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| Andy LaRoche had a brutal night at the plate, going 0-for-5 with a strikeout and leaving seven men on base in Pittsburgh's loss to Arizona. |
Our View: LaRoche is now hitting under .200, and is 2-for-16 since being acquired from the Bucs. He has promise in fantasy play, but he'll need to start hitting sometime soon.
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| Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds had a big night in his team's victory over Pittsburgh, going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. |
Our View: Reynolds is a very streaky hitter, and he struggled in July and the beginning of August, so maybe this is the beginning of a hot streak.
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| Yoslan Herrera was awful in the team's 13-7 loss to the Diamondbacks, going just 1.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits and three walks. |
Our View: Herrera has a WHIP well over 2.00 and should not be on anyone's fantasy team, ever.
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| Dan Haren won his 12th game of the year, putting up six innings and surrendering four earned runs while striking out eight against the Pirates. |
Our View: Haren had a sub-2.00 ERA in July, and he has won his last four starts, so he is clearly pitching very well.
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| Emilio Bonifacio went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored in Washington's 9-4 win over the Colorado Rockies. |
Our View: Bonifacio has hit .444 in August since taking over for the released Felipe Lopez. He is someone to keep an eye on in fantasy leagues.
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| Brad Hawpe went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the Rockies loss to Washington. |
Our View: Hawpe had a poor start, but hit .323 in July, and is off to a 5-for-15 start in August.
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| Tim Redding won his eighth game of the season as Washington beat Colorado 9-4. Redding tossed five innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out six. |
Our View: Redding is the closest thing the Nationals have to a quality fantasy pitcher. He isn't a great option, but is useful in NL-only leagues.
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| Aaron Cook lost his seventh game of the season by allowing the Washington Nationals to score seven runs, four of them earned, on 11 hits in 5.2 innings. |
Our View: Cook is still a top option in all fantasy leagues, and his 14 wins remain second in the NL.
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| Cristian Guzman is slowly progressing from his injured thumb, and he will take batting practice on Tuesday, reports Nationals.com. |
Our View: No word on when Guzman will be back, but he is one of the few candidates on the Nats that can be considered a legit fantasy player due to the fact he is hitting better than .300, and has scored 57 runs.
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| Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took batting practice twice on Monday and could be back in a matter of days, according to Nationals.com. |
Our View: Zimmerman has been out since Thursday, when he was hit on the hand with a pitch. He is a viable fantasy candidate, though with little offense around him, his production will be somewhat limited.
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| Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton had an MRI done on his oblique to determine how far along the injury was, and to see when he could start to swing wiht more authority, according to DBacks.com. |
Our View: Upton should begin a rehab assignment shortly, before returning to the big leagues. His fantasy stock has plummeted since his hot start. He remains mostly an option in deep NL-only leagues.
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| Dodgers manager Joe Torre has a policy that does not permit long hair, but new arrival Manny Ramirez has not made plans to get it cut yet, according to the Boston Globe. The paper got this information after speaking with Manny's personal barber - L'Montro. |
Our View: Despite the rule being wholly archaic, the Dodgers should have known that Ramirez plays by his own rules, and the dreadlocks could be around for awhile.
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| Prince Fielder went after Brewers hurler Manny Parra in the dugout during the team's loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Fielder pushed Parra, who promptly sat down, and Fielder pushed Parra again before teammates came in to intervene. |
Our View: It wasn't much of a scuffle. Fielder obviously didn't really want to fight, as his two weak shoves would attest to. He started barking again when teammates pulled him off. His immaturity got him kicked ejected from a game against Chicago, and it continues as the Brewers seem to be unraveling once again.
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| Jay Bruce went 1-for-2 with a home run, scored two runs, drove in two, walked and struck out in Cincinnati's 6-3 win over the Brewers. |
Our View: Bruce now has a hit in eight consecutive games. Not surprisingly, he had not struck out during that time until tonight. His first week in the bigs caused expectations that were far too high, but he is still a useful fantasy asset.
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| Manny Parra threw six innings and gave up six earned runs on four hits and four walks in Milwaukee's 6-3 loss to the Reds. |
Our View: Parra's ERA rose to 4.18, the first time it has been over 4.00 since late June. Parra has not been successful in either of his last two outings, giving up 11 earned runs in 11.1 innings pitched. Tonight was the fifth time in 22 starts he has given up at least five earned runs.
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| Reds hurler Bronson Arroyo won his tenth game of the season after throwing six innings and surrendering just one run on four hits. He also struck out six in the Reds victory over Milwaukee. |
Our View: Arroyo is inconsistent, and despite his decent strikeout rate, he really has no place in fantasy leagues.
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| Ryan Braun hit his 30th home run of the season, but the Brewers fell to the Reds by the score of 6-3. Braun was 2-for-4 in the game, and also hit his 29th double. |
Our View: This comes off the news that Braun was July's Player of the Month for the National League. He has put smiles on the faces of fantasy owners since his debut last season.
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| Valerio de los Santos was designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies today, according to MLB.com. In his stead, Steven Register was recalled from Triple-A. |
Our View: de los Santos was awful in his two starts, with a WHIP over 2.00, as he walked 11 batters in just eight innings.
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| After a miserable July in which he hit .183, Matt Stairs is 5-for-12 in August after a 2-for-4 performance against Oakland. |
Our View: Stairs has hit .393 since July 25, and has also hit two home runs during that time. He has some value to fantasy owners, but mostly in AL-only leagues.
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| Dan Meyer has returned to the Oakland A's as a reliever, and he has yet to give up an earned run after throwing four shutout innings against Toronto. Meyer allowed four hits but did not walk anyone while striking out three. |
Our View: As a reliever, Meyer's fantasy value is small, but if he starts and these type of performances continue, that may change.
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| Astros outfielder Michael Bourn was held out of tonight's game against the Cubs because of continued problems with his sprained right ankle, according to Astros.com. |
Our View: Bourn is a one-trick pony in fantasy leagues, and only owners who desperately need steals should use him. His .290 on-base percentage and 15 RBI are problems in fantasy baseball.
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| Rockies first baseman Todd Helton underwent an MRI after having a setback while attempting to rehab his lower back, reports the Denver Post. |
Our View: The results of the MRI will determine if Helton has a serious injury, possibly to a disc in his back. It's possible he may not return this season. His use in fantasy leagues has been waning each season, and this is yet another step in that direction.
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| Ryan Freel had surgery on his hamstring, but still thinks he could make it back this season, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Freel can be useful in fantasy baseball, especially in NL-only leagues, because of his stolen base potential.
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| St. Louis outfielder Chris Duncan underwent successful surgery on his neck to replace a cervical disc, reports The Sports Network. |
Our View: Best-case scenario is Duncan getting back in three to four months. He's obviously out for the year, and will try to make it back for spring training next season.
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| The New York Mets are taking a look at Rich Aurilia to fill a hole in their outfield, according to MetsBlog.com. |
Our View: Aurilia has enough bat for NL-only leagues, and though his playing time has reduced in San Francisco, should he go to New York, his fantasy value would likely increase.
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| His blister has nearly healed, so Kerry Wood will come off the DL in a matter of days, according to the AP. Wood will initially be used in middle relief upon his return. |
Our View: Lou Piniella wants Wood to gradually get back into the role of closer, so Carlos Marmol will continue getting save chances until that happens.
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| Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee has grounded into 22 double plays this season, the most in baseball, reports Cubs.com. The MLB record is 34, accomplished by Jim Rice. |
Our View: Lee could very well set the record for GIDP, but as long as he keeps hitting home runs and driving them in, fantasy owners won't care. The Cubs play Houston this evening, and Lee is hitting .432 against the Astros this year.
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| Cubs outfielder Jim Edmonds has an outstanding match-up tonight against Houston pitcher Brian Moehler. Edmonds his hitting .351 (13-for-37) for his career against the righty, with four doubles and six home runs. |
Our View: Surely Cubs manager Lou Piniella knows this and Edmonds will be playing. If you have him on your fantasy squad, be sure to get him in your lineup.
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| The Chicago Cubs want to be able to play night games on Friday and Saturday night in order to get their players better rested, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Currently, they cannot play on those nights because community leaders are worried about congestion and crime. |
Our View: The Cubs can only play 30 night games per season, and they want to open it up some so players coming off of road trips can sleep more than a few hours per night. Who knows, maybe it will help their fantasy numbers as well.
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| CC Sabathia has been named the NL Pitcher of the Month for July, according to the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel. Sabathia earned the monthly honor by going 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA over five starts.
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Our View: For the season, Sabathia is 11-8 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, and is still yet to lose a start as a member of the Brewers.
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| Ryan Braun has been named the NL Player of the Month, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Braun claimed the honor by batting .366 with nine home runs and 23 RBI in July.
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Our View: Braun notably earned the Player of the Month honor in July last year as well.
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| Ryan Ludwick has been named the NL Player of the Week, according to the AP. He earned the honor by hitting .538 (14-for-26) with four home runs and eight RBI during the week. |
Our View: Ludwick is hitting .306 over 104 games, with a career-high 27 homers and 78 RBI. Other nominees for the weekly award were Phillies' closer Brad Lidge, Brewers' first baseman Prince Fielder, and Rockies' outfielder Matt Holliday.
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| The Marlins intend to work on rookie hurler Chris Volstad's delivery, according to the Miami Herald. He looked vulnerable during his start Friday, as the Rockies stole three bases against him, and the Marlins want to speed up his delivery. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said, "He's got to speed it up a little bit. He is about a 1.3 seconds to the plate, and that's fine, but sometimes he gets up to 1.6 or 1.7. It's all learning. It's all experience. He's a very, very smart kid. I think he will learn to be quicker to the plate with no problem."
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Our View: The Marlins will be careful with their adjustments, however. They don't want to hurry him up too much, with the risk of putting pressure on his arm.
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| Jeff Francis is expected to be activated from the DL Wednesday following his battle with left shoulder inflammation, according to the Denver Post. |
Our View: He is slated to start Wednesday against the Nationals. Francis was 3-7 with a 5.67 ERA and 1.55 WHIP prior to going down, and fantasy owners should wait until he proves to be effective before considering him as a starter again.
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| Chris Carpenter will start Tuesday against the Dodgers, his second since coming off the disabled list. Card skipper Tony La Russa told the team website that Carpenter is not on a pitch count. "I think he's still beginning his timing. You watch him until you figure it's a struggle. Then you stop pushing." |
Our View: Carpenter has been successful against the Dodgers during his career. He has 3.00 ERA, but LA has a different look since his last start against them, July 14, 2006.
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| Ryan Zimmerman has been out of action since Thursday due to a bruised right hand, but GM Jim Bowden indicated that he is not expected to land on the DL, according to the Washington Post. |
Our View: Zimmerman is just waiting for the swelling to go down in his injured hand, and the club lists him as day-to-day.
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| Brian McCann is set to return to the Braves' lineup Monday after missing a week with a mild concussion, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: His headaches related to the concussion have subsided, and he should be safe to return to roto-lineups for the new fantasy week.
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| Tom Glavine is slated to begin a minor league rehab assignment Monday at Single-A Myrtle Beach, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: He hopes his partially torn flexor tendon his left elbow has strengthened enough to allow him to return to Atlanta without surgery. If his outing Monday goes favorably without a setback, he will pitch for Double-A Mississippi Saturday.
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| Jerry Hairston Jr. was out of the Reds' lineup Sunday and was restricted from baseball activity, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. |
Our View: His sore right hamstring will be re-evaluated on Monday, and there is a chance he can land back on the DL.
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| Aaron Harang is set to make his rehab start Monday with Triple-A Louisville as he continues to recover from a strained right forearm, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Harang is hoping that he needs only one rehab start, but manager Dusty Baker thinks it could be two. Baker said, "It depends. We want him to be able to go seven innings, 100 pitches."
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Our View: The source states that Harang is likely to replace Homer Bailey in the rotation when he is ready to return.
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| Skipper Bob Melvin noted that Justin Upton will have to take batting practice for several days before starting his minor league rehab assignment, according to the Arizona Republic. Melvin said, "We've been pretty cautious based on how he's felt day to day. There haven't been any setbacks, but there have been certain days where he's been pretty sore based on whatever treatment he's getting. We still don't know. We could use him. Looking at it like we did going into the All-Star break we thought he might have a chance to come back right after that. It's been lengthier than we anticipated."
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Our View: Upton has been out since July 9 with a strained left oblique. He could return by mid-August.
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| The LA Times indicated that Jonathan Broxton was available to pitch Sunday and warmed up during the eighth inning. He was unavailable Saturday due to a fatigued arm. |
Our View: Broxton should be safe to pencil into fantasy lineups for the week.
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| Scott Proctor is making progress in his recovery from right elbow tendinitis, according to the LA Times. He threw 24 pitches in a rehab appearance Saturday for Class-A Inland Empire and reported being sore the next day, but said, "It's a good soreness, though." He gave up three runs in 2/3 of an inning, but his fastball was favorably hitting the 94-96 mph range. |
Our View: The next step in Proctor's recovery will be for him to pitch on back-to-back days, and plans to do that Tuesday and Wednesday. When he returns, he will hold value only in deeper leagues that use middle relievers.
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| Michael Bourn was out of the Astros' starting lineup for a seventh straight game Sunday due to his sprained right ankle, according to the Houston Chronicle. He did some rehab work and said, "The swelling is going down, and it’s starting to get better, but hopefully I’ll be ready soon and I can go." |
Our View: There is no certainty he will be able to return this week, starting with Monday's series opener against the Cubs. Fantasy owners should not plan on using him, especially since his speed and base-stealing ability will be compromised due to his ankle.
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| Adam LaRoche did his first running since injuring his rib cage muscle eight days ago and could begin swinging a bat Wednesday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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Our View: There is no set timetable for his return, but he is likely to be out until late August. He was hitting well prior to getting hurt, with a .390 average in July with six home runs and 18 RBI.
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| Keiichi Yabu, who is recovering from a sprained right middle finger, said he hopes to be activated from the DL today, according to the SF Chronicle. He will be examined before Monday's game. |
Our View: Yabu holds no fantasy value in standard leagues, as he maintains a 3.64 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 47 innings, with 33 strikeouts.
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