| Players of the Week: July 7 - 13 |
| American League |
| Matt Joyce |
 | Team: Detroit Tigers |
| Pos: OF |
| Stats: Hit .409 (9-22) with four doubles, four home runs, and six RBI. |
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| National League |
| Mike Pelfrey |
 | Team: New York Mets |
| Pos: SP |
| Stats: He went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 15.0 innings without allowing a walk. |
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Alphabetical Listing
Position Listing
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Fantasy Updates
Nady returns, gets pinch-hit single
Xavier Nady, RF PIT
News: Pirates OF Xavier Nady rejoined the team Saturday at Colorado. Nady was away due to the birth of his son Tuesday, Xavier Henry Nady. He got a pinch-hit single with two outs in the ninth inning.
Analysis: Nady is batting .367 (18-for-49) in July and .324 on the season. This absence obviously hurt his Fantasy owners in Fantasy Week 16 (July 17-20), but they'll want to keep him active for Fantasy Week 17 (July 21-27).
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 Dye leaves Saturday with foot injury
Jermaine Dye, RF CHW
News: Chicago's Jermaine Dye left the game in the ninth after being hit in the left leg by a pitch from Horacio Ramirez. Manager Ozzie Guillen said he hopes Dye can play Sunday. Dye went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
Analysis: Dye is having one of the best seasons of his career and has emerged as no worse than a No. 2 Fantasy OF so hopefully he doesn't miss any time. If he plays Sunday, he should be fine for Fantasy week 17 (July 21-27).
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 Zimmerman will come off DL Tuesday
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B WAS
News: Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman, on the DL since late May with a torn muscle in his left shoulder, will come off the DL and rejoin the team Tuesday at San Francisco.
Analysis: Zimmerman is returning a little earlier than expected, which probably indicates he made good progress. Shoulder injuries tend to affect power, and Zimmerman wasn't exactly living up to expectations before the injury. Still, he's worth a flier in all leagues.
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Matthews has tear in left knee
Gary Matthews, LF ANA
News: Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. has a slight tear in his left knee, but there are no plans to perform surgery or place him on the disabled list. "The plan now is to continue to treat it and strengthen it," Matthews said after the Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 Saturday to extend their AL West lead to eight games over the second-place Oakland Athletics. "Sooner or later, hope it gets better; probably a little more aggressive with the treatment," he said. "It's a lengthy surgery to have, we don't feel the surgery is completely necessary. If it blows out and becomes detached, you have to have the surgery, no choice."
Analysis: The switch-hitting Matthews, hitting .235 with seven homers and 34 RBIs in 89 games, had an MRI on his knee Thursday and met with team doctors Saturday. He irritated the patellar tendon in his left knee last September, knocking him out of the Angels' AL division series against the Red Sox, and the knee has bothered him most of this season. Matthews has started only one of the last seven games and is 5-for-36 with one RBI since June 27. He has sat out both Angels games since the All-Star break. Matthews is currently owned in 31 percent of Fantasy leagues right now. Watch him closely because he may never be the same again this season. When completely healthy, Matthews is a low-end Fantasy OF in mixed leagues.
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 Martinez could miss Philly series
Pedro Martinez, SP NYM
News: The New York Mets are having second thoughts about letting right-hander Pedro Martinez face the Philadelphia Phillies next week. Martinez got a cortisone shot for strained groin muscles on Thursday. He was en route to Cincinnati from New York on Saturday afternoon, and planned to throw in the bullpen during a game against the Cincinnati Reds to see how he felt. Manager Jerry Manuel originally planned to let the 36-year-old pitcher face the Phillies on Tuesday, the first game of their series at Shea Stadium, if he didn't have any discomfort during his bullpen session. On Saturday, Manuel said Martinez might be held back until next weekend even if he feels good. "We're kind of vacillating on Tuesday," Manuel said. Martinez strained his groin while running the bases on July 7. Five days later, he left his start against Colorado after only four innings because of tightness in his shoulder - he assumed he had changed his delivery to compensate for the groin injury.
Analysis: Manuel said there's no thought of putting Martinez on the disabled list. If he doesn't open the series against the Phillies, he could pitch the following weekend against St. Louis. "We're kind of wavering a little bit simply because he hasn't picked up a ball, hasn't been able to throw since his last outing," Manuel said. Martinez is 3-2 with a 6.25 ERA, making nine starts and pitching 44 2-3 innings. He missed about two months this season because of a strained left hamstring.
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Y. Escobar might have to go on DL
Yunel Escobar, SS ATL
News: Braves SS Yunel Escobar will miss his fifth straight game with a strained left shoulder Saturday against the Nationals and, according to MLB.com, might have to go on the DL. The Braves will evaluate him over the weekend before making a decision.
Analysis: Escobar couldn't take batting practice Thursday or Friday because of the shoulder injury. Keep him reserved because of the injuries, but his lack of run production recently made him nothing more than a low-end mixed-league starter even when healthy.
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Oswalt lands on 15-day DL
Roy Oswalt, SP HOU
News: Astros ace Roy Oswalt was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained hip and a herniated disk in his back. Oswalt (7-8, 4.56 ERA) underwent an MRI exam on Saturday that confirmed a strained left hip abductor and also revealed the disk problem.
Analysis: Manager Cecil Cooper said Oswalt should be ready to start again on July 28 for the opener of a three-game series with Cincinnati. The Astros will recall Runelvys Hernandez from Triple-A Round Rock to fill Oswalt's roster spot. Hernandez, 0-3 in three starts for Houston this season, will start Monday's game against Pittsburgh. Oswalt should be a consistent winner for your Fantasy team in the second half if he can stay healthy, so stash him away for now.
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Wood misses another game Saturday
Kerry Wood, RP CHC
News: Cubs closer Kerry Wood, who missed the All-Star game because of a blister on his pitching hand, didn't return to the mound Saturday at Houston, but the Cubs didn't face a save situation either.
Analysis: Wood seems to be healing, if nothing else. Don't expect him to miss too much more time with this injury. He remains an elite Fantasy closer when healthy, especially pitching for one of the best teams in baseball.
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Snyder expected to return Sunday
Chris Snyder, C ARI
News: Diamondbacks C Chris Snyder (bruised left testicle) went 2-for-5 with a homer on a Class A rehab assignment Friday. The Diamondbacks will likely activate him for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Analysis: Snyder has pop in his bat and the potential to perform on the level of a top-10 Fantasy catcher in the second half. If he comes back Sunday, consider activating him for Fantasy Week 17 (July 21-27).
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Quintero begins rehab, has two hits
Humberto Quintero, C HOU
News: Astros C Humberto Quintero (concussion) went 2-for-4 Saturday in his first of three scheduled rehab games for Double-A Corpus Christi. The Houston Chronicle says he'll likely return Tuesday against the Pirates.
Analysis: Quintero was starting for the Astros before suffering his concussion and will likely return in the same capacity. However, his lack of offensive upside makes him just a low-end NL-only option.
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Lyon allows two runs, but gets save
Brandon Lyon, RP ARI
News: Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon had a rocky road to his 20th save Saturday against the Dodgers. He gave up two runs on three hits and one walk in one inning of work.
Analysis: Lyon hadn't recorded a save since July 8, and the Diamondbacks haven't given him too many chances since April. Still, he remains a low-end No. 1 option in all Fantasy leagues.
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Haren dominant despite having virus
Dan Haren, SP ARI
News: Diamondbacks SP Dan Haren wasn't feeling his best Saturday night. Try convincing the visiting Dodgers of that. Haren threw seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts just three days after throwing two innings during Tuesday's All-Star game. And all of that came on a day when he was fighting a slight stomach virus. "I didn't have much energy all day," Haren said. "Through the course of the year you're not going to feel perfect every time." He picked up the win -- his ninth.
Analysis: Haren has surrendered two or fewer runs in eight of his last nine starts. He has struck out 59, walked 13 and posted a 1.29 ERA in 63 innings over that span. "It hasn't been the same recipe all the way through," Haren said. "I get a feel for the game when I'm out there and go with whatever is working." Haren lowered his ERA to 2.58. "He's been phenomenal for the better part of two months," said Arizona manager Bob Melvin. "I'm not sure there's a better pitcher in baseball right now." Obviously, keep Haren active in all Fantasy leagues. His next start is scheduled for July 25 at San Francisco.
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Billingsley unable last six innings
Chad Billingsley, RP LA
News: Dodgers SP Chad Billingsley allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings Saturday at Arizona with three walks and five strikeouts. He took his ninth loss. The right-hander has lasted fewer than six innings in two of his last three starts. "Pretty much the whole game except the last two innings I was just battling with my timing," Billingsley said. "Everything was just off. I was pretty much battling myself the whole game."
Analysis: Billingsley still has outstanding stuff, striking out more than a batter per inning, and a 3.32 ERA. The Dodgers don't often give him enough run support, but he remains a must-start in Fantasy for his other statistics. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Nationals.
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De La Rosa looks good vs. Pirates
Jorge De La Rosa, SP COL
News: It looked dicey early for him, but Rockies SP Jorge De La Rosa got through a rough first inning to strike out seven batters in six innings Saturday against the Pirates. He gave up a run in the first and faced seven batters but settled down, scattering four hits over his last five innings of work. He gave up seven hits and two walks total. "He pitched a good, efficient ballgame for him," manager Clint Hurdle said. "A problematic first inning, but he was able to navigate through it with one run, which was big for us at the time."
Analysis: De La Rosa pitched surprisingly well Saturday, considering he entered with a 7.26 ERA. He has decent stuff, and it shows sometimes, but he remains too inconsistent to even consider using in mixed leagues. His next start is scheduled for Friday at Cincinnati.
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Herrera blown out again Saturday
Yoslan Herrera, SP PIT
News: Pirates SP Yoslan Herrera had a second straight awful start to begin his career Saturday at Colorado. He was roughed up for five runs in the first inning and two more in the second, leaving after 1 2/3 innings. He allowed eight hits and recorded one strikeout. "He got behind the 8-ball quick and just couldn't stop it," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He got behind in the count, and he had to start throwing the ball over the plate."
Analysis: Herrera gave up 11 hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings during his first major-league start against the Cardinals, meaning he now has a nifty 19.50 ERA. Doesn't sound like a guy you want to use in Fantasy, does he? His next start, if the Pirates actually keep him in the rotation, is scheduled for Thursday against the Padres.
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Fogg continues good work Saturday
Josh Fogg, SP CIN
News: Reds SP Josh Fogg allowed two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits and one walk Saturday against the Mets, picking up his second victory. He also recorded one strikeout. He has a 2.60 ERA in three starts since coming off the DL.
Analysis: Fogg has a 7.09 ERA on the season, so don't get too comfortable with him. Still, he's pitching well enough now to deserve a look in deeper mixed leagues. You never know. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Rockies.
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