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| Carlos Quentin hit his 20th and 21st home run helping the White Sox to a 7-6 come-from-behind victory. Both home runs came off of KC starter Brian Bannister. |
Our View: Quentin had one of his worst games on Tuesday leaving a half a dozen runners in scoring position. Forgetting his Tuesday struggles the young outfielder comes back and keeps his team in the game recording two runs and four RBI in the 2-for-3 performance.
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| Jered Weaver threw another strong effort to the wind on Wednesday night. The Angels right-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits, walked two and struck out five. Weaver was one out away from his ninth win of the season before Josh Hamilton hit a two-out walk-off home run off of the best closer in baseball. |
Our View: Weaver was a tough luck no-hit loser in the last two weeks, and then tonight's rally by the Rangers cost him another chance at victory. Weaver has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four-straight starts, with 23 strikeouts over the span.
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| Ian Kinsler extended his hitting streak to 21 games with a leadoff single in the first inning of Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels. |
Our View: Kinsler joins Josh Hamilton in next weeks All Star game, and is more than deserving of the honor. The Texas second baseman is arguably the best at his position in the American League and continue to challenge Chase Utley for top honors in the fantasy realm.
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| Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, helping the Texas Rangers rally to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 5-4 on Wednesday night.
It was Hamilton's 20th homer of the season, and his first since June 17. |
Our View: The home run wasn't a surprise, it was who he hit it off that came as a shock. Hamilton beat major league saves leader Francisco Rodriguez sending the right-handed All Star to only his only his second loss and third blown chance this year.
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| Nick Markakis has been on a tear over the last month-plus. His Wednesday night performance in a loss to the Blue Jays saw his average climb above .300 for the first time this year. The right fielder went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. Markakis' performance raised his batting average to .304 on the season. |
Our View: Markakis' RBI came from a solo shot, his 14th of the season, off of closer B.J. Ryan.
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| Garrett Olson allowed seven runs on seven hits, walked four and struck out two, and suffered his fourth loss of the season. |
Our View: This is the kind of start that happens to a pitcher that carries a 5.81 K rate in combination with a 3.36 BB rate. Olson never commanded his arsenal or the strike zone on Wednesday night and lasted only 3.2 innings in the loss.
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| A.J. Burnett improved to 6-1 in eight career starts against the Orioles, and did it without much success against the batting order. The right-hander allowed seven runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out seven and the Jays defeated the Orioles 9-8 on Wednesday night. |
Our View: Burnett underwent an emergency root canal less than 24 before his start.
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| Eddie Bonine didn't have much working for him on Wednesday night. The Tigers right-hander didn't challenge hitters, couldn't find the strike zone, and when he did he was hit hard. The rookie allowed five runs on nine hits, walked one and struck out one. |
Our View: The Tigers' bats saved him from his second loss of the season, and after the performance one has to wonder why he would get another, or many more, if the Tigers want to seriously challenge in the AL Central.
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| Paul Byrd pitched well enough to win on Wednesday night. The right-handed veteran exited the 8-6 loss to the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh inning with a 6-1 lead. Reliever Rafael Betancourt, who is having a miserable season, walked Clete Thomas to load the bases and allowed a double to Carlos Guillen to make it 6-3. Matt Joyce then tied the game with a two-run homer ending Betancourt's night and Byrd's chance at fourth win. |
Our View: Byrd has always pitched the Tigers well. He scattered nine hits, allowed one run (charged with three) walked one (in the first inning) and struck out five in the no-decision.
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| Grady Sizemore hit two RBI singles in the second and fourth innings and finished the 10th straight loss by the Indians 3-for-5.
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Our View: Sizemore has hit for power this year, but recently, he has raised his batting average as well. The center fielder is now hitting .272 on the season.
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| Todd Jones worked a scoreless top of the ninth innings to earn his fourth victory of the season on Wednesday night. |
Our View: Once again it wasn't anything pretty, but Jones got defensive help from Carlos Guillen at third base and the Tigers scored in the bottom of the ninth on Miguel Cabrera's home run handing Jones a victory.
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| Placido Polanco didn't start after being sworn in as a U.S. citizen before the game, this according to the AP. The native of the Dominican Republic entered in the seventh inning after Edgar Renteria strained a hamstring running out a ground ball. |
Our View: Polanco never made it to the plate, but it didn't spoil his special day or prevent the Tigers from winning.
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| Miguel Cabrera homered again on Wednesday, his third in two days, this time in the bottom of the ninth to give Detroit an 8-6 win over Cleveland.
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Our View: Cabrera went 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBI in Wednesday's win.
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| Rototimes sources report that Brian Tallet will replace Dustin McGowan in the Blue Jays starting rotation. Tallet will start Sunday versus the New York Yankees. |
Our View: Tallet has made 32 appearances this year. In 35 innings of work the left-hander has allowed 11 earned runs on 32 hits, walked 15 and struck out 30. All of his work has been in relief.
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| Vernon Wells left Wednesday night's game against Baltimore with a hamstring injury. |
Our View: Wells suffered the injury during an attempted steal of third base. More on Wells when the information is available.
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| Warner Madrigal started for the Rangers on Wednesday night against the Angels. Earlier in the day the report was that Mike Ballard would get the start for the injured Eric Hurley. |
Our View: The 24-year old is making debut as a starter after making three appearances for the Rangers this year. In 3.1 innings of work Madrigal has allowed six runs on five hits, walked two and struck out one.
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| Fausto Carmona is scheduled to throw a 50-pitch simulated session Thursday, this according to the Indians' team website. The right-handed sinkerballer is expected to make a minimum of two Minor League starts before he's ready to rejoin the rotation. |
Our View: Carmona has missed approximately nine starts to a left hip strain.
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| The Indians team website suggests that manager Eric Wedge wouldn't confirm it, but it is "most likely" that Matt Ginter will be the replacement starter for C.C. Sabathia on Saturday game against the Rays.
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Our View: Ginter was removed from his start in Buffalo after three innings on Tuesday giving the impression the Tigers will go with the ex-Red Sox right-hander.
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| The Detroit Tigers team website suggests that Brandon Inge could be back with the team as soon as Thursday. |
Our View: Inge was scheduled to catch for four innings and play third base at Triple-A Toledo tonight, and the team will see how he comes out of game.
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| Is it too late to make a move on Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano? Cano collected his sixth multi-hit performance in the last nine games with his 2-for-4 effort in Tuesday's win over Scott Kazmir. Cano is batting .348 (15-for-43) in his last 11 games and has raised his batting average from .227 on June 22 to .255. |
Our View: Cano hit into his share of bad luck in the first half of the season and it won't be a surprise to see the .303 career hitter return to that level before the end of the 2008 campaign.
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| With Matt Capps out until September, if not the rest of the season, Damaso Marte has inherited the Pirates closer role. Marte has the peripherals to be a solid ninth inning option. Over the last four seasons the left-hander has recorded K rates of 9.5 to 10.7. Couple that with his current 2.7 BB rate and he offers fantasy managers cheap saves for the next two months. |
Our View: It's worth mentioning that Marte is a candidate to be moved before the July 31 trade deadline, and if the Pirates barter off Marte, Tyler Yates is in line to take over the team's closer duties. Yates isn't nearly as efficient as Marte. His 6.1 K rate, 6.7 BB rate and low ground ball to fly ball ratio could be more damaging long-term than what the right-hander offers in short-term saves.
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| It looks like Rangers' rookie left-hander Matt Harrison will remain in the rotation. Before Harrison headed to the mound for his major league debut on Tuesday night, Texas placed Eric Hurley, another 22-year-old rookie, on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. |
Our View: Left-hander Michael Ballard will take the ball for the disabled Hurley tonight against the Angels. Ballard will be the 12th starter used by the Rangers this season, the most by any team in the majors.
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| The Chicago Tribune reports that the White Sox have purchased the contract of pitcher D.J. Carrasco from Triple-A Charlotte. |
Our View: Carrasco will take the roster spot of the disabled Bobby Jenks.
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| With one day remaining to vote in the final member of the American League All Star squad, the Rays' team website reports that Evan Longoria continues to lead all candidates.
"It's going to be exciting to see how it turns out," Longoria said. "If I make it, I'll be here [at Yankee Stadium]. If not, I've got plans for the break anyway."
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Our View: Longoria was just voted June's Rookie of the Month, so his timing, just as it has been the first three months of his rookie season, is perfect.
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| Mike Jacobs hit his 19th home run of the season helping the Florida Marlins defeat the San Diego Padres 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon. |
Our View: Jacobs, who missed time this season to a quad strain, has 52 RBI and 39 runs scored in 77 games.
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| The Toronto Star reports that second baseman Aaron Hill is slowly recovering from a concussion he suffered May 29. |
Our View: Hill has now begun riding a stationary bike, but is still not been cleared to take part in baseball related activities.
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| Julio Lugo went 2-for-4 and stole his 12th base of the season in the Red Sox rout of the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon. |
Our View: Lugo has 12 steals in 16 attempts and is slowly beginning to warm up at the plate. His batting average has climbed to .267 for the season.
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| Kevin Cash hit his second home run of the season helping the Boston Red Sox to a 18-5 Fenway Park win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon. |
Our View: Cash only received one at-bat on the day because All Star Jason Varitek played battery mate to Josh Beckett. Varitek went 0-for-4 and his now hitting a lowly .220 on the season.
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| Kevin Youkilis recorded four RBI and went 3-for-5, and the Red Sox collected 18 hits to go along with their 18-5 win over Minnesota. |
Our View: Youkilis hit his 14th home run of the season now has 57 RBI in 85 games played.
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| Jacoby Ellsbury went 4-for-6 in the 18-5 rout of the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon. Ellsbury had a double and three singles in the third game of a series sweep of Minnesota. |
Our View: The center fielder raised his average seven points to .278 and his runs scored are now at 60 on the season. Surprisingly, the Boston speedster didn't attempt a stolen base, even early on with the game was relatively close.
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| After a 3-for-4 game on Tuesday night, Kevin Youkilis went 3-for-5 on Wednesday. He had a home run, four RBI, and scored three runs. |
Our View: Youkilis continues to see the ball exceptionally during day games. In 25 such games this season, he is hitting .398 with 25 RBI and six of his 14 home runs.
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| Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run double in a seven run, seventh innings, to beat the Minnesota Twins 18-5 on Wednesday afternoon. The Red Sox second baseman was 2-for-6 scoring three times while also driving in three. |
Our View: It was the second straight multihit game for Pedroia and he continues to challenge Ian Kinsler (126 hits) of the Rangers for the most hits (120) in the league.
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| Joe Mauer went 2-for-3 raising his batting average to .328 with the performance. The Twins, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first innings with a Justin Morneau home run, lost their edge for good in the third inning when starter Livan Hernandez gave up four runs to the Sox in the bottom of the inning. |
Our View: Mauer scored and drove in a run raising his season totals to 38 RBI and 56 runs scored.
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| Delmon Young went 3-for-5 with a run scored in the Twins 18-5 loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon. The Twins right fielder is warming up, just as he predicted, raising his average (.293) above .290 for the first time this season. |
Our View: Young's average continues to climb, but his power numbers downright stink. The five-tool talent has only three home runs in 324 at-bats since coming up from Florida.
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| Justin Morneau went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday afternoon's 18-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Morneau's two-run shot to right field off starter Josh Beckett was his 13th of the season. |
Our View: Morneau continues to hit well, and while his home run total is short of what most projected for the Twins first baseman, his 66 RBI in 90 games are impressive.
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| Ivan Rodriguez is receiving the night off on Wednesday. Dane Sardinha will start in his place. |
Our View: Pudge is simply getting some rest and should be back in the lineup tomorrow. Look for him to hit well when he returns, continuing a trend he has developed this season.
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| Josh Beckett allowed five runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out two, and the Red Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins 18-5 on Wednesday afternoon. |
Our View: Beckett gave up three first-inning runs and then settled down before offering up his final two offerings in the sixth inning. The right-hander wasn't sharp, but he received the run support to battle through five innings of work and earn his ninth win of the season.
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| Dustin McGowan has landed on the 15-day DL due to stiffness in his right shoulder, according to the AP. The team recalled Brian Wolfe from Triple-A Syracuse as an adjoining move. |
Our View: McGowan was forced to leave his start on Tuesday due to the ailment after only four innings and 66 pitches.
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| Carlos Pena went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, and provided the lone source of scoring for the Rays in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Yankees in the Bronx. |
Our View: That was Pena's 14th homer of the season, and his third over his last seven games.
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| Jason Giambi went 1-3 with an RBI on Wednesday, as he helped the Yankees edge the AL East-leading Rays 2-1 at Yankee Stadium. |
Our View: He snapped a four-game skid without a hit, and collected his 54th RBI of the season.
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| Edwin Jackson pitched well in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Yankees, as he only allowed one earned run on six hits over 6.1 innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. The game was tied 1-1 when he exited and was issued a no decision. |
Our View: Jackson has not been dealt a loss in his last four starts, and has allowed one earned run in each of his last two.
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| Sidney Ponson had a strong outing against the Rays on Wednesday, in a close 2-1 win. Ponson only surrendered one earned run on five hits over six innings, with two walks and four strikeouts. The lone run came on a Carlos Pena homer. |
Our View: He ended the day with a no decision, and is 2-0 over his last five starts, and merits a look in AL-only leagues if you need help at the position.
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| Bartolo Colon will back off his rehab schedule due to a strained oblique, according to the Boston Globe. Skipper Terry Francona said Colon was throwing from 120-130 feet and felt uncomfortable so Colon will take Thursday off and do light throwing Friday and Saturday. Francona added, "I think we felt like we're fighting. We didn't want to go this route because it's not the right thing to do. We have the All-Star break coming up so we're just going to back him off a couple days."
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Our View: It now appears that Colon will be out at least until late July, and possibly into August.
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| Erik Bedard won't start Saturday, and will be shut down until after the All-Star break, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Manager Jim Riggleman said, "Saturday won't be Bedard, he has tightness in his arm. So he won't pitch before the break. We figured let's just take advantage of the four days off at the All-Star break to get rid of nagging injuries."
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Our View: The plan is to have Bedard's next start come about July 21. The source indicates that he could potentially go on the DL when Felix Hernandez comes off, but the Mariners didn't say so.
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| J.J. Putz, who is on the DL due to a hyperextended right elbow, is set to return sometime within the first week following the All-Star break, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. he won't come back as the closer right away however, because manager Jim Riggleman says he will want Putz to pitch midgame a couple of times to see how his stuff looks after two long stints on the shelf. Riggleman added, "We're going to want to see what he looks like. If it's J.J. being his dominating self, it's likely that we'll move him into ninth-inning positions." Putz commented, "Brandon Morrow's had a real good run, but I'd hope that I'd be the closer when I get back. No one has told me anything different."
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Our View: Putz will throw on the side in Arizona during the break, rejoin the team for next Thursday's post-All-Star break workout, and then get a couple of injury rehab assignments the Friday and Sunday following the All-Star Game. He could be activated from the DL on or around July 21.
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| Evan Longoria has been named the Rookie of the Month for June, according to the AP. Longoria hit .300 with major-league rookie highs in home runs (eight) and RBI (19) over 26 games in the month to nail down the honor. |
Our View: For the season, he leads the Rays with 16 homers and 53 RBI, and helped the team maintain a MLB-best 55-34 record.
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| The Indians have purchased the minor league contract of pitcher Juan Rincon from Triple-A Buffalo, according to the AP. The move fills a roster spot that was created when ace hurler CC Sabathia was dealt to Milwaukee. Manager Eric Wedge commented, "He’s showing a good arm, a good slider. He has tremendous late-inning experience, and this is a good opportunity to get him in the mix."
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Our View: He will work in middle relief out of the Indians' pen and holds no fantasy value in traditional leagues, especially since he maintained a 6.11 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over 28 innings this season.
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| David Ortiz, who is recovering from a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, said he'll likely begin a minor league rehab assignment next week at Triple-A Pawtuckett, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: He is encouraged by the progress he is making, and was able to take batting practice for a second consecutive day.
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| J.D. Drew is out of Wednesday's starting lineup, according to the Boston Globe. Brandon Moss is filling in for him in right field. |
Our View: Drew left Tuesday's game with a sore back. The severity of the ailment, and his return to the lineup, is yet to be decided.
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| Adam Loewen underwent a CT scan which revealed further damage to a previous stress fracture in his left elbow, according to the Baltimore Sun. The scan showed a "widening" of the original injury. |
Our View: Loewen will be sidelined indefinitely until he decides on a course of action, but the team did not rule him out for the rest of the season.
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| The Twins have had internal discussions regarding potentially trading for Seattle slugger Adrian Beltre, according to the Star Tribune. |
Our View: Shortstop and third base are two needs for the Twins, and Beltre would fill the void at the hot corner. He has 16 homers with Seattle so far, and his rate would likely increase by playing his home games in Minnesota as opposed to pitcher-friendly Safeco. The Twins are only 2.5 games behind the Sox in the AL Central.
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| GM Tony Reagins and agent Peter Greenberg have agreed to put off a decision regarding Kelvim Escobar undergoing season-ending surgery, according to the LA Times. The decision will be put off until at least Thursday. Angels' physician Lewis Yocum and Mets' orthopedist David Altchek have checked Escobar's torn labrum. The doctors have spoken on the phone and are scheduled to attend the same conference this week, where they will discuss Escobar's situation. Reagins said, "Once that occurs, a decision will be made if we move forward on surgery and the timing of the surgery. I wouldn't say surgery is the option, but it is an option."
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Our View: Surgery would sideline him for at least a year, hence ending his bid to return to the Angels in 2008.
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| Brandon Inge, who is trying to bounce back from a pulled left oblique, had his second straight successful rehab outing for Triple-A Toledo Tuesday night (against Scranton), according to the Detroit News. The utility man played catcher for the first five innings and had two hits and an RBI.
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Our View: He remains hopeful he can return to the Tigers not long following the All-Star break.
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| Joey Devine, who is recovering from a strained elbow, made 45 throws from a distance of 120 feet and he could be throwing off the mound again soon, according to the SF Chronicle. |
Our View: Devine still hopes to return to the Athletics' bullpen right after the All-Star break.
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| Bobby Crosby will begin hitting within the next day or two, according to the SF Chronicle. He is recovering from a strained left hamstring. |
Our View: The club expects him to be ready to return for their first game following the All-Star break.
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| Frank Thomas has been cleared to resume hitting again, according to the SF Chronicle. "The Big Hurt" has been out since the end of May with a 30 percent tear in his right quadriceps. |
Our View: He is hopeful to return to Oakland in late July.
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| Carlos Silva went the distance on Tuesday but left with the loss to the A's. He lasted eight innings, striking out five, walking none, and scattering seven hits for two earned runs. |
Our View: Silva has had a mostly forgettable season but has lasted eight innings on three occassions. He is 1-2 in those games.
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