|
|
| Francisco Cordero recorded his 28th save Monday night. Tossing a perfect ninth inning against the Brewers. |
Our View: Cordero has not blown a save in a month and continues to lower his ERA (3.41) as the season progresses.
|
|
|
|
| Edinson Volquez had 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work in a no-decision against the Brewers on Monday night. He allowed four runs on five hits as the Reds would go on to defeat the Brewers 5-4. |
Our View: Volquez's monster season continues as he shows no signs of slowing down. Look for this youngster to be a force for years to come.
|
|
|
|
| With his performance Monday night, 2-for-4 with a stolen base, Hunter Pence now has a 10-game hitting streak. |
Our View: Pence has been heating up lately and has been a nice September surprise.
|
|
|
|
| Jose Valverde got save number 41, pitching a perfect ninth inning as the Astros beat the Pirates 3-2 Monday night. |
Our View: Valverde hasn't blown a save in the last month and has only allowed one earned run over that time. Simply put, he's been untouchable.
|
|
|
|
| Brad Lidge closed out Monday night's 8-6 victory over the Marlins, collecting his 35th save of the season. |
Our View: Lidge has been lights out all season. He continues to thrive in the closers role for Philly.
|
|
|
|
| Jason Schmidt will have shoulder surgery Wednesday to clean up scar tissue that was preventing him from getting over the top enough in his delivery and also to repair "arthritic changes in the AC joint," according to Los Angeles Daily News. |
Our View: Two years of his three year deal worth over $45 million are complete and Schmidt has thrown all of 25.2 innings. It is unclear if Schmidt will ever be able to return to his former dominance.
|
|
|
|
| Even though Kevin Gregg could return Tuesday, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said he intends to leave Matt Lindstrom in the closer's role, according to Marlins.mlb.com. |
Our View: Most managers like to give their pitchers a couple outings before returning them to the closers role.
|
|
|
|
| Nate McLouth is listed in the Pirates’ starting lineup for Monday’s game against Houston. |
Our View: Great news for McLouth fantasy owners, as he was expected to miss a couple of days.
|
|
|
|
| Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson will likely miss the remainder of the season because of a hairline fracture in his right index finger, according to the AP. |
Our View: Even when healthy, Wilson lacks fantasy value as he does not hit for average or power, nor does he steal bases.
|
|
|
|
| The Florida Marlins activated lefthander Renyel Pinto from the 15-day disabled list Monday, according to PA Sports Ticker. |
Our View: Pinto held little to no fantasy value as a middle reliever earlier this season, as he allowed 32 earned runs, 52 hits, and 39 walks over 64 innings.
|
|
|
|
| Monday night’s Toronto Blue Jays at Chicago White Sox’s game has been postponed due to rain, according to the AP. |
Our View: It will be made up as part of a split doubleheader beginning at 1:05 Tuesday.
|
|
|
|
| The Cincinnati Reds activated utility player Jerry Hairston Jr. from the 15-day disabled list on Monday, according to PA Sports Ticker. |
Our View: Hairston has been sidelined since August 20 with a strained right hamstring. He has been battling the injury for much of the second half of the season.
|
|
|
|
| Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier and Houston Astros righthander Roy Oswalt shared this week’s National League Player of the Week award, according to PA Sports Ticker. |
Our View: Ethier led the NL last week with a .650 (13-for-20) batting average, a .741 on-base percentage and 10 runs scored.
|
|
|
|
| Roy Oswalt has been co-named the NL Player of the Week with Dodgers' outfielder Andre Ethier, according to the AP. Oswalt led the league with 17 innings pitched and tied for first with a 2-0 record, a 0.00 ERA and one shutout. Ethier led the NL last week with a .650 (13-for-20) batting average, a .741 on-base percentage and 10 runs scored. |
Our View: Dodgers Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez were also considered for the honor, as were Hunter Pence and Randy Wolf of the Astros.
|
|
|
|
| The Marlins are reaching a milestone as Hanley Ramirez only needs one more homer to give the club their first trio with 30 home runs, according to FishStripes.com. Mike Jacobs blasted his 30th on Sunday and Dan Uggla reached 30 on Saturday. |
Our View: No National League team has fielded three 30-homer infielders, and the only American League club to accomplish the feat was the 2001 Athletics (Miguel Tejada, Eric Chavez, and Jason Giambi).
|
|
|
|
| Kyle Kendrick had been struggling in recent outings, but could get another start, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. Because Jamie Moyer's start was pushed back a day due to Saturday's rainout, the Phillies appear to have two open spots in their rotation this week. They likely would need Kendrick to pitch either tomorrow against the Marlins or Thursday against the Brewers, with lefty J.A. Happ likely getting the other day. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said he had not made any decisions as of the start of yesterday's doubleheader, but his only other options appear to be starting Moyer on short rest or giving Adam Eaton his first start since July 12. Cole Hamels has already been ruled out to pitch on short rest.
|
Our View: He could get another chance to pitch in the rotation this week, but fantasy owners should not give him another shot.
|
|
|
|
| Updating a previous report, Billy Wagner is going to undergo Tommy John surgery, which could force him to miss the 2009 campaign, according to the Star-Ledger. |
Our View: Even with Wagner still intact, members within the organization were pushing to target impending free agent Francisco Rodriguez. Now those calls will likely intensify with Wagner potentially lost for 2009.
|
|
|
|
| Chris Carpenter could be the Cardinals' closer when available, according to the AP. He could be available once per series and manager Tony LaRussa is excited about the idea of having him nail down the final outs as the closer. LaRussa said, "I’m looking forward to giving it to Carp. We’d have some fun."
|
Our View: Chris Perez fared well for a while, but he blew two straight saves last week before coming back on Sunday to nail down a win over the Marlins. Carpenter is worth holding onto in NL-only leagues in case he excels as the ninth inning man for the club.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Treanor left Sunday's game after fouling a ball off his left knee, and hopes to be able to return within a day or two, according to the Miami Herald. He said, "I feel snake-bitten right now." |
Our View: He provides depth to the Marlins, but holds no fantasy value with a .231 batting average and only two homers over 62 games.
|
|
|
|
| Jody Gerut is not close to returning to the Padres' lineup, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The middle finger on his left hand is still swollen 11 days after straining a ligament sliding into second base. |
Our View: Will Venable has benefited from injuries to Gerut and Scott Hairston, as he started eight of the last 10 games in center field.
|
|
|
|
| Mike Cameron, who is recovering from a sore knee, is expected to rejoin the Brewers' lineup Monday, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. |
Our View: He missed his second straight game Sunday, but it appears that fantasy owners can pencil him into their lineup for the new fantasy week. He has been a favorable source of power this season with 24 homers.
|
|
|
|
| R.J. Swindle has been designated for assignment by the Phillies, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The team moved him to make room on the roster for Tadahito Iguchi. |
Our View: Swindle allowed two earned runs, five hits, and one walk over 1.2 innings of relief with the club this season, and held no fantasy value prior to his designation.
|
|
|
|
| Geoff Jenkins, who is recovering from a strained hip flexor, could be limited to pinch-hitting duties once he returns from the DL, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. |
Our View: Jenkins could possibly return before the end of the upcoming seven-game homestand, but won't hold any fantasy value in a limited role. He holds a .246 batting average with only nine homers over 284 at-bats.
|
|
|
|
| Manager Jerry Manuel reiterated on Sunday that Billy Wagner is likely shut down for the remainder of the season, according to the NY Daily News. Wagner suffered elbow discomfort during a simulated game Sunday. |
Our View: The team won't officially know his status until he consults with team doctors today, but it does not look hopeful that fantasy owners will get him back.
|
|
|
|
| Kerry Wood blew his sixth save of the season on Sunday, and looked rusty in the process. In his defense, it was his first appearance in five days. |
Our View: Wood would have escaped the jam if not for a tailor-made double-play ball hitting the lip of the infield grass and bouncing over Ronny Cedeno’s glove. Just another day at the office for a closer.
|
|
|
|
| Ryan Theriot left Sunday's game against Cincinnati in the sixth inning due to a stomach virus, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: Consider him day-to-day. The Cubs are off today, and start a three-game series at St. Louis Tuesday.
|
|
|
|
| Aramis Ramirez returned to the Cubs' lineup Sunday after being taken out of Saturday's game as a precaution for the quadriceps tightness he has been battling lately, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
|
Our View: Ramirez should be kept in lineups this week and should remain a solid source of homers (24) and RBI (100). The Cubs are off today and start a three-game set at St. Louis on Tuesday.
|
|
|
|
| Jon Lieber has been shut down after being unable to shake some of the lingering aches and minor ailments that have hindered him since early in the season, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: He left the team over the weekend and went home to Mobile, Alabama. It is unclear if Lieber will return this season, namely if the Cubs make the playoffs.
|
|
|
|
| Carlos Zambrano, who is dealing with rotator cuff tendinitis, threw lightly on Sunday and reported no issues after his session, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Zambrano received an anti-inflammatory injection Thursday after leaving his start Tuesday because of discomfort in his right shoulder. Manager Lou Piniella said, "He felt pretty good, which is good news."
|
Our View: Zambrano's status for the series next weekend against the Astros will be determined after he has a full bullpen session in St. Louis.
|
|
|
|
| The Denver Post suggests that Olympic outfielder Dexter Fowler won't start a game unless the Rockies fall out of playoff contention. Manager Clint Hurdle said, "As long as we are tied to this thing, he will have opportunities coming off the bench or pinch hitting. If the season turns a different way, then the opportunity is there to start. We need to keep things in a certain vein. If the vein of the game changes, we'd love to get him out there and watch him play." |
Our View: Fowler only holds fantasy value if the Rockies are eliminated from the postseason race, which could potentially go down to the final week of the season, as the club currently only trails the Dodgers by 6.5 games in the NL West.
|
|
|
|
| Chris Dickerson stated that his sore left ankle has been an ongoing issue, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. He was scratched for Sunday's game and said, "It was pretty sore, but I did get custom-made orthotics during the game. I came in early, they screened my foot. They put them in the shoe that I wore during my at-bat."
|
Our View: The ankle felt good enough for him to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth and tied the game with a double against the Cubs. He will get treatment today to see how he feels, and noted that his ailment will be a day-to-day thing.
|
|
