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| Mark Ellis had two more hits on Thursday night giving him eight in his last four games as his average has climbed from .232 to .250. |
Our View: Ellis is likely available in many leagues given his poor work at the plate in the early going, but if you have a need in the middle of your infield, now would seem like a good time to look him up as it is clear that he is finally rolling at the plate.
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| Andy Pettitte held the Athletics to just one run over eight innings on Thursday night as he won his sixth game of the season. Pettitte found success by limiting his walks allowing only one on the night along with permitting just five hits. |
Our View: After being a punching bag in his last two outings (14 ER in 13.2 IP), Pettitte looked liked the pitcher who owns 207 career victories tonight. No longer the pitcher he once was, Pettitte still keeps the Yankees in it most nights which meaning he still has a chance to put up a solid win total the rest of the way.
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| Hideki Matsui knocked in all four Yankees runs on Thursday night as he hit a grand slam off Joe Blanton in the Yankees victory over the Athletics, 4-1. |
Our View: Matsui has been his normal steady self this year hitting a very quiet .322, though he has knocked in only 33 RBI in 62 games. As his knee continues to strengthen, look for the extra base power to be kicked up a notch.
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| Jamey Carroll went 4-for-4 for the Indians on Thursday to raise his average .028 points. He also scored a run and knocked one in. |
Our View: First it was Asdrubal Cabrera and then Josh Barfield who failed to hit at second base, so now Carroll will get his shot. Carroll is hitting .273 thanks to eight hits the past three games, and he could be a nice fill in if you have an injured player, though chances of him sustaining a run of offensive excellence is pretty limited, though he did hit .300 with 84 runs scored as recently as 2006.
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| Ben Francisco had a big day for the Indians hitting from the third slot in the order with four hits in five trips to the plate. He also knocked in three runs. |
Our View: Francisco certainly isn't a number three hitter at this point of his career, but with injuries to Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez the team needs someone to step up in the heart of the order, and for a day at least, Francisco did just that.
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| Aaron Laffey limited the Twins to just one run over six innings to pick up his fourth victory of the season for the Indians. |
Our View: Laffey has turned that frown upside over his last two starts allowing just three runs in 12.2 innings after his worst outing of the season on June 2nd (eight ER). He continues to operate as one of the better soft tossing lefties in the AL this season.
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| Esteban Loaiza will likely be released in order to create a spot on the roster for Adam Russel who has been recalled from Triple-A, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Russell figures to work in long relief while Loaiza will try, once again, to rekindle a sagging career.
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| Miguel Batista will be removed from the rotation and replaced by knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, according to MLB.com. "We're trying to line up our ducks the best way we can to protect ourselves," manager John McLaren said of the switch. "[Batista and Dickey] will switch roles until we get J.J. [Putz] back." |
Our View: With Putz out at least through the weekend, the team made the decision that it would be better to have the fastball/slider stuff of Bautista in the pen with the fluttering knuckleball of Dickey in the rotation.
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| J.J. Putz will be out of action at least through this weekend due to discomfort in his right elbow which turned out to be a hyperextension of his elbow, MLB.com. The good news is that his UCL seems to be intact meaning he wont need Tommy John surgery. |
Our View: The team hopes Putz can avoid the DL, but it seems clear that another trip to the list is quite possible. Look for Brandon Morrow to close in the absence of Putz.
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| Jonathan Albaladejo doesn't have a strained muscle in his elbow, the injury is actually a stress fracture that will cause him to miss the rest of the season, according to ESPN. |
Our View: Jonathan made only seven appearances before going down with the injury, but this just leaves another spot in the Yankees bullpen to fill with Joba Chamerlain in the starting rotation.
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| Phil Hughes had an x-ray on his injured right rib on Thursday and the results where positive with Hughes being cleared to being throwing in about two weeks, according to ESPN. |
Our View: Hughes will need about six weeks of throwing to get back out on the hill meaning he likely won't return until sometime in late August, provided he doesn't suffer any setbacks.
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| Travis Hafner continues to take dry swings in the batting cage while working on exercises to strengthen his injured shoulder, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: The club hopes that he will be able to begin a rehab assignment next week with the hope of possibly returning to the Indians by next weekend.
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| Fausto Carmona threw his first bullpen session on Thursday since injuring his left hip on May 24th, according to MLB.com. Carmona threw 35 pitches, all fastballs and changeups, and reported after the outing that he felt fine. "It went very well," head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff said. "If all progresses well, he'll throw a 50-pitch, all-pitch bullpen Saturday." |
Our View: The plan is for Carmona to throw on Saturday and then head out for his first rehab start next week. He is likely still a couple of weeks from returning, but his progress is encouraging.
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| Kevin Millar was forced from the Orioles and Red Sox game on Thursday with a left knee contusion, according to the Associated Press. X-rays were negative and he is being listed as day-to-day. |
Our View: Oscar Salazar entered the lineup though Millar's presence will be sorely missed if he is out for any length of time, both for his attitude and recent performance on the field that includes three home runs and nine RBI in his last 10 games.
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| Juan Rincon was outrighted to Triple-A on Thursday, according to The Sports Network. Rincon has three days to decide whether or not he wants to accept the assignment. Third baseman Brian Buscher was recalled to take the roster spot. |
Our View: The Twins needed to reduce their staff from 13 pitchers, and given the fact that Rincon has been so ineffective this year, it's really no surprise that he was let go.
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| Victor Martinez will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his injured elbow on Friday and will miss upwards of two months, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. |
Our View: Martinez will have bone chips removed during the procedure. Kelly Shoppach will receive a substantial boost in value given this news as he will likely take on a heavy workload with the recently recalled Yamid Haad serving as the backup.
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| Jeff Weaver was released from the Brewers organization on Thursday a day after he allowed eight runs and 11 hits in six innings at Triple-A, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Weaver will look to sign on with another organization, though he didn't do himself any favors by going 2-4 with a 6.22 ERA at Triple-A. Seth McClung figures to hold on to the fifth spot in the Brewers rotation.
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| Bryan Bullington was demoted to Triple-A on Thursday after two weeks of inactivity, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. |
Our View: It does no one any good to have a guy just sitting on the bench doing nothing, that's what bat boys are for. Bullington was 3-6 with a 5.68 ERA with Indianapolis earlier in the year, and though no official news was given on who would take his roster spot, but it is expected that reliever Marino Salas will be called up.
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| Jason Varitek will miss the Red Sox game on Thursday night because of strep throat, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: Kevin Cash, who has served as the personal caddy to knuckler Tim Wakefield, figures to play until Varitek is healthy enough to make a go of it.
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| Eric Hurley had a solid start to his major league career on Thursday as he held the Royals to four runs, including two home runs, over six innings of work in a no-decision. |
Our View: If Hurley continues to allow fly balls, he will likely have a tough go of it pitching in Texas where fly balls have a tendency to leave the yard.
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| Ian Kinsler hit his ninth home run of the year, a solo shot off of Brian Bannister on Thursday. |
Our View: Kinsler is again on pace for a 20/20 season, but with the way he has stolen bases this year, it would be a disappointment if he didn't go 20/30 this year, putting him on pace to be one of the top-5 second baseman in the game.
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| Alex Gordon had two hits, including his seventh home run of the season, and knocked in two runs while scoring twice for the Royals. |
Our View: Gordon has hits in four of the last five games including two home runs in three nights. Still, he is barely on pace for 20 homers, and hit .267 batting average has to be considered disappointing. The talent is there, but it certainly is taking longer to show itself than many predicted.
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| Joakim Soria returned from tightness in his rear end on Thursday to throw a scored ninth inning to pick up his 15th save of the year. |
Our View: Well it's good to know that the new donut cushion he sits on in the bullpen is doing the trick. Seriously, the man has filthy stuff and there have been few relievers who have been more effective this year than this youngster.
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| Brian Bannister used a career-high 127 pitches to make it through seven innings against the Rangers on Thursday as he allowed four runs in a no-decision. |
Our View: Bannister throws about as hard as a middle school phenom, but that doesn't mean we feel comfortable with him throwing that many pitches. Watch his control the next couple of times out because if he is fatigued and doesn't have it, he could get crushed.
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| Jermaine Dye went 0-for-3 but recorded Chicago's lone RBI (on a sacrifice fly) in Thursday's 2-1 loss to Detroit. |
Our View: That was his first RBI in the three games against the Tigers, and only his fourth RBI in 11 games in June.
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| Jorge Velandia has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, according to the AP. Josh Barfield has been placed on the 15-day DL, and Velandia covers his spot on the Indians' roster. |
Our View: Velandia, who was previously with the Blue Jays in 2008, failed to register a hit over seven brief at-bats, with two strikeouts. He holds little fantasy value with Cleveland for this season.
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| Josh Barfield has landed on the 15-day DL, according to the AP. He has been taken down by a left finger sprain. Jorge Velandia has been called up from Triple-A Buffalo to cover his spot on the roster. |
Our View: Manager Eric Wedge commented that Asdrubal Cabrera is not likely coming back to cover second base, and did not reveal who would be brought in to replace Barfield.
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| Victor Martinez has been placed on the 15-day DL due to inflammation in his right elbow, according to the AP. Martinez winced after a swing in the first inning of the Indians’ 8-5 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday. He was then lifted from the game after grounding out to shortstop. Manager Eric Wedge said, "It nicked him up on one of his swings. The elbow is something that’s been bothering him on and off all year. It must have been one of those swings that bit him a little more than usual." Catcher Yamid Haad will fill his spot on the Indians' roster.
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Our View: Martinez has also been battling a strained left hamstring for most of the season. Martinez still is yet to hit a home run over 198 at-bats, and holds a .278 average.
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| Mark Buehrle only allowed one run on seven hits over eight innings in Thursday's tough 2-1 loss to the rival Tigers, with one walk and six strikeouts. He was in control, but ended his day with a no decision. Octavio Dotel gave up a solo homer to Miguel Cabrera in the bottom of the ninth at Comerica Park to end the game. |
Our View: He has only allowed one earned run in back-to-back starts, and lowered his ERA to 4.47.
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| Kenny Rogers only surrendered one earned run on four hits over eight innings of work in Thursday's 2-1 win over the White Sox, with one walk and one strikeout. He pitched great, but left the game with a no decision. Miguel Cabrera broke the 1-1 tie with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth. |
Our View: Rogers has allowed two or less earned runs in three straight starts, two of those games which the Tigers lost.
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| Miguel Cabrera went 1-for-4 and crushed a game-ending solo homer in Thursday's 2-1 victory over the AL Central-leading White Sox. |
Our View: That was his first homer in June, and his ninth of the season.
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| Kason Gabbard is penciled into the rotation to start on Saturday, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Gabbard will replace Doug Mathis, who will be sent to the bullpen. Gabbard is 1-2 over nine starts this season, with a 4.75 ERA and dismal 1.80 WHIP. He will be given another shot to start with the Rangers, but should not be given a chance as a fantasy performer.
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| Chone Figgins is expected to be activated from the DL on Friday, according to the AP. Brandon Wood is set to be optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room on the roster. |
Our View: Hopefully, he can put his hamstring issues behind him this time.
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| Aaron Hill is having a hard time dealing with his concussion, according to TSN.ca. Hill said, "This is so annoying and frustrating. If it was something else, it's easy to grind through an ankle or a knee, hip, arm, whatever, you can fight through that stuff. They've got painkillers for those types of things. But doing something with the brain, you don't want to mess with it. I would, but way too many people have told me I shouldn't, and I'm listening for a change."
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Our View: He is eligible to be activated from the DL on Saturday, but isn't going to happen. The team is hoping Hill remains symptom-free through Monday, which would mark seven normal days and allow him to start a rehab assignment. If he suffers a setback, the cycle must start all over again.
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| Right-handed pitcher Kameron Loe has been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma, according to the AP. Eric Hurley was recalled for today's start against the Royals, and Loe was optioned to make room on the roster. |
Our View: Loe allowed two runs and 12 hits over 8.1 innings this season with the Rangers, with only one walk and seven strikeouts. He held his own as a reliever, but held no fantasy value.
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| Eric Hurley has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma, according to the AP. The Rangers optioned pitcher Kameron Loe to Oklahoma as an adjoining move. |
Our View: Hurley was 2-5 with a 5.30 ERA in 13 starts for Oklahoma this season, and made his major league debut in the Rangers' rotation today against the Royals.
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| Ben Broussard has reportedly been claimed by the Cubs, according to ESPN 1000 Radio. He has been signed to a minor league deal. |
Our View: Broussard has experience in the outfield, as he played 10 games in left field in 2007, and he could be tried out in left for the Cubs at some point while Alfonso Soriano is on the shelf.
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| Milton Bradley was not in action today against the Royals, according to the Star Telegram. |
Our View: He was going to serve at DH, but Manager Ron Washington wanted him to rest, as he will be used in the outfield in this weekend's series against the Mets, and is nursing a left quad cramp. Brandon Boggs got the call at DH today instead.
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| J. Brent Cox was placed on the minor league DL due to shoulder tendinitis, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: He is expected to miss about three weeks of action at Triple-A Scranton. He was believed to be in line for a promotion to the Yankees' bullpen prior to landing on the DL.
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| Right-handed pitcher Carlos Rosa has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha, according to the Kansas City Star. |
Our View: Baseball America ranked him as the Royals' sixth best prospect. Rosa was a combined 6-3 with a 2.19 ERA this season in 13 games (all starts), while splitting time at Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He was brought in to help a struggling Royals' bullpen.
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| Eric Patterson has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa, according to the AP. Alfonso Soriano has been placed on the 15-day DL, and Patterson will fill his spot on the roster. |
Our View: Patterson registered no hits over six brief at-bats with the Cubs this season. He should continue to hold no fantasy value.
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| Vance Wilson was trying to return to the Tigers this season, but that is not going to happen as he will soon undergo a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow after tearing another ligament, according to the Detroit News. Wilson said, "I hope to play again. But you just don't know with something like this. The recovery from this is grueling, but at least I know what I'm facing."
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Our View: Wilson would have served as the Tigers' backup catcher if he was able to return. Brandon Inge should continue to maintain the role.
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| Pitcher Philip Humber missed a start at Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday due to a sore right elbow, according to the Star Tribune. He is expected to miss one or two starts. |
Our View: He was one of four players acquired in the Johan Santana deal to the Mets, but Humber has been disappointing, as he is only 3-5 with a 5.52 ERA this season with Rochester.
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| Kelvim Escobar, who is trying to rebound from a a torn labrum in his right shoulder, is scheduled to throw 45 pitches off the mound Friday, according to the LA Times. He said, "I threw 30 pitches Monday and there was no pain, no weakness. That's a lot of progress. I feel good."
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Our View: He continues to make favorable progress, and the team believes he could be back before the All-Star break. The team would then decide whether to use him in the rotation or let him work out of the pen, depending on the team's needs at the time.
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| Erick Aybar, who is recovering from a dislocated right pinkie finger, took batting practice on Wednesday and could start a minor league rehab assignment next week, according to the LA Times. Manager Mike Sciosca said, "Erick has cleared one hurdle, which he needed to do. If everything goes well with his workouts, he'll start on rehab next week."
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Our View: The shortstop was hitting .270 over 43 games, with one homer, 16 RBI, 21 runs scored, and five stolen bases. He had nine doubles and one triple. The team is missing his speed, but his timetable to return should be determined soon.
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| Manager Ron Gardenhire stated that Matt Tolbert's best-case scenario to return to the Twins is August 1, according to the Star Tribune. Tolbert had his cast removed and will wear a splint on his surgically repaired left thumb for one week. |
Our View: Tolbert was only hitting .265 with no homers and three RBI over 30 games (83 at-bats) this season, and won't be worth waiting for as a fantasy second baseman.
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| Joakim Soria was not available to pitch on Tuesday or Wednesday due to tightness in his back side, according to the Kansas City Star. |
Our View: Hopefully he can return to the diamond soon, as he has recorded 14 saves with a 0.93 WHIP over 28 innings, with 29 strikeouts.
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| Joey Devine, who is recovering from an elbow strain, said he isn't scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews in Alabama for a second opinion, according to the SF Chronicle. |
Our View: But Andrews will look at all of Devine's medical information and decide if a visit is warranted. Devine was pain free for the second day in a row and he said he hopes to be allowed to throw Saturday.
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| Emil Brown missed his second straight game on Wednesday due to illness, according to the SF Chronicle. It is unclear whether he has a stomach virus or food poisoning. |
Our View: Brown racked up 37 RBI over 58 games, but is only hitting .194 over his past 25 contests. His playing time has taken a hit since Travis Buck returned from DL and rising star Carlos Gonzalez came up on May 30. His role could be reduced even more when Ryan Sweeney returns from DL on Friday. Manager Bob Geren said that most of Brown's work will come against left-handed pitchers.
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| Jarrod Saltalamacchia is nursing a sore right wrist, but is scheduled to start today's game against Kansas City, according to the Dallas Morning News. |
Our View: He is only hitting .257, but registered three homers and 14 RBI over 22 games, with 10 runs scored. He should continue to improve this season as he gains more experience at the plate.
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| Milton Bradley will remain in the DH spot for today's game against the Royals, according to the Dallas Morning News. He is dealing with a left quad cramp. |
Our View: He is expected to return to the outfield for this weekend's series against the Mets, so fantasy owners shouldn't be concerned, as the ailment is minor.
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| Manager Ron Washington commented that he is leaning toward batting Hank Blalock fifth in the lineup when he returns to action following his carpal tunnel surgery, according to the Dallas Morning News. Washington said, "I think I would end up having to fight Hank if I didn't put him up there where he could do some damage."
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Our View: Blalock will also attempt to solidify his role in the field at first base when he comes back. David Murphy would likely move to sixth in the batting order.
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| Manager Rob Washington has stated that Eddie Guardado is now the primary setup man for the Rangers' pen, according to the Dallas Morning News. Washington said, "The situation doesn't bother Eddie. He comes in and does the job."
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Our View: Washington will use Joaquin Benoit in the sixth or seventh innings, with Guardado working the eighth. The 37-year old Guardado has allowed seven runs and 15 hits over 20.2 innings, with a 3.05 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. The promotion to the setup role does not improve his fantasy value.
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| Josh Barfield sustained a sprained middle finger on his right hand while taking a check swing on Tuesday night, according to IndiansConfidential.com. |
Our View: Barfield will be re-evaluated today, and may be headed to the DL. Manager Eric Wedge commented that Asdrubal Cabrera is not likely coming back to cover second base, and did not reveal who would be brought in to replace Barfield.
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| Victor Martinez is scheduled for an MRI today for inflammation in his right elbow, according to IndiansConfidential.com. |
Our View: Martinez could potentially land on the DL, and Manager Eric Wedge stated that he had been dealing with pain in the elbow for some time. We will keep you posted on his status.
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| The Athletics brought the wood to the Yankees in tonight's 8-4 win over New York, spreading 11 hits through the evening, led by outfielder Jack Cust . Cust went 2-for-2 with two walks to total three RBIs and one runs scored on the night. |
Our View: Cust isn't known for prolific offense, but he hit .303 through May with an impressive seven home runs and 14 RBIs. Thus far in June he has smacked an additional three home runs with eight RBIs.
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| The Yankees tried to rally in the top of the ninth, but the A's emerged victorious in the end, 8-4. Oakland RHP Justin Duchscherer got the start and pitched well, going seven innings to surrender just one run on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. |
Our View: Duchscherer now sits at 6-4 on the season with an ERA of 2.20. The offensive support hasn't always been there, but Duchscherer now touts 16 walks versus 42 strikeouts.
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