Liddi hits first career grand slam: Mariners outfielder Alex Liddi was the offensive star for Seattle on Wednesday afternoon in a home win over the Rangers. Liddi clocked his third home run of the season in the fifth inning off Texas starter Scott Feldman for a grand slam. That was pretty much the difference in the game for the Mariners. Liddi added a double and finished 2 for 3 with a walk and four RBI. Liddi is batting .273. (Updated 05/23/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/24/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Liddi had a big game on Wednesday as he'd never before hit a grand slam in the majors. Liddi has gone 4 for 7 in his last three games with a double, triple, homer, two walks, two runs scored and four RBI. He's picked up his production, but remains mostly an AL-only Fantasy option. (Updated 05/23/2012).
05/23/2012 20:19 M's nip Rangers on historic Liddi slam
Alex Liddi hit the first major-league grand slam by an Italian-born player in half-century, Kevin Millwood threw six shutout innings and the Seattle Mariners took two of three from division-leading Texas with a 5-3 win over the Rangers on Wednesday.
05/23/2012 00:50 Andrus' two-run 3B puts Rangers on top
Elvis Andrus lined a two-strike pitch into the left-center field gap for a two-run triple, Josh Hamilton made two tremendous catches in center field and added an RBI double, and the Texas Rangers snapped Seattle's win streak at four with a 3-1 win over the Mariners on Tuesday night.
05/20/2012 19:47 Hit Parade for Week 8
Some catchers have been bitten by the injury bug in recent days, leaving some owners scrambling. Our Scott White shares some recommendations and helps set your lineups for Week 8 in his Hit Parade.
05/13/2012 20:18 Hit Parade for Week 7
As interleague play gets under way there are many matchups to break down. Our Scott White tells you who the best bets and biggest risks are in his Hit Parade for Week 7.
So far, Alex Liddi's claim to fame is that he was born and raised in Italy, making him the first major-leaguer to fit that description. For his performance to define him rather than his origins, he'll need to overcome a ghastly strikeout rate that has, to this point, caused the prospect hounds to sniff elsewhere. Clearly, Liddi has power. He averaged 22.7 homers in three minor-league stops over the last three seasons and hit three in 40 at-bats with the big club last September. But if he continues to strike out every third at-bat, he'll become an easy out for major-league pitchers and an afterthought in Fantasy, much like Brandon Wood. Liddi got a chance to play regularly for the Mariners last September and could compete for a starting role this spring. He's worth a flier in AL-only leagues as a potential source of cheap power. Whether or not he can be anything more -- or even hold down a regular job in the majors -- is up for debate. You wouldn't want to invest too much in him in a long-term keeper league. (Updated 1/5/12)