Fantasy Baseball Morning Update: Rays' Longoria returns tonight
After reviewing last night's latest gem from Jered Weaver (15-1, 2.13 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 101 K in 131 IP), I started wondering where I would rank him in 2013 drafts. Because strikeouts matter, I think I'd go with Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw ahead of Weaver. After that, he's probably next on the list.
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Another strong start from Baltimore's Chris Tillman raised our streaming starter record to 69-44 on the season. Today's pick is Ross Detwiler (owned in 25.6 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) at Houston, while Wednesday's selection is Clayton Richard (5.5 percent owned) in PETCO against the terrible Cubs.
On to the news:
- Rays 3B Evan Longoria, who has been on the DL since April 30 with a hamstring injury, will be activated before tonight's game. The Tampa Bay Times reports that "Longoria will be limited to DH duties, and probably won't be able to play everyday as the Rays ease him back into it." The Rays' offense has been so bad lately that the "everyday" part of that equation should change soon, as they can't afford to keep Longoria on the bench.
- The latest development with Matt Garza's elbow has the Cubs' starter in danger of missing the rest of the season. All we know now is that Garza won't pick up a ball for at least two weeks, and that he'll be re-evaluated during each homestand, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Don't hesitate to cut Garza if you have him.
- Speaking of the Cubs, yesterday's blog post missed the arrivals of 3B prospect Josh Vitters, who was batting .304 with 17 homers and six stolen bases at Triple A, and OF Brett Jackson, who had 15 homers and 27 steals at the same level. Vitters probably isn't anything more than an NL-only option right now, but he's someone to keep an eye on. Jackson's power-speed skillset makes him interesting in many deep leagues, but his stratospheric strikeout rate (163 K in 415 AB this season) is likely to be his downfall. Bryan LaHair will lose playing time in the wake of Jackson's arrival.
- Reminder: Mike Stanton is likely to come off the DL tonight for the Marlins.
- The Brewers have promoted SS prospect Jean Segura - who was acquired in the Zack Greinke trade - and will let him play every day. Segura batted .304 with seven homers and 37 stolen bases at Double A, and can be considered in deeper mixed leagues.
- A's OF Yoenis Cespedes missed Monday's game due to a sore right wrist, and is day-to-day.
- The White Sox have ditched their short-lived six-man rotation and sent Philip Humber to the bullpen.
- On a related note, that was a nice game last night from Chris Sale after his nine-day layoff. He's still risky.
- Rookie Matt McBride (.357 BA, 10 HR at Triple A) will be one of the beneficiaries of Todd Helton's season-ending hip injury. McBride isn't much of a prospect, but Coors Field makes anyone interesting. Still, until we see McBride playing every day, he's only useful in NL-only leagues.
- Ben Sheets ... unbelievable.
- Jim Thome's herniated disc is expected to keep him out of the Orioles' lineup until sometime in September.
- Red Sox DH David Ortiz hopes he can return to the lineup this weekend, but I'll believe that when I see it. Ortiz got a Novocaine injection (not from a dentist) in his injured Achilles on Monday.
- It sounds like C Jason Castro (knee) is about a week away from returning to the Astros' lineup.
- Roberto Hernandez - formerly known as Fausto Carmona - is expected to join the Indians' rotation next week. Hernandez cut down his previously terrible walk rate in 2010 and 2011, and while he doesn't strike out enough batters, his excellent ground-ball rate makes him worth a look in AL-only leagues. Assuming that he's his normal self, figure on Hernandez's ERA being somewhere in the 4.00-4.50 range.
- The Twins are thinking about sending struggling SS Brian Dozier back to the minors.
- Michael Young played shortstop last night for the Rangers, but it was probably a one-time thing due to Elvis Andrus (shoulder) needing a night off.
See you back here tomorrow morning.

