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| Rivera saves his 33rd | Saturday 9/6, 11:57 PM CT |
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Mariano Rivera needed 13 pitches to get 1.1 innnings against the Mariners for his 33rd save of the season. He gave up no hits and lowered his ERA to 1.43.
Our View: The Sandman just doesn't quit. Despite being 38, he currently has the lowest WHIP (0.68) of his Hall-of-Fame career. |
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| Ibanez gets 101st RBI | Saturday 9/6, 11:51 PM CT |
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Raul Ibanez had four RBI against the Yankees on Saturday night to bring his season total to 101. He hit his 26th home run of the season in the sixth inning off of Sidney Ponson.
Our View: Ibanez is having a great year but its unlikely many are noticing since he's in Seattle. The 36 year old will be a free agent after the season. |
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| Giambi hits 29th home run | Saturday 9/6, 11:47 PM CT |
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Jason Giambi went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double on Saturday night. He two runs and two RBI in his west coast effort.
Our View: The slugger has struggled in the second half but his power has remained consistent. He now has 29 home runs on the season. |
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| Abreu keys Yankees offense | Saturday 9/6, 11:44 PM CT |
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Bobby Abreu was 3-for-4 in Seattle on Saturday. He scored twice and had three RBI to go with his fourth triple and 16th home run of the season.
Our View: It was his first home run since August second and his first triple since May 30th. The long time fantasy juggernaut and soon-to-be free agent should still hit 100 RBI and 100 runs this season. He currently has 87 in both categories. |
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| Maholm has another good outing...Pirates lose | Saturday 9/6, 11:20 PM CT |
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Paul Maholm rebounded from one of his worst starts of the season but his bullpen blew the win for him. On Saturday against the Giants, Maholm threw six innings of one-run ball only to watch his bullpen surrender five runs in the seventh.
Our View: Maholm's ERA is down to 3.74 after his 28th start and he has certainly pitched better than his 8-8 record would indicate. |
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| McLouth has a solid night | Saturday 9/6, 11:17 PM CT |
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Nate McLouth was 3-for-5 with two RBI and his 19th stolen base of the season. One of his hits was his 40th double of the season.
Our View: Although his power has fallen off recently, he remains a productive fantasy outfielder. It's good to see he remains aggressive on the base paths. |
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| McClain goes deep again | Saturday 9/6, 11:14 PM CT |
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Scott McClain went 2-for-4 with a home run on Saturday. After four games, the Giants' first baseman is hitting .500 with two home runs and five RBI...and he's 36.
Our View: How deep is your league? McClain is an interesting September bat but we are not guaranteeing anything. |
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| Sanchez records four hits | Saturday 9/6, 11:11 PM CT |
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Freddy Sanchez returned to the starting lineup on Saturday and went 4-for-5. He scored twice and added two RBI in the Pirates' 7-6 loss to the Giants.
Our View: Sanchez has had a down year but seems to step it up now that the games mean absolutely nothing. He hit .318 in August and is coming in at .500 for September. Invest at your own risk. |
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| Niemann has near no-hitter | Saturday 9/6, 11:03 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that Jeff Niemann flirted with a no-hitter on Saturday night. The 25-year-old right-hander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and struck out 11 as the Bulls took a 2-1 lead in their best-of-5 International League semifinal series with a 3-2 victory over the Louisville Bats. Louisville had 24 hits the on Thursday. Niemann's no-hit bid ended when Craig Tatum slammed a double off the center-field wall leading off the eighth.
Our View: Niemann only made two starts for the Rays this season and gave up six runs over 9.1 innings. However, he has been spectacular in the minors and will likely be called up after the minor league playoffs end. |
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| Francis outshined again | Saturday 9/6, 10:58 PM CT |
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Jeff Francis picked up his ninth loss of the season while allowing two runs and seven hits over 6.1 innings opposite Roy Oswalt on Saturday. Francis, who missed all of July with inflammation in his left shoulder, has put together five quality starts, but has one win to show for it. He is 4-9 on the season.
Our View: Francis has pitched much better of late but has had some unfortunate matchups. Expect Francis and the Rockies to have a good September. |
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| Hamilton tallies three more RBI | Saturday 9/6, 10:51 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs to push his majors-best RBI total to 124 in a 15-8 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday.
Our View: Hamilton certainly slowed down after his memorable All-Star weekend but he has been seeing the ball well in September while hitting .524. |
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| Gaudin to have back looked at | Saturday 9/6, 10:49 PM CT |
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The AP reports that Chad Gaudin will return to Chicago on Monday for tests on his sore back. He hasn't pitched since August 29.
Our View: At first the injury was not believed to be serious, but this seems like a red flag. We'll continue to monitor the situation. |
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| Figgins hits first home run of the year | Saturday 9/6, 10:31 PM CT |
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Chone Figgins hit his first home run in over 400 at bats this season on Saturday. He also doubled and scored twice for the Angels.
Our View: Figgins had been in a slight slump and it appears he has found his slump-buster. The Angels would like for him to heat up as the playoffs approach. |
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| Youkilis homers in return | Saturday 9/6, 10:21 PM CT |
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Kevin Youkilis hit a three-run shot in his first game back from dealing with a personal matter. His only hit of the night was not enough as the Red Sox fell to the Rangers 15-8.
Our View: Youkilis had also been dealing with lower back spasms but those are said to be gone. One of the games better hitters should have a productive September heading into the postseason. |
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| Cruz homers twice | Saturday 9/6, 10:19 PM CT |
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Nelson Cruz hit two home runs against the Red Sox on Saturday. He scored three times and had five RBI. He had one home run entering the contest.
Our View: Cruz was the Pacific Coast League MVP, hitting 37 homers in 103 games before being called up by Texas on Aug. 25. He has three homers in 12 games since. His homers were measured at 444 and 417 feet. He could be a good source of power off of the waiver wire. |
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| Bulger has best game yet | Saturday 9/6, 10:16 PM CT |
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Jason Bulger had his best outing of the season for the Angels on Saturday night against the White Sox. He threw three no-hit extra frames while striking out five.
Our View: Entering the game he had only made six appearances and compiled a 6.75 ERA. Allowing him to go three innings shows the Mike Sciossia has faith in the rookie yet. |
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| Pence provides all the runs necessary | Saturday 9/6, 10:13 PM CT |
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Hunter Pence's two-run home run accounted for all of the runs in the Astros' 2-0 victory over the Rockies on Saturday night. It was his 21st of the season.
Our View: Look for Pence to have another good September just as he did in 2007. He is currently riding an eight game hitting streak. |
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| K-Rod blows a save | Saturday 9/6, 10:11 PM CT |
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Francisco Rodriguez blew his sixth save of the season on Saturday when Dwayne Wise hit a sacrafice fly to score Alexei Ramirez in the ninth.
Our View: The Angels went on to lose in 15 innings. After 54 converted save chances, fantasy owners should not have a difficult time forgiving him. |
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| Thome hits walk-off homer | Saturday 9/6, 10:08 PM CT |
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Jim Thome's only hit in six at bats on Saturday was a timely one. In the 15th inning, he took Angels' reliever Justin Speier deep for a walk-off home run.
Our View: The blast helped put another game of distance between the White Sox and the Twins and was Thome's 30th of the season. |
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| Shell earns his second save | Saturday 9/6, 10:05 PM CT |
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Steven Shell threw a perfect 10th-inning for his second career save. Joel Hanrahan blew a save earlier in the night.
Our View: Shell lowered his ERA to 1.96 over 41.1 innings in 2008. It's unlikely he moves into the closer's role, but he should remain a solid setup option. |
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| Johnson stays hot | Saturday 9/6, 10:03 PM CT |
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Kelly Johnson kept his hot streak going on Saturday against the Nationals. He had two hits and two RBI while batting number two in the order.
Our View: He's 14-for-26 with 10 RBI in September and it's safe to put him in your lineups now that he has returned to the top of the order. |
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| Oswalt hurls complete game one hitter | Saturday 9/6, 10:00 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt threw a complete game one-hitter against a hot Rockies club on Saturday. He allowed no runs while striking out six, walking two and hitting two batters. He threw 102 pitches and gave up only a leadoff single to Brad Hawpe in the fifth inning.
Our View: Oswalt has been very good in his past five games and appears to have settled back into his dominant self. |
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| Wakefield shelled in 500th appearance | Saturday 9/6, 9:57 PM CT |
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Tim Wakefield's 500th career appearance was a forgettable one. He lasted just 1.2 innings and gave up seven runs in the process. His control was off as he walked four and allowed four hits.
Our View: This was Wakefield's worst start of the season by a good margin. Look for him to rebound in his next outing. |
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| Johnson replaces Edmonds | Saturday 9/6, 9:51 PM CT |
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Reed Johnson came through for manager Lou Piniella on Saturday night in the eight-hole. Prior to the game, Piniella talked about how the slumping lineup needed shook up. Johnson replaced Jim Edmonds in center and went 2-for-4 and scored twice.
Our View: He is hitting .305 and may continue to see regular duty as long as he produces. Edmonds is coming off an August that saw him hit just .200. |
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| Cabrera tallies a grand slam | Saturday 9/6, 9:48 PM CT |
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Jolbert Cabrera hit a grand slam in his only at bat on Saturday off of Carlos Marmol.
Our View: It was just the second home run of the year for the 35 year old. |
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| Samardzija lit up | Saturday 9/6, 9:46 PM CT |
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Jeff Samardzija gave up three runs and got no outs on Saturday against teh Reds. Thankfully, the Cubs were up big and the runs were, for the most part, meaningless.
Our View: Despite the blasting, his ERA remains an impressive 2.05 after 22 innings in the bigs. He should remain a good source of holds and provide a high K/9 rate in the process. |
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| Marquis wins his 10th | Saturday 9/6, 9:43 PM CT |
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Jason Marquis had his third straight quality start on Saturday against the Reds and earned his 10th win in the process. He walked five and allowed five hits but managed to give up just two runs over 7.1 innings. He also hit his first home run of the season in the effort.
Our View: Marquis remains too inconsistent to garner fantasy consideration. Just when he starts to look good he'll show up for a beating. |
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| Lee has four hits | Saturday 9/6, 9:41 PM CT |
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Derrek Lee, who had not had an RBI in nine straight games, was 4-for-6 on Saturday and tallied three RBI in the process.
Our View: The Cubs offense had struggled of late but put up 14 runs on Saturday against the Reds. |
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| Soriano goes deep three times | Saturday 9/6, 9:38 PM CT |
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Alfonso Soriano hit three home runs for the Cubs against the Reds on Saturday night. He finished the night 4-for-5 with four runs and five RBI.
Our View: We should all know by now that Soriano is a streaky hitter and this is just the type of game to get him going. Look for a strong September from the left fielder. Remember, last September he launched 14 dingers. |
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| DeJesus hitting well | Saturday 9/6, 9:31 PM CT |
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David DeJesus had his third three-hit game in his last four on Saturday. He added two RBI giving him 63 on the season despite batting in the leadoff spot.
Our View: DeJesus hits as much from the leadoff position as some of the game's best but he is not a big threat to steal and lacks production behind him. |
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| Gonzalez blows the save | Saturday 9/6, 9:20 PM CT |
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Mike Gonzalez managed just one out while yielding three runs in the tenth inning against the Nationals on Saturday night. It was his second loss of the season.
Our View: Gonzalez has been anything but dominant but he remains the closer for the Braves which makes him a fantasy consideration in deep leagues. |
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| Hampton taken deep four times | Saturday 9/6, 9:17 PM CT |
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Mike Hampton managed to give up four home runs to the Nationals in seven innings on Saturday night. He managed to avoid the loss as the Braves made a comeback late.
Our View: Hampton continues to be unimpressive this season and the Nationals embarrassed him tonight. It's unlikely the club picks up his option at the end of the season. |
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| Dukes goes deep twice | Saturday 9/6, 9:15 PM CT |
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Elijah Dukes had a beastly night against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. He was 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI. Both of his bombs came off of Mike Hampton.
Our View: Dukes continues to struggle to stay healthy but he has produced when he is. In 64 games he has 33 RBI. |
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| Lopez continues to produce | Saturday 9/6, 9:12 PM CT |
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Felipe Lopez accounted for two RBI against the Marlins Satuurday night.
Our View: Lopez has been a different player in St. Louis. He is hitting .371 in 22 games with his new team after hitting .241 over the past two seasons with the Nationals. It seems like he is due for a slump and we would be surprised to see him finish his Cardinals' season hitting over .350. |
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| Smith has quality start | Saturday 9/6, 9:08 PM CT |
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Greg Smith threw seven shutout innings against the Orioles on Saturday night improving his record to 7-14. He only gave up three hits but he walked five.
Our View: It was just the second win for the 24 year old since June. Smith has made 28 starts this season and should be able to use that experience to help him land a spot in the 2009 A's rotation. |
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| Cust hits two home runs | Saturday 9/6, 9:04 PM CT |
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Jack Cust homered twice off of Orioles' pitchers on Saturday. His blasts accounted for three RBI in the A's 5-1 victory over Baltimore.
Our View: Cust's average is still just .230 and he has 171 strikeouts this year but it's hard to ignore his 27 home runs. |
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| Uggla beginning to turn it around? | Saturday 9/6, 8:57 PM CT |
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One night after being credited with the game-winning RBI, Dan Uggla hit a home run, was walked and was hit in the Marlins' 5-3 loss to the Cardinals.
Our View: Uggla has struggled mightily since his terrible All-Star appearance but he is off to a good start in September and is due for a bounce back month. |
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| Pujols goes yard | Saturday 9/6, 8:54 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols hit his 31st home run of the season on Saturday in the first inning against the Florida Marlins. It was his only hit of the night, although he did walk and score later in the game.
Our View: Pujols has been red-hot since the All-Star break and is doing his part to keep the Cardinals in contention. He is hitting .379 with 43 RBI and 13 home runs since the mid-summer classic. |
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| Wellemeyer has strong outing | Saturday 9/6, 8:51 PM CT |
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Todd Wellemeyer went eight innings for the win on Saturday against the Marlins. He gave up three runs, all on home runs, while striking out seven. He is now 12-6 on the season.
Our View: Wellemeyer has been a pleasant surprise this season if only for the fact that he has hurled 168.1 innings. He lowered his ERA to 3.74 on Saturday. |
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| Perez bypassed in save opportunity | Saturday 9/6, 8:49 PM CT |
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After blowing two consecutive saves, Chris Perez was bypassed in the role on Saturday. Ryan Franklin was used instead and he earned his 15th save of the season.
Our View: As has been the case all season, the Cardinals' bullpen is a mess and difficult to predict. Perez may be in danger of losing some opportunities. |
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| Franklin earns the save | Saturday 9/6, 8:47 PM CT |
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A night after earning a loss against the Marlins, Ryan Franklin was called upon for the save on Saturday and he came through.
Our View: The Cardinals regular closer, Chris Perez, has blown his last two opportunities and it's unknown who Tony LaRussa intends on using in this role for the remainder of the season. |
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| Soria saves again | Saturday 9/6, 8:45 PM CT |
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Joakim Soria needed just eight pitches in a 1-2-3 ninth inning against the Indians on Saturday night, good for his 35th save of the season. The Royals won 3-1.
Our View: The Mexicutioner continues to have one of the best seasons of any closer. He figures to be a significant fantasy factor in future seasons. |
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| Meche wins number 11 | Saturday 9/6, 8:41 PM CT |
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Gil Meche struck out 10 Indians in seven innings on Saturday night as he won his 11th game and his first since August fourth. He gave up just one run on three hits.
Our View: In 10 starts since the All-Star break, Meche has a 2.83 ERA. All-in-all, this has been a good year for Meche, one making him worthy of fantasy consideration once again. |
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| Fukudome continues to sit | Saturday 9/6, 8:36 PM CT |
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Kosuke Fukudome missed his third straight start on Saturday as the Cubs routed the Reds. Micah Hoffpauir took his place again.
Our View: Fukudome hit just .193 in August and is just 1-for-9 in September. His replacement, Hoffpauir, is hitting .368 in 21 games. |
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| Peavy looks good in loss | Saturday 9/6, 8:20 PM CT |
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Jake Peavy suffered his tenth loss of the season on Saturday despite pitching well against a tough Brewers' lineup. He allowed just one run in seven innings. However, his control was a little off as he walked four.
Our View: It's been an incredibly unfortunate season for Peavy who carries a 9-10 record despite just a 2.63 ERA. He remains one of the best pitchers in the game, but has been cursed with a terrible offense. |
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| Sheets tosses complete game shutout | Saturday 9/6, 8:16 PM CT |
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Ben Sheets threw a complete game shutout against the light-hitting San Diego Padres on Saturday. He struck out seven, walked one and gave up just five hits in the 1-0 victory. The victory is his 13th of the season, a career high.
Our View: Sheets was pulled from his last start with a tight groin or because of dehydration depending on who you want to believe. Regardless, he was dominant on Saturday and should continue to shine. |
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| Ryan blows a save | Saturday 9/6, 8:10 PM CT |
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B.J. Ryan blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning of Saturday night's game against Tampa Bay. He struck out two, walked one and allowed one hit - a two-run shot to Rocco Baldelli.
Our View: It was the fourth time in five nights the veteran was called upon so its likely he was a little fatigued. Expect him to get a couple nights off. |
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| Reyes will likely miss next start | Saturday 9/6, 8:00 PM CT |
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Anthony Reyes will likely miss his Wednesday start at Baltimore because of a sore elbow according to ESPN.com. The right-hander left his start Friday at Kansas City after three scoreless innings and 39 pitches due to elbow stiffness.
Our View: Reyes said his elbow felt better on Saturday, but the Indians will likely be cautious because of his prior elbow problems. He was on the St. Louis Cardinals disabled list earlier this season with an elbow injury. The elbow was "a little stiff" warming up Friday, Reyes said. "I tried to do everything I could to loosen up, but it just wasn't happening. We're just being cautious and trying not to push it too much. It felt pretty good my last few starts. This is kind of a new thing." Reyes is 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA in six starts with the Indians since being acquired in a July 26 trade with the Cardinals. |
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| Reineke shut down for the season | Saturday 9/6, 7:57 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that Chad Reineke has been shut down for the rest of the season with a stress reaction in his right shoulder blade. "He should be ready by spring training," Padres manager Bud Black said before Saturday's game with the Brewers. "There's nothing you can really do except rest [and] rehab."
Our View: Reineke threw just 18 innings this season while compiling a 5.00 ERA. He should be ready to go for 2009 and compete for a spot in the Padres rotation. |
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| Wigginton strains groin | Saturday 9/6, 7:55 PM CT |
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The Houston Chronicle reports that Ty Wigginton left Saturday night's game against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning with a left groin strain. He’s listed as day-to-day. Wigginton, batting leadoff for the first time since Aug. 22, hit a chopper to Rockies second baseman Clint Barmes. Wigginton took a long final stride as he touched the bag, but couldn’t beat the throw and hobbled off the field.
Our View: Wigginton led the majors in home runs and slugging percentage in August. Although he is listed as day-to-day, expect him to miss a few games with the groin injury. |
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| Willis could start by season's end | Saturday 9/6, 7:50 PM CT |
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Jim Leyland said he hoped that Dontrelle Willis would be able to start for the Tigers before the season is over according to the AP. He threw a simulated game on Tuesday in which he hit 94 mph on the radar gun.
Our View: Willis was a disaster in April and has had a tumultuous season in the minors. He now finally appears like he may be nearing his major league comeback. |
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| Robertson will start Tuesday | Saturday 9/6, 7:47 PM CT |
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Nate Robertson will start Tuesday in place of Kenny Rogers according to the AP. He had previously been designated for bullpen duty.
Our View: Robertson could use a good start. He has a 7.45 ERA since the All-Star break and has given up 18 earned runs in his last 14 innings. |
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| Gallagher set to return | Saturday 9/6, 7:14 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that Sean Gallagher threw 75 pitches in a rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, feeling no lingering effects of the shoulder fatigue that has kept him out of the rotation since Aug. 19. "I feel good," Gallagher said Saturday. "I felt good going out there and was able to locate my pitches and pitch how I wanted to pitch, and how I know I'm able to."
Our View: Gallagher will start on Wednesday but don't get excited. He is a below average fantasy player for now, but he will likely be a full-time member of the A's 2009 rotation. |
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| Lindstrom earns first save | Saturday 9/6, 7:09 PM CT |
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Matt Lindstrom picked up his first save of the season on Friday night with a 1-2-3 eleventh inning.
Our View: With Kevin Gregg battling inflammation in his knee, Lindstrom should continue to get opportunities to close games. If you have a hole in your relief pitching, he is worth the risk. |
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| Edmonds sits in place of Johnson | Saturday 9/6, 6:58 PM CT |
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Jim Edmonds was given the night off on Saturday and Reed Johnson started in his place.
Our View: Edmonds is batting .189 in his last 14 games, prompting Piniella to give him a day off. Johnson is hitting .303 this season and with the Cubs struggling right now, he has a chance to earn a more consistent role on this offense.
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| Byrd scratched from Saturday's start | Saturday 9/6, 6:48 PM CT |
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Marlon Byrd is out of the starting lineup on Saturday with a sprained thumb. He hurt his thumb while diving for a ball on Friday.
Our View: Its unclear how severe the injury is at this time but we will update as more information becomes available. Byrd had been hot recently and was named the August player of the month for the Rangers. |
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| Rodney sneaks away with his ninth save | Saturday 9/6, 6:45 PM CT |
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Fernando Rodney picked up his ninth save of the season with a wild ninth inning on Saturday. He loaded the bases before getting Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau out to end the game.
Our View: Rodney has not been a reliable closer for the Tigers but he was able to get it done on Saturday. His ERA is down to 4.42. On the road he is 0-3 with a 7.02 ERA. |
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| Billingsley shuts down Diamondbacks | Saturday 9/6, 6:31 PM CT |
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Chad Billingsley was dealing against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday afternoon. He struck out nine batters in 6.1 innings and allowed no runs. He now has 186 strikeouts in 182 innings this season.
Our View: Billingsley's impressive strikeout rate makes him a force in fantasy. But that's not all. After his latest victory, his ERA is down to just 3.02. |
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| Bradley scratched with sore wrist | Saturday 9/6, 6:26 PM CT |
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Milton Bradley was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to wrist soreness according to the Star-Telegram. He said to be available to pinch-hit.
Our View: Bradley does not figure to miss multiple games with this ailment. He remains an excellent play in fantasy leagues. |
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| Granderson goes deep | Saturday 9/6, 6:23 PM CT |
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Curtis Granderson hit a two-run home run in the eighth to tie up the game with the Minnesota Twins. The Tigers went on to win 6-4. He also added his 23rd double of the year.
Our View: The Tigers leadoff hitter is third on the team in home runs with 18 behind Miguel Cabrera and Marcus Thames. He has a .318 avg and a .983 OPS since the All-Star break. |
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| Manny picks up five RBI | Saturday 9/6, 6:19 PM CT |
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Manny Ramirez ended Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks with five RBI on a home run and a double. He also struck out with the bases loaded.
Our View: Manny has now hit 11 home runs with LA in 33 games. He totaled 20 homers in 100 games with Boston this season. Continue to expect stellar hitting from one of the game's best. |
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| Ordonez misses cycle by a single | Saturday 9/6, 6:11 PM CT |
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Magglio Ordonez missed the cycle by a mere single on Saturday against the Twins. His eighth inning home run put the Tigers on top for good. He finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
Our View: Ordonez now has a 10-game hitting streak indicating what could be a strong finish to his season. His triple was just his second of the year. |
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| Ramirez will start Tuesday | Saturday 9/6, 5:53 PM CT |
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Ramon Ramirez, 25, will start on Tuesday for Josh Fogg according to MLB.com. In 10 innings this season, Ramirez has struck out eight and allowed three earned runs. His last appearance, three innings in relief of Fogg, lasted three innings and he did not allow a hit.
Our View: We'll keep an eye on Ramirez to see if he has anything to offer in 2009. At this point, we do not expect him to have much impact. |
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| Fogg will miss Tuesday's start | Saturday 9/6, 5:50 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that Josh Fogg will miss his scheduled start on Tuesday due to a sore groin. Ramon Ramirez will take the mound instead. "I don't think I got it as bad as, obviously, some guys do," said Fogg, who has compiled a 2-7 record to go along with a 7.58 ERA this season. "It's sore but it's not nearly as bad as last year. I guess we'll just wait and see over the next few days and see what happens."
Our View: Fogg has pitched poorly this season. The 25 year old Ramirez on the other hand shows some promise. In his August 30th start against the Giants, he lasted seven innings, struck out six and gave up just three runs. |
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| Bourgeois joins the White Sox | Saturday 9/6, 5:44 PM CT |
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Jason Bourgeois had his contract purchased from Triple-A on Saturday by the White Sox according to the AP. He replaces Charlie Haeger on the roster.
Our View: Bourgeois batted .286 with nine homers, 48 RBIs and 30 steals in 127 games with Charlotte. He can play several positions but won't likely be starting any time soon. He has no fantasy expectations at this point. |
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| Haeger sent down | Saturday 9/6, 5:42 PM CT |
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Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger has been designated for assignment according to the AP. IF/OF Jason Bourgeois was called up to replace him.
Our View: Haeger never did appear for the White Sox. He was 10-13 with a 4.45 ERA in 28 games, 25 starts, with Charlotte this season. |
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| Percival blows it | Saturday 9/6, 5:37 PM CT |
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Troy Percival, who has not recorded a save since August 13th, blew an opportunity on Saturday against the Blue Jays. Entering the game in the 13th, he loaded the bases before allowing a walk-off grand slam to veteran catcher Gregg Zaun.
Our View: Percival has not complained about his knee which had been severe enough to put him on the DL in August. However, in his two appearances since his return, he has allowed two home runs and six earned runs while recording just four outs. Although nothing has been mentioned, it is possible that he may be in danger of losing his everyday closer's job. |
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| Cameron is scratched | Saturday 9/6, 5:32 PM CT |
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Mike Cameron has been scratched from the Brewers' lineup on Saturday due to a sore knee according to the Journal-Sentinel. Gabe Kapler replaces him in the lineup.
Our View: The injury is not considered serious and Cameron should be back in action soon. |
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| Martis remains in the rotation | Saturday 9/6, 5:30 PM CT |
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Shairon Martis will remain in the Nationals' rotation and Jason Bergmann will be moved to the bullpen according to the AP. Martis gave up four hits and five walks but only two earned runs in five innings during his major league debut Thursday night, a 2-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Our View: Martis is one of the better pitching prospects in the Nationals' organization and this move is his chance to audition for a permanent spot in the 2009 rotation. |
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| Bergmann pulled from rotation | Saturday 9/6, 5:26 PM CT |
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The AP reports that the Nationals have pulled Jason Bergmann from the rotation. Bergmann (2-11) is 1-10 in his last 20 games after giving up seven runs in 2.1 innings of Friday night’s 10-5 loss to the Braves.
Our View: Shairon Martis will replace him in the rotation. Manager Manny Acta said the move to leave Martis in the rotation will “give us an opportunity to see the young man and get a better picture for what we’re getting next year.” |
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| Webb struggles again against Dodgers | Saturday 9/6, 5:13 PM CT |
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Brandon Webb was pulled after just 5.2 innings against the Dodgers on Saturday and has now posted three terrible starts in a row. He gave up seven runs on five hits and seven walks. Manny Ramirez was the only Dodger to hit a home run off of him - a three-run shot in the fifth.
Our View: Webb has combined to go just 13.2 innings in his last three starts. He has surrendered 21 runs in that span to go with 13 walks and 22 hits. It's difficult to explain the struggles and despite them, we still feel he is one of the best starters in the NL. With this recent string of catastrophic appearances, he may be in danger of losing a Cy Young award to CC Sabathia, who has only made 12 NL starts. |
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| Overbay homers twice | Saturday 9/6, 4:46 PM CT |
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Lyle Overbay hit two solo home runs off of Rays' starter James Shields in Saturday's 7-4 extra-inning victory. He now has 14 home runs on the season.
Our View: Overbay is a very mediocre first baseman and should only be owned in deeper formats. |
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| Baldelli hits pinch-hit home run | Saturday 9/6, 4:43 PM CT |
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Rocco Baldelli had a pinch-hit 9th-inning home run off of Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan on Saturday. It was his third home run since August 22nd. He finished the game 2-for-3.
Our View: It's good to see the talented yet oft-injured Baldelli swinging the bat well. Since returning in August he is hitting .357 but remains a fourth outfielder for the Rays. |
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| Zaun hits walk-off home run | Saturday 9/6, 4:38 PM CT |
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37-year old Gregg Zaun capped off a big game with a 13th inning walk-off grand slam off of Rays' closer Troy Percival. He finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBI and a walk.
Our View: This was just a spot start for the veteran but he made the most of it. Rod Barajas will continue to make the majority of the starts for the Blue Jays behind the dish. |
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| Marcum is very good in his return | Saturday 9/6, 4:30 PM CT |
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Shaun Marcum pitched seven shutout innings against the Rays in Saturday's 7-4 13-inning victory. He left with a no decision. It was his first game since August 22 and since returning from the disabled list. He recorded seven strikeouts, three walks and four hits.
Our View: Marcum pitched better than most expected and it appears that he will return as a fantasy impact starter for the remainder of the season. |
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| Penny should return in September | Saturday 9/6, 4:08 PM CT |
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Joe Torre expressed optimism that Brad Penny will return in September but did not give a timetable. When he does return, he will pitch out of the Dodgers' bullpen according to the Los Angeles Times.
Our View: Penny should be effective in this new role. He has the arm strength to throw serious heat and the repretoire to keep batters guessing. However, he is experiencing his worst season ever and does not likely hold much fantasy impact over the final month. |
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| Scherzer will start on Sunday | Saturday 9/6, 4:05 PM CT |
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Max Scherzer replaces Randy Johnson for Sunday's game against the Dodgers according to the Los Angeles Times. He will face fellow pitching phenom Clayton Kershaw in a big NL West game.
Our View: Scherzer is one of the more exciting pitching prospects in the game. He has made three starts this season and although he's 0-2 he has a 2.65 ERA over 34 innings and a K/9 rate of 9.00. If you are in a keeper league, grab this guy. |
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| Furcal could be activated next week | Saturday 9/6, 4:02 PM CT |
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The Los Angeles Times reports that Rafael Furcal could be activated in the upcoming week for the Dodgers. He is taking grounders and running full speed.
Our View: Manager Joe Torre cautioned that nobody should expect him to come back and play every day, given how much time he missed. In the final weeks of September, however, expect Furcal to play enough to have some fantasy impact. |
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| Swisher starting in left field | Saturday 9/6, 3:37 PM CT |
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Nick Swisher is starting in left field in place of the injured Carlos Quentin today against the Angels, according to the Chicago Tribune. Ken Griffey Jr. is roaming center field with Jermaine Dye in right.
Our View: Swisher is going to see action in left field the rest of the way. He remains in a hitting slump as he only registered two hits over his last six games. |
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| Macias recalled by Padres | Saturday 9/6, 3:21 PM CT |
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Drew Macias has been recalled by the Padres, according to Scout.com.
Our View: Macias batted .288 (11 homers) with Double-A San Antonio this season. He will see some action in the Padres' outfield but only merits fantasy consideration in deeper NL-only leagues. |
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| Johnson scratched | Saturday 9/6, 2:19 PM CT |
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Randy Johnson has been scratched from Sunday's scheduled start against the Dodgers due to a sore left shoulder, according to the AP.
Our View: He will miss one turn and return to the rotation next Saturday against the Reds. Max Scherzer is slated to replace him Sunday. |
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| Rogers to miss next start | Saturday 9/6, 12:55 PM CT |
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Kenny Rogers will miss his next scheduled start, according to the Detroit Free Press. Manager Jim Leyland believes he is dealing with a painful hip and said, "It's not his arm. I think he needs to freshen up his body a little bit and get his hip a little better."
Our View: He will return to the rotation a week from Saturday to battle the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Rogers' next start would have been Tuesday, and Leyland indicated that Nate Robertson may come out of the bullpen to fill his spot. |
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| Longoria activated from DL | Saturday 9/6, 12:27 PM CT |
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Evan Longoria has been activated from the DL following his recovery from a fractured right wrist, according to the Tampa Tribune.
Our View: The rookie still can’t hit, but will be available for late-inning defense and pinch-running as needed. This is something he wanted to do as he nears full strength. Longoria won't be ready to return to the starting lineup for at least a few days, and manager Joe Maddon previously stated that he wasn't expecting him to return until next Friday's game at Yankee Stadium.
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| Aceves joins Yankees' rotation | Saturday 9/6, 12:16 PM CT |
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Alfredo Aceves will replace Darrell Rasner in the Yankees' rotation, according to Newsday.
Our View: He is slated for his first start Tuesday against the Angels. He held the Rays to one run over five innings of relief, and is worth a look as a flier in AL-only leagues. |
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| Johnson done for 2008 | Saturday 9/6, 12:09 PM CT |
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Jim Johnson has been shut down for the remainder of the season after an MRI revealed some abnormalities in his injured shoulder, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: The ailment isn't considered very serious or a long-range issue, but the team feels it is best to end his season early. |
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| Longoria feels no pain | Saturday 9/6, 11:51 AM CT |
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Evan Longoria, who is recovering from a fractured right wrist, reportedly felt no pain after taking 30 swings with a regular bat Saturday, according to the AP. He hopes to take batting practice Monday and feels he is close to 100 percent.
Our View: Manager Joe Maddon would like to see Longoria have two or three days of batting practice, possibly with a day of rest in between, before activating him off the DL, meaning Longoria could return as soon as Friday’s game at New York.
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| Torres designated for assignment | Saturday 9/6, 11:35 AM CT |
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Eider Torres has been designated for assignment by the Orioles, according to the Baltimore Sun. The Orioles also recalled infielder Brandon Fahey from Norfolk and selected the contracts of catcher Omir Santos and pitcher Alfredo Simon from the Triple-A roster.
Our View: Torres has the versatility to play multiple positions in the infield, but his bat is lacking and does not merit fantasy consideration. |
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| Simon joins Orioles | Saturday 9/6, 11:27 AM CT |
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The Orioles purchased the contract of Alfredo Simon from Triple-A Norfolk, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: He was previously released by the Dodgers, and has bounced around with the Rangers and Phillies. He will hold no fantasy value as a middle reliever with the Orioles. |
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| Fahey recalled | Saturday 9/6, 11:23 AM CT |
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Brandon Fahey has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Our View: Fahey only hit .239 over 42 games in his previous stint with Baltimore this season, and displays no power at all. He does not merit fantasy consideration. |
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| Cabrera released | Saturday 9 |
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