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| Soria saves again | Monday 7/28, 11:57 PM CT |
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Joakim Soria earned his 28th save of the season on Monday. The Mexicutioner pitched a perfect ninth inning and now boasts an ERA of 1.53.
Our View: Soria's been the best player on the Royals this season and should be depended upon to be a premier closer for years to come. |
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| Greinke strikes out 11 | Monday 7/28, 11:55 PM CT |
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Zack Greinke struck out 11 A's in 7.1 innings in Oakland on Monday. He allowed two runs on seven hits while picking up his eighth win, his first since June 24th.
Our View: Greinke had his vast arsenal in command tonight. The performance brought his ERA down to 3.98. Despite being hit hard at times this season, when Greinke is on, he is very dangerous. |
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| Gordon hits his 12th home run | Monday 7/28, 11:52 PM CT |
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Alex Gordon hit his 12th home run of the season on Monday in a 4-2 win over Oakland. He was 3-for-4 with two RBI in the game.
Our View: Gordon has been a disappointment this season. He is hitting just .253 and had not homered since July 1st. He has just seven RBI this month. |
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| Guillen homers in return | Monday 7/28, 11:49 PM CT |
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Jose Guillen returned from a pulled groin on Monday and hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat. It was his only hit of the game.
Our View: Guillen now has 69 RBI in 100 games. Expect him to remain in the lineup the rest of the week despite feeling a "snap" in his groin on Saturday. |
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| Nomar has sprained MCL | Monday 7/28, 11:38 PM CT |
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Nomar Garciaparra has a sprained MCL according to the Daily News. What we are being told is that he will have "very little" activity over the next few days, then will "progress to baseball activity as tolerated."
Our View: It doesn't appear he is headed to the DL just yet. Regardless, the shortsop, who had been hitting well, will not be playing for a while. |
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| Putz not pitching in consecutive games | Monday 7/28, 11:27 PM CT |
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It appears that the Mariners are not yet comfortable using closer J.J. Putz on back-to-back nights. Brandon Morrow came on for the save Monday after Putz had thrown an inning on Sunday.
Our View: Putz is still the closer but his value takes a hit as long as Morrow is getting save opportunities. |
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| Hamilton slowing down? | Monday 7/28, 11:11 PM CT |
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Josh Hamilton was 1-for-5 with two strikeouts on Monday and is 8-for-39 since the All-Star break.
Our View: Obviously it wasn't much of a break for Hamilton who arguably worked harder than any other major leaguer during the "break". Its conceivable he continues to show signs of wearing down in the coming months. He has not played this many games in any season. |
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| Gaudin gets second win as a Cub | Monday 7/28, 11:07 PM CT |
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Chad Gaudin struck out the side in the eighth inning to earn the victory against the Brewers on Monday night.
Our View: Gaudin has a 1.86 ERA in eight appearances with the Cubs so far. He is a good bet to pile up holds down the stretch and could be available on waivers. |
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| Braun is red hot | Monday 7/28, 11:04 PM CT |
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Ryan Braun hit his fifth home run in six games on Monday against the Chicago Cubs. He now has 29 on the year. The solo shot was his only hit of the night.
Our View: Braun has crushed nine home runs this month and has been seeing the ball as well as anyone since the All-Star break. |
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| Torres loses to the Cubs | Monday 7/28, 11:01 PM CT |
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Salomon Torres notched his second loss of the month against the Cubs on Monday. Entering a tie game, he walked three and gave up two hits to go with two runs in the ninth innning at Wrigley.
Our View: Torres has been mostly reliable in a number of big wins for the Brewers but this one was a big loss. It's not likely that he is in danger of losing his job, though. This was really the first game that he showed any problems with his command. |
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| Sabathia hit around against the Cubs | Monday 7/28, 10:57 PM CT |
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CC Sabathia threw 124 pitches one start after throwing a complete game for the Brewers. This time he lasted just 6.2 innings and did not factor into the decision of a 6-4 Brewers loss against the Cubs. He gave up nine hits and walked two while the Cubs tallied four runs against him.
Our View: The Brewers have to be careful not to wear out their new co-ace before the playoffs. However, they will likely maximize his efforts in the big games. The problem is that the race is so tight right now, every start is a big one. |
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| Lopez extends hit streak to 15 | Monday 7/28, 10:53 PM CT |
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Jose Lopez was 2-for-4 on Monday and extended his hitting streak to 15 games.
Our View: His average is up to .301 and he is hitting fifth in the Mariners lineup. He has 57 RBI on the year and is having his best season yet. At just 24-years old, it appears Lopez is the real deal and should be a solid fantasy contributor at his position for years to come. |
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| Morrow earns another save | Monday 7/28, 10:50 PM CT |
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Brandon Morrow recorded his tenth save of the season on Monday in a 7-5 victory over the Rangers.
Our View: It appears the Mariners are not yet comfortable using J.J. Putz on back to back nights which is good news for Morrow owners. There was talk over the weekend of sending Morrow down to the minors to try and convert him back to a starter. In 38 appearances this season he has a 1.51 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 35.2 innings. |
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| Lee has three RBI against the Brewers | Monday 7/28, 10:46 PM CT |
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Derrek Lee was 3-for-5 with three RBI against the Brewers on Monday. He has five RBI in his past two games.
Our View: Lee now has 66 RBI and should continue to produce down the stretch for the Cubs. He is now hitting .299 on the year. |
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| Soriano takes CC deep | Monday 7/28, 10:43 PM CT |
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Alfonso Soriano came thru for the Cubs off of CC Sabathia on Monday in a 6-4 victory. He was 2-for-4 and hit his second home run in as many games. He scored three times and also stole a base.
Our View: Soriano might be on the verge of one of his customary hot streaks and it couldn't come at a better time as the Cubs are just one game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. The steal was just his eighth of the season. |
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| Ludwick batting cleanup | Monday 7/28, 10:36 PM CT |
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Ryan Ludwick was 3-for-5 with two RBI against the Braves on Monday. With Rick Ankiel out with a strained abdomen, Ludwick is hitting cleanup.
Our View: Ludwick has 15 strikeouts in 11 games since the break and one has to wonder if the league is figuring him out. |
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| Looper earns ninth win | Monday 7/28, 10:29 PM CT |
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Braden Looper gave the Cardinals seven strong innings on Monday night to earn his ninth win of the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks.
Our View: He had been 0-3 with a 5.55 ERA in his last five starts, so the solid outing was a relief to followers of Looper. |
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| Beltre hits two home runs | Monday 7/28, 10:26 PM CT |
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Adrian Beltre hit two home runs and recorded four RBI against the Rangers in a 7-5 Mariners win on Monday. He had not homered since July 1st.
Our View: Beltre needs to get hot. After the big game he still has just 51 RBI. Its not entirely his fault though. Sure he's hitting just .258 but the rest of the offense has sputtered for most of the season. They have shown some life in the past few games so better numbers could lie ahead for Beltre. |
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| Millar comes up big against Yanks | Monday 7/28, 10:19 PM CT |
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Kevin Millar was 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI and two runs scored on Monday night.
Our View: Like many Orioles hitters, Milar feasted on a Yankees staff, led by Mike Mussina, that didn't have much tonight. Millar gets on base and has produced better numbers than his .245 average would indicate. |
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| Adam Jones records five RBI | Monday 7/28, 10:16 PM CT |
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Adam Jones was 3-for-6 with a home run, a triple and five RBI against the Yankees on Monday. He also scored three times in the Orioles 13-4 victory.
Our View: Jones has shown spurts that let us understand why he was considered such a can't-miss prospect but he continues to be very inconsistent. Expect his production to improve as he continues to adjust to major league pitchers. |
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| Guthrie beats the Yankees | Monday 7/28, 10:12 PM CT |
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Jeremy Guthrie beat the Yankees on Monday night by allowing just one run in 6.1 innings. He struck out four and allowed three hits while lowering his ERA to 3.49.
Our View: Its good to see Guthrie get some run support. He has pitched well enough this season have a much better record than his 7-8 mark. He continues to be a very good major league pitcher. |
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| Damon hits first home run since May 27 | Monday 7/28, 10:08 PM CT |
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Johnny Damon was 2-for-5 with a three-run home run on Monday in a 13-4 loss to the Orioles. It was his first home run since May 27th.
Our View: Damon has been himself since returning from a shoulder injury that injury that put him on the DL. He has a hit in all but one game, but Monday was his best game yet. If the Yankees are going to make a stretch run, they'll need Johnny Damon at his best. |
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| Nolasco strikes out eight | Monday 7/28, 10:05 PM CT |
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Ricky Nolasco struck out eight in six innings against the Mets on Monday. He did not factor into the decision despite allowing just two runs.
Our View: His ERA is hovering at 3.94 and he has pitched better than many expected him to this weekend. He will be depended upon down the stretch in more big games like Monday's as the Marlins fight to get into the playoffs. |
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| Blum hits third homer in three games | Monday 7/28, 10:02 PM CT |
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A night after hitting two home runs, Geoff Blum hit another. He was 2-for-3 with three RBI on the night.
Our View: He's a had a couple of excellent games but he is not considered an everyday player. He is hitting .232 on the season. |
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| Dunn hits grand slam | Monday 7/28, 10:00 PM CT |
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Adam Dunn hit a grand slam against Roy Oswalt on Monday. He was 2-for-4 with four RBI and no strikeouts.
Our View: It was Dunn's 30th of the year and, despite a .238 average, could be considered the best source for home runs in the majors. He has 105 strikeouts on the season. |
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| Oswalt wins in return | Monday 7/28, 9:58 PM CT |
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Roy Oswalt came off the disabled list and beat Cincinnati again, striking out five in the Houston Astros’ 5-4 win over the Reds on Monday night. The ace threw 74 pitches in five innings in his first start since aggravating a left hip injury on July 11. He went on the DL on July 19 and was activated just before Monday’s game.
Our View: All four runs he surrendered came off of an Adam Dunn grand slam. The outing can be considered a relative success but we expect more from Oswalt in future starts. |
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| Span hits first home run | Monday 7/28, 9:55 PM CT |
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Denard Span hit his first major league home run on Monday off of Mark Buerhle. It was his only hit of the night.
Our View: Span is a solid fantasy player as long as he's leading off in Minnesota. Thru 35 games, he has 19 runs, 11 RBI, three triples and five stolen bases. He has walked 16 times vs. 18 strikeouts. |
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| Morneau homers again | Monday 7/28, 9:51 PM CT |
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Justin Morneau was 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, and a walk in the Twins 7-0 victory over the White Sox on Monday.
Our View: It was Morneau's fifth home run of the month, not counting the near-20 he put up on his way to becoming the home run derby champion. He is hitting .260 in July. |
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| Slowey notches complete game shutout | Monday 7/28, 9:48 PM CT |
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Kevin Slowey threw a complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night. He allowed six hits and one walk in the game.
Our View: Slowey had looked bad over his last three starts but he had his full arsenal working tonight. It was his third complete game of the season. |
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| Tatis records first triple of '08 | Monday 7/28, 9:45 PM CT |
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Fernando Tatis was the best Met in a 7-3 loss in Florida on Monday. He was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. It was his second triple since 2002.
Our View: Can he be this good? We have to believe Fernando is simply on a hot streak. Still, he has been phenomenal in his starts and looks to occupy the starting lineup until Ryan Church returns. |
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| Hunter takes Dice-K deep | Monday 7/28, 9:41 PM CT |
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Torii Hunter came through again for the Angels on Monday, this time in Boston. He hit his 16th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the sixth off of Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Our View: That's his third home run in the past three games. He has 10 RBI in his last four. He has yet to live up to his contract in Los Angeles, but the team is in first place and Hunter has not been terrible. he simply hasn't produced at his usual pace. A hot streak could change everything. |
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| Dice-K struggles in the sixth | Monday 7/28, 9:37 PM CT |
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Daisuke Matsuzaka suffered his second loss of the season on Monday against the Angels. He allowed six runs and couldn't get an out in the sixth before giving up home runs to Casey Kotchman and Torii Hunter.
Our View: Dice-K's ERA swelled to 3.04. He pitched better than his numbers but he fell apart in the sixth. He had only allowed one run prior to that inning. |
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| Ramirez is being shopped | Monday 7/28, 9:32 PM CT |
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The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox reached out to the Dodgers in a potential Manny Ramirez deal, but the Dodgers were only interested if the Sox would take back Andruw Jones. Other reports mentioned the Sox were turned down immediately by the Mets.
Our View: It's unlikely Ramirez is going anywhere. He hit his 20th home run of the season tonight and is simply too valuable to part with prior to the stretch run. |
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| Snell gets a win | Monday 7/28, 9:25 PM CT |
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Ian Snell allowed four runs and eight hits to go along with a walk and eight strikeouts against the red hot Rockies on Monday. He won for just the second time in his last 18 starts. He is 4-8 this season.
Our View: Snell is better than he has appeared in 2008. His numbers are terrible but don't be shocked to see them improve from here out. |
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| Fuentes appears in eighth inning of loss | Monday 7/28, 9:23 PM CT |
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Brian Fuentes made an eighth inning appearance on Monday night despite the Rockies trailing 8-4. He walked one and struck out two.
Our View: Were the Rockies showcasing the lefty reliever? The Rockies were thought to be pulling out of trade talks but this is a somewhat peculiar move. They may also have simply been getting him some work. They had already used four pitchers in the game and he had not thrown in four nights. |
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| Doumit stars for Pittsburgh | Monday 7/28, 9:19 PM CT |
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Ryan Doumit was 3-for-4 with a steal, two RBI and two runs on Monday against the Rockies. He is hitting .333 on the year.
Our View: With Xavier Nady gone, Doumit is hitting third for Pittsburgh. He has hit well in the role and is one of the better bets at catcher for the remainder of the season. |
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| McLouth goes yard for 22nd time | Monday 7/28, 9:17 PM CT |
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Nate McLouth hit his 22nd home run of the season on Monday against the Rockies. He also walked twice, scored twice and had two RBI.
Our View: McLouth continues to be one of the bigger fantasy surprises of the season and has rebounded nicely from a poor June. You may want to consider him a sell-high candidate in non-keeper leagues as its possible he could wear out down the stretch. He has never had more than 329 at-bats in a season before 2008. He currently has 412. |
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| Pujols gets three more RBI | Monday 7/28, 9:13 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols had three more RBI on Monday, giving him seven in his last three games. He was 1-for-2 with two walks in the Cardinals 12-3 win over the Atlanta Braves.
Our View: This just in: Pujols is pretty good. He broke a long homer drought on Saturday night and appears to have his beastly stroke back. Look for a big August from Albert as the Cardinals fight to stay in contention. |
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| Mather does well in place of Ankiel | Monday 7/28, 9:09 PM CT |
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Starting in place of Rick Ankiel tonight, Joe Mather was 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI against the Braves.
Our View: Mather seems to have the tools to contribute but he has yet to find a regular role with Tony La Russa's club. Should Ankiel miss significant time, Mather will get the opportunity to produce. |
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| Penny to start rehab on Wednesday | Monday 7/28, 9:05 PM CT |
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The schedule for the return to the starting rotation of disabled Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny has been pushed back a few days, according to MLB.com. Penny, out since June 15 with shoulder tendinitis and bursitis, threw a bullpen session Monday and will make a 45-pitch Minor League rehabilitation start at Class A Inland Empire on Wednesday. According to manager Joe Torre, Penny tentatively will make another rehab start Aug. 4 for Triple-A Las Vegas in New Orleans.
Our View: Penny will be out nearly two months before he gets back to the Dodgers. Hopefully the rest has rejuvenated him as he had been having a very disappointing season thru his first 15 starts. The Dodgers look to play in plenty of big games down the stretch as they contend for the NL West title. |
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| Stairs goes deep again | Monday 7/28, 8:59 PM CT |
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Matt Stairs had a two-run home run shot on Monday against the Rays. He is 6-for-11 in his last three games with two homers and a triple.
Our View: With Vernon Wells expected to miss another month, Stairs offers some value to owners desperate for power. |
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| Sizemore stays solid | Monday 7/28, 8:56 PM CT |
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Grady Sizemore was 2-for-3 with a stolen base, a walk and a run scored on Monday against the Tigers. It was his 26th steal of the season.
Our View: Its good to see a little aggressiveness on the bags from Grady who has stolen two bags in two nights. It was his fourth steal in 10 games since the break. He has only been caught three times all season. If the trend continues his value increases going forward. He is hitting .329 in July. |
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| Byrd tosses gem against Tigers | Monday 7/28, 8:51 PM CT |
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Paul Byrd was exceptional against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. In 7.2 innings he allowed no runs, four hits and walked three.
Our View: Byrd no doubt increased his attractiveness to potential trade partners. The Indians would like to deal their aging pitcher for some prospects, but he had not been having a good season. Monday's start no doubt inspired some more confidence in him. Still, its hard to ignore the fact that he's given up 23 home runs in 115 innings this season. |
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| Burnett ties career high with 12th win | Monday 7/28, 8:47 PM CT |
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A.J. Burnett responded to his GM's confidence in him by allowing just one unearned run and six hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out 10. The win gives him 12 on the season and matches his career high. It was the 20th time Burnett has struck out 10 or more in a game, and the fourth time this season. Asked before the game whether the Blue Jays would deal Burnett by Thursday’s trade deadline, general manager J.P. Ricciardi was emphatic. “He’s not going anywhere,” Ricciardi said.
Our View: Hopefully with all the trade talk behind him, Burnett will turn around a very average season. He now has 149 strikeouts in 146 innings and remains a good play from here out. |
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| Maine leaves the game with a stiff shoulder | Monday 7/28, 8:41 PM CT |
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Updating a previous note, John Maine left Monday’s game against the Florida Marlins in the fifth inning with a stiff shoulder according to the AP.
Our View: It's unclear what the extent of the injury is but we'll keep an eye on the reports. Maine is 9-7 with a 4.20 ERA this season. |
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| Hudson to see Dr. Andrews | Monday 7/28, 8:37 PM CT |
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The Sports Ticker reports that Braves' general manager Frank Wren announced on Monday night that an MRI performed on staff ace Tim Hudson's right elbow revealed possible ligament damage. The 33-year old will be evaluated further by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama later this week.
Our View: Of course this means that the pitcher could be headed for Tommy John surgery. Hudson was having another solid season going 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA. |
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| Young could miss at least a week | Monday 7/28, 8:32 PM CT |
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Michael Young left Monday night's game in the third inning with a fractured finger according to the Dallas Morning News. He will miss 5-7 days. It appears Michael Young hurt the finger diving back into the first-base bag in the first inning.
Our View: The report seems a little optimistic. A broken finger can keep some players out much longer. Owners should keep their healthy fingers crossed. |
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| De Aza will not play in 2008 | Monday 7/28, 8:20 PM CT |
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Outfielder Alejandro De Aza had surgery on his left ankle on Monday and will miss the remainder of the season according to MLB.com.
Our View: De Aza had not seen any major league action this season. In his rookie season last year, the six-foot lefty hit .229 with eight RBIs in 45 games. |
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| Sarfate will move into the rotation | Monday 7/28, 8:17 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that Dennis Sarfate will replace Brian Burress in the starting rotation and is slated to start on Wednesday. He has made 45 appearances out of the bullpen this season but no starts.
Our View: The right-hander spent most of his Minor League career as a starter and logged a 10-7 record with a 3.67 ERA for Triple-A Nashville as recently as 2006, but he was moved to a full-time reliever last season. It remains to be seen how effective he will be as a starter in the majors. |
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| Matsui could return in two weeks | Monday 7/28, 8:05 PM CT |
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Hideki Matsui hopes to return in two weeks according to MLB.com. He took 20 swings off a tee and five soft tosses before Monday night's series opener against the Orioles and afterwards said, "So far, it's looking pretty good."
Our View: Matsui and his .323 average is badly needed in New York. Expect the same consistency from him once he returns. |
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| Maine leaves the game injured | Monday 7/28, 8:02 PM CT |
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The AP reports that John Maine left Monday’s game against the Florida Marlins in the fifth inning with an undisclosed injury. Mets manager Jerry Manuel made a mound visit while Maine faced leadoff batter John Baker. After the visit, Maine gave up a home run to Baker and retired counterpart Ricky Nolasco before being removed from the game with the Mets leading, 2-1.
Our View: Not much is known about the extent of the injury but we will continue to monitor the news as it becomes available. |
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| Young leaves the game | Monday 7/28, 8:00 PM CT |
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Michael Young left Monday night's game in the third inning with an undisclosed injury.
Our View: We will continue to update the All-Star's status as more news becomes available. |
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| Mussina hit hard by Orioles | Monday 7/28, 7:57 PM CT |
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Mike Mussina, who has pitched very well for the past month, was hit hard by his former team, the Orioles, once again on Monday night. He lasted five innings and gave up six runs on eight hits, two of which were home runs.
Our View: Earlier this season, the Orioles scored seven runs in 0.2 innings off of Moose. For some reason he doesn't bring his best stuff with him against the O's. |
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| Morton rocked by Cards | Monday 7/28, 7:51 PM CT |
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Charlie Morton, who was recalled from Triple-A Richmond earlier in the day, lasted just 3.2 innings against the Cardinals on Monday night. He allowed eight runs on seven hits and four walks.
Our View: Unfortunately, the Braves do not have many other options as most of their staff has landed on the DL. Morton will likely stay in the bigs from here out, but does not carry any fantasy value. |
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| Arroyo off the market | Monday 7/28, 7:40 PM CT |
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ESPN.com reports that Bronson Arroyo has been taken off the market. The Red Sox, Yankees and Rockies were among the teams rumored to be pursuing him.
Our View: Arroyo has not pitched well this season but has a 9-7 record and a good strikeout rate, both of which maintain his minimal fantasy value. He has given up 21 home runs and carries a 5.60 ERA. |
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| Stavinoha recalled | Monday 7/28, 7:36 PM CT |
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Nick Stavinoha has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis to join the Cardinals on Monday according to The Sports Network. He will take the roster spot of Mitchell Boggs.
Our View: Don't expect him to stick around very long as the Cardinals will be bringing back Chris Carpenter on Wednesday. Stavinoha will likely have his roster spot taken away then. |
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| Boggs optioned to Triple-A Memphis | Monday 7/28, 7:33 PM CT |
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The Sports Network reports that the Cardinals have optioned Mitchell Boggs back to the minors after making two appearances over the weekend against the Mets. He is 3-2 with a 7.41 ERA this season.
Our View: The Cardinals recalled Nick Stavinoha to take his place. With Carpenter coming back Wednesday, Boggs may be in the minors until September. |
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| Boston interested in Tejada | Monday 7/28, 7:15 PM CT |
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ESPN.com reports that the Boston Red Sox have talked to the Astros about acquiring shortstop Miguel Tejada. "I feel good in Houston, but I wouldn't be afraid to accept the challenge of playing in Boston," Tejada said during a telephone interview.
Our View: Tejada's value would go up considerably in Boston. He is known to play better in big games and the Red Sox have plenty of those ahead. He is hitting .281 with 10 home runs, 63 runs scored and 48 RBI this season. |
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| Francis needs another rehab start | Monday 7/28, 7:04 PM CT |
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No. 1 starter Jeff Francis will need another rehab start at Double-A Tulsa, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle announced Monday afternoon according to MLB.com. Francis struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings during his past start Saturday night, Francis, 3-7 with a 5.67 ERA in 17 starts this season, reported some stiffness after Saturday's start. He is battling back from left shoulder inflammation that forced him to the disabled list July 2.
Our View: We expect Francis to be a better pitcher when he returns. The Rockies have been very hot since the All-Star break and Francis will give them another boost. So far in 2008 he has a 5.67 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Last season he was 9-4 after the break. |
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| Turnbow done for 2008 | Monday 7/28, 6:58 PM CT |
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Brewers' former closer Derrick Turnbow has been diagnosed with a slight undersurface tear of the rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Our View: Turnbow will be examined Wednesday by team physician William Raasch to determine whether he will undergo surgery or merely physical therapy as a course of action. Either way, he is done for the 2008 season. |
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| Napoli could begin rehab this weekend | Monday 7/28, 6:56 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that Angels catcher Mike Napoli went through what Angels manager Mike Scioscia described as a "full workout" on Monday afternoon at Fenway Park, putting him on schedule for a return to game action this weekend - most likely with Class A Rancho Cucamonga in the California League.
Our View: Napoli is slugging .472 this season but carries just a .204 average. He will likely platoon once he returns to the majors. Unless he brings up the average, he has very little fantasy value. |
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| Ankiel misses another game | Monday 7/28, 6:39 PM CT |
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Rick Ankiel is out of the lineup for the second straight game since feeling an abdominal strain late in Saturday's game.
Our View: No word yet how serious the injury is, but we have seen ab strains keep players out as much as three weeks. Ankiel has been amongst the best hitters for the Cardinals this season. |
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| Blalock scratched from Monday's night | Monday 7/28, 6:30 PM CT |
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Hank Blalock has been scratched from Monday's starting lineup because of an upset stomach according to the Dallas Morning News. Ramon Vazquez will start in his place.
Our View: Earlier in the day the same paper reported that the Giants were eyeing the slugger. Could a move go down tonight? Anything's possible. |
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| Eyre being shopped | Monday 7/28, 6:24 PM CT |
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ESPN.com reports that the Cubs are shopping LHP Scott Eyre to AL teams. They currently have three lefties in their bullpen.
Our View: Eyre has been very average this offseason, but its likely he could draw some interest as he could fill a needed role for a contender. |
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| Glover designated for assignment | Monday 7/28, 6:18 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that Gary Glover has been activated from the DL and designated for assignment. He was on the DL with a calf strain.
Our View: Glover has not been very good in middle relief this year. He has a 5.82 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. He does not often pitch with the lead so his fantasy value is negligible, |
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| Gonzalez will start on Monday | Monday 7/28, 6:04 PM CT |
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Andy Gonzalez will start at DH tonight for the Indians against the Tigers.
Our View: We sincerely doubt that Casey Blake's replacement will hold much fantasy value but we'll keep an eye on him for you. As the Indians get healthier, he will likely play less. |
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| Floyd starting on Monday | Monday 7/28, 6:02 PM CT |
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Cliff Floyd is in the starting lineup Monday against the Blue Jays. He was unavailable Sunday due to the birth of his child.
Our View: Keep an eye on Floyd as he can be hot hitter when he gets going. The problem is that the Rays have too many options at DH for anyone to get regular playing time. |
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| Burnett not going anywhere | Monday 7/28, 5:58 PM CT |
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Asked whether the Blue Jays would deal A.J. Burnett before Thursday’s trade deadline, the AP reports that general manager J.P. Ricciardi was emphatic. "He’s not going anywhere," Ricciardi said before Burnett pitched Monday against Tampa Bay.
Our View: Burnett is carrying a 4.73 ERA at this point with a 1.44 WHIP. However, he has pitched well in his last three starts but would have likely seen more value playing with a contender. |
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| Hernandez is demoted | Monday 7/28, 5:48 PM CT |
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Runelvys Hernandez has been sent down to Triple-A following four poor starts with the Astros. He had a 8.38 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP while going 0-3.
Our View: He was sent down to make room for pitcher Roy Oswalt. If Oswalt were to go down yet again, he may get another chance to get hammered with the big league club. |
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| Sanchez will return Thursday | Monday 7/28, 5:41 PM CT |
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ESPN.com reports that Anibal Sanchez will start for the first time in 15 months on Thursday against the Rockies. Sanchez won 10 games and threw a no-hitter as a rookie in 2006, then missed most of last season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery in June 2007.
Our View: Sanchez has plenty of confidence as he has said that the Marlins will now make the playoffs. He went 10-3 in 2006 with an ERA of 2.83 and a no-hitter against Arizona in his 13th major league start. He made only six starts last year before being sidelined. Sanchez consistently topped 90 mph with his fastball in rehabilitation starts, including his most recent outing for Double-A Carolina last Thursday, when he threw 101 pitches in seven innings. He may be worth a gamble if you are desperate for pitching. |
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| Izzy to close once again | Monday 7/28, 5:37 PM CT |
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Jason Isringhausen will return to the closer's role according to MLB.com. He is 1-5 with a 5.84 ERA this season.
Our View: Izzy buckled badly in the role the last time we saw him there. In nine July appearances, he has a 6.23 ERA and we caution you to put him in your lineups. Still, they have a favorable series matchup with the Braves coming up and he could notch a few saves this week. The move is more of a reaction to Ryan Franklin's failings than Izzy's successes. |
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| Posada will miss rest of season | Monday 7/28, 5:33 PM CT |
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Jorge Posada will have season ending surgery according to the Sports Ticker. He has a deteriorating right labrum in his shoulder.
Our View: Catcher Jose Molina will see the majority of starts in his place. He is hitting .228 on the season and does not offer much fantasy value. |
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| Oswalt starting on Monday | Monday 7/28, 5:25 PM CT |
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Updating a previous note, Roy Oswalt, who has been sidelined by an injured left hip since July 11, has officially been activated from the DL according to the AP. He will start on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. He threw between 40 and 50 pitches during a pain-free bullpen session three days ago, prompting Astros manager Cecil Cooper to pencil in the righthander for Monday’s series opener with the Reds. "I’m confident that (the pain) is gone,” Cooper told the Astros’ web site. “But if he does say that he feels something, you’ve got to be extremely cautious with that. You don’t want him to have any kind of reoccurrence. You’ve got to watch real close."
Our View: "I’m ready to get back out there," Oswalt said after Friday’s bullpen session. "I haven’t pitched in a while. Hopefully, I can get out there Monday and get in a groove early, be able to keep us in the ballgame."
He is just 7-8 with a 4.56 ERA in 19 starts this season. But the 30-year-old has been outstanding vs. the Reds throughout his career, going 19-1 with a 2.46 ERA against Cincinnati. |
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| Braves and Diamondbacks talking trade | Monday 7/28, 5:20 PM CT |
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Yahoo! Sports reports that the Braves and Diamondbacks are getting close on a deal that would send Mark Teixeira to Arizona. The Braves would take on a top prospect and either Conor Jackson or Chad Tracy.
Our View: Teixeira smashes second-half pitching no matter where he ends up. The Diamondbacks have players with good OBPs at the top of the order which should help Teixeira's RBI opportunities. |
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| Pedro to start on Friday | Monday 7/28, 4:47 PM CT |
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The Journal Times reports that Pedro Martinez has rejoined the Mets team after spending some time on the bereavement list. He will throw a bullpen session Tuesday afternoon and barring complications, start Friday night at Houston.
Our View: Martinez has been mostly ineffective this season. He has a 6.25 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP in nine starts. It will be interesting to see if he regains some focus down the stretch after the passing of his father. |
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| Teixeira on the move? | Monday 7/28, 4:42 PM CT |
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The Braves have made a bevy of moves on Monday that seem to indicate that they will be sellers at the trade deadline which may mean they could aggressively shop Mark Teixeira over the next couple of days. Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson have been placed on the DL while Brian McCann will be shut down for a few games to recover from a home plate collision on Sunday.
Our View: Teixeira is a free agent after this season and if the Braves hold on to him, they will be awarded two extra draft picks should they lose him as a free agent. For a team to trade for Teixeira before the deadline they will have to offer plenty of young prospects. A change in scenery should be good news for Teixeira. |
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| Reyes sent to Triple-A | Monday 7/28, 4:19 PM CT |
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Jo-Jo Reyes was sent down to Triple-A Richmond on Monday, according to the AP. He has surrendered 17 runs in his last 13.1 innings.
Our View: Reyes won't stick around Triple-A long. The Braves simply had a need for fresh arms and Reyes went 2.2 innings on Sunday. However, he has lost his last five starts so he likely has some things to work on. |
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| Morton rejoins Braves' rotation | Monday 7/28, 4:15 PM CT |
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Just two days after being sent down, the Braves have recalled Charlie Morton to take Tim Hudson's place in their rotation according to the AP. Morton will start on Monday against the Cardinals.
Our View: In seven starts this season, Morton is 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA. He remains one of the Braves better pitching prospects, but he has not shown that he is ready to face major league bats. |
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| Sammons called up to the Braves | Monday 7/28, 4:12 PM CT |
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The AP reports that Clint Sammons has been called up from Triple-A Richmond to backup Corky Miller at catcher while Brian McCann recovers from a sore neck and concussion.
Our View: Sammons swings a good stick but won't likely see enough opportunities to warrant any fantasy consideration. Once McCann returns the Braves will likely send Sammons back to Richmond. |
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| Hudson placed on the disabled list | Monday 7/28, 4:08 PM CT |
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The AP reports that Tim Hudson, who was previously scheduled to start on Tuesday, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow tightness.
Our View: He had previously stated that his elbow was feeling better and was able to make his start on Tuesday. However, after poor play of late, the Braves may be conceding the season and feel the need to rest their dinged up players. |
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| Chipper placed on the DL | Monday 7/28, 4:06 PM CT |
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Chipper Jones has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hamstring according to the AP. He should be able to return to the lineup when he's eligible.
Our View: Omar Infante started in his place last night and hit a home run. He should continue to get starts there although Martin Prado could see some starts as well. Neither is a very strong fantsy play. |
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| Speier optioned | Monday 7/28, 3:09 PM CT |
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Ryan Speier has been optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs, according to the Rocky Mountain News. The team recalled 35-year-old hurler Valerio De los Santos for a spot start tonight against Pittsburgh.
Our View: Speier held no fantasy value prior to his demotion, as he allowed 42 hits, 10 walks, and 19 earned runs over 36.2 innings in relief, with 23 strikeouts. |
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| De los Santos called up | Monday 7/28, 3:05 PM CT |
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Valerio de los Santos has been called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs to make a spot start Monday against the Pirates, according to the Rocky Mountain News. The Rockies optioned right-hander Ryan Speier to Colorado Springs to make room on the roster.
Our View: The 35-year-old De Los Santos was 3-5 with a 4.92 ERA in 17 games with Colorado Springs this season, and is not worth acquiring for tonight's spot start. |
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| Jackson earns weekly honor | Monday 7/28, 2:32 PM CT |
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Conor Jackson has been named the NL Player of the Week, according to the AP. Jackson earned the honor by hitting .542 (13-for-24) with three homers and seven RBI.
Our View: Jackson raised his season average to .324 with 12 homers and 55 RBI over 93 games. He has notched five straight multi-hit games, and should remain active in all fantasy lineups while he is hot. |
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| Cabrera AL Player of Week | Monday 7/28, 2:13 PM CT |
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Miguel Cabrera has been named the AL Player of the Week, according to the AP. Cabrera hit safely in all six of his outings last week, which included four multi-hit efforts. He batted .464 (13-for-28) during that span with three doubles and 13 RBI. He matched a career high with five hits in Detroit’s 19-4 victory over the Royals on July 21.
Our View: It marks the second weekly award for Cabrera this season. He raised his average to .294 with 17 homers and 74 RBI over 102 games. He started off slow in Detroit, but looks to have a strong finish. |
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| Utley denies injury report | Monday 7/28, 12:47 PM CT |
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Chase Utley denied a report from GM Pat Gillick that he is dealing with a right hip injury, according to MLB.com. Utley refused to acknowledge the injury to reporters, and stated, "I have no idea what you're talking about. That's a good question, because I don't know anything about that. I understand why you'd ask the question, because I'd ask the same question."
Our View: If not a hip ailment, then something else may be bothering Utley, as he is only hitting .234 with four homers since June 3. |
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