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| Jake Westbrook went the distance for the Indians Tuesday, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four over nine innings. Travis Hafner gave the Tribe the lead in the top of the inning with a two-run jack, and Westbrook shut the door in the bottom of the frame. He needed just 94 pitches in the complete game effort. Westbrook had a phenomenal spring, and that's carried over into the regular season, as he has a 2.76 ERA after two starts. |
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| The Angels are missing K-Rod already. With their closer sidelined for the next few days with an ankle injury, the Halos turned to Justin Speier, who served up a two-run homer to Travis Hafner in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss. We're betting Scot Shields will get the next save opportunity. |
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| Joel Pineiro, P, St. Louis Cardinals | Tuesday 4/8, 11:43 PM CT |
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| Joel Pineiro looked good in his rehab start for Triple-A Memphis Tuesday, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five over six innings. The righty is working his way back from a sore shoulder. This could be his only rehab start, as it's possible he could be activated and start on Sunday in place of Brad Thompson. Stay tuned. |
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| The Rays are likely to recall Jeff Niemann from Triple-A Durham Sunday to start in place of the injured Matt Garza, according to the Tampa Tribune. Niemann holds a 3.27 ERA in two starts for Durham this year. He would be worth a gamble in AL-only leagues. |
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| The Rays recalled Jae Kuk Ryu from Triple-A Durham Tuesday to replace the injured Matt Garza on the roster. He will be used out of the bullpen the rest of this week but is likely to be sent back down on Sunday, at which point the Rays are expected to recall Jeff Niemann to make a start. |
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| Matt Garza, P, Tampa Bay Rays | Tuesday 4/8, 11:34 PM CT |
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| The Rays placed Matt Garza on the DL after Tuesday's game with a radial nerve irritation, which is a problem near the triceps, according to the Tampa Tribune. Garza has had the ailment before but has always been able to pitch through it. “I’ve usually been able to get through it, just kind of pitch through it and wear the pain and get it right after the game and get my work in,” he said. “This time it was just real bad – I knew something was up.” The Rays recalled Jae Kuk Ryu from Triple-A Durham. Ryu will be used out of the bullpen the next few days, and Jeff Niemann is expected to be recalled to make the start on Sunday in Garza's place. |
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| Randy Johnson, who's coming back from back surgery, allowed three runs while striking out seven over six innings Tuesday in his second rehab start for Triple-A Tucson. A much better performance this time out from the Big Unit. He's expected to be activated from the DL on Monday, but check back for updates to make sure. |
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| Eric Gagne, P, Milwaukee Brewers | Tuesday 4/8, 10:34 PM CT |
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| Eric Gagne blew his second save in three chances Tuesday, allowing a game-tying homer to Corey Patterson in the ninth. Rickie Weeks picked up Gagne with a game-winning RBI single in the 10th, but the Brewers and fantasy owners alike have to be concerned with Gagne's performance thus far. |
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| The velocity on Joe Borowski's fastball was clocked around 85 MPH Monday when he gave up a grand slam to Torii Hunter. The Indians aren't worried yet, but they are exploring the possibility that Borowski may be hurt. "We'll see how he feels [Tuesday] and go from there," manager Eric Wedge said on MLB.com. "There's nothing that says he isn't [healthy]. We'll see after he plays catch." Borowski is probably unavailable tonight after pitching two straight days, and Rafael Betancourt is definitely unavailable after pitching three straight days, so if the Indians need someone to close they'll likely turn to Jensen Lewis or Rafael Perez. We'll keep you posted on how Borowski is feeling. |
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| Clay Timpner, LF, San Francisco Giants | Tuesday 4/8, 10:19 PM CT |
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| The Giants recalled Clay Timpner from Triple-A Fresno Tuesday to replace the injured Dave Roberts on the roster. Timpner was hitting .250 with six RBI in 20 at-bats with Fresno. He batted .301 with six homers and 39 RBI last year at Triple-A. He doesn't figure to see a ton of playing time. |
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| Dave Roberts, LF, San Francisco Giants | Tuesday 4/8, 10:17 PM CT |
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| The Giants placed Dave Roberts on the DL Tuesday with a left knee injury. The team recalled Clay Timpner from Triple-A Fresno. Fred Lewis should get the bulk of the playing time in left field while Roberts is out, but Rajai Davis, Dan Ortmeier and Timpner should see time, as well. |
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| Johnny Estrada will be recalled from his rehab assignment to replace the injured Dmitri Young on the roster. Estrada is coming back from elbow surgery. He'll be behind Paul Lo Duca on the depth chart but should get a couple starts per week. |
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| Dmitri Young, 1B, Washington Nationals | Tuesday 4/8, 10:11 PM CT |
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| The Nationals placed Dmitri Young on the DL Tuesday with a lower back sprain. The move is retroactive to April 3. Young has managed just two at-bats thus far. Johnny Estrada will be recalled from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus to replace Young on the roster. Nick Johnson will continue to see the bulk of the time at first base while Young is out. |
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| Howie Kendrick didn't start Wednesday, but X-rays on his injured right thumb were negative, and the second baseman expects to be back in the lineup soon, according to MLB.com. He was hit by a Fausto Carmona pitch Monday and was removed from the game. "I didn't think anything was broken when it happened," Kendrick said. "I could still move it. There's a tendon or nerve that runs across the hand there at the thumb, and it started to swell up. Maybe I popped a blood vessel. I'll see how it feels and try to get back out there when I can. I don't want to miss much time the way things are going." Kendrick missed five weeks last year after getting hit by a pitch on the left hand, so his owners probably automatically assumed the worst in this instance. It's good to know he'll be OK, though. |
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| Chad Billingsley had to wait a while for his first start of the season. Perhaps he would have been better off waiting longer. The right-hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings Tuesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out one. Billingsley gave up one run in a couple relief appearances last week. This was certainly a rough first start for the youngster, but be patient. He'll get better. |
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| Anthony Reyes was terrific out of the bullpen for the Cardinals Tuesday, allowing just one hit while striking out one over three scoreless innings to pick up a win. The righty lost out on a rotation spot this spring, but at the worst, he's pitching his way into an integral role with solid relief work. |
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| Ryan Rowland-Smith picked up his first career save Tuesday night, pitching 1 2/3 spotless innings while registering two strikeouts. The Mariners are using a committee to replace the injured J.J. Putz, and Rowland-Smith was the beneficiary tonight. Mark Lowe, Sean Green and Eric O'Flaherty could get an opportunity, as well. |
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| Johnny Cueto wasn't as dominant in his second career start as he was in his first, but he was still pretty darn good. The young right-hander allowed two runs on five hits while striking out eight over 6 1/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and now has an 18/0 K/BB rate in his 13 1/3 innings. It's pretty clear that Cueto is legit, though you can expect rough patches to come. |
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| Wily Mo Pena, LF, Washington Nationals | Tuesday 4/8, 9:39 PM CT |
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| Wily Mo Pena played three innings in a game at extended spring training in Florida Tuesday, according to the AP. He went 0-for-1 at the plate with a strikeout, a walk and a run scored. He didn't have any opportunities in left field. Pena has been sidelined by a torn left side muscle and could return later this month. |
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| Shawn Hill, P, Washington Nationals | Tuesday 4/8, 9:37 PM CT |
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| Shawn Hill, recovering from a forearm injury, tossed five shutout innings Tuesday in a rehab start for Single-A Potomac, allowing four hits and one walk with four strikeouts, according to the AP. The righty's fastball touched 91 MPH on the radar gun. GM Jim Bowden said he and manager Manny Acta planned to meet Wednesday to discuss Hill's status going forward. We'll keep you posted on Hill's progress, but everything sounds good so far. |
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| Travis Buck, RF, Oakland Athletics | Tuesday 4/8, 9:30 PM CT |
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| Travis Buck finally picked up his first hit of the year Tuesday, doubling in a run in the second while also adding a single later on. He finished with a 2-for-6 night at the plate, and while Buck is still batting just .074 on the year, that's certainly better than .000. |
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| Ryan Sweeney is staking claim on the center field job for the A's. He had an RBI double as well as an RBI triple that proved to be the game-winner. Sweeney is batting a robust .438 on the year in 16 at-bats, while Chris Denorfia, who is competing with him for playing time, is hitting just .143. Sweeney should definitely receive the bulk of the playing time against righties, while Denorfia will still probably play most of the time against lefties. |
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| A.J. Burnett was shelled by the Blue Jays Tuesday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out just one over 4 2/3 frames. The righty won his first outing, but obviously he wasn't as sharp this time around. He'll have a chance to redeem himself Sunday, but his matchup at Texas isn't exactly favorable. |
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| Chad Gaudin, P, Oakland Athletics | Tuesday 4/8, 9:19 PM CT |
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| Chad Gaudin struggled in his first start of the year Tuesday, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out three in four innings. Gaudin had been on the DL while recovering from offseason surgeries on his hip and foot. He had some fantasy value last year, but you should exercise caution with him at this point. |
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| The Angels will use a closer-by-committee until K-Rod is able to return, which should only be a few days, according to MLB.com. "We've got a couple of arms at the back end of the bullpen to close it out," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We'll do it by matchups. When it goes three, four days, we can absorb that with a 10-man staff. But we can't absorb that for too long." The best bet for saves is Scot Shields, but it appears Scioscia will mix and match. |
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| Matt Garza, P, Tampa Bay Rays | Tuesday 4/8, 9:04 PM CT |
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| The injury that forced Matt Garza out of Tuesday's game is being called radial nerve irritation, according to the Tampa Tribune. It seems likely that Garza will end up on the DL, but we'll pass along more info as it comes. Jeff Niemann is an option to replace Garza in the rotation. |
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| Orlando Hernandez returned to New York for an MRI Tuesday after experiencing pain in the right foot that bothered him early in spring training and which initially forced him to the disabled list, according to Metsblog.com. It had seemed like El Duque would return soon, but that's obviously up in the air now. We'll let you know what the MRI results are. |
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| Jorge Posada's right shoulder injury may force him to the DL, according to MLB.com. The catcher was removed from Tuesday's game in the sixth inning after feeling a recurrence of the stiffness in the shoulder that has plagued him recently. He'll have an MRI Wednesday. When asked how the shoulder feels, Posada responded: "Dead. It's like I've got no strength." The Royals stole four bases Tuesday off Posada, and manager Joe Girardi acknowledged that having Posada behind the plate would now be a weakness. Journeyman Chad Moeller is at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and would likely get called up should Posada need a DL stint. It sounds pretty likely that may be the route the Yankees take. We'll keep you posted. |
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| Vinnie Chulk, P, San Francisco Giants | Tuesday 4/8, 8:19 PM CT |
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| Vinnie Chulk, who is coming back from tendinitis in his shoulder, will make at least one more appearance for Triple-A Fresno before being activated from the DL, according to MLB.com. The righty has tossed two scoreless innings for Fresno thus far. "When he comes up here, we don't want to be concerned with how we use him," manager Bruce Bochy said. The Giants need all the help they can get, and Chulk is a solid reliever, but he has value only in the deepest of NL-only leagues. |
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| Mark Mulder, P, St. Louis Cardinals | Tuesday 4/8, 8:07 PM CT |
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| Mark Mulder is scheduled to throw his second extended spring training game on Wednesday. If that goes well, his next game will mark the beginning of his minor league rehab assignment, according to MLB.com. Once a pitcher begins their minor league rehab, he has 30 days before he must be activated. However, GM John Mozeliak said Mulder may not necessarily even need the full month. "I would say pitch-count-wise, the answer is probably no," Mozeliak said. "But we'll see how he does." The lefty is coming back from a second shoulder operation. How he comes back and pitches is anyone's guess, but you should definitely see how he does in a few starts before picking him up. |
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| J.J. Putz, P, Seattle Mariners | Tuesday 4/8, 8:02 PM CT |
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| J.J. Putz will play catch on Wednesday, his first baseball-related activity since suffering a rib injury, according to MLB.com. "We'll start his throwing program tomorrow and, hopefully, progress on a daily basis," Seattle trainer Rick Griffin said. "We'll see how he feels the next day based on what he did. If he comes in and feels great, we'll progress the work. If doesn't feel great, then we'll have to back it off." It's too soon to say when the closer will return to game action, but this is a significant step in Putz's recovery regardless. |
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| Francisco Liriano struggled again in his second rehab start Tuesday, giving up three runs on five hits, with three walks and three strikeouts for Triple-A Rochester. The lefty needed 88 pitches to get through four innings, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. A spot in the Twins rotation could be opened Sunday if Kevin Slowey is unable to pitch, but Liriano didn't exactly inspire confidence with his two rehab starts. We'll let you know what the Twins plan on doing with the prized southpaw. |
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| It was puzzling as to why Pedro Feliciano didn't pitch in Tuesday's game in the middle innings when the Mets needed him, and now we know the reason. The lefty specialist didn't arrive at Shea Stadium until the seventh inning. He had been back home in Puerto Rico dealing with what he called "family issues" and had his original flight canceled, according to MLB.com. Feliciano said the issue was resolved, so he it appears he'll be available going forward. |
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| Felipe Paulino suffered a setback today in his recovery from a pinched nerve in his upper arm when a team doctor informed him he needed another month of inactivity, according to the Houston Chronicle. Paulino is one of the Astros better prospects and was competing for a rotation spot this spring before the injury cropped up. We'll let you know how he progresses. |
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| Matt Garza, P, Tampa Bay Rays | Tuesday 4/8, 7:39 PM CT |
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| Matt Garza exited Tuesday's game in the third inning with an undisclosed injury, according to the Tampa Tribune. The righty had not fared well before exiting, permitting three runs on six hits and three walks in 2 2/3 frames. The Tribune also notes that Jeff Niemann is on the same schedule as Garza at Triple-A, and he could get the call should Garza be sidelined for a while. We'll update you on Garza's status when more is known. |
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| Jimmy Rollins expects to start Wednesday despite the ankle injury that knocked him out of Tuesday's game, according to MLB.com. "My cleat got stuck," said Rollins. "I was more concerned about my knee popping if anything, but the ankle went. It's probably something day-to-day." Rollins went on to say that he could have stayed in the game. It sounds like he'll be good to go tomorrow. |
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| Colt Morton, C, San Diego Padres | Tuesday 4/8, 7:30 PM CT |
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| The Padres recalled Colt Morton from Double-A San Antonio Tuesday to replace the injured Michael Barrett on the roster. Morton figures to see limited playing time behind Josh Bard. |
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| The Padres placed Michael Barrett on the DL Tuesday with a strained ligament in his right elbow. Barrett was injured during the Padres' 8-4 victory over the Giants on Monday night. The team recalled Colt Morton from Double-A San Antonio to take Barrett's place on the roster. It's not clear how long the injury will sidelined Barrett, but his fantasy value was minimal, anyway, in a backup role. |
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| Jordan Schafer was suspended for 50 games Thursday by the baseball commissioner's office for using HGH, according to the AP. The outfielder is the team's top prospect, so this is no doubt a big blow. He was expected to compete for the everyday job in center next year, but those plans could be changed with this news. |
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| The Pirates signed Craig Wilson to a minor-league deal Tuesday. Wilson was signed by the Reds this offseason, but the deal reportedly fell through after he failed his physical. I guess you don't have to be healthy to play for the Pirates. Wilson will be returning to where he began his career, though he'll have to work his way back from Triple-A Indianapolis. |
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| Greg Smith, P, Oakland Athletics | Tuesday 4/8, 6:30 PM CT |
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| Greg Smith will be recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to make his major-league debut Wednesday. Smith, who came over from Arizona this offseason in the Dan Haren deal, gave up two runs in six innings in his first start of the year for Sacramento. He will be taking the place of Justin Duchscherer, who was placed on the DL. Smith is a decent prospect, but you should take a wait-and-see approach with him in fantasy. |
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| Chad Gaudin, P, Oakland Athletics | Tuesday 4/8, 6:20 PM CT |
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| The A's activated Chad Gaudin from the DL Tuesday. He has been recovering from offseason surgeries on his hip and foot. Gaudin will get the ball tonight against the Blue Jays. |
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| The A's placed Justin Duchscherer on the DL Tuesday with a strained right biceps. The right, who is making the move from the bullpen to the rotation this year, suffered the injured in his first start of the year last Friday. He was replaced on the roster by Chad Gaudin, who was activated from the DL and will start tonight in place of Rich Harden. It's not clear at this point how much time Duchscherer will miss. |
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| The Marlins have purchased the contract of Burke Badenhop from Double-A Carolina. Badenhop, who came over from Detroit in the Miguel Cabrera trade this winter, held a 1.88 ERA in 14 1/3 innings this spring, though that also came along with an ugly 6/7 K/BB rate. He threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his lone start for Carolina this year. Badenhop is expected to start for the Fish on Sunday. |
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| Scott Kazmir threw 42 pitches during his first batting practice session on Tuesday since going on the DL with a left elbow strain, according to the AP. “Kaz threw the ball well,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “The velocity was in the low 90’s pretty consistently. See what he looks like tomorrow.” He could rejoin the team before the end of the month. |
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| Aubrey Huff, DH, Baltimore Orioles | Tuesday 4/8, 5:03 PM CT |
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| Aubrey Huff led the Orioles offense Tuesday, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, with four RBI and a run scored in a 8-1 win over Texas. Huff is now batting .333 with a league-leading 11 ribbies on the year. He's been in a steady decline the past five year, so perhaps this nice start will propel Huff to a vintage season. |
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| Chris Young, CF, Arizona Diamondbacks | Tuesday 4/8, 4:58 PM CT |
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| The details have come in on Chris Young's contract extension. It is for $28 million over five years, and the D'Backs hold a $11 million option with a $1.5 million buyout for 2014, according to the AP. Young is off to a nice start this year, with four homers and two steals in the first seven games. |
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| Brian Burres dazzled in his first start of the year Tuesday, giving up just one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings. The left-hander has struggled in his time at the big leagues but has a good minor league track record. He's at least worth keeping an eye on. |
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| Bartolo Colon's exam for an oblique injury has been pushed back a day to Wednesday, according to MLB.com. The Red Sox feel that the injury is nothing more than a minor setback. "I do know that they're not going to let him do anything until he's completely pain-free," manager Terry Francona said. "We've seen these two-day things stretched to five-day things stretched to seven-day things. He's had it twice before in his career. We're going to just make sure he's pain-free before he's allowed to continue doing his stuff." Colon had been doing well in his rehab before this. Hopefully it's just a minor bump in the road. |
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| Jason Giambi was back in the lineup Tuesday after missing two games with a sore left groin, according to the AP. The veteran is off to a horrible start this year, with just one hit in his first 12 at-bats, so perhaps a little time off will do him some good. |
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| Carlos Delgado remains hot as he went 2-for-4 with one RBI against the Phillies on Tuesday, while notably collecting his first homer of the season. Delgado is now hitting nine for 24 on the season. |
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| Oliver Perez was solid in a no decision against the Phillies on Tuesday, as he didn't allow a run over 5.2 innings of work, with a mere three hits allowed, and three walks and two strikeouts. The walks were his only flaw for today as the Mets ultimately fell 5-2. Perez is in a nice rhythm over his first two starts. |
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| Jayson Werth, CF, Philadelphia Phillies | Tuesday 4/8, 3:55 PM CT |
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| Jayson Werth was awarded the start over Geoff Jenkins in right field on Tuesday against the Mets, and he did not disappoint as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and one walk. This was a good day for him as he fights Jenkins for playing time in the Phillies' outfield. |
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| Jamie Moyer, P, Philadelphia Phillies | Tuesday 4/8, 3:51 PM CT |
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| Jamie Moyer claimed his first win of the season today as he only allowed two runs on four hits over six innings of work against the Mets, with three walks and one strikeout. This was a good outing for the middle of the rotation starter, as most of the damage came on a Carlos Delgado solo homer in a 5-2 win. |
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| Derek Jeter, SS, New York Yankees | Tuesday 4/8, 3:45 PM CT |
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| Derek Jeter is reportedly going to be out of action until at least Friday due to his left quad injury, according to MLB.com. Manager Girardi stated that the Yankees do not expect to have to place Jeter on the 15-day DL, but he is not likely to play in the current series against the Royals. The earliest he could possibly return is Friday, when the Yankees battle rival Boston. Girardi added, "It's hard to say when he can return. He probably won't play in this series, and we'll shoot for the Red Sox series. We'll see where he's at after a couple of days and try to make a real evaluation. We feel that it's not going to be two weeks. We're hoping sometime in the Boston series he'll be ready, but we'll have to see how he progresses." Wilson Betemit notably started at shortstop today against the Royals.
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| Brett Carroll has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, according to FishStripes.com. He held no fantasy value and has been sent down to make room for Jeremy Hermida, who is being activated from the DL. |
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| Eric Bruntlett filled in at shortstop for the Phillies on Tuesday after Jimmy Rollins exited with an apparent leg injury. He was notably part of the Brad Lidge package, and hit .246 over 80 games with the Astros last season. The severity of the Rollins injury is yet to be revealed. |
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| Robinson Cano has moved up from sixth to second in the Yankees' batting order today, due primarily to the absence of Derek Jeter, who is out nursing his quad injury. Cano will have a great chance to score a lot of runs from the number two spot, with Bobby Abreau and A-Rod hitting behind him in the order. |
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| Jimmy Rollins left Tuesday's game against the Mets in the eighth inning with an apparent ankle injury. Eric Bruntlett replaced him at shortstop, and more news on Rollins' status will be be reported as it becomes available. |
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| Jeremy Hermida will be activated from the DL, according to FishStripes.com. He will be activated in time for Wednesday's game, and to make room for Hermida, outfielder Brett Carroll has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.
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| Wilson Betemit got the start at shortstop today in place of the injured Derek Jeter, according to the SportsNetwork. The Yankees' utility man only has one hit over nine at-bats so far this season. |
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| Blake DeWitt, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers | Tuesday 4/8, 2:59 PM CT |
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| Blake DeWitt has fallen into a hitting slump, according to MLB.com. Since starting the season hitting a solid 5-for-8, he is currently in an 0-for-13 slump that sunk his average to .238. He will be looking to bounce back against D-Backs' pitcher Doug Davis, who is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA.
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| Matt Kemp, RF, Los Angeles Dodgers | Tuesday 4/8, 2:55 PM CT |
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| Matt Kemp is expected to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Manager Torre said he didn't want to bring back the slumping Kemp against veteran right-hander Dan Haren on Monday, and added, "You try to pick your spots to get them going and Haren is tough on right-handers. It's tough enough for veteran to work out of slumps. Young guys, they have a problem being patient. In Matt's case, I don't know him as well as I'm going to, but he seems very anxious. I base the decision on what I know and what I think I know. He's overswinging, jumping at the ball instead of letting the ball come to you. I talked to him today and told him he'd play tomorrow. He's going to get plenty of playing time. I told him to be patient with me. I think he understands. I'm not saying he agrees. He says he feels pretty good at the plate and I don't see that." Kemp holds a dismal .176 average over 17 at-bats, and will be looking to bounce back against D-Backs' starting pitcher Doug Davis. |
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| Chad Billingsley is expected to finally make his first official start of the season, following two unexpected relief appearances, according to MLB.com. He was scratched from his scheduled debut last Wednesday before the first pitch because of an unfavorable rain forecast, then relieved for 1/3 of an inning, only for rain to stop play for about 74 minutes. He was then called on in relief again on Friday against the Padres for two scoreless innings. He is notably 4-1 with a 2.36 ERA lifetime against the D-Backs, and was 2-1 against them last year. He will square off against Doug Davis, who is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA.
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| Todd Helton, 1B, Colorado Rockies | Tuesday 4/8, 2:42 PM CT |
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| Todd Helton had his six-game hit streak snapped on Monday, but he drew two walks, and is the only member of the Rockies to reach base safely in every game this season, this according to MLB.com. Helton currently holds a .296 average over 27 at-bats, with two homers and three RBI. |
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| Mark Loretta will continue to start at second base today against St. Louis (in place of the injured Kaz Matsui), according to MLB.com. He is off to a cold start as he only has four hits over 21 at-bats, with three strikeouts. |
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| Geoff Blum, 3B, Houston Astros | Tuesday 4/8, 2:29 PM CT |
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| Geoff Blum is likely to start at third base and hit sixth in the order against St. Louis today, according to MLB.com. He is filling in for the injured Ty Wigginton at third base, and is off to a favorable start as he is hitting .308 over 13 at-bats, with one homer and two RBI. He could serve as a decent handcuff until Wigginton returns. |
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| Wade LeBlanc allowed one run in six innings in his start at Triple-A Monday and struck out 11. LeBlanc caught the eye of Padres manager Bud Black during spring training and could find himself in the Padres’ starting rotation at some point this year. |
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| Max Scherzer, P, Arizona Diamondbacks | Tuesday 4/8, 2:25 PM CT |
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| Former first-round draft choice Max Scherzer threw five scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut Monday, allowing two hits, two walks and fanning seven. Scherzer is a future option for the D-Backs in both the starting and closer role due to his high-90s fastball. As long as he can continue to throw strikes, Scherzer looks like a good fantasy prospect. |
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| Hernandez, one of the players acquired by Atlanta in the Edgar Renteria deal with Detroit, stole his second base of the season Monday at High-A. Hernandez stole 54 bases in 2007 and could be a big-time fantasy player in the future if he can continue to hit. |
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| Justin Maxwell stole a pair of bases Monday at Double-A. Maxwell stole 35 bases on 43 attempts between Low-A and High-A in 2007, while hitting 29 homers for the season. He is a very good fantasy prospect as long as he continues to progress. |
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| Cesar Izturis has a good track record against Shawn Chacon, today's opposing pitcher for Houston, according to MLB.com. Izturis has been moved to the leadoff spot in the Cardinals' order, and is batting 7-for-24 over his career against Chacon, with three doubles. |
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| Matt Wise, P, New York Mets | Tuesday 4/8, 2:18 PM CT |
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| Matt Wise has been placed on the 15-day DL, as expected, according to the AP. He was taken down by a right forearm contusion, and his return is unknown at this time. Carlos Munoz is being called up from Triple-A New Orleans to replace him on the roster. |
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| Luis Castillo was forced out of action against the Phillies on Tuesday due to sore knees, according to the AP. The severity of the ailment is yet to be known, and Damion Easley replaced him at second base. |
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| Rick Ankiel, CF, St. Louis Cardinals | Tuesday 4/8, 2:06 PM CT |
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| Rick Ankiel is likely to move from the number two spot down to the clean-up spot in the Cardinals' order today, according to MLB.com. For the first time in five games, the Cardinals will face a right-handed starting pitcher, which will be Shawn Chacon of Houston. Ankiel is hitting .296 over 27 at-bats, with three homers and six RBI. He will be in position to add to his RBI totals nicely from the clean-up spot in the solid Cardinals' offense. |
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| Jeff Suppan, P, Milwaukee Brewers | Tuesday 4/8, 1:46 PM CT |
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| Jeff Suppan is aiming for a 2-0 start as he battles the Reds at home on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Suppan held the Cubs to two runs on six hits in his first win of the season, and notably went 9-3 last season with a 3.87 ERA at Miller Park. He will square off against rookie phenom Johnny Cueto, who racked up 10 strikeouts in his first outing. This should be a great battle today. |
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| Rookie phenom Johnny Cueto is set to make his second start of the season against Milwaukee today, according to MLB.com. He notably registered 10 strikeouts and no walks over seven innings in his first outing, and looks to prove his performance was not a fluke as he challenges a solid Brewers' hitting crew. He features a fastball that hits 96 mph, and counters with a commanding hard slider and changeup. |
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| Carl Crawford looks to bounce back in his home opener against Seattle today, according to MLB.com. Crawford went a mere 1-for-18 in his three-game series against the Yankees, and commented on his home opener by saying, "It's a good time for the fans at home to see us the first time during the regular season. You know the energy level is going to be high. We'll be back at the Trop, so you know it will be warm." Hopefully he can get on track and rebound from his cold start.
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| Erik Bedard, P, Seattle Mariners | Tuesday 4/8, 1:21 PM CT |
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| Erik Bedard is set to return to the hill against the Rays on Tuesday, after being previously scratched with a sore hip, according to MLB.com. Bedard will be looking to extend his five-game winning streak against Tampa Bay, in which he has surrendered an average of 2.33 runs per game during the streak. He has a 6-2 career record at Tropicana Field, and holds the upper hand against rival starter Matt Garza, who currently holds a 8.44 ERA.
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| Nick Swisher will remain Chicago's leadoff hitter for the foreseeable future, according to the Chicago Tribune. He is hitting 6-for-23 with an eye opening nine walks so far, and Manager Guillen stated, "You have a leadoff hitter who can run, that's a plus. But to be a leadoff hitter, you've got to get on base. You can't steal first.
I'd rather be a guy who gets on base, and all of a sudden he gets on base six times in a row by walks." Swisher should score a lot of runs in the potent White Sox offense with Orlando Cabrera, Jim Thome, and Paul Konerko hitting behind him. |
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| A.J. Burnett looks to improve his record to 2-0 when he takes the hill against Oakland on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Burnett is 1-1 with a solid 2.18 ERA over three career starts against Oakland and will square off against Chad Gaudin, who is starting in place of the injured Rich Harden. Burnett is among the most solid hurlers in the league when healthy, and has the advantage in this match-up. |
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| Curtis Granderson is swinging and throwing for the first time since injuring his hand, according to the Detroit News. Granderson was satisfied Tuesday with his first session of baseball activity since he went on the DL, but called his progress "baby steps". Prior to the the Tigers' game against Boston, Granderson gripped a bat for the first time in more than two weeks, also swung for the first time, though not against live pitching. He commented that his hand felt better toward the end of the session. He added, | |
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