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| Braves outfielder Mark Kotsay went 5-for-5 while hitting for the cycle in the Braves 11-6 loss to the Cubs. He also scored a run and drove two in. |
Our View: Kotsay saw his August batting average rise to .366. He doesn't hit for enough power or drive in enough runs for fantasy owners, but this was an impressive evening nonetheless.
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| Kelly Shoppach got two hits in five at-bats, scored two runs and knocked one home, but it wasn't enough as Cleveland was downed by the Orioles, 11-6. |
Our View: Shoppach's fantasy value has gone by the wayside as he slumped in August, but he clearly has one or two good nights in him every once in a while.
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| Lou Montanez continues his scorching run of offense, as he went 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI in the Orioles win over the Indians. Both of his RBI came in the eighth inning, in separate at-bats, as the team batted around. |
Our View: Montanez is hitting .474 in his 19 at-bats on the season. We've sung his praises before, but just to remind you, he was a top pick in the draft in 2002 and he was obliterating minor league pitching. It may have taken him a while longer than some others, but he shouldn't be ignored in AL-only leagues.
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| Zach Jackson hurled a pretty good game in his team's 11-6 loss to the Orioles. Jackson went five innings and allowed three runs on eight hits. |
Our View: Jackson wasn't bad, but he certainly was not great. Fantasy owners should probably let him be, barring a sudden hot streak.
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| Daniel Cabrera threw a solid game, though he did not factor into the decision as Baltimore beat Cleveland 11-6. Cabrera went 5.2 innings, surrendering three runs on eight hits. |
Our View: Cabrera is far too inconsistent to be trusted in most fantasy leagues, as he simply walks far too many people.
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| In one of the only decent efforts for the team, Rangers shortstop Michael Young went 2-for-3, though his squad was downed by the Red Sox 10-0. |
Our View: Young is a solid though unspectacular fantasy performer. He has a .291 average on the year, with 10 home runs, 8 stolen bases and 65 RBI.
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| The Texas Rangers will be happy when they do not have to face Red Sox DH David Ortiz any more. He homered against them again on Thursday, his third in three games, and for the night went 1-for-2 with three RBI in Botson's 10-0 win. |
Our View: Ortiz has gone 5-for-10 with three home runs and five runs scored against Texas in his last three games, restoring faith in the hearts of fantasy owners concerned about his creaky wrist.
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| Tommy Hunter has not pitched well in the big leagues, to say the least. In his start tonight, he failed to get out of the second inning and allowed nine earned runs on seven hits as the Rangers fell to Boston 10-0. His ERA is now 16.36 on the year. |
Our View: Hunter has three starts in the majors this year, and he has given up six, five and nine earned runs, respectively. If you have him on your fantasy team, you clearly don't understand how the rules work.
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| Daisuke Matsuzaka won his 14th game of the year, leading the Red Sox to a 10-0 stomping of the Rangers. The righty threw seven shutout innings while both walking and striking out five hitters. |
Our View: Matsuzaka now has a microscopic 1.29 ERA in August, and though he still walks too many people, he's won five of his last six starts.
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| Travis Hafner took a round of batting practice on Thursday, and ended it by knocking a pitch into the seats, according to Indians.com. "It was nice to get back out there and start feeling like a baseball player again," Hafner said. |
Our View: Hafner will begin a rehab assignment soon, but it is still not known when he will make his return to the big league club. To say fantasy players have been disappointed with Hafner's season is an enormous understatement.
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| Dioner Navarro hit a single in the 12th inning that put the Rays up 7-5 over Oakland, and it wound up being the game winner as Tampa would go on to a 7-6 victory. Navarro was 2-for-4 with two RBI on the day. |
Our View: Navarro saw his average in August rise 30 points, from .179 to .209 with his performance today. Navarro had really struggled producing runs in July, but his eight RBI this month are now twice the amount he had in July.
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| Jack Cust went 0-for-5 and struck out three times as a part of the A's 7-6 loss to the Tampa Rays. |
Our View: Cust has not been good with the bat over the summer months. Since June 1, he is hitting just .206. He also has 12 home runs since that time, but is that really enough of a trade off for fantasy owners?
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| James Shields did not factor into the decision, but he was not sharp, allowing ten base runners, four of which scored, on five hits and five walks in five innings pitched as the Rays beat the A's 7-6. |
Our View: Shields has had a very good year, and this game was uncharacteristic of Shields as he was averaging just 1.42 walks per nine innings prior to today.
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| Oakland pitcher Brad Ziegler saw his scoreless inning streak hit 39.1 innings before allowing his first runs on a double by B.J. Upton which drove in Akinori Iwamura, who had singled. The A's wound up losing to the Rays 7-6. |
Our View: That was one hell of a streak by Ziegler, but it had to end sometime. Still, he has fabulous numbers for the season and should be used in fantasy leagues now that he has been getting some save opportunities.
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| White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch on Thursday for the sixth consecutive game, and is the only player to have "accomplished" the feat since 1920, according to the AP. |
Our View: Quentin has been a target throughout his career, dating back to the minor leagues, and he currently leads the major leagues with 20 HBP this season.
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| Rays closer Troy Percival had to leave the game in the ninth inning because of an apparent leg injury, according to RaysBaseball.com. |
Our View: The extent of the injury was not known. Grant Balfour replaced Percival and promptly blew the save.
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| Raul Ibanez was pulled off waivers by the Mariners, and he will not be traded by the team, according to the Seattle Times. |
Our View: Ibanez and Ichiro are the two who give the Mariners offense their best chances to score, so losing him would have been tough. As it is, he will stay in Seattle and should continue putting up big numbers.
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| The Chicago White Sox tied a major-league record by hitting a home run in four consecutive at-bats, according to the AP. The event happened in the sixth inning, with Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe doing the deed off of Royals pitchers Joel Peralta and Robinson Tejada. |
Our View: This all happened with two outs in the inning, and it was the first time it occurred since April of last season when Boston accomplished the feat.
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| Matt Holliday hit a solo home run as part of a 1-for-3 performance in the Rockies 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. |
Our View: One thing Holliday, like many others, does very well is hit at Coors Field. He now has a .369 batting average at his home park, to the delight of fantasy owners.
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| Jose Guillen went 1-for-3 and drove in both of his team's runs in the Royals 9-2 loss to Chicago. |
Our View: Guillen comes with good home run and RBI totals, but that on-base percentage is an eyesore. If you can live with a guy who has an OBP under .300, then he can otherwise help fantasy teams.
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| Paul Konerko had a big day at the plate for the White Sox, going 3-for-5 with a home run, run scored and RBI in Chicago's 9-2 win over the Royals. |
Our View: Konerko is struggling through a miserable year, but he is now hitting .333 in August with three home runs. Whether or not this is just a two week episode a rebound to a poor season remains to be seen.
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| Kyle Davies did not throw poorly, but he did allow the White Sox to score three runs on nine hits in his five innings of work in his squad's 9-2 loss. |
Our View: Davies has a high ERA and WHIP to go along with a low win total and strikeout rate. Not what fantasy teams are looking for.
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| White Sox pitcher Lance Broadway earned his first win of the season by throwing 5.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on nine hits in the team's 9-2 win over Kansas City. |
Our View: Broadway threw 100 pitches, 62 of them for strikes, and he will be in the starting rotation for the time being.
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| Lyle Overbay went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and registered the Jays' lone RBI in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Tigers. |
Our View: His homer was his ninth of the season, snapping a 12-game drought. He also ended a nine-game skid without an RBI.
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| Jesse Litsch hurled seven scoreless innings, with only four hits allowed, in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park, with two walks and three strikeouts. |
Our View: He pitched well but was dealt a no-decision due to poor run support. Litsch is worth using in larger leagues.
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| Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Blue Jays at home. Both of his hits were singles. |
Our View: Cabrera ended a mini-slump, as he went hitless over his previous two games, and only had one hit over his last three.
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| Armando Galarraga only issued one earned run on six hits over eight innings in Thursday's 5-1 win over Toronto at Comerica Park, with two walks and six strikeouts. |
Our View: Galarraga's strong effort earned him his 11th win of the season, and he lowered his ERA to 3.10. He has won four of his last five starts, and has only lost once in his last six. He should remain active in fantasy lineups, and has been among the season's best surprises among pitchers.
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| Miguel Olivo's suspension was reduced from five games to four, and he began serving the penalty Thursday against the White Sox, according to the AP. Olivo was fined and suspended after charging the mound during the Royals’ 14-3 win over Chicago on August 3, and he said, "I knew I’d get suspended. I’m not happy at all."
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Our View: He will miss the three-game set against the Yankees, and could return August 19 at Cleveland.
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| Kevin Millwood, who is recovering from a strained right groin, is expected to be activated from the DL Friday after making just one minor league rehab start, according to the Dallas Morning News. |
Our View: Millwood is seemingly being rushed back, so he will be a risky fantasy option if he starts Friday against the Rays. He is 6-6 over 20 starts this season, with a poor 5.40 ERA and 1.74 WHIP.
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| Masa Kobayashi is tired, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The reliever has worked 49.2 innings with the Indians this season, and only threw 47.1 innings for the entire season in 2007 with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. Manager Eric Wedge said, "With the way our bullpen has been, he pitched very well for us for an extended period of time. We had to go to him a lot more than we originally planned. He was more of a one-inning guy in Japan. I think it's fair to say that he's probably wearing down."
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Our View: Kobayashi hasn't recorded an out in his last two appearances. Of the five hitters he faced in those two games, he allowed four hits, one walk and four earned runs. The team feels he is capable of setting up, but think it is asking a bit too much to expect him to close.
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| Josh Barfield, who is recovering from surgery on his left middle finger, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Double-A Akron, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. |
Our View: Barfield could platoon with Asdrubal Cabrera at second base when he is fit to return to the Indians.
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| Victor Martinez, who is recovering from right elbow surgery, is slated to begin his rehab assignment Friday at Double-A Akron, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. |
Our View: Martinez will DH, return to Progressive Field to go through a throwing program on Saturday and then DH again for Akron on Sunday. When Martinez is ready to rejoin Cleveland, he will DH, catch and play first base, but he won't play every day.
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| Carl Crawford is scheduled have outpatient surgery by Dr. Donald Sheridan this afternoon in Phoenix to repair the radial sagittal band of tissue that is supposed to hold in place the tendon on his right middle finger, according to the St. Petersburg Times. |
Our View: Crawford will need six to eight weeks to recover and is likely to miss the rest of the regular season.
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| Jason Bartlett has been cleared to resume playing at shortstop, according to the St. Petersburg Times. His throws still aren't perfect, but they are good enough for him to return to the field. He said, "Obviously it doesn't feel great, but I'm throwing, I can actually throw. The only bad thing there's cutters, and they're sailing a lot. It's just a matter of trying to get that feeling back again."
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Our View: Despite extensive treatment, Bartlett still has a bone bruise, and the longer-than-expected healing time has been frustrating for him. Bartlett wore a pad on the finger Wednesday, and plans to limit his throws between innings. He has also experimented with using his middle finger more.
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| David Price was dealt his first loss as a pro in his Triple-A Durham debut Wednesday, according to the St. Petersburg Times. He allowed seven hits and three runs, and lasted just four innings, while throwing 80 pitches (50 strikes). On a positive note, he fired six strikeouts and he said, "They were hitting everything tonight. This is Triple A. they were hitting good pitches and bad pitches. The hitters are just better, period. I feel good that I didn't walk anybody. I threw strikes, just not enough strikes. At least I made them put the ball in play. You can't have your best stuff every night."
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Our View: Price could find himself in a Rays' uniform by the end of the season, but manager Joe Maddon noted it is possible he would work out of the bullpen.
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| There will be no "player to be named" in the deal that brought Paul Byrd to the Red Sox, according to the Boston Herald. The Red Sox have agreed to pick up all of Byrd’s remaining salary this season from Cleveland, an amount equal to about $2 million, hence making the trade a cash-only transaction. |
Our View: The Red Sox were believed to be the only team willing to take the remaining $2 million on his salary. He is slated to start his first game with Boston Friday.
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| Hideki Matsui, who is on the DL with a swollen left knee, will begin a minor-league rehab assignment in Tampa today, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: It appears he is no longer at risk for season-ending surgery. Barring a setback, he could be back in pinstripes by the end of the month.
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| Derek Jeter didn't play Wednesday due to a bruised left instep, but Jeter and manager Joe Girardi believe he will be back in the lineup Friday against the Royals, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: The Yankees are off Thursday, giving him a day to rest. Jeter should be safe to pencil back into lineups.
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| Dan Giese is scheduled to be examined Thursday after leaving Wednesday's game due to shoulder soreness, according to the NY Daily News. He said, "My shoulder just stiffened up on me when I started facing Mauer. I was trying to overthrow and it got progressively worse and worse the more pitches I threw."
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Our View: Manager Joe Girardi believed Giese would still be able to make his scheduled start on Tuesday, but that will likely depend on what happens during the pitcher's visit to Dr. Chris Ahmad today at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Giese is hoping that he will heal with some rest and anti-inflammatory medication.
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| Maicer Izturis reportedly left the Angels' clubhouse Wednesday night with his left thumb and wrist in a splint, according to the OC Register. |
Our View: Izturis will be examined by team medical personnel on Thursday after he was reinjured trying to make a diving play on a ground ball single. Izturis sprained his left thumb on August 1 in New York and did not start in the next six games.
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| The Orioles signed Scott Chiasson from the Mexican League and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk, according to the Baltimore Sun. |
Our View: The 31-year-old hurler will hold no fantasy value for the remainder of this season.
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| Dennis Sarfate threw a bullpen session before Wednesday night's game and is preparing to start Saturday against the Tigers, according to the Baltimore Sun. But manager Dave Trembley hasn't fully committed to him getting the start. Trembley said, "I haven't said that he's not going to pitch. Until something happens, he's going to pitch. I don't know that anything's going to happen."
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Our View: Sarfate has struggled as a reliever this season, and does not merit fantasy consideration if he ultimately gets the start for Saturday. He currently holds a 5.16 ERA and 1.61 WHIP over 61 innings.
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| Scott Downs is likely headed to the DL after spraining his right ankle Wednesday, according to BlueJays.com. Manager Cito Gaston said, "That's a big loss. I can't tell you how much he's done for this club since I've been here. Time after time, night after night, he's just been outstanding. If we lose him for a while, it's really going to hurt us."
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Our View: Downs needed crutches to make his way through the visitors' clubhouse at Comerica Park following the game. Downs has been pitching well this season, with a 1.40 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 57.2 innings, with 51 strikeouts. He also has five saves to his credit.
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| Jeff Bailey has been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: The first baseman could see some action while Kevin Youkilis covers third base in place of the injured Mike Lowell. Bailey blasted 24 homers with Pawtucket this season, and is worth a look in deeper AL-only leagues if you need some help.
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| David Pauley was brought up to the bullpen yesterday but was sent back down to Pawtucket after the game without seeing any action, according to the Boston Globe. Jeff Bailey was recalled to take his place on the roster. |
Our View: Pauley allowed five earned runs and seven hits over 4.1 innings with Boston this season, and was not worth holding.
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| Kevin Youkilis commented on third base, which is where he will be working while Mike Lowell is on the DL, according to the Boston Globe. Youkilis said, "Going to third base is natural to me. I've always loved playing third. It's actually an easier position than first base, and that's something a lot of people don't realize. At third you don't quite have all the moving around as you do at first base. First base is far more physical."
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Our View: Youkilis continues to hit well, as he went 3-for-4 against Texas Wednesday, and has five hits over his last two games, with two of those knocks going for home runs.
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| Mike Sweeney's rehab assignment was delayed at least another day when the A's decided not to have him run the bases, according to the SF Chronicle. Sweeney had arthroscopic surgery on both knees on June 11. |
Our View: Sweeney felt a little sore Wednesday after having gone through a full workout the evening before, and he will give it a go before Thursday's game.
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| The Angels suffered the loss, 10-7, though shorstop Maicer Izturis did what he could to reverse fortunes, going 3-for-5 at the plate with one walk and two doubles, totaling one RBI and two runs scored as well as his 11th stolen base of the season. |
Our View: Over his last five games Izturis has totaled five RBIs with four runs scored, all despite missing time to a sprained thumb.
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| Mark Teixeira was the force of reckoning for the Angels tonight in their frustrating extra-inning loss to Seattle, 10-7. Teixeira went 3-for-6 with two homers on the night, totaling three RBIs and two runs scored. |
Our View: Teixeira touts one RBI in each of his last five games, hitting an impressive .333 for the month of August.
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| The Mariners and Angels brought the offense to the park this evening as recently waived (and rumored to be claimed) outfielder Raul Ibanez enjoyed a strong night at the plate, going 4-for-5 with one walk, two doubles, and his 19th homer of the season to total two RBIs and three runs scored. |
Our View: We have no confirmation on which team has claimed Ibanez at this time, but he certainly put up some strong numbers to allure the team in question. He's hitting .348 on the month with four homers and 19 RBIs.
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| In tonight's battle between the A's and Rays, both pitchers were hot but one had to leave with the loss. That would be Oakland's Justin Duchscherer, going 6 1/3 innings to surrender three runs (all earned) on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. The winner was Tampa's Andy Sonnanstine , going six strong to surrender two runs (both earned) on six hit with one walk and six strikeouts. |
Our View: Sonnanstine moves to 12-6 on the season, now touting consecutive wins after three consecutive losses.
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| The Rays were missing crucial pieces due to a rash of injuries, yet they found a way to get the job done and pick up the 3-2 win over Oakland. Outfielder Eric Hinske was the weapon of choice, going 3-for-3 at the dish with his 17th homer of the season, totaling one RBI and one run scored on the night. |
Our View: Hinske needed a burst, hitting just .167 on the month coming into tonight. Getting his first homer since August 3rd may do the trick.
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