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| Morton gets first professional win | Saturday 6/14, 11:37 PM CT |
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Atlanta RHP Charlie Morton got the first win of his professional career this evening, helping the Braves put the Angels away, 9-4. Morton pitched six innings to allow three runs (all earned) on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Our View: Morton was just added to the roster this morning to fill in for injured Tom Glavine. If he keeps this up, he may stick. |
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| B-Jones gets his bat going | Saturday 6/14, 11:34 PM CT |
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The Braves put 11 hits on the Angels and their top pitcher this evening, earning the 9-4 win over LA. Top man on the pile was outfielder Brandon Jones , going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run, both his first of the season and the homer serving as the first of his career, adding one RBI and two runs scored.
Our View: That's three games of action for Jones, going 5-for-10. |
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| Harden one-hits SF through six | Saturday 6/14, 11:19 PM CT |
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Give LHP Rich Harden full credit, for he was as stellar as could be promised this evening as Oakland put the dominating 4-0 win over San Francisco. Harden pitched six innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one hit and two walks along the way. Harden totaled nine strikeouts, four ground outs, and four fly outs to get the win, his fourth of the season.
Our View: Harden has yet to suffer a loss and is now turning as healthy and dominate as we all hoped he would be at this point of his career. |
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| Cain gets the job done, but Giants do not | Saturday 6/14, 11:10 PM CT |
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San Francisco RHP Matt Cain watched a strong effort go to complete waste this evening as his Giants failed to score a single run of support, falling 4-0 to Oakland. Cain pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts.
Our View: Cain has allowed just one home run over his last four starts with seven walks and 26 strikeouts over that span. |
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| Taveras steals five | Saturday 6/14, 10:59 PM CT |
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The game wasn't terribly offensive, but outfielder Willy Taveras kept it entertaining on the base paths as the Rockies took the 2-0 win over Chicago. Taveras went 2-for-4 with a double, but he also added a whopping five stolen bases on the night.
Our View: Taveras now touts 29 stolen bags on the season, but his five in one game is not a record, coming one shy of the effort put forth in 1996 by Eric Young (stealing six versus the Dodgers). |
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| Hudson tops Zona offense | Saturday 6/14, 10:39 PM CT |
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The Diamondbacks needed much more than 10 hits to compete with the Kansas City Royals, falling 12-3. Three of those hits came from second baseman Orlando Hudson , going 3-for-4 with one double and one RBI on the night.
Our View: Hudson is hitting just .250 through June, though he has nine hits over his last five games. |
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| Johnson fails to find value in loss to Royals | Saturday 6/14, 10:35 PM CT |
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Arizona RHP Randy Johnson suffered through one of his worst starts ever this evening, falling 12-3 to the Royals in interleague action. Johnson lasted jut 4 1/3 innings to surrender eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: That's three consecutive losses for the Unit, giving up a total of 13 earned runs during that span. |
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| Baek throws well, gets no decision | Saturday 6/14, 10:28 PM CT |
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San Diego RHP Cha Seung Baek was worthy of the job against Cleveland this evening, helping the Padres get the 9-4 win over Cleveland in extra innings. Baek pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on just two hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: That's two solid outings in a row for Baek, showing he could work as a starter for the Padres moving forward. |
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| Kouzmanoff posts grand slam in 10th | Saturday 6/14, 10:19 PM CT |
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The win was within reach, but the Padres still enjoyed the contributions of third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff , taking the 8-3 win in extra innings from Cleveland. Kouzmanoff went 2-for-5 overall, but the grand slam in the top of the 10th was the money winner, ending with four RBIs on the night.
Our View: Kouz hit the granny after the winning run was walked in, but the comfort of insurance surely did the pitchers well. |
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| Suppan pitches well, but gets no love | Saturday 6/14, 10:06 PM CT |
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Milwaukee RHP Jeff Suppan was strong with the arm this evening but the relief pitching let it all go, falling 9-4 to the Minnesota Twins. Suppan pitched seven innings with two earned runs allowed on seven hits, surrendering just one walk and five strikeouts.
Our View: Suppan walked with no decision, voiding an effort to get an official win streak going (sporting two wins over his last three starts with a no-decision sandwiched in between). |
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| Fielder tripes in loss to Minnesota | Saturday 6/14, 10:02 PM CT |
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They needed 12 innings to settle their differences, but the Twins found the 9-4 win with a late surge to put the Brewers in the loss column. The Brewers spread the wealth with 11 total hits but only two batters posting more than one, including first baseman Prince Fielder , going 2-for-5 with a triple.
Our View: Fielder is now hitting .286, hitting .333 through June. |
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| LaRoche gets his bat going | Saturday 6/14, 9:47 PM CT |
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Pittsburgh didn't have to travel far to get their interleague fix, but they can't be happy with the results, falling 8-7 to the Baltimore Orioles. Designated hitter Adam LaRoche did what he could to jump start the drive, but the effort fell short. LaRoche went 2-for-4 with his seventh homer of the season to total two RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: LaRoche is hitting just .176 through June, hitting his first homer since May 27th this evening. |
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| Lee finds the bleachers vs Yankees | Saturday 6/14, 9:30 PM CT |
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Houston welcomed the Yankees in for their interleague matchup of the weekend and found the offense was too much to take, falling 8-4 in a game with plenty of hitting. For Houston, it was outfielder Carlos Lee doing work, going 3-for-4 with his 14th home run of the season, tabbing three RBIs on the night.
Our View: After hitting .275 through May, Lee has improved to .317 heading into tonight for June. However, he has some work to do to match the six homers and 30 RBIs he posted last month, now sporting three homers and just nine RBIs through half of June. |
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| De La Rosa dominates Chicago | Saturday 6/14, 9:19 PM CT |
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The Rockies held the White Sox in check with pitching today as they faced off in interleague play, resulting in a 2-0 win for the defending NL Champs. The charge was led by LHP Jorge De La Rosa , going five innings of shutout baseball with just one hit and one walk allowed, striking out eight.
Our View: De La Rosa walked off with no decision as the Rocks struggled to perform on offense, but that's nothing new for De La Rosa, now touting four consecutive no-decision starts. To be fair, this ranks as his second-longest outing of the season. |
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| Chipper back and playing | Saturday 6/14, 8:56 PM CT |
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Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones was back in action today sporting a black eye, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The Braves are going to be happy to have the face of offensive success for the league back in the batting order as they battle with the offensive-minded Angels. LA's pitching is rounding into form but having Chipper back and at 'em could be the difference. We'll update his results later this evening. |
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| Rollins struggling but Philly has faith | Saturday 6/14, 8:51 PM CT |
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The Phillies are banking on the rise they believe is coming, sooner or later, from shortstop Jimmy Rollins , according to MLB.com.
Our View: The team is discussing Rollins openly in the press after going 6-for-32 on this road trip and 0-for-8 in their series with the St. Louis Cardinals, also noting he was the only member of the lineup not to record a hit on Friday when the Phils sprayed 21 hits around Busch Stadium. Getting Rollins rolling while Pat Burrell is hot would be entertaining and productive, something this offense desperately needs. |
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| Hendrickson takes third consecutive loss | Saturday 6/14, 8:40 PM CT |
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Florida LHP Mark Hendrickson found a bit of struggle in tonight's start against Tampa Bay, but that bit of struggle was enough for the loss, falling 4-1 to the Rays. Hendrickson pitched five innings to surrender three runs (all earned) on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: The loss brings Hendrickson to 7-5 on the season and serves as his third in his last four outings (taking a no-decision in between). |
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| Hermida "leads" Florida in loss | Saturday 6/14, 8:35 PM CT |
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Florida managed just three hits this evening against their interleague and in-state foe, the Tampa Bay Rays, and suffered the loss, 4-1, as a result. Only outfielder Jeremy Hermida managed to tab extra bases, going 1-for-4 with a double and one run scored.
Our View: Hermida is struggling to get action at the plate, batting just .240 for the month of June coming in. He hasn't homered since May 25th and has just six RBIs since that same game. |
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| Back to the DL for Soriano | Saturday 6/14, 8:14 PM CT |
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The Braves have placed closer Rafael Soriano on the disabled list, according to MLB.com.
Our View: With Charlie Morton coming aboard, the team needed a spot to put him on the roster. Soriano returned from a six-week stint on the DL on May 28th but has not pitched since June 5th. Since the Braves began this current road trip on Tuesday, the 28-year-old right-handed reliever has told them on a daily basis that his right elbow wasn't healthy enough for him to pitch. |
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| Hairston hyperextends elbow | Saturday 6/14, 8:11 PM CT |
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San Diego outfielder Scott Hairston has suffered a hyperextended left elbow during batting practice before today's game against Cleveland, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Hairston, who would have started in left field and hit leadoff, was expected to be reevaluated during the game. Hairston is hitting .231 with nine home runs and 17 RBIs this season. If Hairston needs to go on the disabled list, the Padres could have top prospect Chase Headley in uniform for Sunday's game at Progressive Field. |
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| Barmes nearing rehab assignment | Saturday 6/14, 7:23 PM CT |
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Colorado reports infielder Clint Barmes is nearing a rehab stint in the minors, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Barmes has been out since May 24th with a bum right knee but his progress in the trainer's room as the team targeting Tuesday as a likely starting point for work with Triple-A Colorado Springs. Barmes said he's been told that he's likely to play five innings, seven innings, then two games of nine innings for the Sky Sox before being considered for reinstatement to the active roster. |
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| Herges out as middle reliever | Saturday 6/14, 7:18 PM CT |
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Colorado has moved RHP Matt Herges out of the team's role as setup reliever, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Herges, who lost a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning of the Rockies' 5-4 loss to the White Sox on Friday night, is 0-3 with three blown saves and a 7.20 ERA in his past 10 appearances. Manager Clint Hurdle said he's looking to work right-hander Luis Vizcaino, who has made three appearances since returning from a right shoulder strain, toward the end of the game. The Rockies signed him to a two-year, $.7.5 million contract as a setup man. Hurdle also said right-handers Jason Grilli and Ryan Speier, and left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, could get some of the work that Herges had been receiving. |
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| Morton gets the call, to start Sunday | Saturday 6/14, 6:51 PM CT |
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As anticipated, the Braves have purchased the contract of pitcher Charlie Morton from Triple-A Richmond and will give the righty the start on Sunday against the Angels, according to the Miami Herald.
Our View: Morton will take the spot vacated by Tom Glavine. Morton was 5-2 with a 2.01 earned run average in 13 games (12 starts) for the Braves' top minor league club before his recall. To make room for Morton, the club placed reliever Rafael Soriano on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 6, with inflammation in his right elbow. |
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| Volquez suffers from bad support (again) | Saturday 6/14, 6:31 PM CT |
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Cincinnati RHP Edinson Volquez hit the mound today and pitched another gem for his Reds, and once again the team failed to support his cause with proper relief pitching, falling 6-4 to Boston. Volquez lasted seven innings, surrendering three runs (two earned (on seven hits) with one walk and nine strikeouts.
Our View: Edinson now carries an ERA of 1.64 with just three home runs surrendered through 15 starts. |
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| Dunn goes deep in loss to Boston | Saturday 6/14, 6:28 PM CT |
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It took extra innings, but the Red Sox put the Cincinnati Reds in the loss column today, 6-4. Outfielder Adam Dunn bashed his 18th home run of the season, going 1-for-3 with one walk, totaling one RBI and one run scored on the day.
Our View: Dunn has been struggling to keep his bat on the ball this month, hitting just .135 through June coming into today. However, his 14 walks versus 18 strikeouts along the way show he has worked on his discipline at the dish. |
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| Yet another loss for Penny | Saturday 6/14, 6:14 PM CT |
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Dodger RHP Brad Penny continues to struggle, today suffering another loss as the Tigers took LA to task, 12-7. Penny lasted just 3 2/3 innings today, giving up seven runs (all earned) on seven hits with two walks and no strikeouts, including two homers surrendered.
Our View: That gives Penny five consecutive losses and seven in his last eight outings (the eighth resulting in no decision). In that time he has surrendered 19 walks versus 27 strikeouts. |
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| Ethier hits, but Dodgers fall | Saturday 6/14, 6:10 PM CT |
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The Dodgers took it on the chin in interleague action today, falling 12-7 to the Detroit Tigers. Outfielder Andre Ethier did his part to reverse fortunes, going 2-for-4 with a double and his sixth home run of the season, totaling four RBIs and two runs scored on the day.
Our View: Ethier looked rather promising coming out of May, hitting .292 with five doubles on the month. In June he is struggling, hitting just .161 with just seven hits through eleven games. |
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| Willingham's return delayed | Saturday 6/14, 6:04 PM CT |
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The Florida Marlins report outfielder Josh Willingham is unlikely to rejoin the team during their current nine-game road trip, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Willingham has progressed well in his minor-league rehab stint, recovering from a lower back strain as well as a herniated disc. Willingham has been slowed by back problems in the past, and he missed some of last September with a herniated disc. This time around, the Marlins are appearing to err on the side of caution. |
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| Lohse keeps winning | Saturday 6/14, 5:57 PM CT |
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St. Louis RHP Kyle Lohse continues to serve the team well, earning his eighth win of the season today against the Phillies, 3-2. Lohse pitched eight innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: That's five consecutive wins for Lohse with five walks and 13 strikeouts through that span. |
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| Kennedy gets first homer for '08 | Saturday 6/14, 5:49 PM CT |
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The Cardinals enjoyed a strong pitching performance, but the offense pulled through as well to take the 3-2 over Philadelphia. Second baseman Adam Kennedy was the difference on offense, going 2-for-4 at the plate, hitting his first homer of the season to give us two RBIs on the night.
Our View: Kennedy was a horrific .161 at the dish last month but appears to be coming back into form, hitting .273 thus far through June. |
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| Eaton takes loss vs St. Lou | Saturday 6/14, 5:43 PM CT |
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Philadelphia RHP Adam Eaton suffered his fourth loss of the season today as his Phillies were able to manage just four hits to score twice, coming just short in the 3-2 loss to St. Louis. Eaton lasted 6 2/3 innings to allow three runs (all earned) on nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Our View: Eaton had earned wins in each of his last two outings before today, but the trend for home runs allowed (six in his last six starts) is concerning. |
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| Burrell goes deep vs St. Lou | Saturday 6/14, 5:37 PM CT |
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The Phillies sufferd the 3-2 loss versus St. Louis today as the entire team combined for four hits. Outfielder Pat Burrell was the force of reckoning, going 1-for-4 at the plate with his 18th home run of the season to total two RBIs on the evening.
Our View: This give Burrell five homers with nine RBIs through June thus far.
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| Mets lineup as Pedro hits the mound | Saturday 6/14, 5:28 PM CT |
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The Mets have released their starting lineup for the evening as they face the Texas Rangers, according to Newsday.com. The lineup reads as follows: J.Reyes (SS), L.Castillo (2B), D.Wright (3B), C.Beltran (CF), D.Easley (LF), C.Delgado (1B), R.Castro (C), E.Chavez (RF), and Pedro Martinez (RHP).
Our View: Martinez struggled in his last outing, surrendering four runs (all earned) on 10 hits over five innings. He left with no decision as he continues to work back into form. |
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| Headley heading to majors | Saturday 6/14, 5:06 PM CT |
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San Diego general manager Kevin Towers told reporters the team's top prospect Chase Headley will be joining in the team this week, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Headley has been converted to the outfield having been raised at third base and is hitting .305 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs in 65 games with the Triple-A Portland. Headley flew from Fresno (where the minor-league team was playing) to Cleveland to take part in the battles with the Indians. |
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| Duffy to get rehab going | Saturday 6/14, 5:00 PM CT |
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Pittsburgh outfielder Chris Duffy will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday with the Double-A Altoona affiliate, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Our View: Duffy, the Pirates' opening day center fielder the past two years, had left shoulder surgery Aug. 31, 2007, and also was sidelined last season by an ankle injury. |
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| Ramirez playing DH for Florida | Saturday 6/14, 4:57 PM CT |
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For tonight's interleague matchup against Tampa Bay, the Marlins have listed shortstop Hanley Ramirez as their designated hitter, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Our View: Alfredo Amezaga gets the start at short, though reports suggest Jorge Cantu will fill the DH spot on Sunday to give Wes Helms the start at third base. |
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| Worrell returns to Triple-A | Saturday 6/14, 3:36 PM CT |
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The Cardinals optioned reliever Mark Worrell to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, the AP reports.
Our View: Worrell, 25, didn't have a very successful first turn through the majors, but we're sure he learned a few things and will get back up at some point. He has good enough stuff to eventually be a major league setup man. |
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| Mather sent down | Saturday 6/14, 3:33 PM CT |
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The Cardinals optioned Joe Mather back to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, the AP reports.
Our View: This likely isn't the last we'll see of the 25-year-old outfielder/corner infielder. Mather is good enough bat for the majors, but the Cards have a glut of outfielders right now and need more pitching help. |
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| Izzy activated | Saturday 6/14, 3:26 PM CT |
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The Cardinals surprisingly activated Jason Isringhausen from the 15-day DL on Saturday, the AP reports. He had been scheduled for a bullpen session. Isringhausen hadn't pitched since May 15 due to a right hand laceration. He had recently lost his closer's role. General manager John Mozeliak says Isringhausen will work in middle relief for the time being.
Our View: We all know the injury was basically a front for Izzy to clear his head and work on his stuff, but this news is still a bit surprising. Ryan Franklin has been okay, but Izzy has a chance to regain his closer's job if he can find his old groove. |
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| Johnson takes Doc deep | Saturday 6/14, 3:03 PM CT |
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Reed Johnson got a little revenge on his old club on Saturday. The outfielder had only one hit, but it was a three-run homer off ace Roy Halladay.
Our View: Between Johnson and Eric Hinske, the Blue Jays can't seem to handle their former teammates this year. It's too bad they don't face the Mets because Carlos Delgado could use the boost. |
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| Marquis quiets Blue Jays | Saturday 6/14, 2:57 PM CT |
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Jason Marquis notched his third win in as many starts with an excellent effort against the Blue Jays on Saturday. The right-hander cruised through seven innings before getting into a little trouble in the eighth. Marquis wrapped up the day with four hit and one run allowed over seven full frames. He stands at 5-3 with a 4.24 ERA.
Our View: The inconsistent Marquis remains only useful in NL-only formats, even though he's having a solid June. He's still walked more batters (eight) than he's whiffed (five) this month. |
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| Herrera sent back down | Saturday 6/14, 2:16 PM CT |
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The Reds have optioned reliever Danny Herrera back to Triple-A Louisville. "He's going back but I told him, man, he’s impressed us and he’s impressed his teammates, which is equally or more important. But sometimes you’ve got to wait your turn," manager Dusty Baker tells the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Our View: Herrera only appeared in one game as a reliever, which isn't quite enough time for Baker to figure out a way to ruin the youngster's arm. |
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| Majewski back with club | Saturday 6/14, 2:15 PM CT |
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Gary Majewski was activated off the bereavement list on Saturday. He was temporarily away from the team following the birth of his daughter, Kaylee Jade, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Our View: Since when is a baby girl a source of bereavement? Anyway, Majewski is not worth using in fantasy leagues. |
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| DeWitt bumped up | Saturday 6/14, 1:25 PM CT |
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The Dodgers have moved Blake DeWitt up to second in the order on Saturday, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.. The third baseman is hitting only .189 (7-for-37) in June, and he has seen only three at-bats this season above the sixth spot in the order.
Our View: This is likely a temporary move, and we're not sure why Andre Ethier or Matt Kemp isn't in that slot. Maybe Joe Torre is just trying to show a little faith in the rookie. |
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| Fowler hitting well | Saturday 6/14, 1:15 PM CT |
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Outfielder Dexter Fowler is tearing it up this June with a .347 average and eight extra-base hits over 12 games at Double-A Tulsa. The 22-year-old is hitting .301-6-35-51-14 with a .860 OPS over 65 games and has been especially hot of late, going 14-for-31 (.452) over the past seven games).
Our View: Fowler is a five-tool guy who is thought to be the Rockies' center fielder of the future. We could see him up in the majors late this year, and with Willy Taveras toiling at .233, Fowler's timetable may be growing shorter. |
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| Manny out on Saturday | Saturday 6/14, 12:12 PM CT |
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Manny Ramirez is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds, the Boston Globe reports. He left early on Friday due to a sore right hamstring. Coco Crisp, J.D. Drew, and Jacoby Ellsbury are starting across the outfield.
Our View: Given that the Sox can't use a DH in Cincinnati, this news is not surprising. Ramirez is day-to-day and could return on Sunday. |
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| Theriot not starting Saturday | Saturday 6/14, 12:08 PM CT |
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Ryan Theriot is not listed in the lineup for Saturday's afternoon tilt against the Blue Jays. He is presumably just getting a day off. Ronny Cedeno is starting at shortstop.
Our View: Fantasy owners shouldn't panic when they don't see Theriot's name in the box score. It may end up being a good thing, as he'll miss facing Roy Halladay. |
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| Clippard called up to start Saturday | Saturday 6/14, 10:21 AM CT |
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The Nationals called up Tyler Clippard on Friday night/Saturday morning, and he will start in place of Odalis Perez on Saturday, the Washington Post notes.
Our View: There's no reason for fantasy owners to trust Clippard at this point. |
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| Perez placed on DL | Saturday 6/14, 10:19 AM CT |
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The Nationals have placed Odalis Perez on the 15-day DL due to left shoulder tendinitis, the Washington Post reports. The southpaw last pitched on June 3. Tyler Clippard will take his spot in the rotation.
Our View: Perez may only miss one start, although it's tough to know right now since he's been slow to recover. |
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| Izzy to throw Saturday | Saturday 6/14, 10:16 AM CT |
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The Cardinals delayed Jason Isringhausen's throwing session by one day, and he will work on Saturday. The reliever could face live hitters, and if all goes well, he could come off the DL early next week, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Our View: The Cards haven't indicated if Izzy would return as the closer or if he'd need to prove himself before pushing Ryan Franklin. We'll continue to follow the reliever's progress. |
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| Roberts on the mend | Saturday 6/14, 10:13 AM CT |
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Dave Roberts is hitting and running lightly as he recovers from left knee surgery, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Our View: We'll be surprised if Roberts plays more than a handful of games for the Giants again. The club is looking to the future and a veteran like Roberts will probably be trade bait come late July. |
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| Carpenter suffers setback | Saturday 6/14, 10:07 AM CT |
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Chris Carpenter has had a setback in his return from Tommy John surgery. The ace had further soreness in his elbow following a session on Wednesday, and Dr. George Paletta checked out the elbow on Friday. Carpenter had an MRI, and while results were not available, there is no damage to the ligament, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes. The pitcher will seek a second opinion. "Could 'Carp' still pitch for us sometime this year? We think so," general manager John Mozeliak explains. "But will he pitch sometime around the All-Star break like we were hoping? That's not likely."
Our View: We're awaiting further details, but this doesn't sound good for the Cards and fantasy owners. Everyone was hoping Carpenter could help over the second half. |
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| Slumping LaRoche sits | Saturday 6/14, 10:02 AM CT |
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Adam LaRoche sat out on Friday for the second straight day. He is hitting .176 (6-for-34) this June. "I think the biggest thing Adam needs to do is just relax," manager John Russell tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "He's trying to do so much that he's not seeing the ball well."
Our View: LaRoche showed glimpses of breaking out in May, but he remains one of this season's bigger disappointments. He should be on your bench if you can afford to wait. |
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| Martin likely done at third | Saturday 6/14, 9:58 AM CT |
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With Andy LaRoche and Blake DeWitt in place, Russell Martin likely won't see any more time at third base, the Los Angeles Times notes. Martin has played six games at the hot corner.
Our View: It would be a luxury for Martin to have third base eligibility in fantasy leagues, and the extra spot did offer a chance for extra at-bats. But this isn't a huge deal. Russell remains an elite backstop. |
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| Hardy has strained rotator cuff | Saturday 6/14, 9:55 AM CT |
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J.J. Hardy has a strained left rotator cuff and may not remain out much longer. "I’m not going to start him [this weekend] but I’ll use him, I sure will," manager Ned Yost informs the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I’m not just going to arbitrarily do it. It’s going to be out of necessity, but I’m going to give every opportunity to sit." Craig Counsell and Bill Hall can play short while Hardy is out.
Our View: It sounds like Hardy will be back in the starting lineup when the Brewers play next Tuesday. |
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| Garciaparra nearly ready for rehab | Saturday 6/14, 9:40 AM CT |
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Nomar Garciaparra believes he will be able to start a rehab assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times notes. The veteran infielder is eligible to come off the DL on June 25. Garciaparra is out due to a strained left calf.
Our View: Nomar will surely need more than a token two or three days. He's been out since late April and is expected to return to shortstop. We'll continue to monitor his progress. |
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| Stewart gains second base eligibility | Saturday 6/14, 9:37 AM CT |
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In addition to socking two homers on Friday night, Ian Stewart logged his 10th appearance at second base.
Our View: The top prospect has had some mixed reviews with the bat thus far (22 strikeouts, .556 SLG), but the 10 games should make him eligible in the middle infield and the Rockies have every reason to stick with him. |
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| Kemp to return Saturday | Saturday 6/14, 9:33 AM CT |
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Matt Kemp will be back in the lineup on Saturday after wrapping up his two-game suspension on Friday, the Los Angeles Times notes.
Our View: Consider this your reminder. Kemp owners probably already knew this. |
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| Torrealba likely out Sunday, Monday | Saturday 6/14, 9:31 AM CT |
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Yorvit Torrealba is expected to get his three-game suspension reduced to two games, and he will likely serve the penalty on Sunday and Monday, the Denver Post notes. He got in trouble for scuffling with Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.
Our View: FYI for fantasy owners in NL-only leagues. Torrealba is losing a lot of time to Chris Iannetta as it is. |
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| Arroyo is fine | Saturday 6/14, 9:28 AM CT |
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Bronson Arroyo is fine after experiencing some right forearm cramps on Thursday. "I'm good," he informs the Cincinnati Enquirer. "No problem at all."
Our View: Maybe Arroyo should have forearm issues more often. He tossed six shutout innings on Thursday, one of his better efforts of the year. |
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| Piniella tweaks rotation, again | Saturday 6/14, 9:26 AM CT |
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Manager Lou Piniella tweaked the Cubs rotation last week to open up another start for Carlos Zambrano. Now the Cubs skipper has changed his mind, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Following the off-day on Monday, June 16, the Cubs will go with Ryan Dempster, Zambrano, Sean Gallagher, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, and Dempster again before an off-day on June 23. That means Zambrano won't face the White Sox next weekend.
Our View: This news shouldn't affect too many fantasy leagues, but you'll note that Dempster becomes a two-start option next week. Zambrano was previously expected to be that two-start guy. |
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| Hopper continues rehab work | Saturday 6/14, 9:15 AM CT |
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Norris Hopper has moved his rehab up to Triple-A Louisville and could be less than a week away from returning, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The outfielder is on the DL due to right elbow inflammation.
Our View: Hopper is no more than a fourth outfielder for the Reds, and he's of no interest in fantasy leagues. |
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| Freel not optimistic about return date | Saturday 6/14, 9:10 AM CT |
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Ryan Freel doesn't believe he'll be ready in two-to-three weeks. He ruptured his right hamstring on June 4 and was given that timeframe. "They said two to three weeks," Freel tells the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It's hard to see how it's going to be ready in two weeks... I pulled my hamstring 30 percent off the bone... It's kind of weird."
Our View: Yeah, that doesn't sound very fun. Team doctors know how long a typical injury takes, but it's ultimately up to the player to feel right. Fantasy owners shouldn't expect Freel to return very soon. |
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| Willingham starts minor league rehab | Saturday 6/14, 9:06 AM CT |
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Josh Willingham went 0-for-2 in his first minor league rehab start on Friday night, the Miami Herald notes. The outfielder has been out since late April due to a sore lower back.
Our View: Willingham remains at least a week away, but fantasy owners can tentatively plan to use him come the week of June 23-29. We'll have more updates before that time. |
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| Wise sidelined indefinitely | Saturday 6/14, 9:02 AM CT |
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Matt Wise will be held out of baseball activities in the foreseeable future, the New York Post reports. He is on the DL due to a sore right shoulder and hasn't pitched since May 26.
Our View: The Mets appeared to make a good move when they inked this veteran reliever last December. Like many things for the Mets, this move has also gone awry. Wise has no fantasy value. |
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| Lohse confirms Phils tried to sign him | Saturday 6/14, 8:56 AM CT |
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Kyle Lohse confirms that the Phillies tried to keep him this past winter. In fact, the hurler agrees that a three-year, $21 million deal was on the table. "It went away early," Lohse tells the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It was gone less than a month into the off-season. It's not like we had extended talks - one time, that was it." The right-hander eventually inked a one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Cardinals.
Our View: Given the absurd amount of money thrown at pitchers these days (Carlos Silva, anyone?), we're not surprised Lohse thought he could get a better deal. His agent should have known better. |
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| Lo Duca a few days away | Saturday 6/14, 8:48 AM CT |
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Paul Lo Duca is close to returning, but the Nationals have decided to keep him in the minors for a few more days, the Washington Post reports. The veteran backstop is recovering from a fractured right hand.
Our View: It wouldn't be surprising if the Nats were working the phones. Jesus Flores is hitting well and looks like the Nats backstop of the present and future. Lo Duca probably won't enjoy being a backup. |
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| Chipper could play Saturday | Saturday 6/14, 8:43 AM CT |
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Braves manager Bobby Cox tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he expects Chipper Jones to play on Saturday. Jones was out on Friday after his batted ball ricocheted off the cage and hit him under the left eye.
Our View: We thought Chipper had suffered every injury in the book prior to Friday. We were wrong. Jones continues to dodge major ailments, but he has had a lot of little nicks and bumps this year. |
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| Byrnes nearing return | Saturday 6/14, 8:40 AM CT |
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Eric Byrnes worked out before Friday's game and is eager to get off the DL. "I squared some up, even hit a couple of home runs. I did agility drills, ran the bases... I even slid into third base. I don't think they expected that," Byrnes tells the Arizona Republic. "Just about ready." The outfielder is on the DL due to small tears in both hamstrings.
Our View: We don't know if the Diamondbacks will send Byrnes down for a short rehab assignment, but it sounds like Eric may not need it. We'll continue to update his progress. |
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| Nunez plays catch | Saturday 6/14, 7:42 AM CT |
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Leo Nunez played catch from about 45 feet on Friday. He made roughly 20 throws, the Kansas City Star reports. Nunez is on the DL due to a strained right lat muscle.
Our View: This isn't exactly a step that suggests Nunez is on the verge of returning. He's been out since May 27, and it sounds like he's still not too close. |
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| Ramirez's hamstring remains sore | Saturday 6/14, 7:17 AM CT |
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Manny Ramirez left Friday's game during the seventh inning due to a sore right hamstring, the Boston Globe notes. The ailment has been bothering him for a couple weeks, and Ramirez was unable to DH because the Red Sox were visiting the Reds.
Our View: The Red Sox have two more games in Cincinnati before traveling to Philadelphia on Monday-Wednesday. It sounds like Manny is in danger of missing some of those contests. |
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| Buckner earns first win | Saturday 6/14, 12:28 AM CT |
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Billy Buckner, who was recalled from Triple-A Tuscon on Friday night, pitched a scoreless top of the tenth inning to get his first victory of the season in a 1-0 win over Kansas City.
Our View: The D'Backs bullpen was overused in the three-game series at Shea so the staff brought Buckner up from southern Arizona to add a fresh arm to the pen. He was needed and fortunate enough to pitch himself into his first win of the season. |
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| Tracy hits 10th inning walk-off | Saturday 6/14, 12:22 AM CT |
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Chad Tracy hit a one out home run in the bottom of the 10th inning helping the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
Our View: Tracy was 2-for-4 on the night raising his average 28 points on the season. The four Friday night at-bats gives Tracy only 40 official plate appearances on the season. |
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| Bennett earns second save | Saturday 6/14, 12:01 AM CT |
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Jeff Bennett pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save and the Atlanta Braves beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 on Friday night.
Our View: With John Smoltz on the disabled list, Raphael Soriano not healthy and Manny Manny Acosta unavailable, the versatile Bennett was called upon to secure the victory for lefty Jo-Jo Reyes. |
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