I was curious why the Indians waited so long to call up second base prospect Jason Kipnis and now they are probably wondering what they were thinking as well. Kipnis went 5-5 with a HR, double, 4 runs and 3 RBIs last night and is now hitting .295-.358-.656 with 6 HRs, 11 RBIs, 13 runs and 2 SBs in 61 at bats since his call up.
Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie went 2-4 with a HR, a grand slam, 2 runs and 4 RBIs last night and is hitting .389-.389-.778 with 2 HRs, 6 RBIs and 4 runs scored in 18 at bats since his call up. I wonder what type of stats he would have had he not injured his wrist earlier this summer. It's just a matter of time before he is moved up in the Blue Jays lineup.
Braves outfielder Jason Heyward started for the first time in a few games, and proceeded to go 0-5 with 3 strikeouts. He is definitely struggling, as he is hitting .218-.313-.396 with 12 HRs and 30 RBIs this season.
More Roundup after the jump:
The Marlins finally placed shortstop Hanley Ramirez on the DL. What took them so long?
Dodgers outfielder Juan Rivera went 3-4 with a HR, 2 runs and 4 RBIs yesterday afternoon and is now hitting .338-.380-.507 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs since joining the Dodgers. He is probably available on your waiver wire, and he could make sense to replace someone who was recently placed on the DL while he is hot.
Is it time to drop Chad Billingsley? The guy was spotted with a 6-0 and couldn't make it out of the 5th inning yesterday. He gave up 5 runs, 3 earned, on 7 hits, 3 walks and no strikeouts in 4.1 innings. In his last 3 starts, he has struck out just 6 batters, while walking 10 in 16 innings of work. In his last 10 starts, he has struck out 6 or more batters in just 3 of those starts. For the season, he owns a 120-61 K/BB rate in 144.2 innings.
Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 1-1 with 3 walks, a HR, 4 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 2 SBs. McCutchen is now hitting .274-.379-.473 with 16 HRs, 66 RBIs and 19 SBs, and is on pace for a 22-92-27 season. I ranked him in my Top 12 hitters on Monday, and may be a bit too high on him, but he is one of my favorite hitters in baseball, and has the talent to go 20-40 one of these years.
Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson went 2-3 with 2 HRs, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs last night, and is now hitting .275-.367-.579 with 31 HRs, 91 RBIs, 104 runs and 22 SBs. He is on pace for a 44-128-147-31 season. He is a first round pick next season with those numbers. Wow.
Indians new starter Ubaldo Jimenez won his first game in the AL last night, as he held the Tigers to 3 runs on 6 hits, a walk and 6 strikeouts in 8 innings of work. It remains to be seen if Ubaldo will ever return to be the dominating starter he was in the first half of 2010, and I am not sure if he can do that in the AL.
Blue Jays 21 year old pitching prospect Henderson Alvarez made his first major league start last night and held the Athletics to 3 runs on 8 hits, a walk and 4 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. You have to say that the Blue Jays are not afraid to push their prospects.
Padres outfielder Will Venable went 4-5 with 3 runs scored and an RBI, and is saving his season of late, as he has raised his triple slash line to .270-.340-.385 with 3 HRs, 23 RBIs and 21 SBs in his 252 at bats this season.