Jenrry Mejia (SP-NYM) – As you probably know, Mejia was sent to Double-A Binghamton to build up his pitch count in order to help the Mets out later in the year as a starter. Mejia posted a 3.25 ERA with the Mets in 30 games out of the bullpen, but that was a bit misleading given a 5.5 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9. Mejia is just 20, so he clearly wasn’t ready after opening 2010 having pitched just 44 innings above High-A ball. He’s an excellent prospect, but expecting much in the way of a fantasy contribution this year is unreasonable. Sunday, Mejia was removed from his Double-A start after tossing just 44 pitches, and while he’s clearly on a pitch count, it is believed there was some sort of injury involved. We’ll update as we get more information.
Tommy Hanson (SP-ATL) – The Braves still haven’t decided whether Kris Medlen or Kenshin Kawakami will head to the bullpen once Jair Jurrjens (hamstring) returns this week. If you were going by recent performance, it might actually be Hanson that gets demoted. Sunday, Hanson surrendered six runs (five earned) in just 3.2 innings. He walked two and struck out four Tigers on the day and exits with a 4.50 ERA. Hanson was coming off a start in which he surrendered nine runs on 13 hits over the same 3.2 innings, so it may be time to worry. He has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his five previous starts (4-0), but things just aren’t going well now. Hanson struck out the side in the third inning on Sunday, but things completely unraveled in the fourth. Hanson was 90-93 with his fastball which is probably down a little considering his 93.3 mph average, but nothing alarming. His GB% trend over two years (40%/38%) is nothing alarming, so I’m going to chalk this up to fatigue. Pushing him back a couple days in order to give both Medlen and Kawakami an extra chance to impress makes sense here, but don’t panic.
Luis Atilano (SP-WAS) – Spots 2-5 behind Stephen Strasburg are fair game right now, but Atilano is staking his claim to one of them. Sunday, Atilano allowed just two earned runs on five hits over seven innings against the Orioles to drop his ERA to 4.33. Atilano allowed just one run in 5.1 innings in his previous start and also has a 3.76 ERA since May 20. Atilano’s upside is limited however, as managed just a 4.8 K/9 and 9.7 H/9 in 537 minor league innings. He was a first-round supplemental pick of the Braves back in 2003, but as we’ve seen for the most part, the Braves know who to trade (Matt Harrison, Kyle Davies et. al.) and they know who to keep. Atilano deserves an NL-only roster slot, but that’s about it.
Luke Gregerson (RP-SD) – Gregerson picked up his first save of the season Sunday, retiring the Marlins in order in the ninth and striking out two. Heath Bell was merely getting a night off after pitching the previous two days, but at least this confirms that Gregerson, not Mike Adams, is the closer-in-waiting. The outing lowered Gregerson’s ERA to 1.60, and even more impressive is his 51:4 K:BB in 39.1 innings. Even more impressive is that ratio since April 14 – 49:2. Gregerson’s GB% is nothing too special at 43%, but the command and a strong 16.5% LD% help make Gregerson probably the most valuable non-closer in fantasy baseball.
Will Venable (OF-SD) – Signs of life from Will Venable lately, as the Padres’ outfielder was 1-for-3 with a three-run homer Sunday against the Marlins. He’s now homered in four of his previous seven games and is 8-for-24 with 12 RBI in those contests. Venable still does not exhibit the plate discipline we want to see as witnessed by his month-to-month EYE this year - .30/.32/.13. He does have eight homers and 14 stolen bases, so fantasy owners appreciate that, but he’ll have to start making better contact to stick in the Padres lineup. Sure, the Friars aren’t loaded with high-quality outfielders, but Venable would be well advised to stay hot lest the playing time tumble again.
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