Who says you can't change your team even as you're going to spring training?
Clearly not the Orioles and manager Buck Showalter.
They announced a 3-year, $5.75-million contract with RHP Suk-min Yoon, and apparently are within a passed physical of adding RHP Ubaldo Jimenez for four years and $50 million.
Yoon most likely would pitch out of the bullpen, where he would be one bad game removed from a "Suck-min" headline. I'm wary of Jimenez because his pitching motion has so many ways to get out of whack and also possibly hurt his arm.
-- With money that might have gone to Jimenez, the Indians avoided
arbitration with RHP Justin Masterson by signing him to a contract for
this season at $9.7625 million. What? They couldn't afford another measly $237,500 to bring him up to $10 million?
-- The Rangers apparently have gone into camp with a three-way battle among RHPs Neftali Feliz, Tanner Scheppers and Joakim Soria. I was encouraged about Soria last season until a couple of really bad September outings. Texas must not be too excited about Scheppers, because he was the headliner among a group of nine mostly marginal major leaguers signed for a year at or slightly above the $500,000 minimum. Scheppers will receive $515,000. If he does become the Rangers' closer, let's hope he doesn't spend too much of his money in The Flats in Cleveland.
-- Additional second base battles.
In Washington, it's shaping up as 2012 discovery Danny Espinosa and 2013 find Anthony Rendon. If neither matches his breakout season, it could be a long year for the Nationals and their pitchers.
The Yankees' front-runner is Brian "Can't Avoid Injury" Roberts. Other options could be Kelly "Can't Field" Johnson, Brendan "Can't Hit" Ryan and Eduardo "Can't Play Third or Short" Nunez. If a team has four second basemen, it really has no second baseman.
The spaghetti method -- take a bunch of players at one position to spring training, throw them at the all and hope one of them sticks -- really works only with pitchers. Among a group of five or six pitchers, one of them will get lucky enough to get some batters out -- at least through spring training, and even then he could become a liability during the regular season.
-- With New Age manager Brad Ausmus, the Tigers will join the growing trend of major league teams using analytics and probability to align fielders and improve their defense. Ausmus and analytics both begin with A. The new skipper's staff includes a guy named Matt Martin as defensive coordinator. Detroit also will be emphasizing speed more this season, with 2B Ian Kinsler and OF Rajai Davis (on a platoon basis) in their starting lineup. Prediction: Kinsler will steal more bases this season than Prince Fielder will.
-- It will be a surprise if the Tigers don't run away with the AL Central this year. Division rivals are making defensive changes by moving catchers to first base (Twins' Joe Mauer) and third base (Indians' Carlos Santana). Santana might be more agile than catcher-turned-third baseman Pablo Sandoval.
-- Looking ahead six weeks, the Blue Jays named RHP R.A. Dickey as their Opening Day starter.
* * *
Basketball. The NBA started up tonight, and I learned that I didn't win Week 16 by an 8-0 margin. Apparently, Week 16 is continuing from the short last week through the short this week -- even though this is a short week loaded with games. And my lead for the week now is down to 7-1; I've fallen behind in free throw percentage.
There were good performances from my roster tonight. The Suns' Gerald Green poured in 36 points, including six 3s. Carmelo Anthony had another (yawn!) double double with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Showing posts with label Neftali Feliz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Neftali Feliz. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
There's always a job for a middle-of-the-road lefty
The Rangers and Mets made blip-on-the-radar news this weekend. Not a bad time for lefties either.
Texas signed LHP Rafael Perez a minor league contract with a chance to compete for a spot in their bullpen. He's a sidearmer effective against his kindred left-handers. Kind of like a southpaw Darren O'Day from the Rangers' glory days. Texas had Michael Kirkman in its bullpen most of last season. I'm fairly confident the Rangers could do better with Perez, who pitched only in the minors in 2013.
With LHP Derek Holland out for half or more of this season, Texas reportedly has been exploring signing LHPs Paul Maholm or Bruce Chen. Maholm had some success when the Pirates were really bad. Chen has pitched for just about everybody, including parts of two seasons for the Rangers, and brings a high-end personality to a clubhouse. He even pitched well as a swing man for Kansas City last season.
Texas also avoided arbitration by signing one-year contracts with RHPs Neftali Feliz ($3 million) and Alexi Ogando ($2.625 mill). That's probably more than $10,000 per pitch for the pair who were hurt most of last year. Ogando was on the DL three different times. Feliz took more of the long-term approach by not pitching in the majors until September.
The Mets signed LHP John Lannan, who could be their fifth starter, and are bringing back SS/utility infielder Omar Quintanilla. Each would go to spring training with a minor league contract.
Another guy, or perhaps I should say just another guy, is trying to make a comeback after being out of pro ball last year. The Mariners have agreed with LHP Joe Beimel on a minor league deal. Not sure why they think he suddenly might know how to pitch.
The list of teams that reportedly have offered RHP Masahiro Tanaka more than $100 million for six years shows that the Diamondbacks want to become major, big-market player. The other teams on the list are the Yankees, Dodgers, White Sox and Cubs. Hey, the Cubbies could win 70 games with Tanaka on the staff.
* * *
Basketball. It's still 7-1 going into the last day of the week.
I'm down by six 3-pointers, and think I have sufficient leads in the other categories unless my shooting percentages go down significantly (which always can happen).
Team Fresh Prints has five players going Sunday, to four for my opponent. However, three of his players are guards, but one is Rajon Rondo, whom we shouldn't expect to play much for a while.
I also have three guards in action, but I'll need good performances from Gerald Green, Victor Oladipo and Marco Belinelli to have a chance to sweep the week.
Covered the Trail Blazers' devastation of the Mavericks tonight. Mo Williams, who comes off Portland's bench in much the same way that he comes off my bench, had a good game with four rebounds, three assists, two steals and eight points, but didn't hit any 3s.
A player to watch for Dallas is Devin Harris, who played for the first time this season. He could give them a legitimate point guard, but tonight he had just six points in 17 minutes and missed two free throws.
* * *
Hockey. Can't say much because I dropped a point and had poor performances in my Categories That Shall Not Be Named. On the down side, there are four other teams creeping up close behind me in goalie wins. Let's put it this way, they're closer to me than I am to the team ahead of me.
* * *
Football. After being eliminated from the AMFL playoffs last week, I have no fantasy football teams active.
I'm pretty sure I'm out of contention in the Pittsburgh pick-'em playoff pool. Don't remember whether I told you my strategy for this week in the hypothetical bet-a-thousand pool. I'm putting $1,400 on the Broncos at (I believe) minus-7 1/2 and $100 on the 49ers at (I think) plus-3 1/2. A Denver win could at least narrow the gap between my $1,600 and the $3,700 that leads the pool. If the Patriots and Seahawks cover, I'd at least be left with $100 that I could double with a winning Super Bowl bet. Of course, it's not real money unless I finish in the top three (maybe top six, don't remember) and then I'd win just a percentage of the $10 entry fees put into the pool. I'm currently 18th among about 60 in the pool.
Texas signed LHP Rafael Perez a minor league contract with a chance to compete for a spot in their bullpen. He's a sidearmer effective against his kindred left-handers. Kind of like a southpaw Darren O'Day from the Rangers' glory days. Texas had Michael Kirkman in its bullpen most of last season. I'm fairly confident the Rangers could do better with Perez, who pitched only in the minors in 2013.
With LHP Derek Holland out for half or more of this season, Texas reportedly has been exploring signing LHPs Paul Maholm or Bruce Chen. Maholm had some success when the Pirates were really bad. Chen has pitched for just about everybody, including parts of two seasons for the Rangers, and brings a high-end personality to a clubhouse. He even pitched well as a swing man for Kansas City last season.
Texas also avoided arbitration by signing one-year contracts with RHPs Neftali Feliz ($3 million) and Alexi Ogando ($2.625 mill). That's probably more than $10,000 per pitch for the pair who were hurt most of last year. Ogando was on the DL three different times. Feliz took more of the long-term approach by not pitching in the majors until September.
The Mets signed LHP John Lannan, who could be their fifth starter, and are bringing back SS/utility infielder Omar Quintanilla. Each would go to spring training with a minor league contract.
Another guy, or perhaps I should say just another guy, is trying to make a comeback after being out of pro ball last year. The Mariners have agreed with LHP Joe Beimel on a minor league deal. Not sure why they think he suddenly might know how to pitch.
The list of teams that reportedly have offered RHP Masahiro Tanaka more than $100 million for six years shows that the Diamondbacks want to become major, big-market player. The other teams on the list are the Yankees, Dodgers, White Sox and Cubs. Hey, the Cubbies could win 70 games with Tanaka on the staff.
* * *
Basketball. It's still 7-1 going into the last day of the week.
I'm down by six 3-pointers, and think I have sufficient leads in the other categories unless my shooting percentages go down significantly (which always can happen).
Team Fresh Prints has five players going Sunday, to four for my opponent. However, three of his players are guards, but one is Rajon Rondo, whom we shouldn't expect to play much for a while.
I also have three guards in action, but I'll need good performances from Gerald Green, Victor Oladipo and Marco Belinelli to have a chance to sweep the week.
Covered the Trail Blazers' devastation of the Mavericks tonight. Mo Williams, who comes off Portland's bench in much the same way that he comes off my bench, had a good game with four rebounds, three assists, two steals and eight points, but didn't hit any 3s.
A player to watch for Dallas is Devin Harris, who played for the first time this season. He could give them a legitimate point guard, but tonight he had just six points in 17 minutes and missed two free throws.
* * *
Hockey. Can't say much because I dropped a point and had poor performances in my Categories That Shall Not Be Named. On the down side, there are four other teams creeping up close behind me in goalie wins. Let's put it this way, they're closer to me than I am to the team ahead of me.
* * *
Football. After being eliminated from the AMFL playoffs last week, I have no fantasy football teams active.
I'm pretty sure I'm out of contention in the Pittsburgh pick-'em playoff pool. Don't remember whether I told you my strategy for this week in the hypothetical bet-a-thousand pool. I'm putting $1,400 on the Broncos at (I believe) minus-7 1/2 and $100 on the 49ers at (I think) plus-3 1/2. A Denver win could at least narrow the gap between my $1,600 and the $3,700 that leads the pool. If the Patriots and Seahawks cover, I'd at least be left with $100 that I could double with a winning Super Bowl bet. Of course, it's not real money unless I finish in the top three (maybe top six, don't remember) and then I'd win just a percentage of the $10 entry fees put into the pool. I'm currently 18th among about 60 in the pool.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Blue Jays, Romero could have another big week
We’re later than we like to be with this week’s Preview and Pitching Chart. Our target, which is very difficult to meet, is Saturday morning. But we’ll be getting these Pitching Charts to you during the weekend.
NOTE: We have extended the free period for these Emails through Sunday, April 18. After that date, the Emails would go only to those who subscribe.
Before then, we’ll tell you how you can subscribe to receive these Emails five or more times per week, along with timely Articles and other information that will be added to the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Subscriptions will include Articles such as our “Pitchers (and Hitters) to Keep and Avoid.” Last year, our recommendation of Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa in itself was worth the cost of what you’d pay, and he was only one of our picks that were on the money. Choosing him was inspired; he was 0-6 when we recommended him, and 16-3 thereafter.
You also would have access to whatever content we’re able to get on to the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Let us know of your interest and what you’d like to see by Emailing lary@fantasybaseballscout.com.
Thanks for your continuing interest in and support of Fantasy Baseball Scout. Thanks also to those who have made suggestions as to content they’d like to see. A reminder: Subscribers will be able to ask questions specific to their fantasy teams and leagues, and receive answers through these Emails, the web site or personal Emails.
Projected starting pitchers, April 12-18, 2010
AL Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal TB-Guthrie TB-Matusz TB-Bergesen @Oak-Hrnandez @Oak-Millwood @Oak-Guthrie2 @Oak-Matusz2
Bos @Min-Lester --- @Min-Lackey @Min-Wakfield TB-Beckett TB-Bchholz* TB-Lester2
CWS @Tor-Peavy @Tor-Floyd @Tor-Danks @Tor-Garcia @Cle-Buehrle @Cle-Peavy2 @Cle-Floyd2
Cle Tex-Carmona --- Tex-Mastersn Tex-Huff CWS-Talbot CWS-Wstbrook CWS-Crmona2
Det KC-Scherzer KC-Willis KC-Porcello --- @Se-Bondrmn @Se-Verlander @Se-Scherzer2
KC @Det-Hochevar @Det-Bannister @Det-Davies --- @Min-Greinke @Min-Meche @Min-Hochevr2
LAA --- @NYY-Santana @NYY-Pineiro @NYY-Kazmir** @Tor-Weaver @Tor-Saunders @Tor-Santana2
Min Bos-Pavano --- Bos-Slowey Bos-Liriano KC-Baker KC-Blckburn KC-Pavano2
NYY --- LAA-Pettitte LAA-Vazquez LAA-Hughs-3* Tex-Sabathia Tex-Burnett Tex-Pettitte2
Oak @Se-Duchschr @Se-Anderson @Se-Gonzalez Bal-Sheets Bal-Braden Bal-Dchschr2 Bal-Andersn2
Se Oak-Rwd-Smh Oak-Fister Oak-Vargas --- Det-Hrnandez Det-Snell Det-Rd-Smh2
TB @Bal-Garza @Bal-Niemann @Bal-Price --- @Bos-Davis @Bos-Shields @Bos-Garza2
Tex @Cle-Harden --- @Cle-Wilson @Cle-Lewis @NYY-Harrison @NYY-Feldman @NYY-Harden2
Tor CWS-Tallet CWS-Romero CWS-Morrow CWS-Eveland LAA-Marcum LAA-Tallet2 LAA-Romero2
*-The Red Sox could move LHP Jon Lester ahead of RHP Clay Buchholz, their fifth starter.
**-LHP Scott Kazmir is expected to be ready to start Thursday or even Wednesday for the Angels. In an injury-rehab start Friday at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga against Inland Empire (Dodgers organization), Kazmir pitched 6 1/3 innings with a fastball that reached 93 mph
3*-The Yankees would have their fifth starter, RHP Phil Hughes, pitch against the Angels Thursday so New York could have two left-handers start against a Rangers lineup heavy with left-handed batters Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis and Julio Borbon.
AL Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari --- @LAD-Kennedy @LAD-Lopez @LAD-Haren @SD-Jackson @SD-Benson* @SD-Knnedy2
Atl @SD-Jurrjens --- @SD-Hanson @SD-Hudson Col-Lowe Col-Kawakmi Col-Jurrjens2
ChC Mil-Dempster --- Mil-Wells Mil-Zmbno** Ho-Silva Ho-Gorzlany Ho-Dempstr2
Cin @Fla-Cueto @Fla-Arryo-3* @Fla-Bailey @Fla-Harang @Pit-Leake @Pit-Cueto2 @Pit-Arroyo2
Col --- NYM-Smith NYM-Cook NYM-DeLaRsa @Atl-Hammel @Atl-Jimenez @Atl-Smith2
Fla Cin-Nolasco Cin-Robertsn Cin-Volstad Cin-Johnson @Phi-Sanchez @Phi-Nolasco2 @Phi-Robrtsn2
Ho @StL-Rdriguez --- @StL-Myers @StL-Norris @ChC-Paulino @ChC-Oswalt @ChC-Rdrguez2
LAD --- Ari-Kershaw Ari-Blingsley Ari-Kuroda SF-Padilla SF-Haeger SF-Kershaw2
Mil @ChC-Davis --- @ChC-Bush @ChC-Suppn-4* @Was-Gallardo @Was-Wolf @Was-Davis2
NYM --- @Col-Maine @Col-Niese @Col-Pelfrey @StL-Perez @StL-Santana @StL-Maine2
Phi Was-Hamels --- Was-Kendrick Was-Happ Fla-Moyer Fla-Halladay Fla-Hamels2
Pit @SF-Ohlndorf @SF-Maholm @SF-Morton --- Cin-Duke Cin-Olndorf2 Cin-Maholm2
StL Ho-Wanright --- Ho-Penny Ho-Lohse NYM-Garcia NYM-Carpenter NYM-Wanrght2
SD Atl-Correia --- Atl-Richard Atl-Latos Ari-Garland Ari-Correia2 Ari-Young-5*
SF Pit-Zito Pit-Cain Pit-Sanchez --- @LAD-Wlemeyr @LAD-Lincecum @LAD-Zito2
Was @Phi-Marquis --- @Phi-Stammen @Phi-Mock Mil-Lannan Mil-Hrnandez Mil-Marquis2
*-RHP Kris Benson, scheduled to start Monday at Triple-A Reno, is the pitcher most likely to become the Diamondbacks’ fifth starter when one is needed Saturday. Other possibilities are RHPs Billy Buckner, who started Sunday at Reno, and Kevin Mulvey, the Aces’ scheduled starter Tuesday.
**-The Cubs are likely to keep RHP Carlos Zambrano on an every-five-days schedule, pushing other starters back a day if there’s a day off in the schedule (which there is Tuesday).
3*-RHP Bronson Arroyo is expected to be able to make his next scheduled start Tuesday despite taking a line drive off his left calf from Cardinals OF Colby Rasmus.
4*-The Brewers are expected to give their fifth starter, RHP Jeff Suppan, his first start Thursday instead of having RHP Yovani Gallardo pitch on his usual four days’ rest.
5*-The Pirates are likely to skip their fifth starter, RHP Daniel McCutchen, and have RHP Ross Ohlendorf pitch on four days’ rest.
6*-Padres RHP Chris Young will miss his scheduled start during the series against the Braves because of a tight shoulder, but could be all right to start Sunday. If Young couldn’t go, LHP Wade LeBlanc could be recalled from Triple-A Portland. He’s scheduled to pitch Tuesday for the Beavers, so LeBlanc would be on his usual rest.
Schedule notes
Of the 30 teams, just six – Orioles, White Sox, Athletics and Blue Jays in the American League, and Reds and Marlins in the National League – are scheduled to play seven games this week. The others would play six times. Toronto is the only team that would play all seven at home. That’s a neutral park. Overall, the schedule slightly favors pitchers – with six games scheduled in pitchers’ parks at Seattle, Los Angeles, St. Louis and San Diego. The only teams that would play six home games in a hitters’ park are at Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field.
Pitchers scheduled to start twice at home are RHPs Fausto Carmona, Carl Pavano, Ryan Dempster, Adam Wainwright and Kevin Correia, and LHPs Andy Pettitte, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Brian Tallet, Ricky Romero, Clayton Kershaw and Cole Hamels. Our highest recommendations are Wainwright, Romero and Kershaw, with Carmona as a live longshot.
In closing
This is a regular feature of our Emails and blog posts. It lets you know who’s getting saves. Equally important is telling you who’s blowing saves or putting his job in jeopardy by getting shaky saves. There’s also a FREE Article on the old fantasybaseballscout.com web site letting you know which pitcher or pitchers each team is using to close games. It will be updated whenever there’s a change or speculation about a change in a team’s closer. In fact, there’s an update there today.
Today’s biggest news about closers is that the Rangers are replacing their closer, RHP Frank Francisco, with RHP Neftali Feliz after two spectacularly blown saves.
NOTE: We have extended the free period for these Emails through Sunday, April 18. After that date, the Emails would go only to those who subscribe.
Before then, we’ll tell you how you can subscribe to receive these Emails five or more times per week, along with timely Articles and other information that will be added to the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Subscriptions will include Articles such as our “Pitchers (and Hitters) to Keep and Avoid.” Last year, our recommendation of Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa in itself was worth the cost of what you’d pay, and he was only one of our picks that were on the money. Choosing him was inspired; he was 0-6 when we recommended him, and 16-3 thereafter.
You also would have access to whatever content we’re able to get on to the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Let us know of your interest and what you’d like to see by Emailing lary@fantasybaseballscout.com.
Thanks for your continuing interest in and support of Fantasy Baseball Scout. Thanks also to those who have made suggestions as to content they’d like to see. A reminder: Subscribers will be able to ask questions specific to their fantasy teams and leagues, and receive answers through these Emails, the web site or personal Emails.
Projected starting pitchers, April 12-18, 2010
AL Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Bal TB-Guthrie TB-Matusz TB-Bergesen @Oak-Hrnandez @Oak-Millwood @Oak-Guthrie2 @Oak-Matusz2
Bos @Min-Lester --- @Min-Lackey @Min-Wakfield TB-Beckett TB-Bchholz* TB-Lester2
CWS @Tor-Peavy @Tor-Floyd @Tor-Danks @Tor-Garcia @Cle-Buehrle @Cle-Peavy2 @Cle-Floyd2
Cle Tex-Carmona --- Tex-Mastersn Tex-Huff CWS-Talbot CWS-Wstbrook CWS-Crmona2
Det KC-Scherzer KC-Willis KC-Porcello --- @Se-Bondrmn @Se-Verlander @Se-Scherzer2
KC @Det-Hochevar @Det-Bannister @Det-Davies --- @Min-Greinke @Min-Meche @Min-Hochevr2
LAA --- @NYY-Santana @NYY-Pineiro @NYY-Kazmir** @Tor-Weaver @Tor-Saunders @Tor-Santana2
Min Bos-Pavano --- Bos-Slowey Bos-Liriano KC-Baker KC-Blckburn KC-Pavano2
NYY --- LAA-Pettitte LAA-Vazquez LAA-Hughs-3* Tex-Sabathia Tex-Burnett Tex-Pettitte2
Oak @Se-Duchschr @Se-Anderson @Se-Gonzalez Bal-Sheets Bal-Braden Bal-Dchschr2 Bal-Andersn2
Se Oak-Rwd-Smh Oak-Fister Oak-Vargas --- Det-Hrnandez Det-Snell Det-Rd-Smh2
TB @Bal-Garza @Bal-Niemann @Bal-Price --- @Bos-Davis @Bos-Shields @Bos-Garza2
Tex @Cle-Harden --- @Cle-Wilson @Cle-Lewis @NYY-Harrison @NYY-Feldman @NYY-Harden2
Tor CWS-Tallet CWS-Romero CWS-Morrow CWS-Eveland LAA-Marcum LAA-Tallet2 LAA-Romero2
*-The Red Sox could move LHP Jon Lester ahead of RHP Clay Buchholz, their fifth starter.
**-LHP Scott Kazmir is expected to be ready to start Thursday or even Wednesday for the Angels. In an injury-rehab start Friday at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga against Inland Empire (Dodgers organization), Kazmir pitched 6 1/3 innings with a fastball that reached 93 mph
3*-The Yankees would have their fifth starter, RHP Phil Hughes, pitch against the Angels Thursday so New York could have two left-handers start against a Rangers lineup heavy with left-handed batters Josh Hamilton, Chris Davis and Julio Borbon.
AL Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Ari --- @LAD-Kennedy @LAD-Lopez @LAD-Haren @SD-Jackson @SD-Benson* @SD-Knnedy2
Atl @SD-Jurrjens --- @SD-Hanson @SD-Hudson Col-Lowe Col-Kawakmi Col-Jurrjens2
ChC Mil-Dempster --- Mil-Wells Mil-Zmbno** Ho-Silva Ho-Gorzlany Ho-Dempstr2
Cin @Fla-Cueto @Fla-Arryo-3* @Fla-Bailey @Fla-Harang @Pit-Leake @Pit-Cueto2 @Pit-Arroyo2
Col --- NYM-Smith NYM-Cook NYM-DeLaRsa @Atl-Hammel @Atl-Jimenez @Atl-Smith2
Fla Cin-Nolasco Cin-Robertsn Cin-Volstad Cin-Johnson @Phi-Sanchez @Phi-Nolasco2 @Phi-Robrtsn2
Ho @StL-Rdriguez --- @StL-Myers @StL-Norris @ChC-Paulino @ChC-Oswalt @ChC-Rdrguez2
LAD --- Ari-Kershaw Ari-Blingsley Ari-Kuroda SF-Padilla SF-Haeger SF-Kershaw2
Mil @ChC-Davis --- @ChC-Bush @ChC-Suppn-4* @Was-Gallardo @Was-Wolf @Was-Davis2
NYM --- @Col-Maine @Col-Niese @Col-Pelfrey @StL-Perez @StL-Santana @StL-Maine2
Phi Was-Hamels --- Was-Kendrick Was-Happ Fla-Moyer Fla-Halladay Fla-Hamels2
Pit @SF-Ohlndorf @SF-Maholm @SF-Morton --- Cin-Duke Cin-Olndorf2 Cin-Maholm2
StL Ho-Wanright --- Ho-Penny Ho-Lohse NYM-Garcia NYM-Carpenter NYM-Wanrght2
SD Atl-Correia --- Atl-Richard Atl-Latos Ari-Garland Ari-Correia2 Ari-Young-5*
SF Pit-Zito Pit-Cain Pit-Sanchez --- @LAD-Wlemeyr @LAD-Lincecum @LAD-Zito2
Was @Phi-Marquis --- @Phi-Stammen @Phi-Mock Mil-Lannan Mil-Hrnandez Mil-Marquis2
*-RHP Kris Benson, scheduled to start Monday at Triple-A Reno, is the pitcher most likely to become the Diamondbacks’ fifth starter when one is needed Saturday. Other possibilities are RHPs Billy Buckner, who started Sunday at Reno, and Kevin Mulvey, the Aces’ scheduled starter Tuesday.
**-The Cubs are likely to keep RHP Carlos Zambrano on an every-five-days schedule, pushing other starters back a day if there’s a day off in the schedule (which there is Tuesday).
3*-RHP Bronson Arroyo is expected to be able to make his next scheduled start Tuesday despite taking a line drive off his left calf from Cardinals OF Colby Rasmus.
4*-The Brewers are expected to give their fifth starter, RHP Jeff Suppan, his first start Thursday instead of having RHP Yovani Gallardo pitch on his usual four days’ rest.
5*-The Pirates are likely to skip their fifth starter, RHP Daniel McCutchen, and have RHP Ross Ohlendorf pitch on four days’ rest.
6*-Padres RHP Chris Young will miss his scheduled start during the series against the Braves because of a tight shoulder, but could be all right to start Sunday. If Young couldn’t go, LHP Wade LeBlanc could be recalled from Triple-A Portland. He’s scheduled to pitch Tuesday for the Beavers, so LeBlanc would be on his usual rest.
Schedule notes
Of the 30 teams, just six – Orioles, White Sox, Athletics and Blue Jays in the American League, and Reds and Marlins in the National League – are scheduled to play seven games this week. The others would play six times. Toronto is the only team that would play all seven at home. That’s a neutral park. Overall, the schedule slightly favors pitchers – with six games scheduled in pitchers’ parks at Seattle, Los Angeles, St. Louis and San Diego. The only teams that would play six home games in a hitters’ park are at Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field.
Pitchers scheduled to start twice at home are RHPs Fausto Carmona, Carl Pavano, Ryan Dempster, Adam Wainwright and Kevin Correia, and LHPs Andy Pettitte, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Brian Tallet, Ricky Romero, Clayton Kershaw and Cole Hamels. Our highest recommendations are Wainwright, Romero and Kershaw, with Carmona as a live longshot.
In closing
This is a regular feature of our Emails and blog posts. It lets you know who’s getting saves. Equally important is telling you who’s blowing saves or putting his job in jeopardy by getting shaky saves. There’s also a FREE Article on the old fantasybaseballscout.com web site letting you know which pitcher or pitchers each team is using to close games. It will be updated whenever there’s a change or speculation about a change in a team’s closer. In fact, there’s an update there today.
Today’s biggest news about closers is that the Rangers are replacing their closer, RHP Frank Francisco, with RHP Neftali Feliz after two spectacularly blown saves.
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