Hafner extra motivated lately: Cleveland designated hitter Travis Hafner went 2 for 4 with a home run during the Indians' 8-6 win over the White Sox in the opening game of a twinbill on Monday. Hafner led off the second with his 192nd career homer, tying him with Al Rosen for eighth place on Cleveland's all-time list. Later, Hafner hit his first triple since May 29, 2007 -- a span of 1,711 at-bats. "I was thinking double and got forced into a triple," Hafner joked. (Updated 05/07/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/16/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Hafner has seen his batting average drop following a hot start to the season as he has endured four hitless outings in his past six games. In the two contests he has recorded a hit, three of his four hits have gone for extra bases as he's amassed two homers and a triple. He is still drawing a sufficient amount of walks for a .406 on-base percentage, but should be viewed as a low-end option in deeper Fantasy formats for now. (Updated 05/07/2012).
05/11/2012 23:30 Buchholz solid in Red Sox's win
Dustin Pedroia had three hits and three RBIs to back a solid outing by Clay Buchholz, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 7-5 Friday night to snap a three-game skid.
05/10/2012 22:42 Beckett booed off field in loss to Indians
Embattled starter Josh Beckett did nothing to help restore his reputation Thursday night, getting booed off the field at Fenway Park in the third inning of Boston's 8-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
05/09/2012 12:27 Dear Mr. Fantasy: New world order for closers
The relief pitching landscape sure has changed on a dime since opening day. Who are the right replacements to target? Our Scott White re-ranks his top closer options and answers your questions in Dear Mr. Fantasy.
05/08/2012 18:24 Setting the Trends: The unending chase for saves
Closers are losing their jobs at an alarming rate either due to injury or ineffectivness. Our Nando Di Fino touches on some potential closer candidates and other waiver wire gems in Setting the Trends.
05/07/2012 23:51 Indians achieve twinbill sweep of ChiSox
Shelley Duncan's RBI double in the eighth inning gave the Cleveland Indians a soggy 3-2 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night and a sweep of their day-night doubleheader.
By now, Travis Hafner has settled into the second stage of his career. No longer the OPS monster who finished in the top 10 in MVP voting in 2005 and 2006, he still has his uses as a part-time DH with a keen batting eye and modest pop. Unfortunately, that "part-time" label more or less ruins him in mixed-league play. He hasn't gotten even 400 at-bats in a season since 2007, when he first encountered the shoulder troubles that led to his steep drop-off. The Indians still value Hafner as a middle-of-the-order hitter -- at least when they're facing righties -- but he won't be able to rack up the totals to make him a real Fantasy asset. You can leave him for AL-only leagues. (Updated 1/25/12)