The Indians placed pitcher Carlos Carrasco on the 15-day DL with elbow inflammation, and could call up pitching prospect Alex White. White is 1-0 in 4 starts at AAA Columbus with an ERA of 1.90 and a WHIP of 1.014. He has a 28-5 K/BB rate in 23+ innings.
Nationals reliever Sean Burnett may have seen his last save chance in awhile on Wednesday night, as he came in to preserve a 3-2 lead in the 9tjh inning, and promptly gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk. I question why Nationals manager Jim Riggleman would bring him in when Drew Storen has converted his last 3 save opportunities. OK. I admit, I own Storen in a keeper league, but still. Storen earned the save in last night's game for the Nationals. But, what's interesting is that Riggleman stated that he would still use Burnett to close.
The Giants have announced that when Brandon Belt returns to the big leagues, he will play in the outfield, and not first base. I am curious when he will get the call back up. I assume it will be when Pat Burrell either slumps or gets injured.
The Cardinals turned to rookie Eduardo Sanchez on Wednesday night to close out a 6-3 game, but he surrendered 2 runs on 3 hits, but did strike out two batters to earn the save. In 8 innings this season, he has a 14-1 K/BB rate. Pretty impressive. It will be interesting to see who manager Tony Larussa turns to when the next save opportunity arises.
More Roto Roundup after the jump:
I own Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen in two keeper leagues and in a redraft league, and am beginning to get concerned about him. But, when I checked Baseball Reference and saw that April has been his worst month since he was called up to the big leagues, my worries subsided. But, still, can the guy get a hit every once in awhile?
Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan may miss a few games with a sore right shoulder. Check out Fish Stripes, SB Nation's Marlins site, for more on Coghlan.
Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist had a monster day on Thursday, going 4-6 with a HR, 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and 8 RBIs in the first game of the doubleheader and continued his hot hitting in the second game where he went 3-4 with a HR, 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs, for a two game total of 7-9, 2 HRs, 3 doubles, 5 runs scored and 10 RBIs. Wow.
Zobrist was the Fake Teams Fantasy Player of the Day today. If I had a Fantasy Goat of the Day, Cubs starter Ryan Dempster would win in a landslide. Dempster probably had his worst game as a pro, giving up 7 runs on 4 hits, and 4 walks in 1/3rd of an inning. His season stats are not pretty. They are Liriano-like, if you will. He is 1-2 with a 9.58 ERA and 1.87 WHIP, with a 29-16 K/BB rate. In 31 innings this year, he has given up 42 hits, 34 runs, 33 earned runs, and count them....9 HRs. 9 HRs in 31 innings. Is he tipping his pitches?
If it weren't for Zobrist's monster day yesterday, Mariners rookie starter Michael Pineda would have been the Fake Teams Fantasy Player of the Day, as he won his 4th game, going 6 innings, 2 runs on 4 hits, 3 walks and 9 strikeouts. He now has a 2.01 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 30-12 K/BB rate. The AL Rookie of the Year award may be a landslide this year.
Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow had a solid outing on Thursday night, going 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits, a walk and 6 strikeouts. Morrow appears poised to strikeout more than a batter an inning again this season.
Rangers new closer Darren Oliver may be on thin ice after giving up 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk in the 9th inning yesterday. He came into a tie game and failed to keep the game close.
Red Sox starter Jon Lester threw 8 innings of 2-run ball, giving up 4 hits, 3 walks and striking out 5. Lester is now 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, and a 35-14 K/BB rate. Lester has given up 2 or less run in 4 of his 6 starts this year.
Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore went 2-4 with a HR, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBIs on Thursday night. Sizemore has got off to a very hot start after coming off the DL, as he is hitting .390-.432-.878 with 4 HRs and 9 RBIs in 41 at bats. The HR/AB rate will go way up from here.
White Sox starter Edwin Jackson has not pitched well since his 13 K outing earlier this month. Last night, he gave up 6 runs on 4 hits, 5 walks and just 2 strikeouts. Since his 13 K effort on April 7th, he has a 12/12 K/BB rate in 21+ innings, and has given up 20 earned runs. Not a good month overall for Jackson.
Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher went 3-4 with his first HR of the season, 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs on Thursday. I can't believe he has only one HR. Swisher has struggled this year, hitting just .237-.351-.303 with a HR and 12 RBIs.
Livan Hernandez gave up 2 earned runs on 7 hits, a walk and 5 strikeouts in 8 innings on Thursday. He is now 3-2 with a 3.23 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. I wouldn't be surprised if he starts getting added to fantasy lineups this week.
Another player who was up for Fake Teams fantasy player of the day was Cardinals outfieder Lance Berkman. Berkman went 4-5 with 2 HRs, 3 runs scored and 5 RBIs. Berkman is now hitting .410-.467-.795 with 8 HRs and 22 RBIs. I am sure Berkman will slow down soon.