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| Saunders suffers second loss | Wednesday 5/28, 11:59 PM CT |
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Joe Saunders suffered through his worst outing of the year Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out five over five innings.
Our View: The five strikeouts actually tied a season high, which is pretty amazing for a guy who's 8-2. |
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| Hairston homers in SD loss | Wednesday 5/28, 11:59 PM CT |
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San Diego outfielder Scott Hairston was the top offensive dog for the Padres in a 6-4 loss to the Washington Nationals. Hairston went 2-for-5 at the plate with his seventh home run of the season, good for two RBIs and one run scored.
Our View: Hairston has gone 10-for-29 over his last seven games and is hitting .265 through May. |
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| Thames takes Saunders deep twice | Wednesday 5/28, 11:56 PM CT |
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Marcus Thames hit a pair of two-run homers in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Angels. Both of the bombs came off lefty Joe Saunders, and all five of Thames' homers this season have been off of southpaws.
Our View: Thames is a solid starter in weeks where the Tigers face a lot of lefties, but he's pretty useless otherwise. |
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| Estes takes first loss vs Washington | Wednesday 5/28, 11:56 PM CT |
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San Diego LHP Shawn Estes suffered his first loss of the season as the Padres fell 6-4 to Washington. Estes pitched five innings to allow four runs on four hits (all earned) with two walks and thee strikeouts.
Our View: Estes allowed his second home run of the season and surrendered his highest earned run total of the season thus far. |
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| Harden pitches well in no-decision | Wednesday 5/28, 11:53 PM CT |
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Rich Harden didn't pick up a win Wednesday, but it wasn't his fault. The righty allowed just one run on five hits while striking out five over seven innings in a 2-1 loss to Toronto.
Our View: Harden now boasts a 1.35 ERA over his last three starts, and it appears, at least for the time being, that his shoulder injury is behind him. |
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| Ryan nails down another save | Wednesday 5/28, 11:50 PM CT |
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B.J. Ryan nailed down his 12th save in 12 chances Wednesday. The closer's ERA now sits at a microscopic 0.53 on the year.
Our View: It's still pretty early, but Ryan appears to be the latest case of Tommy John surgery success. |
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| Doc in top form yet again | Wednesday 5/28, 11:47 PM CT |
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Roy Halladay was in top form again Wednesday night, limiting the A's to one run on eight hits and a walk while striking out nine over eight innings. Halladay has gone at least eight innings an astonishing seven times in 11 starts this year.
Our View: Doc has a 2.93 ERA and 0.99 ERA on the year, yet he's just 6-5, which should be enough to convince you (if you haven't already been convinced) that the win statistic is vastly overrated. |
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| Wakefield a tough-luck loser | Wednesday 5/28, 11:27 PM CT |
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Tim Wakefield was a tough-luck loser Wednesday night, allowing just one run (a solo homer to Yuniesky Betancourt) on five hits and a walks while striking out seven.
Our View: This outing comes on the heels of a horrific start for the knuckleballer, so it's good to see he's back on track. |
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| Riske taking time to heal | Wednesday 5/28, 11:26 PM CT |
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The Brewers report reliever RHP David Riske is taking longer than hoped to recover from elbow and shoulder injuries, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Riske was put on the DL on May 15th with a hyperextended elbow and a strained shoulder, but the team had hoped he would return from injury before he was eligible to do so. Last week, Riske played catch in the outfield at Pittsburgh and told coaches the soreness was still there. He will continue to rehab, but the team is hoping things start progressing soon. |
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| Bedard dazzles in Mariners win | Wednesday 5/28, 11:24 PM CT |
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Erik Bedard bounced back from a rough outing last Friday with a gem Wednesday night, tossing seven scoreless innings against the Red Sox, allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out eight.
Our View: Aside from a couple duds, Bedard has been everything the M's have expected from him, though he is walking a few too many guys. |
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| Smoltz to pitch on Thursday night | Wednesday 5/28, 11:21 PM CT |
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Atlanta RHP John Smoltz will pitch for Single-A Rome on Thursday night, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: Smoltz has been missing time on the disabled list with an inflammed shoulder. He made his first rehab appearance on Saturday for Double-A Mississippi, pitching one inning with a groundout, a flyout, and a come-back hit to the mound that was not covered at first (charging Smoltz with a hit). The Braves will return Smoltz to the bullpen upon his return. |
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| Mo is a perfect 13-for-13 in save chances | Wednesday 5/28, 11:07 PM CT |
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Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect 9th inning Wednesday to earn his 13th save of the year in 13 opportunities. He struck out one batter.
Our View: Mo certainly hasn't been pitching like a guy who turned 38 over the offseason. He boasts a 0.39 ERA and 0.52 WHIP with 21 Ks and just one walk in 23 innings this year. |
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| Zambrano pitches well, but no decision | Wednesday 5/28, 10:45 PM CT |
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Chicago ace RHP Carlos Zambrano was earning his money this evening, pitching strong through eight innings to allow just one run on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts. He walked off with the loss on his shoulders, down 1-0 to the Dodgers, but the hitting came late and the relief pitching snitched the victory.
Our View: That's three no decisions in an otherwise perfect month for Zambrano, 3-0 through May with just six earned runs allowed in those three that failed to yield the same result. |
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| Ramirez gives up four in ninth-inning collapse | Wednesday 5/28, 10:45 PM CT |
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Ramon Ramirez was having a fantastic season up until Wednesday night. The right-hander allowed four runs in 2/3 of an inning, as the Royals gave up five in the frame to the Twins and lost in the 10th.
Our View: Ramirez had a 2.14 ERA with 25 Ks in 21 innings before this evening. He remains a worthy AL-only play despite his ERA jumping up to 3.74 after this performance. |
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| Lowe hurls strong, but Dodgers blow it | Wednesday 5/28, 10:41 PM CT |
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Dodgers RHP Derek Lowe put forth an excellent performance on the mound this evening, but the offense missed the boat and failed to produce the runs needed for a win. Lowe pitched seven shutout innings with just four hits and two walks surrendered. He ended with five strikeouts and walked off with no decision.
Our View: The relief pitching blew the cause as well, giving up two runs on three hits in the final two innings of play, leaving Lowe at 2-5 on the season and 0-4 this month. |
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| Soriano continues to surge | Wednesday 5/28, 10:37 PM CT |
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The Cubs and Dodgers went into extra innings this evening as the teams' top hurlers went head-to-head, and in the 10th it was the Cubs pulling away, 2-1. Chicago it was leadoff man Alfonso Soriano doing work as the primary weapon of choice, going 2-for-5 with one RBI.
Our View: Soriano is hitting .343 for the month of May with nine home runs, 25 RBIs, and 70 total bases. It's safe to say he is in a groove. |
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| Martin shows well in Dodger loss | Wednesday 5/28, 10:32 PM CT |
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The Cubs and Dodgers battled to extra innings this evening as the team aces went head-to-head in a pitchers duel, and in the end it was the Cubs pulling away in 10, 2-1. For the Dodgers, catcher Russell Martin provided the only relief for fantasy owners, going 3-for-5 at the dish with three singles and one run scored.
Our View: Martin is hitting a strong .326 through March with 31 total bases through the month. |
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| Y.Molina comes through for Cards in win | Wednesday 5/28, 10:18 PM CT |
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The Cardinals didn't have a ton of offense this evening, but catcher Yadier Molina came through and helped his team earn the 6-1 win over Houston. Molina went 2-for-4 with two singles, totaling two RBIs and a run scored on the night.
Our View: Molina has hit rather well through May, posting a batting average of .308 for the month with 13 RBIs and just five strikeouts. |
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| Wainwright hurls St. Lou to win over Houston | Wednesday 5/28, 10:15 PM CT |
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St.Louis RHP Adam Wainwright was on his game this evening as his Cardinals posted the 6-1 victory over Houston. Wainwright pitched eight innings, allowing just one run on three hits with just one walk and eight strikeouts.
Our View: This gives Wainwright consecutive wins in what has been a disappointing May, going 2-1 with three no decisions after going 3-1 through March and April. |
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| Wigginton hits homer in Astros loss | Wednesday 5/28, 10:11 PM CT |
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The Houston Astros struggled to get any offense going this evening, posting just four hits throughout as they suffered the 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. None of the Astros managed multiple hits, leaving third baseman Ty Wigginton as the top man of the night, going 1-for-3 with his second home run of the season, a solo shot that represented the only run Houston would produce on the night.
Our View: Wigginton hasn't been an offensive powerhouse this season, but tonight shows he can contribute from time to time. |
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| Greinke's superb effort wasted | Wednesday 5/28, 10:08 PM CT |
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Zack Greinke put together a splendid effort for the Royals Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out eight over eight innings. Unfortunately, Greinke's win went by the wayside when the Royals bullpen gave up five runs in the ninth inning to the Twins.
Our View: This was a nice rebound from Greinke's one bad start this year. His ERA now sits at 2.88 on the year. |
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| Granderson to play against southpaws | Wednesday 5/28, 10:02 PM CT |
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Curtis Granderson has often sat out when the opposing team has a lefty on the mound. That's not going to be the case anymore. Manager Jim Leyland has decided that Granderson will be an everyday player going forward. "He's a catalyst for us," Leyland said. "We've got to get him going. That's important."
Our View: Granderson has a career .202 average against southpaws, so he'll definitely have to pick it up if this is going to end up looking like a smart decision by Leyland. |
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| Ross flows despite Marlins loss | Wednesday 5/28, 10:00 PM CT |
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The Marlins somehow managed to push the Mets to 12 innings despite posting just five total hits in the game, but in the end it was the Mets who prevailed with the win, 7-6. Outfielder Cody Ross was the top man on offense for the Marlins, going 2-for-5 with two homers, four RBIs, and two runs scored.
Our View: Ross now touts seven RBIs over his last three games. |
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| Reyes covers the spectrum in Mets win | Wednesday 5/28, 9:57 PM CT |
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It wasn't pretty, but the Mets and Marlins fought into extra innings as the hometown Mets scored two runs to answer the one posted by Florida in the 12th to emerge victorious, 7-6. For the Mets, it was a group effort, though leadoff shortstop Jose Reyes may have been the best performer of the game. Reyes went 2-for-5 with a walk at the plate with a double (his 12th of the season), a home run (his seventh), and a stolen base (16th of the season), all told to push one RBI and two runs scored.
Our View: Reyes had suffered through an awful slump early, hitting just .240 through March and April. In May, he's hitting .303 and has three homer and three RBIs over his last three games. |
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| Suppan brings Brewers to a tight win | Wednesday 5/28, 9:51 PM CT |
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Milwaukee RHP Jeff Suppan improved to 3-4 this evening as his Brewers found a way to score one run while Suppan let his arm carry the rest of the load. Suppan pitched eight innings, allowing no runs on four hits with five walks and seven strikeouts.
Our View: Suppan has suffered consecutive losses leading into this one, but tonight's performance was his deepest this season and brings the hurler to 13 walks versus 31 strikeouts. |
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| Reyes pitches gem, but Braves forget to hit | Wednesday 5/28, 9:48 PM CT |
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Atlanta LHP Jo-Jo Reyes pitched a gem for the Braves, but the bats failed to show as his team suffered the 1-0 loss to Milwaukee. Reyes pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on a grand total of two hits surrendered, walking three and striking out nine.
Our View: Reyes is now 2-3 in six starts, though tonight is a nice break in what was becoming an alarming trend of struggle, having allowed a combined 14 earned runs and four home runs over his last three starts before tonight's heartbreaking loss. |
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| Weeks drives in winning run vs Atlanta | Wednesday 5/28, 9:44 PM CT |
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The Brewers struggled for offense, but they made the best of the three hits they found against Atlanta to emerge with a 1-0 victory. That one run was driven in by leadoff man Rickie Weeks , going 2-for-4 with his second triple of the season, hit in the eighth inning of a scoreless tie.
Our View: The run proved to be the game winner and could boost the struggling Weeks, batting just .208 thus far this season. |
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| Joba looks good in perhaps his final relief appearance | Wednesday 5/28, 9:42 PM CT |
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Joba Chamberlain fared well Wednesday in what could be his last relief appearance before the move to the starting rotation. Joba allowed a hit and a walk but no runs while striking out three in 1 1/3 innings.
Our View: Chamerlain threw 28 pitches in the outing and then threw afterward in the bullpen while Mariano Rivera closed the game out. He is likely to start in Ian Kennedy's place next Tuesday. |
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| Eaton gets first win | Wednesday 5/28, 9:35 PM CT |
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Philadelphia RHP Adam Eaton was everything the Phillies needed and more this evening, helping his team to a dominating 6-1 win over Colorado. Eaton pitched six innings, allowing just one run on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Our View: Eaton was 0-3 in five starts through May before this evening, getting his first win of the season despite strong efforts in April. |
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| Mora goes deep again | Wednesday 5/28, 9:30 PM CT |
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Melvin Mora seems to have pulled himself out of the funk he was in. The third baseman homered for the second straight day Wednesday and also added a pair of singles.
Our View: Mora was two for his last 25 before the last two nights. The hand injury he suffered last week is apparently behind him. |
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| Victorino swipes two and hits in Philly win | Wednesday 5/28, 9:25 PM CT |
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Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino was a monster in the 6-1 win over Colorado this evening, going 3-for-4 with walk at the plate, posting two stolen bases, and touting two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Victorino now has 12 stolen bases on the season, 11 of them coming in May. |
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| Giambi continues hot hitting | Wednesday 5/28, 9:24 PM CT |
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Jason Giambi continued his hot hitting Wednesday, picking up two hits, including his 11th homer of the season. Giambi is batting .339 with six homers and 14 RBI this month.
Our View: Suddenly Jason has turned into a legitimate fantasy option after hitting .164 in April. |
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| Utley, Jenkins combine for six RBIs | Wednesday 5/28, 9:22 PM CT |
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Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley and outfielder Geoff Jenkins both enjoyed wonderful evenings at the park as the Phillies took out the Colorado Rockies 6-1, and both shared nearly identical stat lines. Utley went 1-for-3 on with two walks on the night, hitting his 17th home run of the season to total three RBIs. Jenkins also went 1-for-3, also hitting a home run (his fourth of the season), and also posting three RBIs.
Our View: Jenkins walked just once, but both men stranded a single runner on base. |
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| Reynolds continues to struggle for Rockies | Wednesday 5/28, 9:18 PM CT |
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Colorado rookie RHP Greg Reynolds was atrocious this evening as his team suffered the 6-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Reynolds lasted 5 1/3 inning, allowing six runs (all earned) on five hits with a shocking eight walks and no strikeouts.
Our View: Reynolds now has two losses in four starts with 14 combined earned runs allowed, mostly done on the six home runs Reynolds has surrendered. |
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| Damon picks up three more hits | Wednesday 5/28, 9:17 PM CT |
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Johnny Damon had three hits and an RBI in the Yankees' 4-2 win over the Orioles Wednesday. He has seven hits over the last two games and is batting .481 over the last eight days.
Our View: Damon has contributed across the board for fantasy owners thus far with a .288 average, six homers, 24 RBI, seven steals and 32 runs. |
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| Spilborghs only hitter for Rockies in loss | Wednesday 5/28, 9:15 PM CT |
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The Colorado Rockies have fallen to 20-33 tonight, suffering their third consecutive loss with a 6-1 beating from the Philadelphia Phillies. For Colorado, only outfielder Ryan Spilborghs managed to post multiple hits, going 2-for-4 to serve as the top offensive note for the Rockies.
Our View: Spilborghs has played well on this visit to Philly, going 5-for-12 with five RBIs and three runs scored. |
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| Arroyo dominates Pittsburgh | Wednesday 5/28, 9:10 PM CT |
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Cincinnati RHP Bronson Arroyo didn't need too much off the mound with the surge of offensive support that led to a 9-1 win over Pittsburgh, but he still pitched rather well despite the gifts. Arroyo lasted six innings to surrender just one run on three hits, posting four walks and six strikeout.
Our View: Arroyo's last three decisions have been wins, now standing at 3-1 for the month of may with two no decisions and 14 walks versus 32 strikeouts. |
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| Nightmares for Gorzelanny vs Reds | Wednesday 5/28, 9:08 PM CT |
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The night couldn't have gone much worse for Pittsburgh LHP Tom Gorzelanny , taking the loss as the Pirates fell 9-1 to the Reds. Gorzelanny got the start but lasted just 2/3 of an inning, throwing 38 pitches to allow six runs (all earned) on four hits with two walks.
Our View: Gorzelanny's ERA vaulted from 6.31 to 7.38 with the outing, taking his second loss of the month to bring his overall record to 4-5. |
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| Big night for Votto as Reds beat Pittsburgh | Wednesday 5/28, 9:04 PM CT |
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Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto put a strong effort on the field as his Reds beat Pittsburgh 9-1. Votto went 3-for-3 with a walk at the plate, hitting his 10th double of the season to total two RBIs and three runs scored on the evening.
Our View: Votto also added his third stolen base of the season and now has seven home runs through the month of May. |
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| Young back in lineup despite rough night | Wednesday 5/28, 9:00 PM CT |
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Delmon Young was back in the lineup Wednesday despite a rough night Tuesday. Young went 0-for-6 at the plate and made a costly defensive mistake in the ninth that sent the game into extras. It is the outfielder's 217 consecutive game played. "Tonight is a night where Delmon needs to be back out there," manager Ron Gardenhire said on MLB.com. "He had a tough night last night, and you put confidence in him by putting him back out there. Let him get rid of that feeling. I don't want it staying around with him a couple of days. Get back out there and play."
Our View: Young is batting just .262 and has yet to homer this year, so perhaps it would be better if he sat out. The only saving grace for his fantasy owners thus far is he's managed to swipe eight bases. |
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| Ross gets first homer as Reds win | Wednesday 5/28, 9:00 PM CT |
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The Cincinnati Reds put a hurt on the Pittsburgh Pirates this evening, winning 9-1 in effort led by catcher David Ross . Ross went 2-for-3 with a walk at the dish with his first home run of the season, good for four RBIs on the night.
Our View: Ross has been struggling in limited action this season, but he has gone 10-for-31 through May . |
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| Dice-K likely to miss next start | Wednesday 5/28, 8:48 PM CT |
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Daisuke Matsuzaka will likely accompany the team to Baltimore tonight but will then go to Boston Friday to visit with team physician Dr. Thomas Gill and get a precautionary MRI in his right shoulder, according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: Dice-K underwent some baseline strength tests yesterday on his right shoulder, which went well. However, the Globe speculates that the righty is still likely to miss his next start. Justin Masterson or possibly Clay Buchholz would be the candidates to take Dice-K's spot. |
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| Vlad given the night off Wednesday | Wednesday 5/28, 8:41 PM CT |
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The Angels gave Vladimir Guerrero the night off Wednesday. With Thursday's off day, Vlad will have two days off in a row. "We just wanted to let him catch his breath because he's really been grinding it," manager Mike Scioscia said on MLB.com. "We'll just give him two days just to mentally recharge."
Our View: Vlad has put together just a .258-7-28 line thus far, though he does have three dingers in the last week. Don't worry about him. His digits will be there in the end. |
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| Pedro looks good in rehab start | Wednesday 5/28, 8:39 PM CT |
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Mets RHP Pedro Martinez allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts today, working six innings durin a rehab start with Single-A St. Lucie, according to MetsBlog.com.
Our View: Martinez threw 82 pitches overall with all four hits coming in the fourth inning. The team has penciled Pedro in as the starter on Tuesday night against the San Francisco Giants. |
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| Morrow won't be a starter this year | Wednesday 5/28, 8:12 PM CT |
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Brandon Morrow won't make the transition into being a starter this year, according to the Seattle Times. The Mariners were considering moving the young fireballer into the rotation at some point this year, but manager John McLaren approached Morrow during batting practice on Tuesday and told him it won't happen. "He didn't think it was going to be a good idea to do it during the season," Morrow said.
Our View: Morrow has huge upside and will be a starter eventually, but it appears we'll have to wait for it to happen. That doesn't mean he isn't worth a roster spot in fantasy as a setup man, though. |
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| DeWitt may play at second | Wednesday 5/28, 8:12 PM CT |
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As Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent continues to miss time with a bad back, manager Joe Torre is starting to ponder his options, which may include third baseman Blake DeWitt , according to MLB.com.
Our View: The team is running minor leaguer Andy LaRoche through the motions of trials at nearly every infield position should he be needed, but DeWitt has a full season in the minors at second base and has told Torre he would be more than happy to take a turn at the spot while Kent continues to heal. Torre hopes Kent is back sooner than later, but based on the experience of Rafael Furcal when his back was injured, the potential of a prolonged rehabilitation has Torre giving all options consideration. |
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| Thigpen recalled from Triple-A | Wednesday 5/28, 7:58 PM CT |
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The Blue Jays recalled Curtis Thigpen from Triple-A Syracuse Wednesday to replace the injured Gregg Zaun on the roster. Thigpen was hitting .228 with a homer and 18 RBI at the time of his recall.
Our View: Rod Barajas will get the majority of starts behind the plate while Zaun is out, but Thigpen should be in there a couple times per week. |
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| Zaun placed on DL | Wednesday 5/28, 7:55 PM CT |
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The Blue Jays placed Gregg Zaun on the DL Wednesday with a mild strain and inflammation in his right elbow, according to the AP. "It flared up a little bit Monday on a throw during the game but I thought it would get better," Zaun said. "I took yesterday off and it wasn't better. It was barking pretty good. Unfortunately you can't carry just one catcher."
Our View: Curtis Thigpen was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Zaun on the roster. Rod Barajas will handle most of the duties behind the plate. |
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| Treanor emerging for Florida | Wednesday 5/28, 7:51 PM CT |
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The Florida Marlins continue to assert a platoon approach at the catcher position, but the numbers and performances show Matt Treanor is starting to emerge as the team's best option, according to the Sports Xchange.
Our View: Treanor is hitting .339 through May with 16 games played. Meanwhile, the competition, Mike Rabelo, is batting just .154 for the month with starts in three of Florida's past 15 games. |
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| Big Hurt not expected to miss much time | Wednesday 5/28, 7:51 PM CT |
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The results of Frank Thomas' MRI aren't known yet, but the DH isn't expected to be out for more than a handful of days, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Thomas has a slight quadriceps strain and also quadriceps tendinitis. He said he'd hurt his right leg when he was thrown out at home in Cleveland on May 13, and he's received treatment for the problem since then.
Our View: It doesn't appear that this will be an issue, since speed isn't exactly a big part of Thomas' game. We'll let you know the results of the MRI when we have them. |
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| Grudzielanek out of lineup again | Wednesday 5/28, 7:46 PM CT |
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Mark Grudzielanek was held out of the Royals' lineup Wednesday for the second straight day because of a back injury, according to MLB.com. "It's stiff," he said. "I saw a chiropractor today, and he loosened it up. ... It's subsiding a little bit."
Our View: Grudzielanek said he expects to be back in a day or two. Esteban German played for Mark on Tuesday and Alberto Callaspo played on Wednesday. |
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| Brewers have more time than thought with Weaver | Wednesday 5/28, 7:43 PM CT |
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The Brewers have learned that RHP Jeff Weaver needs to be called to the majors by June 15th per his contract agreement with the teams or he may opt out of the deal, according to CBSSports.com.
Our View: The Brewers were working under the assumption that such a move needed to be made by June 1st, and they were stressing how they would proceed. Weaver's agent, Scott Boras, informed the team they had an additional two weeks to make the decision before his client would become a free agent, giving the Brewers more time to evaluate both Dave Bush and Seth McClung, potential victims of a move should Weaver be called to the majors. |
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| Ludwick to get starting job back | Wednesday 5/28, 7:36 PM CT |
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St. Louis outfielder Ryan Ludwick was out of the Cardinals' lineup on Tuesday but is expected to start the remaining games of their current homestand, according to CBSSports.com.
Our View: Chris Duncan has been starting in his place and has gone 2-for-7 with one home run against Houston RHP Shawn Chacon, but he was hitless in four at-bats last night, including two strikeouts. Now the Cardinals will turn back to Ludwick, hitting .333 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs. |
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| Abreu undergoes hip surgery | Wednesday 5/28, 7:32 PM CT |
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Rookie utility player Tony Abreu underwent successful hip surgery today in Vail, Colorado, a procedure doctors hope will resolve the eight months of injury difficulties he has endured, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Abreau missed half of last season and went under the knife in October to repair a sports hernia. In spring training this season, Abreu complained of discomfort in the groin area and has been out of action since. Doctors have struggled to determine the cause of the pain, but Dr. Marc Phillipon, a pioneer in hip procedures, reviewed the MRI results and believes the pain is a result of a torn labrum inside of the hip join. The procedure went well and Dr. Phillipon also reshaped the head of the femur bone. That portion of the procedure will require at least three months of rest and rehabilitation from Abreu. |
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| Britton summoned from Triple-A | Wednesday 5/28, 7:09 PM CT |
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The Yankees recalled Chris Britton from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Wednesday to replace the injured Ian Kennedy on the roster. Britton holds a 2.04 combined ERA between Triple-A and the bigs this year.
Our View: Britton will likely be used in a middle relief role, even though he's a better option for setup duty than guys like LaTroy Hawkins and Kyle Farnsworth. |
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| Kennedy placed on DL | Wednesday 5/28, 7:06 PM CT |
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Ian Kennedy was officially placed on the DL Wednesday. He has bursitis behind his scapular, as well as a right lat muscle strain.
Our View: Joba Chamberlain is likely to take Kennedy's spot in the rotation. Chris Britton was recalled to help out in the bullpen. |
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| Loe to be optioned to Triple-A | Wednesday 5/28, 7:04 PM CT |
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Kameron Loe is expected to be sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma before Friday's game, according to MLB.com. His roster spot will be filled by Kevin Millwood, who will be activated from the DL to make Friday's start.
Our View: Loe has pitched fine in two games this year, but he's just roster filler for the Rangers and can be ignored for fantasy purposes. |
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| Willingham hoping to start swinging this week | Wednesday 5/28, 7:03 PM CT |
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Florida outfielder Josh Willingham is traveling with the team as he continues to nurse a herniated disc and a lower-back sprain, and the Marlins report he could be swinging a bat as early as this week, a task he has not performed in weeks, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Willingham is in the midst of several physical tests as doctors continue to evaluate his progress. Once those medical results reach a level of comfort, Willingham will be cleared for small portions of baseball activity. The team still plans to send the outfielder to the minors for a rehab stint when he is ready for full-game action, but this will get him progressing towards his goals. |
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| Metcalf to be recalled | Wednesday 5/28, 7:01 PM CT |
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Travis Metcalf is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma before Friday's game, according to MLB.com. He started the season on the disabled list because of hamstring surgery and is hitting .238 with no home runs and eight RBI in 11 games at Oklahoma.
Our View: Metcalf should be worth an AL-only roster spot, as he's likely to get plenty of time at third base when Ramon Vazquez inevitably comes down to earth. |
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| Duran will be sent down | Wednesday 5/28, 6:58 PM CT |
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German Duran is expected to be sent down to Triple-A before Friday's game, according to MLB.com. The Rangers would like to give Duran regular playing time, which they haven't been able to do at the big-league level. Travis Metcalf will be recalled to replace him.
Our View: Ramon Vazquez has started each of the last four games at third and is hitting the ball well. Duran has more upside than Metcalf, so there's no point in him wasting away on the bench when he could be playing every day in the minors. |
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| Kent may pinch hit, see limited action tonight | Wednesday 5/28, 6:57 PM CT |
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Dodgers manager Joe Torre spoke with reporters today and is hopeful second baseman Jeff Kent will be available to pinch hit tonight, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
Our View: Torre told reporters Kent, battling back spasms, might have been able to start, but the team had no desire to rush him along and would prefer to stay cautious. Instead, the team will see if he is needed to pinch hit during the game and will bring him off the bench for a limited spot if necessary. |
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| Cota suspended for 50 games for failed drug test | Wednesday 5/28, 6:44 PM CT |
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Colorado minor league catcher Humberto Cota has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, according to SLAM Sports.
Our View: Cota has been sentenced under the guidelines of the the major league drug program despite his status as a minor league players, and league officials have not addressed why that is. Cota has claimed his innocence in a press statement put forth by the player's association, stating he believes the negative result of the test is the product of prescription medication he was told to take by doctors following shoulder surgery last season. The 29-year-old Cota played parts of the last seven seasons with Pittsburgh, hitting .233 with 12 home runs and 61 RBIs in 196 career games. He signed a minor league contract with Washington last November, was let go in mid-March and signed a minor league deal with the Rockies. |
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| Longoria could see time at short | Wednesday 5/28, 6:09 PM CT |
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Evan Longoria could see some time at shortstop when the Rays activate Willy Aybar from the DL, according to MLB.com. Ben Zobrist, who is currently the only backup to Jason Bartlett at short, could be sent down to make room for Aybar.
Our View: Longoria said he played "like 20 games" at shortstop for Rio Hondo Junior College. He's a terrific defensive third baseman and should be fine filling in at short, but don't expect him to see regular time there. If he gains eligibility at short, his fantasy value would skyrocket. |
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| Hughes gets bone scan | Wednesday 5/28, 5:55 PM CT |
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Phil Hughes had a bone scan Wednesday, which revealed that there's still a "hot spot" in his rib, according to Newsday. He'll have another scan in a week.
Our View: Hughes is expected to be out until at least July, and this news doesn't affect that projection. |
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| Joba to take Kennedy's spot? | Wednesday 5/28, 5:52 PM CT |
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The Yankees will have an open spot in their rotation next week, as Ian Kennedy will be placed on the DL. Joba Chamberlain seems to be the most likely candidate to take his place, but manager Joe Girardi wouldn't commit to Chamberlain until he sees the righty pitch tonight in relief. "I can't tell you, 100 percent, that he's going to take that (rotation spot)," Girardi said. "It's obviously something that's crossed everybody's mind."
Our View: We can't imagine anything could happen tonight that would keep Girardi from going with Joba next week, but we'll update you on his plans when they're revealed. |
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| Kennedy has familiar injury | Wednesday 5/28, 5:48 PM CT |
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An MRI Wednesday revealed that Ian Kennedy has bursitis behind his scapular, as well as a right lat muscle strain, according to Newsday. It is the same injury Kennedy had last September. "Obviously you look at it any time you have a repeat injury, to see what's going on," manager Joe Girardi said.
Our View: Kennedy hasn't officially been placed on the DL yet, but it's expected to happen soon. Joba Chamberlain is likely to take his spot in the rotation next week. |
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| Rusch a candidate for start | Wednesday 5/28, 5:43 PM CT |
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Glendon Rusch is a candidate to replace Jorge De La Rosa in the Rockies rotation. Rusch has posted a 0.82 ERA in two starts with Triple-A Colorado Springs since being released by the Padres earlier this month.
Our View: Rusch has a bit of value for teams because of his versatility, but he his value to fantasy squads is nil, especially in Colorado. |
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| De La Rosa moved to bullpen | Wednesday 5/28, 5:39 PM CT |
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Jorge De La Rosa has been removed from the Rockies rotation following another dud outing Monday, according to the Rocky Mountain News. He'll work out of the Rox pen.
Our View: Glendon Rusch is a candidate to start on Saturday in De La Rosa's place. |
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| Burrell back in lineup Wednesday | Wednesday 5/28, 5:36 PM CT |
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Pat Burrell is back in the lineup Wednesday after missing last night's game with a stiff neck. Greg Dobbs, who picked up two hits and two RBI last night in place of Burrell, returns to the bench.
Our View: Burrell's average is under .200 for the last two weeks, so hopefully a night off gave him some time to refocus. |
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| Soriano activated from DL | Wednesday 5/28, 5:33 PM CT |
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The Braves activated Rafael Soriano from the DL Wednesday. He fills the roster spot of Matt Diaz, who was placed on the DL. Soriano hasn't pitched since early April because of right elbow tendinitis.
Our View: Soriano may or may not take over the closing duties from Manny Acosta, but either way, John Smoltz figures to be the ninth-inning man soon. That said, Soriano has fantasy value even in a setup role. |
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| Baldelli could get in extended spring games soon | Wednesday 5/28, 5:23 PM CT |
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Rocco Baldelli may be getting close to getting some at-bats in extended spring games, according to the AP. Baldelli, who is on the 60-day DL with a mitochondrial disorder, took batting practice before Tuesday's game.
Our View: Baldelli says he will play at some point this year, but we're tempering our expectations and suggest you do the same. |
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| Delgado gets another night off | Wednesday 5/28, 5:18 PM CT |
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Carlos Delgado is out of the lineup again Wednesday, his second day off in a row. Manager Willie Randolph said he wanted to give the veteran a couple days off in order to "clear his head," according to MetsBlog.com. Damion Easley will get another start at first in Delgado's place.
Our View: Delgado had a homer in three straight games last week, but he's had a couple hitless games since. His power numbers on the year (eight homers, 25 RBI) aren't bad, but his batting average (.215) certainly is. |
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| Church remains at home | Wednesday 5/28, 5:11 PM CT |
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Ryan Church will remain at home tonight when the Mets host the Marlins, according to MetsBlog.com. GM Omar Minaya said that Church, who is dealing with a concussion, wanted to come to the park tonight, but the team and doctors decided more rest was necessary.
Our View: Minaya said Church could be ready to play this weekend, but we're still not ruling out a DL stint. |
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| Sosa inks minor-league deal | Wednesday 5/28, 5:07 PM CT |
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The Astros signed Jorge Sosa to a minor-league deal Wednesday. Sosa was released by the Mets last week after posting a 7.06 ERA in 20 relief outings.
Our View: Sosa managed to vulture four wins out of the Mets pen, but his other numbers were terrible. He'll start out at Triple-A Round Rock but figures to be up with the big club at some point. |
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| Balfour could be on his was up | Wednesday 5/28, 4:54 PM CT |
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Grant Balfour could be on his way up to the Rays whether Troy Percival ends up on the DL or not, according to the Tampa Tribune. Percival figures to at least miss a few days, and the team could like to shore up their relief corps.
Our View: Ben Zobrist could be sent down to make room for Balfour, who holds a 0.38 ERA with a whopping 39 Ks in 23 2/3 innings at Triple-A Durham. |
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| Miller out 8 weeks after surgery on finger | Wednesday 5/28, 4:42 PM CT |
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Adam Miller underwent surgery Tuesday on the middle finger of his right hand to re-attach the flexor tendon to the bone, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The righty is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks.
Our View: Miller just can't seem to shake off the injury bug. He's dealt with problems with the finger for a while now, and it's hindering his development. It's possible a move to the bullpen could be in Miller's future if he can't show he's capable of staying healthy while pitching every five days. |
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| Pronk hopes to be back Friday | Wednesday 5/28, 4:37 PM CT |
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Travis Hafner had a cortisone shot in his ailing right shoulder Tuesday and hopes to be back in the lineup on Friday, according to the AP. He's missed the last three games with the injury, and if he isn't ready by the weekend he could be placed on the DL.
Our View: A DL stint for Hafner would probably be in his owners' best interest at this point. |
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| Peavy wants to return this weekend | Wednesday 5/28, 4:33 PM CT |
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Jake Peavy is hoping to return to the Padres rotation this weekend, according to SportsTicker. The righty, who is on the DL with a strained right elbow, threw 40 pitches Tuesday in his first baseball-related action since being sidelined. "Everything felt normal, so that was good news," said Peavy. "Obviously, it's gone longer than we thought, but everything went well... Hopefully everything will go well and we can progress towards getting back out there."
Our View: The Padres have yet to set a timetable for Peavy's return, so it's not clear yet if the weekend is a legitimate possibility. He's eligible to come off the DL on Friday. |
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| Church remains out | Wednesday 5/28, 3:58 PM CT |
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Ryan Church remains at home and out of the lineup on Wednesday, Newsday reports. The outfielder is dealing with post-concussion symptoms but has thus far avoided the DL.
Our View: We're mildly surprised the Mets haven't placed Church on the DL, as it makes sense to be certain he has enough time to get over his symptoms. Nick Evans and Fernando Tatis continue to see playing time. |
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| Duke pushed to Friday | Wednesday 5/28, 3:49 PM CT |
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Zach Duke has had his next scheduled start pushed back from Thursday to Friday due to a callus on his hand, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The southpaw was due to face the Reds but will now take on the Cardinals. Phil Dumatrait will swap spots with Duke.
Our View: We don't imagine this ruins anyone's plans, except maybe if any Duke or Dumatrait family members were headed to the park. |
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| Percival to undergo MRI | Wednesday 5/28, 3:31 PM CT |
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Troy Percival will undergo an MRI on his left hamstring on Wednesday night, the Tampa Tribune reports. The closer had been experiencing a bit of soreness recently, but it turned worse during Wednesday's win over the Rangers. The Rays will know more after the exam.
Our View: The Rays are likely to err on the side of caution when it comes to Percival, and fantasy owners should be ready to jump on Dan Wheeler. We'll update Troy's status when more is known. |
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| Iwamura stays hot | Wednesday 5/28, 2:56 PM CT |
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Akinori Iwamura went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and one RBI on Wednesday. It was his third straight two-hit game, all against the Rangers. He is batting .336 in May.
Our View: Iwamura isn't an ideal leadoff hitter, but he's the best the Rays have for the spot. He's good about to maintain a .275 average, and his position in the order should continue to lead to decent run totals. |
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| Gabbard struggles with control | Wednesday 5/28, 2:53 PM CT |
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Kason Gabbard was wayward again on Wednesday. He walked six Rays over 4.1 innings of work. The southpaw served up five hits and five runs (four earned). It was Gabbard's second straight six-walk appearance.
Our View: Gabbard simply doesn't have the stuff to get away with too many walks, and his fantasy value has suddenly taken a sharp turn over the last two weeks. Owners should bench him until he straightens out. |
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