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Control yourself!
Control yourself!  | | Daniel Cabrera has improved, but he still has issues. ((Getty Images)) | |
| Both Vicente Padilla and Daniel Cabrera have posted solid numbers out of the gate and are popular waiver wire additions. But as Al Melchior writes in his By the Numbers, we all know what these guys are all about. Full story | |
MLB Scores
| Most added players in CBSSports.com leagues (as of 5/16) |
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1.
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Ryan Ludwick, OF, Cardinals
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11.
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Justin Duchscherer, SP, Athletics
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2.
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John Lackey, SP, Angels
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12.
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Milton Bradley, OF, Rangers
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3.
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Ryan Franklin, RP, Cardinals
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13.
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Jose Contreras, SP, White Sox
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4.
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Rich Harden, SP, Athletics
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14.
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Daniel Cabrera, SP, Orioles
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5.
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Andrew Miller, SP, Marlins
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15.
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Vicente Padilla, SP, Rangers
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6.
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Aaron Laffey, SP, Indians
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16.
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Clint Barmes, SS, Rockies
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7.
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Dioner Navarro, C, Rays
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17.
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Blake DeWitt, 3B, Dodgers
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8.
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Chris Iannetta, C, Rockies
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18.
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Mike Mussina, SP, Yankees
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9.
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Chris Snyder, C, Diamondbacks
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19.
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Claudio Vargas, SP, Mets
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10.
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Bartolo Colon, SP, Red Sox
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20.
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Cristian Guzman, SS, Nationals
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| Complete CBSSports.com player rankings |
Exclusive Features
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 Hamilton gets 13 bases on five hits
Josh Hamilton, CF TEX
News: Rangers OF Josh Hamilton went 5-for-5 with two long home runs Friday against the Astros, falling a double short of the cycle. He also drove in five runs in a wild 16-8 victory. "It was a great night. That's why you play the game, right there," Hamilton said. "It doesn't happen all the time. When it does, it's like being a terrible golfer and making a hole-in-one or hitting a great shot." Hamilton had a three-run homer, a solo shot and an RBI triple to raise his major league-leading RBI total to 49. His five hits and five RBI were both career highs, as were the 13 total bases that fell one short of Jose Canseco's franchise record set in 1994.
Analysis: Hamilton has 10 home runs this season and three in his last four games. He continues to rake and maintain a ridiculous RBI pace that has him easily topping 150. Whether he can sustain those power numbers remains to be seen, but he clearly is a must-start in Fantasy right now and is further creeping into the elite class of outfielders.
Profile
Werth drives in eight on three HRs
Jayson Werth, CF PHI
News: Phillies OF Jayson Werth could not remember ever being this productive in a game -- that's including Little League. Werth homered in his first three at-bats and tied a Phillies record with eight RBI in a 10-3 win over Blue Jays on Friday night. "Anything can happen on any given day, I guess," Werth said. "This game is crazy. It's not like I was trying to do anything like that. It just happened. I don't know what else to say. It's just crazy." Werth hit an 0-1 pitch off Blue Jays starter David Purcey for a three-run home run to right field in the second inning and topped that with a 425-foot grand slam to right on a 3-1 pitch against Purcey (0-1) in the third. Werth then ripped a solo shot to left-center in the fifth off reliever Jesse Litsch on a 2-1 pitch for a 9-2 lead.
Analysis: Werth finished 3-for-4, raising his batting average to .288. He is batting .533 (8-for-15) with 12 RBI over his last four games -- all starts. "If you watch him (Werth) in batting practice, he can hit the ball as far as anybody," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. The Phillies rarely give Werth starts against right-handed pitchers, but if he continues to mash left-handers like he did Friday, they might have to rethink that strategy. The 28-year-old once again deserves a flier in mixed leagues because of his high-OPS bat.
Profile
 Holliday sits out with tight back
Matt Holliday, LF COL
News: Rockies OF Matt Holliday was removed from the starting lineup Friday night because of tightness in his lower back. Holliday was originally in the lineup against the Twins, but his back didn't loosen up sufficiently after treatment and he was replaced in left field by Ryan Spilborghs. "He's been battling it for a couple of days," Rockies head trainer Keith Dugger said. "He tried to get loose. It's precautionary. He didn't have any injury of any sort, it just kind of came on. It's not a disk or anything like that, it's a tight back."
Analysis: Holliday, the 2007 National League batting and RBI champion, is hitting .316 with six home runs and 22 RBI this season. He had hit safely in 10 of his past 11 games. This injury doesn't sound like more than a day-to-day thing, so keep him active for Fantasy Week 8 (May 19-25).
Profile
Santana's Friday start rained out
Johan Santana, SP NYM
News: Friday night's Subway Series opener between the Yankees and Mets was postponed because of rain. Johan Santana (4-2), who had been scheduled to start for the Mets at Yankee Stadium, was pushed back to Saturday and will be followed Sunday night by Oliver Perez (3-3).
Analysis: Santana already had his start pushed back once, so he should have plenty of rest for Saturday's contest. He won his only start against the Yankees last season when he was with the Twins and is 2-2 with a 3.62 ERA in five starts this season with extra rest. He is one of the best starting pitchers in Fantasy and an obvious must-start.
Profile
 Betancourt out as full-time closer
Rafael Betancourt, RP CLE
News: RP Rafael Betancourt has lost his job as interim closer for the Indians, who plan to use several relievers at the end of games until Joe Borowski returns from an arm injury. Manager Eric Wedge made the decision Friday, a day after Betancourt had to be replaced in the ninth inning of a 4-2 win over Oakland. "I talked to Betancourt today," Wedge said, before the start of an interleague series against the Reds. "I explained to him what I'm seeing and where he's at. He understands. I think we're capable of using any of those guys."
Analysis: Wedge said he will use Betancourt, Masahide Kobayashi, Jensen Lewis and Rafael Perez interchangeably at the end of games. "I look at it like we have four guys I feel comfortable using in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, depending on the matchup and availability," Wedge said. "That's how I'm going to play it out. I'm not going to say somebody is or somebody isn't (a closer). I feel we can be comfortable using all four of those guys." Wedge wasn't comfortable picking one player as the closer, but you can rest assured if he does, it won't be Betancourt. We say Kobayashi, who bailed out Betancourt on Thursday and has two saves already, is the one to own of the four, but keep in mind Borowski should return in a couple of weeks.
Profile
Struggling Izzy placed on DL
Jason Isringhausen, RP STL
News: The St. Louis Cardinals put struggling closer Jason Isringhausen, who has an 8.00 ERA and six blown saves, on the 15-day disabled list on Friday because of a cut on his pitching hand. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported last weekend that Isringhausen hurt his right hand striking a television set in frustration in manager Tony La Russa's office.
Analysis: Isringhausen was 32-for-34 in save opportunities last year, a season after he missed the team's World Series run because of hip surgery. This year, he's been a complete train wreck and was yanked from the closer role. Isringhausen and La Russa have said repeatedly that the pitcher's problems are not physical, but he'll have at least two weeks to straighten out whatever issues he has. Fantasy owners in deeper leagues are advised to stash him still if possible, as he will likely return to being the full time closer at some point later on. Ryan Franklin has been getting the majority of the save chances and should continue to do so while Isringhausen remains sidelined. Russ Springer will also see some save opportunities, but not as many.
Profile
Sanchez gets back on track, loses
Jonathan O. Sanchez, SP SF
News: Giants SP Jonathan O. Sanchez, coming off an awful three-game stretch in which he had a 7.53 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP, rebounded with 6 2/3 strong innings Friday against the White Sox. He had a shutout working until the seventh inning, when he gave up a two-run home run to Alexei Ramirez. "I just made one mistake, one pitch. That was the game," Sanchez said. Sanchez took the loss, extending his winless streak to four games. He allowed only the two runs on five hits, walking three and striking out six.
Analysis: Sanchez continues to post a high strikeout rate, but his walks are certainly a concern. The 25-year-old left-hander will likely battle inconsistency all season and is kind of the second coming off Oliver Perez. Think of him as a low-end mixed-league option right now with the potential to break out as something more. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday at Colorado.
Profile
Jenks shuts door on Giants for save
Bobby Jenks, RP CHW
News: White Sox closer Bobby Jenks allowed only one hit in a scoreless ninth inning Friday at San Francisco, getting three outs for his ninth save in 11 chances. He recorded one strikeout and lowered his ERA to 2.08.
Analysis: Jenks has struggled to get save opportunities this season, but he has sewn up his status as an elite Fantasy closer after consecutive 40-save seasons. Start him in all leagues.
Profile
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