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| Greg Maddux, in a 3-1 loss to the Marlins, has not recorded a victory since mid-May. A stretch of nine straight starts. The right-handed future Hall of Famer is 0-4 with seven no-decisions despite the fact he has allowed two or fewer earned runs eight times in during that span. |
Our View: Maddux did his job on Monday night, but Ricky Nolasco for the Fish was just better.
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| Ricky Nolasco won his fifth consecutive, and impressive decision, handcuffing San Diego to one run and five hits in eight innings of work. The right-hander allowed five hits, walked none and struck out seven in his 10th win of the season. |
Our View: Nolasco has been fabulous over the last two months, and in the performance the Florida ace lowered his ERA to 3.74. He has struck out 82 hitters and walked 29 in 110.2 innings this year.
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| Nomar Garciaparra went 1-for-3, but his one hit was a big one. The Dodgers first baseman hit his second home run of the season to help the Dodgers defeat the Atlanta Braves 3-0 on Monday night. |
Our View: If Garciaparra can stay healthy, he will assist his fantasy owners in the second half of the season. But managers have a better chance of being struck by lightening than watching Nomar play in 60-70 games the rest of the way.
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| Jorge Campillo didn't perform to the level Hiroki Kuroda but the Braves right-hander took a one-hitter into the fifth before Nomar Garciaparra hit a two run home run that was enough for the Dodgers to defeat Atlanta 3-0 on Monday night. |
Our View: Campillo has been solid as a rock for the Braves and his fantasy owners. The Mexican league refugee had his ERA raise above 3.00 for the first time this season, and after his 24 appearance and 10th start.
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| Hiroki Kuroda took a perfect game into the eighth inning, but settled for a one-hitter helping the Dodgers to a 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.
The win moved the NL West Dodgers into a tie for first with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Our View: Kuroda was perfect with the Braves first 21 batters before Mark Teixeira hit a double leading off the eighth inning.
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| David Wright homered and drove in four runs as the Mets defeated the Phillies 10-9 on Monday night at Citizen Bank Park. |
Our View: Wright has 17 home runs, 70 RBI, 56 runs scored and nine stolen bases on the season.
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| It wasn't pretty but the Mets' closer, Billy Wagner, saved his 20th game of the season in a 10-9 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night. |
Our View: Wagner allowed two runs on two hits, walked one and struck out one in what was an exciting finish after the Mets led 10-1 heading into the six inning.
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| Pedro Martinez allowed two runs on five hits, walked three and struck out six and the Mets defeated the Phillies 10-9 on Monday night. Pedro pitched into the sixth inning then watched the New York Mets nearly blow a 10-1 lead before Bill Wagner recorded the third out in the ninth inning with the tying run on second base. |
Our View: Martinez benefited from an early lead. His two runs were both home runs by the Philly sluggers. The Mets right-hander is not a recommended fantasy option outside of NL-only formats, and even then he's a reserve and spot starter depending on matchup.
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| Seth McClung couldn't make it through the fifth inning on Monday night after struggling with his command. The right-hander was pulled from the game against the Colorado two outs into the fifth after giving up two runs and five walks.
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Our View: McClung suffered the loss, his fourth against five wins in 20 starts.
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| Ubaldo Jimenez pitched seven strong innings in a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.
Jimenez allowed only three hits and has won three of his last four starts after beginning the season 1-7. |
Our View: Jimenez walked five but struck out seven in his fourth win of the season.
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| Matt Holliday hit his 14th home run - and fourth in as many games - and Colorado scored a 4-3 victory over Milwaukee on Monday night. |
Our View: Holliday hasn't hit for as much power this year, as he did last season, but his batting average (.345) and stolen bases (11) still make him a top-tiered fantasy option in all formats.
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| Phil Dumatrait, who returned from the disabled list due to bursitis in his left shoulder, allowed seven runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out one in 3.1 innings of work on Monday night. |
Our View: Dumatrait wasn't involved in the decision because the Pirates offense pummeled Houston pitching for a 10-7 win. A very unimpressive return for the left-hander, and the Pirates are not only suffering injuries to their starting five, they can't get anyone as a group.
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| Runelvys Hernandez allowed 10 runs on 13 hits, walked four and struck out three in four innings of work on Monday night against the Pirates. The right-hander suffered his third loss of the season without a win. |
Our View: Long before the season started most in the know, knew, the weak link of the Houston team would be starting pithing. As the Astros begin their fade in the NL Central the pitching has be, and will be, their continuing downfall.
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| Ryan Doumit went 1-for-5 in Monday's 10-7 victory over the Houston Astros. Doumit's hit was a two-run home run, his 11th of the season. |
Our View: Doumit has arguably been the hottest hitting catcher outside of Russell Martin of the Dodgers since returning from the disabled list. The backstop is hitting .326 with 27 RBI and 40 runs scored in only 50 games.
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| Carlos Lee hit his 20th home run and registered three RBI, but the Houston Astros came up short end of a 10-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. |
Our View: Lee's 20th long ball gives the Astros' outfielder one home run in every 17 at-bats on the season.
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| Adam LaRoche went 2-for-2, reached base four times, scored twice and recorded an RBI in the Pirates 10-7 win over the Astros on Monday night. |
Our View: LaRoche is beginning to see the ball better. The first baseman hit his ninth home of season on Sunday and followed that with a two-hit performance on Monday night. LaRoche raised his average to .243 with the performance.
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| Nate McLouth hit a solo home run helping the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10-7 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
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Our View: McLouth's home run, his 16th of the season, was his only hit in the 10 run parade by the Pirates.
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| Manny Ramirez hit the game winning single in Monday's 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins. The eight inning base hit came off of Brian Bass, who was the losing pitcher in the contest. |
Our View: Manny went 2-for-4 with one strikeout. Ramirez is hitting .281 on the season with 54 RBI and 16 home runs in 85 games.
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| NL-only owners or mixed league managers looking for cheap saves might consider making a move on Atlanta's Mike Gonzalez. The Braves closer worked back-to-back games for the first time this season clearing the way for the left-hander to be the fulltime ninth inning option in the Braves' bullpen. |
Our View: Gonzalez's last four innings have been perfect and he's struck out seven and walked none in the process. In fact, Gonzalez has yet to walk a batter in his eight innings of work since returning from 2007 elbow surgery.
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| Brad Hawpe has been good since returning from a stint on the disabled list, but he's started July on the slow side. The Roks outfielder has only three hits in 21 July at-bats. Hawpe has 10 home runs and 22 RBI since June 6, the day he was activated from the DL. |
Our View: Two of the three July hits have been home runs which eases the pain of his .250 average.
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| Willy Taveras was back in the starting lineup for Monday night's series opener against the Brewers after missing the last few games to a quad injury. |
Our View: The sore left quadriceps muscle wasn't considered serious but it kept the Roks center fielder out of action for longer than expected. Taveras struck out leading off the first inning and flied out to right field in his second at bat.
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| Adam Eaton left Monday night's game against the Mets after allowing eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits in 2.2 innings of work. Eaton was replaced by reliever Clay Condrey. |
Our View: Eaton wasn't hit hard, received a bad first inning call from the second base umpire Dan Iassogna, and didn't get much help from his defense. The balls just kept finding holes and Eaton was gone before the Phillies could even score a run.
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| The Houston Chronicle reports that Roy Oswalt will start Friday against the Washington Nationals.
Oswalt hasn't pitched since June 30 when he suffered a strained left hip abductor muscle. |
Our View: Oswalt received a pain-killing shot in his vertebrae on Saturday and said he felt great. He threw off flat ground today and will throw a bullpen session Tuesday.
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| According to MLB.com, Josh Johnson will make his 2008 debut on Thursday against the Dodgers and Chan Ho Park. Johnson pitched eight scoreless innings in his final rehab start for Double-A Carolina on Friday. |
Our View: The 24-year-old had Tommy John surgery last August and has made only five Minor League starts rehab starts.
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| Sean Marshall will remain in the Cubs' rotation and receive another starting chance when he faces the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. This isn't a surprise considering skipper Lou Pineilla would love to have three regular lefty's in his rotation. |
Our View: Marshall (1-2) won for the first time in five starts dating to last season, allowing one run on six hits in six innings. Besides Ryan Ludwick's homer with one out in the sixth, the Cardinals had only two other runners in scoring position against the left-hander and only seven total base runners. Marshall is now the No. 5 in the rotation and rookie Sean Gallagher is out... for now.
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| Oliver Perez, who posted his second consecutive quality start, put a strangle-hold on the Phillies allowing just six base-runners in seven shutout innings Sunday. Perez struck out six and has now allowed just one earned run and nine base runners in the last two starts (14 innings). |
Our View: Do we credit a maturing Perez, or the new staff of the Mets, particularly Dan Warthen, the pitching coach? Warthen has been a pitching coach for the Tigers, Padres and Mariners, and most recently filled the same role for Triple-A New Orleans.
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| Joe Koshansky is starting at first base on Monday night as the Rockies begin a road trip in Milwaukee. Koshansky is starting for the injured Todd Helton. The left-handed hitter is sixth in the batting order as he and the Roks square off against Brew Crew starter Seth McClung. |
Our View: Jeff Baker, who has played some first base is starting at second base and hitting seventh in the batting order.
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| Darin Erstad is starting in center field and leading off for the Astros on Monday night as the team begins a series against the Pirates at PNC Park. |
Our View: Michael Bourn is out of the starting lineup and Hunter Pence is hitting sixth in the batting order.
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| Greg Dobbs is starting at third base on Monday night in place of regular Pedro Felix. The Mets and Phillies are playing the final game of a four-games series at Citizen Bank Ballpark. |
Our View: Dobbs has played in 71 games this year, but has only 111 at-bats. The utilityman is hitting .324 with two home runs and 18 RBI on the season.
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| While Fernando Tatis has been assisting in the latest run by the Mets, the team doesn't appear to threatening with Endy Chavez hitting second and Damion Easley hitting fifth. Tatis is starting in left field and hitting seventh on Monday as the Mets play the finale of a four-game series against the Phillies. |
Our View: With Ryan Church's health in question and Luis Castillo on the disabled list, the Mets offense looks average at best.
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| Todd Helton will undergo an epidural on Tuesday, this according to the Rocky Mountain News. The procedure should offer the veteran some relief for his aching back and leg pain that sent him to the disabled list last week. The report notes that Helton had been suffering leg pain since mid-June after straining a hamstring while the Rockies were playing the White Sox in Chicago. |
Our View: Helton recently disputed a report that he has numbness in his leg. He said the hamstring and current leg problem are not related.
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| Jeff Suppan was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday due to a joint irritation of the right elbow, this according to The Indy Channel. The move is more likely a maneuver to make room on the roster for newly acquired southpaw C.C. Sabathia. |
Our View: Suppan appears to be the odd man out of the Brewers rotation. The right-handed veteran allowed six runs in just three innings in a no-decision against the Pirates on Sunday. Suppan sports a 5-6 record with a 4.71 earned run average in 18 starts this season.
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| J.J. Hardy has been named the NL Player of the Week, according to the AP. He earned the honor by impressively batting .600 (18-for-30) with six home runs and 12 RBI, with five doubles and eight runs scored. He had six multi-hit games and two multi-homer outings.
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Our View: Hardy is now flirting with a .300 average at .295, to go along with 12 homers and 38 RBI.
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| Norris Hopper is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, according to the AP.
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Our View: Hopper was limited to only 50 at-bats this season due to elbow problems, and held no fantasy value.
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| Alex Gonzalez underwent surgery on Monday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee, according to the AP. The one-hour operation was performed by Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek, and the club is hopeful that Gonzalez will be ready for the start of training camp in 2009.
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Our View: Alex Gonzalez did not make an appearance with the Reds in 2008, and the club will be fine at shortstop with Jeff Keppinger and Jerry Hairston Jr.
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| Infielder Brent Lillibridge has been recalled from Triple-A Richmond, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: This is his third stint with the club this season, and holds no fantasy value as he only hit .154 over 26 at-bats, with nine strikeouts.
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| Jeff Francoeur has been called back up for tonight's game in Los Angeles, and his minor league stint in Double-A lasted only three days, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: He went 7-for-13 (.538) in three games with Double-A Mississippi, with a triple and two RBI. He was expected to remain there longer, but the Braves need him back following the injury to Omar Infante.
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| The C.C. Sabathia trade has been made official, according to the AP. It has been announced that Sabathia was traded to the Brewers in exchange for left fielder Matt LaPorta, pitchers Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson, as well as a player to be named. |
Our View: Sabathia was 3-0 in his final five starts with Cleveland, with two scoreless outings over the span. He will provide a tremendous 1-2 punch alongside ace Ben Sheets, and remains a must-start as a fantasy hurler. Sabathia should also receive much better run support from his new club.
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| The Cubs have reportedly been talking with Athletics' GM Billy Beane with interest in acquiring Rich Harden, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: CC Sabathia went to the second-place Brewers, who only trail the Cubs by 3.5 games in the NL Central. The Cubs are now feeling more pressure to land a front-line starter and would like to counter Milwaukee with Harden, who is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 13 starts. The A's may not want to deal him right now however, as they are in a tight race of their own (only six games back in the AL West).
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| John Maine, who is recovering from a left forearm cramp, expects to start for the Mets on Thursday, according to the NY Daily News. He indicated the ailment is just a stinger and he said he'll be fine. |
Our View: This is the second time he has been bothered by cramps this season, and commented that he'll eat more bananas to avoid this from happening again.
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| Ryan Church is going to undergo more tests on his head Monday, according to the NY Post. He was recently activated from the DL after suffering from post-concussion syndrome, and Church said, "The next day or two feels like I've been in a car accident or something, my head hurts when I'm barely moving and I'm nauseated. I'd rather have a concussion than a migraine."
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Our View: The Mets don't plan to place Church back on the DL, although skipper Jerry Manuel said he did not know the exact date Church would make his next start in the outfield.
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| The Yankees are reportedly going to send a scout to watch free agent hurler Victor Zambrano this week, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: Zambrano went 1-2 with the Mets in 2006 and 0-3 in 2007 with time spent between Toronto and Baltimore. Zambrano didn't make the Rockies roster this season, and won't be worth targeting if the Yankees ultimately pick him up.
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| Mark Sweeney, who was placed on the DL with a strained right hamstring last week, will begin a minor league rehab assignment with triple-A Las Vegas this week, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: Sweeney holds no fantasy value as he maintained a .094 average over 64 at-bats prior to going on the shelf. He has not recorded a hit since June 5.
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| Juan Pierre, who is recovering from a sprained ligament in his left knee, has started walking without crutches, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: Pierre is making favorable progress, but is not expected back before the end of July.
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| Tyler Walker's MRI results on his right knee revealed inflammation and no structural damage, according to the SF Chronicle. He said, "I feel a lot better about things." |
Our View: Walker hopes to be available when the Giants open a three-game set against the Mets on Tuesday.
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| Manager Bruce Bochy plans to use today's off day to shuffle his rotation to get Tim Lincecum an additional start before the All-Star break, according to the SF Chronicle. Instead of facing the Mets on Wednesday, Lincecum will pitch in New York on Tuesday and again in Chicago on Sunday, two days before the All-Star Game.
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Our View: Bochy also said he thinks Lincecum could pitch one inning at Yankee Stadium in the All-Star Game because that will be his normal between-starts throwing day.
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| Jim Edmonds will receive an X-ray on his thumb after jamming it while sliding into home plate on Saturday, according to the Daily Herald. |
Our View: The team is optimistic he will be fine. He was hot in June, but is only 1-for-10 in his last three games in July.
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| Billy Wagner commented on his blown save against the Phillies on Sunday, according to MetsBlog.com. Wagner gave up a two-run shot to Jayson Werth in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Mets came back to win the game in the 12th. Wagner commented, "That’s going to happen. I’d like to have bounced that slider, but I hung it and Jayson hit it. But, we came back and won it, the guys did great, they picked me up and we won and that’s fantastic."
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Our View: Those two runs allowed snapped a seven-inning scoreless streak for him, and was his first blown save since June 12.
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| Skipper Jerry Manuel praised Oliver Perez after hurling seven shutout innings against the Phillies on Sunday, according to MetsBlog.com. Manuel said, "Perez was awesome. He pitched extremely well. His last inning might have been one of his better innings of the night. So, that tells you he may have the endurance to even go further."
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Our View: Over his last two starts, since making an adjustment to his delivery, Perez has pitched 14 innings, while allowing just one run and two walks while fanning 14.
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| Colby Rasmus has not played in a game at Triple-A Memphis since July 1 due to a hip flexor, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Rasmus is banged up and isn't hitting very well, but still has a shot to make an appearance with the Cardinals at some point in the second half of the season, depending on the needs of the club.
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| Phil Dumatrait is set to return to the Pirates' rotation tonight against the Astros, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He has been on the DL because of bursitis in his left shoulder and hasn't pitched since June 19. He said, "I'm definitely ready to get back there and be part of the team again. I didn't really feel the bursitis when I pitched. I felt it during the week leading up, but on game day I didn't feel it."
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Our View: He will take Tom Gorzelanny's place on the 25-man roster. Dumatrait will be welcomed back to the Pirates' rotation, but he is 3-4 with a 4.66 ERA, and is only worth fantasy consideration in larger NL-only league.
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| Jay Bruce was not in the Reds' lineup Sunday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Manager Dusty Baker said, "It's not really a day off. This is just Jay's turn in the rotation, I like to call it. I'm trying to do it where everybody plays and we have the best lineup and also at the same time nobody's off more than a couple days so they don't lose their stroke."
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Our View: So Bruce was not benched for going 0-for-5 on Saturday, and only registering one hit over his last three games.
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| Alfonso Soriano won't be able to participate in the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He said his left hand still felt weak during a batting-practice session Saturday that left him a little sore. |
Our View: Soriano has been selected to seven-straight All-Star Games, which is the fourth longest active streak.
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