1. Andy Pettitte (SP - Yankees) - Andy Pettitte returned for his first start of the season on Sunday against the Mariners. Cobwebs were certainly expected, but in general the results were positive on Sunday. He pitched 6.1 IP and allowed 4 ER, 7 H, 2 K, and 3 BB for the loss. The runs came on two long-ball mistakes that led to all 4 runs. There were times when Pettitte looked strong including not allowing a hit through the first three innings. His next start will be against the Reds. Continue to proceed with caution with Pettitte. The K's will be low, but he should give fantasy owners a decent change at the W in any given outing.
2. Jarrod Parker (SP - A's) - Jarrod Parker took a very small step back with his first non-QS of the season that led to his first loss. However, he was just one out shy of getting his 4th straight QS with a line of 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 5 K, and 4 BB. Walking the bases loaded in the 6th created the quick hook, but Parker was pretty solid otherwise. He blamed his mechanics today for some of the control issues, but it wasn't a terrible fantasy line at the end of the day. Parker remains a high upside fantasy starter whose ownership is flying right now. His next start will be on the road against the Giants and then the following week against the Angels. Keep him in your rotations as he has yet to give up more than 2 ER in any of his 4 starts this season.
3. Kendrys Morales (DH - Angels) - Morales has been sitting out with a sore Achilles, but was back in action on Sunday as the DH for the Angels. Anything dealing with Morales' ankle should be a cause for concern as the ankle is what kept him out of action for so long leading up to 2012. Either way, the 28 year old Morales has been hitting the ball well recently (when he has been in the lineup) with 2 HR and 5 RBI in 29 AB. For the year, he's .315/.340/.424, but he has struck out 16 times and has only drawn 4 BBs. Morales has never been known to draw a lot of walks with a career BB% of just 6.7%, but this year's rate of below 4% is a career low.
4. Brian Fuentes (RP - A's) - With Grant Balfour out of the closers role in Oakland, Brian Fuentes is the go-to for the 9th inning save opportunity for the A's. Fuentes as over 200 career saves so he is no stranger to the situation. However, he also has 39 blown saves for a SV% of 84%. Add Fuentes to the list of lower tier closers that are taking over as closer this season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Fuentes go through his fair share of struggles as well, but as long as manager Bob Melvin says he is the guy to get saves, he has added fantasy value.
5. Carlos Pena (1B - Rays) - Pena snapped out of his slump on Sunday with a couple of hits. He's still hitting just .122 for May to drop his season average to .232 (which is now more in line with his career average of .238). Low average and extended slumps shouldn't be a surprise to any fantasy owner as this has been Pena's M.O. for his entire career. The focus here is that Pena has 5 HR in 125 AB for an AB/HR of 25.0. Compare that rate to his career rate of 16.1. Certainly a slow-down for Pena, but I expect it to improve into the teens before long. After all, the last three years have not yielded any slowdown in the HR department with AB/HR of 15.8, 12.1, 17.3, and 17.6 dating back to 2008.
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