Jonathan Lee - AccuScore Analyst

Kuroda has been dominant before shutting out the Cubs June 6 with 11 strikeouts.  Eleven of his 16 starts this year have been quality and another he lasted 5.2 innings allowing just 2 runs.  In June he sandwiched that terrific outings against the Cubs with two stinkers in which he allowed 12 runs in 5 total innings.  Those starts however were right before he hit the DL with shoulder issues (tendonitis and an impingement).  Clearly, those injury concerns appear resolved.  With Brad Penny out, Kuroda will anchor the Dodger rotation with Chad Billingsley and Derek Lowe, both of whom have been very good fantasy performers in their own right as well.

• Nomar Garciaparra has played three games at shortstop off his own return from the DL, and has gone 4-for-10 and hit a home run on Monday.  His defense is still terrible, but Luis Maza and Angel Berroa weren’t hitting.  They will enter as defensive replacements anytime the Dodgers are up after 7 innings.

• The loser to Kuroda Monday was Jorge Campillo who actually pitched very well once again.  He is just 3-4 on the year, but sports a 3.06 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 3.24 K/BB.  He is definitely spot starter worthy, and is even a decent player in 10-team mixed leagues yet remains widely available.  The Braves aren’t winning games, but Campillo can still help in the three pitching categories.

• Tampa Bay finally lost a game, albeit in extra innings 7-4 to Kansas City.  Super closer Joakim Soria blew just his second game, but ended up getting the win.  Carlos Peña hit his 13^th home run in the 9^th inning to tie the game up.  Peña is starting to hit for more power and his average while still being poor at .232 is starting to tick upward.  I would try and buy low on him, and have even seen him available on waivers in shallow leagues.  I shouldn’t have to say this but apparently I do: he needs to be universally owned in any league.

• Damaso Marte picked up the first save for the Pirates post-Matt Capps.  Tyler Yates entered the 9^th inning in a tie ball game and got tagged for a run and the loss.  It looks like Marte, as predicted, will be getting the bulk of the saves for Pittsburgh.

• Jorge Cantu now has 16 home runs after another shot on Monday.  He’s hit consistently now for three months, and I see no reason why he can’t threaten 30 by season’s end.  Cantu’s homer was in support of Ricky Nolasco who won yet again going 8 strong innings allowing just 1 run with 7 strikeouts.  Nolasco has now won eight of his last 10 starts, and has given up more than 3 runs only once in that span.  Amazing.

• Pedro Martinez handed his bullpen a 10-2 lead in the sixth inning, but it almost blew it for him.  New York managed to hang on against the Phillies 10-9, but 3 relievers combined to allow 7 Philadelphia runs in the final 3 frames.  The Mets are just 2.5 games behind Philadelphia in the standings now, but they must shore up the bullpen if they plan on making a serious run at the playoffs.  Pedro is now 3-2 on the year, but won’t be more than a 6 inning pitcher.  He is too inconsistent to rely on in standard mixed leagues, and I would not use him as a spot starter either.

• Colorado pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez is starting to live up to his talent and last year’s performance.  He beat the Brewers 4-3 scattering 3 hits over 7 innings, striking out 7 while allowing no runs.  Over the last month, Jimenez has a 1.93 ERA and 27 K in 37.1 IP.  The WHIP over that period is 1.23 due to continued problems with the walk.  Jimenez’s WHIP for the season is a sky-high 1.52 because of 57 walks.  Even on Monday he walked five batters despite the very good outing.  Jimenez is now spot-start worthy, but I would be wary to rely on him in mixed leagues until he improves his control.

• Angel Chone Figgins stole his first base since June 23, a span of 11 games.  His average has dipped over that period 13 points as well.  Figgins’ fantasy value is entirely tied to his speed so he needs to start running again (he does have 15 steals for the year).  Hopefully the steal Monday is a sign of things to come.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Title

Comment

Add Comment