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| Maicer Izturis has been filling the void at the top of the Angels' order nicely over the last week. Izturis homered to lead off the game Friday, and it was actually the first time in six games that he didn't have multiple hits. |
Our View: Izturis will move down in the order when Chone Figgins returns, but he should retain the starting job at short.
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| Randy Wolf outdueled Johan Santana Friday, limiting the Mets to one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out two over seven innings in San Diego's 2-1 win. |
Our View: Wolf has had four straight solid outings in a row after going through a rough patch.
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| X-rays on Michael Young's left ring finger revealed a break at the tip of the finger. However, Young says that he will play tomorrow, according to the Dallas Morning News. |
Our View: It's great that Young wants to get back out there so soon, but we'll reserve judgment until we receive word from a member of the coaching staff.
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| Daisuke Matsuzaka will throw off flat ground Saturday, according to the AP. Dice-K has been on the disabled list since May 30 with a rotator cuff strain. |
Our View: Dice-K is coming to come off the DL when he's eligible on June 14th.
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| Ryan Doumit was 0-for-4 at the plate Friday in his first game back from a fractured thumb. Doumit hadn't played since May 14th. |
Our View: Doumit may have to shake some rust off, but with Ronny Paulino now at Triple-A, he'll be getting the bulk of the starts behind the plate.
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| Aaron Hill missed his seventh straight game Friday due to a concussion, according to the AP. Hill is still suffering lightheadedness and headaches. |
Our View: Look for the Jays to DL Hill soon, as it sounds like he's not coming back soon unless he experiences a breakthrough.
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| Vernon Wells could be back by the middle of next week, manager John Gibbons told the AP. Wells, who is working his way back from a fractured left wrist, went 2-for-4 with four RBI at Single-A Dunedin Thursday in his first rehab game. |
Our View: Wells is on track to return well ahead of schedule. Here's hoping he doesn't have a setback over the next couple days.
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| Dmitri Young did not play Friday due to the flu, according to the AP. Aaron Boone played first in place of Young, and Kory Casto replaced Boone at third. |
Our View: Meathook should be good to go shortly.
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| Aaron Rowand will be re-examined on Saturday after leaving Friday's game in the seventh inning with an injury to his right quad, according to the AP. |
Our View: Consider Rowand day-to-day for the time being. We'll update you on his condition tomorrow.
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| Chone Figgins ran the bases for the second time Friday and "didn't feel anything," according to MLB.com. "There was no pain today," Figgins said. "It felt good. Tuesday when I ran [in Seattle] it felt a little sore -- sometimes when I ran." Manager Mike Scioscia said Figgins wasn't quite ready to play in rehab games but thinks that could happen "early next week -- and he'll probably start at [Class A] Rancho [Cucamonga], since it's closer." Figgins is coming back from a right hamstring injury. |
Our View: The Halos haven't been missing Figgy lately with Maicer Izturis' play, but they'll certainly welcome the speedster back to the lineup.
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| The Astros recalled Reggie Abercrombie from Triple-A Round Rock Friday. Abercrombie was hitting .288 with nine homers, 25 RBI and 14 steals for Round Rock. |
Our View: Abercrombie could give Michael Bourn a breather against lefties. He could be worth a small bid in NL-only paly.
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| The Astros designated Jose Cruz Jr. for assignment Friday. Cruz was hitting just .122 and had only one extra-base hit in 49 at-bats. The team has recalled Reggie Abercrombie from Triple-A Round Rock to replace Cruz on the roster. |
Our View: This was surely a tough decision for manager Cecil Cooper, since Jose's father is the manager's close friend and the team's first base coach. But Cruz's performance certainly warranted the move.
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| Rich Hill made his second start for Triple-A Iowa since suffering from back spasms, allowing one run on one hit with seven walks and five strikeouts. |
Our View: Hill has walked 18 in 21 1/2 innings for Iowa since being sent down. He will have to cut down on those walks if he wants to get back with the big club.
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| Geovany Soto didn't start Friday because of a swollen finger that he apparently aggravated on a swing, according to MLB.com. "He's got a little bit of swelling in his bottom hand," manager Lou Piniella said. "We're trying to figure out why the bottom hand leaves the bat. The one that should leave is the top hand. He swings and when the bottom hand comes off, somehow the top hand rubs over the finger and he has a little swelling in there." |
Our View: Pinella said he was planning on giving Soto either Friday or Saturday off, anyway. Hopefully he'll be back in there tomorrow.
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| B.J. Upton had a home run and two steals while scoring three runs in Tampa's win over Texas Friday. |
Our View: Upton now has 20 steals already on the year after swiping 22 bags all of last season. The home runs are down (he has just three so far), but Upton is giving his owners value in other ways.
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| Scott Kazmir allowed two runs on six hits while striking out six over eight innings Friday to pick up his sixth win. His ERA now sits at 1.40 and WHIP at 0.91 after seven starts. |
Our View: Kaz is tied for the team lead with six wins despite missing the first month of the season.
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| Jeremy Bonderman went to see a doctor Friday after reporting some discomfort around his right shoulder, according to CBSsports.com. Two club sources told CBS that he would be checked for a possible circulation problem in the shoulder. The Tigers have yet to comment directly on the Bonderman, but the righty isn't expected to make his scheduled start Sunday and will likely be placed on the DL. |
Our View: The Tigers were trying to figure out how to keep both Dontrelle Willis and Armando Galarraga in the rotation, but now it looks like they won't have to worry about it. We'll let you know the results of Bonderman's exam when we get them.
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| Joe Crede had four hits, including a pair of solo homers, in Chicago's 10-6 win Friday. |
Our View: Crede was a forgotten man in drafts this spring but is putting together a nice offensive season, with a .286 average, 12 homers and 33 RBI.
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| Alexi Casilla had another big night for the Twins Friday, picking up a pair of hits, including his third homer of the year. Casilla has five hits over the last two nights and is riding a nine-game hitting streak. |
Our View: Casilla continues to be an underrated fantasy performer. He's now hitting .347 with three homers, 18 RBI and two steals over 21 games.
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| An MRI Friday on Todd Wellemeyer's elbow came back negative. However, the right-hander's next start is still in question. |
Our View: Mitchell Boggs, who made his major league debut in relief Friday, is a candidate to fill in if Wellemeyer should need to miss a turn.
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| The Giants are an undeniably bad team, but that hasn't kept Tim Lincecum from getting off to a fantastic start. The righty held the Nats to one run on five hits while striking out five over seven innings Friday to pick up his eighth win of the season against just one loss. |
Our View: Lincecum's eight wins match the total of the rest of the Giants' starters combined. He's probably due for some tough luck losses but you can't bet against him right now.
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| Jorge Cantu was the offensive star for the Marlins Friday, picking up a pair of solo homers and a double in an 11-3 loss to Cincinnati. |
Our View: Cantu has quietly put together a nice bounceback season, hitting .276 with 10 homers and 32 RBI.
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| Jay Bruce entered Friday's game coming off of two straight hitless contests. He then struck out in his first at-bat Friday before finishing the night 3-for-4 with two walks, two runs and three RBI. |
Our View: Bruce has multiple hits in six of 11 games since his recall. You didn't think his "slump" would last, did you?
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| Nick Markakis was 4-for-4 with a run scored and RBI in the Orioles' 6-5 come from behind win over the Blue Jays Friday. |
Our View: Markakis was in a bit of a funk there for a while, but he's snapped out of it in a big way. He is riding a 10-game hitting streak and has multiple hits in six of those contests.
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| Brandon Webb picked up his 11th win of the season Friday, limiting the Pirates to one run on three hits while striking out three over seven innings of work. |
Our View: Webb is as automatic as they come in the game right now.
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| Darrell Rasner was a tough luck loser Friday, allowing just two runs on nine hits while striking out four over eight innings in a 2-1 loss to Kansas City. |
Our View: Rasner has been terrific in five of six starts for the Yanks, as he's making a case to stay in the rotation permanently.
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| Mike Aviles started for the Royals on Friday night at shortstop and responded with a pair of doubles and a run scored in three at-bats. |
Our View: For whatever reason the Royals won't give Aviles a shot at regular playing time, but perhaps that will change after tonight's performance.
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| Kyle Davies had an impressive performance Friday night, holding the Yankees to one run over 6 2/3 innings while allowing seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts. |
Our View: Davies has allowed only two runs in his first two starts, but we would suggest you not buy high on him now.
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| Felix Hernandez had his second straight stellar performance Friday, holding the Red Sox scoreless over six innings while allowing six hits and three walks with five strikeouts. |
Our View: King Felix went through a stretch where he lost five straight decisions, but he's gone 2-0 with 13 scoreless frames over his last two starts.
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| Joe Borowski picked up his fifth save Friday in the Tribe's win over Detroit. The closer has notched three saves and has yet to allow a run in five appearances since returning from a triceps injury. |
Our View: Borowski's job is very safe right now, but as we all know, he can blow up at any time and change that.
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| Frank Thomas is back in his home in Las Vegas rehabbing from his right quad injury, and the A's expect Thomas to be in Sin City for about another week, according to the AP. Thomas has a physical therapist he works with in Las Vegas. "He's going to be there a while," manager Bob Geren said. "We want to make sure it's healthy, period." The Big Hurt isn't yet ready to begin hitting again. |
Our View: The A's have interleague games coming up, so Thomas wasn't going to play in NL parks, anyway. It sounds like he'll be back before too long, though.
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| Aaron Rowand had to exit Friday's game after six innings due to an apparent right hip injury, according to SportsTicker. |
Our View: We'll let you know more on Rowand's injury when info becomes available.
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| Alex Gonzalez, coming back from a fractured knee, has been running for a week now but but had to dial it back a little, according to MLB.com. "Hitting and fielding feels good -- the problem is the running," said Gonzalez. "I still feel something there. I'm running 70-75 percent, but that's good." |
Our View: A rehab assignment has not been scheduled for Gonzalez yet. He says the decision when to start one has been left up to him.
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| Jeff Keppinger ran the bases on Friday at the club's spring complex and is expected to do so again on Saturday and could DH in an extended camp game on Sunday before starting a rehab assignment, according to MLB.com. He is working his way back from a broken left kneecap. |
Our View: Keppinger, who has been out since May 13, was slated to miss 4-6 weeks, and it looks like he will be back on the shorter end of that projection.
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| Josh Willingham dressed out during batting practice Friday, stretched out with the team and also shagged some fly balls, but that doesn't mean he's close to returning to the lineup, manager Fredi Gonzalez told MLB.com. "It'll be a while, because he hasn't played in over a month," Gonzalez said. "He's got to get his legs in shape -- he's got to get his arm in shape. He hasn't picked up a ball. You hate to run him back in there, then his legs go bad." Willingham is coming back from lower back soreness. |
Our View: The Marlins have yet to set a timetable for Willingham's return, but he should be back around the All-Star break.
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| Paul Lo Duca took batting practice and played catch without any problems on Friday and will start his rehab assignment with Single-A Potomac on Sunday, according to MLB.com. The catcher will play a couple games for Potomac before heading to Triple-A Columbus for a couple of more games before being activated from the disabled list sometime during the Nats' next road trip. Lo Duca is coming back from a fractured hand. |
Our View: Lo Duca was originally not expected back until the All-Star break, but it looks like he'll easily beat that projection.
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| The Indians have received a diagnosis from Dr. Lewis Yocum regarding Jake Westbrook's ailing pitching elbow, but they're not going to tell anyone what it is until Saturday. "I will confirm that Jake saw Dr. Lewis Yocum on Friday," said GM Mark Shapiro in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I will confirm the we have a clear diagnosis of his elbow. We will not say any more until Saturday." |
Our View: The fact that the Tribe is delaying an announcement on this leads us to believe the injury might be pretty serious. We'll let you know tomorrow what Westbrook's situation is.
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| Mike Gonzalez, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, threw in the bullpen Friday before the Braves' game against the Phillies and plans to report to Triple-A Richmond on Sunday for one or two injury rehab appearances, according to the AP. He's already appeared in four rehab games for Double-A Mississippi, not allowing a run. Barring a setback, Gonzalez hopes to join the Braves bullpen sometime next week. |
Our View: The Braves could use the power lefty in the pen with John Smoltz now out for the year. Gonzalez could pick up a few stray saves on days that Rafael Soriano isn't available, and given Soriano's medical history, it's possible Gonzalez could be saving games regularly at some point. Even in a setup role, the southpaw is worth a roster spot in deeper leagues.
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| The Royals traded former AL Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa to the Dodgers Friday in exchange for minor league infielder Juan Rivera. Berroa hasn't appeared in a game with the Royals this year but has hit .291 with 10 home runs and 27 RBI in 51 games for Triple-A Omaha. |
Our View: Dodgers shortstops have really struggled at the plate while Rafael Furcal has been out. Furcal should be back fairly soon, though. It's not clear whether Berroa will report to the major-league club right away or go to Triple-A Las Vegas first.
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| Eric Byrnes is making progress in his recovery from tears in both hamstrings, according to MLB.com. "He did some agility drills today," manager Bob Melvin said. "It was the first day for that. We'll progressively lead into the running part, which he is champing at the bit to do, but it was the first day that he did agilities out on the field." |
Our View: Byrnes said he won't know how far along he is in his recovery until he really cuts loose and sprints. He is still likely a couple weeks away.
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| Ray Durham was back in the starting lineup Friday after being limited to pinch-hitting duty Wednesday, according to MLB.com. The veteran was originally absent from the lineup, but he talked his manager, Bruce Bochy, into inserting him in there. "I didn't put him in there, and he came in and said he felt great and feels nothing in the calf," Bochy said. "So he's in there." |
Our View: At last check, Durham had a couple hits in three at-bats, so apparently the calf isn't giving him any trouble.
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| Gerald Laird got his first career start at third base Friday. |
Our View: Laird is a pretty good athlete, as he's played the outfield a few times in his career. It remains to be seen how he'll handle the hot corner, but we're betting manager Ron Washington wasn't thrilled to pencil his name in at the position.
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| Michael Young was scratched from the lineup Friday due to a bruised left ring finger, according to the AP. Ramon Vazquez, the Rangers' regular third baseman, got the start at shortstop, with catcher Gerald Laird got his first career start at third base. |
Our View: No word yet on the severity of Young's injury. We'll let you know when we have more info.
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| Todd Wellemeyer did not travel with the Cardinals to Houston but instead flew to St. Louis to meet with team doctors to have what manager Tony La Russa described as a "soreness near his biceps" checked out, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The team is officially referring to the pitcher's ailment as right elbow inflammation. La Russa said there Wellemeyer's next start might be in question. "You always treat it like it's a big deal," La Russa said, "and hope for the best." |
Our View: The results of Wellemeyer's visit should be known later this evening. We'll keep you posted.
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| Rick Ankiel did not travel with the team to Houston but instead flew to St. Louis to meet with with team doctors about the infection in his right knee, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The outfielder has been unavailable for several days because of swelling and irritation in his knee. |
Our View: Manager Tony La Russa said he's unsure if Ankiel will rejoin the team this weekend in Houston. We'll let you know what the doctor says.
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| The Tigers recalled Brent Clevlen from Triple-A Toledo Friday. Clevlen was raking at Triple-A, putting up a .324-13-55 line. |
Our View: Clevlen is worth a look in AL-only play, though he doesn't figure to play a ton.
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| LaTroy Hawkins began serving a three-game suspension Friday after his penalty was upheld by the commissioner's office, according to the AP. Hawkins was disciplined for throwing at the Orioles' Luke Scott last month. "I'm disappointed, but you move forward," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "You move forward and you find a way to use your bullpen one guy short." |
Our View: The Yanks will probably be better off without Hawkins and his 6.07 ERA anyway.
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| The Rangers reinstated Vicente Padilla from bereavement leave Friday. He will start tonight against the Rays. |
Our View: Aside from his ugly WHIP (1.45), Padilla has been a nice fantasy performer this season, with a 7-2 record, 3.67 ERA and 54 Ks.
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| The Red Sox optioned Chris Carter to Triple-A Pawtucket Friday. Carter picked up two hits in his three at-bats with the club. |
Our View: The Sox needed another outfielder, so Brandon Moss was recalled.
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| The Red Sox recalled Brandon Moss from Triple-A Pawtucket Friday. He replaces Chris Carter on the roster. |
Our View: The Sox needed a reinforcement with Manny Ramirez and Jacoby Ellsbury banged up and Coco Crisp facing a suspension. Moss could get a bit of playing time over the next couple weeks.
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| The Rockies activated Brad Hawpe from the DL Friday. He had been out with a strained hamstring. To clear a roster spot, the team optioned Cory Sullivan to Triple-A Colorado Springs. |
Our View: The Rockies have been arguably the biggest disappointment in baseball this year, so they'll certainly welcome Hawpe back into the lineup.
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| Coco Crisp has appealed the seven-game suspension he received for his involvement in Thursday's brawl with Tampa Bay, according to the AP. |
Our View: This isn't a surprise, given that Jacoby Ellsbury is injured. We'll see if he eventually drops the appeal.
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| Jason Giambi is back in the lineup Friday after missing a couple games with a sore left foot. |
Our View: Wilson Betemit, who homered in both games filling in for Giambi, returns to the bench.
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| The Rangers have cut ties with Sidney Ponson for what GM Jon Daniels calls "disrespectful and adverse reactions to situations unbecoming of teammates," according to the Dallas Morning News. |
Our View: It's not clear yet what Ponson did, but he has a history of a volatile temper and rubbing his teammates the wrong way. He was 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA in nine starts, but his 1.56 WHIP and 4.0 K/9 rate suggested he was due for a fall back to reality.
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| Albert Pujols is in the lineup tonight despite a tight calf. Pujols, who hasn't started the last two games, said he is playing at 40 percent. |
Our View: Forty percent? You should probably be sitting out, eh Albert? Hopefully he'll just hit four homers so he can trot around the bases.
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| The Padres recalled Craig Stansberry from Triple-A Portland Friday. Stansberry was batting .232 with four homers and 19 RBI at Portland. |
Our View: Stansberry will get some playing time at second while Tadahito Iguchi is out. He's worth a bid in NL-only play.
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| The Padres activated Clay Hensley from the DL Friday and optioned him to Triple-A Portland. Hensley is making his way back from shoulder surgery. |
Our View: Hensley could be added to the Pads bullpen at some point, and he could also potentially get some starts down the line.
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| Curt Schilling threw 35 pitches off the Fenway Park bullpen mound Friday. That's 10 more than he threw on Wednesday, the first time he's been on the hill since being shut down with biceps degeneration. "Getting on the mound in the bullpen, regardless of the pitch count, was the stage. I'm waiting for the next stage now," Schilling said. "We'll increase the pitch count with a couple more bullpens, then I'll throw a pregame warmup bullpen and throw 15 pitches for an inning to hitters. The next [outing] would be a bullpen, then 15-pitch innings. Then you have to look at the calendar and see where we're at." |
Our View: Schilling's next step is to pitch live batting practice, which will be followed by a rehab assignment. Things seem to be going well so far, but he's still a long ways away.
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| Jorge Posada got through his first game in over a month on Thursday. His reward? A day off Friday. "He did fine," manager Joe Girardi said on MLB.com. "It's just that it was one of our patented four-hour games." Girardi went on to say: "I think for the next couple of weeks, you're not going to see him play four or five days in a row, but I think we'll get by that." |
Our View: It makes sense that the Yanks will be easing Posada back into things, even though his fantasy owners probably won't like it.
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| Sean Casey has been suspended for three games for his involvement in Thursday's brawl with Tampa Bay. |
Our View: Casey and the Rays' Akinori Iwamura received the lightest suspensions of those involved.
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| Jon Lester has been suspended five games by MLB for his involvement in Thursday's fracas with the Rays. |
Our View: Lester will have his next start pushed back a day.
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| MLB suspended Coco Crisp seven games for his involvement in Thursday's brawl with Tampa Bay. |
Our View: We'll let you know if Crisp decides to appeal. He probably will, at least initially, given Jacoby Ellsbury's injury.
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| James Shields was suspended six games by MLB for his involvement in Thursday's brawl with the Red Sox. |
Our View: Shields won't miss a start, he'll instead just have his next one pushed back. This is good news for his owners, because he could have easily gotten more given that he admitted to throwing at Coco Crisp.
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| MLB suspended Edwin Jackson five games for his involvement in Thursday's altercation with the Red Sox. |
Our View: Jackson should just have his next start pushed back, so this news doesn't hurt his owners too badly.
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| Akinori Iwamura was suspended three games by MLB for his involvement in Thursday's fight with the Red Sox. |
Our View: Willy Aybar should handle the second base duties while Aki is out.
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| MLB suspended Jonny Gomes five games for his involvement in the brawl with the Red Sox on Thursday. |
Our View: We're a little surprised he didn't get more. Gomes probably won't appeal and will begin serving the suspension right away.
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| Major League Baseball has suspended Carl Crawford for four games or his role in the fracas during Thursday's game with the Red Sox. |
Our View: This seems to be a little harsh. We expect Crawford to appeal and continue to play. Justin Ruggiano will likely pick up some starts when Crawford begins to serve the suspension.
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| The Yankees recalled Dan Giese from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Friday. Giese allowed a run in 3 2/3 innings earlier this week in his first appearance with the Yanks. |
Our View: Giese was just optioned back to Triple-A Wednesday, but he can return without the customary 10-day waiting period because he is replacing the injured Chris Britton.
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| The Yankees placed Chris Britton on the DL Friday with a pulled ribcage muscle, according to MLB.com. Britton suffered the injury when he was warming up on Thursday. "We shut him down when he was warming up last night," manager Joe Girardi said. "He called and we had to shut him down." Dan Giese was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace Britton on the roster. |
Our View: Ribcage injuries tend to linger, so Britton could be sidelined for a while.
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| Manny Ramirez's right knee and hamstring are still tight, so he is not in tonight's starting lineup, according to The Providence Journal. Manager Terry Francona said Ramirez reported that his leg is sore, but was hopeful the slugger would be back in the lineup on Saturday. On another note, Manny said that his spat with teammate Kevin Youkilis is "in the past". |
Our View: It was originally reported that Manny just had a strained hammy, but apparently the knee is acting up on him, as well. Fortunately it sounds like he'll be back in there shortly.
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