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| Chicago reliever Kerry Wood pitched well once again, picking up his 18th save of the season in the Cubs 3-1 victory over the Dodgers. Woods needed just 11 pitches to close the ninth, striking out two with one fly out. |
Our View: That's five consecutive saves for Wood with two walks and six strikeouts during that span. Take it back to May 1: 13 saves, five walks, 26 strikeouts, five earned runs allowed (three on May 1).
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| Chicago RHP Jason Marquis picked up his fourth win of the season as the Cubs put a 3-1 victory on the board versus the Dodgers. Marquis went 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one run (unearned) on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts. |
Our View: This is Marquis' second win in four starts with two no-decisions sandwiched in between. During that span, Marquis has surrendered 11 total earned runs, bringing his ERA to 4.54.
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| The Cubbies found yet another win this evening, putting the Dodgers to bed 3-1. Second baseman Mark DeRosa led the way, going 3-for-5 with his eighth homer of the season to total two RBIs and two runs scored. |
Our View: DeRosa came out of May with high hopes, hitting .310 on the month. Thus far it's not going extremely well, going 7-for-23 through June. This may get him back on track.
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| Dodger RHP Brad Penny suffered his eighth loss of the season as LA fell 3-1 to the Cubs. Penny pitched six innings to allow three runs (all earned) on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts. |
Our View: Penny is on a serious slide, suffering five losses over his last six outings, allowing 32 earned runs along the way.
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| The Dodgers have taken the 3-1 loss in today's MLB nightcap against the Cubs, posting just four total hits in a lackluster homefield effort. The star of the night for LA was outfielder Juan Pierre , going 2-for-4 with his eighth double of the season, the only extra-base hit the Dodgers posted. Pierre added his 23rd stolen bases of the season as well as one run scored. |
Our View: Pierre is holding steady, hitting .286 through June after posting the same average through May. However, this is his first stolen base in eight games.
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| The Mets are hoping to see a quick return for outfielder Moises Alou , according to MLB.com. |
Our View: The team will activate Alou from the disabled list on Tuesday, the second time this season they have taken the veteran outfielder off the list. The team is hoping to see his bat return to form, for the platoon situation in the middle of their batting order is becoming thin. Keeping Alou healthy would be of great benefit, but at 41-years of age, it is sure to be a challenge.
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| Colorado left fielder Matt Holliday is set to return to the Rockies lineup on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Holliday has been nursing a left hamstring sprain, but three rehab games with Triple-A Colorado Springs without incident has put him on course to return touting a .321 batting average with eight home runs and 26 RBIs.
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| With the Dodgers designating corner infielder Terry Tiffee for assignment, the team is facing problems with a a lack of personnel and may turn to Andy LaRoche to as the likely answer, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: LaRoche is working as the third baseman for Triple-A Las Vegas and manager Joe Torre, while reserving a desire to see what shortstop Angel Berroa (recently acquired via trade) has to offer, spoke of giving LaRoche that opportunity, noting he could be called up as early as Monday.
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| New York RHP Pedro Martinez suffered through a rough day on the mound, but the Padres needed the late innings to get the win against relief pitching, 8-6. Martinez pitched just five innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on 10 hits with no walks and four strikeouts. |
Our View: Pedro now owns a 6.91 ERA and escaped today with no decision. He threw 97 total pitches, 62 for strikes, and that speaks well looking forward.
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| San Diego needed every out they had today to get the job done, but the Padres pulled four runs in the eighth to get the win over the Mets, 8-6. The win was pushed by pinch hitting first baseman Tony Clark , taking his one at-bat and producing three runs with first home run of the year, giving Mets reliever Billy Wagner his third blown save and giving the Padres the win. |
Our View: Clark is used only in spot action, but today he was the savior and can enjoy the win.
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| They made it interesting, but the Mets took the fall 8-6 today over the San Diego Padres as the Pads scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure the victory. Several of the Mets made significant contributions, but first baseman Carlos Delgado was the top dog, going 3-for-5 with his 11th double and first triple of the season. Delgado posted two RBIs and one run scored on the day |
Our View: The target of ire earlier in the season, Delgado is on fire, hitting .370 for the month of June, going 6-for-9 over his last two games.
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| Oakland RHP Rich Harden put forth a noteworthy effort today in support of the 7-3 extra-inning win over the Angels, pitching six innings to allow three runs (all earned) on six hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. Harden left the mound and let a group of five relievers reel in the win, giving Harden no decision. |
Our View: This just his eighth start of the season, suffering three consecutive no-decisions in his last three outings. Harden has gone at least six innings in each of those starts, surrendering a combined total of six earned runs, six walks, and 22 strikeouts.
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| Milwaukee reliever Salomon Torres earned his seventh save of the season in closing the Rockies for a 3-2 win. Torres pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing no hits with one walk, three ground outs, and two fly outs. |
Our View: Torres has now has six saves in his last seven outings, allowing just two hits with no runs, two walks, and 11 strikeouts during that span.
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| The Brewers enjoyed a bounty of hits but somehow struggled to put the Rockies to bed, finally earning the 3-2 win over Colorado. With 11 total hits by Milwaukee, including two hits each by the four guys in the meat of the order, outfielder Ryan Braun worked as the man of force, going 2-for-5 with one RBI and one runs scored on the day. |
Our View: Braun hit .322 through May but is struggling a bit this month, hitting just .250 thus far. However, his seven RBIs through June is well on pace to eclipse the 11 he posted in May.
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| Colorado LHP Jeff Francis can't seem to get a good thing going this season, suffering sixth loss of the campaign today as the Rockies fell 3-2 to Milwaukee. Francis pitched six innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts. |
Our View: Francis now sits at 2-6 on the season with a 5.45 ERA. Through six starts in May, Francis allowed at least one homer in all but one, and while he has yet to give on up in June, his six walks versus nine strikeouts shows the control is lacking.
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| The Rockies suffered the disappointing 3-2 loss to Milwaukee today, though few are likely to feel the pain like first baseman Todd Helton . Helton went 0-for-5 at the plate with one strikeout and a surprising eight men left on base. |
Our View: Helton has been surging of late, sporting a 11-game win streak coming into the series with the Brewers. He went 2-for-4 in the first game of the set but has gone 0-for-8with one walk in the two games since.
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| St. Louis RHP Kyle Lohse picked up his seventh win of the season today, going six strong innings to hold Houston to three runs (all earned) on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The three runs all came in one swing of the bat by Houston first baseman Lance Berkman. |
Our View: Lohse now touts four consecutive victories, giving up a combined total of five earned runs with three walks and 10 strikeouts along the way.
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| Houston suffered a disappointing 5-4 loss at home to the Cardinals today, though first baseman Lance Berkman continues to work as a force of reckoning. Berkman went 1-for-4 with his 18th home run of the season, going deep in the 3rd with two men on against Kyle Lohse. Berkman finished with three RBIs on the day and is now hitting .372 on the season. |
Our View: Through his last 13 games, Berkman has gone 16-for-49 with six RBIs, actually slowing from his pace through the month of May where he hit .471 with nine home runs and 22 RBIs.
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| The Giants posted a total of 14 hits today in their 6-2 win over the Nationals with second baseman Ray Durham doing more than his fair share of the lifting. Durham went 4-for-5 on a day that included his 13th double of the season. Durham failed to drive in a run but did post a run scored. |
Our View: The veteran is now hitting .306 in his 13th season in the league and his hitting .478 through the month of June, going 7-for-13 with two doubles and three runs scored in three games versus Washington.
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| San Francisco LHP Barry Zito earned a much-needed win today, helping his Giants to a 6-3 victory over Washington. Zito lasted just five innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts. |
Our View: The struggles for control continue, but Zito has two wins in his last four starts with 12 earned runs allowed over that span. It's not great by any means, but it is an improvement.
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| Washington suffered the 6-3 loss to San Francisco today, though outfielder Lastings Milledge put his best foot forward to reverse their fortunes. Milledge went 2-for-4 with his fourth homer of the season to total two RBIs and one run scored. |
Our View: Milledge hasn't been so hot that the plate, hitting just .228 through May and .241 through June thus far.
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| Pittsburgh LHP Phil Phil Dumatrait earned his third win of the season today as the Pirates put the Arizona Diamondbacks away, 6-4. Dumatrait went 5 2/3 innings to allow just two runs (both earned) on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. |
Our View: Dumatrait now carries a 3.44 ERA on the season with just five earned runs allowed over his last four starts.
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| Arizona LHP Doug Davis struggled through a rough day on the mound as the Diamondbacks suffered the 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh. Davis last just 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits with four walks and no strikeouts. |
Our View: Davis has seen limited action and now carries two losses in his last three starts, giving up 12 earned runs through that stretch.
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| Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino had the offense flowing today as the Phillies put the 6-3 hurt on the Braves, hitting 3-for-5 (all singles) to post one RBI and three runs scored on the day. |
Our View: Slugger Ryan Howard drove Victorino in each time he got on, giving the outfielder eight run scored through June with 25 runs scored through his last 18 games.
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| It has been a season of struggle for first baseman Ryan Howard in Philadelphia, but today he got on the plate and mashed the ball around the yard in support of the 6-3 win over Atlanta. Howard went 3-for-4 at the dish with three doubles, posting four RBIs on the day. |
Our View: Howard was just 6-for-29 through June coming into today after hitting just .238 through May. He totaled more RBIs today than he has posted in his last seven games, though he has not hit a homer since May 30th.
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| Second baseman Dan Uggla was up to his usual tricks again today, helping the Marlins to a dominating 9-2 win. Uggla went 2-for-3, all singles, to post three RBIs and one runs scored. |
Our View: Uggla hit .347 through May and was hitting .348 in June coming into today. Through seven games this month, he has failed to post a hit in two.
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| Cincinnati RHP Aaron Harang suffered a troubling ninth loss today as the Reds fell 9-2 to the Marlins. Harang lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits with no walks and four strikeouts. |
Our View: Harang hasn't seen a win since May 12th, suffering four losses through is last six starts (including three consecutive falls).
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| Wandy Rodriguez was cruising along Sunday until a couple errors and a couple hit batsmen in the seventh inning opened the door to five unearned runs. The lefty ended the day allowing only four hits and a walk while striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings. He didn't give up any earned runs. |
Our View: Wandy has continued his mastery at home this year, posting a 0.72 ERA in four starts at Minute Maid this year (he had a 2.94 ERA in 15 starts at home last year).
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| Mark Reynolds hit a pair of bombs in Sunday's 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh. The third baseman now has 13 dingers and 39 RBI on the year. |
Our View: Reynolds has been an all-or-nothing player this year, with a .250 average and 70 strikeouts to go along with his 13 homers.
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| If Blaine Boyer was in line to pick up saves while Rafael Soriano recovers from a tender elbow, he didn't do himself any favors Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk in just a 1/3 of an inning. Boyer picked up the loss. |
Our View: It's looking more and more likely that Mike Gonzalez just might be the closer at some point for the Braves. It would be wise to beat the rush and go to the waiver wire and pick him up now.
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| The slumping Mike Cameron was out of the lineup Sunday for the third time in four games, and when he does return to action, he's likely to be hitting lower in the order, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I might do that," said manager Ned Yost. "I'm thinking of that. I don't know. We'll see. I'm thinking through it, with an off day (today). I don't want to act on impulse. But we're getting closer to that point. Maybe move both players and they both take off. I've got to think through it and make sure the timing is right." |
Our View: J.J. Hardy would replace Cameron in the two hole. Cameron is hitting just .214 in 32 games, though he does have seven homers.
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| Hanley Ramirez had a pair of two-run homers as well as a single in Sunday's 9-2 win over Cincinnati. Hanley has five bombs over his last five games and 14 overall on the year. |
Our View: Hanley went through a little slump last month, but he's obviously come through it nicely.
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| Ryan Tucker fared well in his major league debut Sunday, allowing just one run on two hits and five walks while striking out six over five innings to pick up the win. |
Our View: The five walks are an eyesore, but it's hard to ask for more out of the 21-year-old in his first ever start. He's worth an add in NL-only play and should be monitored in mixed formats.
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| Jose Valverde was walking around with a slight limp on Sunday, but he said it's nothing to worry about, according to MLB.com. The closer has had mild soreness in his left knee since spring training, but it hasn't affected him on the mound, and Valverde doesn't anticipate it affecting him in the future. "I'll be OK," Valverde said. "I can run on it. I'm always ready to pitch." |
Our View: Valverde has been arguably the best closer in the game since mid-April, so it doesn't appear that this is anything to sorry about.
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| Manny Ramirez hasn't played left field since May because of a tender hamstring, but he hopes to be back in the outfield by next weekend, according to MLB.com. Manny won't be able to DH in the series against the Reds that weekend, so he'll have to play in left if he's going to play at all. "I don't know if you're going to see him out there [before that]," said manager Terry Francona. "And hopefully when we get on the road, he'll feel good enough, because, obviously, we're better with his bat." |
Our View: Expect Manny to be in the lineup versus Cincy. He's been ripping the ball out of the DH spot lately.
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| If the injuries to starters Adam Wainwright and Todd Wellemeyer turn out to be worse than expected, the Cardinals will consider inserting Kyle McClellan into the rotation, pitching coach Dave Duncan told KSDK Channel 5. Duncan added that if they move McClellan into a starter role, that's the role he'll remain in this year. |
Our View: McClellan has been terrific out of the bullpen for the Cards this year, holding a 2.51 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 26/8 K/BB rate over 32 1/3 innings. The soon-to-be 24-year-old has some upside and could potentially be worth owning in mixed leagues if he is used as a starter, so keep an eye on this story.
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| Manager Fredi Gonzalez sees Ryan Tucker, who was called up Sunday to make his major league debut, sticking around a while, according to MLB.com. "We'll take it one day at a time, but I don't foresee him being a spot starter or anything like that," said Gonzalez. "I think we're going to give him an opportunity to stick around." |
Our View: A former first-round pick, Taylor dominated at Double-A Carolina before his call-up, boasting a 1.41 ERA and 62/27 K/BB rate over 70 innings. He's only 21 years old and has plenty of potential, but you should take a wait-and-see approach with him in fantasy for the time being.
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| Dmitri Young missed his third straight game Sunday because of flu-like symptoms, according to MLB.com. Young was originally in Saturday's lineup but was a late scratch because of the illness. |
Our View: Aaron Boone is playing first in place of Meathook. Manager Manny Acta said he wasn't sure when Young would be back.
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| Aaron Rowand is back in the lineup Sunday after missing Saturday's game with a sore right quadriceps. "He's good to go and feels 100 percent," manager Bruce Bochy said on MLB.com. |
Our View: Rowand said he sat out yesterday just as a precaution, so it's not surprising to see him back in there today.
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| Josh Willingham took batting practice on the field before Sunday's game, the first time he's been able to do so since injuring his back in April. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Willingham could be taking part in some rehab games pretty soon if all goes well. "Sometimes these things, he feels good one day, but then you got to see how he feels [on Monday]," Gonzalez said on MLB.com. "If he feels good again, maybe take another BP. If everything goes well, I think by the middle of the week he should be playing some games in the minor leagues -- whether it's Gulf Coast or some place else." |
Our View: Gonzalez has previously established the All-Star break as a legitimate target for a return for Willingham, but it sounds like it could be a little sooner than that. We'll keep you posted on his recovery.
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| Mitchell Boggs will start on Tuesday in place of the injured Todd Wellemeyer, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Boggs made his major league debut in relief on Friday, giving up a solo homer in two innings. |
Our View: Boggs is one of the Cards' better pitching prospects and produced good numbers in his time at Triple-A Memphis (3.28 ERA, 1.16 WHIP). He will probably get just one start, unless Wellemeyer ends up having to go on the DL. NL-only owners should monitor Boggs' outing.
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| As expected, Garrett Mock was recalled from Triple-A Columbus and will start for the Nats Sunday. It will be the right-hander's major league debut. |
Our View: Mock posted a 3.06 ERA and 51/13 K/BB rate in 11 starts for Columbus. He is worth monitoring, but probably not yet worth adding, in NL-only play.
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| Chipper Jones won't play Sunday and may miss one or two additional games due to a small tear in his right quadriceps, according to the AP. Chipper injured the muscle on April 9 and felt more soreness as the Braves' road trip continued. "I won't do anything today or tomorrow," he said. "I'll see how it feels after the off day. ... I'll probably miss a day or two in Chicago." |
Our View: Omar Infante is in the lineup today in Chipper's place.
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| The Marlins optioned Paul Hoover to Triple-A Albuquerque Sunday. He was replaced on the roster by Ryan Tucker, who will start today's game. |
Our View: Hoover didn't received an at-bat in his short time with the club, though he is 3-for-7 for the Fish on the year.
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| Eric Gagne played catch Saturday from about 120 feet at about 75 percent effort, according to MLB.com. He'll have to be up to about 95 percent before throwing off a mound. "I'm just trying to get my strength back," said Gagne, who is coming back from rotator cuff tendinitis. |
Our View: Well, it's progress. However, Gagne is likely still a couple weeks away, and he might not have his old job when he returns, as Salomon Torres has pitched well.
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| David Riske, recovering from a hyperextended right elbow and a sore shoulder, threw off a mound for the first time on Saturday, according to MLB.com. He is scheduled to throw off the mound again Tuesday and is likely to need several such bullpen sessions before the team would consider activating him. |
Our View: Riske will likely be in a setup role once he returns, as Salomon Torres has seized the closer's role for the time being.
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| Orlando Hernandez has begun throwing off a mound in Port St. Lucie, according to the NY Daily News. El Duque is coming back from right foot surgery. |
Our View: There is no timetable for El Duque's return.
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| The Mets have signed John Rodriguez to a minor-league deal and assigned him to Triple-A New Orleans, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: Rodriguez hit .259 with six homers in 85 at-bats with Triple-A Durham in the Tampa Bay organization before inking the deal with the Mets. He'll provide depth for an outfield that has had its share of injury problems this year.
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| Johan Santana didn't do his standard day-after tossing and said his shoulder felt "a little stiff" after being hit by a pitch in his last start, but he expected the rest of his between-starts schedule to remain normal, according to the NY Daily News. He doesn't expect to miss his next start. |
Our View: It sounds like it's OK to keep Johan in your lineups this week.
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| Brad Thompson has had his rehab assignment pushed up to Monday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The righty, who is coming back from right elbow inflammation, will have his innings built up so that he's ready to provide depth for a rotation that has been hit by injuries. |
Our View: Thompson should only need a start or two to get ready. We'll let you know how his rehab goes.
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| Rick Ankiel remained in St. Louis on Saturday to receive treatment on a cellulitis infection in his right knee, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. However, Ankiel will meet the team in Cincinnati Tuesday and is expected to be available to play then. |
Our View: This ailment has lingered a bit longer than expected, but it sounds like a return is on the horizon.
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| Mark Mulder, coming back from a pair of shoulder surgeries, threw an aggressive bullpen session Saturday. He is trying to return with whatever mechanics his rebuilt shoulder will allow, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "What we see looks so normal and natural for him," manager Tonya Russa said. "We didn't see him in his heyday, and he was already out of sorts when he got here (2005), but this looks natural. He just has to repeat it." |
Our View: La Russa sounds encouraged, but we have serious doubts that Mulder will ever amount to anything again. He'll have another session Tuesday.
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| Todd Wellemeyer said his right elbow felt better Saturday than it has in a week, but the righty will still miss his next scheduled start, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's nothing serious," said Wellemeyer. "I felt it after my start against Pittsburgh (May 30) and again Thursday's game. It was enough to get it checked out. But it feels better. … My body is resilient." The Cards left open the possibility that Wellemeyer could simply be pushed back a couple days, but it's more likely that he'll just be skipped altogether. An MRI on the elbow was negative, though it did reveal inflammation, a mild stress reaction and a slight impingement. |
Our View: At this point Wellemeyer is not expected to need a DL stint. Mitchell Boggs will start in his place on Tuesday.
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| Adam Wainwright will fly to St. Louis Sunday and meet with team doctors Monday to determine the severity of the sprained finger injury that forced him from Saturday's start, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The righty felt some soreness and loss of feeling in his right middle finger during his warm-up, and he felt a pop in the finger when he tried to throw a curveball to the second batter of the sixth inning. He couldn't get any pressure on his next pitch and motioned for team trainer Barry Weinberg.
"At that point, I realized I had no more business being in the game because I couldn't grip the ball," Wainwright said. "The feeling is exactly like a jammed finger. It's not swollen like it's jammed, but I can't bend it like it's jammed and I can't put any pressure on it." |
Our View: The Cardinals rotation has been hit hard by injuries lately, so hopefully for theirs and Wainwright's owners' sake this injury is a minor one.
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| The Mets have shut Ryan Church down, and the outfielder could be headed to the DL, according to the NY Daily News. Church is still dealing with post-concussion symptoms. "It's not like a headache," Church said. "It's just like a pounding. I feel like a heartbeat in my head. I just didn't feel right. When he came to me to ask if I could hit, I said, 'No. I can't do it.'" |
Our View: Church will see a neurologist in New York, likely on Tuesday, and could be placed on the DL after that. The Mets need to shut him down and get him right.
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| Carlos Delgado had three hits, two singles and a double, for the Mets in their 2-1, 10 inning loss to the Padres. |
Our View: Delgado has four multi-hit games in his last 10 outings though he is still hitting just .237 on the year. He is also barely on pace for 20 home runs meaning there is likely to be a power surge forthcoming, that is if he isn't to the point where his diminishing bat speed just won't let him go deep.
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| Scott Hairston hit a game-winning home run in the 10th inning in the Padres 2-1 victory over the Mets on Saturday night. |
Our View: Hairston now has nine home runs, but with a batting average of .235 and and OBP below .290, the Padres are paying a high price for the power as are you if you continue to run him out there.
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| Making his second start in a Padres uniform, Cha Seung Baek had a solid outing allowing just one run over six innings. He walked two and struck out two in the effort. |
Our View: With Shawn Estes on the DL, Baek could stick in the rotation even when Jake Peavy is activated after his solid effort this evening.
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| Oliver Perez rebounded from three poor efforts in a row to allow one run over 5.1 innings in a no-decision on Saturday. |
Our View: Perez walked only two batters while striking out five in the effort, a great turnaround after allowing 11 runs in his last 6.1 innings. He is still up and down from start to start making him extremely difficult to own.
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