Fantasy Baseball Morning Update: Jansen to close for Dodgers
Please raise your hand if you had Lance Lynn as the first pitcher in MLB to win six games this season. 1.40 ERA, 0.85 WHIP in six starts ... anyone?
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Edinson Volquez's latest solid PETCO outing raised our streaming starter record to 25-11 for the season. Tonight, we'll go with Oakland's Brandon McCarthy (owned in 26.3 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) against the Blue Jays.
On to the news:
- The Dodgers have officially made a change at closer, replacing Javy Guerra with Kenley Jansen. The 24-year-old Jansen has nasty, wipeout stuff, with 15.16 strikeouts per nine innings in his young career. The bet here is that Jansen will dominate, and be one of the top five closers taken in 2013 fantasy drafts. Jansen is owned in 42.6 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, so you might still be able to get him. I wonder which team will make a closer change today ... and tomorrow ... and the day after that ...
- In the least surprising news of the season, Phillies SP Cole Hamels has been suspended for five games after hitting Nationals OF Bryce Harper (and admitting it) on Sunday. The only effect this has on Hamels' fantasy owners relates to the timing of his next start, which will now be Sunday instead of Saturday.
- Tigers SP Doug Fister looked terrific in his return to action last night.
- Nationals OF Jayson Werth had wrist surgery on Monday, and the team website reports that he'll miss at least 12 weeks. If you're tight on bench space and/or don't have room to DL him, it's OK to cut Werth, whose effectiveness upon returning is obviously TBD.
- Nats GM Mike Rizzo reportedly told Baseball Prospectus recently that an innings cap of 160 for ace Stephen Strasburg is "something the media put out there." So, Strasburg will be shut down at some point, but Rizzo isn't telling us when. Part of this decision will probably depend on the Nats' position in the standings when September rolls around, but a shutdown is still on the table. Even if the Nats are in first place, if you think they're letting this guy throw 225 innings, you're crazy.
- More Nats: 3B Ryan Zimmerman is expected to be activated from the DL today.
- Cardinals 1B Lance Berkman (calf) hopes to come off the DL on Friday.
- I'll make my weekly appearance in the FOXSports.com fantasy chat room today at 2 p.m. ET. Send your questions!
- Here's an update on two injured Diamondbacks, with OF Chris Young hoping to begin a rehab assignment by the weekend, and SP Daniel Hudson expected to return by the end of the month.
- Josh Beckett, who missed his Saturday start due to a sore lat muscle, is expected to make his next start on Thursday.
- Rockies SP Drew Pomeranz left Monday's game after getting hit in the quad with a line drive. Pomeranz's status for his next start is TBD.
- Carlos Zambrano has a 1.98 ERA for the Marlins after last night's three-hit shutout. The Big Z is owned in just nine percent of FOXSports.com leagues, and could have a solid season. He won't keep up this pace, though.
- With Scott Downs day-to-day due to a bruised knee, Jordan Walden or Ernesto Frieri are likely to get the short-term save opportunities for the Angels.
- The Brewers have lost SS Alex Gonzalez for the season due to his knee injury. Replacement Cesar Izturis doesn't hit for power or average, but might steal 10-15 bases. Izturis can be picked up in NL-only leagues.
- The Mets placed SS Ruben Tejada on the DL with a strained quad. Ronny Cedeno is expected to take over when he comes off the DL on Friday; until then, the Mets' website reports that we should look for a Justin Turner/Jordany Valdespin timeshare.
- Phillies OF Hunter Pence has changed his intro music to Kenny Loggins' Danger Zone because his brother and sister-in-law just had a baby boy named Maverick. Here's hoping that the newborn Master Pence has a fruitful life, and never leaves his wingman.
- The Giants have activated 1B/OF Aubrey Huff from the DL. It might take a few days for him to get back to regular duty, though. Fortunately for Huff, the Giants don't seem to like writing Brandon Belt's name on the lineup card.
- Rays OF Desmond Jennings is listed as day-to-day with a left knee sprain, but isn't expected to go on the DL.
See you back here tomorrow morning.
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