Around the Majors: Apr. 12

Tim Lincecum continues to struggle...Josh Johnson continues to thrive...Could Aaron Harang be back to his old form...Let’s take a look at these stories and all the rest from yesterday’s games:

Toronto vs. Cleveland

• If David Purcey had some control this may have been a different game.  He allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and six walks, striking out 10, over 4.2 innings. The walks are really not indicative of the control he showed in the minors last season, and I still hold true to feeling he’s a great sleeper this season. His next start is scheduled against Oakland, and wit his strikeout potential he is a pitcher I would still recommend using.
• Travis Hafner homered for the third straight game.  I’ll have more on him this afternoon as part of the Waiver Worthy column, so make sure to check that out.

Texas vs. Detroit

• Kevin Millwood continued his strong start to the season, stifling the Tigers for seven shutout innings, giving up just four hits and zero walks, striking out six. He’s posted a 0.64 ERA this season, and with his next start coming against the Royals he could be worth considering. He is a risky play, however, considering he hasn’t posted an ERA below 4.52 since his career season in 2005.  My guess is a regression is coming, sooner or later.
• Chris Davis continues to struggle, going 0-for-4 with one strikeout.  He’s now hitting .045 and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him on get a day or two off next week. That doesn’t mean that you should bench him quite yet, as you do not want to miss when he explodes, but those in daily leagues should monitor the pre-game lineups.
• Brandon Inge went 2-4 with 1 HR, 3 RBI and 1 R, giving him 4 HR in the season’s first week.  That’s a heck of a pace he set for himself, but he’s only had one “big” HR season (when he hit 27 in 2006).

Tampa Bay vs. Baltimore

• Now that’s the type of rebound fantasy owners were looking for from James Shields. After struggling in his season debut, he tossed seven shutout innings, giving up three hits and one walk, striking out three. Yes, the strikeout total is not quite what we’d want to see, but he was pitching with a big lead and just wanted to get outs.
• Have I mentioned the ridiculous start Evan Longoria is up to?  He homered again, his fifth of the season, going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and 1 R.  He’s got 10 RBI already...Let’s see if he can keep it going, but he’s rewarded those who gambled on him early thus far.

Minnesota vs. Chicago (AL)

• Simply put, the Twins offense has been anemic thus far this season.  Yes, they are 3-4, but they are hitting just .233 with 26 runs scored.
• Mark Buehrle earned his first win of the season, giving up one run on two hits and zero walks, striking out five, over 6.1 innings. He’s a great option for those in deeper formats, despite his lack of big time strikeout potential. He does have a tough match-up next week, with Tampa Bay and James Shields, so you may just want to stash him for now.

New York (AL) vs. Kansas City

• Joba Chamberlain finally took the mound, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk, striking out five, over six innings. It was a decent start, though you know owners want to see a much higher strikeout total, though it was far from a poor number. He has the potential to be one of the elite and obviously continue to be a must use.
• Have I mentioned anemic offenses?  None have been worse then the Royals, despite their come from behind victory. They’ve managed to score just 14 runs thus far this season.
• Billy Butler got a much needed day off (he did walk as a pinch hitter). Hopefully it helps to get him back on track.

Boston vs. Los Angeles (AL)

• Kevin Youkilis is absolutely raking this season. He went 2-for-4 with 1 HR, 1 RBI and 1 R, putting him at .522 for the season.  Does anyone believe that he’s not a solid fantasy option still?
• Howie Kendrick went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and 1 R.  He has been a terrific bat in the No. 2 hole and really could make some noise if he remains healthy all season.

Seattle vs. Oakland

• It was a tremendous pitchers dual, something that surely made fantasy owners happy.  Erik Bedard was spectacular in the victory, throwing 8.1 shutout innings, giving up just three hits and one walk, striking out seven.
• Trevor Cahill was the tough luck loser, giving up one run on two hits and three walks, striking out three, over seven innings. It’s a great start, but I would keep in mind as to who the opponent was. His next start is scheduled to come in Toronto, so you should continue to tread carefully.
• Brandon Morrow was given the day off, but I wouldn’t read anything into it.  He’s been solid after his first debacle.

New York (NL) vs. Florida

• Talk about a tough luck loser, a terrible error by Daniel Murphy, dropping a routine flyball, cost the Mets the game. Johan Santana gave up two unearned runs on three hits and One walk, striking out 13, over seven innings. That’s his first lose since June 28, 2008.
• Josh Johnson got the win and was almost as impressive.  He went the distance, giving up one run on five hits and one walk, striking out seven. He simply owns the Mets, there’s not much else to say.
• With Gary Sheffield looming, Ryan Church has gotten off to a great start. He went 1-for-4, giving him hits in all 6 games and a .478 average. Did I mention that he already has 6 doubles?

Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati

• The Pirates were shutout, but Nyjer Morgan went 2-3 (though he was caught stealing).  The guy just continues to hit.
• Ian Snell pitcher well, after getting rocked in his first start of the season. He allowed two runs on five hits and three walks, striking out seven. He has the potential to return fantasy relevance this season and I would certainly monitor his progress. This type of performance in this ballpark is very promising.
• Aaron Harang continued his resurgence, with a complete game shutout. He gave up just three hits and zero walks, striking out nine. He was considered a great bounce back candidate prior to the season and he has certainly shown why.

Washington vs. Atlanta

• The Braves gave Rafael Soriano the save opportunity and he responded with a perfect ninth, striking out two. He has yet to give up a run this season.

Houston vs. St. Louis

• I’m going to talk about Kyle Lohse in detail this afternoon in the Waiver Worthy column, but is there anyone still doubting his usefulness?  He tossed a complete game shutout, giving up three hits and zero walks, striking out four. He retired 24 in a row at one point. He’s now 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA, though he does have a tough match-up next week with the Cubs.
• Khalil Greene went 3-4 with 1 R and 1 RBI, putting his average at .280. Does anyone believe he can maintain it?

Philadelphia vs. Colorado

• Raul Ibanez went 1-for-4 with 1 RBI, leaving him hitting .250 on the season with five RBI.  There are significantly worse starts, but this is far from what the Phillies wanted to see.
• I said it yesterday, but it is quickly looking like Dexter Fowler deserves to be getting everyday AB at this point. He went 2-for-5 with 1 HR, 1 RBI and 1 R yesterday, putting him at .385 with 2 HR on the season. I have to think he’s going to get more regular playing time in the week ahead, making him a player worth considering in deeper formats.
• Both Manny Corpas (1 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K) and Huston Street (1 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 K) struggled.  What’s a team to do?

San Francisco vs. San Diego

• Let the cries of Lincecum being overworked last season grow louder.  He struggled again, giving up 4 runs on 10 hits and three walks, striking out five, over 5.1 innings against a weak hitting Padres line-up. I’m not sure I believe that as the reason, but something is going on.
• Chase Headley went 2-5 with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 2 R. He has 2 HR on the season, but is hitting just .214 on the season. I’m not really sold on him putting things together quite yet, though the power is nice to see.

Los Angeles (NL) vs. Arizona

• Rafael Furcal went 0-for-3 with 1 R, leaving him at .231 on the season with just 1 SB. That certainly isn’t the type of start owners had dreamed of.
• Eric Byrnes, fighting for playing time, went 0-for-3 and is hitting .077 on the season. That’s certainly not the way to earn extra time in the field.

Chicago (NL) vs. Milwaukee

• After the first week of the season Ryan Braun is hitting .208 and Prince Fielder is hitting .250.  Both of those players are better then that (obviously) and it’s just a matter of time before they get rolling.
• Kosuke Fukudome continues his strong start, going 1-for-3 with 1 RBI.  He’s now hitting .409.

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