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| Shoppach producing at plate | Thursday 6/26, 10:45 PM CT |
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Kelly Shoppach had two hits and scored two runs for the Indians in their 4-1 victory over the Giants.
Our View: That's six games and counting for Shoppach with a hit as he has raised his average from .223 to .246. As long as Victor Martinez is on the sidelines, Shoppach makes an excellent #2 catcher with his ability to pop the odd long ball and hit for a decent average. |
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| Vizquel continues anemic production | Thursday 6/26, 10:42 PM CT |
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Omar Vizquel continues to hit as if he is going to the plate with a wiffle ball bat as he went 0-for-3 dropping his average to .165 in 115 AB.
Our View: It's tough to tell if Vizquel has lost it or not, because even when he is going well he employs a series of dinks and bloops to pick up hits. He only has 13 strikeouts on the season, but at some point the Giants are going to have to make a decision on him since they basically have two pitchers hitting in their batting order right now. |
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| Borowski has clean ninth | Thursday 6/26, 10:39 PM CT |
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Joe Borowski pitched the ninth inning on Thursday and was perfect in wrapping up his sixth save of the year to drop his ERA to 7.70.
Our View: Borowski has allowed 11 hits and three walks in eight innings in June as he just doesn't have the stuff to put away most batters. Still, he has the confidence of management, and given the struggles of others in the pen they figure to keep running him out there in save situations regardless. |
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| Carroll leads Indians offense | Thursday 6/26, 10:32 PM CT |
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Jamey Carroll continued to put pressure on opposing pitchers on Thursday night and he ended the evening with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored for the Tribe.
Our View: Even with Asdrubal Cabrera lighting it up in the minors, Carroll continues to pound out the hits as he is hitting a robust .360 in 75 June AB. It will be interesting to see how the Indians handle this call as Carroll certainly has given them something to think about. |
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| Cain falls to Tribe | Thursday 6/26, 10:27 PM CT |
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Matt Cain struggled with the location of his fastball on Thursday night, and the end result was his sixth loss of the season. Cain lasted five innings allowing eight hits, two walks, and four earned runs in the loss.
Our View: Cain just didn't have it tonight, but if the worst outing a guy has is four runs, that isn't awful. Cain still lacks the consistency needed to be a consistent winner, but he certainly has the stuff and the makeup to go on a protracted run if the command kicks in. |
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| Young continues to struggle | Thursday 6/26, 10:26 PM CT |
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With his 0-for-4 performance in the Rangers 7-2 loss to the Astros, Michael Young's struggles continue. He seemed on the verge of breaking out of his slump after a three-hit performance earlier in the week, but that has not come to fruition.
Our View: Young has been horrendous since June 11, going 7-for-58, for a .121 batting average. It may be time to sit Young for a while, since he offers little else to fantasy teams but BA and runs. And if he isn't getting on base, he's not scoring runs. |
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| New batting stance for Monroe | Thursday 6/26, 10:24 PM CT |
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Craig Monroe has been working on his timing at the plate and chief among those changes is the elimination of his exaggerated leg kick so that he can be more consistent with inconsistent levels of playing time, according to MLB.com. "I'm starting to get comfortable because I'm doing it every day in batting practice and in the cage," Monroe said. "I'm feeling like I don't have to have this high leg kick with all the movement to generate the power that I have. I'm trying to keep it simple."
Our View: For a player who isn't in the lineup every day, it only makes sense for him to simplify his approach at the plate. Perhaps eliminating the league kick will also help him to cut down the strikeouts since 30.4% of all of his at-bats have ended in a whiff. |
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| Lee strikes out 11 in win | Thursday 6/26, 10:21 PM CT |
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Cliff Lee once again flashed his dominating form on Thursday night with a career-high 11 strikeouts in eight innings to defeat the Giants for his 11th victory of the season. Lee dominated the Giants hitter throwing 79 of 111 pitches for strikes while holding them to just four hits and a BB.
Our View: Every time we are just about ready to write him off and say the run has ended, he bounces back with an outing like this. As long as he keeps throwing strikes and doesn't walk anyone, he should continue to be one of the best hurlers in the junior circuit. |
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| Pirates vs. Yankees game postponed | Thursday 6/26, 10:17 PM CT |
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Mike Mussina and his Yankee teammates had their game with the Pirates called due to rain, lighting and thunder on Thursday night, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The game has been rescheduled for a mutual off day on July 10th at 7:05 at PNC Park.
Our View: For those of you in weekly leagues this is bad news, but it creates the chance for an extra start for pitchers in the week when the game is being made up. |
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| Berkman still on fire | Thursday 6/26, 10:15 PM CT |
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As you may have noticed, Lance Berkman can swing the bat. His 3-for-3 performance completed a 7-for-10 series against the Rangers. He reached base in nine of his 12 plate appearances.
Our View: Berkman is continuing to smoke the ball, and he raised his average to .367 for the season. Don't even think of sitting him as Houston takes on Boston this weekend. |
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| Gagne struggles in appearance | Thursday 6/26, 10:09 PM CT |
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Eric Gagne had a rough go of it in his second rehab start on Thursday, according to Scout.com. Gagne had a strikeout but then hit the second batter, allowed a hit, a walk, threw a wild pitch, had a another strikeout and then allowed another hit.
Our View: Gagne clearly isn't ready to be activated if he struggles this much in a minor league outing. He is scheduled to join the club on Friday, but we wouldn't be at all shocked to see him make another appearance or two to find his release point. |
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| Millwood loses fourth game | Thursday 6/26, 10:08 PM CT |
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Kevin Millwood allowed seven earned runs in 5.1 innings to the Houston Astros and took the loss as the Rangers fell 7-2. He allowed 12 hits and saw his ERA rise to 5.08.
Our View: Millwood is too inconsistent to be worthy of a roster spot on your fantasy team, except maybe for deep AL only leagues. He has allowed at least five earned runs in five of his fifteen starts this season. |
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| Rodriguez shines | Thursday 6/26, 10:03 PM CT |
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Wandy Rodriguez struck out a career high nine batters, and pitched eight solid innings to get the win for Houston in their 7-2 triumph over the Rangers according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Rodriguez has had a very good season, don't reflect that. His performance this season has made him someone to think about acquiring for fantasy purposes, as his ERA and strikeout capabilities make him an attractive option. |
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| Hairston singles in return | Thursday 6/26, 9:35 PM CT |
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Seeing his first action since June 9, Jerry Hairston Jr. returned to the Reds lineup and went 1-for-4 with a single. It was one of just four hits Cincinnati got on the night.
Our View: Hairston is hitting .333 on the year and leading off, so if you stashed him on the DL, now would be a good time to put him back in your lineup. |
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| Rolen showing power | Thursday 6/26, 9:29 PM CT |
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Scott Rolen hit his third home run in four games, cranking a two-run shot off of Cincinnati's Edison Volquez in Toronto's 7-1 victory over the Reds. Rolen has hit half of his six home runs during that span.
Our View: Rolen's days as a fantasy stalwart seem to be over, as he has hit just 14 home runs over the last two seasons, covering 593 at-bats. That is one home run for every 42 AB, hardly the stuff that will win anybody their fantasy league. |
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| Bruce coming back to earth | Thursday 6/26, 9:24 PM CT |
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Jay Bruce started his major league career with aplomb, but after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against the Blue Jays, Bruce's numbers continue to sink, as he is now hitting below .300 for the first time this season.
Our View: Bruce has hit .169 since June 8, going 11-for-65 in that span. Making matters worse is his inability to make contact, having struck out 23 times in that span, compared to just four walks. It is well past time to put Bruce on fantasy team benches, at least until he can show a little better plate discipline. |
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| Church looks good in rehab start | Thursday 6/26, 9:23 PM CT |
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Ryan Church played five innings for Single-A Brooklyn on Thursday going 3-for-3 at the plate in his attempt to return from a concussion, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Church has been on the DL since June 6, and he looked solid on this day raising hopes that he could be activated by the weekend to give the Mets a bat they sorely miss with Moises Alou still out of action. |
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| Litsch breaks personal losing streak | Thursday 6/26, 9:17 PM CT |
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Jesse Litsch had lost three consecutive decisions and had not won a game in the month of June before earning the victory in Toronto's 7-1 victory over Cincinnati. Litsch went eight innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out six.
Our View: The 23-year-old broke out of his losing streak while shutting down a quality offense along the way. Litsch only had 34 major league starts before tonight, so some inconsistency is to be expected. |
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| Konerko close to taking BP | Thursday 6/26, 9:13 PM CT |
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Paul Konerko's strained oblique is healing well, so well in fact that he might resume batting practice on Saturday, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our View: Konerko has been taking some soft-toss swings while playing catch as he builds up to a more strenuous workout. He is eligible to come off the DL on Monday, and there is some optimism growing that he might be ready at that time. |
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| Cano has swing going | Thursday 6/26, 9:11 PM CT |
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Robinson Cano has struggled to find his swing for most of this season, and things have finally started to turn around of late with six hits in two games, according to MLB.com. "People have asked me if it's the turning point, and I've thought a couple of times, 'Yes,'" Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We all feel and believe that Robbie is a lot better hitter than .220 or .230. Maybe this is the turning point."
Our View: Cano is hitting just .241 thanks in part to an artificially low BABIP of .250, well below his career .324 mark, so it's long been clear that a turn around has been in the offing. Now might be your last chance to add him in a trade before he really takes off. |
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| Volquez roughed up | Thursday 6/26, 9:07 PM CT |
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Edinson Volquez suffered his third loss of the season, lasting just 4.1 innings in the Reds 7-1 loss to Toronto. Volquez allowed seven runs, five of them earned, which raised his ERA to over 2.00 for the first time this season.
Our View: This was easily Volquez's worst outing of the year, and the only one he has given up more than three earned runs. The 24-year-old was clearly off, as he failed to strike out anybody for the first time this season. Volquez was bound to have a clunker at some point, but it shouldn't be anything to worry about. |
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| Timlin begins rehab assignment | Thursday 6/26, 9:07 PM CT |
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Mike Timlin began his rehab assignment on Thursday as he threw 10 pitches to retire the order in an inning of work, according to the Providence Journal.
Our View: Reports had Timlin touching 92 mph on the gun, a good sign that his knee is in good shape. However, Timlin is still virtually useless in fantasy leagues and not likely to do much but take up space once activated by the Bo Sox. |
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| Prospect tears elbow ligament | Thursday 6/26, 9:04 PM CT |
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Jake McGee, the Rays top pitching prospect, has a torn ligament in his pitching elbow ending his season, according to the Tampa Tribune. “"They say it’s torn all the way. We’ll see,” McGee told the Advertiser. “It’s pretty disappointing, but we can’t change it now. I have to go forward from here.”
Our View: Mcgee was 8-6 with a 3.15 ERA in 140 innings last season, and this year he was 6-4 with a 3.94 mark in Double-A. He will need Tommy John surgery, meaning he is probably in line to miss most of next season as well. |
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| Hamilton leaves game after HBP | Thursday 6/26, 8:32 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton's return to the starting lineup may be brief after he was removed from the Rangers versus Astros game in the first inning after being hit on the hand by a Wandy Rodriguez pitch, according to the Star Telegram.
Our View: X-rays were thankfully negative, but there is no word yet from the club on how much time they expect Hamilton to miss if any, though he is being listed as day-to-day according to the report. |
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| Eyre pulled with groin injury | Thursday 6/26, 7:31 PM CT |
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Scott Eyre left Thursday's game after being forced out of action with a strained left groin, according to MLB.com. The team hopes he can avoid the DL.
Our View: Eyre has already spent time on the DL due to bone spur in his left elbow which has limited him to just 11 innings this season. He has little value even in NL Only leagues as he is clearly not in line for any type of significant role in the Cubs bullpen.
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| Griffey ready for right field | Thursday 6/26, 7:26 PM CT |
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Ken Griffey Jr. will return to right field after spending six games at DH for the Reds, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Griffey homered in two of the last three games on the trip, and the hope is that the time off from the rigors of fielding may help to energize his bat. Time will tell, but Griffey has looked a step slow virtually the entire year. |
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| Aviles making his mark with bat | Thursday 6/26, 7:24 PM CT |
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Mike Aviles is opening up all kinds of eyes in Kansas City with his hot stick, according to MLB.com. Aviles is hitting .347 with 14 RBI in 19 games and has become a regular in the lineup. "The bottom line is the game is the ultimate evaluator," GM Dayton Moore said. "It doesn't matter what a scout says, it doesn't matter what a front-office person says, it matters what the player thinks of himself and how the player is performing. It's as simple as that."
Our View: With Tony Pena Jr. producing a hit about as frequently as a solar eclipse, and with Esteban German barely hitting any better, Aviles has been thriving with playing time. He is certainly gone in AL Only leagues, and he actually deserves serious considering as a middle infield play in mixed leagues while he is this hot. |
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| Parrish to start on Saturday | Thursday 6/26, 7:18 PM CT |
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As expected, John Parrish was called up from the minors in order to start for the Blue Jays on Saturday, according to MLB.com. Parrish will start in place of the injured Shaun Marcum.
Our View: Parrish was 10-1 with a 2.74 ERA in 15 starts at Triple-A and clearly deserves a shot in the majors to show if he can continue that run of dominance. Parrish is worth a look in AL Only leagues as it is still far from certain that Marcum will be back off the DL when eligible. |
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| Sweeney injures ankle on slide | Thursday 6/26, 7:14 PM CT |
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Ryan Sweeney left the Athletics game on Thursday with a sprained ankle, according to The Sports Network. Sweeney injured the ankle while sliding into home plate scoring a run on a Jack Cust single.
Our View: Sweeney was replaced by Rajai Davis who could have significant AL Only league value because of his legs if he is given the chance to play. Sweeney will be reevaluated on Friday before a determination is made on his status. |
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| Morneau leading the way | Thursday 6/26, 6:42 PM CT |
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Justin Morneau went 3-for-3 with three RBI on Thursday for the Twins. One of his hits was his 12th long ball of the year.
Our View: Morneau is well on his way to a third straight 100-RBI season for the Twins, and he has once again elevated his average back above .300 at .310. The power is down a bit, but are you really going to quibble with a .300 hitting, 100 RBI first baseman? |
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| Greene goes deep for eighth time | Thursday 6/26, 6:38 PM CT |
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Khalil Greene hit a solo home run on Thursday, his eighth home run of the year for the Padres.
Our View: Greene has been solid in June hitting .278 with three home runs helping to erase a .196 average in May. He is still a long way from where he was expected to be, but he is moving in the right direction. |
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| Headley just average | Thursday 6/26, 6:35 PM CT |
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Chase Headley went 1-for-4 on Thursday and is now hitting .250 in 36 AB with the Padres.
Our View: Headley hasn't done a heck of a lot since being called up to the bigs, and a big time concern is a growing inability to put the ball in play with well over a third of his 36 AB ending in a strikeout (14). |
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| Nathan dominates Padres | Thursday 6/26, 6:33 PM CT |
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Joe Nathan picked up his 21st save of the year as he struck out two Padres in a perfect ninth inning on Thursday.
Our View: Nathan has allowed one run in 10 innings in June (0.90), and his WHIP in that time is microscopic (0.50). Nathan will be named to the All-Star team, a well deserved honor for this fantasy stud. |
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| Banks struggles in loss | Thursday 6/26, 6:29 PM CT |
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Josh Banks fell to 2-2 on Thursday as he allowed seven hits and two walks, leading to four runs, over 5.1 innings against the Twins.
Our View: Banks has been a great story, one who's ending is looking grim. After allowing one earned run in his first four appearances, Banks has faltered a bit of late with a 5.17 ERA over his last three starts, none of which lasted more than 5.1 innings. He hasn't pitched his way out of the rotation, yet. |
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| Baker a secret weapon | Thursday 6/26, 6:24 PM CT |
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Scott Baker improved to 4-2 on Thursday allowing three runs in six innings against the Padres. Baker allowed six hits and two walks while striking out three.
Our View: Baker owns a 3.57 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP after 11 starts this year and is only being held back from being a big time story because of his low total of four victories. He has been great this season. |
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| Damon returns to lineup | Thursday 6/26, 6:14 PM CT |
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Johnny Damon (foot) was able to return to the lineup on Thursday night to help lesson the loss of Hideki Matsui, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Damon has gone from needing a trip to the DL to the lineup in record time. He must be a fast healer. It will be interesting to see how he is able to run, but he is back at it for the Yanks tonight. |
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| Matsui out on Thursday, DL bound? | Thursday 6/26, 6:11 PM CT |
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Hideki Matsui is out of the Yankees lineup on Thursday night due to a flare up with his injured knee, according to the Associated Press. Matsui will be reexamined on Friday when he could rejoin the lineup at DH or possibly be sent to the DL. “It’s always a possibility,” manager Joe Girardi said. “You don’t want it to come to that, but if we feel it’s in the best interests of him and the ballclub, that’s something we’ll talk about.”
Our View: Matsui has sat out four games now, and with the Yankees without a day off until July 7th, they may not be able to continue to wait for Matsui to get healthy enough to contribute. Luckily for the club, Johnny Damon (foot) was able to return on Thursday. |
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| Gordon returns | Thursday 6/26, 6:08 PM CT |
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Tom Gordon made his first appearance since June 15 in today's game against Oakland, and gave up two runs while allowing two hits and walking one.
Our View: Gordon has been dealing with shoulder soreness, which is why he has not been on the mound recently. If he's healthy, he hasn't shown it yet. |
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| Jenkins still hitless | Thursday 6/26, 6:04 PM CT |
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Geoff Jenkins has not gotten a hit in his last 21 at-bats, and is in a 2-for-36 slump after an 0-for-3 performance against Oakland.
Our View: Jenkins is struggling mightily, and has seen his batting average fall from .288 on June 2 to .239 after today. With only six home runs on the season, it may be time to look for a replacement on the waiver wire. |
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| Barton's struggles continue | Thursday 6/26, 5:57 PM CT |
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Daric Barton has not had a good season for Oakland, and he continued to struggle with an 0-for-4 performance Thursday. He is now hitting just .222 on the year.
Our View: Many fantasy owners expected big things from Barton when the season began, but he has been a huge disappointment so far. He is mired in a 3-for-26 slump, and isn't hitting for any power, with only three home runs on the season. |
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| Victorino gets only hits off Harden | Thursday 6/26, 5:52 PM CT |
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Shane Victorino was the only Philadelphia player to get a hit off of Oakland's Rich Harden, singling twice. He also stole a base in the Phillies 5-0 loss to the A's.
Our View: Victorino stole his twentieth base of the season in today's game. He has also scored 49 runs, and is hitting over .300 against right-handed pitching. Victorino is only hitting about .230 against lefties, however, so if your fantasy team is deep enough to play him in a platoon situation, that would be optimal. |
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| Jenks seals 17th save | Thursday 6/26, 5:46 PM CT |
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Bobby Jenks pitched a perfect ninth inning on Thursday on his way to lowering his ERA to 2.08 while racking up his 17th save of the year.
Our View: Jenks is throwing more strikes than ever and as a result his K totals have plummeted (19 in 30.1 IP). Still, how can you quibble with a guy who has 34 saves, a 2.13 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP over his last 59 appearances dating back to last years All-Star game? |
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| Loney loses hit streak | Thursday 6/26, 5:43 PM CT |
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James Loney went 0-for-4 on Thursday to end his 12-game hitting streak. Loney hit .400 during the streak going 20-for-50.
Our View: Loney is hitting .383 for the month of June as he has reached base via a hit in 21 of 23 contests. He could still stand to knock the ball for a bit more power, but through 734 career AB he owns a .316 average, more than enough to cover up for less than ideal power at a corner infield spot. |
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| Harden improves to 5-0 | Thursday 6/26, 5:42 PM CT |
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Rich Harden ran his record to 5-0 after going eight innings while allowing just two hits and no earned runs in Oakland's 5-0 victory over Philadelphia. He also struck out 11 batters.
Our View: Harden's ERA now stands at 2.15, and though he will always remain an injury risk, he is dominant when healthy and a must start. |
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| Ramirez slaps two more hits | Thursday 6/26, 5:40 PM CT |
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Alexei Ramirez had another two hits on Thursday to boost his average to .295 for the White Sox.
Our View: Who needs Juan Uribe with production like that? Ramirez has only attempted five steals, he has been successful three times, but other than that deficiency, he has pretty much been as advertised for the Sox. |
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| Roberrts hitting streak reaches 13 | Thursday 6/26, 5:38 PM CT |
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Brian Roberts extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a 2-for-5 performance against Chicago, according to the Associated Press. He also scored twice in Baltimore's 11-4 victory.
Our View: Roberts has been scorching in June, hitting .357, with hits in 21 of the team's 23 games on the month. He continues to be one of the most productive second baseman in fantasy, and is closing in on the .300 mark for the year. |
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| Pierre legs do his talking | Thursday 6/26, 5:38 PM CT |
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Juan Pierre continued to run on Thursday as he swiped two bases against the White Sox giving him 32 steals on the year.
Our View: For all the talk of Pierre being a fourth outfielder this year, Pierre is on pace to swipe more than 60 bases for just the second time in five seasons. Even when Andruw Jones is healthy, look for Pierre to receive enough AB to continue to be a valuable addition to any fantasy roster. |
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| Kershaw still searching for win | Thursday 6/26, 5:35 PM CT |
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Clayton Kershaw failed to pick up his first major league win in his seventh start as he allowed two runs over four innings in his second loss of the year. Kershaw allowed six hits and four walks to the White Sox in the loss.
Our View: Kershaw hasn't lasted more than 5.1 innings since his first start making the prospect of picking up wins dicey. Worse than the lack of wins is a terrible WHIP of 1.67, and unless he starts throwing some more strikes the Dodgers might choose to send the youngster down for some more seasoning. |
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| Danks defeats Dodgers | Thursday 6/26, 5:32 PM CT |
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John Danks won his first game since May 29th holding the Dodgers scoreless for six innings in his fifth victory of the season. Danks allowed four hits while walking a season high four batters in the win.
Our View: Danks lowered his ERA to a stellar 2.62 thanks to his 13th outing of allowing three or fewer runs in 16 appearances. He also owns a 1.48 road ERA, the best in baseball as he continues his breakout campaign for the Sox. |
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| Payton keeps up assault on Cubs | Thursday 6/26, 5:23 PM CT |
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The Cubs are probably happy to get Jay Payton out of town. He went 2-for-5 with three RBI in today's game, a day after he hit two home runs. Payton leaves Wrigley having gone 4-for-10 for the series with seven RBI.
Our View: Payton has had a nice June, and is now hitting .333 for the month, with 15 RBI. He could be a decent pick-up in deep AL only leagues. |
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| Theriot continues multi-hit attack | Thursday 6/26, 5:18 PM CT |
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Ryan Theriot went 2-for-5 in today's game against the Orioles, and now has two hits in each of his last four games, and five of his last six.
Our View: Theriot has been a consistent hitter all year for Chicago. He won't add much pop to your fantasy team, but he will bring you batting average and runs scored. |
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| Huff has big day | Thursday 6/26, 5:12 PM CT |
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Aubrey Huff had a big day for the Orioles, going 4-for-5 with three doubles, scoring three runs and driving in two in Baltimore's 11-4 victory over the Cubs.
Our View: After a dismal May in which he hit .231, Huff has hit much better in June, hitting .357 with five home runs, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored for the month. |
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| Marquis suffers loss | Thursday 6/26, 5:06 PM CT |
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Jason Marquis gave up seven hits and seven earned runs in four innings as the Cubs lost to Baltimore 11-4. It was Marquis' first loss since May 13.
Our View: Marquis has given up 12 earned runs in his last two starts, covering 11 innings. He doesn't have the ability to strike many hitters out, so games like his last two are always a possibility. |
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| Liz earns victory over Cubs | Thursday 6/26, 5:01 PM CT |
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Radhames Liz improved his record to 2-0 by going five innings and allowing two earned runs today in the Orioles 11-4 victory over the Cubs.
Our View: Liz still needs to work on his control, as he walked four batters, though he allowed just four hits. |
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| Dodgers sign Williams | Thursday 6/26, 5:00 PM CT |
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Jerome Williams continued his traveling ways on Thursday as he was signed to a minor league deal by the Dodgers, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
Our View: When last we saw Williams in a major league uniform he was 0-5 with a 7.20 ERA for the Nationals last season. Williams was assigned to Single-A Inland Empire, so even though the Dodgers have issues in the rotation, it doesn't appear that Williams is on the fast track for a return to the majors. |
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| Howell excels in relief role | Thursday 6/26, 4:58 PM CT |
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J.P. Howell doesn't have a big name, and he is available in many fantasy leagues, but his production this year has been substantial, according to MLB.com. Howell is 6-0 leaving him just one win short of the club record for relievers while his ratios are sterling (2.90 ERA, 1.09 WHIP).
Our View: Wins can't be counted on with relievers, but Howell has still been a valuable reliever, especially when you toss in his K potential (45 in 49.2 IP). He warrants a look in deep mixed leagues to be sure. |
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| Shelton placed on waivers | Thursday 6/26, 4:41 PM CT |
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Chris Shelton has been designated for assignment by the Rangers with Chris Davis taking his roster spot, according to the Dallas Morning News. The team now has 10 days to trade, release or outright him.
Our View: Shelton struggled to find any type of groove at the plate hitting .216 with just two home runs in 97 AB and gives way to the younger Davis. Shelton has no value whatsoever, whereas Davis is worth a look in AL Only leagues given the fact that Hank Blalock is still a couple of weeks from returning. |
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| Chacon released after altercation | Thursday 6/26, 4:33 PM CT |
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Shawn Chacon has been released by the Astros one day after he was suspended for physically attacking GM Ed Wade, according to the Associated Press. “His defiance of the manager, the pitching coach, me, and especially the organization led us to this decision,” Wade said.
Our View: Chacon will have a hard time latching on to another team as most organizations aren't too keen on hiring players that physically assault the management. Throw in his less than stellar work on the hill, and we might not see him throwing, scratch that, attempting to throw strikes, any time soon. |
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| Bradley returns to lineup | Thursday 6/26, 4:27 PM CT |
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Milton Bradley (strained quadriceps) will be back in the Rangers lineup batting cleanup on Thursday, according to the Star Telegram.
Our View: Bradley has been on an amazing tear at the plate, one that has only been slowed by injury. He has shown an ability to maintain his productivity even when forced to the bench, so hopefully he will pick up where he left off prior to this latest setback. |
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| Hamilton returns to lineup | Thursday 6/26, 4:25 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton (knee) will start in centerfield for the Rangers on Thursday, according to the Star Telegram.
Our View: Hamilton has missed a couple of days due to a sore knee, so it's great to see him back in the lineup after there were whispers that the injury might have been more significant than the team was letting on. |
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| Granderson goes 4-for-5 | Thursday 6/26, 4:06 PM CT |
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Curtis Granderson went 4-for-5 with two runs scored in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals.
Our View: Granderson has extended his hitting streak to 14 games, with six multi-hit efforts over the span. |
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| Pujols goes 4-for-4 | Thursday 6/26, 4:00 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols went 4-for-4 with an RBI in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Tigers.
Our View: He is fresh off the DL and served as the Cardinals' DH. His performance today should give fantasy owners the green light to pencil him back into the starting lineup. |
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| Thomas wins game...with a walk | Thursday 6/26, 3:56 PM CT |
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Clete Thomas went 1-for-3 with two RBI and two walks in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals.
Our View: He won the game for Detroit with a walkoff walk with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, issued by pitcher Mike Parisi. |
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| Wellemeyer throws five scoreless | Thursday 6/26, 3:51 PM CT |
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Todd Wellemeyer hurled five scoreless innings with four hits allowed in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Tigers, with no walks and three strikeouts. The game took 10 innings to decide, and was tied at zero when Wellemeyer left the game. The game ended on a walkoff walk with the bases loaded to Clete Thomas (given up by Mike Parisi).
Our View: He left the game with a no decision and would have won if not for poor run support from the Cardinals' bats. |
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| Janish optioned | Thursday 6/26, 3:28 PM CT |
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Shortstop Paul Janish has been optioned to Triple-A Louisville, according to the AP. The team activated Jerry Hairston Jr. from the DL as a corresponding move.
Our View: Janish only hit .188 over 64 at-bats, and will have to wait for another shot to prove he belongs on the Reds' roster. |
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| Hairston activated from DL | Thursday 6/26, 3:23 PM CT |
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Jerry Hairston Jr. has been activated from the DL following his bout with a fractured left thumb, according to the AP. The team optioned Paul Janish to Triple-A Louisville to make room on the roster.
Our View: Hairston is leading the Reds with a .336 average over 125 at-bats, and will roam shortstop so Jeff Keppinger can cover third base while Edwin Encarnacion is out of action. |
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| Wieters promoted to Double-A | Thursday 6/26, 3:20 PM CT |
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Catcher Matt Wieters has been promoted to Double-A Bowie, according to CamdenChat.com.
Our View: Wieters was the Orioles' top draft pick (fifth overall) in 2007. Wieters hit .342 with 14 homers and 38 RBI over 68 games at Single-A Frederick to earn the promotion. He ranks among the very best catching prospects in the low minors. |
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| LaRoche makes first start at 2B | Thursday 6/26, 3:07 PM CT |
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Andy LaRoche made his first start at second base today against the White Sox, according to the LA Daily News.
Our View: Russell Martin made another start at third base, and Danny Ardoin is behind the plate. |
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| Polanco ejected | Thursday 6/26, 2:28 PM CT |
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Placido Polanco was ejected from Thursday's contest against the Cardinals for arguing balls and strikes, according to the Miami Herald. He was struck out looking against Ron Villone in the bottom of the sixth inning, and was tossed by home plate umpire Paul Schrieber after questioning the call.
Our View: He went 1-for-3 with the aforementioned strikeout prior to leaving the diamond. He was replaced at second base by Ryan Raburn. |
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| Ramirez registers lone hit for Marlins | Thursday 6/26, 2:23 PM CT |
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Hanley Ramirez went 1-for-4 and registered the Marlins only hit and RBI on a solo homer off Matt Garza in Thursday's 6-1 loss to the Rays.
Our View: He has 17 homers, 67 runs, and 34 RBI over 77 games. That was his eighth homer and 24th run scored in June. |
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| Hendrickson dealt sixth loss | Thursday 6/26, 2:17 PM CT |
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Mark Hendrickson was rocked for five earned runs on five hits over 4.2 innings in Thursday's 6-1 loss to the upstart Rays, with five walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: He falls to 7-6 for the season, with a 5.93 ERA, and he has not won a decision over his last six starts. |
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| Longoria blasts 14th homer | Thursday 6/26, 2:11 PM CT |
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Evan Longoria went 3-for-5 and blasted a solo homer in Thursday's 6-1 victory over the Marlins.
Our View: He collected his 14th homer of the season, with three coming over his last four games. He has eight hits over that span as well, with three coming in each of his last two contests. Keep the rising star active in your lineups. |
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| Garza throws one-hitter | Thursday 6/26, 2:07 PM CT |
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Matt Garza claimed his sixth win of the season in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Marlins, as he only surrendered one earned run on one hit over nine innings, with one walk and 10 strikeouts.
Our View: That was his first complete game of the season, and his best outing since May 23, when he hurled 7.1 scoreless innings against the Orioles. This was also the second time he racked up 10 strikeouts. |
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| Fukudome sits out another game | Thursday 6/26, 1:39 PM CT |
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Kosuke Fukudome sat out another game on Thursday due to tightness in his left calf, according to MLB.com. He ran in the outfield today, but didn't go at full speed.
Our View: He didn't start for the second straight day, but the ailment is believed to be minor and he was scratched as a precaution. He could still serve as a pinch-hitter if needed today, and could be back in the starting lineup for this weekend's series against the cross-town rival White Sox at US Cellular Field. |
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| Zambrano throws off flat ground | Thursday 6/26, 1:35 PM CT |
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Carlos Zambrano, who is recovering from a strained right shoulder, threw off flat ground Thursday, according to MLB.com. His next step will be a bullpen session, set for Sunday if today goes favorably. He said, "I feel good. I'm ready to keep doing my exercises and see what is scheduled for me."
Our View: He was projected to miss two starts and would be eligible to come off the DL during the Cubs' series against the Cardinals, starting on the Fourth of July.
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| Cabrera returns to Orioles | Thursday 6/26, 12:58 PM CT |
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Fernando Cabrera has been recalled to the Orioles' 25-man roster, according to the AP. He ended his rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk, and replaces Matt Albers on the roster, who landed on the DL.
Our View: Cabrera has recovered from offseason surgery on his right elbow. He once had a chance to be become a closer while with the Indians, but he should have a small role in the Orioles' pen while fighting for innings as a middle-reliever. He doesn't merit fantasy consideration.
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| Albers placed on DL | Thursday 6/26, 12:51 PM CT |
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Matt Albers has been placed on the 15-day DL due to right shoulder inflammation, according to the AP. The club recalled Fernando Cabrera from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk to fill Albers' spot on the roster.
Our View: Albers was rocked for four earned runs on a third of an inning against the Cubs on Wednesday, while making a spot start in place of Brian Burres. He won't have a rotation spot when he returns, and isn't worth holding onto. |
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| Armas Jr. to be called up? | Thursday 6/26, 12:26 PM CT |
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Pitcher Tony Armas Jr could be called up from triple-A New Orleans to make a spot start on Tuesday against the Cardinals, according to the NY Daily News. He is expected to take Carlos Muniz's spot on the roster.
Our View: After his start, Armas could work as a long reliever out of the bullpen.
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| Bautista joins 25-man roster | Thursday 6/26, 12:22 PM CT |
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Denny Bautista has joined the Pirates' 25-man roster, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The team opened up a spot for him by placing Ian Snell on the 15-day DL.
Our View: Bautista will be in uniform tonight against the Yankees. He surrendered seven earned runs, 15 hits, and 14 walks over 19 innings with the Tigers this season, and won't hold any fantasy value in traditional mixed leagues while fighting for playing time out of the Pirates' pen. |
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| Snell placed on DL | Thursday 6/26, 12:14 PM CT |
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Ian Snell has been placed on the 15-day DL due to a mild muscle strain in his elbow, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The move makes room for newly acquired reliever Denny Bautista on the 25-man roster.
Our View: The move is retroactive to Monday, meaning he is eligible to return on July 8. |
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| Percival still bothered by hamstring | Thursday 6/26, 12:10 PM CT |
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Troy Percival is still experiencing occasional pain in his ailing left hamstring, according to the Tampa Tribune. He said, "It's just something I'm going to have to deal with until it gets better. It's not anything that'll keep me from going out there, but there might be a day where it's worse than others where I might need a day off."
Our View: Percival will be checked upon on a daily basis, but believes he'll be able to work his way through the issue. The ailment affected his play on Tuesday against the Marlins, as he allowed four walks.
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| Johnson transferred to 60-day DL | Thursday 6/26, 12:02 PM CT |
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Nick Johnson has been transferred to the 60-day DL, according to the AP.
Our View: In case you missed it, Johnson underwent surgery to repair a tear in a ligament on the ulnar side of his right wrist, hence ending his 2008 campaign. |
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| Lo Duca is fine | Thursday 6/26, 11:56 AM CT |
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Paul Lo Duca said he was now fine after suffering from light-headedness on Wednesday, according to the Washington Times. He commented, "A lot of guys said my eyes were popping out of my head. I feel better today. I want to play. I'll be available to play if I have to."
Our View: Lo Duca should be ready to return to action, when needed. |
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| Flores placed on DL | Thursday 6/26, 11:50 AM CT |
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Pitcher Randy Flores has been placed on the 15-day DL with left ankle tendinitis, according to the AP. The team activated Albert Pujols from the DL, as an adjoining move.
Our View: Flores has walked six of the last 14 batters he has faced. The team hopes the lefty can begin a rehab assignment early next week and return to the team in two weeks.
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| Pujols activated | Thursday 6/26, 11:45 AM CT |
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As expected, Albert Pujols has been activated from the DL, according to the AP. The team placed Randy Flores on the DL, as a corresponding move.
Our View: Pujols is being used as the DH today agai | |
