More so than any week I can remember so far this year, there are a lot of lineup questions. Some are pretty tough decisions, but try and make the decisions with your head and not your heart.
The Texas Rangers will likely welcome back both Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton to their outfield. Cruz seems automatic, while Hamilton is getting back about a week early. Still, they both hit home runs in minor league games this weekend and both should be activated for this week. It is not clear which Rangers will be sent down but I would guess one of Endy Chavez/Craig Gentry and Taylor Teagarden.
Matt Harrison certainly had a few brutal outings (compounded by terrible management decisions), but Harrison should be back in your lineup and if someone dropped him in any of your leagues, I would look to add him. Harrison pitched 8 1/3 scoreless innings today for the win and that means his last 12-plus innings he has given up no runs – the other four innings were rained out in the game earlier in the week in Chicago. Pounding strikes low in the zone is a wonderful tonic.
The Chicago Cubs are going to have a huge hole to fill in center as they placed Marlon Byrd on the disabled list on Sunday after several bones in his face were broken when hit in the head by a pitch in the second inning of Saturday’s game in Boston. Most likely candidate would be Tyler Colvin because prospect Brett Jackson has been out of action for a while. I am not sure if Randy Wells will be able to rejoin the Cubs rotation by Saturday to take Matt Garza’s spot but it certainly looks like Garza will join Byrd on the DL.
It appears now like Mike Minor will be recalled by the Atlanta Braves to fill in this week for Tim Hudson. I would jump all over Minor if there is a league where you can still add him. Even if this is a spot start I think he will be in the Braves rotation before the end of the year.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are on a six game winning streak after sweeping the Minnesota Twins in Interleague Play in Phoenix over the weekend. Kirk Gibson should buy a lottery ticket. The DBacks cut 1B Russell Branyan, a move I thought had been on the drawing board for a while – although I expected it to be coupled with a call-up of Paul Goldschmidt, who already has fourteen home runs at Triple-A Reno.
But Juan Miranda, given regular at-bats, had a great weekend – at least until the eighth inning on Sunday when he was hit in the hand. No results yet on the X-rays but while it looked like his hitting would keep Goldschmidt in Reno, a DL stint might make that a logical outcome. And while there were certainly questions about J.J. Putz in spring training, he has been perfect once the lights came on and looked very strong in back to back outings this weekend.
More X-rays – these negative on Dodger catcher Rod Barajas after a Juan Pierre collision at home plate on Sunday. Look for Barajas to be day-to-day but Dioner Navarro to catch the majority of the games this week. Shortstop Rafael Furcal was reinstated on Sunday, earlier than originally thought but the Dodgers needed to put Juan Uribe on the DL (since Mattingly apparently can put him on the bench where he belongs). Jamey Carroll will stay at second base and Casey Blake may be off the DL sometime this week sending Russ Mitchell back to the minors.
The Phillies will probably throw a party to welcome back second baseman Chase Utley, who I understand could be activated as soon as Monday. But I am not sure Utley will play every day for a while so moving him back into your lineup should be based on what kind of production you have been getting - or whether you use the extra week to construct a trade if you found a player who is really helping. This area of roster management is often given short shrift, but is very important in the success of your teams.
The Minnesota Twins activated both DH Jim Thome and outfielder Jason Repko after Sunday’s game. If Thome is normally in your lineup you should play him this week as the Twins play all six games at home and four of their opponents starting pitchers are scheduled to be right handed hurlers.
You have trouble if you have some Braves in your outfield. As expected Jason Heyward was placed on the DL on Sunday – they need to get him some rest for his shoulder. And unexpectedly Nate McLouth is likely headed to the DL with an oblique injury. Minor leaguer Wilkin Ramirez was called up for Heyward, I haven’t seen a good guess as to who might replace McLouth but look for more at bats for Eric Hinske.
If you have even a decent replacement for Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier you may want to keep them in your lineup. While x-rays on Ethier’s elbow, ankle and toe all came back negative, that is a lot of pain for him to play through and with the early series this week in Houston, they should be resting their best hitter.
Cleveland Indian’s rookie pitcher Alex White will miss the next 8-12 weeks….Yes at least two months with a tendon injury in the second finger on his pitching hand. Expect lefty Mitch Talbot to be activated into White’s spot in the rotation this week. Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore might be ready to play by next weekend. But they’re at Tampa Bay against James Shields, David Price and Jeremy Hellickson, and the risk combined with the matchups should keep him out of your lineup again this week.
Cardinals right fielder Lance Berkman was back in the lineup on Sunday and should be good to play this week.
Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche is having his sore shoulder (and batting average) checked out and there is good reason to believe he may also be headed to the DL. Not sure how Washington would handle this but Mike Morse at first base would be one obvious solution. Hopefully you can do better.
{jcomments on}