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| Jimmy Rollins went 0-for-5 on Sunday to drop his average to .263, a far cry from the .296 mark he posted last season during his MVP performance. |
Our View: Rollins didn't put up a hit in three games against the Cardinals this weekend going 0-for-11. Rollins simply has to get hot at some point, doesn't he?
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| Ryan Ludwick had two hits on Sunday night including his 27th home run, his fourth blast in the last three games. |
Our View: Ludwick has a hit in 7-straight games after this one as he continues to provide tremendous production behind Albert Pujols in the Cards batting order.
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| It wasn't pretty on Sunday night but Brad Lidge picked up his 28th save in 28 chances against the Cardinals. |
Our View: Tory Glaus hit a mammoth blast off of Lidge but it was the only run he allowed, though he did permit three hits in the frame.
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| Todd Wellemeyer continued to rebound from some recent poor work on the hill giving up just one run over six innings against the Phillies. |
Our View: Wellemeyer wasn't involved in the decision on this night and has posted a 2.65 ERA over his last three starts as he continues to be a mildly successful depth play in mixed leagues.
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| Brett Myers didn't pick up a decision on Sunday but he still pitched fairly well permitting just two runs in six innings against the Cardinals. |
Our View: Myers was taken deep by Ryan Ludwick, but otherwise only allowed three hits without walking a single batter. Myers has allowed two runs over 13 innings in his last two starts (1.38 ERA) while giving up just nine base runners (0.69 WHIP). If he is on waivers in your league, take a chance and pick Myers up.
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| Stephen Drew, batting in the leadoff role, went 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI for the D'backs on Sunday. |
Our View: One of the hits was the 13th home run of the year for the shortstop, a new career best, and he is also just six runs away from tying his runs scored mark of 60 from last season. He hasn't broken out this season like some had hoped, but he has shown substantial improvement across the board other than a regression in walks (60 last year, down to 24 this season).
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| Jason Johnson, making his last start as he will be replaced in the rotation by Brad Penny on Friday, wasn't able to last five innings before being removed on Sunday. On the afternoon, Johnson allowed three runners in 4.1 innings to pick up a no decision. |
Our View: Johnson's numbers (2.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) look much, much better than what you see when you actually eyeball him on the hill. Unless he is starting, his value is limited to extremely deep NL-only leagues.
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| Doug Davis was brutal on Sunday retiring only five of the 13 batters he faced as he permitted six hits and five runs in his sixth loss of the year. This was his shortest outing since August 31, 2004 when he went only one inning. |
Our View: Davis sports a 4.28 ERA and 1.46 WHIP which are nearly identical ratios to the numbers he posted last season (4.25/1.59). Simply put, Davis just isn't a very good pitcher, though he has made a great story this year with his comeback from cancer.
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| Manny Ramirez had four hits, including his 22nd home run of the season on Sunday, and he also knocked in three runs for his new club against the D'backs. |
Our View: Ramirez has been stellar so far going 8-for-13 with five RBI in his first three games. When motivated the guy can still be a force, and with his impending free agency at the end of the year, we just might finally see what this future HOFamer has left in his bat on a daily basis.
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| Randy Winn, back in the third hole with Fred Lewis getting a day off, had two hits, knocked in a run and stole his 21st base of the season on Sunday. |
Our View: Has there been a quieter 20-SB season this year? Winn was expected to be moved at the deadline, and while that didn't happen he could still switch teams through the waiver-wire process, a move that could potentially reinvigorate the right fielder.
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| Brian Giles was the Padres hitting star on Sunday even though he didn't do anything to special with two hits, a run scored and an RBI. |
Our View: Giles had five hits in the three game series with little else going on around him in the Padres lineup. Giles is a fraction of the hitter he once way with almost no power (only five long balls), though his batting average (.297) and OBP (.393) remain as strong as ever.
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| Kevin Correia was a hard luck loser on Sunday as the Padres managed to scored only two runs against him in 6.1 innings on Sunday. Correia walked four batters while allowing just three hits on the day. |
Our View: Likely on waivers in almost all mixed leagues, Correia came on down the stretch last year and is looking to do so this year as well as he is finally healthy after dealing with injuries for part of the first half. He is worth keeping an eye on.
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| Greg Maddux won his second straight start as he picked career victory number 352 against the Giants. Maddux allowed only two hits, he didn't walk a batter, as he held the G-men to one run over six innings. |
Our View: In his last 13 starts against the Giants Maddux hasn't lost once, and he is 30-14 against them in his career, so you had better have him in the lineup every time he faces the men from San Francisco.
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| Alfonso Soriano went deep for the 19th time on Sunday amidst a day of three hits and a stolen base for the Cubs. Geovany Soto also had two hits, RBI and runs scored for the club. |
Our View: Soriano is hitting a robust .346 with four home runs and four stolen bases in 12 games since the All-Star break as he is once again proving that, even with injuries, he is still a top fantasy draw.
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| Two newcomers to the Pirates went deep on Sunday as Brandon Moss and B Andy LaRoche each took Cubs pitcher's deep. |
Our View: LaRoche was in the five hole, Moss batted sixth, as the team is in need of some pop with Andy LaRoche on the sidelines. LaRoche could end up being a fine play down the stretch and is worth monitoring even in mixed leagues.
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| Carlos Zambrano held the Pirates to just three hits and one walk over five innings, but inexplicably he was removed from the game after throwing just 82 pitches as he ended up with a no decision on the afternoon. |
Our View: Zambrano had thrown 125 and 118 pitches in his last two starts, but this is just crazy. Zambrano had retired 12-straight batters when he was removed, and at 82 pitches on the day no less. If the Cubs were that worried about his health, why not just skip his turn in the rotation?
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| As has become customary, Ian Snell struggled once again for the Pirates permitting four runs and 10 base runners while recording only 12 outs. |
Our View: Snell has allowed four or more earned runs in eight of his last 12 games as his ERA continues to climb (6.14). Only a sadist has him active at the moment.
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| Carlos Delgado had three more hits on Sunday and is now batting .268, the highest mark it has reached since April 13th. |
Our View: Since the All-Star break Delgado has turned back the clock about five years as he is batting .383-6-18 in 16 games to power the middle of the Mets lineup. With this recent hot streak, Delgado has a chance to hit .270 with 30 home runs for the first time since 2005.
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| Oliver Perez didn't walk a single batter on Sunday in six innings against the Astros, but he still lost for the seventh time this season as he permitted four runners to cross the plate. |
Our View: Perez had allowed only four earned runs in his last three starts, so a bit of a step back today wasn't unexpected. The good news is that he didn't walk anybody, so you can overlook the runs he allowed on this afternoon.
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| Randy Wolf held the Mets scoreless over five innings in his second start as an Astro to help the club to their first series sweep of the Mets since September 1993. |
Our View: Wolf walked three batters on the day with seven strikeouts, but it remains to be seen how effective he will be pitching in Houston as compared to pitcher friendly San Diego given his tendancy to allow fly balls.
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| Jeff Francoeur had a hit and an RBI on Sunday in the Braves 5-0 victory over the Brewers. |
Our View: Francoeur has one home run in 40 games. How is that possible for a guy who has averaged 24 home runs the past two years? Francoeur is simply lost at the plate right now and is hitting only .217 over his last 16 games.
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| Ryan Braun went 0-for-4 on Sunday to drop his average to .296 for the Brewers thanks to just two hits in his last 12 AB. |
Our View: Braun continues to be a rather streaky hitter as he hasn't gone deep in six games during which time he has only one run scored and one RBI.
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| Ben Sheets lost his fifth game of the year though he pitched well allowing just two earned runs over six innings against the Braves. |
Our View: With this outing today, Sheets has tossed 146.1 innings, his highest total since 2005 when he threw 156.2 innings. If Sheets can stay healthy the Brewers could have the most dominating righty-lefty combo in baseball with CC Sabathia.
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| Jorge Campillo struck out six Brewers over seven innings to help lead the Braves to a 5-0 victory over the Brewers. Campillo walked none while striking out six to lower his 2.58. |
Our View: Campillo continues to rely on a devastating changeup and is now 4-0 with a 2.02 ERA in 13 appearances in day games as he continues an extremely effective campaign.
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| Jeff Keppinger will bat leadoff for the Reds on Monday as Jerry Hairston Jr. is again sidelined with a sore right hamstring, according to MLB.com. "I'd rather have Jerry," manager Dusty Baker said. "You start through the process of elimination in that situation with what you have available." |
Our View: Hairston is currently listed as day to day, though there is some belief that he could end up being placed back on the DL after his latest setback.
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| Just when you thought it was safe to back into the water... Rafael Soriano was again placed on the DL with right elbow inflammation, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Francisley Bueno was recalled from Triple-A to take his roster spot. |
Our View: What a waste. This guy is extremely talented, but unfortunately he is about as brittle as Samuel Jackson's character in the movie Unbreakable.
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| Wade LeBlanc struck out 11 batters to pick up his 10th PCL win on Saturday and appears on track to be called up by the Padres at some point in the coming weeks, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: LeBlanc is 3-0 with a 0.72 ERA over his last three starts, and after impressing the team's management this preseason, he has likely earned the right to make his major league debut this season.
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| Brad Penny will indeed return to action for the Dodgers this Friday to face the Giants, and he will be allowed to throw as many as 90 pitches, according to MLB.com. The team will remove Jason Johnson from the starting rotation. |
Our View: Penny, who has been out since June 15th with right shoulder soreness, threw 44 strikes on 55 pitches in a Triple-A start on Sunday, and reported hit 98 mph on the radar gun. With the way that the Giants are hitting, Penny makes a decent starting option this coming week.
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| The Rockies came from behind to get the win, but the pitching provided by LHP Glendon Rusch kept Colorado in position to do so, winning 3-2 with one run in each of the final three innings. Rusch pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs (both earned) on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. |
Our View: Rusch gets no decision and now touts an ERA of 5.47. He hasn't taken a loss since May 31st with a combined total of just 15 earned runs surrendered over seven starts since.
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| The lack of relief pitching might be a worry in Florida following today's collapse against the Colorado Rockies, wasting a strong effort by LHP Scott Olsen . Olsen pitched six innings, allowing just one hit with no runs, two walks, and six strikeouts. |
Our View: Olsen walks with no decision and a 3.87 ERA after his relief support surrendered one run in each of the final three innings to take the fall. It is not the first time the Marlins have seen a good pitching effort go to waste this season, reminding the fans in Florida that challenges lay in wait as we look towards the playoff stretch.
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| Washington rookie RHP Collin Balester earned his second win of the season today as his Nats put the Reds to bed, 4-2. Balester pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. |
Our View: The win brings Balester to 2-3 with a 4.55 ERA on the season. He has seen the sixth inning just one over six starts but has allowed just six earned runs over his last three.
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| Lastings Milledge was the weapon of choice on offense today as the Nationals put the 4-2 win on the board against Cincinnati. Milledge went 1-for-2 at the plate with two walks, his 14th stolen base of the season and his ninth homer of the year, totaling one RBI and one run scored on the day. |
Our View: Fantasy owners hope to see Milledge use this as a catalyst for improvement, having struggled with injury last month to miss the bulk of July, hitting just .130 in the 23 at-bats he did receive.
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| Cincinnati RHP Johnny Cueto suffered his 11th loss of the season today as his Reds struggled to support the cause with offense, falling 4-2 to the Washington Nationals. Cueto pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts. |
Our View: Essentially, Cueto struggled in the 1st inning and pitched well the rest of the way, allowing all four runs in that first set. He now stands at 7-11 on the season with a depressing 5.00 ERA.
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| The Reds and Nationals did battle today, though it wasn't too exciting as the Reds allowed four runs in the 1st inning and failed to recover. For Cincy, it was first baseman Joey Votto doing the bulk of the work, going 3-for-4 at the dish with his 14th homer of the season, totaling one RBI and one run scored on the day. |
Our View: Votto hit .261 last month and totaled just eight RBIs along the way. He already has four this month after just three games.
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| Cubs closer Kerry Wood faced batters on Sunday but probably will not return from a troubling blister on his right index finger until later this week, according to CBSSports.com. |
Our View: Sidelined since July 11, Wood had hoped to return from the disabled list during Chicago's upcoming series against Houston. Instead, manager Lou Piniella said he likely will not be activated until the Cubs host St. Louis next weekend.
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| For the second straight day, Pittsburgh infielder Freddy Sanchez took full team batting practice, according to MLB.com. He also increased the intensity of his running drills, running sprints and cutting around the bases for the first time since exiting last Sunday's game with back spasms. |
Our View: Manager John Russell cleared Sanchez to pinch-hit for the Pirates on Sunday. And if necessary, Russell said that Sanchez could be inserted in as part of a double switch if he is needed on the field.
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| Mark Loretta was part of one of the Astros' biggest comebacks of the season in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Mets, but a collision at the plate late in the game has cost him a spot in the starting lineup today, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Loretta charged into home plate just ahead of Hunter Pence to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, and his collision with New York catcher Ramon Castro and Pence took a hard toll. He was supposed to be in the lineup against Oliver Perez, but Ty Wigginton will take his place at third base. Cooper said Loretta could still pinch-hit if needed.
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| Reports out of Atlanta indicate outfielder Matt Diaz is expected to resume his minor league rehab assignment at the end of this week after a recent MRI exam revealed that the strained ligament in his left knee has completely healed, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Diaz ran at full speed Saturday for the first time since straining the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on May 27th. He also shagged balls in the outfield. Diaz will travel with the Braves to San Francisco on Sunday night. He said he could resume a rehab assignment before the team begins a four-game series Thursday at Arizona.
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| The Mets announced today RHP John Maine has been placed on the 15-day disabled list due to continue soreness in his left shoulder, according to MetsBlog.com. |
Our View: Maine can be reactivated from the disabled list on August 13th. Mets pitching prospect Eddie Kunz was promoted from Double-A Binghamton to take Maine’s spot on the roster.
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| The Mets have announced LHP Billy Wagner will be unavailble for today’s game as he has been sent back to New York to be examined for a stiff forearm, likely to undergo an MRI exam later today, according to MetsBlog.com. |
Our View: Jerry Manuel said the recently called up Eddie Kunz may be the team’s closer for today’s game but failed to address Wagner's arm in detail. We'll keep you posted as we get updates.
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| If RHP Livan Hernandez clears waivers, recently optioned for assignment by the Minnesota Twins, the Colorado Rockies are said to be waiting in the wings to bring him aboard, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: Manager Clint Hurdle planned to talk with general manager Dan O'Dowd about Hernandez after Saturday's game. The Twins designated the right- hander for assignment Friday, giving them 10 days to trade or release him. He must be placed on waivers during that time — meaning he won't clear until Tuesday at the earliest. He can be claimed by any team, though that's not a certainty given the roughly $1.7 million remaining on his salary.
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| All-Star Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez isn’t in the starting lineup today, according to the Palm Beach Post. |
Our View: Manager Fredi Gonzalez wasn’t available to explain why, but he said through a spokesman that Ramirez was just getting a day off.
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| Chicago ace Carlos Zambrano will put his perfect home record on the line today as the Cubs welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates today, sending RHP Ian Snell to the hill to help their efforts, according to the Miami Herald. |
Our View: Zambrano is 6-0 with a 2.28 earned run average in 11 home starts this year. Visiting clubs are hitting just .230 versus Zambrano this year at Wrigley, where he hasn't lost since September of last year. The right-hander was won two straight starts and four of his last five outings, pitching to a 1.78 ERA in that time. Snell is 4-8 with a 6.04 ERA in 21 starts and just 1-5 with a 5.26 ERA in nine games (7 starts) lifetime versus the Cubs.
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| A pair of rookies square off on the mound today when the Cincinnati Reds visit Nationals Park for the third and final game of a three-game weekend series with the host Washington Nationals, pitting Cincinnati RHP Johnny Cueto against Washington RHP Collin Balester , according to the Miami Herald. |
Our View: Balester dropped a 6-5 loss to Cincinnati on July 6th in Ohio, allowing four hits and five runs in 5 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-5, 194-pounder had beaten Florida five days before falling to the Reds and has not won since, allowing a combined 23 hits and nine earned runs in two losses and a no-decision in his last three outings. Cueto is winless in four starts, dropping two decisions while being touched for 26 hits and 18 earned runs in 24 innings.
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| As he continues to struggle through a horrific season, rumors are starting to leak from the Dodgers organization indicating the team may send outfielder Andruw Jones to the minors, according to the Los Angeles Times. |
Our View: The Dodgers signed Jones to a two-year, $36-million contract last winter, and now they have traded for another outfielder that is actually earning his money (Manny Ramirez). The rumors are likely put forth to motivate the troubled slugger, but for the Dodgers, it could make sense to give him time in the minors to see if he can find that old magic in his bat. Boosting his confidence could be the answer, but the team would be spending a ton of dough to do so. We'll keep you posted.
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| The stories continue to revolve around the recent blockbuster trade sending outfielder Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Today, the Florida Marlins have passed along their side of the story in not completing a rumored deal to add the slugger, suggesting their request for an additional $2 million in cash from Boston, sought to cover the cost of the compensatory draft picks they will be receiving upon denying Ramirez a contract extension next year, were denied, according to the Miami Herald. The Marlins also added their refusal to trade prospect outfielder Mike Stanton to Boston was a factor in turning away. |
Our View: The desire to keep prospects is understandable, but if $2 million is all that stood between ManRam and a Marlins' uniform, it should be hard for the fans in Florida to accept such justifications. In the world of professional sports, $2 million is a drop in the bucket, and letting such details stand in the way of a potential championship may disappoint the Marlins fans.
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| Giants LHP Barry Zito is giving fantasy owners more than a few facts to ponder due to a sudden rise in production off the mound, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Zito pitched eight scoreless innings last night, allowing just three hits in a 2-0 win over the San Diego Padres. The former Oakland star is now 3-1 over his last five starts despite a horrific start that has him at 13 losses on the season. |
Our View: This is the first time Zito has pitched eight shutout innings since August 21, 2004, against Tampa Bay. In fact, Zito (6-13) hadn't thrown more than seven innings in any of his first 21 starts, and only once did he open with as many as six scoreless innings.
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| Yesterday we passed along a report that claimed outfielder Manny Ramirez had contacted the Red Sox just hours after the trade to the Dodgers was finalized, asking for a second chance to work things out in Boston. Today, agent Scott Boras is telling reporters those rumors are lies, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: According to a published report, Boras called Red Sox officials about an hour after the 4 p.m. deadline and said Ramirez was having second thoughts about being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The story suggested Ramirez promised to give the team an honest effort over the final two months of the season if the Sox backed out of the trade. While Boras declined to address specifics, he did acknowledge the Red Sox and Ramirez discussed an array of solutions before the three-way deal that brought Jason Bay to Boston. One source confirmed the possible outcomes included Ramirez remaining with the club if the Sox formally declined to exercise the player’s $ 20 million option for 2009 following this season, an alternative organization decided against largely because it deemed the player untrustworthy. According to Sox officials, the team ultimately decided to trade Ramirez because they could not count on him to give an honest effort during the final two months. No matter what Ramirez or Boras said in negotiations, Sox officials said, Ramirez’ credibility was so damaged and his behavior so unpredictable that they had little choice but to part ways with the player.
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| Miguel Montero went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers. |
Our View: His homer was his first of the season, over 125 at-bats. He is hitting well over his last two outings, and is worth a look in larger NL-only leagues if you need help, until Chris Snyder returns from the DL.
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| Manny Ramirez led the Dodgers to a 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday night in Los Angeles, as he went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer. His other hit was a single. |
Our View: Ramirez has 21 homers for the season, and notched his first with the Dodgers. He is also 4-for-8 so far over two games with his new club.
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| Hiroki Kuroda enjoyed a strong outing in Saturday's 4-2 win over Arizona, as he only issued one earned run on four hits over 7.1 innings, with no walks and six strikeouts. |
Our View: He improves to 6-8 for the season and trimmed his ERA to 4.21. He snapped a four-game skid without a win, and bounced back nicely from his last outing, when he was rocked for seven earned runs over 3.2 innings against the Giants.
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| Jake Peavy only surrendered one earned run on five hits over seven innings in Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Giants at PETCO Park, with no walks and seven strikeouts. |
Our View: He pitched great, but was handed a loss due to no run support from his team-mates. The Padres' ace holds a strong 2.59 ERA and has more strikeouts than innings pitched, but is now 8-7.
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| Fred Lewis went 2-for-4 and scored a run in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Padres at PETCO Park. He also chipped in a stolen base, his 20th of the season. |
Our View: Lewis has registered two hits and a run in back-to-back games. He is now hitting .281 and should remain a solid source of steals and runs (66) for fantasy owners.
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| Barry Zito hurled eight scoreless innings, with only three hits allowed, in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Padres, with four walks and five strikeouts. |
Our View: Zito has 13 losses this season, but is now 3-1 over his last five starts. He should be in fantasy lineups for his next outing.
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