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| Davis throws great game | Tuesday 7/29, 11:59 PM CT |
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Doug Davis took a perfect game into the seventh inning, and wound up pitching 7.2 innings, allowing no earned runs and just two hits while striking out eight against the Padres to earn his fourth win of the year.
Our View: July had not been a great month for Davis, but against the Padres he was great. Let's not forget this is a guy who missed nearly two months of the season while recovering from thyroid cancer. |
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| Meche is on a roll | Tuesday 7/29, 11:53 PM CT |
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Kansas City RHP Gil Meche was strong on the mound in support of the 5-2 win over Oakland this evening, going seven innings to allow two runs (both earned) on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Our View: Meche now sits at 9-9 on the season with an ERA of 4.22. He touts three consecutive wins with just three combined earned runs allowed over that span, including a 4/18 walk-to-strikeout ratio. |
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| Buck homers to get the win over Oakland | Tuesday 7/29, 11:50 PM CT |
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The Royals had to practice patience, but the offense came through and earned the 5-2 win over Oakland. The main man was catcher John Buck , going 1-for-4 at the dish with his eighth home run of the season to drive in three.
Our View: Buck's homer came in the top of the seventh with two outs, sealing the win for the Royals. That's five dingers for Buck this month with 14 RBIs. |
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| Smith falls short on mound for A's | Tuesday 7/29, 11:46 PM CT |
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The start was going so well, but Oakland LHP Greg Smith found troubles in the later innings and failed to do right by his team, letting the Royals take the 5-2 win. Smith pitched seven innings, allowing five runs (all earned) on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Our View: Smith was strong through five, but he allowed a two-out, one-run homer in the sixth followed by a three-run shot with two outs in the seventh. Smith now stands at 5-10 on the season with 4.04 ERA. |
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| Royals say no callers for deadline deals | Tuesday 7/29, 11:25 PM CT |
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We are less than 48 hours away from the trade deadline and Royals general manager Dayton Moore reports the club has no deals in the works, according to MLB.com.
Our View: There were reports that the Blue Jays were interested in catcher Miguel Olivo and the Red Sox might take a run at reliever Ron Mahay. Olivo, Mahay and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek have been considered among the more marketable players on the Royals. Right now the Royals claim no one is calling, but that could change. We'll keep you posted on all of the deadline deals, so stay tuned. |
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| Thornton placed on inactive list | Tuesday 7/29, 11:24 PM CT |
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Braves farmhand Scott Thorman was placed on the inactive list as he will go to Shanghai to play for Canada in the Olympics, according to the AP.
Our View: Thorman has not played in the majors this year after appearing in 120 contests last season. |
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| Guzman to have MRI | Tuesday 7/29, 11:22 PM CT |
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Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman will undergo an MRI on Wednesday on his sore right thumb, according to the AP. Guzman said he is feeling better and the test is being done solely for precautionary reasons.
Our View: It doesn't sound like Guzman will head to the DL, and Washington better hope that's the case. Without him, their horrid offense would be even more brutal. |
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| Lopez homers in loss to Texas | Tuesday 7/29, 11:12 PM CT |
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The Mariners may have been frustrated with the end result, falling 11-10 against the Rangers, but the burst of offense was reason for optimism. Second baseman Jose Lopez was a force for the cause, going 3-for-5 with his eighth homer of the season, posting one RBI and three runs scored along the way.
Our View: Lopez is enjoying solid success at the plate this month, hitting .303 with 17 RBIs and 13 runs scored through July. |
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| Rookie LaHair gets another homer | Tuesday 7/29, 10:53 PM CT |
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Seattle rookie designated hitter Bryan LaHair was a star of the show in tonight's 11-10 loss to the Rangers, going 3-for-4 with his second home run of the season, posting one RBI and three runs scored on the night.
Our View: That's six consecutive games with hits for the rook, going deep in each of the last two. |
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| Byrd drives in four for Rangers | Tuesday 7/29, 10:45 PM CT |
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There was no sign of pitching in the great state of Texas tonight as the Rangers and Mariners duked it out with a combined 33 hits between the two of them. Somehow the Rangers pulled out the win, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to salvage an 11-10 victory. Outfielder Marlon Byrd was the star of the show, going 3-for-4 with one walk, his 12th double, and his sixth homer of the season to total four RBIs and two runs scored.
Our View: Byrd is hitting just .258 this month but now has two homers in his last three games with seven RBIs over his last six. |
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| Perkins gets win #8 | Tuesday 7/29, 10:35 PM CT |
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The White Sox put up a fight late, but the 6-5 loss came nonetheless as the Twins found just enough offense to get the win. Minnesota LHP Glen Perkins was the man in charge on the mound, going six innings to allow four runs (all earned) on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: The win brings Perkins to 8-3 on the season with a 4.20 ERA. He is 4-1 through July and 6-1 over his last eight starts. He is not overpowering anyone, but he's good for six innings each time he hits the mound and puts his team in position to win. |
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| Mauer drives in two | Tuesday 7/29, 10:29 PM CT |
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The White Sox and Twins engaged in an entertaining dog fight tonight, but in the end it was the work of catcher Joe Mauer that moved the Twins to the 6-5 win. Mauer went 2-for-4 on the night, driving in two and adding one run scored along the way.
Our View: Mauer has struggled a bit this month, hitting .299 through July with three homers and 16 RBIs. The run production is solid, but we expect this guy to hit .320 or better at all times. There is no reason for worry, but even a minor fall for Mauer is surprising. |
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| Glavine will throw simulated game | Tuesday 7/29, 10:24 PM CT |
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Tom Glavine will throw 30-40 pitches in a simulated game on Wednesday, and if all goes well, he could be cleared to return in about two weeks, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: Glavine's usefulness in fantasy baseball has nearly expired, but if you have him on your team for sentimental reasons, we'll keep you updated. |
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| Smoltz to have arm looked at | Tuesday 7/29, 10:20 PM CT |
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Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz will travel with teammate Tim Hudson to Alabama on Wednesday to have his arm's progress examined by Dr. James Andrews, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: Smoltz is still out for the season of course, and this is more about whether or not he will pitch in 2009. |
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| Inge homers in win over Cleveland | Tuesday 7/29, 10:16 PM CT |
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Detroit catcher Brandon Inge was a force at the plate in support of the 8-5 win over the Indians, going 2-for-3 with his eighth homer of the season, totaling three RBIs and one run scored on the night.
Our View: Inge has steadily improved over the season in spot action and is enjoying his best month yet, hitting .281 with two home runs and seven RBIs on the month. |
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| Galarraga puts Cleveland in the loss column | Tuesday 7/29, 10:13 PM CT |
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Detroit RHP Armando Galarraga picked up his ninth win of the season in leading his Tigers to an 8-5 win over the Indians this evening. Galarraga pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Our View: Galarraga gets his second consecutive win, going 2-2 for the month of July with just 11 earned runs over five starts, balancing ten walks with 23 strikeouts. |
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| Peralta gives Indians offense despite loss | Tuesday 7/29, 10:06 PM CT |
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The pitching failed to meet need this evening in Cleveland as the Indians fell 8-5 to the Tigers. Shorstop Jhonny Peralta led the cause for Cleveland, going 2-for-5 with his third triple of the season to total one RBI and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Peralta is enjoying a great month of July, hitting .313 with five homers, 22 RBIs, and 19 runs scored thus far.
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| Ramirez hits three doubles | Tuesday 7/29, 10:03 PM CT |
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Aramis Ramirez went 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, helping lead the Cubs to a 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Our View: Going into the game, Ramirez was hitting just .200 for the month, so this may be the type of performance that will break him out of the slump. |
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| Braun whiffs twice | Tuesday 7/29, 10:01 PM CT |
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Ryan Braun went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts against the Cubs, as the Brewers lost to Chicago for the second time in two days.
Our View: Braun has been smoking hot in July, but Carlos Zambrano was a cure for that tonight. |
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| Zambrano dominates Brewers | Tuesday 7/29, 9:57 PM CT |
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Carlos Zambrano was completely dominant against the Milwaukee Brewers, picking up his 12th win of the season by pitching eight shutout innings, allowing just five hits while striking out nine.
Our View: After a rough June, Zambrano has been great in July, and his ERA for the month is now 1.79. |
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| Sheets rocked | Tuesday 7/29, 9:55 PM CT |
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Milwaukee hurler Ben Sheets was hit hard as the Brewers lost for the second day in a row to the Cubs by a score of 7-1. Sheets went just 5.1 innings, giving up six earned runs on 11 hits.
Our View: Sheets' ERA went over 3.00 for the first time since May 15, when he also allowed six earned runs in a start against the Dodgers. This is hardly anything to worry about, however, as even the best pitchers throw a clunker once in a while. |
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| Lee hits grand slam | Tuesday 7/29, 9:51 PM CT |
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Carlos Lee went 2-for-4 and hit his 24th home run of the year, a grand slam, off of Reds starter Bronson Arroyo.
Our View: Lee's July now consists of a .387 batting average, six home runs and 25 RBI. What is there not to like about that in fantasy baseball? |
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| Cabrera gets the win over NY | Tuesday 7/29, 9:49 PM CT |
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Baltimore RHP Daniel Cabrera found his seventh win of the season against the Yankees tonight despite a strong effort to ruin the outing by relief pitching. Cabrera pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Our View: Cabrera now sits at 7-6 on the season with a 4.81 ERA, evening out at 2-2 for July despite a worrisome 23 earned runs allowed through six starts. |
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| Dunn goes 0-for-4 | Tuesday 7/29, 9:48 PM CT |
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Reds slugger Adam Dunn had hits in eight of his last nine games before taking an 0-for-4 tonight against Houston.
Our View: Dunn is still hitting .291 on the month, and if you can suffer through his overall bad average that now rests at .238, those 30 home runs and 72 RBI do a fantasy team good. |
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| Moehler nearly throws complete game | Tuesday 7/29, 9:46 PM CT |
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Brian Moehler got 26 outs, leaving him one shy of a complete game, as the Astros took down the Reds 6-2. Moehler went 8.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits.
Our View: Moehler has been alternating good and bad performances his last few times out, so be wary of what may happen his next time out. |
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| Huff stays hot | Tuesday 7/29, 9:44 PM CT |
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Another AL battle turned into an offensive war as the Orioles endured a surge in the ninth to hold the 7-6 win over the Yankees. The bulk of the offense came off the bat of designated hitter Aubrey Huff , going 4-for-5 with his 32nd double and 22nd homer of the season, totaling four RBIs and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: Huff may be one of the hottest bats in the league this month, hitting .366 through July coming into tonight with seven homers and 21 RBIs before tonight's explosion. Now all of those numbers are improved in a month few can match. |
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| Arroyo hammered | Tuesday 7/29, 9:44 PM CT |
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Bronson Arroyo has started 24 games, and has given up 25 home runs, which includes the grand slam he allowed tonight to Houston slugger Carlos Lee. Arroyo got the loss after a 6.1 inning, six earned run outing.
Our View: Arroyo had been rolling along with a 3.46 ERA in July before this start, but he went back to his old ways with tonight's performance. |
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| A-Rod homers in loss to Baltimore | Tuesday 7/29, 9:39 PM CT |
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The Yankees and Orioles bashed it out tonight, and despite a late-inning surge, Baltimore prevailed with the 7-6. For the Yanks, it was designated hitter Alex Rodriguez once again serving as the catalyst for the offense, going 2-for-3 with one walk and his 22nd home run of the season, totaling one RBI and two runs scored on the night.
Our View: A-Rod is hitting .325 this month with six homers and 19 RBIs. For any other hitter, that's astounding. For A-Rod, it's another day at the office. |
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| Pujols homers again | Tuesday 7/29, 9:38 PM CT |
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First baseman Albert Pujols hit another home run in St. Louis' 8-3 victory over the Braves. The shot was his 21st of the season and third in his last four games.
Our View: Remember when Pujols' elbow was such a concern to fantasy players in spring training that he was dropping to the second and even third round in some fantasy drafts? Whoops. |
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| Blanco has four hits | Tuesday 7/29, 9:36 PM CT |
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Gregor Blanco led off and went 4-for-4 and walked, reaching base in all five plate appearances. He also scored a run and drove one in.
Our View: Blanco has had a four-hit game in two of his last six contests, but his lack of power limits his value to NL-only leagues. |
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| Wellemeyer throws well | Tuesday 7/29, 9:33 PM CT |
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Cards hurler Todd Wellemeyer threw a good ballgame against the Braves, going six innings and allowing two earned runs on eight hits.
Our View: Wellemeyer has not been very good since his outstanding May, but this was a nice start for the former reliever. He has thrown more innings this year than he ever has, however, so how long he can keep up the pace is questionable. |
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| Campillo has another nice outing | Tuesday 7/29, 9:31 PM CT |
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Jorge Campillo had a good outing for Atlanta, though the bullpen imploded and the Braves succumbed to the Cardinals. Capillo went seven innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out five.
Our View: Campillo's ERA is now at 2.76, and though he has switched from starter to reliever, he could certainly be of use in fantasy leagues. |
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| Uggla's struggles continue | Tuesday 7/29, 9:27 PM CT |
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Dan Uggla continues to struggle, as he went 0-for-4 against the Mets, and he is hitting .108 since the All-Star break.
Our View: Maybe that rough All-Star game is still on his mind, as Uggla has really seen his performance dip since that time. Don't give up on him in fantasyland, however, as a bounce back could be just around the corner. |
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| Delgado homers in victory | Tuesday 7/29, 9:24 PM CT |
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Carlos Delgado helped the Mets down the Flordia Marlins by going 1-for-3 and hitting his 23rd home run of the season.
Our View: Delgado has had a terrific July, and is hitting .372 with nine home runs and 24 RBI for the month. |
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| Olsen takes sixth loss | Tuesday 7/29, 9:21 PM CT |
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Scott Olsen threw well but suffered his sixth loss of the season after allowing two earned runs on six hits in 5.2 innings against New York.
Our View: Olsen struck out five, and saw his ERA jump over 4.00 for the first time since April 9. Still, he remains a decent fantasy option in NL-only leagues. |
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| Perez continues pitching well | Tuesday 7/29, 9:19 PM CT |
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Oliver Perez went six innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five and earning his seventh win against the Marlins.
Our View: Perez has a sparkling 1.35 ERA in July and has not surrendered more than two earned runs in a game in over a month. |
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| Hawpe continues tear | Tuesday 7/29, 9:16 PM CT |
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Brad Hawpe went 3-for-3, scored two runs and drove one in, though his Rockies were downed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Our View: Hawpe is scorching hot, and has raised his averge from .242 on July 11 to .280 after tonight's game. If you had been sitting him on your bench in fantasy leagues due to his relatively poor numbers, put him back in immediately. |
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| Rivas has great night | Tuesday 7/29, 9:13 PM CT |
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Luis Rivas went 3-for-4 with three RBI while hitting a double and a triple against the Rockies tonight.
Our View: Good night for Rivas, but he is not worth considering in fantasy leagues. |
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| Garza gets shutout victory over Toronto | Tuesday 7/29, 9:12 PM CT |
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Tampa RHP Matt Garza enjoyed an oustanding performance on the mound tonight, going a full nine innings of shutout baseball to get the Rays the 3-0 win. Garza walked one and struck out five.
Our View: Garza appears to be struggling for consistency, now owning a record of 3-2 for July after going 2-3 in June. However, all three of his wins this months have been shutout victories, lasting seven or more innings in each. |
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| Rusch solid | Tuesday 7/29, 9:11 PM CT |
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Glendon Rusch was solid tonight, throwing five innings and allowing three earned runs as the Rockies lost to the Pirates.
Our View: Rusch has seen his ERA drop from 7.36 to 5.70 after tonight, but using him, even in NL-only fantasy leagues, is not highly recommended. |
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| Longoria drives in two | Tuesday 7/29, 9:08 PM CT |
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The Rays used the bats of four players to post three runs on six hits tonight, getting the 3-0 win over Toronto. For Tampa Bay, third baseman Evan Longoria was the man of the hour, going 1-for-4 with his second triple of the season to drive in two of the three runs his team scored.
Our View: Check the July numbers for Longoria, hitting .313 on the month with four homers and 16 RBIs. He's getting it done at the plate and pushing his team towards the playoffs. |
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| Yates picks up save | Tuesday 7/29, 9:07 PM CT |
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With Matt Capps still on the DL, and Damaso Marte dealt to the Yankees, Tyler Yates picked up the save for the Pirates as they beat the Rockies 6-4.
Our View: There is no firm date for Capps' return, so the Pirates need someone to close out games, and Yates got the call tonight. He had been scored on six of his previous seven outings, and his overall numbers, such as a WHIP of 1.61, are not good, so picking him up to get some cheap saves may not be a great idea. |
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| Halladay is strong, Blue Jays are not | Tuesday 7/29, 9:01 PM CT |
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Toronto RHP Roy Halladay found his efforts wasted as his teammates managed to post just five hits for no runs, taking the 3-0 loss on the chin. Halladay pitched eight innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Our View: Halladay now sits at 12-8 on the season with a 2.85 ERA. He has gone at least seven innings deep in five of his last six starts, allowing a combined 11 earned runs during that span. |
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| Kearns miserable season continues | Tuesday 7/29, 8:56 PM CT |
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Austin Kearns went 0-for-4 against the Phillies, lowering his batting average on the season to .211. He is 1-for-18 in his last five games.
Our View: Kearns has all of five home runs and 27 RBI this season, and is useless in fantasy baseball. |
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| Lackey goes no-no through eight | Tuesday 7/29, 8:56 PM CT |
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Angels RHP John Lackey dominated the Boston Red Sox throughout the evening, but his bid to pitch a no-hitter was lost in the ninth with a home run surrendered to Kevin Youkilis. Lackey still gets his ninth win of the season, pitching the complete game to allow jut two runs on two hits (both coming in the bottom of the ninth) with two walks and four strikeouts.
Our View: That's three consecutive wins for Lackey with a record of 8-1 over since June 1. However, over his five July starts, he has surrendered 22 combined earned runs and failed to reach the sixth inning in two of those games. |
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| Utley homers | Tuesday 7/29, 8:54 PM CT |
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Chase Utley went 2-for-4 and hit a two-run home run against the Nationals. It was his first round-tripper since July 3rd.
Our View: Utley now has a very modest four-game hitting streak, during which he is hitting .375. It's nice to see him hit a home run, as fantasy owners were wondering where all that power went. |
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| Balester takes the loss | Tuesday 7/29, 8:50 PM CT |
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Collin Balester threw effectively, but still got the loss as the Washington Nationals were beaten 2-1 by the Phillies. Balester went six innings, surrendering just two runs on six hits while striking out five.
Our View: Nice night for Balester, but he has all of one win on the year and an ERA over 5.00, so don't waste the space on your fantasy roster. |
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| Youkilis' homer ruins no-hitter | Tuesday 7/29, 8:50 PM CT |
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The Red Sox entered the ninth inning against the Angels this evening without a single hit to show on the night, but first baseman Kevin Youkilis put an end to the drought by hitting his 18th homer of the season, driving in the only two runs Boston would score in the 6-2 loss.
Our View: While Youk's batting average is taking slight dip for the month (.305 through July), he has already topped his June totals in homers and RBIs, now touting five dingers with 20 RBIs through July. |
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| Myers throws a gem | Tuesday 7/29, 8:47 PM CT |
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Brett Myers had arguably his best start of the season, throwing seven innings, allowing just four hits and no earned runs against Washington, earing his fourth victory of the season.
Our View: It is important to note that Myers, who only struck out two hitters, did this against one of the worst offensive teams in baseball, so before jumping to acquire him on your fantasy team, let's see if he can put two solid starts together. |
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| Anderson homers in win over Boston | Tuesday 7/29, 8:45 PM CT |
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The Angels enjoyed another outstanding pitching performance tonight to get the 6-2 win over Boston with designated hitter Garret Anderson doing the work on offense. Anderson went 1-for-4 at the dish with his 10th home run of the season, picking up two RBIs for the effort.
Our View: Anderson is enjoying a resurgent July, hitting .333 with four homers and 18 RBIs thus far this month. |
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| Curveball causing tightness for Zumaya | Tuesday 7/29, 8:32 PM CT |
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Updating progress on a report from earlier today, the Tigers now indicate reliever Joel Zumaya's triceps tightness now appears to be over. He was available on Monday, if needed, and the same stood for Tuesday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Tigers manager Jim Leyland said again Tuesday that throwing curveballs seems to have been the cause of the tightness. Zumaya, however, needs to throw his curveball with some regularity in order to give hitters something to think about, besides sitting on his triple-digit fastball. Whatever the cause, it isn't expected to linger. |
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| Lo Duca upset with lack of playing time | Tuesday 7/29, 8:14 PM CT |
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Paul Lo Duca believes that teams are not attempting to acquire him because he does not get regular time at the catcher's position, spending most of his time in left field or at third base instead, according to Nationals.com.
Our View: One would tend to think it's Lo Duca's zero home runs, .233 average, .301 on-base percentage and embarrassing .286 slugging percentage that are turning teams away. Or, it could be that catching thing. |
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| Phillies working to deal for ManRam | Tuesday 7/29, 8:09 PM CT |
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Continued reports out of Boston now have the Philadelphia Phillies working diligently to get a trade in place to acquire outfielder Manny Ramirez , according to SI.com.
Our View: Earlier today SI reported the Dodgers are also interested in getting a swap done, but this more recent report has Philly as the leader in the clubhouse. SI reports it isn't yet known what players would be going back to Boston, but left fielder Pat Burrell is having a similar year statistically (.277/.400/.585 with 26 HRs and 61 RBIs in 103 games for Burrell; .304/.400/.538 with 20 HRs and 68 RBIs in 98 games for Ramirez) and could be a logical fit. He has a no-trade clause but has told the Phillies in the past that he'd be willing to waive it for the Red Sox and Yankees. |
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| Sabathia thanks fans | Tuesday 7/29, 8:02 PM CT |
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Brewers hurler CC Sabathia spent nearly $13,000 on an ad in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer thanking Indians fans for their support of him over the years, according to Bill Lubinger of the Plain-Dealer.
Our View: A nice thing for Sabathia to do. If Brewers manager Ned Yost cuts back on Sabathia's pitch count a little bit, there is no doubt the lefty's agent, Brian Peters, will take out a similar ad in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. |
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| Ichiro gets hit #3000 | Tuesday 7/29, 7:57 PM CT |
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Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki needed just one pitch in his first at-bat Tuesday night to get his 3,000th career professional hit, according to MLB.com.
Our View: He slapped a single into shallow left-center field off Rangers RHP Luis Mendoza. The hit was the 1,722nd in Ichiro's Major League career, which started in 2001. He accumulated 1,278 hits during a nine-year stint with the Orix Blue Wave. |
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| Howry having bad July | Tuesday 7/29, 7:50 PM CT |
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Cubs reliever Bob Howry has really struggled in the month of July, with a 7.30 ERA on the month, as he has given up four home runs, according to Cubs.com.
Our View: Howry's overall ERA is up to 5.29, and he is not performing as he had in previous years. If you have him on your fantasy team for holds, it's time to look in a different direction until he can get out of this funk. |
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| Pedro set to go on Friday | Tuesday 7/29, 7:43 PM CT |
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Following a successful bullpen session today, the Mets have announced Pedro Martinez will pitch for the team on Friday night in Houston, a move made official when the team optioned Willie Collazo back to Triple-A on Tuesday, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Martinez, who had been on the bereavement list, will throw only 80 pitches due to the fact that he has not started a game since July 12th. The Mets had originally toyed with the idea of giving Martinez some relief work during Tuesday's game against the Marlins, but nixed that plan when manager Jerry Manuel couldn't find an ideal place to slot him into the bullpen mix. |
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| Collazo goes back to minors | Tuesday 7/29, 7:41 PM CT |
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Willie Collazo has returned to the minor leagues as Pedro Martinez has returned from the bereavement list, according to the New York Daily News.
Our View: Collazo did not even appear in a game in his brief time up and has no fantasy value. |
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| Everett designated for assignment | Tuesday 7/29, 7:38 PM CT |
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The Twins have designated shortstop Adam Everett for assignment, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Everett was sent to the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis on May 22nd and completed a 20-day rehab assignment yesterday, forcing Minnesota to make a decision concerning his future with the club. The Twins have 10 days to release or trade the veteran, who signed a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the club in the offseason. The strong play of Alexi Casilla, the re-emergence of Nick Punto, and the versatility of Brendan Harris made Everett the odd man out. |
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| Penn, Bergesen favorites for promotion | Tuesday 7/29, 7:33 PM CT |
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Oriole rospects Hayden Penn and Brad Bergesen are among the early favorites for a promotion to Baltimore as the team considers a replacement for injured Radhames Liz, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Penn has been on the radar for some time, just the third Orioles pitcher since 1967 to make his Major League debut before the age of 21. That came in 2005, and each of the last two seasons have been interrupted by injury. This season he is 5-6 with a 4.98 ERA for Triple-A Norfolk this year. Bergesen is 13-3 with a 2.68 ERA for Double-A Bowie and has a 3-0 mark and a 1.35 ERA in his last three outings. |
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| Weeks out but still top man at second | Tuesday 7/29, 7:26 PM CT |
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Milwaukee second baseman Rickie Weeks is out of the lineup this evening, leading to further rumors of an end to his status as the starter at the position. However, manager Ned Yost assures reporters this is not the case, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Recently-acquired Ray Durham batted leadoff and played second base on Tuesday against Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano, a matchup that Brewers manager Ned Yost said he had envisioned for several days. Still, the switch was also notable because it was not clearly driven by the numbers. Weeks, a right-handed hitter, entered the night with a career .250 average (7-for-28) against Zambrano while Durham, a switch-hitter, was hitting .267 (5-for-15). This season, left-handed hitters were batting only three points higher against Zambrano than right-handers (.244 to .241). Yost has been a strong supporter of Weeks, who is hitting .224 with a .330 on-base percentage this season and leads the team with 66 runs scored. When the team traded two prospects to the Giants for Durham, Yost was clear that Weeks would remain the regular second baseman. So far that plan has held. Durham has started three of Milwaukee's nine games since the trade, including Tuesday's matchup against Zambrano and the Cubs. |
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| Zaun hoping for ticket out of Toronto | Tuesday 7/29, 7:09 PM CT |
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Disenchanted Blue Jays catcher Gregg Zaun reports that he would be more than happy to accept a trade out of Toronto if the team finds the right deal, according to TSN.
Our View: Zaun's playing time has steadily decreased under manager Cito Gaston to the point where he is now backing up Rod Barajas. His name has popped up in trade rumours of late, the Florida Marlins have reportedly shown some interest, and he's hoping something gets done that will send him to a team that will use him more often. |
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| Pads reinstate Cameron, option him to minors | Tuesday 7/29, 7:01 PM CT |
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The San Diego Padres reinstated pitcher Kevin Cameron from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday and optioned him to Triple-A Louisville, according to the Sports Network.
Our View: Cameron had been on the DL since early May with a 1st-degree right elbow strain. In 10 games this season before the injury, he posted a 3.60 ERA. Over 10 innings, he had given up nine runs on 10 hits with six walks and five strikeouts. |
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| Young has bad matchup | Tuesday 7/29, 6:39 PM CT |
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Chris Young has never been able to overcome Chris Young. That is not a philosophical statement, just a reflection of the fact that the Arizona outfielder is 0-for-12 in his career against the Padres pitcher of the same name who he is facing tonight.
Our View: Young is coming off a 3-for-5 night, so fantasy owners are likely hesitant to remove him from the lineup, but not only has Young not had a hit in 12 at-bats off his counterpart, he has struck out six times against him. |
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| Wang has cast removed | Tuesday 7/29, 6:35 PM CT |
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Yankees RHP Chien-Ming Wang had his cast removed today and is now sporting a protective boot, but the team reports a timeline for his rehab is still unknown, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The Yankees ace injured his right foot running the bases during an Interleague game in Houston on June 15. He was placed on the disabled list on June 17, retroactive to June 16, with a ligament sprain and a partial tendon tear. Wang said he did not have a clear idea of when he would be able to start pitching again, and manager Joe Girardi said the timeline for Wang's rehabilitation could be similar to the spring training process, probably about six to seven weeks. |
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| Peguero recalled | Tuesday 7/29, 6:30 PM CT |
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Jailen Peguero has been recalled from Triple-A to take the roster spot of the demoted Micah Owings, according to Dbacks.com.
Our View: Peguero will be used as a reliever, and in his three innings in the big leagues this year, he has allowed two earned runs. He is not a fantasy option. |
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| Petit will start Saturday | Tuesday 7/29, 6:29 PM CT |
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Yusmeiro Petit will make the start on Saturday against the Dodgers, as he takes the place of the demoted Micah Owings in the rotation, according to Dbacks.com.
Our View: Petit has been very good this year, with a 2.55 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. His control has been superb, as he has walked just five batters in 24.2 innings. He could be a nice option for fantasy players in need of some pitching help. |
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| Owings sent to minors | Tuesday 7/29, 6:25 PM CT |
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Diamondbacks hurler Micah Owings was sent to Triple-A Tuscon after allowing eight earned runs to the offensively-challenged San Diego Padres on Monday, according to Dbacks.com.
Our View: Owings was known more for his bat than his arm, as he was hitting .288 with a home run on the year. Unfortunately, those numbers don't count in fantasy leagues, but his 5.93 ERA does. |
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| Casilla out of lineup tonight | Tuesday 7/29, 6:00 PM CT |
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Twins second baseman Alexi Casilla will not be in the lineup tonight because of a sore right thumb he suffered while sliding into second base last night, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. X-Rays taken on the thumb were negative.
Our View: Casilla is also going to have an MRI on his left hand as he has a sore digit there as well. He has been a very solid option for fantasy players, so keep an eye out for further updates on his status. |
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| Berkman has solid matchup | Tuesday 7/29, 5:54 PM CT |
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Lance Berkman has a very solid match-up going in his favor tonight as the Astros take on the Cincinnati Reds and pitcher Bronson Arroyo. Berkman is 10-for-31 (.323) in his career against Arroyo, with four home runs and a .710 slugging percentage.
Our View: Berkman has cooled off a smidge since the beginning of the season, but his numbers are still lights-out, and he very easily could improve on them tonight. |
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| Damon back to playing outfield | Tuesday 7/29, 5:51 PM CT |
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Johnny Damon will make a return to left field in tonight's game against the Orioles, according to MLB.com.
Our View: Damon had been serving as the DH to spare his injured left shoulder. He already had a very weak throwing arm, so runners may look to take advantage of the pop flies he'll surely be tossing in from the outfield. |
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| Treanor will need surgery | Tuesday 7/29, 5:29 PM CT |
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Florida catcher Matt Treanor will need to undergo surgery to repair three separate muscle tears in his left hip and pelvic area, according to FloridaMarlins.com.
Our View: Treanor hopes to put the surgery off until after the season, as he will try to play through the pain after undergoing cortisone shots. |
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| Kotchman swapped for Teixeira | Tuesday 7/29, 5:09 PM CT |
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First baseman Casey Kotchman has been sent to the Atlanta Braves as one part of a swap for Mark Teixeira, according to ESPN.com.
Our View: Kotchman is three years younger, and considerably cheaper than Teixeira, who is making $12.5 million this season, compared to Kotchman's salary of $1.45 million. He'll be under the Braves' control until 2011. |
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| Teixeira traded to Angels | Tuesday 7/29, 5:04 PM CT |
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Mark Teixeira has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Casey Kotchman and Double-A pitcher Stephen Marek, according to Keith Law of ESPN.com.
Our View: Teixeira will provide the Angels with a bit more pop than Kotchman, taking his 20 home runs to California. Bad news for owners who had Tex in NL-only leagues, however. |
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| Blalock has sore shoulder | Tuesday 7/29, 4:52 PM CT |
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Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock has been placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right shoulder, according to TexasRangers.com.
Our View: The oft-injured Blalock has yet another malady to recover from. This will certainly quell the trade speculation that had been surrounding him. |
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| Young will play through injury | Tuesday 7/29, 4:48 PM CT |
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Michael Young will play through the pain of a fractured right ring finger, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Our View: Good news for fantasy owners, as Young is a consistent player having another quality season with a batting average near .300, along with eight home runs and 58 RBI. |
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| Hall out of tonight's lineup | Tuesday 7/29, 4:32 PM CT |
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Bill Hall is out of the lineup tonight for the Milwaukee Brewers as he is hitting just .184 against Chicago Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Our View: Hall has a decent amount of home runs with 14 on the year, but his batting average overall is .230, so he probably should not be on fantasy rosters, but if he is, make the appropriate changes. |
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| Cervanek called up to Philadelphia | Tuesday 7/29, 4:04 PM CT |
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The Sports Network reports that third baseman Michael Cervenak has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Pedro Feliz who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday with lower back inflammation.
Our View: In 99 games with Lehigh Valley, Cervenak posted a .320 average with seven home runs and 56 RBI. He will likely see a few starts before Feliz returns.
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| Aardsma throws effective side session | Tuesday 7/29, 3:55 PM CT |
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The Providence Journal reports that David Aardsma, who has been sidelined with a groin pull for the past 10 days, threw "with 85-90 percent effort" today according to Terry Francona and didn't experience any pain. "He still feels tightness," said Francona, "which is expected. Until that dissipates, he's not going to be in a game."
Our View: Aardsma is expected to have another side session Friday, at which time the club will re-assess and perhaps map out a brief rehab assignment for him next week while the club is on the road. Once he returns, he should continue to be an effective middle reliever for the Sox. He has a 2.75 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 38 appearances this season. |
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| Interest in Hawkins | Tuesday 7/29, 3:45 PM CT |
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Despite recently being designated for assignment, some AL contenders, namely the Twins and Tigers, are said to be interested in reliever LaTroy Hawkins, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Our View: Hawkins struggled this season, with a 5.71 ERA and 1.44 WHIP while striking out just six more batters (23) than he walked (17). |
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| Zumaya should be good to go | Tuesday 7/29, 3:29 PM CT |
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Michigan Live reports that after leaving Sunday's game with tightness in his triceps, Joel Zumaya says he is ready to go on Tuesday, but stopped short of saying he was 100%. "We don't know if it's nothing yet, but it felt fine. I took a little medicine. But you don't need to make a big deal out of it."
Our View: The Tigers recently moved Fernando Rodney into the closer's role and if he were to show signs of being incapable of holding that spot, Zumaya would be next in line to get a shot. |
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| Guillen wants out of Kansas City | Tuesday 7/29, 3:11 PM CT |
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ESPN.com reports that Jose Guillen wants out of Kansas City because he feels the Royals have not kept the promises made when he signed for three years and $36 million during the offseason. However, the article points out that the main reason he is in "living hell in Kansas City" is a foul relationship with manager Trey Hillman. Guillen is ready to defer his salary for 2009 and 2010 if it helps increase his value on the trading block.
Our View: The 32-year-old is leading the Royals with 14 home runs and 69 RBIs and could be a good offensive addition for a team looking for one. Guillen's biggest drawback aside from his wavering attitude has to be his 75 strikeouts to just 10 walks. |
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| Cervenak recalled from Triple-A | Tuesday 7/29, 3:03 PM CT |
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The Phillies recalled Mike Cervenak from Triple-A Lehigh Valley Tuesday to replace the injured Pedro Feliz on the roster.
Our View: Cervenak has had a nice year at Lehigh Valley (.320-7-56), but he doesn't figure to see more than a start or two while Feliz is out. |
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| Feliz placed on DL | Tuesday 7/29, 3:02 PM CT |
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The Phillies placed Pedro Feliz on the DL Tuesday with lower back inflammation. The move was retroactive to July 25. Mike Cervenak was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace him on the roster.
Our View: Feliz has been bothered by the ailment for a few weeks now. Greg Dobbs will handle most of the starts at third while he's out. Eric Bruntlett should also get some time. |
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| Milton throws simulated game | Tuesday 7/29, 2:55 PM CT |
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| The AP reports th | |
