|
|
|
Troy Tulowitzki went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the Rockies' 5-0 win over Arizona on Friday night.
Our View: He's not having the bounce-back campaign that many pundits predicted, but he's not as bad as he was last season. His .253-12-32 linie could be much worse. |
|
|
|
|
Jorge De La Rosa pitched a gem on Friday night. The Rockies' hurler tossed eight shutout innings, allowing just four hits and four walks and struck out six as the Rockies topped the Diamondbacks 5-0.
Our View: De La Rosa has always had nasty stuff, but had trouble harnessing it and walked too many batters. He's been especially good in his last two starts, but will need to show some consistency before fantasy owners start jumping on the bandwagon. |
|
|
|
|
Max Scherzer allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk over six innings on Friday. He struck out five, but took the loss as the Diamondbacks fell to the Rockies 5-0.
Our View: Scherzer is having a fine 2009 campagn, despite his 5-6 record. He has had quality starts in four of his last five outings, but has gotten very little run support. |
|
|
|
|
A.J. Pierzynski was 3-for-4 with a solo home run in the White Sox 5-0 win over the Royals on Saturday.
Our View: The catcher is now hitting .300 on the season with nine homers and 25 RBI. You could do much worse than Pierzynski as your fantasy catcher. |
|
|
|
|
Zack Greinke was good once again, but wasn't good enough for a win on Friday. He allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits and a walk over six innings in the Royals' 5-0 loss to the White Sox.
Our View: Greinke struck out six, but didn't have his best stuff on Friday. Still, when a start like this is considered a disappointment it just goes to show how special Greinke's season has been. He's now 10-4 with an even 2.00 ERA. |
|
|
|
|
John Danks was brilliant again on Friday night. He tossed 7.1 scoreless innings and allowed just five hits en route to his seventh victory. He struck out five against zero walks in Chicago's 5-0 win over the Royals.
Our View: Danks has been stellar lately. He has a 14.1-inning scoreless streak and has rattled off five straight quality starts. He has his ERA down to 3.76. |
|
|
|
|
Jarrett Hoffpauir got his first career hit on Friday night, and it was a big one. The rookie delivered with two outs in the ninth, singling home two and giving the Cardinals a come from behind win. They tagged the Reds 7-4.
Our View: Hoffpauir doesn't hold any fantasy value, but this was a big moment for the youngster. He now carries a 1.000 batting average for the season and is on pace for several thousand RBI. |
|
|
|
|
Homer Bailey had a brilliant outing on Friday night, holding the Cardinals to just two runs on three hits and two walks over 7.1 innings. He did not factor in the decision though as the Reds eventually fell 7-4.
Our View: Bailey allowed a hit to the first batter of the game and didn't allow another until there were two outs in the seventh inning. This was the most dominant he's been all season, and the two runs he was charged with were coughed up by the bullpen. |
|
|
|
|
Albert Pujols did it again on Friday night. The game's best player put the Cardinals on his back and stole a game from the Cincinnati Reds. Trailing 3-0 in the seventh, Pujols hit his fourth grand slam of the season to give the Cards a 4-3 lead. They never looked back, winning the game 7-4 and Albert finished the day 2-for-5 with five RBI.
Our View: The NL player of the month for June is already getting it done in July. Pujols leads the majors in homers (31) and RBI (82) and has been insane with the bases loaded. He is now 6-for-7 with four grand slams and 20 RBI with the sacks juiced this season. Friday's salami was also his 350th career home run. He's the third youngest player to reach that mark. |
|
|
|
|
David Wright went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday's 7-2 loss to the Phillies.
Our View: Wright has been scheduled for a much needed day off, but seems to find a way to keep sneaking back into the lineup. He is now just one for his last 13 at bats. |
|
|
|
|
Livan Hernandez was shelled by the Phillies on Friday. He allowed seven runs on ten hits and four walks over just three innings before being yanked. He fell to 5-4 as the Mets got pummeled 7-2.
Our View: Hernandez has been very important stabilizing force in a patchwork Mets rotation this season, but the aging innings-eater isn't an ideal fantasy option with his 4.56 ERA. Outside of NL-only leagues he has little value. |
|
|
|
|
Rodrigo Lopez earned his first win since 2007 on Friday night with a 7-2 victory over the Mets. He allowed just two earned runs on six hits and a walk over 6.2 innings.
Our View: Lopez was called up today to make the start, and he ended up making an impression as well. He's filling in for the injured Antonio Bastardo, but a few more starts like this and he could take Bastrado's job away from him. |
|
|
|
|
Chase Utley went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base in the Phillies' 7-2 win over the Mets on Friday.
Our View: Utley hit .320 in June after a miserable May, and looks to be back on track as the game's premier fantasy second sacker. |
|
|
|
|
Tommy Hunter earned his first win of the season on Friday in a 3-1 defeat of the Rays. He lasted 5.1 innings and allowed just one run on three hits and three walks.
Our View: Hunter has been filling in for the injured Matt Harrison and has allowed just three total runs in his two starts since joining the rotation. He is worth a flyer in AL-only leagues. |
|
|
|
|
Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer in the Rangers 3-1 win over the Rays on Friday. He was 1-for-3 on the day and also chipped in with a walk and a stolen base.
Our View: Blalock now has 17 dingers on the season. He has three in his last two games after hitting only two in the entire month of June. |
|
|
|
|
Scott Kazmir allowed just one earned run over five innings, but couldn't get any help offensively. He allowed five hits and one walk, while striking out six in the Rays 3-1 loss to the Rangers. He fell to 4-5 on the season.
Our View: Kazmir is still one of the most talented pitchers in the game right now. It looks like he's starting to figure things out again after returning from the DL. Keep starting him as he;ll likely get better each time out. |
|
|
|
|
Ross Detwiler was creamed by the Braves on Friday. The rookie allowed five runs on ten hits and two walks over just 3.1 innings. He struck out one hitter as the Nationals fell 9-8.
Our View: Detwiler is a tremendously talented young pitcher, but he hasn't put it all together yet. Expect him to be an ace a couple years down the road, but this season he is far from fantasy worthy. |
|
|
|
|
Adam Dunn hit his 21st home run in the Nationals' 9-8 loss to the Braves on Friday. He finished the day 1-for-3 with a pair of walks.
Our View: The power from Dunn is nice, but the slugger is starting to fall into his old ways again. After hitting and uncharacteristic .310 in April, he hit in the .240s for May and June. No big surprise there. |
|
|
|
|
Chipper Jones was 2-for-4 with two walks and two RBI in the Braves 9-8 win over the Nationals on Friday night.
Our View: Chipper now has a five-game hitting streak and has his average up to .295. He hasn't been above the .300 mark since June 20th. |
|
|
|
|
Kenshin Kawakami allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks in just 4.1 innings on Friday. He struck out six, but did not factor in the decision as the Braves defeated the Nationals 9-8.
Our View: Kawakami has been dealing with a bruised neck, which could have contributed to his poor performance on Friday. He was solid last month with a 3.33 ERA, but has gotten off to a rocky start in July. |
|
|
|
|
J.D. Drew went 2-for-6 with a home run in the Red Sox 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Friday.
Our View: Drew homered just three times in June, so it's a good bet he'll pass that number this month. He also now has three consecutive multi-hit games. |
|
|
|
|
Tim Wakefield allowed five runs on ten hits over eight innings on Friday, but did not factor in the decision as the Red Sox fell to the Mariners 7-6 in 11 innings.
Our View: Not Wakefield's best game, but he did go eight innings and gave his team a chance to win. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. The crafty knuckleballer still remains a solid fantasy option in mixed leagues. |
|
|
|
|
Jose Lopez hit a go-ahead home run in the 11th inning Friday night to give the Mariners a 7-6 win over the Red Sox. Lopez finished the day 3-for-5.
Our View: Lopez was miserable in April and May and was on his way to being one of the season's biggest fantasy busts before he broke out in June with five homers and a .329 average. Looks like it's carried over into July. |
|
|
|
|
Felix Hernandez was solid once again on Friday. He allowed just three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks to the Red Sox in his seven innings on the hill. The King struck out seven but did not factor in the decision as the Mariners eventually won 7-6 in 11 innings.
Our View: Felix has now rattled off eight straight quality starts, and looks good in July after finishing up June with a minuscule 0.94 ERA. |
|
|
|
|
Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-5, drove in a run, scored two runs and swiped his fifth base in the Pirates' 7-4 win over the Marlins on Friday.
Our View: The rookie speedster has been very good since being called up in June. He started slumping at the end of the month, but looks to have figured it out with five hits already in July. |
|
|
|
|
Charlie Morton earned his first win of the season on Friday by defeating the Marlins 7-4. He tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and four walks.
Our View: Morton has only made four starts this season, but he looks pretty good. Friday was the first time he went more than five innings, but if he builds on this performance he'll start getting some real fantasy attention. Especially in NL-only leagues. |
|
|
|
|
Chris Volstad didn't last long in his start on Friday. The Marlins' hurler was yanked after just three innings due to surrendering for runs on three hits and a walk. He allowed two home runs in the 7-4 loss.
Our View: Volstad is now 5-8 on the season and looked shaky on Friday after posting back to back quality starts in his previous two outings. |
|
|
|
|
John Baker was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the Marlins' 7-4 loss to the Pirates on Friday night.
Our View: Baker is only hitting .246 this season, but is a decent fantasy option at catcher due to his seven homers and 23 RBI. |
|
|
|
|
Nomar Garciaparra got the start at first base on Friday and made the most of it. The oft-injured hitter went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the A's embarrassing 15-3 loss to the Indians.
Our View: The RBI was just Nomah's tenth this season, and despite all the fond memories he has joined many others in the realm of fantasy irrelevance. |
|
|
|
|
Trevor Cahill got blasted by a lineup full of frustrated Indians on Friday night. He allowed eight runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks over just 3.2 innings. He fell to 5-7 as the A's got stomped 15-3.
Our View: The rookie hurler has impressed this season, but has fallen on hard times lately. He has allowed 15 runs (12 earned) in his last 7.1 innings. You may want to consider benching him until he figures it out again. |
|
|
|
|
Grady Sizemore went 2-for-2 with an RBI, three walks and three runs scored in the Indians' 15-3 drubbing of the A's on Friday.
Our View: Since coming off the DL, Sizemore has ten RBI and seven walks. Friday's contest was just his second multi-hit game since returning though. |
|
|
|
|
Shin-Soo Choo had the game of his life on Friday. He was 4-for-5 with four runs scored, a double, two homers and seven RBI in the Indians 15-3 win over the A's.
Our View: Choo has been a nice fantasy surprise this season. He's now hitting .301 with 12 bombs and 53 RBI. Too bad he has to rejoin the Korean military next season, because he looks like he's officially figured out major league pitching. |
|
|
|
|
According to MLB.com, Willie Bloomquist was a last minute scratch for Friday's game due to a family emergency.
Our View: No word on what the emergency was. Bloomquist was replaced at third base by Luis Hernandez. Consider him day-to-day. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Dallas Morning News, Josh Hamilton will not join the Rangers on Saturday as originally planned.
Our View: The Rangers want him to start at least one more game in Triple-A to complete his tuneup before rejoining the big club. He has gone just 1-for-11 in his rehab games. |
|
|
|
|
The Angels have optioned Rafael Rodriguez to Triple-A.
Our View: He was cleared to make room for Ervin Santana who made the start on Friday night. Rodriguez had a 6.97 ERA in 20.2 innings this season. |
|
|
|
|
As expected, the Angels activated pitcher Ervin Santana from the disabled list. He gets the start tonight against the Orioles.
Our View: Santana has been on the DL since June 11 with an inflammation in his right triceps. He hasn't been very effective this season in six starts prior to landing on the DL, but the Angels are hoping he shows his 2008 form now that he's healthy. |
|
|
|
|
According to MLBlogs.com, Magglio Ordonez is on the bench for Friday's game against the Twins.
Our View: Ordonez is in the midst of a 2-for-20 slump, in the midst of a miserable season at the plate. The Twins sent Kevin Slowey to the mound and left-handers crush his pitches, so Manager Jim Leyland stacked the lineup with lefties and kept the right-handed hitting Ordonez on the bench. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Kansas City Star, John Buck (back) could return to the lineup some time this weekend.
Our View: Buck is slated to catch in a Triple-A rehab game on Friday and if his herniated disk holds up he'll come off the DL on Saturday and join the Royals. He may have to fight for playing time once he returns though. Miguel Olivo has been very good in Buck's absence. |
|
|
|
|
Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman tweets that the Phillies and Rangers are two teams that are interested in Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang.
Our View: Wang has been a disaster for the Yankees this season. He's 1-6 with a 10.06 ERA and has spent time on the DL, but the Phillies and Rangers are still in the race in their respective divisions and are desperate for pitching help. |
|
|
|
|
According to MLBlogs.com, Mike Redmond is dealing with a strained forearm and is not in the lineup for Friday's game.
Our View: Redmond injured the forearm in Wednesday's game and it is still apparently extremely sore. No word on whether he'll land on the DL or not, but don't expect him in the lineup any time soon. |
|
|
|
|
According to MLBlogs.com, Nick Punto (lower back) is back in the lineup Friday night as expected.
Our View: Punto left Wednesday's game with a tight lower back, but the injury has subsided and he's fine to get back into lineups. |
|
|
|
|
Updating a previous report, Justin Morneau is back in the lineup for the Twins as expected on Friday night, according to MLBlogs.com.
Our View: Morneau exited Wednesday's game with tightness in his groin, but didn't miss any time beyond that game. He is fine to get back into fantasy lineups. |
|
|
|
|
According to the New York Daily News, Oliver Perez struggled in his rehab start on Friday.
Our View: Perez only threw 46 of his 92 pitches for strikes and allowed three runs in his outing. He was slated to start on Wednesday for the Mets, but that was assuming that Friday's performance was a positive one. It wasn't, so Perez may not be called up after all. |
|
|
|
|
According to MLB.com, the Red Sox have formulated a rehab plan for ailing starter Daisuke Matsuzaka. He will head to Fort Myers, Florida on Monday to begin strength training on his sore shoulder.
Our View: The team is going to take it slow with Dice-K, and there is no timetable for his return. He's going to start playing catch from 60 feet and will progress from there. Don't expect him to contribute to fantasy rosters for a long time. |
|
|
|
|
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, A's starters Gio Gonzalez and Brett Anderson will swap starts.
Our View: Gonzalez will now pitch on Sunday against the Indians on his normal four days of rest and Anderson will take the hill on Monday against the Red Sox. Anderson will get two extra days of rest, the same as his last start when he beat the Tigers 7-1. |
|
|
|
|
According to WEEI.com, Mike Lowell's ailing hip is improving after having fluid drained from it and after receiving an injection of lubricant.
Our View: Lowell will suspend all baseball-related activities until Monday and then begin rehabbing the hip aggressively. He is expected to be ready to return from the DL when first eligible (after the All Star break). |
|
|
|
|
According to the Associated Press, the Phillies have recalled pitcher Rodrigo Lopez from Triple-A.
Our View: Lopez will get the start on Friday night in place of the injured Antonio Bastardo. To make room for Lopez the Phillies designated Jack Taschner for assignment. |
|
|
|
|
According to MLB.com, outfielder Nate McLouth is back in the lineup for the Braves on Friday.
Our View: McClouth missed the last five games with a strained hamstring, but is up to snuff now and returns to action against the Nationals. The Braves were 4-1 while he was out. |
|
|
|
|
Alfonso Soriano returned to action for the Cubs on Friday and promptly went 0-for-5.
Our View: Soriano was given a couple days off due to his recent struggles. The former fantasy stalwart has been miserable lately. He's zero for his last 12 and hasn't homered since June 7th. |
|
|
|
|
Jeff Suppan was denied a win on Friday despite a strong performance. He held the Cubs to one run on four hits and two walks over seven innings, but the Brewers eventually fell in the tenth.
Our View: Friday's start was a nice rebound for Soup, who had allowed 12 runs in his last 10.2 innings. Still his start was against the anemic Cubs' offense, so don't get too excited yet. |
|
|
|
|
Carlos Zambrano held the Brewers to one run on five hits and three walks over seven innings on Friday, but did not factor in the decision. The Cubs eventually won 2-1 on a bases loaded walk in the tenth.
Our View: Big Z only struck out three in the game, but delivered at the plate once again. He was 1-for-2 and drove in the Cubs only run of the first nine innings. Zambrano now has six quality starts in his last seven outings. |
|
|
|
|
Jake Fox won the game for the Cubs on Friday, and he never recorded a hit. He went 0-for-3, but drew a bases loaded walk in the tenth inning to give Chicago a 2-1 walk-off win over Milwaukee.
Our View: Fox has been getting pretty regular playing time since June 17th and is showing the Cubs that he deserves to stick around. The kid has a .302 average with three homers and 13 RBI. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Seattle Times, Erik Bedard threw a 54-pitch simulated game to test his ailing shoulder.
Our View: Manager Don Wakamatsu said, "He looks as good as I've seen him." Looks like Bedard should be god to go for his return start on Tuesday. Don't expect him to go more than six innings though. Even when he's healthy that's a rarity. |
|
|
|
|
According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Mark DeRosa is set to take some swings on Saturday to test out his strained left wrist.
Our View: Barring any setbacks, DeRosa looks to be ready for the first place series against the Brewers on Tuesday. Owners should monitor his progress, but can feel reasonably safe about inserting him into lineups next week. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Chicago Tribune, Alexei Ramirez is out of the lineup for the second consecutive night due to a bruise on the tip of his middle finger.
Our View: The injury doesn't sound too serious, so expect Ramirez to be back shortly. Jayson Nix will take his place at short in the meantime. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Chicago Tribune, injured slugger Carlos Quentin has been sent on a rehab assignment.
Our View: No word on where Quentin headed, but his team locker was empty. The team has been very cautious about predicting when he'll return, but a rehab assignment is always a good sign. Keep Quentin stashed on your roster, as it looks like he may be available soon. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Tampa Tribune, the Rays plan to skip Jeff Niemann's next start.
Our View: Matt Garza will get the start in his stead on Sunday. Then next week's series against Toronto will feature Scott Kazmir, James Shields and David price. Niemann will be available out of the bullpen. |
|
|
|
|
According to MLBlogs.com, Kiko Calero (shoulder) is scheduled to throw in a rehab assignment on Saturday at Class-A Jupiter.
Our View: Calero has been on the Dl since June 21st, but if his session goes well on Saturday he will have another on Monday and could rejoin the team in Arizona on July 9th. |
|
|
|
|
Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom threw off flat ground for about 10 minutes on Firiday, reports MLBlogs.com. It was the first time he'd thrown a ball since landing on the DL June 24th.
Our View: "I felt better than I thought I was going to," Lindstrom said. "It was coming out of my hand pretty good for being 10 days off." He will continue to throw every day, and may be ready to return shortly after the All Star break. |
|
|
|
|
According to MLBlogs.com, injured starter Anibal Sanchez will throw a light bullpen session on Saturday to test his ailing shoulder.
Our View: Sanchez has been on the DL since June 4th and the Marlins have no idea when he'll be game ready. Not only is he progressing slowly, but the Marlins are likely being very careful with the injury-prone starter. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Twitter page of Phillies' beat writer Todd Zolecki, the Phillies have designated pitcher Jack Taschner for assignment. This move was made to make room for Friday's starter Rodrigo Lopez.
Our View: Taschner was acquired by the Phils in late March, and he didn't show enough to force the team to value him as a solid relief option. He should not be considered in any league regardless of where he ends up. |
|
|
|
|
Vernon Wells was moved down to sixth in the order on Friday, and it seemed to work as he went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, a run scored, and an RBI. He now has eight homers on the season.
Our View: Wells has been struggling mightily this season, but maybe the move in the order will spark him. His fantasy value is very iffy right now, so monitor his performance to determine whether or not he should be in your lineup. For now, it would be best if you had another option. |
|
|
|
|
Brian Tallet was decent on Friday afternoon, but he was hit with the loss as the Jays fell to the Yankees 4-2. Tallet went six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking four and striking out three.
Our View: Tallet didn't dominate today, but he was pretty good. Unfortunately, A.J. Burnett was better. Tallet has been decently solid this season, and he is a good AL-only option. |
|
|
|
|
Alex Rodriguez launched another homer on Friday in the Yankees' 4-2 win over the Blue Jays on Friday. Rodriguez was 1-for-3 with the solo shot.
Our View: A-Rod is starting to show his power, and although his average is still low at .237, his 14 homers are very solid. The average will improve, and as long as the power is still there he will be a solid fantasy option all year. |
|
|
|
|
A.J. Burnett was outstanding again on Friday as the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 4-2. Burnett went seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out seven. He is now 7-4 on the year.
Our View: The Burnett that has come out in his last two starts is the guy the Yanks thought they were getting when they signed him to his large contract this offseason. Burnett appears to be hitting his stride, and he is a strong play in all leagues while he is on. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pirates' second baseman Freddy Sanchez is a late scratch for Friday's game with soreness in his back. He will be replaced by Ramon Vazquez in the lineup.
Our View: Sanchez felt the back issue as he arrived at the ballpark today, and he is being considered day-to-day by the team. It doesn't sound serious, but get him out today for sure and monitor his status for the weekend. |
|
|
|
|
The Miami Herald is reporting that Cardinals' slugger Albert Pujols has been named the NL player of the month for June. Pujols batted .320 with a league-leading 14 homers and 35 RBI during the month. He also had 10 doubles and scored 19 times.
Our View: Pujols has pretty much carried the Cards' offense in June, so this award is well deserved. He is the best hitter in the game, and the top fantasy player in baseball. |
|
|
|
|
According to MLBlogs.com, the Chicago Cubs have signed pitcher Casey Fossum to a Minor League contract. He has reported to Triple-A Iowa to start his Cubs' career.
Our View: Fossum opted out of his contract with the Yankees a few weeks ago, so now he gets a fresh start with the Cubbies. He doesn't figure to have any fantasy value this season, and this move doesn't affect that much. |
|
|
|
|
The Sports Network is reporting that the Mariners have sent infielder Mike Carp to Triple-A Tacoma. The move was made to open a roster spot for the newly activated Shawn Kelley.
Our View: Carp was 3-for-8 at the plate with the Mariners this season, but he is probably better served spending more time in Triple-A playing every day. He could be a good hitter in the future, but for now he should not register on anyone's fantasy radar. |
|
|
|
|
According to The Sports Network, the Seattle Mariners have activated pitcher Shawn Kelley off the DL. He is expected to join the bullpen and pitch in long relief. In a corresponding move, the team optioned infielder Mike Carp to Triple-A Tacoma.
Our View: Kelley should be a long reliever for the Mariners, and with Erik Bedard expected to come off the DL soon, the team may need plenty of long relief. Kelley has no fantasy value, but he should be a decent bullpen arm for the M's. |
|
|
|
|
According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, the three teams that are interested in Ben Sheets are reporting that he will not be ready to contribute to a major league team this season. Sheets is coming off of flexor tendon surgery in February.
Our View: It was once thought that Sheets could be a major addition for a team making a playoff push in the second half, but it looks now as if there may not be much interest. Don't be shocked if someone still takes a chance on him, but don't expect to see the Ben Sheets everyone is used to. |
|
|
|
|
The Reds official Twitter page is reporting that the team has placed infielder Danny Richar on the DL with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Richar was 2-for-8 on the season with the Reds.
Our View: Richar was back and forth between the Reds and Triple-A Louisville this season, and he never had any fantasy value. It looks like the rest of his 2009 season is very much in doubt at this point. |
|
|
|
|
According to the official Twitter page of the Cincinnati Reds, the team has activated third baseman Edwin Encarnacion from the DL. In a corresponding move, the team placed Danny Richar on the DL with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Our View: Encarnacion has been out for most of the season, but when healthy he can still be a major offensive threat. His fantasy value is low right now, but if he starts hitting he could be a solid second half option. |
|
|
|
|
The Baltimore Sun is reporting that Orioles' outfielder Nolan Reimold has been named the AL Rookie of the Month for June. Reimold hit .320 with four home runs, nine RBIs, 13 runs scored and 13 walks in 26 games.
Our View: Reimold has been the real deal so far this season, and his fantasy value is fairly high right now. AL-only leaguers should give him a look, and deeper mixed leaguers may want to as well. He has the ability to hit for power, and he is currently hitting .287 on the year. |
|
|
|
|
The Braves have recalled infielder Brooks Conrad from Triple-A Gwinnett to replace the injured Kelly Johnson, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Conrad has not played a major league game since last season with the A's.
Our View: Conrad has never done much at the major league level, so we shouldn't expect much from him this time around. He will not see much playing time, and he should not be considered in any fantasy format. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves have placed second baseman Kelly Johnson on the 15-day DL with right wrist tendinitis. The team also recalled Brooks Conrad from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot.
Our View: Johnson has been a major disappointment for the Braves this season, so they may be better off without him. He is hitting only .214 on the year, and any fantasy value he had in the past is gone now. If you still have him on your team for any reason, now is the time to get rid of him. |
|
|
|
|
Jorge Posada is not in the Yankees' lineup for their Friday afternoon game against the Blue Jays. He is being replaced by Francisco Cervelli behind the plate.
Our View: Posada is missing his second straight game with swelling on his injured thumb. The injury isn't expected to be all that serious, but there is no word yet when he will return. Check back on his status for the weekend. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Tampa Tribune, Rays outfielder B.J. Upton has been named the AL Player of the Month for June. Upton batted .324 with five home runs, 20 runs scored, 22 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and ten doubles to earn the award.
Our View: Upton has been destroying everything thrown at him in June, and he was the obvious choice here. The numbers just go to show you what he is capable of, and assuming he stays healthy he could very well do this all season. |
|
|
|
|
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Cubs catcher Geovany Soto is not in the team's lineup for their Friday afternoon game against the Brewers. He will be replaced by Koyie Hill behind the plate.
Our View: Soto has actually been hitting the ball well lately after a horrid start to his season, and he is slowly turning back into a solid fantasy option. Get him out today if possible, and if not he should be back tomorrow. |
|
|
|
|
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Cubs' outfielder Alfonso Soriano is back in the team's lineup Friday after being benched for two games to clear his head. He will replace Sam Fuld, who started in his place for the last two games.
Our View: Maybe the rest will do Soriano some good, but it seems unlikely. If you have another option in the outfield, it would probably be wise to sit Soriano until he shows he can contribute. He is hittng only .230 on the year. |
|
|
|
|
The Arizona Republic is reporting that the Diamondbacks have several players who may be on the trade market. Pitchers Doug Davis, Jon Garland, and Chad Qualls join position players Felipe Lopez and Chad Tracy as possible trade candidates.
Our View: The D-Backs are going nowhere fast this season, and they would like to bolster their minor league system in the process. Don't be shocked if all of the players listed are moved, as there seems to be a market for each one. Fantasy values will depend on the final destination of each player. |
|
|
|
|
The Dallas Morning News is reporting that injured outfielder Josh Hamilton went 0-for-4 in his rehab start on Thursday. He will start in center field on Friday, and he hopes to return to the Rangers on Saturday.
Our View: Hamilton hasn't exactly been on fire during his rehab stint, but he feels like the timing is there. Assuming he makes it through tonight's start, he should be able to return this weekend. Stay tuned. |
|
|
|
|
MetsBlog.com is reporting that Mets' closer Francisco Rodriguez told the media that he would be available for Friday's game after throwing a career high 46 pitches on Thursday. Rodriguez blew his third save of the year but received the win in the game.
Our View: K-Rod has thrown 93 pitches since last Sunday, which makes it hard to believe that the Mets would use him tonight. Still, he says he will be avalable so we will see how effective he is if called upon. |
|
|
|
|
David Dellucci has been recalled by the Toronto Blue Jays, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian on his Twitter page. Dellucci was signed by the team in early June after being released by the Indians.
Our View: Dellucci could see some time in the Jays' lineup, as they have yet to establish a solid DH. He has no fantasy value right now, but if he gets some opportunity, he could eventually be worth a look in AL-only leagues. |
|
|
|
|
MLB.com's Jordan Bastian is reporting on his Twitter page that the Blue Jays have designated Russ Adams for assignment. In a corresponding move, the team recalled outfielder David Dellucci from Triple-A.
Our View: Adams was 4-for-20 with the Jays this season, and he was not a player who had any impact on the team. Dellucci should provide a better option, and Adams will not have any fantasy value regardless of where he ends up. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Journal News, Yankees' catcher Jose Molina went 0-for-2 with an RBI in his frst rehab game in Triple-A Scranton. Molina caught five innings, and he is scheduled to play five again in his next game.
Our View: The Yankees believe that Molina may be ready to rejoin the team as early as next Tuesday, but it will depend on how his rehab goes. Even if he can't come back Tuesday, he should be back by the end of the week. He will still have no fantasy value, as he will struggle for playing time. |
|
|
|
|
According to FoxSports.com, the Yankees still have a strong interest in Diamondbacks' reliever Chad Qualls. Their level of interest will depend on the ability of Brian Bruney to be consistent before the trade deadline.
Our View: The Yanks' bullpen has been pretty solid as of late, but they still feel like they would be best served to acquire more help. With the inconsistencies of Bruney lately, Qualls could be a very real option as the deadline approaches. If he would go to New York, his fantasy value would take a major hit. |
|
|
|
|
FoxSports.com is reporting that the Twins are interested in trading for Pirates' pitcher Matt Capps. The Twins may also be interested in second baseman Freddy Sanchez and pitcher John Grabow.
Our View: The Pirates have demonstrated that they are not shy about trading away their players, and Capps could improve the Twins' bullpen. A move like that would kill his fantasy value, so Capps' owners should monitor him until the trade deadline. |
|
|
|
|
The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that Phillies' outfielder Raul Ibanez could return to the team Monday if he plays a rehab game on Friday. Ibanez will need 10-to-12 at-bats before returning, so he will have to play today if he wants to return by the start of the week.
Our View: Ibanez was supposed to start his rehab two days ago, but he wasn't ready. The Phillies insist he has not suffered a setback, so we will have to see if he is ready to go today. Expect him to be ready at some point next week, barring some kind of serious setback. |
|
|
|
|
The Dodgers will activate outfielder Manny Ramirez before Friday's game against the Padres. Ramirez has finished serving his 50-game suspension for a positive banned substance test.
Our View: No word from the Dodgers' yet as to whether or not Manny will be in the lineup, but it seems like a pretty safe bet that he will be. Fantasy owners should have been prepared for this, but if you didn't you should activate Manny and get him in tonight. |
|
|
|
|
According to the Baltimore Sun, Orioles' pitching prospect Brian Matusz tossed a complete game shutout on Thursday for Double-A Bowie. Matusz gave up four hits while walking two and striking out six.
Our View: Matusz has been pretty much unhittable since joining the Double-A squad, going 18.1 innings and allowing only one earned run while striking out 21. At this rate, he could find himself in Triple-A before the season is out. He looks to have a bright future, and fantasy owners should remember his name. |
|
Crushing hits. Explosive separation. Hail Mary bombs to streaking receivers. For that and fantasy analysis for all things football turn to Owners Edge NFL every week on your way to the championship.
Power-plays. Goals. Fights. Great glove saves. If you are looking to augment your NHL experience with some of the most innovative fantasy hockey analysis on the Internet, then turn to Owners Edge NHL.
Outlet passes. Jumpers from downtown. Alley-oops leading to thunderous jams that bring the crowd to their feet are all part of the NBA experience leading to our analysis of the hardwood at Owners Edge NBA.
The hush at the tee box is followed by the sweat sound of metal on ball as someone in the gallery yells out 'you da man!' At Owners Edge PGA we bring refinement, analysis and passion to the sport of golf.
The smell of burning rubber. The thrill of unmitigated speed coming out of the turn. The visceral exhilaration of a pile up. At Owners Edge NASCAR we make the pit stop so you don't have to on race day.