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| King Felix strong for seven | Monday 5/26, 11:56 PM CT |
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Felix Hernandez allowed five runs on seven hits, walked five and struck out five in 7.2 innings of work. Hernandez shut down the Red Sox for seven innings before blowing up in the top of the eighth inning allowing Boston to score four times.
Our View: Hernandez, who was supposed to start on Sunday in New York but had his start pushed back a day because of a sore calf, has lost his last five decisions after starting the season 2-0. |
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| Ortiz hits home run No. 12 | Monday 5/26, 11:53 PM CT |
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David Ortiz hit his 12th home run of the season and the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 5-3 on Monday night. Ortiz was 1-for-4 on the night with two runs scored.
Our View: Ortiz now has 40 RBI and 33 runs scored on the season. Big Papi's batting average is lagging behind the rest of stellar stat lines -- at a puny .247 in 194 at-bats. |
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| Colon shuts down Mariners | Monday 5/26, 11:50 PM CT |
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Bartolo Colon shut down Seattle for seven innings helping the Red Sox to a 5-3 win over the Mariners on Monday night. Colon allowed one run on five hits, walked one and struck out four.
Our View: The win was Colon's second in two starts since being called up, and at least for now he's a fixture in the Red Sox rotation. Expect Clay Buchholz to remain in Pawtucket until the team needs a spot starter or injury replacement. |
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| English wins seventh game at High-A | Monday 5/26, 11:38 PM CT |
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Jesse English lowered his ERA to 2.36 with 5.1 scoreless innings for High-A San Jose on Monday. He allowed four hits, one walk and struck out five.
Our View: The 23-year-old is a bit old for High-A, but he is a solid prospect who has dominated this season. He is now 7-2 with a 52/16 K/BB ratio in 53.1 innings. |
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| Everidge hits three bombs, drives in 10 | Monday 5/26, 11:36 PM CT |
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Tommy Everidge had an unbelievable game for Double-A Midland on Monday, going 4-for-6 with three home runs and 10 RBI.
Our View: Everidge is not much of a prospect at age 25 in Double-A, but this performance should at least get him noticed. He is now hitting .250-12-42 this season. |
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| Maybin hits homer, swipes two bases in Double-A | Monday 5/26, 11:34 PM CT |
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Cameron Maybin went 2-for-4 with a home run and two steals for Double-A Carolina on Monday. He now has seven home runs and 12 steals this season.
Our View: We will probably see Maybin in September, but he is not showing any reason that he should be in the majors before that time despite his power and speed numbers. His batting average currently stands at just .249 with 67 strikeouts in 181 at-bats. |
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| Murphy hits three homers for Binghamton | Monday 5/26, 11:33 PM CT |
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Dan Murphy launched three home runs for Double-A Binghamton on Monday, giving him eight homers for the season.
Our View: The 23-year-old is a decent prospect, but he has never shown the offensive skills to be considered a regular before this season. He could be changing that idea with a .332-8-35 start to his season, though he obviously is not going to challenge for third base duties with the Mets anytime soon due to David Wright. |
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| Schierholtz hits home run for Fresno | Monday 5/26, 11:31 PM CT |
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Nate Schierholtz went 4-for-5 with his sixth home run of the season for Triple-A Fresno on Monday.
Our View: Schierholtz is arguably the Giants’ best prospect at Fresno, and he is having a fine season hitting .304-6-32 with eight steals. He could definitely get an opportunity this season with the Giants and help NL-only owners. |
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| Eldred hits 18th homer for Charlotte | Monday 5/26, 11:30 PM CT |
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Brad Eldred hit his 18th home run of the season for Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.
Our View: We have known for a long time that Eldred had this type of power, but his all-or-nothing approach is tough to trust at first base. Even with Paul Konerko’s struggles, there is almost no chance that Eldred will get a real opportunity in the majors this unless someone gets hurt. |
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| Church pinch hits in loss | Monday 5/26, 11:21 PM CT |
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Ryan Church (concussion) missed his sixth straight start with a concussion. He grounded out for the second straight game as a pinch hitter.
Our View: Church is expected to visit a neurologist on Tuesday to find out what can be done about his headaches and dizziness. |
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| Nolasco wins third straight | Monday 5/26, 11:18 PM CT |
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Ricky Nolasco won his third straight decision allowing three runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out only one as the Marlins put a 7-3 loss on the struggling New York Mets.
Our View: Nolasco still needs to improve his K/9 ratio (5.92) and lower his BB/9 rate (3.33) before he can be considered a mixed league option. |
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| Pelfrey loses sixth straight | Monday 5/26, 11:14 PM CT |
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Mike Pelfrey lasted only four innings and dropped his sixth straight start and the New York fell three games below .500 and 6.5 games back of first place. The right-hander allowed four runs on six hits, walked three and struck out three.
Our View: Pelfrey is the weak link in the Mets starting five and isn't long for the rotation. The problem is the team doesn't have many options to replace the struggling right-hander. |
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| Reyes goes deep twice | Monday 5/26, 11:10 PM CT |
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Jose Reyes homered twice on Monday night but it wasn't enough as the Mets fizzled on offense otherwise in a 7-3 loss to the Florida Marlins.
Our View: The two home runs gives Reyes six long balls on the season. The Mets shortstop is having a stellar May at the plate, but his defense has taken a back seat as he committed another critical error in the Monday loss. |
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| Coste records four hits | Monday 5/26, 10:24 PM CT |
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Phillies catcher Chris Coste was 4-for-6 in the team's 20-5 beat down of the Colorado Rockies on Monday night. One of Coste's hits was his fourth home run of the season.
Our View: Playing in his 30th game of the season Coste now has 13 RBI, 11 runs and raised his average from .329 to .341 with the four-hit performance. |
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| Feliz has four-hit game | Monday 5/26, 10:21 PM CT |
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Pedro Feliz was 4-for-6 in Monday's rout of the Rockies. The third baseman scored twice and had four RBI.
Our View: Feliz raised his average 14 points with the four-hit game, moving from .257 to .271. He now has 26 RBI and 19 runs scored on the season. |
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| Spilborghs hits second HR | Monday 5/26, 10:13 PM CT |
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Ryan Spilborghs hit a three-run home run to give the Rockies an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, a lead the team would quickly surrender in a 20-5 loss to the Phillies on Monday night.
Our View: The home run is Spilborghs second of the season in 90 at bats. The Rockies are fighting through injuries to significant player personnel and Spilborghs was hitting clean up for the once powerful Rockies batting order. |
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| Moyer earns 235th career win | Monday 5/26, 10:08 PM CT |
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Jamie Moyer allowed four runs on six hits, walked one and struck out seven Colorado Rockies to earn his 235th career victory.
Our View: He's one shy of tying Whitey Ford and Clark Griffith for 56th on the all-time list. |
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| Atkins sits third straight game | Monday 5/26, 10:07 PM CT |
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Garrett Atkins sat out his third straight game with a stiff neck, and the Philadelphia Phillies scored their most runs in nearly a decade recording a 20-5 rout over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
Our View: Atkins is not expected to be placed on the disabled list, but for now the team doesn't know when he will be able to return to the starting lineup. |
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| De La Rosa bombed by Phils | Monday 5/26, 10:04 PM CT |
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Jorge De La Rosa received three early runs of support from his teammates, but before the Rockies' starter could recorded an out, he gave the three runs back. The left-hander lasted only 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs on four hits, walked three and struck out three in the 20-5 loss to Philadelphia.
Our View: The former Royal, who was picked up by the Rockies in a trade earlier in the month, has started five games for Colorado and has a 9.00 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. |
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| Utley records six RBI in rout | Monday 5/26, 9:54 PM CT |
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Chase Utley drove in a career-best six runs, and the Philadelphia Phillies put a 20-5 beat down on the over matched Rockies Monday night.
Utley hit a three-run home run to tie Lance Berkman and Dan Uggla for the major league lead with 16 homers.
Our View: Utley finished 3-for-6 in the slugfest. The second baseman has 42 RBI, 40 runs, five stolen bases and is now hitting .309 on the season. |
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| Kinsler hits seventh home run | Monday 5/26, 9:49 PM CT |
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Ian Kinsler was 1-for-3 in Monday's loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The second baseman's only hit was a three-run home run.
Our View: Kinsler continues to swing a hot bat and now has 31 RBI and seven home runs on the season. |
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| Ponson suffers first loss | Monday 5/26, 9:47 PM CT |
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Texas right-hander Sidney Ponson surrendered five runs on 12 hits in five innings in Monday's loss to Tampa Bay. Ponson walked three and struck out only one.
Our View: No one expected Ponson to continue the numbers he produced in his first six starts for the Rangers (3-0/2.95 ERA /1.31 WHIP), and outings like Monday will be more the norm in the future than that of his April and early May performances. |
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| Hinske hits ninth home run | Monday 5/26, 9:43 PM CT |
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Eric Hinske hit a three-run home run on Monday night and the Rays held onto first place in the AL East with a 7-3 victory over the Rangers. The long ball was Hinske's ninth of the season.
Our View: Tampa Bay has won 16 of their last 17 home games and get this, at 31-20 have the best record in the major leagues. Tampa Bay is just the second team to have the best mark on Memorial Day after finishing with the worst record in the big leagues the previous season (66-96). The other team? The New York Giants in 1903. |
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| Kazmir strikes out 10 | Monday 5/26, 9:40 PM CT |
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Scott Kazmir won his fourth straight start, striking out 10 in seven innings and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 7-3 on Monday night.
Our View: Kazmir allowed one run on three hits and didn't walk a batter in the impressive outing. |
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| Street earns 10th and 11th saves | Monday 5/26, 9:34 PM CT |
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It's been a while since Huston Street received face time, in the news, and on the pitching mound. Street earned his 10th and 11th saves this past weekend, both against the World Champion Boston Red Sox.
Our View: Street recorded eight saves in April but has had only four chances in May; two of those coming in the last three days. |
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| Chamberlain's next goal; 55 pitches | Monday 5/26, 9:27 PM CT |
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Before Joba Chamberlain joins the Yankees starting rotation his pitch count needs to increase. His next appearance is scheduled to target 55 pitches, and could come as early as Tuesday.
Our View: Expect him to reach his 55 pitch target on Tuesday when Ian Kennedy takes the mound. Don't, however, expect Chamberlain to join the rotation for another couple of weeks. He will need to reach 70-80 pitches in an outing, and when that opportunity will present itself is unpredictable at best. |
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| Pena expectations were high | Monday 5/26, 9:13 PM CT |
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Carlos Pena hit his 10th home run of the season on Sunday night. While this should be considered an accomplishment, especially with home runs down this season, his production has significantly slipped from a year ago.
Our View: His 1.033 OPS and 10.7 HR/AB in 2007 is Hall of Fame like compared to this season's .755 OPS and 17.7 HR Rate. Consider 2007 a career year and accept Pena's current peripherals. |
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| Johjima breaks out of slump | Monday 5/26, 9:08 PM CT |
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Kenji Johjima finally quit looking over his shoulder and broke out of his 1-for-19 slump on Sunday. The starting catcher had two huge hits against the Yankees.
Our View: Expect Johjima to return to his career mean, and soon. His current .219/.258/.301 line is ugly, but it should be explained off as a slow start -- more than a digression of his skill set. |
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| Acosta earns third win | Monday 5/26, 8:56 PM CT |
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Manny Acosta worked two perfect innings, striking out two, and earned his third victory of the season as the Braves beat the Diamondbacks 7-3 on Monday afternoon.
Our View: Accosta, who has been the team's primary ninth inning option with Raphael Soriano on the disabled list, entered the game and worked the sixth and seventh inning. The right-hander was judged the winner due to his performance and Jair Jurrjens' inability to pitch five full innings. |
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| Youkilis scratched from lineup | Monday 5/26, 8:31 PM CT |
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Kevin Youkilis was scratched from tonight's lineup because of a pain in the top of his right hand, this according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: The report mentions that Youkilis said he doesn't remember how he hurt the hand, but he decided he couldn't play after taking batting practice. Youkilis has a successful, albeit small, history against King Felix and is one of the Red Sox to have homered off the Seattle ace. |
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| Pierre has two hits and RBI | Monday 5/26, 8:23 PM CT |
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Juan Pierre went 2-for-4 and recorded the lone Dodgers run-batted-in on Monday. Pierre was the odd man out when the team signed free agent Andruw Jones (knee) this past offseason.
Our View: Pierre has once again become fantasy relevant as an everyday outfielder in place of the injured Jones. |
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| Ethier has two hit game | Monday 5/26, 8:18 PM CT |
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Andre Ethier recorded two hits in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Cubs. In his last seven games, Ethier has gone 11-for-30 and is hitting .300 on the season.
Our View: The knee injury to veteran Andruw Jones has cleared room for Ethier, Matt Kemp and Juan Pierre to roam the outfield every night for the Dodgers. |
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| Kemp hits two doubles in loss | Monday 5/26, 8:13 PM CT |
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Matt Kemp went 2-for-3 with two doubles and one run scored in Monday's loss to the Cubs. Kemp, who has become the everyday right-fielder for the Dodgers, is on pace to record over 500 at-bats this year.
Our View: Kemp has 28 RBI, 23 runs scored with three home runs and 10 stolen bases while hitting .309. |
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| De La Cruz optioned to Triple-A | Monday 5/26, 8:08 PM CT |
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The AP reports that the Florida Marlins have optioned Eulogio De La Cruz to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday.
Our View: De La Cruz appeared in one game for the Fish, allowing two runs on two hits, walking four and striking out one. |
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| Wood to start for Figgins | Monday 5/26, 8:05 PM CT |
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Brandon Wood was called up last week to to fill in for the injured Erick Aybar and receive a spot start at third base when needed. That time is tonight as the young prospect will start for of Chone Figgins.
Our View: Wood is hitting eighth and will face the Tigers veteran lefty Kenny Rogers. |
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| Wolf has favorable start vs. Nats | Monday 5/26, 7:48 PM CT |
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Randy Wolf, who is coming off an impressive outing against the Reds on Thursday, will face the 14th ranked offense on Tuesday night when the Nationals head to the west coast for the first of a three-game tilt.
Our View: Wolf, as are all of the Padres pitchers, is a terrific fantasy option at PETCO Park regardless of opponent. The Nationals soft-hitting lineup is an added plus. Wolf limited Cincinnati to two runs on four hits over seven innings in his last start and became the first Padres starting pitcher to pitch seven or more innings since April 27. |
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| Hill to make scheduled start | Monday 5/26, 7:41 PM CT |
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It's official, the Nationals team website reports that Shawn Hill will make his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Padres in San Diego.
Our View: Hill played catch on Monday and was still feeling some pain in the elbow and right forearm. Hill, who missed his last start because of the elbow injury and has been suffering soreness since spring training, said he will have to tough it through the injury for the rest of the season. |
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| Jeter slumping with hand injury | Monday 5/26, 7:35 PM CT |
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It's gone mostly unnoticed, but since Derek Jeter was hit on the hand in last Tuesday's game against the Orioles, he is 1-for-20 at the plate.
Our View: Jeter was 0-for-3 on Monday and his [last Tuesday] .300 plus batting average is now down to .282. It's unlikely that Jeter has lost his typical aggressive nature at the plate. It is, however, suspected he isn't 100 percent and the injury is affecting his hand strength. |
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| Hill held out with sore groin | Monday 5/26, 7:29 PM CT |
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Aaron Hill, who was held out of the staring lineup with a sore groin on Monday, ended up playing an inning in place of the injured Joe Inglett.
Our View: Inglett exited in the eighth inning with a tight quad. No word on the severity of the injury. Hill is expected to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday when the team starts a west coast road trip. |
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| Inglett exits to quad tightness | Monday 5/26, 7:24 PM CT |
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Joe Inglett exited Monday's win over the Royals in the eighth inning with a tight quadriceps.
Our View: The utility infielder was replaced by Aaron Hill, who was held out of the staring lineup with a sore groin. |
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| McDonald sent to rehab in Florida | Monday 5/26, 7:22 PM CT |
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The AP reports that shortstop John McDonald (ankle) and OF Vernon Wells (broken wrist) flew to Florida on Monday to begin rehab assignments.
Our View: Neither player has a timetable for their return, but McDonald is expected to rejoin the team well before Wells. |
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| Eckstein to be actived from DL | Monday 5/26, 7:19 PM CT |
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David Eckstein , who was expected to return from the disabled list today, will be activated before Tuesday's game at Oakland. The starting shortstop has been rehabbing a hip flexor injury that resulted in him missing the last two weeks.
Our View: Eckstein is expected to return to his starting role at shortstop despite the solid performance of utilty infielder Marco Scutaro. |
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| Teahen breaks 0-for19 slump | Monday 5/26, 7:16 PM CT |
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Mark Teahen broke his 0-for-19 slump with a single in the fourth inning on Monday. The Royals outfielder is hitting .243 on the season with two home runs, 12 RBI and 18 runs scored.
Our View: The Royals have very little power in their lineup. Teahen hasn't progressed since his double-digit home run season in 2006, and the young bats of Alex Gordon and Billy Butler have combined for six home runs in 51 games this year. |
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| Zimmerman rested on Monday | Monday 5/26, 7:10 PM CT |
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As expected, Ryan Zimmerman was in fact rested on Monday. The team decided to give the third baseman some relief for a sore left shoulder.
Our View: According to team sources, Zimmerman is expected to be back in the lineup on Tuesday when the team travels to San Diego for the first of a three-game tilt. |
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| Tavarez signed by Brewers | Monday 5/26, 7:07 PM CT |
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The Brewers have signed right-handed reliever Julian Tavarez , this according to the AP. Tavarez, who was cut loose by Boston two weeks ago, is expected to be in the lineup on Tuesday.
Our View: The team hasn't announced who they will option to make room for Tavarez. |
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| Kent records three hits in loss | Monday 5/26, 7:02 PM CT |
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Jeff Kent was 3-for-4 in Monday's loss to the Cubs. All of his hits were singles. Kent is hitting .228 on the season with 22 RBI, 16 runs and four home runs.
Our View: Kent's three hits was his first multihit game since he went 2-for-5 against Colorado on May 2. |
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| Owings pinch hits for 'Zona | Monday 5/26, 6:59 PM CT |
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Micah Owings pinch hit in the eighth inning of Monday's loss to the Braves. The starting pitcher hit into a double play. Owings is batting .286 (10-for-35) with a home run, three RBI and 12 strikeouts on the season.
Our View: Owings' hitting totals don't count in the fantasy realm, but from a reality and fantasy perspective, every time he is on the mound he represents more than an easy out -- more like an American League designated hitter. This is a huge plus for the Diamondbacks and for fantasy mangers in head-to-head formats. |
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| Johnson extends hitting streak | Monday 5/26, 6:56 PM CT |
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Kelly Johnson was 1-for-4 on Monday, a sixth-inning single, that extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Our View: Since the team moved Johnson out of the leadoff spot, he has been a much more aggressive hitter. The Braves second baseman has 25 runs, 22 RBI, four stolen bases to go along with five home runs and he's hitting .297 on the season. |
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| Tracy 1-for-4 in debut | Monday 5/26, 6:53 PM CT |
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Chad Tracy was 1-for-4 in his debut on Monday against the Braves. Tracy, who started at first base and batted cleanup, had been recovering from right knee surgery.
Our View: Tracy will need some time to get readjusted after missing extensive playing time and where he fits in the everyday lineup is still a question. |
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| Nelson called up from Triple-A | Monday 5/26, 6:46 PM CT |
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The Florida Marlins purchased the contract of Joe Nelson from Triple-A Albuquerque.
The right-hander returns to the majors after missing all of 2007 following shoulder surgery.
Our View: Nelson was impressive in Albuquerque. He sported a 2.10 ERA as the team's Triple-A closer. |
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| Taveras back in the lineup | Monday 5/26, 6:41 PM CT |
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Willy Taveras started in center field for the Rockies on Monday night, the first game of a three-game series in Philadelphia. The Rockies outfielder missed the last two starts with a bruised knee.
Our View: Taveras is just one of the many injured Colorado players. |
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| Kinsler challenging Utley | Monday 5/26, 5:58 PM CT |
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Ian Kinsler is challenging Philadelphia's Chase Utley as the top fantasy second baseman over the first two months of the season. Kinsler's numbers make him a hot commodity among fantasy owners and a prime candidate to sell high. The Rangers second baseman has 41 runs, 28 RBI, 14 stolen bases, six home runs and is hitting .292 on the season.
Our View: Kinsler is stealing bases and hitting for power. Five of his six home runs have come in May, suggesting that as the weather warms, he could stay hot. While he's a strong sell high candidate, it should be noted he has the potential to join the 25/25 club this year. |
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| Wood earns eleventh save | Monday 5/26, 5:51 PM CT |
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Kerry Wood earned his 11th save of the season when the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Monday.
Our View: Wood has had an up-and-down season. However, his lines suggest he's been the subject of some bad luck. The hard-throwing right-hander has a 0.82 WHIP, an 8.77 K/9 ratio and a 1.75 Walk Rate. All of these indicate that his expected ERA is less than his actual 3.51 number. |
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| Randolph supported by Minaya | Monday 5/26, 5:46 PM CT |
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The Sports Network reports that Mets' ownership met today to discuss the future of manager Willie Randolph. General manager Omar Minaya held a press
conference to announce that Randolph would remain at his post.
Minaya reportedly had a meeting with owner Fred Wilpon and COO Jeff
Wilpon which resulted in positive support for Randolph and his performance. "Willie's job was never in danger going into this meeting," Minaya said.
Our View: A strong performance by Mike Pelfrey tonight would go a long way in assisting the Mets as a team and Randolph as the continuing manager. |
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| Billingsley suffers sixth loss | Monday 5/26, 5:19 PM CT |
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Chad Billingsley allowed two runs on four hits, walked two and struck out seven over six innings. The Dodgers couldn't support his solid performance, scratching out only one run in the 3-1 loss to the Cubs.
Our View: Billingsley, who sports a 3.76 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, deserved better today. The Dodgers' right-hander lost his sixth game of the season, but performances like today's will result in wins more often than losses. |
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| Dempster earns sixth victory | Monday 5/26, 5:13 PM CT |
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Ryan Dempster allowed one run on seven hits, walked three and struck out three earning his sixth win of the season. The former closer received home run support from Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Monday.
Our View: Dempster has pitched above expectations, and regression to the mean is expected to kick in soon. The Cubs right-hander had a terrific April. His 2.76 ERA and 1.061 were just too good to be true. Dempster will not have any more value than he currently has, and selling high is suggested at this point. His 7.53 K/9 is better than his career numbers as a starter, and his 3.69 BB/9 ratio speaks to him experiencing a letdown in future performance. |
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| V-Mart returns to the lineup | Monday 5/26, 5:05 PM CT |
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Victor Martinez was back in the Indian's starting lineup on Sunday after sitting out back-to-back days with injured fingernail. The catcher is in the starting lineup tonight against the White Sox.
Our View: The understatement of May would be to state that V-Mart has been disappointing from a fantasy perspective. He has suffered some nagging injuries in the first two months of the season, but that doesn't explain his serious digression in power. After 145 at-bats, Martinez has yet to hit a home run, and has only eight extra-base hits on the year. |
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| Upton's lack of power a mystery | Monday 5/26, 4:59 PM CT |
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B.J. Upton is hitting .316 in May with a .409 on base percentage, and the young center fielder stole two bases on Sunday to raise his total to 13 on the year. Of his 13 steals, nine have come in May. Upton has done everything the team has asked of him, however, he has not been the power outlet that many fantasy owners were hoping for.
Our View: Upton has only three home runs in 178 at-bats. Which is far behind his 2007 pace. In fact, Upton has yet to hit a May home run. What goes up, must come down. In Upton's case, what has yet to go up, will eventually. Expect Upton's power numbers to rise as the weather warms. |
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| Torres earns third save | Monday 5/26, 4:52 PM CT |
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Salomon Torres picked up his third save of the year in Monday's Memorial Day extra inning 4-3 win over the Nationals.
Our View: Manager Ned Yost said that the team would approach the ninth inning role by committee, but Torres would be the first option. With Eric Gagne (rotator cuff) out Torres has been the man so far. |
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| Bergman strikes out eight | Monday 5/26, 4:48 PM CT |
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Jason Bergmann was stellar in his third straight start since being recalled from Triple-A. The right-hander shut out the Brewers for 5.2 innings before being subject to poor defense. Bergman allowed four hits, a walk and struck out eight on the day.
Our View: Bergmann has thrown 19.2 innings without allowing an earned run since returning to the parent club. Many considered his two-start Fantasy Week 8 an iffy proposition, but after his performance against the Brewers today he's a must start in all formats. |
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| Ramirez hits his 9th HR | Monday 5/26, 4:42 PM CT |
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Aramis Ramirez hit his 9th home run of the season to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Monday.
Our View: Ramirez continued his consistent May production on Monday. The cleanup hitter is batting .299 on the season with 37 runs, 36 RBI and a stolen base. In most formats Ramirez ranks behind only Chipper Jones and David Wright as the top fantasy contributors at third base. |
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| Lee homers in Cubs win | Monday 5/26, 4:37 PM CT |
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Derrek Lee hit his 12th home run on Monday to support Ryan Dempster as the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Monday afternoon.
Our View: Lee, who began April with a bang rewarding his fantasy faithful, is hitting .300 on the season with 41 runs, 36 RBI and three stolen bases. |
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| Top prospect Bruce to join Reds | Monday 5/26, 4:32 PM CT |
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The Reds announced Monday that they are calling up their prized prospect Jay Bruce, this according to SportsTicker. Bruce was batting .364 with 10 homers, 37 RBI and eight stolen bases in the International League. His average and 67 hits topped the league.
Our View: Bruce wasn't called up to sit on the bench. He is expected to take over in center field, a position that has been played by either Corey Patterson or Jerry Hairston. What this means for Patterson is not yet known but the call-up doesn't bode well for the veteran's future in Cincinnati.
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| Sheets strong in no-decision | Monday 5/26, 4:25 PM CT |
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Ben Sheets allowed two runs on seven hits, walked none and struck out six in Monday's no-decision against Jason Bergmann and the Nationals.
Our View: The hard-throwing right-hander was on his game, but his mound opponent Jason Bergmann was as good or better. These kinds of performances are what owners expected from Sheets and more efforts like this will result in wins this summer. |
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| Villanueva throws two-scoreless | Monday 5/26, 4:06 PM CT |
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Carlos Villanueva threw two scoreless innings, striking out five of the six hitters he faced, and the Milwaukee Brewers survived extra innings to defeat the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Monday afternoon.
Our View: Villanueva, is now a long reliever for the Brew Crew. His appearance today was only his second relief stint after starting nine games in April and May. The right-hander has little fantasy value, and none in traditional formats. |
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| Olson hurls seven scoreless | Monday 5/26, 3:56 PM CT |
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Garrett Olson hurled seven scoreless innings in Monday's 6-1 win over the Yankees, with only three hits allowed. He issued four walks, but had seven strikeouts.
Our View: Olson improves to 4-1 for the season over six starts, and lowered his ERA to 4.09. That was the first time he didn't allow a run in a start, and he tied a season high in strikeouts. He surrendered a season worst six runs in his last outing (also against the Yankees) and bounced back great. |
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| Markakis goes 3-for-4 with two RBI | Monday 5/26, 3:51 PM CT |
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Nick Markakis went 3-for-4 with two RBI in Monday's 6-1 win over the Yankees. One of his hits went for a home run, his ninth of the season.
Our View: Markakis has five home runs and 13 RBI over 23 games in May, but is still only hitting .226 in the month. |
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| Moeller records lone RBI for Yankees | Monday 5/26, 3:46 PM CT |
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Chad Moeller was awarded the start at catcher on Monday, and recorded the Yankees' lone RBI in a 6-1 loss to Baltimore. He went 1-for-2 with a walk.
Our View: Moeller was a sole source of production for New York today, but he is still only hitting .207 over 29 at-bats in May. |
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| Rasner suffers first loss | Monday 5/26, 3:41 PM CT |
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Darrell Rasner suffered his first loss of the season on Monday, as the Yankees fell to the Orioles 6-1. Rasner still had a quality start as he only allowed one run on five hits over six innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. The lone run surrendered came on a Nick Markakis homer.
Our View: Heading into today's game, Rasner was 3-0 over three starts, with a 1.89 ERA and 0.84 WHIP. He has been the Yankees' best starter in May, and could have won today if not for poor run support. |
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| Teixeira generates four RBI | Monday 5/26, 3:35 PM CT |
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Mark Teixeira went 2-for-4 and generated four RBI in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Diamondbacks.
Our View: That was his seventh multi-hit game in May, and today's RBI total was his highest of the season. |
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| McCann blasts ninth homer | Monday 5/26, 3:32 PM CT |
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Brian McCann went 1-for-5 with one RBI and blasted his ninth homer of the season in Monday's 7-3 win over Arizona.
Our View: He is now hitting .339 for the season, with 32 RBI and the aforementioned nine homers over 47 games. That was his fourth homer and 20th RBI in May as well. |
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| Hudson collects two RBI in loss | Monday 5/26, 3:28 PM CT |
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Orlando Hudson went 1-for-3 and collected two RBI in Monday's 7-3 loss to Atlanta. He hit a two-run homer, which was his fourth of the season.
Our View: He now has 26 RBI over 43 games, and ended an eight-game drought in the category. |
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| Webb suffers second loss | Monday 5/26, 3:24 PM CT |
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Brandon Webb suffered his second loss of the season on Monday, as Arizona was topped by Atlanta 7-3. Webb was rocked for seven runs on 10 hits over a mere 4.1 innings of work, with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Our View: He has now lost back-to-back starts, but should bounce back fine and fantasy owners shouldn't be concerned. He held a 2.69 ERA and exceptional 0.98 WHIP heading into today's battle. |
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| Miller placed on Triple-A DL | Monday 5/26, 3:12 PM CT |
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Pitcher Adam Miller has been placed on the DL at Triple-A Buffalo, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He has been brought down by an open callous on a finger of his pitching hand.
Our View: Miller, who is a top pitching prospect for Cleveland, went 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA over six starts in Triple-A prior to landing on the DL.
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| Will Boone see more playing time? | Monday 5/26, 2:53 PM CT |
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Veteran Aaron Boone deserves more playing time, but it might not happen for him while stuck behind Dmitri Young (first base) and Ryan Zimmerman (third base) on the Nationals' bench, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Boone has only seen 71 at-bats this season, but made them count with a .324 average, four homers, 11 RBI, and 11 runs scored. All four home runs have come in May, and he is hitting .356 in the month as well. |
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| Rios chips in pair of RBI | Monday 5/26, 2:44 PM CT |
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Alex Rios went 2-for-4 and chipped in a pair of RBI in Monday's 7-2 win over the Royals.
Our View: That was his seventh multi-hit game of May, and he has registered an RBI in four of his last six outings. He still hasn't hit a home run since May 1, however. |
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| Marcum claims fifth win | Monday 5/26, 2:39 PM CT |
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Shaun Marcum allowed two runs on five hits over 7.1 innings of work in Monday's 7-2 win over the Royals, with one walk and six strikeouts.
Our View: Marcum improves to 5-3 for the season, with a 2.64 ERA. Marcum has allowed two or less runs in eight of his 11 starts, and his fantasy stock remains on the rise. |
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| Olivo collects 20th RBI | Monday 5/26, 2:33 PM CT |
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Miguel Olivo went 1-for-3 and collected his 20th RBI of the season in Monday's 7-2 loss to Toronto. Olivo also registered his second stolen base of the season. He started the game at catcher.
Our View: That was his 12th RBI in May, and he is hitting .339 (18-for-53) in the month as well. He should continue to see more playing time while he is hot. |
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| Tomko dealt sixth loss | Monday 5/26, 2:27 PM CT |
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Brett Tomko was dealt his sixth loss of the season on Monday, as Kansas City fell to Toronto 7-2. Tomko was lit up for seven runs (six earned) on eight hits over six innings, with no walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: Tomko has now allowed five or more runs in three of his last four starts. His ERA now stands at 6.11, and his fantasy value continues to plummet following a solid start to the season. |
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| Granderson hitting well again | Monday 5/26, 2:21 PM CT |
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Curtis Granderson is hitting well again, according to MLB.com. He is hitting .333 (9-for-27) over his last eight games, after batting .097 over his previous eight.
Our View: Granderson scored six runs over his last eight games as well, with one homer and four RBI. He should remain active in your lineups. |
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| Garland targeting sixth win | Monday 5/26, 2:14 PM CT |
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Jon Garland will be targeting his sixth win of the season when the Angels host the Tigers tonight, according to MLB.com. Garland is 13-6 over 24 career outings against the Tigers, with a 4.08 ERA
Our View: Garland is 5-3 this season, but has a 4.34 ERA and a weak 1.48 WHIP over 64.1 innings, with a mere 14 strikeouts. He has been erratic from start to start, and remains a risky fantasy option, despite a favorable history against Detroit. |
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| Rogers aiming to improve 4-4 record | Monday 5/26, 2:10 PM CT |
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Kenny Rogers will aim to improve his 4-4 mark when the Tigers battle the Angels tonight, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Rogers holds a poor 6.66 ERA and 1.88 WHIP, and has allowed 11 earned runs over his last two starts. He could end the night with a winning record, but should not be considered for your lineups. |
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| Cordero plays catch without pain | Monday 5/26, 1:51 PM CT |
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Chad Cordero played catch without any pain on Monday, and was the first time he threw a baseball since being placed on the DL due to a torn shoulder adductor, according to MLB.com. Cordero threw 60 pitches between 45 and 60 feet without incident. The plan is for him to play catch every other day for two weeks, and he hopes to start throwing off the mound by the third week. Cordero said, "Everything felt good. I wasn't trying to blow it all out. I was a little nervous, too. When you have an injury like that, you don't know how it feels until you go out there. My first throw was kind of nerve wracking. I had no pain. The only thing I felt was not throwing for four weeks."
Our View: When Cordero returns to the Nats, which could be by the end of June, he may find himself in a closer controversy, as Jon Rauch is doing very well in the role right now. |
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| Posada caught five innings | Monday 5/26, 1:44 PM CT |
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Jorge Posada caught five innings and went 0-for-5 with a walk in his first extended spring training game on Monday, according to the AP. Posada said, "I got a lot of innings behind the plate, that’s all I wanted. I wanted just to get ready to catch again." Posada played catch before entering the game, and threw the ball back to the pitcher, but is not expected to start throwing to the bases until later this week. He added, "Probably Thursday or so I’ll start throwing again. I feel good enough to throw right now, but I’m taking one step at a time. First of all, get my legs underneath me and then get ready to catch, throw and doing all that."
Our View: Posada will play in another extended spring training game Tuesday. He is expected to be activated from the DL a week from Tuesday, barring any setbacks.
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| Kazmir set for fifth start | Monday 5/26, 1:35 PM CT |
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Scott Kazmir will make his fifth start of the season today when the Rays host the Rangers, according to MLB.com. Kazmir is 1-0 with a 2.05 ERA in four games against the Rangers, and he has allowed Texas just two runs over 16 innings at home at Tropicana Field.
Our View: Kazmir is enjoying a strong campaign as he is 3-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 23 innings, with 22 strikeouts. He missed the first month of the season, but was surely worth the wait. |
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| Ponson looks to remain unbeaten | Monday 5/26, 1:31 PM CT |
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Sidney Ponson will be looking to remain unbeaten when he takes the hill against the Rays today, according to MLB.com. Ponson is 8-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 24 career games against the Rays, but he is 3-0 with a 2.95 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over six starts in 2008.
Our View: Ponson is coming off a complete-game win over the Twins (only allowed one run on six hits), and is worth starting today if you have him on your roster. |
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| Kotsay scratched for Monday | Monday 5/26, 1:21 PM CT |
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Mark Kotsay was scratched from Monday's lineup due to a stiff back, according to MLB.com. Kotsay said, "We knew there'd be days where I'd have to make a decision and take myself out of the lineup if I'm too sore, and today is one of those days where I don't think I should push it."
Our View: The ailment may have been caused by the near-four-hour game on Sunday. He will receive treatment on Monday and expects to be ready for Tuesday's contest against Milwaukee. Kotsay played in 47 of 51 games for Atlanta this season, and was due for a game off. Gregor Blanco started in his place in center field.
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| Gonzalez optioned | Monday 5/26, 12:41 PM CT |
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Infielder Alberto Gonzalez has been optioned to Triple-A Scranton, according to ChuckKnoblog.com. The team activated Wilson Betemit from the DL, and needed to make room for him on the roster.
Our View: Gonzalez only hit .214 over 42 at-bats with the Yankees this season, with no homers and one RBI. He held no fantasy value. |
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| Betemit activated | Monday 5/26, 12:38 PM CT |
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