|
|
| Matt Diaz has avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $2.55 million deal to stay in Atlanta this season, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Diaz had the best season of his career in 2009 and was especially proficient after the All-Star break when he hit .321 with nine home runs and an uncharacteristic eight steals over 65 games. Expect him to win a starting gig in Atlanta's outfield heading into 2010, and assuming he does so, he could make for a nice late-round sleeper.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz has been scratched from Friday's lineup against Washington due to a bruised right thumb, according to MLB reporter Mark Bowman's twitter page. |
Our View: Omar Infante will roam in right field in his place. It is uncertain if Diaz will see any more action with just a handful of games left.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning Tuesday to create a 4-4 tie, but the Marlins pulled ahead and eventually topped the Braves 5-4. Diaz was 1-for-3 on the day. |
Our View: Diaz has had a nice season for the Braves in limited duty. He's batting .315, has hit 13 homers and driven 58 runs in just 368 at-bats this season.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz singled in what would prove to be the Braves' only run in the second inning on Wednesday night, as Atlanta lost 2-1 in Houston. |
Our View: The RBI was his first of the month after he drove in 18 in August. He is not a good option in mixed formats.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz had another absurd night in the Braves' leadoff spot, going 3-for-5 with his tenth home run, as Atlanta won 9-1 in Philadelphia. |
Our View: Diaz has now had multiple hits in seven straight contests, skyrocketing his average from .299 at the beginning of the steak to .329 now.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz went 3-for-5 for his sixth straight multi-hit game on Friday night, but his one RBI wasn't enough, as Atlanta lost 4-2 in Philadelphia. |
Our View: Diaz has risen his average 25 points during this scorching six-game streak, and looks poised to close the year strong.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz's huge night paced the Braves to a 9-1 rout over the Padres at home. The right fielder went 3-for-6 with two RBI and run scored while batting lead off. |
Our View: Diaz is in the midst of a sizzling August, batting .392 with five home runs and 15 RBI. Needless to say, he should be looked at if you are in need of an outfielder.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz had a huge night for the Braves on Wednesday as they pounded the Mets 15-2. Diaz went 2-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored, and four RBI. |
Our View: The Braves had no shortage of offense tonight, and Diaz led the way with his four RBI. He had a big night last night as well, and he could be decent fantasy play if he starts playing on a regular basis.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz went 2-for-4 and hit a three-run homer in the Braves' 9-4 loss to the Mets Tuesday. |
Our View: Diaz is hitting .319 this month with four homers, but doesn't see enough consistent time to make a difference in fantasy leagues.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz did it all on Thursday night, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs and a steal as the Braves beat Philadelphia 5-2. |
Our View: Diaz is now batting .299 on the season, but is still not a regular enough of a contributor to warrant a roster spot in most formats.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and an RBI on Thursday in the Braves' 7-0 win over the Reds. Diaz is hitting .280 on the year with three home runs. |
Our View: Diaz is not much of a fantasy player at this point, as he doesn't really do anything exceptionally well. He is a possible play in deeper NL-only leagues, but mixed leaguers should be able to find better outfield options than Diaz.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz had a nice day at the plate against the Mets on Monday, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run. |
Our View: He started in place of Garrett Anderson with the Braves facing the lefty Johan Santana. Diaz will more often than not see time against lefties and should continue to provide decent value in NL-only or deeper mixed leagues that allow daily changes when you can afford to bench him whenever Anderson is healthy and a righty is on the mound.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz only had one hit in Tuesday's game, but it was a big one as he singled in two runs with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth inning to give the Braves a 2-1 win over St. Louis. |
Our View: Diaz came through in the clutch and now has ten RBI on the season, but he's still only hitting .229 and isn't much of a fantasy option outside on deep NL-only leagues.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz was 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored in Atlanta's 13-0 win over Houston on Friday. |
Our View: The Braves are waiting to see what Diaz can with a whole season at his disposal. He missed nearly a fourth of the entire 2008 season with a torn PCL in his left knee.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz went 0-for-3 against Pittsburgh on Friday and left four runners on base. |
Our View: This is not good news for Diaz, who already lost his everyday role in left with Atlanta's signing of Garrett Anderson last week. He'll likely compete with Gregor Blanco for the role of top outfield reserve.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz has avoided arbitration by signing a one-year deal with the Braves worth $1.2375 million, according to the Denver Post. He can earn an extra $50,000 if he reaches 600 plate appearances. |
Our View: He will compete for a starting outfield job in spring training, and could be useful for deeper NL-only leagues, as he holds a career .344 OBP and .309 batting average.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz spent the past four months recovering from a torn PCL in his left knee and the team awarded him a start in left field in the season finale today, according to MLB.com. He said, "I'm excited to play. I'm going to go out there and treat it like it's the last game I'll ever play. I'm kind of mumbling now because I'm so excited. I feel like I'm a 10-year-old again and getting a chance to play."
|
Our View: This marks his first appearance with the club since May 27 due to the injury. Diaz, who is arbitration-eligible, hopes to be back with Atlanta in 2009.
|
|
|
|
| MLB.com reports that Matt Diaz was activated from the 60-day disabled left as his left knee was deemed ready for action. But because he hasn't seen live pitching in more than two months, it's unclear how much he'll play during the final days of this season. |
Our View: Since injuring the knee, Diaz has played just four Minor League rehab games, and the most recent was on August 12. He is not likely to provide a fantasy punch in the last week of the season. Diaz is arbitration-eligible at the end of the season but it appears Atlanta will re-sign the outfielder.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz will not need surgery for his reinjured right knee, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. But he will need to spend another four weeks rehabbing and strengthening the knee.
|
Our View: Diaz is not worth keeping as a fantasy outfielde.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz was forced out of Wednesday's rehab game at Triple-A Richmond with pain in his left knee, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is trying to return from a torn ligament in his left knee. |
Our View: He is back in Atlanta for evaluation. This is the second setback he has suffered during his rehab, and it is looking less likely he will return to the Braves' outfield this season.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz, who is recovering from a torn ligament in his left knee, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Richmond, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: Barring a setback, he could return to Atlanta before the end of August. He will only be worth holding in larger NL-only leagues, as he will be a part-time starter.
|
|
|
|
| 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.
|
|
|
|
| MLB.com reports that Matt Diaz believes he's ready to come off the disabled list if doctors allow him to use a less-constrictive knee brace.
|
Our View: Diaz has hit .231 in seven Minor League rehab games for Double-A Mississippi. He has not played for the Braves since May 27.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz, who is recovering from a torn ligament in his left knee, went 0-for-3 with a walk and stolen base in the first game of his rehab assignment on Saturday with Double-A Mississippi, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: The stolen base is encouraging, but manager Bobby Cox isn't counting on the outfielder to return until after the All-Star break.
|
|
|
|
| The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Matt Diaz could return before the All-Star break from a partially torn MCL. days, including sprints, quick cuts, and hitting. "I feel like I'm 100 percent [recovered]. I'm ready to get back out there. It's been tough not being able to help out."
|
Our View: Diaz was a platoon player before the injury and things won't change much once he returns. However, Jeff Francouer, another right-handed hitting outfielder, has been terrible for most of the season and Diaz may get the chance to take his everyday job.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz met with Braves' doctors on Monday and is expected to be cleared to resume all baseball activities on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Diaz, who is recovering from a sprained PCL in his left knee, would like to be activated from the DL before the Braves begin a six-game West Coast trip on July 7 (against the Dodgers and Padres).
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz received his MRI results, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. As was feared, the test revealed a partial tear in the posterior cruciate ligament of his left knee, and he is out four to six weeks.
|
Our View: Surgery is not required, and doctors believe he'll just need rest and rehab. He will be fitted for a brace. Diaz has been struggling at the plate as of late, and could actually benefit from the time off.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz is going to undergo an MRI today for his left PCL strain, as well as a laceration below his knee which required stitches, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: He is on the 15-day DL, but he may have a possible tear in the PCL. We will keep you posted on the MRI results.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz left Tuesday's game in the sixth inning with a left PCL strain and a laceration below the knee that required stitches, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Braves placed the outfielder on the DL after the game. Diaz suffered the injury when he slid into the wall trying to make a catch in foul territory. |
Our View: The team plans on activating Rafael Soriano from the DL to replace Diaz on the roster, though this injury leaves them with just four healthy outfielders, so you have to figure another move will come at some point.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz started his second consecutive game against the Padres on Thursday and will likely be in the Braves' lineup at least five times in the next seven days, according to MLB.com. That does not mean the team is going to abandon Gregor Blanco in his left field platoon role. The team is heading into a stretch where almost all they will see are left-handed starters, giving the right-handed-hitting Diaz plenty of playing time after a couple of weeks where he hardly started at all. |
Our View: The team is likely to face seven lefty starters over a nine-game span. Diaz is hitting .297 with two homers and 14 RBI over 101 at-bats, and this would be a good stretch to pencil him into your lineups if you have him on your roster.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz had two hits, one his second home run of the season, on Wednesday night against the Marlins. |
Our View: Diaz is hitting .311 despite 19 K in 19 games, as he tries to hold off Gregor Blanco for playing time in the Braves outfield.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz started in left field and went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Braves on Monday night. |
Our View: Gregor Blanco, in a battle for the starting left field role with Diaz, started over Mark Kotsay in center field on Monday and went 2-for-3 with a run scored to up his average to .444 in 18 AB. Time will tell how this battle will play out, but Blanco is making a real push for more playing time.
|
|
|
|
| Outfielder Gregor Blanco started over Matt Diaz for the third straight game. The left fielder was 1-for-2 with a walk after having two hits in each of the first two games of the series. |
Our View: Diaz hasn't shown much punch at the plate, but his .267 average, nine RBI is more than many of the Braves have supplied in April. Diaz pinch-hit for Blanco in the seventh and did little to make a case for a return to the starting lineup by striking out twice.
|
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz went 2-for-2 against the Mets on Thursday, and raised his spring average to .396. This was a good day for him in his bid to win the starting gig in left field. |
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz had a tough day at the plate against Cleveland on Monday as he went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. His spring average is still strong at .375 as he battles for the starting gig in left field. |
|
|
|
| The Braves have discussed at length, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that Matt Diaz deserves a shot at playing everyday.
The talented outfielder has hit .330 with 59 extra-base hits (19 homers) and 77 RBIs in 655 at-bats for the Braves over the past two seasons. Diaz deserves a chance and it appears that opportunity will finally come. The Braves outfielder is a fringe starting option in mixed leagues, and with everyday at-bats could work his way into a starting role in all formats. |
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz may get a shot as Atlanta's regular left fielder now that Ryan Langerhans has been traded to Oakland. Diaz is hitting .259 with a couple of homers in 54 at-bats. |
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz was forced to exit Sunday's exhibition game due to a sore left shoulder after trying to make a diving catch, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The injury doensn't appear to be serious, though. He's hitting just .216 in 37 at-bats this spring. |
|
|
|
| Matt Diaz hit safely in his first four at-bats on Monday night to extend his hitting streak to a National League record 10 straight at-bats. He grounded out in the ninth inning to end the streak. |
|
