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| Hamels goes seven | Tuesday 8/12, 11:59 PM CT |
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Cole Hamels did not figure in the decision, but he threw a solid seven innings for Philadelphia in their loss to L.A. Hamels gave up just two runs while striking out seven.
Our View: Hamels remains one of the best fantasy options on the pitching mound. He brings it all, though it would be nice if the Phillies offense could score a few more runs for him so he can gain some wins. |
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| Anderson homers vs Seattle | Tuesday 8/12, 11:57 PM CT |
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Angels designated hitter Garret Anderson was at it again this evening, going 1-for-4 against Seattle to post his 13th homer on the season, totaling two RBIs and one run scored.
Our View: That's his second homer of the month for Anderson, hitting .343 for the month of August coming into this evening. |
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| Headley is 1-for-3 | Tuesday 8/12, 11:56 PM CT |
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Chase Headley went 1-for-3 and got one of the Padres four hits on the night in his team's loss to Milwaukee.
Our View: Headley had a poor July, but his August has been solid, and he is now hitting .324 on the month. He also has an OBP well over .400. Headley could be useful in NL-only leagues. |
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| Fielder goes yard | Tuesday 8/12, 11:52 PM CT |
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Prince Fielder his his 27th home run of the season and drove in three runs in the Brewers victory over the Padres.
Our View: Fielder has hit five home runs on the month, and has provided 11 RBI. He is a top fantasy option at the position, and would rank even higher if he could push that average near the .300 mark. |
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| Young doubles, homers in loss to NYY | Tuesday 8/12, 11:52 PM CT |
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The Yankees may have stolen the win in extra innings, but Minnesota outfielder Delmon Young was doing what he could to stop the bleeding. Young went 3-for-5 at the plate with his 21st double and sixth homer of the season, posting three RBIs and three runs scored, as well as his 13th stolen base of the season.
Our View: Young was hitting just .172 for the month of August coming into this battle, but he now has two homers and five RBIs over his last four games. It may serve to get him back on track at the plate. |
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| Baek loses seventh | Tuesday 8/12, 11:49 PM CT |
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Cha Seung Baek had an average start, and it allowed him to lose his sixth game as he went six innings and surrendered four earned runs on seven hits and four walks in his team's loss to the Brewers.
Our View: Baek's numbers aren't nearly good enough to warrant fantasy consideration, and he may not even last much longer in San Diego's rotation. |
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| Rivera suffers first blown save | Tuesday 8/12, 11:47 PM CT |
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The first blown save of the season was suffered by Yankee future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera, giving up a three-run homer to Minnesota outfielder Delmon Young in the bottom of the eighth inning to surrender a lead and force extra innings.
Our View: The homer was one of just two hits allowed by Rivera, an unusual failure in an otherwise stellar season (again) for Rivera. |
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| Suppan delivers another good performance | Tuesday 8/12, 11:45 PM CT |
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Jeff Suppan threw eight solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits in Milwaukee's 5-2 win over the Padres.
Our View: Suppan has a victory in each of his last three starts, and carries a 2.05 ERA during that time. He's not fantasy worthy in mixed leagues, but his recent performances have made him a viable option in NL-only formats. |
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| No decision for Mussina, but a strong outing | Tuesday 8/12, 11:43 PM CT |
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He may have got lost in the shuffle, but Yankee RHP Mike Mussina did worthy work off the mound this evening in support of the extra-inning 9-6 win over the Twins. Mussina pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Our View: Moose walks with no decision, halting a two-game win streak. In fact, Mussina boasts five wins over his last eight starts with two no-decisions and one loss. |
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| Nady doubles, homers in extra-inning win | Tuesday 8/12, 11:38 PM CT |
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The Yankees needed 12 innings to do it, but they pulled the 9-6 win over the Twins with some help from outfielder Xavier Nady. Nady went 2-for-4 at the plate, hitting his 31st double and 19th homer of the season to total four RBIs and one run scored on the night.
Our View: Nady is playing well for the Yanks, hitting .368 this month with four homers for 13 RBIs. |
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| Carpenter will miss next start | Tuesday 8/12, 11:29 PM CT |
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Chris Carpenter will miss his next start, as he has been diagnosed with a muscle strain in his right shoulder, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Carpenter had an MRI that revealed the strain. There is no timetable for his return, but as there was nothing found to be wrong with his rotator cuff, it could be just a short while that he is out. |
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| Tulowitzki goes hitless | Tuesday 8/12, 11:22 PM CT |
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Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki went 0-for-4 on the night, and saw his club lose to Arizona by the score of 4-2.
Our View: Tulowitzki saw his August batting average drop to .250. He still does not have a home run since coming off his most recent trip to the DL, and he has only accumulated two RBI in that time as well. Fantasy owners are surely looking for a bit more. There's still time to be patient with him, but he will need to start producing sometime soon. |
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| Dunn debuts with Diamondbacks | Tuesday 8/12, 11:17 PM CT |
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Adam Dunn had a typical Adam Dunn night, going 1-for-3 with two walks and two strikeouts in Arizona's victory over Colorado. He was lifted in the ninth inning for a defensive replacement.
Our View: This is kind of what Adam Dunn is. Only you can often substitute that single with a home run. But walks and strikeouts are part of his game, and Dunn has done one of those two things 204 times this season. |
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| Jimenez takes the loss | Tuesday 8/12, 11:13 PM CT |
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Ubaldo Jimenez saw his won-loss record drop to 8-11 as in six inning he surrendered 11 hits and four earned runs to the Diamondbacks.
Our View: Jimenez had been throwing well, but has hit a rough spot and given up 10 earned runs in his last two starts. He should remain an NL-only league option. |
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| Johnson wins | Tuesday 8/12, 11:10 PM CT |
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Randy Johnson won his tenth game of the season, leading Arizona to a 4-2 victory over Colorado. Johnson went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out seven.
Our View: Johnson has been fabulous since early July, and has now won six of his past seven starts. He should be a play in all leagues. |
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| Maine to be activated | Tuesday 8/12, 11:04 PM CT |
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Mets hurler John Maine will be activated from the disabled list tomorrow, according to MetsBlog.com. Carlos Muniz will be sent down to clear a roster spot.
Our View: Earlier, Mets manager Jerry Manuel mentioned that Maine could be turned into the team's closer after he makes a start on Wednesday. The situation is still up in the air, and it will obviously affect fantasy teams. We will keep you updated on any news. |
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| Ramirez hits bomb | Tuesday 8/12, 10:52 PM CT |
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Hanley Ramirez got just one hit in four at-bats, but it was a big one, a three-run home run that was his 26th of the year and gave the Marlins a 4-3 lead over St. Louis that they would hold on to.
Our View: What can you really say about this guy? He hits for average, has a nice OBP, he steals bases and hits for power. Basically, a fantasy owner's dream player. |
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| Ludwick remains hot | Tuesday 8/12, 10:49 PM CT |
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Ryan Ludwick went 1-for-3 with three RBI, and was responsible every Cardinals run in the team's 4-3 loss to the Florida Marlins.
Our View: Ludwick is now hitting .395 in August, and his surprising season continues as he has placed himself squarely in the middle of MVP consideration. |
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| Pedroia adds five runs scored | Tuesday 8/12, 10:45 PM CT |
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Not to be overlooked in the dramatic 19-17 win over the Texas Rangers, Boston second bagger Dustin Pedroia was on the mark as well, going 5-for-6 with his 36th double of the season, registering two RBIs and five runs scored.
Our View: Not known as an offensive juggernaut, Pedroia hit .350 last month and is hoping to get back on this pace in August (hitting .300 coming into tonight). |
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| Gregg picks up another save | Tuesday 8/12, 10:44 PM CT |
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Kevin Gregg picked up save number 26 on the season, setting down the Cardinals in order in the ninth inning to lock up the Marlins 4-3 win.
Our View: Gregg has been very effective this season, and has allowed just one earned run to score since July 4. |
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| Lohse loses again | Tuesday 8/12, 10:41 PM CT |
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Kyle Lohse had his start cut short due to rain this evening, but he was ineffective during his time on the mound, going 4.1 innings and allowing four runs on six hits in the Cardinals loss to the Marlins.
Our View: Lohse has now lost three of his last four starts, and has given up four earned runs or more in each loss. He was pitching better than his career numbers would indicate, so it may be that he is simply reverting back to the norm. |
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| Youkilis drives in five versus Texas | Tuesday 8/12, 10:37 PM CT |
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With 17 total hits producing 18 RBIs on the night, the Boston Red Sox have a few players worthy of note, but few found the success at the dish that Kevin Youkilis enjoyed. Youk went 2-for-5 at the dish with one walk and two homers to total five RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Youk is in a zone, hitting .371 on the month coming in, now touting four homers for 11 RBIs along the way. |
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| Kinsler gets Texas off right, but Boston wins | Tuesday 8/12, 10:33 PM CT |
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The Rangers took the fall but blame can't be put on the leadoff man, second baseman Ian Kinsler. Kinsler went 2-for-5 at the dish, hitting hish 40th double and 16th homer of the season to post four RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: Kinsler was hitting just .250 for the month of August coming in, but his two homers in two games with seven combined RBIs looks great. |
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| Oswalt is solid | Tuesday 8/12, 10:29 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt went seven innings, surrendered three earned runs on 10 hits while striking out four in Houston's 12-4 win over San Francisco.
Our View: Besides Oswalt allowing 10 hits, he did walk three, which won't help his WHIP much. However, he picked up win number 10, and his ERA has lowered in each of his August starts to it's current 4.52 mark. |
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| Byrd continues to surge for Rangers | Tuesday 8/12, 10:27 PM CT |
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The top six hitters in the Texas batting order posted a combined 14 hits this evening, led by the continued surge from outfielder Marlon Byrd . Byrd went 5-for-6 to total three RBIs and four runs scored on the night.
Our View: Only one extra-base hit for Byrd (his 18th double), but the guy is as hot as can be. He's hitting .474 this month with 12 RBIs and 14 runs scored thus far. Over his last five games, he's gone 16-for-23 at the dish. |
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| Rowand gets two hits | Tuesday 8/12, 10:26 PM CT |
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One night after striking out four times, Giants outfielder Aaron Rowand redeemed himself, going 2-for-4 with a home run, though it was not enough as San Francisco succumbed to the Astros.
Our View: Shockingly, Rowand leads the Giants with his 11 home runs. He's a decent fantasy play, but there isn't one thing that he excels at, instead offering average production in all phases. |
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| Pence homers | Tuesday 8/12, 10:24 PM CT |
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Hunter Pence came off the bench to hit a two-run home run and wound up going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI in the Astros 12-4 win over the Giants.
Our View: Pence has had a rough August, sinking his average a bit. However, he has had a decent year, with 17 home runs and over 60 RBI. Still, it's not quite what fantasy owners had hoped for after his outstanding rookie campaign. |
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| Ortiz gets Boston going early | Tuesday 8/12, 10:23 PM CT |
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We started with two three-run homers by David Ortiz in the first, followed by eight runs in response from Texas in the fifth, followedy by anotther five in the sixth, only to see Boston score four in the bottom of the eighth to get the 19-17 win. Ortiz finished going 3-for-4 at the dish with two walks, the two homers in the 1st, six RBIs and four runs scored.
Our View: Veteran hurler Javier Vazquez had it working off the mound this evening, pushing his White Sox to an impressive 9-0 win over the Royals. Vazquez pitched eight innings, allowing five hits, one walk, and earning 10 strikeouts. |
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| Bowker could be sent down | Tuesday 8/12, 10:14 PM CT |
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Due to his struggles, the Giants are considering sending John Bowker to the minor leagues, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Our View: Bowker has not hit a home run since July 2, and has hit under .200 in each of the past two months. He has no fantasy value right now. |
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| Vazquez dominates Kansas City | Tuesday 8/12, 10:13 PM CT |
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Veteran hurler Javier Vazquez had it working off the mound this evening, pushing his White Sox to an impressive 9-0 win over the Royals. Vazquez pitched eight innings, allowing five hits, one walk, and earning 10 strikeouts.
Our View: Vazquez moves to 9-10 on the season with a 4.50 ERA. He is 2-1 this month with seven walks versus 21 strikeouts. |
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| Dye homers, drives in three over Royals | Tuesday 8/12, 10:09 PM CT |
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The White Sox put the smack down on the Royals this evening, winning 9-0 with a splash of offense from outfielder Jermaine Dye . Dye went 2-for-4 with his 26th double and 28th home run of the season, posting three RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Dye improves to a .302 average on the season, though his pace ha slowed in August, having hit .341 in July versus just .211 in August. Hoewver, he now carries four homers on the month with nine RBIs and 10 runs scored. |
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| Another win for Burnett | Tuesday 8/12, 10:03 PM CT |
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Toronto ace A.J. Burnett is starting to look like the hot hand in Canada, getting his 15th win of the season this evening as the Blue Jays found the 6-4 win versus Detroit. Burnett pitched six innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Our View: Burnett allowed three homers in the game but overcame the misgivings to get the win. He now carries five consecutive wins, with seven wins over his last eight starts, or nine wins over his last eleven. |
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| Strong outing for Miner goes to waste | Tuesday 8/12, 9:59 PM CT |
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The Tigers had a good thing going but failed to hold on, falling 6-4 on late hitting against the Blue Jays. For Detroit, the work of starter Zach Miner went to waste along the way, going six innings to allow just one run on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Our View: Miner left the mound with no decision as his ERA drops to 3.41. He has earned three wins over his last five starts with five combined walks and 17 strikeouts. |
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| Lincecum leaves with injury | Tuesday 8/12, 9:54 PM CT |
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Giants ace Tim Lincecum had to leave Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros in the fifth inning when he was struck in the knee with a line drive, according to the AP.
Our View: Lincecum had been throwing well, with one earned run allowed and seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings. There was no immediate word on his condition or how long he might be out. |
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| Fourth blown save for Zumaya | Tuesday 8/12, 9:53 PM CT |
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The Tigers were hoping to see a win after scoring three in the sixth, but reliever Joel Zumaya failed to close the door, entering in the 7th inning with two outs to surrender two runs (both earned) on two hits with three walks, never registering an out and earning his fourth blown save of the season.
Our View: Zumaya also picked up the loss, now sitting at 0-2 on the season with a 3.47 ERA. Both losses have come in August since returning from injury. |
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| Lind homers in win over Detroit | Tuesday 8/12, 9:48 PM CT |
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The Blue Jays took a win against Detroit, 6-4, with outfielder Adam Lind doing his part to guarantee their fortunes. Lind went 3-for-5 at the dish with his sixth homer of the season, totaling two RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Lind hit an impressive .379 last month but is at just .231 thus far in August. This is his first homer since July 22nd. |
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| Gordon is out | Tuesday 8/12, 9:47 PM CT |
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Philadelphia receiver Tom Gordon is probably going to be out for the rest of this season, according to Phillies.com. He has an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament, near the elbow.
Our View: Gordon is going to wear a brace and try to rehab his elbow in hopes of avoiding Tommy John surgery, which would cost him all of next season. |
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| Waived Sheff goes yard twice | Tuesday 8/12, 9:43 PM CT |
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The Tigers thought a late surge would get the win, but the pitching immediately fell through to give Toronto the 6-4 win. At the dish, it was Gary Sheffield (the recently-waived Gary Sheffield) doing work, going 2-for-4 with two homers to total two RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: He's still hitting a lowly .223 on the season, but a team in need of power seems likely to give it full consideration. As we saw tonight, he is a beast when motivated. |
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| Cabrera pulls Cleveland through | Tuesday 8/12, 9:33 PM CT |
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With 22 total hits in the game, the Orioles and Indians were happy to do battle with the bats tonight, though the Indians prevailed 7-5. The Indians used shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera as the weapon of choice, going 3-for-4 at the dish with his 12th double of the season, adding one RBI and two runs scored.
Our View: Cabrera has steadily improved and already has two homers in August, just one shy of his season total entering the month. |
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| Bonifacio struggling | Tuesday 8/12, 9:29 PM CT |
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After a hot start, Emilio Bonifacio has been struggling at the plate, including tonight's 0-for-5 performance against the Mets. He struck out three times on the evening.
Our View: Bonifacio's biggest problem is quite simple to decipher: in 52 at-bats he has not drawn a single walk. Not one. He started off with hits in six of his first seven games, but has none since then. If you picked him up on your fantasy team due to his start, feel free to ditch him now. |
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| No decision for Sowers | Tuesday 8/12, 9:28 PM CT |
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The Indians needed a late surge of offense to get the job done, leaving starting LHP Jeremy Sowers with a performance unrewarded. Sowers pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Our View: Sowers walks with no decision and has not registered a win since July 19th. He continues to give up the long ball and now sports a 5.07 ERA. |
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| Reyes steals 40th | Tuesday 8/12, 9:25 PM CT |
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Mets shortstop Jose Reyes went 2-for-5 and stole his 40th base of the season in New York's 4-3 win over Washington.
Our View: Reyes has hit over .300 every month since May, and though he has taken only two walks in August, his value to fantasy owners is tremendous. |
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| Markakis goes 2-for-3 in loss | Tuesday 8/12, 9:23 PM CT |
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It was an offensive duel in Cleveland this evening as the Orioles fell just short and were unable to keep the Indians off the board, falling 7-5. For the O's, it was outfielder Nick Markakis doing work, going 2-for-3 at the plate with his 35th double of the season, totaling two RBIs and one run scored.
Our View: Markakis put up solid fantasy numbers last month and is improving in August, hitting .366 with two homers, nine runs scored, and 17 RBIs thus far. |
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| Perez goes six | Tuesday 8/12, 9:21 PM CT |
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Odalis Perez did not factor in the decision, but he did go six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out five Mets in a game Washington lost 4-3.
Our View: Perez has now not given up more than three earned runs in a start since his last game in July. The Nationals are so offensively challenged that fantasy owners won't get too many wins from him, which makes his value quite small. |
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| Santana wins 10th | Tuesday 8/12, 9:18 PM CT |
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Mets hurler Johan Santana won his tenth game of the year as he went seven innings and gave up three earned runs against Washington.
Our View: Santana has not lost since the month of June, and he has really pitched well as of late. He deserves more wins than he currently has, but fantasy owners will certainly take his ERA, WHIP and strikeout total. |
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| Keppinger in midst of big slump | Tuesday 8/12, 9:13 PM CT |
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Jeff Keppinger went 0-for-5 tonight against Pittsburgh in the Reds 5-1 victory. He made many fantasy owners smile earlier this year, but since coming off the DL on June 22, he is hitting just .200.
Our View: Keppinger hit .206 in July and so far in August he is batting just .122. He was hitting .322 when he came off the DL, but is hitting .259. He is no longer someone to use in any type of fantasy league. |
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| McLouth gets two hits | Tuesday 8/12, 9:07 PM CT |
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Nate McLouth went 2-for-3 with a double and his 14th stolen base, but it wasn't enough as the Pirates were taken down by the Reds by the score of 5-1.
Our View: McLouth's magical season was slowly deteriorating, and he was hitting just .229 in August. He's been great this year for fantasy owners, but don't expect him to produce like he was earlier in the season. |
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| Karstens loses | Tuesday 8/12, 9:04 PM CT |
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Jeff Karstens lost for the first time in a Pirates uniform, though he was still effective. Karstens pitched seven innings and gave up three earned runs on seven hits in his loss to the Reds.
Our View: Karstens has been very good for Pittsburgh and he was solid again tonight. Fantasy owners in NL-only leagues should continue feeling comfortable putting him out there. |
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| Volquez gets victory | Tuesday 8/12, 9:01 PM CT |
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Edinson Volquez won his 14th game of the year by throwing 6.2 innings, allowing one run and striking out five in the Reds 5-1 win over Pittsburgh.
Our View: Volquez had been shaky as of late, as his ERA had gone up every month of the season. This was a solid performance though, and maybe he'll get back on track. |
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| Garciaparra returns | Tuesday 8/12, 8:46 PM CT |
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Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra has been activated from the 15-day disabled list, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
Our View: Garciaparra may be a useful fantasy player, but he just gets hurt too often to be trusted. If you have another option, use it. |
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| Jones put on DL | Tuesday 8/12, 8:42 PM CT |
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As speculated, Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones has been put on the 15-day disabled list with an irritated patellar tendon in his right knee, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
Our View: Jones has been an unmitigated disaster this season, hitting an embarrassing .161 with three home run sin 205 at-bats. Nobody has him on a fantasy roster, so this move will not affect anybody that way. |
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| Detroit moves Willis to Triple-A | Tuesday 8/12, 8:40 PM CT |
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The Tigers have promoted Dontrelle Willis from Class A Lakeland to Triple-A Toledo, putting him in line to start for the Mud Hens on Friday at Richmond, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Tigers officials cautioned that there's still no timetable for a return to the big leagues this season. Though Willis has lost each of his previous three starts, the 26-year-old left-hander has looked and pitched more like a veteran pitcher in his previous few starts after accepting an option to Lakeland in June. He lasted 7 1/3 innings in his previous start on Sunday, taking a 2-1 game into the eighth before giving up a leadoff homer and a walk that later scored. He scattered six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. One start earlier, he gave up four runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings, but didn't walk anyone while striking out six. Willis finished his Lakeland stint with an 0-3 record and 4.50 ERA in six outings, five of them starts. He gave up 30 hits over 28 innings with 11 walks and 18 strikeouts. He made three rehab starts for the Mud Hens in April while trying to work his way back from a hyperextended right knee, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.41 ERA with 16 hits and seven walks allowed over 16 1/3 innings. |
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| Blalock struggling to return | Tuesday 8/12, 8:34 PM CT |
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Hank Blalock may not be coming off the disabled list as soon as he anticipated, but the Rangers are hoping he'll be able to return to the lineup on Monday against the Tigers, according to MLB.com. Blalock went through a rigorous workout on Tuesday at Fenway Park, throwing from third to first, and to second base on the around-the-horn double play. The shoulder held up under those controlled conditions. He also started taking batting practice, yet the team has held him out and continues to stress the health of his arm.
Our View: The hope was to see Hank in tonight versus Boston, but inflammation in his right shoulder continues to be a problem. While Blalock was hoping to avoid it, he'll have to make a two or three day stop in Double-A Frisco on medical rehabilitation assignment and show the Rangers that he's ready to play third base again. Earlier this season he missed more than 2 1/2 months because of a torn left hamstring muscle and right wrist surgery, then developed the shoulder inflammation in just a week after being activated off the disabled list at the All-Star break. The Rangers had been planning to move Blalock to first base, but now are determined to leave him at third because of the presence of Chris Davis. They also want to make sure the shoulder is strong enough to play the position. |
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| Matsui leaves game | Tuesday 8/12, 8:07 PM CT |
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Kazuo Matsui had to leave tonight's game against the Giants due to a sore back, according to Astros.com. Matsui exited the game after the second inning.
Our View: No official word yet on how long Matsui will be out, though the injury is not thought to be very serious. |
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| Mahay status still in question | Tuesday 8/12, 7:53 PM CT |
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Left-handed reliever Ron Mahay is still in the Royals' bullpen, but his availability isn't certain because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot, which causes pain in the heel, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Mahay hasn't pitched since last Wednesday. Hammered that day by the Boston Red Sox, Mahay finally yielded to the ailment which had bothered him on and off for some time. Mahay saw a specialist on Monday and says he feels better. He takes anti-inflammatories, ices the foot and does stretching exercises. On Tuesday, he did some throwing before batting practice. He tells the Royals how the foot feels just before the game so they can decide if he's available to pitch. If he's not back in action during this series, the Royals might opt to put him on the disabled list. |
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| Ortiz leads Boston's 10-run 1st inning | Tuesday 8/12, 7:50 PM CT |
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It's already an exciting night for Red Sox Nation, posting a whopping 10 runs in the 1st inning against the Texas Rangers, an effort built on two home runs and six RBIs by David Ortiz, according to FoxSports.com.
Our View: The six ribs ties an American League record. We'll update the game in full upon completion, but the quick jump by Boston is certainly worthy of applause. |
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| Mauer scratched | Tuesday 8/12, 7:46 PM CT |
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Catcher Joe Mauer was not in the Twins' starting lineup on Tuesday night against the Yankees due to a stiff neck, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Manager Ron Gardenhire said that he had originally slotted Mauer into the lineup, but the catcher informed his skipper of the neck problem when he arrived at the ballpark. Mauer said he's been feeling some discomfort in his neck for the past few days, but it had really stiffened up on Tuesday. Mauer did not take any swings during batting practice, but he said that he hoped to get a little more treatment on the neck and be ready to play on Wednesday. |
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| Cubs game rained out | Tuesday 8/12, 7:38 PM CT |
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The game between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves was rained out, and the teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow, according to Cubs.com.
Our View: Rich Harden will still get a start, but it will come in the second game of the doubleheader as Jason Marquis will take the ball for Chicago in the first game. |
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| Crawford elects for surgery | Tuesday 8/12, 7:36 PM CT |
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Outfielder Carl Crawford will undergo surgery Thursday to fix a tendon problem in his right hand and likely miss the rest of the regular season though there is a chance he could be back for the final games, Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said Tuesday, according to TampaBay.com.
Our View: This is a tremendous blow for the Rays and fantasy owners alike, resulting in the worst scenario imaginable for both. He may return for the playoffs, but that is an optimistic thought at this point. For now, he is done. |
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| Owings moves to Reds | Tuesday 8/12, 7:33 PM CT |
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Pitcher Micah Owings is one of the players that was shipped to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Adam Dunn, according to the Arizona Republic.
Our View: Owings was recently sent to Triple-A by Arizona, and at this point seems to be better at the plate than on the mound. His move to Cincinnati does not change his minimal fantasy value. |
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| Bartlett hitting, not fielding | Tuesday 8/12, 7:21 PM CT |
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On Sunday, the Rays acted confident Evan Longoria and Jason Bartlett would be back on the left side of the infield for tonight’s opener against the A’s. Now Longoria’s on the disabled list, but Bartlett is in the lineup... as the designated hitter, according to TBO.com.
Our View: Rocco Baldelli will be in right field again while Justin Ruggiano is starting in left, indicating Barlett is not yet ready for duty in the field due to a bruised right index finger. |
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| Ellsbury scratched | Tuesday 8/12, 7:13 PM CT |
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Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was originally in tonight's lineup, but he was a last-minute scratch due to tightness and a bruised tailbone, according to the Providence Journal.
Our View: He was hit by a pitch Monday night in Chicago, believed to be the source of the problem, though it is not considered serious. Coco Crisp is now playing center. |
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| Corey goes on DL | Tuesday 8/12, 7:13 PM CT |
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Bryan Corey has landed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: Corey has a 6.80 ERA and has allowed eight home runs in 45 innings. He has no fantasy value anywhere. |
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| Padilla gets MRI, cortisone shot | Tuesday 8/12, 7:11 PM CT |
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Vicente Padilla spent the off day Monday in Arlington having an MRI and taking a cortisone injection for a bothersome joint near his neck that forced him to the disabled list last month, according to the Ft. Worth Star Telegram.
Our View: His status for his next scheduled start Thursday remains in question. Tommy Hunter would be the starter in the series finale against Boston if Padilla can't go. We'll keep you posted. |
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| Rangers sign Korean pitching prospect | Tuesday 8/12, 7:10 PM CT |
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Tae-Kyeong Ahn, an 18-year-old right-hander from Korea, has agreed to terms with the Rangers, according to Ft. Worth Star Telegram.
Our View: Terms were not announced, though general manager Thad Levine said it was for less than the $800,000 that surfaced in reports over the weekend. |
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| Quentin scratched | Tuesday 8/12, 7:04 PM CT |
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White Sox left fielder Carlos Quentin was scratched from Tuesday night's lineup because of general soreness from getting hit by pitches in five consecutive games, according to ChicagoSports.com. He is listed as day-to-day.
Our View: Quentin felt swelling and numbness while taking early batting practice. Paul Konerko was inserted in the lineup and will play first base, with Nick Swisher moving to left field. |
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| Cook will miss next start | Tuesday 8/12, 6:34 PM CT |
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Aaron Cook had certainly not been pitching like the All-Star he was, and the cause of that may be a stiff back that will sideline him for his next start, according to the Denver Post. The team hopes this move will mean he will not have to go on the DL.
Our View: Cook has lost his last two games, and his effectiveness has been waning, which left many to believe he had some sort of malady. Cook's ERA has risen to 3.87, though he has been an asset in fantasy leagues and will continue to be so when fully healthy. |
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| Pennington to get start for Oakland | Tuesday 8/12, 6:17 PM CT |
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The A's are going to give prospect Cliff Pennington the start at third base this evening as they face the Tampa Bay Rays, according to the San Francisco Gate.
Our View: The A's haven't put out a release yet, but Pennington is working out on the field with hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo. Manager Bob Geren tends to put new callups in the lineup and with Jack Hannahan struggling mightily on the last road trip, it's a good bet Pennington is at third tonight. The former first-round pick has been playing there recently at Triple-A Sacramento, and he's been one of the River Cats' hottest hitters of late. To make room on the roster, the Gate believes the A's have designated Brooks Conrad for assignment. |
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| Braun remains out | Tuesday 8/12, 5:59 PM CT |
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As expected, Ryan Braun is out of the Brewers lineup tonight due to his strained ribcage, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Our View: The injury is said to be improving, and a stint on the DL is unlikely, which is sure to thrill fantasy owners reveling in his numbers. |
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| Dunn looking for $100 million | Tuesday 8/12, 5:51 PM CT |
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Adam Dunn is apparently looking for at least $100 million in his next contract. At least, that's what Bronson Arroyo told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I don't know if he told (the media) but he made it was no secret to us that he was looking for $100 to $120 million contract," Arroyo said.
Our View: That seems like an awful lot for a guy who has hit under .250 four out of his seven full seasons in baseball, and he is on his way to another this season. |
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| Garland has bad match-up | Tuesday 8/12, 5:34 PM CT |
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The Angels square off against the Seattle Mariners tonight, and though the M's do not have a great hitting team, they pound Halos starter Jon Garland. Players currently on Seattle's roster have combined to hit .333 (48-for-144) in their career against him, led by Raul Ibanez and his .373 mark, Ichiro's .371 average, and Adrian Beltre's .357 average.
Our View: If you have Garland on your fantasy squad, it may not be the best night to start him. On the other hand, double check to be sure Ibanez, Ichiro and Beltre are all in there. |
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| Lugo recovering | Tuesday 8/12, 5:29 PM CT |
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Boston infielder Julio Lugo is on the road to recover from his strained left quad and has begun taking grounders and getting on the field, according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: There is still no timetable for Lugo's return, but it sounds like he will be back sooner rather than later. His speed makes him a decent play in AL-only leagues. |
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| Hunter can't hit Washburn | Tuesday 8/12, 5:22 PM CT |
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If you have Angels outfielder Torii Hunter penciled in to your fantasy squad this evening, you may want to rethink that. Against Mariners starter Jarrod Washburn, Hunter is hitting a ghastly .175 (7-for-40). In fact, he has more strikeouts (8) than hits off Washburn.
Our View: Hunter has only one hit in his last nine at-bats, and he has struck out five times in his previous sixteen AB's, so it may be time to plug someone else into Hunter's spot on fantasy teams for a game or two. |
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| Mauer out of lineup | Tuesday 8/12, 4:59 PM CT |
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Twins backstop Joe Mauer is out of tonight's lineup against the Yankees and hurler Mike Mussina, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Our View: Mauer is 0-for-8 in his career against Mussina, and the team has an afternoon game tomorrow, so Mauer gets the day off. Adjust your lineups accordingly. |
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| Buchhholz will not start Friday | Tuesday 8/12, 4:55 PM CT |
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Paul Byrd will make the start on Friday for the Red Sox, which is the day that Clay Buchholz was supposed to take the mound, according to the Boston Globe. The Red Sox still have not announced their plans for Buchholz, but he has been so atrocious lately, his starting spot is certainly in jeopardy.
Our View: We're not sure why anybody would possess the young right-hander on their fantasy squad, but if you do, now might be the time to relieve him of those duties as well. |
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| Maine as closer? | Tuesday 8/12, 4:50 PM CT |
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It is possible that John Maine could become the Mets closer after his start on Wednesday, according to the New York Post. It's also a possibility that Oliver Perez or Mike Pelfrey could be moved from the rotation to the 'pen, as manager Jerry Manuel has seen his relievers blow too many contests.
Our View: Manuel said he is debating putting one of the three into the closer role if Eddie Kunz, the team's newest late-inning hurler, fails to get the job done. |
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| Morrow hit hard | Tuesday 8/12, 4:20 PM CT |
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The Seattle Mariners are turning former reliever Brandon Morrow into a starter, and his second minor league start did not go well, according to Scout.com. Morrow threw 51 pitches, going 2.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits.
Our View: Morrow was lights out as the replacement closer for J.J. Putz when Putz was injured earlier this season. Now, the Mariners are trying to mold his nastiness to a starting spot. He will certainly have fantasy value when he is ready to appear in the big leagues in that role. |
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| Sheffield put on waivers | Tuesday 8/12, 4:06 PM CT |
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Gary Sheffield has been put on waivers, and is available for any team to claim, according to MLive.com. However, he remains in the Tigers lineup tonight.
Our View: Sheffield had a tiff with manager Jim Leyland over playing DH exclusively and not being allowed to play in the outfield, but it's unlikely this move had anything to do with that. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that Sheffield is hitting .222 and will make $14 million next year. |
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| Yanks turn to Moose | Tuesday 8/12, 3:54 PM CT |
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Mike Mussina (15-7, 3.27 ERA) will try to end the Yankees current four game skid as he faces the Twins, Tuesday, August 12.
Our View: In a rotation filled with year-long uncertainty, Mussina has been the one constant. Look for the Yankees to rally behind this old veteran. |
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| Kazmir hopes to rebound | Tuesday 8/12, 3:45 PM CT |
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Scott Kazmir (8-5, 3.20 ERA) will face the Oakland Athletics, Tuesday, August 12. Kazmir hopes to rebound from his last start in which he gave up five runs over 4.1 innings.
Our View: Look for Kazmir to rebound against the horrible Oakland offense. |
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| Boston trades for Byrd | Tuesday 8/12, 3:01 PM CT |
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Red Sox acquired RHP Paul Byrd from the Indians for a player to be named later or cash, according to the AP.
Our View: The 37-year-old Byrd (7-10, 4.53 ERA) has won all four of his starts since the All-Star break. |
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| Castillo suffers setback | Tuesday 8/12, 2:29 PM CT |
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Luis Castillo suffered a small setback, albeit not physical in nature, during his rehab assignment. The veteran needed Sunday and Monday off from active duty with Class A St. Lucie to attend to a "personal situation," this according to the New York Daily News.
Our View: The report noted that Mets' officials said it will delay his scheduled return to the team. |
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| Frankie to share in saves? | Tuesday 8/12, 2:26 PM CT |
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The season ending injury to C.J. Wilson means that "Everyday" Eddie Guardado is now the closer in Texas. However, don't rule out Frank Francisco as the Rangers' closer du jour in September.
Our View: After Eddie serves up his share of long balls with his 85 mph fastball and the Rangers fall completely out of the Wild Card race, the team will be looking towards the future. Francisco could be that arm. |
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| Gio to make home debut | Tuesday 8/12, 2:23 PM CT |
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Gio Gonzalez make his home debut tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays. The young left-hander was outstanding in his first start against the Blue Jays, however, the prospect experienced a touch of nerves in the first inning of his major league debut. Alex Rios hit a two-out double and Lyle Overbay walked before Rod Barajas drove a 2-0 pitch into the second deck of left field for his ninth home run of the season. Gonzalez followed the rough start by retiring 16 of the next 17 batters in dominant fashion.
Our View: The youngster has terrific upside, especially with half of his innings coming in pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum. |
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| Reynolds could move to 2B | Tuesday 8/12, 2:10 PM CT |
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