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| Gonzalez is the big bat for the Padres | Thursday 5/22, 11:58 PM CT |
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Continuing to produce as the team's only power threat, Adrian Gonzalez went deep for the 13th time this year on Thursday night as he pushed across two runs giving him 39 RBI on the year.
Our View: Gonzalez seems intent on producing his second straight 30 HR, 100 RBI season for the Padres as he seeks to established himself solidly on the second tier of power hitters at first base. |
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| Dunn working on hitting streak | Thursday 5/22, 11:56 PM CT |
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Adam Dunn went 2-for-4 on Thursday and how has a hit in 8-straight games to push his average from .203 to .245.
Our View: With his recent hot streak, Dunn is on pace for his customary 40 HR and 90 RBI though he'll need to pick up his run scoring pace a bit to record 90 for the fifth straight year. |
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| Griffey goes deep, two from history | Thursday 5/22, 11:54 PM CT |
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Ken Griffey Jr. hit his fifth home run of the season, the 598 th of his career, on Thursday night.
Our View: Griffey hasn't looked anything like the HOF that he is this season, though the good news is that he has only struck out 26 times in 46 games, so it's not as if he has been completely overmatched at the plate. |
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| Wolf has nine K, picks up win | Thursday 5/22, 11:51 PM CT |
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Randy Wolf held the Reds to just two runs over seven innings to improve his record to 3-4. Wolf walked only one while striking out nine.
Our View: After a couple of rough outings, Wolf has rebounded to allow five runs over his last two starts during which time he has 14 K and just two BB, a major reason for his success. When he throws strikes Wolf is tough to hit, he just struggles to find the strike zone at times. |
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| Harang continues to pile up loses | Thursday 5/22, 11:49 PM CT |
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Aaron Harang lost his sixth game of the season on Thursday as he gave up five runs on 10 hits and two walks over 5.1 innings.
Our View: Harang is a perfect buy low candidate right now if his current owner is fixated on his record. Harang owns a 3.50 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 7.59 K/9 mark, and those are the ratios of a 15 game winner, not a 15 game loser. |
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| Wandy excels in minor league start | Thursday 5/22, 11:19 PM CT |
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Wandy Rodriguez had another minor league outing on Thursday and he looked strong allowing just one run over six innings for Double-a Corpus Christi, according to MLB.com.
Our View: With his solid work tonight, Wandy could be making his next start with the big league club though the team could still have him make one more start since he threw only 78 pitches in the game. |
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| Kershaw nearing call up? | Thursday 5/22, 11:16 PM CT |
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Clayton Kershaw left his scheduled start on Thursday after throwing just a single inning leading to speculation that the phenom might be on his way to join the Dodgers, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Kershaw is scheduled to start again on Tuesday which is the next time the Dodgers will call on the #5 starters spot adding to the speculation. However, he could go as early as Saturday given his short work today which would allow the Dodgers an extra day for Brad Penny to rest. Stay tuned. |
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| Bourn has two hits, SB | Thursday 5/22, 11:12 PM CT |
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Michael Bourn had two hits on Thursday night, and is now 9-for-21 over his last five games (.429). He also stole his 21st base of the season.
Our View: It's nice to see Bourn push that average up to .214 but he still has a long way to go before we can label him as anything resembling a quality leadoff hitter, but alas, it is a good start. |
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| Berkman back to hitting ways | Thursday 5/22, 11:01 PM CT |
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Lance Berkman gave pitchers a break by going 1-for-10 over his last three games, but he returned to his mashing ways on Thursday night with three hits in five trips to the plate. Ty Wigginton also had three hits for the Astros.
Our View: Berkman also knocked in his 45th run of the season as he now has 18 doubles and 16 home runs on the year. Still amazing, the man just will not slow down at the plate. |
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| Werth removed with oblique strain | Thursday 5/22, 10:58 PM CT |
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Jayson Werth was forced from the Phillies game on Thursday night in the eighth inning by what is being called a right oblique strain.
Our View: That's all the info we have right now. Oblique injuries can be minor and last a couple of days, or they can often times require a trip to the DL resulting in up to a month's worth of missed action. If Werth needs to head to the DL that means that Shane Victorino will be in the lineup every day regardless of the matchup. |
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| Oswalt goes six on sore hip | Thursday 5/22, 10:55 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt made his scheduled start on Thursday night, and though the results weren't great (11 hits, five runs), he was able to throw 94 pitches over six innings despite his sore hip.
Our View: Oswalt allowed another home run though there is no shame in having Ryan Howard take you deep. All we were really looking for from Oswalt tonight was a nice and easy throwing motion, so we were pleased with what we saw even if the results weren't ideal. |
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| Lidge still perfect on the season | Thursday 5/22, 10:48 PM CT |
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Facing his old team, Brad Lidge allowed one hit in the ninth inning on his way to his 12th save in 12 chances for the Phillies.
Our View: Lidge has 23 K in 21 innings while he has allowed all of one earned run leading to a 0.43 ERA. He showed the Astros tonight just what he's got left in that right arm, and the results were predictably dominating. |
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| Howard goes deep, strikes out twice | Thursday 5/22, 10:45 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard blasted his 13th home run of the season on his way to three hits, three runs and two RBI for the Phils.
Our View: This was Howard's sixth home run in nine games, and though he has three hits and is now batting .207, the two AB where he didn't get a hit he struck out leaving him with an astounding 71 K in 49 games. |
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| Burell goes deep in pinch hitting role | Thursday 5/22, 10:43 PM CT |
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After saying that Pat Burrell wouldn't play on Thursday night and probably not on Friday as well because of his recent slump, Charlie Manunel called his name late and Burrell responded with a pinch-hit home run for the Phils in the bottom of the eighth for the winning run.
Our View: So much for that night off. Just like it's hard for you to rest a 30 homer bat, so it is for a manager, and tonight Burrell showed why he really should be on the field every day no matter how he is going at the plate. |
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| Delgado goes yard | Thursday 5/22, 10:39 PM CT |
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Carlos Delgado hit a solo home run on Thursday night for the Mets in their 4-2 loss to the hated Braves.
Our View: A .218 average and six home runs certainly aren't what Delgado owners paid for this season, and truth be told, most would welcome the .258-24-87 hitter that showed up last year. Does Delgado still have that thunder in his bat? We're still holding out hope that he does. |
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| Beltran has a blast and a steal | Thursday 5/22, 10:37 PM CT |
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Carlos Beltran had two hits including his fourth home run of the season while he also added his sixth SB of the year on Thursday night.
Our View: Beltran really hasn't been able to get much traction this season though he does have hits in 10 of his last 11 games. Still, the home run power has totally disappeared thanks to a HR/F ratio that is about half of what it normally is (8.6%). |
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| Chipper returns to lineup, has two hits | Thursday 5/22, 10:33 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones returned to action after fouling a ball off his shin on Wednesday and the injury had little effect as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Our View: Jones is now hitting .412 through 170 AB and he is once again proving that the only thing that is able to stop him on the field are the injuries that keep him off it. |
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| Johnson has three bingos | Thursday 5/22, 10:31 PM CT |
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Kelly Johnson hit a double and two singles on Thursday night to finish the night with a .299 batting average.
Our View: Johnson has been hotter than Sofia Vergara when hitting out of the seventh or eighth holes in the order this season going 12-for-23 (thats .552 folks). Who needs that leadoff spot when your hitting like that lower in the order? |
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| Hudson shuts down Mets | Thursday 5/22, 10:26 PM CT |
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Tim Hudson picked up his seventh win on Thursday night by holding the Mets to only two runs over eight innings. Hudson didn't walk a batter though he did allow two solo home runs.
Our View: Three times this year Hudson has allowed four or more earned runs. In the three starts directly following those outings he has allowed one, zero and two runs. How's that for limiting the damage? |
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| Santana surrenders 12 hits in loss | Thursday 5/22, 10:23 PM CT |
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Johan Santana allowed a career worst 12 hits to the Braves on Thursday which lead to four runs, three earned, in his third loss of the season.
Our View: Santana didn't walk a single batter, but he only had one strikeout in about as unlike Santana outing as you will ever see. But given the man credit; he was at his worst yet he still allowed only three earned runs. |
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| Upton on prolonged streak of ineffectiveness | Thursday 5/22, 10:17 PM CT |
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Justin Upton went 0-for-4 on Thursday to drop his average to .296, the first time it's been under .300 since the third game of the season.
Our View: Face it, Upton just isn't ready to be a prime time performer yet. He has only one home run in 35 games, or about as many as Micah Owings, yeah that Owings the pitcher and teammate of Upton. Upton is still a remarkable long term option, but he just hasn't been able to sustain his hot start. |
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| Jackson continues to struggle at plate | Thursday 5/22, 10:11 PM CT |
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Conor Jackson's struggles continued on Thursday night as he went 0-for-3 to lower his average to .291.
Our View: Jackson, who started the year on fire, has hit the skids in May with just a .203 average in 17 games. If you look at his numbers right now there are still at a level that you have to be happy, but it would be nice if he channeled some of that April mojo right about now. |
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| Quentin shows White Sox the light | Thursday 5/22, 10:09 PM CT |
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It was a pitchers duel in Chicago this evening as the White Sox prevailed with a 3-1 win over Cleveland, leaving outfielder Carlos Quentin as the lone offensive note for the White Sox. Quentin went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored on two singles.
Our View: Quentin has enjoyed a strong month, going 22-for-73 at the dish with five home runs and 19 RBIs. |
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| Uggla has a nothing outing | Thursday 5/22, 10:07 PM CT |
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Dan Uggla went 0-for-4 without a run or RBI on Thursday night for the Marlins as he lost his 10-game hitting streak.
Our View: What makes this rather ordinary night so noteworthy is the fact that Uggla hadn't gone without either a hit, run or RBI since May 3rd, a span of 17 games. Don't feel sorry for him, he is still hitting .409-10-20 in 19 games in May. |
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| Cantu knocks in two from third hole | Thursday 5/22, 10:03 PM CT |
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Jorge Cantu, hitting in the third spot in the order vacated by Hanley Ramirez who returned to the leadoff role, went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Our View: Cantu is currently batting .264 with 19 RBI on the year which seems to make him an odd choice to bat third for the Marlins. However, manager Fredi Gonzalez stated earlier that Cantu would likely remain there for a while giving him an obvious boost in value. |
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| Laffey suffers loss despite strong outing | Thursday 5/22, 10:02 PM CT |
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Cleveland LHP Aaron Laffey put a strong effort on the mound tonight but the Indians couldn't get bats on the pitches from Chicago's Mark Buehrle, giving the Indians a tough 2-1 loss. Laffey pitched seven innings, surrendering just two runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts on the night.
Our View: Laffey didn't get the offensive support and thus suffered his third loss of the season. He has surrendered just four earned runs combined over his last four starts with five walks versus 19 strikeouts. |
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| Haren falters late in loss | Thursday 5/22, 10:00 PM CT |
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Dan Haren was sailing along until he surrendered three runs in the seventh inning as he came out on the losing end of a 4-0 loss to the Marlins. Haren allowed all four runs in 6.2 innings though he did not allow a walk while striking out eight.
Our View: Through his first 10 starts in the NL Haren owns a 3.39 ERA and 1.01 WHIP and has provided exactly what those who invested an early pick on him this year had hoped for. |
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| Miller dominates Arizona | Thursday 5/22, 9:56 PM CT |
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Andrew Miller pitched the best game of his young career on Thursday night as he dominated the D'backs over seven innings to push his record to 4-3. Miller didn't allow a single run, walked just one and struck out nine.
Our View: This is the type of effort that led to the Marlins trading for Miller who can dominate one night and look lost the next. Right now he looks great with four straight starts with two or fewer runs allowed, though his ratios are still ugly because of some unsettling work earlier in the season. |
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| Buehrle two-hits Indians, but no decision | Thursday 5/22, 9:55 PM CT |
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The Indians were held to just two hits this evening as Chicago LHP Mark Buehrle pitched a gem of a game to give his White Sox the 3-1 win. Buehrle went seven innings with four walks and one strikeout.
Our View: Only Cleveland outfielder Grady Sizemore earned more than one base with the double, the same hit that produced the one run scored for the Indians. Outside of that, Buehrle was nearly untouchable, yet he walked away with no decision, a disappointing opportunity lost for a man needing to reverse his fortunes (2-5 on the season). |
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| Gorzelanny evens record | Thursday 5/22, 9:49 PM CT |
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Tom Gorzelanny evened his record at 4-4 on Thursday as he held the Brewers to two runs in five innings of work. Tom allowed eight hits and four walks while only striking out two.
Our View: This outing leaves him with 35 BB and just 26 BB. That's all you really need to look at to realize you are playing with fire without any protection if you start Gorzelanny. |
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| Bush falls to 1-5 | Thursday 5/22, 9:47 PM CT |
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Dave Bush didn't walk a batter on Thursday but he allowed nine hits which led to six runs in five innings for the Brewers. Bush fell to 1-5 after this outing.
Our View: Luckily for Bush, Jeff Weaver continues to struggle in the minors or he might already be out of the rotation. As it stands, Bush will have to bring a lot more to the table to avoid losing his spot at some point in the near future. |
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| Bay hits 11th home run | Thursday 5/22, 9:43 PM CT |
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Jason Bay hit his 11th home run of the season for the Pirates on his way to a 2-for-4 outing on Thursday. Bay added two RBI and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Bay may have only 22 RBI, but he has scored 33 times and has hit those 11 long balls giving him a lot of value despite the RBI deficiency. So far this has been a decent response to his 2007 season though some more run production would be great. |
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| Kennedy pitches well, gets no decision | Thursday 5/22, 9:42 PM CT |
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Thus far 2008 has not been too kind to young RHP Ian Kennedy , but tonight the Yankee hurler showed well and help his team get the 2-1 win over Baltimore. Kennedy pitched six innings, giving up just one run on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: Kennedy walked off the mound with no decision, failing to improve his 0-3 record, but this was his longest outing since April 14th and easily ranks as his best start of the season thus far. |
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| McLouth continues hitting spree | Thursday 5/22, 9:40 PM CT |
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Nate McLouth went 4-for-4 on Thursday with three runs scored and a stolen base for the Pirates.
Our View: McLouth just won't go away. He continues to be one of the top-10 hitters in the fantasy game and tonight's performance allowed him to escape a 1-for-11 stretch the past three games. |
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| Weeks produces despite low average | Thursday 5/22, 9:36 PM CT |
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Rickie Weeks went deep on Thursday hitting his sixth home run for the Brewers. The run he scored on the long ball was his 38th of the year.
Our View: If you don't look at his batting average, Weeks would have some pretty solid production this year. He continues to get on base at a decent clip in relation to his batting average with a .340 OBP, but he just isn't having any luck at the plate with a .222 BABIP. |
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| Damon goes 3-for-4 vs Orioles | Thursday 5/22, 9:33 PM CT |
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The Yankees failed to produce a bevy of offense in their 2-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles, but outfielder Johnny Damon was one man looking to lead the way. Damon went 3-for-4 on the night, all singles and none resulting in runs scored.
Our View: Damon's numbers have been in decline, going 15-for-66 through May coming into tonight's game. Tonight brings him to 7-for-19 over his last five games with four RBIs to show for the effort. |
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| Hart goes deep, swipes bag | Thursday 5/22, 9:31 PM CT |
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Corey Hart hit a home run, his fourth, and stole a base, his eighth, for the Brewers on Thursday.
Our View: Hart has bee a bit of a disappointment this season despite a .305 average and eight steals as he just hasn't displayed the power he showed last season. We know it will take a lot, but we aren't ready to write off a potential 20/20 season just yet. |
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| Burres throws well but O's fall | Thursday 5/22, 9:27 PM CT |
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Baltimore LHP Brian Burres did what he could to give his Orioles a chance for a win, but the offense failed to support his cause and suffered the 2-1 loss to the Yankees. Burres pitched 7 2/3 innings, surrendering just one run on six his, failing to surrender a single walk with five strikeouts gained along the way.
Our View: Burres walked away with no decision and now stands at 1-3 for the month of May, though his low 3.16 ERA shows he has the arm to shine.
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| Orioles flounder, Markakis misses opportunities | Thursday 5/22, 9:23 PM CT |
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The Orioles managed just five total hits in their 2-1 loss to the Yankees, a struggle symbolized best by outfielder Nick Markakis . Markakis went 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts and a team-high four men left on base.
Our View: The entire team managed just one extra-base hit and three walks, leaving little room to produce runs. |
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| Burrell given day off | Thursday 5/22, 9:20 PM CT |
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Pat Burrell was given Thursday off due to a protracted slump, and he might also be out of the lineup on Friday, according to MLB.com. "He's not seeing the ball real well right now," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's chasing breaking balls. We just thought we'd give him a couple of days off and see how he was doing.
Our View: Burrell, who hit .326 in April is three for his last 27 and 0-for-11 over his last three games dropping his average to .271. Look for Burrell to return this weekend and continue the slugging ways that have him on pace for well over 30 HR. |
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| Burnett gets win over Angels | Thursday 5/22, 9:18 PM CT |
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Toronto RHP A.J. Burnett picked up his fifth win of the season as the Blue Jays put a 4-3 victory on the board versus the LA Angels. Burnett pitched six innings, giving up three runs (all earned) on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: Burnett has struggled recently with 10 earned runs surrendered over his last three starts. Tonight may help get the hurler back on a favorable path. |
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| Overbay posts double, homer in win | Thursday 5/22, 9:13 PM CT |
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The Toronto Blue Jays put a hard-fought 4-3 win on the LA Angels this evening, an effort led by first baseman Lyle Overbay . Overbay went 2-for-3 with a walk at the dish with his ninth double and third home run of the season.
Our View: Overbay had been struggling a bit through the early part of May, but this is his second home run in four games, a hopeful sign for the days ahead. |
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| Santana takes second consecutive loss | Thursday 5/22, 9:05 PM CT |
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Angels RHP Ervin Santana put a good effort on the mound tonight, but he came up a bit short as his team suffered the 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Santana went six innings, surrendering four runs (all earned) on nine hits, giving up just two walks versus seven strikeouts.
Our View: This is just his second loss of the season, bringing Santana to 6-2. However, it is his second loss in a row. |
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| Kotchman tries to get Angels offense going | Thursday 5/22, 8:56 PM CT |
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The Angels suffered the troubling 4-3 loss to Toronto this evening as the offense struggled to perform. First baseman Casey Kotchman was the star of the evening, going 2-for-4 with two singles and a run scored.
Our View: Kotchman is now hitting .313 on the season, going 10-for-26 with four RBIs and four runs scored over his last seven games. |
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| Martinez suffers finger injury | Thursday 5/22, 8:45 PM CT |
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Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez left tonight's battle with the Chicago White Sox in the middle of the fourth inning with what appears to be a finger injury, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The Indians report an undisclosed issue with Martinez's left index finger but have not updated his status. He was replaced by Kelly Shoppach. We will update with news as it becomes available. |
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| Closer job in question for Rangers | Thursday 5/22, 8:44 PM CT |
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Rangers closer C.J. Wilson is going to be listed as the team's closer tomorrow, but the days after might bring change, according to Sports Xchange.
Our View: The left-handed pitcher has struggled in recent weeks and manager Ron Washington has all but refused to commit to Wilson beyond the next save opportunity. If the Rangers make a change, Eddie Guardado is likely to be the man of choice to take the job. |
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| Varitek to take Friday off | Thursday 5/22, 8:32 PM CT |
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The Red Sox have announced catcher Jason Varitek will get another day of rest on Friday, according to CBSSports.com.
Our View: Varitek had Thursday off as well as manager Terry Francona just wants to give the team camptain a rest. Kevin Cash will get the start behind the plate. |
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| Gregg a working man's closer | Thursday 5/22, 8:21 PM CT |
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Kevin Gregg, a former starter, has no problem with working multiple innings for saves, according to MLB.com. "As long as I keep my pitch count down, it's not a big deal," Gregg said.
Our View: Gregg has a 2.31 ERA and 1.16 WHIP this season with nine saves, though it hasn't always been a smooth ride as he has struggled with his control at times. Gregg should continue to provide saves with decent ratios to remain one of the betters closers who isn't a household name. |
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| Towles putting in extra work | Thursday 5/22, 8:15 PM CT |
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J.R. Towles took early batting practice on Thursday to try and break out of his year long slump, according to MLB.com. "We're going to stay with him," manager Cecil Cooper said. "I think you have to do that. You have to give these kids a chance to grow a little bit. We're not struggling offensively, so we're going to give him a chance to play, as long as it doesn't bother his defense.
Our View: With all the hype around him heading into the season, Towles .150 batting average to this point has been a massive disappointment. With no average, little power (four HR) and no steals (zero), he has been a huge drain on his current owners. |
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| Riske uncertain about return date | Thursday 5/22, 8:02 PM CT |
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David Riske (elbow) hopes to be able to return on May 30th but he is still experiencing soreness in his elbow, according to MLB.com. "It's still in there," Riske said. "I finished what I was supposed to do, but I still felt it in the last five or six throws. It's not all the way gone yet."
Our View: With the Brewers bullpen in flux, they could certainly use a healthy Riske, though his performance when on the hill this season certainly hasn't matched what he did last year before earning his big contract. |
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| Escobar almost ready to return | Thursday 5/22, 7:58 PM CT |
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Yunel Escobar's limp is gone but he is still experiencing some pain in his right leg. Still, he took batting practice on Thursday and hopes to be able to play on Friday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Escobar was injured when Ryan Church inexplicably went into second base without sliding. Regardless, the Braves miss Escobar's defense as well as hit bat, so they will welcome him back with open arms. |
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| Bard placed on DL | Thursday 5/22, 7:53 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier story, Josh Bard was placed no the DL on Thursday with a sprained left ankle, according to the Associated Press. The team called up Colt Morton to back up Luke Carlin.
Our View: Bard has been a massive disappointment this year with just a .200 average with only seven RBI in 38 games. The Padres will try and get by for the next couple of days until Michael Barrett (elbow) is ready to be activated from the DL. |
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| Borowski to be activated Friday | Thursday 5/22, 7:49 PM CT |
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Indians reliever Joe Borowski is set to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Friday and will immediately return to action, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Borowski completed his rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on Wednesday night as he attempts to recover from a right triceps strain. The team has not announced their plans for a corresponding roster move to make room for Borowski, but they believer their closer will be ready to pitch for the Indians this weekend. |
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| Young placed on DL with broken nose | Thursday 5/22, 7:41 PM CT |
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Chris Young, who took an Albert Pujols line drive off his nose on Wednesday night and suffered a nasal fracture, was officially placed on the DL on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Young will likely be ready to go once the 15 day stint is up. Let's just hope that he doesn't change his mechanics because he is gun shy. Josh Banks figures to take over Young's vacated roster spot. |
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| Doumit progressing nicely | Thursday 5/22, 7:17 PM CT |
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Ryan Doumit, out with a fractured thumb, appears to be on track to return to the Pirates lineup much sooner than the previous estimate of four weeks, according to MLB.com. "We'll see what we get from that report," manager John Russell said of Doumit's Thursday meeting with a hand specialist. "It would be nice if that injury is a little different than we thought and we can get him back sooner."
Our View: Doumit has been saying that he will be back sooner than anyone thought, and it sure seems like that might indeed happen. Ronny Paulino has failed to impress, so look for Doumit to slide right back into the starting role once healthy. |
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| Figgins out | Thursday 5/22, 7:16 PM CT |
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Angels third baseman Chone Figgins is out of the starting lineup tonight at LA faces the Toronto Blue Jays, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Figgins is feeling soreness in his right leg. The team believes he has not re-injured the hamstring injury and expects Figgins back in the lineup on Friday. |
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| Stairs out | Thursday 5/22, 7:12 PM CT |
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Toronto DH Matt Stairs is out of the starting lineup for the Blue Jays this evening as they face the Angels, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Manager John Gibbons told reporters that Stairs arrived on Thursday night with a stiff neck and was held out of action as a result, giving Joe Inglett the start at DH in his stead. The team does not believe the injury to be serious and asserts he is likely to return to action soon. |
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| Scherzer sent to bullpen | Thursday 5/22, 7:10 PM CT |
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Max Scherzer will be moved into the bullpen to make room in the starting rotation for the returning Doug Davis, according to the Arizona Republic. "We wanted to get him into what potentially could be a prominent role," GM Doug Melvin said of the chance for Scherzer to pitch in more of a setup role than a long reliever role. "We didn't want to look at him just as a long guy . . . We felt he could be a significant piece..."
Our View: Apparently Scherzer will spell both Chad Qualls and Tony Pena in a setup role when needed, and in between he will be featured when the team needs a big strikeout. This move obviously tanks most of Max's value in the short term, but he could certainly develop into a Joba Chamberlain type out of the pen with his arsenal of pitches. |
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| Wang looking good for Saturday | Thursday 5/22, 7:09 PM CT |
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The Yankees report RHP Chien-Ming Wang completed his regular bullpen session today without pain or discomfort, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Wang is nursing a mild strain of his right calf, an injury suffered during the seventh inning of his last start against the Mets. Wang noticed discoloration in the leg later that evening and went to the hospital, at which time an MRI was performed that showed only a mild strain. The team reports Wang will be asked to run and cover first base on Friday. If he does so without issue, the hurler will cleared for his next scheduled start on Saturday. |
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| Davis overcomes cancer, will be activated | Thursday 5/22, 6:55 PM CT |
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Doug Davis has overcome all the off-field issues surrounding his thyroid cancer and as a result he will return to the starting rotation to face the Braves this weekend, according to Fox Sports. Brandon Medders was designated for assignment to open up a roster spot.
Our View: Davis made two starts at Triple-A to help build back up his stamina, and whether or not he is successful this weekend we are all in his corner. Don't get all sappy though and add him to your roster because it's a good story as his effectiveness certainly isn't what it used to be. |
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| Teixiera finally heating up | Thursday 5/22, 6:47 PM CT |
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Mark Teixeira is 7-for10 against the Mets the past couple of days as he has overcome a slow start to push his average up to .274, according to MLB.com. "Hopefully, I'll start hitting some more [home runs] and driving in some more runs for the team, because that's what I'm here for," said Teixeira.
Our View: Over his last 10 games Tex is 12-for-35 with seven RBI as it's slowly coming together for a player who was a top-20 draft pick in most leagues this season. Your patience is slowly starting to be rewarded, so don't panic now. |
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| Bautista set for minor league rehab | Thursday 5/22, 6:44 PM CT |
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The Tigers report relief pitcher Denny Bautista is ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo starting Saturday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Bautista has been out since May 3rd with right shoulder tendinitis. Manager Jim Leyland spoke with reporters and notes the Tigers are going to be tracking his command as much as his health during this rehab stint. Bautista was struggling to pitch with efficiency in his early regular-season work despite dramatic improvements witness in spring training. The team wants to continue that progress and bring back the reliever with a cautious hope of improved work that could lead to longer relief outings. |
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| Kendrick nearing return | Thursday 5/22, 6:37 PM CT |
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Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick worked on the outfield turf at Rogers Centre this afternoon, sprinting and working his injured hamstring in an attempt to prepare for his return to action, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Kendrick has been out since April 14th with a strained right hamstring and has been working on his return for several days, and the team reports he may be close. They will review his progress and see how the leg feels on Friday. They stopped short of putting a timetable on those events, but the news is encouraging. |
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| Smoltz throws to batters with new look | Thursday 5/22, 6:36 PM CT |
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John Smoltz threw for a third straight day on Thursday as he faced hitters prior to batting practice, according to the Associated Press. "He’s got a lot of movement,” said manager Bobby Cox. “It all comes down to location. Smoltz has a knack, no matter what angle he’s throwing from.”
Our View: Besides the news that he appeared to be feeling better, there was also the added wow factor that Smoltz also altered his arm angle as well throwing more from the side than over the top to protect his shoulder. An old pro like Smoltz likely won't take too long to adapt to a different arm angle, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will take it into game action when he returns. |
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| Alou placed on DL | Thursday 5/22, 6:27 PM CT |
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Moises Alou has been placed on the 15-day DL because of a strained left calf on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Alou, who missed the first 26 games of the year recovering from a hernia operation, is injured more than a 160 pound kicker forced to play middle linebacker in the NFL would be. He can still hit as he's batting .340 in 14 games, but he just cannot stay healthy. Endy Chavez and Marlon Anderson will likely split outfield duties until Alou can return. |
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| Gagne has tendinitis | Thursday 5/22, 6:20 PM CT |
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Eric Gagne has rotator cuff tendinitis and as a result he will be out indefinitely, according to the Associated Press. Gagne received a cortisone shot and will not throw for three days at which point he will once again be re-examined. Currently the Brewers don't plan on placing Gagne on the DL.
Our View: This is as good of news as could be expected considering how Gagne has been doing of late, but the bottom line is that Gagne likely will be out of action for at least a week and quite possibly longer. In the meantime Salomon Torres will continue to be the team's top option to finish off games though he has by no means locked up that role. |
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| Bannister reaches new low | Thursday 5/22, 4:48 PM CT |
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Brian Bannister fell to 4-6 thanks to the 12 hits and seven runs he allowed to the Red Sox over 5.1 innings.
Our View: After starting year so expertly, everything has fallen apart for Bannister. In three of his last five outings he has permitted at least six runs, and honestly, unless his control is spot on, he's going to continue to have outings like this one. Bannister is nothing more than a lower end option in mixed leagues despite last year's performance. |
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| Dice-K effectively wild | Thursday 5/22, 4:45 PM CT |
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Daisuke Matsuzaka survived another shaky performance on Thursday to run his record to a perfect 8-0. Dice-K allowed just three runs but he allowed six hits while issuing six free passes to the Royals.
Our View: We keep warning you about Dice-K, yet he somehow continues to have success despite the fact that he just can't control where his pitches are going. Today it took him 118 pitches to get through 5.2 innings, and he now has a whopping 38 BB in 60 IP (5.70 BB/9). Unless he drastically cuts the free passes, his ratios are about to take a beating. |
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| Olivo has five RBI | Thursday 5/22, 4:40 PM CT |
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Miguel Olivo went deep for the sixth time on Thursday as he had three hits and five RBI for the Royals in their loss to the Red Sox.
Our View: Olivo has been a very productive bat this season with 19 RBI in just 90 AB as he continues to split time with John Buck. Buck has only two home runs in 109 AB with 14 RBI, so Olivo just might be earning himself a few extra starts with his bat. |
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| Gullien a new man in May | Thursday 5/22, 4:37 PM CT |
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Jose Guillen continued his climb back to respectability with four more hits on Thursday including his sixth home run of the season.
Our View: Gullen hit only .192 in April, but his performance has totally turned around in May with a .352 average and 19 RBI. All you had to do was listen to him as he said he would be fine. Actually it was something like 'Jose Guillen will hit', but you get the drift. |
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| Drew hits slam for Red Sox | Thursday 5/22, 4:34 PM CT |
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J.D. Drew joined teammate Mike Lowell in the fun on Thursday as he too hit a grand slam for the Red Sox.
Our View: Drew is hitting .290 with 22 RBI in 38 games this season, and though you might be looking for a little bit more from Drew he has done his job of getting on base (nearly a .400 OBP), and as long as he stays healthy he will be productive. |
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| Lowell hits grand slam | Thursday 5/22, 4:29 PM CT |
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Mike Lowell slugged a grand slam for the Red Sox to help propel them to an 11-8 victory over the Royals. Lowell also had two other hits on the day and three runs scored.
Our View: Lowell is the perfect example of the idea of regression to the mean. Through his first 15 games he did not have a single RBI, but over his last 17 games he has knocked in 19 runs. You can only keep a good man down for so long. Are you listening Andruw Jones? |
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| Ramirez back in leadoff role | Thursday 5/22, 4:24 PM CT |
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Hanley Ramirez has struggled at the plate hitting just .268 since being moved to the third spot in the order on May 2nd, so he will be returning to his customary leadoff spot on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. Jorge Cantu received a nice little bonus as he moves into the third hole.
Our View: Nothing like a manager overreacting to a small sample size. It's clear that Hanley is the team's best hitter, and given his skill set he should be batting third. However, he seems to have a mental block that keeps him from excelling unless he bats leadoff, so leadoff he will bat. |
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| Bradley continues hitting spree | Thursday 5/22, 4:19 PM CT |
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Milton Bradley had two hits and two runs scored on Thursday from the cleanup spot for the Rangers.
Our View: Bradley and Josh Hamilton have formed a dynamic 1-2 punch in the middle of the order for the Rangers, and though Bradley hasn't stolen a base yet, he has been healthy and productive, and that is always the concern with the multi-talented outfielder. |
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| Livan comes up short | Thursday 5/22, 4:17 PM CT |
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Livan Hernandez allowed 10 hits and two walks to the Rangers, and though five of the six runs that scored were earned, he still managed to escape with a no decision.
Our View: Livan has a shining record at 6-2, but that's about all you have to look forward to here. More often than not he gives the Twins a chance to win, but with a K/9 below three and with a WHIP north of 1.40, he just isn't worth trotting out there in most mixed leagues. |
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| Padilla solid over five innings | Thursday 5/22, 4:10 PM CT |
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Vicente Padilla allowed three runs over five innings on Thursday in a no-decision against the Twins.
Our View: Padilla was far from sharp today as he allowed seven hits and two walks, though this was his sixth straight start of at least five innings with three or fewer runs allowed. No reason to not keep rolling him out there in mixed leagues with production like that. |
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| Gomez has four hits | Thursday 5/22, 4:07 PM CT |
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Carlos Gomez had one of his best days of the season at the plate as he had four hits, one being his fourth home run, with two runs scored and three RBI for the Twins.
Our View: With this outing Gomez saw his average climb to .286, though his OBP is still barely above .300 because of only six walks on the year. At least he is back in the lineup and apparently healthy. |
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| Hamilton crushes 12th homer | Thursday 5/22, 3:58 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton went 3-for-5 with two RBI, and notably crushed his 12th homer of the season in Thursday's close 8-7 win over Minnesota, that went 10 innings.
Our View: Hamilton is now hitting .335 with the aforementioned 12 homers and 53 RBI over 48 games. |
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| Sheffield goes 3-for-4 | Thursday 5/22, 3:47 PM CT |
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Gary Sheffield served as the Tigers' DH and went 3-for-4 in Thursday's 9-2 win over the Mariners.
Our View: That was only his second multi-hit game in May, and he hasn't hit a home run over his last 20 games. He should remain on your bench. |
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| Joyce blasts fifth homer | Thursday 5/22, 3:43 PM CT |
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Matt Joyce went 2-for-3 with two RBI in Thursday's 9-2 win over the Mariners. He hit a two-run homer in the game.
Our View: Joyce now has five homers and eight RBI over 13 games played this season. He should continue to see regular playing time in left field while Gary Sheffield serves as the DH. |
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| Inge blasts three-run homer | Thursday 5/22, 3:33 PM CT |
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Brandon Inge went 1-for-4 and blasted a three-run homer in Thursday's 9-2 win over the Mariners.
Our View: That was his fourth homer of the season, to go along with 19 RBI. He remains a favorable bench player for AL-only leagues, especially due to his versatility. |
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| Bonderman claims third win | Thursday 5/22, 3:28 PM CT |
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Jeremy Bonderman claimed his third win of the season on Thursday, as Detroit prevailed 9-2 over Seattle. Bonderman allowed two runs on eight hits over six innings, with two walks and two strikeouts.
Our View: He was averaging four earned runs allowed over his previous three starts, and this was a very good outing for him. Hopefully he can remain consistent in his next start. |
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| Ibanez collects 31st RBI | Thursday 5/22, 3:23 PM CT |
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Raul Ibanez went 1-for-4 and collected his 31st RBI of the season in Thursday's 9-2 loss to Detroit.
Our View: Ibanez has been one of only a few bright spots for Seattle offensively this season, as he is hitting .291 with seven homers and 32 RBI over 48 games. |
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| Batista dealt sixth loss | Thursday 5/22, 3:20 PM CT |
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Miguel Batista has been dealt his sixth loss of the season on Thursday, as Seattle fell to Detroit 9-2. Batista was rocked for five runs on seven hits over a mere three innings, with one walk and two strikeouts.
Our View: Batista is now 3-6 over 10 starts, with a 6.47 ERA. He should not be anywhere near your fantasy rotation. |
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| Kearns placed on DL | Thursday 5/22, 3:13 PM CT |
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Austin Kearns has been placed on the 15-day DL due to his right elbow injury, according to the AP.
Our View: Kearns will undergo arthroscopic surgery Friday to remove loose bodies in the joint, and is expected to miss three to four weeks. He won't be missed by fantasy owners, as he was only hittin | |
