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| With the injury to Michael Cuddyer, Craig Monroe should get the bulk of playing time in left field for the Twins, with Delmon Young sliding over to right field. Jason Kubel should start most of the time at DH. |
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| Denard Span, RF, Minnesota Twins | Friday 4/4, 11:36 PM CT |
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| The Twins recalled Denard Span from Triple-A Rochester Friday to replace the injured Michael Cuddyer on the roster. Span lost out on the starting center field job in spring training to Carlos Gomez. Span should back up at all three outfield spot, but expect Craig Monroe to get the bulk of time in left field. |
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| The Twins placed Michael Cuddyer on the DL after Friday's game with a dislocated right index finger on his right hand. To replace him on the roster, the team recalled Denard Span from Triple-A Rochester. Span is expected to be in uniform Saturday. |
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| With Dioner Navarro on the DL, Shawn Riggans should get the bulk of the starts at catcher for the Rays over the next couple weeks. He's a pretty good hitter and is worth a pickup in AL-only play. |
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| The Rays purchased the contract of Mike DiFelice from Triple-A Durham Friday. He replaces the injured Dioner Navarro on the roster, but Shawn Riggans should get most of the starts behind the plate. |
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| Dioner Navarro was placed on the DL after Friday's game with lacerations on the middle and ring fingers of his right hand, according to the St. Petersburg Times. The Rays purchased the contract of Mike DiFelice from Triple-A Durham. Expect Shawn Riggans to get the bulk of the time behind the plate while Navarro is out. |
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| Carlos Gomez was 3-for-4 with a run scored and swiped two more bases Friday in a win over Kansas City. Gomez has four steals already on the year, and it's clear that the speedster is going to have the green light to run at all times. |
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| Jorge Posada was originally supposed to catch Friday night, but he told the team during warmups he wasn’t ready, according to the AP. Posada was in the DH spot instead and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts at the plate. Perhaps he should have waited another day or two to return from his shoulder injury. |
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| Ian Kennedy gave up just four runs in his three starts last year. On his first start of 2008 he gave up six. The righty pitched just 2 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and four walks while striking out two. Kennedy relies on pinpoint control to be successful, and he didn't have it Friday. |
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| Shaun Marcum held the powerful Red Sox offense at bay Friday, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk while striking out eight over seven innings. The righty had just allowed one hit entering the seventh, but J.D. Drew followed a walk and a single with a three-run blast. Still, Marcum picks up the win and should be thrilled with his first outing of the year. |
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| Michael Cuddyer suffered a dislocated finger on his right hand when he slid into third base Friday, according to the AP. He was taken to the hospital for X-rays. The news seems like it could have been worse for Cuddyer, but we'll reserve judgment until he gets the X-rays. Consider him day-to-day for the time being. |
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| Hank Blalock was a late scratch from Friday's lineup due to the flu, according to the Dallas Morning News. He has been dealing with the illness most of the week but had been playing through it. Ramon Vazquez replaced Blalock in the lineup. |
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| Michael Cuddyer left Friday's game after jamming his right hand into the leg of the Royals' Alex Gordon while sliding into third base, according to the AP. The outfielder had a problem with his right thumb last year, but it's not clear if he aggravated that old injury. We'll update you on his status when more is known. Jason Kubel replaced Cuddyer. |
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| Eric Chavez, 3B, Oakland Athletics | Friday 4/4, 8:26 PM CT |
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| Eric Chavez could be sidelined another month after undergoing his second epidural in less than five weeks, according to the AP. He will need a minimum of 2-3 weeks of rehab at the team’s spring training facility before resuming baseball activities. “At least (that long),” Oakland trainer Steve Sayles said. “He’s returning to Phoenix and will go back into rehab. We’re just going to take it from there.” Sayles said the second epidural was for spasms in the lower left side of Chavez’s back, while the first was for spasms on the right side. Jack Hannahan will continue to fill in at third for the A's while Chavez is out. |
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| Dioner Navarro exited Friday's game in the top of the third inning after suffering a cut on his right hand, according to SportsTicker. Further details on Navarro's injury should come out shortly. Shawn Riggans replaced him and hit a three-run double in his first at-bat. |
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| Flu-like symptoms are keeping Brendan Harris out of the lineup Friday. Matt Tolbert started at second in his place. Consider Harris day-to-day for the time being. |
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| Kevin Slowey will skip his next start because of a strained right biceps that forced him to leave Thursday’s game, according to the AP. “We’ve got time here,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He’ll miss his next start and we’ve got time after that and we’ll see where he’s at.” Gardenhire said the Twins would wait to see how Slowey progresses over the next week before deciding whether a DL stint is necessary. The manager also said they would not rush Francisco Liriano back to take Slowey's place. |
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| Jorge Posada is in the lineup tonight in the DH spot. He had missed the previous two games with a shoulder injury. |
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| Guillermo Quiroz looks to be in line to serve as Adam Loewen's personal catcher this season, according to the Baltimore Sun. Ramon Hernandez's backup will be behind the plate tomorrow if this turns out to be the case. Quiroz won't have any fantasy value this year, but this news is helpful for those in daily transaction leagues that want to know when to play Hernandez. |
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| Orioles No. 5 starter Brian Burres was supposed to make his first start of the year on Sunday, but he's been pushed back to Tuesday, according to the Baltimore Sun. He will be available to pitch in relief tonight and maybe tomorrow. Jeremy Guthrie will start on Sunday and Daniel Cabrera will get the ball on Monday. Burres, who pitched an inning of relief in Monday's opener, isn't someone you need to be counting on in fantasy. |
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| Jonny Gomes has had his suspension, which sprun from a bench-clearing brawl in spring training, reduced from two to one game, according to the NY Daily News. He will serve the suspension tonight. Gomes has received just one at-bat so far this year. |
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| Shelley Duncan has had his suspension, which sprung from a bench-clearing brawl in spring training, reduced from three games to two, according to the NY Daily News. Duncan will begin serving the suspension Sunday. He has yet to receive an at-bat in three games this year. |
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| Melky Cabrera has had his suspension, which sprung from a bench-clearing brawl in spring training, reduced from three to two games, according to the NY Daily News. The outfielder will begin serving his suspension Friday night. Cabrera is off to a nice start this year, hitting .375 with a home run in three games. |
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| Jose Contreras doesn't appear to have changed much from 2007. He allowed 10 hits and five runs (four earned) over five innings against the Tigers on Friday. Contreras walked four, struck out two, and threw only 56 of his 92 pitches for strikes. He escaped with a no-decision, but fantasy owners will judge him more harshly. |
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| Nate Robertson did not start the year off well. The southpaw served up seven hits and five runs to the White Sox over five innings on Friday. He walked two, struck out five, and allowed six extra-base hits. Robertson was fortunate to escape with only five runs allowed, as he got out of a jam in the fifth. |
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| Carlos Quentin collected his first homer and RBI of the season on Friday, thanks to a two-run shot off of Nate Robertson. Quentin did not play in the first two games and is 3-for-9 over the last two outings. He figures to be part of a platoon in the crowded White Sox outfield. |
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| Ivan Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs, and two RBI in Friday's loss to the White Sox. He snapped back after a 1-for-12 series against the Royals. |
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| A.J. Pierzynski hit his second homer of the season on Friday. It was a three-run shot off of Jason Grilli. Pierzynski also added two doubles and finished the day with five RBI and two runs. It's an excellent start to the season, especially for a guy who had a down year in 2007. |
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| Clete Thomas went 3-for-4 with one run, one RBI, and one stolen base in Friday's loss to the White Sox. It was his second straight start, and he will likely stick in the lineup until Gary Sheffield can return. Thomas is batting .556 on the young season. |
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| Bobby Jenks, P, Chicago White Sox | Friday 4/4, 3:31 PM CT |
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| Bobby Jenks closed the door on the Tigers on Friday and earned his second save of the season. The bulky reliever did walk two batters in the ninth, but he escaped without allowing a hit or a run. |
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| Alex Rios, RF, Toronto Blue Jays | Friday 4/4, 2:41 PM CT |
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| The Blue Jays have signed Alex Rios to a six-year, $64 million contract extension that begins with the 2009 season, MLB.com reports. The deal ends a negotiations process than began back in October. Rios, Aaron Hill, and Vernon Wells are now all locked into deals that could keep them in Toronto through 2014. |
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| Aaron Hill, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays | Friday 4/4, 2:38 PM CT |
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| The Blue Jays have signed Aaron Hill to a four-year deal with $12 million, MLB.com reports. He new contract includes club options for 2012, 2013 and 2014. He joins Vernon Wells and Alex Rios as part of the long-term core of hitters. |
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| Francisco Liriano is not an option to step into the rotation and replace the injured Kevin Slowey next week. The southpaw will work one more start for Single-A Fort Myers and could then work at Triple-A Rochester, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The Twins have not named a replacement starter for Slowey, but our guess is that Brian Bass and Glen Perkins are options. |
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| Carlos Quentin will start in left field again on Friday, with Nick Swisher in center, the Chicago Tribune notes. The lineup means Alexei Ramirez is on the bench. |
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| Adam Lind, LF, Toronto Blue Jays | Friday 4/4, 12:06 PM CT |
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| Adam Lind hit his first home run of the season at Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. He seemed to fall out of favor as the organization’s left fielder of the future last season, but his bat could still get him to the majors as a regular. |
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| Justin Masterson threw four scoreless innings for Double-A Portland on Thursday, allowing three hits. Masterson is one of Boston’s top pitching prospects, though he is probably behind Bartolo Colon on the organizational starting pitcher depth chart this season. |
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| Rick Porcello, Detroit’s top pick in the 2007 draft out of high school, threw five scoreless innings at High-A Thursday, allowing only one hit. He has received plenty of hype since the draft and could be on the fast track to the majors for the Tigers if he keeps this up a la Jeremy Bonderman. |
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| Hayden Penn, P, Baltimore Orioles | Friday 4/4, 11:57 AM CT |
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| Hayden Penn's 2008 minor league season got off to a bad start Thursday, as he allowed six earned runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings. Penn remains a candidate to get some starts with the Orioles this season, but starts like this one will not help his cause. |
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| Brandon Inge will start at third base again on Friday, as Miguel Cabrera has shifted to DH, the Detroit News reports. We assume this means Clete Thomas will get another start in center. |
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| Miguel Cabrera will start at DH on Friday in place of Gary Sheffield, the Detroit News notes. Cabrera was questionable due to a sore left quad. |
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| Gary Sheffield will not play on Friday, but he is not going on the DL yet. Sheffield injured his left ring finger on Thursday. "He does have a torn tendon," manager Jim Leyland tells the Detroit News. "But not in an area where the trainers think it will affect his grip on the bat. When the swelling goes down, he should be able to play." |
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| Scott Kazmir will up his pitch count to 65 when he works his next bullpen session on Saturday, the Tampa Tribune notes. The ace is out with a strained left elbow. His timetable remains unknown, but he could possibly return in late April or early May. |
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| Jason Hammel will make his first start of the season on Monday, April 7. The Rays had to shift their plans a little following Thursday's rainout, the Tampa Tribune notes. Andy Sonnanstine will pitch on Friday, following by Edwin Jackson, James Shields, Hammel, and Matt Garza. |
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| Mark Lowe, P, Seattle Mariners | Friday 4/4, 9:05 AM CT |
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| The Seattle Post-Intelligencer confirms that Mark Lowe is likely to get most of the ninth inning chances while J.J. Putz is out. Miguel Batista picked up the save on Wednesday, but he was called upon due to his experience and because Lowe had worked the previous two days. Batista will start on Saturday. |
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| The Mets may have some interest in Robinson Tejeda, who was designated for assignment by the Rangers last Saturday, Newsday reports. A deal does not appear imminent, a source says. |
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| Anthony Reyes had no problem in his first outing as a reliever. In fact, he struck out all three batters he faced as he worked a perfect eighth inning on Thursday. "It was fun. It was my first time this year. All those guys down there, it’s a different game in the bullpen," Reyes tells the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
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| Kevin Slowey will likely miss at least one start due to a right biceps strain. He will be re-evaluated after that. "It's nothing serious but certainly nothing that we want to mess around with," Slowey tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I'll keep it in ice and follow the trainers the next couple days and see how it goes." We're not sure who will start in Slowey's place. Francisco Liriano may be at the top of the list, but the team could also look to Brian Bass or Glen Perkins. |
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| Mark Teahen, RF, Kansas City Royals | Friday 4/4, 8:10 AM CT |
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| Mark Teahen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and a single in Thursday's win over the Tigers. The long ball is a good sign for a hitter who managed only two bombs after the All-Star break in 2007. Teahen wrapped up the series against the Tigers at 4-for-11 with two extra-base hits, two runs, and two RBI. |
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| David Purcey dazzled in the Triple-A opener on Thursday, out-dueling Reds prospect Homer Bailey. Purcey tossed six scoreless innings against Louisville, allowig only two hits and striking out seven. The 24-year-old southpaw could be near the top of the Blue Jays list should they need a starter due to injury or ineptitude. |
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| Matt LaPorta is off to a strong start in his first stop at Double-A ball. He went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in a win over the Mississippi Braves. LaPorta, 23, is in his first full pro season, and unless there's an injury, he'll be working to earn a move up to Triple-A and potentially a September call-up. |
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| Kei Igawa, P, New York Yankees | Friday 4/4, 7:49 AM CT |
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| Kei Igawa was brilliant on Thursday night, albeit in a Triple-A outing. Igawa worked six perfect innings against Lehigh Valley. He struck out seven and was removed after only 60 pitches. That's one way to make the Yankees notice you again, huh? |
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| Aaron Laffey held the Norfolk Tides to one unearned run in his first Triple-A start on Thursday. The southpaw worked five full innings, allowed six hits, walked one, and struck out five. Laffey is believed to be the top option should Cliff Lee falter or if any of the Indians starters suffers an injury. |
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| David Ross, C, Boston Red Sox | Friday 4/4, 7:37 AM CT |
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| David Ross headed to Single-A Sarasota on Thursday to begin a rehab assignment, the Cincinnati Enquirer notes. Ross is dealing with back spasms, and we imagine he'll only need 3-5 days before jumping back to the majors. |
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| Jason Bay, LF, Boston Red Sox | Friday 4/4, 7:30 AM CT |
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| Jason Bay is having no trouble getting on base, although he isn't helping fantasy owners much. He has reached first in seven of his last eight plate appearances thanks to a pair of singles and five walks. Bay owns a .500 OBP, but he is hitting .200 and has yet to manage an extra-base hit. The patience is nice, but fantasy owners want the pop. |
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| Jorge Posada, who tweaked his shoulder in the Yankees' season opener while throwing to second base, was scratched about an hour before Wednesday night's game and was held out Thursday's scheduled event as well, this according to the New York Daily News.
Posada's injury is different than the one that sidelined him for a few days during the spring.
Skipper Joe Girardi said there was a "good shot" that Posada would play tonight [Friday] against the Rays. |
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| The degree to which Gary Sheffield's finger swells overnight will dictate his status going forward, according to The Detroit News. Sheffield jammed his left ring finger while sliding into second base in Thursday's game, tearing a tendon in the finger. Detroit has a day game Friday, so the chances of Sheffield playing would seem to be very slim. We'll keep you posted on his status. |
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| Miguel Cabrera hopes to play Friday, but he wasn't able to say for sure. "I want to play," Cabrera told The Detroit News. "We'll see." Miggy sat out Thursday's game with a sore quad. The Tigers have a day game Friday, which lessens the chance that Cabrera will be ready. Check back for updates. |
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