Daily Scoring Drought Scorecard: 7 games
Teams Shutout: 0
Teams w/1 run scored: 2
Teams w/2 runs scored: 2
Teams w/ 3 runs scored: 1
Teams w/ > 3 runs scored: 9
Nationals outfield prospect Bryce Harper is approaching a .400 BA at Low A Hagerston and we could see him promoted to High A within the next few weeks. Fangraph's Dave Cameron wrote about Harper yesterday asking the question of whether he is the best prospect ever. He compared Harper's age 18 season to those of Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and Adrian Beltre. He ends the article with this:
Instead of going to prom, Harper is putting himself in the conversation for best prospect in
recent history. He can’t keep this pace up, but he doesn’t have to – even with some significant
regression in his numbers, this is still going to go down as one of the best age-18 seasons
we’ve ever seen. Harper is proving that he is worth every bit of the hype he’s ever received.
Rays starter James Shields is starting the prove the last of his skeptics, if there are any left, that they are wrong, as he held the Indians to 2 runs in 7 innings on Thursday. He gave up 7 hits, a walk and struck out 7 in winning his 4th game of the season. Shields has given up 2 runs or less in 7 of his 8 starts this season and owns a 2.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 51-13 K/BB rate.
Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist went 2-4 with a run scored and is hitting .292-.365-.584 for the season with 8 HRs and 27 RBIs. Zobrist is leading all second baseman in HR, runs and RBIs so far, and as time goes by, he may contend for the top fantasy second baseman going into 2012.
More Roto Roundup after the jump:
Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus is playing everyday this year, which is a change from 2010. Manager Tony LaRussa is catching on that Rasmus is pretty damn good. Rasmus went 3-5 with 2 runs scored yesterday, and is hitting .313-.396-.475 with 3 HRs, 15 RBIs and 3 SBs.
Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan announced yesterday that Eduardo Sanchez is the leader of the bullpen by committee. I think everyone already knew that. But we also know actions speak louder than words, and Duncan had both Mitch Boggs and Fernando Salas pitch in yesterday's 9-1 win. Sanchez is his closer.
Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez got knocked around again on Thursday, as he gave up 5 runs in 3+ innings on 3 hits and 6 walks. He struck out 3, but his walk totals are climbing and his K/BB rate is now 30-22 in 29+ innings this year. He has gone 6 innings just twice this season, with only one quality start. He was an ace last year, but not so much this year.
Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran had a monster game on Thursday, and he was Fake Teams Fantasy Player of the Day. He went 3-5 with 3 HRs and 6 RBIs yesterday.
The Mets placed first baseman Ike Davis on the DL yesterday and recalled outfielder Fernando Martinez. Daniel Murphy will get most of the starts at first base for the Mets in Davis' absence.
Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is having a bounceback season this year. Yes, he is bouncing BACK to the hitter he was 2 years ago in Oakland. He is hitting .230-.306-.341 with just 3 HRs 17 RBIs and 4 SBs. There were many fantasy writers calling for CarGo to regress this year, myself included, but I am not sure anyone expected him to regress this much.
I was watching the Braves-Nationals game last night with the Dodgers-Pirates in a rain delay. Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman completely dominated the Braves for 6+ innings, but he gave a two baserunners with 1 out in the 7th and was replaced by former closer Sean Burnett. Zimmermann ended up giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts. Zimmermann has Burnett to thank for a no-decision after such a dominating performance, as Burnett promptly walked the first batter he faced, and then on the 10th pitch to Martin Prado, he grooved a pitch that Prado belted into the left field seats for a game-tying grand slam. Even still, Zimmermann showed what he can do when his stuff is on.
If Burnett keeps this up, he could find himself in mop-up duty in the Nationals bullpen.
Giants starter Matt Cain held the Diamondbacks to 2 runs in 7+ innings yesterday. He allowed 8 base runners and struck out 7 in winning his third game of the season. Cain lowered his ERA to 3.22 and his WHIP to 1.17.
Orioles starter Zach Britton shutout the Mariners for 9 innings giving up just 3 hits and striking out 5. Britton is 5-2 with an excellent 2.42 ERA and 1.02 WHIP so far this season. Is he the Orioles future ace?
Mariners starter Jason Vargas matched Britton as he shut out the Orioles for 9 innings, giving up just 8 base runners and striking out 4.
The Braves host the Phillies this weekend, and if the games are close, you have to like the Braves chances. Their bullpen held the Nationals scoreless for 4 innings last night, giving up no hits, a walk and striking out 9.
Bravies left fielder Martin Prado went 2-4 with a grand slam and 4 RBIs on Thursday night. Before the season, I didn't think Prado had much value as an outfielder because he doesn't steal bases and doesn't have 20+ HR power, but so far this season he is hitting .281-.322-.431 with 5 HRs and 24 RBIs. He is holding his own in left field this year.
Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer went 3-5 with his second major league HR and 2 RBIs. He is hitting .333-.444-.719 with 2 HRs, 5 RBIs and a 5-5 K/BB rate in his 21 at bats. Hosmer is proving he belongs in the big leagues.
Royals DH Billy Butler went 4-6 with 2 RBIs last night and is now hitting .298-.404-.443 with 3 HRs, 16 RBIs and an absurd 16-23 K/BB rate. Wow. When does the power come?