
Player	Type	Report
Soriano, Alfonso (OF) ChN (08-24)		According to the Sun Times, "Alfonso Soriano got a slump day off Saturday, but he was out of the lineup Sunday because of what appears to be tendinitis in the left knee he bruised early in the season when he banged it against the wall at Wrigley. ''It's when I'm running and I put weight on it,'' said Soriano, who said it has been bothering him for about two weeks, especially the last few days. But he said he thinks he'll be ready to return Tuesday against the Washington Nationals as the Cubs open a 10-game homestand." - newsreporter3

Jones, Adam (OF) Bal (08-24)		According to the Baltimore Sun, "Orioles center fielder Adam Jones stayed in Sunday's series finale against the Chicago White Sox just long enough to break his 0-for-13 slump at the plate. Jones, who hurt his back in an at-bat that ended with an RBI single in the top of the first, was removed from the game before the start of the bottom half of the inning. He was diagnosed with mild mid-back muscle spasms, an injury that could keep him out of the Orioles' lineup for a couple of days, but isn't initially believed to be serious. "It's the first time it's happened to me," said Jones, who first felt the discomfort after swinging through a Mark Buehrle pitch. "There was swelling and it tightened up. I can't move and if I can't move, what's the point of being out there? You've got to move your arms and you've got to turn to run, so obviously it would hurt." Jones, the Orioles' lone All-Star who has started 113 of the team's 124 games this season, said that he has never had a back injury in his life. He said he's hopeful to be in the lineup for Monday night's series opener against the Minnesota Twins, but acknowledged, "you never know how [manager Dave Trembley] is going to handle it." "When he got to second base, I saw him bend over," Trembley said. "When he came in, he still had spasms. I asked him after the game and he said he's all right, but I won't know until tomorrow." - newsreporter3


Player	Type	Report
Smoltz, John (P) StL		John Smoltz (SP-STL) – It would be sort of funny if it weren’t so sad, but after being an AL punching bad to the tune of an 8.33 ERA, Smoltz returns to the NL to face the lowly Padres and promptly looks like the Smoltz of 10 years ago in tossing five scoreless three-hit innings to beat the Friars. Smoltz walked none and struck out nine after getting knocked around in the AL East as well as by the Nationals and A’s in his Red Sox tenure. Smoltz gets the Nats in his next start, so keep him active, but keep in mind he is still 41 with a 7.40 ERA. - dregan
		According to the St Louis Post Dispatch, "On Sunday, Smoltz offered the Cardinals five dazzling innings in a 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Afterward, manager Tony La Russa said he expected it. Closer Ryan Franklin said he expected it. It was left to Smoltz to admit that a lightning start with a new franchise is only the first step toward something more important. "I haven't had many chances to feel this way, so I'm not going to get carried away," Smoltz said after a 75-pitch performance that included three hits and nine strikeouts without a walk. "This is an awesome situation for me after a situation that didn't work out.I couldn't ask for a better beginning. But I'm a big believer that it's how you pitch in the end that matters." Smoltz struck out seven consecutive hitters, stopping three short of the major-league record. His performance offered at least equal billing to first baseman Albert Pujols' 40th home run, which iced a game Smoltz dominated. On Sunday, Smoltz effectively mixed split-finger pitches with sliders, curves and a fastball. "He throws 94 miles per hour with a good split and good bite; that's pretty good. That's pretty impressive," said Pujols, who capped the Cardinals' scoring in the fourth inning with an opposite-field home run. Reflected Smoltz after his 213th career win: "I could have probably chosen another place with less pressure to regain my confidence, because I want to pitch next year. But I truly believe the whole time I have what it takes. Today I was able to prove that. All the pitches that were giving me trouble, I was able to throw." The pitcher's contributions didn't stop on the mound. Had Smoltz eased from the box on his one-out ground ball in the second inning, the Padres would have turned a double play to end the threat. "Running things out, there are probably times when you should and times you probably shouldn't," Smoltz said. "Today was one of the situations where you try to turn the lineup over, and you never know." Smoltz may have gotten six outs in Sunday's first inning, which began with an infield single and a botched double play ball that put runners at first and second with none out. Rather than crumble, Smoltz got first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play before striking out left fielder Chase Headley on a split-finger pitch."

Johnson, Randy (P) SF		According to the SF Chronicle, "Though the disabled list is an option for Freddy Sanchez, it might not be the final destination for Randy Johnson. The Giants aren't ruling out a Johnson comeback, and the plan is for the 45-year-old lefty to begin tossing on flat ground during the upcoming homestand, perhaps in Arizona. With 38 games remaining in the season and perhaps more in the postseason, Johnson still could be a factor after slightly tearing his rotator cuff on a July 5 swing. "It's possible," manager Bruce Bochy said of a Johnson return. Sanchez missed his sixth straight game (10th of 23 since his trade) with a strained left shoulder and is doubtful for today. A DL stint would be retroactive to Tuesday. The second baseman last played last Monday at Citi Field. Bochy said the DL is "coming into play as each day goes by. Again, that depends on progress he makes. He'd like to stay away from that, but it's definitely coming into play." - newsreporter3

		2009: 92 IP/ 1.320 WHIP/ 4.81 ERA/ 8 W/ 80 K/ 0 S/ 0.87 K Inning/ 1.18 FPI
Martinez, Pedro (P) Phi		Pedro Martinez (SP-PHI) – Pedro continued his tightrope act Sunday against his former team the Mets, running his record to 2-0 after allowing four runs in six innings. He did walk just one while striking out two, but with a 5.14 ERA, he’s still a fringe option in 12-team mixed leagues. Of course pitching against the Mets can make a guy look even better than he really is, but Pedro owners can at least take solace in one metric, his K:BB that stands at a solid 13:2 in 14 innings. Pedro isn’t going to get an unassisted triple play every outing as he did Sunday, but he’s at least been serviceable to the point where one wonders why teams like the Giants and Dodgers didn’t pursue him harder. - dregan
		According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, "Pedro Martinez had a victorious return to New York, where he improved to 2-0 as a Phillies starter. But he was the benefit of immense run support in each of his first two starts. Yesterday, he struggled with his location early in the game, allowing two runs in the first inning and two runs in the third before retiring 10 of the last 12 batters he faced. "Because we scored so many runs, the [first] inning was long. I felt like that might have had something to do with him getting loose and his command," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I felt the last three innings he pitched, especially the last two, he started putting the ball more where he wanted it. When he started off, it seemed like he had a lot of balls in the big part of the plate, and they hit some balls hard off of him."
		2009: 14 IP/ 1.290 WHIP/ 5.14 ERA/ 2 W/ 13 K/ 0 S/ 0.93 K Inning/ 1.29 FPI Week: 9 IP/ 1.111 WHIP/ 5.00 ERA/1 W/ 8 K/ 0 S/ 0.89 K Inning/ 1.22 FPI
Rolen, Scott (3B) Cin		Scott Rolen (3B-CIN) – After sitting out the last two weeks due to a concussion, Rolen returned to the Reds’ lineup on Sunday, going 0-for-3 with a pair of walks against the Pirates. He’s just 2-for-17 since coming over from the Blue Jays in one of the year’s more mystifying deals. He’ll start to warm up soon, but the Reds are dead last in the majors in both runs scored and team OPS, so don’t expect a lot of RBI opportunities for Rolen this year. Rolen was batting a solid .320/.370/.476 for the Blue Jays before the deal, and though his new home park should help his power numbers, it’s hard to see Rolen ever staying healthy enough again to get more than 500 at-bats, a mark he hasn’t reached since 2006 and won’t this year. - dregan

		2009: 350 AB/ 0.311 BA/ 9 HR/ 45 RBI/ 54 R/ 4 SB/ 0.471 Slug/ 0.13 KRate/ 0.68 FPI Week: 3 AB/ 0.000 BA/ 0 HR/ 0 RBI/ 1 R/ 0 SB/ 0.000 Slug/ 0.67 KRate/ 0.30 FPI
Castillo, Luis (2B) NYN		Luis Castillo (2B-NYM) – Castillo’s semi-renaissance continued on Sunday, as the Mets’ 2B notched his sixth consecutive mulit-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases against the Phillies. Castillo is now batting .321/.411/.377 with 15 stolen bases (17 last year). He’s now batting .418 for the month and even homered a week ago, his first of the year. Castillo is in year two of a misguided four-year deal, but after last year in which he looked washed up (.245 AVG), he’s been one of the few positive notes for the Mets this year. Expect him to remain the starting second baseman again in 2010. - dregan

		2009: 361 AB/ 0.321 BA/ 1 HR/ 34 RBI/ 68 R/ 15 SB/ 0.377 Slug/ 0.10 KRate/ 0.71 FPI Week: 26 AB/ 0.538 BA/ 0 HR/ 4 RBI/ 4 R/ 2 SB/ 0.538 Slug/ 0.12 KRate/ 1.26 FPI
Dempster, Ryan (P) ChN		Ryan Dempster (SP-CHC) – Coming off back-to-back mediocre outings (0-2, 6.43 vs. SD and PHI), Dempster outdueled Chad Billingsley in a 3-1 Cubs win on Sunday. The only run Dempster allowed over seven innings Sunday was unearned, and he surrendered just three hits while walking one and striking out five. Dempster’s walks are up slightly over last year and his strikeouts down, but the real culprit for the >1 increase in his 2008 ERA (2.96) is home runs. Last year: 0.61 HR/9 and in 2009, 1.19. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dempster’s 4.07 ERA come down to somewhere just under four by year’s end, but 2008 is likely to be his high-water mark. - dregan

		2009: 144 IP/ 1.360 WHIP/ 4.07 ERA/ 7 W/ 122 K/ 0 S/ 0.85 K Inning/ 1.29 FPI Week: 14 IP/ 1.071 WHIP/ 2.57 ERA/1 W/ 15 K/ 0 S/ 1.07 K Inning/ 2.04 FPI
Guzman, Cristian (SS) Was		Cristian Guzman (SS-WAS) – Guzman was 2-for-5 with his sixth homer of the season and three runs scored on Sunday, brining him to .307/.327/.423. It’s somewhat surprising that Guzman wasn’t shopped more aggressively this summer, but apparently no one wanted to commit $8 million a year (through next year) to a slightly below average SS with little power and on-base skills. Guzman’s AVG and handful of HRs are helpful in NL-only formats, but as he stopped running six years ago, the 31 year-old isn’t much help outside of deeper leagues. - dregan

		2009: 429 AB/ 0.305 BA/ 6 HR/ 43 RBI/ 63 R/ 3 SB/ 0.422 Slug/ 0.14 KRate/ 0.57 FPI Week: 22 AB/ 0.273 BA/ 1 HR/ 3 RBI/ 5 R/ 1 SB/ 0.409 Slug/ 0.05 KRate/ 0.55 FPI
Romero, J.C. (RP) Phi		According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, "Lefthander J.C. Romero (forearm) and righthander Clay Condrey (oblique) are scheduled to throw bullpen sessions today in Clearwater, and lefty Antonio Bastardo is scheduled to make his first rehab start since going on the disabled list with a shoulder strain in late June. The Phillies expect Romero and Condrey to return to the active roster at some point in September, but are less optimistic about Bastardo, who was placed on the 60-day disabled list today to make room for Miguel Cairo on the active roster." - newsreporter3

		2009: 16 IP/ 1.530 WHIP/ 2.87 ERA/ 0 W/ 12 K/ 0 S/ 0.77 K Inning/ 1.53 FPI
Johnson, Nick (1B) Fla		According to the Miami Herald, "The Marlins have been patiently waiting for Nick Johnson's tight right hamstring to loosen up so they could avoid having to put him on the disabled list. The wait, however, isn't paying off. The first baseman said he is not feeling any better, and he does not think he will be back Tuesday when the Marlins open a vital 10-game homestand beginning with the Mets. On Sunday morning, Johnson hit off a tee and played catch. But when he tested his hamstring with light running exercises at Turner Field, he still felt discomfort. ``It didn't go well,'' said Johnson, who hit .309 and had an on-base percentage of .500 in 13 games since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Nationals. ``I still feel it. It's just not 100 percent.'' Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the team does not plan on putting Johnson, who missed his seventh game in a row, on the DL. But those plans could change soon. Johnson has not played since the first game of a doubleheader Aug. 15 against Colorado. And the longer the Marlins wait, the longer they go short a bench player. By league rules, injuries are only retroactive for a maximum of 10 days, forcing injured players to wait five days before returning from the DL." - newsreporter3

		2009: 389 AB/ 0.293 BA/ 6 HR/ 49 RBI/ 55 R/ 2 SB/ 0.398 Slug/ 0.19 KRate/ 0.65 FPI
Soriano, Rafael (RP) Atl		Rafael Soriano (SP-ATL) – Soriano notched his third consecutive save on Sunday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth in a win over Florida. After admitting a week ago that he had been feeling some discomfort in his shoulder, Soriano has notched four consecutive scoreless outings. Soriano got a full four days of rest after he had allowed five runs in his three previous innings and the rest seems to have done his arm good. Beware the injury cropping back up at some point, but this does appear something the Braves and Soriano can manage through. - dregan

		2009: 57 IP/ 0.950 WHIP/ 2.37 ERA/ 1 W/ 76 K/ 20 S/ 1.33 K Inning/ 2.26 FPI Week: 4 IP/ 0.750 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 4 K/ 3 S/ 1.00 K Inning/ 3.00 FPI
Harang, Aaron (P) Cin		According to the Journal News, "Before this horrendous season goes into the history books, Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker may have to stand on Pete Rose Way with a sign: “Need players, apply within, no experience necessary.” Pitcher Aaron Harang became another casualty when he underwent an emergency appendectomy Saturday night, Aug. 22, at Cincinnati’s Good Samaritan hospital. He is the seventh Reds player this season to undergo a surgical procedure. It is likely that Harang is done for the season and the team is considering its options to plug Harang’s spot Wednesday in Milwaukee. Mark it down as a start for left-hander Matt Maloney. He was scheduled to pitch Sunday for Class AAA Louisville, but he was scratched. Maloney is 9-9 with a 2.96 ERA for the Bats and was 0-2 with a 6.11 ERA in three starts for the Reds earlier this season. Harang reported to PNC Park Saturday afternoon with side pain and it was diagnosed as appendicitis. It was determined that it was caught in the early stages and it was safe for Harang to be transported by car back to Cincinnati. “We were prepared to have him stop in Columbus, if needed,” Baker said. Equipment manager Rick Stowe drove Harang, “So he could be at home with relatives when he had the surgery,” Baker added. Harang is the season 6-14 with a 4.21 ERA in 26 starts, 14 of which were quality starts. “He isn’t supposed to do anything for three weeks,” said Baker, realizing only five weeks remain. “We’re trying to figure out what to do. We’re kicking some things around. This season has been hell, hasn’t it? “Whoever said injuries are no excuse is lying,” Baker said. “This is beyond ridiculous right here. Wow. I had it bad with injures in 1996 with the Giants and once with the Cubs, but this has surpassed that, easy.” - newsreporter3

		2009: 162 IP/ 1.410 WHIP/ 4.21 ERA/ 6 W/ 142 K/ 0 S/ 0.87 K Inning/ 0.78 FPI Week: 7 IP/ 1.143 WHIP/ 1.29 ERA/0 W/ 4 K/ 0 S/ 0.57 K Inning/ 2.07 FPI
Perez, Oliver (P) NYN		Oliver Perez (SP-NYM) – For a guy as volatile as Perez, there are going to be some 7-2-1-1-2-9 outings and some outings like Sunday’s against the Phillies - .2-4-6-6-2-0. It was downright ugly for the Mets on Sunday as they watched their former ace, Pedro Martinez, pick up the win while the guy they handed a lucrative three-year $36 million deal in February, Perez, simply imploded on the mound and now sports a 6.82 ERA on the season. There have been some concerns about Perez’s knee recently, so perhaps that’s part of it, but then again, he’s been less than reliable and the Phillies have one of the league’s best offenses. Through 66 innings this season, Perez has allowed 12 home runs (two on Sunday) and walked 58. Not the best combo for one’s ERA. Since the Mets really have no one to slot in Perez’s place, he’ll likely remain in the rotation, but he shouldn’t be in yours. Pretty incredible that the Phillies can score nine runs on a day that Chase Utley isn’t in the lineup and Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez combine to go 0-for-9. - dregan

		2009: 66 IP/ 1.920 WHIP/ 6.82 ERA/ 3 W/ 62 K/ 0 S/ 0.94 K Inning/ 0.42 FPI Week: 6 IP/ 2.116 WHIP/ 15.87 ERA/1 W/ 4 K/ 0 S/ 0.71 K Inning/ -2.11 FPI
Sanchez, Freddy (2B) SF		According to the Giants' official website, "Second baseman Freddy Sanchez missed his sixth straight game Sunday with a sore left shoulder and it's doubtful he will play Monday. Bochy said the longer the injury lingers, the possibility of Sanchez landing on the disabled list becomes greater. "It's coming into play as each day goes," Bochy said. "Again, that depends on the progress he makes." - newsreporter3

		2009: 407 AB/ 0.297 BA/ 7 HR/ 39 RBI/ 53 R/ 5 SB/ 0.435 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 0.60 FPI Week: 4 AB/ 0.500 BA/ 0 HR/ 1 RBI/ 1 R/ 0 SB/ 0.500 Slug/ 0.00 KRate/ 1.00 FPI
Diaz, Matt (OF) Atl		Matt Diaz (OF-ATL) – In the lineup yet again versus a RHP, Diaz was 4-for-4 with a pair of singles, a double, and a triple on Sunday against Ricky Nolasco and the Marlins. This one brings Diaz up to .310/.377/.498 with nine homers and eight stolen bases in 225 at-bats. He’s still batting just .255 vs. RHP compared to .377 vs. LHP, but the former is a number that’s been climbing. Diaz is 31 and doesn’t offer ideal corner OF power (career 36.3 AB/HR), but at least for the rest of this year, there’s plenty of value here. Diaz’s 0.38 EYE isn’t ideal, but he still has the ability to hit .290+ the rest of the way. - dregan

		2009: 254 AB/ 0.311 BA/ 9 HR/ 39 RBI/ 43 R/ 8 SB/ 0.500 Slug/ 0.23 KRate/ 0.74 FPI Week: 23 AB/ 0.478 BA/ 2 HR/ 7 RBI/ 7 R/ 0 SB/ 0.913 Slug/ 0.17 KRate/ 1.30 FPI
Dobbs, Greg (1B) Phi		According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, "Greg Dobbs headed back to Philadelphia last night for tests on his strained left calf, and the Phillies placed him on the 15-day disabled list. The move came 2 days after the reserve third baseman suffered the injury while running the bases in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Mets. Dobbs was initially labeled day-to-day. Manuel said he wasn't sure about the severity of the injury. "He's going to get checked over," Manuel said. "They'll run a scan on him and see if they can find what the problem is." Dobbs, who started Friday for the first time since Aug. 9, has seen his playing time drop this season thanks to the offensive success of Pedro Feliz at third base. He also has struggled as a pinch-hitter, going 7-for-45 (.156). He will be eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 6. Taking Dobbs' roster spot is Miguel Cairo, a utility infielder who started the season with the Phillies and went 2-for-17 before accepting an assignment to Triple A Lehigh Valley. "You kind of have to humble yourself a little bit," said Cairo, 35, a veteran who has played 14 seasons in the majors. "I'm just glad to be back." Cairo started his time at Lehigh Valley playing third base, but moved to shortstop after the late-July trade that shipped away prospect Jason Donald and three others for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco." - newsreporter3

		2009: 133 AB/ 0.263 BA/ 5 HR/ 18 RBI/ 15 R/ 1 SB/ 0.421 Slug/ 0.19 KRate/ 0.53 FPI Week: 2 AB/ 0.500 BA/ 0 HR/ 0 RBI/ 0 R/ 0 SB/ 0.500 Slug/ 0.00 KRate/ 1.00 FPI
Pagan, Angel (OF) NYN		Angel Pagan (OF-NYM) – Corey Sullivan / Pagan / Jeff “.299 OBP” Francoeur isn’t quite the outfield the Mets had in mind this spring, but that’s what the Mets trotted out there on Sunday. Perhaps worse (if that’s possible) was the infield: Murphy / Castillo / Hernandez / Tatis, with .176-hitting Brian Schneider behind the plate. Anyway, onto Pagan who went 2-for-5 with his fourth and fifth homers of the season Sunday as the Mets’ leadoff man to bring him to .293/.337/.497 on the season in 191 at-bats with an amazing seven triples and 10 stolen bases. Pagan, 28, is still just a .269 career hitter and has just 14 walks on the year, but he’s at least made himself into a solid #4 OF, and on the depleted Mets, that’s enough to give him NL-only value. For 2010, it’s hard to see the Mets going into the season with Pagan as a regular, but there are sure to be injuries, so if you own a Mets’ OF next year and Pagan is on the roster, grab him in deeper formats. - dregan

		2009: 188 AB/ 0.293 BA/ 5 HR/ 25 RBI/ 31 R/ 10 SB/ 0.500 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 0.73 FPI Week: 27 AB/ 0.333 BA/ 2 HR/ 5 RBI/ 5 R/ 2 SB/ 0.630 Slug/ 0.15 KRate/ 0.96 FPI
Roberts, Ryan (2B) Ari		Ryan Roberts (2B-ARI) – Roberts looks to have become a fixture at second base for the Diamondbacks this week, and Sunday certainly won’t hurt his chances at keeping the job for awhile longer. Roberts was 4-for-4 with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI Sunday, bringing his overall line to an impressive .291/.372/.437 in 199 at-bats. Roberts also has five homers and six steals, numbers that project to 13/17 over 550 at-bats. Spectacular? No. A bargain for NL-only leaguers given his price? Sure. Roberts is 28, so don’t think you’re getting Brian Roberts here, but perhaps he’s simply a late bloomer instead of a one-month wonder. - dregan

		2009: 199 AB/ 0.291 BA/ 5 HR/ 15 RBI/ 28 R/ 6 SB/ 0.437 Slug/ 0.20 KRate/ 0.67 FPI Week: 26 AB/ 0.423 BA/ 0 HR/ 1 RBI/ 4 R/ 1 SB/ 0.462 Slug/ 0.12 KRate/ 0.88 FPI
Bailey, Homer (P) Cin		Matt Maloney (SP-CIN) – With Aaron Harang (appendectomy) likely done for the year, look for Maloney to get the call to replace him. Maloney was 0-2 with a 6.11 ERA in three starts for the Reds earlier this year, but it’s been a different story in Triple-A for the 25 year-old left-hander, who has an impressive 2.96 ERA and 118:22 K:BB in 137 innings. Johnny Cueto is due back August 31 from hip and shoulder injuries, so at that point, there will be just two slots for Maloney, Justin Lehr, and Micah Owings assuming Homer Bailey builds upon Sunday’s solid start. Long-term, Maloney is a bottom-of-the-rotation starter, but NL-only leaguers may want to give him a shot. Assuming he gets the call, Maloney is likely to face Milwaukee this week, so benching him is advised, but his start after that could be against the Pirates. - dregan
		According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, "Homer Bailey was pitching like a nibbler, missing by a little here and there. That led to three walks in the first two innings, which in turn led to a visit to the mound by Reds manager Dusty Baker. Whatever Baker said worked. Bailey settled down and pitched seven innings of one-run, four-hit ball in the Reds’ 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. “At the very beginning of the game I was a little off and as the game went along I had some cushion to work with,” Bailey told reporters after the game. “The guys’ bats woke up today. I just kind of kept going after them.” The win allows the Reds to avoid a sweep. It gets them out of last place after a one-day stay in the basemen. The Reds scored one in the first inning. Chris Dickerson led off with a single. He stole second. Pirate starter Kevin Hart got Paul Janish to ground back to him and struck out Joey Votto. But Brandon Phillips singled to score Dickerson. The Reds added a run in the fourth and another in the fifth. Scott Rolen walked to start the fifth. He went to third on Laynce Nix’s single. Jonny Gomes got him home with a sacrifice fly. Drew Stubbs, in for Dickerson who injured his ankle, doubled to center to start the fifth. An out later, Votto got him home with a single to center. Bailey allowed a run in the bottom of the fifth. He walked Andrew McCutchen to start the inning. He stole second. Delwyn Young got McCutchen in with a single. But Bailey got Garrett Jones to hit into a double play. Bailey setted down after that. He retired the last eight batters he faced. Arthur Rhodes pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, and Francisco Cordero closed it for his 26th save."
		2009: 62 IP/ 1.580 WHIP/ 6.82 ERA/ 3 W/ 37 K/ 0 S/ 0.60 K Inning/ 0.79 FPI Week: 0 IP/ 0.000 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 0 K/ 0 S/ 0.00 K Inning/ 0.00 FPI
Parra, Manny (P) Mil		Manny Parra (SP-MIL) – The Brewers, having lost Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia from last year’s rotation, were counting on two guys, Parra and Yovani Gallardo to fill the void. The latter has delivered (and then some) while the former continues to scuffle. Sunday, Parra surrendered eight runs (five earned) on eight hits over 3 1/3 innings against the mighty Nationals. Once again, it was the long ball, as Parra allowed three homers on the day and now seven in his last three starts). Parra’s velocity is down a tick over last year and he’s allowing a few more flyballs, but unless you’re Carlos Zambrano, you’re not getting by with a 4.9 BB/9 in any year. Parra is simply too volatile to be relied upon in any format right now. - dregan

		2009: 117 IP/ 1.850 WHIP/ 6.54 ERA/ 8 W/ 96 K/ 0 S/ 0.82 K Inning/ 0.21 FPI Week: 9 IP/ 1.929 WHIP/ 7.72 ERA/0 W/ 3 K/ 0 S/ 0.32 K Inning/ -1.93 FPI
Fox, Jake (1B) ChN		Jake Fox (OF-CHC) – Making his first start since August 17, Fox was 4-for-4 Sunday, including a two-run homer off LA’s Chad Billingsley that was the difference in a 3-1 game. Fox is simply a hitting machine, batting .305/.355/.550 with nine homers and 35 RBI in just 151 at-bats, numbers that project to 33-124 over 550 at-bats. The 27 year-old is however, a man without a position, as Aramis Ramirez is the third baseman and when Milton Bradley isn’t hurt, the outfield is full. It’s hard to see the Cubs dealing one of their corner infielders or outfielders this winter, but perhaps another team will go after Fox as a regular. - dregan

		2009: 150 AB/ 0.307 BA/ 9 HR/ 34 RBI/ 19 R/ 0 SB/ 0.553 Slug/ 0.17 KRate/ 0.72 FPI Week: 9 AB/ 0.444 BA/ 1 HR/ 2 RBI/ 1 R/ 0 SB/ 0.778 Slug/ 0.22 KRate/ 1.23 FPI
Upton, Justin (OF) Ari		According to the Arizona Republic, "When Justin Upton starts his rehab assignment on Monday night in San Jose with the Diamondbacks Class A Visalia affiliate, manager A.J. Hinch plans to be in the stands to track his right fielder's progress. But even though Hinch believes a short stint in the minors might be all Upton needs, he says Upton likely will need more than one game. "Probably a minimum of two," Hinch said. Upton, on the disabled list since Aug. 6 because of a right-oblique strain, says it's all about timing. "I haven't seen a lot of pitching in the last two weeks so I don't know where my timing is," he said. "I feel great in the cage. My swing feels good. Everything's the same, it's just a matter of getting my timing back." Upton isn't the only reason Hinch will be in attendance. Hinch, who served as the farm director for parts of three seasons before being named manager in May, wants to remain plugged into the minor leagues. He said he maintains relationships with all of the managers in the system. "That's part of what I want to bring to this position is a connection to what's going on up here," Hinch said." - newsreporter3

		2009: 392 AB/ 0.301 BA/ 20 HR/ 66 RBI/ 68 R/ 16 SB/ 0.541 Slug/ 0.26 KRate/ 0.80 FPI
Smith, Seth (OF) Col		Seth Smith (OF-COL) – Go ahead and grab Smith in deeper leagues, as Carlos Gonzalez will miss the upcoming week after cutting himself at home with a steak knife. No truth to the rumor that Smith jumped out of a closet, slashed Gonzalez’s hand with the knife, and ran out the back door. Smith led off on Sunday and had a two-run homer off Tim Lincecum as his only hit in four at-bats. Of course it turned out to be the game-winner, so we’ll take the 1-for-4. Smith is batting .297/.389/.508 in 236 at-bats and is certainly deserving of full-time duty, though that isn’t likely to be available on a consistent basis for Smith this year. Smith has a 0.86 EYE and his 11 homers projects to 26 in 550 at-bats. Smith has hit for average and slightly below average power for a corner OF everywhere he’s been in the minors, so fourth outfielder status is probably his career path. - dregan

		2009: 236 AB/ 0.297 BA/ 11 HR/ 35 RBI/ 44 R/ 4 SB/ 0.508 Slug/ 0.18 KRate/ 0.75 FPI Week: 6 AB/ 0.500 BA/ 2 HR/ 4 RBI/ 2 R/ 0 SB/ 1.833 Slug/ 0.17 KRate/ 2.21 FPI
Wright, Wesley (RP) Hou		According to the Houston Chronicle, "Astros lefthander Wesley Wright, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left shoulder, will join Class AAA Round Rock today to begin a rehab assignment. Wright threw a bullpen session Sunday, his second in three days, feeling good enough to be cleared. “I bounced back pretty good,” he said. “I threw my first one Friday, had one day off. I threw 40 pitches, and everything felt good. “The main thing is to make sure the shoulder's good and be able to bounce back and continue to be able to work on my changeup, fastball command, and overall just become a better pitcher.” - newsreporter3

		2009: 32 IP/ 1.770 WHIP/ 5.97 ERA/ 2 W/ 35 K/ 0 S/ 1.11 K Inning/ 0.31 FPI
Kuroda, Hiroki (P) LAN		According to the LA Times, "Torre said Hiroki Kuroda, recovering from the concussion he suffered last weekend when he was hit in the head by a line drive, would probably accompany the team this week on its trip to Colorado and Cincinnati. Kuroda has resumed throwing on flat ground and is expected to resume throwing off a mound this week. He is eligible to be activated from the disabled list a week from today." - newsreporter3

		2009: 88 IP/ 1.150 WHIP/ 4.08 ERA/ 5 W/ 63 K/ 0 S/ 0.71 K Inning/ 1.63 FPI
Badenhop, Burke (P) Fla		According to the Miami Herald, "Reliever Burke Badenhop is close to rejoining the team. He threw 44 pitches in 4 2/3 scoreless innings without giving up a hit Saturday for Single A Jupiter. Gonzalez said if the right-hander had not pitched Saturday, the Marlins could have recalled him to replace Donnelly. Gonzalez said Badenhop, who went on the DL on Aug. 2 with a strained right trapezius, is scheduled to pitch again Thursday in Jupiter." - newsreporter3

		2009: 54 IP/ 1.450 WHIP/ 4.19 ERA/ 5 W/ 37 K/ 0 S/ 0.69 K Inning/ 1.26 FPI
Escobar, Alcides (SS) Mil		Alcides Escobar (SS-MIL) – Escobar hit his first big league home run Sunday, a solo shot of Washington’s Craig Stammen. It was Escobar’s only hit in three at-bats, but it left him with a .321/.367/.464 batting line in 28 at-bats. Escobar has a good chance at hitting close to .300 annually (84% minor league CT%), but there won’t be a lot of power attached. Escobar will be a threat to steal 30+ bases, but the big question is: will he get on base often enough to hit at or near the top of the lineup? Judging by his minor league track record (.333 OBP, 5% BB%), it would seem not, but keep in mind Escobar is just 22 and has always been young for his level. Plenty of time for him to hone his on-base skills. I like him quite a bit in keeper leagues, as even if he slumps in terms of AVG, he’ll steal basis, and his plus defensive skills are going to keep him in the lineup most every day. - dregan

		2009: 28 AB/ 0.321 BA/ 1 HR/ 2 RBI/ 7 R/ 1 SB/ 0.464 Slug/ 0.07 KRate/ 0.73 FPI Week: 13 AB/ 0.385 BA/ 1 HR/ 1 RBI/ 3 R/ 0 SB/ 0.692 Slug/ 0.15 KRate/ 1.00 FPI
Allen, Brandon (1B) Ari		Brandon Allen (1B-ARI) – In case you didn’t notice, Allen was promoted from Triple-A Reno after Friday’s game (a game in which yours truly attended by the way). Allen if you recall, came over from the White Sox in the deal involving Tony Pena, and after hitting .324/.413/.641 with 12 homers in 145 at-bats in Reno, he’s now in line to get most of the 1B at-bats with Josh Whitesell having been demoted to Reno. The 23 year-old Allen could mostly lock up the starting 1B job in 2010 with a strong finish this year, as it’s hard to see Chad Tracy being brought back as anything more than a bat off the bench. - dregan
		According to the Arizona Republic, "Rookie Brandon Allen started for the second consecutive day at first base. He is expected to see the bulk of the playing time there the rest of the season. "I want to take a good long look at Allen," Hinch said. "I think he's earned that."
		2009: 8 AB/ 0.250 BA/ 0 HR/ 1 RBI/ 0 R/ 0 SB/ 0.250 Slug/ 0.38 KRate/ 0.39 FPI Week: 8 AB/ 0.250 BA/ 0 HR/ 1 RBI/ 0 R/ 0 SB/ 0.250 Slug/ 0.38 KRate/ 0.39 FPI
Donnelly, Brendan (P) Fla		According to the Miami Herald, "The prognosis for reliever Brendan Donnelly appears to be a little better than originally thought. Donnelly sustained what Gonzalez described as a mild strain in his right calf while fielding a bunt in the eighth inning Saturday night, and on Sunday he was placed on the DL. ``I don't expect it to go past 15 days,'' Gonzalez said. ``I think when the 15 days are up, he'll be ready to go.'' If that's the case, Donnelly (2.04 ERA in 21 appearances) could join the team in New York on Sept. 8 -- a day after he is eligible to be activated off the DL." - newsreporter3

		2009: 18 IP/ 1.250 WHIP/ 2.04 ERA/ 2 W/ 16 K/ 0 S/ 0.91 K Inning/ 2.15 FPI Week: 0 IP/ 3.030 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 0 K/ 0 S/ 0.00 K Inning/ -3.08 FPI
Norris, Bud (P) Hou		Bud Norris (SP-HOU) – Baseball can be a cruel game. Just ask Bud Norris. After allowing just two runs in his first major league starts against tough offenses in St. Louis and Milwaukee, Norris has had a tough time. Norris failed to make it out of the second inning Sunday, allowing six runs in an inning of work against the Diamondbacks. Over his last three starts, Norris has now allowed 15 runs in 11 2/3 innings of work. He does have 11 strikeouts in that time, but an alarming 25 hits. Expect Norris to be a serviceable No. 4 starter as he matures, but apparently now is not the time. Norris had a 2.63 ERA and 112:53 K:BB in 120 innings at Triple-A Round Rock this year before being recalled. - dregan

		2009: 28 IP/ 1.730 WHIP/ 5.85 ERA/ 3 W/ 27 K/ 0 S/ 0.98 K Inning/ 0.65 FPI Week: 7 IP/ 2.849 WHIP/ 14.84 ERA/0 W/ 5 K/ 0 S/ 0.75 K Inning/ -3.52 FPI
Hart, Kevin (RP) Pit
		According to the Tribune Review, "Kevin Hart is tossing and turning at night, trying to crack the riddle of his delivery. The Pirates right-hander has a flaw in his motion when he throws out of the full windup. It is a little thing, but it makes Hart's pitches look a lot tastier to batters. Sunday, Hart again struggled with his command. He served up six hits and three walks in five innings, and the Cincinnati Reds nabbed a 4-1 victory. "I didn't really throw my game," Hart said. "You're not going to win a lot of games at this level throwing the ball the way I did today. I'll learn from it, but I don't know how much sleep I'm going to get tonight." In four starts for the Pirates since he arrived July 30 in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, Hart is 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA. "He's missing his spots just a little bit," manager John Russell said. "Sometimes he'll get ahead, then have trouble putting the hitter away. Once he gets into a better rhythm, a better groove with his command, it'll get him deeper in games." Hart's most glaring weakness is the .501 on-base percentage he has allowed to hitters leading off an inning. Yesterday, Hart (4-3) allowed the leadoff batter to reach base in four of the five innings he worked. Three of those runners scored. Hart has worked extensively with pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, who wants to simplify his delivery out of the windup. "There's too much motion with it," Hart said. "Too much going on. The base is there. The foundation is there. Every time I pitch, it's 90 percent good. It's just that other 10 percent that's killing me." So far, success comes and goes. "I felt great in the bullpen (yesterday) warming up," Hart said. "But I didn't take it pitch-by-pitch (in the game). I didn't make pitches when I needed to. I didn't get myself out of jams." Chris Dickerson lined the first pitch of the game into left field for a single. He stole second and scored on Brandon Phillips' two-out single to center. "Dickerson kind of ambushed me on the first swing of the game," Hart said. "It wasn't a bad pitch." Scott Rolen, who yesterday was activated off the disabled list, walked to begin the fourth. He went to third base on Laynce Nix's single and scored on Jonny Gomes' sacrifice fly. Cincinnati stretched its lead to 3-0 in the fifth, when Drew Stubbs led off with a ground-rule double and scored on Joey Votto's one-out single to center. "I know I haven't been very good since I've been here," Hart said, frowning. "I'd like to improve and learn from stuff. It's time to get rolling." The Pirates' offense did very little against Homer Bailey. The right-hander became the latest pitcher with awful stats — Bailey came into the game 2-4 with a 7.53 ERA — to dominate the Pirates. He yielded just four hits (three of them singles), walked four and struck out four. "We had some opportunities but couldn't get the big hit," said Andrew McCutchen, who scored the Pirates' lone run. "It's not like they beat us. We lost this one." The Pirates started two-out rallies in each of the first four innings. They loaded the bases in the first, but Brandon Moss struck out. Hart and McCutchen drew back-to-back walks in the second, but were stranded. Brian Bixler hit a two-out double in the fourth before being left on base. McCutchen walked leading off the fifth and quickly stole second base. He scored standing up on Delwyn Young's single to right field."
		2009: 50 IP/ 1.600 WHIP/ 4.14 ERA/ 4 W/ 30 K/ 0 S/ 0.60 K Inning/ 0.89 FPI Week: 11 IP/ 1.818 WHIP/ 5.73 ERA/1 W/ 8 K/ 0 S/ 0.73 K Inning/ 0.09 FPI
Carrillo, Cesar (P) SD
		According to the SD Union Tribune, "John Smoltz had a brilliant debut with the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out a season-high nine – including seven straight – and holding San Diego to three hits over five scoreless innings in a 5-2 victory Sunday. Albert Pujols hit his 40th homer, a leadoff shot to right in the fourth. It was the fifth time he's hit 40 homers and the first since 2006, when he hit a career-high 49. The benches and bullpens emptied momentarily after Pujols apparently thought Padres rookie Will Venable threw an elbow while being tagged out to end the sixth inning. No punches were thrown and order was quickly restored. The 42-year-old Smoltz (1-0) signed with the Cardinals on Wednesday after he cleared waivers following his release from the Boston Red Sox. He had a dreadful performance with the Red Sox, going 2-5 with an 8.32 ERA after attempting a comeback from shoulder surgery. In six of his eight starts, he allowed five earned runs or more. It helped that his Cardinals debut was against the Padres, who at .240 have the second-worst batting average in the majors. The first two Padres batters reached against Smoltz, including Everth Cabrera with a leadoff infield single, but didn't score. After getting Adrian Gonzalez to hit into a double play, Smoltz began his strikeout streak by fanning cleanup hitter Chase Headley. Smoltz struck out the side the next two innings. Tony Gwynn snapped the streak with a single to shallow left-center leading off the fourth. Gwynn and Gonzalez were the only Padres who didn't strike out against Smoltz. The nine strikeouts were his most since consecutive 10-strikeout games on April 14 and 22, 2008, while with Atlanta. In the sixth, Venable hit a slow grounder up the first-base line, Pujols fielded it and tagged him. Pujols then stared at Venable and appeared to say something. Venable turned around and repeatedly said, "What?" The benches and bullpens emptied, and Pujols and Venable had to be separated. Pujols raised his right elbow toward Venable, as if indicating the rookie had thrown his elbow. Ryan Franklin struck out pinch-hitter Oscar Salazar and Cabrera with the bases loaded in the ninth to earn his 32nd save in 34 chances. Padres right-hander Cesar Carrillo (1-2) lasted two-plus innings in his third big league start. He walked Mark DeRosa leading off the third and had a 2-0 count against Yadier Molina before manager Bud Black replaced him with Edward Mujica. Carrillo allowed four runs and five hits, walked six and struck out one. The Cardinals scored four runs with two outs in the second. Smoltz reached on a fielder's choice and eventually scored on Brendan Ryan's single. Carrillo intentionally walked Pujols to load the bases, walked Matt Holliday to bring in a run and allowed Ryan Ludwick's two-run single. Pujols homered off Mujica opening the fourth. San Diego's Nick Hundley homered on the first pitch from Jason Motte in the seventh, his fifth. Gonzalez hit an RBI single in the sixth. Cabrera, the Padres' shortstop, and second baseman Luis Rodriguez each made a nifty play on the front end of an inning-ending double play in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Cabrera fielded pinch-hitter Julio Lugo's grounder and flipped the ball with his glove to Rodriguez, who barehanded it for the force and then threw out Lugo."
		2009: 10 IP/ 2.710 WHIP/ 13.07 ERA/ 1 W/ 4 K/ 0 S/ 0.39 K Inning/ -1.99 FPI Week: 8 IP/ 2.750 WHIP/ 7.88 ERA/1 W/ 3 K/ 0 S/ 0.38 K Inning/ -0.88 FPI
Wagner, Billy (RP) NYN
		According to the Mets' official website, "The Red Sox and Billy Wagner reportedly need to resolve some issues in order for the veteran reliever to waive his no-trade clause and clear the way for a deal with the Mets. Agent Bean Stringfellow told FOXSports.com that his client's conditions for waiving the no-trade clause were not being met by the Red Sox, meaning a deal before a Tuesday deadline could be in jeopardy. If there is no deal before Boston's waiver claim runs out Tuesday, the Mets could choose to pull Wagner off waivers, losing the right to trade him the remainder of the season. Or, they could choose to allow the Red Sox to claim without compensation and Wagner would be transferred to the Red Sox. According to the report, the agent said the two sticking points involved Wagner's requests that the Red Sox not pick up his 2010 option or offer him arbitration so that he can find another team where he wouldn't be a setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. Those scenarios, however, would negate any compensation the Red Sox could receive for Wagner leaving, either by trading him after picking up the option or by offering arbitration to receive compensation Draft picks. Wagner, a six-time All-Star closer who had Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery on Sept. 10, 2008, has made one appearance for the Mets this season, throwing a scoreless inning Thursday. Wagner, 38, would be used as a power lefty setup man to four-time All-Star closer Papelbon, who expressed reservations about adding Wagner to a mix that includes Hideki Okajima, Ramon Ramirez, Daniel Bard, Manny Delcarmen and Takashi Saito working in front of Papelbon. By taking on Wagner, the Red Sox would be making a significant financial investment. The veteran is owed roughly $2.7 million for the remainder of 2009, and his $8 million option for 2010 includes a $1 million buyout. Wagner has pitched for the Astros, Phillies and Mets in his career, posting a 2.40 ERA, saving 385 games and notching 1,068 strikeouts over 819 innings. Opponents have hit .189 against him over his career."
		Week: 1 IP/ 0.000 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 2 K/ 0 S/ 2.00 K Inning/ 4.50 FPI
McCann, Brian (C) Atl
		According to the AJC, "They trailed 5-4 against the Florida Marlins after six innings, which would’ve seemed nearly insurmountable to last year’s Braves. But not this bunch. After the Braves got a run in the seventh, Brian McCann’s two-run single in the eighth gave them a 7-5 win against the Marlins and another series victory Sunday afternoon at Turner Field. “We’ve got a different team this year, for sure,” said McCann, who hit a three-run homer in the first inning and equaled his career high with five RBIs. “There’s no panic [after falling behind]. Our lineup is good enough to put up runs, and our bullpen is good enough to shut ’em down.” Matt Diaz had four hits, and the Braves overcame another rough start by Derek Lowe (five innings, nine hits, five runs) for their ninth win in 12 games. They moved ahead of Florida into sole possession of second place in the National League East and third in the wild-card standings. The Braves have won five of their past six series, and this was the fourth time in that stretch that they won a series after losing the opening game. “We’ve got to keep winning every series,” Diaz said of the Braves, who are off Monday before opening a three-game series against San Diego at Turner Field on Tuesday. “We can’t take San Diego lightly. We’ve got to make sure we take care of business.” Jones drew three walks and had an eighth-inning groundout to advance Omar Infante and Kelly Johnson to third and second. Both drew walks to start the inning, and both were driven in by McCann with his single to right that electrified a crowd of 30,478. McCann has hit .333 with four homers and 11 RBIs in his past seven games, after batting .146 with no homers and four RBIs in his previous 12 games. “He had an unbelievable game,” Diaz said. “They made it known they were going to pitch around Chipper, pretty much from the start of the series. And Mac made them pay today.” In 2008, the Braves had a 13-76 record in games they were tied or trailed after six innings. This season, they have 18 wins in 21 fewer chances in those situations. Diaz continued his career-long plundering of Marlins pitching, with a 4-for-4 performance — two singles, double, triple — to give him a .415 average and 19 extra-base hits in 130 at-bats against them. He tripled in the seventh and scored the tying run on Reid Gorecki’s sacrifice fly. Diaz has been on an eight-week tear, batting .349 in 43 games since June 30. His hot streak coincides with a resurgence by the Braves, whose 32-18 record since June 28 is the league’s second-best, behind Philadelphia’s 33-16. Lowe has allowed 20 hits and 13 runs (11 earned) in 8-2/3 innings in his past two starts, including two unearned runs Sunday. He gave up a two-out, three-run double by Ronny Paulino in the fourth inning, turning a 3-2 Braves lead into a two-run deficit. Second baseman Kelly Johnson dropped a throw from shortstop Yunel Escobar with two on and one out, which left the bases loaded. Instead of having runners on the corners with two out and being able to walk No. 8 hitter Paulino to get to pitcher Ricky Nolasco, Lowe had to pitch to him. He got ahead in the count 0-2, but threw a fastball over the plate that Paulino crushed. Fortunately for Lowe, these Braves are more resilient than the 2008 version."
		2009: 356 AB/ 0.289 BA/ 16 HR/ 67 RBI/ 46 R/ 3 SB/ 0.514 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 0.69 FPI Week: 20 AB/ 0.350 BA/ 3 HR/ 9 RBI/ 4 R/ 0 SB/ 0.800 Slug/ 0.15 KRate/ 1.02 FPI
Lee, Cliff (P) Phi
		According to the Phillies' official website, "It's telling that in Cliff Lee's worst start with the Phillies, he allowed one run and struck out nine in seven innings. But that's how well things have gone for the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner since Cleveland shipped him to Philadelphia on July 29. Lee, who will start Monday's finale against the Mets, is 4-0 with an 0.82 ERA in four starts since the trade. Two were complete games -- carrying no-hitters into the sixth both times. He has allowed 25 baserunners in 33 innings while striking out 34. His 2.72 season ERA was eighth in baseball entering Sunday. "I don't know how special it is," Lee said Wednesday. "It's me doing what I expect to do every time I go on the mound. Every inning, I expect to go out there and put up a zero. [I] get that inning behind me, go out to the next inning and I expect to put up a zero." Everyone else in Philadelphia is beginning to expect that, too. And Lee is showing no signs of slowing down. On Wednesday, he allowed two hits, no walks and one unearned run in a complete-game win over the D-backs. He struck out 11, tying a career high. "Yeah, I'm pleased with it," said Lee, who has never faced the Mets in his eight-year career. "I'm not too caught up in it. I'm not going to sit here and pat myself on the back. We've still got a lot of work to do." Pitching matchup PHI: LHP Cliff Lee (11-9, 2.72 ERA) Lee is 7-0 with a 1.09 ERA in his past seven starts, which include his final three with Cleveland. "It's similar," Lee said, asked to compare this seven-start stretch with how he pitched last season when he won the AL Cy Young Award. "It's kind of the same, I guess. Last year is over. This game is over. My job is to prepare for the next one. I don't really sit there and think, 'My last four or five starts I did this.' I really don't look at it like that."
		2009: 185 IP/ 1.200 WHIP/ 2.72 ERA/ 11 W/ 141 K/ 0 S/ 0.76 K Inning/ 1.69 FPI Week: 9 IP/ 0.222 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/1 W/ 11 K/ 0 S/ 1.22 K Inning/ 4.28 FPI
Parnell, Bobby (P) NYN
		According to the Mets' official website, "Oliver Perez lost one game for the Mets on Sunday. The Mets hope Perez's inability to get out of the first inning doesn't also cost them the series finale with the Phillies on Monday afternoon at Citi Field. Even after a superb day from the bullpen and a near comeback in Sunday's 9-7 loss, the Mets will have to deal with the residue of Perez's 47-pitch, two-out performance. Perez's early exit -- the first time a Mets starter departed a game in the first inning since Perez did it last June -- put a heavy burden on the already sagging shoulders of the Mets' bullpen. Nelson Figueroa, Pat Misch, Sean Green and Elmer Dessens all pitched in to complete the final 8 1/3 innings Sunday. Misch did the brunt of the work, as his four innings of one-hit ball constituted the second-longest relief appearance of his career. It also allowed the Mets to creep back into the game, coming from six runs down to put the tying run on base with nobody out in the ninth. Misch's quartet of innings was enough to save the Mets from using their most important relievers. Francisco Rodriguez, Billy Wagner, Brian Stokes and Pedro Feliciano are all rested for Monday. But Perez's pair of outs came at a tough time for the Mets, who had used seven pitchers Saturday night in relief of Tim Redding. Redding pitched the best he has all season, allowing only one hit in five innings. He was, however, working on two days' rest and transitioning from the bullpen back to the rotation, limiting him to those five frames. Misch was called up as an extra pitcher with Redding entering the rotation. But having the seventh reliever is negated somewhat by the uncertain circumstances surrounding Wagner. Sunday was Wagner's scheduled day to pitch as he returns from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, and the left-hander was warming up in the Mets' bullpen in the eighth. But with the team three runs down, manager Jerry Manuel opted for Dessens. That means Wagner is available to pitch Monday -- provided he's still with the team. Wagner was claimed on waivers by the Red Sox on Friday, and the Mets have until Tuesday to work out a deal with the reliever with Boston or keep him on their roster. With Misch all but unavailable having thrown 47 pitches on Sunday and Wagner's status up in the air, the Mets are left with one southpaw reliever against the Phillies' lefty-loaded lineup. The Mets have another reliever-turned-starter on the hill on Monday in Bobby Parnell. Parnell's pitch limit for his past two outings has been 85; he just exceeded that number in six shutout innings two starts ago against the Giants and didn't get the chance to reach it in his last outing, a 15-2 loss to the Braves. For their bullpen's sake, the Mets hope Monday's Parnell is closer to the one who blanked San Francisco. Otherwise, Perez's brevity might cost the Mets twice in the series. Pitching matchup NYM: RHP Bobby Parnell (3-5, 4.74 ERA) Parnell's third start was a large step back from his second, as he allowed nine runs in three innings against the Braves on Wednesday. As in his first start, Parnell had trouble locating his offspeed pitches and was forced to go to his fastball too often, especially in an eight-run Atlanta second inning. Parnell has appeared in six games against the Phillies this season as a reliever, with an 0-2 record and a 3.38 ERA. Pedro Feliz is 2-for-4 off Parnell while Chase Utley is 1-for-1 with a game-winning home run."
		2009: 57 IP/ 1.630 WHIP/ 4.74 ERA/ 3 W/ 47 K/ 1 S/ 0.82 K Inning/ 0.87 FPI Week: 3 IP/ 3.667 WHIP/ 27.00 ERA/0 W/ 1 K/ 0 S/ 0.33 K Inning/ -5.67 FPI
Duke, Zach (P) Pit
		According to the Tribune Review, "It took five tries before Zach Duke notched his 10th victory of the season. By stifling the Cincinnati Reds, 12-2, on Saturday, Duke snapped a string of two losses and two no-decisions. His record improved to 10-11. Time to celebrate? Not quite. "It means I'm one under .500," Duke said with a shrug. True, but it also allowed Duke to match his career high for victories in a season. With seven or eight starts to go, he should easily set a new personal mark. "Hopefully, I can get over .500 in that span," he said. Duke joined Ross Ohlendorf (11-8) in the Pirates' double-digit-win club. That might not seem like much, until you consider the team leader last year was Paul Maholm ... with nine wins. It was only the second time since 1891 the Pirates did not have a 10-game winner. "Double-digit wins is a good thing, even if you go 10-11," said right-hander Charlie Morton, who claims seven wins in his 28 career appearances in the majors. "When you think of the better pitchers in the league, having 10 in August is pretty good." Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright of St. Louis and Colorado's Jason Marquis lead the National League with 14 wins apiece. Maholm went 10-15 in 2007 and 9-9 last year. He went into this season primed for bigger things, but will carry just a 7-7 mark into his next start Wednesday against Philadelphia. "Hopefully, I can pick it up," Maholm said. Unless he wins every start down the stretch, Maholm is unlikely to reach his minimum target. "If you're a starter, you've got to go for 15 or more," Maholm said. "To me, 10 wins is disappointing. Fifteen is where you should want to get to. They've got enough starts left, so maybe (Duke or Ohlendorf) will get to 15." It's been a decade since the Pirates had a 15-game winner — Todd Ritchie in 1999. The most recent 20-game winner was John Smiley in 1991. "There still are guys who seem to get 20 almost every year — (Roy) Halladay, (CC) Sabathia, (Johan) Santana and those guys," Maholm said. "It's an honor to be a 20-game winner. It doesn't come along too often. Now, you see more of the 15- to 18-game winners, and that's being a really good starter. But 20 puts you in (contention) for the Cy Young (Award)."
		2009: 173 IP/ 1.240 WHIP/ 3.33 ERA/ 10 W/ 83 K/ 0 S/ 0.48 K Inning/ 1.43 FPI Week: 7 IP/ 1.143 WHIP/ 2.57 ERA/1 W/ 2 K/ 0 S/ 0.29 K Inning/ 2.07 FPI
Marmol, Carlos (RP) ChN
		According to the Sun Times, "It took almost a week, but the Cubs finally were able to unveil their new closer in a save situation Sunday, and Carlos Marmol made the move look good with a 1-2-3 ninth he finished by striking out Manny Ramirez. ''I felt very good,'' said Marmol, who admitted to some elevated emotion going into the first chance since manager Lou Piniella demoted Kevin Gregg out of the job Tuesday. ''It was exciting out there.'' Marmol, whose season-long control problems spent a fifth consecutive day in hibernation, drew the top of the order in the ninth and got Rafael Furcal on a grounder after a first-pitch strike, then struck out Andre Ethier and Ramirez. ''It was good to see him in that role,'' Piniella said. ''Good way to start.''
		2009: 58 IP/ 1.440 WHIP/ 3.39 ERA/ 2 W/ 69 K/ 5 S/ 1.18 K Inning/ 2.19 FPI Week: 3 IP/ 0.375 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 3 K/ 1 S/ 1.12 K Inning/ 3.56 FPI
Young, Delwyn (OF) Pit
		According to the Pirates' official website, "Whether Delwyn Young will turn out to be a capable long-term defensive option at second base for the Pirates remains debatable. But any lack of ability cannot be connected to any lack of effort. As the Pirates prepare to open up a three-game series against the Phillies at PNC Park on Tuesday night, Young will continue his crash course work as a second baseman. He has now made 26 starts there this season, though most of those have come since the Pirates dealt away Freddy Sanchez on July 29. While the in-game results have been mixed, Young said he senses at least an improved comfort level at the position, which, until recently, he hadn't played consistently since 2005. "I came from an organization that told me I couldn't play [second]," Young said. "That was the word around the campfire. Now it gives me a mindset where you know what you can prepare for. It just helps coming to the ballpark knowing where you're going to be playing opposed to wondering. It helps the mental side of baseball." There are still evident areas that have room for improvement, most noticeably in Young's pivot and release while turning a double play. But there have also been noted areas where he looks better, like when it comes to his footwork, positioning and anticipation. "Delwyn is making great progress," manager John Russell said. "He's looking more comfortable and starting to do things that [infield instructor] Perry [Hill] would like him to do. I think he's starting to trust and believe in himself a little bit. That's one of your first hurdles to get over." It's clear that the Pirates would love to come into Spring Training with Young penciled in as the team's starting second baseman. His offensive production is above average at the position, and the Pirates certainly don't have any internal options to consider at this point. But the returns on all this daily extra work that Young has put in with Hill and how far it progresses is still largely in question. He will, at least, get continued consistent starts at second through the rest of the season. "I'm still building things up," Young said. "I started with the ABC's and 123's, your basics, and have slowly worked to playing second every day. Now it's just continuing that simple process and making it all work together as a whole. Perry makes things playful as well as learning. I think he tries to make it as simple as possible, which I need. He keeps it simple and the rest will then take care of itself."
		2009: 243 AB/ 0.309 BA/ 6 HR/ 36 RBI/ 31 R/ 2 SB/ 0.432 Slug/ 0.25 KRate/ 0.64 FPI Week: 22 AB/ 0.409 BA/ 1 HR/ 5 RBI/ 5 R/ 0 SB/ 0.636 Slug/ 0.14 KRate/ 1.02 FPI
Hudson, Tim (P) Atl
		According to the AJC, "One more start, and he can put the longest year of his baseball life behind him. Braves pitcher Tim Hudson had another solid outing for AAA-affiliate Gwinnett on Sunday, giving up three runs and six hits in six innings during his second-to-last scheduled rehab start following ligament-transplant elbow surgery (commonly known as “Tommy John” surgery) last August. The innings and pitch count (89) were both highs since Hudson’s return to the mound. After throwing at least 200 innings in six out of his eight major league seasons, being unable to even get to 90 pitches for the past year has been difficult, but he said he can see the work paying dividends. “You can definitely see it,” Hudson said of the progress in his arm strength and stamina. “Your first couple of times out there, your pitch count is so low it’s kind of hard to get a gauge on it. Each time out, you can feel yourself getting a little stronger. For the most part, the most important thing is sitting down between innings and seeing how you feel when you go back out there.” That process went well for Hudson against Charlotte on Sunday, except for a three-run second that would have just been a one-run inning if Gwinnett third baseman Van Pope and shortstop Chris Burke hadn’t tangled feet on a one-out ground ball, which resulted in an RBI single. His only walk came in the sixth inning, his only inning with more balls than strikes. He said he could feel the pitches piling up by that point, though the Gwinnett Stadium radar gun still showed his fastball reaching near 90 miles per hour. “I could definitely tell last outing and this outing, toward the end of my pitch count, I could feel myself getting a little bit tired,” Hudson said. “But that’s the whole point of building up, going out there and stretching it out and trying to get to 100 pitches. I was still able to bear down and make some pitches when I needed to in that last inning.” The progress was evident to Gwinnett manager Dave Brundage, who has now watched Hudson his past four rehab starts and said the veteran was on top of his game Sunday. “I thought, today, he had his best stuff,” Brundage said. “I thought he commanded his pitches better; I thought he had a better cutter. All around, to me, that’s the best he’s looked.” Where exactly Hudson fits into the Braves’ plans isn’t entirely clear, but the options would include moving a current member of the starting rotation to the bullpen, going with a six-man rotation after the Sept. 1 roster expansion or putting Hudson in the bullpen for the first time in his major league career. Hudson, 34, said that, though it’s been difficult not being able to help the big-league club in its chase for a playoff spot, it’s easier knowing they’re playing well while he’s away. “It’s been hard for a year now, but those guys are playing some pretty good baseball, and they’re pitching really well,” Hudson said. “It’d be a lot harder if our guys were going out there and getting their brains beaten in. Our pitching’s done really well. That gives me the opportunity to not feel like I need to rush back.” Hudson’s final minor league rehab start is expected to come Friday, possibly for Gwinnett in Charlotte."

Lopez, Felipe (2B) Mil
		According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "When the Brewers acquired Felipe Lopez from Arizona on July 19, they figured they finally had the leadoff hitter missing since Rickie Weeks was lost for the season with a wrist injury in mid-May. But Lopez might actually be exceeding expectations. Lopez has led off six of the last nine games with a hit and has reached base 11 times in the first inning in 29 games. Since joining the Brewers, Lopez is batting .357, including .411 over his last 17 games. "I didn't really know him that well as a player," said Macha. "He has been a hitting machine. He has a nice, on-plane swing."
		2009: 466 AB/ 0.313 BA/ 7 HR/ 42 RBI/ 63 R/ 6 SB/ 0.431 Slug/ 0.17 KRate/ 0.65 FPI Week: 26 AB/ 0.346 BA/ 0 HR/ 5 RBI/ 4 R/ 0 SB/ 0.538 Slug/ 0.15 KRate/ 0.75 FPI
Byrnes, Eric (OF) Ari
		According to the Arizona Republic, "Outfielders Chris Young and Eric Byrnes are with Triple-A Reno for different reasons, but it appears performance will dictate how quickly each returns to the majors. So far, the edge would appear to belong to Young, who entered Sunday hitting .354 (12 for 34) in eight games since being demoted Aug. 10. "He's responding to being down there with the right attitude, the right demeanor, the right approach," Hinch said. "The results are showing up." Byrnes entered Sunday having played six games as he rehabs from a left-hand fracture suffered June 25. He was 5 for 23 (.217). Hinch said Byrnes was supposed to have Sunday off but had lobbied to get into the starting lineup. "I know he's feeling better as far as his health and now it's just the repetitions of getting his rhythms back," Hinch said. Who is more likely to return first? "That's a good question," Hinch said. "I would say probably Young, but they could both be Sept. 1 (when rosters expand) and they both could also be Sept. 8 when the (Triple-A) season is over. "I would say when the need arises where we would need a right-handed bat, the hotter of the two players would be the guy that I would turn to."
		2009: 194 AB/ 0.216 BA/ 5 HR/ 24 RBI/ 22 R/ 7 SB/ 0.361 Slug/ 0.12 KRate/ 0.40 FPI
Venable, Will (DH) SD
		According to the SD Union Tribune, " Afterward, the Padres were saying the incident was no big deal. But to hear Albert Pujols tell it, his confrontation with Will Venable Sunday at Petco Park might be continued next year. “Next time, maybe I'll try to hit him in the face with my glove,” said the Cardinals first baseman. Although no punches were thrown and any shoving was limited to restraining teammates, both benches and bullpens rushed to the scene of the incident at the end of the sixth inning. With Padres on first and third and two out, Venable rolled a grounder up the first baseline. As Venable ran inside the runner's lane, Pujols fielded the ball and tagged Venable out. “I didn't give it a second thought,” Venable said. But as the Padres outfielder turned after running past the bag, he saw Pujols staring at him. “Anytime someone stops what he's doing and stares at you, it's not good,” Venable said. Pujols claimed Venable tried to hit him with his left forearm as he ran past. Venable, and the replays support the Padres' claim, said he was trying to lean away from the tag. But Pujols added he was still upset from Saturday night, when he claimed Venable tried to run him over at first. “Last night he jammed my wrist a little bit,” Pujols said. “Then he threw a left elbow. I didn't say anything. These kids have to learn respect, how to play the game.” Padres catcher Henry Blanco talked to Pujols on the field as the faceoff was ending. “I told him it was nothing personal, that Will was in the runner's lane,” Blanco said. “I don't think there will be hard feelings. Stuff happens. We're professional. I think Albert was a little frustrated from his series.” Although he hit his 40th homer yesterday, Pujols was 3-for-15 in the series with one RBI while stranding four runners. “It wasn't a big deal, a lot of nothing,” Venable said. “I guarantee you, he doesn't care about it anymore and neither do I.” Maybe not, Will.
		2009: 166 AB/ 0.271 BA/ 7 HR/ 23 RBI/ 21 R/ 4 SB/ 0.464 Slug/ 0.28 KRate/ 0.63 FPI Week: 21 AB/ 0.286 BA/ 0 HR/ 0 RBI/ 2 R/ 1 SB/ 0.524 Slug/ 0.14 KRate/ 0.76 FPI
Billingsley, Chad (P) LAN
		According to the LA Times, "The starting pitchers are giving up only a handful of runs. The relievers aren't giving up practically any. And still, it hasn't always added up to a Dodgers victory. The Dodgers have lost three of their last eight games despite the fact that their starting pitchers have posted a 2.13 earned-run average over that span and their relievers have pitched 10 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. The problem? The Dodgers have scored only one or two runs in five of those games, forcing their pitchers to be practically perfect. "We are putting a lot of pressure on our starters when we aren't scoring runs," Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said Sunday following a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. "It just makes it a little bit tougher because every single inning you try to be very careful." Chad Billingsley (12-7) emerged as the latest Dodgers starter to lose despite logging a quality outing in which he gave up three runs in six innings. Billingsley said he tries not to think about the offense when he's pitching. "It's been off and on," Billingsley said. "I have to go out there and try to win a ballgame. I just want to concentrate on what I'm doing."
		2009: 162 IP/ 1.260 WHIP/ 3.73 ERA/ 12 W/ 149 K/ 0 S/ 0.92 K Inning/ 1.86 FPI Week: 12 IP/ 1.083 WHIP/ 3.75 ERA/1 W/ 6 K/ 0 S/ 0.50 K Inning/ 1.67 FPI
Gallardo, Yovani (P) Mil
		According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Macha is aware that de facto ace Yovani Gallardo has thrown a lot of pitches. In the National League, he ranks third in pitches thrown (2,694) behind St. Louis' Adam Wainwright (2,767) and San Francisco's Tim Lincecum (2,691). Gallardo's pitch count is a source of concern for a few reasons. For beginners, he missed most of last year with a knee injury, so he has far exceeded his workload from '08. Another reason is that Gallardo is one of the best young pitchers in baseball and not one you'd want to abuse. Macha has limited his per-game pitch count, letting him reach 120 only once (126 vs. St. Louis on May 25). But with the Brewers sagging and Bush and Suppan missing from the rotation, Macha stopped pushing his rotation back after a scheduled off day. He has wanted Gallardo to pitch every fifth day to get maximum use out of him during the past tough weeks. After Aug. 31, the Brewers have only two off days remaining on the schedule, Sept. 10 and 28, another source of concern for Macha regarding Gallardo. "We've talked about it," said Macha. "He's feeling pretty good. His arm angle has been pretty good. "That's why my theme has been throw the changeup, limit your pitch count, pitch to contact. He's a young pitcher; he's still learning. You don't have to strike out everybody." Gallardo has averaged 108 pitches per start, not cumbersome considering he ranks third in the league with 171 strikeouts and third with 76 walks. "That's just the kind of pitcher I am, I guess," said Gallardo, who starts Monday in the series finale against Washington. "I've always been like that, even in Triple-A. I still feel good; I still feel strong. "When the opportunity is there to take an extra day (of rest), we'll take it. But it's also nice to stay in a routine every five days. I make sure I do all my conditioning work to stay strong."
		2009: 159 IP/ 1.260 WHIP/ 3.56 ERA/ 11 W/ 171 K/ 0 S/ 1.07 K Inning/ 1.74 FPI Week: 6 IP/ 1.167 WHIP/ 4.50 ERA/0 W/ 6 K/ 0 S/ 1.00 K Inning/ 1.33 FPI
Latos, Mat (P) SD
		According to the Padres' official website, "It's back to the road for the Padres, who after an off-day on Monday, open a six-game road trip on Tuesday with three games in Atlanta, followed by three games in Miami against the Marlins. The Padres, who are 19-40 away from PETCO Park, could ceratinly use some better pitching and longer outings from their starters on the trip. Their starter on Sunday, Cesar Carrillo, allowed four runs on five hits with six walks in two-plus innings in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Padres only had two victories by starting pitchers on their recently completed seven-game homestand. The Padres will hand the ball to rookie Mat Latos for the first game in Atlanta. Latos (4-3) allowed five runs on seven hits with four walks in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest of seven Major League starts, against the Cubs last week. It was his second rough outing in a row. He allowed seven runs in four innings against St. Louis on Aug. 14. "I feel a little bit of wear and tear," Latos said. "It's not something I can't push through." Latos has now pitched 109 2/3 innings this season between two Minor League stops and his seven Major League starts. He pitched 56 innings last season, and general manager Kevin Towers has said he didn't want to more than double that in 2009. Before Latos' last start against the Cubs, Towers said Latos would likely make this start against Atlanta on Tuesday and then one more in Florida on Aug. 30 before the team shut him down. San Diego manager Bud Black, for one, thought Latos held his velocity fine against the Cubs, who worked into some deep counts against the right-hander, frustrating him to no end. "You look at his fastball, it still had life to hit," Black said. "His breaking ball was OK, the changeup he left up in the zone. He wasn't consistently making pitches with his fastball. Every inning he had to work awfully hard. "The last two games have been a great learning experience for him."
		2009: 37 IP/ 1.340 WHIP/ 4.82 ERA/ 4 W/ 29 K/ 0 S/ 0.78 K Inning/ 1.31 FPI Week: 4 IP/ 2.997 WHIP/ 12.26 ERA/0 W/ 5 K/ 0 S/ 1.36 K Inning/ -2.18 FPI
Marquis, Jason (P) Col
		According to the Rockies' official website, "Monday's series finale is a rubber match for Jason Marquis in his season series against the Giants. Marquis is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts. The Rockies All-Star pitched a complete-game, 5-1 victory in San Francisco over the Giants his first time facing them this season, back in May. Five days later at Coors Field, Marquis lasted six innings in an 8-3 loss to the Giants, allowing seven runs (five earned) in the outing. Over the course of his career, he is 4-2 with a 2.52 ERA against the Giants. The veteran right-hander has been the anchor on a solid pitching staff this season, having set the standard early when the team was struggling, and spread his attitude and approach to the rest of the staff over the course of the season. With Aaron Cook hitting the 15-day disabled list, the Rockies can bank on a rotation that has emerged as one of the league's most productive, avoiding putting undue pressure on an ace like Marquis. "We have four starters in our rotation with double-digit wins," manager Jim Tracy said Sunday. "With the amount of time left in the season, I wouldn't write Jason Hammel off as a guy who could get into the double-digit category. How many other rotations in baseball have four of their five starters with double-digit wins with the possibility of one of the five guys in the rotation doing it himself? It's pretty special." Marquis has bounced back from a three-start winless streak in July and August to win his last two in a row, including a one-run, seven-inning outing his last time out. Even with the dry spell, he has gone 5-3 with a 2.57 ERA in nine starts since June 30. Marquis enters the game with a share of the Major League lead with 14 wins, and a win Monday would put him alone atop the leaders."
		2009: 163 IP/ 1.280 WHIP/ 3.58 ERA/ 14 W/ 79 K/ 0 S/ 0.48 K Inning/ 1.69 FPI Week: 6 IP/ 1.667 WHIP/ 4.50 ERA/1 W/ 1 K/ 0 S/ 0.17 K Inning/ 1.08 FPI
Kouzmanoff, Kevin (3B) SD
		According to the NC Times, "Kevin Kouzmanoff isn't caught in the hype surrounding his Gold Glove Award chances, but his teammates are. After watching the Padres third baseman's diligence in improving defensively, they believe Kouzmanoff is worthy of Rawlings hardware this season. Kouzmanoff doesn't have nearly as many chances (274) as several of his top competitors ---- Washington's Ryan Zimmerman has 367 ---- but he owns a significant lead in fielding percentage. Through Sunday, Kouzmanoff has only three errors and boasts a .989 fielding percentage. No National League third baseman has ever committed fewer than six errors in a season in which he had more than 300 chances. And according to Elias Sports Bureau, the NL record for single-season fielding percentage at the position is .987, by Colorado's Vinny Castilla in 2004. "He's made every play you could possibly ask him to make multiple times," said Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who won his first Gold Glove last season. "His defense as a whole has gotten better ---- his footwork, his accuracy. I think he's just more comfortable. And he continues to make every play. He's played Gold Glove defense and he deserves it." Third base coach Glenn Hoffman and bench coach Ted Simmons have played large roles in Kouzmanoff's steady improvement. Both hit grounders to him and work on an array of technical skills with him daily. Hoffman said the biggest difference is how steady Kouzmanoff looks. "It's just confidence," Hoffman said. "He's learning the hitters, learning the leagues ---- stuff like that ---- but he's made plays late in the game, crucial plays, early in the game, all from different angles. It's just been fun to watch the things he's worked on in practice. He's not real, real quick, but he gets a good jump." Statistical gurus point out that Kouzmanoff has the fewest total chances of the top six NL third basemen in fielding percentage, including two-time Gold Glove winner David Wright. But his nearest competitor in percentage is the Dodgers' Casey Blake (.971). Zimmerman is at .965, Pittsburgh's Andy LaRoche and Philadelphia's Pedro Feliz are at .964, and Wright is at .956. But Kouzmanoff isn't focused on the award. He's just happy that people are no longer questioning his defense, which was considered mediocre at best when he first arrived in San Diego after the 2006 season. "If I got one, cool. But it might not happen," Kouzmanoff said. "That's why I just go out there and work hard. ... I didn't like hearing I was iffy defensively. That's why I've been working really hard at it."
		2009: 455 AB/ 0.259 BA/ 15 HR/ 71 RBI/ 42 R/ 1 SB/ 0.420 Slug/ 0.20 KRate/ 0.49 FPI Week: 22 AB/ 0.182 BA/ 0 HR/ 3 RBI/ 1 R/ 0 SB/ 0.182 Slug/ 0.32 KRate/ 0.22 FPI
Lincecum, Tim (P) SF
		According to the SF Chronicle, "The Giants blew a 6-1 lead Saturday night and didn't support Lincecum enough Sunday, losing 4-2 and falling three games behind the Rockies in the wild-card race. They're 5-5 on their longest trip of the season, which ends tonight with Barry Zito facing Jason Marquis, whose 14 wins tie him for the league lead. Lincecum admitted his flaws: a season-high five walks and hanging a changeup to Seth Smith that was hit over the right-field wall for a two-run homer and 3-2 Rockies lead. Lincecum opened with five hitless, scoreless innings and seemed to regain his velocity from his last start, so he hardly was at fault. Pablo Sandoval took some of the blame, admitting he swung at what would have been ball four in a crucial eighth-inning at-bat. The Giants were down 3-2 with Eugenio Velez at third and one out, and Sandoval worked the count to 3-2 (after falling behind 0-2), but swung at Ubaldo Jimenez's curve that was about to bounce in the dirt. He hit a routine grounder to first, and Velez was forced to hold. Bengie Molina flied to left for the final out. Manager Bruce Bochy defended the free-swinging Sandoval, saying, "That's Pablo. A 3-2 count there, the guy made a pretty good pitch. A lot of hitters would chase that pitch." Catcher Chris Iannetta knew Sandoval would. That's why he jogged to the mound and told Jimenez to bounce the 3-2 pitch with first base open. Jimenez tried, and Sandoval swung anyway. "I didn't get the job done," Sandoval said. "I have to be more patient at the plate in that situation. We have to get these wins, especially with the pennant race and wild-card situation. We've got to play the right way." Sandoval wasn't alone on the could-have-done-better list. The Rockies' first hit was Todd Helton's sixth-inning single up the middle, under the glove of shortstop Edgar Renteria, who seemed to have a chance to keep the Rockies hitless. The inning's biggest problem was first baseman Ryan Garko cutting off right fielder Nate Schierholtz's throw to the plate, enabling Helton to score from second on Ian Stewart's two-out single. "You make a decision and can't look back. It's bang-bang," Garko said. "You've got to make a reaction and go with it. If you let it go, he might be safe, he might be out." Bochy disagreed, saying, "He knew it's not a good decision there. I talked to him. We had him there at the plate. He shouldn't have cut that ball off. Nate made a heck of a throw there." The Rockies' eighth-inning insurance run resulted from more sloppiness by the Giants. Travis Ishikawa's throwing error on a possible double-play grounder prolonged the inning, and Sergio Romo drilled Clint Barmes with the bases loaded, making it 4-2. The Giants led 2-0 after Renteria's homer in the second inning, his first since April 24, which snapped a streak of 342 homerless at-bats. But for the second straight day at Coors Field, a lead meant nothing."
		2009: 185 IP/ 1.040 WHIP/ 2.43 ERA/ 12 W/ 214 K/ 0 S/ 1.15 K Inning/ 2.31 FPI Week: 13 IP/ 1.308 WHIP/ 5.54 ERA/0 W/ 9 K/ 0 S/ 0.69 K Inning/ 1.46 FPI
Reynolds, Mark (3B) Ari
		According to the Arizona Republic, "The Diamondbacks bench already was short a man because of shortstop Stephen Drew's absence for a family emergency. It got even shorter because of third baseman Mark Reynolds' illness Sunday. "He's pretty sick," Hinch said. "He's been playing the last two days with over a 100-degree fever." Hinch said Reynolds was going to be examined by a doctor."
		2009: 447 AB/ 0.277 BA/ 37 HR/ 83 RBI/ 80 R/ 21 SB/ 0.586 Slug/ 0.38 KRate/ 0.81 FPI Week: 21 AB/ 0.238 BA/ 1 HR/ 3 RBI/ 3 R/ 0 SB/ 0.476 Slug/ 0.43 KRate/ 0.54 FPI
Matsui, Kaz (2B) Hou
		According to the Astros' official website, "The Astros honored second baseman Kazuo Matsui prior to Sunday's game for reaching 2,000 hits in his professional career between Japan and the Major Leagues. Matsui reached the milestone against the Brewers on Aug. 15 at Miller Park when he beat out an infield hit in the third inning. He became the 56th Japanese player and the fifth Major Leaguer to join the exclusive Meikyukai, or Golden Players Club. Astros owner Drayton McLane, president of baseball operations Tal Smith and general manager Ed Wade presented Matsui with a shadow box featuring the baseball from his 2,000th hit and a photo of the moment. Matsui went in an 0-for-14 slump following his 2,000th that he snapped with a leadoff double Saturday, giving him 568 hits in the Major Leagues and 1,433 in Japan. Players are eligible for induction into the Meikyukai if they reach 2,000 hits, 200 wins or 250 saves in Japan, the U.S. or collectively between both. The only other Japanese players to achieve the feat who have played in the Major Leagues are Hideo Nomo, Hideki Matsui, Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhiro Sasaki. Matsui, a native of Osaka, was considered a five-tool player and was voted as the best shortstop in the history of Japanese baseball. He was a seven-time All-Star in Japan and won four Gold Gloves before he was granted free agency and came to the United States. He signed with the Mets in 2004, playing two-plus seasons in New York before moving to Colorado, where he helped the Rockies reach the World Series in 2007. Matsui signed with the Astros prior to last season and was hitting .236 with five homers, 30 RBIs and 12 stolen bases through 95 games."
		2009: 348 AB/ 0.241 BA/ 5 HR/ 30 RBI/ 38 R/ 13 SB/ 0.330 Slug/ 0.19 KRate/ 0.45 FPI Week: 18 AB/ 0.167 BA/ 0 HR/ 1 RBI/ 0 R/ 1 SB/ 0.278 Slug/ 0.22 KRate/ 0.22 FPI
Zimmerman, Ryan (3B) Was
		According to the Washington Post, "Washington snapped its five-game skid Sunday for numerous reasons -- it's never just a two-man show -- but in the end, the Nationals' 8-3 victory over Milwaukee at Nationals Park felt like an alpha performance. Zimmerman and Dunn combined for two homers, four hits, three runs, four RBI and two walks. Both have home run totals (26 for Zimmerman, 33 for Dunn) that rank among the top 10 in the National League. If both players stick with their paces, Zimmerman will finish the year with 34 home runs, Dunn will finish with 43, and Washington will walk away from its season having identified its rock-solid pillars. "Just really professional hitters," interim manager Jim Riggleman said. Perhaps Washington would have won this game without either. Craig Stammen, turning in Washington's first quality start since Aug. 15, pitched into the seventh and limited the dangerous Brewers to five hits. The Nationals scored with ingenuity (a second-inning suicide squeeze), charity (three unearned runs following an error by Alcides Escobar) and secondary characters (such as Ronnie Belliard, who stroked a key two-out, two-run single in the first). The muscle of this victory, though, was supplied by Washington's most reliable tandem. And yes, only this year has it become apparent. At the start of the season, Zimmerman was still offering mixed messages about his ability to reach an all-star level. And Dunn, who joined as a free agent, was criticized from some corners of the industry as a passionless slugger with a low average. Player projections should be taken with the full daily dose of salt, but it's worth noting that statistical savant Bill James predicted a .290-20 homer year for Zimmerman and a .238-35 homer year for Dunn. The pleasant developments: Zimmerman has hit for power, and Dunn has hit for average. "I think more than anything else they've both fed off of each other," hitting coach Rick Eckstein said. "The way these guys talk to one another, the way they push one another, there are a lot of good things happening." Milwaukee encouraged the power onslaught by sending Manny Parra to the mound. Parra, among pitchers with at least 100 innings this year, has the highest ERA in baseball. And here, another 3 1/3 ineffective innings hiked the ERA from 6.33 to 6.54. In the third, with Washington already up 5-1, Dunn took a long, looping swing at a Parra 1-1 curveball and teed it into the second deck in right field. Zimmerman, in the fourth, showed off his gap power by riding a full-count change-up over the fence in right-center. When Zimmerman touched home, he slapped hands with Dunn; the Nationals had an 8-1 lead and the rout was on. "Any time the starting pitcher goes into the seventh inning and we can score that many runs I'll take our chances," Zimmerman said. The Nationals have hit 121 homers this year -- middle-of-the-pack power. But that's an improvement from last year, when they hit just 117 and no single player topped 14. In 2008, with Zimmerman ailing from a shoulder injury and Dunn still months from signing as a free agent, the middle of Washington's order was a wreck. The Nationals used nine cleanup hitters, including Austin Kearns, Lastings Milledge, Aaron Boone, Dmitri Young, Kory Casto and Ryan Langerhans. The group combined for 16 home runs, worst in baseball. The 3-4 lineup improvement has represented Washington's greatest leap. Zimmerman has hit third in 113 of Washington's 124 games. Dunn has hit fourth 114 times. When Rizzo was named permanent general manager earlier this week, he mentioned his preference for team-building: speed up the middle, power at the corners. Some of what he prefers he already has."
		2009: 472 AB/ 0.299 BA/ 25 HR/ 84 RBI/ 89 R/ 1 SB/ 0.523 Slug/ 0.19 KRate/ 0.71 FPI Week: 22 AB/ 0.227 BA/ 2 HR/ 7 RBI/ 4 R/ 0 SB/ 0.636 Slug/ 0.18 KRate/ 0.76 FPI
Garland, Jon (P) Ari
		According to the Arizona Republic, "With Mark Reynolds sick and Stephen Drew on leave, Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch was left to field a lineup Sunday that might have drawn complaints were it sent across town in March as a spring-training split squad. And yet go figure: The Diamondbacks went out and scored more runs in the first inning than they had in any game on this trip, ultimately coming away with a 7-5 win over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park to snap a seven-game losing streak. "This game," Hinch said, smiling, "is interesting at times." The lineup that featured just one player, Chad Tracy, from the Opening Day lineup, two who began the year in Triple-A and two more who opened in Double-A had no trouble with Astros right-hander Bud Norris, who was tagged for five runs in the first and another run in the second. The Diamondbacks had scored only 11 runs and hit .190 in six games - all losses - on this trip, but they had a more patient and relaxed approach Sunday. Ryan Roberts led the way by tying a career-high with four hits, and Tracy had two hits and a walk. "I feel like we had to be a little more patient at the plate," said Miguel Montero, whose single in the first drove in the first run. "We were all swinging at the first pitch when we saw a runner in scoring position. We needed to be more patient and get a good pitch to hit." They certainly were patient against Norris, drawing consecutive walks after Montero's single to force home a run. Augie Ojeda followed with a two-run single to make the score 4-0. Even pitcher Jon Garland got in on the act, lining a single to right to cap the first-inning scoring. "I saw it enough, put a good swing on it and it worked out," said Garland, who recorded his first RBI of the season. Rookie Brandon Allen's RBI single in the second made the score 6-0. "It looked like we were more patient and had more of a plan," Hinch said. "I know (hitting coach) Jack (Howell) talked to the hitters before the game and they really responded." The Astros scored three times in the fifth and after Jason Michaels' solo home run to lead off the sixth, they had cut the lead to 6-4 against Garland. Later that inning, Humberto Quintero drilled a one-out double to left-center field, drawing out Hinch for a mound visit. "I wanted to get a sense of how he was feeling and he definitely wanted the ball," Hinch said. Garland (7-11) avoided further damage by retiring the next two batters, getting the win despite not feeling good about the way he pitched. "Personally I didn't think I threw too well," he said. "The ball started coming up, but we won the game and that's the most important thing." At 1-6 on the road trip, the Diamondbacks will have an off-day Monday before starting a three-game series in San Francisco on Tuesday."
		2009: 161 IP/ 1.460 WHIP/ 4.48 ERA/ 7 W/ 78 K/ 0 S/ 0.49 K Inning/ 0.91 FPI Week: 11 IP/ 2.118 WHIP/ 7.15 ERA/1 W/ 7 K/ 0 S/ 0.62 K Inning/ -1.46 FPI
Franklin, Ryan (RP) StL
		According to the St Louis Post Dispatch, "Ryan Franklin took the long way to his 32nd save Sunday, using 33 pitches during a ninth inning in which the Padres loaded the bases and brought the winning run to the plate. Franklin faced six hitters and received two mound visits from Molina before escaping the threat with consecutive strikeouts. He walked two for only the second appearance this season. Franklin admitted a borderline call that went against him on his first pitch put him in a negative frame of mind. "That didn't go over too well and that kind of got me off on a bad start. I usually don't let stuff like that bother me, but it did there. I shouldn't let it bother me. But I bore down when I had to," Franklin said."
		2009: 49 IP/ 0.900 WHIP/ 1.11 ERA/ 2 W/ 33 K/ 32 S/ 0.68 K Inning/ 2.55 FPI Week: 3 IP/ 1.124 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 2 K/ 3 S/ 0.75 K Inning/ 2.81 FPI
Ramirez, Manny (OF) LAN
		According to the LA Times, "There was no translation needed to comprehend the most unusual of sounds showered upon Manny Ramirez in the sixth inning Sunday afternoon: Boos. Dodgers fans loudly voiced their displeasure after the wildly popular left fielder allowed Aramis Ramirez's hit to roll past him to the wall for a triple that sparked a tiebreaking two-run outburst and gave the Chicago Cubs a 3-1 victory at Dodger Stadium. Manny Ramirez was a hot topic in multiple languages during the first Dodgers game televised in Spanish. He made two shaky plays in the outfield and was 0 for 4, dropping his average to .200 over the last seven games. There were plenty more boos during a wacky eighth inning that included a controversial call at second base that went against the Dodgers and a bloop single by pinch-hitter Orlando Hudson that didn't count after another umpire had called timeout. "It was pretty big," center fielder Matt Kemp said of the double dose of misfortune during a defeat that shaved the Dodgers' lead to 3 1/2 games over Colorado in the National League West. "That could have been a turnaround in the game, but that's how baseball works." On the play that drew fans' ire in the sixth, Ramirez paused at the wall in front of the "Mannywood" section in left field and seemingly jogged to collect Aramis Ramirez's hit after it bounced past him. "I can't control it," Manny Ramirez said of the fans' reaction. "They want to win and we want to win also." Aramis Ramirez scored on Kosuke Fukudome's double down the right-field line to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Jake Fox added a run-scoring single up the middle against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley (12-7), who surrendered three runs and nine hits in six innings but refused to pin the loss on his teammate's misadventures in left field. "He tried to cut that ball off that one time and it just got by him," Billingsley said. " . . . I don't think the score would've been anything different." Manny Ramirez's other questionable fielding play came in the fourth, when he bobbled Mike Fontenot's bloop single and bounced his throw past third baseman Casey Blake. He redeemed himself slightly in the eighth when he threw out Aramis Ramirez attempting to go from first to third on Fox's single. Dempster (7-7) held the Dodgers to one run and three hits in seven-plus innings, with Tony Abreu's single in the second pulling the Dodgers into a 1-1 tie after Fox had homered for the Cubs earlier in the inning. The Dodgers appeared to have something going in the eighth when Russell Martin drew a leadoff walk, prompting Cubs Manager Lou Piniella to replace Dempster with John Grabow. The reliever walked Abreu and reached a 3-and-0 count on Mark Loretta before coming back with two strikes to bring the count full. Loretta then grounded to shortstop Ryan Theriot deep in the hole, and Theriot's throw initially appeared to pull second baseman Fontenot off the bag. Second base umpire Chad Fairchild called Abreu out on the play, prompting Dodgers Manager Joe Torre to race out of the dugout in protest as fans jeered the call. "He saw it one way and we saw it another," Torre said of Fairchild. "He had to make a quick decision, but it just looked to me from my angle like he was off the bag." With one out and runners on first and third, Hudson hit a single to shallow center that fell between the Cubs' middle infielders. Only one problem: Third base umpire Wally Bell had called time before Grabow's pitch, meaning it didn't count. Hudson then hit into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play, triggering even louder boos. "I didn't come through," Hudson said. "We lost. Bottom line."
		2009: 248 AB/ 0.306 BA/ 13 HR/ 45 RBI/ 43 R/ 0 SB/ 0.552 Slug/ 0.22 KRate/ 0.79 FPI Week: 25 AB/ 0.200 BA/ 0 HR/ 1 RBI/ 3 R/ 0 SB/ 0.240 Slug/ 0.20 KRate/ 0.29 FPI
Coste, Chris (C) Hou
		According to the Houston Chronicle, "Chris Coste has drawn early raves as a catcher from Roy Oswalt, Brian Moehler and Cecil Cooper. “He receives the ball well,” Cooper said. “He doesn't throw like Pudge (Ivan Rodriguez) or Q (Humberto Quintero), but he's quiet behind there and receives well. He can throw, just not in the same category as those guys. Those guys have more big arms, but that's his strength: receiving. He follows the game plan. He really knows what to do.”
		2009: 165 AB/ 0.230 BA/ 2 HR/ 16 RBI/ 14 R/ 0 SB/ 0.339 Slug/ 0.27 KRate/ 0.42 FPI Week: 3 AB/ 0.000 BA/ 0 HR/ 0 RBI/ 0 R/ 0 SB/ 0.000 Slug/ 0.67 KRate/ -0.50 FPI
Zito, Barry (P) SF
		According to the Giants' official website, "It's anyone's guess if Barry Zito will ever live up to his $126 million contract. He said he used to think about it, but nowadays, he's pitched more like it. Zito and the Giants will attempt to split their four-game series with the Rockies and reduce their National League Wild Card deficit to two games Monday. "Playoffs is what it's all about and I had a lot of experience with that in Oakland," Zito said. "It's exciting to have an opportunity to be able to go to the postseason, and maybe that serves as a greater impetus to really do it for the team." Since returning from the All-Star break, Zito has looked Cy Young-esque as he's posted a 3-2 record with a 2.36 ERA in seven starts. Zito said he's had decent stuff for most of the season but the difference has been in his aggressiveness. "When you're nitpicking, you're worried about getting hit and you're worried about contact," Zito said. "Most times, you're going to pitch away from the strike zone. But if you just come after guys, usually, good things happen." Zito's stats bear out his aggressiveness. This season, Zito is averaging 6.9 strikeouts while yielding just 3.4 walks per nine innings. Both stats are his best since 2004, when he went 11-11 with a 4.48 ERA in Oakland. And don't forget, Zito was an All-Star in 2006 and that year, he was averaging 6.1 K's per nine innings while allowing four free passes. If there was a time for Zito to prove his worth, it couldn't have come at a better time than now as the Giants pursue their first playoff berth since 2003. Manager Bruce Bochy likes what he sees out of Zito. "He's won a Cy Young, he can pitch," Bochy said. "Now we're seeing how good he is." If Zito keeps it up against the Rockies on Monday, they, too, will see how good Zito has been lately. Pitching matchup SF: LHP Barry Zito (8-11, 4.26 ERA) Zito's ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break is 2.36 -- better than rotation mates Tim Lincecum (2.65), Matt Cain (2.53) and Jonathan Sanchez (3.54). He's only 3-2 personally in this span, but the Giants have won five of his seven outings. Zito pitched one of his better games of the season on May 3 against Colorado, yielding two hits and walking one in seven innings as the Giants proceeded to win, 1-0, in 10 innings. Among Rockies hitters, Todd Helton (.313, 5-for-16) has had fair success against Zito."
		2009: 148 IP/ 1.320 WHIP/ 4.26 ERA/ 8 W/ 114 K/ 0 S/ 0.77 K Inning/ 1.39 FPI Week: 6 IP/ 0.500 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 4 K/ 0 S/ 0.67 K Inning/ 3.50 FPI
Broxton, Jonathan (RP) LAN
		According to the LA Times, "Was Torre's eighth-inning deployment of closer Jonathan Broxton really just a one-time maneuver? The manager said he might use Broxton again in that situation "depending on the club," explaining he did it against the Cubs on Saturday because Broxton had struck out two of the three batters he was scheduled to face the previous day. "If it presents itself in a certain situation," Torre said, "I think I would do that again."
		2009: 58 IP/ 0.970 WHIP/ 2.95 ERA/ 7 W/ 87 K/ 27 S/ 1.50 K Inning/ 2.81 FPI Week: 5 IP/ 0.750 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 9 K/ 2 S/ 1.69 K Inning/ 2.62 FPI
Pujols, Albert (1B) StL
		According to the St Louis Post Dispatch, "The Cardinals and Padres saw each other for the final time this season Sunday afternoon, and that may be a good thing. A sixth-inning dust-up between Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and Padres right fielder Will Venable led to both benches and bullpens clearing during a testy exchange of words that persisted several minutes on the Petco Park infield. The incident had its roots when Venable and Pujols came together on a fifth-inning ground-out Saturday night. Pujols perceived intent Sunday when he sensed Venable throwing his left elbow at him on a sixth-inning roller to first. Venable blew past Pujols, who applied a tag next to the first-base line. Pujols turned and glared at Venable, who responded by stretching out his hands and shouting, "What?" The two-time MVP then verbally engaged Venable as the two started toward each other. Both benches and bullpens emptied, and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina at one point tried to get at Venable. "Last night, he tried to run me over like he was playing football," Pujols said. "On a play like that, you don't try to run people over. If I had known, I probably would have hit him in the face with my glove. That'll give me a heads up and a wake-up call. He did it last night. He did it again today. He threw an elbow when he was out by a lot. What is he trying to do, knock the ball out of my glove? Last night he jammed my wrist a little bit. Today he threw an elbow. That's pretty stupid." Venable claimed he merely was exercising his right to the baseline. "It wasn't a big deal. I have to go along my path. I think it was a lot of nothing. But anytime someone stops what he does and stares at you ... he thought I came in with an elbow. I did not," Venable said. "I'm entitled to my path to the bag. I actually tried to avoid him. I think he misunderstood; these things happen all the time. I guarantee he doesn't care about it anymore and neither do I." Pujols offered a different take, accusing Venable of playing recklessly. The incident began to die down as Padres catcher and team leader Henry Blanco approached Pujols. "I told him it was not personal. I told him Will was in the line," Blanco said. ... "That stuff happens. We're professional. It just happens. I told him there was no hard feelings." Pujols sounded as if he may withhold judgment on that angle. "I know you tell young players to play the game hard, but also play the game smart and don't try to get hurt and don't try to hurt other people," Pujols said. "Throwing an elbow ... this isn't basketball. This is baseball."
		2009: 431 AB/ 0.313 BA/ 40 HR/ 106 RBI/ 97 R/ 12 SB/ 0.666 Slug/ 0.12 KRate/ 0.96 FPI Week: 24 AB/ 0.167 BA/ 2 HR/ 2 RBI/ 5 R/ 1 SB/ 0.417 Slug/ 0.29 KRate/ 0.53 FPI
Utley, Chase (2B) Phi
		According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, "Finding a logical time to give Chase Utley a rest is a difficult task for Charlie Manuel, so it wasn't a surprise to see the manager jump on a golden opportunity to do so yesterday. With the Phillies playing a day game after a night game, as well as the fact that he had started 78 consecutive games, Utley had just three hits in 16 career at-bats against Oliver Perez. Eric Bruntlett, the team's other second baseman, was 4-for-9 with two doubles and five walks against Perez. Making his 15th start of the season and fourth at second base, Bruntlett contributed a single and a run in the Phillies' six-run first inning off Perez. He later added another single against Nelson Figueroa and another against Patrick Misch. The last time Utley did not start a game was May 24 against the Yankees, when he pinch-hit in the ninth inning and then remained at second base for the rest of the Phillies' 4-3 win in 11 innings."
		2009: 426 AB/ 0.303 BA/ 26 HR/ 81 RBI/ 88 R/ 15 SB/ 0.542 Slug/ 0.20 KRate/ 0.83 FPI Week: 17 AB/ 0.471 BA/ 2 HR/ 5 RBI/ 6 R/ 2 SB/ 0.824 Slug/ 0.18 KRate/ 1.50 FPI
Bruntlett, Eric (SS) Phi
		According to the Phillies' official website, "Eric Bruntlett caught the ball, landed on second base in perfect stride and spun around to tag a bewildered Daniel Murphy. Murphy had a look on his face that said, "No way. Did that really just happen?" It had. Bruntlett had turned an unassisted triple play to end a 9-7 victory over the Mets at Citi Field on Sunday afternoon. But after Bruntlett tagged Murphy, who made a futile attempt to get away, he still raised his glove and looked at second-base umpire Rob Drake for reassurance that the game had ended. Yes, Bruntlett caught Jeff Francoeur's line drive, which he scorched up the middle, for the first out. And, yes, he doubled up Luis Castillo on second base for the second out before he tagged to Murphy to end the game. "It's hard to know how to react to it," Bruntlett said. "I was almost laughing. That doesn't happen. What do you do there? Game is over. High fives." It is just the 14th unassisted triple play in the regular season in baseball history. It is just the second unassisted triple play to end a game. Tigers first baseman John Neun turned the other against the Indians on May 31, 1927. It is also just the second unassisted triple play among the 33 triple plays in Phillies history. Mickey Morandini recorded the first Sept. 20, 1992, against the Pirates. "That's great," Jimmy Rollins said. "Bruntly is in the books." "It was the most unbelievable play I've ever been involved in," Francoeur said. "And the sickest." It completed a memorable afternoon for Bruntlett, who entered the game hitting just .128 with six RBIs. He got a rare start because Phillies manager Charlie Manuel wanted to give Chase Utley a day off. Bruntlett responded with hits in his first three at-bats. He popped out in the seventh inning, but appeared to reach third on a triple with two outs in the ninth inning. It would have been the first four-hit game of his career. But Drake incorrectly ruled that Francoeur did not catch Bruntlett's ball in right-center field. After the Mets protested, the umpires convened and correctly ruled that Francoeur made the catch. Bruntlett finished 3-for-5. Bruntlett quickly forgot about his near miss when Ryan Howard let Angel Pagan's ball get between his legs for a three-base error and he booted a ball Castillo hit to him, which allowed Pagan to score to cut the lead to two. Murphy followed Castillo and hit a ball up the middle. Bruntlett tried to slide to make the catch, but he couldn't come up with it. Both Manuel and Rollins said that was a difficult play to make. But the damage had been done. The Mets had runners on first and second with no outs in a two-run game. It looked like Phillies closer Brad Lidge's misfortune would continue, except the Mets made a critical error. They tried a double steal in a situation that didn't warrant it. "I'm thinking that wasn't smart baseball," Rollins said. Not that the Mets considered losing the game on a triple play, but Bruntlett acknowledged that having the runners in motion made that impossibility a possibility. Had the Mets not been stealing, Bruntlett said he almost certainly would not have caught Francoeur's ball. Had he not caught it, the Mets at the very least would have had the bases loaded with no outs. "It was a crucial situation," Bruntlett said. "It was huge, especially when I was part of the reason that we got into a bad spot there in the ninth. It feels extra special to have that happen there to finish off the game."
		2009: 91 AB/ 0.154 BA/ 0 HR/ 6 RBI/ 10 R/ 1 SB/ 0.220 Slug/ 0.24 KRate/ 0.13 FPI Week: 6 AB/ 0.500 BA/ 0 HR/ 0 RBI/ 1 R/ 0 SB/ 0.500 Slug/ 0.00 KRate/ 1.00 FPI

Athletics (T) Oak		Tomko made it two consecutive impressive outings since joining the Athletics, holding the Tigers to just 1 ER on 3 Hits and 2 BB’s over 6 innings. Unlike the first outing earlier this week against the Yankees, Tomko was able to induce swings and misses as evidenced by his 8 strikeouts. Tomko’s been a journeyman throughout his career alternating between the rotation and the pen. Like most major league pitchers who shift back and forth between those roles his stuff has been characterized as average and though he’s shown adequate control; the combination of middling stuff with a high FB Rate has led to some elevated HR totals. Pitching in a ballpark like the Oakland Coliseum he may be able to have some success as a “stream-able” matchups play at home for AL only players, but in most formats, he’ll be one to avoid. - ddinkmeyer


Varitek, Jason (C) Bos		Varitek picked up a hit in 4 AB’s on Sunday and his owners must have felt like it was a big game, heck he even drove in a run! Varitek’s in the midst of a horribly extended slump in which he’s gone 6-46 with 16 K’s (.130 BA, 35% K Rate). Varitek’s actually made nice improvements (over last season) across the board here in 2009 and while he’s not a viable #1 catcher in anything but AL only formats, in 2 catcher leagues owners should remain patient with Varitek as he fights through this horrid slump. - ddinkmeyer

		2009: 304 AB/ 0.227 BA/ 14 HR/ 47 RBI/ 38 R/ 0 SB/ 0.434 Slug/ 0.23 KRate/ 0.54 FPI Week: 9 AB/ 0.222 BA/ 1 HR/ 2 RBI/ 1 R/ 0 SB/ 0.667 Slug/ 0.33 KRate/ 0.70 FPI
Pavano, Carl (P) Min		Pavano improved to 2-1 as a Twin with his 2nd win sandwiching two ugly performances. The inconsistency largely driven by issues with the long-ball continues as Pavano was able to keep the ball in the park and not surprisingly had success. I’ve been burned by believing in the good peripherals a few times this season from Pavano so I may be a bit biased, but I’m not investing in anything beyond AL only formats with Pavano for this year. For those looking at Pavano as a stream option, I’d consider avoiding him against power-laden lineups. - ddinkmeyer

		2009: 151 IP/ 1.350 WHIP/ 5.20 ERA/ 11 W/ 105 K/ 0 S/ 0.70 K Inning/ 1.03 FPI Week: 11 IP/ 1.636 WHIP/ 5.73 ERA/1 W/ 6 K/ 0 S/ 0.55 K Inning/ 0.82 FPI
Beltre, Adrian (3B) Sea		According to the Seattle Times, "Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre is not recovering as quickly as first expected from a testicle injury after being hit by a ground ball. He is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, but manager Don Wakamatsu said that's highly unlikely. "I think the swelling's going down a little slower than we thought," Wakamatsu said. "It's improving, but slowly." - newsreporter3

		2009: 333 AB/ 0.276 BA/ 5 HR/ 31 RBI/ 43 R/ 10 SB/ 0.384 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 0.52 FPI
Beckett, Josh (P) Bos		After allowing a HR in just 2 of his last 12 starts, Beckett has now allowed multiple HR’s in 3 consecutive outings. On Sunday night it looked like the Yankees were playing HR derby with Beckett as seemingly every ball that didn’t leave the yard ended up being an out. Beckett went 8 innings allowing just 9 hits (0 BB’s), but served up 5 HR’s and stranded just ONE base-runner, allowing 8 ER’s. Beckett’s now given up 10 HR’s in his last 3 outings after giving up just 7 in his previous 17 outings. This seems a bit fluky especially since Beckett recorded 12 ground ball outs on Sunday compared to just 4 through the air. Beckett owners will just continue to run him out there and hope for the best. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Boston Globe, "Derek Jeter hit the first pitch of the game for one of New York's five homers off Josh Beckett, CC Sabathia became the majors' first 15-game winner, and the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 8-4 Sunday night. The expected pitchers duel between the AL's only 14-game winners never materialized, as the Yankees scored in each of the first five innings and the Red Sox had four runs off Sabathia before he left with two outs in the seventh. The aces of their pitching staffs figured to shut down streaking offenses that produced a 20-11 win by New York and a 14-1 rout by Boston in the first two games of the series. That prospect faded early when the score was tied at 2 after two innings. Sabathia (15-7) won his fifth straight start but gave up three earned runs. He had allowed a total of three runs in his previous three starts. But he had excellent control with eight strikeouts and no walks. Beckett (14-5) was hurt by the long ball for the third straight game, allowing a career-high five homers. He's given up 10 in those three games, the same amount he allowed in his other 22. He lasted eight innings but gave up eight runs on nine hits while striking out five and walking none. He allowed seven runs in his previous start. The Yankees improved to 16-4 in their last 20 games and won their 10th series out of 11 since the All-Star break. They lead the second-place Red Sox by 7 1/2 games in the AL East. Hideki Matsui hit two homers, matching his output of Friday night, and Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez also went deep. Jeter's 16th homer was his second of the season leading off the Yankees' first inning and tied Alfonso Soriano for second in team history with 21. Rickey Henderson leads with 24 for the Yankees. Beckett's first pitch in the second inning also cleared the fence as Matsui hit his first homer of the game. The Red Sox tied it in the bottom half on an RBI single by Rocco Baldelli and a run-scoring double by Jason Varitek. The Yankees made it 4-2 in the third on Mark Teixeira's RBI single and Rodriguez's run-scoring groundout. Cano hit his 19th homer, a solo shot in the fourth that tied his career high, and Rodriguez hit his 22nd, a two-run drive, in the fifth that made it 7-3. The Red Sox had scored a run in the fourth when Varitek's popup bounced off Cano's left arm as the second baseman overran the ball. That allowed Jason Bay, who had singled, to score. Baldelli's sacrifice fly in the sixth made it 7-4. Beckett settled down after Rodriguez's homer and retired nine straight batters before Matsui hit his 23rd with two outs in the eighth."
		2009: 170 IP/ 1.130 WHIP/ 3.65 ERA/ 14 W/ 154 K/ 0 S/ 0.90 K Inning/ 1.85 FPI Week: 13 IP/ 1.425 WHIP/ 10.13 ERA/0 W/ 9 K/ 0 S/ 0.68 K Inning/ -0.98 FPI
Crede, Joe (3B) Min		According to the Star Tribune, "Twins third baseman Joe Crede just can’t get a break from nagging injuries. He was set to return to the lineup Sunday after missing a game because of a sprained left ankle. But his back tightened up Sunday morning, causing him to be scratched. He’s listed as day-to-day." - newsreporter3

		2009: 328 AB/ 0.229 BA/ 15 HR/ 48 RBI/ 42 R/ 0 SB/ 0.421 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 0.47 FPI Week: 18 AB/ 0.167 BA/ 0 HR/ 2 RBI/ 3 R/ 0 SB/ 0.222 Slug/ 0.00 KRate/ 0.20 FPI
Downs, Scott (P) Tor		According to the Toronto Star, "Reliever Scott Downs has rejoined the Jays and will likely be activated today. Downs, on the DL since Aug. 2 with a sore toe, made three appearances with Class-A Dunedin on an injury-rehab assignment, with a 3.86 ERA in 2 1/3 innings." - newsreporter3

		2009: 34 IP/ 1.250 WHIP/ 3.41 ERA/ 1 W/ 36 K/ 9 S/ 1.05 K Inning/ 1.37 FPI Week: 0 IP/ 6.061 WHIP/ 27.27 ERA/0 W/ 0 K/ 0 S/ 0.00 K Inning/ -10.65 FPI
Buehrle, Mark (P) ChA		While Buehlre’s 14 inning stretch earlier this season was the most dominating stretch of any SP in baseball, we’ve recently been reminded that Buehrle’s never been a “dominant” SP but rather a consistent innings-eater type. His inability to induce K’s has resulted in a significant reliance on lady luck. Early in the season things were clicking but of late, balls have been finding holes. Buehrle surrendered 11 more hits in just 5 1/3 innings on Sunday getting tagged for 5 ER’s. He did strike out 4 while walking none, but those 4 K’s represent nearly half of his K total in his last 31 1/3 innings (just 9 K’s). We’ve warned of likely increases specifically in WHIP as his .266 BHIP% continues to regress closer to MLB average of .291. Fantasy owners should also note each of the last 4 seasons Buehrle’s faded in the 2nd half posting FPI’s below his 1st half numbers. Expect the slide to continue, though the velocity of the decline will lessen. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Chicago Tribune, "Given they just lost two of three games to the second-worst team in the American League, maybe it's a good time for the White Sox to start a road trip, even though it includes stops in Boston, New York and Minnesota. Or maybe not, especially after their inconsistent offense proved impotent against a pitcher with a 2-11 record Sunday during a 5-4 loss to the Orioles. "And we're going to face the big boys? Good luck," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "This was a very, very, very disappointing game for me." This is the same Guillen who said Sunday morning he felt "very, very optimistic about this ballclub." What a difference a game makes, a game in which the Sox lost to Jason Berken, whose 6.72 ERA included a 12-8 drubbing earlier by the White Sox. But while Guillen ranted about his bats driving him batting, Mark Buehrle's pitching didn't help his mood. Since his perfect game against Tampa Bay on July 23, Buehrle is 0-4, has allowed 54 hits in 38 innings and has complied a 6.21 earned-run average. That includes 11 hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings Sunday, an effort the offense could not overcome. "There's a month and a half to go [in the season], and if the offense continues like this, good luck for us to be there in the end," Guillen said. "I wish I knew what was going on." What's going on is the Sox finished a homestand against Kansas City and Baltimore 3-3 with the bats either doing the damage or damaging the chances. "There are no pushovers in this league," captain Paul Konerko said. "It's tough and that's why when you win it, it makes it that much more special. "But it's getting to that point, with 30-some games left, where you just care about the end result. Did we gain a game, did we stay where we're at [in the standings], did we lose a game? That's all you look at." Guillen sees more than that, because he sees winnable games slipping away. "We have a better offense than we showed, but it better show up pretty soon," he said. Obviously, the seven hits and four runs (one of them unearned) weren't enough for Buehrle. "I gave up runs early and often," he said. "It seems like lately I'm making some pitches and they're finding some holes, and then when you're making a mistake, they're hitting the ball hard. "It's just one of those little funks I'm in. I need to come out of it sooner than later." Buehrle allowed a run in the first inning on three hits, then three more runs in the third inning, two of them on Nolan Reimold's home run. Former Cub Felix Pie also homered in the fourth inning to give the Orioles a 5-1 lead. That was narrowed to 5-3 in the fifth when Scott Podsednik and Gordon Beckham drove in runs, and it became 5-4 in the ninth when Konerko scored after a leadoff double. But Mark Kotsay struck out to end the game, prompting Guillen to wonder aloud: "If you can't score more than three runs in eight innings, you can't score three in the ninth."
		2009: 170 IP/ 1.200 WHIP/ 3.77 ERA/ 11 W/ 88 K/ 0 S/ 0.52 K Inning/ 1.42 FPI Week: 11 IP/ 1.942 WHIP/ 7.15 ERA/0 W/ 4 K/ 0 S/ 0.35 K Inning/ -1.15 FPI
Cust, Jack (OF) Oak		Cust has been on-fire of late picking up multi hit games in 3 of his last 4 starts including a 2 HR day on Sunday. Its been an interesting season for Cust as he’s cut down his K’s a bit, but also surrendered quite a bit of power, seeing the XBH Rate drop from 10.8% to 7.8%. His good OBP skills have helped him be productive in Runs as usual, but the drop in power has hurt his HR and RBI totals. When Cust’s enormous power potential was clicking in the past he brought more to the table than he took off with BA (as an Adam Dunn-lite player far less name value; but now that the power is off the table, the overall value has plummeted as well. While this recent surge may entice owners to see a resurrection coming, the consistent drop-off in power rates across the board and HR/FB Rate suggests Cust’s big power production isn’t coming back over the last 6 weeks. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the SF Chronicle, "The Detroit Tigers came to Oakland in first place, and they left town that way, but they gained few admirers. They irritated manager Jim Leyland with their lack of clutch hitting, and they were no match for a startling power display Sunday as the A's closed out the three-game series with a 9-4 win. Heading into this beautiful East Bay afternoon, the A's had belted only one three-run homer in a month. By day's end, they had a pair, by Jack Cust and Landon Powell, along with a solo shot from Cliff Pennington and Cust's second homer of the day. To top off this venture into the unlikely, they beat the Central Division leaders with journeyman Brett Tomko, who pitched a solid six innings. Cust's performance deserved a bigger stage, something more relevant than Oakland's stadium of the doomed. It belonged in Boston, Colorado or anywhere else the home fans are consumed by a pennant race. As it was, there were 17,690 witnesses to the type of day you'd associate with the Ryan Howards and Prince Fielders of the world. Stepping to the plate in a 1-1 tie in the third, Cust hit one of the most impressive opposite-field homers of the season. Facing Rick Porcello, touted by the Tigers as the leading candidate for American League Rookie of the Year, Cust imposed his dead-uppercut swing on a fastball and sent it several rows deep into the bleachers above the out-of-town scoreboard in left-center - way, way out. In the sixth, with Porcello still out there, Cust came back with a searing line drive to dead right field, a solo shot that left the impression of a speeding bullet. Nobody around baseball pays much attention to Cust, given the Oakland malaise and his .240 batting average, but when he connects, it's one of the prettiest sights in the game. The Tigers' afternoon didn't look so bad on paper, including home runs by Curtis Granderson and Miguel Cabrera (career No. 200), but in truth, it's a good thing they gave utilityman Ryan Raburn a start Friday night (when he homered twice). Beyond that, they came up badly short, and lost a road series for the 10th consecutive time. When Detroit writers mentioned the lack of hitting to Leyland, he snapped, "That's been a problem for us all year."
		2009: 396 AB/ 0.240 BA/ 19 HR/ 56 RBI/ 67 R/ 4 SB/ 0.414 Slug/ 0.34 KRate/ 0.58 FPI Week: 14 AB/ 0.571 BA/ 3 HR/ 6 RBI/ 5 R/ 0 SB/ 1.214 Slug/ 0.29 KRate/ 1.76 FPI
Cuddyer, Michael (OF) Min		The career season I alluded to from Cuddyer a few weeks back, continued on Sunday as Cuddyer knocked out 2 more HR’s giving him 22 on the season (just 2 shy of his career high). We touched on Cuddyer not making any actual improvements in his peripherals other than seemingly trading contact for power, but what I didn’t mention in that previous blurb was that there was precedent in Cuddyer’s career for this approach. Back in 2006, Cuddyer’s previous career season, his peripherals were nearly identical to this year. At this point there’s little reason to believe Cuddyer’s pace will slow down. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Star Tribune, "Michael Cuddyer’s long drive to left in the seventh inning on Sunday landed in Kauffman Stadium’s famous fountains — and Cuddyer splashed into the Twins record books. It was Cuddyer’s second homer of the inning, making him the first Twins player to hit two home runs in one inning. Not Harmon Killebrew. Not Tony Oliva. Not Kent Hrbek. Not Kirby Puckett. No masher in Twins history pulled off what Cuddyer did on Sunday as the Twins rolled over the Royals 10-3. “There’s a lot of people who have come through his organization,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “That’s pretty special.” Cuddyer is the first major leaguer to his two homers in one inning since Boston’s David Ortiz did it on Aug. 12, 2008. Cuddyer was 3-for-5 on Sunday with three RBI and hit .355 with three homers and five RBI on the road trip. “A very special day,” he said. “A very special scenario. And we got the win on top of that. “It’s a pretty cool day.” It’s turning out to be a pretty cool season for Cuddyer, who needed one after hitting only 16 homers in 2007 and spending most of last season on the disabled list. He dislocated and lacerated his right index finger in the first week of last season. He strained a tendon in his left index finger in late June. Then he was struck on the left foot by a line drive during a rehabilitation assignment, knocking him out until mid-September. “Last year, he missed a whole bunch of time and we ended up one game short [of the playoffs],” Gardenhire said. “To have him back out there, beating the ball around, and just the way he plays the game. Slides hard. Does everything. Does whatever you ask. Hit and run, he’ll bunt, he’ll do whatever. Those are the type of players you want on the field, and we did miss that last year.” Cuddyer’s season has also included hitting for the cycle and driving in five runs May 22 against Milwaukee. Talk about making up for lost time. “It feels good to help the team on the field rather than being a leader in the clubhouse,” said Cuddyer, who’s batting .276 with 22 homers and 63 RBI. “All of that stuff is great, but you want to play the game. And to come out and help the team on the field is very satisfying.” Cuddyer still had clubhouse duties to attend to after the game. He’s the one who awards the game ball to a deserving player after each victory. Instead of giving himself the game ball Sunday, he gave it to righthander Carl Pavano, the starting pitcher. “He deserved it,” Cuddyer said. “He pitched seven tough innings. He kept us in the game real well.” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire joked that Cuddyer came out ahead in the end. “He got the game beer,” Gardenhire said. “I would have liked the game beer.”
		2009: 437 AB/ 0.277 BA/ 22 HR/ 63 RBI/ 72 R/ 5 SB/ 0.522 Slug/ 0.21 KRate/ 0.68 FPI Week: 31 AB/ 0.355 BA/ 3 HR/ 5 RBI/ 6 R/ 0 SB/ 0.774 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 1.00 FPI
Peavy, Jake (P) ChA		According to the Chicago Tribune, " White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen dispelled rumors that Jake Peavy might be activated from the disabled list if he pitches five strong innings Monday for Triple-A Charlotte. “I don’t think so. This kid, he’s a real bulldog, not a fake one,” Guillen said. “There’s a lot of fake bulldogs out there. This guy’s legit. And I don’t want him to be that in this situation. “I don’t count with him. If you count on him, it’s like he’ll break your heart. If he’s here, great. If he’s not, we’re ready for that. “When he says he’s ready to pitch. ... If we’re in the World Series in Game Four and this guy says he’s ready to pitch, he’ll be out there on the mound, believe me.” - newsreporter3

		2009: 82 IP/ 1.190 WHIP/ 3.97 ERA/ 6 W/ 92 K/ 0 S/ 1.13 K Inning/ 1.79 FPI
Matsui, Hideki (DH) NYA		Two more bombs for Matsui on Sunday night gives him 23 on the season in just 343 AB’s. This is a rather remarkable spike in HR production, especially from a 35 year old battling knee pain, but Matsui continues to take advantage of some of the smaller RF parks in the AL East as he’s opening his swing up more and really pulling off the ball. He’s raised his FB Rate over 8% from last year so while more of his fly balls are leaving the yard, he’s coupling it with just hitting more fly balls in general. In weekly formats Matsui’s a bit of a tough roster because the knee issues can knock him out for a few days at a time, but as long as he’s healthy he should be active in all formats. - ddinkmeyer

		2009: 338 AB/ 0.263 BA/ 23 HR/ 68 RBI/ 45 R/ 0 SB/ 0.530 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 0.67 FPI Week: 23 AB/ 0.261 BA/ 4 HR/ 10 RBI/ 4 R/ 0 SB/ 0.783 Slug/ 0.09 KRate/ 0.83 FPI
Waechter, Doug (RP) KC		According to the KC Star, "Relief pitcher Doug Waechter will have arthroscopic surgery on the labrum in his right shoulder next Monday. Manager Trey Hillman said he wasn’t sure on a recovery timetable, though it’s unlikely Waechter will pitch again this season. Waechter, 28, signed for $640,000 but has been limited by injuries to just five games and 5 1/3 innings with an 8.44 ERA this season." - newsreporter3

		Week: 0 IP/ 15.152 WHIP/ 81.82 ERA/0 W/ 0 K/ 0 S/ 0.00 K Inning/ -24.29 FPI
Liriano, Francisco (P) Min		According to the Star Tribune, "Gardenhire said on Sunday that lefthander Francisco Liriano, who’s on the 15-day disabled list with a tired arm, could start or relieve once he returns. Liriano hasn’t picked up a ball or lifted a weight since his start on Monday in Texas, when he struggled mightily. He has spent the time since then working on conditioning and resting his arm. Liriano is expected to pick up a ball sometime this week. On Saturday, Liriano said that his arm has been feeling weak for some time. "It’s been like that for probably like a month.’’ Liriano said. “My stuff, it was getting worse. I didn’t want to keep pitching like that. My arm was dead.’’ - newsreporter3

		2009: 127 IP/ 1.530 WHIP/ 5.80 ERA/ 5 W/ 115 K/ 0 S/ 0.90 K Inning/ 0.74 FPI Week: 2 IP/ 4.500 WHIP/ 31.50 ERA/0 W/ 1 K/ 0 S/ 0.50 K Inning/ -6.75 FPI
Carmona, Fausto (P) Cle		I think Sunday may have been the exclamation point on Fausto Carmona’s “I’m Back” statement. He’s quietly put together a very impressive August (even before Sunday’s outing) as his K Rate has come back, the BB’s have toned down (just 9 in 24 IP), and the GBs are still there (above 55%). From a peripherals perspective Carmona was never as good as his breakout 2007 season, but the precipitous fall-off in his command AND his ability to generate swings and misses was puzzling. Over the last month, he’s quietly put things back together and while his production may never reach the height of his name value in that 2007 season, he has a chance to resurrect his career as a GB specialist back-end mixed league starter. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "As of 1:07 p.m. Sunday, the pitching matchup of Fausto Carmona versus Felix Hernandez did not appear promising for the Indians. Carmona, less than a month removed from minor-league banishment, is seeking to rediscover the effectiveness of 2007. Mariners ace Hernandez is among the best in the majors, particularly on the road. Neither had thrown a pitch, though, so anything was possible. By 2:57, the end of the sixth inning, Carmona owned Hernandez. Carmona still had an inning to dominate and King Felix was headed to the clubhouse, trailing by five. Even the most optimistic of Tribe fans (you're out there, aren't you?) would have strained to imagine this was possible. Carmona finished with one run allowed in seven innings and struck out eight as the Indians rolled, 6-1, at Progressive Field. The Indians scored four in the sixth for the final margin. Carmona (3-8, 5.92 ERA) earned his first victory since May 14 at Tampa Bay. He did so by not blinking against Hernandez, who gave up six runs (three earned) on nine hits in six innings. The innings and strikeouts are season-highs for Carmona. He had not worked seven innings since Aug. 16, 2008, against the Angels. He had not fanned eight or more since Sept. 15, 2007, against Kansas City (nine). In five starts since returning to Cleveland on July 31, Carmona is 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 29 innings. He has lasted at least five innings in all five. Sunday marked Carmona's lowest one-game ERA (1.29) since Aug. 22, 2008, when he gave up one unearned run in six innings of a victory at Texas. Carmona permitted one walk and five hits in his day's work. Lack of control has been a problem for Carmona for two years. He has walked 54 in 89 2/3 innings this season after walking 70 in 120 2/3 in 2008. Carmona's biggest mechanical flaw during his protracted slump, flying open to the first-base side at release, has led to pitches having minds of their own. It was a non-issue against Seattle. A sinker/changeup combination was enough to overpower the Mariners. In the sixth, Carmona struck out Ken Griffey Jr., who homered the previous at-bat, on a 3-2 change-up. The Indians moved in front, 1-0, in the first. Grady Sizemore led off by going with a Hernandez fastball away and driving it deep toward the left-field corner. Ryan Langerhans was on the verge of making a running, lunging catch -- until the wall interfered, jarring the ball loose. Sizemore raced to third. The game was delayed for several minutes as Mariners personnel tended to Langerhans, who did not leave the field. Sizemore entered 7-for-14 against Hernandez. He was 2-for-4 Sunday. With the infield in, Hernandez got Jamey Carroll to ground to third and Shin-Soo Choo to bounce to the mound. Jhonny Peralta did not allow Hernandez to escape, pulling in his hands and muscling a fastball into left for an RBI single. The Mariners tied it in the fourth when Griffey led off with a homer. Griffey, who did not play in the first two games of the series, blasted Carmona's 2-0 pitch over the wall in center. It was Griffey's 13th homer of the season and 624th of his career (fifth all-time). Griffey has gone deep 38 times against Cleveland. Peralta answered in the Tribe half of the inning with a shot to left, his 10th. Hernandez smacked his glove as soon as bat connected with ball. The Indians' sixth-inning surge was set up when Seattle second baseman Jose Lopez booted Peralta's one-out grounder. Luis Valbuena had an RBI single, Matt LaPorta an RBI double, Wyatt Toregas a sacrifice fly and Andy Marte an RBI single. The Indians out-hit the Mariners, 10-6."
		2009: 90 IP/ 1.710 WHIP/ 5.92 ERA/ 3 W/ 54 K/ 0 S/ 0.60 K Inning/ 0.64 FPI Week: 12 IP/ 1.500 WHIP/ 3.00 ERA/1 W/ 12 K/ 0 S/ 1.00 K Inning/ 0.88 FPI
Feldman, Scott (P) Tex		Feldman hasn’t drawn as much attention as a 13-4, 3.87 ERA line would suggest, largely because prior to this August, the peripherals have been underwhelming. Feldman was a GB specialist whose GB Rate was barely eclipsing 45% (good… but not great). With just about 5 K/9 and 3 BB/9, Feldman looked to be far more the beneficiary of an abnormally low .269 BHIP% than anything else. As this number regressed his ERA would carry back closer to the low 4’s and his WHIP would likely trend into the mid 1.30’s which combined with little K production was nothing more than a back-end starter. But something has happened here in August that really is noteworthy; Feldman’s all of the sudden become dominant. His K Rate has jumped to over 1.00 here in August sparked by an 11 K effort yesterday and his GO:AO Ratio has jumped to 1.70 (1.21 heading into August). In addition the improvements have come against some pretty good offenses (CLE, LAA, TB, MIN). It’s awful late to be hopping on the Feldman bandwagon given all the good production his owners have already grabbed so far this year, but as the season wears on his peripherals are only getting better. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Dallas News, "In need of a victory to salvage a game in the series against Tampa Bay, the Rangers turned to their road warrior. Scott Feldman lived up to the billing. Feldman allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings, leading the Rangers to a 4-0 victory over the Rays. He improved his road record to 9-1 with a 2.90 ERA and has won his last five road starts. Feldman's 11 strikeouts were a career high and the most by a Rangers starter since Matt Perisho struck out 12 on Oct. 3, 1999. "To me, it's like a hitter who hits at home," manager Ron Washington said. "I wish he could bottle it and bring it back to Texas. If we knew, we'd try to get to bring it back." The win put the Rangers back on track in the wild-card race. They head to New York with only Boston between them and the postseason. A loss Sunday would have dropped the Rangers into a tie with the Rays in the wild-card standings. Feldman wasn't going to let that happen. Working with catcher Ivan Rodriguez for the first time, he set the tone early, striking out the first two batters. He matched his previous career high in strikeouts, seven, when he struck out Gabe Kapler to end the fifth inning. Feldman was far from done though. He added two more in both the sixth and seventh innings. "I was mixing things up really good," said Feldman, who improve to 13-4 on the season. "I know they are a good hitting team, and I tried to keep them off balance a little bit. "Pudge is probably the greatest catcher of all time, and he's got a great idea of what he's doing. For never catching me before, he showed a lot of confidence in my off-speed pitches." Rodriguez said he was impressed by Feldman. "He was throwing strikes and did it with all his pitches," Rodriguez said. "He had a good sinker going today, and the cutter was getting over for strikes. He got ahead of a lot of hitters." Feldman snapped a streak of six games in which a Rangers starter didn't pitch six innings. Washington had been preaching about pitch efficiency, and Feldman gave it to him. He didn't throw more than 20 pitches in an inning until the sixth and finished with 113. Even when Feldman wasn't in the game, the strikeouts were still coming. Darren O'Day struck out the side in the eighth, and Frank Francisco added another in the ninth inning. The 15 combined strikeouts are the most for the Rangers since May 16, 2003, when they struck out 15 New York Yankees. Feldman was helped by some early offense, as the Rangers scored a pair of runs off left-hander David Price in the third inning on a Michael Young single. Rodriguez added an RBI double in the fourth and the Rangers added some insurance with another run in the eighth. The Rangers now have the taste of two tough losses out of their system. "We needed to get a win in this series," said Young, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games with his two-run single. "Feldman went out there and did it for us. He's been doing that all year long."
		2009: 144 IP/ 1.250 WHIP/ 3.87 ERA/ 13 W/ 86 K/ 0 S/ 0.60 K Inning/ 1.72 FPI Week: 13 IP/ 1.263 WHIP/ 3.55 ERA/1 W/ 15 K/ 0 S/ 1.18 K Inning/ 1.70 FPI
Pie, Felix (OF) Bal		Pie would be the direct beneficiary of any time missed by Adam Jones. Though Pie doesn’t hold value in anything but AL Only formats, dynasty owners need to continue to keep an eye on the youngster who has been hot here in August. Pie stroked his 2nd HR of the month coming off the bench to replace Adam Jones on Sunday and raised his August line to .317/.356/.537. At 24, Pie has made some mild improvements in his peripherals this season sparked by a higher LD Rate and XBH Rate (up over 9% now). His approach at the plate still leaves a lot to be desired as Pie doesn’t draw many walks and has trouble making consistent contact; but he’s improved his OPS by over 80 points while switching to the tougher league. His prospect light doesn’t shine nearly as bright as it did a few years back but there’s some small glimmer coming from it of late and dynasty owners may want to pursue finding a developmental spot on your roster for Pie. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Baltimore Sun, "At least for one day, Jones' absence from the lineup didn't hurt the Orioles. That's because his replacement, Felix Pie, came in and went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, one coming on a third-inning sacrifice fly and the other coming on a fifth-inning solo homer, his fourth of the season. "When you see a guy like Jones get hurt, I say, 'Oh my God, I have to go in. I've got to stay ready,'" Pie said. "I tell him, 'You know, I feel bad for you, but I thank you [because] I'm playing today.'" What made Pie's performance even more impressive was the fact that both the sacrifice fly and the home run came against Buerhle, one of the game's best left-handed pitchers. Entering the game, Pie had just one hit in 13 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, a .077 average against southpaws. "I'm sure he's going to let me know about that one," Trembley joked."
		2009: 161 AB/ 0.261 BA/ 4 HR/ 17 RBI/ 26 R/ 1 SB/ 0.404 Slug/ 0.24 KRate/ 0.51 FPI Week: 16 AB/ 0.375 BA/ 1 HR/ 2 RBI/ 4 R/ 0 SB/ 0.563 Slug/ 0.31 KRate/ 0.85 FPI
Bonser, Boof (P) Min		According to the Star Tribune, "Righthander Boof Bonser was expected to miss the entire season after having shoulder surgery during spring training. But he’s made so much progress in recent weeks that there’s a growing chance he could pitch for the club in September. “They tell me he’s throwing really good,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He’s chomping at the bit.” Bonser, working out at the Twins’ year-round facility in Fort Myers, Fla., recently threw 60 pitches off a mound with no problems. He plans to contact Tampa Bay team physician Dr. Koco Eaton, who performed the surgery, to seek permission to face hitters. If that goes well, he’ll eventually begin an official minor league rehab assignment. “He says it’s the best he’s felt in two, three years,” Gardenhire said. Bonser was 3-7 with a 5.93 ERA last season as a starter and reliever." - newsreporter3


Johnson, Jim (RP) Bal		Johnson made it 4-4 in save opportunities since being handed the closer’s role despite a shaky 9th inning against the White Sox. Johnson gave up 2 Hits and a Run but was able to close out the game with 2 K’s and pick up his 6th save of the season. As Joe pointed out previously, Johnson rarely works clean innings, but his high GB Rate (52%) allows him to work out of jams. There isn’t a legitimate threat to Johnson in the Baltimore pen so look for him to continue to hold the role as the season winds down. Expect somewhere between 6 and 10 saves the rest of the way. - ddinkmeyer

		2009: 58 IP/ 1.230 WHIP/ 2.97 ERA/ 3 W/ 41 K/ 6 S/ 0.71 K Inning/ 1.53 FPI Week: 2 IP/ 1.288 WHIP/ 3.86 ERA/0 W/ 3 K/ 2 S/ 1.29 K Inning/ 1.28 FPI
Saltalamacchia, Jarrod (C) Tex		According to the Dallas News, "Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchiae hit off a tee Friday and took batting practice over the weekend. He is on the disabled list because of thoracic outlet syndrome. Saltalamacchia will begin throwing again in New York, and he said he hopes to begin a rehab assignment when the team travels to Minnesota on Friday. "I haven't felt any numbness in three or four days," he said. "The first day I hit I had some fatigue. I hit yesterday, and I didn't have any fatigue." Saltalamacchia is targeting a Sept. 1 return, but he said he doesn't want to make that a make-or-break date. He said he wants to be back in time to finish the season." - newsreporter3

		2009: 280 AB/ 0.236 BA/ 9 HR/ 34 RBI/ 34 R/ 0 SB/ 0.375 Slug/ 0.34 KRate/ 0.42 FPI
Price, David (P) TB		Price was solid at home again on Sunday limiting the Rangers to just 6 base-runners in 7 innings, while striking out 4. Unfortunately 3 of those base-runners found their way across home plate and it was enough to earn Price his 6th loss of the season. Joe’s done a good enough job illustrating Price’s Home/Road splits so I’ll instead focus on the consistent improvement we’re seeing from Price in his peripherals from month-to-month. Price’s traded some dominance in his K Rate for more consistency in the strike zone. He’s going a full inning deeper on average in his August starts and his BB Rate has dipped all the way down to 0.25 in August as well. As the consistency in the strike zone continues, the success will follow (even on the road). - ddinkmeyer
		According to the St Petersburg Times, "Rookie LHP David Price is often hard on himself after starts, seemingly a perfectionist in many ways. So it was no surprise that Price held himself to a higher standard after Sunday's strong performance, when he held the Rangers to three runs, matched his career high by going seven innings and threw a career-high 114 pitches. "It was a good outing on paper," Price said after the 4-0 loss. "But not good enough." But 1B Carlos Peña approached him after the game and helped put the outing in perspective. "I told him that he did a great job, awesome," Peña said. " 'You do that every single day and we're going to get you some wins.' We just couldn't score runs." Price gave up two of his runs on a single in the third by 3B Michael Young, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Price seemed to get better as the game wore on, retiring the last 10 batters he faced, and lasted seven innings for just the third time this season. "I kept us in the game," Price said. "I gave us a chance all the way to the end." To Rangers manager Ron Washington, it was a stark contrast from the Price he saw July 4 in Arlington, Texas, when the left-hander gave up six runs and five walks in the shortest outing of his career (11/3). Price said he had a "little bit of pride to get back" from that start, which he labeled embarrassing. Mission accomplished. "I thought he was much calmer," Washington said. "He didn't look like he was overthrowing the ball. He tried to use all his pitches, and he got them through six. The time I saw him over at our place, he just couldn't find the strike zone."
		2009: 84 IP/ 1.520 WHIP/ 4.93 ERA/ 6 W/ 75 K/ 0 S/ 0.89 K Inning/ 0.96 FPI Week: 12 IP/ 1.333 WHIP/ 3.75 ERA/1 W/ 9 K/ 0 S/ 0.75 K Inning/ 1.92 FPI
Reimold, Nolan (OF) Bal		Reimold’s put together a 10 game hitting streak littered with extra base hits (4 2B’s, 2 3B’s, and 2 HR’s) which was extended on Sunday with a 2 Run HR. Although the power production has improved of late, the peripherals have actually evaporated a bit. Reimold’s K Rate has progressed as follows: 18.3%, 16%, 24.3%, 28.8%; while his BB Rate has declined (6.7%, 17.3%, 14.1%, 9.6%) as the season has worn on. As the peripherals have declined his batting average has slowly dropped while the run production has remained similar. Reimold had some good fortune earlier in the year in his HR/FB Rate and we’ve seen that correct over the last 2 months as more well-hit balls have become 2B’s rather than HR’s. With more 2B’s than HR’s and a deteriorating contact rate leaving his batting average vulnerable, Reimold’s fantasy value is actually on the decline even though he’s been extremely hot of late. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Baltimore Sun, "Orioles rookie left fielder Nolan Reimold will see a foot and ankle specialist when the team returns home later this week to determine the best course of treatment for his ailing left Achilles. Reimold, who has played through discomfort in his left foot for over a year, said that he has "25 percent fraying" in his left Achilles, and offseason surgery is one option that he'll have to consider. "I've been getting treatment on it every day for over a year and I don't want to have to do it next year," said Reimold, who went 2-for-4 Sunday and connected off Buehrle for his 12th home run. "I'm going to see what I'm going to do to get rid of it, make it better. Whatever I have to do, I'm going to get it taken care of after the season. "I think they said that the recovery time after surgery is like four to five months, but that's not the only option. I'm going to see what all the options are, see what the best one is. I'd rather avoid surgery if I could." Reimold, who has been dealing with the injury since late June/early July of last year, said he wouldn't characterize his injury as a tear. "It's just something that is uncomfortable, but you can still play through it," he said."
		2009: 282 AB/ 0.277 BA/ 12 HR/ 36 RBI/ 39 R/ 7 SB/ 0.472 Slug/ 0.22 KRate/ 0.67 FPI Week: 26 AB/ 0.346 BA/ 2 HR/ 6 RBI/ 3 R/ 0 SB/ 0.808 Slug/ 0.27 KRate/ 0.98 FPI
Snider, Travis (OF) Tor		Perhaps its because he’s the shining star in the lone major league system outside of the US, but I don’t think Travis Snider is getting enough pub in the fantasy world as a prospect looking to make a late season impact. Snider posted a .901 OPS in limited time at AAA as a 20 year old last season and has followed it up with a ridiculous .337/.431/.663 line in 175 more AAA AB’s. The Jays had been messing around with his arbitration clock earlier in the year but he’s up for good now and appears ready to rake. He went deep for the 2nd time in his first 6 games since being recalled and shown good plate discipline already drawing 4 BB’s. He’s struggled with high K Rates in his brief major league appearances and the recent 6 game stretch is no different (33% K Rate), so be prepared for some streakiness, but Snider has a very high ceiling the rest of the way. He’s hit at every level in his professional career and its only a matter of time before he’s consistently raking at the major league level like he has at the minor league level. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Toronto Star, "As strange as it may seem, the third-inning solo home run by Jays rookie Travis Snider may not have been the most impressive plate appearance among his three hits and a walk in yesterday's 8-3 win over the Angels at the Rogers Centre. It has been a long time coming, but finally the highly touted rookie seems back on track. "Just the opportunity is encouraging on its own," Snider said on his seventh day back after what seemed like a lifetime in Triple-A Las Vegas. "But when you start to see results, you just try to build off of them and continue to get better every day. You just try and stay patient. Some at-bats you're going to get it. Other at-bats you're not." Snider is finally starting to get it. There were plenty of highlights to choose from. In the first inning against Trevor Bell, the 21-year-old right fielder fell behind 0-2 then ground out an eight-pitch walk. In his second at-bat, he homered to left-centre. Next at-bat, Snider jumped on the first pitch, lining a single to centre. Finally, he turned on a fastball and ripped a groundball into right. At that point, Raul Chavez bounced back to the mound starting an apparent double play. But Snider barrelled in with a late slide, upending the shortstop, throwing away the relay. The homer ranks down yesterday's list of impressiveness. "Travis is an amazing guy," fellow rookie Randy Ruiz said. "It was a little hard on him. He knew what it had to take to come back, so basically he stepped up his game. As a player, also as a fan, I'm excited. I have a feeling this guy's going to be a superstar." Even though Snider and Ruiz have virtually identical service time in the majors, there are huge differences in life experience. Ruiz is a 31-year-old undrafted journeyman, now with his 10th major-league organization. Snider is 10 years younger, a hotshot first-round draft pick with all the monetary perks that come with it. Despite this, it was Ruiz who was the upbeat one when the two got back together in May after Snider had sulked his way from Fenway Park to Vegas to rebuild his swing and his dreams. They had met at spring training, but now, two lockers away, Ruiz saw negative symptoms he recognized, took an interest and made a friend. "I think we're all the same, no matter whether it's 10 years, 20 years," Ruiz said. "I look at these people as all brothers. The guys that have more experience, I would like to get advice from them. The guys that are younger, I also learn from them. We all can teach each other. The biggest thing of all is about good friendship, about fun, about enjoying what you do best and fortunately it's baseball, right now." Snider clearly benefited from waking up in Vegas. "Even just being in Triple-A around those guys and understanding that you never know what's going to happen all helps," Snider said. "Even after things seem like they're on a certain path, they could be another way. You never know how things are going to turn out." Since his Jays' return, Snider is batting .333, with four walks. His OPS for six-games is 1.122. He goes out of his way to praise the influence of Ruiz and others on his recovery from the moping stages of being farmed out in May. "Just hitting behind him in Vegas was a lot of fun, watching that show he put on," Snider said. "It definitely helped me out being a guy behind him, because you know he's going to be on base. To see him succeeding after the years he's grinded through in the minor leagues and what he's done the time he's been here, it's something you cherish as a player and as a friend." Maybe it took 88 days at Triple-A surrounded by hard-luck, blue-collar guys like Ruiz, Howie Clark and others to teach perspective. Snider's development continues."
		2009: 117 AB/ 0.256 BA/ 5 HR/ 14 RBI/ 17 R/ 1 SB/ 0.436 Slug/ 0.26 KRate/ 0.55 FPI Week: 18 AB/ 0.333 BA/ 2 HR/ 2 RBI/ 5 R/ 0 SB/ 0.667 Slug/ 0.33 KRate/ 0.91 FPI
LaPorta, Matt (OF) Cle		Four games since recall and four games with hits for Indians prospect Matt LaPorta. LaPorta’s also racked up 3 2B’s in those 4 games, while striking out just once. Given that he was posting a .917 OPS at AAA with a strong 0.75 EYE and enters a still pretty deep lineup in Cleveland, LaPorta’s an intriguing reserve pickup in all formats right now. In dynasty or keeper leagues, he’s an obvious pickup candidate but I think there’s value in all formats from the polished prospect. In comparison with another prospect we’ve touched on today in Travis Snider, I think LaPorta is a better bet for impact this season, while Snider (thanks in large part to a huge age differential) is the better long-term bet for fantasy success. - ddinkmeyer

		2009: 57 AB/ 0.228 BA/ 1 HR/ 8 RBI/ 14 R/ 2 SB/ 0.351 Slug/ 0.21 KRate/ 0.45 FPI Week: 15 AB/ 0.333 BA/ 0 HR/ 4 RBI/ 4 R/ 0 SB/ 0.533 Slug/ 0.07 KRate/ 0.70 FPI
Bailey, Andrew (P) Oak		According to the Mercury News, "Rookie closer Andrew Bailey was walking around the A's clubhouse before Sunday's game with his left knee heavily wrapped. It was just business as usual for the 25-year-old All-Star, who said he was feeling great the morning after his first pitching appearance in five days. "The knee's not sore at all," Bailey said. "It's been feeling pretty good for two or three weeks now, and I'm looking forward to finishing up the season strong." Bailey, who leads major league rookies with 18 saves, said it was merely game circumstances that had kept him off the mound since last Monday. He pitched a scoreless ninth and picked up the win in Saturday night's 3-2 victory over the Tigers. Manager Bob Geren confirmed that Bailey's knee is fine, and that he asked him before Saturday's game whether he needed an inning to stay sharp, even if the situation didn't call for him. He was needed, then wound up not pitching Sunday. Bailey said he tweaked the knee about a month-and-a-half into the season. "I was walking up the steps and felt a little pinch," he said. An MRI exam showed "a little rough cartilage" and swelling, but nothing serious." - newsreporter3

		2009: 68 IP/ 0.930 WHIP/ 1.99 ERA/ 6 W/ 75 K/ 18 S/ 1.10 K Inning/ 2.62 FPI Week: 2 IP/ 0.000 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/1 W/ 1 K/ 1 S/ 0.50 K Inning/ 6.00 FPI
Romero, Ricky (P) Tor		Romero picked up his 11th win of his rookie campaign by limiting the Angels to just 2 ER’s on 8 hits and 2 BB’s in 6 innings of work. He continues to rely heavily on the GB as 10 of the 18 outs came via the ground ball, but while the good GB Rate continues the command and dominance are deteriorating. His K Rate has dropped from the .80-.90 Range all the way down to below .60 here in August. His command has been better of late (though not elite), and without the K’s and Romero is relying on a lot of good fortune. Currently a 0.77 Strand Rate is deflating his ERA by a good ½ run or so. The 1.42 WHIP is far more indicative of Romero’s current skill-set right now than the 3.91 ERA. For future seasons Romero is a nice prospect, but for the rest of this season there is going to be some healthy regression in his ERA, tread carefully. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Toronto Star, "There was a lot to like yesterday for manager Cito Gaston about the Jays' 8-3 victory over the playoff-bound Angels. There were the seven runs produced after two outs by a lineup that usually struggles in the clutch. There was the quality start by a rookie pitcher that looked anything but quality, and the fact the Jays managed to take the series 2-1, even without ace Roy Halladay in the mix. "We scored some runs, won as a team," Gaston said. "There was a lot of big (hits) today, probably two or three of them with two outs. That's what happens when you get those hits. You score runs." Ricky Romero was a little ragged in his six innings, giving up eight hits and two walks but saving enough to strike out the dangerous Chone Figgins to end the sixth, leaving the mound with a flourish. For Romero, who grew up near the Angels' ballpark in Anaheim, it was the first chance for a lot of his family and friends to watch him pitch in the majors on TV. "A win's a win," Romero said with a smile. "The Angels made it tough on me all day, from the one hitter to the nine hitter. It was definitely fun. Any time you get to have the whole community of Los Angeles watch you pitching, it's definitely pretty special." Romero (11-5) has now moved back into a tie for victories among AL rookies and is second in strikeouts with 101 behind Brett Anderson of the A's. But he swears he hasn't started paying attention to stats, neither will he allow the coaching staff to shut him down like they are planning to do with fellow rookies Brett Cecil and Marc Rzepczynski. "I already told them that I'm fresh, I'm ready to go," Romero said. "I just look at it as if I'm going to be one of the guys here, I need to go the whole year. My arm's fresh, I feel good. I just want to continue pitching. "I'm not looking at any comparisons. A lot of the guys are saying, `rookie of the year, rookie of the year,' but I try not to look at it like that. If I win it, it's going to be an unbelievable accomplishment for me personally, but I just have to take it start by start." For the second time in three games, the Jays jumped on a Halos rookie starting pitcher. Friday night, it was rookie Sean O'Sullivan they victimized, while yesterday it was right-hander Trevor Bell. With two out in the first and nobody on, the Jays mounted a rare three-run rally. Adam Lind began it innocently enough with a looped single to the opposite field. Lyle Overbay doubled up the alley in left-centre, scoring Lind. Vernon Wells lined a single to centre, while Jose Bautista's RBI single to left completed the rally. The Jays continued the assault on Bell with three more runs in the second. After inexplicably walking the struggling Wells intentionally to load the bases, Bell surrendered an opposite-field double down the right-field line to Randy Ruiz that cleared the bases, giving the Jays a 6-0 lead and bringing on reliever Rafael Rodriguez. "It's part of the game," Ruiz said with a shrug. "Me, I'm the rookie guy. Of course, I'm going up there hacking. Little by little I'm getting the hang of it." The Jays added to their lead in the third on a solo homer to left-centre by Travis Snider, his fifth of the year. They scored again in the fifth on consecutive two-out singles by Snider, Raul Chavez and Marco Scutaro. Snider had a perfect day at the plate, with three hits and a walk. He also slid hard into second to break up a double play."
		2009: 131 IP/ 1.420 WHIP/ 3.91 ERA/ 11 W/ 99 K/ 0 S/ 0.75 K Inning/ 1.32 FPI Week: 10 IP/ 2.172 WHIP/ 6.51 ERA/1 W/ 4 K/ 0 S/ 0.41 K Inning/ -0.15 FPI
Avila, Alex (C) Det		With Alex Avila getting game action in 5 of the last 6 Tigers’ games and Gerald Laird slumping to a .195/.267/.268 line in August, Avila deserves some attention. Avila’s a 2008 draft pick who has zoomed through the Tigers farm system posting an .814 OPS at AA, with a respectable .68 EYE. The early power (7 extra base hits in just 27 ABs) is inflated by pitcher’s not yet knowing how to approach him, but he showed good power at AA with a 10.9% XBH Rate. Gerald Laird is fantastic behind the plate so Avila isn’t likely to take full-time AB’s away from him, but as a catcher option in deep AL only leagues or as a 2nd C option in deep mixed leagues, Avila’s a nice play. As most veteran catchers are wearing down here in the dog days of August, having a youthful option on your roster that the league has yet to adjust to is a nice play. - ddinkmeyer
		According to the Tigers' official website, "Alex Avila is just playing now. Some of the excitement has worn off. His friends and family aren't calling every day to congratulate him. These days, the fact of the matter is he's a Major League catcher. That doesn't mean he expected to be. Not this year, at least. "It was a big surprise," said Avila, who was in the lineup batting seventh in Sunday's rubber match against the A's. "I thought I was going to be in Double-A for the rest of the year. It was surprising, but obviously I was thrilled." Avila knows why he's here, though. The Tigers opened the season with Matt Treanor serving as their backup catcher. Treanor played four games before he was placed on the disabled list on April 27 with a season-ending right hip injury. Dane Sardinha was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to take Treanor's place. He was designated for assignment after 12 games, then outrighted to Toledo. Then it was Dusty Ryan's turn, but he was sent back to Triple-A on August 4 after 11 games. That's when Avila got the call to try his luck as Detroit's No. 2 backstop. "I guess that's the reason they called me up," Avila said of the Tigers' catching carousel. "They want to see what you can do and how you can play at this level. ... Any time you're in the lineup, you just try to do your job. Then, hopefully, you'll stick up here." Avila has been doing his job, both with the bat and behind the plate. The 22-year-old entered Sunday batting .370 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 10 games. "He's had a nice little initiation period with the bat," manager Jim Leyland said. "He's done a pretty good job calling the game and he's done a pretty decent job receiving. ... He'll do fine. He has a chance to settle in and be a good big league player." Avila has a big league pedigree. He's the son of Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila, and his grandfather, Ralph, is a retired Dodgers vice president. "Ever since I was young," Alex Avila said, "all we did was baseball." Young Alex, who started swinging the bat at the ripe old age of two, learned to play the game at the Dodgers' development complex in the Dominican Republic under Ralph's watch. "[My grandfather] passed it on to my dad, and he passed it on to me," he said. "I started playing as soon as I could swing the bat."
		2009: 26 AB/ 0.308 BA/ 2 HR/ 5 RBI/ 4 R/ 0 SB/ 0.654 Slug/ 0.27 KRate/ 0.87 FPI Week: 13 AB/ 0.154 BA/ 1 HR/ 3 RBI/ 1 R/ 0 SB/ 0.385 Slug/ 0.31 KRate/ 0.29 FPI
Guerrero, Vladimir (OF) LAA
		According to the Angels' official website, "Vladimir Guerrero still carries his glove with him out to batting practice to shag fly balls and stay in tune with a part of the game he loves -- defense. But it's not likely he'll need it in game conditions for the rest of this season. "Physically, even if I know I'm not playing out there, I know I can play the outfield," Guerrero said through Jose Mota's translation after banging a solo homer (No. 11) and a 370-foot single in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Blue Jays. "I know I'm going to be the designated hitter," he added. "I've gotten used to the mental routine of being a designated hitter, what it takes to get ready for a game." Basically, it involves watching video and doing some exercises. This could be an issue after the season when Guerrero becomes eligible for free agency. He could insist on going to a club that wants him to play at least most of the games in right field. Running down balls in the gap and unleashing powerful throws have given him a lot of pleasure over the years, and he feels he still can do those things, given the opportunity. "No, we have not completely ruled that out," manager Mike Scioscia said on Sunday when asked if Guerrero would be seen in right field again this season. Why would the manager consider taking the risk in the wake of Guerrero's dubious track record in the outfield this season? "To be able to freshen some other guys up," Scioscia said, referring to regular outfielders Torii Hunter, Juan Rivera and Bobby Abreu. "It adds depth. It would help us in a couple different ways. "We'll see. Right now, everybody seems to be holding up pretty well." After Sunday, the Angels have no more games on artificial turf. Scioscia gave Hunter and Abreu days off at Rogers Centre this weekend, but Rivera, swinging a hot bat, was in the lineup for all three games. Scioscia has Gary Matthews Jr. and Robb Quinlan for outfield depth, and even Chone Figgins in a pinch. Matthews performed capably in Hunter's absence for five weeks. In September, when rosters expand, Reggie Willits, Sean Rodriguez and Terry Evans can be added to the outfield mix if Scioscia desires more depth. The Angels gave Guerrero two starts in right field this season after he'd recovered from right knee surgery and then a torn pectoral muscle sustained throwing from right field in an exhibition at Dodger Stadium on the eve of the season. The second start he made in right, at Angel Stadium against the Rangers on July 9, was disastrous. Getting in position to make a throw from right-center, he pulled a muscle behind his left knee -- not the one that was operated on in October -- and went to the disabled list for 25 days. His start at DH on Sunday is Guerrero's 64th game appearance and game No. 122 for the Angels. Guerrero needs a big finish to reach 25 homers and finish at .300 or higher for the 12th straight season. Only Lou Gehrig achieved that distinction for 11 consecutive seasons before Guerrero. With 41 games left before Sunday's first pitch by Jays lefty Ricky Romero, Guerrero needs 14 homers to reach 25. He's batting .303. Since coming off the DL on Aug. 4, Guerrero is batting .338 with seven homers in 17 games. With 403 career homers and a .322 lifetime batting average, he joins Hall of Famers Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams as the only players with at least 400 homers and a .320 or higher average."
		2009: 244 AB/ 0.307 BA/ 11 HR/ 32 RBI/ 37 R/ 2 SB/ 0.492 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 0.66 FPI Week: 31 AB/ 0.355 BA/ 3 HR/ 6 RBI/ 7 R/ 0 SB/ 0.710 Slug/ 0.26 KRate/ 0.92 FPI
Damon, Johnny (OF) NYA
		According to the Newsday, "Johnny Damon arrived at Fenway Park last night with the feeling he was going to be in the lineup against the Red Sox. He had missed Saturday's game with a bruised knee after fouling a ball off himself and leaving Friday's game after one half-inning. Joe Girardi arrived at Fenway Park with the intent to play Damon. Why? Because the Yankees' manager considered it a big game and was willing to push his banged-up guys a little to try and win it. "I think that's a fair statement," Girardi said. "This is an important game. You want to win another series, have an off-day tomorrow, continue to try to increase your lead on a daily basis, so I think it is important." Scott Boras, are you listening? A member of the Yankees' braintrust just admitted your client's importance to the team. When the Yankees have a big game to play, Damon's gotta be in there. Start getting the negotiating binder ready, Scott. Damon, who had two hits and scored two runs in the series-ending 8-4 victory over the Red Sox, is a free agent after this season, and at age 35, he's not going to match the four-year, $52-million deal he got from the Yankees after the 2005 season. He might not get more than one year. He's definitely not going to get $13 million per. He should get something, though. The Yankees shouldn't break the bank again, but Damon should be brought back in 2010 on a reasonable one-year deal. Throw in some incentives if you have to. But don't let this super-cool guy and super-valuable player get away if you can help it. "It's not really a great process to be involved with," Damon said of free agency. "It is when you're a lot younger. Teams always want to cut back and save, especially with this economy, so whatever happens happens. I've understood the business side of things since I got traded from Kansas City. That's when my thoughts of loyalty in this game disappeared." In many ways, Damon's situation is similar to what the Yankees faced with Bobby Abreu last offseason. Abreu was coming off a multiyear deal in which he made $16 million in 2008. The Yankees declined to offer him arbitration for fear he would accept it. He signed with the Angels in February for $5 million. connections * Fidel Castro Fidel Castro * Swine Flu Swine Flu * Tom Stone * Barack Obama Barack Obama In 2008, Abreu batted .296 with 20 home runs and 100 RBIs. In 2009, entering last night, Damon was batting .284 with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs. Damon is a little less steady than Abreu - he's usually battling some minor ache and/or pain - but he still is productive and is an engaging presence in the clubhouse, something the pleasant but dull Abreu never was. And he's still a pretty good offensive player, although he's become a bit of an adventure in left. He needs to stop comically climbing walls in feeble pursuits of balls he can't possibly catch, which he does at Yankee Stadium all the time and did last night on Mike Lowell's second-inning double off the Green Monster. His future is as a part-time leftfielder and part-time designated hitter. Happily for that reality, Hideki Matsui has no chance of coming back next season, so the DH spot will be open to rotate among Damon, Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez, et al. Damon joked about being willing to accept arbitration if the Yankees want to offer it. He knows that's not going to happen. But all things being equal, he said he "absolutely" wants to stay with the Yankees. "These guys here, we're like a family," he said. "It's been great. When it's all said and done, we'll see what the Yankees have. If they don't have it, we'll see what another team has. If that's not right, that could be the reason I could disappear."
		2009: 430 AB/ 0.291 BA/ 22 HR/ 68 RBI/ 87 R/ 9 SB/ 0.526 Slug/ 0.17 KRate/ 0.74 FPI Week: 17 AB/ 0.353 BA/ 0 HR/ 1 RBI/ 4 R/ 1 SB/ 0.412 Slug/ 0.12 KRate/ 0.78 FPI
Davis, Chris (1B) Tex
		According to the Dallas News, "The Rangers are hoping Chris Davis can give them a boost at first base. Davis, who was demoted to Triple-A in July, will be called up for the series opener against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, and manager Ron Washington said Davis will be the first baseman. The move will cut into the playing time of Hank Blalock, who is hitting .238 and was 1-for-11 in the series against Tampa Bay. Blalock has seven hits in his last 43 at-bats. Davis hit .202 in 77 games with the Rangers, striking out 114 times in 258 at-bats. With Oklahoma City, he hit .335, with 39 strikeouts in 165 at-bats. Washington said when Davis returns to the lineup, Blalock will resume his role as a part-time first baseman and designated hitter. Blalock has started the last 44 games at first base."
		2009: 258 AB/ 0.202 BA/ 15 HR/ 33 RBI/ 31 R/ 0 SB/ 0.415 Slug/ 0.44 KRate/ 0.39 FPI
Feliz, Neftali (P) Tex
		According to the Dallas News, "Neftali Feliz continues to impress everyone but himself. He pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings Saturday night, the first time he's pitched more than two innings for the Rangers. "I'm glad I was able to do a good job in that game," said Feliz, a rookie right-hander. "I just want to do whatever they need. I just want to give this team the best chance to win." Feliz, who will be available to pitch Tuesday in New York, lowered his ERA to 0.63 in 14 1/3 innings. That mark is the second-lowest in the major leagues in August. Florida reliever Brian Sanches has a 0.60 ERA this month. Feliz also has 19 strikeouts with one walk. "I didn't think the start I'd get off to would be so great," Feliz said. "I prepared myself in the minor leagues, so I could have this kind of success. I feel great. My arm feels good. If I can keep throwing strikes, everything will be nice."
		2009: 14 IP/ 0.350 WHIP/ 0.63 ERA/ 0 W/ 19 K/ 1 S/ 1.33 K Inning/ 3.52 FPI Week: 6 IP/ 0.529 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 3 K/ 0 S/ 0.53 K Inning/ 3.44 FPI
Zaun, Gregg (C) TB
		According to the Rays' official website, "Many catchers will tell you it usually takes them a full season to truly grasp their team's pitching staff. Gregg Zaun didn't have that much time. The veteran backstop came to the Rays via trade from the Orioles on Aug. 7 and was told he'd be platooning -- facing mostly right-handed starters -- with Dioner Navarro behind the plate. Lucky for Tampa Bay, though, this is Zaun's 15th season in the big leagues -- eighth in the American League East, in particular -- and he has constantly studied opposing pitchers, even when he wasn't playing. As an opponent, Rays starters were no different. "Usually, once I've caught them once or twice, that's it, because I pay attention -- even when I'm not catching -- to what they do," said Zaun, who went with a classic-rock mix in the clubhouse before the finale of a critical three-game series against the Rangers at Tropicana Field on Sunday. "I've faced all these guys a bunch, seen them, and all I do is watch baseball on TV. So I pretty much have a good grasp of everybody and what's going on. That's my job." And a job he's doing pretty well so far. In Zaun's seven games behind the plate, Rays starters have combined to post a 4.89 ERA, but this week, they've been almost unhittable. David Price gave up two runs in five innings with Zaun as his backstop on Tuesday, Jeff Niemann allowed only one run in 7 1/3 frames on Wednesday, and Scott Kazmir gave up three runs in 7 1/3 innings on Friday. That's a combined 2.74 ERA by those three starters, and a 3-0 record by Tampa Bay in those games. "He does the thinking, and all you do is execute," said Kazmir, part of a starting staff whose average age is 25. "It takes a lot of pressure off you. "He knows that in a critical situation he wants to communicate and see what I'm thinking and what he's thinking, and we'll come up with a pitch and be on the same page. That's what a veteran does." Before coming over to the Rays, Zaun played in 76 career games against Tampa Bay -- batting .256 with eight home runs -- and he knew its young starting staff had the makings of a great bunch -- they just needed to grow into their nasty stuff. "Ultimately, I knew some of them were guys who were effectively wild, didn't always hit their spots but had great stuff," Zaun said. "All these guys, they're all stuff guys. It's about harnessing that raw energy: Get them in the strike zone and keep them from being predictable." But the 38-year-old switch-hitter didn't predict this amount of playing time when he switched uniforms earlier this month. Zaun was in the starting lineup on Sunday -- batting seventh -- for the eighth time in 14 games since joining the Rays. Manager Joe Maddon said he wants to put Zaun in the lineup against opposing right-handers, as the switch-hitting Navarro's batting average against lefties (.277) is 29 points higher than against righties. Zaun is not complaining. "I was just happy to be on a contender," Zaun said. "I was like, 'OK, great, I'll go back up on a good team, and I'll get a chance to go to the postseason.' But I come here, and I'm playing a lot, and I'm able to make some contributions right away. It's been huge. I'm tickled to death."
		2009: 200 AB/ 0.250 BA/ 6 HR/ 18 RBI/ 28 R/ 0 SB/ 0.405 Slug/ 0.17 KRate/ 0.54 FPI Week: 16 AB/ 0.188 BA/ 0 HR/ 0 RBI/ 1 R/ 0 SB/ 0.250 Slug/ 0.00 KRate/ 0.15 FPI
Porcello, Rick (P) Det
		According to the Detroit News, "Raising kids is tough. Raising kid pitchers is no picnic, either. But what parent -- or manager -- wants out of it? Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry, the two blue-ribbon rookies who have often made Jim Leyland's job more pleasant, had off-days Sunday in the Tigers' 9-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Porcello got away from his customary game and twice fell behind the Athletics' menacing left-handed basher, Jack Cust, in the early innings. He got his come-uppance both times, as Cust walloped a pair of home runs good for four Oakland runs. "You can't do that," Leyland said. "He got it (his pitches) in that area of the swing, and (Cust) has big-time power. "He really didn't mix his pitches too well." Porcello, whose record slipped to 10-8, conceded his strategy to give the hitters what they weren't looking for fell apart. "I was trying to mix it up early in the count," Porcello said, "and I ended up falling behind with change-ups and sliders that were out of the zone." Perry had similar issues Sunday after he arrived in the eighth, after a leadoff walk and a double off Fu-Te Ni put runners at third and second with no outs in a game the Athletics led, 5-4. "I was going for the strikeout there," Leyland said of his pitching change, which brought Perry in to face left-handed batting catcher Landon Powell. "Going for the strikeout was our only chance to hold them to one, maybe two runs." Powell belted a Perry fastball just inside the foul pole for a three-run homer. Two batters later, Cliff Pennington hit another home run off Perry down the right-field line. "Perry didn't bounce back very well," Leyland said, a reference to Perry's back-to-back outings after some neat relief work in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Athletics. "I was a little disappointed." If he was tired, or if his pitches lacked the crackle he typically shows, it was news to Perry. "I felt fine, like I did when I came in (Saturday)," he said. "Personally, I felt good. It just didn't turn out the way we wanted it to."
		2009: 123 IP/ 1.370 WHIP/ 4.39 ERA/ 10 W/ 66 K/ 0 S/ 0.54 K Inning/ 1.11 FPI Week: 11 IP/ 1.273 WHIP/ 4.91 ERA/0 W/ 9 K/ 0 S/ 0.82 K Inning/ 0.50 FPI
Young, Michael (3B) Tex
		According to the Dallas News, "Michael Young is healthy this season, and the numbers are showing it. His two-run single in the third inning Sunday extended his hitting streak to 11 games. During the streak, Young his hitting .444 with 20 hits and 11 RBIs. His .329 average this season is sixth-best in the American League. Injuries hampered his bid for a sixth consecutive 200-hit season in 2008, but he's well on his way this season. He needs 40 hits in the team's final 39 games to reach the mark. "My two biggest goals every season are to be healthy and stay consistent," said Young. "Last year, I wasn't able to have one of those, or maybe both of them. This year, I've been able to stay on the field and focus on the things I have to focus on. I know if I do those things, I'm going to be right there. Whether I get past it (200) or not, I'll be right there." Young's hot streak hasn't been a singles barrage either. Since the All-Star Break, his OPS is the third-highest in the AL. His 21 homers are three shy of his career-best, set in 2005."
		2009: 481 AB/ 0.326 BA/ 20 HR/ 61 RBI/ 70 R/ 8 SB/ 0.530 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 0.77 FPI Week: 30 AB/ 0.500 BA/ 1 HR/ 8 RBI/ 7 R/ 1 SB/ 0.733 Slug/ 0.10 KRate/ 1.27 FPI
Wilson, Jack (SS) Sea
		According to the Mariners' official website, "Josh Wilson was relatively unknown when he took over at shortstop for the Mariners in mid-August. The journeyman had been known for handy glove work but not much else. That was until his recent offensive outburst opened some eyes in the organization. Wilson has hit everything that's come his way while setting career highs in many offensive categories. But even with the increased production, his future with the Mariners going into Monday's game with Athletics remains in doubt. Jack Wilson is likely to return to the lineup for the series opener. "I know Jack is going to be healthy soon," Wilson said. "I don't know how it will play out. [Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu] can count on me to go out and do a good job." Josh Wilson has certainly done a good job filling in for the injured Jack Wilson. The Mariners hadn't been able to get consistency from the shortstop position until they traded for Jack Wilson along with Ian Snell at the end of July. Since then, the position has belonged to Jack. But when he aggravated a left hamstring injury on Aug. 13, the Mariners were forced to turn to another Wilson -- Josh. And his play has suggested that he's more than just a stopgap. In just nine games going into Sunday's finale with the Indians, he had set career highs in average (.371), homers (three) and multi-hit games (three). His power has been especially surprising, as his previous career high in homers was two. But that was in 2007, when he played in 90 games for the Rays. "It's just the playing time," Josh Wilson said. "Just getting some reps and playing helps. I've hit home runs in the Minor Leagues, but at the big league level, it's just a matter of experience. I just have a better idea of what pitchers like to throw." It's been tough for Josh Wilson to get experience against pitchers, because he hasn't gotten much playing time. His best year came in 2007 when he hit .251. But for the most part, Wilson has been no more than an extra infielder while playing for six teams in three seasons. And when Jack Wilson returns to the lineup Monday, Josh Wilson will most likely go back to being an extra infielder for the Mariners. But he's proven to at least one member of the organization that he can be more than that moving forward. "He's forcing us to look at him in a little bit of a different light," Wakamatsu said. "There is some offensive ability in there. I think he adds value, and his stats prove that."
		2009: 308 AB/ 0.260 BA/ 4 HR/ 33 RBI/ 32 R/ 3 SB/ 0.377 Slug/ 0.12 KRate/ 0.47 FPI
Chamberlain, Joba (P) NYA
		According to the Yankees' official website, "The lasting effect of 10 days off should charge through Joba Chamberlain when he takes the mound on Tuesday against the Rangers. At least, the hard-throwing right-hander expects it will. "Strong like bull," Chamberlain said, grinning. After missing a turn through the rotation in an attempt to limit his regular-season innings, Chamberlain is set to return and make the first of his six remaining starts as the Yankees open a six-game homestand at Yankee Stadium. The idea of staggering Chamberlain's starts to an innings limit around 160 is to protect his arm for the future while keeping it fresh for use in the postseason. Chamberlain has felt the itch to get on the mound, like you would expect of any enthusiastic 23-year-old, but he also understands the larger picture being presented to him. "You try to make the best of it," Chamberlain said. "I think we had a better plan this time. "It still feels like it's about a month in between each start, but that's just because you're used to going out every five days and doing it. This one felt a lot better than the last one did." That plan, for Chamberlain, had him throw three bullpen sessions in place of what would have been his most recent start, working on Friday and Sunday at Boston's Fenway Park. The longest of them, a session on Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum, was capped at approximately 80 pitches. Pitching as Chamberlain would during a contest, working alternately out of the windup and stretch, the simulated game featured bullpen coach Mike Harkey standing in as a batter, while pitching coach Dave Eiland served as the home-plate umpire. "He was a little bit tight, but we worked with it," Chamberlain said. Chamberlain's 24th start of the season and his fourth career effort against the Rangers follows the snapping of his nine-start undefeated streak on Aug. 16 against the Mariners, when Chamberlain allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings. "I expect him to be [sharp]," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Expectations are high around here for all of our pitchers to go out and pitch at a high level. I know he's had a couple of extra days off, but he also had an extra bullpen he threw earlier in the week." Chamberlain's career ERA against the Rangers is 7.11, the highest against any club, and lowering that stat is not the only reason he believes it is crucial to pitch well on Tuesday. "At this point, they're all important, because we're getting to the stretch," Chamberlain said. "We're trying to prepare to win a world championship. That's the biggest thing, not focusing on days off and things in between."
		2009: 127 IP/ 1.460 WHIP/ 3.98 ERA/ 8 W/ 109 K/ 0 S/ 0.86 K Inning/ 1.32 FPI
Tazawa, Junichi (P) Bos
		According to the Red Sox' official website, "Six shutout innings against the Yankees has earned 23-year-old righty Junichi Tazawa at least one more start, which will come Thursday night against the White Sox. So with Tim Wakefield coming off the disabled list and starting Wednesday, where does that leave struggling right-hander Brad Penny? The Red Sox don't have a long-term answer for that yet, but Penny will temporarily be available out of the bullpen. When Wakefield starts Wednesday night, Penny will be there for backup in case the knuckleballer has a hiccup in his first since July 8. If Penny is not needed on Wednesday, he will back up Tazawa on Thursday. The Red Sox plan on having Penny pitch a simulated game on Friday if he isn't called on to pitch the two nights he is in the bullpen. "We don't just want to turn him into a reliever," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said of Penny. "That's not in anybody's best interest. But we want to protect the club, we want to help him. That's about as far as we can go. And we communicated that to him today." Penny has struggled mightily over his past five starts, going 0-4 with a 9.11 ERA. For the season, he is 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA in 24 starts. The 31-year-old Penny has pitched just four times out of the bullpen in 273 career appearances. Tazawa, meanwhile, is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA in his three starts. The Red Sox should get Daisuke Matsuzaka back in their rotation in a couple of weeks. The right-hander will throw three innings in a rehab start in the Gulf Coast League on Monday, marking his first start of any kind since getting shelled by the Braves on June 19. There is clear enthusiasm from the Red Sox about the progress Matsuzaka has made since going on the disabled list. "He is significantly stronger in his shoulder," Francona said. "He is significantly leaner in his body. And he is also significantly stronger in his body. So there's a lot of reasons to be excited."
		2009: 18 IP/ 1.870 WHIP/ 3.57 ERA/ 2 W/ 10 K/ 0 S/ 0.57 K Inning/ -0.08 FPI Week: 6 IP/ 1.667 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/1 W/ 2 K/ 0 S/ 0.33 K Inning/ 1.33 FPI
Red Sox (T) Bos
		According to the Red Sox' official website, "The Red Sox and Billy Wagner reportedly need to resolve some issues in order for the veteran reliever to waive his no-trade clause and clear the way for a deal with the Mets. Agent Bean Stringfellow told FOXSports.com that his client's conditions for waiving the no-trade clause were not being met by the Red Sox, meaning a deal before a Tuesday deadline could be in jeopardy. If there is no deal before Boston's waiver claim runs out Tuesday, the Mets could choose to pull Wagner off waivers, losing the right to trade him the remainder of the season. Or, they could choose to allow the Red Sox to claim without compensation and Wagner would be transferred to the Red Sox. According to the report, the agent said the two sticking points involved Wagner's requests that the Red Sox not pick up his 2010 option or offer him arbitration so that he can find another team where he wouldn't be a setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. Those scenarios, however, would negate any compensation the Red Sox could receive for Wagner leaving, either by trading him after picking up the option or by offering arbitration to receive compensation Draft picks. Wagner, a six-time All-Star closer who had Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery on Sept. 10, 2008, has made one appearance for the Mets this season, throwing a scoreless inning Thursday. Wagner, 38, would be used as a power lefty setup man to four-time All-Star closer Papelbon, who expressed reservations about adding Wagner to a mix that includes Hideki Okajima, Ramon Ramirez, Daniel Bard, Manny Delcarmen and Takashi Saito working in front of Papelbon. By taking on Wagner, the Red Sox would be making a significant financial investment. The veteran is owed roughly $2.7 million for the remainder of 2009, and his $8 million option for 2010 includes a $1 million buyout. Wagner has pitched for the Astros, Phillies and Mets in his career, posting a 2.40 ERA, saving 385 games and notching 1,068 strikeouts over 819 innings. Opponents have hit .189 against him over his career."

Thomas, Clete (OF) Det
		According to the Tigers' official website, "Clete Thomas hasn't been making much contact as of late. He's stuck out at least once in 10 of his past 11 games, recording seven multi-strikeout showings over that span. Thomas has been getting hits when the Tigers have needed them, though. "He needs to shorten up," said manager Jim Leyland, whose Tigers open a three-game set against the Angels on Monday, "but he has knocked in the winning run in our last two wins." Leyland, of course, would like to see more hits and fewer strikeouts from his young outfielder. Leyland said Thomas has been shortening his swing one day, then lengthening it again the next. "He might strike out three times or he might hit two home runs," Leyland said. "He's a young player. You never know." Thomas has been choking up a bit, but his hands are still drifting with his stride. The Tigers' offense has bigger problems to deal with, though. "We have a bunch of guys that need to step up," he said. "[Thomas' strikeouts are] not our problem." Maybe Thomas can be part of the solution."
		2009: 217 AB/ 0.244 BA/ 7 HR/ 33 RBI/ 34 R/ 2 SB/ 0.401 Slug/ 0.27 KRate/ 0.53 FPI Week: 19 AB/ 0.211 BA/ 0 HR/ 2 RBI/ 3 R/ 1 SB/ 0.211 Slug/ 0.53 KRate/ 0.36 FPI
Hill, Aaron (2B) Tor
		According to the Toronto Star, "Second baseman Aaron Hill's 29 homers, the most ever by a Jays middle infielder, are also the most by a Jay since Troy Glaus hammered 38 and Vernon Wells 32 in 2006."
		2009: 524 AB/ 0.288 BA/ 29 HR/ 80 RBI/ 75 R/ 4 SB/ 0.500 Slug/ 0.15 KRate/ 0.64 FPI Week: 25 AB/ 0.320 BA/ 1 HR/ 1 RBI/ 5 R/ 0 SB/ 0.560 Slug/ 0.16 KRate/ 0.73 FPI
Perez, Chris (RP) Cle
		According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Upon returning to his hotel room in Chicago the night of July 7, Indians reliever Chris Perez began a one-on-none conversation. Several hours earlier, Perez had given up a grand slam to Paul Konerko in the sixth inning of the White Sox' 10-6 victory. It was Perez's third appearance as an Indian since being acquired from St. Louis in the Mark DeRosa trade June 27. Through three appearances, he had allowed six runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings. Earned-run average: 23.14. "I didn't sleep much that night," he said. "I viewed it as a tipping point. Basically, I asked myself, 'Which way are you going to go? You can either go into a tailspin and end up back in Triple-A or pitch through it and get back on track.' "I definitely did not want to go back to Triple-A, so I ended up telling myself, 'The stats aren't good right now, but if you can put one or two games together and gain a little momentum, you can turn this around. You are good enough to pitch at this level. There's plenty of season left.'" Perez listened to Perez. He has been terrific in 15 appearances since, allowing no runs on five hits in 15 1/3 innings. He has walked four and struck out 19. Batters are 5-for-48 against him. For the season, Perez owns the longest scoreless-innings streak by an Indians pitcher and the most consecutive scoreless appearances by a Tribe reliever. Perez pitched one inning Saturday and Sunday in Tribe victories over the Mariners. "I've stopped putting pressure on myself to prove I belong, and I've let my ability take over," he said. "Looking back at the time of the trade, I was excited for the opportunity but was trying to do too much. Our bullpen was struggling, and I really wanted to show the Indians why they traded for me." The right-hander relies on a mid-90s fastball with late action and a slider with depth. The four-seamer has been particularly effective when running inside to right-handed batters and away from lefties. "I've been pounding the zone with fastballs, getting into pitcher's counts," he said. "Because the fastball command has been good, the hitters wind up chasing the slider. If I fall behind, it takes the slider out of the equation." Saturday against the Mariners, Perez gave up a leadoff double to Mike Sweeney in the eighth inning of a tie game. Pinch-runner Ryan Langerhans reached third on a wild pitch. But Perez struck out slugger Russell Branyan and Bill Hall and got Kenji Johjima to ground to short. The Indians won in 11 innings. "You need to be strong mentally to pitch in the late innings," he said. "I want the ball with the game on the line. And if I get in trouble, I'm confident I can get out of it." Perez owns a 3.06 ERA in 18 appearances overall with the Indians after going 1-1 with one save and a 4.18 ERA in 29 appearances with the Cardinals. He has struck out 49 in 40 1/3 combined innings. He also pitched for Class AAA Memphis this year. Perez made his major-league debut last year with the Cardinals."
		2009: 41 IP/ 1.160 WHIP/ 3.70 ERA/ 1 W/ 51 K/ 1 S/ 1.23 K Inning/ 2.03 FPI Week: 3 IP/ 0.601 WHIP/ 0.00 ERA/0 W/ 6 K/ 0 S/ 1.80 K Inning/ 3.00 FPI
Meche, Gil (P) KC
		According to the KC Star, "Gil Meche has adjusted whatever lofty goals he set for himself before the season, mentioning 10 wins and 170 innings as worthy aims. More important than that, though: figuring out a way to make his 2010 season healthy and much better. “I want to do a lot of things this offseason,” he said, “to basically make sure this doesn’t happen again next year. I guess we’ll see.” After tying for the American League lead with 34 starts in each of the last two seasons — one of only five pitchers in baseball with that many starts during 2007-08 — Meche missed more than a month because of back problems. Today will be his third start since returning from the disabled list; he gave up four earned runs in five innings in each of the previous two. He’s 6-9 with a 4.73 ERA in 118 innings. That ERA would be his highest since 2005. Meche says he wants to get back to pitching at least seven innings in each of his starts, to help save the bullpen, and work into the kind of shape that can keep him healthy next season. “Even though I don’t feel anything in my back,” he said, “like stiffness, soreness, like I was, I still feel like with the things I went through my back doesn’t feel as strong. But I feel good. It’s not like I’m pitching with any symptoms.”
		2009: 118 IP/ 1.570 WHIP/ 4.88 ERA/ 6 W/ 91 K/ 0 S/ 0.77 K Inning/ 0.83 FPI Week: 5 IP/ 2.600 WHIP/ 7.20 ERA/1 W/ 2 K/ 0 S/ 0.40 K Inning/ -1.10 FPI
Lackey, John (P) LAA
		According to the Angels' official website, "Lackey will be shooting for his 100th career win on Tuesday night when he faces one of his best friends in the game, Washburn. The former Angels star has struggled (0-1, 6.04 ERA) in four starts since joining Detroit after starting the season brilliantly in Seattle."
		2009: 124 IP/ 1.280 WHIP/ 4.00 ERA/ 8 W/ 102 K/ 0 S/ 0.82 K Inning/ 1.51 FPI Week: 5 IP/ 1.876 WHIP/ 10.13 ERA/0 W/ 3 K/ 0 S/ 0.56 K Inning/ 0.37 FPI
Berken, Jason (P) Bal
		According to the Baltimore Sun, "Orioles' 5-4 victory Sunday over the contending Chicago White Sox, on an afternoon when rookie Jason Berken out-pitched Mr. Perfect Game Mark Buehrle, clinched the Orioles' first series victory since the All-Star break and breathed a little life into a season that had been going progressively downhill for quite some time. That it came against the White Sox, who started the day 3 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central and can ill afford dropping home games to a team playing out the string, made it even more enjoyable for the visitors. The Orioles' 11th win in 36 games since the All-Star break was highlighted by an uplifting performance from Berken, a pitcher who White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he had never heard of despite Berken's starting against Chicago twice this season. Perhaps, the White Sox's outspoken manager is more familiar with him now after Berken persevered through 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs to improve to 3-11. Buehrle, Guillen's ace, was knocked around for five runs and 11 hits over just 5 1/3 innings as he fell to 0-4 with a 6.21 ERA in six starts since pitching a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 23. Brian Roberts continued to torment the White Sox with three hits, two runs and a stolen base. Adam Jones put his team on the board with an RBI single in the first inning before he was removed from the game with mild mid-back muscle spasms. Jones' replacement, Felix Pie, who had only 13 at-bats against left-handed pitching all year, hit a sacrifice fly in the Orioles' three-run third inning and then connected off Buehrle for a solo homer in the fifth. His fourth homer gave the Orioles a 5-1 lead and proved to be the game-winning run. Rookie left fielder Nolan Reimold also had two hits, including a 384-foot two-run homer in the third inning. "It was good for us to come in here against a team that's battling for a playoff spot and play the way we did," Roberts said. "I've said earlier that it's not all about wins and losses right now. We hate losing -- everybody hates losing -- but we do have to look at the big picture. And the big picture is playing good baseball and getting these young guys some experience. Berky had a good growing day today, battled through some things and stayed in the game longer than some people would've thought." Eschewing his normal four-seam fastball for a two-seamer that has less velocity but more movement, Berken found himself in trouble early. The first two White Sox to bat reached on errors. But Berken held Chicago to just one unearned run through four innings and was able to get out of a rocky fifth by allowing just two runs. He then got two outs in the sixth before being lifted for rookie Kam Mickolio. Mickolio, Danys Baez and Jim Johnson combined to get the last 10 outs while allowing just two base runners, both by Johnson in the ninth. "We don't want to just win a game here and there," Reimold said. "We want to put together some winning streaks and come out with some series victories. It's a good start for us here, and hopefully we can continue this success."
		2009: 86 IP/ 1.670 WHIP/ 6.49 ERA/ 3 W/ 46 K/ 0 S/ 0.53 K Inning/ 0.12 FPI Week: 11 IP/ 1.587 WHIP/ 5.56 ERA/1 W/ 5 K/ 0 S/ 0.44 K Inning/ 0.00 FPI
Beckham, Gordon (3B) ChA
		According to the Chicago Tribune, "One White Sox player excited about the three-city, 10-game trip to begin Monday is Gordon Beckham. Beckham is hitting .372 on the road with five homers and 26 RBIs, compared with .225 with two homers and 19 RBIs at U.S. Cellular Field. "I'm dying to get on the road," he said. "Apparently, in Chicago I can't hit, but hopefully over the course of my career that will change." Beckham was 7-for-19 (.368) with five doubles and seven RBIs in the three games he played against the Yankees at the Cell. "It's always good to know you can hit those guys, but success one time doesn't mean success all the time," he said. Beckham visited old Yankee Stadium for the All-Star Game last year as a college player and took batting practice in Fenway Park as a college summer league player. Rest is overrated: Beckham has started 68 straight games, more than he played every college season and more games than he spent in the minor leagues. "Physically, I feel fine. I want to be in there," he said. "Hopefully I go 100 [straight]. I'm not going to be [Cal] Ripken. Hopefully sometime in the next 10 years I get a day off. I'm kidding. Really, I have no desire to take a day off." With no other third basemen on the roster, Beckham may have to wait for a breather until rosters expand in September, although Jayson Nix could start there once Chris Getz returns to second base next week."
		2009: 245 AB/ 0.294 BA/ 7 HR/ 44 RBI/ 36 R/ 5 SB/ 0.465 Slug/ 0.18 KRate/ 0.67 FPI Week: 22 AB/ 0.136 BA/ 1 HR/ 2 RBI/ 1 R/ 0 SB/ 0.273 Slug/ 0.36 KRate/ 0.22 FPI
Sabathia, CC (P) NYA
		According to the NY Daily News, "The Bombers homered five times off Josh Beckett, handing CC Sabathia plenty of run support in an 8-4 win over the Red Sox Sunday night, the Yanks' second straight series win over their archrivals. Hideki Matsui turned in his second two-homer game of the weekend, while Derek Jeter hit the first pitch of the game for a home run. Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez also went deep against Beckett. "It's been a strange year, our club against their club," Girardi said. "There have been a lot of wild things that have happened. Tonight was another one." Sabathia became the majors' first 15-game winner, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits in 62/3 innings. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter. Beckett, who entered the game tied with Sabathia for the league lead in victories, was hit for eight runs on nine hits over eight .innings in dropping to 14-5. He had never before allowed five homers in a game. "To be honest, Beckett is a great pitcher, but this lineup is .unbelievable," Sabathia said. "I've had confidence in this .offense all year. I feel like I don't have to go out and try to do too much to win games, just keep them in the game and we'll have a good chance to win." After going hitless on Saturday, Jeter crushed Beckett's first pitch of the night into the Red Sox bullpen - hit No. 2,700 of his career. Matsui followed Jeter's example in the second, belting a shot of his own into Boston's bullpen to make it 2-0. Sabathia, who worked around an error by Cano in the first, gave up two runs on three consecutive two-out hits in the second as Boston tied the game. The Yankees went back to work against Beckett in the third, as the top of the lineup collected three straight singles with one out, Mark Teixeira's hit putting the Yankees back on top by a run. A-Rod added an RBI groundout to hand Sabathia a 4-2 lead. Cano made up for his first-inning fielding blunder with a solo blast in the fourth, his 19th of the season. Unfortunately for the second baseman, he gave that run back in the bottom of the inning, calling Teixeira off a pop-up near the first-base line before dropping it, allowing Jason Bay to score all the way from first to cut the lead to two. Beckett was unable to hold the Yankees down in the fifth, serving up a two-out, two-run homer by A-Rod that gave the Yankees a 7-3 lead. "He never feels real hittable," Rodriguez said. "He's always an uncomfortable at-bat. Tonight, we got our pitches and we didn't miss them." Sabathia threw a 1-2-3 fifth, but the Red Sox picked up another run in the sixth, closing the gap to three. Sabathia retired the first two batters in the seventh, but after 118 pitches, the big lefty was removed for Phil Hughes, who got Dustin Pedroia to fly out. Beckett came back for the eighth, quickly retiring Teixeira and A-Rod to give him nine straight outs. But Matsui drilled Beckett's 2-2 offering over the right-field wall for his second homer of the night, giving him four homers in the series and six on the road trip. By the time Mariano Rivera closed out the game with a scoreless ninth, the Yankees had .accomplished their goal for the weekend, winning their sixth consecutive series, giving them 10 of 11 since the All-Star break and 15 of 17 over the past two months."
		2009: 185 IP/ 1.130 WHIP/ 3.59 ERA/ 15 W/ 148 K/ 0 S/ 0.80 K Inning/ 1.92 FPI Week: 15 IP/ 0.954 WHIP/ 3.07 ERA/2 W/ 15 K/ 0 S/ 1.02 K Inning/ 2.22 FPI
Bannister, Brian (P) KC
		According to the KC Star, "Promising performance from the starting pitcher? Check. Ultimately done in by bad defense and relief pitching? Yep. Weak showing from the offense that made most of the other mistakes superfluous? You bet. It’s all there, all represented by the Royals’ 10-3 loss to the Twins in front of 18,680 fans at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday. “It just dominoed,” manager Trey Hillman said. This one fell apart in the seventh inning and fell apart hard. Royals starter Brian Bannister gave up a homer, double and single starting the inning. That was just a warm-up act to Kyle Farnsworth giving up a homer, triple and three singles. He was charged with five of the Twins’ eight runs in the inning. Michael Cuddyer hit both of the Twins’ homers. The first landed in the seats behind the left-field bullpen; the second in the seats behind the left-field fountains. That turned a tied pitchers’ duel into a blowout win for the Twins by the time the crowd sang “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch. It’s probably akin to noting a flat tire on a totaled car, but the third hit Bannister gave up in the inning was a sharp grounder by Delmon Young that third baseman Mark Teahen said he should have fielded. Officially, Bannister gave up six hits and four earned runs in six innings. Teahen also made an error in the third inning and with better defense, Bannister would have given up no more than three runs, and perhaps just two. Those factors considered, it was an encouraging start for Bannister, who gave up 20 earned runs in 17 innings over his previous three outings. His fastball had slowed in recent weeks to an average of below 90 mph after being in the low 90s when he was at his best early this season. His four-seam fastball was back around 90 on Sunday, as high as 92 at times, and he was able to consistently throw his cutter for strikes. He allowed just three hits and one run before the disastrous seventh inning. “I’ve been battling myself a little bit,” Bannister said. “I haven’t felt great, but I’ve really been giving myself extra rest and doing everything it takes. I felt like I pitched well those first six innings. That was a big boost for me mentally, and I definitely think it’ll carry through.” The Royals’ offense, meanwhile, went weak against Twins starter Carl Pavano, who was traded from Cleveland for a player to be determined and — even after allowing just two runs in seven innings — has a 5.20 ERA."
		2009: 146 IP/ 1.350 WHIP/ 4.44 ERA/ 7 W/ 91 K/ 0 S/ 0.62 K Inning/ 1.24 FPI Week: 13 IP/ 1.538 WHIP/ 6.92 ERA/0 W/ 8 K/ 0 S/ 0.62 K Inning/ 0.19 FPI
Niemann, Jeff (P) TB
		According to the St Petersburg Times, "Rookie RHP Jeff Niemann enters his start tonight against Jays ace Roy Halladay with some confidence and the experience of having outdueled the All-Star in an earlier matchup this season. "When you face him," Niemann said, "your margin for error is a bit smaller." Rays manager Joe Maddon said the fact Niemann has been able to maintain his composure this season, no matter the situation, has been a big factor in his success (a staff-best 11 wins). "That's why his fastball has gotten better, that's why his curveball has gotten more consistent for a strike," Maddon said. "Now he's able to throw what he wants to where he wants to. When he gets in a tough situation, he's able to get out of it because he controls himself so well."
		2009: 133 IP/ 1.300 WHIP/ 3.71 ERA/ 11 W/ 86 K/ 0 S/ 0.65 K Inning/ 1.59 FPI Week: 7 IP/ 1.091 WHIP/ 1.23 ERA/1 W/ 5 K/ 0 S/ 0.68 K Inning/ 1.98 FPI
Granderson, Curtis (OF) Det
		According to the Detroit News, "Curtis Granderson's leadoff home run was his 24th homer of the season, beating his previous high, 23 in 2007. Granderson had a leadoff double Saturday to go with a single, which suggests the two-day vacation Leyland offered him last week might have helped. But he popped out and struck out in his next two at-bats Sunday and stepped aside for pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn after the Tigers loaded the bases in the eighth with two outs and left-hander Craig Breslow pitching. Cabrera hit his 200th career home run in the eighth, a titanic smash to right-center that temporarily pulled the Tigers to within a run. Cabrera is the fifth player from Venezuela to reach 200 home runs, joining his teammate, Magglio Ordonez, as well as Bobby Abreu, Andres Galarraga, and Tony Armas. Cabrera was 3-for-4 Sunday, which raised his batting average to .338. Cabrera's home run was his team-leading 25th. He also leads the team with 75 RBIs."
		2009: 466 AB/ 0.251 BA/ 24 HR/ 55 RBI/ 68 R/ 20 SB/ 0.457 Slug/ 0.23 KRate/ 0.64 FPI Week: 16 AB/ 0.188 BA/ 1 HR/ 1 RBI/ 2 R/ 0 SB/ 0.438 Slug/ 0.38 KRate/ 0.31 FPI
Suzuki, Kurt (C) Oak
		According to the A's official website, "Just hours after delivering the game-winning hit in Saturday's 3-2 dramatic win over Detroit, Kurt Suzuki was back at the field -- just not on the field. "Day game after a night game," manager Bob Geren explained before the A's took on the Tigers in Sunday's series finale. "Just giving him a chance to rest." And when it comes to the A's starting catcher, there's never reason to debate whether he deserves a day off -- whether it be for mental or physical reasons. Suzuki, who shared the A's lead in games played (148) last year, has started at catcher 101 times this season. The 25-year-old has also helped his team out offensively as designated hitter on seven occasions. Even when Suzuki's name can't be found in the starting lineup, though, Geren often makes sure it's there on the scorecard by day's end. "He never has a day off," the skipper said. "He's just not starting." While Landon Powell got his 22nd starting nod behind the plate Sunday, Suzuki will be back commanding the game when the A's take on the Mariners in Seattle on Monday. He enters the road series hitting .182 against Seattle on the season but hopes to carry momentum from Saturday's late-inning magic. "He's been pressing a lot and trying too hard," Geren said of his catcher, who hit just .194 on the nine-game homestand. "Hopefully, that will boost his confidence a bit."
		2009: 433 AB/ 0.279 BA/ 10 HR/ 56 RBI/ 53 R/ 5 SB/ 0.413 Slug/ 0.10 KRate/ 0.54 FPI Week: 19 AB/ 0.263 BA/ 1 HR/ 3 RBI/ 2 R/ 0 SB/ 0.421 Slug/ 0.26 KRate/ 0.50 FPI
Hernandez, Felix (P) Sea
		According to the Seattle Times, "One could forgive Felix Hernandez for feeling a little added pressure with each runner that gets on base as his season drags through a weary August stretch. These are not the best of times for the Mariners, fighting to score runs and blowing games late, but they've been especially hard on Hernandez, one of a few Seattle players who truly has something left to compete for. The Mariners' ace is vying for a Cy Young Award, a bid that suffered a setback in a 6-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Sunday that saw Hernandez's outing head south after a sixth-inning error by second baseman Jose Lopez. Hernandez insisted he didn't lose his focus after Lopez bobbled a routine grounder with one out and none on in a 2-1 game. "I didn't think anything about the error," Hernandez said. "You've just got to make the pitch and get a double-play." And while that could be the case — despite four runs on four hits and a sacrifice fly that Hernandez allowed to the next five batters — any miscue is bound to turn up some heat considering how thin the margin for error already is for Mariners pitchers trying to win games. Only one of the four runs Hernandez allowed that inning was earned. His earned-run average climbed to 2.73 from 2.66, but remained second best in the American League behind the 2.44 of Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals. Hernandez's ticket to a Cy Young could rest on his ERA. He has just one win in August despite two stellar outings before this one — the last of those seeing a 3-1 lead blown by Mark Lowe in the eighth inning. Hernandez has 12 victories and trails a pack of five Cy Young hopefuls, all ranging from 13 to 15 wins. Hernandez entered the inning down a run, having surrendered a go-ahead homer to to Jhonny Peralta in the fourth. Ken Griffey Jr. had tied the score in the top of the inning with a 418-foot solo shot to right-center off Indians starter Fausto Carmona. But that Griffey blast, the 624th of his career, was the only run by the Mariners in their last 19 innings. Aside from Griffey's home run, the Seattle offense was stymied by Carmona, who struck out eight over seven innings and escaped a third-inning jam with a runner on third and one out. And so, after the Lopez error and ensuing singles by Travis Hafner and Luis Valbuena made it 3-1, it would be hard to believe Hernandez wasn't feeling some frustration. Hernandez then threw a curveball to Matt LaPorta that was rocketed off the wall in left for a double and a 4-1 lead. "I made a good pitch and he hit the ball good," Hernandez said of LaPorta. "I was surprised. He hit it good, hard." Hernandez said his two-seam fastball, which had been working before that inning, vanished in the sixth. Catcher Rob Johnson said he wasn't worried about Hernandez' composure and that the Indians merely put good swings on good pitches, especially LaPorta on the curveball Johnson said was practically in the dirt. "We were just trying to mix it, keep them, off balance and then just freeze them with fastballs," Johnson said. "But they made some pretty good swings." And Hernandez's latest swing at Cy Young contention failed to connect."
		2009: 178 IP/ 1.190 WHIP/ 2.73 ERA/ 12 W/ 173 K/ 0 S/ 0.97 K Inning/ 1.87 FPI Week: 13 IP/ 1.154 WHIP/ 2.77 ERA/0 W/ 15 K/ 0 S/ 1.15 K Inning/ 1.27 FPI
Aceves, Alfredo (P) NYA
		According to the Yankees' official website, "It is true, as Alfredo Aceves asserts, that all pitchers just have those appearances when command and velocity just refuse to sync up. But the Yankees' right-hander has had a few too many of late for anyone's liking. While Aceves insists there is not more to be concerned about, the right-hander was tagged for three runs in a two-inning outing on Saturday at Fenway Park, and has now allowed multiple runs in each of his past three relief appearances. "They were just bad days," Aceves said. "It's not an excuse. We're going to make mistakes, but we're going to learn from it." Pitching in relief of A.J. Burnett, Aceves served up a two-run homer to Kevin Youkilis in the bottom of the sixth inning on Saturday, a blast that ultimately did not make a huge difference in Boston's 14-1 victory. But it continues a troubling trend for Aceves, who was once relied upon as one of the Yankees' most trusted setup relievers. In those past three appearances on this road trip against the Mariners, Athletics and Red Sox, Aceves has allowed nine runs and 11 hits in six innings, a 13.50 ERA. "It usually comes down to location," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "You look at some of the hits that he gave up, and he just didn't hit his spots. That's going to happen with every pitcher. There's going to be times you're a little off -- some days you get away with it, and some days you don't." There has been a theory floated that Aceves' troubles may be related to a July 9 spot start against the Twins in Minneapolis, when he -- filling in for the injured Chien-Ming Wang -- threw 65 pitches and hurled 3 1/3 innings in a 6-4 victory at the Metrodome. Shortly thereafter, Aceves was diagnosed with fatigue in his pitching shoulder and spoke about needing to pitch through the type of pain he was experiencing. In seven appearances since July 31, Aceves has allowed 14 runs and 18 hits in 16 2/3 innings, a 7.56 ERA. Aceves said Sunday that he has no discomfort in his shoulder or back, and Girardi seems to agree with the assessment, especially after seeing Aceves retire Alex Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury swiftly in the sixth inning before running into two-out trouble. "Physically, I think he's fine," Girardi said. "I think it comes down to getting in the middle of the plate too much and up a little bit." Aceves shrugged off a question about being frustrated, instead spinning the inquiry and asking the reporter if he was frustrated by the recent pitching. "I can tell you it was a mistake, the [Youkilis] home run, of course," Aceves said. "Like I said, we're going to learn from the good things and the bad things. We keep competing every time." Pressed to identify what he is taking from this recent string, Aceves answered with a laugh, "To not throw a fastball in the middle of the plate with two balls and no strikes. That's what I learned."
		2009: 63 IP/ 1.070 WHIP/ 4.12 ERA/ 8 W/ 51 K/ 1 S/ 0.81 K Inning/ 1.96 FPI Week: 4 IP/ 1.617 WHIP/ 10.39 ERA/1 W/ 4 K/ 0 S/ 0.92 K Inning/ -0.23 FPI
Sweeney, Ryan (OF) Oak
		According to the A's official website, "Manager Bob Geren insists there's no special meaning behind Ryan Sweeney's promotion to the three-hole in Sunday's starting lineup against the visiting Tigers. "[Kurt] Suzuki's not playing today," the skipper said before the rubber match of his team's three-game set against Detroit. "If he's not playing, he can't be in that spot. So that's the only reason Ryan is there." Still, it's no secret Sweeney's left-handed bat is deserving of the move up in the lineup. The A's outfielder entered Sunday's contest batting .333 (16-for-48) with seven extra-base hits over his last 13 games after collecting just 10 extra-base hits over his previous 57 games. "He hasn't made any drastic changes," Geren offered. "Guys have hot streaks and cold streaks. One of the things I say about a lot of hitters who are swinging the bat well is they're able to use the whole field. Ryan's doing that. "Some try to do too much in one direction, but if you're spreading your hits out, that makes you tough to pitch to." Sweeney's success against the Tigers makes him all the more attractive to his manager, as he entered Sunday with a .333 career mark against Detroit. This season, the 24-year-old was 12-for-32 (.375) with a home run and four RBIs in eight games when facing the Tigers, prior to Sunday's game. "He's been swinging the bat pretty well," Geren said. "He's had a lot of success against Detroit, so we'll see what he can do today." With Sweeney in the three-hole, the left-handed-hitting Jack Cust was also moved up in the batting order to No. 5 after spending the past week hitting seventh. "He moved up because Sweeney moved up," Geren said with a laugh. "It's kind of a domino effect. Plus, it diversifies the lineup and allows us to switch up the lefties and righties." Cust entered the game 3-for-6 with an RBI and two walks in the series and 6-for-16 with two RBIs and five walks in the first eight games of a nine-game homestand."
		2009: 364 AB/ 0.272 BA/ 4 HR/ 33 RBI/ 44 R/ 5 SB/ 0.365 Slug/ 0.14 KRate/ 0.51 FPI Week: 20 AB/ 0.250 BA/ 0 HR/ 0 RBI/ 3 R/ 0 SB/ 0.300 Slug/ 0.05 KRate/ 0.46 FPI
Hannahan, Jack (3B) Sea
		According to the News Tribune, "Though he never stepped out of the dugout in the Seattle Mariners’ 11-inning loss Saturday, Jack Hannahan played the role of hero. A day later, he was still humbled by it. For a year now, Hannahan has been a factor in the life of 14-year-old Luke Strotman, who beat cancer at age 4 only to have the treatment he received then lead to leukemia in 2008. The story is the classic big-league-player-inspires-youngster, a plot device in many baseball movies – with one exception. Most often, the players involved are stars – Babe Ruth, as played by William Bendix, for example. Hannahan isn’t Babe Ruth, and in truth he’s come away from the experience with Strotman and his family humbled and inspired. A year ago, Hannahan’s mother learned of Luke’s situation as he was going through painful treatments, and she called her son, then an Oakland Athletic. “I sent him some stuff and a signed ball,” Hannahan said Sunday. “I guess it helped, and when I was in Chicago in June, Luke and his family came to the ballpark and we talked. I told him next time I was there, I’d take him in the cages for batting practice.” Hannahan’s baseball may have given Luke a little more strength to fight for his life, his parents said, It was inscribed “Stay Strong, Fight Hard, Your #1 Fan, Jack Hannahan.” On Saturday, Luke and his parents, Bill and Beth, came to Cleveland to see Luke’s hero. “It’s hard to believe that doing something you love, something you work at every day, can inspire someone dealing with so much,” Hannahan said. “To me, Luke’s the inspiration. He’s a special guy, and it looks like he’s beaten this thing again.” The Strotman family arrived on a rainy day, when there was no on-field batting practice. Hannahan brought Luke into the clubhouse, then took him to the covered batting cages, where the youngster watched the Mariners go about their business. “He got a photo taken with (Ken Griffey) Junior, and he thought that was pretty cool,” Hannahan said. “It breaks your heart, seeing a 14-year-old who’s had to beat cancer twice already, who’s had to go through so much treatment. “Then he comes out here and you see that big smile, and you know you’ve helped him just a little.” Hannahan invited the family to visit Seattle, promising to get Luke into batting practice at some point. When they parted, Luke was beaming – and so was Hannahan. “I just told him, ‘See you soon,’” Hannahan said. “It puts what we do in perspective. It’s puts a bad game in perspective. I feel blessed just playing this game, but to have someone look up to me like that? “Luke’s the hero.”
		2009: 213 AB/ 0.216 BA/ 3 HR/ 14 RBI/ 18 R/ 1 SB/ 0.324 Slug/ 0.28 KRate/ 0.39 FPI Week: 19 AB/ 0.158 BA/ 0 HR/ 0 RBI/ 0 R/ 0 SB/ 0.263 Slug/ 0.32 KRate/ 0.21 FPI
Valbuena, Luis (2B) Cle
		According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "According to Elias Sports Bureau, Luis Valbuena on Saturday night became the first Indians rookie to hit a walk-off homer in the 11th inning or later since Jose Vidal in the 14th inning June 3, 1968. Valbuena's two-out blast gave the Tribe a 4-3 victory. Valbuena became the eighth rookie to hit a walk-off home run this season, but only the second in the American League (Nolan Reimold). Valbuena played shortstop Sunday and Jamey Carroll was at second base as Asdrubal Cabrera got the day off. Valbuena went 2-for-4 with an RBI. He is hitting .327 over his last 13 games."
		2009: 246 AB/ 0.248 BA/ 7 HR/ 21 RBI/ 38 R/ 1 SB/ 0.427 Slug/ 0.24 KRate/ 0.50 FPI Week: 19 AB/ 0.421 BA/ 1 HR/ 3 RBI/ 4 R/ 0 SB/ 0.632 Slug/ 0.11 KRate/ 1.02 FPI
Langerhans, Ryan (DH) Sea
		According to the Seattle Times, "Ryan Langerhans said he felt stiff and experienced cramping in his shoulder after a first-inning collision with the left-field wall while trying to catch Grady Sizemore's triple leading off the bottom of the first in Cleveland's 6-1 win Sunday. Langerhans made a throw to the infield while lying on the ground. Had he not, the speedy Sizemore might have had an inside-the-park homer. "I was a bit stunned after the ball popped out of my glove and I hit the wall," Langerhans said. "But I could see the foul line next to me, so I knew where the ball had to go. I just kind of heaved it with all I could."
		2009: 83 AB/ 0.205 BA/ 1 HR/ 5 RBI/ 7 R/ 0 SB/ 0.337 Slug/ 0.27 KRate/ 0.39 FPI Week: 7 AB/ 0.143 BA/ 0 HR/ 0 RBI/ 0 R/ 0 SB/ 0.143 Slug/ 0.43 KRate/ -0.07 FPI