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| Billingsley claims 13th win | Saturday 8/30, 11:58 PM CT |
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Chad Billingsley only allowed two earned runs on nine hits over seven innings in Saturday's 6-2 win over Arizona, with two walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: Billingsley claimed his 13th win of the season, and only lost one start in August. |
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| Manny leads Dodgers to win | Saturday 8/30, 11:52 PM CT |
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Manny Ramirez went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Diamondbacks. He hit a single, double, and two homers.
Our View: Ramirez has recorded four hits in back-to-back games, and has 14 hits over his last five outings. He has three homers over his last three games as well. |
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| Haren shot down by Dodgers | Saturday 8/30, 11:46 PM CT |
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Dan Haren was rocked for five earned runs on 10 hits over six innings in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Dodgers, with no walks and five strikeouts. He gave up two home runs, one to Manny Ramirez and the other to Jeff Kemp.
Our View: Haren has allowed at least five earned runs in three of his last five starts, but closed out August with a winning record at 3-2. |
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| Velez hits first homer | Saturday 8/30, 11:40 PM CT |
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Eugenio Velez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Saturday's 7-6 loss to Cincinnati.
Our View: The homer marks the first of his MLB career. He now has five RBI over his last two outings. |
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| Winn hits two homers in loss | Saturday 8/30, 11:36 PM CT |
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Randy Winn went 2-for-5 with two solo homers in Saturday's close 7-6 loss to the Reds.
Our View: Winn has been hot through the month of August, and enjoyed another strong outing tonight. He should remain active in lineups heading into September. |
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| Encarnacion blasts 24th homer in win | Saturday 8/30, 11:31 PM CT |
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Edwin Encarnacion went 1-for-3 with two RBI in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Giants at the Great American Ballpark. His hit went for a home run, his 24th of the season.
Our View: He has homered in back-to-back games, but is too inconsistent to pencil into fantasy lineups as a solid weekly starter. |
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| Bradley scores two runs in loss | Saturday 8/30, 11:26 PM CT |
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Milton Bradley went 2-for-3 and scored two runs in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Rangers. Both of his hits were singles.
Our View: Bradley has registered a hit in nine of his last 10 games, with 10 RBI over the span. |
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| Hunter goes 2-for-4 | Saturday 8/30, 11:22 PM CT |
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Torii Hunter went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.
Our View: Hunter has registered multiple hits in three of his last five games, but only has two RBI over the span. |
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| K-Rod nails down No. 53 | Saturday 8/30, 11:18 PM CT |
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Francisco Rodriguez surrendered no hits with two strikeouts in the ninth inning to nail down his 53rd save in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.
Our View: He is now only five saves away from breaking Bobby Thigpen's single-season record of 57, with a full month left to do it. |
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| Liriano pitches well in no decision | Saturday 8/30, 11:13 PM CT |
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Francisco Liriano only issued one earned run on five hits over seven innings in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Oakland, with no walks and six strikeouts. He exited the game with a 2-0 lead, and was dealt a no decision as the A's rallied to score two runs to win the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Our View: He would have claimed his fifth win in August if not for poor run support. |
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| Cust homers in win | Saturday 8/30, 11:08 PM CT |
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Jack Cust went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Twins.
Our View: He has homered in two straight games, and hit three over his last five. His average (.228) leaves a lot to be desired, but should remain a solid source of power for AL-only leagues. |
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| Span records two RBI in loss | Saturday 8/30, 11:04 PM CT |
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Denard Span went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Oakland.
Our View: Span has recorded two RBI in back-to-games, and in three of his last four. He looks to remain solid heading into September. |
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| Reyes swipes 45th base | Saturday 8/30, 10:57 PM CT |
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Jose Reyes went 1-for-4 with a triple in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Florida. He also registered a walk and swiped his 45th base of the season.
Our View: Reyes continues to lead the majors with 17 triples, and he ranks second in steals only to Willy Taveras of Colorado. |
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| Wright hits two-run homer in loss | Saturday 8/30, 10:49 PM CT |
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David Wright went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Marlins.
Our View: Wright's homer was his 26th, and he is on pace to set a new season-high (30). |
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| Jacobs crushes 27th homer in win | Saturday 8/30, 10:43 PM CT |
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Mike Jacobs went 3-for-4 with a solo homer in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Mets. His other two hits were singles.
Our View: He collected his 27th homer of the season, with two coming over his last four games. He had been struggling at the plate as of late, but looks to be back on the right track heading into September. |
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| Granderson goes 3-for-5 in loss | Saturday 8/30, 10:37 PM CT |
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Curtis Granderson went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Saturday's 13-3 loss to the Royals at Comerica Park. He just missed the cycle, as he hit a single, double, and a triple.
Our View: Granderson has recorded three hits in two of his last three games. He has five RBI over those three games as well, and looks to be headed for a solid final month of the regular season. |
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| Teahen goes 2-for-5 | Saturday 8/30, 10:32 PM CT |
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Mark Teahen went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 13-3 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park. He hit a double and a solo homer.
Our View: Teahen has homered in back-to-back games and could be headed for a solid final month of the season in the power department. |
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| Butler hits two homers | Saturday 8/30, 10:28 PM CT |
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Billy Butler went 3-for-5 with four RBI in Saturday's 13-3 win over Detroit. He hit two homers and a single.
Our View: He snapped a 22-game skid without a home run, and only has nine for the season. |
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| Padilla placed on DL | Saturday 8/30, 10:23 PM CT |
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Vicente Padilla has been placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring, according to the AP. To fill his spot on the roster, Texas recalled righthander Kameron Loe from Triple-A Oklahoma.
Our View: The 30-year-old hurler has gone 12-7 with a 4.98 ERA in 25 starts for the Rangers, and this will mark his second trip to the DL this season. |
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| Hamilton leaves game | Saturday 8/30, 10:20 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton left Saturday's game against the Angels in the fifth inning due to tooth pain related to a root canal he had on Wednesday, according to the AP.
Our View: We will keep you posted when his status is updated. |
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| Jones goes 2-for-5 | Saturday 8/30, 10:16 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 9-8 loss to the Nationals. He hit a double and a solo homer.
Our View: Jones raised his average one point to .359, and still trails Albert Pujols, who went 4-for-4 against Houston tonight. |
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| McCann adds another homer | Saturday 8/30, 10:13 PM CT |
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Brian McCann went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's 9-8 loss to Washington. he recorded a double and a solo homer.
Our View: McCann has homered in back-to-back games, and has 23 for the season. He also raised his batting average a few points to .296. |
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| Hernandez chips in three RBI in win | Saturday 8/30, 10:09 PM CT |
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Anderson Hernandez went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Saturday's 9-8 win over the Braves. All of his knocks were singles.
Our View: Hernandez has recorded multiple hits in five of his last six games, and should continue to be active in the Nationals' lineup over the final month of the season, meaning the hot-hitting infielder is worth consideration in NL-only leagues. |
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| Ankiel collects 25th homer | Saturday 8/30, 10:00 PM CT |
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Rick Ankiel went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Astros.
Our View: His homer was his 25th of the season. He should remain a favorable source of power during the stretch run in September. |
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| Pujols goes 4-for-4 in loss | Saturday 8/30, 9:56 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Astros. He hit two singles, a double, and a two-run homer.
Our View: He raised his average six points to .362 following tonight's performance. |
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| Pence has strong outing in win | Saturday 8/30, 9:53 PM CT |
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Hunter Pence went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Saturday's 8-5 win over the Cardinals. He hit a single and a three-run homer.
Our View: He notched his 20th homer of the season, with three coming over his last seven outings. |
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| Moehler earns win vs. Cardinals | Saturday 8/30, 9:50 PM CT |
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Brian Moehler gave up three earned runs on seven hits over six innings in Saturday's 8-5 win over the Cardinals, with one walk and six strikeouts.
Our View: The 36-year-old hurler, who just signed an extension with the club, improves to 10-5 for the season, and is 5-1 since the All-Star break. |
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| Moss blasts two-run homer in loss | Saturday 8/30, 9:39 PM CT |
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Brandon Moss went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in Saturday's 11-3 loss to the Brewers. His other hit went for a double.
Our View: Moss has seven homers for the season, with two coming over his last five games. He is worth a look in deeper NL-only leagues for fantasy owners in need of power. |
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| Cameron leads Brewers with four RBI | Saturday 8/30, 9:35 PM CT |
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Mike Cameron went 2-for-4 with four RBI in Saturday's 11-3 win over the Pirates. He registered a double and a three-run homer.
Our View: Cameron collected his 24th homer of the season, with three coming over his last seven games. He should remain a solid source of power in NL-only leagues down the stretch. |
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| Suppan claims 10th win | Saturday 8/30, 9:32 PM CT |
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Jeff Suppan only allowed two earned runs on three hits over seven innings in Saturday's 11-3 win over the Pirates, with two walks and two strikeouts.
Our View: Suppan claimed his 10th win of the season, and finished August with a 5-0 mark. He is worthy of fantasy lineups in NL-only leagues heading into the final month of the regular season. |
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| Buehrle rocked for seven runs | Saturday 8/30, 9:16 PM CT |
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Mark Buehrle was rocked for seven earned runs on 11 hits over 4.2 innings in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Red Sox in Chicago, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Our View: He ended August with a 3-2 mark, and should bounce back in the final month of the regular season while the Sox remain in contention for the AL Central division title. |
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| Kotsay leads Boston in win | Saturday 8/30, 9:11 PM CT |
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Mark Kotsay led the Red Sox in Saturday's 8-2 win over the White Sox, as he went 3-for-5 with three RBI. He registered a single and two doubles.
Our View: Kotsay started the game in right field, and will see more at-bats if he continues to perform like he did tonight. |
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| Bowden wins in debut | Saturday 8/30, 9:07 PM CT |
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Michael Bowden only issued two earned runs on seven hits over five innings in Saturday's 8-2 win over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Our View: Bowden earned a win in his solid MLB debut tonight, and is worth a look in AL-only leagues as a flier. |
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| Meyer optioned to Double-A | Saturday 8/30, 8:17 PM CT |
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Dan Meyer has been optioned to Double-A Midland, according to the AP. Andrew Brown has also been transferred from the 15 to the 60-day DL.
Our View: Meyer went 0-3 with a 6.33 ERA in eight games (three starts) over two stints with Oakland this season.
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| Foulke activated from DL | Saturday 8/30, 8:14 PM CT |
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Keith Foulke has been activated from the DL following his bout with right shoulder inflammation, according to the AP.
Our View: Foulke posted decent numbers over 26 innings of relief with Oakland this season, but holds no fantasy value. |
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| Cunningham recalled | Saturday 8/30, 8:10 PM CT |
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Aaron Cunningham has been recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, according to the AP.
Our View: The 22-year-old outfielder was part of the trade that shipped Dan Haren to Arizona. He hit .329 with 17 homers and 66 RBI combined between Midland and Sacramento this season. He could get an extended look in the A's outfield over the final month of the season, and is worth consideration in deeper AL-only leagues as a flier.
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| Thomas placed on DL | Saturday 8/30, 8:07 PM CT |
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Frank Thomas has been placed on the 15-day DL due to a strained right groin, according to the AP.
Our View: Thomas has been hitting well as of late with six hits over his last three games, and it is unfortunate he is forced to his second stint on the DL this season. |
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| Sizemore registers two doubles in loss | Saturday 8/30, 7:41 PM CT |
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Grady Sizemore went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners. Both of his hits were doubles.
Our View: Sizemore has two hits in back-to-back games against Seattle, with three doubles. The finale of the series is set for Sunday. |
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| Ibanez goes 3-for-5 in win | Saturday 8/30, 7:37 PM CT |
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Raul Ibanez went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Indians at Progressive Field. All three of his knocks were singles.
Our View: Ibanez is hitting .470 (8-for-17) over his last four games, with two homers and five RBI. He looks to remain hot heading into the final month of the season. |
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| Washburn strong in no decision | Saturday 8/30, 7:32 PM CT |
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Jarrod Washburn hurled 6.2 scoreless innings, with only three hits allowed, in Saturday's 4-3 win over Cleveland. He issued four walks but also had eight strikeouts. He exited the game with a 1-0 lead, but the Indians tied it in the ninth inning, and Washburn had to settle for a no decision rather than a win for his strong effort.
Our View: He didn't win, but still snapped a five-game losing streak, and has something positive to build upon heading into September. |
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| Benson released | Saturday 8/30, 7:15 PM CT |
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Kris Benson has been released by the Phillies, according to the AP. He was working at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Our View: Benson was attempting to come back from a torn rotator cuff that left him sidelined for the entire 2007 campaign.
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| Huff notches three RBI in losing effort | Saturday 8/30, 7:12 PM CT |
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Aubrey Huff went 2-for-5 with three RBI in Saturday's disappointing 10-9 loss to the Rays. He hit a single and a three-run homer.
Our View: Huff collected his 30th homer, and is five away from setting a new season high (hit 34 with Tampa Bay in 2003). |
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| Iwamura scores three runs | Saturday 8/30, 7:08 PM CT |
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Akinori Iwamura went 3-for-5 and scored three runs in Saturday's 10-9 win over Baltimore. He hit two doubles and a single.
Our View: He has scored three runs in back-to-back outings, and extended his hitting streak to eight games. |
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| Upton chips in two RBI in win | Saturday 8/30, 7:05 PM CT |
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B.J. Upton went 2-for-5 and chipped in two RBI in Friday's 10-9 win over the Orioles at Tropicana Field. Both of his hits were doubles.
Our View: Upton is hot as he registed multiple hits in three straight games, and hopefully he won't cool off in September. |
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| Ramirez records 100th RBI in loss | Saturday 8/30, 6:23 PM CT |
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Aramis Ramirez went 1-for-4 and recorded his 100th RBI of the season in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Phillies at Wrigley Field.
Our View: Ramirez has reached at least 100 RBI in three straight seasons with the Cubs. |
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| Howard notches 37th homer in win | Saturday 8/30, 6:20 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard went 2-for-5 with a solo homer in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Cubs on the north side of Chicago. His other hit was a single.
Our View: Howard notched his 37th homer of the season, with three coming over his last five games. |
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| Myers in control vs. Cubs | Saturday 8/30, 6:17 PM CT |
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Brett Myers was in control in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, as he only allowed two earned runs on 11 hits over seven innings, with no walks and eight strikeouts.
Our View: Myers has now won three straight decisions, and has allowed two or less earned runs in each outing. He is worth targeting for the final month of the regular season if available. |
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| Youkilis out of lineup | Saturday 8/30, 5:27 PM CT |
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Kevin Youkilis is out of Saturday's lineup, according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: Jeff Bailey is slated to cover his spot at first base. Youkilis is dealing with flu-like symptoms and is considered day-to-day. |
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| Gregg dealing with inflammation | Saturday 8/30, 5:20 PM CT |
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Kevin Gregg is dealing with left knee inflammation, according to the AP. He is taking a break to rest the ailing knee that has bothered him the past three or four weeks.
Our View: He is expected to be sidelined for a couple of days, and manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated that he will go with Matt Lindstrom or Joe Nelson as the closer while Gregg is out. |
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| Rosales optioned | Saturday 8/30, 4:40 PM CT |
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Adam Rosales has been optioned to Triple-A Louisville, according to the AP. Pitcher Ramon Ramirez was recalled from Louisville as the corresponding move, and will make a spot start in place of the injured Johnny Cueto tonight against the Giants.
Our View: Rosales failed to make an impact with one hit over eight brief at-bats, but could rejoin the Reds again during September call-ups. |
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| Ramirez recalled | Saturday 8/30, 4:36 PM CT |
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Ramon Ramirez has been recalled from the minors, according to the AP. Infielder Adam Rosales was optioned to Louisville to make room on the roster.
Our View: He will get the start against the Giants in his MLB debut. The 25-year-old was a combined 6-8 with a 3.59 ERA and one save over 30 games, including 24 starts, with Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga this season. He is covering for Johnny Cueto, who is forced to miss his start due to a strained right elbow.
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| Torrealba may opt for surgery | Saturday 8/30, 4:17 PM CT |
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Yorvit Torrealba has a torn meniscus in his left knee and is considering potentially season-ending surgery, according to the Denver Post. He said, "I don't mean to be negative, but I don't think it's going to get better. I hope it responds. But I have played with this for around six weeks. It got a little better, now it's back to the same spot that it was."
Our View: The team will be in good shape with Chris Iannetta at catcher if Torrealba ultimately has surgery, and fantasy owners won't miss much, as he only holds a .246 batting average with six homers over 70 games. |
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| Rasner pitches well, but it's not enough | Saturday 8/30, 4:10 PM CT |
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Darrell Rasner pitched well against the Blue Jays for the second time this season, but once again the offense failed to emerge to pull out victory. Rasner pitched six innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits with one walk, one strikeout, and one homer surrendered.
Our View: Rasner has shown flashes and could be one of the more promising arms the Yankees have raised. He will continue to work for attention and continued innings in the majors, but his immediate fantasy potential is rather limited. Watch his progress as he moves forward and keep him in mind for next season. |
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| Sherrill resumes throwing program | Saturday 8/30, 4:08 PM CT |
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George Sherrill, who is recovering from left shoulder inflammation, resumed his throwing program Saturday and is scheduled for a pen session on Wednesday, according to the AP.
Our View: Chris Ray is not expected to return this season, so Sherrill will not be pushed from the closer's job when he comes back to Baltimore, which could be in early September, barring a setback. |
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| Jeter leads group effort, but Yanks fall short | Saturday 8/30, 4:07 PM CT |
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The Yanks were all about offense today as they battled with the Blue Jays, but the hitting wasn't enough to get the win, falling 7-6 to Toronto. Shortstop Derek Jeter was one of four players making a contribution, going 2-for-4 at the plate with one walk and two runs scored.
Our View: Bobby Abreu, Robinson Cano, and Ivan Rodriguez all went 2-for-4 as well with both Cano and I-Rod jacking homers while Abreu added a stolen base. |
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| Wells homers vs Yanks | Saturday 8/30, 4:03 PM CT |
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Vernon Wells enjoyed a productive day at the dish as the Jays squeeked out the 7-6 win over the Yankees, going 2-for-4 with one walk and his 15th homer of the season, totaling two RBIs and two runs scored on the day.
Our View: Wells has been hitting the ball well, touting six homers and 20 RBI with a .313 batting average through August. |
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| Ryan converts 25th save | Saturday 8/30, 3:59 PM CT |
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B.J. Ryan allowed one hit and a walk in the ninth inning in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Yankees.
Our View: He converted his 25th save of the season, and has not allowed an earned run over 11 consecutive innings. |
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| Martinez sent back to bench as precaution | Saturday 8/30, 3:26 PM CT |
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Catcher Victor Martinez made his return to the lineup Friday night, but he made his return to the bench Saturday afternoon, according to MLB.com. The Indians want to be careful with how quickly they work Martinez back into full-time duty, so manager Eric Wedge plans to pick his spots with how he plays him. Martinez went 1-for-3 with a run scored in his return to the lineup against the Mariners. "He'll be back in there [Sunday], at first base or DH," Wedge said. "He's going to throw again [Sunday], then we'll assess where he's at on Monday."
Our View: Martinez could be ready to catch a game by that point, but he's not expected to catch more than two games a week from here on out. |
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| Zambrano battling dead arm | Saturday 8/30, 3:02 PM CT |
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If you have watched the radar gun when Carlos Zambrano has pitched this month, you know something's not right. The problem, the Cubs right-hander said Saturday, is that he's going through a "dead arm" phase, according to MLB.com. "I've been doing all my things and my work and have been working out," Zambrano said. "I'm trying to throw as hard as I can, and you see the gun -- 91, 88 [mph]. Everybody goes through these, and I just have to wait for my arm strength and my arm power to come back, so I can do a good job for my team."
Our View: Zambrano is 1-1 with a 7.43 ERA in five August starts, and 13-5 with a 3.53 ERA overall. He'll have one more start this month, on Sunday in the series finale against the Phillies. In his last outing Tuesday against the Pirates, he lasted 4 1/3 innings and gave up six runs on eight hits. He threw 98 pitches, which is his average this month, and did not get a decision. Since that game, Zambrano has lightened up his workload. Instead of throwing a bullpen session, Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild had the right-hander play catch. That way, Zambrano can stretch out his arm and strengthen it. |
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| Salazar recalled from Norfolk | Saturday 8/30, 2:56 PM CT |
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The Baltimore Orioles have recalled Oscar Salazar from Triple-A Norfolk, filling the spot vacated by Radhames Liz, optioned to Norfolk this morning, according to the Sports Network.
Our View: Salazar hit .235 with two homers and four RBI in 17 at-bats over nine games for Baltimore in 2008. |
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| Mora out about one week | Saturday 8/30, 2:46 PM CT |
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Baltimore Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora is expected to be sidelined about a week with a strained left hamstring, according to SLAM Sports. Mora left Friday's game against Tampa Bay in the third after he was hurt trying to beat out a ground ball. "It's sore," Mora said Saturday. "Could be a week, or less."
Our View: The team reports no desires to put him on the DL and believe he could return in quick order. Mora is hitting .393 with 12 homers and 49 RBIs since the All-Star break. |
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| Wagner may not return | Saturday 8/30, 2:36 PM CT |
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With only a month left to play it hardly seems likely that the Mets will fall from playoff contention -- like last year -- but if so, closer Billy Wagner's health appears so questionable that he likely won't make another appearance without a playoff berth at stake, according to MLBNewsOnline.com.
Our View: While the Mets watch as deadlines have lapsed for his anticipated return, Wagner is playing catch in addition to other rehabilitation exercises to reduce discomfort and swelling in the elbow of his throwing arm. The objective is to build up healthy tissue to, in effect, replace strength lost because of permanently ruptured or frayed strands of tendon. Wagner -- with another year remaining on his $43 million contract -- remains invaluable to the Mets' divisional race. He was among the league leaders with 27 saves when he went down, though he has blown seven. Expect him to make every effort to return by the end of September as long as there's a point to it. |
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| Carpenter improving | Saturday 8/30, 2:15 PM CT |
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St. Louis Cardinals hurler Chris Carpenter, battling an ongoing shoulder injury, threw about 60 pitches in a bullpen session Friday and felt encouraged, according to the MLB.
Our View: The team is considering bringing him back as a reliever, which Carpenter isn't opposed to. Nothing has been decided yet, but we'll let you know when it is. |
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| Rauch gets the weekend off | Saturday 8/30, 2:14 PM CT |
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Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Jon Rauch may not pitch this weekend due to forearm stiffness, according to the MLB.
Our View: The injury is not expected to be serious and the team is simply practicing caution as the playoff season moves closer. |
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| Orioles send Liz down | Saturday 8/30, 1:56 PM CT |
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The Baltimore Orioles have sent starting pitcher Radhames Liz to Triple-A Norfolk, but intend to bring back the right- hander in time to start Tuesday's game at Boston, according to the Sports Network.
Our View: Liz is 5-3 with a 6.95 ERA in 12 starts with the Orioles this year. The Orioles used the extra spot on the roster to recall infielder Oscar Salazar from Norfolk. He was recently named to the International League All- Star team after batting .316 with 13 home runs and 85 RBI for the Tides. Earlier this year, Salazar batted .235 with two home runs and four RBI in nine games with the Orioles. |
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| Longoria working with patience to return | Saturday 8/30, 1:52 PM CT |
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Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said he wouldn't count on Evan Longoria returning in time for the Yankees s eries, starting next Tuesday, according to the St. Petersburgh Times. The All-Star third baseman has been rehabbing a fractured right wrist; he threw again Saturday afternoon and has been swinging with a broomstick, but Maddon doesn't know if Longoria will be ready to go for the rest of the homestand. "I would say probably not - it doesn't look really hopeful," Maddon said. "I wouldn't count on it. I'm not saying it won't happen, but I won't count on it."
Our View: When Longoria was placed on the disabled list Aug 11 after getting hit by a pitch in the Seattle series, the Rays intially estimated he could return on or around September 1st. But Maddon said Longoria would probably have to do live batting practice at least two to three days before he plays in an actual game, and the Rays haven't discussed that part of his progression. |
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| Mora's injury may bring Fahey to majors, Huff to third | Saturday 8/30, 1:28 PM CT |
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The Orioles may not be able to wait for Monday's roster expansion, now that Melvin Mora will miss at least the next couple of games with a hamstring strain. The team figures to call up an infielder, likely to be Brandon Fahey, to provide some depth for the rest of the weekend, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: Look for Aubrey Huff to fill in at third and the two left-fielders -- Luke Scott and Lou Montanez -- to both be in the lineup. Of course, one of them will be the DH, though you could have made a case for putting both of them in left field at the same time in last night's 14-3 loss. |
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| Navarro, Barlett back in the Rays order | Saturday 8/30, 12:51 PM CT |
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The Rays should be happy to get Dioner Navarro back in the lineup today as they face the Orioles, returned from hamstring pain that appears to be improved, according to the St. Petersburgh Times.
Our View: Shortstop Jason Barlett returns after a day off as well, giving the Rays a lift as they push to stay hot moving towards the playoffs. |
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| Smoltz to sign as analyst for TBS | Saturday 8/30, 11:15 AM CT |
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Reports indicate Turner Broadcasting is close to signing injured Braves hurler John Smoltz to come in and work as an on-air analyst during the playoffs this fall, according to the SportsBusiness Daily.
Our View: Terms of the potential deal have not been disclosed, but it sound like baseball fans could enjoy Smoltz's insights on TBS as the playoffs take form. |
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| Liriano gets start vs Oakland | Saturday 8/30, 11:09 AM CT |
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Of Francisco Liriano's eight starts this season, two have come against the Oakland Athletics. Tonight, Liriano will lead the playoff-hopeful Minnesota Twins against the A's in the third test of a four-game series from McAfee Coliseum, according to the Sports Network.
Our View: Liriano first squared off with the Athletics on April 24 by the bay and was reached for six runs and five hits in two-thirds of an inning. The Twins never recovered and were handed an 11-2 setback that day. Liriano rebounded on August 20 versus Oakland at the Metrodome, where he yielded one unearned run and five hits in five frames of his team's 3-1 victory. The left-hander, who will make his sixth start since being recalled from the minor leagues, last pitched on August 25 at Seattle and is 4-0 over the past five trips to the mound. Liriano did not factor in the 4-2 loss to the Mariners after holding them to a run on five hits in six innings of work. He is 4-3 with a 3.83 ERA in eight outings this season. |
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| Bowden to make debut with Boston tonight | Saturday 8/30, 10:48 AM CT |
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Reports from Beantown indicate top pitching prospect Michael Bowden will make his major league debut for the Red Sox tonight, according to FenwayWest.com.
Our View: The blog reports Bowden pitched well in Portland earlier in the season going 9-3 with a 2.33 ERA. When he was moved up to Pawtucket he continued to pitch well but his ERA went up to 3.38 in seven games. He is a fly ball pitcher that can get in trouble with the long ball. Sox Prospects says he has good command, he only has given up five walks in his last 40 innings. He is a tough kid with a Pedroia like outlook and should not get rattled by the situation. Look for him to keep the Sox in the game, but he is going to need the offense to put up more than three runs to get the win. |
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| Kent to have MRI | Saturday 8/30, 10:31 AM CT |
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Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent left the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, August 29th, due to left knee pain, and said he will undergo an MRI exam, according to The Associated Press. "I've got a lot of clicking and popping going on in there right now, and it's pretty painful," Kent reported.
Our View: The Dodgers will release more news on this later in the day. We have no indication on the severity of the injury at this point, but it doesn't sound especially optimistic. |
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| Erstad, Moehler get extensions | Saturday 8/30, 10:28 AM CT |
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Astros beat writer Krysten Oliphant reports that the team has signed veteran outfielder Darin Erstad and right-handed pitcher Brian Moehler to one-year extensions, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Erstad gets a $1.75MM deal plus bonuses and Moehler nets a $2.3 million extension and bonuses; he has an option for 2010. Erstad and Moehler have been a couple of bright spots among Ed Wade's offseason acquisitions. |
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| Joba set to return as reliever | Saturday 8/30, 9:49 AM CT |
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Joba Chamberlain's long-awaited return is expected to come in the next week, and reports indicate he will likely be coming back as a relief pitcher, according to the New York Daily News.
Our View: The righthander, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since August 6th with rotator cuff tendinitis, will face hitters Saturday and throw approximately 35 pitches. If he feels no lingering effects Sunday, he should be cleared to be activated. |
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| Angels, Jays find conflict in trade agreement for Eckstein | Saturday 8/30, 9:33 AM CT |
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The Angels and the Blue Jays were closing in on a deal Friday that would have returned popular shortstop David Eckstein to Anaheim. But talks stalled, apparently when another club also expressed serious interest in the 2006 World Series most valuable player, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Our View: Ken Rosenthal reported this morning the Arizona Diamondbacks had made a strong offer for Eckstein, but the Times reports the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Rays may also be in the mix. This is going to unfold throughout the day, so we will keep you posted as news comes forth. |
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| D'Backs jump into mix for Eckstein | Saturday 8/30, 8:54 AM CT |
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Yesterday we reported the Angels are showing significant interest in obtaining second baseman David Eckstein from Toronto. Today we learn the Arizona Diamondbacks have shown interest in the veteran fielder as well, according to Ken Rosenthal with Fox Sports.
Our View: According to Rosenthal, the Diamondbacks are using Augie Ojeda and Chris Burke at second base after losing Orlando Hudson to season-ending wrist surgery. The addition of Eckstein would give them another option. The Angels, meanwhile, envision Eckstein as a backup at shortstop and second base. The team lost shortstop Maicer Izturis to a season-ending thumb injury this month. Second baseman Howie Kendrick went on the disabled list Thursday with a strained left hamstring. And shortstop Erick Aybar is day-to-day with his own left-hamstring issue. |
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| Loney contributes RBI in loss | Saturday 8/30, 12:52 AM CT |
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James Loney went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's 9-3 loss to Arizona. His hit was a single.
Our View: Loney maintains a .300 batting average, and has extended his hitting streak to nine games, with five RBI over the span. |
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| Young goes 2-for-5 | Saturday 8/30, 12:48 AM CT |
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Chris Young went 2-for-5 with two runs scored in Friday's 9-3 win over the Dodgers. Both of his hits were singles.
Our View: Young has generated two hits in two straight games, and has eight multi-hit games in August. |
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| Dunn chips in two RBI | Saturday 8/30, 12:41 AM CT |
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Adam Dunn went 2-for-4 and chipped in two RBI in Friday's 9-3 win over the Dodgers.
Our View: He has registered two hits in back-to-back games, and three times over his last six. Dunn looks to remain a solid source of production down the stretch for fantasy owners. |
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| Gonzalez goes 1-for-4 | Saturday 8/30, 12:35 AM CT |
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Adrian Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Rockies. His hit was a single.
Our View: He ended a seven-game drought without an RBI, and has 93 for the season. Now he needs to end his homer-less streak, which stands at 17 games. |
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| Atkins crushes two homers | Saturday 8/30, 12:31 AM CT |
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Garrett Atkins went 2-for-5 with five RBI in Friday's 9-4 win against the Padres at PETCO Park. Both of his hits were home runs.
Our View: He bounced back with a vengeance tonight, as he snapped a 16-game skid without a homer, and set a season-high with five RBI in a game. |
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| Cook nails down 16th win | Saturday 8/30, 12:25 AM CT |
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Aaron Cook gave up two earned runs on five hits over six innings in Friday's 9-4 win over the Padres, with two walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: His strikeouts are low (87 over 188 innings) and his ERA (3.88) could be better as a fantasy starter, but he should remain a solid source for wins (16) heading down the stretch in September. |
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| Cust lone source of scoring for A's | Saturday 8/30, 12:18 AM CT |
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Jack Cust was Oakland's lone source of scoring in Friday's 12-2 loss to Minnesota, as he went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer.
Our View: Cust is only batting .227, but has been solid in the power department with 24 homers. Two of his homers came over his last four games. |
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| Mauer generates four RBI | Saturday 8/30, 12:14 AM CT |
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Joe Mauer went 5-for-6 and generated four RBI in Friday's 12-2 win over the Athletics. He hit one double and four singles.
Our View: He set a season-high in both hits and RBI in a game this season, and raised his batting average to .324. |
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| Slowey in control | Saturday 8/30, 12:09 AM CT |
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Kevin Slowey was in control in Friday's 12-2 win against Oakland, as he only issued two earned runs on six hits over six innings, with one walk and 10 strikeouts.
Our View: He improves to 11-8, and has won four straight decisions. He should remain active in fantasy lineups in September as he aims to keep the Twins in playoff contention. |
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