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| Lewis is coming around | Sunday 7/27, 11:58 PM CT |
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Fred Lewis became the first left-handed hitter in history to record four hits off of LHP Randy Johnson. He was 4-for-4 with two stolen bases in the game.
Our View: Lewis is hitting leadoff for the Giants but not everyday. He is a good source of steals (19) and runs (63). If the Giants commit to him he could become a very solid fantasy contributor |
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| Mahay holds the lead again | Sunday 7/27, 11:53 PM CT |
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Ron Mahay worked out of an impressive jam on Sunday. He came in to relieve starter Kyle Davies with no outs and runners on second and third. The left-hander struck out Carlos Pena, retired Willy Aybar on an infield popup and got pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes to fly out to left to end the inning.
Our View: Mahay has allowed just two earned runs in 24 2/3 innings over his past 20 outings. He is 5-0 with 17 holds and a 1.81 ERA. |
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| Broxton notches fourth save | Sunday 7/27, 11:48 PM CT |
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Jonathan Broxton is 4-for-4 in save opportunities since taking over the role for the injured Takashi Saito. He pitched a perfect ninth inning against the Nationals on Sunday.
Our View: Broxton appears to be living up to his promise and its possible he never relinquishes the role. At this point, Saito will still be the closer when he returns, but more performances from Broxton like tonight's could change things. |
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| Colon to throw more on Monday | Sunday 7/27, 11:44 PM CT |
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Bartolo Colon, on the disabled list since June 17 with a stiff lower back, plans to throw on the side Monday. He threw 35 pitches in his previous side session.
Our View: Colon is still a long ways from coming back. He will likely have a few starts in the minors before seeing action in Boston again. Don't expect to see him in the majors before mid-August. |
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| Nady strands five in loss | Sunday 7/27, 11:42 PM CT |
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Xavier Nady is still looking for his first hit as a Yankee. He is 0-for-8 since being traded from Pittsburgh to the Bronx. He left five runners on base in Sunday's 9-2 loss to the Red Sox.
Our View: Nady should put it together sooner or later but he will miss Pittsburgh. He had been playing well above his head there this year and you should not expect the same amount of production from him in a Yankees uniform. He is still a worthy starter though. |
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| Hoffman saves three in the series | Sunday 7/27, 11:36 PM CT |
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Trevor Hoffman pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21th save in 24 chances. Hoffman saved all three of San Diego's wins in the series against the Pirates.
Our View: Hoffman's getting a little hot. He came into the game with a 4.70 ERA but may be turning it around. Unfortunately, he won't likely see a whole lot of save opportunities with the Padres this season. |
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| Hairston hits eighth home run of the month | Sunday 7/27, 11:34 PM CT |
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Scott Hairston hit his eighth home run of July on Sunday against the Pirates. "Scott Hairston has been swinging a hot bat," Black said. "He's got that in his game."
Our View: That he does. His eight blasts have come in 17 games but he is still not an everyday outfielder in San Diego. |
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| Rollins does it all | Sunday 7/27, 11:30 PM CT |
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Jimmy Rollins was 2-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base in the Phillies 12-10 win over the Braves on Sunday. He scored three times in the victory.
Our View: As previously mentioned, Rollins is clutch and will likely heat up as the games take on more meaning. Look for his .271 batting average to climb sharply going forward. |
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| Feliz misses third straight game | Sunday 7/27, 11:24 PM CT |
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Pedro Feliz missed his third straight game with tightness in his lower back.
Our View: There have been no indicarions that Feliz is headed for the disabled list, but its certainly not unfathomable. |
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| Roberts sits amid slump | Sunday 7/27, 11:22 PM CT |
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Brian Roberts did not play on Sunday. He has just seven hits in his last 40 at-bats. The Orioles defeated the Angels 5-2.
Our View: Roberts' average has dipped to .284 and he may still be on the trade market. His fantasy value would certainly increase if he landed with a contender. |
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| Atkins hits his 15th home run | Sunday 7/27, 11:17 PM CT |
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Garrett Atkins extended his hitting streak to 10 games and ended a 13 game home run drought on Sunday against the Reds. He finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and a walk.
Our View: Like the rest of Colorado, Atkins is back to smashing the ball. He has been playing first base since veteran Todd Helton went down. |
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| Baker keeps on hitting | Sunday 7/27, 11:14 PM CT |
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Jeff Baker was 3-for-6 on Sunday against the Reds. He scored three times, and recorded a home run and two RBI. He is the everyday second baseman in a red hot Rockies lineup.
Our View: Baker is 18 for his last 37 (.486) in his last nine games. He has three home runs and a triple in that stretch and, we admit it, is worth owning down the stretch. |
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| Harang taking steps in recovery | Sunday 7/27, 11:10 PM CT |
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Aaron Harang who hasn't pitched since July 8 with a strained right forearm, is scheduled to throw off a mound Monday in Houston.
Our View: Harang has not looked like himself this season is still a week or so away from beginning a rehab assignment. Don't drop him just yet as he is a very effective fantasy starter when he is on. |
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| Jones no longer closing | Sunday 7/27, 11:06 PM CT |
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Todd Jones has been taken out of the closer's role and replaced by Fernando Rodney according to manager Jim Leyland. The 40-year-old Jones was 18-for-21 in save situations this year, but had a 4.99 ERA. He allowed Dye's two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning on Friday, which gave Chicago a 6-5 win. Opponents are hitting .293 against him this year. "Right now the quality of the pitches and the location wasn't good enough," said Leyland. "But the one thing he does is throw strikes."
Our View: "I am 40, so you knew this day had to come some time," he said. "I don't like it but I accept it because I respect the man that told me." We agree. This move seems long overdue but Jones does not completely lose his value. He will likely rack up holds and possible wins throughout the rest of his career. |
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| Miner earns the win against the White Sox | Sunday 7/27, 11:04 PM CT |
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Zach Miner allowed two runs and five hits in six innings to earn his first win against Chicago after losing five decisions. It was just his second start of the season.
Our View: Miner may land back in the bullpen but for now it looks like he will be in the rotation. The Tigers will make a run in the AL Central which makes Miner worth a look if you are seeking wins. |
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| Manny rakes amongst controversy | Sunday 7/27, 11:01 PM CT |
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Amidst plenty of turmoil, Manny Ramirez went 3-for-5 with two RBI on Sunday against the Yankees. He scored twice in the game. Manny has discussed his willingness to be traded throughout the weekend.
Our View: We don't see Manny going anywhere. He is simply too valuable to the success of the Sox. However, owners would certainly like him to be happy. He is hitting .302 with 65 runs and 65 RBI this season in 96 games this season. When focused on hitting, Manny is among the best fantasy producers in the game. |
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| Ortiz returning to form | Sunday 7/27, 10:57 PM CT |
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David Ortiz went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI against the Yankees on Sunday. It was his first major league home run since returning from a wrist injury two days ago.
Our View: Ortiz fans have to be happy to see that his power hasn't diminished. A healthy Ortiz can do wonders for your offense. His average is currently just .261 but should continue to climb. He has hit .300 or better in three of his last four seasons. |
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| Lester defeats the Yankees | Sunday 7/27, 10:54 PM CT |
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Jon Lester recorded eight strikeouts in seven innings of two-run ball against the Yankess on Sunday night. He scattered right hits and pitched himself out of jams throughout the game.
Our View: Lester has pitched exceptionally well in three of his last four starts and his ERA stands at an impressive 3.16. He is 6-0 over his last nine outings. Expect him to pile up more wins down the stretch. |
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| Olson beats the Angels | Sunday 7/27, 10:45 PM CT |
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Garrett Olson, who had given up 18 earned runs in his last three starts, got the victory on Sunday over Ervin Santana and the Angels. He allowed two runs in six innings on seven hits and lowered his ERA to 5.90.
Our View: I guess that's why they play the game! This did not look like a good matchup for the Orioles but they came out on top 5-2. Olson has been one the worst regular starters of the season for the Orioles. |
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| Rockies not selling | Sunday 7/27, 10:40 PM CT |
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SI.com reports that the Rockies are not likely to be sellers at the deadline after winning nine of their last 10 games. Both Brian Fuentes and Matt Holliday are likely to remain with the team.
Our View: Owners of Matt Holliday should rejoice. His name had been rumored for nearly a month but his value would have dropped sharply had he left Denver. This season, he has hit .376 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI at home compared to .305, with five home runs and just 14 RBI on the road. He is good no matter where he plays, but his numbers are mammoth at Coors Field. |
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| Ponson rocked at Fenway | Sunday 7/27, 9:51 PM CT |
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Sidney Ponson lasted just four innings against the Red Sox on Sunday against the Yankees. He gave up seven runs on 10 hits and one walk. he surrendered one home run - to David Ortiz who hit his first since returning from a lengthy DL stint with a wrist injury.
Our View: Ponson didn't have his sinker working tonight and the result was his worst start of the season. He is always a risky play as his 1.61 ERA would indicate. We do not recommend him for fantasy owners. |
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| Looper to start on Monday | Sunday 7/27, 9:47 PM CT |
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Braden Looper (9-8, 4.49 ERA) will start on Monday against the Braves. He is 0-3 with a 5.55 ERA in his last five starts. He was a hard-luck loser in his latest outing, when he allowed a run over five innings against the Brewers on Wednesday in a 3-0 loss. Looper was battered in his lone start at Turner Field. He gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 2 2-3 innings in a 14-6 Cardinals’ loss on July 21, 2007.
Our View: Looper has gone past six innings just five times in 21 starts this season. However the Cardinals bullpen has been drained over the past two days so he will have to go deep on Monday. In his favor, the braves will likely be without Chipper Jones and Brian McCann due to injuries. |
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| Blake goes 0-for-3 | Sunday 7/27, 9:40 PM CT |
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Casey Blake went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk in his second game with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. He hit seventh between Nomar Garciaparra and Andre Ethier.
Our View: A stinker game to follow up his solid debut on Saturday. Blake should remain about as effective as he was when he played on the Indians but give him a week or so to adjust to L.A. |
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| Figgins continues to struggle. | Sunday 7/27, 9:29 PM CT |
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Chone Figgins went 0-for-4 on Sunday. His batting average in July has sunk to .206 (16-for-77). Since June 22, when he was hitting .315, his batting average has dropped 47 points, to .268 and his on-base percentage has fallen to .371 from .422.
Our View: Figgins is as cold as he can get right now. The Angels may try to acquire another bat at the deadline and relegate Figgins to a utility role rather than an everyday starter. He has just one triple and 17 stolen bases this season. |
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| Cruz is due for call-up or trade | Sunday 7/27, 9:25 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that Nelson Cruz, 28, cranked his Minor League-leading 37th home run, had his fifth straight multi-hit game and stole a pair of bases to lead the visiting Oklahoma RedHawks past the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, 4-2, on Sunday.
Our View: Cruz leads the league in RBIs with 93 in 94 games. He also tops the stats column in total bases (253), runs (91), slugging percentage (.729), on-base percentage (1.176), and ranks sixth in hits (120). He has 11 home runs, 19 RBIs and 18 hits and is batting .409 in his last 10 games for the RedHawks. |
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| Sweeney is activated | Sunday 7/27, 9:02 PM CT |
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Mark Sweeney was activated from the disabled list on Sunday. In 64 at-bats this season, he is hitting .094.
Our View: Sweeney will backup James Loney at first base and will primarily appear as a pinch hitter for the Dodgers. |
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| Kemp hitting streaks hits 14 | Sunday 7/27, 8:59 PM CT |
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Matt Kemp had a pair of singles in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Nationals to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.
Our View: Kemp is hitting .293 with 22 steals, 57 RBI and 54 runs. He has just 12 home runs and 110 strikeouts to just 31 walks. If he could develop a better eye and add some power, he will live up to his high expectations. Until then, he is a slightly above average fantasy option in the outfield. |
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| Bergman moves to 1-8 | Sunday 7/27, 8:55 PM CT |
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Jason Bergmann allowed two runs and six hits over six innings, struck out five and walked three on Sunday against the Dodgers. The right-hander is 0-7 with a 3.24 ERA in 12 starts since beating the New York Mets 7-0 on May 15 at Shea Stadium with.
Our View: Like many National pitchers, Bergman just cannot get any run support. His stuff is not bad and he could be relevant with a different team. He has lost his last six starts on the road, but refuses to get getting discouraged about his record. "There's no other way to go about it," Bergmann said. "You can't get down on yourself, your teammates or anybody else, for that matter. ... I'm not going to be a selfish guy and say I wish I could be winning more. My mindset is just to try to do my best to keep the team in the game and try to get wins." |
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| Kershaw gets first win | Sunday 7/27, 8:52 PM CT |
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Clayton Kershaw rebounded from a bad start to throw six shutout innings against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. He struck out 5 batters and allowed just four hits. It was his first victory in 10 major league starts. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time. It's a relief to get it out of the way. I mean, one out of 10 is not a real good percentage. It's a great feeling to get one under my belt, and hopefully there's more to come," said the 20-year-old Kershaw, the seventh overall pick in the 2006 draft.
Our View: This was Kershaw's longest outing in 10 tries. "Clayton's pitch count was very good. That wasn't the reason we went to get him," Torre said. "It was just the fact that he gave us six quality innings and we knew we had some arms down there that could get us to the end." Expectations remain high for the lefty, but he has been inconsistent this far. Keep a close eye on him. |
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| Walker joins the Orioles | Sunday 7/27, 8:44 PM CT |
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The Orioles activated lefthander Jamie Walker from the 15-day disabled list. If the Orioles move George Sherrill he could be in the closer's mix.
Our View: Walker went 1-0 with a 4.98 ERA in 37 games before being placed on the DL on June 26 with inflammation in his pitching elbow. |
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| Liz demoted | Sunday 7/27, 8:43 PM CT |
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After a rough outing on Saturday, Radhames Liz has been sent back to Triple-A on Sunday. In a corresponding move, the Orioles activated lefthander Jamie Walker from the 15-day disabled list. Walker went 1-0 with a 4.98 ERA in 37 games before being placed on the DL on June 26 with inflammation in his pitching elbow.
Our View: Liz made 10 starts on the year but carried a 7.47 ERA. |
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| McCann suffers concussion | Sunday 7/27, 8:28 PM CT |
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Brian McCann, who was involved in a home plate collision with Shane Victorino on Sunday, has been diagnosed with a mild concussion and will likely miss the next three to four games. He does not expect to go to the disabled list.
Our View: McCann's unavailability means the Braves will likely place Chipper Jones on the 15-day disabled list with a sore hamstring and call up another catcher. We'll keep you posted. |
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| Infante starts for Chipper, homers | Sunday 7/27, 7:02 PM CT |
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Omar Infante started in place of the injured Chipper jones (hamstring). He was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI.
Our View: Jones thinks he may need to go onto the 15-day disabled list so Infante could be looking at consistent playing time for a few weeks. He hits for average, draws walks and knows how to get extra base hits. He has muliple position eligibility and may be worth a gamble if Jones does indeed land on the DL. |
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| LaRoche suffering from back spasms | Sunday 7/27, 6:51 PM CT |
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Adam LaRoche left Sunday's game with back spasms. He is listed as day-to-day. He was 1-for-3 with an RBI. It's unknown if he will go on Monday.
Our View: LaRoche had been enjoying a rather hot bat as of late but its likely he takes a few days off to get this under control. Jose Bautista will see starts when LaRoche is unable to go. |
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| Suzuki continues to hit well | Sunday 7/27, 6:48 PM CT |
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Kurt Suzuki went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in the A's 6-5 victory over the Rangers on Sunday.
Our View: Suzuki's average is up to .294 and the A's have been using him out of the number two spot lately. He doesn't provide much power (five home runs) but has recorded 18 doubles. He is one of the more reliable catchers in fantasy because he plays so often. |
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| Blalock records three RBI | Sunday 7/27, 6:42 PM CT |
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Hank Blalock, who has struggled since returning from the DL, was 2-for-4 with a three-run double on Sunday. He also had two strikeouts.
Our View: Expect Blalock to get back to normal soon as he continues to build strength. He should have plenty of RBI opportunities in a hitter's ballpark with plenty of good batters surrounding him in the order. |
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| Ziegler breaks a record | Sunday 7/27, 6:38 PM CT |
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Brad Ziegler picked up his eighth hold on Sunday with two more shutout innings against the Rangers. He now has the longest streak of shutout innings, 27, to begin a major league career. The record is 101-years old, according to the AP. He gave up two singles while striking out three.
Our View: It's hard to argue with the numbers. Ziegler figures to be a great source of holds in the second half. He hasn't given up a homer in 128 1/3 major and minor league innings since switching to a sidearm delivery. |
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| Victorino comes thru | Sunday 7/27, 6:29 PM CT |
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Shane Victorino hit his third home run since the All-Star break to tie up the Phillies with the Braves. The Phillies never looked back and won the game 12-10. The Flyin' Hawaiian was 2-for-4 with four RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored.
Our View: Victorino may be poised to have a strong second half as the games take on more meaning for the Phillies. He also is responsible for knocking Brian McCann out of the game in a home plate collision. |
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| Blanton's start interrupted by storms | Sunday 7/27, 6:24 PM CT |
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Rain interrupted Joe Blanton's second Phillies start and he was able to collect just two innings of work on Sunday against the Braves. However, the two innings he did appear in were not pretty. He gave up two runs, three hits and a walk to a Chipper-less Braves lineup.
Our View: It's just been one and a half starts, but Blanton boasts a 7.87 ERA since joining Philly. We don't like how snug his new ballpark is and it's fair to expect him to struggle with his new NL team. Why? Because Billy Beane dealt him. |
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| Zito's struggles return | Sunday 7/27, 6:20 PM CT |
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Barry Zito walked five, gave up six hits and six earned runs in six innings against the Diamondbacks on Sunday. He picked up his 13th loss of the season.
Our View: The $126-million dollar man was 3-1 over his last five starts, but clearly did not have it on Sunday. His ERA is back up to 5.80. |
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| Jackson is on a tear | Sunday 7/27, 6:16 PM CT |
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Conor Jackson had his fifth consecutive multi-hit game on Sunday. He was 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three runs scored.
Our View: In eight games since the break, he is hitting .485 with three home runs, a triple and two doubles to go with seven RBI. |
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| Big Unit earns fourth straight win | Sunday 7/27, 6:13 PM CT |
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Randy Johnson earned his fourth straight victory while shutting out the Giants in seven innings of work on Sunday. Despite the shutout, he gave up nine hits and only struck out two batters.
Our View: Perhaps Johnson has determined that striking every one out is not his formula for success anymore. In his last 20 innings he has just nine strikeouts, but three wins. Regardless, it appears he is recovered from a stretch that saw him lose six straight. Expect a smarter Big Unit to hit more bats in the second half. |
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| Sherrill earns 30th save | Sunday 7/27, 6:06 PM CT |
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George Sherrill pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his 30th save of the season. His name has been mentioned in trade talks lately and the Orioles could still move him before the deadline.
Our View: The lefty has had a bad month and this appearance marks his first 1-2-3 inning since June 17. Still, he has exceeded expectations as few people expected Sherrill to record 30 saves when he joined the Orioles in the offseason. |
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| Garciaparra leaves game | Sunday 7/27, 6:01 PM CT |
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Nomar Garciaparra left Sunday's game with left knee irritation. It is unknown what the extent of the injury is at this point.
Our View: Nomar had been hitting .360 since the break and this is a hit to a Dodgers lineup that often struggles to score. He had been riding a nine-day healthy streak prior to Sunday. We'll be keeping an eye on this. |
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| Uggla finally has a good game | Sunday 7/27, 5:52 PM CT |
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Dan Uggla scored three runs and launched his 25th home run of the season on Sunday in the Marlins' 9-6 loss to the Cubs. Coming into Sunday's game, Uggla was hitting .067 since the midsummer classic.
Our View: Will he bounce back? You would think so, but that game will be hard to forget. His value is probably as low as its been all season. He has 107 strikeouts on the year. |
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| Marquis is shelled by Marlins | Sunday 7/27, 5:41 PM CT |
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Jason Marquis allowed six runs in six innings on Sunday against the Florida Marlins. He walked three and gave up nine hits, three of which were home runs.
Our View: Marquis is irrelevant in fantasy leagues. Once every five starts or so, he will throw a gem but he is simply to inconsistent to keep on fantasy rosters. |
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| Tatis is hitting well | Sunday 7/27, 5:36 PM CT |
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Fernando Tatis came up big yet again on Sunday. He finished 3-for-4 with his second home run in as many nights against the Cardinals. He tallied two runs scored and two RBI on the day.
Our View: Tatis has started the last four games for the Mets and continues to fill in admirably for Ryan Church who is missing time with concussion symptoms. He is 8-for-12 in this recent stretch of starts. |
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| Pudge goes 4-for-4 | Sunday 7/27, 5:31 PM CT |
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Ivan Rodriguez was 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's victory over the White Sox.
Our View: As is becoming standard with Pudge, he hit the ball very well after his night off on Saturday. Be sure that you get him in your lineups following days of rest. |
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| Thames hits 20th home run | Sunday 7/27, 5:29 PM CT |
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Marcus Thames got the start on Sunday and, yes, he hit another home run. It was his only hit of the game.
Our View: Thames remains one of the more frustrating players to own in fantasy leagues. He has 20 home runs in 206 at-bats but is still not an everyday starter. |
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| Miller throws side session | Sunday 7/27, 5:19 PM CT |
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Andrew Miller, on the 15-day DL since July 18 with patella tendinitis in right knee, threw a side session in Florida and is expected to throw another one Monday according to the AP.
Our View: He will likely face a rehab assignment before appearing once again in the majors. He has a 5.63 ERA thru 100 innings thus far in 2008. The Marlins are not likely to rush their rookie back into action. |
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| Samardzija earns his first save | Sunday 7/27, 5:16 PM CT |
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Jeff Samardzija pitched two hitless innings for his first career save on Sunday over the Marlins. He struck out three batters.
Our View: You would have to think a blister wouldn't keep a one-inning an appearance pitcher out very long but this is Kerry Wood we are talking about here. Samardzija will get plenty of work until Wood returns, although Marmol will be the primary closer. It remains to be seen how long he will stay in the majors. |
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| Soriano homers in Cubs win | Sunday 7/27, 5:13 PM CT |
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Alfonso Soriano's three-run homer on Sunday tied the game at five. He also scored twice in the 9-6 come from behind victory against the Marlins.
Our View: The home run was his first since June 7 and it appears he is fully recovered from a broken left hand. We all know Soriano can be a very streaky hitter and he may be tuning up for a red hot August. |
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| Jacobs homers again....and again | Sunday 7/27, 5:09 PM CT |
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Mike Jacobs hit home runs in his first two at-bats Sunday at Wrigley. He finished the game 3-for-4 with five RBI. In the previous three games of the series he was 0-for-9.
Our View: Jacobs has three multihomer games this year and four in his career. He now has 22 home runs on the season but carries a .245 average. |
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| Blum homers twice | Sunday 7/27, 5:04 PM CT |
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Geoff Blum went yard twice in a spot start during an 11-6 win over the Brewers on Sunday. He now has eight home runs on the year. He finished the day with four RBI.
Our View: Blum is not playing every day and does not warrant any fantasy attention. But, hey we admit it, two home runs is a pretty good day. |
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| Ausmus goes 4-for-4 | Sunday 7/27, 5:01 PM CT |
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Brad Ausmus had four singles in 4 at-bats on Sunday. He recorded two RBI and two runs.
Our View: Good game, but Ausmus still does not figure to provide any fantasy value down the stretch. In fact, if the Astros fall out of contention, JR Towles will likely be recalled to finish the season as the team's primary catcher. |
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| McCann suffers possible concussion | Sunday 7/27, 4:57 PM CT |
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Brian McCann left Sunday's game in the sixth following a collision at the plate with Shane Victorino. He was visibly shaken while attempting to leave the field and will be checked for a concussion. Victorino, the Flyin' Hawaiian, stayed in the game.
Our View: This probably makes McCann, one of the best producing catchers in baseball, a questionable play this week. We'll update the story as more news becomes available. |
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| July's been good to Braun | Sunday 7/27, 4:54 PM CT |
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Ryan Braun went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI on Sunday. He has five home runs in his last eight games and has raised his batting average 25 points this month. He is hitting .632 over his last five games with four home runs and nine RBIs.
Our View: Despite a slow start, Braun appears poised to pass his incredible production from last season. He is hitting .370 this month, compared to just .248 in June. |
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| Butler showing some promise | Sunday 7/27, 4:50 PM CT |
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Billy Butler continued his hot streak against the Rays on Sunday. He was 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBI and a walk.
Our View: Butler is starting to fulfill some of his promise and could have a very strong second half. Four of his five home runs have come in this month and an alteration to his batting stance may be the difference. He is hitting .314 since the All-Star break. |
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| Quiroz makes a dent | Sunday 7/27, 4:45 PM CT |
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Catcher Guillermo Quiroz went 3-for-4 with three RBI in the Orioles 5-2 win over the Angels on Sunday.
Our View: Aberration. Quiroz is still backing up Ramon Hernandez. The big game brings his average to .225 and his RBI total to 11. No need to consider picking him up at this point. |
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| Peavy strikes out 10 | Sunday 7/27, 4:42 PM CT |
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Jake Peavy struck out 10 batters in seven innings to pick up his eighth win of the season on Sunday. He allowed just one run and carries a ridiculously low ERA of 2.67.
Our View: What else can we say? He's an ace with poor run support. He now has more strikeouts than innings pitched. On a contender, Peavy would likely have 12 or so wins by now. |
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| Ramirez ready to leave Sox | Sunday 7/27, 4:37 PM CT |
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In an ongoing story, Manny Ramirez has now told ESPN Deportes that he would welcome a trade. He was scratched last night in the Red Sox lost to the Yankees. "If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I will not object," said Ramirez. "I don't have any preferences: I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be. My job is to play baseball."
Our View: We don't see him going anywhere, but the wheels are in motion to make this a legitimate story to follow. Manager Terry Francona and Red Sox officers spoke with Ramirez on Friday after the results to test of both his knees revealed no injuries. There were reports in the Boston media that the team was planning to take disciplinary action against Ramirez if he did not return to the lineup for the last two games of the series against the Yankees. It was also suggested during the weekend that the Red Sox management could evaluate the idea of trading Ramirez before Thursday's deadline. manny should make good drama to mix into the Red Sox-Yankees game Sunday night at 8:05 ET on ESPN. |
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| Jimenez wins his third in a row | Sunday 7/27, 4:32 PM CT |
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Ubaldo Jimenez won his third straight while tossing six scoreless innings against the Reds on Sunday. His ERA is down to 3.80 and he has 104 strikeouts in 135 innings.
Our View: The one walk on Sunday is a positive for a young flame-thrower who has struggled with his control throughout the season. He will be a very good contributor to your squad in the second half. In his last three starts he has given up just four runs in 22 innings. |
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| Maholm does it again | Sunday 7/27, 4:27 PM CT |
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Paul Maholm went seven innings of one-hit ball while striking out nine Padres on Sunday, though he was outdueled by Jake Peavy. In July he has a 2.43 ERA, 31 strikeouts and six walks in 37 innings.
Our View: Maholm has just one loss in 11 home starts this season. If you throw out a poor May, he actually has ace-like numbers. However, this is the same pitcher that had a 5.02 ERA in 29 starts last season. It's hard to imagine him keeping his ERA down this low (3.79) the rest of the way. |
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| Rodney is the closer | Sunday 7/27, 4:21 PM CT |
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The AP reports that manager Jim Leyland said in Sunday's pregame show that Fernando Rodney would replace Todd Jones as the team's closer. He recorded the final five outs on Sunday against the White Sox while walking two, allowing one hit and one run. He had three strikeouts.
Our View: Rodney is not a lock to keep his new role. He has a 5.17 ERA and 15 Ks to 11 walks and was working extra bullpen sessions last week to get his mechanics smoothed out. Zumaya may have seemed like the more logical option. However, he left the game with soreness in his shoulder. |
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| Dye homers three games in a row | Sunday 7/27, 4:14 PM CT |
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Jermaine Dye homered for the third straight day in the White Sox 6-4 loss to the Tigers. It marks the 24th home run of his season. He added a double and finished the day 2-for-3.
Our View: Dye has been a pleasant surprise in 2008. His batting average is 60 points higher than it was a season ago. He is hitting .364 with six home runs, 15 RBI, and 15 runs scored in July. |
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| Marcum suffers fifth loss | Sunday 7/27, 4:08 PM CT |
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Shaun Marcum continues to bounce back roughly since his return from the DL. On Sunday he allowed four earned runs in 5.2 innings. He walked three, gave up six hits and struck out only two batters.
Our View: Marcum has just five strikeouts in the 10.1 innings he has thrown being reactivated. He was averaging nearly a strikeout per inning, but this may be the reality of Marcum's second half. |
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| Washburn goes eight innings | Sunday 7/27, 4:05 PM CT |
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Jarrod Washburn, a name that has been rumored in trade talks this weekend, drove up his value on Sunday. He lasted eight innings and allowed four hits and two walks while giving up just one earned run. The run came off a John McDonald solo shot in the fifth.
Our View: After a May that saw him post a 9.30 ERA, Washburn now has two consecutive months of less than a 3.00 ERA. Still, it's hard to believe that he has simply just become good again. Expect him to run out of gas at some point in the second half. |
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| Pujols registers lone run for Cards | Sunday 7/27, 3:56 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, and registered the Cardinals' only score in Sunday's 9-1 loss to the Mets.
Our View: Pujols' homer was his 20th of the season, and has now blasted one in back-to-back games, with seven hits and four runs scored over the span. |
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| Lohse rocked for seven runs | Sunday 7/27, 3:51 PM CT |
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Kyle Lohse was rocked for seven earned runs on 11 hits over five innings in Sunday's 9-1 loss to the Mets, with one walk and two strikeouts.
Our View: Lohse falls to 12-3, and marked his first loss since May 8, when he also surrendered seven runs (against Colorado). He should bounce back fine, and remain a solid source for wins down the stretch. |
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| Wright crushes 20th homer | Sunday 7/27, 3:42 PM CT |
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David Wright went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Cardinals at Shea Stadium. He hit two singles and a solo homer
Our View: He recorded his 20th homer of the season, and now has 11 hits over his last six games. |
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| LaRoche optioned | Sunday 7/27, 3:35 PM CT |
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Andy LaRoche has been optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, according to the AP. Mark Sweeney was activated from the DL as the corresponding move.
Our View: LaRoche failed to make an impact with the Dodgers this season, as he only hit .203 over 59 at-bats. The acquisition of Casey Blake from the Indians made LaRoche expendable. |
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| Santana claims ninth win | Sunday 7/27, 3:31 PM CT |
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Johan Santana only surrendered one run on six hits over nine innings in Sunday's 9-1 win over the Cardinals at Shea Stadium, with one walk and five strikeouts. The only run allowed came on an Albert Pujols homer.
Our View: Believe it or not, that was only Santana's first complete game of the season. He improves to 9-7, and hasn't been dealt a loss in five straight outings. |
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| Chipper may need DL stint? | Sunday 7/27, 3:18 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones feels that he may need to go on the DL due to his strained left hamstring, according to MLB.com. Jones said, "It still bothers me just walking around. Doing anything baseball-related is a few days away, at the very least."
Our View: The Braves will wait at least one more day before making a decision as whether or not to place him on the DL. |
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| Sowers pitches well in loss | Sunday 7/27, 3:13 PM CT |
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Jeremy Sowers pitched well in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Twins, as he only allowed two earned runs on three hits over eight innings, with one walk and five strikeouts.
Our View: He exited the game tied 2-2, so he was dealt a no-decision. Sowers is 1-4 over his last seven starts. |
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| Sizemore extends hitting streak | Sunday 7/27, 3:09 PM CT |
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Grady Sizemore went 2-for-3 in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Twins. He also notched a stolen base.
Our View: Sizemore extended his hitting streak to seven games, with three multi-hit efforts over the span. He now has 25 homers and 25 stolen bases for the season. |
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| Morneau chips in RBI in win | Sunday 7/27, 3:05 PM CT |
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Justin Morneau went 1-for-4 and chipped in an RBI in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Indians. His hit went for a double, his 25th of the season.
Our View: Morneau has 76 RBI for the season, with 13 coming in July. |
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| Blackburn pitches great in no-desision | Sunday 7/27, 2:59 PM CT |
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Nick Blackburn only allowed one earned run on four hits over seven innings in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Indians, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Our View: He pitched great, but was dealt a no-decision as the Indians tied the game 2-2 in the eighth inning. He didn't win, but he still snapped a two-game losing streak. |
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| Zumaya leaves with injury | Sunday 7/27, 2:54 PM CT |
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Joel Zumaya left Sunday's battle with the White Sox in the eighth inning due to tightness in his right triceps, according to the AP.
Our View: The Tigers consider Zumaya day-to-day as of now. We will keep you posted on his status.
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| Ramirez optioned | Sunday 7/27, 2:47 PM CT |
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Max Ramirez has been optioned to Double-A Frisco, according to the AP. The team activated pitcher Kevin Millwood from the DL as the adjoining move.
Our View: Gerald Laird has returned to action, and Ramirez was viewed as expendable as he only hit .233 over 43 at-bats with the Rangers. |
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| Hurley recalled | Sunday 7/27, 2:43 PM CT |
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Eric Hurley has been activated from the 15-day DL, according to the AP. Catcher Max Ramirez was optioned to Double-A Frisco as the corresponding move.
Our View: He was called up to start Sunday's contest against Oakland. Hurley only surrendered one earned run in his last start against the Phillies on June 29, and is worth consideration in AL-only leagues if you need help. |
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| Murton optioned | Sunday 7/27, 2:11 PM CT |
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Matt Murton has been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, according to the AP. The team called up outfielder Eric Patterson from Sacramento as the corresponding move.
Our View: Murton was demoted as he only hit .100 (3-for-30) over nine games with the Athletics since being acquired from the Cubs. |
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| Patterson recalled | Sunday 7/27, 2:08 PM CT |
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Eric Patterson has been recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, according to the AP. The A's optioned Matt Murton to Sacramento as the adjoining move.
Our View: Patterson will see time in the A's outfield, and is worth consideration in deeper AL-only leagues. He only registered nine hits over 38 at-bats in the majors this season, but was fairly productive as he collected seven RBI and two stolen bases (played in 13 games). |
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| Sanchez leaves game | Sunday 7/27, 2:00 PM CT |
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Freddy Sanchez was forced out of Sunday's game in the second inning due to back spasms, according to the AP. While running out a groundout in the bottom of the first, Sanchez pulled up lame and was removed from the game.
Our View: He was replaced by Luis Rivas at second base. We will keep you posted when more details surface regarding the severity of the injury. |
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| Ankiel held out | Sunday 7/27, 1:49 PM CT |
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Rick Ankiel was held out of Sunday's lineup due to an abdominal strain, according to Cardinals.com.
Our View: He sustained the injury Saturday night during battle with the Mets at Shea Stadium. The club is unsure if he will be able to pinch-hit if needed. |
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| Treanor to see specialist | Sunday 7/27, 1:10 PM CT |
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Matt Treanor is going to be examined by a specialist in Philadelphia on Monday as he is still feeling discomfort in his left hip, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The 32-year-old has been catching some bullpens, and was hopeful of playing in a few rehab assignment games. But the injury hasn't been progressing in recent days, and the Marlins are now considering acquiring a veteran catcher in a trade.
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| Reynolds sidelined at Triple-A | Sunday 7/27, 12:46 PM CT |
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Greg Reynolds is out of action at Triple-A Colorado Springs due to an impingement (inflammation) in the back of his shoulder, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View: He is expected to be ready to resume pitching soon, but the team may opt to be cautious with him as he underwent shoulder surgery last year. |
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| Davis called up | Sunday 7/27, 12:38 PM CT |
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Jason Davis has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, according to the AP. He will fill the open roster spot for John Van Benschoten, who was sent back to the minors.
Our View: Davis could take Van Benschoten's next turn in the Pirates' rotation, which is scheduled for Friday against the Cubs. Davis allowed 42 hits and 24 earned runs over 37 innings of relief with time spent between Cleveland and Seattle last season, and only merits fantasy consideration in deeper NL-only leagues. |
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| Collazo recalled | Sunday 7/27, 12:30 PM CT |
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Lefty reliever Willie Collazo has been recalled from Triple-A New Orleans, according to Newsday. Brandon Knight has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move.
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