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| Vizquel continues downward spiral | Friday 7/18, 11:59 PM CT |
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Omar Vizquel continues his season long struggles after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the Giants 9-1 loss to the Brewers on Friday.
Our View: Vizquel is now hitting .156 on the season. Obviously, he doesn't need to be anywhere near a fantasy team, and it is tough to see such a great player likely end his career this way. |
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| Erstad claims starting spot | Friday 7/18, 11:51 PM CT |
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Darin Erstad has claimed the starting job in center field from Michael Bourn, according to the Houston Chronicle. "We're just going to play Darin for the most part," Houston manager Cecil Cooper said.
Our View: Bourn simply was not getting on base enough to justify him being out there on a daily basis. Erstad is having a decent year, though he does not do anything well enough to warrant giving him a spot on fantasy rosters. |
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| Lackey gets the win & 1,000th K | Friday 7/18, 11:50 PM CT |
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Los Angeles RHP John Lackey was successful in putting the Boston Red Sox in check this evening, leading his Angels to the 11-3 win. Lackey pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (all earned) over five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: One of those strikeouts was Lackey's 1,000th K of his career. He now sits at 7-2 on the season with an ERA of 2.58. |
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| Anderson serves as the catalyst | Friday 7/18, 11:47 PM CT |
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The Angels enjoyed strong offensive gifts from several players in earning the 11-3 win over Boston, though the work of Garret Anderson stands as the benchmark of greatness for the game. Anderson went 4-for-4 on the night, hitting his ninth homer of the season to walk off with a whopping five RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: After struggles in June, Anderson is back on track, hitting .324 through July with three homers and 14 RBIs thus far. |
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| ManRam keeps getting it done at the dish | Friday 7/18, 11:46 PM CT |
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The Red Sox and Angels battled late into the night with XXXX emerging victorious, 11-3. For the Sox, it was the great Manny Ramirez leading the effort (despite his troubles with team management over recent days). Manny went 2-for-3 at the plate with one walk, hitting his 19th homer of the season to total one RBI and two runs scored.
Our View: Ramirez is set to meet with agent Scott Boras to discuss his future this week. The hope is to find another long-term deal, believing Manny can play at a top level until he is 40-years of age. The Sox have an option year to consider but the general thought suggests they will move on and take the money. Games like this make you wonder if the investment is worth the cost. |
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| Dumatrait not throwing | Friday 7/18, 11:43 PM CT |
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Phil Dumatrait has not begun to throw as he continues to be bothered by his sore left shoulder, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Our View: It is unknown when Dumatrait will start throwing again, and he will need minor league starts before being called back up to the big leagues. Dumatrait has no value in fantasy baseball. |
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| Lowry begins throwing | Friday 7/18, 11:38 PM CT |
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Noah Lowry has begun throwing after having surgery on his arm to reduce pressure on his nerves which was causing a tingling sensation, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Our View: Lowry probably will not return this season, though he was optimistic that he might be able to do so. When healthy, Lowry is an effective pitcher who gained 14 wins last season. |
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| Byrnes may not return this season | Friday 7/18, 11:30 PM CT |
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Eric Byrnes may not return to the Diamondbacks this season after tearing his left hamstring, according to DBacks.com. "I'd like to think that there's a possibility that I could come back this year. It's too hard to tell. It's been a rough ride," he said.
Our View: This is not a surprise, as Byrnes suffered a complete tear of the hamstring. He was not playing well when he went on the DL, and fantasy owners should probably just forget about using him this year and monitor his progress in the offseason. |
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| Ortiz surging in minor-league rehab | Friday 7/18, 11:26 PM CT |
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The Red Sox may be struggling on the field tonight, but the news from Pawtucket is sure to make them happy as David Ortiz , working through rehabilitation, homered for the second time in two nights, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Ortiz's leadoff homer in the fourth inning on Thursday night ignited a seven-run explosion and Pawtucket went on to rout Toledo, 15-6. The 32-year-old left-handed slugger struck again on Friday, coming to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning, with Pawtucket leading 3-1, and runners on second and third with two outs. The nature of the Ortiz's injury has delayed his return. He has had trouble holding onto his bat after a swing, but it appears he is on track and could be back in Boston sooner rather than later. |
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| Wolf talks stalling | Friday 7/18, 11:25 PM CT |
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San Diego hurler Randy Wolf is certainly available in a trade, but there is little action on him right now, according to Padres.com.
Our View: Wolf would likely be more valuable to fantasy players if he can get out of San Diego. Though almost any ballpark he would go to would not be the pitchers park that Petco is, his chance to earn victories would go up by going to a contending team. |
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| Putz may be ready to return | Friday 7/18, 11:18 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier report, Seattle closer J.J. Putz , rehabilitating a hyperextended right elbow, pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for Triple-A Tacoma, striking out one, according to MLB.com. 13 of the 17 pitches he threw were strikes.
Our View: The successful appearance has Seattle pondering an immediate return to the team. Earlier we reported one more rehab outing seemed likely, but Putz may be ready to go. We'll keep you posted. |
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| Bedard out until August | Friday 7/18, 11:14 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier report, we are now receiving word that Seattle LHP Erik Bedard , nursing a sore left shoulder, is not likely to pitch until August, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Our original report suggested Bedard would be held out until late July, hoping to get one start to showcase his talents before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline. Now the Mariners are reporting he won't be ready for that work either. Bedard's left shoulder did not improve over the All-Star break, so he will not even throw a baseball until Monday when will try to play catch. If that goes well, Bedard could throw a bullpen session next week, but the team is not trying to get him back pitching in game before the trading deadline just so it can showcase him to potential suitors. |
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| Headley's hitting streak ends | Friday 7/18, 11:11 PM CT |
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Chase Headley saw his seven-game hitting streak come to an end with an 0-for-4 in San Diego's loss to the Cardinals.
Our View: Headley was hitting .318 in July before tonight's performance. He is still someone you should consider for your fantasy team, especially in NL-only leagues. |
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| Ankiel knocks in three | Friday 7/18, 11:08 PM CT |
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Rick Ankiel went 3-for-5, hit his twenty-second home run of the season and drove in three runs in St. Louis' 11-7 win over San Diego.
Our View: Ankiel is having a monster July, and hit his seventh home run of the month. Keep him in the lineup while he is on this hot streak. |
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| Streak ends for Kinsler | Friday 7/18, 11:06 PM CT |
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In his first game back since the All-Star game, Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler went 0-for-4 at the dish, ending his 25-game hit streak.
Our View: The streak began in the second game of a double header against the Mets on June 15th, posting 15 doubles and and 26 runs scored along the way. |
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| Maddux allows six runs | Friday 7/18, 11:04 PM CT |
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Greg Maddux allowed six earned runs in four innings, and though he avoided the loss, his ERA went from 3.90 to 4.21.
Our View: Maddux has only three wins on the season and with his low strikeout totals, it would be tough to justify putting him on a fantasy roster. |
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| Looper crushed | Friday 7/18, 11:01 PM CT |
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It was a tough night for Braden Looper, who only went three innings, allowing six earned runs on eight hits, though the Cardinals eventually pulled out an 11-7 victory over San Diego.
Our View: Looper's ERA skyrocketed from 4.25 to 4.60. He had lost he previous two starts and has given up 12 earned runs in his last 16 inning pitched. His lack of strikeouts and uneven performances make him a dangerous option for fantasy players. |
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| Snell gets the loss | Friday 7/18, 10:47 PM CT |
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Ian Snell pitched a quality game for Pittsburgh but suffered the loss as the Pirates were taken down 5-2 by the Rockies. Snell went six innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out five.
Our View: Snell's record dropped to 3-8 on the year, and though he has tantalized fantasy owners before, he cannot be trusted to make consistent quality starts. |
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| Taveras steals two bags | Friday 7/18, 10:44 PM CT |
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The Colorado Rockies were concerned over the All-Star break that they might have to put Willy Taveras on the disabled list due to a sore quad, but he came back healthy on Friday and wound up stealing two bases on the night. Taveras went 1-for-3 with a walk for the game.
Our View: Taveras has now stolen 41 bases on the year and fantasy owners needing steals should use him, but with the understanding that he brings little else to the table. |
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| Buehrle goes seven to get the win | Friday 7/18, 10:43 PM CT |
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Chicago LHP Mark Buehrle picked up his seventh win of the season this evening, leading his White Sox to a 9-5 win over the Royals. Buehrle pitched seven innings, surrendering four runs (three earned) on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: Buehrle has moved to 7-8 on the season, stopping negative trends before they turned into a slump. Buehrle ended June with four straight wins but had gone 0-2 in July before this evening (despite allowing just four total earned runs over those two starts). |
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| Doumit collects two hits | Friday 7/18, 10:38 PM CT |
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Ryan Doumit nailed a double and went 2-for-4 in the Pirates 5-2 loss to the Rockies. He now has a seven-game hitting streak.
Our View: Doumit's average rose to .332, and he is one of the more pleasantly surprising players in fantasy baseball. Continue to ride his offense as long as possible. |
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| Dye goes 3-for-4 vs Royals | Friday 7/18, 10:38 PM CT |
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The White Sox found solid offensive support in the 9-5 victory over the Royals this evening, led by outfielder Jermaine Dye . Dye went 3-for-4 with one walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Our View: Dye is lighting it up this month, hitting .346 through July with three homers and eight RBIs.
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| Fuentes picks up save | Friday 7/18, 10:34 PM CT |
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Reliever Brian Fuentes picked up the save for the Colorado Rockies in their 5-2 victory over Pittsburgh. It was his sixteenth save of the year, and teams looking to acquire his services were likely impressed by his efficient 10 pitch inning that saw him throw seven strikes.
Our View: Fuentes struck out one hitter, lowered his ERA to 3.23 and remains the most coveted reliever on the market. Fantasy owners should enjoy the saves while he is getting them, because it is possible he will become a set-up man should he be traded. |
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| Greinke continues to slide | Friday 7/18, 10:31 PM CT |
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Kansas City RHP Zack Greinke suffered through one of his worst outings to date, falling 9-5 to the White Sox. Greinke pitched just three innings, surrendering seven runs (all earned) on 11 hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Our View: Greinke closed June with two wins but has since suffered, going 0-2 over four starts with 15 total earned runs allowed. |
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| Butler homers in loss | Friday 7/18, 10:27 PM CT |
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The Royals put a few runs on the board but it wasn't enough, falling 9-5 to the Chicago White Sox. Designated hitter Billy Butler was the force of reckoning, going 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season, posting four RBIs and one run scored.
Our View: Butler has struggled since returning in late June, though he's not known for his offensive prowess. These are his first hits since July 9th and his first homer since July 3rd. |
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| Perkins continues to shine for Twins | Friday 7/18, 10:16 PM CT |
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Minnesota LHP Glen Perkins continues to enjoy a great campaign, putting the Rangers to bed in a dominating performance for a 6-0 shutout win. Perkins pitched six innings, allowing just three hits with three walks and one strikeout.
Our View: Perkins now sits at 7-2 on the season with a 3.84 ERA, touting five wins over his last six starts with a no-decision mixed into that span. |
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| Upton hits DL | Friday 7/18, 10:15 PM CT |
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Outfielder Justin Upton was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain, according to TSN.com.
Our View: Upton has struggled after his scorching start, and has just four RBI after June 1. He isn't someone who should be on fantasy rosters right now. |
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| Kubel leads Minnesota to win | Friday 7/18, 10:09 PM CT |
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The Twins had the offense rolling this evening in putting the 6-0 whooping on the Rangers, led by designated hitter Jason Kubel . Kubel went 2-for-4 at the dish, hitting his 10th double of the season to finish with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: Kubel has cooled after a strong June (.312, 6 HRs), hitting just .250 for the month of July with just one homer and two RBIs coming into tonight. He has been a strong contributor for the Minnesota cause, thus getting him back in order will be of great benefit. |
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| Pence is the hero | Friday 7/18, 10:07 PM CT |
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Astros outfielder Hunter Pence went 3-for-4 and drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth in Houston's 2-1 victory over Chicago.
Our View: Pence has struggled since the end of May, and his batting average had dropped 40 points from .303 to .263 before tonight's game. He is now at .269, and fantasy owners who had him last year know is is capable of delivering even more. |
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| Millwood takes another loss, may be shopped? | Friday 7/18, 10:04 PM CT |
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With another underwhelming performance on the books, the Rangers may be attempting to move pitcher Kevin Millwood to a team in need of an arm for the playoffs, according to Dallas Morning News. Millwood picked up his sixth loss tonight as his Rangers fell 6-0 to the Twins, pitching 6 1/3 innings to allow five runs (all earned) on 11 hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Our View: Millwood now carries a menial 6-6 record with a 5.23 ERA. However, Evan Grant with the News brings a few numbers to consider. Millwood entered the second half of the season with 488 innings since coming to the Rangers for the 2006 season. Among the 39 pitchers with at least 80 starts in that time, it ranks 32nd. Opponents are hitting .325 against him. In the last 20 years, no pitcher has had a 30-start season and allowed opponents an average that high. That leads to rumors of potential move to ship him out, but only time will tell if a buyer would take the chance and get a deal done with Texas. |
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| Roberts could return Wednesday | Friday 7/18, 10:02 PM CT |
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San Francisco outfielder Dave Roberts could return to the team as soon as Wednesday, according to SFGiants.com.
Our View: Roberts will likely come back as a bench player as Fred Lewis, nine years Roberts' junior, has played relatively well in his absence. So while Roberts has the potential to give fantasy owners a few steals, monitor his playing time before rushing out there to pick him up. |
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| Towles still cannot hit | Friday 7/18, 9:57 PM CT |
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Catcher J.R. Towles went 0-for-2 and struck out twice on Friday as Houston defeated the Cubs. He was lifted for pinch-hitter Mark Loretta in the seventh inning
Our View: Towles has been terrible, with an on-base percentage creeping towards .250. |
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| Lilly pitches well | Friday 7/18, 9:51 PM CT |
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Ted Lilly did not get a decision, but he pitched very well for Chicago in their loss to Houston. Lilly went seven innings, allowing only a solo home run to Carlos Lee and striking out six batters.
Our View: After a horrendous performance his last time out, Lilly re-established himself here. He has nine wins and racks up a good amount of strikeouts, and has gotten better every month of the season, so he is a useful fantasy hurler. |
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| Tejada gets three hits | Friday 7/18, 9:47 PM CT |
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Shortstop Miguel Tejada went 3-for-4 with a double while scoring a run in the Astros 2-1 victory over the Cubs on Friday.
Our View: Tejada's night is good news for fantasy owners who were undoubtedly becoming impatient with his falling average. He was hitting just .159 in July, so these three hits may ignite him for the season's second half. |
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| Theriot extends hitting streak | Friday 7/18, 9:43 PM CT |
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Ryan Theriot extended his hitting streak to 11 games on Friday, going 1-for-3 with his thirteenth double of the season in Chicago's 2-1 loss to the Astros.
Our View: Theriot is now hitting .320 on the season with 15 stolen bases. He can certainly provide value to your fantasy team if you can spare the home runs and RBI. |
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| Cano homers in win over A's | Friday 7/18, 9:39 PM CT |
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The Yanks pulled their offensive magic once more, earning the 7-1 win over Oakland this evening. The bat of second baseman Robinson Cano helped the cause, going 2-for-4 with his seventh homer of the season to total three RBIs and one run scored on the night.
Our View: Cano is hitting just .273 through July and has not homered since June 27th. If he continues to struggle, the Yanks may seek alternative options. |
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| Redding hammered | Friday 7/18, 9:39 PM CT |
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Tim Redding was hit hard in his four innings of work on Friday, allowing six runs on six hits and walking three while picking up his fourth loss of the season.
Our View: This was a bad night for Redding, who saw his ERA jump to over 4.00. He had only allowed one earned run in 12 innings in July after a poor June, but that success eluded him against Atlanta. He still has value as a fantasy player, but these type of performances should be expected from time-to-time. |
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| McCann drives in three | Friday 7/18, 9:36 PM CT |
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Braves catcher Brian McCann went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI in the Braves 7-6 victory over Washington. He is 9-for-19 in his last six games.
Our View: McCann remains one of the best fantasy players at any position. The fact that he is putting up the numbers he is at catcher is an added bonus. |
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| A-Rod homers vs Oakland | Friday 7/18, 9:33 PM CT |
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Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez enjoyed a productive evening at the plate, going 3-for-4 with one walk and his 20th homer of the season, totaling two RBIs and two runs scored for the 7-1 win over Oakland.
Our View: A-Rod is hitting just .261 on the month, though his run production continues to shine (nine RBIs through the 13th). We will see if he can figure out the problems now that the break has come and gone, and tonight shows he might be headed in the right direction. |
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| Lo Duca picks up two RBI | Friday 7/18, 9:32 PM CT |
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Paul Lo Duca picked up two RBI and went 1-for-5 in the Nationals loss to Atlanta on Friday. Lo Duca played first base as Johnny Estrada went behind the plate.
Our View: Lo Duca's average went down to .225, and his two RBI represent one-quarter of his season total of eight. He is an antidote to winning fantasy baseball teams. |
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| Gonzalez picks up save | Friday 7/18, 9:28 PM CT |
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Mike Gonzalez earned his fourth save of the season in Atlanta's 7-6 win over Washington. Gonzalez made it interesting by allowing a run but managed to maintain the victory.
Our View: Gonzalez has now allowed runs in consecutive games, but he still has not walked a batter this season and can be a good source of saves for those in need. |
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| Mussina gets win #12 | Friday 7/18, 9:25 PM CT |
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Oakland couldn't get the offense going this evening as they fell 7-1 to the Yankees, giving RHP Mike Mussina his 12th win of the season. Mussina pitched six innings, allowing just one run on nine hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: Mussino now sits at 12-6 on the year with an ERA of 3.49. He had earned just one win over his last four starters before tonight, signs that he may be getting back on track. |
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| Uggla continues struggles | Friday 7/18, 9:14 PM CT |
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After playing arguably the worst All-Star Game in history, Dan Uggla continued his struggles Friday. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and is now 2-for-16 over his last five games.
Our View: Hopefully that performance at the All-Star Game doesn't get into his head. This is probably just a small glitch on the radar and Uggla will likely pull through it soon enough. |
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| Guthrie struggles but gets the win | Friday 7/18, 9:14 PM CT |
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Baltimore RHP Jeremy Guthrie wasn't terribly impressive on the mound this evening, but he pitched well enough to get his Orioles the 7-4 win over Detroit. Guthrie pitched six innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on 12 hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: That's three wins and two no-decisions for Guthrie over his last five starts. However, in all three wins he has surrended four earned runs. |
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| Lidge notches save number 21 | Friday 7/18, 9:10 PM CT |
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After being concerned with the nearly 100 pitches Brad Lidge threw while warming up in the All-Star Game, the Phillies had to be pleased when their closer threw just 11 while picking up his twenty-first save of the season tonight.
Our View: Lidge also got a strike out, so it was an economical yet effective inning for the dynamic closer. He continues to dominate with his electric stuff. |
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| Scott homers twice vs Detroit | Friday 7/18, 9:10 PM CT |
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The Orioles found a flurry of power hitting to get the 7-4 win over Detroit, led by the bat of outfielder Luke Scott. Scott went 2-for-4 at the dish with two homers (his 15th and 16th of the year), totaling three RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Scott has seen better days, hitting just .105 for the month of July coming into tonight. After hitting eight homers with a .333 average last month, the fall is frustrating for fantasy owners. We hope tonight signifies a reversal of fortunes for Scott moving forward. |
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| Nolasco takes the loss | Friday 7/18, 9:06 PM CT |
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Ricky Nolasco took the loss for the Marlins in their defeat at the hands of division rival Philadelphia. Nolasco threw seven innings, allowing four runs and striking out five. He also allowed two solo home runs.
Our View: Nolaso struck out five on the night, and though this performance was just average, it should do nothing to discourage fantasy owners from putting him in their lineup when his turn in the rotation comes up again. |
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| Howard goes deep again | Friday 7/18, 9:03 PM CT |
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Ryan Howard hit his twenty-ninth home run of the season in the Phillies 4-2 victory over the Marlins. He now has nine home runs in the month of July. He also walked once and struck out once.
Our View: Pretty typical game for the big guy with a home run and a strike out. Needless to say, his bat has officially come alive in July. |
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| I-Rod goes 4-for-4 versus O's | Friday 7/18, 9:03 PM CT |
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Detroit failed to find the offense needed to overcome a 7-4 loss against Baltimore, though catcher Ivan Rodriguez did his best to reverse their fortunes. Rodriguez went 4-for-4 at the plate, hitting his fifth home run of the season to total two RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Rodriguez is in the midst of two productive month, hitting .333 for the month of June followed by a matching .333 average through July. The players in front of him need to get on base to improve his run production, but I-Rod is giving the Tigers a quality bat in the bottom half of the order. |
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| Fives are wild for Maine | Friday 7/18, 8:57 PM CT |
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John Maine failed to pitch five innings for the third time in his last four starts and he took the loss as New York fell 5-2 to the Reds. Maine did account for five in many other statistical categories in this game, however. He allowed five runs on five hits and five walks while striking out five.
Our View: Maine's ERA has been rising as the season has progressed, so fantasy owners may want to try another option until he gets this corrected. |
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| Burnett pitches well but suffers loss | Friday 7/18, 8:56 PM CT |
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There wasn't much offense to be found in tonight's 2-1 win for Tampa Bay over Toronto, leaving Blue Jays RHP A.J. Burnett with a loss despite a strong effort on the mound. Burnett pitched seven innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Our View: Burnett now stands at 10-9 on the season and was coming off consecutive wins before the All-Star break. In fact, Burnett boasts five wins over his last eight starts. |
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| Bruce on base three times | Friday 7/18, 8:53 PM CT |
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Jay Bruce reached base three teims with two hits and a walk in five plate appearances in the Reds 5-2 victory over the Mets on Friday. He hit his seventh home run of the year and scored twice.
Our View: Bruce raised his batting average five points in the game, and also added another strikeout. He will have his ups and downs, but remains a solid option in fantasy leagues. |
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| Reyes in mini slump | Friday 7/18, 8:50 PM CT |
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Jose Reyes went hitless in four at-bats on Friday against the Reds, and he has gone 2-for-16 over his last four games. He does not have a stolen base since July 7.
Our View: It's likely nothing to be concerned about, and Reyes will continue to rack up stolen bases once he starts getting on base with more frequency. |
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| Shields gets the win | Friday 7/18, 8:48 PM CT |
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The Rays and Jays battled through a pitcher's duel this evening with Tampa Bay emerging 2-1, giving RHP James Shields his eighth victory of the season. Shields pitched seven innings, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: This gives Shields four wins over his last five starts with a no-decision sandwiched in between. During that stretch, Shields has walked just five batters versus 26 strikeouts, lasting at least six innings in each. |
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| Arroyo pitches gem | Friday 7/18, 8:46 PM CT |
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Bronson Arroyo pitched a great game against the New York Mets, picking up the victory as the Reds won 5-2. Arroyo threw eight innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out four.
Our View: This is Arroyo's fourth win in as many starts. After struggling mightily at the beginning of the season, his ERA has now dropped from 6.52 on June 24 to 5.71. |
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| Park goes to bullpen | Friday 7/18, 8:43 PM CT |
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Chan Ho Park will head to the bullpen and be the closer on days when Jonathan Broxton needs a day off, according to Dodgers.com. "Chan Ho may take a more prominent role," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.
Our View: This is somewhat surprising news, but Park has certainly pitched well enough this season to get the opportunity. Fantasy owners in NL-only leagues that desperately need saves may want to consider picking him up. |
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| Soriano back on Thursday | Friday 7/18, 8:37 PM CT |
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Alfonso Soriano took batting practice before tonight's game and reaffirmed his earlier prognostication that he will return next week, according to Cubs.com. "I think I'm looking to come back next Thursday. My hand feels great, like nothing happened before," he said.
Our View: Soriano will begin an abbreviated rehab assignment soon and fantasy owners can expect to put him right back in their lineup Thursday when the Cubs take on the Marlins. |
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| Twins unsure of Cuddyer's return | Friday 7/18, 8:23 PM CT |
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The Twins continue to move forward without much knowledge about the rehabilitation status of Michael Cuddyer , according to MLB.com.
Our View: The right fielder has been nursing a strained tendon in his left index finger. However, Cuddyer, who was eligible to come off the 15-day DL on Sunday, has not seen any progress. The outfielder said that the mobility in his hand has increased with some of the stiffness going away, but the soreness that he feels has not decreased at all. Gardenhire said that Cuddyer could possibly undergo another MRI on Saturday to make sure nothing was missed in the first test. But right now, there is no timetable for Cuddyer's return. |
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| Punto out until further notice for Twins | Friday 7/18, 8:19 PM CT |
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The Twins are reporting infielder Nick Punto is likely to miss an entire weekend of action this week due to continued problems with his left ring finger, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Punto was scheduled to receive a cortisone shot in the knuckle of his sore left ring finger on Friday night. The infielder underwent an MRI and an X-ray on his finger earlier in the day, and it revealed no ligament damage or break in the bones. But the cortisone shot means it will be a couple of days before Punto can return to action, and that leaves the Twins one player short on their bench. Manager Ron Gardenhire still didn't rule out a possible stint on the disabled list for Punto, saying that the Twins will know more by how the infielder's finger feels on Saturday. |
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| Freel will have surgery | Friday 7/18, 8:15 PM CT |
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Ryan Freel will undergo surgery to repair a torn hamstring, according to Reds.com. It is not known how long he will be out.
Our View: It's possible Freel may not see the field the rest of the year, so fantasy owners hoping to get some stolen bases out of him come August and September may be end up being disappointed. |
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| Miller starts rehab | Friday 7/18, 7:51 PM CT |
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Justin Miller started his minor league rehabilitation and threw one inning allowing one run, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Our View: Miller works in middle relief and has little value in fantasy leagues. |
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| Miller may have surgery | Friday 7/18, 7:47 PM CT |
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Marlins hurler Andrew Miller may have to undergo season-ending surgery to repair chronic right knee tendinitis, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Our View: Miller is uber-talented, and despite his struggles this season, he will eventually become someone to covet in fantasy leagues; just not this season. |
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| Hernandez will start Monday | Friday 7/18, 7:36 PM CT |
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Runelvys Hernandez will be recalled from Triple-A Round Rock in order to make the start on Monday against Pittsburgh, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Hernandez has an unseemly 10.29 ERA in three starts this season and should not be considered for fantasy play. |
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| Oswalt may not make next start | Friday 7/18, 7:34 PM CT |
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The chances of Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt to make his next start are "50-50", according to MLB.com. "[I'm] still sore, kind of, actually. It's 50-50. Maybe 51 [percent] not good," he said.
Our View: Oswalt is going to throw a bullpen session on Saturday to see where he is at, but it does not sound very promising. The disappointing season for Oswalt continues. |
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| Marcum to return Tuesday | Friday 7/18, 7:27 PM CT |
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The Blue Jays report RHP Shaun Marcum will rejoin the team on Tuesday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: On Thursday, Marcum completed a successful rehab outing with Class A Dunedin, showing no issues with the right elbow injury that has sidelined him since June 19. By the time the fifth spot in Toronto's rotation rolls around on Tuesday, the Jays are hoping to activate the recovering starting pitcher from the disabled list. We'll keep you posted. |
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| Hensley recalled | Friday 7/18, 7:17 PM CT |
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Pitcher Clay Hensley has been called up to the big leagues by the Padres, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Hensley will work in long relief and has little to no value in fantasy play. |
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| Kazmir will start Monday | Friday 7/18, 7:13 PM CT |
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Scott Kazmir will make the start on Monday for the Tampa Bay Rays, according to MLB.com.
Our View: After the All-Star Game, Kazmir was simply pushed back. Have no qualms about putting him in your fantasy lineup. |
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| Rockies upset with Blanton deal | Friday 7/18, 7:08 PM CT |
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Reports from beat reporters indicate the Rockies, seeking the right deal for reliever Brian Fuentes , may have been hurt by Oakland sending starter Joe Blanton to Philadelphia for a bevy of top prospects, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The Rockies had engaged in serious talks with the Phillies for some of those names, and it is now fair to suggest any deal is on the rocks (pun intended). The rumor mill suggests there are still interested parties, but it sounds like the Rockies aren't feeling as happy about those potential swaps as any they might have reached with Philly. We'll keep you posted as further events unfold. |
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| Gabbard done for the season | Friday 7/18, 7:00 PM CT |
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Rangers general manager Jon Daniels reports LHP Kason Gabbard will miss the remainder of the season, undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs in his left elbow, according to the Star Telegram.
Our View: Gabbard was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 28th and has struggled to regain health since. He registered just two wins this season with an ERA of 4.82. |
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| Saunders on Sat, Garland on Sunday for Angels | Friday 7/18, 6:51 PM CT |
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The Angels had scheduled Jon Garland to make the start against Boston on Saturday, but reports of neck pain have led the team to push him back to Sunday, according to the Orange County Register.
Our View: Joe Saunders, fresh off his appearance in the All-Star game, will be moved up to Saturday to fill in for Garland. Garland is 1-0 against the Red Sox this season, but has an ERA of 6.00. He is only 4-5 in his career against Boston with an ERA of 5.57 (39 earned runs in 63 innings pitched). |
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| Sexson gets 1st start for Yanks | Friday 7/18, 6:45 PM CT |
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The Yankees have hit the field with newly-signed outfielder Richie Sexson in the lineup, having completed his contract negotiations today, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: The Yankees signed the big first baseman after he was released by Seattle last week. Sexson slumped badly against right-handed pitching with the Mariners, but hit .344 with five home runs in 71 at-bats against lefties this year. Thus the decision to get him into the lineup against LHP Greg Smith. |
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| Guillen out vs White Sox | Friday 7/18, 6:43 PM CT |
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Kansas City outfielder Jose Guillen has been scratched from tonight's lineup against the Chicago White Sox, according to the Kansas City Star.
Our View: Guillen was ruled unavailable for the series opener against the Chicago after awakening early Friday with back spasms. Reports indicate Guillen was working in Las Vegas, hitting in the cage for all three days of the All-Star break. Manager Trey Hillman told reporters Guillen reported the spasms on that third day and he continues to feel pain today. For now, it is not believed to be a serious injury. We will update his status as needed. |
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| Percival looking to come back soon | Friday 7/18, 6:28 PM CT |
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With continued updates, the Rays report closer Troy Percival is feeling no discomfort or pain after throwing to batters on Thursday and will be re-examined this evening, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Sidelined since July 1 with a left hamstring strain, Percival appears to be on schedule with his recover and could rejoin the team within the next few days. We'll keep you posted. |
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| Rays activate Reyes | Friday 7/18, 6:25 PM CT |
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As anticipated, the Rays have activated reliever Al Reyes from the disabled list, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Reyes had been out since June 10 because of right shoulder tendinitis. Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said there no limitations on Reyes. |
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| Blalock in tonight's lineup | Friday 7/18, 6:23 PM CT |
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Hank Blalock was activated from the DL and is in tonight's lineup for the Texas Rangers and is playing third base and hitting sixth, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Our View: Blalock is finally back, and after starting off the year well, it will be interesting to see how long he takes to get his bearings back. When healthy, he can certainly be an asset to fantasy teams, so anyone in desperate need of a third baseman should try to grab him in free agency while the news is fresh. |
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| Morillo recalled to bigs | Friday 7/18, 6:20 PM CT |
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Pitcher Juan Morillo has been recalled from Triple-A to join the Rockies bullpen, according to the Rocky Mountain News. He has a live arm and his fastball has been known to hit 100 mph, according to the paper.
Our View: Morillo had a previous stint in the majors last season, and did not fare well, registering a 9.82 ERA. In Triple-A this year, he has held opponents to a .204 batting average, while striking out 41 hitters in 39.1 innings. The problem was that he also walked 34 batters during that time. Keep him off fantasy rosters for now, but monitor his status to see if he improves his control, because all of those strikeouts could become useful. |
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| Redman off Rockies roster | Friday 7/18, 6:14 PM CT |
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Instead of joining the bullpen, pitcher Mark Redman has been removed from the Rockies roster, and will decide if he wants to accept a demotion to the minor leagues, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View: Redman has been just plain awful and should not be near anyone's fantasy squad. |
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| Ortiz rehab continues to go well | Friday 7/18, 6:11 PM CT |
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David Ortiz continued his rehab work, and concentrated on hitting the ball to left field in batting practice, while knocking three balls over the fence, according to the Providence Journal.
Our View: Ortiz is getting ever closer to returning, which will provide a boost to the Red Sox and fantasy owners, who can expect him to raise his .252 average in the season's second half. |
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| Brewers looking at Durham? | Friday 7/18, 6:07 PM CT |
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The Milwaukee Brewers could be interested in obtaining Giants second baseman Ray Durham to use off the bench, according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.
Our View: Durham has had a decent year, but if he is traded and used off the bench, his fantasy value would obviously take a hit. For now, the Brewers seem inclined to stick with Rickie Weeks and his sub-.220 batting average. |
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| Delgado called up | Friday 7/18, 5:52 PM CT |
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Jesus Delgado has been called up from Double-A to join the Marlins bullpen, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Delgado has nice numbers in the minors, with 35 strikeouts and a 3.73 ERA in 41 innings. He is said to be a potential closer for Florida, but until that happens, he has minimal fantasy value. |
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| Gonzalez a .500 hitter off Looper | Friday 7/18, 5:44 PM CT |
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Adrian Gonzalez is a .500 hitter off of tonight's starter for St. Louis, Braden Looper. Gonzalez is 5-for-10 with two home runs off the converted reliever.
Our View: Gonzalez is really the only offensive threat on the Padres, so the fact that he gets pitches to hit is somewhat surprising. He is only hitting .209 in July, but tonight is a good night for him to possibly break out of that slump. |
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| Mather sent down | Friday 7/18, 5:41 PM CT |
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Outfielder Joe Mather was sent to Triple-A Memphis in order to make room for Randy Flores, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Our View: Mather hit an important pinch-hit home run last night off of Jake Peavy, and was subsequently sent down. He has the potential to be useful in fantasy play, but will go to the minors in the meantime. |
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| Morneau has good matchup | Friday 7/18, 5:34 PM CT |
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Justin Morneau has a good matchup tonight when he faces Texas pitcher Kevin Millwood. Morneau is hitting .385 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 13 at-bats versus the righty.
Our View: Morneau is coming off his win at the Home Run Derby and is having another MVP-caliber performance. Double check to make sure he is in your lineup tonight. |
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| Eaton moves to bullpen | Friday 7/18, 5:23 PM CT |
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Phillies pitcher Adam Eaton has been moved out of the rotation and into the bullpen to make room for newly acquired Joe Blanton, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Eaton has been bad, with an ERA of 5.71 and only three wins in 19 starts. He should not have been on anyone's fantasy team before this, and certainly should not be now. |
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| Pagan likely out for year | Friday 7/18, 5:13 PM CT |
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| Angel Pagan is probably going to have shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the season, according to the | |
