| Jo-Jo Reyes, P, Atlanta Braves | Thursday 4/3, 11:32 PM CT |
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| The Braves will recall Jo-Jo Reyes from Triple-A Richmond to replace the injured Mike Hampton on the roster, according to the AP. Reyes' stay in the big leagues figures to be brief, as the team will activate Chuck James sometime next week to replace Hampton in the rotation. |
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| Chuck James, P, Atlanta Braves | Thursday 4/3, 11:30 PM CT |
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| Manager Bobby Cox said he plans on activating Chuck James from the DL to replace the injured Mike Hampton in the rotation, according to the AP. James is coming back from a shoulder injury. He should make his first start next week. |
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| The strained pectoral that made Mike Hampton a scratch from his start Thursday will force him to go on the DL, according to the AP. "It's the toughest thing I've had to deal with," Hampton said. "Having to step off the mound and say 'I just don't want to do it,' it's definitely a tough pill to swallow." The Braves will recall Jo-Jo Reyes from Triple-A Richmond, and the left-hander will be available for Friday's game. Manager Bobby Cox plans on activating Chuck James from the DL to take Hampton's spot in the rotation. This is a tough break for Hampton, but is anyone really surprised? |
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| Francisco Rodriguez has altered his delivery in an attempt to take pressure off his bad left ankle, and it has resulted in decreased velocity, according to the LA Times. His fastball has registered mostly at 91 MPH, down from his regular 94 MPH. "He was working on a lot of things as far as mechanics in the spring, trying to iron some things out, and sometimes it's a work in progress," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He should be crisper the more he gets out there." K-Rod's new delivery hasn't affected his results thus far, as he's 2-for-2 in save opportunities with three strikeouts in two innings. This doesn't seem like anything to worry about right now. |
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| Jeff Bennett pitched respectably in a spot start for the injured Mike Hampton Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three. The right-hander is likely to be optioned to Triple-A Richmond when John Smoltz is activated from the DL Sunday. That's assuming Hampton doesn't need a DL stint. |
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| Francisco Liriano was roughed up for four runs on six hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings in his rehab start for Single-A Fort Myers Thursday. He also committed an error but did finish with eight strikeouts. The original plan called for Liriano to make two rehab starts before rejoining the Twins rotation, but manager Ron Gardenhire recently said it could take longer than that. Given the results from tonight, perhaps the left-hander does need to spend a little more time on the farm before facing big league hitters. |
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| Miguel Montero will play his first game at extended spring training Sunday, according to the Arizona Republic. The catcher is recovering from a broken finger, and it's not clear when he'll be able to rejoin the D'Backs roster. |
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| Dmitri Young, 1B, Washington Nationals | Thursday 4/3, 8:54 PM CT |
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| Dmitri Young's back flared up on him again Thursday, making him unavailable for a critical pinch-hitting opportunity in the ninth inning of what became an 8-7 loss, according to the Washington Post. Young had an MRI on his back, and the results will be known when the Nats reach St. Louis tomorrow. The team is listing Young as day-to-day for the time being. Nick Johnson will continue to see the bulk of the playing time at first. |
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| Orlando Hernandez allowed two runs on on three hits while striking out six and walking one in five inning Thursday in a rehab start for Single-A St. Lucie. He also hit a batter and tossed a wild pitch. Adam Rubin of the NY Daily News reports that his source said El Duque had impressive offspeed stuff but that his fastball lacked zip. The righty expects to throw two more minor-league games before being activated. “It’s a little tough, but I think day to day it’s geting better,” he said about the bunion on his right big toe. “I need to throw. I need to work out.” With Pedro Martinez out, the Mets could use El Duque's help. We're not sure how much he'll help your fantasy team, though. |
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| Jack Wilson, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates | Thursday 4/3, 8:33 PM CT |
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| Jack Wilson left Thursday's game in the seventh inning with an apparent calf injury. The injury came after Wilson tied the game with an RBI single. The severity isn't known at this point. Chris Gomez came into the game to play second, with Luis Rivas sliding over to short. |
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| Freddy Sanchez had to leave Thursday's game after the fifth inning with an undisclosed injury. Chances are he had some pain in his surgically repaired shoulder that gave him problems this spring, but check back for updates to make sure. Luis Rivas took Sanchez's spot at second. |
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| Kelly Johnson is growing frustrated by pain in his right knee that won't go away. He's missed the past two games with the ailment and admitted that he's had discomfort in the knee for more than a year, according to MLB.com. Johnson hopes to avoid the DL but concedes that it is a possibility. "I don't want to [go on the disabled list]," Johnson said. "I'd love to completely avoid it. But you'd rather miss a handful of games now instead of constantly missing games here and there throughout season. Maybe the answer is rest. But I had a lot of rest when the [2007] season ended." Johnson had an MRI on the knee in January and again on Tuesday. Both times no structural damage was found, but the second baseman says the pain "feels like a knife in my knee." Manager Bobby Cox indicated that he might be able to put Johnson back in the lineup Friday, otherwise he'll once again go with Martin Prado. |
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| Bartolo Colon was dominant in his outing for Triple-A Pawtucket Thursday, tossing five shutout innings while allowing just one hit and one walk while punching out five, according to the Providence Journal. Colon's last pitch registered at 95 MPH on the radar gun. With Josh Beckett slated to come off the DL this weekend, the Sox don't have any room in their rotation. However, if Colon continues to pitch like this, he should find his way up to Beantown eventually. |
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| The Orioles will keep their rotation in order after Thursday's rainout, according to the AP. Steve Trachsel will now start Friday against the Mariners, with everyone else simply moving back a day. It doesn't really matter who Trachsel faces. He's a sketchy fantasy play, at best, no matter what. |
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| The Rays will keep their rotation in the same order after Thursday's rainout, according to the AP. That means Andy Sonnanstine will now start Friday against the Yankees, while everyone else gets bumped back a day. Tough break for the righty, as he goes from facing the worst offense in the AL in Baltimore to possibly the best. |
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| The Mets have interest in bringing Claudio Vargas in as a replacement for the injured Pedro Martinez, but it appears that there might not be a fit. Bean Stringfellow, the agent for Vargas, indicated that GM Omar Minaya was not prepared to offer the right-hander a starting job in the immediate future. “Omar, to his credit, has been very upfront with me and I appreciate the Mets’ candor,” Stringfellow said to Newsday. “What I’m hearing from that situation, it just doesn’t jibe. I’m trying to get Claudio in the right situation, not a quick situation.” Vargas was released by the Brewers last month. He won't have trouble finding a job somewhere, but with El Duque due back soon, going to the Mets might not be the best move for him. |
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| It was a strained pectoral that kept Mike Hampton from making his scheduled start Friday, according to Sports Network. The lefty was supposed to take the mound for the first time since August of 2005, but he felt a twinge in his pectoral while warming up before the game. Hampton is being listed as day-to-day, but given his injury history, we wouldn't be surprised if a DL stint is needed. |
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| Victor Martinez could return to the lineup as soon as tomorrow night, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. V-Mart hasn't played since the opener, when he had to leave after straining a hamstring. "It's getting better every day," said manager Eric Wedge. "We're going to get to the ballpark early and he should be back in a day or two. This was an opportunity to get him back out there. I'm very happy with his progress." Wedge said there was no chance of using V-Mart as a DH. Check back for updates to see if the catcher will get back to action tomorrow. |
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| Jeff Bennett got a spot start for the Braves Thursday, filling in for the injured Mike Hampton, who felt discomfort during his warmup session. Bennett earned the last spot in Braves bullpen and has pitched two games in relief already, giving up a run in two innings. His outing tonight figures to be a short one, even though he trained as a starter this spring. |
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| Mike Hampton was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday after feeling discomfort during his warmup session, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It's not clear at this point which area was giving the lefty trouble, but we'll pass along more info when it becomes available. Jeff Bennett is starting in his place. |
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| The Rangers outrighted Nelson Cruz to Triple-A Oklahoma Thursday after the outfielder cleared waivers, according to the AP. Cruz, who was designated for assignment Saturday, still has a bit of upside, but he'll be 28 in July and has done very little at the big-league level thus far. |
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| Jack Wilson, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates | Thursday 4/3, 6:01 PM CT |
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| After hitting eighth in the first two games of the season, Jack Wilson is batting second tonight. "It's like I said earlier, we're going to put the lineup together the way we best see it fitting that night," manager John Russell said on MLB.com. "Jack will hit in the top of the order. He'll hit No. 8 sometimes. We'll just see how it plays out." Wilson is 0-for-8 to start the year, so he certainly didn't earn the move to the top. He's not much of a mixed league option but has value in NL-only play. |
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| Gary Sheffield, who tore a tendon in his left ring finger Thursday when he slid into second base, left open the possibility that he would play Friday, but manager Jim Leyland said it's unlikely the DH will be available, according to the Detroit Free Press. Sheffield wore a splint on the finger after the game and said he had "no feeling" in the finger immediately after the injury. "I think I hit it on the base, but I'm not sure," he said. "I didn't notice it until I got in the dugout, looked at it, and it looked deformed." Sheff is as tough as nails, but this sounds like something that will keep him out of the lineup at least a few days. A DL stint is certainly possible. Marcus Thames would likely see the bulk of the time at DH if Sheffield misses significant time. |
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| Jorge Posada is out of the lineup Thursday for the second straight day because of a stiff right shoulder, according to MLB.com. He is expected to be available as a pinch-hitter. Posada is able to hit and exercise, but is not permitted to throw yet. "They want me to rest," Posada said. "It doesn't hurt at all, even hitting or anything. We'll find out tomorrow when I throw. It's better because, obviously, there's no ache. The stiffness is gone too. It's just a matter of finding out tomorrow what it feels like." Jose Molina started in Posada's place. Expect Jorge to be back in the lineup sometime this weekend. |
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| It's possible Francisco Liriano will need more than two minor-league starts before rejoining the Twins rotation, according to MLB.com. "Two starts and we'll see where he's at," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I think with two starts, if everything continues on as is with him stepping up each time, he should be really close to being ready for here. But it has to continue. If he stays flat and stays about the same with his location and he's throwing the ball all over the place, then we'll extend [the Minor League stint] out. It's up to him now to keep elevating [his game]." The lefty will make his first minor-league appearance tonight for Single-A Fort Myers. He will then start in five days for Triple-A Rochester. Nick Blackburn had been the obvious choice to be sent down once Liriano is ready, but he pitched well Wednesday and Kevin Slowey left Thursday's start with an injury, so perhaps he'll need a DL stint. |
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| Dave Bush, P, Milwaukee Brewers | Thursday 4/3, 5:32 PM CT |
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| Dave Bush had a disappointing 2007 and is off to a bad start in 2008. On Thursday, the right-hander allowed six runs on six hits and five walks while striking out four. Bush will have to pitch better in his next start if he wants to avoid being sent to the bullpen when Yovani Gallardo returns. |
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| Matt Stairs, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies | Thursday 4/3, 5:24 PM CT |
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| Matt Stairs is in the lineup Thursday after sitting out the first two games of the year with a sore hip. The veteran is playing left field and batting second in the lineup. |
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| Gary Sheffield tore a tendon in his left ring finger in the eighth inning of Thursday's game while sliding into second base, the AP reports. "He would have not been able to hit if we came around to him in the ninth," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I don't know how serious it was, but he couldn't bend it." There is still no word on how much time Sheffield will miss. If he does miss time, Marcus Thames figures to gain significant at-bats. |
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| Scott Hairston continued his terrific start to the 2008 campaign Thursday, going 3-for-3 with a double, triple and two runs scored. The outfielder is batting .400 with two homers, three RBI and four runs after four games. He hit leadoff Thursday with Brian Giles getting a day off. Hairston is a fine NL-only play right now and is making a case to be owned in mixed league formats, as well. |
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| Kerry Wood, P, Chicago Cubs | Thursday 4/3, 4:46 PM CT |
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| Kerry Wood second outing as the Cubs closer went much better than the first. He pitched a scoreless ninth Thursday to pick up his first save of the year, allowing one hit while striking out a pair. Wood has good enough stuff to succeed in the closer role, but whether he can stay healthy and pitch on back-to-back days are questions that need to be answered. |
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| Tim Byrdak, P, Houston Astros | Thursday 4/3, 4:41 PM CT |
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| The Astros signed Tim Byrdak to a minor-league deal Thursday. He'll report to Triple-A Round Rock initially, but Houston has just one lefty in the pen now and could bring him up soon. Byrdak was released last week by Detroit. |
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| Johnny Estrada began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus Thursday, according to the AP. The catcher is coming back from elbow surgery and is expected back in a couple weeks. |
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| Ryan Dempster's return to the rotation is off to a great start. The right-hander allowed just two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings Thursday in a 6-3 win over Milwaukee. Dempster could wind up being a decent guy to fill out your rotation in mixed leagues, but don't go overboard in bidding for him after this one start. |
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| Victor Martinez, who left Monday's outing with a strained hamstring, flew out as a pinch hitter Thursday. Manager Eric Wedge hopes V-Mart can return to catching duties in the next few days, according to the AP. The Tribe are in Oakland over the weekend and then start a series with the Angels Monday. Hopefully Martinez will be behind the plate sometime against the A's. |
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| Tony Gwynn, CF, Milwaukee Brewers | Thursday 4/3, 4:07 PM CT |
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| Tony Gwynn left Thursday's game in the fifth inning with a hamstring injury, according to SportsTicker. He was injured while running out a ground ball. Gabe Kapler replaced him in center field. The Brewers didn't indicate how much time Gwynn would miss. We'll pass along any updates as we get them. |
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| Troy Tulowitzki had a tough day at the plate in a 3-0 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday, as he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. He is off to a 3-for-12 start and has cooled off following a hot spring training. |
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| Garrett Atkins went 3-for-4 in a 3-0 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday. That was a great day for him, as he needed to bounce back from a 1-for-7 start. |
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| Brad Thompson was dominant in his win against Colorado on Thursday, as he didn't allow any runs over 6.2 innings, with six hits allowed and six strikeouts. His fantasy stock will continue to rise following this strong showing. |
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| Justin Morneau went 0-for-2 against the Angels on Thursday, and is now hitless over his first 12 at-bats of the season. Morneau notably inked an $80 million contract back in January, and he clearly isn't playing up to expectations in the early going. |
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| Torii Hunter, CF, Los Angeles Angels | Thursday 4/3, 3:42 PM CT |
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| Torii Hunter went 1-for-4 with an RBI in a 5-4 win over Minnesota on Thursday, and notably recorded his first homer with the Angels, which came at the expense of his old team. Hunter bounced back a bit following a slow start. |
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| Ervin Santana earned the win in a close 5-4 battle against Minnesota on Thursday, as he only allowed two runs on four hits over six innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. He is off to a good start as he tries to bounce back from a weak 7-14 campaign in 2007. |
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| Brandon Inge fared well as he replaced Miguel Cabrera at third base against Kansas City on Thursday, as he went 2-for-3 and drove in the Tigers' only run on a solo homer in a 4-1 loss. Inge is among the most solid utility men in the league, evidenced by today's performance. |
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| Jeremy Bonderman surrendered four runs on eight hits (two home runs) over 6.1 innings of work in a 4-1 loss to Kansas City on Thursday, with two walks and one strikeout. This appeared to be a good week for Detroit pitchers as they were facing Kansas City, but that gravely was not the case as the Tigers were swept in the three-game series. |
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| Alex Gordon, 3B, Kansas City Royals | Thursday 4/3, 3:23 PM CT |
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| Alex Gordon went 2-for-5 with two RBI in a big 4-1 win against Detroit on Thursday, and notably collected his second homer of the season. He also registered four RBI in the three-game series, which the Royals swept. |
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| Zack Greinke was in control on the mound Thursday, as he only allowed one run on six hits over seven innings in 4-1 win over Detroit, with two walks and three strikes. He helped the Royals sweep the Tigers in their three-game series. |
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| Jeff Keppinger went 2-for-3 with one RBI on Thursday, and notably blasted his first homer of the season in a 3-2 win over Arizona. Keppinger is off to a hot start as he registered five hits over his first 10 at-bats of the season. |
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| Francisco Cordero earned his first save on Thursday, in a close 3-2 win over Arizona, as he held the team hitless with one stikeout. His season is off to a solid start. |
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| Eric Byrnes, LF, Arizona Diamondbacks | Thursday 4/3, 2:53 PM CT |
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| Eric Byrnes had a tough day at the plate in a 3-2 loss to Cincinnati on Thursday, as he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. He only has one hit over his first 12 at-bats this season. |
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| Chris Young, CF, Arizona Diamondbacks | Thursday 4/3, 2:50 PM CT |
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| Chris Young whiffed four times against Cincinnati on Thursday, just one day after drawing a career high three walks. He will bounce back and remains one of the most exciting young outfielders in the league. |
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| Justin Upton, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks | Thursday 4/3, 2:47 PM CT |
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| Justin Upton went 1-for-2 with an RBI in a 3-2 loss to Cincinnati on Thursday, and notably collected his first home run of the season. He also drew one walk, and led the club with four total bases today. The youngster is off to a good start. |
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| Johnny Cueto earned his first win on Thursday, as Cincinnati edged Arizona 3-2. Cueto was in control on the mound as he only allowed one run on one hit over seven innings, with an eye opening 10 strikeouts on no walks. His only run and hit allowed came on a Justin Upton home run, and Cueto registered a big blip on the fantasy radar after this impressive first outing. |
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| Doug Davis, P, Arizona Diamondbacks | Thursday 4/3, 2:37 PM CT |
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| Doug Davis was dealt his first loss of the season on Thursday, as he allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits over 3.2 innings of work against Cincinnati, with six walks and four strikeouts. Davis is notably dealing with thyroid cancer, and it is undetermined how many starts he will make before undergoing surgery. |
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| Chad Cordero, P, Washington Nationals | Thursday 4/3, 2:28 PM CT |
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| Chad Cordero could reportedly return to action by Sunday, according to MLB.com. Cordero played catch on Thursday morning at Citizens Bank Park, throwing from 75 to 100 feet, and didn't experience any shoulder pain. If his right shoulder continues to get better, Cordero will have a bullpen session on Saturday in St. Louis and then possibly play in his first game of the new season on Sunday against the Cardinals, or Monday against the Marlins. Cordero is notably yet to play a game because of his shoulder tendinitis. He took a cortisone shot on Sunday and went through arm exercises. It seemed to have worked very well for him, and he stated, "Everything felt really good. We'll see how it is Friday. Once I got loose after the first couple of throws, it was really good. I was doing my best to let it go." This is encouraging news for the Nats' closer.
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| Ryan Garko, 1B, Cleveland Indians | Thursday 4/3, 2:19 PM CT |
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| Ryan Garko went 1-for-3 and registered the only RBI in a 2-1 loss to Chicago on Thursday. He collected two RBI over the three-game series. |
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| Grady Sizemore had a tough day at the plate in a 2-1 loss to Chicago on Thursday, as he went 0-for-4 with a stikeout. He is still off to a solid start as he racked up four hits and four RBI in the first two games of the series. |
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| Chris Duncan, LF, St. Louis Cardinals | Thursday 4/3, 2:07 PM CT |
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| Chris Duncan missed his second game due to a sore left hamstring on Thursday, according to MLB.com. He may not return until Sunday and Manager LaRussa commented, "He's taking swings, so that's an improvement. We'll see how he comes out of the swings and then talk to head athletic trainer Barry Weinberg about it. Obviously we're going to try not to use him." Hopefully this won't be a chronic problem this season.
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| Jake Westbrook was dealt his first loss of the season on Thursday as he allowed two runs on six hits over 7.1 innings of work, with one walk and three strikeouts. Both runs came on solo homers by Joe Crede and Juan Uribe, as Cleveland fell 2-1. |
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| Jim Thome, DH, Chicago White Sox | Thursday 4/3, 1:56 PM CT |
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| Jim Thome had a tough day at the plate against Cleveland on Thursday, as he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He is still off to a strong start as he registered two homers and four RBI over the first two games of the series. |
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| Bobby Jenks, P, Chicago White Sox | Thursday 4/3, 1:49 PM CT |
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| Bobby Jenks earned his first save of 2008 as he preserved a 2-1 win against Cleveland, as he threw a hitless inning, with one strikeout. The White Sox needed this win, and end the first Cleveland series with a 1-2 mark. |
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| John Danks, P, Chicago White Sox | Thursday 4/3, 1:45 PM CT |
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| John Danks was strong in a no decision against Cleveland on Thursday as he only allowed one run on two hits over 6.2 innings, with two walks and two stikeouts. He also started the game with five hitless innings, until Casey Blake broke up his bid for a no hitter. The White Sox held on to win 2-1 and he made a blip on the fantasy radar following this performance. |
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| David DeJesus remains listed as day-to-day with his ankle injury, according to MLB.com. He missed another game on Thursday and Manager Hillman stated, "He's still day-to-day. A lot of treatment again today. Still sore but it's still not a DL situation." Joey Gathright will continue to fill his spot in the lineup.
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| Victor Martinez has returned to action as he pinch-hit for Jason Michaels in Thursday's game against the White Sox, according to the Plain Dealer. He flied out to left field but it is good to see him back on the field. |
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| Kevin Slowey went down with what is initially being called a right biceps strain, according to the Star Tribune. He left today’s start against the Angels in the fourth inning with an apparent injury. He will be re-evaluated on Friday, and Francisco Liriano would be a possible choice to take Slowey’s spot in the rotation if the injury is serious. More should be known shortly.
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| Fernando Rodney will throw a bullpen session on Thursday in Lakeland, Fla., according to MLB.com. This will mark the first time that the injured Tigers reliever has thrown since being put on the 15-day DL near the end of spring training. Rodney is dealing with tendinitis in his right shoulder, and he will not throw much. The Tigers want to be very careful with him, especially since he made a trip to the DL in 2007. He could also strengthen their struggling bullpen. The team will evaluate his session on Thursday before making any further decisions. Manager Leyland commented, "We'll have to wait and see how that all plays out. I'm not going to get all excited and rush it."
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| Francisco Rodriguez is changing his pitching delivery in an attempt to limit stress on his body, according to MLB.com. He understands that too much movement is never good for a pitcher, so he has taken steps to limit stress on his body by employing a more compact delivery. The main focus is on keeping his left leg tighter and softening his landing on his left ankle, which has recently given him problems at times. He noted, "Before, I used to be more open, swinging my leg around. I'm trying to take a little pressure off my left ankle. It's been really painful after every outing. That's because my delivery was so violent. I just have to make sure not to land so hard. It's the only change I've made. Now the delivery is more on a line, not toward first base. Now it's quick, short, let it go." He notably nailed down his first save of the season on Wednesday, with one strikeout over his one inning of work.
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| Randy Johnson is reportedly going to make his first start with the D-Backs on April 14, according to the East Valley Tribune. Johnson will make one more minor league start for the Sidewinders on Tuesday, to get his pitch count up a bit higher.
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| Jason LaRue, C, St. Louis Cardinals | Thursday 4/3, 12:56 PM CT |
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| Jason LaRue has been handed the start at catcher for the Cardinals today. Regular starter Yadier Molina notably suffered through a poor spring training and is only hitting 2-for-8 so far in the regular season. This could develop into a platoon this season. |
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| Yadier Molina is not in the Cardinals' lineup today, as Jason LaRue is starting at catcher. Molina notably suffered through a poor spring training and is only hitting 2-for-8 so far in the regular season. |
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| Mike Hampton is set to make his first start in nearly two years (August 19, 2005) on Thursday, according to the Sports Network. Hampton missed the past two seasons after undergoing several elbow operations, and went 5-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 12 starts during the 2005 season. Hampton had a favorable spring training and it is nice to see him return to action against the Pirates tonight. |
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| Aaron Boone, 1B, Washington Nationals | Thursday 4/3, 12:41 PM CT |
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| Aaron Boone is starting at first base in favor of Nick Johnson today, according to the Washington Post. Manager Manny Acta noted that he doesn't want to wear out Johnson early and that Boone could use some at-bats. |
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| Nick Johnson, 1B, Washington Nationals | Thursday 4/3, 12:38 PM CT |
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| Nick Johnson is riding the pine against the Phillies on Thursday, according to the Washington Post. Manager Manny Acta had this to say about the move, "The matchup is not good for anybody with this guy. He gets out the three of them. Dmitri has a little bit of success against him. Boone needs to get some at-bats, too. I'm not going to run Nick down just because we're 3-0. The guy's coming back from that injury. He never played three games in a row a full nine innings in spring training. It's the first week of the season. Day after night game. So we got to try to keep everybody involved." He was referring to left handed pitcher Jamie Moyer, and Aaron Boone has been penciled in at first base.
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| Casey Blake, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers | Thursday 4/3, 12:31 PM CT |
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| Casey Blake broke up John Danks' bid for a no-hitter on Thursday, as he belted a single to center field to lead off the sixth inning, this according to the Plain Dealer. He already had a three-RBI game in this series with Chicago. |
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| Felipe Lopez, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals | Thursday 4/3, 12:23 PM CT |
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| Felipe Lopez is set to make his left field debut against the Phillies on Thursday, according to MLB.com. Lopez is playing in the outfield due to injuries to Elijah Dukes and Wily Mo Pena, and Manager Manny Acta stated, "Lopez is a very good athlete. We have approached him about it. He has a great attitude. He has no problem with it. It will be good for him to get those at-bats."
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| Ryan Theriot has dropped down to the second spot in the batting order due to a slow start, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Alfonso Soriano has regained his leadoff role, as Theriot only has two hits over nine at-bats. |
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| Chris Burke, LF, Arizona Diamondbacks | Thursday 4/3, 12:06 PM CT |
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| Chris Burke is starting at first base against Cincinnati today, while Conor Jackson sits out due to illness. The utility man notably had a solid spring training. |
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| Conor Jackson is not expected to play today, according to the Sports Network. Jackson notably left yesterday's game in the fifth inning due to a stomach illness which resulted in a trip to the hospital, but he is expected to be fine.
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| Brian Stokes has cleared waivers, according to MetsFever.com. He is expected to stay with the organization in New Orleans. Stokes throws very hard and could prove to make a solid long reliever in time.
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| Freddy Sanchez continues to have no problems at all with his previously ailing shoulder, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Sanchez has five hits over nine at-bats this season, and is using a three-quarters motion on his throws to keep comfortable. |
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| Alexei Ramirez will sit against Cleveland on Thursday, according to the Chicago Tribune. Carlos Quentin is going to start in left field, and Nick Swisher is going to play center field. Jermaine Dye is penciled in at right field, as usual. |
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| Carlos Quentin will make his first start of the season in left field today, according to the Chicago Tribune. Manager Guillen noted that he is not down on Alexei Ramirez in any way, he justs wants to give Quentin more at-bats.
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| Nick Swisher is going to bat lead-off for the White Sox today, according to the Chicago Tribune. Orlando Cabrera is going to move down to the number two spot. Swisher collected two hits and two runs over the first two games of the season against Cleveland. |
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| Ronny Paulino will start at catcher against Atlanta on Thursday, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Ryan Doumit started the first two games for Pittsburgh, but the team is facing lefty Mike Hampton today, which is why Paulino gets the call. He notably played in 133 games in 2007. |
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| Clete Thomas will start in center field today according to the Sports Network. Brandon Inge is going to move to third base to cover for the ailing Miguel Cabrera, which frees up center field for Thomas. He was a longshot to make the team this season, and it is nice to see him start a game. |
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