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| 4:38 PM | Justin Morneau, DH, MIN |
Morneau starts in first game backNews: Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (wrist) was activated from the 15-day DL prior to Wednesday's game against the Tigers. He was immediately put into the starting lineup at first base. Chris Parmelee was optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday to clear a roster spot. Analysis: Morneau will continue to bounce between first base and DH in an attempt to keep him off the DL. Morneau is not back to being an elite offensive player yet, but you know the potential is there. Consider him a low-end Fantasy starter until he goes on an offensive tear. |
| 4:45 PM | Vladimir Guerrero, DH, BAL |
Guerrero looks good in BPNews: Toronto manager John Farrell said Wednesday that Vladimir Guerrero looked "very good" during his first day practicing at Dunedin on Tuesday, reports the National Post. Farrell said the plan for Guerrero is for batting practice this week before beginning games in extended spring training next week. Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos has said Guerrero is not guaranteed a roster spot and will need to earn it. Analysis: The 37-year-old Guerrero didn't find a job easily this offseason and only just recently was able to sign on with the Blue Jays for a minor league contract. He hit just 13 homers with 63 RBI in 145 games while serving mainly as a designated hitter for Baltimore last season. Guerrero might be worth taking a look at in AL-only Fantasy formats but owners in mixed leagues should wait for now. |
| 1:48 PM | Delmon Young, DH, DET |
Young trying to emerge from slumpNews: Tigers outfielder Delmon Young was back as the team's DH on Wednesday against the Twins after receiving a day off Tuesday against the White Sox. Young is batting just .176 (9 for 51) in his last 14 games. He has no homers and 13 strikeouts in that span. Analysis: Young continues to try and hit his way out of a slump that started before he was suspended in late April. Unfortunately, being a DH doesn't suit Young well. He's batting .190 as a DH this season, as opposed to .295 as an outfielder. However, manager Jim Leyland intends to keep Young as primarily a DH, so he better make some adjustments. Young clearly has low-end Fantasy appeal while he struggles. |
| 1:42 PM | Luke Scott, DH, TB |
Scott's average going wrong wayNews: Rays DH Luke Scott has seen his batting average plummet the last few weeks. He was hitting .275 as of May 2 -- the last time Scott produced a multi-hit game. He has since been mired in a 7-for-45 slump in his last 11 games. Scott has produced one homer and seven RBI in that span, while striking out 14 times. Scott's average is now at .228 through 32 games. Analysis: Perhaps it was only a matter of time before this was bound to happen for Scott, who has hit better than .260 just once in the previous five seasons. The only good news is that Scott is still displaying power (.482 slugging percentage) and driving in runs (26 RBI), so he's producing when he gets some hits. Scott remains just a low-end Fantasy starter in deep mixed leagues. |
| 11:25 AM | Michael Young, DH, TEX |
Young not a believer of slumpsNews: ESPN.com reports Rangers infielder Michael Young, who is batting just .196 in his last 22 games, doesn't buy into hitting slumps. "There are going to be times you just don't get the results that you want in this game. It's just the nature of the big leagues. But what you've done in the past has nothing to do with what you're going to do the next game. You're allowed to wipe the slate clean and get back to work the next game," he said. Young added that he feels "great" and that the results should start to change in his favor soon. "All I look for is my next at-bat," Young said. "I make my adjustments pitch to pitch and at-bat to at-bat. I look forward to my next at-bat and expect things to go my way." Analysis: Young was hitting .414 before his slump dropped his average to .280. You had to expect a market correction since he wasn't going to hit above .400 all season. We just wish it was a more gradual decline. You have to love the fact, though, Young remains a confident hitter and the tide should turn in his favor eventually. He's too good of a hitter to continue to slump. Young remains a viable Fantasy start in all formats. |
| 5/15/2012 | Edwin Encarnacion, DH, TOR |
Encarnacion connects for another HRNews: Blue Jays DH Edwin Encarnacion hit his 12th home run of the season in Tuesday's series finale against the Rays. He launched a two-run shot off David Price in the third inning and finished 1 for 4 in the 4-3 loss. Encarnacion is batting .176 (9 for 51) so far in May with four homers and 10 RBI. Analysis: After batting .322 over the first month of the season, Encarnacion has seen his average slip in May but is still hitting for power. His 31 RBI thus far puts him on pace for a productive campaign and his .589 slugging percentage is 130 points above his career mark. The 29-year-old is developing into a solid option in Fantasy so keep Encarnacion active in the majority of formats. |
| 5/15/2012 | David Ortiz, DH, BOS |
Ortiz hits eighth home runNews: Boston designated hitter David Ortiz hit his eighth home run of the season for a solo shot in the third inning of Tuesday's win over the Mariners. Ortiz took starter Blake Beavan deep with one out and the count with three balls and two strikes. Ortiz added a single in the game as he went 2 for 3 with a walk and is now batting .353 on the season. Analysis: Ortiz continues to hit well for the Red Sox. We knew his batting average wouldn't be close to .400 for long, but he's keeping it near .350 with little issue as he's hit in nine of his last 10 games with five RBI over that span. He's slowed down a bit in the middle of May, but he's still got eight homers and 27 RBI to this point and that is pretty impressive. Ortiz can be active in most mixed Fantasy leagues. |
| 5/15/2012 | Manny Ramirez, DH, OAK |
Ramirez slated for May 30 debutNews: The A's announced Tuesday that suspended slugger Manny Ramirez will begin playing games in the minors on Saturday for Triple-A Sacramento. The team also announced that Ramirez is scheduled to make his 2012 debut on May 30 at Minnesota. Analysis: In spring training, manager Bob Melvin said Ramirez would be the team's regular DH once he returns from his 50-game suspension. However, that could be subject to change depending on how other A's hitters are doing. It does appear, though, that Oakland wants to play Manny on a regular basis. Ramirez, who will turn 40 on May 30, should be viewed as a low-end option in AL-only Fantasy formats when he returns. |
| 5/15/2012 | Adam Dunn, DH, CHW |
Dunn will play LF during interleagueNews: White Sox manager Robin Ventura told reporters Tuesday that Adam Dunn will play in left field during the team's interleague with the Cubs this weekend, replacing regular left fielder Dayan Viciedo. "You look at the lineup and how important he is for us," Ventura said of Dunn. "He has been hitting third for us most of the time so that becomes a factor getting him in there." Analysis: It's no surprise the White Sox want to play Dunn, who has 25 homers at Wrigley Field. Dunn has 12 homers on the season, with three coming in his last five games. Dunn has been on a roll in May as well, batting .283 with a .424 OBP, .783 slugging percentage, 1.206 OPS, seven homers and 12 RBI in 14 games. The team can't afford to take his bat out of the lineup and neither can Fantasy owners. |
| 5/13/2012 | Kendrys Morales, DH, LAA |
Morales launches third homerNews: Angels first baseman Kendrys Morales returned to the lineup on Sunday against the Rangers and had a productive night at the plate. After not being able to start the previous two games due to a sore Achilles, he went 1 for 4 with a home run. He also walked once and score twice in the 13-6 loss. Morales launched a solo shot off Joe Nathan in the ninth inning for his third long ball of the year. Analysis: Morales had been taking anti-inflammatory pills earlier in the week to combat his Achilles issue but he looked fine on Sunday. He still has some leftover effects from the ankle injury that sidelined him for a year and a half so owners should keep in mind that he will likely sit from time to time. He has gotten off to a solid start with the bat this season and has gone 15 for 40 (.375) with two homers and six RBI in his last 11 games. The 28-year-old has the potential to be an elite producer in Fantasy but consider Morales as more of an option for deeper mixed leagues heading into Week 7 (May 14-20). |
| 5/13/2012 | Seth Smith, DH, OAK |
Smith picking up the paceNews: A's outfielder Seth Smith hit his third home run of the season on Sunday against the Tigers. He launched a solo shot off Justin Verlander in the fifth inning and finished 1 for 2 with a walk in the 3-1 loss. Smith has gone 9 for 25 (.360) so far in May with four RBI. Analysis: After batting just .197 over the first month of the season, Smith has picked up the pace of late and is starting to get his average back to a respectable level. He also has seen his slugging percentage go from .295 to .372 since the beginning of May. The 29-year-old has posted double-digit homers each of the last three seasons and is on pace for that again so continue to view Smith as a viable option in AL-only formats. |
| 5/13/2012 | Nick Johnson, DH, BAL |
Johnson swats second home runNews: Baltimore designated hitter Nick Johnson went deep in the eighth inning of Sunday's 9-8 loss to the Rays. Johnson's second home run of the season made the score 9-7 Tampa at the time. Johnson finished the game 1 for 3 with a walk and is now batting .174 on the year. Analysis: Johnson has now homered in back-to-back ballgames as he's finally out of his season-long slump. Johnson opened the season with one hit in his first 30 at-bats, but has since picked up eight hits in May over 20 at-bats with two homers and seven RBI. He's really warming for the Orioles but remains mostly an AL-only Fantasy option. |
| 5/13/2012 | Billy Butler, DH, KC |
Butler collects some hitsNews: Kansas City designated hitter Billy Butler went 2 for 5 with an RBI in Saturday's 5-0 win over Chicago. He also struck out once in the outing, giving him 20 whiffs on the year. Butler is batting .291 on the year with 24 RBI. Analysis: Butler is batting .296 (8 for 27) with one home run and eight RBI over his last seven games for the Royals. Interleague play begins next week, but the Royals host the Diamondbacks, so Butler will be able to keep his duties as the DH. Fantasy owners should keep this in the back of their mind moving forward as Butler will likely serve as a pinch hitter when the Royals are on the road in interleague play. When Butler is in the lineup, Fantasy owners should view him as a viable DH option. |
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