The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
OF Matt Diaz, Braves 17-29 .586 1-5 0
OF Milton Bradley, Cubs 11-21 .524 2-5 0
1B Kendry Morales, Angels 12-25 .480 3-9 0
OF/2B Ryan Roberts, D-backs 11-24 .458 1-5 0
SS Hanley Ramirez, Marlins 10-22 .455 0-0 0
OF/2B Chris Coghlan, Marlins 11-25 .440 2-3 0
3B Aramis Ramirez, Cubs 11-25 .440 1-7 0
SS/2B Anderson Hernandez, Mets 10-23 .435 0-3 0
OF Matt LaPorta, Indians 12-28 .429 2-3 0
OF Garret Anderson, Braves 9-21 .429 1-3 0
This is the second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average for Diaz, who is batting .538 (28-for-52) during that time, and Ramirez. Bradley and Hernandez were on the Not list a week earlier. The only reason I can figure why we don't hear much about Coghlan as a Rookie of the Year candidate is that no one sees him play in Miami.
Home runs – Phillies 1B Ryan Howard 5; Morales, Blue Jays C Rod Barajas, Red Sox OF J.D. Drew, Dodgers OF Matt Kemp, Indians 1B/3B Andy Marte, Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen, Orioles OF Felix Pie and Phillies 2B Chase Utley 3.
RBI – Howard 12; Braves C Brian McCann 10; Morales, Tigers 1B/3B Miguel Cabrera and Yankees 2B Robinson Cano 9.
Stolen bases – Brewers C Jason Kendall and Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler 4; White Sox OF Scott Podsednik and Giants OF/2B Eugenio Velez 3; Kemp, Astros OF Michael Bourn, Angels 3B Chone Figgins, Mariners OF Franklin Gutierrez, Yankees SS Derek Jeter, Mets OF Angel Pagan and Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols 2.
Runs – Bradley 9; Drew, Jeter and Roberts 7; Kendall, Pagan, Utley, Royals OF David DeJesus, Red Sox SS Alex Gonzalez, White Sox 1B Paul Konerko, D-backs OF Justin Upton and Padres OF Will Venable 6.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Tim Lincecum, Giants 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.88 8:3
RHP Homer Bailey, Reds 8.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 7:1
LHP Cole Hamels, Phillies 8.0 0.00 0-0 1.13 7:2
RHP Trevor Cahill, Athletics 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.57 2:2
RHP Javier Vazquez, Braves 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.71 6:0
RHP Jon Garland, D-backs 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.86 5:1
LHP Barry Zito, Giants 14.1 0.63 1-0 1.26 11:7
RHP Adam Wainwright, Cardinals 14.0 0.64 2-0 0.50 12:3
RHP Zack Greinke, Royals 17.0 1.00 2-0 0.47 20:2
LHP David Price, Rays 7.1 1.23 1-0 0.82 4:1
LHP Randy Wolf, Dodgers 7.1 1.23 1-0 0.95 5:2
Garland was on the previous week's Not list.
Wins – Greinke, Wainwright, Reds LHP Daniel Herrera, Indians LHP Rafael Perez, Mariners RHP Ian Snell and Marlins LHP Shane West 2.
Saves – Mariners RHP David Aardsma, Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin, Twins RHP Joe Nathan, Marlins RHP Leo Nunez, Red Sox RHP Jonathan Papelbon and Tigers RHP Fernando Rodney. This is Franklin's third consecutive week on this list.
WHIP – Greinke 0.47; Cahill and Twins LHP Brian Duensing 0.57; Wainwright 0.64; Vazquez 0.71.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Greinke 20:2; Rays/Angels LHP Scott Kazmir and Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia 10:1; Mets RHP Nelson Figueroa 12:2; Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw 17:3; Twins RHP Scott Baker 11:2; Athletics LHP Brett Anderson 10:2; D-backs RHP Dan Haren 13:3; Wainwright and Angels RHP John Lackey 12:3.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
3B Gordon Beckham, White Sox 3-29 .103 1-4 1
2B/SS Clint Barmes, Rockies 3-26 .115 1-2 1
3B Andy LaRoche, Pirates 3-24 .125 1-2 0
OF Carlos Quentin, White Sox 3-23 .130 1-2 1
OF Jermaine Dye, White Sox 3-22 .136 1-1 0
1B Justin Morneau, Twins 3-22 .136 1-2 0
OF Bobby Abreu, Angels 3-22 .136 1-5 0
2B Luis Castillo, Mets 3-21 .143 0-0 0
OF Raul Ibanez, Phillies 3-21 .143 0-1 0
2B Brian Roberts, Orioles 4-27 .148 0-3 0
Beckham has been on this list each of the last two weeks, when he has batted .118 (6-for-51). The top of this list tells you why the White Sox are circling the drain. Castillo was on the previous week's Hot list.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Brewers OF Mike Cameron 1:12; Reds OF Drew Stubbs 2:11; Padres OF Will Venable 2:10; Blue Jays OF Travis Snider 4:12; Athletics OF Jack Cust 4:10; Nationals 1B/OF Adam Dunn 6:11.
Caught stealing – Red Sox OF J.D. Drew, Brewers 2B/3B Casey McGehee and Rockies 2B Eric Young 0-for-2; Rays SS Jason Bartlett, Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen and Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki 1-for-3.
The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Carlos Zambrano, Cubs 7.2 12.91 0-2 2.74 7:3
RHP Bobby Parnell, Mets 9.2 12.10 0-2 1.86 5:5
RHP Joba Chamberlain, Yankees 7.0 11.57 0-1 2.29 6:3
RHP Jose Contreras, White Sox 6.0 10.50 0-2 3.00 4:5
RHP Gil Meche, Royals 11.0 9.00 0-1 1.64 4:2
RHP Roy Halladay, Blue Jays 12.0 8.25 0-2 1.75 14:2
RHP Justin Masterson, Indians 11.2 6.17 0-2 1.80 10:6
RHP Clay Buchholz, Red Sox 13.0 5.54 1-0 1.08 12:5
RHP Vin Mazzaro, Athletics 10.0 5.40 0-1 1.70 8:5
RHP Kevin Millwood, Rangers 11.2 5.40 1-0 1.71 4:7
LHP Jeremy Sowers, Indians 11.2 5.40 1-0 1.37 3:4
Losses – Contreras, Halladay, Masterson, Parnell, Zambrano, Nationals RHP Jason Bergmann and Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez 2.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Hot and Not
This is one of the toughest weeks of the season for figuring teams’ pitching rotation. On Sept. 1 (Tuesday), the active roster expands. That means teams will be bringing back pitchers from the disabled list and recalling promising prospects. Sometimes, they’ll take the place of someone at the bottom of the rotation. At other times, they’ll be added as a sixth starter. At still others, they might make spot starts when a pitcher has a minor injury. An increasing trend in baseball also is limiting the number of innings a young prospect pitches in a season. So you might see some teams dropping one of its best prospects from the rotation in favor of another youngster who might have been the No. 2 or 3 starter in Double-A or Triple-A.
The teams most likely to receive a lot of starts from unproven rookies are those that are hopelessly out of the playoff race, or way ahead of the pack. A couple of teams in New York come to mind. Some pitchers might arrive a week or more later if the parent team wants them to compete in minor league playoffs.
AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
NYY NYY NYY/ --- Tex Tex Tex
Guthrie Hernandez Berken/ --- Tillman Matusz Guthrie2
Bos
--- @TB @TB @TB/ @CWS @CWS @CWS
--- Lester Beckett Buchholz/ Tazawa* Byrd** Lester2
CWS
@Min @Min @Min/ @ChC/ Bos Bos Bos
Floyd Danks Buehrle/ Contreras-3*/ Garcia Floyd2 Danks2
Cle
--- @Det @Det @Det/ Min Min Min
--- Huff Laffey Carmona/ Sowers Masterson Huff2
Det
TB/ Cle Cle Cle/ @TB @TB @TB
Washburn/ Jackson Porcello Robertson-4*/ Verlander Washburn2-5* Jackson2
KC
@Oak @Oak @Oak/ --- LAA LAA LAA
Hochevar Davies Bannister/ --- Meche Greinke Hochevar2
LAA
@Se @Se @Se/ --- @KC @KC @KC
Saunders Santana Kazmir-6*/ --- Weaver Lackey Saunders2
Min
CWS CWS CWS/ --- @Cle @Cle @Cle
Blackburn Manship-7* Duensing/ --- Pavano Baker Blackburn2
NYY
@Bal @Bal @Bal/ @Tor @Tor @Tor @Tor
Pettitte Burnett Sabathia/ Mitre-8* Chamberlain Pettitte2 Burnett2
Oak
KC KC KC/ Se Se Se Se
G.Gonzalez Ed.Gonzalez-9* Cahill/ Tomko Mazzaro Anderson G.Gonzalez2
Se
LAA LAA LAA/ @Oak @Oak @Oak @Oak
French Fister Hernandez/ Snell Rowland-Smith French2 Fister2
TB
@Det/ Bos Bos Bos/ Det Det Det
Shields/ Sonnanstine-10* Garza Price/ Niemann Shields2 Sonnanstine2
Tex
Tor Tor-2 Tor/ --- @Bal @Bal @Bal
Holland Nippert-McCarthy-11* Hunter/ --- Feldman Holland2 McCarthy2
Tor
@Tex @Tex-2 @Tex/ NYY NYY NYY NYY
Cecil Rzepczynski-Tallet-12* Richmond/ Romero Halladay Cecil2 Rzepczynski2
*-The Red Sox optioned RHP Junichi Tazawa to Triple-A Pawtucket, but he could return to start Friday. RHP Tim Wakefield was expected to return to the rotation this week, but his back has been giving him trouble again.
**-RHP Paul Byrd made his first start this season for Boston Sunday, and pitched six scoreless innings to beat the Blue Jays.
3*-RHP Jose Contreras didn’t pitch well in losing to the Yankees Saturday, but the fading White Sox might not have a better option for their rotation. Chicago hoped to have RHP Jake Peavy off the disabled list, but he left Saturday’s injury-rehab start at Triple-A Charlotte after 3 1/3 innings because of a tight elbow.
4*-On Saturday, Tigers LHP Nate Robertson pitched well in his first start since returning from elbow surgery. His next turn would be Thursday. Robertson might not stay in the rotation long because RHP Armando Galarraga will be eligible to come back Sunday after being optioned to Triple-A Toledo.
5*-For the second consecutive week, there’s a wraparound series plus a home-and-home series against the same opponent that will result in the same pitchers facing each other in consecutive starts during the same week. This time, it’s Detroit LHP Jarrod Washburn vs. Rays RHP James Shields. If I had to pick one of them to dominate, it would be Shields, who has pitched better than Washburn recently. In addition, Tampa Bay needs the wins more than the Tigers do. Last week, I wrote that Giants LHP Barry Zito should prevail over Rockies RHP Jason Marquis. Zito allowed only one earned run in 14 1/3 innings, when he won one game and had no decision in a 14-inning loss for San Francisco.
6*-LHP Scott Kazmir is scheduled Wednesday to make his first start since being traded to the Angels. He would replace rookie RHP Trevor Bell in LA/Anaheim’s rotation.
7*-Rookie RHP Jeff Manship, who was having a good year at Triple-A Rochester, is scheduled to make his first major league start Tuesday for the Twins. Minnesota’s rotation has been in a surprising shambles, but the Twins are playing there way back into the American League Central race.
8*-RHP Sergio Mitre had allowed only one hit when a line drive struck his right forearm and knocked him from Saturday’s game against the White Sox. Manager Joe Girardi conceded, “There’s some concern there.” If Mitre couldn’t pitch Thursday, New York could turn to RHP Chad Gaudin, who finished the one-hitter against the White Sox.
9*-The Athletics are planning to use a six-man rotation to lighten the load on their young starting pitchers. There won’t be another dynamic youngster joining them, but journeyman RHP Edgar Gonzalez.
10*-The Rays are recalling RHP Andy Sonnanstine, who started for them last year, from Triple-A Durham to take Kazmir’s place in the Tampa Bay rotation beginning Tuesday.
11*-With a doubleheader against the Blue Jays Tuesday, when the active roster limit expands from 25 to 40, the Rangers will bring RHP Brandon McCarthy back from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City to start one game. If he pitches well, he could take RHP Dustin Nippert’s place in Texas’ rotation.
12*-Toronto would bring LHP Brian Tallet back out of its bullpen to start one game of the doubleheader.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
@LAD @LAD @LAD @LAD/ @Col @Col @Col
Davis Petit Scherzer Garland/ Haren Davis2 Petit2
Atl
@Fla @Fla @Fla @Fla/ Cin Cin Cin
Hudson* Vazquez Hanson Lowe/ Jurrjens Hudson2 Vazquez2
ChC
Ho Ho Ho/ CWS/ @NYM @NYM @NYM
Harden Wells Lilly/ Dempster Zambrano Harden2 Wells2
Cin
Pit-2 Pit Pit/ --- @Atl @Atl @Atl
Wells-Cueto** Lehr Bailey/ --- Maloney Arroyo Cueto2
Col
--- NYM NYM NYM/ Ari Ari Ari
--- DeLaRosa Jimenez Marquis/ Hammel Morales-3* DeLaRosa2
Fla
Atl Atl Atl Atl/ @Was @Was @Was
Johnson Sanchez VandenHurk-4* Nolasco/ West Johnson2 Sanchez2
Ho
@ChC @ChC @ChC/ --- Phi Phi Phi
Oswalt Moehler Bazardo-5*/ --- Norris Rodriguez Oswalt2
LAD
Ari Ari Ari Ari/ SD SD SD
Wolf Padilla-6* Billingsley Haeger/ Kershaw Wolf2 Padilla2
Mil
--- @StL @StL @StL/ SF SF SF
--- Looper Bush-7* Parra/ Gallardo Suppan Looper2
NYM
--- @Col @Col @Col/ ChC ChC ChC
--- Pelfrey Redding Misch-8*/ Parnell Figueroa-9* Pelfrey2
Phi
--- SF SF SF/ @Ho @Ho @Ho
--- Hamels Happ Martinez-10*/ Lee Blanton Hamels2
Pit
@Cin-2 @Cin @Cin/ --- StL StL StL
Maholm-D.McCutchen-11* Morton Duke/ --- Hart Ohlendorf Maholm2
StL
--- Mil Mil Mil/ @Pit @Pit @Pit
--- Pineiro Carpenter Smoltz/ Boggs Wainwright Pineiro2
SD
Was Was Was/ --- @LAD @LAD @LAD
Stauffer Richard Correia/ --- LeBlanc Carrillo-12* Stauffer2
SF
--- @Phi @Phi @Phi/ @Mil @Mil @Mil
--- Sanchez Lincecum Zito/ Cain Martinez Sanchez2
Was
@SD @SD @SD/ --- Fla Fla Fla
Hernandez-13* Martin Lannan/ --- Stammen Mock Hernandez2
*-The Braves are taking RHP Tim Hudson off the disabled list to make his first start this season Monday. That Aug. 31 date is significant. Because he’s on the 25-man roster as of Aug. 31, Hudson would be eligible for the postseason roster. And Atlanta is a very viable playoff contender. He’ll be replacing RHP Kenshin Kawakami in the rotation.
**-For their day-night doubleheader against the Pirates Monday, the Reds will bring RHP Kip Wells out of the bullpen and RHP Johnny Cueto off the disabled list to start.
3*-The Rockies will need a fifth starter with RHP Aaron Cook on the disabled list. They reportedly are one of the teams with interest in RHP Brad Penny, released by the Red Sox. If they don’t sign Penny, they might not bring back RHP Jhoulys Chacin, who hasn’t pitched well after contributing to a no-hitter for Triple-A Colorado Springs. Instead, they might turn to LHP Franklin Morales from their bullpen.
4*-The Marlins optioned ineffective RHP Chris Volstad to Triple-A New Orleans. They could bring him back in September, but it’s more likely for Wednesday’s start that Florida would recall another minor league pitcher such as RHP Rick Vanden Hurk. Other options are LHP Andrew Miller, or RHP Burke Badenhop off the disabled list.
5*-RHP Yorman Bazardo didn’t pitch well in his start Friday, but with a depleted farm system the Astros don’t have many options. So Bazardo could start again Wednesday.
6*-The Dodgers signed RHP Vicente Padilla after the Rangers tired of his negative clubhouse influence and released him. He won his first start for LA, and is scheduled for two more this week. Don’t get too excited about Padilla.
7*-RHP David Bush returned from the disabled list to start Thursday’s game, and would be scheduled for his next start Tuesday.
8*-LHP Pat Misch pitched well Friday in his first start for the Mets – replacing LHP Oliver Perez, who will miss the remainder of the season because of knee surgery. Misch’s next start would be Thursday.
9*-In his umpteenth major league opportunity, RHP Nelson Figueroa won Sunday’s start and earned another one Saturday.
10*-For the second time in four starts since joining the Phillies, RHP Pedro Martinez had his appearance Friday shortened because of a rain delay. Both times, LHP Jamie Moyer, whose ineffectiveness as a starter put Pedro in the rotation, relieved the righty and picked up a win.
11*-To start one game of Monday’s doubleheader, the Pirates recalled RHP Daniel McCutchen from Triple-A Indianapolis to make his major league debut. He is likely to receive more starts for Pittsburgh in September.
12*-Padres manager Bud Black indicated he would shut down rookie RHP Mat Latos, who began the season in Double-A, after Saturday’s start. Latos showed enough to pencil himself into San Diego’s 2010 rotation. Taking over could be RHP Cesar Carrillo, who was Latos’ teammate at San Antonio and San Diego but has been demoted from the Padres to Triple-A Portland.
13*- Veteran RHP Livan Hernandez, whom the Nationals signed after the Mets released him, is schedule for two starts with Washington this week. Unless you have to have a definite gamble work out for you to stay in your fantasy race, think of Hernandez as having twice as big an opportunity to hurt your team.
The teams most likely to receive a lot of starts from unproven rookies are those that are hopelessly out of the playoff race, or way ahead of the pack. A couple of teams in New York come to mind. Some pitchers might arrive a week or more later if the parent team wants them to compete in minor league playoffs.
AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
NYY NYY NYY/ --- Tex Tex Tex
Guthrie Hernandez Berken/ --- Tillman Matusz Guthrie2
Bos
--- @TB @TB @TB/ @CWS @CWS @CWS
--- Lester Beckett Buchholz/ Tazawa* Byrd** Lester2
CWS
@Min @Min @Min/ @ChC/ Bos Bos Bos
Floyd Danks Buehrle/ Contreras-3*/ Garcia Floyd2 Danks2
Cle
--- @Det @Det @Det/ Min Min Min
--- Huff Laffey Carmona/ Sowers Masterson Huff2
Det
TB/ Cle Cle Cle/ @TB @TB @TB
Washburn/ Jackson Porcello Robertson-4*/ Verlander Washburn2-5* Jackson2
KC
@Oak @Oak @Oak/ --- LAA LAA LAA
Hochevar Davies Bannister/ --- Meche Greinke Hochevar2
LAA
@Se @Se @Se/ --- @KC @KC @KC
Saunders Santana Kazmir-6*/ --- Weaver Lackey Saunders2
Min
CWS CWS CWS/ --- @Cle @Cle @Cle
Blackburn Manship-7* Duensing/ --- Pavano Baker Blackburn2
NYY
@Bal @Bal @Bal/ @Tor @Tor @Tor @Tor
Pettitte Burnett Sabathia/ Mitre-8* Chamberlain Pettitte2 Burnett2
Oak
KC KC KC/ Se Se Se Se
G.Gonzalez Ed.Gonzalez-9* Cahill/ Tomko Mazzaro Anderson G.Gonzalez2
Se
LAA LAA LAA/ @Oak @Oak @Oak @Oak
French Fister Hernandez/ Snell Rowland-Smith French2 Fister2
TB
@Det/ Bos Bos Bos/ Det Det Det
Shields/ Sonnanstine-10* Garza Price/ Niemann Shields2 Sonnanstine2
Tex
Tor Tor-2 Tor/ --- @Bal @Bal @Bal
Holland Nippert-McCarthy-11* Hunter/ --- Feldman Holland2 McCarthy2
Tor
@Tex @Tex-2 @Tex/ NYY NYY NYY NYY
Cecil Rzepczynski-Tallet-12* Richmond/ Romero Halladay Cecil2 Rzepczynski2
*-The Red Sox optioned RHP Junichi Tazawa to Triple-A Pawtucket, but he could return to start Friday. RHP Tim Wakefield was expected to return to the rotation this week, but his back has been giving him trouble again.
**-RHP Paul Byrd made his first start this season for Boston Sunday, and pitched six scoreless innings to beat the Blue Jays.
3*-RHP Jose Contreras didn’t pitch well in losing to the Yankees Saturday, but the fading White Sox might not have a better option for their rotation. Chicago hoped to have RHP Jake Peavy off the disabled list, but he left Saturday’s injury-rehab start at Triple-A Charlotte after 3 1/3 innings because of a tight elbow.
4*-On Saturday, Tigers LHP Nate Robertson pitched well in his first start since returning from elbow surgery. His next turn would be Thursday. Robertson might not stay in the rotation long because RHP Armando Galarraga will be eligible to come back Sunday after being optioned to Triple-A Toledo.
5*-For the second consecutive week, there’s a wraparound series plus a home-and-home series against the same opponent that will result in the same pitchers facing each other in consecutive starts during the same week. This time, it’s Detroit LHP Jarrod Washburn vs. Rays RHP James Shields. If I had to pick one of them to dominate, it would be Shields, who has pitched better than Washburn recently. In addition, Tampa Bay needs the wins more than the Tigers do. Last week, I wrote that Giants LHP Barry Zito should prevail over Rockies RHP Jason Marquis. Zito allowed only one earned run in 14 1/3 innings, when he won one game and had no decision in a 14-inning loss for San Francisco.
6*-LHP Scott Kazmir is scheduled Wednesday to make his first start since being traded to the Angels. He would replace rookie RHP Trevor Bell in LA/Anaheim’s rotation.
7*-Rookie RHP Jeff Manship, who was having a good year at Triple-A Rochester, is scheduled to make his first major league start Tuesday for the Twins. Minnesota’s rotation has been in a surprising shambles, but the Twins are playing there way back into the American League Central race.
8*-RHP Sergio Mitre had allowed only one hit when a line drive struck his right forearm and knocked him from Saturday’s game against the White Sox. Manager Joe Girardi conceded, “There’s some concern there.” If Mitre couldn’t pitch Thursday, New York could turn to RHP Chad Gaudin, who finished the one-hitter against the White Sox.
9*-The Athletics are planning to use a six-man rotation to lighten the load on their young starting pitchers. There won’t be another dynamic youngster joining them, but journeyman RHP Edgar Gonzalez.
10*-The Rays are recalling RHP Andy Sonnanstine, who started for them last year, from Triple-A Durham to take Kazmir’s place in the Tampa Bay rotation beginning Tuesday.
11*-With a doubleheader against the Blue Jays Tuesday, when the active roster limit expands from 25 to 40, the Rangers will bring RHP Brandon McCarthy back from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City to start one game. If he pitches well, he could take RHP Dustin Nippert’s place in Texas’ rotation.
12*-Toronto would bring LHP Brian Tallet back out of its bullpen to start one game of the doubleheader.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
@LAD @LAD @LAD @LAD/ @Col @Col @Col
Davis Petit Scherzer Garland/ Haren Davis2 Petit2
Atl
@Fla @Fla @Fla @Fla/ Cin Cin Cin
Hudson* Vazquez Hanson Lowe/ Jurrjens Hudson2 Vazquez2
ChC
Ho Ho Ho/ CWS/ @NYM @NYM @NYM
Harden Wells Lilly/ Dempster Zambrano Harden2 Wells2
Cin
Pit-2 Pit Pit/ --- @Atl @Atl @Atl
Wells-Cueto** Lehr Bailey/ --- Maloney Arroyo Cueto2
Col
--- NYM NYM NYM/ Ari Ari Ari
--- DeLaRosa Jimenez Marquis/ Hammel Morales-3* DeLaRosa2
Fla
Atl Atl Atl Atl/ @Was @Was @Was
Johnson Sanchez VandenHurk-4* Nolasco/ West Johnson2 Sanchez2
Ho
@ChC @ChC @ChC/ --- Phi Phi Phi
Oswalt Moehler Bazardo-5*/ --- Norris Rodriguez Oswalt2
LAD
Ari Ari Ari Ari/ SD SD SD
Wolf Padilla-6* Billingsley Haeger/ Kershaw Wolf2 Padilla2
Mil
--- @StL @StL @StL/ SF SF SF
--- Looper Bush-7* Parra/ Gallardo Suppan Looper2
NYM
--- @Col @Col @Col/ ChC ChC ChC
--- Pelfrey Redding Misch-8*/ Parnell Figueroa-9* Pelfrey2
Phi
--- SF SF SF/ @Ho @Ho @Ho
--- Hamels Happ Martinez-10*/ Lee Blanton Hamels2
Pit
@Cin-2 @Cin @Cin/ --- StL StL StL
Maholm-D.McCutchen-11* Morton Duke/ --- Hart Ohlendorf Maholm2
StL
--- Mil Mil Mil/ @Pit @Pit @Pit
--- Pineiro Carpenter Smoltz/ Boggs Wainwright Pineiro2
SD
Was Was Was/ --- @LAD @LAD @LAD
Stauffer Richard Correia/ --- LeBlanc Carrillo-12* Stauffer2
SF
--- @Phi @Phi @Phi/ @Mil @Mil @Mil
--- Sanchez Lincecum Zito/ Cain Martinez Sanchez2
Was
@SD @SD @SD/ --- Fla Fla Fla
Hernandez-13* Martin Lannan/ --- Stammen Mock Hernandez2
*-The Braves are taking RHP Tim Hudson off the disabled list to make his first start this season Monday. That Aug. 31 date is significant. Because he’s on the 25-man roster as of Aug. 31, Hudson would be eligible for the postseason roster. And Atlanta is a very viable playoff contender. He’ll be replacing RHP Kenshin Kawakami in the rotation.
**-For their day-night doubleheader against the Pirates Monday, the Reds will bring RHP Kip Wells out of the bullpen and RHP Johnny Cueto off the disabled list to start.
3*-The Rockies will need a fifth starter with RHP Aaron Cook on the disabled list. They reportedly are one of the teams with interest in RHP Brad Penny, released by the Red Sox. If they don’t sign Penny, they might not bring back RHP Jhoulys Chacin, who hasn’t pitched well after contributing to a no-hitter for Triple-A Colorado Springs. Instead, they might turn to LHP Franklin Morales from their bullpen.
4*-The Marlins optioned ineffective RHP Chris Volstad to Triple-A New Orleans. They could bring him back in September, but it’s more likely for Wednesday’s start that Florida would recall another minor league pitcher such as RHP Rick Vanden Hurk. Other options are LHP Andrew Miller, or RHP Burke Badenhop off the disabled list.
5*-RHP Yorman Bazardo didn’t pitch well in his start Friday, but with a depleted farm system the Astros don’t have many options. So Bazardo could start again Wednesday.
6*-The Dodgers signed RHP Vicente Padilla after the Rangers tired of his negative clubhouse influence and released him. He won his first start for LA, and is scheduled for two more this week. Don’t get too excited about Padilla.
7*-RHP David Bush returned from the disabled list to start Thursday’s game, and would be scheduled for his next start Tuesday.
8*-LHP Pat Misch pitched well Friday in his first start for the Mets – replacing LHP Oliver Perez, who will miss the remainder of the season because of knee surgery. Misch’s next start would be Thursday.
9*-In his umpteenth major league opportunity, RHP Nelson Figueroa won Sunday’s start and earned another one Saturday.
10*-For the second time in four starts since joining the Phillies, RHP Pedro Martinez had his appearance Friday shortened because of a rain delay. Both times, LHP Jamie Moyer, whose ineffectiveness as a starter put Pedro in the rotation, relieved the righty and picked up a win.
11*-To start one game of Monday’s doubleheader, the Pirates recalled RHP Daniel McCutchen from Triple-A Indianapolis to make his major league debut. He is likely to receive more starts for Pittsburgh in September.
12*-Padres manager Bud Black indicated he would shut down rookie RHP Mat Latos, who began the season in Double-A, after Saturday’s start. Latos showed enough to pencil himself into San Diego’s 2010 rotation. Taking over could be RHP Cesar Carrillo, who was Latos’ teammate at San Antonio and San Diego but has been demoted from the Padres to Triple-A Portland.
13*- Veteran RHP Livan Hernandez, whom the Nationals signed after the Mets released him, is schedule for two starts with Washington this week. Unless you have to have a definite gamble work out for you to stay in your fantasy race, think of Hernandez as having twice as big an opportunity to hurt your team.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Hot and Not: Jeter still smoking
The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
2B Luis Castillo, Mets 14-26 .538 0-4 2
3B/SS Michael Young, Rangers 15-30 .500 1-8 1
1B/3B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers 11-22 .500 1-5 1
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees 13-27 .481 1-4 1
OF Matt Diaz, Braves 11-23 .478 2-7 0
OF Aaron Rowand, Giants 13-28 .464 3-7 0
1B Adam LaRoche, Braves 12-26 .462 4-9 0
SS Hanley Ramirez, Marlins 11-24 .458 1-3 1
OF Jayson Werth, Phillies 11-25 .440 5-9 0
OF Pat Burrell, Rays 9-21 .429 2-3 0
This is Jeter’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average.
Home runs – Werth 5; LaRoche and Orioles 2B Brian Roberts 4; Rowand, Rangers OF Marlon Byrd, Twins OF Michael Cuddyer and C Joe Mauer, Athletics OF Jack Cust, Angels OF Vladimir Guerrero, Braves C Brian McCann, Red Sox DH David Ortiz, Rays 1B Carlos Pena and 2B/OF Ben Zobrist, White Sox OF Carlos Quentin, Tigers OF/2B Ryan Raburn and Phillies C Carlos Ruiz 3.
RBI – Ortiz 10; Byrd, LaRoche and Werth 9; Roberts, Young, Giants 1B Ryan Garko and Pirates OF Garrett Jones 8.
Stolen bases – Roberts, Angels SS Erick Aybar, Rangers OF Julio Borbon and Athletics OF Rajai Davis 3; byrd, Mauer, Raburn, Angels Of Bobby Abreu, Rays SS Jason Bartlett, Astros OF Michael Bourn, Brewers OF Ryan Braun, Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan, Mets OF Angel Pagan and Phillies 2B Chase Utley 2.
Runs – LaRoche, Ortiz and Roberts 8; Diaz, Guerrero, Jeter, Werth, Young and Braves SS Yunel Escobar 7.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
LHP Cliff Lee, Phillies 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.22 11:0
RHP Jered Weaver, Angels 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.89 3:1
LHP Wandy Rodriguez, Astros 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.75 7:2
RHP Roy Oswalt, Astros 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.43 2:0
RHP Rich Harden, Cubs 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.57 8:3
RHP Brett Tomko, Athletics 11.0 0.82 2-0 1.00 9:3
LHP Jon Lester, Red Sox 8.0 1.13 1-0 0.63 5:2
RHP Matt Cain, Giants 8.0 1.13 0-0 1.13 3:1
RHP Bronson Arroyo, Reds 8.0 1.13 0-1 1.25 5:1
RHP Joel Pineiro, Cardinals 7.2 1.17 1-0 0.78 7:2
LHP Paul Maholm, Pirates 7.2 1.17 1-0 1.30 5:2
Arroyo also was on the ERA Not list a week earlier.
Wins – Tomko, Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter, Braves RHP Tommy Hanson, Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia and Tigers LHP Bobby Seay 2.
Saves – Rockies RHP Huston Street and Astros RHP Jose Valverde 4-for-4; White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks 3-for-3; Dodgers RHP Jonathan Broxton, Pirates RHP Matt Capps, Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin, Phillies RHP Brad Lidge, Tigers RHP Fernando Rodney, Braves RHP Rafael Soriano and Giants RHP Brian Wilson. This is Franklin's second consecutive week on this list.
WHIP – Lee 0.22; Oswalt and Dodgers LHP Randy Wolf 0.43; Harden and White Sox RHP Jose Contreras 0.57.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Lee 11:0; Sabathia and Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez 15:1; Tigers RHP Justin Verlander 10:1; Rangers RHP Scott Feldman 15:3; Hanson and Jimenez 14;3; Indians RHP Fausto Carmona 12:3; Cubs RHO Ryan Dempster 15:4; carpenter 14:4.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
3B Chipper Jones, Braves 1-20 .050 0-1 1
OF Milton Bradley, Cubs 2-23 .087 1-1 0
3B/OF/C Brandon Inge, Tigers 2-23 .087 1-2 0
3B Melvin Mora, Orioles 2-22 .091 1-2 0
3B Chone Figgins, Angels 3-24 .125 0-1 0
SS/2B Anderson Hernandez, Mets 3-24 .125 0-2 0
OF Trent Oeltjen, D-backs 3-22 .136 0-0 0
OF Franklin Gutierrez, Mariners 3-22 .136 0-1 1
OF/1B Ross Gload, Marlins 3-22 .136 0-2 0
3B Gordon Beckham, White Sox 3-22 .136 1-2 0
SS Yuniesky Betancourt, Royals 3-22 .136 1-4 0
Figgins has gone from Not to Hot and back to Not over the last three weeks..
The week’s hitless wonders were Indians C Kelly Shoppach 0-for-13, Braves 2B Kelly Johnson 0-for-12, Mets C Brian Schneider and Cardinals SS Julio Lugo 0-for-11.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Mariners 1B/3B Russell Branyan 2:13; Tigers OF Clete Thomas 2-10; Red Sox OF Jason Bay 3:11; Oadres SS Everth Cabrera 3:10; Rockies OF Brad Hawpe 5:10.
Caught stealing – Braves OF Matt Diaz and Giants 3B/1B/C Pablo Sandoval 0-for-2.
The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
LHP Oliver Perez, Mets 5.2 15.88 1-1 2.12 4:3
RHP Bud Norris, Astros 6.2 14.85 0-2 2.85 5:4
RHP Trevor Bell, Angels 7.0 11.57 1-1 3.00 4:6
RHP Derek Lowe, Braves 8.2 11.42 0-1 2.42 3:1
RHP Josh Beckett, Red Sox 13.1 10.13 0-1 1.43 9:1
RHP A.J. Burnett, Yankees 13.0 8.31 0-2 1.46 11:4
RHP Cesar Carrillo, Padres 8.0 7.88 1-1 2.15 3:10
LHP Manny Parra, Brewers 9.1 7.71 0-2 1.93 3:4
RHP David Hernandez, Orioles 9.1 7.71 0-2 1.82 5:7
RHP Jon Garland, D-backs 11.1 7.15 1-1 2.12 7:3
LHP Mark Buehrle, White Sox 11.1 7.15 0-1 1.94 4:2
Buehrle was on the Hot list a week earlier.
Losses – Burnett, Hernandez, Norris, Pena and D-backs RHP Max Scherzer 2.
Blown saves – Mariners RHP Mark Lowe 0-for-2.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
2B Luis Castillo, Mets 14-26 .538 0-4 2
3B/SS Michael Young, Rangers 15-30 .500 1-8 1
1B/3B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers 11-22 .500 1-5 1
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees 13-27 .481 1-4 1
OF Matt Diaz, Braves 11-23 .478 2-7 0
OF Aaron Rowand, Giants 13-28 .464 3-7 0
1B Adam LaRoche, Braves 12-26 .462 4-9 0
SS Hanley Ramirez, Marlins 11-24 .458 1-3 1
OF Jayson Werth, Phillies 11-25 .440 5-9 0
OF Pat Burrell, Rays 9-21 .429 2-3 0
This is Jeter’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average.
Home runs – Werth 5; LaRoche and Orioles 2B Brian Roberts 4; Rowand, Rangers OF Marlon Byrd, Twins OF Michael Cuddyer and C Joe Mauer, Athletics OF Jack Cust, Angels OF Vladimir Guerrero, Braves C Brian McCann, Red Sox DH David Ortiz, Rays 1B Carlos Pena and 2B/OF Ben Zobrist, White Sox OF Carlos Quentin, Tigers OF/2B Ryan Raburn and Phillies C Carlos Ruiz 3.
RBI – Ortiz 10; Byrd, LaRoche and Werth 9; Roberts, Young, Giants 1B Ryan Garko and Pirates OF Garrett Jones 8.
Stolen bases – Roberts, Angels SS Erick Aybar, Rangers OF Julio Borbon and Athletics OF Rajai Davis 3; byrd, Mauer, Raburn, Angels Of Bobby Abreu, Rays SS Jason Bartlett, Astros OF Michael Bourn, Brewers OF Ryan Braun, Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan, Mets OF Angel Pagan and Phillies 2B Chase Utley 2.
Runs – LaRoche, Ortiz and Roberts 8; Diaz, Guerrero, Jeter, Werth, Young and Braves SS Yunel Escobar 7.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
LHP Cliff Lee, Phillies 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.22 11:0
RHP Jered Weaver, Angels 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.89 3:1
LHP Wandy Rodriguez, Astros 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.75 7:2
RHP Roy Oswalt, Astros 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.43 2:0
RHP Rich Harden, Cubs 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.57 8:3
RHP Brett Tomko, Athletics 11.0 0.82 2-0 1.00 9:3
LHP Jon Lester, Red Sox 8.0 1.13 1-0 0.63 5:2
RHP Matt Cain, Giants 8.0 1.13 0-0 1.13 3:1
RHP Bronson Arroyo, Reds 8.0 1.13 0-1 1.25 5:1
RHP Joel Pineiro, Cardinals 7.2 1.17 1-0 0.78 7:2
LHP Paul Maholm, Pirates 7.2 1.17 1-0 1.30 5:2
Arroyo also was on the ERA Not list a week earlier.
Wins – Tomko, Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter, Braves RHP Tommy Hanson, Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia and Tigers LHP Bobby Seay 2.
Saves – Rockies RHP Huston Street and Astros RHP Jose Valverde 4-for-4; White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks 3-for-3; Dodgers RHP Jonathan Broxton, Pirates RHP Matt Capps, Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin, Phillies RHP Brad Lidge, Tigers RHP Fernando Rodney, Braves RHP Rafael Soriano and Giants RHP Brian Wilson. This is Franklin's second consecutive week on this list.
WHIP – Lee 0.22; Oswalt and Dodgers LHP Randy Wolf 0.43; Harden and White Sox RHP Jose Contreras 0.57.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Lee 11:0; Sabathia and Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez 15:1; Tigers RHP Justin Verlander 10:1; Rangers RHP Scott Feldman 15:3; Hanson and Jimenez 14;3; Indians RHP Fausto Carmona 12:3; Cubs RHO Ryan Dempster 15:4; carpenter 14:4.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
3B Chipper Jones, Braves 1-20 .050 0-1 1
OF Milton Bradley, Cubs 2-23 .087 1-1 0
3B/OF/C Brandon Inge, Tigers 2-23 .087 1-2 0
3B Melvin Mora, Orioles 2-22 .091 1-2 0
3B Chone Figgins, Angels 3-24 .125 0-1 0
SS/2B Anderson Hernandez, Mets 3-24 .125 0-2 0
OF Trent Oeltjen, D-backs 3-22 .136 0-0 0
OF Franklin Gutierrez, Mariners 3-22 .136 0-1 1
OF/1B Ross Gload, Marlins 3-22 .136 0-2 0
3B Gordon Beckham, White Sox 3-22 .136 1-2 0
SS Yuniesky Betancourt, Royals 3-22 .136 1-4 0
Figgins has gone from Not to Hot and back to Not over the last three weeks..
The week’s hitless wonders were Indians C Kelly Shoppach 0-for-13, Braves 2B Kelly Johnson 0-for-12, Mets C Brian Schneider and Cardinals SS Julio Lugo 0-for-11.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Mariners 1B/3B Russell Branyan 2:13; Tigers OF Clete Thomas 2-10; Red Sox OF Jason Bay 3:11; Oadres SS Everth Cabrera 3:10; Rockies OF Brad Hawpe 5:10.
Caught stealing – Braves OF Matt Diaz and Giants 3B/1B/C Pablo Sandoval 0-for-2.
The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
LHP Oliver Perez, Mets 5.2 15.88 1-1 2.12 4:3
RHP Bud Norris, Astros 6.2 14.85 0-2 2.85 5:4
RHP Trevor Bell, Angels 7.0 11.57 1-1 3.00 4:6
RHP Derek Lowe, Braves 8.2 11.42 0-1 2.42 3:1
RHP Josh Beckett, Red Sox 13.1 10.13 0-1 1.43 9:1
RHP A.J. Burnett, Yankees 13.0 8.31 0-2 1.46 11:4
RHP Cesar Carrillo, Padres 8.0 7.88 1-1 2.15 3:10
LHP Manny Parra, Brewers 9.1 7.71 0-2 1.93 3:4
RHP David Hernandez, Orioles 9.1 7.71 0-2 1.82 5:7
RHP Jon Garland, D-backs 11.1 7.15 1-1 2.12 7:3
LHP Mark Buehrle, White Sox 11.1 7.15 0-1 1.94 4:2
Buehrle was on the Hot list a week earlier.
Losses – Burnett, Hernandez, Norris, Pena and D-backs RHP Max Scherzer 2.
Blown saves – Mariners RHP Mark Lowe 0-for-2.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Pitching Chart, Aug. 24-30
AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
@Min @Min @Min/ Cle Cle Cle Cle
Tillman Matusz Guthrie/ Hernandez Berken Tillman2 Matusz2
Bos
CWS CWS CWS CWS/ Tor Tor Tor
Buchholz Lester Wakefield* Tazawa/ Beckett Buchholz2 Lester2
CWS
@Bos @Bos @Bos @Bos/ @NYY @NYY @NYY
Garcia** Contreras Floyd Danks/ Buehrle Peavy Contreras2
Cle
@KC @KC @KC/ @Bal @Bal @Bal @Bal
Sowers Masterson Huff/ Laffey Carmona Sowers2 Masterson2
Det
@LAA @LAA @LAA/ --- TB TB TB
Verlander Washburn Jackson/ --- Galarraga-3* Porcello Verlander2
KC
Cle Cle Cle/ @Se @Se @Se @Se
Meche Greinke Hochevar/ Davies Bannister Meche2 Greinke2
LAA
Det Det Det/ Oak Oak Oak Oak
Weaver Lackey Saunders -4*/ Santana Bell Weaver2 Lackey2
Min
Bal Bal Bal/ --- Tex Tex Tex
Baker Gabino-5* Blackburn/ --- Duensing-6* Pavano Baker2
NYY
--- Tex Tex Tex/ CWS CWS CWS
--- Chamberlain Pettitte Burnett/ Sabathia Gaudin-7* Chamberlain2
Oak
@Se @Se @Se/ @LAA @LAA @LAA @LAA
Mazzaro Anderson Gonzalez/ Cahill Tomko-8* Mazzaro2 Anderson2
Se
Oak Oak Oak/ KC KC KC KC
Snell Rowland-Smith French/ Fister Hernandez Snell2 Rowland-Smith2
TB
@Tor @Tor @Tor/ --- @Det @Det @Det
Niemann Shields Kazmir/ --- Garza Price Niemann2
Tex
--- @NYY @NYY @NYY/ @Min @Min @Min
--- Millwood Holland Nippert/ Hunter Feldman Millwood2
Tor
TB TB TB/ --- @Bos @Bos @Bos
Halladay Cecil Rzepczynski/ --- Richmond-9* Romero Halladay
*-RHP Tim Wakefield (back injury) will return from the disabled list to the Red Sox rotation – most likely replacing RHP Brad Penny, whose next start would be Wednesday. While the Yankees were hammering Penny Friday, Wakefield was allowing only one run and two hits in 5 2//3 innings in an injury-rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket. He indicated he has been ready to pitch for a while but his back bothered him while fielding.
**-RHP Freddy Garcia returned from Triple-A Charlotte to make his first major league start this season, and would have his next turn Monday. His place in the White Sox rotation could be short-lived, however, because RHP Jake Peavy is expected to be ready to pitch again in the majors Saturday. He gave up three earned runs in four innings Tuesday for Charlotte, and in his next start Sunday is likely to face another rehabbing major leaguer, RHP Tim Hudson of the Braves’ Triple-A team at Gwinnett.
3*-The Tigers are playing with 11 pitchers on their roster – which should be enough, but other major league teams have 12 or 13. As if a guy who’s not good enough to be the 11th pitcher on their staff could actually help. Anyway, Detroit might add a seventh reliever by going briefly with a four-man rotation. Thursday’s off day would make it possible for them to send RHP Armando Galarraga briefly to the minor leagues and bring him back Tuesday, Sept. 1, when the team next would need a fifth starter.
4*-Angels LHP Joe Saunders could return from the DL to start Wednesday. Otherwise, that would be RHP Sean O’Sullivan’s turn in the rotation. He or fellow rookie RHP Trevor Bell, an even more recent arrival in the majors, could lose a starting role. Saunders threw 55 pitches in a simulated game Friday.
5*-After the Rangers hammered RHP Anthony Swarzak, the Twins demoted him to Triple-A Rochester. Up from the Red Wings to make his major league debut Tuesday will be RHP Armando Gabino.
6*-Rookie LHP Brian Duensing is Minnesota’s scheduled starter Sunday. He would be on schedule to start again Friday, but the Twins might skip him and push veteran RHPs Carl Pavano and Scott Baker ahead of Duensing.
7*-With Monday’s off day, the Yankees can skip RHP Chad Gaudin, who last started Wednesday, to have him pitch Saturday – 10 days later.
8*-The Athletics signed RHP Brett Tomko after the Yanks released him from their bullpen, and added the veteran to their young rotation.
9*-The Blue Jays expect to keep two rookies, LHP Marc Rzepczynski and RHP Scott Richmond, in their rotation for now but shut them down in September to keep down their innings pitched. Rookie LHP Ricky Romero, who has spent time on the disabled list this season, would continue to start in September.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
--- @SF @SF @SF/ Ho Ho Ho
--- Haren Davis Petit/ Scherzer Garland Haren2
Atl
--- SD SD SD/ @Phi @Phi @Phi
--- Jurrjens Kawakami Vazquez/ Hanson Lowe Jurrjens2
ChC
--- Was Was Was/ NYM NYM NYM
--- Zambrano* Harden Wells/ Lilly Dempster Zambrano2
Cin
--- @Mil @Mil @Mil/ LAD LAD LAD
--- Arroyo Harang Owings/ Lehr Bailey Arroyo2
Col
SF/ LAD LAD LAD/ @SF @SF @SF
Marquis-2*/ Hammel Eaton-3* DeLaRosa/ Jimenez Marquis2 Hammel2
Fla
--- NYM NYM NYM/ SD SD SD
--- West Johnson Sanchez-4*/ Volstad Nolasco West2
Ho
--- @StL @StL @StL/ @Ari @Ari @Ari
--- Rodriguez-5* Oswalt Moehler/ Norris Bazardo Rodriguez2
LAD
--- @Col @Col @Col/ @Cin @Cin @Cin
--- Kershaw Weaver-6* Wolf/ Haeger Billingsley Kershaw2
Mil
@Was/ Cin Cin Cin/ Pit Pit Pit
Gallardo/ Suppan-7* Looper Burns/ Parra Gallardo2 Suppan2
NYM
Phi/ @Fla @Fla @Fla/ @ChC @ChC @ChC
Parnell/ Santana Pelfrey Redding/ Perez Parnell2 Santana2
Phi
@NYM/ @Pit @Pit @Pit/ Atl Atl Atl
Lee/ Blanton Hamels Happ/ Martinez-8* Lee2 Blanton2
Pit
--- Phi Phi Phi/ @Mil @Mil @Mil
--- Ohlendorf Maholm Morton/ Duke Hart Ohlendorf2
StL
--- Ho Ho Ho/ Was Was Was
--- Wainwright Pineiro Carpenter/ Boggs-9* Smoltz-10* Wainwright2
SD
--- @Atl @Atl @Atl/ @Fla @Fla @Fla
--- Latos Stauffer Richard/ Correia Carrillo Latos2
SF
@Col/ Ari Ari Ari/ Col Col Col
Zito/ Cain Sanchez Martinez/ Lincecum Zito2 Cain2
Was
Mil/ @ChC @ChC @ChC/ @StL @StL @StL
Balester/ Mock Martin Lannan/ Stammen Balester2 Mock2
*-Cubs RHP Carlos Zambrano is coming off the disabled list to start Monday, replacing LHP Tom Gorzelanny in the rotation.
**-An oddity in this week’s schedule, with a wraparound series ending Monday at Colorado, is that Rockies RHP Jason Marquis and Giants LHP Barry Zito are scheduled to pitch against each other twice. The games could have a major impact on the teams’ battle for the National League wild card, and I like Zito in the matchups Monday and Saturday.
3*-The Rockies expected to put RHP Aaron Cook, whose velocity was down Friday because of a sore shoulder, on the disabled list. Taking his place in their rotation could be RHPs Adam Eaton or Josh Fogg from the bullpen, or RHP Jhoulys Chacin from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Chacin, who began this season at Double-A Tulsa, pitched 5 1/3 innings Tuesday in a four-man combined no-hitter for Colorado Springs. A week earlier, he had started and lost for the Rockies against the Pirates.
4*-RHP Anibal Sanchez came off the 60-day disabled list to start for the Marlins Friday. His next scheduled turn would be Thursday.
5*-The off day Monday would give the Astros an opportunity to move LHP Wandy Rodriguez ahead of rookie RHP Yorman Bazardo, who started Wednesday’s game. He would have another chance as the fifth starter Saturday.
6*-Injuries have moved RHP Jeff Weaver from the Dodgers’ bullpen to a starting role. He started Thursday’s game, and would be in line to go again Wednesday.
7*-The Brewers would like RHP Jeff Suppan to return to their rotation Tuesday from an injury-rehab assignment. However, he struggled Thursday for Triple-A Nashville, allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings. If he’s ready, Suppan would replace RHP Carlos Villanueva as a starter.
8*-RHP Pedro Martinez is scheduled to pitch Sunday and again Friday. He pitched better Tuesday than he had in his first start as a Phillie. Pedro went just three innings Tuesday, but he left because of a rain delay and not because he was ineffective.
9*-RHP Kyle Lohse left Friday’s game after suffering a strained left groin muscle while leaving the batter’s box. He could go on the DL and miss his start Friday. RHP Mitchell Boggs would be the likely replacement for Lohse. RHP Blake Hawksworth also could be an ineffective substitute.
10*-RHP John Smoltz is scheduled to make his first start for the Cardinals Sunday, which would put him in line to start again Saturday. He was just 2-5 when the Red Sox released him.
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
@Min @Min @Min/ Cle Cle Cle Cle
Tillman Matusz Guthrie/ Hernandez Berken Tillman2 Matusz2
Bos
CWS CWS CWS CWS/ Tor Tor Tor
Buchholz Lester Wakefield* Tazawa/ Beckett Buchholz2 Lester2
CWS
@Bos @Bos @Bos @Bos/ @NYY @NYY @NYY
Garcia** Contreras Floyd Danks/ Buehrle Peavy Contreras2
Cle
@KC @KC @KC/ @Bal @Bal @Bal @Bal
Sowers Masterson Huff/ Laffey Carmona Sowers2 Masterson2
Det
@LAA @LAA @LAA/ --- TB TB TB
Verlander Washburn Jackson/ --- Galarraga-3* Porcello Verlander2
KC
Cle Cle Cle/ @Se @Se @Se @Se
Meche Greinke Hochevar/ Davies Bannister Meche2 Greinke2
LAA
Det Det Det/ Oak Oak Oak Oak
Weaver Lackey Saunders -4*/ Santana Bell Weaver2 Lackey2
Min
Bal Bal Bal/ --- Tex Tex Tex
Baker Gabino-5* Blackburn/ --- Duensing-6* Pavano Baker2
NYY
--- Tex Tex Tex/ CWS CWS CWS
--- Chamberlain Pettitte Burnett/ Sabathia Gaudin-7* Chamberlain2
Oak
@Se @Se @Se/ @LAA @LAA @LAA @LAA
Mazzaro Anderson Gonzalez/ Cahill Tomko-8* Mazzaro2 Anderson2
Se
Oak Oak Oak/ KC KC KC KC
Snell Rowland-Smith French/ Fister Hernandez Snell2 Rowland-Smith2
TB
@Tor @Tor @Tor/ --- @Det @Det @Det
Niemann Shields Kazmir/ --- Garza Price Niemann2
Tex
--- @NYY @NYY @NYY/ @Min @Min @Min
--- Millwood Holland Nippert/ Hunter Feldman Millwood2
Tor
TB TB TB/ --- @Bos @Bos @Bos
Halladay Cecil Rzepczynski/ --- Richmond-9* Romero Halladay
*-RHP Tim Wakefield (back injury) will return from the disabled list to the Red Sox rotation – most likely replacing RHP Brad Penny, whose next start would be Wednesday. While the Yankees were hammering Penny Friday, Wakefield was allowing only one run and two hits in 5 2//3 innings in an injury-rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket. He indicated he has been ready to pitch for a while but his back bothered him while fielding.
**-RHP Freddy Garcia returned from Triple-A Charlotte to make his first major league start this season, and would have his next turn Monday. His place in the White Sox rotation could be short-lived, however, because RHP Jake Peavy is expected to be ready to pitch again in the majors Saturday. He gave up three earned runs in four innings Tuesday for Charlotte, and in his next start Sunday is likely to face another rehabbing major leaguer, RHP Tim Hudson of the Braves’ Triple-A team at Gwinnett.
3*-The Tigers are playing with 11 pitchers on their roster – which should be enough, but other major league teams have 12 or 13. As if a guy who’s not good enough to be the 11th pitcher on their staff could actually help. Anyway, Detroit might add a seventh reliever by going briefly with a four-man rotation. Thursday’s off day would make it possible for them to send RHP Armando Galarraga briefly to the minor leagues and bring him back Tuesday, Sept. 1, when the team next would need a fifth starter.
4*-Angels LHP Joe Saunders could return from the DL to start Wednesday. Otherwise, that would be RHP Sean O’Sullivan’s turn in the rotation. He or fellow rookie RHP Trevor Bell, an even more recent arrival in the majors, could lose a starting role. Saunders threw 55 pitches in a simulated game Friday.
5*-After the Rangers hammered RHP Anthony Swarzak, the Twins demoted him to Triple-A Rochester. Up from the Red Wings to make his major league debut Tuesday will be RHP Armando Gabino.
6*-Rookie LHP Brian Duensing is Minnesota’s scheduled starter Sunday. He would be on schedule to start again Friday, but the Twins might skip him and push veteran RHPs Carl Pavano and Scott Baker ahead of Duensing.
7*-With Monday’s off day, the Yankees can skip RHP Chad Gaudin, who last started Wednesday, to have him pitch Saturday – 10 days later.
8*-The Athletics signed RHP Brett Tomko after the Yanks released him from their bullpen, and added the veteran to their young rotation.
9*-The Blue Jays expect to keep two rookies, LHP Marc Rzepczynski and RHP Scott Richmond, in their rotation for now but shut them down in September to keep down their innings pitched. Rookie LHP Ricky Romero, who has spent time on the disabled list this season, would continue to start in September.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
--- @SF @SF @SF/ Ho Ho Ho
--- Haren Davis Petit/ Scherzer Garland Haren2
Atl
--- SD SD SD/ @Phi @Phi @Phi
--- Jurrjens Kawakami Vazquez/ Hanson Lowe Jurrjens2
ChC
--- Was Was Was/ NYM NYM NYM
--- Zambrano* Harden Wells/ Lilly Dempster Zambrano2
Cin
--- @Mil @Mil @Mil/ LAD LAD LAD
--- Arroyo Harang Owings/ Lehr Bailey Arroyo2
Col
SF/ LAD LAD LAD/ @SF @SF @SF
Marquis-2*/ Hammel Eaton-3* DeLaRosa/ Jimenez Marquis2 Hammel2
Fla
--- NYM NYM NYM/ SD SD SD
--- West Johnson Sanchez-4*/ Volstad Nolasco West2
Ho
--- @StL @StL @StL/ @Ari @Ari @Ari
--- Rodriguez-5* Oswalt Moehler/ Norris Bazardo Rodriguez2
LAD
--- @Col @Col @Col/ @Cin @Cin @Cin
--- Kershaw Weaver-6* Wolf/ Haeger Billingsley Kershaw2
Mil
@Was/ Cin Cin Cin/ Pit Pit Pit
Gallardo/ Suppan-7* Looper Burns/ Parra Gallardo2 Suppan2
NYM
Phi/ @Fla @Fla @Fla/ @ChC @ChC @ChC
Parnell/ Santana Pelfrey Redding/ Perez Parnell2 Santana2
Phi
@NYM/ @Pit @Pit @Pit/ Atl Atl Atl
Lee/ Blanton Hamels Happ/ Martinez-8* Lee2 Blanton2
Pit
--- Phi Phi Phi/ @Mil @Mil @Mil
--- Ohlendorf Maholm Morton/ Duke Hart Ohlendorf2
StL
--- Ho Ho Ho/ Was Was Was
--- Wainwright Pineiro Carpenter/ Boggs-9* Smoltz-10* Wainwright2
SD
--- @Atl @Atl @Atl/ @Fla @Fla @Fla
--- Latos Stauffer Richard/ Correia Carrillo Latos2
SF
@Col/ Ari Ari Ari/ Col Col Col
Zito/ Cain Sanchez Martinez/ Lincecum Zito2 Cain2
Was
Mil/ @ChC @ChC @ChC/ @StL @StL @StL
Balester/ Mock Martin Lannan/ Stammen Balester2 Mock2
*-Cubs RHP Carlos Zambrano is coming off the disabled list to start Monday, replacing LHP Tom Gorzelanny in the rotation.
**-An oddity in this week’s schedule, with a wraparound series ending Monday at Colorado, is that Rockies RHP Jason Marquis and Giants LHP Barry Zito are scheduled to pitch against each other twice. The games could have a major impact on the teams’ battle for the National League wild card, and I like Zito in the matchups Monday and Saturday.
3*-The Rockies expected to put RHP Aaron Cook, whose velocity was down Friday because of a sore shoulder, on the disabled list. Taking his place in their rotation could be RHPs Adam Eaton or Josh Fogg from the bullpen, or RHP Jhoulys Chacin from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Chacin, who began this season at Double-A Tulsa, pitched 5 1/3 innings Tuesday in a four-man combined no-hitter for Colorado Springs. A week earlier, he had started and lost for the Rockies against the Pirates.
4*-RHP Anibal Sanchez came off the 60-day disabled list to start for the Marlins Friday. His next scheduled turn would be Thursday.
5*-The off day Monday would give the Astros an opportunity to move LHP Wandy Rodriguez ahead of rookie RHP Yorman Bazardo, who started Wednesday’s game. He would have another chance as the fifth starter Saturday.
6*-Injuries have moved RHP Jeff Weaver from the Dodgers’ bullpen to a starting role. He started Thursday’s game, and would be in line to go again Wednesday.
7*-The Brewers would like RHP Jeff Suppan to return to their rotation Tuesday from an injury-rehab assignment. However, he struggled Thursday for Triple-A Nashville, allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings. If he’s ready, Suppan would replace RHP Carlos Villanueva as a starter.
8*-RHP Pedro Martinez is scheduled to pitch Sunday and again Friday. He pitched better Tuesday than he had in his first start as a Phillie. Pedro went just three innings Tuesday, but he left because of a rain delay and not because he was ineffective.
9*-RHP Kyle Lohse left Friday’s game after suffering a strained left groin muscle while leaving the batter’s box. He could go on the DL and miss his start Friday. RHP Mitchell Boggs would be the likely replacement for Lohse. RHP Blake Hawksworth also could be an ineffective substitute.
10*-RHP John Smoltz is scheduled to make his first start for the Cardinals Sunday, which would put him in line to start again Saturday. He was just 2-5 when the Red Sox released him.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Pudge returning to Rangers
The Astros have traded catcher Ivan Rodriguez to Texas, the team that brought him to the major leagues. The Rangers said he would serve as Taylor Teagarden's backup while Jarrod Saltalamacchia is on the disabled list. Until Pudge is activated, Kevin Richardson, who made his major league debut Monday, would back up Teagarden.
Initial reports varied on what Houston would receive in return -- either two "mid-tier" minor leaguers or a minor leaguer and a player to be named.
This would have been an excellent deal for Texas two years ago, but then the Rangers would have had to give up more in the trade. Pudge is playing out the string -- in fact, he was last year with the Yankees. At the very least, he adds a touch of class, experience, reason, professionalism to what has become a young team. No doubt he will be well received when he first takes the field back in Arlington Wednesday or Thursday.
Initial reports varied on what Houston would receive in return -- either two "mid-tier" minor leaguers or a minor leaguer and a player to be named.
This would have been an excellent deal for Texas two years ago, but then the Rangers would have had to give up more in the trade. Pudge is playing out the string -- in fact, he was last year with the Yankees. At the very least, he adds a touch of class, experience, reason, professionalism to what has become a young team. No doubt he will be well received when he first takes the field back in Arlington Wednesday or Thursday.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Hot and Not: Mauer, Beckett still sizzling
The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
1B Adrian Gonzalez, Padres 19-30 .633 3-8 0
2B Mark Ellis, Athletics 12-21 .571 1-11 0
C Joe Mauer, Twins 13-24 .542 2-7 1
OF Josh Hamilton, Rangers 13-24 .542 0-7 0
2B/1B Jeff Baker, Cubs 12-23 .522 1-6 0
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, Padres 13-25 .520 1-8 0
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees 14-27 .519 3-6 1
3B Chone Figgins, Angels 13-27 .481 0-7 4
1B Kendry Morales, Angels 11-23 .478 2-4 0
2B Felipe Lopez, Brewers 12-26 .462 1-6 0
This is Mauer’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average. Figgins was 0-for-15 a week earlier.
Home runs – Red Sox OF Jason Bay, Reds OF Jonny Gomes, Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez, Phillies 1B Ryan Howard and Astros OF Hunter Pence 4.
RBI – Ellis and Howard 11; Pence and Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki 10; Gomes 9.
Stolen bases – Astros OF Michael Bourn 5; Figgins, Rangers OF Julio Borbon and Athletics OF Rajai Davis 4; Rangers SS Elvis Andrus and Orioles 2B Brian Roberts 3.
Runs – Gonzalez 10; Morales and Tulowitzki 9; Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez 8; Jeter, Marlins 1B/3B Jorge Cantu, Mets 2B Luis Castillo and Phillies OF Shane Victorino 7.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Scott Baker, Twins 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.22 5:0
RHP Bronson Arroyo, Reds 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.33 3:1
RHP Ervin Santana, Angels 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.56 6:2
RHP Justin Verlander, Tigers 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.63 8:1
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.88 6:4
LHP Jarrod Washburn, Tigers 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.63 4:2
LHP Mark Buehrle, White Sox 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.88 3:1
RHP Tommy Hunter, Rangers 7.2 0.00 1-0 0.78 5:0
RHP Adam Wainwright, Cardinals 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.14 3:0
RHP Zack Greinke, Royals 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.00 7:4
RHP Felix Hernandez, Mariners 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.43 10:4
Greinke was on the ERA Not list a week earlier.
Wins – Angels RHP Jason Bulger, Rockies LHP Jorge DeLaRosa, Indians LHP Aaron Laffey, Giants RHP Brian Wilson and Dodgers LHP Randy Wolf 2. DeLaRosa was one of our pitchers to seek when he hadn't won a game this season. Now he's among the major league leaders in wins.
Saves – Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin and Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera 3-for-3; Blue Jays RHP Jason Frasor, White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks, Nationals RHP Mike MacDougal and Mets RHP Francisco Rodriguez 2. franklin, Rivera and MacDougal were on this list the previous week.
WHIP – Baker 0.22; Arroyo 0.33; Mariners RHP Josh Johnson 0.55; Santana 0.56; Wolf, Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett, Cubs RHP Rich Harden and Twins LHP Francisco Liriano 0.57.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter 10:0; Wolf 13:1; Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte 10:1; White Sox LHP John Danks 11:2; Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia 10:2; Johnson 11:3; DeLaRosa 20:7; Hernandez 10:4.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
3B/1B Adam Rosales, Reds 2-22 .091 0-0 0
C Russell Martin, Dodgers 2-22 .091 0-0 0
3B Casey Blake, Dodgers 2-21 .095 0-0 0
OF Alfonso Soriano, Cubs 3-25 .120 0-2 0
OF Melky Cabrera, Yankees 3-23 .130 0-3 1
OF Raul Ibanez, Phillies 3-22 .136 1-3 0
2B Brandon Phillips, Reds 3-21 .143 0-4 0
SS Cristian Guzman, National 3-20 .150 0-0 1
3B Mark Reynolds, D-backs 3-20 1-1 1
3B Alex Gordon, Royals 3-20 1-3 0
Guzman was on the Hot list a week earlier.
The week’s hitless wonders were White Sox 1B Paul Konerko 0-for-15; Giants OF
Aaron Rowand and Mariners DH Mike Sweeney 0-for-13; Indians OF/1B Chris Gimenez and Nationals C Josh Bard 0-for-11.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Yankees C Jorge Posada 0:10; D-backs OF Gerardo Parra 1:11; Rockies OF Brad Hawpe 2:10; Reynolds 3:10; Mariners 1B/3B Russell Branyan 4:10; Blake 5:11.
Caught stealing – Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan 2-for-4.
The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Nick Blackburn, Twins 4.0 22.50 0-2 3.50 2:2
RHP Johnny Cueto, Reds 4.2 15.43 0-1 2.14 3:1
RHP Sean O'Sullivan, Angels 8.2 12.46 0-0 1.96 6:4
RHP Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles 10.1 10.45 0-1 2.32 4:3
LHP Tom Gorzelanny, Cubs 6.1 9.95 1-1 1.89 9:3
RHP Roy Oswalt, Astros 11.0 9.00 0-0 1.91 8:4
LHP John Lannan, Nationals 10.1 7.84 0-1 1.94 3:7
RHP Braden Looper, Brewers 11.0 7.36 0-1 1.64 4:3
RHP Rick Vanden Hurk, Marlins 10.2 6.75 1-1 1.55 13:6
RHP Joba Chamberlain, Yankees 11.0 6.55 0-1 1.55 7:5
Losses – Blackburn, Tigers RHP Zach Miner and Astros RHP Brian Moehler 2.
Blown saves – Phillies RHP Brad Lidge 2-for-4.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
1B Adrian Gonzalez, Padres 19-30 .633 3-8 0
2B Mark Ellis, Athletics 12-21 .571 1-11 0
C Joe Mauer, Twins 13-24 .542 2-7 1
OF Josh Hamilton, Rangers 13-24 .542 0-7 0
2B/1B Jeff Baker, Cubs 12-23 .522 1-6 0
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, Padres 13-25 .520 1-8 0
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees 14-27 .519 3-6 1
3B Chone Figgins, Angels 13-27 .481 0-7 4
1B Kendry Morales, Angels 11-23 .478 2-4 0
2B Felipe Lopez, Brewers 12-26 .462 1-6 0
This is Mauer’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average. Figgins was 0-for-15 a week earlier.
Home runs – Red Sox OF Jason Bay, Reds OF Jonny Gomes, Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez, Phillies 1B Ryan Howard and Astros OF Hunter Pence 4.
RBI – Ellis and Howard 11; Pence and Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki 10; Gomes 9.
Stolen bases – Astros OF Michael Bourn 5; Figgins, Rangers OF Julio Borbon and Athletics OF Rajai Davis 4; Rangers SS Elvis Andrus and Orioles 2B Brian Roberts 3.
Runs – Gonzalez 10; Morales and Tulowitzki 9; Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez 8; Jeter, Marlins 1B/3B Jorge Cantu, Mets 2B Luis Castillo and Phillies OF Shane Victorino 7.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Scott Baker, Twins 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.22 5:0
RHP Bronson Arroyo, Reds 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.33 3:1
RHP Ervin Santana, Angels 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.56 6:2
RHP Justin Verlander, Tigers 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.63 8:1
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.88 6:4
LHP Jarrod Washburn, Tigers 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.63 4:2
LHP Mark Buehrle, White Sox 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.88 3:1
RHP Tommy Hunter, Rangers 7.2 0.00 1-0 0.78 5:0
RHP Adam Wainwright, Cardinals 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.14 3:0
RHP Zack Greinke, Royals 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.00 7:4
RHP Felix Hernandez, Mariners 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.43 10:4
Greinke was on the ERA Not list a week earlier.
Wins – Angels RHP Jason Bulger, Rockies LHP Jorge DeLaRosa, Indians LHP Aaron Laffey, Giants RHP Brian Wilson and Dodgers LHP Randy Wolf 2. DeLaRosa was one of our pitchers to seek when he hadn't won a game this season. Now he's among the major league leaders in wins.
Saves – Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin and Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera 3-for-3; Blue Jays RHP Jason Frasor, White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks, Nationals RHP Mike MacDougal and Mets RHP Francisco Rodriguez 2. franklin, Rivera and MacDougal were on this list the previous week.
WHIP – Baker 0.22; Arroyo 0.33; Mariners RHP Josh Johnson 0.55; Santana 0.56; Wolf, Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett, Cubs RHP Rich Harden and Twins LHP Francisco Liriano 0.57.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter 10:0; Wolf 13:1; Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte 10:1; White Sox LHP John Danks 11:2; Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia 10:2; Johnson 11:3; DeLaRosa 20:7; Hernandez 10:4.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
3B/1B Adam Rosales, Reds 2-22 .091 0-0 0
C Russell Martin, Dodgers 2-22 .091 0-0 0
3B Casey Blake, Dodgers 2-21 .095 0-0 0
OF Alfonso Soriano, Cubs 3-25 .120 0-2 0
OF Melky Cabrera, Yankees 3-23 .130 0-3 1
OF Raul Ibanez, Phillies 3-22 .136 1-3 0
2B Brandon Phillips, Reds 3-21 .143 0-4 0
SS Cristian Guzman, National 3-20 .150 0-0 1
3B Mark Reynolds, D-backs 3-20 1-1 1
3B Alex Gordon, Royals 3-20 1-3 0
Guzman was on the Hot list a week earlier.
The week’s hitless wonders were White Sox 1B Paul Konerko 0-for-15; Giants OF
Aaron Rowand and Mariners DH Mike Sweeney 0-for-13; Indians OF/1B Chris Gimenez and Nationals C Josh Bard 0-for-11.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Yankees C Jorge Posada 0:10; D-backs OF Gerardo Parra 1:11; Rockies OF Brad Hawpe 2:10; Reynolds 3:10; Mariners 1B/3B Russell Branyan 4:10; Blake 5:11.
Caught stealing – Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan 2-for-4.
The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Nick Blackburn, Twins 4.0 22.50 0-2 3.50 2:2
RHP Johnny Cueto, Reds 4.2 15.43 0-1 2.14 3:1
RHP Sean O'Sullivan, Angels 8.2 12.46 0-0 1.96 6:4
RHP Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles 10.1 10.45 0-1 2.32 4:3
LHP Tom Gorzelanny, Cubs 6.1 9.95 1-1 1.89 9:3
RHP Roy Oswalt, Astros 11.0 9.00 0-0 1.91 8:4
LHP John Lannan, Nationals 10.1 7.84 0-1 1.94 3:7
RHP Braden Looper, Brewers 11.0 7.36 0-1 1.64 4:3
RHP Rick Vanden Hurk, Marlins 10.2 6.75 1-1 1.55 13:6
RHP Joba Chamberlain, Yankees 11.0 6.55 0-1 1.55 7:5
Losses – Blackburn, Tigers RHP Zach Miner and Astros RHP Brian Moehler 2.
Blown saves – Phillies RHP Brad Lidge 2-for-4.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Schedule Notes: Pitchers have the edge
This week's greatest advantage in games played would go to the four American League teams that are scheduled for seven games while the other 10 teams would play just 10. However, of those four teams with an extra game, only the Rengers have a majority (four) of their games at home. The Orioles would be the host for only one game, and the Angels and Twins would be on the road all week.
In the National League, half of the teams -- Diamondbacks, Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Cardinals, Padres and Giants -- would play a seventh game; the other eight teams are scheduled for six.
Overall, it should be a good week for pitchers. The only teams scheduled to play seven games at home are the Dodgers (against the Cardinals for three games, Cubs four), Mets (Giants one, Braves and Phillies three each) and Padres (Cubs three, Cardinals four). San Diego is one of the majors' most extreme pitchers' parks, and Dodger Stadium and Citi Field favor pitchers but to a lesser degree. There would be six games at Houston (Marlins and Diamondbacks) and Pittsburgh (Brewers and Reds) which also tend to be pitchers' parks. Note that it should be a bad week for Cubs batters in hostile pitchers' parks. Even in the American League, scheduled to play all six at games are the Athletics (Yankees and Tigers), Rays (Orioles and Rangers) and Blue Jays (Red Sox and Angels). Oakland has an extreme pitchers' park; Tampa Bay and Toronto are slightly less pitcher-friendly.
The best hitters' parks that would be in play for all six games would belong to the White Sox (Royals and Orioles in this week's most extreme hitting conditions), Indians (Angels and Mariners) and Nationals (Rockies and Brewers).
The best hitters' parks in use for all six games would be at Baltimore (Athletics and Angels) and Arizona (Mets and Dodgers).
Pitchers scheduled to start at home twice this week are RHPs Fausto Carmona, Vin Mazzaro, Tommy Hanson, Bud Norris, Charlie Haeger, Chad Billingsley, Livan Hernandez, Kevin Hart, Kevin Correia, Cesar Carrillo and Craig Stammen, and LHPs Mark Buehrle, David Price, Ricky Romero and Oliver Perez. My highest recommendations are Hanseon Romero, with other young live longsots in Hart, Carrillo and Price.
In the National League, half of the teams -- Diamondbacks, Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Cardinals, Padres and Giants -- would play a seventh game; the other eight teams are scheduled for six.
Overall, it should be a good week for pitchers. The only teams scheduled to play seven games at home are the Dodgers (against the Cardinals for three games, Cubs four), Mets (Giants one, Braves and Phillies three each) and Padres (Cubs three, Cardinals four). San Diego is one of the majors' most extreme pitchers' parks, and Dodger Stadium and Citi Field favor pitchers but to a lesser degree. There would be six games at Houston (Marlins and Diamondbacks) and Pittsburgh (Brewers and Reds) which also tend to be pitchers' parks. Note that it should be a bad week for Cubs batters in hostile pitchers' parks. Even in the American League, scheduled to play all six at games are the Athletics (Yankees and Tigers), Rays (Orioles and Rangers) and Blue Jays (Red Sox and Angels). Oakland has an extreme pitchers' park; Tampa Bay and Toronto are slightly less pitcher-friendly.
The best hitters' parks that would be in play for all six games would belong to the White Sox (Royals and Orioles in this week's most extreme hitting conditions), Indians (Angels and Mariners) and Nationals (Rockies and Brewers).
The best hitters' parks in use for all six games would be at Baltimore (Athletics and Angels) and Arizona (Mets and Dodgers).
Pitchers scheduled to start at home twice this week are RHPs Fausto Carmona, Vin Mazzaro, Tommy Hanson, Bud Norris, Charlie Haeger, Chad Billingsley, Livan Hernandez, Kevin Hart, Kevin Correia, Cesar Carrillo and Craig Stammen, and LHPs Mark Buehrle, David Price, Ricky Romero and Oliver Perez. My highest recommendations are Hanseon Romero, with other young live longsots in Hart, Carrillo and Price.
Pitching Chart, Aug. 17-23
AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
LAA/ @TB @TB @TB/ @CWS @CWS @CWS
Hernandez/ Berken Tillman Matusz/ Guthrie Hernandez2 Berken2
Bos
--- @Tor @Tor @Tor/ NYY NYY NYY
--- Beckett Buchholz Lester/ Penny Tazawa Beckett2
CWS
KC KC KC/ --- Bal Bal Bal
Buehrle Garcia* Contreras/ --- Floyd Danks Buehrle2
Cle
--- LAA LAA LAA/ Se Se Se
--- Carmona Sowers Masterson/ Huff Laffey Carmona2
Det
--- Se Se Se/ @Oak @Oak @Oak
--- Porcello Verlander Washburn/ Jackson Galarraga Porcello2
KC
@CWS @CWS @CWS/ --- Min Min Min
Bannister Meche Greinke/ --- Hochevar Davies Bannister2
LAA
@Bal/ @Cle @Cle @Cle/ @Tor @Tor @Tor
Santana/ Bell** Weaver Lackey/ O’Sullivan Santana2 Bell2
Min
@Tex @Tex @Tex @Tex/ @KC @KC @KC
Liriano Pavano Baker Swarzak/ Blackburn Liriano2 Pavano2
NYY
@Oak @Oak @Oak/ --- @Bos @Bos @Bos
Burnett Sabathia Gaudin-3*/ --- Pettitte Burnett2 Sabathia2
Oak
NYY NYY NYY/ --- Det Det Det
Mazzaro Duchscherer-4* Anderson/ --- Gonzalez Cahill Mazzaro2
Se
--- @Det @Det @Det/ @Cle @Cle @Cle
--- Hernandez Snell Rowland-Smith/ French Fister Hernandez2
TB
--- Bal Bal Bal/ Tex Tex Tex
--- Price Niemann Shields/ Kazmir Garza Price2
Tex
Min Min Min Min/ @TB @TB @TB
Hunter Feldman Millwood Holland/ Nippert Hunter2 Feldman2
Tor
--- Bos Bos Bos/ LAA LAA LAA
--- Romero Halladay Tallet/ Rzepczynski-5 Richmond Romero2
*-The White Sox are bringing up RHP Freddy Garcia from Triple-A Charlotte to start Tuesday and possibly to replace RHP Jose Contreras in their rotation after RHP Jake Peavy comes off the disabled list. Garcia has lost all three International League starts this year, but gave up just two runs on eight hits in six innings for the Knights Tuesday. Other possibilities for Chicago’s rotation could be RHP Carlos Torres from Charlotte or 22-year-old RHP Daniel Hudson, who has just reached Charlotte and is 13-5 at four levels of the minors this season.
**-Twenty-two-year-old RHP Trevor Bell, who had no decision his first major league start Wednesday against the Rays, is scheduled to make his next start in the Angels’ rotation. He was 7-7 between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake.
3*-The Yankees have been trying to push RHP Joba Chamberlain back in their rotation, but that won’t happen for another week. They moved him up to start today to help an overworked bullpen. That sent RHP Chad Gaudin’s next start until Wednesday. He could push RHP Sergio Mitre, who won Saturday’s game, out of the rotation.
4*-RHP Justin Duchscherer is expected to make his first start for the Athletics Tuesday after recovering from elbow surgery in March. He pitched five innings Tuesday in the Rookie Arizona League. Oakland could be showcasing Duchscherer for a trade. LHP Dallas Braden (infected left foot) also could return soon to the A’s rotation.
5*-The Blue Jays could move LHP Marc Rzepczynski ahead of RHP Scott Richmond in their rotation to break up a string of lefthanded starters.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
@Atl/ @Phi @Phi @Phi/ @Ho @Ho @Ho
Scherzer/ Garland Haren Davis/ Petit Scherzer2 Garland2
Atl
Ari/ @NYM @NYM @NYM/ Fla Fla Fla
Hanson/ Lowe Jurrjens Kawakami/ Vazquez Hanson2 Lowe2
ChC
@SD @SD @SD/ @LAD @LAD @LAD @LAD
Lilly* Dempster Wells/ Gorzellany Harden Lilly2 Dempster
Cin
--- SF SF SF/ @Pit @Pit @Pit
--- Bailey Arroyo Harang/ Cueto Lehr Bailey2
Col
--- @Was @Was @Was/ SF SF SF
--- Jimenez Marquis Hammel/ Cook DeLaRosa Jimenez2
Fla
--- @Ho @Ho @Ho/ @Atl @Atl @Atl
--- Nolasco West Johnson/ VandenHurk Volstad Nolasco2
Ho
--- Fla Fla Fla/ Ari Ari Ari
--- Norris Hampton Rodriguez/ Moehler Oswalt** Norris2
LAD
StL StL StL/ ChC ChC ChC ChC
Haeger-3* Billingsley-4* Kershaw/ Kuroda-5* Wolf Haeger2 Billingsley2
Mil
@Pit @Pit @Pit/ --- @Was @Was @Was
Villanueva Parra Gallardo/ --- Burns-6* Looper Villanueva
NYM
SF/ Atl Atl Atl/ Phi Phi Phi
Hernandez/ Perez Parnell Santana/ Pelfrey Hernandez2 Perez2
Phi
--- Ari Ari Ari/ @NYM @NYM @NYM
--- Martinez-7* Lee Blanton/ Hamels Happ Martinez2
Pit
Mil Mil Mil/ --- Cin Cin Cin
Hart Maholm Morton/ --- Duke Ohlendorf Hart2
StL
@LAD @LAD @LAD/ @SD @SD @SD @SD
Carpenter Boggs-8* Wainwright/ Pineiro Lohse Carpenter2 Boggs2
SD
ChC ChC ChC/ StL StL StL StL
Correia Carrillo-9* Latos/ Stauffer Richard Correia2 Carrillo2
SF
@NYM/ @Cin @Cin @Cin/ @Col @Col @Col
Martinez/ Lincecum Zito Cain/ Sanchez Martinez2 Lincecum2
Was
--- Col Col Col/ Mil Mil Mil
--- Stammen Balester Mock/ Martin Lannan Stammen2
*-LHP Ted Lilly (inflamed shoulder) seems ready to come off the disabled list to start for the Cubs Monday. He pitched five scoreless innings Wednesday for low Class A Peoria.
**-Astros RHP Roy Oswalt (lower back injury) returned to the rotation Tuesday and gave up six runs. He’s scheduled to pitch today, and again Saturday.
3*-The Dodgers plan to start knuckleballing RHP Charlie Haeger, just up from Triple-A Albuquerque, Monday against the Cardinals.
4*-RHP Chad Billingsley is expected back from the strained left hamstring that kept him from making Wednesday’s scheduled start.
5*-Another blow to LA’s rotation could be Saturday night’s line drive that hit RHP Hiroki Kuroda on the side of his head and bounced into the stands for a double. Kuroda spent the night in a hospital. If Kuroda couldn’t start Thursday, the Dodgers could again move RHP Jeff Weaver out of the bullpen or call up LHPs Eric Stults or Scott Elbert from Albuquerque. LA also has been looking at free-agent RHPs John Smoltz and Vicente Padilla.
6*-RHP Mike Burns won Saturday’s game for the Brewers, but if RHP Braden Looper pitches well today he could move ahead of Burns in the rotation and still pitch on four days’ rest.
7*-RHP Pedro Martinez has replaced LHP Jamie Moyer in the Phillies’ rotation. Pedro won his first start Wednesday despite giving up three runs in five innings because Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija, as I predicted last week, was even worse.
8*-With RHP Todd Wellemeyer (inflamed elbow) on the disabled list, the Cardinals recalled RHP Mitchell Boggs from Triple-A Memphis to move into their rotation. Boggs has been ineffective in earlier major league stints.
9*-RHP Cesar Carrillo, who pitched most of this season at Double-A San Antonio, has moved into the Padres’ rotation. That has created a confusing, sound-alike order of Correia and Carrillo.
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
LAA/ @TB @TB @TB/ @CWS @CWS @CWS
Hernandez/ Berken Tillman Matusz/ Guthrie Hernandez2 Berken2
Bos
--- @Tor @Tor @Tor/ NYY NYY NYY
--- Beckett Buchholz Lester/ Penny Tazawa Beckett2
CWS
KC KC KC/ --- Bal Bal Bal
Buehrle Garcia* Contreras/ --- Floyd Danks Buehrle2
Cle
--- LAA LAA LAA/ Se Se Se
--- Carmona Sowers Masterson/ Huff Laffey Carmona2
Det
--- Se Se Se/ @Oak @Oak @Oak
--- Porcello Verlander Washburn/ Jackson Galarraga Porcello2
KC
@CWS @CWS @CWS/ --- Min Min Min
Bannister Meche Greinke/ --- Hochevar Davies Bannister2
LAA
@Bal/ @Cle @Cle @Cle/ @Tor @Tor @Tor
Santana/ Bell** Weaver Lackey/ O’Sullivan Santana2 Bell2
Min
@Tex @Tex @Tex @Tex/ @KC @KC @KC
Liriano Pavano Baker Swarzak/ Blackburn Liriano2 Pavano2
NYY
@Oak @Oak @Oak/ --- @Bos @Bos @Bos
Burnett Sabathia Gaudin-3*/ --- Pettitte Burnett2 Sabathia2
Oak
NYY NYY NYY/ --- Det Det Det
Mazzaro Duchscherer-4* Anderson/ --- Gonzalez Cahill Mazzaro2
Se
--- @Det @Det @Det/ @Cle @Cle @Cle
--- Hernandez Snell Rowland-Smith/ French Fister Hernandez2
TB
--- Bal Bal Bal/ Tex Tex Tex
--- Price Niemann Shields/ Kazmir Garza Price2
Tex
Min Min Min Min/ @TB @TB @TB
Hunter Feldman Millwood Holland/ Nippert Hunter2 Feldman2
Tor
--- Bos Bos Bos/ LAA LAA LAA
--- Romero Halladay Tallet/ Rzepczynski-5 Richmond Romero2
*-The White Sox are bringing up RHP Freddy Garcia from Triple-A Charlotte to start Tuesday and possibly to replace RHP Jose Contreras in their rotation after RHP Jake Peavy comes off the disabled list. Garcia has lost all three International League starts this year, but gave up just two runs on eight hits in six innings for the Knights Tuesday. Other possibilities for Chicago’s rotation could be RHP Carlos Torres from Charlotte or 22-year-old RHP Daniel Hudson, who has just reached Charlotte and is 13-5 at four levels of the minors this season.
**-Twenty-two-year-old RHP Trevor Bell, who had no decision his first major league start Wednesday against the Rays, is scheduled to make his next start in the Angels’ rotation. He was 7-7 between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake.
3*-The Yankees have been trying to push RHP Joba Chamberlain back in their rotation, but that won’t happen for another week. They moved him up to start today to help an overworked bullpen. That sent RHP Chad Gaudin’s next start until Wednesday. He could push RHP Sergio Mitre, who won Saturday’s game, out of the rotation.
4*-RHP Justin Duchscherer is expected to make his first start for the Athletics Tuesday after recovering from elbow surgery in March. He pitched five innings Tuesday in the Rookie Arizona League. Oakland could be showcasing Duchscherer for a trade. LHP Dallas Braden (infected left foot) also could return soon to the A’s rotation.
5*-The Blue Jays could move LHP Marc Rzepczynski ahead of RHP Scott Richmond in their rotation to break up a string of lefthanded starters.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
@Atl/ @Phi @Phi @Phi/ @Ho @Ho @Ho
Scherzer/ Garland Haren Davis/ Petit Scherzer2 Garland2
Atl
Ari/ @NYM @NYM @NYM/ Fla Fla Fla
Hanson/ Lowe Jurrjens Kawakami/ Vazquez Hanson2 Lowe2
ChC
@SD @SD @SD/ @LAD @LAD @LAD @LAD
Lilly* Dempster Wells/ Gorzellany Harden Lilly2 Dempster
Cin
--- SF SF SF/ @Pit @Pit @Pit
--- Bailey Arroyo Harang/ Cueto Lehr Bailey2
Col
--- @Was @Was @Was/ SF SF SF
--- Jimenez Marquis Hammel/ Cook DeLaRosa Jimenez2
Fla
--- @Ho @Ho @Ho/ @Atl @Atl @Atl
--- Nolasco West Johnson/ VandenHurk Volstad Nolasco2
Ho
--- Fla Fla Fla/ Ari Ari Ari
--- Norris Hampton Rodriguez/ Moehler Oswalt** Norris2
LAD
StL StL StL/ ChC ChC ChC ChC
Haeger-3* Billingsley-4* Kershaw/ Kuroda-5* Wolf Haeger2 Billingsley2
Mil
@Pit @Pit @Pit/ --- @Was @Was @Was
Villanueva Parra Gallardo/ --- Burns-6* Looper Villanueva
NYM
SF/ Atl Atl Atl/ Phi Phi Phi
Hernandez/ Perez Parnell Santana/ Pelfrey Hernandez2 Perez2
Phi
--- Ari Ari Ari/ @NYM @NYM @NYM
--- Martinez-7* Lee Blanton/ Hamels Happ Martinez2
Pit
Mil Mil Mil/ --- Cin Cin Cin
Hart Maholm Morton/ --- Duke Ohlendorf Hart2
StL
@LAD @LAD @LAD/ @SD @SD @SD @SD
Carpenter Boggs-8* Wainwright/ Pineiro Lohse Carpenter2 Boggs2
SD
ChC ChC ChC/ StL StL StL StL
Correia Carrillo-9* Latos/ Stauffer Richard Correia2 Carrillo2
SF
@NYM/ @Cin @Cin @Cin/ @Col @Col @Col
Martinez/ Lincecum Zito Cain/ Sanchez Martinez2 Lincecum2
Was
--- Col Col Col/ Mil Mil Mil
--- Stammen Balester Mock/ Martin Lannan Stammen2
*-LHP Ted Lilly (inflamed shoulder) seems ready to come off the disabled list to start for the Cubs Monday. He pitched five scoreless innings Wednesday for low Class A Peoria.
**-Astros RHP Roy Oswalt (lower back injury) returned to the rotation Tuesday and gave up six runs. He’s scheduled to pitch today, and again Saturday.
3*-The Dodgers plan to start knuckleballing RHP Charlie Haeger, just up from Triple-A Albuquerque, Monday against the Cardinals.
4*-RHP Chad Billingsley is expected back from the strained left hamstring that kept him from making Wednesday’s scheduled start.
5*-Another blow to LA’s rotation could be Saturday night’s line drive that hit RHP Hiroki Kuroda on the side of his head and bounced into the stands for a double. Kuroda spent the night in a hospital. If Kuroda couldn’t start Thursday, the Dodgers could again move RHP Jeff Weaver out of the bullpen or call up LHPs Eric Stults or Scott Elbert from Albuquerque. LA also has been looking at free-agent RHPs John Smoltz and Vicente Padilla.
6*-RHP Mike Burns won Saturday’s game for the Brewers, but if RHP Braden Looper pitches well today he could move ahead of Burns in the rotation and still pitch on four days’ rest.
7*-RHP Pedro Martinez has replaced LHP Jamie Moyer in the Phillies’ rotation. Pedro won his first start Wednesday despite giving up three runs in five innings because Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija, as I predicted last week, was even worse.
8*-With RHP Todd Wellemeyer (inflamed elbow) on the disabled list, the Cardinals recalled RHP Mitchell Boggs from Triple-A Memphis to move into their rotation. Boggs has been ineffective in earlier major league stints.
9*-RHP Cesar Carrillo, who pitched most of this season at Double-A San Antonio, has moved into the Padres’ rotation. That has created a confusing, sound-alike order of Correia and Carrillo.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Schedule Notes: Find pitching in Florida
There are big schedule advantages this week for five National League teams -- the Cubs, Reds, Rockies, Marlins and Astros. They're scheduled for seven games -- 40 per cent more than the Braves, who would play five times. The other 10 NL teams are scheduled for six games.
Florida would have the added advantage of playing all seven at home (four against the Astros, three vs. the Rockies). Coming off a road sweep of the first-place Phillies, the Marlins could have great momentum. Because they play in a park that somewhat favors pitching, their relievers and RHP Chris Volstad -- scheduled for two starts -- should have a good week and be worth playing in your fantasy lineup.
In the American League, four teams -- the Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees and Mariners -- are scheduled for seven games, with the other 10 playing six times. Seattle would be the only AL team with all seven games at home -- in an extreme pitchers' park against the White Sox for three games and Yankees for four.
Overall, it should be a good week for pitchers. Scheduled to play all six games at home are Minnesota (Royals and Indians three each) and St. Louis (Reds and Padres) in extreme pitchers' parks. Six games are scheduled in an only slightly less pitcher-friendly venue at Milwaukee (Padres and Astros), and Atlanta would have all five of its games at home. Therefore, the week should be almost as bad for San Diego batters as it would be good for Florida pitchers.
The best hitters' parks in use for all six games would be at Baltimore (Athletics and Angels) and Arizona (Mets and Dodgers).
Pitchers scheduled to start at home twice this week are RHPs Volstad, Jeremy Guthrie, Nick Blackburn, Doug Fister, Rich Harden, Rick VandenHurk, Braden Looper and Kyle Lohse, and LHP Lucas French. My highest recommendation is Volstad, with live longsots in Blackburn and VandenHurk.
Florida would have the added advantage of playing all seven at home (four against the Astros, three vs. the Rockies). Coming off a road sweep of the first-place Phillies, the Marlins could have great momentum. Because they play in a park that somewhat favors pitching, their relievers and RHP Chris Volstad -- scheduled for two starts -- should have a good week and be worth playing in your fantasy lineup.
In the American League, four teams -- the Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees and Mariners -- are scheduled for seven games, with the other 10 playing six times. Seattle would be the only AL team with all seven games at home -- in an extreme pitchers' park against the White Sox for three games and Yankees for four.
Overall, it should be a good week for pitchers. Scheduled to play all six games at home are Minnesota (Royals and Indians three each) and St. Louis (Reds and Padres) in extreme pitchers' parks. Six games are scheduled in an only slightly less pitcher-friendly venue at Milwaukee (Padres and Astros), and Atlanta would have all five of its games at home. Therefore, the week should be almost as bad for San Diego batters as it would be good for Florida pitchers.
The best hitters' parks in use for all six games would be at Baltimore (Athletics and Angels) and Arizona (Mets and Dodgers).
Pitchers scheduled to start at home twice this week are RHPs Volstad, Jeremy Guthrie, Nick Blackburn, Doug Fister, Rich Harden, Rick VandenHurk, Braden Looper and Kyle Lohse, and LHP Lucas French. My highest recommendation is Volstad, with live longsots in Blackburn and VandenHurk.
Hot and Not: Zimmerman paces Nats' surge
The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
1B Albert Pujols, Cardinals 11-20 .550 2-8 0
1B Billy Butler, Royals 14-26 .538 2-10 0
3B Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals 12-23 .522 4-7 0
OF Chris Coghlan, Marlins 15-29 .517 1-5 0
SS Cristian Guzman, Nationals 1-25 .500 0-6 1
OF Alex Romero, D-backs 11-22 .500 0-4 1
C Joe Mauer, Twins 12-25 .480 2-7 0
OF Gerardo Parra, D-backs 14-30 .467 0-1 1
2B Robinson Cano, Yankees 12-26 .462 0-1 0
3B/1B/C Pablo Sandoval, Giants 11-24 .458 1-6 0
This is Zimmerman’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average.
Home runs – D-backs 3B Mark Reynolds 6; Zimmerman, Yankees OF Johnny Damon and Nationals OF/1B Adam Dunn 4; Tigers 1B/3B Miguel Cabrera, D-backs 2B Ryan Roberts, Marlins OF Cody Ross, Athletics C Kurt Suzuki, Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira and White Sox DH Jim Thome 3. Reynolds has led the majors in homers during each of the past two weeks, totaling 11.
RBI – Nationals OF Elijah Dukes 11; Butler and Reynolds 10; Dunn and Brewers OF Ryan Braun 9.
Stolen bases – Athletics OF Rajai Davis 5; Indians SS/2B Asdrubal Cabrera, Rays OF Carl Crawford and Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez 4; Astros OF Michael Bourn, Indians OF Trevor Crowe, Rockies OF Dexter Fowler, Rangers OF Josh Hamilton, Royals OF Mitch Maier and D-backs OF Trent Oeltjen 2.
Runs – Zimmerman 10; Giants OF/2B Eugenio Velez 8; Coghlan, Damon, Dunn, Ramirez, Rays SS Jason Bartlett, Tigers OF Curtis Granderson and Mariners OFs Franklin Gutierrez and Ichiro Suzuki 7.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Justin Lehr, Reds 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.56 4:1
LHP J.A. Happ, Phillies 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.67 10:2
LHP Aaron Laffey, Indians 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.88 5:1
LHP C.C. Sabathia, Yankees 7.2 0.00 1-0 0.52 9:2
RHP A.J. Burnett, Yankees 7.2 0.00 0-0 0.91 6:6
RHP Carl Pavano, Twins 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.71 5:0
LHP Jonathan Sanchez, Giants 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 8:3
LHP Wandy Rodriguez, Astros 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 3:2
RHP Josh Beckett, Red Sox 7.0 0.00 0-0 0.86 7:2
LHP Andy Pettitte, Yankees 13.2 0.66 1-0 1.10 10:6
Sabathia was on the ERA Not list a week earlier.
Wins – Padres RHP Mat Latos and Braves RHP Javier Vazquez 2. Latos was one of my live longshots for the week.
Saves – Nationals RHP Mike MacDougal 4-for-4; Astros RHP Jose Valverde 3-for-3; Athletics RHP Andrew Bailey, Padres RHP Heath Bell, Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin, Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera and Nationals RHP Jorge Sosa 2-for-2. It's safe to say this was the first week when the Nationals had six saves. MacDougal and Sosa have been integral to Washington's recent success.
WHIP – sabathia 0.52; Cubs LHP Tom Gorzelanny 0.55; Lehr 0.56; Royals RHP Robinson Tejeda 0.57; Tigers RHP Edwin Jackson 0.63.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Marlins RHP Josh Johnson 15:1; Angels rHP Jered Weaver 11:1; Red Sox LHP Jon Lester 17:2; Happ and Sanchez 10:2; Reds RHP Aaron Harang 17:4; Angels RHP John Lackey 15:4; Vazquez and Athletics LHP Brett Anderson 13:4.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
1B Joey Votto, Reds 1-20 .050 0-1 0
2B/OF Ben Zobrist, Rays 2-20 .100 0-2 1
OF Jayson Werth, Phillies 2-20 .100 1-3 0
1B/3B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers 3-25 .120 1-3 0
1B James Loney, Dodgers 3-24 .125 0-2 0
OF Jack cust, Athletics 3-23 .130 0-0 1
OF Jermaine Dye, White Sox 3-20 .150 0-0 0
OF B.J. Upton, Rays 3-20 .150 0-1 2
SS Miguel Tejada, Astros 4-26 .154 1-1 0
OF/SS Willie Bloomquist, Royals 4-25 .160 0-1 1
C Brian McCann, Braves 4-25 .160 0-3 0
The week’s hitless wonders were Angels 3B Chone Figgins 0-for-16 and Pirates OF Brandon Moss 0-for-11.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Votto 4:10; Cust 5:11.
Caught stealing – Nationals SS Cristian Guzman and Mets OF Angel Pagan 1-for-3.
The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
LHP David Huff, Indians 11.0 9.00 1-1 1.91 5:2
LHP Jarrod Washburn, Tigers 11.1 8.74 0-1 1.68 5:3
LHP Scott Kazmir, Rays 10.1 8.71 1-1 1.74 8:3
RHP Jose Contreras, White Sox 7.1 8.59 0-1 1.91 5:7
RHP Yovani Gallardo, Brewers 12.1 8.03 0-2 1.78 11:6
RHP Joel Pineiro, Cardinals 12.0 7.50 1-0 1.67 6:0
LHP Jamie Moyer, Phillies 10.0 7.20 0-2 2.20 4:5
LHP Brian Matusz, Orioles 7.2 7.04 1-1 2.35 6:5
RHP Dan Haren, D-backs 13.0 6.92 1-1 1.23 7:1
RHP Zack Greinke, Royals 12.0 6.75 1-1 1.83 14:5
Losses – Gallardo, Moyer, Orioles RHP Danys Baez, Giants RHP Matt Cain, Pirates RHP Charline Morton and Padres RHP Tim Stauffer 2.
Blown saves – Red Sox RHP Daniel Bard and Mets RHP Francisco Rodriguez 0-for-2. The Mets' problems move into an additional facet of their team.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
1B Albert Pujols, Cardinals 11-20 .550 2-8 0
1B Billy Butler, Royals 14-26 .538 2-10 0
3B Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals 12-23 .522 4-7 0
OF Chris Coghlan, Marlins 15-29 .517 1-5 0
SS Cristian Guzman, Nationals 1-25 .500 0-6 1
OF Alex Romero, D-backs 11-22 .500 0-4 1
C Joe Mauer, Twins 12-25 .480 2-7 0
OF Gerardo Parra, D-backs 14-30 .467 0-1 1
2B Robinson Cano, Yankees 12-26 .462 0-1 0
3B/1B/C Pablo Sandoval, Giants 11-24 .458 1-6 0
This is Zimmerman’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average.
Home runs – D-backs 3B Mark Reynolds 6; Zimmerman, Yankees OF Johnny Damon and Nationals OF/1B Adam Dunn 4; Tigers 1B/3B Miguel Cabrera, D-backs 2B Ryan Roberts, Marlins OF Cody Ross, Athletics C Kurt Suzuki, Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira and White Sox DH Jim Thome 3. Reynolds has led the majors in homers during each of the past two weeks, totaling 11.
RBI – Nationals OF Elijah Dukes 11; Butler and Reynolds 10; Dunn and Brewers OF Ryan Braun 9.
Stolen bases – Athletics OF Rajai Davis 5; Indians SS/2B Asdrubal Cabrera, Rays OF Carl Crawford and Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez 4; Astros OF Michael Bourn, Indians OF Trevor Crowe, Rockies OF Dexter Fowler, Rangers OF Josh Hamilton, Royals OF Mitch Maier and D-backs OF Trent Oeltjen 2.
Runs – Zimmerman 10; Giants OF/2B Eugenio Velez 8; Coghlan, Damon, Dunn, Ramirez, Rays SS Jason Bartlett, Tigers OF Curtis Granderson and Mariners OFs Franklin Gutierrez and Ichiro Suzuki 7.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Justin Lehr, Reds 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.56 4:1
LHP J.A. Happ, Phillies 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.67 10:2
LHP Aaron Laffey, Indians 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.88 5:1
LHP C.C. Sabathia, Yankees 7.2 0.00 1-0 0.52 9:2
RHP A.J. Burnett, Yankees 7.2 0.00 0-0 0.91 6:6
RHP Carl Pavano, Twins 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.71 5:0
LHP Jonathan Sanchez, Giants 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 8:3
LHP Wandy Rodriguez, Astros 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 3:2
RHP Josh Beckett, Red Sox 7.0 0.00 0-0 0.86 7:2
LHP Andy Pettitte, Yankees 13.2 0.66 1-0 1.10 10:6
Sabathia was on the ERA Not list a week earlier.
Wins – Padres RHP Mat Latos and Braves RHP Javier Vazquez 2. Latos was one of my live longshots for the week.
Saves – Nationals RHP Mike MacDougal 4-for-4; Astros RHP Jose Valverde 3-for-3; Athletics RHP Andrew Bailey, Padres RHP Heath Bell, Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin, Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera and Nationals RHP Jorge Sosa 2-for-2. It's safe to say this was the first week when the Nationals had six saves. MacDougal and Sosa have been integral to Washington's recent success.
WHIP – sabathia 0.52; Cubs LHP Tom Gorzelanny 0.55; Lehr 0.56; Royals RHP Robinson Tejeda 0.57; Tigers RHP Edwin Jackson 0.63.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Marlins RHP Josh Johnson 15:1; Angels rHP Jered Weaver 11:1; Red Sox LHP Jon Lester 17:2; Happ and Sanchez 10:2; Reds RHP Aaron Harang 17:4; Angels RHP John Lackey 15:4; Vazquez and Athletics LHP Brett Anderson 13:4.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
1B Joey Votto, Reds 1-20 .050 0-1 0
2B/OF Ben Zobrist, Rays 2-20 .100 0-2 1
OF Jayson Werth, Phillies 2-20 .100 1-3 0
1B/3B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers 3-25 .120 1-3 0
1B James Loney, Dodgers 3-24 .125 0-2 0
OF Jack cust, Athletics 3-23 .130 0-0 1
OF Jermaine Dye, White Sox 3-20 .150 0-0 0
OF B.J. Upton, Rays 3-20 .150 0-1 2
SS Miguel Tejada, Astros 4-26 .154 1-1 0
OF/SS Willie Bloomquist, Royals 4-25 .160 0-1 1
C Brian McCann, Braves 4-25 .160 0-3 0
The week’s hitless wonders were Angels 3B Chone Figgins 0-for-16 and Pirates OF Brandon Moss 0-for-11.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Votto 4:10; Cust 5:11.
Caught stealing – Nationals SS Cristian Guzman and Mets OF Angel Pagan 1-for-3.
The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
LHP David Huff, Indians 11.0 9.00 1-1 1.91 5:2
LHP Jarrod Washburn, Tigers 11.1 8.74 0-1 1.68 5:3
LHP Scott Kazmir, Rays 10.1 8.71 1-1 1.74 8:3
RHP Jose Contreras, White Sox 7.1 8.59 0-1 1.91 5:7
RHP Yovani Gallardo, Brewers 12.1 8.03 0-2 1.78 11:6
RHP Joel Pineiro, Cardinals 12.0 7.50 1-0 1.67 6:0
LHP Jamie Moyer, Phillies 10.0 7.20 0-2 2.20 4:5
LHP Brian Matusz, Orioles 7.2 7.04 1-1 2.35 6:5
RHP Dan Haren, D-backs 13.0 6.92 1-1 1.23 7:1
RHP Zack Greinke, Royals 12.0 6.75 1-1 1.83 14:5
Losses – Gallardo, Moyer, Orioles RHP Danys Baez, Giants RHP Matt Cain, Pirates RHP Charline Morton and Padres RHP Tim Stauffer 2.
Blown saves – Red Sox RHP Daniel Bard and Mets RHP Francisco Rodriguez 0-for-2. The Mets' problems move into an additional facet of their team.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Pitching Chart, Aug. 10-16
AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
Oak Oak Oak/ --- LAA LAA LAA
Guthrie Hernandez Berken/ --- Tillman Matusz* Guthrie2
Bos
Det Det Det Det/ @Tex @Tex @Tex
Penny Tazawa** Beckett Buchholz/ Lester Penny2 Tazawa2
CWS
@Se @Se @Se/ --- @Oak @Oak @Oak
Floyd Danks Buehrle/ --- Contreras-3* Floyd2 Danks2
Cle
--- Tex Tex Tex/ @Min @Min @Min
--- Laffey Carmona Sowers/ Masterson-4* Huff Laffey2
Det
@Bos @Bos @Bos @Bos/ KC KC KC
Jackson Porcello Galarraga Verlander/ Washburn Jackson2 Porcello2
KC
--- @Min @Min @Min/ @Det @Det @Det
--- Davies Chen Bannister/ Greinke Hochevar Davies2
LAA
TB TB TB/ --- @Bal @Bal @Bal
O’Sullivan Santana Palmer-5*/ --- Weaver O’Sullivan2 Santana2
Min
--- KC KC KC/ Cle Cle Cle
--- Blackburn Liriano-6* Swarzak/ Pavano- Baker Blackburn2
NYY
Tor Tor Tor/ @Se @Se @Se @Se
Mitre-7* Chamberlain Burnett/ Sabathia Pettitte Mitre2 Chamberlain2
Oak
@Bal @Bal @Bal/ --- CWS CWS CWS
Gonzalez Cahill Mazzaro/ --- Anderson-8* Gonzalez2 Cahill2
Se
CWS CWS CWS/ NYY NYY NYY NYY
French Fister-9* Hernandez/ Snell Rowland-Smith French2 Fister2
TB
@LAA @LAA @LAA/ --- Tor Tor Tor
Garza Price Niemann/ --- Shields Kazmir Garza2
Tex
--- @Cle @Cle @Cle/ Bos Bos Bos
--- Nippert-10* Hunter Feldman/ Millwood Holland Nippert2
Tor
@NYY @NYY @NYY/ --- @TB @TB @TB
Rzepczynski Richmond Romero/ --- Cecil Halladay Rzepczynski2
*-As we surmised last week, rookie LHP Brian Matusz has joined the Orioles’ rotation.
**-The Red Sox designated RHP John Smoltz for assignment, leaving a spot open Tuesday. The most likely starting candidate could be rookie RHP Junichi Tazawa. He might not be because he pitched in relief Friday, and was the losing pitcher in his major league debut. Other possibilities are RHP Enrique Gonzalez from Boston’s bullpen or RHP Michael Bowden from Triple-A Pawtucket.
3*-With an off day Thursday, the White Sox will move RHP Jose Contreras up in the rotation to pitch on his usual four days’ rest. Chicago would bypass rookie RHP Carlos Torres, who started Saturday’s game.
4*-The trade of RHP Carl Pavano to Minnesota moved RHP Justin Masterson into the Indians’ rotation earlier than expected. He started Saturday, and would be scheduled for his next turn Friday.
5*-With LHP Joe Saunders going on the disabled list, the Angels are likely to move RHP Matt Palmer back into their rotation. Rumors in southern California indicate that LA/Anaheim could sign Smoltz and add him as a starter.
6*-Pavano’s arrival means the Twins have to move a pitcher out of their rotation. That pitcher could be LHP Francisco Liriano, but it’s more likely that Minnesota would move LHP Glen Perkins or RHP Anthony Swarzak to the bullpen. Another possibility would be to promote LHP Brian Duensing, who has pitched well in relief, to a starting role and demote two of the current starters.
7*-RHP Sergio Mitre is scheduled to start Monday, but by the end of the week the Yankees could replace him with RHP Chad Gaudin, whom they claimed from the Padres on waivers.
8*-RHP Clayton Mortensen made his major league debut as Saturday’s starter, but the Athletics are planning to skip him the next time through the rotation. They would use just four starters, with LHP Brian Anderson moving ahead in the rotation to make his every-fifth-day start Friday after Thursday’s off day.
9*-The Mariners sent LHP Jason Vargas to Triple-A Tacoma and celled up RHP Doug Fister from the Rainiers. Fister is expected to make his major league debut as Tuesday’s starter.
10*-The Rangers designated troublesome RHP Vicente Padilla for assignment. Taking his place in their rotation will be lanky RHP Dustin Nippert, who has been taking almost regular turns and pitching well as a spot starter.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
NYM NYM NYM/ --- LAD LAD LAD
Davis Scherzer Garland/ --- Haren Petit Davis2
Atl
--- Was Was/ --- Phi Phi Phi
--- Hanson Lowe/ --- Jurrjens Kawakami Vazquez
ChC
@Col/ Phi Phi Phi/ Pit Pit Pit
Gorzelanny/ Harden Samardzija* Dempster/ Wells Gorzelanny2 Harden2
Cin
@StL @StL @StL/ Was Was Was Was
Cueto Lehr Bailey/ Arroyo Harang Cueto2 Lehr2
Col
ChC/ Pit Pit Pit/ @Fla @Fla @Fla
DeLaRosa/ Cook Jimenez Marquis/ Hammel DeLaRosa2 Cook2
Fla
Ho Ho Ho Ho/ Col Col Col
VandenHurk Volstad Nolasco West**/ Johnson VandenHurk2 Volstad2
Ho
@Fla @Fla @Fla @Fla/ @Mil @Mil @Mil
Moehler Oswalt-3* Norris Hampton/ Rodriguez Moehler2 Oswalt2
LAD
@SF @SF @SF/ --- @Ari @Ari @Ari
Kuroda Wolf Elbert-4*/ --- Kershaw Stults-5* Kuroda2
Mil
--- SD SD SD/ Ho Ho Ho
--- Looper Villanueva-6* Parra/ Gallardo Burns-7* Looper2
NYM
@Ari @Ari @Ari/ --- SF SF SF
Pelfrey Hernandez Perez/ --- Parnell-8* Santana Pelfrey2
Phi
--- @ChC @ChC @ChC/ @Atl @Atl @Atl
--- Happ-9* Lee Blanton/ Hamels Moyer Happ2
Pit
--- @Col @Col @Col/ @ChC @ChC @ChC
--- Ohlendorf Hart Maholm/ Morton Duke Ohlendorf2
StL
Cin Cin Cin/ --- SD SD SD
Lohse Wellemeyer-10* Carpenter/ --- Wainwright Pineiro Lohse2
SD
--- @Mil @Mil @Mil/ @StL @StL @StL
--- Richard Correia Carrillo-11*/ Latos Stauffer Richard2
SF
LAD LAD LAD/ --- @NYM @NYM @NYM
Sanchez Martinez Lincecum/ --- Zito Cain Sanchez2
Was
--- @Atl @Atl/ @Cin @Cin @Cin @Cin
--- Lannan Stammen/ Balester Mock Martin Lannan2
*-With RHP Carlos Zambrano going on the disabled list, the Cubs will move RHP Jeff Samardzija into their rotation. Expect him to be exposed as a fraud.
**-The Marlins brought LHP Sean West back from Double-A Jacksonville to start Saturday’s game. His next scheduled turn would be Thursday.
3*-RHP Roy Oswalt said after Friday’s bullpen session that he should be ready to return to the Astros’ rotation Tuesday. He hasn’t pitched since July 28 because of a strained lower back.
4*-Dodgers RHP Chad Billingsley suffered a strained left hamstring Saturday while running out a single, and is expected to miss his next scheduled start. LHP Scott Elbert, who has been pitching in relief, would be the most likely candidate to replace Billingsley.
5*-LHP Eric Stults is replacing RHP Jason Schmidt, who has returned to the disabled list, as today’s scheduled starter for Los Angeles. Stults’ next start would be scheduled for Saturday.
6*-In the Brewers’ paper-thin rotation, RHP Carlos Villanueva is likely to remain a starter at least through Wednesday.
7*-Back from the minors, RHP Mike Burns pitched in relief Saturday, and could make another start for Milwaukee Saturday. Another possibility would be RHP Seth McClung.
8*-With their playoff hopes dim and none, the Mets gave rookie RHP Bobby Parnell a start Saturday instead of going with a known mediocrity such as RHP Tim Redding. Parnell’s next scheduled start would be Friday.
9*-The Phillies have said LHP J.A. Happ would stay in their rotation even after they take RHP Pedro Martinez off the disabled list. Pedro could start as early as Tuesday; his most recent minor league injury-rehab start was Wednesday. It’s possible that LHP Jamie Moyer could move to the bullpen.
10*-The Cardinals have said ineffective RHP Todd Wellemeyer would remain in their rotation. He next scheduled start would be Tuesday.
11*-Gaudin’s departure leaves the Padres’ rotation one man short. They were expected to promote RHP Cesar Carrillo from Triple-A Portland, but he struggled in his most recent Pacific Coast League start.
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
Oak Oak Oak/ --- LAA LAA LAA
Guthrie Hernandez Berken/ --- Tillman Matusz* Guthrie2
Bos
Det Det Det Det/ @Tex @Tex @Tex
Penny Tazawa** Beckett Buchholz/ Lester Penny2 Tazawa2
CWS
@Se @Se @Se/ --- @Oak @Oak @Oak
Floyd Danks Buehrle/ --- Contreras-3* Floyd2 Danks2
Cle
--- Tex Tex Tex/ @Min @Min @Min
--- Laffey Carmona Sowers/ Masterson-4* Huff Laffey2
Det
@Bos @Bos @Bos @Bos/ KC KC KC
Jackson Porcello Galarraga Verlander/ Washburn Jackson2 Porcello2
KC
--- @Min @Min @Min/ @Det @Det @Det
--- Davies Chen Bannister/ Greinke Hochevar Davies2
LAA
TB TB TB/ --- @Bal @Bal @Bal
O’Sullivan Santana Palmer-5*/ --- Weaver O’Sullivan2 Santana2
Min
--- KC KC KC/ Cle Cle Cle
--- Blackburn Liriano-6* Swarzak/ Pavano- Baker Blackburn2
NYY
Tor Tor Tor/ @Se @Se @Se @Se
Mitre-7* Chamberlain Burnett/ Sabathia Pettitte Mitre2 Chamberlain2
Oak
@Bal @Bal @Bal/ --- CWS CWS CWS
Gonzalez Cahill Mazzaro/ --- Anderson-8* Gonzalez2 Cahill2
Se
CWS CWS CWS/ NYY NYY NYY NYY
French Fister-9* Hernandez/ Snell Rowland-Smith French2 Fister2
TB
@LAA @LAA @LAA/ --- Tor Tor Tor
Garza Price Niemann/ --- Shields Kazmir Garza2
Tex
--- @Cle @Cle @Cle/ Bos Bos Bos
--- Nippert-10* Hunter Feldman/ Millwood Holland Nippert2
Tor
@NYY @NYY @NYY/ --- @TB @TB @TB
Rzepczynski Richmond Romero/ --- Cecil Halladay Rzepczynski2
*-As we surmised last week, rookie LHP Brian Matusz has joined the Orioles’ rotation.
**-The Red Sox designated RHP John Smoltz for assignment, leaving a spot open Tuesday. The most likely starting candidate could be rookie RHP Junichi Tazawa. He might not be because he pitched in relief Friday, and was the losing pitcher in his major league debut. Other possibilities are RHP Enrique Gonzalez from Boston’s bullpen or RHP Michael Bowden from Triple-A Pawtucket.
3*-With an off day Thursday, the White Sox will move RHP Jose Contreras up in the rotation to pitch on his usual four days’ rest. Chicago would bypass rookie RHP Carlos Torres, who started Saturday’s game.
4*-The trade of RHP Carl Pavano to Minnesota moved RHP Justin Masterson into the Indians’ rotation earlier than expected. He started Saturday, and would be scheduled for his next turn Friday.
5*-With LHP Joe Saunders going on the disabled list, the Angels are likely to move RHP Matt Palmer back into their rotation. Rumors in southern California indicate that LA/Anaheim could sign Smoltz and add him as a starter.
6*-Pavano’s arrival means the Twins have to move a pitcher out of their rotation. That pitcher could be LHP Francisco Liriano, but it’s more likely that Minnesota would move LHP Glen Perkins or RHP Anthony Swarzak to the bullpen. Another possibility would be to promote LHP Brian Duensing, who has pitched well in relief, to a starting role and demote two of the current starters.
7*-RHP Sergio Mitre is scheduled to start Monday, but by the end of the week the Yankees could replace him with RHP Chad Gaudin, whom they claimed from the Padres on waivers.
8*-RHP Clayton Mortensen made his major league debut as Saturday’s starter, but the Athletics are planning to skip him the next time through the rotation. They would use just four starters, with LHP Brian Anderson moving ahead in the rotation to make his every-fifth-day start Friday after Thursday’s off day.
9*-The Mariners sent LHP Jason Vargas to Triple-A Tacoma and celled up RHP Doug Fister from the Rainiers. Fister is expected to make his major league debut as Tuesday’s starter.
10*-The Rangers designated troublesome RHP Vicente Padilla for assignment. Taking his place in their rotation will be lanky RHP Dustin Nippert, who has been taking almost regular turns and pitching well as a spot starter.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
NYM NYM NYM/ --- LAD LAD LAD
Davis Scherzer Garland/ --- Haren Petit Davis2
Atl
--- Was Was/ --- Phi Phi Phi
--- Hanson Lowe/ --- Jurrjens Kawakami Vazquez
ChC
@Col/ Phi Phi Phi/ Pit Pit Pit
Gorzelanny/ Harden Samardzija* Dempster/ Wells Gorzelanny2 Harden2
Cin
@StL @StL @StL/ Was Was Was Was
Cueto Lehr Bailey/ Arroyo Harang Cueto2 Lehr2
Col
ChC/ Pit Pit Pit/ @Fla @Fla @Fla
DeLaRosa/ Cook Jimenez Marquis/ Hammel DeLaRosa2 Cook2
Fla
Ho Ho Ho Ho/ Col Col Col
VandenHurk Volstad Nolasco West**/ Johnson VandenHurk2 Volstad2
Ho
@Fla @Fla @Fla @Fla/ @Mil @Mil @Mil
Moehler Oswalt-3* Norris Hampton/ Rodriguez Moehler2 Oswalt2
LAD
@SF @SF @SF/ --- @Ari @Ari @Ari
Kuroda Wolf Elbert-4*/ --- Kershaw Stults-5* Kuroda2
Mil
--- SD SD SD/ Ho Ho Ho
--- Looper Villanueva-6* Parra/ Gallardo Burns-7* Looper2
NYM
@Ari @Ari @Ari/ --- SF SF SF
Pelfrey Hernandez Perez/ --- Parnell-8* Santana Pelfrey2
Phi
--- @ChC @ChC @ChC/ @Atl @Atl @Atl
--- Happ-9* Lee Blanton/ Hamels Moyer Happ2
Pit
--- @Col @Col @Col/ @ChC @ChC @ChC
--- Ohlendorf Hart Maholm/ Morton Duke Ohlendorf2
StL
Cin Cin Cin/ --- SD SD SD
Lohse Wellemeyer-10* Carpenter/ --- Wainwright Pineiro Lohse2
SD
--- @Mil @Mil @Mil/ @StL @StL @StL
--- Richard Correia Carrillo-11*/ Latos Stauffer Richard2
SF
LAD LAD LAD/ --- @NYM @NYM @NYM
Sanchez Martinez Lincecum/ --- Zito Cain Sanchez2
Was
--- @Atl @Atl/ @Cin @Cin @Cin @Cin
--- Lannan Stammen/ Balester Mock Martin Lannan2
*-With RHP Carlos Zambrano going on the disabled list, the Cubs will move RHP Jeff Samardzija into their rotation. Expect him to be exposed as a fraud.
**-The Marlins brought LHP Sean West back from Double-A Jacksonville to start Saturday’s game. His next scheduled turn would be Thursday.
3*-RHP Roy Oswalt said after Friday’s bullpen session that he should be ready to return to the Astros’ rotation Tuesday. He hasn’t pitched since July 28 because of a strained lower back.
4*-Dodgers RHP Chad Billingsley suffered a strained left hamstring Saturday while running out a single, and is expected to miss his next scheduled start. LHP Scott Elbert, who has been pitching in relief, would be the most likely candidate to replace Billingsley.
5*-LHP Eric Stults is replacing RHP Jason Schmidt, who has returned to the disabled list, as today’s scheduled starter for Los Angeles. Stults’ next start would be scheduled for Saturday.
6*-In the Brewers’ paper-thin rotation, RHP Carlos Villanueva is likely to remain a starter at least through Wednesday.
7*-Back from the minors, RHP Mike Burns pitched in relief Saturday, and could make another start for Milwaukee Saturday. Another possibility would be RHP Seth McClung.
8*-With their playoff hopes dim and none, the Mets gave rookie RHP Bobby Parnell a start Saturday instead of going with a known mediocrity such as RHP Tim Redding. Parnell’s next scheduled start would be Friday.
9*-The Phillies have said LHP J.A. Happ would stay in their rotation even after they take RHP Pedro Martinez off the disabled list. Pedro could start as early as Tuesday; his most recent minor league injury-rehab start was Wednesday. It’s possible that LHP Jamie Moyer could move to the bullpen.
10*-The Cardinals have said ineffective RHP Todd Wellemeyer would remain in their rotation. He next scheduled start would be Tuesday.
11*-Gaudin’s departure leaves the Padres’ rotation one man short. They were expected to promote RHP Cesar Carrillo from Triple-A Portland, but he struggled in his most recent Pacific Coast League start.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Hot and Not: Holliday likes the NL
The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
3B/1B Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox 16-29 .552 2-7 0
2B Jose Lopez, Mariners 12-22 .545 3-8 0
OF Matt Holliday, Cardinals 13-26 .500 3-7 0
OF Bobby Abreu, Angels 11-22 .500 1-8 2
SS Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies 11-24 .458 2-6 1
OF Shin-soo Choo, Indians 11-24 .458 0-2 2
3B Aramis Ramirez, Cubs 10-22 .455 2-8 0
3B Mike Lowell, Red Sox 9-20 .450 1-11 0
OF/2B Eugenio Velez, Giants 12-27 .444 1-7 0
3B Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals 11-25 .440 3-8 0
3B Casey Blake, Dodgers 11-25 .440 0-1 0
This is Holliday’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average.
Home runs – D-backs 3B Mark Reynolds 5; Angels 1B Kendry Morales and Orioles OF Adam Jones 4; Holliday, Lopez, Zimmerman, Padres OFs Kyle Blanks and Max Venable and 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Rangers OF Andruw Jones and 3B/SS Michael Young, astros OF Carlos Lee, Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen, Indians 3B/SS Jhonny Peralta and Nationals OF Josh Willingham 3.
RBI – Morales 13; Lowell and Willingham 11; Adam Jones and White Sox 3B Gordon Beckham 10.
Stolen bases – Red Sox OF Jacoby Ellsbury 4; White Sox 2B Chris Getz and Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan 3; Abreu, Choo, Padres SS Everth Cabrera, Athletics OF Rajai Davis, Brewers OF Corey Hart, D-backs OF Justin Upton and Mets 3B David Wright 2. Ellsbury, now tied for the major league lead, also was on this stolen base list a week earlier.
Runs – Ellsbury 12; Youkilis and Zimmerman 9; Abreu, Adam Jones, McCutchen, Athletics 2B Mark Ellis and Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki 8.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Tim Lincecum, Giants 17.0 0.00 2-0 0.88 23:4
RHP Matt Cain, Giants 9.0 0.00 0-0 0.56 4:2
RHP Joba Chamberlain, Yankees 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.63 5:2
RHP Randy Wells, Cubs 8.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 1:2
LHP Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.75 7:2
LHP Johan Santana, Mets 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.71 8:1
LHP Zach Duke, Pirates 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.00 1:1
RHP Bud Norris, Astros 10.0 0.90 1-0 1.00 9:5
LHP Cliff Lee, Phillies 9.0 1.00 1-0 0.67 6:2
LHP Derek Holland, Rangers 8.2 1.04 1-0 0.35 10:1
It's the second consecutive week on this list for Cain and Chamberlain.
Wins – Lincecum, Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett, Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter, Marlins RHP Brendan Donnelly and Mets LHP Pedro Feliciano 2. Lincecum and Carpenter were two of my highest recommendations for the week.
Saves – Twins RHP Joe Nathan, Royals RHP Joakim Soria, Rockies RHP Huston Street and Rangers LHP C.J. Wilson 3-for-3. This was Wilson’s second consecutive 3-for-3 week, but he might soon lose the closer's job with RHP Frank Francisco off the disabled list.
WHIP – Padres RHP Mat Latos 0;29: Holland 0.35; Mariners LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith 0.43; Rays RHP Jeff Niemann 0l50; Cain 0.56. Two of the majors' best pitching prospects head this list.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Tigers RHP Justin Verlander 13:0; Brewers RHP Yovani Gallardo 11:1; Holland, White Sox RHP Gavin Floyd and Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright 10:1; Marlins RHP Ricky Nolasco 13:2; Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez 12:2; Lincecum 23:4; Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez and Giants LHP Barry Zito 11:2. Nolasco is a repeater on this list.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
SS Yuniesky Betancourt, Royals 1-21 .048 0-0 0
SS Alex Gonzalez, Reds 1-21 .048 0-1 0
C Jason Kendall, Brewers 1-20 .050 0-1 0
2B/SS Clint Barmes, Rockies 2-22 .091 2-4 0
DH Travis Hafner, Indians 2-20 .100 0-0 0
SS Alberto Gonzalez, Nationals 3-24 .125 0-3 0
C Jorge Posada, Yankees 3-23 .130 0-2 0
OF Laynce Nix, Reds 3-21 .143 1-3 0
C/1B Ryan Doumit, Pirates 3-20 .150 0-1 0
OF/1B Chris Gimenez, Indians 3-20 .150 0-2 0
The frigid Barmes has made the batting average Not list in each of the last two weeks.
The week’s hitless wonders were Reds OF Willy Taveras 0-for-12 and Phillies C Paul Bako 0-for-10.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Phillies 1B Ryan Howard 2:12; Reynolds and Rays OF Pat Burrell 3:11; Athletics OF Jack Cust 13:10.
Caught stealing – Astros OF Michael Bourn, Angels 3B Chone Figgins and Nationals/Marlins 1B Nick Johnson 0-for-2.
The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Craig Stammen, Nationals 7.2 12.91 0-1 2.22 1:0
RHP Vin Mazzaro, Athletics 11.0 10.64 0-1 2.18 7:5
RHP Trevor Cahill, Athletics 10.1 10.45 0-2 2.32 7:6
LHP Mark Buehrle, White Sox 10.2 10.13 0-2 1.78 3:2
RHP Jason Berken, Orioles 7.1 9.82 0-1 2.32 3:4
LHP Glen Perkins, Twins 11.0 9.00 1-1 1.82 5:2
RHP Armando Galarraga, Tigers 12.2 8.53 0-2 1.58 8:3
RHP Clay Buchholz, Red Sox 9.2 8.38 0-0 2.48 6:6
RHP Scott Feldman, Rangers 9.1 7.71 1-1 2.04 5:4
LHP C.C. Sabathia, Yankees 12.2 7.11 1-1 1.66 11:2
Buehrle and Feldman were on the ERA Not list a week earlier.
Losses – Buehrle, Cahill, Galarraga, Pirates LHP Paul Maholm, Rays RHP James Shields and Dodgers LHP Randy Wolf 2.
Blown saves – Cubs RHP Kevin Gregg 0-for-2.
Hot
Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
3B/1B Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox 16-29 .552 2-7 0
2B Jose Lopez, Mariners 12-22 .545 3-8 0
OF Matt Holliday, Cardinals 13-26 .500 3-7 0
OF Bobby Abreu, Angels 11-22 .500 1-8 2
SS Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies 11-24 .458 2-6 1
OF Shin-soo Choo, Indians 11-24 .458 0-2 2
3B Aramis Ramirez, Cubs 10-22 .455 2-8 0
3B Mike Lowell, Red Sox 9-20 .450 1-11 0
OF/2B Eugenio Velez, Giants 12-27 .444 1-7 0
3B Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals 11-25 .440 3-8 0
3B Casey Blake, Dodgers 11-25 .440 0-1 0
This is Holliday’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average.
Home runs – D-backs 3B Mark Reynolds 5; Angels 1B Kendry Morales and Orioles OF Adam Jones 4; Holliday, Lopez, Zimmerman, Padres OFs Kyle Blanks and Max Venable and 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Rangers OF Andruw Jones and 3B/SS Michael Young, astros OF Carlos Lee, Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen, Indians 3B/SS Jhonny Peralta and Nationals OF Josh Willingham 3.
RBI – Morales 13; Lowell and Willingham 11; Adam Jones and White Sox 3B Gordon Beckham 10.
Stolen bases – Red Sox OF Jacoby Ellsbury 4; White Sox 2B Chris Getz and Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan 3; Abreu, Choo, Padres SS Everth Cabrera, Athletics OF Rajai Davis, Brewers OF Corey Hart, D-backs OF Justin Upton and Mets 3B David Wright 2. Ellsbury, now tied for the major league lead, also was on this stolen base list a week earlier.
Runs – Ellsbury 12; Youkilis and Zimmerman 9; Abreu, Adam Jones, McCutchen, Athletics 2B Mark Ellis and Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki 8.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Tim Lincecum, Giants 17.0 0.00 2-0 0.88 23:4
RHP Matt Cain, Giants 9.0 0.00 0-0 0.56 4:2
RHP Joba Chamberlain, Yankees 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.63 5:2
RHP Randy Wells, Cubs 8.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 1:2
LHP Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.75 7:2
LHP Johan Santana, Mets 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.71 8:1
LHP Zach Duke, Pirates 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.00 1:1
RHP Bud Norris, Astros 10.0 0.90 1-0 1.00 9:5
LHP Cliff Lee, Phillies 9.0 1.00 1-0 0.67 6:2
LHP Derek Holland, Rangers 8.2 1.04 1-0 0.35 10:1
It's the second consecutive week on this list for Cain and Chamberlain.
Wins – Lincecum, Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett, Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter, Marlins RHP Brendan Donnelly and Mets LHP Pedro Feliciano 2. Lincecum and Carpenter were two of my highest recommendations for the week.
Saves – Twins RHP Joe Nathan, Royals RHP Joakim Soria, Rockies RHP Huston Street and Rangers LHP C.J. Wilson 3-for-3. This was Wilson’s second consecutive 3-for-3 week, but he might soon lose the closer's job with RHP Frank Francisco off the disabled list.
WHIP – Padres RHP Mat Latos 0;29: Holland 0.35; Mariners LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith 0.43; Rays RHP Jeff Niemann 0l50; Cain 0.56. Two of the majors' best pitching prospects head this list.
Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Tigers RHP Justin Verlander 13:0; Brewers RHP Yovani Gallardo 11:1; Holland, White Sox RHP Gavin Floyd and Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright 10:1; Marlins RHP Ricky Nolasco 13:2; Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez 12:2; Lincecum 23:4; Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez and Giants LHP Barry Zito 11:2. Nolasco is a repeater on this list.
* * *
Not
Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB
SS Yuniesky Betancourt, Royals 1-21 .048 0-0 0
SS Alex Gonzalez, Reds 1-21 .048 0-1 0
C Jason Kendall, Brewers 1-20 .050 0-1 0
2B/SS Clint Barmes, Rockies 2-22 .091 2-4 0
DH Travis Hafner, Indians 2-20 .100 0-0 0
SS Alberto Gonzalez, Nationals 3-24 .125 0-3 0
C Jorge Posada, Yankees 3-23 .130 0-2 0
OF Laynce Nix, Reds 3-21 .143 1-3 0
C/1B Ryan Doumit, Pirates 3-20 .150 0-1 0
OF/1B Chris Gimenez, Indians 3-20 .150 0-2 0
The frigid Barmes has made the batting average Not list in each of the last two weeks.
The week’s hitless wonders were Reds OF Willy Taveras 0-for-12 and Phillies C Paul Bako 0-for-10.
Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Phillies 1B Ryan Howard 2:12; Reynolds and Rays OF Pat Burrell 3:11; Athletics OF Jack Cust 13:10.
Caught stealing – Astros OF Michael Bourn, Angels 3B Chone Figgins and Nationals/Marlins 1B Nick Johnson 0-for-2.
The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.
Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB
RHP Craig Stammen, Nationals 7.2 12.91 0-1 2.22 1:0
RHP Vin Mazzaro, Athletics 11.0 10.64 0-1 2.18 7:5
RHP Trevor Cahill, Athletics 10.1 10.45 0-2 2.32 7:6
LHP Mark Buehrle, White Sox 10.2 10.13 0-2 1.78 3:2
RHP Jason Berken, Orioles 7.1 9.82 0-1 2.32 3:4
LHP Glen Perkins, Twins 11.0 9.00 1-1 1.82 5:2
RHP Armando Galarraga, Tigers 12.2 8.53 0-2 1.58 8:3
RHP Clay Buchholz, Red Sox 9.2 8.38 0-0 2.48 6:6
RHP Scott Feldman, Rangers 9.1 7.71 1-1 2.04 5:4
LHP C.C. Sabathia, Yankees 12.2 7.11 1-1 1.66 11:2
Buehrle and Feldman were on the ERA Not list a week earlier.
Losses – Buehrle, Cahill, Galarraga, Pirates LHP Paul Maholm, Rays RHP James Shields and Dodgers LHP Randy Wolf 2.
Blown saves – Cubs RHP Kevin Gregg 0-for-2.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Schedule Notes: Halladay is the one Jay to play
There will be some significant differences in playing time for some teams this week.
One team in each league, the Blue Jays and the Cardinals, are scheduled for just five games. Five American League teams – Orioles, Tigers, Royals, Athletics and Rangers – and seven in the National League – Diamondbacks, Braves, Dodgers, Mets, Pirates, Padres and Nationals – would play seven. That’s 40 per cent more than Toronto and St. Louis, meaning that you’re at a disadvantage if you have hitters and relief pitchers from those teams in your lineup.
Making things even worse for the Cardinals is that all five of their games would be on the road. The effect shouldn’t be quite as bad for the Blue Jays hitters or team, because they’ll be at home all week – with RHP Roy Halladay on hand and scheduled to start twice.
There shouldn’t be pronounced differences in hitting or pitching levels in the two leagues. If anything, hitters should have a slight advantage in the AL and pitchers would have a bitter of an upper hand in the NL.
The only AL park that would be in use for seven games is at Detroit (Orioles four games, Twins three), where hitters have had a slight advantage. At one of the majors’ best parks, the White Sox would play all six of their games (Angels and Indians). Toronto has a pretty good pitchers’ park, but it would be in use for just five games (Yankees two, Orioles three).
In the NL, one of the majors’ best pitchers’ parks would be in use for seven games, at San Diego (Braves three, Mets four). Pitchers also usually have an advantage at Houston (Giants and Brewers three each) and Dodger Stadium, where LA would host seven games (Brewers three, Braves four). That also should mean a bad week for Brewers batters and even worse for those from the Braves. In other words, don’t expect one of streaky 1B Adam LaRoche’s big weeks.
Two NL parks that slightly favor hitters would be in use all week – for seven games at Washington (Pirates one, Marlins and Diamondbacks three each), and six at Philadelphia (Rockies and Marlins).
Pitchers scheduled to start at home twice this week are RHPs Halladay, Jose Contreras, Justin Verlander, Luke Hochevar, Hiroki Kuroda, Mat Latos, Tim Stauffer, Garrett Mock and J.D. Martin, and LHPs Jarrod Washburn, Mike Hampton, Clayton Kershaw, Jamie Moyer and Zach Duke. Our highest recommendations are Halladay, Verlander and Kershaw. Live longshots are Hochevar, Latos and Duke. They’re not highest recommendations because all three pitch for bad teams.
One team in each league, the Blue Jays and the Cardinals, are scheduled for just five games. Five American League teams – Orioles, Tigers, Royals, Athletics and Rangers – and seven in the National League – Diamondbacks, Braves, Dodgers, Mets, Pirates, Padres and Nationals – would play seven. That’s 40 per cent more than Toronto and St. Louis, meaning that you’re at a disadvantage if you have hitters and relief pitchers from those teams in your lineup.
Making things even worse for the Cardinals is that all five of their games would be on the road. The effect shouldn’t be quite as bad for the Blue Jays hitters or team, because they’ll be at home all week – with RHP Roy Halladay on hand and scheduled to start twice.
There shouldn’t be pronounced differences in hitting or pitching levels in the two leagues. If anything, hitters should have a slight advantage in the AL and pitchers would have a bitter of an upper hand in the NL.
The only AL park that would be in use for seven games is at Detroit (Orioles four games, Twins three), where hitters have had a slight advantage. At one of the majors’ best parks, the White Sox would play all six of their games (Angels and Indians). Toronto has a pretty good pitchers’ park, but it would be in use for just five games (Yankees two, Orioles three).
In the NL, one of the majors’ best pitchers’ parks would be in use for seven games, at San Diego (Braves three, Mets four). Pitchers also usually have an advantage at Houston (Giants and Brewers three each) and Dodger Stadium, where LA would host seven games (Brewers three, Braves four). That also should mean a bad week for Brewers batters and even worse for those from the Braves. In other words, don’t expect one of streaky 1B Adam LaRoche’s big weeks.
Two NL parks that slightly favor hitters would be in use all week – for seven games at Washington (Pirates one, Marlins and Diamondbacks three each), and six at Philadelphia (Rockies and Marlins).
Pitchers scheduled to start at home twice this week are RHPs Halladay, Jose Contreras, Justin Verlander, Luke Hochevar, Hiroki Kuroda, Mat Latos, Tim Stauffer, Garrett Mock and J.D. Martin, and LHPs Jarrod Washburn, Mike Hampton, Clayton Kershaw, Jamie Moyer and Zach Duke. Our highest recommendations are Halladay, Verlander and Kershaw. Live longshots are Hochevar, Latos and Duke. They’re not highest recommendations because all three pitch for bad teams.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Pitching Chart, Aug. 3-9
AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
@Det @Det @Det @Det/ @Tor @Tor @Tor
Tillman* Matusz** Guthrie Hernandez/ Berken Tillman2 Matusz2
Bos
--- @TB @TB/ @NYY @NYY @NYY @NYY
--- Lester Penny/ Smoltz Beckett Buchholz-3* Lester2
CWS
--- LAA LAA LAA/ Cle Cle Cle
--- Contreras Floyd Danks/ Buehrle Carrasco-4* Contreras2
Cle
--- Min Min Min/ @CWS @CWS @CWS
--- Huff Laffey Carmona-5*/ Sowers Pavano Huff2
Det
Bal Bal Bal Bal/ Min Min Min
Verlander Washburn-6* Jackson Porcello/ Galarraga Verlander2
Washburn2
KC
@TB/ Se Se Se/ Oak Oak Oak
Greinke/ Hochevar Ponson Chen/ Bannister Greinke2 Hochevar2
LAA
--- @CWS @CWS @CWS/ Tex Tex Tex
--- Lackey Santana Saunders/ Weaver O’Sullivan-7* Lackey2
Min
--- @Cle @Cle @Cle/ @Det @Det @Det
--- Baker Liriano Blackburn/ Swarzak Perkins Baker2
NYY
--- @Tor @Tor/ Bos Bos Bos Bos
--- Chamberlain Mitre-8*/ Pettitte Burnett Sabathia Chamberlain2
Oak
Tex Tex Tex Tex/ @KC @KC @KC
Anderson Gonzalez Braden Cahill/ Mazzaro Anderson2 Gonzalez2
Se
--- @KC @KC @KC/ TB TB TB
--- Rowland-Smith French-9* Vargas/ Hernandez Snell-10* Rowland-Smith2
TB
KC/ Bos Bos/ --- @Se @Se @Se
Kazmir/ Garza Price/ --- Niemann Shields Kazmir2
Tex
@Oak @Oak @Oak @Oak/ @LAA @LAA @LAA
Millwood-11* Holland Padilla Hunter/ Feldman Millwood2 Holland2
Tor
--- NYY NYY/ --- Bal Bal Bal
--- Halladay Richmond/ --- Cecil Romero Halladay2
*-The Orioles have added RHP Chris Tillman, their best pitching prospect to their rotation.
**-Baltimore’s next best pitching prospect could be LHP Brian Matusz, who has been pitching at Double-A Bowie. The BaySox removed him from today’s start after one inning, fueling speculation that he could start Tuesday’s game with RHP Brad Bergesen on the disabled list. Orioles president Andy MacPhail said that was a “strong possibility.”
3*-RHP Clay Buchholz is in the Red Sox rotation with RHP Tim Wakefield on the DL.
4*-The White Sox can move their fifth starter back a few days because Monday’s off day will enable other pitchers to move ahead and stay on four days’ rest. RHP D.J. Carrasco moved from the bullpen to start Friday and could start again Saturday. Other options could be RHPs Carlos Torres (from Triple-A Charlotte) or Bartolo Colon (from the disabled list).
5*-RHP Fausto Carmona came back from the minors to start Friday’s game, and is expected to stay in the Indians’ rotation at least until they can give RHP Justin Masterson, acquired from the Red Sox, enough innings to grow from his relief role to a starting job.
6*-Newly acquired LHP Jarrod Washburn has moved from the Mariners’ rotation to Detroit’s since the teams’ trade-deadline deal.
7*-The Angels are expected to recall RHP Sean O’Sullivan from his minor league assignment to start Saturday’s game when they next need a fifth starter.
8*-RHP Sergio Mitre is the Yankees’ current fifth starter. Even though they have Monday off, they’re moving Mitre ahead in the rotation so he can pitch against the Blue Jays instead of in their key weekend series vs. the Red Sox.
9*-Rookie LHP Lucas French, acquired from Detroit in the Washburn trade, has moved into the Mariners’ rotation.
10*-RHP Ian Snell, another acquisition near the trade deadline, is taking Washburn’s place in the rotation Sunday. That would put him in line for his next start Saturday.
11*-Rangers RHP has a strained gluteus maximus, aka pain in the ass, which limited his last start to two innings and delayed his next one from Sunday until Monday. It’s possible he still might not be able to pitch then. Texas had RHP Doug Mathis scratched from tonight’s start with Triple-A Oklahoma City in case he’s needed to take Millwood’s place Monday.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
@NYM/ @Pit @Pit @Pit/ @Was @Was @Was
Haren/ Petit* Davis Scherzer/ Garland Haren2 Petit2
Atl
@SD @SD @SD/ @LAD @LAD @LAD @LAD
Kawakami Vazquez Hanson/ Lowe Jurrjens Kawakami2 Vazquez2
ChC
@Cin @Cin @Cin/ --- @Col @Col @Col
Wells Gorzelanny** Harden/ --- Zambrano Dempster Wells2
Cin
ChC ChC ChC/ --- @SF @SF @SF
Harang Cueto Lehr-3*/ --- Bailey Arroyo Harang2
Col
--- @Phi @Phi @Phi/ ChC ChC ChC
--- Hammel DeLaRosa Cook/ Jimenez Marquis Hammel2
Fla
--- @Was @Was @Was/ @Phi @Phi @Phi
--- Johnson VandenHurk Volstad/ Badenhop Nolasco Johnson2
Ho
SF SF SF/ --- Mil Mil Mil
Hampton Oswalt-4* Moehler/ --- Rodriguez Norris-5* Hampton2
LAD
Mil Mil Mil/ Atl Atl Atl Atl
Kershaw Kuroda Schmidt/ Wolf Billingsley Kershaw2 Kuroda2
Mil
@LAD @LAD @LAD/ --- @Ho @Ho @Ho
Parra Gallardo Looper/ --- Burns-6* Parra2-7* Gallardo2
NYM
Ari/ StL StL/ @SD @SD @SD @SD
Redding-8*/ Niese Santana/ Perez Pelfrey Redding2 Niese2
Phi
--- Col Col Col/ Fla Fla Fla
--- Moyer Happ Lee-9*/ Blanton Hamels Moyer2
Pit
@Was/ Ari Ari Ari/ StL StL StL
Morton/ Duke Ohlendorf Hart-10*/ Maholm Morton2 Duke2
StL
--- @NYM @NYM/ --- @Pit @Pit @Pit
--- Pineiro Lohse/ --- Carpenter Wainwright Pineiro2
SD
Atl Atl Atl/ NYM NYM NYM NYM
Latos-11* Stauffer Gaudin/ Richard-12* Correia Latos2 Stauffer2
SF
@Ho @Ho @Ho/ --- Cin Cin Cin
Cain Sanchez Sadowski/ --- Lincecum Zito Cain2
Was
Pit/ Fla Fla Fla/ Ari Ari Ari
Mock/ Martin Lannan Stammen/ Balester Mock2 Martin2
*-The Diamondbacks are keeping ineffective RHP Yusmeiro Petit in their rotation for now. That’s mostly because the minor league pitchers who might step in are either hurting or struggling.
**-LHP Tom Gorzelanny, who was part of the trade that sent RHP Kevin Hart to the Pirates, is taking Hart’s place in the Cubs’ rotation. Starting pitching is clearly the strength of shell-of-a-major league-team Pittsburgh, which has provided other teams with two starters who weren’t even in the Bucs’ rotation: Gorzelanny and Snell.
3*-The Reds promoted journeyman RHP Justin Lehr, who was pitching pretty well as a starter at Triple-A Louisville, to their rotation. He made his first start for Cincinnati Monday. That’s not the best news, but it’s far better than knowing that RHP Edinson Volquez will undergo elbow surgery Monday.
4*-The Astros are hoping RHP Roy Oswalt (lower back injury) will be able to make his next start Tuesday. If he couldn’t pitch then, a possibility could be RHP Samuel Gervacio, just up from Triple-A Round Rock, or RHP Yorman Bazardo or another pitcher elevated from the Express.
5*-Houston already has recalled RHP Bud Norris from Round Rock to take the rotation vacancy created when the Astros released RHP Russ Ortiz.
6*-RHP Mike Burns returned to the Brewers’ rotation tonight, which would put him in line for his next start Friday.
7*-The off day Monday could make it possible for Milwaukee to bypass its fifth starter for a while. LHP Manny Parra could start on his usual four days’ rest Saturday. Another option would be to use RHP Carlos Villanueva, scheduled to pitch Sunday as the Brewers’ fifth starter. Villanueva is a better pitcher than he has shown while pitching badly in relief this season.
8*-RHP Tim Redding, who has used up six or seven lives in the Mets’ rotation this season, seems likely to gain another reprieve by replacing scuffling RHP Livan Hernandez for at least Monday’s start.
9*-LHP Cliff Lee, the biggest name changing teams during last week’s trades, won his first start for the Phillies Friday. His next scheduled start would be Wednesday.
10*-It’s likely that RHP Virgil Vasquez made his final start in the Pirates’ rotation tonight, and that RHP Kevin Hart would replace Vasquez to start Thursday.
11*-Just a note to remind you that I was bullish on RHP Mat Latos even when he was pitching for Double-A San Antonio this season. He has done well in his first few starts since jumping to the Padres’ rotation.
12*-LHP Clayton Richard, acquired from the White Sox in the deadline deal for RHP Jake Peavy, made his first start for the Padres tonight and is scheduled to pitch again Thursday. Richard and Latos provide significant upgrades in San Diego’s rotation.
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal
@Det @Det @Det @Det/ @Tor @Tor @Tor
Tillman* Matusz** Guthrie Hernandez/ Berken Tillman2 Matusz2
Bos
--- @TB @TB/ @NYY @NYY @NYY @NYY
--- Lester Penny/ Smoltz Beckett Buchholz-3* Lester2
CWS
--- LAA LAA LAA/ Cle Cle Cle
--- Contreras Floyd Danks/ Buehrle Carrasco-4* Contreras2
Cle
--- Min Min Min/ @CWS @CWS @CWS
--- Huff Laffey Carmona-5*/ Sowers Pavano Huff2
Det
Bal Bal Bal Bal/ Min Min Min
Verlander Washburn-6* Jackson Porcello/ Galarraga Verlander2
Washburn2
KC
@TB/ Se Se Se/ Oak Oak Oak
Greinke/ Hochevar Ponson Chen/ Bannister Greinke2 Hochevar2
LAA
--- @CWS @CWS @CWS/ Tex Tex Tex
--- Lackey Santana Saunders/ Weaver O’Sullivan-7* Lackey2
Min
--- @Cle @Cle @Cle/ @Det @Det @Det
--- Baker Liriano Blackburn/ Swarzak Perkins Baker2
NYY
--- @Tor @Tor/ Bos Bos Bos Bos
--- Chamberlain Mitre-8*/ Pettitte Burnett Sabathia Chamberlain2
Oak
Tex Tex Tex Tex/ @KC @KC @KC
Anderson Gonzalez Braden Cahill/ Mazzaro Anderson2 Gonzalez2
Se
--- @KC @KC @KC/ TB TB TB
--- Rowland-Smith French-9* Vargas/ Hernandez Snell-10* Rowland-Smith2
TB
KC/ Bos Bos/ --- @Se @Se @Se
Kazmir/ Garza Price/ --- Niemann Shields Kazmir2
Tex
@Oak @Oak @Oak @Oak/ @LAA @LAA @LAA
Millwood-11* Holland Padilla Hunter/ Feldman Millwood2 Holland2
Tor
--- NYY NYY/ --- Bal Bal Bal
--- Halladay Richmond/ --- Cecil Romero Halladay2
*-The Orioles have added RHP Chris Tillman, their best pitching prospect to their rotation.
**-Baltimore’s next best pitching prospect could be LHP Brian Matusz, who has been pitching at Double-A Bowie. The BaySox removed him from today’s start after one inning, fueling speculation that he could start Tuesday’s game with RHP Brad Bergesen on the disabled list. Orioles president Andy MacPhail said that was a “strong possibility.”
3*-RHP Clay Buchholz is in the Red Sox rotation with RHP Tim Wakefield on the DL.
4*-The White Sox can move their fifth starter back a few days because Monday’s off day will enable other pitchers to move ahead and stay on four days’ rest. RHP D.J. Carrasco moved from the bullpen to start Friday and could start again Saturday. Other options could be RHPs Carlos Torres (from Triple-A Charlotte) or Bartolo Colon (from the disabled list).
5*-RHP Fausto Carmona came back from the minors to start Friday’s game, and is expected to stay in the Indians’ rotation at least until they can give RHP Justin Masterson, acquired from the Red Sox, enough innings to grow from his relief role to a starting job.
6*-Newly acquired LHP Jarrod Washburn has moved from the Mariners’ rotation to Detroit’s since the teams’ trade-deadline deal.
7*-The Angels are expected to recall RHP Sean O’Sullivan from his minor league assignment to start Saturday’s game when they next need a fifth starter.
8*-RHP Sergio Mitre is the Yankees’ current fifth starter. Even though they have Monday off, they’re moving Mitre ahead in the rotation so he can pitch against the Blue Jays instead of in their key weekend series vs. the Red Sox.
9*-Rookie LHP Lucas French, acquired from Detroit in the Washburn trade, has moved into the Mariners’ rotation.
10*-RHP Ian Snell, another acquisition near the trade deadline, is taking Washburn’s place in the rotation Sunday. That would put him in line for his next start Saturday.
11*-Rangers RHP has a strained gluteus maximus, aka pain in the ass, which limited his last start to two innings and delayed his next one from Sunday until Monday. It’s possible he still might not be able to pitch then. Texas had RHP Doug Mathis scratched from tonight’s start with Triple-A Oklahoma City in case he’s needed to take Millwood’s place Monday.
NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari
@NYM/ @Pit @Pit @Pit/ @Was @Was @Was
Haren/ Petit* Davis Scherzer/ Garland Haren2 Petit2
Atl
@SD @SD @SD/ @LAD @LAD @LAD @LAD
Kawakami Vazquez Hanson/ Lowe Jurrjens Kawakami2 Vazquez2
ChC
@Cin @Cin @Cin/ --- @Col @Col @Col
Wells Gorzelanny** Harden/ --- Zambrano Dempster Wells2
Cin
ChC ChC ChC/ --- @SF @SF @SF
Harang Cueto Lehr-3*/ --- Bailey Arroyo Harang2
Col
--- @Phi @Phi @Phi/ ChC ChC ChC
--- Hammel DeLaRosa Cook/ Jimenez Marquis Hammel2
Fla
--- @Was @Was @Was/ @Phi @Phi @Phi
--- Johnson VandenHurk Volstad/ Badenhop Nolasco Johnson2
Ho
SF SF SF/ --- Mil Mil Mil
Hampton Oswalt-4* Moehler/ --- Rodriguez Norris-5* Hampton2
LAD
Mil Mil Mil/ Atl Atl Atl Atl
Kershaw Kuroda Schmidt/ Wolf Billingsley Kershaw2 Kuroda2
Mil
@LAD @LAD @LAD/ --- @Ho @Ho @Ho
Parra Gallardo Looper/ --- Burns-6* Parra2-7* Gallardo2
NYM
Ari/ StL StL/ @SD @SD @SD @SD
Redding-8*/ Niese Santana/ Perez Pelfrey Redding2 Niese2
Phi
--- Col Col Col/ Fla Fla Fla
--- Moyer Happ Lee-9*/ Blanton Hamels Moyer2
Pit
@Was/ Ari Ari Ari/ StL StL StL
Morton/ Duke Ohlendorf Hart-10*/ Maholm Morton2 Duke2
StL
--- @NYM @NYM/ --- @Pit @Pit @Pit
--- Pineiro Lohse/ --- Carpenter Wainwright Pineiro2
SD
Atl Atl Atl/ NYM NYM NYM NYM
Latos-11* Stauffer Gaudin/ Richard-12* Correia Latos2 Stauffer2
SF
@Ho @Ho @Ho/ --- Cin Cin Cin
Cain Sanchez Sadowski/ --- Lincecum Zito Cain2
Was
Pit/ Fla Fla Fla/ Ari Ari Ari
Mock/ Martin Lannan Stammen/ Balester Mock2 Martin2
*-The Diamondbacks are keeping ineffective RHP Yusmeiro Petit in their rotation for now. That’s mostly because the minor league pitchers who might step in are either hurting or struggling.
**-LHP Tom Gorzelanny, who was part of the trade that sent RHP Kevin Hart to the Pirates, is taking Hart’s place in the Cubs’ rotation. Starting pitching is clearly the strength of shell-of-a-major league-team Pittsburgh, which has provided other teams with two starters who weren’t even in the Bucs’ rotation: Gorzelanny and Snell.
3*-The Reds promoted journeyman RHP Justin Lehr, who was pitching pretty well as a starter at Triple-A Louisville, to their rotation. He made his first start for Cincinnati Monday. That’s not the best news, but it’s far better than knowing that RHP Edinson Volquez will undergo elbow surgery Monday.
4*-The Astros are hoping RHP Roy Oswalt (lower back injury) will be able to make his next start Tuesday. If he couldn’t pitch then, a possibility could be RHP Samuel Gervacio, just up from Triple-A Round Rock, or RHP Yorman Bazardo or another pitcher elevated from the Express.
5*-Houston already has recalled RHP Bud Norris from Round Rock to take the rotation vacancy created when the Astros released RHP Russ Ortiz.
6*-RHP Mike Burns returned to the Brewers’ rotation tonight, which would put him in line for his next start Friday.
7*-The off day Monday could make it possible for Milwaukee to bypass its fifth starter for a while. LHP Manny Parra could start on his usual four days’ rest Saturday. Another option would be to use RHP Carlos Villanueva, scheduled to pitch Sunday as the Brewers’ fifth starter. Villanueva is a better pitcher than he has shown while pitching badly in relief this season.
8*-RHP Tim Redding, who has used up six or seven lives in the Mets’ rotation this season, seems likely to gain another reprieve by replacing scuffling RHP Livan Hernandez for at least Monday’s start.
9*-LHP Cliff Lee, the biggest name changing teams during last week’s trades, won his first start for the Phillies Friday. His next scheduled start would be Wednesday.
10*-It’s likely that RHP Virgil Vasquez made his final start in the Pirates’ rotation tonight, and that RHP Kevin Hart would replace Vasquez to start Thursday.
11*-Just a note to remind you that I was bullish on RHP Mat Latos even when he was pitching for Double-A San Antonio this season. He has done well in his first few starts since jumping to the Padres’ rotation.
12*-LHP Clayton Richard, acquired from the White Sox in the deadline deal for RHP Jake Peavy, made his first start for the Padres tonight and is scheduled to pitch again Thursday. Richard and Latos provide significant upgrades in San Diego’s rotation.
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