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I drafted Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy with the 4th pick in my AL-Only keeper league on Saturday and looking back, he probably should have been the first overall pick. Bundy struck out 6 batters in 3 innings for the second straight start and has yet to allow a baserunner in his 6 innings of work in Low A Delmarva. A promotion to High A or AA is on the horizon, because as Dave Cameron noted in this piece, the Orioles won't know how he fares with men on base, or against professional hitters for the second time, if they don't promote him.
I didn't like Tim Lincecum heading into the season. I even included him in my 10 players to avoid, along with Josh Johnson, for 2012. Well, Lincecum has struggled in his first two starts of the season, including last night's effort vs the Rockies. He lasted just 2.1 innings, giving up 6 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. His ERA is approaching 13 right now. Dan Brooks from Brooks Baseball tweeted last evening that Lincecum's fastball cracked 92 mph only 4 times in the game.
Marlins starter Josh Johnson got knocked around for the second start in a row, giving up 6 runs on 11 hits, a walk and just one strikeout in 3.2 innings of work. This was against a Phillies team that had scored just 8 runs in their first 4 games. Johnson made just 9 starts last season, and I was surprised when one of the ESPN experts tweeted last night that Johnson owners shouldn't panic. Johnson has given up 21 hits in just 9.2 innings so far this season. Can he turn it around? Sure. But, his shoulder is a worry for me.
More Roto Roundup after the jump with some updates from early this morning:
Braves outfielder Jason Heyward might be coming out of his funk at the plate. He went 3-4 with a HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI and a SB last night and is hitting .316-.381-.632 with a HR, 4 RBI and 2 SBs thus far. Sitting him vs. lefties might actually be a boon for fantasy owners this year. We'll see how long it lasts.
Reds middle reliever Aroldis Chapman is following up his excellent spring with a dominating first week of the 2012 season. He won his second game of the season yesterday, pitching two innings and striking out 5. For the season, he owns a 10-0 strikeout to walk ratio in just 5 innings pitched.
Last last evening, Foxsports Ken Rosenthal reported that the Indians have signed Johnny Damon to DH for them. This after Travis Hafner went 2-5 with a HR and 3 RBI, and Shelley Duncan went 3-5 with a HR and 2 RBI yesterday in the Indians 10-6 loss to the White Sox. I am not sure why the Indians would sign Damon, but looking at MIchael Brantley's .059 BA in the leadoff spot, maybe that is the reason.
UPDATE: apparently the Damon signing with Cleveland is not complete yet.
Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg dominated the Mets yesterday, shutting them out for 6 innings on just 2 hits, 3 walks and 9 strikeouts to win his first game of the season. He lowered his ERA to a miniscule 0.69, and it took him 108 pitches to get through the 6 innings yesterday.
Royals closer Jonathan Broxton blew a save yesterday. It was just not any blown save. He blew the save by allowing zero hits, 2 walks and 2 HBP. He actually hit Jonny Gomes with the bases loaded to push across the game winning run. Greg Holland should be picked up if he is available in your leagues.
Rangers closer Joe Nathan blew his first save of the season, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits in his inning of work last night. He will get a few more save opportunities to show that this blown save was a fluke, but I don't have confidence in him remaining the Rangers closer this season.
Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton returned to the lineuo last night, ending the night with 2 hits, but he indicated before the game that his knee pain will probably linger all season. I wonder if the combination of the knee issue and the large ball park in Miami could affect his power in 2012.
The Cardinals are sending Lance Berkman to get an MRI on his left calf and there is suspicion that he could land on the DL. Matt Carpenter will see time at first base in Berkman's absence. And now this tweet from Joe Strauss from the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
Puma to have MRI of lower left leg today, just as he did in 2009 before landing on DL. Was less than upbeat Wednesday.
Is Chad Billingsley finally turning the corner from his two straight underwhelming seasons? He held the Pirates to just one run, a solo HR by Clint Barmes, last night to win his second game of the season. He wasn't as dominating as he was in his first start, but he did strike out 5 batters and walked none. None! That's an achievement for Billz. The last time he didn't walk a batter was last July 18th, but he still gave up 9 hits and 5 runs in that outing. Billz currently owns a 15-1 strikeout to walk ratio in his two starts, and he gets the Brewers next Tuesday.