John Lannan- WAS- Caution- Imagine there’s no road games. It’s easy if you try. That’s what Lannan wishes was the case as he takes the mound in Atlanta. In the Nation’s Capital, he pitches like a Cy Young candidate, with...
BJ Upton: The entire fantasy community has been giving BJ Upton a free pass for most of the season. The shoulder injury and the late start to the season allowed writers to give a free pass during the first few...
Todd Wellemeyer: Wellemeyer will rejoin the Cardinals rotation with a start on Tuesday against the Reds. His dominance, 2005/2006/2007 K/9’s of 8.9/6.2/6.8, always gave him potential, but control problems, BB/9’s of 6.1/5.7/4.5, always held him back, ERA’s of 6.12/4.14/4.54. However...
Junichi Tazawa - RHP Boston Red Sox The reeling Red Sox recalled right hander Junichi Tazawa from Pawtucket and threw him onto the breach on Friday night against the Yankees in the Bronx. The designation of John Smoltz may be...
Neftali Feliz (RP—Rangers) There is nothing like a good, old fashioned Texas barbecue. And the Rangers now have someone coming out of their bullpen that is bringing the fire. Neftali Feliz can throw heat! Flaming, red-hot fastballs that consistently border...
Zach Duke: Considering the team he is on, Duke is having a very good season, 9-10 with a 3.45 ERA. However, be aware that he is doing it with a soft skill set, 4.5 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and a 45%...
Julio Borbon (OF – Rangers) Julio Borbon was recalled on Friday, and should have the opportunity for some fairly regular playing time while Nelson Cruz is sidelined. Borbon was a supplemental 1st round pick two years ago, who would have...
Billy Wagner: Wagner is about 10 days away from beginning a rehab assignment which means he should see action this year. There is some talk that the Mets will try and trade him, but they will have to eat up...
Joba Chamberlain: Despite picking up a win against the Red Sox last night, Chamberlain was less than impressive with 7 walks, but for year his numbers still look good, 8-2 with a 3.73 ERA. The 8.0 K/9 and 44% GB%...
Chase Headley: Chase Headley’s been a complete enigma to me early in his career. Despite posting an OBP of nearly .400 (.399) at the minor league level, he’s shown a middling walk rate at the major league level (9.6%) and...
Marc Rzepczynski – TOR- Hot- It wasn’t a quality start because he allowed 4 runs in his 6 IP, but everything else about Rzepczynski’s outing was positive. He allowed only 5 hits and walked 1 while striking out 7. This...
Luis Castillo (2B--Mets) Here's a suggestion: rather than play "Take me out to the Ballgame" at CitiField, during the 7th inning stretch, about the Mets play the theme from M*A*S*H? There must be some dark magic that is working against...
American League 30 Aaron Hicks MIN OF B Just .225 on the year, but 15% BB% is encouraging and just needs time for tools to translate. 35 Tyler Flowers CHW C B .277 in 47 at-bats in AAA but oddly...
Gordon Beckham (3B - White Sox) - Gordon Beckham continued his torrid hitting on Monday, going 2-for-4 with a HR and 2 RBI against the Angels. It was his 3rd straight multi-hit game and his 7th in the last 8...
Miguel Montero (C - Diamondbacks) Chris Synder got the start behind the plate on Tuesday night, which gives Montero 4 starts in the 7 games since Snyder's return. In these 7 games, the Diamondbacks have faced left-handed pitching 4 times,...
Johnny Cueto- CIN- Cold- One thing has been contributing greatly to the almost doubling of Cueto’s ERA from 2.17 on June 14th to the 4.06 ERA. That is an inability to keep the baseball from reaching the stands. In his...
Brett Anderson - Anderson was great again last night, limiting the Rangers to two runs over 7 2/3 innings. Over the past seven starts, Anderson is pitching to under a 2.00 ERA and is fanning more than a batter per...
Drew Sutton (OF-CIN) – With his normal leadoff man, Willy Taveras unavailable due to a wrist injury, Dusty Baker managed to find about the only guy with a worse OBP than Taveras’ .279 in Drew Sutton. Sutton entered Sunday’s action...
Rajai Davis: AL-only players certainly know Rajai Davis well as he’s been a cheap source of SB’s without much playing time over the last few years (52 SB’s last two seasons despite just 404 AB’s), but now its time for...
This week we deal with some names we haven't covered yet that changed teams at or near the trade deadline this week ... most of whom are headed to Cleveland ... Jason Knapp - RHP Cleveland Indians Not to be...
Jeff Niemann (SP—Rays) You can add Jeff Niemann’s name to the list of very talented young pitchers that are in the Tampa Bay organization. Niemann’s season thus far has been peppered with outings that have been sub-par combined with some...
Burke Badenhop (SP-FLA) – With the acquisition of Nick Johnson this week, the Marlins certainly consider themselves contenders, so letting guys “learn” at the major league level isn’t going to happen. Badenhop on Saturday surrendered six runs (five earned) in...
Jake Peavy (SP—White Sox) Wow! This one came out of the blue. Jake Peavy apparently does think that Chicago is his kinda town as he waived his no trade clause and has decided to pitch for the White Sox. Still...
Bud Norris - SP HOU: In one of the more unusual occurrences in a baseball season the two starting pitchers in the Cubs-Astros game yesterday were both informed they were no longer with the teams immediately following the game. While...
Josh Anderson: The Royals acquired Anderson from the Tigers for cash. He has outstanding speed, 13 steals in 15 attempts despite having only 175 PA. Without any power, Anderson’s contact skills, 87% Ct5, and ground ball approach, 58% GB%, are...
Joaquin Arias- TEX- Rise Value- Arias was called up to the Rangers yesterday due to the injury to Ian Kinsler. He will serve primarily as a backup middle infielder until Kinsler’s hamstring is better. Arias has seen his stock fall...
Mat Latos (SP—Padres) It’s difficult to determine how rookies will do once they come up. Even the rookie “sure thing” will endure struggles. Look at David Price and Matt Weiters. They have hardly been the impact players out of the...
Lots of movement this week with the trade deadline just a day a way. The Pirates look to be the big winners so far, acquiring Jeff Clement, Tim Alderson, and a host of others in return for guys who won't...
Jason Marquis (SP – Rockies) As has been his style this year, Jason Marquis wiggled his way through 6 effective innings on Tuesday night. As Paul pointed out yesterday, Marquis’ .274 BABIP and 7.7% HR/FB rate are ripe for some...
Melky Cabrera - Let's call this a big up arrow, as Brett Gardner's injury opens the door for Cabrera to get even more playing time to take advantage of his semi-breakout season. Cabrera's stats sell him a bit short I...
Adam Wainwright- STL- Caution- Wainwright has performed very well this season but he has been throwing many more pitches than he has done in the past. In his first two seasons as a starter he hit the 110 pitch mark...
Todd Wellemeyer (SP-STL) – Wellemeyer might very well find himself out of the St. Louis rotation after Sunday’s performance in Philadelphia. Lasting 5.2 innings, Wellemeyer allowed seven runs (five earned) on a whopping 11 hits, walking one, striking out three,...
Jason Frasor: Frasor worked a clean 9th inning, striking out 1 in the process, and now has 7 consecutive scoreless appearances. It was a 4 run lead so there is no indication of a switch in the closer’s role but...
Deolis Guerra - RHP Minnesota Twins Yes, he's still around ... and he's still only 20. Deolis Guerra came to the Twins in the Johan Santana trade and I talked at the time about how I feel that despite the...
Jorge de la Rosa - Jorge won his sixth in a row yesterday, holding the Giants to two runs over 7 1/3 innings, striking out seven without a walk. De la Rosa has made great strides this year in almost...
Luke Hochevar (SP—Royals) There is little doubt that Luke Hochevar has plenty of upside and after Saturday’s start against a potent Ranger lineup where he struck out 13, you might suspect that there is a sense that Hochevar might be...