Max Scherzer didn’t quite have the starting debut he had hoped for. Scherzer only lasted four innings, gave up five runs (two earned) and struck out five. Scherzer still is a top prospect, and we have already seen what he is capable of in his relief appearance, so don’t let this little setback effect your opinion of him. If anything this helps out those who missed out on Scherzer, maybe those who got him might sour on him with this subpar outing.
Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsusaka has had trouble with control throughout his tenure in the United States,
but tonight took the cake. Matsusaka walked EIGHT guys throughjust five innings, but somehow only gave up one run and got the win. This is crippling to your WHIP for those in leagues that keep that category, but he is now 5-0, so it is hard to complain too much about other categories.
David Ortiz seems to be breaking out of his slump. In his last five games he has ten hits, and in the last ten games he has four homers, counting the one on Monday night. You had to figure that Big Papi would break out, and it looks like he is doing just that now. Keep him in your lineup no matter what.
Two bits of news coming out of Toronto. One is closer that closer B.J.Ryan has been cleared by doctors to throw two consecutive games. Ryan has been nearly unhittable in his return from Tommy John Surgery, and this is just one more positive step in his full recovery from his injury. He is getting closer to being considered a number one closer again.
Johnny Cueto was back on the winning track Monday, throwing six innings and striking out eight. Cueto only gave up three runs and ran his record to 2-3. As I have been saying from the beginning, there are going to be good games, and bad games, and if you commit to owning Cueto you are going to have to learn to take the good with the bad, but the good should outnumber the bad.
Angels’ starter Ervin Santana continued his improbable success in 2008 by doing something he had only done once before in his major league career. Monday marked the second time that Santana threw a shutout. He now sits at 6-0 with a 2.02 ERA, and is one of the sleepers of 2008, although I like to think of him as a serious sell high candidate. See if you can find someone to give you the value of the way he is pitching right now, because this won’t continue all year long.
Although he has been getting into most games at some point during the contest, Brandon Wood really hasn’t been starting too many games. And although Monday was no different, Wood did his first home run of the season, while he bats just .200. Like I have said before, I have long since jumped off of Wood’s bandwagon, but just wanted to report what he has been doing, but I wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole.
Cubs catcher Geovany Soto is proving that last year in the minors was no fluke. Soto is hitting .352 with six homers and 24 RBI, and is on pace to be one of the top three or four catchers in fantasy. This is a huge steal for those of you who own Soto.
Brad Hawpe hit his second homer in three games, and it is looking like he is starting to regain the form that showed him hit 29 HRs in 2007. Keep Hawpe in your lineup everyday, and hope that this resurgence is the real deal.
As always, your questions about your team (adds, drops, trades, etc) and comments are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee an answer within 18 hours.
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