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| Martinez faces imposing start | Sunday 7/6, 11:57 PM CT |
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Pedro Martinez looks to lead the Mets to their third straight victory for the first time in more than a month Monday when they close a four-game series with the Phillies.
Our View: Martinez has a 3.27 ERA in 118.1 innings against the Phillies in his career. However, this season he has an 8.37 ERA on the road and the Phillies lineup is looking for revenge after a 12-inning loss on Sunday. |
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| Osoria began rehab on Sunday | Sunday 7/6, 11:53 PM CT |
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Franquelis Osoria will begin a rehab assignment today with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Our View: Osoria has been on the disabled list since June 27 with bursitis in his right ankle. |
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| Capps begins rehab | Sunday 7/6, 11:52 PM CT |
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Matt Capps flew to Florida on Sunday to start his rehab on his sore shoulder according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Our View: Capps remains hopeful that he will pitch again this season but that won't happen before September. |
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| Mendoza will start against the Angels | Sunday 7/6, 11:49 PM CT |
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Luis Mendoza hopes to fair better tomorrow than his last start when he gave up six runs, but only one of which was earned. He'll face the Los Angeles Angels and Ervin Santana at home.
Our View: Mendoza has a 1.50 ERA in six innings at home this season. |
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| Nolasco to start against Padres | Sunday 7/6, 11:44 PM CT |
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Ricky Nolasco will get the start on Friday at pitcher friendly PetCo Field. He is 7-1 with a 3.10 ERA in his last nine outings, including 4-0 with a 1.96 ERA in his last five.
Our View: Look for Nolasco to keep up his dominant stretch against a struggling Padres offense. |
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| Ludwick snaps homer drought | Sunday 7/6, 11:36 PM CT |
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Ryan Ludwick hit his 17th home run of the season on Sunday against the Cubs.
Our View: It was Ludwick's first home run since June 11th. During the drought, his average fell 30 points. |
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| Jenks to the disabled list? | Sunday 7/6, 11:29 PM CT |
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Bobby Jenks may be headed to the 15-day disabled list with a sore back. He threw long toss on Sunday but has yet to throw a side session since reporting the pain a week ago.
Our View: The White Sox will be very careful with Jenks' return. Their bullpen is solid and they may try to play until the All-Star break without their closer. |
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| Batista to start on Wednesday | Sunday 7/6, 11:25 PM CT |
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Miguel Batista is expected to start in place of Erik Bedard on Wednesday.
Our View: Bedard is day-to-day with a sore shoulder. Batista has started 14 games this season but has been mostly unsuccessful. He will be looking for redemption in this start that summons him from the bullpen. |
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| Swollen ankle sidelines surging Sweeney | Sunday 7/6, 11:19 PM CT |
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Ryan Sweeney was held out of the lineup on Sunday with a swollen ankle.
Our View: This is truly unfortunate timing for Sweeney. He had multi-hit games in four of his last five games. He is day-to-day. |
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| Gonzalez misses second straight game | Sunday 7/6, 11:16 PM CT |
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Carlos Gonzalez missed his second straight game with a tight hamstring on Sunday.
Our View: He is day-to-day at this point but we have seen a lot of players hit the disabled lists with strained hamstrings lately. |
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| Werth takes Wagner deep | Sunday 7/6, 11:11 PM CT |
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Jayson Werth played all three outfield positions on Sunday but his biggest contribution was a bottom of the ninth two-run home run off Mets closer Billy Wagner to send the game into extra innings.
Our View: It was Werth's 12th home run of the year. He doesn't play every day but he contributes enough to warrant consideration. If a Philadelphia outfielder goes down, Werth's value increases considerably. |
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| Rivera records the win over Boston | Sunday 7/6, 11:05 PM CT |
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Mariano Rivera pitched two innings of one-hit ball to earn his third win of the season. He threw just 16 pitches, 13 for strikes, to get six Boston batters out.
Our View: The Sandman still has it a night after nearly blowing a save against his rivals. |
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| Paronto to join the Astros | Sunday 7/6, 11:01 PM CT |
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Chad Paronto had his contract purchased from Triple-A Round Rock and will likely pitch middle relief for the Astros.
Our View: In 42.2 innings he has recorded 45 strikeouts and just nine walks. |
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| LaPorta sent to Cleveland in Sabathia trade | Sunday 7/6, 10:58 PM CT |
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The AP reports that top-prospect Matt LaPorta was sent to the Cleveland Indians, along with other prospects, for Cleveland ace, C.C. Sabathia.
Our View: LaPorta was hitting .288 with 20 home runs and 66 RBI in 84 games at Double-A Huntsville. |
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| Cano heating up | Sunday 7/6, 10:53 PM CT |
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Robinson Cano scored the game-winning run against the Red Sox on Sunday. He was 2-for-4 with a two run triple.
Our View: Cano has raised his average 25 points since June 24th. He is 19-for-48 (.396) since that date. Expect a big second half from Cano. He hit .306 and .342 in the previous two seasons. |
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| Ramirez scratched from start; whiffs in his lone at-bat | Sunday 7/6, 10:47 PM CT |
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Manny Ramirez got scratched from the start on Sunday, but merely for rest purposes. He made a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth but looked at three Mariano Rivera strikes before returning to the dugout.
Our View: Terry Francona was hoping the scratch would give Manny the time he needed to get his swing back. He has just one home run and five RBI since June 10 and he has not looked as aggressive in his at-bats over the past month. |
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| Gardner tallies game-winner | Sunday 7/6, 10:41 PM CT |
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Brett Gardner hit a 10th-inning RBI single off Jonathan Papelbon, to help the Yankees beat the Red Sox on Sunday. He finished the night 2-for-5 with a run, RBI, and stolen base.
Our View: Gardner looks like he'll be an exceptional source of stolen bases but his batting average and on-base percentages are a concern at this point. He may be worth a flier if you got a roster spot to waste. In keeper leagues, he is far more valuable. |
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| Joba lasts six innings. | Sunday 7/6, 10:35 PM CT |
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Joba Chamberlain allowed three runs in six innings against the Red Sox on Sunday against the Red Sox. He gave up four hits, walked four, hit a batter and struck out five.
Our View: It wasn't his best start, but it is becoming more apparent that he can certainly handle his new role. It did take him 101 pitches to get 18 outs. |
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| Abercrombie designated for assignment | Sunday 7/6, 10:32 PM CT |
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Reggie Abercrombie has been designated for assignment.
Our View: There's a chance that Abercrombie could be pick up off waivers, but it does not seem likely. He was just 3-for-15 in 13 games with the Astros. |
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| Jacobs loves Coors Field | Sunday 7/6, 10:27 PM CT |
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Mike Jacobs scored three times and recorded two RBI at Coors Field on Sunday. He was 2-for-4 on the day.
Our View: Jacobs is 8-for-13 playing in Colorado this season. |
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| Braun hits his 21st | Sunday 7/6, 10:23 PM CT |
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Ryan Braun earned a starting spot on the All-Star team on Sunday. To celebrate, he hit a solo shot in the first inning. He finished the day 3-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored.
Our View: Just when it seems that he might be cooling off, Braun goes yard again. Congratulations on the nomination. |
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| LaRoche goes yard | Sunday 7/6, 10:18 PM CT |
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Adam LaRoche hit his ninth homer of the season on Sunday. He recorded two RBI and scored two runs.
Our View: LaRoche is notorious for being a second half player. Expect this season to be no different. |
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| Bennett is placed on disabled list | Sunday 7/6, 10:09 PM CT |
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Jeff Bennett, Omar Infante and Manny Acosta were all placed on the 15-day disabled list after Sunday's 17 inning game with the Mets.
Our View: Bennett injured his shoulder on a throw to first. Afterwards he had it popped in and out of place. |
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| Acosta is headed to the disabled list | Sunday 7/6, 10:07 PM CT |
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Manny Acosta has been placed on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: Acosta had been one of few relievers pitching well for the Braves lately. Hopefully he can recover quickly. |
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| McLouth picks up three RBI | Sunday 7/6, 10:00 PM CT |
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Nate McLouth recorded three RBI on Sunday. He was 2-for-5 in the 11-6 loss to the Pirates.
Our View: It was his first multi-RBI game since June 19. His batting average had dropped nearly 20 points in that stretch. |
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| Rollins is perfect on steals this season | Sunday 7/6, 9:37 PM CT |
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On Sunday, Jimmy Rollins stole his 35th straight base, going back to last August. He was 2-for-5 with a walk.
Our View: Rollins is 21-for-21 this season and owners no doubt he will become even more aggressive on the base paths. |
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| Gordon is placed on the DL | Sunday 7/6, 9:34 PM CT |
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Tom Gordon was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation.
Our View: LHP R.J. Swindle was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take his spot. |
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| Horwitz back to Triple-A | Sunday 7/6, 9:31 PM CT |
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Brian Horwitz has been optioned to Triple-A Fresno.
Our View: Horwitz was serviceable in his time with the Giants (8-for-36), but his only opportunity for everyday at-bats is in the minors. |
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| Bonds to Boston? | Sunday 7/6, 9:30 PM CT |
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Peter Gammons reports that the Red Sox have had discussions about bringing Barry Bonds to Boston.
Our View: The Sox maintain that a workout would be unlikely. They are still uncertain of David Ortiz' wrist injury and would want another bat in case he cannot get back to 100% this season. |
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| Kendrick surrenders one run in no-decision | Sunday 7/6, 9:17 PM CT |
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Kyle Kendrick allowed just one run through six innings against the Mets on Sunday. However, he did give up eight hits and walked three.
Our View: Kendrick has given up just four runs over his last 20 innings of work. He has been inconsistent most of this season but has managed eight wins. |
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| Smith survives the pressure | Sunday 7/6, 9:12 PM CT |
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Joe Smith picked up his second win of the year on Sunday by throwing 2.1 innings starting in the 10th. He gave up just one hit.
Our View: The Mets have been looking for consistent relif pitching all season and Joe Smith may get the nod more often after this pressure packed performance on the road against a division rival. His ERA is now 3.22. |
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| Wagner blows another save | Sunday 7/6, 9:06 PM CT |
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Billy Wagner blew his sixth save of the season on Sunday. He gave up a two-run shot to Jayson Werth in the bottom of the ninth. The Mets won the game in the 12th.
Our View: This was his first blown save since June 12. He gave up three hits and recorded one strikeout in the game. |
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| Acosta injures hamstring | Sunday 7/6, 9:00 PM CT |
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Manny Acosta was effective from the 14th thru the 16th innings on Sunday. He allowed no runs, two hits and no walks. However, he left the game with a strained hamstring.
Our View: A bad way to end a good night. No word on how long Acosta expects to be out. |
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| Reyes picks up two steals in win | Sunday 7/6, 8:57 PM CT |
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Jose Reyes went 3-for-6 with a run and two stolen bases on Sunday.
Our View: It was his first multi-steal game since June 8 and his fifth of the season. He had 13 such games last season. Let's hope he increases his stolen base frequency going forward. |
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| Tatis homers in the 12th to win it | Sunday 7/6, 8:53 PM CT |
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Fernando Tatis wins another game for the Mets, this time with a two-run shot in the top of the 12th.
Our View: Tatis entered the game as a pinch-hitter but didn't get a hit until his third at-bat. He does not figure to get enough at-bats to be a factor in fantasy leagues. |
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| Morton hit hard again | Sunday 7/6, 8:50 PM CT |
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Charlie Morton made his fifth start of the season on Sunday and did not do well. He surrendered six runs in six innings on eight hits and two walks. Six Braves pitchers combined to shut out the Astros over the next 11 innings.
Our View: Morton may be on thin ice. His ERA has ballooned to 6.84, mostly due to the 11 earned runs in his last eight innings. |
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| Wigginton hits grand slam | Sunday 7/6, 8:44 PM CT |
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Ty Wigginton hit a grand slam in the top of the third on Sunday. He finished the night 3-for-8.
Our View: A good night for Wigginton but his at-bats come too sporadically to rely on him as an everyday contributor to your fantasy squad. Still, the Astros could try a lot of things throughout the remainder of the year, given their standing behind the Cubs, Cardinals and Brewers. One of those experiments might be a regular starting job for Ty. If that's the case, he has shown the ability to produce in the past. |
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| Escobar has four-hit game | Sunday 7/6, 8:39 PM CT |
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Yunel Escobar went 4-for-9 in a 17 inning marathon against the Astros on Sunday. He added two RBI in the test of endurance.
Our View: Prior to the game, Escobar's average was at its lowest point of the season. After Sunday, it is up to .294. Expect his number to climb above .300 and finish the season there. |
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| Chipper reaches base seven times | Sunday 7/6, 8:34 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones sharp batting eye was on display on Sunday. He walked four times and hit 3-for-5 over 17 innings. He did not strike out, scored three runs, and drove in three more, one on a first inning solo blast.
Our View: Oh yeah, he also added his first triple of the season. This was Chipper's best game since his return from the disabled list. Let's hope he can maintain his grove and flirt with .400 for the remainder of the season. |
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| Teixeira wins one for the Braves in the 17th | Sunday 7/6, 8:31 PM CT |
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Mark Teixeira drove in the game winning run in the top of the 17th off of Astros reliever Tim Byrdak. He was 3-for-7 on the night and collected three RBI to give him a total of 66 on the season.
Our View: The Braves have struggled at the plate lately, but Teixeira has been pretty consistant. If the rest of the team can get healthy and hot, his value will increase. He remains a possible trade piece, due to his pending free agency. |
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| Howard adds four more Ks to his total | Sunday 7/6, 8:25 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard picked up four more whiffs on Sunday to bring his sickening total to 123 on the season. The Phillies lost 4-2 in 12 innings.
Our View: It continues to be all or nothing with the former MVP who is on a record-setting pace for strikeouts. One would speculate that, barring injury, he will soon be the new strikeout king, almost destroying his fantasy value in leagues where strikeouts count against you. |
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| Beltran breaks out of slump | Sunday 7/6, 8:21 PM CT |
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Carlos Beltran went 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBI on Sunday. The center fielder added two stolen bases in the winning effort.
Our View: Beltran was just two for his last 27. Fantasy owners beg for more performances like this in the second half. |
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| Rowland-Smith is effective against the Tigers | Sunday 7/6, 8:16 PM CT |
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Ryan Rowland-Smith allowed just one run in five innings of work against the Tigers on Sunday. He had runners on most of the night, though, giving up five hits and walking three.
Our View: The five innings and 87 pitches thrown were both career highs. The Mariners want to turn him into a rotation guy but seem determined not to risk his arm deep into games. |
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| Thames wins the game in the 15th | Sunday 7/6, 8:10 PM CT |
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Marcus Thames hit a game winning sacrafice fly in the 15th inning of Sunday's 2-1 victory.
Our View: What should have been a memorable night for Thames was very forgettable. He went 0-for-6 with three whiffs. |
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| Pudge ups the average | Sunday 7/6, 8:08 PM CT |
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Ivan Rodriguez continues to up his batting average. On Sunday, he went 4-for-7 bringing it to a season high .290.
Our View: Pudge is hitting .304 at home and continues to hit his best the day after not starting. His three HRs, 28 RBI, and 28 runs are a bit disappointing, but he is still a decent fantasy commodity. |
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| Robertson throws nine innings of one-run ball | Sunday 7/6, 8:03 PM CT |
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Nate Robertson threw nine innings but did not figure in the decision against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. He allowed just one run while scattering four hits and walking two batters.
Our View: This was good news for Robertson who had given up a total of 22 hits in his previous two appearances. Assuming the Tigers' bats heat up in the second half, this performance shows that Robertson could be a quality source of wins. |
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| Crawford having a hot July | Sunday 7/6, 7:58 PM CT |
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Carl Crawford went 2-for-3 on Sunday against the Royals and is now hitting 10-for-17 in July. He added an RBI and scored two runs, giving him 61 on the year.
Our View: Crawford is heating up and may have a big second half ahead. If you don't already have him, you still may be able to snag him for below value. |
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| Perez's new motion is working | Sunday 7/6, 7:52 PM CT |
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Oliver Perez threw seven shut-out innings against the Phillies on Sunday. He struck out six and allowed just six hits against the opposition's vaunted lineup. He did not figure in the decision.
Our View: It appears Perez's new motion is doing wonders for him. In his last two appearances, against the Yankees and the Phillies, he has given just one run, seven hits, two walks and 14 strikeouts in 13 innings. |
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| A-Rod headed for divorce | Sunday 7/6, 7:43 PM CT |
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The Miami Herald reports that Alex Rodriguez's wife, Cynthia, will file for divorce on Monday.
Our View: This almost certainly has to do with his recent linking to Madonna. It will be interesting to see if the off-the-field drama will affect his numbers in the second half. His immediate response was taking Tim Wakefield deep in the second inning for his 18th home run and 50th RBI of the season. |
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| Aurilia collects hit No. 1,500 | Sunday 7/6, 7:38 PM CT |
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Rich Aurilia collected the 1,500th hit of his career on Sunday. It came on his eighth home run of the season. He was 2-for-4 in the game.
Our View: Congrats to Rich. He still holds some fantasy value because he is eligible at nearly every infield position. He hit .359 in June. |
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| Jones keeps on hitting | Sunday 7/6, 7:33 PM CT |
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Adam Jones went 3-for-5 with an RBI on Sunday.
Our View: He is hitting .450 in his last 10 games. He is getting more comfortable at the plate and could be valuable in the second half, especially if he can increase his stolen base production which stands at seven. |
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| Millar goes 4-for-4 | Sunday 7/6, 7:29 PM CT |
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Kevin Millar went 4-for-4, including a solo home run, in Sunday's 11-10 loss to the Rangers.
Our View: The home run was his 12th this season. Millar can be very streaky and this could be the start of something larger. |
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| Kinsler's streak is up to 18 games | Sunday 7/6, 7:24 PM CT |
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Ian Kinsler got three singles to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. He also picked up a walk and scored two runs.
Our View: Kinsler has certainly earned his All-Star nomination with averages of .332/.391/.545. |
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| Hairston goes deep again | Sunday 7/6, 7:18 PM CT |
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Scott Hairston hit a lead off home run in the first off of Randy Johnson on Sunday. It was his third home run in two games.
Our View: Hairston is making his case to become a regular in San Diego's outfield, but at this point there is little reason to add him to your roster. |
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| Lyon earns his 18th save | Sunday 7/6, 7:12 PM CT |
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Brandon Lyon gave up two hits and one run while earning his 18th save of the season.
Our View: Lyon had picked up two losses in his previous three appearances. For the Diamondbacks to win the division, they will need more consistency from Lyon. |
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| Napoli headed to the DL | Sunday 7/6, 7:09 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that the Angels expect to place Mike Napoli on the 15-day disabled list after an MRI on Monday.
Our View: Napoli reports that "something doesn't feel right". Catcher Ryan Bubddle will be called up Triple-A but Jeff Mathis figures to pick up the bulk of the available starts. |
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| The Big Unit fans 10 | Sunday 7/6, 7:05 PM CT |
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Randy Johnson earned the win on Sunday after striking out 10 Padres in 6.1 innings.
Our View: The Big Unit had lost his previous six starts but rebounded in a big way against San Diego. He is 4-7 with a 5.18 ERA. Fantasy owners may be more concerned with his 92 Ks in 92 innings this season. |
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| Loney adds three more RBI | Sunday 7/6, 6:57 PM CT |
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James Loney went 2-for-4 with three RBI on Sunday.
Our View: Loney has remained a consistent force in fantasy and should continue throughout the second half. His seven home runs are disappointing, but his .302 average and 47 RBI provide plenty of value. |
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| Brewers agree on deal for Sabathia | Sunday 7/6, 6:52 PM CT |
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The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that the Indians and Milwaukee have agreed on a deal involving C.C. Sabathia
Our View: Brewers top prospect Matt LaPorta is reported to be on his way to Cleveland. Sabathia could make his Brew Crew debut Tuesday night at home against Colorado. Sabathia's fantasy value will increase thanks to his new offense and NL opponents. |
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| Young takes it deep | Sunday 7/6, 6:48 PM CT |
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Justin Upton hit a 484-foot solo shot off of Josh Banks on Sunday. He was 2-for-3 on the day.
Our View: This might explain the 93 strikeouts and the .242 averae. Upton has a somewhat wiry frame and plus speed, but insists on hitting the long ball. However, it was just his 11th of the season. |
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| Jones gets a hit! | Sunday 7/6, 6:43 PM CT |
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After going 0-for-9 in his return from the DL, Andruw Jones finally got a hit on Sunday.
Our View: He got a single in the eigth and even managed to get to second on a wild pitch. Jones continues to disappoint and you should not expect a turnaround any time soon. |
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| Ethier keeps slugging | Sunday 7/6, 6:40 PM CT |
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Andre Ethier's three-game home run streak came to an end, but he managed to hit 3-for-four with an RBI and two runs scored.
Our View: Ethier raised his average to .444 in July. He has three home runs, eight RBI, and nine runs in that stretch. The young outfielder had a terrible June, but seems on the verge of turning it around. |
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| Ross is scalding! | Sunday 7/6, 6:35 PM CT |
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Cody Ross has an incredible four straight 3-for-5 games. On Sunday against the Colorado Rockies, he collected five RBI and his 15th home run of the season.
Our View: Unbelievable. Ross has 15 RBI in his last four games. He has raised his average from .232 to .266 in a matter of days. It's hard to believe he can keep this up. If you started him over this stretch, you, my friend, deserve a solid gold trophy. |
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| Christian recalled | Sunday 7/6, 6:31 PM CT |
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Justin Christian was called back up from Triple-A in wake of Johnny Damon landing on the DL with a bum shoulder.
Our View: Christian played six days with the Yanks last week and hit just 3-for-15. He probably will provide little more than depth during his second stint in the pros. |
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| Hawpe goes deep | Sunday 7/6, 6:28 PM CT |
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Sunday saw Brad Hawpe hit his tenth home run since coming off of the DL a month ago. The shot came off Marlins' starter Mark Hendrickson.
Our View: He was 2-for-4 with both hits coming off lefties. Hawpe was hitting .212 off south paws coming into the game. |
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| Volstad earns win in debut | Sunday 7/6, 6:25 PM CT |
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In his major league debut, Chris Volstad picked up the win by throwing two scoreless innings at Coors Field on Sunday.
Our View: Volstad walked two and gave up two hits. The Marlins have ran an extraordinary amount of relievers back-and-forth from the minors this season and one has to wonder how long Volstad will stick around. |
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| Cook gets hammered at home | Sunday 7/6, 6:22 PM CT |
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Aaron Cook was roughed up the same day he was announced as an NL All-Star. In 7.1 innings against the Marlins he gave up seven earned runs, 11 hits and two walks.
Our View: Cook was certianly not an All-Star on Sunday. He had been 6-0 in day games up to this point. No one expected this type of season from Cook and its not out of the question to doubt his second half success. |
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| Pena is heating up | Sunday 7/6, 6:18 PM CT |
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Carlos Pena stayed hot by going 3-for-5 on Sunday against the Royals. He picked up two runs and two RBI in the process.
Our View: Pena has 10 RBI in the nine games since his return from the DL. Pena had gotten off to a relatively disappoing start but seems to be picking it up. If he continues to make contact, he will pile up RBI in the middle of Tampa Bay's speedy lineup. |
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| Gardner to start in Yankees outfield | Sunday 7/6, 6:12 PM CT |
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Brett Gardner, hitting just 1-for-16 since his call-up last week, figures to start over the next two weeks after Johnny Damon was placed on the DL Sunday.
Our View: Gardner has not hit well thus far, but if he can get on base, he offers value to fantasy teams. Despite just one hit, he has scored three times, stole two bases and managed a pait of RBI. |
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| Damon lands on the DL | Sunday 7/6, 6:10 PM CT |
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Johnny Damon could not avoid the 15-day DL after injuring his left shoulder in a collision with the wall. It is his first trip to the DL of his entire career.
Our View: Damon had been enjoying an incredible season and hopefully he will return after 15 days. GM Brian Cashman gave that a 50-50 chance. Recent call-up Brett Gardner will start in his place. |
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| Lee picks up his second loss of the season | Sunday 7/6, 6:07 PM CT |
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Cliff Lee picked up his first loss since May 18 when he swuared off against the red-hot Twins on Sunday. He lasted seven innings and struck out six while giving up four earned runs on six hits and a pair of walks.
Our View: This is a bump in the road for Lee, who only gave up seven earned runs in his previous 30 innings. It will be interesting to see if he can possibly keep the momentum from a dominant first half after the All-Star break. |
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| Johnson has his best game since his return | Sunday 7/6, 6:01 PM CT |
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Reed Johnson had his best game since returning from the DL last Friday. He started in center field and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Our View: Johnson has started three of the four games in the outfield since his return. Still he will likely come off the bench once Alfonso Soriano returns from a broken hand. |
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| Mathis records three RBI | Sunday 7/6, 5:57 PM CT |
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Jeff Mathis went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Sunday's victory over the Blue Jays.
Our View: Mathis entered the game in a 1-for-20 slump. With Mike Napoli lurking on the roster, he does not figure to be a relevant contributor in fantasy. If one of the two were to go down, the healthy catcher may be worth considering. |
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| Garland earns a complete game victory | Sunday 7/6, 5:54 PM CT |
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Jon Garland threw a complete game against the Blue Jays on Sunday. He gave up just one run, a solo shot by Rod Barajas, and six hits on the day.
Our View: This was one of few quality starts for Garland at home where he had a 4.70 ERA prior to Sunday's start. He is 5-1 with a 3.06 ERA on the road. Over his last four appearances, he has a 2.57 ERA. |
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| Marshall picks up his first win of 2008 | Sunday 7/6, 5:49 PM CT |
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Sean Marshall turned in an impressive six innings of work at Busch Stadium on Sunday. He gave up just one run on six hits, one walk and also recrded four strikeouts on the day.
Our View: This was a good bounce back game for Marshall who had lost his only other two starts this season. The Cubs will need similar performances in the second half to hold off the red-hot Brewers and Cardinals in the Central. |
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| Soto hits a solo shot to celebrate nomination | Sunday 7/6, 5:42 PM CT |
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Geovany Soto hit a solo shot in the eighth inning on Sunday, the same day the rookie catcher was announced as the starter in the All-Star game. It was his 15th home run of the year.
Our View: An incredible year continues for Soto who is joined by Russell Martin and Brian McCann on the All-Star roster. He is a superior match-up against lefties. |
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| Ramirez has three RBI versus the Cardinals | Sunday 7/6, 5:38 PM CT |
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Aramis Ramirez has found his stroke since returning from the Dominican Republic earlier in the week. On Sunday, he went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored.
Our View: Ramirez is an All-Star for a reason. Hitting cleanup in Chicago affords him a ton of RBI opportunities. His three on Sunday give him a total of 60 on the year. |
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| Perkins gets his fifth win | Sunday 7/6, 5:35 PM CT |
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Glen Perkins earned his fifth win of the season over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. He scattered seven hits and one walk while giving up three earned runs on the day.
Our View: He has three wins in his last four starts. He's not a force in fantasy leagues and is probably a free agent in most, however, he is worth keeping an eye on as the Twins have played excellently over the past month. |
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| Sherrill continues to struggle | Sunday 7/6, 5:22 PM CT |
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George Sherrill had another unremarkable appearance on Sunday. He lasted 1.1 innings, walked two, gave up two hits and one run.
Our View: The All-Star closer has just one save in his last four appearances. He has totalled 3.2 innings, five hits, three walks, two home runs and four earned runs in that span. Otherwise, it has been a spectacular 2008 for Sherrill. This could be a sign that teams are figuring out the lefty. |
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| Roberts produces in all categories | Sunday 7/6, 5:15 PM CT |
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Brian Roberts chipped in a home run and two stolen bases in Sunday's 11-10 loss to the Rangers. He also scored three runs.
Our View: Roberts was left off of the All-Star team but is one of the AL players eligible to be voted in by the fans. Aggressive play from Roberts, like this performance, may become a familiar site between now and the All-Star break. |
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| Markakis hits 1st homer since June 17 | Sunday 7/6, 5:09 PM CT |
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Nick Markakis extended his hit streak to 14 games on Sunday. He went 3-for-5 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored.
Our View: Markakis continues to show us why many experts had him pegged as one of the best outfielders in the game. He seems very comfortable hitting second in the order (.326 at that spot) but there's no doubt fantasy owners hope to see him move to the third or fourth spot in the second half. |
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| Hart contributes in 11-6 victory | Sunday 7/6, 5:03 PM CT |
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Corey Hart was one of several Brewers to have a big game on Sunday. He went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base.
Our View: Hart remains a consistent play in all formats and it appears his speed is coming back. His stolen base came on an aggressive swipe of third. |
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| Hardy remains hot | Sunday 7/6, 4:58 PM CT |
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Despite ending his 16-game hit streak on Saturday (he did lay a sac bunt down in his last ast-bat to help the Brewers win the game), J.J. Hardy's bat exploded back to life again on Sunday. He went 3-for-4 with two home runs and a double. He also added four RBI, two runs scored, and a walk.
Our View: Hardy is as hot as anyone in baseball. He has raised his average nearly 50 points since June 18 and has already hit six home runs this month. |
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| Millwood earns the victory | Sunday 7/6, 4:50 PM CT |
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Kevin Millwood earned the win behind a strong offense on Sunday. His pitching was spotty. He gave up nine hits and five runs (three earned) in five innings.
Our View: Millwood has been a better second-half pitcher his entire career. With Texas' imposing offense, he could see a number of victories similar to Sunday throughout the rest of 2008. If you're looking for wins in deep leagues, consider Millwood for the second half. |
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| Murphy breaks out | Sunday 7/6, 4:45 PM CT |
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David Murphy may have officially broken out of his slide on Sunday. He went 3-for-6 with three RBI, a home run and a run scored.
Our View: Murphy's average had fallen 30 points over the past month and he was held out of the lineup with some regularity lately to study film and get extra work in the cage. It paid off on Sunday. |
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| Wise looks good against righties | Sunday 7/6, 4:38 PM CT |
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Dewayne Wise continues to start against righties with Paul Konerko out of the lineup. He played another big part in a 4-3 victory over Rich Harden and the A's on Sunday. He was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Our View: Wise is 13-for-32 when starting against righties. He has earned praise from manager Ozzie Guillen and may likely stay in the bigs even after Paul Konerko returns. |
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| Harden suffers first loss of the season | Sunday 7/6, 4:33 PM CT |
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Rich Harden suffered his first loss of the season on Sunday against the White Sox. He lasted just five innings, walked four, struck out four and gave up five hits.
Our View: Harden continues to be handled with care by the A's coaching staff. His last two appearances have lasted only five innings. Harden holds a 2.34 ERA and, given his injury history, may be a good sell-high candidate for fantasy owners. |
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| Danks outlasts Harden; improves to 6-4 | Sunday 7/6, 4:28 PM CT |
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John Danks improved to 6-4 after earning the victory over the Oakland A's and Rich Harden on Sunday. He struck out nine in 6.1 innings while allowing just two earned runs.
Our View: Danks is already being considered and All-Star snub. He carries a 2.52 ERA in 107 innings of work this season. The young southpaw's record should be better with more run support. He remains a good play in all leagues and holds considerable value in keeper leagues. |
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| Inge to begin rehab on Monday | Sunday 7/6, 4:17 PM CT |
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Brandon Inge will begin his rehab assignment on Monday at Triple-A Toledo, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Inge is recovering from a strained oblique. He probably will not return prior to the All-Star break. Currently, he is not a factor in fantasy leagues as he has struggled all year. He won't see regular starts without injuries to Tigers starters. |
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| El Duque has successful rehab start | Sunday 7/6, 4:13 PM CT |
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According to the New York Daily News, Orlando Hernandez threw four innings of four-hit ball. He gave up one earned run while striking out six.
Our View: This is very good news for the Mets and Hernandez who should return shortly after the All-Star break. He has yet to pitch this season, but could be a valuable second half addition in fantasy leagues. He went 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA over 147.2 innings in 2007. He also contributed 128 strikeouts. |
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| Cordero nearly blows another | Sunday 7/6, 4:08 PM CT |
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Francisco Cordero nearly blew his second save in as many days thanks in part to a Joey Votto error. After retring the first two batters in the ninth, the next four batters reached base, scoring two runs in the process. Cordero sturck out Wilson Nieves to record his 18th save.
Our View: Cordero's seen a lot of work lately. This was his fourth appearance in four games and his sixth over the last seven days. It's likely the hiccups are a result of over use. Owners need not panic. Just be happy the Reds are staying in so many games at this point in the season. |
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| German registers two RBI | Sunday 7/6, 3:59 PM CT |
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Esteban German went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI, hence making him the lone source of scoring for the Royals in Sunday's 9-2 loss to the Rays.
Our View: German has been a decent reserve in larger AL-only leagues as of late, as he notched four RBI over his last seven games. |
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| Wellemeyer is unimpressive against the Cubs | Sunday 7/6, 3:59 PM CT |
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Todd Wellemeyer was in trouble all day against the Cubs. He scattered nine hits over five innings. However, the Cubs left several men on base and the starter gave up just three runs.
Our View: Wellemeyer has not had a win in over a month after starting the year very strong. The 29 year old has thrown nearly 100 innings thus far in 2008. His previous high in a season came last year at just 79.1 innings. |
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| Longoria collects 16th homer | Sunday 7/6, 3:54 PM CT |
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Evan Longoria went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Sunday's convincing 9-2 win over the Royals at Tropicana Field.
Our View: He collected his 16th homer of the season, and his first since June 27, snapping a seven-game drought. |
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| Hochevar lit up by Rays | Sunday 7/6, 3:50 PM CT |
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Luke Hochevar was lit up for a season-worst seven earned runs on nine hits over a mere four innings in Sunday's disheartening 9-2 loss to the Rays, with one walk and one strikeout.
Our View: Hochevar falls to 5-7, and his erratic play continues. He has allowed 13 earned runs over his last two starts, both losses. |
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