Fantasy Baseball Morning Update: King Felix's next start in doubt
Nice job on that no-hitter, Johan Santana. 8,020 games is a long time for a team to wait for one of those.
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Felipe Paulino tossed six shutout innings Friday night, Edinson Volquez was solid despite walking five batters on Saturday, and Michael Fiers didn't quite get it done for us on Sunday. With the streaming starter record at 38-23 for the season, today's pick is Dillon Gee (owned in 5.5 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) against the Cardinals, who have scored a total of one run in their last three games against the Mets. Tuesday's selection is Cincinnati's Homer Bailey (9.1 percent owned), who has whiffed 18 batters against three walks in 21 1/3 innings over his last three starts, and faces the weak-hitting Pirates. The Cardinals-Mets game is at 1:10 p.m. ET, so set your lineups early.
On to the news:
- Mariners' ace Felix Hernandez was still feeling tightness in his back Sunday after slipping on the mound last Friday, and might not make his scheduled Wednesday start against the Angels. One M's beat writer thinks Hernandez should be placed on the DL to be safe. We should know more later today or tomorrow, but if you're setting a weekly lineup, benching King Felix is the smart move.
- OF Ryan Braun (Achilles) and 3B Aramis Ramirez (quad) were both out of the Brewers' lineup on Sunday, but they're hoping to be back on Tuesday. Braun made a pinch-hitting appearance, which is a good sign.
- The Giants are hoping to get 3B Pablo Sandoval back from the DL on Friday. Sandoval might be in some legal trouble based on his activities over the weekend, but it shouldn't affect his playing status.
- Vance Worley will come off the DL to pitch tonight for the Phillies. Worley will reportedly pitch with bone chips in his elbow, and while I'm no doctor, this doesn't sound good. He'll reportedly be on a pitch count tonight.
- Dustin Pedroia (thumb) expects to return to the Red Sox lineup on Tuesday. Is anyone else worried that after all the efforts to keep him off the DL, he's just going to end up there, anyway?
- Ernesto Frieri saved games on Friday and Saturday for the Angels getting five of his seven outs on strikeouts. It certainly looks like he's the closer.
- Blue Jays 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion is day-to-day with a bruised hand.
- Rays OF Desmond Jennings is expected to come off the DL in time for Tuesday's series opener against the Yankees.
- The Mets hope to get SS Ruben Tejada back from the DL on Friday.
- The Rockies placed SP Juan Nicasio on the DL with a knee strain. It's a good thing Jorge De La Rosa's rehab is ... oops, scratch that.
- The Daniel Bard starting experiment isn't going so well. After Sunday's miserable outing, Bard has a 5.24 ERA with 34 strikeouts against 37 walks in 55 innings. If Bard keeps pitching like this, he should consider changing his name to "Ubaldo."
- Chris Sale had another terrific start on Sunday. He's the real deal, as long as his arm doesn't fall off.
- Royals 1B Eric Hosmer has a six-game hitting streak that has featured a couple of homers. Is this the breakout? Maybe? Finally?
- From 2008-11, Dodgers C A.J. Ellis hit eight home runs in 1,008 at bats between the minors and majors. This season, he has six in 143 at bats, along with a .934 OPS. This is a great story, but don't expect it to continue at this pace.
- Here's a Sunday tweet from Arizona Republic D-backs' beat writer Nick Piecoro: "Gerardo Parra asked an old lady near Dbacks dugout to touch his bat. If he got a hit, he'd give it to her. He homered. And gave her the bat." Fantastic.
- The Tigers have placed OF Andy Dirks on the DL with an Achillies injury. With the Tigers depleted by injuries, Don Kelly could get some quality outfield time over the next week or two. Kelly isn't much of a hitter, but still could be worth an AL-only add.
- After getting skipped last time through the rotation, Jaime Garcia is expected to start on Tuesday for the Cardinals.
- Twins C Joe Mauer is day-to-day with a sprained right thumb. It doesn't sound serious.
- Matt LaPorta is now part of the Indians' 1B/DH rotation. LaPorta had 14 homers in Triple A before his weekend promotion, but he has always been a disappointment in the majors. He might be worth an AL-only add, but that's it.
- The Astros have called up OF Fernando Martinez, and will give him most of the starts in right field at the expense of Brian Bogusevic. It seems like Martinez has been a prospect forever, but he's only 23, and was batting .319 with eight homers, 38 RBI, 32 runs and a .906 OPS before his promotion. He should be scooped up in NL-only leagues if still available.
- Carlos Marmol hasn't regained the Cubs' closer job yet, but I still think it's coming. He's only walked TWO batters in three innings since coming off the DL, and both were in the same outing. That's progress!
- Adam Jones' right wrist has been bothering him for awhile, and he's going to have an MRI today (the O's are off). If you own Jones, keep him in the lineup until you hear worse news than this.
- This week's edition of Free Agent Frenzy is ready for your review. Please read it if you want me to have a good Monday.
See you back here tomorrow morning.
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