Around the Majors (May 25): Guerrero, Carpenter, Price and More

Vladimir Guerrero returned to the Angels line-up.  Chris Carpenter flirted with perfection.  David Price fell flat in his season debut.  Let’s take a look at these stories and all the rest from yesterday’s games.

Baltimore 4, Toronto 1

• Was that the same Jeremy Guthrie who had not allowed less than three earned runs in any start since his second start of the season (April 11)?  He went 7 innings, giving up 1 run on 7 hits and 1 walk, striking out 4 over 7 innings to even his record at 4-4 with a 4.90 ERA.  Given what he’s done in his last 7 starts (29 ER over 41.2 innings), I would not make a very big deal about this.  His next start is a match-up for Justin Verlander, making it extremely difficult to expect a win.
• Alex Rios went 1-for-4, leaving him without an RBI or run in seven games (32 AB).  That’s far from the type of numbers that owners were hoping for.  He should come around, sooner or later, so continue to have patience.  He’s not a player whose hot streak you want to miss when it comes.

New York (AL) 11, Texas 1

• Alex Rodriguez went 5-for-5 with 4 RBI and 2 R.  It’s nice to see him produce without utilizing the long ball.
• Phil Hughes tossed 8 shutout innings giving up 3 hits and 1 walk, striking out 6.  It’s the first time he’s gone more than 6 innings in a start since his recall.  Is it enough to save his spot in the rotation?  Monitor the news, but I’m doubting it.  The damage was likely already done.  If you are in a deeper format, I’d make sure you already have a suitable replacement.
• Matt Harrison gave up 7 runs on 11 hits and 1 walk, striking out 2, over 5 innings of work.  After three straight great starts, he has now allowed 12 runs over his last 10 innings.  It was nice to see him as a usable option for a short stretch, and while he may re-emerge at some point, it is safe to say that he is no longer usable outside of AL-only formats.

Boston 6, Minnesota 5

• Jonathan Papelbon gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and 0 walks, striking out 1, in his 1 inning of work but was able to hold on to lock down the save.  This is the second straight outing that he has allowed two runs, but I would not look to deep into it.  He is among the game’s elite closers and everyone hits a cold spell from time to time.
• Francisco Liriano just continues to struggle.  He allowed 5 runs on 11 hits and 0 walks, striking out 7, over 4 innings to fall to 2-6 with a 6.42 ERA.  While the Ks are nice, this is the second straight start that he lasted just 4 innings (allowing a total of 12 earned runs).  There were certainly high hopes for him this season, but he has fallen far short (understatement, huh?).  I wouldn’t sell low on him, as he could recover, but at this point is it really worth continuing to endure this type of performance?  If you haven’t already, I’d shift him to your bench.

Detroit 13, Kansas City 1

• Justin Verlander just continues to roll along.  He went 7 shutout innings giving up 5 hits and 0 walks, striking out 8.  In his last six starts he’s given up a grand total of 4 earned runs while striking out 60.  He’s also picked up 5 wins.  Talk about comeback player of the year.  Verlander has returned to being a must start option, though that clearly should go without saying.
• Brandon Inge went 3-6 with 2 RBI and 2 R, putting him at .280 with 12 HR, 33 RBI and 31 R.  Considering he has catcher eligibility in most formats, those are tremendous numbers, though it would seem unlikely that he can continue.  If someone in your league is buying, he is worth considering selling depending on the offer and your other options.
• Gil Meche lasted just 2.1 innings, giving up 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 1.  He has been extremely inconsistent this season making him nothing better than a low-end option in mixed formats.  That’s not to say that I would bench him, and given his performance the past two seasons, he should right the ship at some point. 

Oakland 6, Seattle 1

• Brandon Morrow got into the game in middle relief, giving up an unearned run over 2 innings.  He did allow 1 hit and 2 walks, striking out 3.  The walks are the problem, as he’s now walked 13 batters over 14.1 innings.  If he continues to walk batters at that type of clip, he’s never going to be a viable option closing games.
• Adam Kennedy continues his scorching hot stretch, going 4-for-4 with 2 RBI, 1 R and 2 SB.  He has hits in eight of his last nine games, with seven of them being multi-hit affairs.  Over the stretch he’s gone 20-for-37 with 2 HR, 11 RBI, 4 R and 2 SB.  That’s one heck of a stretch and while he’s hot, he is certainly worth using as a short-term fill-in. 
• Brett Anderson went 6 innings giving up 1 run on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 4 to improve to 2-4 on the year.  Nice start, but he has been way too inconsistent to consider using right now.  He’s better off being stashed away outside of the deepest of formats and AL-only leagues.

Cleveland 11, Tampa Bay 10

• All I can say is unbelievable.  Tampa Bay had a 10-0 lead in this game, yet managed to let it get away.  It was the entire bullpen that played a part including Thayer (1.1 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 0 K), Balfour (0.1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K) and Isringhausen (0.0 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 0 K).  Anyone have any clue who may close now?
• How about David Price who was handed the huge lead and proceeded to throw 100 pitches through 3.1 innings before having to be pulled?  He allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks, striking out 6.  This has got to be disconcerting for both the Rays and fantasy owners, who were hoping a return to the major leagues would correct the problems he had been showing in Triple-A.  He obviously is still worth owning due to his potential, but things need to change drastically if he wants to stick around.
• Fausto Carmona gave up 5 runs on 3 hits and 5 walks, striking out 3, over 1.1 innings.  Yeah, at this point, he has proven to be unusable, at least for now.
• Ryan Garko had the big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with 2 HR, 5 RBI and 2 R.  Of course, this is his first multi-hit game since May 4.  Don’t get too excited until he proves he can do it a bit more often.  Also, given the jumble of players in Cleveland, there’s never a guarantee he’s going to be on the field.

Chicago (AL) 17, Los Angeles (AL) 3

• Vladimir Guerrero’s return was far from what owners had hoped for.  Besides the team getting rocked, he went 0-4 with 1 K.  It doesn’t matter, now that he’s back he’s got to be in there. 
• It certainly was not Ervin Santana’s day, giving up 7 runs on 9 hits and 1 walk, striking out 1, over just 1 inning of work.  It’s going to happen and there’s really nothing you can do.  He had been pitching well since coming off the DL, so don’t let this one beating discourage you.  His next start comes against Seattle, which should be a good way to get things back on track…  Hopefully, anyways.
• There were a lot of big days for the Angels, but how about Alexei Ramirez going 4-7 with 3 RBI, 3 R and 1 SB once again hitting second in the order.  He’s now on a 4-game hitting streat, going 8-17 with 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R and 2 SB.  Does it make up for all the bad he’s given us so far?  Not even close, but at least it is something.  If he does continue to hit second, he’ll have a chance to hold more value as the season progresses, though he still may not live up to the preseason hype.

Cincinnati 8, Houston 5

• An ill-timed rain delay almost cost Aaron Harang a chance at victory, but Dusty Baker ran him back out there and he was able to get the last out he needed.  That’s the one positive you can take from this start, which saw him give up 3 runs on 10 hits and 1 walk, striking out 4, over 5 innings.   Considering he had not won in his last three starts, we’ll all take what we can get.  He needs to get his WHIP on track, but continue to use him in all formats.
• Jerry Hairston Jr. went 2-4 with 1 RBI and 2 R.  Adam Rosales went 2-5 with 1 RBI and 2 R.  Both of these players have helped bridge the gap with Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto go through injury woes.  They are not long-term options, so don’t look too closely.
• Wandy Rodriguez went 4 innings giving up 6 runs (0 earned) on 10 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3.  At least he didn’t hurt your ERA, but that’s a tough WHIP game to stomach.  Considering he entered the game with a WHIP of 1.00, this slight bump in the road is something you should be able to handle.  Still, it is something worth noting and watching closely.  His ERA is not always going to be bailed out by a few errrors.

Milwaukee 1, St. Louis 0 (10 innings)

• Chris Carpenter tossed 8 shutout innings giving up 2 hits and 0 walks, striking out 10.  Will he ever give up an earned run?  He carried a perfect game into the seventh before losing it.  While there was a lengthy DL stint mixed in, he’s gone 23 innings this season without yielding an earned run.  At this point, those owners who stashed him away are certainly reaping some pretty big benefits.
• Yovani Gallardo matched Carpenter along the way, throwing 8 shutout innings giving up 2 hits and 4 walks, striking out 6.  It’s a nice rebound after a shaky outing last time out (6 ER over 5 IP against the Astros).  He’s emerged as a top option in all formats.

Los Angeles (NL) 16, Colorado 6

• It was nice to see Casey Blake back in the clean-up spot, going 2-6 with 1 RBI and 2 R.  That gives him a three-game hitting streak that has seen him go 8-14 with 0 HR, 3 RBI and 4 R.  He certainly deserves a longer look in that spot moving forward.
• Matt Kemp batted fifth, going 3-5 with 3 RBI and 2 R.  Who thinks he ends up back in the seven hole before the end of the week?
• Jorge De La Rosa gave up 7 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6, over 3.1 inning.  The strikeouts are nice, but over his last two starts he’s given up 14 earned runs over 7 innings.  That’s just awful.  Don’t get caught up in the strikeout barrage he posted a few outings ago, he runs the risk of putting up these types of ugly starts.  With the Padres next on the schedule, if you are a gambler you can roll the dice but I really wouldn’t recommend it given his last two starts.  Also, keep in mind that he has yet to get a W this season.

San Diego 9, Arizona 7 (10 innings)

• Chase Headley went 2-5 with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 1 R, with the home run being the game winner in the top of the 10th.  That’s his first HR and RBI since 5/10.  To say that this team desperately needs help offensively is an understatement.  Too bad Kyle Blanks has been struggling lately, but I still don’t think he’s far from making him presence felt.
• The Arizona bullpen coughed up a 7-1 lead, led by Jon Rauch who gave up 2 runs on 2 hits without recording an out.  Remember when he was closing for the Nationals?  That seems like ages ago.
• Gerardo Parra was used as the leadoff hitter, going 1-4 with 2 RBI and 1 R.  He’s now hitting .277 with 1 HR, 10 RBI and 9 R in 47 AB making him usable in deeper formats as long as he is getting regular AB.

San Francisco 8, Atlanta 2

• Jordan Schafer went 0-4 with 4 Ks dropping his average down to .205.  It is only a matter of when, not if, he gets returned to Triple-A at this point, I would think.
• Travis Ishikawa must know he is fighting for his job, as he did his best to re-establish himself by going 4-4 with 1 HR, 3 RBI and 3 R.  That is his first home run of the season and his first RBI since 5/12.  It’s going to take a lot more than just this one game to get all the heat off of him and I don’t know that he is going to get hot enough to get much attention from fantasy owners.  He’s not likely to hit for enough power to be a usable 1B, but time will tell.
• Nice to see Brian Wilson pitch a perfect inning, complete with 1 strikeout.  Given the way he struggled last week, this type of non-pressure situation should ease a lot of the concerns.

Florida 5, Philadelphia 3

• Nice to see Chris Coghlan go 2-5 giving him 5 hits in his last 10 AB.  Still, where is the run production?
• Chris Volstad won for the second straight start, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6, over 6.2 innings.  All of the damage was done by Ryan Howard (2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R), so that is excusable.  He’s now 4-3 with a 3.69 ERA and continues to prove usable in all formats.
• Jamie Moyer, meanwhile, continues to struggle.  He lost for his fourth straight start, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5, over 6 innings.  Over those four starts, he’s allowed 21 runs over 18.2 innings.  I wouldn’t touch him at this point, no matter how favorable the match-up appears.

New York (NL) 5, Washington 2

• Daniel Cabrera coming out of the bullpen?  Who thought that would be a good idea?  He walked 3 over 0.2 innings, but Jason Bergmann bailed him out.
• Gary Sheffield went 2-3 with 1 HR, 3 RBI and 1 R.  That gives him hits in four straight games going 5-12 with 2 HR, 6 RBI and 5 R.  He certainly has something left in the tank and is worth using in all 5 OFer formats.
• The Mets bullpen made it interesting, walking six in three innings, but Francisco Rodriguez finally managed to get things nailed down.  It was certainly nice for Mets fans to see him back out there after the back spasm scares, huh?  If you had him on your bench in daily formats, obviously slide him back in there.
• John Maine got back on the winning side of things, giving up 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4, over 6 innings of work.  I know he hasn’t been overly impressive this season, but he is still worth using in all formats.  His next start is against the Marlins, a team he dominates, then another match-up with the Nationals.  You really can’t ask for much more than that.

Pittsburgh 10, Chicago (NL) 8

• Freddy Sanchez went 6-6 with 1 HR, 3 RBI and 4 R.  Tremendous game, but he still offers little in the power (4 HR) or speed (4 SB) departments, so he holds minimal value in all formats.  He’d be a worst-case scenario starter for me.
• Paul Maholm hasn’t won since April 22 and got bombed for the second time in his last four starts.  He allowed 7 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 2, over 4 innings.  Offering little in the strikeout department, he should be viewed as nothing more than a low-end option at this point.
• Milton Bradley went 2-5 with 1 HR, 4 RBI and 2 R.  We all know that he is an injury waiting to happen, but he would appear to have a hot streak brewing any day now (if this is not the start of it).  That makes him worth looking to buy low, even with the potential risk.

Anyone have any thoughts?  Anything to add?

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