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| Randy Wolf outdueled Johan Santana Friday, limiting the Mets to one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out two over seven innings in San Diego's 2-1 win. |
Our View: Wolf has had four straight solid outings in a row after going through a rough patch.
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| Ryan Doumit was 0-for-4 at the plate Friday in his first game back from a fractured thumb. Doumit hadn't played since May 14th. |
Our View: Doumit may have to shake some rust off, but with Ronny Paulino now at Triple-A, he'll be getting the bulk of the starts behind the plate.
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| Dmitri Young did not play Friday due to the flu, according to the AP. Aaron Boone played first in place of Young, and Kory Casto replaced Boone at third. |
Our View: Meathook should be good to go shortly.
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| Aaron Rowand will be re-examined on Saturday after leaving Friday's game in the seventh inning with an injury to his right quad, according to the AP. |
Our View: Consider Rowand day-to-day for the time being. We'll update you on his condition tomorrow.
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| The Astros recalled Reggie Abercrombie from Triple-A Round Rock Friday. Abercrombie was hitting .288 with nine homers, 25 RBI and 14 steals for Round Rock. |
Our View: Abercrombie could give Michael Bourn a breather against lefties. He could be worth a small bid in NL-only paly.
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| The Astros designated Jose Cruz Jr. for assignment Friday. Cruz was hitting just .122 and had only one extra-base hit in 49 at-bats. The team has recalled Reggie Abercrombie from Triple-A Round Rock to replace Cruz on the roster. |
Our View: This was surely a tough decision for manager Cecil Cooper, since Jose's father is the manager's close friend and the team's first base coach. But Cruz's performance certainly warranted the move.
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| Rich Hill made his second start for Triple-A Iowa since suffering from back spasms, allowing one run on one hit with seven walks and five strikeouts. |
Our View: Hill has walked 18 in 21 1/2 innings for Iowa since being sent down. He will have to cut down on those walks if he wants to get back with the big club.
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| Geovany Soto didn't start Friday because of a swollen finger that he apparently aggravated on a swing, according to MLB.com. "He's got a little bit of swelling in his bottom hand," manager Lou Piniella said. "We're trying to figure out why the bottom hand leaves the bat. The one that should leave is the top hand. He swings and when the bottom hand comes off, somehow the top hand rubs over the finger and he has a little swelling in there." |
Our View: Pinella said he was planning on giving Soto either Friday or Saturday off, anyway. Hopefully he'll be back in there tomorrow.
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| An MRI Friday on Todd Wellemeyer's elbow came back negative. However, the right-hander's next start is still in question. |
Our View: Mitchell Boggs, who made his major league debut in relief Friday, is a candidate to fill in if Wellemeyer should need to miss a turn.
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| The Giants are an undeniably bad team, but that hasn't kept Tim Lincecum from getting off to a fantastic start. The righty held the Nats to one run on five hits while striking out five over seven innings Friday to pick up his eighth win of the season against just one loss. |
Our View: Lincecum's eight wins match the total of the rest of the Giants' starters combined. He's probably due for some tough luck losses but you can't bet against him right now.
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| Jorge Cantu was the offensive star for the Marlins Friday, picking up a pair of solo homers and a double in an 11-3 loss to Cincinnati. |
Our View: Cantu has quietly put together a nice bounceback season, hitting .276 with 10 homers and 32 RBI.
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| Jay Bruce entered Friday's game coming off of two straight hitless contests. He then struck out in his first at-bat Friday before finishing the night 3-for-4 with two walks, two runs and three RBI. |
Our View: Bruce has multiple hits in six of 11 games since his recall. You didn't think his "slump" would last, did you?
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| Brandon Webb picked up his 11th win of the season Friday, limiting the Pirates to one run on three hits while striking out three over seven innings of work. |
Our View: Webb is as automatic as they come in the game right now.
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| Aaron Rowand had to exit Friday's game after six innings due to an apparent right hip injury, according to SportsTicker. |
Our View: We'll let you know more on Rowand's injury when info becomes available.
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| Alex Gonzalez, coming back from a fractured knee, has been running for a week now but but had to dial it back a little, according to MLB.com. "Hitting and fielding feels good -- the problem is the running," said Gonzalez. "I still feel something there. I'm running 70-75 percent, but that's good." |
Our View: A rehab assignment has not been scheduled for Gonzalez yet. He says the decision when to start one has been left up to him.
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| Jeff Keppinger ran the bases on Friday at the club's spring complex and is expected to do so again on Saturday and could DH in an extended camp game on Sunday before starting a rehab assignment, according to MLB.com. He is working his way back from a broken left kneecap. |
Our View: Keppinger, who has been out since May 13, was slated to miss 4-6 weeks, and it looks like he will be back on the shorter end of that projection.
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| Josh Willingham dressed out during batting practice Friday, stretched out with the team and also shagged some fly balls, but that doesn't mean he's close to returning to the lineup, manager Fredi Gonzalez told MLB.com. "It'll be a while, because he hasn't played in over a month," Gonzalez said. "He's got to get his legs in shape -- he's got to get his arm in shape. He hasn't picked up a ball. You hate to run him back in there, then his legs go bad." Willingham is coming back from lower back soreness. |
Our View: The Marlins have yet to set a timetable for Willingham's return, but he should be back around the All-Star break.
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| Paul Lo Duca took batting practice and played catch without any problems on Friday and will start his rehab assignment with Single-A Potomac on Sunday, according to MLB.com. The catcher will play a couple games for Potomac before heading to Triple-A Columbus for a couple of more games before being activated from the disabled list sometime during the Nats' next road trip. Lo Duca is coming back from a fractured hand. |
Our View: Lo Duca was originally not expected back until the All-Star break, but it looks like he'll easily beat that projection.
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| Mike Gonzalez, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, threw in the bullpen Friday before the Braves' game against the Phillies and plans to report to Triple-A Richmond on Sunday for one or two injury rehab appearances, according to the AP. He's already appeared in four rehab games for Double-A Mississippi, not allowing a run. Barring a setback, Gonzalez hopes to join the Braves bullpen sometime next week. |
Our View: The Braves could use the power lefty in the pen with John Smoltz now out for the year. Gonzalez could pick up a few stray saves on days that Rafael Soriano isn't available, and given Soriano's medical history, it's possible Gonzalez could be saving games regularly at some point. Even in a setup role, the southpaw is worth a roster spot in deeper leagues.
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| The Royals traded former AL Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa to the Dodgers Friday in exchange for minor league infielder Juan Rivera. Berroa hasn't appeared in a game with the Royals this year but has hit .291 with 10 home runs and 27 RBI in 51 games for Triple-A Omaha. |
Our View: Dodgers shortstops have really struggled at the plate while Rafael Furcal has been out. Furcal should be back fairly soon, though. It's not clear whether Berroa will report to the major-league club right away or go to Triple-A Las Vegas first.
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| Eric Byrnes is making progress in his recovery from tears in both hamstrings, according to MLB.com. "He did some agility drills today," manager Bob Melvin said. "It was the first day for that. We'll progressively lead into the running part, which he is champing at the bit to do, but it was the first day that he did agilities out on the field." |
Our View: Byrnes said he won't know how far along he is in his recovery until he really cuts loose and sprints. He is still likely a couple weeks away.
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| Ray Durham was back in the starting lineup Friday after being limited to pinch-hitting duty Wednesday, according to MLB.com. The veteran was originally absent from the lineup, but he talked his manager, Bruce Bochy, into inserting him in there. "I didn't put him in there, and he came in and said he felt great and feels nothing in the calf," Bochy said. "So he's in there." |
Our View: At last check, Durham had a couple hits in three at-bats, so apparently the calf isn't giving him any trouble.
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| Todd Wellemeyer did not travel with the Cardinals to Houston but instead flew to St. Louis to meet with team doctors to have what manager Tony La Russa described as a "soreness near his biceps" checked out, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The team is officially referring to the pitcher's ailment as right elbow inflammation. La Russa said there Wellemeyer's next start might be in question. "You always treat it like it's a big deal," La Russa said, "and hope for the best." |
Our View: The results of Wellemeyer's visit should be known later this evening. We'll keep you posted.
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| Rick Ankiel did not travel with the team to Houston but instead flew to St. Louis to meet with with team doctors about the infection in his right knee, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The outfielder has been unavailable for several days because of swelling and irritation in his knee. |
Our View: Manager Tony La Russa said he's unsure if Ankiel will rejoin the team this weekend in Houston. We'll let you know what the doctor says.
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| LaTroy Hawkins began serving a three-game suspension Friday after his penalty was upheld by the commissioner's office, according to the AP. Hawkins was disciplined for throwing at the Orioles' Luke Scott last month. "I'm disappointed, but you move forward," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "You move forward and you find a way to use your bullpen one guy short." |
Our View: The Yanks will probably be better off without Hawkins and his 6.07 ERA anyway.
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| The Red Sox recalled Brandon Moss from Triple-A Pawtucket Friday. He replaces Chris Carter on the roster. |
Our View: The Sox needed a reinforcement with Manny Ramirez and Jacoby Ellsbury banged up and Coco Crisp facing a suspension. Moss could get a bit of playing time over the next couple weeks.
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| The Rockies activated Brad Hawpe from the DL Friday. He had been out with a strained hamstring. To clear a roster spot, the team optioned Cory Sullivan to Triple-A Colorado Springs. |
Our View: The Rockies have been arguably the biggest disappointment in baseball this year, so they'll certainly welcome Hawpe back into the lineup.
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| Albert Pujols is in the lineup tonight despite a tight calf. Pujols, who hasn't started the last two games, said he is playing at 40 percent. |
Our View: Forty percent? You should probably be sitting out, eh Albert? Hopefully he'll just hit four homers so he can trot around the bases.
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| The Padres recalled Craig Stansberry from Triple-A Portland Friday. Stansberry was batting .232 with four homers and 19 RBI at Portland. |
Our View: Stansberry will get some playing time at second while Tadahito Iguchi is out. He's worth a bid in NL-only play.
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| The Padres activated Clay Hensley from the DL Friday and optioned him to Triple-A Portland. Hensley is making his way back from shoulder surgery. |
Our View: Hensley could be added to the Pads bullpen at some point, and he could also potentially get some starts down the line.
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| Manny Ramirez's right knee and hamstring are still tight, so he is not in tonight's starting lineup, according to The Providence Journal. Manager Terry Francona said Ramirez reported that his leg is sore, but was hopeful the slugger would be back in the lineup on Saturday. On another note, Manny said that his spat with teammate Kevin Youkilis is "in the past". |
Our View: It was originally reported that Manny just had a strained hammy, but apparently the knee is acting up on him, as well. Fortunately it sounds like he'll be back in there shortly.
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| The Cardinals recalled right-hander Mitchell Boggs from Triple-A Memphis on Friday. He takes the roster spot of right-hander Mike Parisi who was optioned to the team's top affiliate.
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Our View: Boggs was 5-1 with a 3.28 ERA in 12 starts for Memphis. This is his first trip to the bigs.
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| The Cardinals optioned Mike Parisi to Triple-A Memphis on Friday, which means the right-hander won't get the start Saturday for the injured Joel Piniero. |
Our View: The most logical replacement is Anthony Reyes at this point, but no official announcement has been made.
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| Chipper Jones told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he would like to play at least four more years and that he would prefer to spend those years with the Braves.
"I don't think there's any reason I can't play through 40," he said, "long as I don't let my body go, which is not going to happen. I'm too active year-round to let my body go. |
Our View: The Braves have an option that would pay Jones $8-11 million in '09 depending on performance, although it is expected that the number would be closer to $11 million. If Chipper were to hit the open market, healthy, he would garner more in the neighborhood of 15-16 million.
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| Denny Bautista has been activated on Friday for the weekend's series against Cleveland. Bautista has been on the disabled list since May 3 with right shoulder tendinitis. |
Our View: Bautista replaced right-hander Aquilino Lopez, who was placed on the bereavement list while he deals with an illness in his family.
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| Barry Bonds has pleaded not guilty to 15 federal charges of misleading a grand jury, this according to the AP.
Bonds pleaded not guilty to similar accusations in December, but a judge ordered prosecutors to rewrite the slugger's indictment to fix legal infirmities in the document. The new indictment includes no new allegations.
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Our View: Bonds was re-arraigned today on 15 felony counts of lying under oath. This obviously won't help him secure a job in the next two months, but it's still not out of the question he could catch on with a postseason hopeful in need of a left-handed bat.
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| Second baseman Tadahito Iguchi was placed on the disabled list with a separated right shoulder, this according to MLB.com. He suffered the injury in the seventh inning of the Padres' 2-1 victory over the Mets at PETCO Park on Thursday night.
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Our View: Edgar Gonzalez entered the game for Iguchi and will likely get the start at second base on Friday.
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| Abraham Nunez was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans by the Mets on Thursday night, according to the Associated Press. Nick Evans was optioned back to Double-A. |
Our View: Nunez will serve as a spare part and bares no fantasy value at all for the moment.
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| Mets manager Willie Randolph said left fielder Moises Alou will not come off the 15-day disabled list on Friday, this according to the AP.
Randolph said his outfielder will likely be activated Tuesday when the Mets return to Shea to face the Arizona Diamondbacks. Alou is eligible to return on Friday. |
Our View: The oft-injured Alou has mixed league value, but only if he can find a way to stay healthy.
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| The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Mark Mulder threw from a bullpen mound on Thursday. This was the first time in three weeks that the left-hander has done such. The note reports that his mechanics were different throwing from a lower, more "natural" arm slot.
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Our View: With the coaching staff and Mulder deciding this week that they will not force the current rehab schedule, a timetable for his return is uncertain.
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| The Rick Ankiel updates continue to surface. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on Friday morning that the Cardinals center fielder underwent a second examination between games of Thursday's doubleheader.
After staying at the team's hotel during the afternoon game, Ankiel was examined before departing with the club for Houston. Manager Tony La Russa told the paper the infection had shown progress and that Ankiel might play this weekend.
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Our View: La Russa said Ankiel was not suffering from a staph infection, but his playing status for this weekend remains a question.
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| Albert Pujols is an uncertainty for tonight's game against the Houston Astros, this according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pujols cited a late-night charter flight and the chance his injured calf might tighten as the reason. |
Our View: The All Star also noted that playing in yesterday's first game of the double header had a negative effect on the calf strain, and that his memory of attempting to play through a hamstring injury last September will create more caution on his part.
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| Once again the Denver Post is waving the white flag for the Colorado Rockies. The paper has been doing their own scouting work on league organizational scouts. The report notes that Yankee scouts have not turned up at a Rockies game recently, an indication that while the paper has given up all hope on the last place team (22-38) the front office hasn't issues a "For Sale" sign on their players yet. Closer Brian Fuentes is an obvious target for a New York team looking for an eighth-inning upgrade over Kyle Farnsworth. |
Our View: And of course what potential target of the Yankees be without throwing the Red Sox into the mix. The report notes that Boston is also monitoring Fuentes' situation, but there have been no trade talks as of yet.
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| Ronny Paulino was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after Thursday's win over the Astros.
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Our View: Ryan Doumit was activated from the disabled list forcing the team to make a roster move.
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| Dan Uggla was back with his teammates on Thursday night in Atlanta, after missing Wednesday's action to catch the birth of his second child. The second baseman went 3-for-5 with a run and a stolen base.
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Our View: Seeing that Uggla has witnessed the phenomenon of child birth, it didn't traumatize him the second time around. He didn't miss a beat and continued his hot-hitting ways.
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| The Astros purchased the contract of catcher Humberto Quintero from Triple-A Round Rock and optioned J.R. Towles to their top affiliate after Thursday's game, this according to the Canadian Press.
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Our View: Towles obviously needs to be playing everyday, and currently that place is in Triple-A. Quintero has little fantasy value outside of deep NL-only formats.
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| The Astros optioned J.R. Towles to Triple-A Round Rock after Thursday's game and purchased the contract of catcher Humberto Quintero from its top affiliate, this according to the Canadian Press. |
Our View: A pre-season can't miss, has done exactly that. After showing September promise that included an eight RBI performance against the Cardinals, the team has decided the young catcher needs more seasoning.
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| Kosuke Fukudome hit his fourth home run of the season on Thursday night as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI against the Dodgers. |
Our View: Fukudome hasn't been able to translate his power to the American game, but with a .305 average and an OBP just above .400, it can't be said that he hasn't been a valuable bat in the Cubs lineup.
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| Jeff Kent hit two home runs, one in the sixth inning and one in the eighth, though it wasn't enough to lead the Dodgers to a victory over the Pirates. |
Our View: Kent now has three home runs in his last three games and four in his last seven games as his bat is finally starting to heat up to reward those that were patient with him.
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| Ryan Doumit was activated from the DL late Thursday night, according to the Miami Herald. He had been out since May 14th with a fractured left thumb. |
Our View: Ronny Paulino was demoted to Triple-A to provide Doumit room on the roster. Paulino was hitting just .218 with two home runs as he failed miserably to take advantage of his chance to prove his worth. Raul Chavez will likely serve as Doumit's backup for the foreseeable future.
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| Jose Reyes continued to provide a spark from the top of the lineup for the Mets as he had two hits, two steals, and a run scored against the Padres. |
Our View: Reyes has at least two hits in six of his last 11 games during which time he has stolen six bases. If there was any doubt about Reyes, it has certainly passed.
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| Tadahito Iguchi went 3-for-4 with an RBI before being forced from the game due to a strained right shoulder. |
Our View: Iguchi is a solid number two hitter who is willing to do the little things to help a team to find success, but his days of being a fantasy factor appear over. Other than a little speed, he has eight SB, there isn't anything else going on here.
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| Continuing to pitch like he wants no part of the minors, Mike Pelfrey went six innings against the Padres on Thursday night allowing just a single run in a no-decision. |
Our View: Pelfrey had only one K on the night and his K/9 rate of 4.35 is terribly low for a man who throws 95 mph. Still, he has allowed just three runs over his last two starts though he has nary a decision for his efforts.
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| Josh Banks had his second straight excellent start for the Padres as he held the Mets to just one run over six innings, though it was only good enough for a no-decision. |
Our View: Banks now permitted a measly single earned run over 23.1 innings this season as he currently owns a freakish ERA of 0.39. This was also his second start without allowing a walk and he is clearly someone to target in NL Only leagues and deep mixed leagues while he is on a run like this.
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