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| Dan Haren registered his fifth win of the season on Friday as Arizona topped Detroit 4-3. Haren allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Most of the damage came on a two-run homer by Miguel Cabrera. |
Our View: Haren held an excellent 0.99 WHIP over 50.1 innings prior to tonight's outing, and he only had one poor start all season, when he got rocked for five earned runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings against the Dodgers on April 23. Haren has played up to high expectations with the D-Backs so far this season.
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| Clint Barmes went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's 4-2 loss to Minnesota. He had one double, one triple, and one single tonight, with one run scored. |
Our View: That was his fifth multi-hit game of May. He is hitting .355 overall, and continues to fare very well as the Rockies' starting shortstop.
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| Hunter Pence was productive in the leadoff spot as he went 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in Friday's 16-8 loss to the Rangers. He also drew one walk. |
Our View: He replaced Michael Bourn for the leadoff role, and is off to good start. If he stays, he will have a good chance to score a lot of runs while hitting ahead of Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman in the Astros' order.
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| Chris Duncan went 2-for-4 and recorded the Cardinals' lone RBI in Friday's 3-1 loss to the upstart Rays. The run came on a home run, his fourth of the season. |
Our View: He was the sole source of offense for St. Louis tonight, but Duncan only has seven hits and six RBI over 15 games in May.
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| Brian McCann went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's close 3-2 win over Oakland. Two of his hits went for doubles, and he now has 16 for the season. |
Our View: He now has 13 RBI and 19 hits over 14 games in May. He has registered a double in four straight games as well.
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| Brett Tomko picked up his second win of the season on Friday, as Kansas City edged Florida 7-6. Tomko allowed two runs on five hits over six innings, with one walk and four strikeouts. Most of the damage came on a solo home run by Dan Uggla. |
Our View: Tomko bounced back nicely, as he was lit up for six runs on nine hits in his previous start (against Baltimore). He has been solid overall as of late, as he three seven scoreless innings against the Angels on May 5. Tomko is worth consideration if you need help in your rotation.
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| Dan Uggla went 3-for-3 with one RBI and blasted his 13th homer of the season in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Royals. He scored three runs in the losing effort as well. |
Our View: Uggla has pushed his average up to .313, with 30 RBI and 33 runs scored over 40 games. Uggla is having a strong season, and is still getting better as a second baseman.
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| Johnny Cueto ended Friday's 4-3 win over the Indians with a no decision. He allowed three runs on only three hits over six innings of work, with two walks and seven strikeouts. All of the damage came on three solo home runs. |
Our View: He has now given up six homers over his last three starts. On a positive note, he also has 53 strikeouts over 51.2 innings. His WHIP was still solid at 1.25 heading into tonight's game as well.
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| Casey Blake went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's 4-3 loss to Cincinnati. One of his hits went for a home run, his third of the season. |
Our View: Blake is still only hitting .229 but has 26 RBI over 37 games.
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| Ryan Zimmerman went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Friday's loss to the Orioles. |
Our View: Zimmerman now has five homers and 10 RBI through 15 games in May. He has 15 hits over the span as well. He is starting to come around following a disappointimg start.
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| Jayson Werth entered the Phillies' record book on Friday as he tied a franchise mark with eight RBI in a 10-3 win over Toronto, according to the AP. He hit three home runs in the game, one of which was good for a grand slam. |
Our View: The most recent member of the Phillies to do it was Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, who accomplished the feat on April 17, 1976. Werth now has nine homers and 26 RBI over 34 games, and should continue to see plenty of action with the Phillies.
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| The Dodgers have signed Mark Bellhorn to a minor league deal, according to the LA Daily News. He quietly reported to Double-A Jacksonville on Thursday, and went 2-for-2 with a double and a walk in his debut against Birmingham. |
Our View: He was signed to fill a roster spot for Jacksonville, and the Dodgers didn't bring him in with intentions to add him to the big league team. It was strictly a minor league signing.
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| Kyle Lohse won't miss his next start, according to MLB.com. He said Friday that he expects to make his scheduled start on Sunday, a day after it appeared that the start was in doubt. Lohse is dealing with discomfort in the back of his right shoulder, and he said, "I'm doing a little bit more than maybe normal, but what's normal. You're doing a pretty not-normal thing when you're throwing a ball, so you can have little things come up."
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Our View: In his eight seasons in the majors, Lohse has never missed a start. He is 3-2 with a 4.91 ERA and passable 1.36 WHIP over nine starts, and has been a decent starter in NL-only leagues so far.
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| Mark Prior has a tear in the capsule of his right shoulder, which is the shoulder he had surgery on in April of 2007, according to MLB.com. As previously reported, Prior had an examination and an MRI exam on his shoulder on Wednesday at the office of Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior's agent John Boggs said, "It's a setback, but in terms of how big of a setback, we won't know until you know how Prior is feeling. We just hope it's not a major setback. Mark is looking at it in a positive way. He will just lay low for a few weeks and let the shoulder settle down."
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Our View: The team initially hoped Prior would be able to return to the majors by June 1. This new setback will prevent him from throwing for at least two weeks.
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| Cody Ross is working his way into what could be a full-time role as the leadoff hitter and center fielder for the Marlins, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Apparently manager Fredi Gonzalez commented he might give Ross five straight starts, which has set this whole thing in motion. Since he hit .335 in 173 AB last year, that might be a good idea. Still, he doesn't figure to be more than a very low end mixed league option.
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| Geoff Jenkins has had enough of spending time on the bench, but he realizes there may not be much he can do about with the team facing so many left-handed pitchers, according to MLB.com. "I'm bored," Jenkins said. "I've never seen so many lefties before in my life. It's a barrage, just one of the weird, quirky parts of the season. I can't see this happening again." |
Our View: With Jayson Werth still tearing it up, he had a huge night on Friday, there just haven't been that many AB for Jenkins, especially since the Phils have faced so many lefties, an area in which Jenkins really struggles. Jenkins will continue to sit anytime a lefty is on the hill, but when the team faces right-handers, Charlie Manuel will have to decide how he wants to use Jenkins, Werth and Shane Victorino.
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| Ryan Spilborghs gets the start in left field tonight, as Matt Holliday has been scratched due to a back issue, according to the Star Tribune. |
Our View: Spilborghs is hitting .309 over 68 at-bats, with one homer and 15 RBI. He also has three stolen bases. He won't replace the elite Holliday's bat, but he will provide the team with a solid substitute nonetheless.
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| Johan Santana has been pushed back to Saturday as Friday's scheduled start against the Yankees has been postponed due to rain, according to the AP. Oliver Perez will follow him on Sunday. |
Our View: The Mets already have a day-night doubleheader Tuesday at Atlanta and didn’t want to schedule another doubleheader for this week. The game will likely be made up some time in June.
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| Righty reliever Geoff Geary has been placed on the 15-day DL due to a strained right groin, according to the AP. Right-handed pitcher Fernando Nieve has been recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to fill his spot on the roster. |
Our View: Geary was pitching well as he has not allowed a run in 10 consecutive appearances since April 26. He holds a 1.47 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 18.1 innings, with 17 strikeouts. He will be a tough loss for the Astros' bullpen.
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| The Rockies have acquired left-handed pitcher Glendon Rusch, according to the Denver Post. He signed a minor league deal with the team, and joined the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A) in Fresno today. He could be activated soon. |
Our View: The reliever was previously released by the Padres. He can pitch in long relief and also could be used as a spot starter, and the Rockies like his versatility.
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| Fernando Martinez will be out of action for three weeks due to a strained right hamstring, according to the Press and Sun-Bulletin. Martinez sustained the injury while stealing second base in the second inning of Wednesday night's game against New Britain. He underwent an MRI with Mets team doctors in New York on Friday morning.
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Our View: Martinez is a top outfielding prospect for the Mets, and was hitting very well in the minors prior to sustaining the injury.
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| Michael Bourn has been dropped from the leadoff spot in the Astros' batting order, and will now bat eighth, according to the Houston Chronicle. Hunter Pence will replace him at the top of the order. |
Our View: Bourn has 17 stolen bases, but is only hitting .181 over 38 games, and only scored 16 runs while hitting ahead of Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman, and Carlos Lee.
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| Hunter Pence will be moving into the Astros' leadoff spot, according to the Houston Chronicle. Pence holds a .286 batting average and a .335 on-base percentage, and will be replacing Michael Bourn at the top of the order, as Bourn only has a .188 batting average over 144 plate appearances this season.
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Our View: Pence also has 10 doubles, one triple, and five stolen bases this season, and has enough speed to excel in the leadoff spot.
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| Fernando Nieve has been called up from Triple-A Round Rock, according to the Houston Chronicle. He will replace injured reliever Geoff Geary, who left Thursday's game with a strained right groin, on the 40-man roster.
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Our View: Nieve underwent Tommy John surgery last May, and was unable to compete for a rotation spot during the spring. He will be used as a long-reliever.
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| Phil Stockman has been recalled from Triple-A Richmond, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Chuck James has been optioned to Richmond, and Stockman fills his spot on the roster. |
Our View: The reliever will provide a fresh arm in the injury weakened Braves' bulllpen. Stockman last pitched in the majors in 2006, and allowed three hits and one run over four innings.
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| Doug Mientkiewicz played his ninth game at third base on Friday and used the chance to hit his first home runs of the season. |
Our View: Doug now has four hits in his last four AB and is one game from his 10th outing at the hot corner, which will give him added value in NL Only leagues, not much, but a little.
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| Chuck James has been optioned to Triple-A Richmond, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Braves also recalled right-handed pitcher Phil Stockman. |
Our View: James was rocked for five earned runs in four innings of work in his last start on May 15. His ERA climbed to 8.22 over 23 innings, and he held little fantasy value prior to his demotion.
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| Mark DeRosa hit his fourth home run of the season on Friday as he went 2-for-4 to push his average up to .293. |
Our View: DeRosa is working on a 7-game hitting streak that has allowed his average to rebound from a low water mark of .257 as he continues to be one of the best all-purpose bench players in the fantasy game.
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| Tom Gorzelanny was torched for seven runs on Friday over six innings in his fourth loss of the season. On the afternoon Gorzelanny was victimized for four home runs by the Cubbies. |
Our View: Momma said there would be days like this. With this outing, Gorzelanny's ERA ballooned to 6.64 and it's becoming very apparent that Tom just isn't a consistent enough option to roll out there every start, an obvious statement to make given the fact that he has allowed seven earned runs three times in eight starts on the year.
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| The Padres have sent Rule 5 pick Callix Crabbe back to the Brewers, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The Padres designated Crabbe for assignment last weekend, giving them 10 days to trade him or have him clear waivers. After he cleared waivers, however, the rules state that San Diego had to offer him back to Milwaukee for half the $50,000 draft price. The Brewers decided to reacquire Crabbe and have assigned him to Triple-A Nashville
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Our View: Crabbe only hit .176 over 34 at-bats in the majors this season, and isn't going to make an impact if he gets called back up from Nashville.
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| Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs on Friday on his way to four RBI in the Cubs 7-4 victory over the Pirates. |
Our View: Soriano has really been stroking it of late with five straight games of two hits and 14 hits in his last seven games. Look for the mashing to continue as he brings up his numbers to his previously established level of excellence.
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| Peter Magowan will officially step down from his spot as San Francisco Giants General Manager at the end of the year, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Macgowan, rumored to be on his way for about a week, will be replaced by William Neukon. |
Our View: While this obviously isn't fantasy news, it is noteworthy for the fact that no man was more responsible for keeping the Giants in San Francisco. If Macgowan hadn't stepped up there would likely be no team in S.F., and the team in Tampa would be called the Tampa Bay Giants.
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| Chad Tracy is still working his way back onto the field, but once he does finally return to action, don't look for him to remain with the D'backs for very long, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN. |
Our View: Considering that Tracy plays third base and first, and brings a left-handed bat to the party, it's a a bit odd to think the team might move Tracy, but on a slow news day, this was worth reporting.
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| Updating an earlier report, the Cardinals have in fact placed Jason Isringhausen on the 15-day DL with what is being called a lacerated pitching hand, according to The Sports Network. |
Our View: There is no official word on how Izzy injured his hand, but a report is circulating that he injured himself when he punched a TV in the locker room, twice, on May 9th, meaning that he pitched three times since the incident. When will pitchers learn to punch things with their non-pitching hand, or better yet to be adult about things and just throw a bat?
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| Minor league closer Chris Perez has been called up to the majors to take the open roster spot left by the injured Jason Isringhausen, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. |
Our View: Pitching in Triple-A, Perez has 22 K and eight saves in 17.2 innings. With Ryan Franklin enjoying success in the closers role there is no need to run to the waiver-wire as Perez won't be moving into the closers role with the Cards.
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| Jack Wilson started his rehab assignment well on Thursday as he went 1-for-3 at the plate without feeling problems in his injured left leg, according to MILB.com. "It was good to get the first-inning single, and run the bases a little bit," Wilson said. "I have to be patient because it's going to take a while to get my timing back." |
Our View: Wilson will probably need about a week's worth of games to get his timing back before he can join the Pirates who are desperate need of some offense from the shortstop position.
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| Jacque Jones officially became a free agent Thursday after being released by the Tigers, according to MLB.com. The Marlins are known to have interest in the outfielder. |
Our View: Jones could help out in left and center, but is he really better than what the Fish already have?
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| Josh Willingham could seek a second opinion on his ailing back, according to the Miami Herald. Willingham said he aggravated the injury while taking batting practice Monday. "I'm going to maybe see a doctor just to get another opinion," Willingham said. "But I really think I just did too much on it too early because I really wanted to get back on the field." |
Our View: The outfielder said later this month or early June would be a "best-case scenario" for his return. Luis Gonzalez will continue to fill in in left while Josh is out.
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| Chipper Jones was scratched from the lineup Thursday with a groin strain, but he expects to play Friday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It's hard to sit out, especially after a good win last night," said Jones. "But I'm thinking bigger picture. If I can miss one game here and there to avoid missing six or seven, or a 15-day DL stint, then I have to be smart enough to be able to step aside for one game." |
Our View: Chipper owners should be thrilled this ailment isn't a serious one, as the third baseman is scalding hot at the dish.
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| Scott Mathieson underwent a second Tommy John surgery yesterday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He has hist first operation in 2006. |
Our View: Mathieson was a pretty nice prospect at one point, but his career path is very cloudy now.
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| Kris Benson is scheduled to pitch a simulated game on May 26, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Benson is coming back from shoulder surgery. |
Our View: The Phillies rotation hasn't exactly lit the world on fire, but Benson is still a long ways away from helping out.
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| With all the young guys signing contract extensions, is it time for the Phillies to lock up Cole Hamels? It won't happen anytime soon, GM Pat Gillick tells the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Right now, it isn't going to happen," Gillick said. "If at some point, if [Hamels is] performing to the level, you're going to have to talk multiyear at some point." |
Our View: Hamels is under the Phillies' control until 2012, so the team isn't in any rush.
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| The Nationals activated Dmitri Young from the DL Friday. Young has been out nearly all year with a back ailment. |
Our View: With Nick Johnson on the DL, Young will take over as the starter at first. He's certainly worth a roster spot in NL-only play, but you should hold off in mixed leagues.
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| Chris Capuano underwent a successful second Tommy John surgery Thursday after an exploratory procedure revealed a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. |
Our View: Normal recovery time for Tommy John is a year, but since it's Capuano's second operation, it's possible it could take him a little longer.
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| Ty Wigginton expects to return to the lineup tonight after missing three games with a sore left rib cage, according to the Houston Chronicle. "I'm fine," he said. "I definitely expect to be ready." |
Our View: Wiggy has struggled to get much of anything going since coming back from his fractured thumb, driving in just one run with no homers in nine games.
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| Danny Richar is progressing well from his fractured first left rib, and the Sox hope he will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte by the end of the month, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: Richar has dealt with the injury since spring training. With Juan Uribe's average south of the Mendoza line, Richar could eventually earn some starts at second.
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| The Cubs are expected to call up Micah Hoffpauir sometime this weekend when they place Daryl Ward on the DL, according to the Chicago Tribune. |
Our View: Hoffpauir is off to a nice start at Triple-A after recovering from a rib cage injury, hitting .323 with three homers in 31 at-bats. He will be used in a pinch-hitting role.
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| The Brewers optioned Mitch Stetter to Triple-A Nashville Friday, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Stetter's wildness cost him his job, as he issued eight walks over his last three outings. Zach Jackson was recalled to replace him. |
Our View: Stetter holds a 3.09 ERA and 12.34 K/9 rate on the season, so he's been able to limit the damage for the most part, but apparently the Brewers want to send him out before he blows up.
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| Yorvit Torrealba's agent, Melvin Roman, has filed a grievance against the Mets over the collapse of the catcher's contract negotiations last winter, according to the Denver Post. Roman alleges that Torrealba signed a term sheet on a three-year, $14.4 million deal when the Mets backed out over concerns about the catcher's right shoulder. The Mets never publicly said that Torrealba failed his physical. |
Our View: We'll let you know what comes of this, but Torrealba has bigger problems with his .228 batting average and Chris Iannetta gaining more and more playing time.
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| The Cardinals will make a roster move with Jason Isringhausen today, likely placing him on the DL or possibly designating him for assignment, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The team has denied a physical ailment is the reason for his recent struggles, though club sources have indicated that the former closer has been receiving treatment for his arthritic left hip. Izzy has said he's willing to work his problems out in the minors, and he would almost surely clear waivers given his high salary. "I'm out of answers. I'm out of excuses," Isringhausen said. "We've just got to go to the next step, whatever that might be. I don't have any answers. I expect probably an answer tomorrow when I get here. We'll go from there." |
Our View: Ryan Franklin should continue to close while Izzy is out, though Russ Springer could get some save chances, as well.
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| Chris Snyder stroked his third home run of the season on Thursday night leading to a run scored and three runs on the night. |
Our View: Snyder hit fifth on this night as the team was without Eric Byrnes and Conor Jackson, and he didn't fail to provide the power the spot required. Snyder is hitting .284 on the year in just under 100 AB and is proving to be a solid source of run production as well.
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| Stephen Drew continued to boost his average hitting from the second hole in the order as he banged out four hits to finish at .295. |
Our View: Drew seems to have found a home at the top of the order, and he isn't likely to give it back to Eric Byrnes when he returns to the lineup.
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| Todd Helton went hitless in four trips to the plate on Thursday night as his average fell to .276. |
Our View: Helton simply can’t buy a hit right now which is a vexing situation given his career long trend of excellent hitting. The power is no longer there, but we expect a whole lot more out of him than a hollow .270’s average that we could get from a weak hitting middle infielder.
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| Aaron Cook was able to limit the damage to five runs in five innings despite allowing 10 hits and four walks to the D’backs in his second loss of the season. |
Our View: Cook leaves this game with a 2.82 ERA but we have a bridge to sell you if you think that number won’t be close to four than three by seasons end. He now has 29 K and 21 BB on the year, another sign that his luck is bound to change, for the worse, moving forward.
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| Brandon Webb had another quality start on Thursday as he allowed three runs in 7.1 innings to improve his perfect record to 9-0 with a victory over the Rockies. |
Our View: Should we just give him the Cy Young right now? Webb is on some kind of roll right now and tonight he added a season best eight strikeouts to the mix. If you have any hitters who are facing Webb bench them as they aren’t very likely to generate much of anything at the plate.
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