Category: MLB

Nishioka To DL, Espinosa An Option

Slap hitting middle infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka will be going to the disabled list with a broken left fibula.

Analysis: Nishioka’s best assest was his legs and most experts thought he was good for twenty or so stolen bases this year. He is also capable of posting about a .280 batting average and there aren’t many second basemen on the wire who are a lock to hit .280. In deep leagues you certainly have to take a look at Washington second baseman Danny Espinosa. Over the last two years in the minors Espinosa has hit 40 bombs with 54 stolen bases. Espinosa probably won’t be hitting in the .280 range but I don’t expect to see his batting average dip below the .250-.260 mark. He really is a power/speed threat and only being owned in less than ten percent of fantasy leagues is certainly an added bonus. Espinosa already has six hits in six games with two doubles, two runs and two RBI. If you’re worried about a loss in long term batting average before Nishioka returns you may want to consider Orlando Cabrera. Cabrera is a lifetime .274 hitter with double digit steal potential even in his late thirties. And if you absolutely need to have a secure batting average going forward then it’s time to pick up Freddy Sanchez who is going fast in most standard leagues. Sanchez is a career .299 hitter but he doesn’t have the speed.

Is Axford secure closing for the Brewers?

Milwaukee closer John Axford pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday, picking up his first save of the season.

Analysis: In his first appearance, on opening day, he blew a three-run lead to the Reds. The Brewers have invested too much into their pitching to have games blown by an inept closer. Given that Axford converted 24 of 27 save opportunities with 76 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched last year, the role is his to lose.

Projection: Brewers’ set-up man, Takashi Saito, has been a notable bullpen presence since his inaugural season in 2006 (84 saves, 2.19 ERA, 11.03K/9) However, the 41-year-old Japanese reliever will have to wait for Axford to give up a few more walk-off bombs until he has a shot at the closer’s job. Owners shouldn’t remove Axford from their starting lineups yet, perhaps he will bounce back to the form he showed last year. Seeing how quickly Fernando Rodney was yanked from the closer’s role in Anaheim, a change in Milwaukee would not be surprising if the struggle continues.

Ubaldo Jimenez To DL, Who To Pick Up?

The Rockies have placed fireballer Ubaldo Jimenez on the 15-day disabled list because of a cracked thumb cuticle on his pitching hand. This leaves many options so early in the season on who to pick up, here are some answers for you.

Analysis: Kevin Correia of the Pirates now has two wins in two starts. Correia has pitched 13 innings allowing just two earned runs. In deep, deep leagues the right hander is a solid choice as he is owned in less than one percent of fantasy leagues. Edwin Jackson of the ChiSox is another widely available interesting option. E-Jax threw six innings of two run ball while striking out seven batters last Saturday against the Indians. Jackson is due to start Thurdsay against a struggling Rays team, look to take advantage. Another deep league option is Clayton Richard of San Diego. Richard’s next start is in PETCO against the Dodgers on Friday night. Richard may have the best season of all the pitchers mentioned here thus far just because of where he plays. Richard had a 3.75  ERA last year with 14 wins but he still doesn’t get any love. Look for Richard to be a consistent presence in the Padres rotation as they will again try to push the action in the NL West. Obviously, if it’s not too late to pick up Kyle Drabek then pick him up. For more information on Drabek just scroll down the page. Drabek possesses the most upside with the nastiest stuff of all these guys next to Edwin Jackson’s slider.

Brandon Belt and Adam Dunn

Adam Dunn will be out at least a week after undergoing an appendectomy Tuesday night.

Analysis: If you are in a daily lineup situation and you don’t have the depth at first base that you’d like you have then you have consider the rookie who is the hot commodity right now, Brandon Belt. Belt ripped through the minors last year hitting 23 bombs, stealing 22 bags between High A ball and Triple A. His walk rates are solid as he is a very disciplined hitter. Belt already has a homer, a steal and four walks in five games this season and as long as he has a starting job he has great speed numbers to offer as a fantasy first baseman. Belt may go on a cold streak longer than his current 0-11 streak but he’s a good fit right now for the injured Dunn and he offers some potentially solid numbers as the season moves forward. Belt has reached base three times during his 0-11 streak so even if his bat is cold his eyes are sharp and patient.

Projection: The ChiSox list Dunn as being out for five days but I’m not buying it. Dunn will be out at least a week if not two so you’ll need a servicable replacement if one isn’t already on your roster. Brandon Belt isn’t going to hit 30 homers but he’ll produce in all five categories if he continues to start.

Jordan Walden Earns First Save Of 2011

The Angels have changed closers just five games into the regular season and the hard throwing Jordan Walden is now Mike Scioscia’s ninth inning guy.

Analysis: Former Angels closer, Fernando Rodney, pitched in just two games this year but Scioscia had hinted Rodney’s delivery just isn’t consistent. Rodney has allowed two earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched this year but the big number is allowing four walks to four outs. This may be a Brad Lidge delivery/confidence issue and it may be resolved by seasons end but his job may not be there for him when he turns it around. Jordan Walden is the real deal, a typical two pitch closer. His fastball tops out a 100 MPH but it settles in the high 90s while his slider ranges in the mid 80s. Walden isn’t a lights out Billy Wagner kind of closer where he’ll average 10 K’s per 9 IP but he should stikeout out about eight batters per nine innings pitched. One of the best things Walden does is limiting the big inning, he rarely gave up homers in the minors.

Projection: For now it appears Walden is somewhat secure in the closer’s role with the Angels and he should rank among the top 25 closers in the game going forward. If you have Fernando Rodney or a lesser tier closer then Jordan Walden is a must pick up and will put up better numbers than Rodney should have this year.