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| Kent homers in the 10th, but Giants win | Saturday 8/9, 11:55 PM CT |
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Barry Bonds showed up before the game and challenged Dodger manager Joe Torre, and then his Giants made good in 10 innings to get the 3-2 win, though a homer off the bat of Bonds' favorite second baseman, Jeff Kent, in the 10th inning made it interesting. Kent went 2-for-4 on the night with his 11th homer of the season, totaling one RBI and one run scored on the night.
Our View: Kent is hitting .360 thus far through August and carries four RBIs over his last two games forward. He hasn't hit with the power we tend to expect this season, but tonight he found it when it mattered. |
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| Haren takes rare loss | Saturday 8/9, 11:47 PM CT |
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With Arizona taking the fall in depressing fashion against the Braves, 11-4, ace Dan Haren has taken a loss, pitching 5 1/3 innings with six runs (all earned) on 10 hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: Haren drops to 12-6 on the season with an ERA of 3.00. This is his first loss in six starts, though his last four outings have gotten progressively shorter with more runs surrendered than the previous game in each. |
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| Jurrjens hurls a winner versus Arizona | Saturday 8/9, 11:42 PM CT |
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The Braves relied on bats for the win, beating up on the Diamondbacks 11-4, though RHP Jair Jurrjens put forth a solid effort on the mound. Jurrjens pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: Jurrjens moves to 11-7 on the season with an ERA of 3.18. He has allowed three earned runs in each of his last three outings with eight walks and 11 strikeouts along the way. |
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| McCann homers in win over 'Zona | Saturday 8/9, 11:32 PM CT |
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The Braves remembered to pack their bats tonight as they visited Dan Haren and the Arizona Diamondbacks, turning 14 hits into 11 runs for the 11-4 win. The man of worth was catcher Brian McCann, going 2-for-5 at the dish with his 21st homer of the season to total four RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: McCann is stroking it of late, hitting .333 in July and sporting an average of .346 thus far through August. He also added his fourth stolen base of the season. |
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| Cook falls versus Padres | Saturday 8/9, 11:22 PM CT |
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He started as the ace of the staff but is falling like a brick in the second half as the Rockies fall out of the NL West race. Likewise, starter Aaron Cook has fallen 8-3 to the Padres this evening, pitching just 5 2/3 innings to allow six runs (all earned) on 10 hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
Our View: Cook falls to 14-8, suffering consecutive losses for the first time since June. Thus far this month, he has surrendered 11 total earned runs. |
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| Maddux gets another win | Saturday 8/9, 11:19 PM CT |
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While rumors swirl of a potential move, San Diego RHP Greg Maddux keeps on keeping on, going six innings to allow just two runs (both earned) on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts in the 8-3 win over the Rockies.
Our View: The Dodgers are rumored to be pursuing Maddux after he cleared waivers, but tonight he was getting it done once again for the Padres. That's three consecutive wins for the veteran hurler (certainly helping his value), touting just one walk versus nine strikeouts over the span. |
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| Kouzmanoff, Gonzalez push win for Padres | Saturday 8/9, 11:14 PM CT |
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The Padres and Rockies are hoping to find a way to fight with the Dodgers, but tonight the Rocks would have been happy just to compete, falling 8-3 to San Diego thanks to the bats of corner infielders Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff. Gonzalez went 2-for-5 with his 28th homer of the season to total two RBIs and two runs scored while Kouz went 3-for-5 witih one RBI and two runs scored.
Our View: Gonzalez continues to keep a hot bat, already touting three home runs through August. Kouzmanoff carries two homers of his own, though his .281 average is considerably better. |
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| Holliday tries to keep Colorado right | Saturday 8/9, 11:09 PM CT |
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The Padres and Rockies continued to battle in the NL West with the Pads finding the path to victory, winning 8-3 despite the best efforts of Colorado outfielder Matt Holliday. Holliday went 2-for-4 at the dish with two runs scored.
Our View: Holliday continues to show and prove despite his team's struggles to maintain, hitting .382 through August with four homers and six RBIs already earned this month. |
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| Another win for Liriano | Saturday 8/9, 10:54 PM CT |
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Minnesota LHP Francisco Liriano may not have enjoyed the same sense of accomplishment that followed his 2008 debut, but he is likely to be proud of the final result as his Twins put the Royals down for the count, 7-3. Liriano pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (all earned) over six his with two walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: The win in his return from injury showcased strong abilities, but it is wise to anticipate slight falls like this. We will see he pitches moving forward, though tonight proves reason for minor worry. |
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| Young homers in win over KC | Saturday 8/9, 10:47 PM CT |
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The Twins traveled to Kansas City this evening and picked up a much-needed victory, taking the Royals 7-3. For Minnesota, the heavy lifting was done by outfielder Delmon Young, going 2-for-4 with his fifth homer of the season, totaling two RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: It's been a little bit of a slow start for Young in August, but he has the tools needed to improve. If he can get his power numbers up, he'll be fine. |
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| Another win for Galarraga | Saturday 8/9, 10:38 PM CT |
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Detroit RHP Armando Galarraga didn't go too deep in tonight's 10-2 win over Oakland, but he was effective, pitching 5 2/3 innings to allow two runs (both earned) on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: Galarraga gets the win, moving to 10-4 on the season with a very respectable 3.23 ERA. He now carries three wins over his last four starts, giving up just seven earned runs along the way. |
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| Cabrera homers twice in win over Athletics | Saturday 8/9, 10:33 PM CT |
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Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera was on his best behavior at the plate this evening as the Tigers put the Oakland Athletics to bed, 10-2. Cabrera hit not one but two homers to go 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Cabrera continues to rip the ball, hitting .330 with eight homers and a whopping 31 RBIs through July and starting with an average of .333 with two homers and eight RBIs through the early going in August. |
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| Polanco goes 3-for-4 in Detroit win over A's | Saturday 8/9, 10:29 PM CT |
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The Oakland A's put up 10 hits on the night but failed to turn the bulk of them into runs, falling 10-2 to Detroit. That left Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco to serve as the voice of reason, going 3-for-4 at the plate with his 28th double of the season as well as his fifth stolen base to finish with one run scored.
Our View: Polanco has improved over disappointing returns last month, hitting just .274 with one home run and nine RBIs through July, to stroke an average of .323 with two homers and five RBIs through the early battles of August. |
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| Beltran homers in win over FLA | Saturday 8/9, 10:20 PM CT |
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The Mets managed to find just enough hits to put the Marlins to bed, winning 8-6 with a little bit of help from outfielder Carlos Beltran. Beltran went 3-for-3 at the dish with one walk and his 16th homer of the season, totaling three RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: After hitting just .248 with thee homers and 18 RBIs last month, Beltran has picked up the pieces and started hot in August, hitting .321 for August coming into tonight's matchup. |
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| Jacobs hits two doubles, homer vs Mets | Saturday 8/9, 10:17 PM CT |
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The Mets and Marlins entertained with more than a few offensive feats of wonder this evening, though it was the hometown Mets pulling the 8-6 win. For Florida, the man of the hour was first baseman Mike Jacobs, going 3-for-3 with a walk, two doubles, and his 24th homer of the season, totaling three RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Jacobs is hitting just .158 thus far through August, this being his first multi-hit performance since July 27th. |
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| Third consecutive win for Moehler | Saturday 8/9, 9:54 PM CT |
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Astros RHP Brian Moehler was once again working as a force of reckoning for Houston this evening, supporting his team's 3-1 win over the Reds with a strong performance off the mound. Moehler pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: Moehler moves to 8-4 on the season, touting four wins over his last six starts with three consecutive wins heading forward. In his last three starts, he's allowed a combined total of three earned runs over 20 2/3 innings. |
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| Arroyo plays well but suffers the loss | Saturday 8/9, 9:49 PM CT |
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The Reds failed to take advantage of the strong outing from RHP Bronson Arroyo, falling 3-1 to the Houston Astros. Arroyo pitched six innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.
Our View: Arroyo takes the loss, falling to 10-9 on the season with an ERA of 5.44. He was 4-1 through July and now stands at 1-1 in August. |
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| Mora homers in win over Texas | Saturday 8/9, 9:42 PM CT |
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Baltimore third baseman Melvin Mora was on his mark this evening, going 2-for-5 at the dish with his 16th homer of the season, totaling four RBIs and one run scored on the night.
Our View: Mora hit .311 with five homers for 26 RBIs last month and is well on his way to matching, if not surpassing, those numbers this season, hitting .400 thus far through August. |
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| Markakis homers in win | Saturday 8/9, 9:36 PM CT |
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While Baltimore RHP Daniel Cabrera was getting work done on the hill, outfielder Nick Markakis was doing work off of it, going 2-for-3 with two walks and his 17th homer of the season to total three RBIs and two runs scored in the Orioles' 9-0 loss to the Texas Rangers.
Our View: Markakis was productive in July (hitting .317 with thee homers and 16 RBIs), but thus far in August he is on fire, hitting. .387 coming in with thee homers and nine RBIs over his last four games. |
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| Cabrera looks good vs Texas | Saturday 8/9, 9:31 PM CT |
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Baltimore RHP Daniel Cabrera had a full passion bucket working off the mound tonight, pulling the 9-0 win over the Texas Rangers. Cabrera pitched six innings, allowing just four hits, three walks, and three strikeouts through the shutout performance.
Our View: Cabrera moves to 8-7 on the season, touting an ERA of 4.78. This is just his second win over his last seven starts, a stretch that has allowed his ERA to explode. |
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| Another win for Matsuzaka | Saturday 8/9, 9:25 PM CT |
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Boston RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka enjoyed another strong effort on the road this evening, maintaining a perfect road record to get the 6-2 win over the White Sox. Matsuzaka pitched eight innings, allowing just one run over four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: Matsuzaka improves to 13-2 with an ERA of 2.90, going 4-1 since his last no-decision finish on July 7th. He's allowed just three homers over that span with 15 combined walks and 28 total strikeouts. |
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| Ellsbury goes 3-for-4 with homer vs Chicago | Saturday 8/9, 9:19 PM CT |
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Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury enjoyed a strong night of production in the Red Sox's 6-2 win over the White Sox, going 3-for-4 with his seventh homer of the season to total one RBI and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: After struggling through July, Ellsbury has found his groove hitting in the late part of the order, hitting .353 through early August with five RBIs over his last three games. |
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| Ortiz drives in three vs Chicago | Saturday 8/9, 9:15 PM CT |
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A plethora of offense and a devastating injury to the opposing starter allowed the Boston Red Sox to enjoy a booming offensive effort, getting the 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. The effort was led by designated hitter David Ortiz, going 3-for-5 at the plate to total three RBIs and one run scored on the night.
Our View: Ortiz was hitting a miserable .107 through August coming into tonight and has homered just once since returning from injury. |
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| Myers gets the win | Saturday 8/9, 9:08 PM CT |
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Philadelphia RHP Brett Myers enjoyed another strong day on teh mound, getting the win by a score of 4-2 over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Myers pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Our View: Myers moves to 5-9 on the season with an ERA of 5.09. In four starts since returning from injury, Myers has allowed just six combined earned runs with seven total walks and 13 strikeout. |
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| Rollins strokes two triples in win over Pitt | Saturday 8/9, 9:04 PM CT |
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The Phillies took full advantage of a lackluster effort from Pittsburgh, getting the 4-2 win over the Pirates with a strong effort from shortstop Jimmy Rollins . Rollins went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, hitting two triples and stealing his 29th base of the season to total two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Rollins has struggled a bit in the early battles of August, hitting jut .231 with no RBIs and just one run scored coming into tonight's battle. If he finds his groove, he should continue to produce quality numbers fantasy owners can enjoy. |
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| Snell suffers with no offense | Saturday 8/9, 8:59 PM CT |
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The lack of offense in Pittsburgh's 4-2 loss to Philly resulted in another disappointing result for Ian Snell, pitching six innings to allow three runs (all earned) on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: This is one of the better outings Snell has put forth in recent weeks, but if there is no offense to support the cause, it doesn't matter. |
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| McLouth working to overcome | Saturday 8/9, 8:56 PM CT |
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The Pirates and Phillies did battle in the City of Brotherly Love this evening, but the Pirates are not likely to be feeling the warmth after a frustrating 4-2 loss. Outfielder Nate McLouth continues to work as the force of reckoning for Pitt, going 2-for-4 at the dish with his 36th double of the season, totaling one RBI and one run scored on the night.
Our View: McLouth hasn't homered since July 28th and now carries just two RBIs thus far this month. Of course, if there were players getting on base around him, it would help. |
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| Hardy homers in win over Nats | Saturday 8/9, 8:47 PM CT |
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While the pitching was the story of the night in the Brewers' 6-0 win over Washington, shortstop J.J. Hardy did his part to support the cause. Hardy went 2-for-5 at the dish, hitting his 17th homer of the season to total one RBI and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Hardy was phenominal in July, hitting .339 with nine homers and 21 RBIs on the month. Thus far in August he is taking time to warm up, hitting just .222 but touting four hits, including two homers, over his last three games. |
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| Complete game win for Sheets | Saturday 8/9, 8:43 PM CT |
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The Nationals failed to produce any semblance of productivity at the plate this evening, posting just five total hits in the 6-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers owe it all to starter Ben Sheets , going the complete game to earn his 11th win of the season, failing to walk a single batter and striking out six.
Our View: Sheets moves to 11-5 on the season with a 2.95 ERA. He had suffered three losses over his last five starts coming in, leading to worries that his arm may be suffering from fatigue. Tonight Sheets was on point, pitching his fourth complete game of the season. |
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| Contreras done for '08, possibly forever | Saturday 8/9, 8:13 PM CT |
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Updating news on White Sox hurler Jose Contreras and his Achilles injury, doctors confirm a full rupture of the tendon has occured, definitively ending his 2008 season and possibly his career, according to ChicagoSports.com.
Our View: There is no word on when he will have surgery, but athletes take months to recover. He will be 37-years-old next season and although he is one of the best-conditioned athletes on the White Sox, Contreras may not be able to recover. |
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| Young leaves, but why? | Saturday 8/9, 8:10 PM CT |
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Texas shortstop Michael Young has left tonight's game, but no one is reporting why, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Our View: Travis Metcalf now playing third. Ramon Vazquez at short. We will update as news comes forth. |
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| Lee out with hand injury | Saturday 8/9, 8:07 PM CT |
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Houston slugger Carlos Lee , the National League's RBI leader, left the Astros' game at Cincinnati in the third inning Saturday night with an apparent injury to his left pinky finger after getting hit by a pitch, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: The left fielder, who reached the 100-RBI level for the fourth consecutive season on Friday night and leads the NL in that category, was hit by a pitch from Bronson Arroyo with Lance Berkman on first base, two outs and Houston leading 1-0. What looked like blood was seen on Lee's left pinkie finger when his batting glove was pulled off. Lee will be reevaluated on Monday. |
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| Maddux to Dodgers??? | Saturday 8/9, 7:55 PM CT |
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San Diego Padres' starter Greg Maddux cleared waivers on Thursday and the Dodgers remain very interested in acquiring the future Hall of Famer, according to ESPN.com.
Our View: There was no indication whether the Dodgers had contacted the Padres about a possible deal on Thursday, but we anticipate there will be news coming forth on this in the very near future. Teams are preparing for the stretch towards the playoffs and a veteran arm this reliable is not easy to find. The Dodgers may head the pack, but other teams may come calling (though we can't imagine Maddux working in the American League). Stay tuned. |
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| Garcia close to return | Saturday 8/9, 7:52 PM CT |
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A day after auditioning for about 15 major league clubs in Florida, pitcher Freddy Garcia hopes to make a decision "quickly" on where he will be pitching for the rest of this season, his agent said Wednesday, according to ESPN.com.
Our View: Agent Peter Greenberg told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick that Garcia would prefer to sign a contract for the rest of 2008, show that he's fully recovered from shoulder surgery, then go on the open market as a free agent in November. Ideally, Garcia would like to pick his destination by the end of the weekend. Garcia, 33, pitched only 58 innings for the Phillies in 2007 before going down with season-ending shoulder surgery. Now that his rehab is almost complete, he's likely to be a popular target for teams that need pitching help and were unable to fill their needs by the trade deadline. The Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, Tigers, Rangers, Mets, Phillies, Astros, Brewers, Cubs, Rockies and Dodgers sent scouts to watch Garcia's workout at the University of Miami on Tuesday. It's believed that representatives from Florida and the White Sox were also on hand for his open audition. |
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| Wagner plays catch | Saturday 8/9, 7:49 PM CT |
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Ailing Mets closer Billy Wagner , working his way back from a strained left forearm, played catch before the game, according to ESPN.com.
Our View: The Mets placed Wagner on the 15-day DL on August 5th due to a left forearm strain. While out, Aaron Heilman is getting work in the 9th. However, today indicates Wagner is doing well and is set to return on schedule. |
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| Braun pulled with back pain | Saturday 8/9, 7:45 PM CT |
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All-star left-fielder Ryan Braun was pulled from the Brewers' game against Washington on Saturday night because of tightness in his lower back, according to ESPN.com.
Our View: Braun was replaced by pinch-hitter Gabe Kapler in the bottom of the third inning. There was no immediate word on the seriousness of the injury. |
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| Contreras ruptures Achilles | Saturday 8/9, 7:43 PM CT |
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White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras ruptured his left Achilles' tendon and left Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: With two outs and a man on second, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a sharp grounder to first base. Contreras got a late start to cover the base and couldn't handle Nick Swisher's wide throw. Contreras ran past the bag, then fell to the ground at the end of the infield while trying to avoid Ellsbury. Contreras writhed in pain on the ground, clutching his ankle. He needed help to walk off the field. D.J. Carrrasco relieved him and got out of the inning with no runs. Contreras was activated before the game. He had been on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow tendinitis and hadn't started since July 13 at Texas. We will update news as the severity of the injury comes forth. |
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| Wellemeyer gets the win | Saturday 8/9, 7:05 PM CT |
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The Cardinals enjoyed a rather productive day at Wrigley this afternoon, putting a convincing 12-3 win on the board versus the Cubs. For St. Louis, the work of RHP Todd Wellemeyer served as the catalyst for success, pitching 6 2/3 innings to allow three runs (all earned) on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts on the day.
Our View: Wellemeyer gets the win and moves to 9-4 on the season, sitting with a 4.01 ERA. He had suffered three consecutive no-decision finishes coming in, allowing just five combined runs over those starts. Today he gets the spoils of victory and looks to be improving as an arm to fear. |
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| Zambrano continues to suffer in August | Saturday 8/9, 6:47 PM CT |
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Chicago ace Carlos Zambrano suffered the loss today in one of his worst outings of the season, going just 4 1/3 innnings to allow nine runs (all earned) on ten hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Our View: Zambrano allowed four homers, including two in the third with Troy Glaus hitting one each in the fourth and fifth innings. The hurler went 4-1 over five starts in July, allowing just two homers throughout those trips to the mound. Thus far in two starts in August, he has yet to earn a victory, has yet to go beyond the fifth inning, and has yet to leave without giving up at least one homer. |
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| Glaus homers twice in 12-3 rout of Cubbies | Saturday 8/9, 6:42 PM CT |
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It was a tale of two cities as the Cardinals and Cubs battled in Chicago today, but the visitors stole the thunder and put the 12-3 beating on the north siders, an effort largely built on the work of third baseman Troy Glaus . Glaus was amazing with the bat, going 3-for-5 with two home runs on the day, his 20th and 21st of the season, totaling five RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: Glaus smacked seven homers through July and now has three for August, also sporting seven RBIs through the month thus far (though all were posted in just two games). |
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| No decision for Lackey | Saturday 8/9, 6:31 PM CT |
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The Angels got the big win, and no one is surprised with RHP John Lackey on the mound. Lackey pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Our View: Lackey didn't get the win as the offense took time to formulate scoring, but his ERA maintains at 3.15. Over his last six starts, Lackey has gone 3-0 with 12 walks versus 29 strikeouts. |
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| Giese pitches well but no support comes forth | Saturday 8/9, 6:26 PM CT |
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While the Yankees suffered the devastating 11-4 loss to the Angels today, the finger of blame cannot be pointed at RHP Dan Giese. Giese went six innings, allowing just one run on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts on the day.
Our View: Giese has been up and down, both literally (spending time in the bigs and minors this year) and figuratively (failing to impress more often than not, but posting performance like today in between), this season, but today shows he could have a future with the Yanks. If he continues to gain opportunity, the arm is there to do work. |
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| Vlad, Teixeira, Anderson homer vs Yanks | Saturday 8/9, 6:21 PM CT |
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The Angels spared no expense in getting their roster set for the playoff run, and today they served notice to the rest of the league by trouncing the Yankees 11-4. The team's big three, including designated hitter Vlad Guerrero, first baseman Mark Teixeira, and outfielder Garret Anderson all homered in the win, sharing five of the RBIs on the day with two hits each.
Our View: All three players went 2-for-5, though Vlad collected three strikeouts. That gives him 21 homers on the season while Teixeira touts 22. However, Anderson has been the player to watch, hitting .384 last month with five homers and 22 RBIs. Thus far in August, he's hitting .346 with eight RBIs. |
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| Figgins swipes two vs Yanks | Saturday 8/9, 6:14 PM CT |
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Angels leadoff man Chone Figgins was up and running today, supporting the 11-4 win over the Yankees in grand style. Figgins went 2-for-5 at the plate, stealing two bases on the day to total one RBI and one run scored.
Our View: Figgins now touts 24 stolen bases on the season, swiping one in each of his last four games in July and three over his last three this month. |
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| A-Rod, Giambi homer in loss to Angels | Saturday 8/9, 6:10 PM CT |
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The Yanks may have trouble sitting, coming off an 11-4 whooping handed down by the LA Angels today. Both Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi hit homers, but it was for naught as the rest of the cast failed to support the cause. A-Rod went 1-for-3, hitting his 26th homer for one RBI and one run scored on the day. Giambi went 1-for-3 as well, bashing his 23rd homer of the season with one RBI and one run scored of his own.
Our View: A-Rod is slumping, hitting just 5-for-31 thus far in August. However, he touts homers in each of his last two games and is doubtful to spend much time struggling at the plate. |
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| Votto to bereavement list | Saturday 8/9, 5:35 PM CT |
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The Cincinnati Reds placed rookie first baseman Joey Votto on the bereavement list Saturday, according to the Associated Press. At Votto's request, the reason was not revealed.
Our View: Votto is hitting .280 with 21 doubles, 14 HR and 53 RBI. He ranks among the National League rookie leaders in most statistical categories. He is eligible to be reinstated from the bereavement list on Tuesday, and must be reinstated by next Saturday. |
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| Castillo set to return, but Manuel not ready to commit | Saturday 8/9, 5:32 PM CT |
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Mets manager Jerry Manuel said today that Luis Castillo could come off the disabled list as soon as Tuesday in Washington against the Nationals, according to the New York Post.
Our View: This could be rather intriguing as Castillo will be looking for playing time and may find trouble as Manuel has grown comfortable with Damion Easley and Argenis Reyes. Because of the performances of Easley and Reyes, and with the MetsNew York Mets playing well over .500 ball with Castillo not in the lineup, Manuel repeated again today that Castillo will likely be a part-time player when he comes back despite being in the first year of a four-year, $25 million contract. |
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| Matsui improving his running, rehab in minors coming | Saturday 8/9, 4:31 PM CT |
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New York Yankees designated hitter and left fielder Hideki Matsui intensified the running program for his injured left knee on Saturday and is believed to be nearing a rehab assignment in the minor leagues, according to CBSSports.com.
Our View: Matsui, placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 27, ran 90 feet several times. He's expected to run the bases soon. That's one of the final steps before playing in minor league rehab games. Matsui had right knee surgery during the offseason, and decided not to have surgery on the left knee last month an effort to rejoin the Yankees this season. |
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| Back spasms continue to hamper Guillen | Saturday 8/9, 4:27 PM CT |
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The lower back spasms that knocked Carlos Guillen from Friday night's game will keep the Tigers' third baseman out of the lineup for this evening's game against Oakland, according to MLive.com.
Our View: Tigers manager Jim Leyland said this afternoon that Guillen's back remains stiff. Ryan Raburn is penciled in at third base, with left fielder Marcus Thames taking Guillen's spot in the batting order, hitting third. |
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| Rodriguez recalled | Saturday 8/9, 4:02 PM CT |
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Sean Rodriguez was recalled from the minors to take the roster spot of Reggie Willits, who was put on the DL, according to the Orange County Register.
Our View: Rodriguez had an earlier stint with the team and hit under .200. He has no fantasy value right now. |
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| Kennedy under fire for comments | Saturday 8/9, 3:57 PM CT |
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Ian Kennedy got bombed on Friday night against the Angels, and afterward told the media that he "wasn't too upset" about it, which has led to heavy criticism, according to Yankees.com. Manager Joe Girardi plans to meet with Kennedy about his start and his comments.
Our View: Kennedy has been horrendous so far this season, and insinuating he does not care is not the way to get anyone on his side. He simply does not belong on fantasy rosters, either. |
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| Angels fans said to be least loyal | Saturday 8/9, 3:38 PM CT |
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The same formula that said the Texas Rangers had the most loyal fans in baseball also deemed the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fans the least loyal, according to Forbes.com.
Our View: This has nothing to do with fantasy baseball, but it is something that should be of interest to baseball fans. |
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| Rangers fans deemed most loyal | Saturday 8/9, 3:34 PM CT |
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The Texas Rangers have been touted as the most loyal fans in baseball, according to a formula devised by Forbes.com.
Our View: The formula uses "regression analysis", which is way over our heads, but it has something to do with attendance figures and winning percentage, with other variables thrown in. |
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| Willits hits DL | Saturday 8/9, 3:27 PM CT |
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Reggie Willits has been placed on the DL after he suffered his second concussion in six days, according to AngelsBaseball.com.
Our View: Willits made a fantasy splash last season, but he has disappeared this season. |
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| Wood ready to pitch | Saturday 8/9, 3:10 PM CT |
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Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood says he is ready to pitch, one day after being held out of the game with back tightness, according to Cubs.com.
Our View: The injury was not believed to be serious, and that has turned out to be accurate. Keep him in your fantasy lineups. |
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| Weeks out of lineup | Saturday 8/9, 3:06 PM CT |
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Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks will not be in today's lineup when his team takes on Washington, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Our View: Seems like an odd time for Milwaukee manager Ned Yost to take Weeks out, as the second baseman is hitting .333 in August. He is 0-for-3 against Tim Redding, who will be pitching for the Nats, but that is hardly a large enough sample size to draw any conclusions from. |
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| Sizemore continues to struggle | Saturday 8/9, 2:57 PM CT |
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Grady Sizemore had a difficult day against Toronto pitcher Roy Halladay, and wound up going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in Cleveland's 4-2 win.
Our View: August has been a horror for Sizemore. After today's failings, he is 2-for-26 on the month, good for an unseemly .077 batting average. |
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| Inglett gets three hits | Saturday 8/9, 2:53 PM CT |
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Joe Inglett went 3-for-4 and scored a run for Toronto in their 4-2 loss to Cleveland. Inglett led off the first inning with a triple.
Our View: Inglett has been solid, but doesn't do quite enough to be a viable fantasy option. |
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| Byrd throws complete game | Saturday 8/9, 2:50 PM CT |
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Indians hurler Paul Byrd threw a complete game and got his seventh victory in Cleveland's 4-2 win over Toronto. Byrd gave up six hits and struck out two batters on the day.
Our View: Byrd could be a decent option in AL-only leagues, but those in mixed leagues should stay away from him, as there are certain to be better options. |
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| Halladay takes loss | Saturday 8/9, 2:46 PM CT |
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Roy Halladay took the loss, and though he was not as sharp as usual, he still threw 6.2 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out six.
Our View: Halladay continues to roll, but came up a little short today. Don't hesitate to keep running him back out there in fantasy leagues. |
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| Tabata promoted | Saturday 8/9, 2:43 PM CT |
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Outfielder Jose Tabata, the key piece of the trade that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees, has been promoted to Double-A, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Our View: Tabata is just 19 years old, and seems to be on his way to the big leagues sometime in the next year or two. |
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| James sent down | Saturday 8/9, 2:37 PM CT |
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Braves hurler Chuck James was sent to the minor leagues in order to make room on the roster for Chipper Jones, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: James has been hideous this season, just two years removed from an impressive rookie debut. He had no place on fantasy rosters anyway, so his demotion shouldn't have an effect in fantasy leagues. |
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| Soriano tests inconclusive | Saturday 8/9, 2:29 PM CT |
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Tests on the elbow of Braves reliever Rafael Soriano proved inconclusive, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He had another MRI, this time by noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Soriano will soon begin a throwing program.
Our View: If the throwing program does not work, Soriano will likely need exploratory surgery on his elbow. He had been a guy fantasy owners were counting on for saves and K's, but his future is now up in the air. |
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| Upton to begin rehab assignment | Saturday 8/9, 2:18 PM CT |
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Arizona outfielder Justin Upton will start his rehabilitation assignment next week in Triple-A Tuscon, according to the East Valley Tribune.
Our View: Upton felt good in batting practice, which made this move possible. He will be down for at least a week, so those in NL-only leagues who have him will have to be a little more patient. |
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| Wood injures back | Saturday 8/9, 2:14 PM CT |
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Kerry Wood was not available during Friday's contest against the Cardinals, as he has a back injury, according to the Chicago Tribune. The extent of his injury is unknown, but not believed to be serious.
Our View: Wood may not be available to pitch on Saturday, and he had just come back from the DL after dealing with a sprained finger. |
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| Jones throws | Saturday 8/9, 2:01 PM CT |
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Tigers reliever Todd Jones threw for the first time since being shut down with shoulder inflammation, according to the Detroit Free Press. Jones played catch on flat ground and will get on a mound and throw on Monday.
Our View: Jones has little fantasy value now that he has lost his job as the team's closer, although it doesn't seem to be out of the realm of possibility that he could get it back. |
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| Silva lashes out at teammates | Saturday 8/9, 1:55 PM CT |
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Carlos Silva was angry after the Mariners suffered yet another loss, and he lashed out at some unnamed teammates, saying they are more worried about themselves than winning, according to the Seattle Times. "Instead of moving over a runner, they want to get a base hit because of their numbers. Instead of maybe looking for a ground ball, they want to strike him out because of the numbers," Silva said.
Our View: The Mariners are hideous, and it's quite possible Silva is telling the truth. But shouldn't a guy making $10 million with a 4-13 record and ERA near 6.00 keep quiet about other people's performances? |
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| Cuddyer breaks foot | Saturday 8/9, 1:42 PM CT |
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Michael Cuddyer suffered a broken left foot when he was hit with a line drive while on base, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The incident happened at a Triple-A game, ironically while Cuddyer was on a rehab assignment from a finger injury.
Our View: Cuddyer will see a doctor on Monday, and a course of action will be planned. It is unknown how long he will be out, but it won't necessarily be for the rest of the year. He doesn't possess much fantasy value, as he has just three home runs and is hitting .252 on the season. |
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| Atkins loves facing Maddux | Saturday 8/9, 1:07 PM CT |
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Good news for fantasy owners of Rockies third sacker Garrett Atkins: he has consistently had big-time success against Padres hurler Greg Maddux in his career. Atkins is hitting .464 (13-for-28) with two home runs, a double and a triple off the future Hall of Famer.
Our View: Atkins is having a solid August, so look for that to continue in a place where Maddux has a 15.43 ERA this season. |
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| Beltran has favorable match-up | Saturday 8/9, 12:55 PM CT |
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If history holds true, Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran will put up good numbers tonight against the Marlins and hurler Scott Olsen. In his career against the lefty, Beltran is hitting .409 with two home runs and a .500 on-base percentage.
Our View: Beltran has not hit a home run since July 13, so fantasy owners wouldn't mind seeing him get off the snide tonight against a pitcher he has dominated. |
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| Lee should continue torrid August | Saturday 8/9, 12:37 PM CT |
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Carlos Lee is having a completely dominant August, and chances are he continues that tonight. For the month, Lee is hitting .500 (15-for-30), with four home runs and 13 RBI. His slugging percentage for the month is an outrageous .967. Against tonight's starter for Cincinnati, Bronson Arroyo, Lee is hitting .357 with four extra-base hits.
Our View: Lee has the inside track for N.L. Player of the Month, and Bronson Arroyo has a chance to contribute to that distinction this evening. |
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| Waters to start Sunday | Saturday 8/9, 12:32 PM CT |
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Chris Waters will make the start on Sunday for the Orioles in place of Dennis Sarfate, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Our View: Waters was great in his debut against the Angels, going eight innings and giving up no runs. But don't let that fool you into thinking he's a fantasy prospect, because 27-year-old rookies are 27-year-old rookies for a reason. |
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| Mauer struggles against Greinke | Saturday 8/9, 11:58 AM CT |
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Joe Mauer has not traditionally hit Royals pitcher Zack Greinke, who he will face tonight, very well. Mauer is just 3-for-19 off of the right-hander, good for a .158 average.
Our View: Mauer is hitting .250 in August, even though he has a hit in four of the five games he has played in this month. Greinke is tough for most hitters, so Mauer's struggles are not a huge surprise. |
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| McLouth hits Myers well | Saturday 8/9, 11:54 AM CT |
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Nate McLouth has a good history against Phillies starter Brett Myers, who he will face tonight. Though McLouth has just five career at-bats against him, he does have two hits - both of them home runs.
Our View: McLouth has not hit a home run since July 28, but that could change tonight. |
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| Rollins crushes Snell | Saturday 8/9, 11:35 AM CT |
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Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been struggling a bit in August, but he could break out of that tonight when Philly takes on Pittsburgh and pitcher Ian Snell. Rollins has Snell's number, with a career .533 average (8-for-15) off of him. Among his eight hits are one home run, one double and two triples.
Our View: Rollins' August has consisted of a .231 average, but he has been getting on base, posting a .412 OBP. Be sure he is in your fantasy lineup tonight. |
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| Young has tough match-up | Saturday 8/9, 11:30 AM CT |
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Michael Young has a tough match-up tonight when he squares off against the Orioles and pitcher Daniel Cabrera. Young is just 3-for-17 in his career off the righty.
Our View: Young has been scuffling in August, hitting just .219 with an on-base percentage of .286. Tonight may not be a remedy for him. |
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| Wells sent down | Saturday 8/9, 10:43 AM CT |
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Seattle pitcher Jared Wells was sent to Triple-A Tacooma, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The club needed to make room for hurler Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Our View: Wells pitched fairly well in limited relief work, with a 3.60 ERA in five innings. His fantasy value was nil. |
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| Bergmann part of team's future | Saturday 8/9, 10:30 AM CT |
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Washington Nationals hurler Jason Bergmann has pitched well enough that the team has plans to use him in the rotation in the future, according to the Washington Post. "He continues to do it for us, so he can pencil himself in here for the future," Nats manager Manny Acta said.
Our View: Don't let his miserable 2-8 record fool you. Bergmann has been better than that, and sports a 4.13 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. He shows good control, having walked just 27 batters in 106.2 innings. Unfortunately, his record does mean that he isn't up to snuff in fantasy leagues. |
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| Liriano faces easy schedule | Saturday 8/9, 10:20 AM CT |
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Francisco Liriano will face a schedule featuring some of the weakest hitting teams in the majors over his last 10 starts, reports Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. If the rotation goes as planned, Liriano will face Kansas City three times, Oakland and Seattle twice, and also Detroit, Cleveland and Tampa Bay. Oakland, Seattle and K.C. rank 14th, 13th and 12th (out of 14 teams), respectively, in runs scored in the A.L. Tampa is 10th, and Cleveland is ninth.
Our View: Only Detroit, who is second in runs, could be called formidable. This is great news for fantasy owners who have activated Liriano. He threw six innings of shutout ball in his first start, and based on this schedule, more performances like that could be on the way. |
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| Johjima remains on bench | Saturday 8/9, 9:40 AM CT |
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Though he signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension in April, Kenji Johjima has played poorly this season, and has not seen the field since August 4, as Jeff Clement has become the regular catcher, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Our View: Johjima isn't happy about the situation, but what should he expect? He has a .253 on-base percentage and .294 slugging percentage in nearly 300 at-bats this season. Clement at least has power, with five home runs in 145 at-bats. |
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| Pedroia extends road hitting streak | Saturday 8/9, 9:22 AM CT |
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Dustin Pedroia tied Luis Castillo yesterday for the longest road hitting streak, 27 games, by a second baseman since Luis Castillo in 2002, according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: For whatever reason, Pedroia has much better numbers on the road than at home, hitting .335 away from Fenway, but still has a respectable .295 average in Boston. |
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| Reyes designated for assignment | Saturday 8/9, 9:06 AM CT |
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Tampa Bay pitcher Al Reyes has been designated for assignment by the club, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: The Rays now have 10 days to place him on waivers, trade him or release him. He was of little importance in fantasy leagues, having thrown just 22.2 innings this year. |
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