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| Wilson closes out game | Wednesday 8/27, 11:58 PM CT |
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Brian Wilson picked up his 36th save Wednesday, closing out the Giants 3-1 victory over the Rockies.
Our View: Wilson continues to be a great source of strike outs and saves for fantasy owners. |
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| Kendrick injures leg | Wednesday 8/27, 11:54 PM CT |
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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim second baseman Howie Kendrick left Wednesday's game against the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning with an injured leg, according to the Sports Network.
Our View: Kendrick was running to second base on Mark Teixeira's single, but came up gimpy as he arrived at the bag. Sean Rodriguez replaced Kendrick on the basepath and took over at the four position in the top of the fifth. When we have news on his condition and the details of the injury, we'll let you know. |
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| Lincecum pitches a gem | Wednesday 8/27, 11:51 PM CT |
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Tim Lincecum struck out 10 to boost his league-leading strikeout total to 210 as he pitched the Giants past the Rockies 4-1 on Wednesday.
Our View: Lincecum lowered his ERA from 2.48 to 2.43, tied for best in the big leagues with Cleveland’s Cliff Lee. Lincecum has allowed 50 earned runs in 185.1 innings. |
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| Stars struggle at the plate | Wednesday 8/27, 11:40 PM CT |
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Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder were a combined 0-for-9 with two strikeouts apiece in Milwaukee's 5-3 loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday.
Our View: Don't expect their struggles to last long as both Braun and Fielder are great hitters and fantasy studs. |
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| Pujols gains the lead | Wednesday 8/27, 11:34 PM CT |
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Pujols was 2-for-4 Wednesday and is now batting .357 on the season, a point ahead of Atlanta’s Chipper Jones in the NL batting race.
Our View: There still is a month left in the season, look for this battle to continue and go down to the wire. |
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| Wainwright has another solid start | Wednesday 8/27, 11:28 PM CT |
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Adam Wainwright allowed three runs, two earned, and threw 89 pitches in his second start coming off the 15-day disabled list from a finger injury that sidelined him for two months.
Our View: Wainwright looks to have regained his early season form. He is once again a must start in all fantasy leagues. |
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| Ayala picks up save | Wednesday 8/27, 11:20 PM CT |
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Luis Ayala pitched a perfect ninth inning Wednesday. He collected his second save as the Mets beat the Phillies 6-3.
Our View: Ayala is now 2-for-3 in save opportunities for the Mets. Look for him to continue to see save opportunities with Billy Wagner missing more time. |
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| Ludwick swings a hot bat | Wednesday 8/27, 11:13 PM CT |
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Ryan Ludwick came up huge in the Cardinals 5-3 victory going 3-for-4 with a home run, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
Our View: Ludwick continued his all-star season connecting on his 32nd home run of the season. |
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| Valverde picks up save | Wednesday 8/27, 10:43 PM CT |
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Jose Valverde picked up his 34th save of the season as the Astros beat the Reds 4-1.
Our View: Valverde collected three strike outs as he closed out the victory for the Astros Wednesday night. |
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| Bannister suffers fifth consecutive loss | Wednesday 8/27, 10:39 PM CT |
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Once again the Royals suffered the disappointing loss, falling 3-2 to the Rangers, and once again the lack of offense leaves the pitching without support. RHP Brian Bannister was the victim this time, going 6 2/3 innings to allow three runs (two earned) on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.
Our View: Bannister moves to 7-14 on the season with a 5.75 ERA. This is his fifth consecutive loss with six losses over his last seven starts. In those seven starts, he has allowed 27 combined earned runs (10 coming in one game versus the Yankees) with the nine homers surrendered over his last four starts serving as a serious worry. |
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| Oswalt goes seven strong | Wednesday 8/27, 10:37 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt went seven strong innings Wednesday, allowing only one earned run on five hits. Oswalt collected his 12th victory of the season as Houston beat the Reds 4-1.
Our View: Oswalt has pitched better as of late and now has five consecutive quality starts. |
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| Harrison emerges victorious | Wednesday 8/27, 10:34 PM CT |
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Matt Harrison won a pitching duel against Brian Bannister and the Rangers completed a sweep of the Royals with a 3-2 victory at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday night, according to MLB.com. Harrison went 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs (both earned) on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts, raising his record to 6-3 with a 5.67 ERA.
Our View: The rookie is enjoyed a productive campaign, he is 4-1 this month and has allowed just two homers during that span. |
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| Perez slams the door | Wednesday 8/27, 10:28 PM CT |
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Chris Perez capped the Cardinals 5-3 win over the Brewers Wednesday night with his sixth save of the season.
Our View: Perez fired through the top of Milwaukee's lineup striking out Weeks, Braun, and Fielder to end the game. |
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| Howard goes deep | Wednesday 8/27, 10:20 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard hit his National League leading 36th home run of the year Wednesday night, but it wasn't enough as the Phillies fell to the Mets 6-3.
Our View: Howard continues to be an all-or-nothing guy as he leads the NL in both HR and RBI, but continues to struggle with his overall average of .228. |
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| Carmona gets the win | Wednesday 8/27, 10:18 PM CT |
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Fausto Carmona was on his game this evening, leading his Indians to the 9-7 win over Detroit. Carmona pitched six innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: Carmona moves to 7-5 on the season with the win, claiming an ERA of 4.50. Since returning from injury, he has gone 3-3 with 22 walks and 20 strikeouts. |
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| Choo homers, drives in two | Wednesday 8/27, 10:10 PM CT |
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Cleveland found support in the 9-7 win over Detroit from outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, going 3-for-5 with his seventh homer of the season, posting two RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: Choo has improved through August, hitting .293 with three homers, 13 RBIs, and 18 runs scored. |
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| Shoppach homers vs Detroit | Wednesday 8/27, 10:05 PM CT |
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Cleveland catcher Kelly Shoppach was the voice of reckoning tonight as the Tribe earned the exciting 9-7 win over the Tigers, going 3-for-5 at the plate with his 17th homer of the season, driving in three and adding two runs scored.
Our View: Shoppach has six homers on the month, one of his best ever. His average has dropped, hitting just .221 through August after hitting .318 last month. However, he continues to hit the long ball and drive in runs. |
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| Ordonez drives in three | Wednesday 8/27, 9:59 PM CT |
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Detroit slugger Magglio Ordonez enjoyed a strong night in the batter's box despite the 9-7 loss to Cleveland. Ordonez went 2-for-5 at the plate with his 26th double and 16th home run of the season, carding three RBIs and one runs scored for the effort.
Our View: Ordonez isn't hitting a ton of long balls (three homers this month), but he's driving in runs, touting 18 RBIs through August. |
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| Granderson swings a mean stick vs the Tribe | Wednesday 8/27, 9:56 PM CT |
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The Indians and Tigers waged war on the field this evening, but the fans in Detroit left disappointed with a 9-7 loss despite the efforts of outfielder Curtis Granderson. Granderson went 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot, getting one walk and his 16th homer of the season to post two RBIs and three runs scored on the night.
Our View: Granderson has started to pick up the power hitting, now touting five homers for 13 RBIs and 21 runs scored for the month of August. |
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| Byrd gets Boston a statement win over New York | Wednesday 8/27, 9:48 PM CT |
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Veteran hurler Paul Byrd showed why the Red Sox added him for the playoff stretch this evening, keeping the dreaded New York Yankees in check while the offense got work done, winning 11-3. Byrd pitched six innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: Byrd moves to 9-11 on the season and 2-1 with Boston, touting an ERA of 4.55. Since July 4th, he has gone 6-1 over seven starts, giving up 17 combined earned runs. |
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| Delgado has a huge night | Wednesday 8/27, 9:43 PM CT |
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Carlos Delgado was 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs as the Mets went on to beat the Phillies 6-3 on Wednesday.
Our View: Delgado continues his hot hitting as of late with three hits, three RBI, and two runs scored Wednesday night. His hot hitting has promoted him into the clean-up spot for the Mets. Delgado should be starting in all fantasy formats. |
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| Bay drives in four versus the Yanks | Wednesday 8/27, 9:43 PM CT |
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Boston outfielder Jason Bay continues to show his mettle, helping his Red Sox put the 11-3 hurt to the New York Yankees. Bay went 2-for-4 at the plate, picking up his 27th double and his fourth triple of the year, driving in four runs with one run scored.
Our View: Losing Manny Ramirez may have hurt, but Bay is doing what he can to help Boston fans keep the faith. In 91 Boston at-bats, Bay has hit .341 with four home runs, 20 RBIs, and 21 runs scored. |
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| Another monster night in a monster month for Pedroia | Wednesday 8/27, 9:36 PM CT |
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The Red Sox made a statement this evening, putting the 11-3 whooping on the New York Yankees, led by the efforts of second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia went 3-for-5 at the dish, hitting his 15th homer of the season to total four RBIs and three runs scored.
Our View: Pedroia enjoyed one of his best evenings this season and in the midst of his best month as well, hitting .319 through August with five homers, 20 RBIs, and an impressive 28 runs scored. Needless to say, if you have him on the roster, you are happy. |
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| Zimmerman hits game winner | Wednesday 8/27, 9:30 PM CT |
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Ryan Zimmerman's home run in the bottom of the seventh inning proved to be the difference, as Washington went on to edge out the Dodgers 5-4.
Our View: Zimmerman was 1-for-4 with a solo home run, batting out of the third spot for Washington. |
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| Hanrahan collects save | Wednesday 8/27, 9:24 PM CT |
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Joel Hanrahan picked up his sixth save of the season Wednesday night as the Nationals went on to beat the Dodgers 5-4.
Our View: Hanrahan is now 6-for-7 in save opportunities since taking over the closing role for Washington. |
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| Huff puts the hurt on Chicago | Wednesday 8/27, 9:23 PM CT |
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The Orioles were en fuego this evening, getting the impressive 11-3 win over the White Sox, an effort largely bolstered by the work of Aubrey Huff. Huff went 3-for-4 at the dish with his 40th double and 29th home run of the season to register three RBIs and one run scored. For good measure, he also added his third stolen base of the season.
Our View: That's seven homers thus far this month for Huff, one of the hottest power bats in the league right now, though he needs one more (as well as four more RBIs) to match his totals from July. |
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| Mora goes 3-for-4 against White Sox | Wednesday 8/27, 9:18 PM CT |
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Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora was on the prowl once again this evening, going 3-for-4 with one walk and his 23rd home run of the season, posting one RBIs and two runs scored in the 11-3 win over the White Sox.
Our View: Mora continues to keep a furious pace with the stick, hitting .413 this month with eight homers and 31 RBIs. |
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| Roberts drives in three vs Chicago | Wednesday 8/27, 9:16 PM CT |
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The Orioles got the job done with offense tonight, putting the White Sox in the loss column, 11-3. Leadoff man Brian Roberts was part of the charge, going 2-for-5 at the plate with his 46th double of the season to post three RBIs on the night.
Our View: Roberts has really stepped it up in August, improving his average to .353 after hitting just .250 in July, but also bulking his run production. Last month Roberts posted just five RBIs with 20 runs scored. Thus far through August, he has 13 RBIs with 23 runs scored. |
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| Deuces wild for HanRam | Wednesday 8/27, 9:15 PM CT |
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Hanley Ramirez was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two strikeouts in Florida's 4-1 win over Atlanta.
Our View: Hanley continues to be one of the best all-around players in fantasy, he has 28 home runs to go with his 29 stolen bases this year. |
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| Konerko homers in loss to Baltimore | Wednesday 8/27, 9:11 PM CT |
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The White Sox fell in horrific fashion to the Orioles this evening, 11-3, but not before Paul Konerko had a few swings of interest. Konerko went 2-for-3 at the dish with one walk and his 13th homer of the season, posting one RBI and one run scored on the night.
Our View: Konerko has improved dramatically since finding health this month, hitting .321 through August coming into this evening after a troublesome .209 average in July. |
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| Uggla goes yard | Wednesday 8/27, 9:07 PM CT |
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Dan Uggla was 2-for-3 with a homer Wednesday night, as the Marlins went on the beat the Braves 4-1.
Our View: Uggla continues to be a great source of power from the second base position. |
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| Garza throws a shutout gem | Wednesday 8/27, 9:04 PM CT |
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Tampa Bay RHP Matt Garza was at the top of his game this evening, pitching his Rays to the 1-0 victory over Toronto. Garza pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: Garza has two wins over his last three starts, giving up a total of 15 hits over 23 1/3 innings with four earned runs allowed. He has not allowed a home run since August 9th and carries 10 walks versus 26 strikeouts over the span. |
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| Johnson throws complete game victory | Wednesday 8/27, 8:58 PM CT |
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Josh Johnson pitched a complete game Wednesday night, allowing only one earned run over nine innings, leading the Marlins to a 4-1 victory over Atlanta.
Our View: Johnson struck out eight while only allowing four hits in his complete game victory against the Marlins Wednesday night. |
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| Purcey shines, but Jays flounder | Wednesday 8/27, 8:56 PM CT |
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Rookie LHP David Purcey threw an absolute gem for the Blue Jays this evening, but a total absence of offense led to his demise as the Jays fell 1-0 to Tampa Bay. Purcey pitched eight innings, allowing just one run on five hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts on the night.
Our View: It has been all or nothing for Purcey thus far, giving up five earned runs in two of his last five starts yet touting tonight's outing as well as a positive two-hit shutout against Detroit on August 13th. He has walked just nine batters over that span with 29 strikeouts. |
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| Pena homers to get Tampa Bay the win | Wednesday 8/27, 8:50 PM CT |
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The Rays and Blue Jays fought through a real barnburner this evening, sharing 11 hits between 'em as Tampa Bay pulled the 1-0 win, thanks to the bat of first baseman Carlos Pena. Pena went 2-for-3 at the dish (one of two multi-hit candidates between both teams tonight), including his 27th homer of the season to push the Rays to the win.
Our View: Pena has matched last month's strong power numbers, hitting seven homers for 18 RBIs in July only to turn it up with eight homers and 23 RBIs thus far through August. |
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| Anderson gets the call | Wednesday 8/27, 8:33 PM CT |
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The Atlanta Braves called up outfielder Josh Anderson from Triple-A Richmond after trading Mark Kotsay to Boston on Wednesday, according to the AP.
Our View: Earlier this season Anderson fared well in limited action with Atlanta, as he held a .318 average over 22 at-bats, with two RBI. |
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| Martinez nearing return for Tribe | Wednesday 8/27, 8:17 PM CT |
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Victor Martinez , who caught nine innings Tuesday for Class AAA Buffalo and went 2-for-4, could rejoin the club this weekend against Seattle at Progressive Field, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "There's still a chance Victor will be brought back before September," said manager Eric Wedge. "It will probably be September for the other two guys (Travis Hafner, Josh Barfield)."
Our View: Martinez is recovering from surgery on his right elbow and has reported no problems throwing or hitting.
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| Braves ink Dessens | Wednesday 8/27, 8:11 PM CT |
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The Braves have agreed to terms with Elmer Dessens on a Major League contract for the remainder of the 2008 season, according to the official site of the Atlanta Braves.
Our View: The 37-year-old right-hander, who spent this year pitching in Mexico, is expected to join the Braves later this week. |
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| Beckett set to go, but caution is the keyword | Wednesday 8/27, 8:01 PM CT |
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Just because Josh Beckett remains on track to pitch on Friday night against the White Sox, it does not mean that his recent bout with elbow inflammation has been put in the rearview mirror, according to the MLB. "We have his long-term interests in mind here," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "Even though he's scheduled to pitch Friday, that doesn't mean we stop evaluating him on a daily basis and we stop making sure he's fully healthy and ready to pitch. We're going to keep monitoring him day in and day out. If it gets to a point where we don't think it's in his best interest to pitch, then he's not going to pitch."
Our View: The Sox are shooting to insure a spot in the playoffs, but they are not going to push Beckett to get there. If he shows any signs of pain or discomfort at all, they will be taking him off the mound. |
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| Kotchman moved to restricted list | Wednesday 8/27, 7:58 PM CT |
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Braves have moved Casey Kotchman from the bereavement list to the restricted list.
Our View: Kotchman was moved because he had spent the maximum seven days on the bereavement list. Kotchman's mother remains in an ICU unit in a Florida hospital with an undisclosed condition. |
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| Texas easing Murphy back to action | Wednesday 8/27, 7:56 PM CT |
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Texas outfielder David Murphy is ready to come off the disabled list by September 1st, but the Rangers are waiting until he's 100 percent, so it could be longer than that, according to MLB.com. However, Murphy did put his injured right knee through a strenuous test on Wednesday before the Rangers game with the Royals, and everything went well.
Our View: Murphy, who is sidelined with a strained ligament in his right knee, did a variety of baserunning simulation drills, including rounding first base on a single, going from first to third, and tagging up on a sacrifice fly. Murphy was expected to be sidelined from between two and four weeks. It's now been three weeks and his return is near. The Rangers just want to make sure. |
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| Quentin gets day off | Wednesday 8/27, 7:52 PM CT |
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Carlos Quentin was noticeably absent from White Sox pregame drills and batting practice on Wednesday at Camden Yards, but it was an absence ordered by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, according to MLB.com. The intense young outfielder has played in 126 of the team's 132 games entering the series finale against the Orioles, posting statistics worthy of serious American League Most Valuable Player consideration. But when Guillen decided to give Quentin the day off before Thursday's scheduled break, he wanted to make sure Quentin didn't arrive at the ballpark until about one hour before game time. Otherwise, the Sox fear he would ignore their demands to take a full day off and would be taking BP regardless.
Our View: With a .398 on-base percentage, Quentin started Wednesday tied with Alex Rodriguez for fifth in the AL in this category. It shows Quentin's keen batting eye at the plate. But Quentin also has a .385 average and 11 home runs when putting the first pitch of a particular at-bat in play, exhibiting his aggressiveness on offense. |
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| Figgins scratched | Wednesday 8/27, 7:47 PM CT |
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Third baseman Chone Figgins is not in the Angels’ lineup on Wednesday because an irritated big toe on his left foot, the result of a bad step during a run-down play in the seventh inning of a 5-1 victory over Oakland a day earlier, according to the Orange County Register.
Our View: Figgins had X-rays taken, which were normal. With Figgins out, Robb Quinlan will start at third base against the A’s. |
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| Hamilton scratched at last minute | Wednesday 8/27, 7:42 PM CT |
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We are receiving word that Texas slugger Josh Hamilton has been listed as a last-minute scratch in tonight's matchup against Kansas City, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Our View: Brandon Boggs is playing left and Marlon Byrd is moving to center. A local beat reporter with the News indicates Hamilton was having dental work done earlier in the day and may be in need of rest as a result. Thus we see no immediate reason for alarm. |
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| Fourth consecutive win for Perkins | Wednesday 8/27, 7:31 PM CT |
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The Twins had to fight to get the runs, but they found a way to win, emerging 6-5 over the Mariners. LHP Glen Perkins showed them the way, pitching seven innings to allow four runs (all earned) on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: The win brings Perkins to an amazing 12-3 on the season, sporting a 3.96 ERA to boot. It is his fourth consecutive win, a span in which he's totaled 29 innings with eight combined earned runs allowed with seven walks and 11 strikeouts. |
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| No decision for Feierabend | Wednesday 8/27, 7:26 PM CT |
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They may have posted five runs but the Mariners failed to get the win, falling 6-5 to Minnesota to waste a respectable outing from LHP Ryan Feierabend. Feierabend pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: Feierabend walked out of the park with no decision, leaving him at 0-1 over three starts since joining the major league roster. He has walked just three hitters over the course of 15 combined innings, touting 10 strikeouts and one home run surrendered along the way. |
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| Span drives in two vs Seattle | Wednesday 8/27, 7:19 PM CT |
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Rookie outfielder Denard Span led the way for the Minnesota offense in their 6-5 win over the Mariners, goig 2-for-5 at the plate with his 13th double of the season to card two RBIs on the day.
Our View: Span has proven valuable for the runs scored category, posting 20 in July with an additional 16 thus far in August. He's hit over .300 in each of those months, doing what a leadoff man is suppose to do. |
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| Hundley goes deep | Wednesday 8/27, 6:38 PM CT |
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Nick Hundley went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer off Randy Johnson helping the Padres defeat the Diamondbacks 5-4 on Wednesday.
Our View: The Padres scored three in the seventh and two in the eighth to play the spoilers and pull off a three-game sweep of first-place Arizona. |
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| Navarro out but could come off bench | Wednesday 8/27, 6:36 PM CT |
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Dioner Navarro was out of Wednesday night's starting lineup, but Rays manager Joe Maddon said the backstop was available off the bench if necessary, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The club's starting catcher, Navarro left Tuesday night's game in the bottom of the sixth inning with cramping in both hamstrings. Fortunately, the already injury-plagued Rays caught a break when an MRI on his legs came back clean. Although Maddon said he wanted to "back up" by giving Navarro some rest, the skipper didn't rule out using the switch-hitting Navarro if necessary during Wednesday's contest against the Blue Jays. |
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| Jones done for the year | Wednesday 8/27, 6:33 PM CT |
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Yesterday the Tigers reported Todd Jones had resumed throwing again but that progress was slow. Today we learn progress is so slow that the Tigers have ended his season, sending him home to Alabama to continue rehabilitation and rest, according to MLB.com.
Our View: He was expected to rejoin the team in September, but as of now, he seems unlikely to pitch. Given his uncertain future, his pitching career appears to be nearing a crossroads, and this could be a prelude to going home for good. |
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| Phelps recalled | Wednesday 8/27, 5:58 PM CT |
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Josh Phelps has been recalled to the Cardinals from Triple-A Memphis. According to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jaime Garcia was sent down to make room for Phelps.
Our View: Phelps will most likely only see some pinch-hitting duties for the Cardinals but in Memphis Phelps showed some real power hitting 31 home runs. |
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| Carpenter joins Phills | Wednesday 8/27, 5:49 PM CT |
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The Phillies sured up their bullpen today when they purchased the contract of Andrew Carpenter from Double-A Reading. According to Phillies.com Andy Tracy was designated for assignment to make room for Carpenter.
Our View: Carpenter will have no fantasy value. |
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| Gile contributes | Wednesday 8/27, 5:46 PM CT |
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It was a day off for Brian Giles today but he would play a role in the Padres 5-4 win against the Diamondbacks. Giles pinch-hit in the eighth inning and singled then scored the game-tying run on Chase Headley's single.
Our View: Giles is hitting exactly at .300 with his pinch-hit single. |
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| Johnson denied 295th win. | Wednesday 8/27, 5:42 PM CT |
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Randy Johnson struck out nine Padres today in the Diamondbacks 5-4 loss. Johnson threw seven innings giving up three runs while giving up five hits.
Our View: The Diamondbacks bullpen could not hold the lead for Johnson, who was looking for his 295th career win. |
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| Hoffman saves again | Wednesday 8/27, 5:38 PM CT |
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Trevor Hoffman earned his 27th save against the Diamondbacks striking out the side in the ninth.
Our View: Hoffman has only blown three save opportunities this year and his change-up is still one of the best in the league. |
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| Gerut goes 3-4 | Wednesday 8/27, 5:34 PM CT |
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Jody Gerut continued swinging a hot bat going 3-4 against the Diamondbacks in the Padres 5-4 win. Gerut hit his fourth triple on the year, to go along with a run scored and his sixth stolen base.
Our View: Gerut has raised his average to a respectable .297. |
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| Banks sent down | Wednesday 8/27, 5:15 PM CT |
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Padres rookie Josh Banks was optioned to Triple-A Portand along with Bryan Corey according to CBSSportsline.com.
Our View: Banks was 3-6 with the Padres over 17 appearances. |
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| Rincon to return | Wednesday 8/27, 5:11 PM CT |
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Ricardo Rincon has been pitching in the Mexican League since the end of spring training but now that the season is over, the New York Daily News reports Rincon will sign with the Mets and pitch at Triple-A New Orleans until the rosters are expanded September 1.
Our View: Rincon will have no fantasy value. |
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| No serious damage for Navarro | Wednesday 8/27, 5:11 PM CT |
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Dioner Navarro's MRI revealed no serious problems to his hamstrings, according to the Tampa Tribune.
Our View: His status is day-to-day, he shouldn't miss any extended period of time. Look for this All-star to get back on track whenever he returns to the lineup. |
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| Wagner trying to get back | Wednesday 8/27, 5:04 PM CT |
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Mets closer Billy Wagner is still considered week-to-week. According to the New York Daily News, Wagner threw from 60-feet today but has yet to get back onto the mound.
Our View: With Wagner out the Mets bullpen has struggled trying to save games. |
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| Upton coming back | Wednesday 8/27, 4:19 PM CT |
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It appears that Justin Upton is going to find his way back to Phoenix. According to the East Valley Tribune Upton will be recalled from Triple-A Tucson on either Friday or Saturday.
Our View: Upton has been hitting the ball better at Tucson, homering on Tuesday night. |
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| DeWitt returns | Wednesday 8/27, 3:56 PM CT |
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After being sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas, Blake DeWitt is on his way back to the Dodgers. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, to make room for DeWitt, Pablo Ozuna has been designated for assignment.
Our View: With Casey Blake at third base don't expect DeWitt to see to many plate appearances. |
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| Sherrill to be activated | Wednesday 8/27, 3:53 PM CT |
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Orioles closer George Sherrill will be activated on September 1 when rosters expand should his rehab continue going smoothly, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: Sherrill should return to the closer's role when he gets back to the big leagues. He had struggled a bit before going on the DL, which is evident by his 1.49 WHIP. That is certainly not a number that should please fantasy owners, although his 31 saves ease the pain. |
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| Cabrera MRI negative | Wednesday 8/27, 3:50 PM CT |
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Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera took an MRI on his throwing arm, but the team found no damage to his elbow, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: Cabrera had seen a loss in velocity, which had concerned him, so the MRI was done to ensure there was nothing wrong. He will play catch tomorrow to see how he is feeling before the Orioles determine whether to put him back in the starting rotation. |
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| Durham not in lineup | Wednesday 8/27, 3:49 PM CT |
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Ray Durham left Tuesday night's game against the Cardinals with a sprained shoulder and according the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Durham is not in the lineup for tonight's game.
Our View: There has been no news on how serious the shoulder injury is as of yet. |
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| Fuentes staying put | Wednesday 8/27, 3:27 PM CT |
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The Rockies had placed closer Brian Fuentes on waivers but a trade has become unlikely due to Fuentes being placed on the bereavement list. Players placed on the bereavement list can't pass through waivers. According to Foxsports.com Fuentes isn't eligible to come off the list until Friday and that will be too late for Fuentes to be traded and eligible for a team's post-season roster.
Our View: The Rockies were asking for a large bounty for Fuentes before the trade deadline and now will hold onto their closer. |
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| Castillo returns | Wednesday 8/27, 3:14 PM CT |
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Luis Castillo is back in the Mets' starting lineup for tonight's game against the Phillies. Castillo will bat second and play at his customary second base.
Our View: Castillo came off the DL on Monday and went 0-4. After his first game back he was on the bench for the next two and is now back in the lineup. |
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| Castro hits DL | Wednesday 8/27, 3:09 PM CT |
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Ramon Castro was placed on the disabled list by the Mets after suffering from a strained right quad, according to New York Newsday.
Our View: Robinson Cancel has been recalled from Triple-A to take his place on the roster. |
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| Lambert sent down | Wednesday 8/27, 3:06 PM CT |
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Pitcher Chris Lambert was sent to Triple-A Toledo to make room on the Tigers roster for Jeff Larish, according to the Detroit Free-Press.
Our View: Lambert, a former first-round pick, started one game for Detroit, going just 2.2 innings and giving up two runs, each on solo shots. He should be back with the team on September 1 when rosters expand. |
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| Larish recalled | Wednesday 8/27, 3:04 PM CT |
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Infielder Jeff Larish was recalled from Triple-A Toledo by the Tigers on Wednesday, according to the Detroit Free Press. He is in the lineup hitting fifth and playing third base in Detroit's game against the Indians.
Our View: Larish has 48 at-bats this year this year with the Tigers and hit .245, which is in line with his minor league numbers. He showed good pop in Triple-A, hitting 21 home runs in 384 at-bats, but he also struck out 109 times. |
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| LaRoche continues to slide | Wednesday 8/27, 2:58 PM CT |
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Andy LaRoche returned to the Pirates' lineup today and continued his slide. He was 0-3 at the plate and has no hits in his last 27 at-bats.
Our View: LaRoche has no real fantasy value. |
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| Figueroa activated | Wednesday 8/27, 2:51 PM CT |
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Reliever Nelson Figueroa has been recalled and will be activated by the Mets before the team's game against the Phillies, according to the New York Daily News.
Our View: Figueroa will be activated because the Mets need bullpen help in the worst way, coming off Aaron Heilman's 60-pitch effort on Tuesday. He was previously designated for assignment by the team and has little fantasy value. |
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| Pelfrey will carry the load | Wednesday 8/27, 2:47 PM CT |
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Mike Pelfrey has already thrown 10.1 more innings then he did all of last year but the Mets say they are not going to be able to lighten the load. With fellow starter John Maine on the DL the Mets expect Pelfrey to start at least six more games before the post-season.
Our View: Pelfery has been spectacular in his last two starts going the full nine innings in both and only giving up four runs over the 18-innings. |
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| Wood saves 27th | Wednesday 8/27, 2:16 PM CT |
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Although Kerry Wood has pitched in the Cubs' previous two games, neither of them were save opportunities. In last night's game Wood gave up his first run since coming off the DL. But today Wood recorded his 27th save with a perfect ninth.
Our View: In Wood's previous nine innings since coming off the DL he has only given up one run. |
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| Soriano continues to crush Duke | Wednesday 8/27, 2:08 PM CT |
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Coming into the ball game against Zach Duke, Alfonso Soriano held an outstanding average of .571 against the lefty and today was much of the same. Soriano went 2-4 with a double.
Our View: During this most recent three-game sweep of the Pirates, Soriano went 8-15 at the plate and also scored four runs. |
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| Duke loses 13th. | Wednesday 8/27, 2:03 PM CT |
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Even though Zach Duke took the loss against the Cubs today, he performed very well. Duke lasted eight innings while striking out six. The Cubs did all of their scoring in the seventh inning and swept the three game series against the Pirates.
Our View: Duke dropped to 4-13 on the season with today's loss. |
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| Marquis shuts down Bucs | Wednesday 8/27, 1:59 PM CT |
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The Cubs finished off a sweep of the Pirates with a 2-0 win. Jason Marquis went seven shutout innings, while fanning three Bucs.
Our View: Marquis earned his ninth win of the season today and looked sharp over seven innings. |
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| Kotsay will get bonus | Wednesday 8/27, 1:49 PM CT |
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Mark Kotsay will receive a $325,000 bonus for waiving his no-trade clause as he moves from the Braves to the Red Sox, according to FoxSports.com.
Our View: So Kotsay goes from a bad team to one with legitimate World Series hopes and gets an extra $325,000 along the way. All in all, seems like a pretty good move, though his fantasy status will take a bit of a hit as he will not be an everyday player. |
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| No. 2 overall pick says no | Wednesday 8/27, 1:47 PM CT |
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Just when you thought the drama with the No. 2 overall pick of the Pirates, Pedro Alvarez, was over, think again. According to Pirates.com, Alvarez has informed the Pirates that he will not sign the deal they agreed on that would pay him a $6 million signing bonus. The Pirates have now placed Alvarez on the restricted list.
Our View: Alvarez's agent is super-agent Scott Boras, and this is another reason many teams don't like working with Boras clients. |
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| Ellison clears waivers | Wednesday 8/27, 1:42 PM CT |
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Jason Ellison, designated for assignment by the Rangers on Monday, has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment in Triple-A, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Our View: Ellison had only 13 at-bats in the big leagues this year and collected five hits. |
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| Lincecum rolling. | Wednesday 8/27, 1:24 PM CT |
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If Tim Lincecum wants to continue his push to the NL Cy Young Award he will need to continue his recent success. In his last two starts Lincecum has pitched 15.2 innings, struck out 15 and has lowered his league leading ERA to 2.48.
Our View: Lincecum leads the NL in strikeouts with 200 and ERA with 2.48. |
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| Wainwirght and Cards need to rebound. | Wednesday 8/27, 1:15 PM CT |
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Tonight will be Adam Wainwright's second start since coming off the DL with a sprained middle finger. In his first start Wainwright went six innings, struck out four, gave up one run and got the win against the Braves. If the Cardinals want to stay in the chase for the NL Wild Card they need Wainwright in top form.
Our View: Wainwright is a must start in every fantasy league. He has gone at least five innings in every start this season and has lowered his ERA th 3.04. |
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| Rodriguez has uncertain value | Wednesday 8/27, 1:10 PM CT |
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Despite what could be a record-setting season in the saves department, Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez may not have as much value during free agency as some expect because his velocity has dropped in recent seasons, according to CBSSportsline.com.
Our View: Rodriguez relies on his changeup now to put hitters away instead of his fastball, which is at 91-92 MPH instead of the 94-95 he used to throw. And a look at his WHIP, which is 1.27, reveals that is is unusually high for elite closers, most of whom have a WHIP at or below 1.00. |
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| Baek struggles in PETCO | Wednesday 8/27, 1:06 PM CT |
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Cha Seung Baek takes the mound this afternoon for the Padres in the the finale of a three-game tilt against the first place Diamondbacks. Baek, is an aberration of sorts when compared to the rest of the San Diego starting five. Baek has struggled in spacious PETCO with an 0-8 record and 5.97 ERA.
Our View: Baek is 4-0 with a 3.72 ERA on the road. |
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| Maddux looking to improve. | Wednesday 8/27, 1:01 PM CT |
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In his first start as a Dodger, Greg Maddux didn't have the results he or the Dodgers were hoping for. He took the loss against the Phillies only going 5.2 innings. Tonight Maddux will square off against the Nationals in his second start for the Dodgers.
Our View: Even though Maddux's ERA has climbed above 4.00 it might be worth starting him against the last place Nats. |
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| Guerrero expected to play Wednesday | Wednesday 8/27, 12:58 PM CT |
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Angels' skipper Mike Scioscia gave Vladimir Guerrero a second straight night off Tuesday after the slugger had played for 10 straight days. During the television broadcast of the Angels 5-1 win on Tuesday afternoon Scioscia told the network that Vlad would return to the lineup tonight.
Our View: Guerrero, who is hitting just .143 (7-for-43) against Oakland this year, has shown some signs of slowing down. He's hitting just .287 on the season, well below his career average. |
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| Byrd receives third start for Sox | Wednesday 8/27, 12:53 PM CT |
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Paul Byrd, who is 1-1 with his new team, takes the mound in New York tonight against Yankee starter Sidney Ponson. Byrd is 0-3 with a 4.18 ERA in five career starts at Yankee Stadium.
Our View: Byrd's last start at Yankee Stadium in May saw the veteran allow five runs and eight hits, including three home runs, over 6.1 innings of a 6-3 loss.
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| Johnson has had success against Pads. | Wednesday 8/27, 12:45 PM CT |
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Randy Johnson faces the Padres today, who he has had recent success against. As a team the Padres are only hitting .162 against him in 148 at-bats.
Our View: Johnson should be in every fantasy leagues' lineup. He has lowered his ERA in each of his last seven starts. |
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