Daily Scoring Drought Scorecard: 15 games
Teams Shutout: 1
Teams w/1 run scored: 3
Teams w/2 runs scored: 4
Teams w/ 3 runs scored: 4
Teams w/ > 3 runs scored: 18
I decided to take a deeper look into why there are so many low scoring games this year last night, so I wanted to see how many hitters in Tuesday night's starting lineups were hitting below .250. I counted 7 just in the Dodgers-Marlins game. Well, there were 124 hitters with a BA of .250 or below in starting lineups on Tuesday night. There was one game that had 13 hitters hitting .250 or below. I am not saying this is the main reason for the high number of low scoring games thus far, but it also helps to know that if you have a few guys on your fantasy roster hitting below expectations, you aren't the only one. I want to take a look at the pitching stats tomorrow.
Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said before last nights game that outfielder Roger Bernadina will stay with the Nationals when Rick Ankiel returns from the DL. It sounds like he wants Bernadina to be his starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. Bernadina has some pop and speed and could hit 10-12 HRs and steal 15 bases in a starting role.
More Roto Roundup after the jump:
Cubs catcher Geovany Soto left Tuesday's game with the Cardinals in the first inning with a groin injury. He will probably be out for a few games, but this bears watching.
Speaking of injured catchers, Twins catcher Joe Mauer appears nowhere close to coming back, and as time goes on, we hear more and more about a position change for Mauer. But where? They have Justin Morneau at first base. Maybe in left field? DH? I am sure the Twins will do what they can to keep him at catcher, but they must weigh the possibility of more injuries to keeping his bat in the lineup when healthy.
Mariners rookie starter Michael Pineda threw another quality start on Tuesday, going 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits, a walk and 6 strikeouts. His bullpen blew the possible win for the rookie by giving up 2 runs in the 8th. Pineda is 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and an excellent 45-13 K/BB rate. He is an ace in the making and could make for a nice top two in the Mariners rotation for years to come.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is working to silence his critics as he went 2-4 with a run, SB and an RBI on Tuesday night. He has his triple slash line up to .283-.336-.354. I am not ready to say Jeter has figured things out yet as he still isn't hitting for power.
Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth hit a 3 run HR last night and fantasy owners are hoping it gets him going at the plate. Werth is off to a slow start this season, hitting just .228-.322-.407 with 5 HRs, 12 RBIs and 4 SBs in the early going. ESPN's Buster Olney mentioned yesterday in his blog that a talent evaluator said that Werth appears to be pressing.
Another guy off to a slow start, Dan Uggla, also hit a 3 run HR last night, but is only hitting .208-.260-.396 with 6 HRs and 14 RBIs. Uggla is a slow starter, so fantasy owners should remain patient with Uggla, as power hitters usually hit HRs in bunches.
The matchup between Roy Halladay and Josh Johnson lived up to its hype, as both pitchers dominated in this game. Halladay went 8 innings, giving up 2 runs, 1 earned on 5 hits, 2 walks and 9 strikeouts. Johnson went 7 innings, giving up just one run on 6 hits, 3 walks and striking out 7. Johnson gave up a second inning HR to Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard.
Phillies second baseman Chase Utley made his first minor league rehab start last night. He did not play the field, as he was the DH, and he went 1-4 with a strikeout.
Mets first baseman Ike Davis had to leave Tuesday's game due to an calf injury. Daniel Murphy replaced him at first base, and actually made a diving stop of a grounder down the first base line to prevent the Rockies from extending their inning. Davis was wearing a protective boot after the game, so he may require a DL stint.
Yankees setup man Rafael Soriano did not pitch on Tuesday night in the Yankees 3-1 win over the Royals. After the game, the team announced that he would be getting an MRI on his right elbow. Not good for the setup man getting paid closer money.
Braves outfielder Jason Heyward will get an MRI on his right shoulder on Wednesday. I had a feeling he was hurt, as he has not been hitting well of late, and for the season is hitting just .220-.322-.433 with 7 HRs and 14 RBIs and is 3 for his last 32 at the plate.
Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp went 2-4 with a HR, 2 runs and 3 RBIs. He is hitting .336-.416-.543 with 7 HRs, 24 RBIs and 11 SBs. It's May 10th, but it appears Kemp's 2010 was an aberration.
Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is officially heating up, as he went 3-4 with 2 HRs, 2 runs and 2 RBIs on Tuesday. In his last 10 games, he is 13-40 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs. McCutchen has stolen 5 bases in 9 attempts, but that will not stop him from running, as he has been leading off for most of the season now.
Red starter Homer Bailey has put together two excellent starts since his return from the DL. On Tuesday, he shutout the Astros for 7 innings giving up just 5 hits, no walks and striking out 5. Both of his starts have come against the Astros, and in 13 IP, he has given up 9 hits, one run and struck out 12. I'd like to see how he fares against a team other than the Astros, but his two starts are definitely a step in the right direction for him.
Cardinals reliever Eduardo Sanchez earned the save in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Cubs as he walked one and struck out one. It appears the Cardinals are going to go with him till he fails. But having Fernando Salas as his backup on your bench is a solid decision.
I noticed Padres first base prospect Anthony Rizzo did not start last night, so I searched for the San Diego Union Tribune's twitter account and saw that he has a bruised hand:
Tucson #Padres 1B Anthony Rizzo is out of lineup b/c of a bruised left hand. Considered day to day. He could still pinch hit. Batting .393.
Twins starter Francisco Liriano got knocked around in his first start since his no-hitter. He lasted just 3 innings, giving up 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks and striking out just one. Was there a rain delay in this game as Liriano only threw 59 pitches in his 3 innings of work?