Chase Utley went 0-for-5 as he returned from the DL. My favorite advice by fantasy ‘perts is when they tell you to get a returning superstar into your lineup. Do people often leave their 1st round picks on the DL when they’re playing? Is this something I need to tell people? While you’re at it, get Pujols in your lineups too. Oh, and put on some pants before you get arrested. Another returning middle infielder with an oh-fer yesterday was Dustin Pedroia. Scrappy Doo fought hard to come back early, so he might not be at his usual 110%, but at, say, 80% he’s Dustin Pedro and that’s enough for me. The last man to recover from the 2010 Middle Infieluenza Epidemic was Martin Prado, who actually had some hits with a 3-for-5, 2 RBIs night. [dur] Get them all in your lineup. [/dur] Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball:
Jacoby Ellsbury – Has a fractured rib. Sounds like he’s donezo. Just think, all the frustration you put up with this year owning him was your sacrifice for everyone who gets him cheaper next year. Good karma to you.
Ryan Kalish – 1-for-4 with a grand slam. With the D’Ellsbury situation, Kalish will play every day and he’s hitting .300 with 2 homers in 15 games.
Omar Infante – 2-for-4 with a steal even with Prado returning. As predicted here (after I talked to my psychic), Infante is continuing to play (and hit).
Mike Minor – 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 baserunners, 5 Ks. His changeup is nasty. Don’t make me break up the word to emphasize it. All right, fine! His changeup is… Nas. Tee. He made Zimmerman look silly on a few pitches. He won’t be in the rotation forever, but I’d own him while he’s there. Get all over him in keepers.
Josh Willingham – The other white meat is out for the season with what they’re calling a bum knee. Was he sleeping in a cardboard box?
Mike Leake – Heading to the bullpen to limit his innings this year. But can’t Dusty now throw him every day? Hmm…
Luke French – 7 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 3 Ks. Don’t even think about picking him up. This was as good as it baguettes with French.
Matt Tuiasosopo – 2-for-4 with a homer. Not much to see here other than the best last name that you can’t pronounce.
Curtis Granderson – 1-for-3 with his 2nd homer in four games after going 3-for-3 yesterday. I’m a bit worried about even mentioning him because I know if you still own him, he’s probably on your bench. If he’s in your lineup, you probably aren’t reading this.
Austin Jackson – 1-for-4 with his 2nd homer. I’ll be honest; I didn’t even think he’d be batting .300 as late as May 15th and he’s still at .302. But, potatoes to chips, he’s also putting up 2nd baseman-ish numbers.
Brandon Morrow – 4 IP, 2 ER, 7 baserunners, 2 Ks. Okay, so maybe he was still a little spent from his last game.
Coco Crisp – 3-for-4 with 2 steals. Now has 18 steals in 46 games. Member when Billy Beane was against steals? Or maybe that was Brad Pitt.
Hisanori Takahashi – Jerry Manuel said Takahashi will be his closer. He said that yesterday. Obviously it could change tomorrow. For now, Au Bon Japan!
Kila Ka’aihue – Had his 2nd 2-for-4 game in a row yesterday. Not worth grabbing outside of deep leagues yet, but I’m watching him.
Gregor Blanco – 2-for-4 with his 4th steal in the last four games (though 3 of them came in one game). The Royals are playing him and he might be trying to prove his worth on the basepaths.
Wilson Betemit – 2-for-4 with his 2nd homer in his last three games. It’s feast or famine for a lot of these peasant Royals.
Pat Burrell – Hit his 11th homer after the Philly fans gave him a standing ovation. I’d say it was a classy move, but I think it was “If You Slept With Pat The Bat You Get In For Free Night.”
Jose Guillen – 2-for-4 with his first homer as a Giant. Poor Andres Torres has to play the entire outfield.
Angel Pagan – Was benched yesterday for Fernando Martinez because of Pagan’s extended slump. In non-keeper leagues, it might be time to thank Pagan for his services and start looking elsewhere.
Ricky Nolasco – 6 IP, 0 ER, 6 baserunners, 9 Ks. Is it already that time of the year where he gets everyone’s hopes up for next year? Prepare yourself for this March commenter, “Grey, check it, brah. Nolasco’s sick. March commenter out!”
Logan Morrison – 2-for-5, now hitting .400 in the last 7 games. This is just my weekly check-in to say Morrison’s hitting for everything but power and the power will come.
Eric Young Jr. – 2-for-3 with 2 steals. The Rockies announced that Young will be playing every day and hitting leadoff. That’s an immediate add across the board where you need steals from a middle infielder, which I imagine is just about everyone.
Jhoulys Chacin – 5 IP, 5 ER, 10 baserunners, 4 Ks. He looked rusty then he got nailed. I’d give Chacin another chance or at least hold him for another start on your bench. Or you can just grab…
Daniel Hudson – 7 IP, 3 ER, 9 baserunners (zero walks), 10 Ks. Now has a 2.12 ERA in four starts since joining the Diamondbacks and 41 Ks in 45 1/3 innings. In his upcoming starts, he’ll get the Rockies in Arizona, Giants, Astros and Giants again. Looks good to me.
Will Venable – Member last week when I mentioned Venable in the SAGNOF post about cheap guys who can give steals? No? I don’t really either. Neverthehoo! Venable has 3 steals in his last two games and 5 in the last ten games.
Randy Wells – 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 baserunners, 6 Ks. Wells’ last four starts have gone like this… Quality start, 6 earned runs in 5 innings, quality start, 6 earned runs in 4 innings. So that leads to… Ooh, Wells pitched great, I’m going to grab him. Then you put him in for the 6 earned run game. Dah!!! So you bench him for his next quality start. Then you think he’s fine and you put him back in there for the next shellacking. Wells hates you. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Matt Garza – 7 IP, 0 ER, 7 baserunners, 10 Ks. Another extravaGarza! He’s been a rich man’s Wells for the last month as he alternates good and bad starts, as well.
Wilton Lopez – Astros’ General Mills said before yesterday’s game that Brandon Lyon would be the closer moving forward. Naturally, Wilton Lopez gets the save. Lopez hasn’t been bad this year and might get some saves here and there. Brandon Lyon would still be my pickup if I were vulturing for saves.
Hunter Pence – 2-for-4 with 2 homers. I feel like I haven’t talked much about Pence this year, but he’s been a solid #3 fantasy outfielder. 18 homers, 15 steals while batting .287. I’ve seen shabbier. Oh, and he’s hitting .455 over the last week.
Jim Thome – 3-for-5 and his 4th homer in the last week. He could retire, return at 50 years old and still hit 20 homers. If he didn’t have to walk back and forth to the plate, he’d probably hit 25 homers. All that walking is for young folk.
Colby Rasmus – Out with a calf strain, won’t be back until Friday. La Russa must be terribly upset about that strained calf. Hopefully PETA talks him down.
