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| Lewis is coming around | Sunday 7/27, 11:58 PM CT |
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Fred Lewis became the first left-handed hitter in history to record four hits off of LHP Randy Johnson. He was 4-for-4 with two stolen bases in the game.
Our View: Lewis is hitting leadoff for the Giants but not everyday. He is a good source of steals (19) and runs (63). If the Giants commit to him he could become a very solid fantasy contributor |
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| Broxton notches fourth save | Sunday 7/27, 11:48 PM CT |
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Jonathan Broxton is 4-for-4 in save opportunities since taking over the role for the injured Takashi Saito. He pitched a perfect ninth inning against the Nationals on Sunday.
Our View: Broxton appears to be living up to his promise and its possible he never relinquishes the role. At this point, Saito will still be the closer when he returns, but more performances from Broxton like tonight's could change things. |
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| Hoffman saves three in the series | Sunday 7/27, 11:36 PM CT |
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Trevor Hoffman pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21th save in 24 chances. Hoffman saved all three of San Diego's wins in the series against the Pirates.
Our View: Hoffman's getting a little hot. He came into the game with a 4.70 ERA but may be turning it around. Unfortunately, he won't likely see a whole lot of save opportunities with the Padres this season. |
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| Hairston hits eighth home run of the month | Sunday 7/27, 11:34 PM CT |
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Scott Hairston hit his eighth home run of July on Sunday against the Pirates. "Scott Hairston has been swinging a hot bat," Black said. "He's got that in his game."
Our View: That he does. His eight blasts have come in 17 games but he is still not an everyday outfielder in San Diego. |
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| Rollins does it all | Sunday 7/27, 11:30 PM CT |
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Jimmy Rollins was 2-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base in the Phillies 12-10 win over the Braves on Sunday. He scored three times in the victory.
Our View: As previously mentioned, Rollins is clutch and will likely heat up as the games take on more meaning. Look for his .271 batting average to climb sharply going forward. |
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| Feliz misses third straight game | Sunday 7/27, 11:24 PM CT |
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Pedro Feliz missed his third straight game with tightness in his lower back.
Our View: There have been no indicarions that Feliz is headed for the disabled list, but its certainly not unfathomable. |
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| Atkins hits his 15th home run | Sunday 7/27, 11:17 PM CT |
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Garrett Atkins extended his hitting streak to 10 games and ended a 13 game home run drought on Sunday against the Reds. He finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and a walk.
Our View: Like the rest of Colorado, Atkins is back to smashing the ball. He has been playing first base since veteran Todd Helton went down. |
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| Baker keeps on hitting | Sunday 7/27, 11:14 PM CT |
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Jeff Baker was 3-for-6 on Sunday against the Reds. He scored three times, and recorded a home run and two RBI. He is the everyday second baseman in a red hot Rockies lineup.
Our View: Baker is 18 for his last 37 (.486) in his last nine games. He has three home runs and a triple in that stretch and, we admit it, is worth owning down the stretch. |
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| Harang taking steps in recovery | Sunday 7/27, 11:10 PM CT |
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Aaron Harang who hasn't pitched since July 8 with a strained right forearm, is scheduled to throw off a mound Monday in Houston.
Our View: Harang has not looked like himself this season is still a week or so away from beginning a rehab assignment. Don't drop him just yet as he is a very effective fantasy starter when he is on. |
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| Manny rakes amongst controversy | Sunday 7/27, 11:01 PM CT |
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Amidst plenty of turmoil, Manny Ramirez went 3-for-5 with two RBI on Sunday against the Yankees. He scored twice in the game. Manny has discussed his willingness to be traded throughout the weekend.
Our View: We don't see Manny going anywhere. He is simply too valuable to the success of the Sox. However, owners would certainly like him to be happy. He is hitting .302 with 65 runs and 65 RBI this season in 96 games this season. When focused on hitting, Manny is among the best fantasy producers in the game. |
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| Looper to start on Monday | Sunday 7/27, 9:47 PM CT |
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Braden Looper (9-8, 4.49 ERA) will start on Monday against the Braves. He is 0-3 with a 5.55 ERA in his last five starts. He was a hard-luck loser in his latest outing, when he allowed a run over five innings against the Brewers on Wednesday in a 3-0 loss. Looper was battered in his lone start at Turner Field. He gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 2 2-3 innings in a 14-6 Cardinals’ loss on July 21, 2007.
Our View: Looper has gone past six innings just five times in 21 starts this season. However the Cardinals bullpen has been drained over the past two days so he will have to go deep on Monday. In his favor, the braves will likely be without Chipper Jones and Brian McCann due to injuries. |
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| Blake goes 0-for-3 | Sunday 7/27, 9:40 PM CT |
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Casey Blake went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk in his second game with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. He hit seventh between Nomar Garciaparra and Andre Ethier.
Our View: A stinker game to follow up his solid debut on Saturday. Blake should remain about as effective as he was when he played on the Indians but give him a week or so to adjust to L.A. |
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| Sweeney is activated | Sunday 7/27, 9:02 PM CT |
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Mark Sweeney was activated from the disabled list on Sunday. In 64 at-bats this season, he is hitting .094.
Our View: Sweeney will backup James Loney at first base and will primarily appear as a pinch hitter for the Dodgers. |
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| Kemp hitting streaks hits 14 | Sunday 7/27, 8:59 PM CT |
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Matt Kemp had a pair of singles in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Nationals to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.
Our View: Kemp is hitting .293 with 22 steals, 57 RBI and 54 runs. He has just 12 home runs and 110 strikeouts to just 31 walks. If he could develop a better eye and add some power, he will live up to his high expectations. Until then, he is a slightly above average fantasy option in the outfield. |
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| Bergman moves to 1-8 | Sunday 7/27, 8:55 PM CT |
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Jason Bergmann allowed two runs and six hits over six innings, struck out five and walked three on Sunday against the Dodgers. The right-hander is 0-7 with a 3.24 ERA in 12 starts since beating the New York Mets 7-0 on May 15 at Shea Stadium with.
Our View: Like many National pitchers, Bergman just cannot get any run support. His stuff is not bad and he could be relevant with a different team. He has lost his last six starts on the road, but refuses to get getting discouraged about his record. "There's no other way to go about it," Bergmann said. "You can't get down on yourself, your teammates or anybody else, for that matter. ... I'm not going to be a selfish guy and say I wish I could be winning more. My mindset is just to try to do my best to keep the team in the game and try to get wins." |
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| Kershaw gets first win | Sunday 7/27, 8:52 PM CT |
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Clayton Kershaw rebounded from a bad start to throw six shutout innings against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. He struck out 5 batters and allowed just four hits. It was his first victory in 10 major league starts. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time. It's a relief to get it out of the way. I mean, one out of 10 is not a real good percentage. It's a great feeling to get one under my belt, and hopefully there's more to come," said the 20-year-old Kershaw, the seventh overall pick in the 2006 draft.
Our View: This was Kershaw's longest outing in 10 tries. "Clayton's pitch count was very good. That wasn't the reason we went to get him," Torre said. "It was just the fact that he gave us six quality innings and we knew we had some arms down there that could get us to the end." Expectations remain high for the lefty, but he has been inconsistent this far. Keep a close eye on him. |
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| McCann suffers concussion | Sunday 7/27, 8:28 PM CT |
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Brian McCann, who was involved in a home plate collision with Shane Victorino on Sunday, has been diagnosed with a mild concussion and will likely miss the next three to four games. He does not expect to go to the disabled list.
Our View: McCann's unavailability means the Braves will likely place Chipper Jones on the 15-day disabled list with a sore hamstring and call up another catcher. We'll keep you posted. |
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| Infante starts for Chipper, homers | Sunday 7/27, 7:02 PM CT |
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Omar Infante started in place of the injured Chipper jones (hamstring). He was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI.
Our View: Jones thinks he may need to go onto the 15-day disabled list so Infante could be looking at consistent playing time for a few weeks. He hits for average, draws walks and knows how to get extra base hits. He has muliple position eligibility and may be worth a gamble if Jones does indeed land on the DL. |
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| LaRoche suffering from back spasms | Sunday 7/27, 6:51 PM CT |
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Adam LaRoche left Sunday's game with back spasms. He is listed as day-to-day. He was 1-for-3 with an RBI. It's unknown if he will go on Monday.
Our View: LaRoche had been enjoying a rather hot bat as of late but its likely he takes a few days off to get this under control. Jose Bautista will see starts when LaRoche is unable to go. |
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| Victorino comes thru | Sunday 7/27, 6:29 PM CT |
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Shane Victorino hit his third home run since the All-Star break to tie up the Phillies with the Braves. The Phillies never looked back and won the game 12-10. The Flyin' Hawaiian was 2-for-4 with four RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored.
Our View: Victorino may be poised to have a strong second half as the games take on more meaning for the Phillies. He also is responsible for knocking Brian McCann out of the game in a home plate collision. |
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| Blanton's start interrupted by storms | Sunday 7/27, 6:24 PM CT |
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Rain interrupted Joe Blanton's second Phillies start and he was able to collect just two innings of work on Sunday against the Braves. However, the two innings he did appear in were not pretty. He gave up two runs, three hits and a walk to a Chipper-less Braves lineup.
Our View: It's just been one and a half starts, but Blanton boasts a 7.87 ERA since joining Philly. We don't like how snug his new ballpark is and it's fair to expect him to struggle with his new NL team. Why? Because Billy Beane dealt him. |
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| Zito's struggles return | Sunday 7/27, 6:20 PM CT |
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Barry Zito walked five, gave up six hits and six earned runs in six innings against the Diamondbacks on Sunday. He picked up his 13th loss of the season.
Our View: The $126-million dollar man was 3-1 over his last five starts, but clearly did not have it on Sunday. His ERA is back up to 5.80. |
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| Jackson is on a tear | Sunday 7/27, 6:16 PM CT |
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Conor Jackson had his fifth consecutive multi-hit game on Sunday. He was 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three runs scored.
Our View: In eight games since the break, he is hitting .485 with three home runs, a triple and two doubles to go with seven RBI. |
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| Big Unit earns fourth straight win | Sunday 7/27, 6:13 PM CT |
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Randy Johnson earned his fourth straight victory while shutting out the Giants in seven innings of work on Sunday. Despite the shutout, he gave up nine hits and only struck out two batters.
Our View: Perhaps Johnson has determined that striking every one out is not his formula for success anymore. In his last 20 innings he has just nine strikeouts, but three wins. Regardless, it appears he is recovered from a stretch that saw him lose six straight. Expect a smarter Big Unit to hit more bats in the second half. |
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| Garciaparra leaves game | Sunday 7/27, 6:01 PM CT |
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Nomar Garciaparra left Sunday's game with left knee irritation. It is unknown what the extent of the injury is at this point.
Our View: Nomar had been hitting .360 since the break and this is a hit to a Dodgers lineup that often struggles to score. He had been riding a nine-day healthy streak prior to Sunday. We'll be keeping an eye on this. |
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| Uggla finally has a good game | Sunday 7/27, 5:52 PM CT |
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Dan Uggla scored three runs and launched his 25th home run of the season on Sunday in the Marlins' 9-6 loss to the Cubs. Coming into Sunday's game, Uggla was hitting .067 since the midsummer classic.
Our View: Will he bounce back? You would think so, but that game will be hard to forget. His value is probably as low as its been all season. He has 107 strikeouts on the year. |
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| Marquis is shelled by Marlins | Sunday 7/27, 5:41 PM CT |
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Jason Marquis allowed six runs in six innings on Sunday against the Florida Marlins. He walked three and gave up nine hits, three of which were home runs.
Our View: Marquis is irrelevant in fantasy leagues. Once every five starts or so, he will throw a gem but he is simply to inconsistent to keep on fantasy rosters. |
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| Tatis is hitting well | Sunday 7/27, 5:36 PM CT |
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Fernando Tatis came up big yet again on Sunday. He finished 3-for-4 with his second home run in as many nights against the Cardinals. He tallied two runs scored and two RBI on the day.
Our View: Tatis has started the last four games for the Mets and continues to fill in admirably for Ryan Church who is missing time with concussion symptoms. He is 8-for-12 in this recent stretch of starts. |
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| Miller throws side session | Sunday 7/27, 5:19 PM CT |
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Andrew Miller, on the 15-day DL since July 18 with patella tendinitis in right knee, threw a side session in Florida and is expected to throw another one Monday according to the AP.
Our View: He will likely face a rehab assignment before appearing once again in the majors. He has a 5.63 ERA thru 100 innings thus far in 2008. The Marlins are not likely to rush their rookie back into action. |
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| Samardzija earns his first save | Sunday 7/27, 5:16 PM CT |
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Jeff Samardzija pitched two hitless innings for his first career save on Sunday over the Marlins. He struck out three batters.
Our View: You would have to think a blister wouldn't keep a one-inning an appearance pitcher out very long but this is Kerry Wood we are talking about here. Samardzija will get plenty of work until Wood returns, although Marmol will be the primary closer. It remains to be seen how long he will stay in the majors. |
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| Soriano homers in Cubs win | Sunday 7/27, 5:13 PM CT |
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Alfonso Soriano's three-run homer on Sunday tied the game at five. He also scored twice in the 9-6 come from behind victory against the Marlins.
Our View: The home run was his first since June 7 and it appears he is fully recovered from a broken left hand. We all know Soriano can be a very streaky hitter and he may be tuning up for a red hot August. |
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| Blum homers twice | Sunday 7/27, 5:04 PM CT |
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Geoff Blum went yard twice in a spot start during an 11-6 win over the Brewers on Sunday. He now has eight home runs on the year. He finished the day with four RBI.
Our View: Blum is not playing every day and does not warrant any fantasy attention. But, hey we admit it, two home runs is a pretty good day. |
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| Ausmus goes 4-for-4 | Sunday 7/27, 5:01 PM CT |
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Brad Ausmus had four singles in 4 at-bats on Sunday. He recorded two RBI and two runs.
Our View: Good game, but Ausmus still does not figure to provide any fantasy value down the stretch. In fact, if the Astros fall out of contention, JR Towles will likely be recalled to finish the season as the team's primary catcher. |
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| McCann suffers possible concussion | Sunday 7/27, 4:57 PM CT |
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Brian McCann left Sunday's game in the sixth following a collision at the plate with Shane Victorino. He was visibly shaken while attempting to leave the field and will be checked for a concussion. Victorino, the Flyin' Hawaiian, stayed in the game.
Our View: This probably makes McCann, one of the best producing catchers in baseball, a questionable play this week. We'll update the story as more news becomes available. |
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| July's been good to Braun | Sunday 7/27, 4:54 PM CT |
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Ryan Braun went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI on Sunday. He has five home runs in his last eight games and has raised his batting average 25 points this month. He is hitting .632 over his last five games with four home runs and nine RBIs.
Our View: Despite a slow start, Braun appears poised to pass his incredible production from last season. He is hitting .370 this month, compared to just .248 in June. |
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| Peavy strikes out 10 | Sunday 7/27, 4:42 PM CT |
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Jake Peavy struck out 10 batters in seven innings to pick up his eighth win of the season on Sunday. He allowed just one run and carries a ridiculously low ERA of 2.67.
Our View: What else can we say? He's an ace with poor run support. He now has more strikeouts than innings pitched. On a contender, Peavy would likely have 12 or so wins by now. |
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| Ramirez ready to leave Sox | Sunday 7/27, 4:37 PM CT |
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In an ongoing story, Manny Ramirez has now told ESPN Deportes that he would welcome a trade. He was scratched last night in the Red Sox lost to the Yankees. "If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I will not object," said Ramirez. "I don't have any preferences: I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be. My job is to play baseball."
Our View: We don't see him going anywhere, but the wheels are in motion to make this a legitimate story to follow. Manager Terry Francona and Red Sox officers spoke with Ramirez on Friday after the results to test of both his knees revealed no injuries. There were reports in the Boston media that the team was planning to take disciplinary action against Ramirez if he did not return to the lineup for the last two games of the series against the Yankees. It was also suggested during the weekend that the Red Sox management could evaluate the idea of trading Ramirez before Thursday's deadline. manny should make good drama to mix into the Red Sox-Yankees game Sunday night at 8:05 ET on ESPN. |
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| Jimenez wins his third in a row | Sunday 7/27, 4:32 PM CT |
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Ubaldo Jimenez won his third straight while tossing six scoreless innings against the Reds on Sunday. His ERA is down to 3.80 and he has 104 strikeouts in 135 innings.
Our View: The one walk on Sunday is a positive for a young flame-thrower who has struggled with his control throughout the season. He will be a very good contributor to your squad in the second half. In his last three starts he has given up just four runs in 22 innings. |
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| Maholm does it again | Sunday 7/27, 4:27 PM CT |
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Paul Maholm went seven innings of one-hit ball while striking out nine Padres on Sunday, though he was outdueled by Jake Peavy. In July he has a 2.43 ERA, 31 strikeouts and six walks in 37 innings.
Our View: Maholm has just one loss in 11 home starts this season. If you throw out a poor May, he actually has ace-like numbers. However, this is the same pitcher that had a 5.02 ERA in 29 starts last season. It's hard to imagine him keeping his ERA down this low (3.79) the rest of the way. |
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| Pujols registers lone run for Cards | Sunday 7/27, 3:56 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, and registered the Cardinals' only score in Sunday's 9-1 loss to the Mets.
Our View: Pujols' homer was his 20th of the season, and has now blasted one in back-to-back games, with seven hits and four runs scored over the span. |
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| Lohse rocked for seven runs | Sunday 7/27, 3:51 PM CT |
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Kyle Lohse was rocked for seven earned runs on 11 hits over five innings in Sunday's 9-1 loss to the Mets, with one walk and two strikeouts.
Our View: Lohse falls to 12-3, and marked his first loss since May 8, when he also surrendered seven runs (against Colorado). He should bounce back fine, and remain a solid source for wins down the stretch. |
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| Wright crushes 20th homer | Sunday 7/27, 3:42 PM CT |
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David Wright went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Cardinals at Shea Stadium. He hit two singles and a solo homer
Our View: He recorded his 20th homer of the season, and now has 11 hits over his last six games. |
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| LaRoche optioned | Sunday 7/27, 3:35 PM CT |
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Andy LaRoche has been optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, according to the AP. Mark Sweeney was activated from the DL as the corresponding move.
Our View: LaRoche failed to make an impact with the Dodgers this season, as he only hit .203 over 59 at-bats. The acquisition of Casey Blake from the Indians made LaRoche expendable. |
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| Santana claims ninth win | Sunday 7/27, 3:31 PM CT |
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Johan Santana only surrendered one run on six hits over nine innings in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Cardinals at Shea Stadium, with one walk and five strikeouts. The only run allowed came on an Albert Pujols homer.
Our View: Believe it or not, that was only Santana's first complete game of the season. He improves to 9-7, and hasn't been dealt a loss in five straight outings. |
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| Chipper may need DL stint? | Sunday 7/27, 3:18 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones feels that he may need to go on the DL due to his strained left hamstring, according to MLB.com. Jones said, "It still bothers me just walking around. Doing anything baseball-related is a few days away, at the very least."
Our View: The Braves will wait at least one more day before making a decision as whether or not to place him on the DL. |
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| Sanchez leaves game | Sunday 7/27, 2:00 PM CT |
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Freddy Sanchez was forced out of Sunday's game in the second inning due to back spasms, according to the AP. While running out a groundout in the bottom of the first, Sanchez pulled up lame and was removed from the game.
Our View: He was replaced by Luis Rivas at second base. We will keep you posted when more details surface regarding the severity of the injury. |
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| Ankiel held out | Sunday 7/27, 1:49 PM CT |
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Rick Ankiel was held out of Sunday's lineup due to an abdominal strain, according to Cardinals.com.
Our View: He sustained the injury Saturday night during battle with the Mets at Shea Stadium. The club is unsure if he will be able to pinch-hit if needed. |
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| Treanor to see specialist | Sunday 7/27, 1:10 PM CT |
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Matt Treanor is going to be examined by a specialist in Philadelphia on Monday as he is still feeling discomfort in his left hip, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The 32-year-old has been catching some bullpens, and was hopeful of playing in a few rehab assignment games. But the injury hasn't been progressing in recent days, and the Marlins are now considering acquiring a veteran catcher in a trade.
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| Reynolds sidelined at Triple-A | Sunday 7/27, 12:46 PM CT |
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Greg Reynolds is out of action at Triple-A Colorado Springs due to an impingement (inflammation) in the back of his shoulder, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View: He is expected to be ready to resume pitching soon, but the team may opt to be cautious with him as he underwent shoulder surgery last year. |
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| Davis called up | Sunday 7/27, 12:38 PM CT |
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Jason Davis has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, according to the AP. He will fill the open roster spot for John Van Benschoten, who was sent back to the minors.
Our View: Davis could take Van Benschoten's next turn in the Pirates' rotation, which is scheduled for Friday against the Cubs. Davis allowed 42 hits and 24 earned runs over 37 innings of relief with time spent between Cleveland and Seattle last season, and only merits fantasy consideration in deeper NL-only leagues. |
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| Collazo recalled | Sunday 7/27, 12:30 PM CT |
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Lefty reliever Willie Collazo has been recalled from Triple-A New Orleans, according to Newsday. Brandon Knight has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move.
Our View: He has been brought in to aid Aaron Heilman in the bullpen, who the club feels has been overworked. He isn't expected to stick with the club long, and doesn't merit fantasy attention. |
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| Knight designated for assignment | Sunday 7/27, 12:21 PM CT |
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Brandon Knight has been designated for assignment by the Mets, according to Newsday. The team recalled lefty Willie Collazo from Triple-A New Orleans as the adjoining move.
Our View: If Knight clears waivers, he will be able to pitch for Team USA in the Olympics. |
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| Pedro could pitch Friday | Sunday 7/27, 12:16 PM CT |
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The NY Daily News indicates that Pedro Martinez could return to the Mets' rotation Friday against the Astros.
Our View: He should return home from the Dominican Republic around Tuesday, in time to throw a bullpen session. If so, he could be on a pitch count of between 70-80 against Houston. |
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| Owings to return to rotation | Sunday 7/27, 11:39 AM CT |
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Following a short stint in the bullpen, Micah Owings is slated to return to the starting rotation on Monday against the Padres, according to the Arizona Republic.
Our View: Reliever Juan Cruz is expected to return from the DL next week, so Owings wouldn't be guaranteed regular work if kept in the bullpen. Manager Bob Melvin wants him to start Monday to keep him sharp and effective. |
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| Slaten set for pen session | Sunday 7/27, 11:35 AM CT |
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Doug Slaten, who is recovering from a strained right knee, is slated to throw a bullpen session early next week, according to the Arizona Republic.
Our View: The team noted that he will throw two pen sessions before going on a rehab assignment. He may be ready to return to Arizona at some point in early August. |
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| Gallardo throws off flat ground | Sunday 7/27, 10:26 AM CT |
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Yovani Gallardo, who is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, has started throwing off flat ground, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Our View: There remains no set date for him to begin throwing off a mound, but he remains on schedule in his program of physical therapy. There remains a chance that Gallardo will be able to pitch again in September, though he might be limited to relief work as a precaution against overuse.
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| Penny getting closer | Sunday 7/27, 9:44 AM CT |
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Brad Penny threw close to 50 pitches in a simulated game on Saturday as he continues to recover from mild tendinitis in his right shoulder, according to the LA Times. Penny will have a side session Monday or Tuesday, after which he will be sent to the minors for a rehab assignment.
Our View: He did not report any issues during his session Saturday, and remains on pace to return to the Dodgers in early August. He could provide a boost to fantasy lineups during the stretch run at the playoffs, and should remain stashed away until he returns. |
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| DeWitt demoted | Sunday 7/27, 9:39 AM CT |
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Blake DeWitt has been demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas to clear a roster spot for Casey Blake, according to the LA Times. DeWitt said, "It's understandable. You don't produce, it's not going to be in your favor."
Our View: DeWitt was the NL rookie of the month in May, when he belted .322 with five home runs and 18 RBI. But over the cource of his next 40 games, he hit a dismal .200 with six RBI.
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| Guzman gets X-ray results | Sunday 7/27, 9:02 AM CT |
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Cristian Guzman's X-ray revealed a contusion to his sore right thumb, according to MLB.com.
Our View: He sat out Saturday, and will miss Sunday's game as well due to the ailment. He is considered day-to-day, and shouldn't need a stint on the DL. |
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| Fogg set to return Sunday | Sunday 7/27, 8:41 AM CT |
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Josh Fogg is feeling better after being hit in the lip by a Joey Votto line drive in batting practice earlier in the week, and is ready to return to the Reds' rotation Sunday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Our View: Fogg was solid in his last start as he only allowed one earned run against the Mets, and is worth consideration for NL-only leagues for Sunday. |
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| Harang still recovering | Sunday 7/27, 8:35 AM CT |
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Aaron Harang is still recovering from his right forearm strain, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Manager Dusty Baker said he was going to throw for a second day and then take a day off, and added, "I talked to him earlier. He's doing good. He says he feels a lot better."
Our View: Harang needs time to regain his arm strength, and will be out until at least early August. Keep him reserved on your fantasy rosters. |
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| Van Benschoten could be demoted | Sunday 7/27, 8:07 AM CT |
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John Van Benschoten was rocked for seven earned runs over a mere 1.2 innings in his start against the Padres Saturday, and could be sent back down to the minors, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Manager John Russell said, "He didn't throw well. Not a lot to say."
Our View: His dreadful outing forced an already over-worked bullpen to throw 7.1 innings. With that said, the source indicates that the Pirates could call up a reliever today from Triple-A Indianapolis, likely Marino Salas again. Jeff Karstens is a candidate to take Van Benschoten's next turn in the rotation if sent down. |
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| Paulino making progress | Sunday 7/27, 7:57 AM CT |
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Felipe Paulino is making progress in his recovery from a pinched nerve in his upper right arm, according to the Houston Chronicle. He threw a bullpen session Saturday for the first time since spring training, and will throw another bullpen Monday before pitching simulated games Wednesday and Saturday. He said, "I’m feeling great. This is the first time (since he was injured) I’ve thrown my slider and curveball on the hill. I felt strong and mechanically was making progress. It’s just a matter of time before I’m ready for a game."
Our View: If all goes favorably without a setback, he will be sent out on a rehab assignment. He could be back in Houston at some point in mid-August. |
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| Wolf set for Astros' debut | Sunday 7/27, 7:52 AM CT |
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Randy Wolf is set to take the hill in his Astros' debut on Saturday against the Brewers, according to the Houston Chronicle. Wolf said, "Basically I’m going to go out there and do the best I can, do my job and try to get this hot team out."
Our View: Wolf was 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with San Diego this season, and could benefit from a fresh start with Houston, but not likely enough to make him fantasy worthy. |
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| Wainwright throws pen session | Sunday 7/27, 7:29 AM CT |
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Adam Wainwright, who is recovering from a sprained right middle finger, threw 55 pitches in a bullpen session at Shea Stadium on Saturday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He worked in the first six or seven breaking balls he has thrown in seven weeks. He stated that he wasn't pleased with his control but it was the first time that he "really juiced it." He was instructed not to throw any curveballs.
Our View: Wainwright will take two days off, increase intensity in a bullpen session Tuesday and then the Cardinals will take a look at targeting his return, and what role he will have with the club. If he doesn't start, he will be considered to close. |
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