Livian Hernandez: After a poor outing on Thursday, 8 ER in 4 innings, Hernandez’s spot in the Mets starting rotation could be in jeopardy. With his skill set, 4.7 K/9, 3.4, and a 40% GB, Hernandez is lucky just to have a job in the big leagues. He doesn’t belong in the Mets starting rotation or anywhere near a fantasy roster.
Luis Cruz: The Pirates recalled Cruz from Triple-A. The only good thing you can say offensively about him is that he makes good contact, 89% in Triple-A this year. Now for the negatives, based on his 237 PA in Triple-A during this season; he has no plate patience, 3% BB%, no power, 3 home runs, and no speed, 3 caught steals in 6 attempts. The Pirates obviously have called him up for his glove which means he has zero fantasy value.
Brad Thompson: Thompson brings his 2-5 record and 4.92 ERA into a road start against the Cubs today. With such a low dominance, 3.2 K/9, Thompson depends on control, 2.4 BB/9, and inducing ground balls, 56% GB%. Pitchers can succeed with that kind of a skill set, but they are riskier because luck plays a bigger part and they are much more dependent on their team’s defense. With a 64% strand rate, perhaps Thompson can use some more luck and better defense.
Cole Hamels: After 14 wins and a 3.09 ERA in 2008, fantasy owners of Hamels were not expecting a 5-5 record with a 4.70 ERA after a half-season. His skills have actually improved from last year, 2008/2009 K/9’s of 7.8/7.7, BB/9’s of 2.1/1.8, and GB%’s of 40%/41% and he is not a victim of gopheritis, 12 home runs in 92 innings. With such good skills, you can chalk up the poor first have to extremely bad luck, .368 BHIP% and a 66% strand rate. If the owner in your league has soured on Hamels, now is the time to go get him. He makes for a very good play in a home start against the Pirates today.
Johnny Cueto: Cueto will try to bounce back from a disaster outing, 9 ER in just 2/3 of an inning, with a start in spacious Citifield today against the Mets. Although his control is still on the high side, he has shown improvement from his rookie season, 2008/2009 BB/9’s of 3.5/3.0, but it has come at the expense of his dominance, K/9’s of 8.2/6.8. He also has some issues with gopheritis, 29 home runs in 174 innings last year and 14 home runs in 104.1 innings, which can be magnified by his homer-friendly home park. However, despite facing Johan Santana, Cueto makes for a good play today against a punchless Mets offense in a pitcher-friendly park.
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