MLB: Shortstops On the DL

Tuesday was a bad day to be a National League shortstop.

First, the Atlanta Braves placed Yunel Escobar on the 15-day DL due to a strained right groin. The move is retroactive to April 30th.

Escobar enjoyed a great season with the bat in 2009 hitting .299/.377/.436 with 14 home runs and 26 doubles. This year, Escobar has struggled mightily early on.

In 22 games, Escobar has only hit .215 with a .299 OBP and zero big flys.

Escobar is one of many Braves struggling with the bat this season. Brian McCann, Chipper Jones, Nate McLouth, and Melky Cabrera have all gotten off to slow starts this season.

The Braves called up SS Brandon Hicks to replace Escobar on the roster. Hicks was hitting just .179 in 84 AB’s for Triple-A Gwinnett.

The other shortstop to head to the DL was Los Angeles Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal. Furcal was placed on the 15-day DL because of a left hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to April 28th.

After a down year in 2009, Furcal was off to a really good start this season. He was batting .309 with a .378 OBP and eight steals in 19 games before landing on the DL.

If your fantasy team is hurting at the shortstop position (remember, Everth Cabrera and Asdrubal Cabrera are hurt too), here are some shortstops who might be available in your league.

Cliff Pennington, Oakland A’s

Off to a .271/3/16 start.

Juan Uribe, San Francisco Giants

Hitting .291/3/16. Doesn’t get regular playing time, but when he has been in the lineup, he has produced.

Orlando Cabrera, Cincinnati Reds

A .250 average and .288 OBP are nothing to write home about, but his 14 RBI are third amongst NL shortstops.

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