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| McLouth missed second game | Wednesday 8/20, 11:48 PM CT |
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Nate McLouth missed his second consecutive game for the Pirates due to an undisclosed illness, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Our View: McLouth would not have helped the Pirates Wednesday against the Cardinals anyway, unless he could have pitched. Pittsburgh was pummeled by a score of 11-2. |
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| Maholm will not be shut down | Wednesday 8/20, 11:44 PM CT |
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Paul Maholm will not be shut down by the Pirates for the remainder of the year to save his arm, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Maholm is nearing his career high in innings pitched, which was 177.2 last season. He is currently at 168.
Our View: Fantasy owners of Maholm are glad to hear this news. He is a bit of an underrated performer, with a 3.64 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. His eight wins are not inspiring, but he could have more if the Pirates scored more runs for him. |
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| Kouzmanoff goes yard | Wednesday 8/20, 11:34 PM CT |
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Kevin Kouzmanoff went 1-for-4, but hit his 19th home run of the year in the Padres 8-6 loss to Arizona.
Our View: Kouzmanoff has had a nice August, and should be owned in all fantasy formats. Of his 21 hits on the month, eight have been for extra bases, pushing his slugging percentage over .500 in that time period. |
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| Dunn homers again | Wednesday 8/20, 11:31 PM CT |
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Adam Dunn hit a home run for the second time in as many nights, and also had three RBI, two runs scored and two walks in a 1-for-2 night to help lead Arizona to a 8-6 win over San Diego.
Our View: Dunn has struggled this month, especially with his power, but it looks like he has finally broken out of it with home runs in consecutive days, easing the concerns of fantasy owners. |
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| Peavy loses ninth | Wednesday 8/20, 11:28 PM CT |
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Jake Peavy saw his record drop to 9-9 as he threw a poor game, pitching five innings, allowing six runs on five hits and walking four in the Padres loss to Arizona.
Our View: Peavy has been tremendous this month, so chalk this one up to a bad night. His record is not a good indicator of how well he has pitched this season, as the Padres simply do not score enough runs for him. |
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| Haren wins despite mediocre outing | Wednesday 8/20, 11:24 PM CT |
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The much-hyped pitching match-up between Dan Haren and Jake Peavy never materialized, as both pitchers struggled, though Haren and the Diamondbacks wound up getting the 8-6 win. Haren went six innings, surrendering five earned runs on 11 hits.
Our View: Despite his performance, Haren remains one of the top pitchers in fantasy baseball, and will continue to be for a number of years. |
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| Jones misses games | Wednesday 8/20, 11:13 PM CT |
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Andruw Jones missed two games on his rehab assignment after he stepped into a hole on the field, leading to soreness in his knee, according to Dodgers.com.
Our View: We're not sure why the Dodgers Triple-A club has a hole in the field, but it's not surprising that Andruw Jones stepped in it considering the season he has had thus far. |
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| Schmidt set to start rehab | Wednesday 8/20, 11:10 PM CT |
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Jason Schmidt threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is looking to start a rehab assignment in Triple-A sometime next week, according to Dodgers.com.
Our View: Schmidt has not pitched in the major leagues yet this season, and it is still possible that he won't. Either way, fantasy owners should not rush to add him to their rosters. |
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| Buchholz sent down | Wednesday 8/20, 11:06 PM CT |
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Following another troublesome outing, Boston manager Terry Francona announced pitcher Clay Buchholz, who allowed five runs over 2-1/3 innings in an 11-6 Sox loss to the Orioles was demoted to Double-A Portland to work out his pitching issues, according to the Boston Herald.
Our View: Buchholz has never been able to find his rhythm all season. The team has tinkered with his arm angle, but that hasn't worked. The team did not make a corresponding move yet. |
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| Hanley Ramirez injured | Wednesday 8/20, 11:04 PM CT |
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Hanley Ramirez had to leave the game against the Giants with an injury to his thumb, according to FloridaMarlins.com. The injury occurred as Ramirez was sliding headfirst into second base on a stolen base attempt. The extent of the injury is not known at the moment.
Our View: If this is a serious injury, it would be potential disaster for both the Marlins and fantasy owners. It will be impossible to get the power and steals he provides off the waiver wire. Hopefully, it is nothing more than a jammed thumb. |
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| Maier suffers three broken bones in face | Wednesday 8/20, 11:03 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier story, Royals outfielder Mitch Maier left tonight's game against the Cleveland after being struck in the face by a pitch. We have learned he has suffered three bone fractures in his face as a result, according to the Kansas City Star. Maier will be placed on the disabled list before Thursday afternoon’s series finale against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Joey Gathright will be recalled from his rehab assignment at Class AAA Omaha and activated from the disabled list.
Our View: Maier suffered the injury while trying to execute a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 8-5 loss to the Indians. An examination at nearby Lutheran Hospital revealed three non-displaced fractures: to the cheek bone, to the orbital floor beneath the eye and to the zygomatic bone. No immediate surgery is required, but Maier will continue to be evaluated. All initial tests indicted no problems with his eyesight — beyond the right eye being swollen shut. |
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| Orioles option Olson | Wednesday 8/20, 10:59 PM CT |
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The Baltimore Orioles have optioned pitcher Garrett Olson to Triple-A Norfolk, according to the Sports Network.
Our View: The left-handed Olson went 8-6 with a 6.38 earned run average over 108 2/3 innings in 21 starts this season.
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| Estes encountering problems | Wednesday 8/20, 10:52 PM CT |
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Shawn Estes has suffered a setback as he attempts to rehab from a broken left thumb, according to Padres.com. Estes has an infection under a fingernail that is causing him pain, thus delaying his return.
Our View: Estes has had his next start pushed back a couple days, as he tries to rid himself of the infection. |
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| Complete game winner for Millwood | Wednesday 8/20, 10:52 PM CT |
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Veteran hurler Kevin Millwood was on top of his game this evening, going the complete game to help his Rangers get the 9-1 win over Detroit. Millwood allowed just one run on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Our View: Millwood is much closer to the end than the beginning, but he moves to 7-7 on the season with a 5.24 ERA. This is just his second win over his last nine starts, though he touts just 19 walks versus 47 strikeouts over the same span. |
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| Metcalf homers twice in win over Motown | Wednesday 8/20, 10:42 PM CT |
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The Rangers posted nine runs on the Tigers this evening, taking the 9-1 win in impressive fashion thanks to strong contributions from third baseman Travis Metcalf, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, his third and fourth of the season, to total three RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Metcalf may be starting to find his groove, touting three homers over his last three games. He's still struggling to put the ball in play with regularity, but the power in his game is obvious. |
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| Hamilton goes yard once again | Wednesday 8/20, 10:38 PM CT |
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The Rangers made sure to pack their bats for battle with Detroit tonight, winning 9-1 with contributions (as always) from outfielder Josh Hamilton. Hamilton went 3-for-5 at the dish with his fourth triple and his 29th homer of the season, totaling one RBI and one run scored on the night.
Our View: Hamilton continues to hit the long ball, now touting four homers with 11 RBIs and 13 runs scored for August. |
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| Miller closer to return | Wednesday 8/20, 10:27 PM CT |
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Andrew Miller is getting closer to returning to the big leagues as he continues to recover from patella tendinitis in his right leg, according to FloridaMarlins.com. He will make a start for the Marlins Double-A affiliate on Thursday.
Our View: Miller could be back before September 1, but fantasy owners need not worry about that, as he has not done enough to prove he belongs on anybody's squad, regardless of format. |
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| Hernandez drives in three | Wednesday 8/20, 10:21 PM CT |
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Baltimore catcher Ramon Hernandez did his part in the 11-6 win over Boston tonight, going 1-for-3 with his 13th homer of the season, totaling three RBIs and one run scored.
Our View: Hernandez has been fairly consistent this season and continues to provide quality offensive numbers at the position. However, after five homers in July with 14 RBIs, he has just one in August with 11 RBIs. |
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| Struggles continue for Buchholz | Wednesday 8/20, 10:16 PM CT |
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Boston suffered a horrific loss, 11-6, to division-rival Baltimore this evening, giving RHP Clay Buchholz a hard time to get started. Buchholz lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (all earned) on just three hits with three walks and no strikesouts.
Our View: Surprisingly, Buchholz failed to surrender a single home run. He hasn't seen a win since May 2nd and has struggled to get on track over these last few weeks, giving up 14 earned runs over his last three starts (totaing just 11 1/3 innings). |
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| Wellemeyer wins | Wednesday 8/20, 10:16 PM CT |
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Todd Wellemeyer won his third game in as many starts, running his record to 11-4 as the Cardinals beat Pittsburgh 11-2. The right-hander went five innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits and striking out five.
Our View: Wellemeyer has been pitching much better as of late after he went through a rough patch toward the beginning of July. He is back to being someone fantasy owners can depend on. |
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| Doumit raking | Wednesday 8/20, 10:13 PM CT |
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Ryan Doumit went 3-for-4 with a single, double and home run for the Pirates, but they fell to the Cardinals 11-2. Doumit had two RBI and scored a run.
Our View: In the short two-game series, Doumit punished the Cardinals, going 6-for-8. Fantasy owners should be especially happy because he hit his first home run since July 22. |
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| Mora posts four RBI, 30 for August | Wednesday 8/20, 10:10 PM CT |
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The Orioles put on a show for the hometown crowd as they put the beating on the Boston Red Sox this evening, winning 11-6 with a strong effort third baseman Melvin Mora. Mora went 1-for-2 with his 21st homer of the season, also adding his third stolen base, totaling four RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: He may be the hottest hitter in the game today, hitting .459 through August with six homers, an astounding 30 RBI, and 18 runs scored. |
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| Ankiel hits bomb | Wednesday 8/20, 10:10 PM CT |
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Rick Ankiel went deep for the 24th time of the season and also walked as the Cardinals won 11-2 over the Pirates.
Our View: Ankiel has had a tough August as he has been dealing with a strained abdominal muscle. Still, he possesses the power to hit the long ball at any time and is useful for fantasy owners of all formats. |
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| Figgins gets LA off on the right foot | Wednesday 8/20, 10:01 PM CT |
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The Angels needed a bit of late-inning magic to get it done, but tonight they pulled the 5-4 win over the Rays with an assist from the bat of third baseman Chone Figgins. Figgins went 2-for-4 at the dish with his 12th double of the season, totaling one RBI and one run scored.
Our View: Figgins has struggled on offense all season long, and this month has been no different. He has gathered just three stolen bases this month, is hitting just .232, and he has yet to hit a home run this season. |
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| Dickerson cools off | Wednesday 8/20, 10:00 PM CT |
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After a scorching start, Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson has slowed down, and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the team's 2-1 win over Chicago.
Our View: Dickerson has gone 1-for-8 in his last two contests with three strikeouts. He does have fantasy value in NL-only leagues if he keeps hitting, however, as he will provide the occasional stolen base as well. |
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| Fukudome continues to struggle | Wednesday 8/20, 9:56 PM CT |
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Kosuke Fukudome's poor month of August continued in the Cubs 2-1 loss to the Reds. Fukudome went 0-for-3 and left three men on base.
Our View: Even though Fukudome has been warned by manager Lou Piniella to start providing some offense or he'd be benched, that hasn't held true. Fukudome is hitting all of .164 on the month but continues to see playing time. His fantasy prospects are waning quickly, and it is probably time for those in mixed leagues to look somewhere else if possible. |
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| Garza pitches well but Rays fall | Wednesday 8/20, 9:54 PM CT |
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Tampa RHP Matt Garza put his best on the mound this evening but it was just a bit short of need to get the win over the Angels, falling 5-4. Garza pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.
Our View: Garza has not posted consecutive wins since late May. However, in four starts this month he has surrendered just nine walks versus 25 strikeout. |
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| Arroyo effectively wild | Wednesday 8/20, 9:52 PM CT |
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Bronson Arroyo won his 11th game of the season by going seven innings against the Cubs, surrendering just one earned run on three hits and walking five in Cincinnati's 2-1 win.
Our View: Arroyo has had a pretty good August, and has gone 2-2 with a 3.23 ERA. However, he is also walking 4.66 batters per nine innings, so fantasy owners should not put too much stock into him. |
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| Weaver get the win over Tampa | Wednesday 8/20, 9:51 PM CT |
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The Angels and Rays locked it up tonight in an exciting match of baseball wits, but the Angels found a way to win, 5-4, in large part due to the efforts of RHP Jered Weaver. Weaver pitched six innings, surrendering three runs (all earned) on five hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.
Our View: Weaver has struggled with a bit of inconsistency over his more recent outings, going 3-1 over his last seven start coming into this evening, giving up 13 earned runs over his last three starts. Tonight showed he could be a force for the Angels down the playoff stretch. |
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| Lilly takes the loss | Wednesday 8/20, 9:49 PM CT |
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Ted Lilly threw a strong game, going seven innings and allowing just two earned runs on two base hits while striking out seven, but he picked up his seventh loss of the year in the Cubs 2-1 loss to the Reds.
Our View: Lilly has not given up more than four earned runs in a game since April, and he has pitched very well in August. In his four starts on the month, he has given up two earned runs or less in three of them. He should certainly be a guy to utilize in fantasy leagues. |
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| Jeter swinging the torch for the Yanks | Wednesday 8/20, 9:38 PM CT |
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The Yankees put the Jays to bed with relative ease this evening, winning 5-1 with help from shortstop Derek Jeter, going 3-for-5 at the dish with his eighth homer of the season total two RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: Jeter has been on fire this month, hitting .385 for the month of August coming into tonight. Over his last six games, he's gone 16-for-28. |
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| Reynolds to second? | Wednesday 8/20, 9:36 PM CT |
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Mark Reynolds has been taking ground balls at second base during batting practice, according to DBacks.com. Outfielder Justin Upton will make his return soon, and to get the best offense on the field, it could lead Reynolds to second, Chad Tracy to third and Adam Dunn to first.
Our View: Reynolds owners should be happy to hear this news, as he would soon become eligible to play second in fantasy leagues. Which means Reynolds could be replacing a hitter who does not have much power (outside of the Chase Utley's of the world, of course). That would open up rosters for adding another third baseman with the potential for more long balls. |
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| Pettitte gets much needed win | Wednesday 8/20, 9:31 PM CT |
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The Yankees took the Blue Jays to the woodshed this evening, laying down the 5-1 win on the arm of LHP Andy Pettitte. Pettitte pitched seven innings, allowing one run on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: Pettitte moves to 13-9 on the season with an ERA of 4.17, though this is his first win in five starts. |
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| Two homers for Shoppach over Royals | Wednesday 8/20, 9:21 PM CT |
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They had to wait for the relief pitching to come on to complete the feat, but the Indians found the 8-5 win over Kansas City with a late-inning surge led by catcher Kelly Shoppach. Shoppach went 2-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, his 13th and 14th of the season, totaling two RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: After a tremendous month of July, hitting .318 with six homers and 14 RBIs, Shoppach has fallen off the pace, hitting just .214 with three homers and eight RBIs through August. |
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| Meche watches outing go to waste | Wednesday 8/20, 9:15 PM CT |
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Kansas City ace Gil Meche was strong off the rubber this evening, but the relief pitching and offense failed to support his effort. Meche pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (only one earned) on just two hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. He walked with no decision though his Royals fell 8-5 to the Indians.
Our View: Meche went 3-1 through six starts in July and is now 2-0 through four starts in August. His control had slipped in those last three starts, balancing 14 walks with 23 strikeouts. He appears to be back on track and throwing well. |
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| Aviles shines despite loss to Cleveland | Wednesday 8/20, 9:09 PM CT |
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The Royals found another frustrating night at the park this evening, falling 8-5 to the Cleveland Indians despite the efforts of leadoff rookie shortstop Mike Aviles. Aviles went 3-for-4 with his 22nd double of the season, also adding his fifth stolen base, totaling three RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: Aviles is now hittign .326 on the season, having hit .330 in July followed by a .304 effort in August. His run production is down, but such is life as a leadoff man on a team that lacks offensive prowess. |
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| Reds write letter to fans | Wednesday 8/20, 9:07 PM CT |
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The Cincinnati Reds have written a letter to their fans, posted on their web site, that asks them to be patient with the team even though they have not made the playoffs since 1995, according to the AP. "By executing these inevitable changes now, we secured more players as part of our focus towards building a deeper, stronger inventory of young talent," the letter said.
Our View: The letter also said that the team traded Ken Griffey, Jr. and Adam Dunn for the benefit of 2009 and later seasons. It would seem that they still have a ways to go before being back in the thick of things, but they do have some quality young players that fantasy owners could become accustomed to using, such as Edinson Volquez, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce. |
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| Baker surprised at Lohse suspension | Wednesday 8/20, 8:53 PM CT |
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Edinson Volquez and Kyle Lohse exchanged pitches high and tight, but Lohse was the one that got suspended for five games. The punishment seemed to surprise Reds manager Dusty Baker, according to Reds.com. "Five games and they didn't even kick him out of the game. Wow. The umpires don't kick him out but the league suspends him. That's a first, isn't it? I haven't seen that," said Baker.
Our View: Lohse got suspended, even though Volquez actually hit Cardinals infielder Felipe Lopez later in the game. Not to mention that the pitch Lohse threw to Volquez was a strike, as it hit his bat. Lohse has appealed his suspension. |
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| Loney is out of lineup | Wednesday 8/20, 8:47 PM CT |
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James Loney is not in tonight's starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. The team will square off against the Colorado Rockies and hurler Jeff Francis.
Our View: Nothing serious like an injury, it's just that Loney is 1-for-15 in his career against Francis, including fire strikeouts. |
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| Maier struck in face by pitch | Wednesday 8/20, 8:45 PM CT |
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Royals center fielder Mitch Maier left Wednesday night's game after being struck in the face by a pitch, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Maier attempted to bunt with two runners on against the Indians, when left-hander Zach Jackson's pitch appeared to glance off his helmet and hit his nose. Down at the plate, Maier was attended by assistant athletic trainer Frank Kyte, then regained his feet and was led off the field. The Royals reported that Maier was taken to a local hospital for facial X-rays and further evaluation. |
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| Utley has two hits | Wednesday 8/20, 8:42 PM CT |
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Chase Utley went 2-for-4 with two singles as Philadelphia beat Washington 9-0. Phillies hurler Brett Myers threw a complete game shutout, so all Utley had to do was play defense and watch his pitcher mow batters down.
Our View: Utley has really struggled this month, as he is hitting just .224 in August. He does have three home runs on the month, but has not picked up an RBI in more than a week. |
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| Milledge on base twice | Wednesday 8/20, 8:38 PM CT |
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Lastings Milledge got on base twice, with a double and a walk, but the Nationals were still shut out by a score of 9-0.
Our View: Milledge continues his scorching August, and his batting average for the month now stands at .370. He would make a solid addition to NL-only fantasy squads. |
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| Myers throws complete game shutout | Wednesday 8/20, 8:34 PM CT |
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Phillies right-hander Brett Myers has continued his string of great performances since coming off the disabled list, leading Philadelphia to 4-0 victory over Washington by throwing a complete game shutout. Myers scattered nine hits on the night, but walked noone and struck out nine.
Our View: Myers is hot right now, and fantasy owners should be snatching him up off the waiver wire if he is still available. Since coming off the DL, Myers is 3-1 with a 1.97 ERA. |
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| Polanco out again | Wednesday 8/20, 8:33 PM CT |
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Placido Polanco sat for the second consecutive game on Wednesday night with a sore right knee, according to MLB.com. "I was trying to go yesterday," Polanco said Wednesday afternoon, "But I was hitting, and [it hurt] every time I went to swing."
Our View: Polanco was diagnosed with patella tendinitis, and was out of the lineup, replaced by at second base by Ramon Santiago. Manager Jim Leyland had already slated Polanco to rest on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday's off-day, and that plan remained intact. Polanco's knee was already feeling somewhat better on Wednesday, though it was still sore. Santiago filled in for Polanco again on Wednesday, batting second in the order after his two-hit game Tuesday night. |
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| Wakefield nearing return | Wednesday 8/20, 8:31 PM CT |
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After another successful side session on Wednesday at Camden Yards, Tim Wakefield is getting close to being slotted back into the Red Sox's starting rotation, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The knuckleballer last pitched on August 6th in Kansas City before being placed on the disabled list with tightness in the back of his right shoulder. Though manager Terry Francona has yet to make a final determination, Wakefield could return next week in New York, when the Red Sox play a three-game series against the Yankees. |
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| Wright homers | Wednesday 8/20, 8:29 PM CT |
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David Wright did his part to contribute to New York's 6-3 win over Atlanta by going 1-for-3 with a home run.
Our View: Wright now has 97 RBI, and fantasy owners could realistically expect him to wind up with 130 or more for the year. |
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| Chipper goes 0-for-3 | Wednesday 8/20, 8:26 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones had a tough night in the Braves 6-3 loss to the Mets. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against Mike Pelfrey.
Our View: Jones is no longer tearing it up in the batting average department, but he is still hitting over .300 for the month of August. A little more troubling is the fact that he has hit just three home runs since June 19. |
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| Pelfrey throws complete game | Wednesday 8/20, 8:22 PM CT |
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Mike Pelfrey earned his 12th win of the season by throwing a complete game against the Braves. The Mets won by the score of 6-3 behind Pelfrey's nine innings, as he gave up just three runs on three hits while walking three and striking out three.
Our View: That's a lot of threes. This is the second good performance in a row by Pelfrey, and though his strikeout rate is not extraordinary, he remains a solid fantasy option, especially in NL-only leagues. |
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| Lo Duca to play | Wednesday 8/20, 8:18 PM CT |
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The Florida Marlins have installed Paul Lo Duca in their starting lineup, according to the Palm Beach Post. He is hitting second and playing catcher.
Our View: In no way does this mean Lo Duca should be picked up by fantasy teams. He has zero home runs and 12 RBI in 140 at-bats this season. |
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| Thome scratched | Wednesday 8/20, 8:03 PM CT |
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White Sox slugger Jim Thome was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against Seattle as a precautionary measure, according to ChicagoSports.com.
Our View: Thome experienced slight soreness in his right leg but is available to pinch-hit. |
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| Wagner could miss rest of season | Wednesday 8/20, 8:02 PM CT |
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The possibility remains that Mets closer Billy Wagner will miss the rest of the season, according to ESPN.com. Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, said that it will be at least three weeks before he returns.
Our View: Tough luck for fantasy owners counting on Wagner's saves down the stretch. The newly signed Al Reyes could get some looks in the ninth inning in the meantime. |
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| Crawford looking forward to return | Wednesday 8/20, 8:02 PM CT |
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Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford will visit a therapist in St. Petersburg on Thursday, at which time a plan for his rehab program will be mapped out, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Crawford's injury occurred when he checked his swing on a 3-1 pitch from J.J. Putz in the 10th inning of the Rays' Aug. 9 contest in Seattle. The injury was located at the base of the middle finger of his right hand at the joint connecting the finger to the hand. The tendon used to straighten the finger came out of its groove, which caused the finger to lock into position when he bent it downward. It has been speculated that Crawford could return by the team's final series of the season against the Tigers in Detroit, but he could not say whether that would be a realistic expectation. |
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| Kendrick gets night off | Wednesday 8/20, 7:37 PM CT |
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Howie Kendrick, batting just .117 on the Angels' current road trip with two hits in five games, was given Wednesday night off as his team wrapped up a three-game series with the sizzling Rays at Tropicana Field, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Taking over at second base was Sean Rodriguez, who flourished defensively while Kendrick was sidelined earlier in the season with a left hamstring strain. The Angels went 14-7 with Rodriguez in the starting lineup, though he hit .185 with a homer and three RBIs. |
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| Phillies will not juggle rotation | Wednesday 8/20, 7:24 PM CT |
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The Philadelphia Phillies could have lined up their rotation in order to ensure that ace Cole Hamels faced off against the New York Mets, but decided against it, according to Phillies.com. The team has an off day and could have started Hamels on regular rest Friday, but want to give him an extra day of rest instead.
Our View: Hamels has thrown over 180 innings this season, and the team wants to make sure he has enough gas left down the stretch. |
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| Pierre in lineup | Wednesday 8/20, 6:54 PM CT |
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Juan Pierre will lead off and play center field for the Dodgers against the Rockies Wednesday, even though Colorado is putting lefty Jeff Francis on the mound, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
Our View: Tonight is a great night to put Pierre in your fantasy lineup. He is not only hitting .354 against lefties this year, but in his career against Francis, Pierre is hitting .481 (13-for-27). |
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| Royals send Hochevar to the DL | Wednesday 8/20, 6:46 PM CT |
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Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar is heading to the disabled list, perhaps for an extended stay, after suffering a perplexing bruise above his right rib cage in Tuesday's 9-4 loss to the Indians at Progressive Field, according to the Kansas City Star.
Our View: Hochevar remained at a loss Wednesday to explain the cause of the injury, which surfaced as he was throwing warm-up pitches in the sixth inning. The Royals replaced Hochevar by recalling reliever Josh Newman from Class AAA Omaha. |
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| Lugo suffers setback | Wednesday 8/20, 6:41 PM CT |
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Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo's hope of an early September return took a considerable blow on Wednesday, when he pulled his left quadriceps during some afternoon running, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Lugo severely strained the quad on July 11 while running out a grounder and had recently made significant progress. On Monday, Lugo took batting practice for the first time since suffering the injury and even speculated he could go on a Minor League rehab assignment at some point next week. The Red Sox are not reporting how serious this new injury may be, but when we get that update, we'll pass it along to you. |
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| Ellsbury approaching Red Sox record | Wednesday 8/20, 6:29 PM CT |
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Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury stole two more bases last night, putting him at an AL-leading 40 stolen bases on the season, 14 stolen bases shy of the franchise record set by Tommy Harper in 1973, according to the Providence Journal.
Our View: Ellsbury, who now faces 35 remaining games to reach the mark, is the sixth player in Red Sox history to reach 40. With his two swipes on Tuesday, he now has 12 multi-steal games, which is the most by a Red Sox player since 1956. |
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| Beckett looking at Tuesday for next start | Wednesday 8/20, 6:24 PM CT |
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Boston ace Josh Beckett remains on schedule to start for the Red Sox on Tuesday against the Yankees, though manager Terry Francona won't be terribly disappointed if the right-hander gets pushed back again, according to the New York Post.
Our View: Beckett's next start was moved from Saturday to Tuesday after he developed a sore right elbow that created numbness in his hand. Francona described the soreness as a "crick" in the pitcher's elbow that developed when he slept on it overnight. Francona reports Beckett is not likely to throw on the side until Friday though he is "begging" to pitch now. |
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| Church will be backup | Wednesday 8/20, 6:23 PM CT |
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When outfielder Ryan Church returns to the Mets, it will be as a back-up, according to Mets.com. "When he does come back, we don't have to rely heavily on him playing every single day," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said.
Our View: Church is currently rehabbing from post-concussion syndrome in Triple-A ball. It is not known when he will be recalled, but his fantasy stock just took a big hit. He was highly productive in the 57 games he played this year, hitting 10 home runs with 36 RBI and an OPS of .882. It will be difficult for fantasy players to rely on a player who is not guaranteed a certain number of at-bats. |
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| Blum close to guarantee | Wednesday 8/20, 6:15 PM CT |
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Geoff Blum needs just one more plate appearance to ensure him $1.2 million for next season, according to Astros.com. Blum needed 250 plate appearances on the season for his contract for 2009 to be guaranteed, and he presently has 249.
Our View: That's nice for Blum, though we're not sure how the Astros feel about it. His 12 home runs are solid, but he is hitting .229 and has a putrid .269 on-base percentage. |
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| Wainwright will start Friday | Wednesday 8/20, 6:07 PM CT |
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Adam Wainwright will be activated from the DL and start on Friday against the Braves, according to the FSN Midwest telecast. Manager Tony La Russa said that this doesn't necessarily mean Wainwright will be coming back permanently as a starter and that they will continue to evaluate their options.
Our View: Joel Pineiro will be used in relief if need be. Whether or not Wainwright stays in the rotation or Pineiro stays in relief could depend on Chris Carpenter's status. |
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| Speier recalled | Wednesday 8/20, 5:28 PM CT |
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Ryan Speier was recalled from Triple-A in order to take the roster spot of reliever Matt Herges, who was put on the disabled list, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View: Speier had been in the minors for about three weeks. He has had an ERA of at least 5.11 every month of the season except April. |
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| Herges put on DL | Wednesday 8/20, 5:25 PM CT |
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Matt Herges has been put on the disabled list by the Rockies as he continues to suffer from lower back stiffness, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View: Herges was pitching in middle relief and had an ERA over 5.00 and a WHIP of 1.56. He had no fantasy value. |
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| Kotchman put on bereavement list | Wednesday 8/20, 5:22 PM CT |
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Braves first baseman Casey Kotchman was put on the bereavement list by the team as his mother was in the hospital for undisclosed reasons, according to Braves.com.
Our View: It is unknown exactly how long Kotchman will be gone, but his stay on the bereavement list can only last seven days. Adjust your lineups accordingly. |
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| Lohse suspended five games | Wednesday 8/20, 4:58 PM CT |
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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse was suspended for five games for throwing at Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez, according to the AP. Lohse, who did not hit Volquez with the pitch, will appeal his suspension.
Our View: During the game on Sunday, Lohse was batting when Volquez threw high and tight at him. Later in the game, Lohse responded with one up and in on Volquez. The umpire issued warnings, and that seemed to be that, until this news. |
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| Glavine gets good news | Wednesday 8/20, 4:51 PM CT |
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Tom Glavine will not need ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He will still need surgery, but only to fix his torn flexor tendon. This means it is possible he could suit up next season. “Still not sure about next year but this will give me a chance,” he said.
Our View: Had Glavine needed surgery on his elbow ligament, his career would have been over. As it is, he will need about five months to recover. |
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| Ibanez does only damage | Wednesday 8/20, 4:28 PM CT |
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As usual, Raul Ibanez and Ichiro were the only Mariners who came out to play in today's 15-3 beatdown by Chicago. Ibanez did his part, with two hits in four at-bats, including his 20th home run.
Our View: Ibanez has given fantasy owners consistent numbers all year, and he should easily surpass 100 RBI for the season sometime soon. |
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| Pierzynski has big game | Wednesday 8/20, 4:25 PM CT |
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A.J. Pierzynski went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored and hit his 12th home run of the season as Chicago buried the Mariners, 15-3.
Our View: Pierzynski has a modest five-game hitting streak, and is certainly someone fantasy owners can use behind the plate, despite his aversion to walks. |
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| Dickey lit up | Wednesday 8/20, 4:22 PM CT |
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After being put in the bullpen days ago, then taken back out, R.A. Dickey will probably go right back in, as he was hammered by the White Sox. In two innings, Dickey allowed eight runs on six hits and two walks.
Our View: Move on, no fantasy value to see here. |
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| Floyd picks up win | Wednesday 8/20, 4:20 PM CT |
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Gavin Floyd threw six solid innings, striking out seven Mariners and allowing three runs in the White Sox 15-3 demolition of Seattle.
Our View: This makes two solid starts in a row for Floyd, who had been regressing a bit. |
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| Pence struggles | Wednesday 8/20, 4:16 PM CT |
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Hunter Pence went 0-for-4, grounded into a double play and left six men on base in the Astros 5-2 loss to Milwaukee.
Our View: Not a great game for Pence, who has been alternating good and bad months all season. August has definitely been a bad month, as he is hitting under .200 so far. |
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| Golden Sombrero for Hall | Wednesday 8/20, 4:12 PM CT |
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Bill Hall did not contribute offensively to the Brewers 5-2 win over Houston on Wednesday. Instead, he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, earning him the dreaded golden sombrero.
Our View: For the month of August, Hall has struck out 15 times in 29 at-bats, or 52 percent of the time. That's really all fantasy owners need to know at this point. |
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| Rodriguez takes loss | Wednesday 8/20, 4:09 PM CT |
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Houston hurler Wandy Rodriguez saw his record drop to 7-6 as the Astros were downed by the Brewers 5-2. Rodriguez was wild, throwing five bases on balls in 5.1 innings, but allowing just two earned runs. He also struck out six in the contest.
Our View: Rodriguez has had a poor August, and has walked 11 batters in his last eight innings over two outings. That certainly won't help fantasy owners in the WHIP department. |
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| Parra wins tenth | Wednesday 8/20, 4:05 PM CT |
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Manny Parra picked up his tenth victory of the season, going five innings and allowing two runs on six hits in the Brewers 5-2 win over Houston.
Our View: Parra also walked four and only struck out two, so it was not his greatest performance. His August ERA is 5.04, and he has just a 1-2 record in the month. |
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| Upton wants to move on | Wednesday 8/20, 3:45 PM CT |
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B.J. Upton has been criticized for not playing hard and suffering from "mental lapses," but he stated that he wants to move on, according to the Tampa Tribune. Upton said, "The last thing I want to become is a distraction to this team. We've got something way too good going on right now to have to deal with this. We just want to win ballgames and right now I think I'm becoming a distraction. I just can't let it happen, for my sake and for the team's sake so we can move on and get where we need to be."
Our View: Upton is doing a good job of moving on, as he is hitting .375 (9-for-24) over his last five games, with one homer and five RBI. |
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| Cust registers lone RBI for A's | Wednesday 8/20, 3:26 PM CT |
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Jack Cust went 1-for-3 and registered Oakland's lone RBI in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Minnesota. His hit was a single.
Our View: That was his only RBI in the three-game set against the Twins. |
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| Braden falls to 3-3 | Wednesday 8/20, 3:22 PM CT |
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Dallas Braden allowed three earned runs on six hits over 5.2 innings in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Twins, with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Our View: Braden falls to 3-3, and his ERA climbs a few points to 4.53. He was pitching well as he held a 1-0 mark over his previous two starts, and is still worth a look if available on the waiver wire, namely in AL-only leagues. |
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| Redmond leads Twins to victory | Wednesday 8/20, 3:19 PM CT |
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Mike Redmond led the Twins in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Athletics, as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI. He accounted for two (both singles) of the Twins' six hits in the game.
Our View: The A's stole two bases with Joe Mauer out of the lineup, but Redmond came through with his bat. |
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| Liriano wins fourth straight outing | Wednesday 8/20, 3:15 PM CT |
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Francisco Liriano only issued one run (not earned) on five hits over five innings in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Oakland, with three walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: He improves to 4-3 over seven starts, and lowered his ERA to 4.24. Liriano has now won four straight starts, and has allowed zero earned runs three times over the span. |
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| Griffey ties Sosa | Wednesday 8/20, 3:09 PM CT |
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Ken Griffey Jr. hit home run No. 609 against the Mariners on Wednesday, tying Sammy Sosa for fifth all-time, according to the AP.
Our View: Griffey entered the game hitting just 9-for-43 (.209) with the Sox, and the homer was his first extra base hit. |
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| Mets claim Reyes | Wednesday 8/20, 3:04 PM CT |
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The NY Post indicates the Mets have acquired Al Reyes, who was cut loose by the Rays.
Our View: The Mets have been looking for bullpen help after Billy Wagner went down, and were considering pulling a starter out of the rotation (namely John Maine) to use as a reliever. Reyes was disappointing in Tampa Bay this season, but will be an upgrade for New York. He could potentially push for saves, and is worth a look in deeper NL-only leagues. |
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| Wise injured | Wednesday 8/20, 2:58 PM CT |
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Dewayne Wise was forced out of Wednesday's game due to an apparent leg injury.
Our View: He was replaced in the outfield by Brian Anderson. We will keep you posted when more details regarding the injury are revealed. |
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