PM CT |
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Jermaine Dye went 2-for-3 with a homer, two runs, and two RBI in Tuesday's win against the Twins. The outfielder also managed not to strike out. He had whiffed 15 times in the previous 10 games.
Our View: A lingering groin injury has been bothering Dye, and it's good to see him have such a productive day. It might be a decent time for fantasy owners to buy low. |
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| Castillo jacks 2nd homer for 3 RBIs | Tuesday 5/6, 9:56 PM CT |
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San Francisco 3B Jose Castillo jacked just his 2nd home run of the season in the Giants' 12-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates this evening, but he made it count for three RBIs to top the San Francisco effort. Castillo went 1-for-3 with a walk on the evening, leaving two men on base along the way.
Our View: Castillo may not be hitting the long ball, but he's got a hot bat in his hands, going 7-for-18 over his last six games. |
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| Blackburn takes second loss | Tuesday 5/6, 9:55 PM CT |
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Nick Blackburn worked six innings against the White Sox on Tuesday and allowed six hits and four runs (three earned). The rookie walked three, struck out one, and dropped to 2-2.
Our View: Blackburn has been knocked around pretty hard (53 hits, 42.1 innings) this year, but he's shown toughness and managed a solid 3.65 ERA. AL-only fantasy owners should feel comfortable using him despite the low strikeout totals. |
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| Aurilia goes 3-for-4 in loss | Tuesday 5/6, 9:55 PM CT |
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San Francisco 1B Rich Aurilia did what he could to put the Giants in the win column this evening, but his efforts were not enough to overcome an offensive surge from the Pittsburgh Pirates, putting the Giants to bed 12-6. Aurilia went 3-for-4 at the plate with his 3rd double of the season, posting one RBI and two runs scored.
Our View: Aurilia has struggled to find his groove, but he is now 6-for-7 over his last two games. |
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| Floyd flirts with no-hitter | Tuesday 5/6, 9:52 PM CT |
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Gavin Floyd toyed with no-hitter on Tuesday night. He didn't allow a hit until Joe Mauer doubled in the ninth inning. Floyd finished with one hit and one unearned run allowed over 8.1 innings. He walked three and struck out four.
Our View: Back on April 12, Floyd took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Tigers. This 25-year-old right-hander has taken a long time to find his comfort zone at the major league level, but it looks like fantasy owners can start believing. |
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| Pena strikes out four times | Tuesday 5/6, 9:48 PM CT |
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Carlos Pena went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. It was his second four-whiff effort of the year. His other such outing was April 22, also against the Blue Jays. Pena has struck out 39 times in 31 games and is hitting .207.
Our View: Pena is testing the Rays patience. He has only one homer and four RBI over the last 20 games. We realize this is a marathon and don't want to overreact, but we can't imagine Joe Maddon will keep putting up with this work out of the clean-up spot. |
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| Carmona wild again | Tuesday 5/6, 9:43 PM CT |
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Fausto Carmona held the Yankees to three runs over five innings on Tuesday. We say "held" because he issues six hits and five walks while striking out only two batters. Carmona threw only 52 of his 95 pitches for strikes.
Our View: Carmona has now walked 31 batters in 39.2 innings, which is awful. He should count his lucky stars that his ERA is somehow still at 2.95. Carmona can't keep this up and expect to win games or keep runs off the board. |
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| Jurrjens strikes out 8 in win over Padres | Tuesday 5/6, 9:42 PM CT |
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Atlanta RHP Jair Jurrjens earned his fourth win of the season, pitching a gem to lead the Braves to a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres. Jurrjens pitched six innings, allowing just one run on seven hits. Jurrjens also held the Padres to just one walk while striking out eight.
Our View: That's three wins for Jurrjens over his last four outings (including one no decision), touting 23 strike outs versus just eight walks. |
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| Matsui goes 3-for-3 | Tuesday 5/6, 9:40 PM CT |
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Hideki Matsui is locked in. The outfielder went 3-for-3 on Tuesday night and now owns a 15-game hitting streak. Matsui is up to .342.
Our View: If the guys behind Matsui in the Yankees lineup weren't struggling so much, Hideki would probably have 25 runs by now. Anyway, fantasy owners should be enjoying the excellent average. |
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| Peralta goes yard | Tuesday 5/6, 9:38 PM CT |
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Jhonny Peralta went 1-for-3 with a homer, two runs, two RBI, and a walk against the Yankees on Tuesday. He came into the game 1-for-21 over the last six contests.
Our View: Peralta is just one of many Indians who is struggling at the dish. The homer is nice, but we won't believe he's out of his slump until he can put together some multi-hit outings. |
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| Kotsay keeps streaking versus Padres | Tuesday 5/6, 9:37 PM CT |
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Atlanta OF Mark Kotsay put forth a strong night at the plate in support of the 5-3 win over San Diego. Kotsay went 2-for-4, hitting his 3rd home run of the season to total two RBIs with two runs scored.
Our View: This is Kotsay's seventh consecutive game with a hit, a span in which he has gone a combined 13-for-29 at the plate. |
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| Giles lone offensive support in Pads loss | Tuesday 5/6, 9:36 PM CT |
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OF Brian Giles has a good thing going as the leadoff man for the Padres despite a 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Giles went 4-for-5 with his 8th double of the season, totaling two runs scored.
Our View: This is just the second game in the last 11 in which Giles has failed to earn a walk, touting 10 hits over his last seven games. |
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| Joba looks human | Tuesday 5/6, 9:35 PM CT |
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Joba Chamberlain showed his human side on Tuesday. The reliever allowed three runs in one inning against the Indians. Chamberlain walked two batters and got two outs before serving up a homer to David Dellucci. It's just the second home run Chamberlain has allowed in 37.1 career innings.
Our View: It happens to the best of them, and there's absolutely no reason for alarm. |
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| Chipper keeps it hot | Tuesday 5/6, 9:35 PM CT |
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Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones enjoyed another strong night at the plate, helping his Braves earn a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres. Jones went 1-for-2 at the plate with two walks, hitting his 10th home run of the season to gather two RBIs on the evening.
Our View: That brings Jones to 29 RBIs thus far with an impressive .426 batting average, one of the best starts he has enjoyed since his best days as the young offensive catalyst for the Braves. It certainly helped cover for the 0-for-4 performance of 1B Mark Teixeira hitting cleanup behind Jones (leaving five men on base). |
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| Hinske hurts Jays again | Tuesday 5/6, 9:31 PM CT |
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Eric Hinske loves facing his old club. He went 2-for-4 with a double, homer, one run, one RBI, and a stolen base against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. Hinske is 7-for-15 with two homers and six RBI in four games versus Toronto in 2008.
Our View: We're not sure what's gotten into Hinske this year, but we haven't seen him hit this well since 2002. He must be drinking Carlos Pena's water. |
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| Overbay drives in a pair | Tuesday 5/6, 9:28 PM CT |
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Lyle Overbay went 2-for-2 with a double, one walk, and two RBI against the Rays on Tuesday. It was his first multi-hit effort in 10 games and just his five extra-base hit of the year.
Our View: Overbay continues to look nothing like the quality batsman who helped fantasy teams before breaking his right hand in 2007. We need to see a lot more efforts like Tuesday before we'll believe in him again. |
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| Two more hits for Iwamura | Tuesday 5/6, 9:25 PM CT |
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Akinori Iwamura produced his third straight multi-hit game on Tuesday. He went 2-for-5 with a double, one run, and two RBI against the Blue Jays. Iwamura's average is up to .228.
Our View: The infielder has had a rough year at the plate thus far, but he is beginning to reward AL-only fantasy owners for their patience. Aki's .285 average last year wasn't a fluke, and we expect a similar mark this season. |
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| Burnett strikes out 10 | Tuesday 5/6, 9:23 PM CT |
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A.J. Burnett struck out 10 Rays on Tuesday night, but he also served up nine hits and five runs over six innings. He took the loss and fell to 3-3.
Our View: The really good news is that Burnett walked only one batter. He's been having some control issues lately. Burnett's ERA is above 5.00, but he's showing signs of coming around. |
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| Sonnanstine wins fourth straight | Tuesday 5/6, 9:21 PM CT |
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It wasn't pretty, but Andy Sonnanstine improved to 5-1 with a win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday. The right-hander allowed 10 hits and four runs over six innings. He also walked one and struck out two.
Our View: A little luck and offensive support never hurt, right? That's four wins in as many starts for Sonnanstine, who pitched a lot better in his previous victories. He's no fantasy ace, but his record should get him noticed in more and more mixed leagues. |
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| Zambrano aces Cincy for 5th win | Tuesday 5/6, 9:11 PM CT |
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Chicago ace Carlos Zambrano showed why he is the face of success for the Cubs, pitching his team to a dominating 3-0 victory. Zambrano pitched eight innings, failing to surrender a single run on three hits. The Chicago hurler surrendered three walks balanced with three strike outs, picking up his fifth win of the season.
Our View: With one minor sidenote of worry, Zambrano now touts nine walks over his last three starts after throwing just six in his first six starts. |
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| Harang pitches well, suffers loss | Tuesday 5/6, 9:06 PM CT |
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Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang may have suffered his 5th loss of the season, but he pitched rather well and only lacked the support of his offense in falling 3-0 to the Cubs. Harang pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on seven hits with just two walks surrendered and six strike outs earned.
Our View: Harang now carries a respectable 3.09 ERA and touts one of the best BB/K ratios in the majors. If only he pitched for a team worthy of his talents. |
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| Thomas believes he'll heat up | Tuesday 5/6, 9:05 PM CT |
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Frank Thomas isn't sweating his .198 average. He figures 2008 will be no different than 2006 or 2007, when he needed a couple months to find his groove. "The same thing happened in Toronto last year," Thomas tells MLB.com. "It took me eight or nine weeks to really get going. Now we're five, six weeks into the season and I haven't really gotten going this year, either. So that's three years in a row it's happened, but the first two, I did get it going, and this year won't be any different." Thomas ended up at .270-39-114 in 2006 and .277-26-95 last year.
Our View: If the Big Hurt is right, that means he's a great buy low candidate in fantasy leagues. |
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| Ramirez shows well versus Cincy | Tuesday 5/6, 9:03 PM CT |
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Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez put in work to help Chicago prevail 3-0 over the Cincinnati Reds this evening. Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a walk, collecting his 23rd RBI of the season and adding a run scored.
Our View: Ramirez enjoyed a couple of days off and has struggled a bit with strike outs. Fantasy owners are sure to note his lack of power. He hasn't hit a homer since April 23rd. |
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| Theriot swings it versus Cincy | Tuesday 5/6, 8:58 PM CT |
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Chicago SS Ryan Theriot seems to be enjoying nearly each and every trip to the plate these days, helping his team to a 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds this evening.
Our View: Theriot went 2-for-5 at the plate, adding one run scored and his 8th stolen base of the season. Theriot has eleven hits over his last seven games, also sporting four walks versus just one strike out, though this was his first stolen base this month. |
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| Baker lands on DL | Tuesday 5/6, 8:49 PM CT |
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The Twins have placed Scott Baker on the 15-day DL due to a strained right groin, MLB.com confirms. The move won't become official until Wednesday morning.
Our View: It sounds like Baker may only need to miss the minimum amount of time, and Glen Perkins has been called up to fill in the rotation gap. |
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| Schmidt unable to pitch sim game | Tuesday 5/6, 8:45 PM CT |
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Dodger RHP Jason Schmidt did not throw his scheduled game simulation today, according to the LA Daily News.
Our View: Schmidt has yet to recover from lingering soreness resulting from his last simulated game, thus the team has yet to schedule his next step in rehab and will wait to see how his arm feels tomorrow. |
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| Ramirez hits No. 497 | Tuesday 5/6, 8:44 PM CT |
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Manny Ramirez went 3-for-5 on Tuesday night and swatted a solo homer, the 497th long ball of his career.
Our View: Manny hadn't homered since April 20, but the Tigers practically set it up on a tee for him when they brought in rookie Freddy Dolsi. |
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| Furcal out, may miss two | Tuesday 5/6, 8:42 PM CT |
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Dodger SS Rafael Furcal has been scratched from tonight's lineup as the Dodgers face the New York Mets, according to the LA Daily News.
Our View: Furcal's back has been bothering him due to tightness, and while the team suggests it is not a problem, the News suggests trainer Stan Conte has hinted he may miss tomorrow as well. Furcal will be replaced by Chin-lung Hu. We will update as needed. |
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| Dolsi greeted with home run | Tuesday 5/6, 8:41 PM CT |
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Freddy Dolsi wasted no time in giving up his first major league homer. The reliever served up a long ball on his very first pitch to Manny Ramirez on Tuesday night. Dolsi worked 1.2 hitless innings after that.
Our View: Way to set him up for success, Mr. Leyland. The jump from Double-A to Manny Ramirez is pretty big. Dolsi actually opened the year at High-A Lakeland. Anyway, he doesn't have any fantasy value at this point. |
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| Wakefield blanks Tigers | Tuesday 5/6, 8:35 PM CT |
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Tim Wakefield tossed eight shutout innings against the Tigers on Tuesday night. He allowed only two hits, walked none, struck out six, and improved to 3-1.
Our View: How's that new lineup working, Mr. Leyland? Wakefield's knuckler must have been doing a nasty dance on Tuesday night. The veteran was coming off a pair of shaky outings, and fantasy owners will be very pleased to see this line. |
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| McDonald carted off with ankle injury | Tuesday 5/6, 8:27 PM CT |
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Blue Jays shortstops are dropping faster than Citigroup stock. John McDonald replaced David Eckstein (groin) on Monday night, but the backup injured his ankle one inning later. He was carted off the field, the Ticker reports. Marco Scutaro took his place.
Our View: We think this is all part of the annual conspiracy to get Scutaro 350 at-bats. Seriously, we hope McDonald is better than the report suggests, and we'll update his situation when more is known. |
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| Guillen gets night off | Tuesday 5/6, 8:14 PM CT |
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The Royals gave the slumping Jose Guillen a day off on Tuesday. "I think he needs a day to work on things," manager Trey Hillman tells MLB.com. "[Hitting coach Mike Barnett] has been feverishly working on things, trying to help him make some adjustments, and Barney thinks he might have clicked on something today."
Our View: We haven't seen Guillen swing like this since he had injury problems in 2006 while with the Nats. The veteran will likely work his way out of it, but fantasy owners should bench him until he looks better. |
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| Ledezma gets shot as starter | Tuesday 5/6, 8:09 PM CT |
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The San Diego Padres have announced LHP Wilfredo Ledezma will start on Thursday against the Atlanta Braves, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Manager Bud Black was certain to assert this decision does not solidify Ledezma as the team's fifth starter. "He'll start Thursday, and when we come to next Tuesday, we will address that over the weekend," said Black. Ledezma has performed well in long relief and is going to get a shot to take the spot currently filled by Justin Germano, having gone 0-3 with an ERA of 6.35 thus far. In Germano's last three starts, he has allowed 21 total earned runs, and thus the Padres are considering other options. |
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| Eckstein injures his groin | Tuesday 5/6, 8:07 PM CT |
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David Eckstein left Tuesday's game in the fifth inning due to a sore right groin. John McDonald took his place.
Our View: That's all the info we have at the moment. We'll update the situation when more is known, which likely means sometime after the game against the Rays. |
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| Inge to catch more often | Tuesday 5/6, 8:05 PM CT |
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Brandon Inge will continue to see more time behind the plate, MLB.com reports. "I think I'm comfortable now," Inge says. "I think I'm comfortable with catching." Heading into the season, Inge hadn't been behind the plate since 2004. He has played four different positions already this year.
Our View: Inge doesn't hit well enough to be used in mixed leagues, but his versatility comes in handy in AL-only formats. Pudge Rodriguez is getting a bit long in the tooth, and we imagine Brandon will be a regular fill-in. |
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| Misch start moved to Friday | Tuesday 5/6, 8:03 PM CT |
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San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy has revised the team's starting rotation as the return of Barry Zito has allowed him to shake things up a bit, namely for fellow LHP Patrick Misch , according to CBSSports.com.
Our View: Bochy reports Zito will start on Wednesday in Pittsburgh, allowing him to move Misch into the spot between two righties, Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum. Misch was scheduled to start on Wednesday but now will face the Phillies on Friday. |
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| Kennedy dominates in Triple-A outing | Tuesday 5/6, 8:00 PM CT |
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Ian Kennedy apparently doesn't want to stick in the minors too long. The right-hander held Charlotte to one hit over 7.1 scoreless innings on Tuesday night. Kennedy walked none, struck out eight, hit a batter, and is on his way to a victory as we write.
Our View: It'll probably take Ian more than one outing to convince Brian Cashman he belongs in the majors, but this is a good sign for fantasy teams holding on to the rookie. |
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| Hudson out of lineup, undergoes MRI | Tuesday 5/6, 7:59 PM CT |
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Arizona 2B Orlando Hudson was back on the field for the Snakes on Monday night, but Tuesday he was once again held out of the starting lineup and the team reports he has undergone an MRI on his aching right hamstring, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: The team has yet to report on the specific results of the examination, but manager Bob Melvin remains optimistic Hudson will avoid a stint on the DL. "My feeling is it's only going to be a couple of days, if that," said Melvin. Augie Ojeda has replaced Hudson in the lineup as Arizona faces Philadelphia this evening. |
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| Perkins to start Saturday | Tuesday 5/6, 7:56 PM CT |
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Glen Perkins has been tabbed to come up from Triple-A and start on Saturday against the Red Sox, the Minneapolis Star Tribune confirms.
Our View: The southpaw is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA at Triple-A this year, and he did a decent job out of the Twins bullpen last year. AL-only fantasy leaguers may take a look, but we're not counting on him to hold down a potent Red Sox lineup. |
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| Guerrero unfazed by slump | Tuesday 5/6, 7:49 PM CT |
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Vladimir Guerrero is not worried about his recent 2-for-22 slump. "You guys are making way too much of it. I'm not concerned," he tells MLB.com. Guerrero's average hasn't been over .300 since April 11.
Our View: Vlad owns a career .323 average and has hit over .300 in every major league season save for his 5-for-27 cup of coffee in 1996. It'll take a lot more than a 22 at-bat slump for Guerrero or us to worry. |
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| Cards concerned with Mulder's struggles | Tuesday 5/6, 7:37 PM CT |
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The St. Louis Cardinals report pitcher Mark Mulder has suffered a setback in his rehab assignment, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Mulder got the start for Triple-A Memphis Redbirds on Monday and failed to impress in his fifth rehab start in the miniors. He allowed seven runs on nine hits through six innings, walking two and striking out four. Mulder has posted an ERA of 13.03 in his two Triple-A start and is reportedly complaining about shoulder fatigue. Mulder is recovering from shoulder surgery performed at the end of 2006 as well as arthroscopic surgery performed a year later. For now, the Cardinals are not making future plans for the struggling veteran starter, hoping to see positive results from upcoming medical tests that may reveal news about that shoulder fatigue. |
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| Dukes nearing return | Tuesday 5/6, 7:22 PM CT |
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The Washington Nationals report OF Elijah Dukes is nearing return to the majors, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Dukes went 0-for-4 on Monday for Triple-A Columbus in his continued effort to complete rehab for a strained right hamstring. He has been on the DL since March 30 and is now 4-for-14 with a double, a triple, and three RBIs. "We just want to make sure he's ready when we bring him up," manager Manny Acta said. "When the (coaches) tell us that he's ready and we think he's ready, he'll be there." |
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| Willingham nearing return | Tuesday 5/6, 7:16 PM CT |
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The Florida Marlins report OF Josh Willingham should be ready to take the field within the next week, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Willingham went to the DL on May 2nd, retroactive to April 28th, and thus is ineligible to return until May 13th. He has not swung a bat since last Tuesday and may struggle to return as quickly as hoped. "There usually is no rhyme or reason to when or where," said Willingham. "It's one of those things where it happens once or twice a year. I hate it," Willingham said. |
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| Borowski progressing | Tuesday 5/6, 7:11 PM CT |
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Joe Borowski will move up from playing catch to a bullpen session on Thursday, MLB.com reports. "If he feels good and strong," manager Eric Wedge says, "it won't take too much time. He's not too far away." Borowski is out due to a strained right triceps.
Our View: Borowski will likely go on at least a short minor league stint before jumping back to the majors. He is expected to regain his closer's role, at least until he blows up again. |
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| Marlins interested in OF Jones | Tuesday 5/6, 7:08 PM CT |
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The Florida Marlins have made an official inquiry to the Detroit Tigers about OF Jacque Jones , according to MLB.com.
Our View: Jones was recently designated for assignment and is now a potential trade target for a few teams in need of a speedy outfield presence. The Marlins are hoping to inquiry about a potential deal and could have a swap in place later this week. We will update as news becomes available. |
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| Moylan done for the year | Tuesday 5/6, 7:00 PM CT |
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Atlanta relief pitcher Peter Moylan will undergo elbow surgery likely to end his season, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: The sidearm pitcher was recenty forced to stop a bullpen session after only seven pitches and is going to undergo surgery to repair painful bone spur that is interfering with an elbow ligament. He is expected to miss about 12 months are a result of the surgery. |
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| More tests for ailing Soriano | Tuesday 5/6, 6:12 PM CT |
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Rafael Soriano will undergo an MRI and other testing on Wednesday to help figure out what's wrong with his right elbow. "We're going to see if we can get to the bottom of it," general manager Frank Wren tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It just hasn't seem to improve much."
Our View: Lingering soreness stories never seem to turn out well. We'll continue to update Soriano's status, but between this elbow injury and John Smoltz's plans, this closer has lost a ton of value. |
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| Cora on the way back | Tuesday 5/6, 6:06 PM CT |
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Alex Cora will begin a minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday. He is coming back from a sprained right elbow. Cora will play the middle infield on Wednesday and Friday but DH on Thursday, MLB.com explains.
Our View: We imagine Cora will return sometime early next week, and Jed Lowrie will probably have to head back to the minors. |
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| Marte gets rare start | Tuesday 5/6, 5:57 PM CT |
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Andy Marte will start at third and bat ninth against Andy Pettitte and the Yankees on Tuesday. He is filling in for the slumping Casey Blake. Marte is 1-for-13 on the season.
Our View: The Indians are digging for any spark of hope they can find at this point. Marte has never been able to handle major league pitching, but he may have a small opening. |
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| Martinez out due to sore neck | Tuesday 5/6, 5:53 PM CT |
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Victor Martinez was scratched on Tuesday due to a stiff neck, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Kelly Shoppach will start in his place. Martinez is presumably day-to-day.
Our View: We'll update V-Mart's status when more is known. |
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| Blanco starting again | Tuesday 5/6, 5:51 PM CT |
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Gregor Blanco will make his fifth straight start in left field on Tuesday night. All five of the games have come against right-handed pitchers, and the rookie is batting .333 against righties.
Our View: Matt Diaz opened the season as the full-time starter in left, but this situation is clearly a platoon at this point. Diaz is batting .462 vs. lefties and .173 against right-handers. The logic is obvious. |
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| Yost stands by Gagne | Tuesday 5/6, 5:46 PM CT |
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Manager Ned Yost reiterated on Tuesday that the Brewers will stick with Eric Gagne as their closer. In fact, Yost says it's "ridiculous" to even talk about a change. "This is a guy who has had a lot of success in this role," Yost tells the AP. "You allow him the time to work through it." Gagne owns nine saves, but he also leads the majors with five blown chances and sports s 6.14 ERA.
Our View: It may only seem "ridiculous" because nobody else in the Brewers bullpen has been consistent enough to challenge for the closer's spot. Anyway, it sounds like Gagne is safe, for now. |
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| Sanchez, McLouth swap lineup spots | Tuesday 5/6, 5:38 PM CT |
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The Pirates have tweaked their lineup a bit. Freddy Sanchez will bat leadoff on Tuesday, and Nate McLouth will move down to second, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "This may get (Sanchez) going a little bit," manager John Russell explains.
Our View: This news doesn't really affect fantasy leagues. If anything, we hope McLouth will see more RBI chances. |
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| Floyd on the mend | Tuesday 5/6, 5:04 PM CT |
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Cliff Floyd played in an extended spring training game on Tuesday and could be back in the lineup by early next week, the Tampa Tribune reports. The veteran outfielder has been out since April 6 due to a torn meniscus in his right knee. He is recovering from surgery.
Our View: We're not quite sure what will happen when Floyd is ready, as the Rays acquired Gabe Gross while Cliff has been down. Gross seems like the most obvious guy to send down, but would the Rays do that so quickly after getting him? |
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| Ramirez to start Tuesday | Tuesday 5/6, 4:59 PM CT |
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Aramis Ramirez is listed in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds. He tells the Chicago Sun-Times that his sore left wrist isn't 100 percent, but he's good enough to play. Ramirez took a pitch off the joint on Friday.
Our View: We're less amazed with A-Ram's status than the fact that the Sun-Times uses Twitter to provide updates. Most papers are still trying to adapt to the whole world of blogs. Anyway, it sounds mildly safe to use Ramirez in fantasy lineups. |
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| Zobrist could return next week | Tuesday 5/6, 4:51 PM CT |
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Ben Zobrist played in an extended spring training game on Tuesday and could move to High-A Vero Beach soon. The shortstop is rehabbing a fractured left thumb and could return to the majors by early next week, the Tampa Tribune reports.
Our View: Zobrist will likely take Andy Cannizaro's spot as the backup middle infielder, which suggests Ben will have almost no fantasy value. |
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| Igawa on Friday; Rasner on Saturday | Tuesday 5/6, 4:47 PM CT |
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Kei Igawa will start on Friday, followed by Darrell Rasner on Saturday, the New York Daily News reports. The Yankees will be facing the Tigers in Detroit for both contests.
Our View: It's not exactly the ideal scenario for Igawa to make his return to the majors, but desperate times don't allow for perfect situations. Both Igawa and Rasner are worth exploring in AL-only leagues, as the Yankees will likely stick with anyone who is effective. |
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| Zito to start Wednesday | Tuesday 5/6, 4:44 PM CT |
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Barry Zito will start against the Pirates on Wednesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Our View: Fantasy owners in daily lineup leagues might want to bump up their Pirates on Wednesday. |
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| A-Rod to test quad on Wednesday | Tuesday 5/6, 4:34 PM CT |
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| Alex Rodriguez will begin doing some physical activity on Wednesday and still hopes to return from the DL once his 15 days are up, the New York Daily News reports. He has been out since April 28 due to a Grade-2 strain o | |
