News: San Diego starter Clayton Richard pitched a fabulous ballgame on Monday night in St. Louis and still couldn't walk away a winner. Richard had to settle for the no-decision in the start despite allowing just two earned runs on seven hits and a walk and getting one out into the eighth inning. Unfortunately, Richard was on the hook for the loss after allowing both his runs in the seventh. He couldn't finish the eighth before the Padres took a lead. Richard got a no-decision as he struck out three batters and lowered his ERA to 4.63 on the year. Richard only needed 86 pitches to go 7 1/3 innings in the start.
Analysis: Richard has allowed just four earned runs in his last two starts spanning 14 1/3 innings as he's been much sharper of late for the Padres. He's rebounded nicely from a stretch of five straight defeats from April 18 through May 11, and should keep pitching well going forward. That said, Richard, at 2-5 on the year, is just an NL-only Fantasy option. He will get a second start in the current scoring period and that comes on Saturday at the New York Mets.
News: Padres starter Clayton Richard struggled early in Wednesday’s start against the Dodgers. Richard allowed two first-inning runs, but then retired 20 of the last 23 batters he faced as he regrouped and finished his outing strong for the win. Richard allowed two earned runs on just four hits and no walks over seven strong innings in the start. He struck out six batters and lowered his ERA to 4.94 on the year in the process. The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for Richard as he ran his record to 2-5 on the season.
Analysis: Richard recorded his first start without issuing a walk since he beat Los Angeles in San Diego back on April 8 of this season. Richard was sharp Wednesday, but has otherwise been underwhelming as a starter this year. He finally snapped a five-game losing streak with the win, but we doubt this will begin a string of solid pitching for the Padre. Richard is normally just an NL-only Fantasy option in most formats but does see an increase in value in Week 8 (May 21-27). That is because Richard makes his next start on Monday at St. Louis and will be a two-start hurler in the upcoming scoring period.
News: Padres starting pitcher Clayton Richard gave up a pair of home runs on Friday and could not get out of the sixth inning, picking up his fifth loss in as many starts as the Padres fell to the Phillies, 7-3. Richards gave up eight hits and walk two in the game, including a pair of two-run home runs to John Mayberry and Carlos Ruiz, and was chased by a sixth-inning RBI double off the bat of Freddy Galvis. He finished with just a single strikeout, his lowest total of the season, while raising his ERA to 5.32.
Analysis: Richard is coming off a season in which he posted a 3.88 ERA, however he has taken a step back since then. That is largely the result of the seven home runs he has allowed in seven starts, after giving up just eight in 18 last season. Richard is still posting solid groundball rates, however 18.4 percent of the flyballs he has allowed have left the yard this season. He will try to put an end to his losing streak on Wednesday against the Dodgers, a team he has a 2.63 career ERA against in 51 1/3 innings. Despite the solid history against his next opponent, Richard is really struggling and should only be considered an NL-only Fantasy option for Week 7 (May 14-20).
News: Padres starter Clayton Richard took his fourth straight loss during Saturday night's contest against the Marlins. Richard, who was making his sixth start of the year, allowed three runs on nine hits over seven innings in the 4-1 loss, including a RBI double off the bat of Omar Infante. Richard was pulled after throwing 108 pitches and finished with a season-high seven strikeouts and one walk, while falling to 1-4 on the year.
Analysis: Richard has now lost four straight starts but he did show some improvement on Saturday. However, his ERA now stands at 5.96 during his losing streak and he has racked up 17 strikeouts and 10 walk over that stretch. The 28-year-old will now look to get himself back in the win column when he makes his next start, which is scheduled for Friday at Philadelphia. Richard is 0-2 with a 2.40 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies. Consider the left-hander merely a NL-only option heading into his next outing.
News: Padres pitcher Clayton Richard lost his third straight start in Sunday's series finale against the Giants. He allowed four runs on eight hits over seven innings of work in the 4-1 loss. The left-hander gave up a two-spot in the first, including a solo homer to Pablo Sandoval, before making it through the next four frames unscathed. Then in the sixth, he surrendered a two-run triple to Joaquin Arias. Richard also struck out two and walked two while throwing 100 pitches, 63 for strikes. "The ball-strike ratio wasn't great early but then he started throwing a lot of strikes after that," manager Bud Black told MLB.com. "And he got his grounders. But the big hit was the [triple] in a key situation."
Analysis: Richard has not won since his season debut and has a 6.57 ERA over his last four outings. While he has lasted at least 5 1/3 innings in each of his starts, a mixture of walks and poor run support have hindered him early on. The 28-year-old has shown over the last two seasons that he has value in Fantasy so keep an eye on his progress and consider Richard as more of an NL-only option. His next start is scheduled for Saturday against the Marlins at home. Richard is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA in two starts at PETCO Park this season.
News: After getting rocked his last time out, Padres pitcher Clayton Richard looked much better on Tuesday against the Nationals but was unable to overcome his counterpart -- Gio Gonzalez. He allowed two runs on three hits with five walks over 6 1/3 innings in the 3-1 loss. The left-hander made it through his first six frames unscathed before running into trouble in the seventh. In that inning, he put the first two batters and was pulled after a sac bunt. The bullpen allowed both inherited runners to score. Richard also struck out six while taking his second loss of the season.
Analysis: Richard has pitched well enough to win in three of his four starts thus far but run support has been hard to come by early on. He has also had a hard time with control as he has a 15-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 24 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old should continue to be viewed be viewed as a low-end Fantasy option heading into his second start of Week 4 (April 23-29). He is scheduled to pitch again on Sunday against the Giants. In one start against San Francisco a year ago, Richard threw five scoreless innings in the win.
News: San Diego starter Clayton Richard was given a long leash on Wednesday night in Colorado. Richard gave up five runs in the second inning and two more in the fifth and remained in the game. It wasn't until allowing a final run in the sixth inning that he was removed from the game. Richard allowed eight earned runs on 10 base hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings and took the loss to fall to 1-1 on the season for the Padres. Richard struck out just two batters and allowed two home runs in the game. Richard threw 88 pitches before leaving and raised his ERA to 5.89 on the year with the defeat.
Analysis: Richard has now allowed 16 runs to cross the plate in his last two outings, though four of those were unearned in his last start in Los Angeles. Richard pitched seven shutout innings of two-hit ball in his season opener against the Dodgers, but has been pretty poor in two starts since. Richard makes his next start on Tuesday to open a series at home against Washington in Week 4 (April 23-29). That puts Richard on track to start twice in the upcoming scoring period. Richard has had two poor performances in a row and is looking to bounce back. He's normally considered an NL-only Fantasy option. His two starts in the upcoming scoring period give him some value in deeper mixed Fantasy formats, however.
News: Padres pitcher Clayton Richard endured a couple of rough innings in his outing against the Dodgers on Friday. He allowed eight runs (four earned) on six hits with four walks over six innings of work. After making it through his first two frames unscathed, the left-hander gave up a four-spot in the third, and again in the fourth. He was done after throwing 104 pitches, 63 for strikes, and left in line for the loss but luckily his teammates were able to tie the game. Richard also struck out four in the no-decision.
Analysis: Errors have hurt Richard in each of his first two starts this season but he has allowed just four earned runs in 13 innings pitched. After missing time last season due to shoulder surgery, he has looked good so far in 2012 and should be able to return to his 2010 form. Keep an eye on his progress going forward and continue to view the 28-year-old as a viable option in NL-only formats. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Rockies. In one start against Colorado a year ago, Richard allowed one run over seven innings in the loss.
News: Padres pitcher Clayton Richard made his first start of the season on Sunday against the Dodgers and looked very sharp. He allowed two unearned runs on two hits over seven innings of work in the 8-2 win. The left-hander made it through his first five frames unscathed before an error put a runner on in the sixth and he surrendered a two-run homer to Matt Kemp. Richard also struck out three and did not walk a batter while picking up his first win of the season. "I was just throwing strikes early in the count," Richard told MLB.com. "With their lineup, you don't want to fall behind to these guys. The more pitches they see, the better they hit."
Analysis: Richard kept a potent Dodgers lineup at bay on Sunday and started his 2012 campaign off nicely. After being limited to 18 starts a year ago due to shoulder surgery, he should be able to keep things going for the Padres, as he has posted an ERA under 4.00 each of the last two seasons. The 28-year-old should be able to help out owners in deeper Fantasy formats heading into Week 2 (April 9-15). His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Dodgers again.
News: Padres pitcher Clayton Richard did not give up a run on Tuesday night against the Royals in his final outing of the spring. He struck out five batters, did not issue a walk and allowed just three hits over his six innings on the mound.
Analysis: Richard gets his first start of the season on April 8 against the Dodgers. Richard went 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers last season. Richard, who is coming off shoulder surgery, finished the spring with a 6.30 ERA. While it wasn't a great showing for southpaw, he did end on a high note. Fantasy owners should view Richard as a low-end pitching option to start the season.
News: With Tim Stauffer battling a triceps injury, the Padres lined up their rotation for their four-game, season-opening series against the Dodgers as Edinson Volquez (April 5), Cory Luebke (April 6), Dustin Moseley (April 7) and Clayton Richard (April 8).
Analysis: Richard is coming off shoulder surgery and didn't look all that great this spring. He has a 9.00 ERA in four starts and got lit up for eight runs in 4 1/3 innings in his last spring start. Nonetheless, the Padres will begin the year with him at the back part of the rotation. Consider Richard a low-end Fantasy option to begin the year. Richard went 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers last season.
News: San Diego pitcher Clayton Richard failed to get through five innings for a second straight start this spring. He was tagged for nine runs -- eight earned -- off 12 hits over 4 1/3 innings of work. Richard allowed two homers, both coming in the fifth inning, during his time on the mound. He also fanned two batters and issued one walk.
Analysis: Richard has now allowed 14 runs -- 11 earned -- over his last two starts. Not exactly how he'd like to end spring training. Richard owns a 9.00 ERA for the Padres this spring. The 28-year-old went 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 2011, but was limited to 18 starts because of shoulder issues. In 2010 he had a career campaign going 14-9 with a 3.75 ERA. Fantasy owners should keep tabs on Richard heading into the regular season, but as long as he's healthy he's a viable pitcher in deeper mixed leagues.
News: San Diego pitcher Clayton Richard didn't make it through five innings on Saturday against Cincinnati as the Reds beat the Padres, 6-0. Richard was tagged for his first loss of the spring after allowing five runs -- three earned -- off seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. He issued one walk and fanned four before handing the ball over to the bullpen.
Analysis: Richard now owns a 5.59 ERA this spring. Saturday's outing comes just days after pitching coach Darren Balsley said he saw the best arm action ever from Richard on Monday. The 28-year-old went 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 2011, but was limited to 18 starts because of shoulder issues. Hopefully he can get into a groove early in the regular season with no setbacks. In 2010, Richard went 14-9 with a 3.75 ERA, having a career campaign with the Padres, so he has plenty of Fantasy value. Owners should target him in deeper mixed leagues on Draft Day.
News: Padres pitcher Clayton Richard got some work in against Seattle affiliate Triple-A Tacoma on Monday. He threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits. The left-hander also struck out five and walked three. “That’s the best arm action I’ve ever seen from Clayton,” pitching coach Darren Balsley told the San Diego Union Tribune. “The ball was coming out free and easy. The velocity was up to 93.”
Analysis: Richard went 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA a year ago but was limited to just 18 starts due to shoulder issues. The 28-year-old appears to be fully recovered from the surgery he underwent and should be able to get back to the solid numbers he posted in 2010. While run support could be hard to come by in San Diego, PETCO Park should only help his numbers so target Richard in deeper Fantasy formats on Draft Day.
News: Padres pitcher Clayton Richard made his second start of the spring on Wednesday against the Reds. He allowed two runs on three hits over three innings of work. The left-hander also struck out three. “Every time I’ve taken the mound I’ve been better. I don’t think about the shoulder now,” Richard said. “I was concentrating on my change-up. It was pretty good pitch for me today. After I get that working I will focus on my cutter.”
Analysis: Richard went 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 starts before going down with his injury last year and has posted a sub-4.00 ERA in each of his first two seasons with the Padres. He showed in 2010 that he definitely has a place in Fantasy so keep an eye on his progress going forward. Even though he is coming off shoulder surgery, target Richard in deeper Fantasy formats on Draft Day.
News: San Diego pitcher Clayton Richard gave up one run in two innings of work on Friday against Los Angeles. In his spring debut, Richard looked comfortable on the mound. Richard didn't pitch past July 4 last year because of eventual arthroscopic shoulder surgery. "It was nice to finally get back on the mound against guys in a different jersey. It was good," Richard told MLB.com. "I was able to throw strikes, which at this point in spring is my priority. I didn't really put guys away, which is something to work on during spring training. But I felt good. That's what we're hoping for right now." The Padres went on to win the game, 6-3.
Analysis: Richard and the rest of the Padres rotation won't get much run support, but play their home games in a pitcher-friendly ball park. Richard went 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 starts before going down with the injury last year. Fantasy owners should consider Richard as viable pitching option on Draft Day this year, worthy of a late round pick.
News: The San Diego Union-Tribune reports Padres starter Clayton Richard threw two innings in a simulated game on Sunday. The left-hander is working his way back from shoulder surgery. “Clayton looked fine,” said manager Bud Black. Richard, who is expected to make his first spring start next Friday, threw 40 pitches during the workout. “My fastball command could have been better,” said Richard.
Analysis: Richard went 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 starts before going down with the injury last year and has posted a sub-4.00 ERA in each of his first two seasons with the Padres. He was able to make it through Sunday unscathed and should be good to go to start on Friday. While the 28-year-old will not receive a ton of run support in San Diego, consider Richard a viable option in deeper mixed leagues on Draft Day.
News: After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder last July, Padres starter Clayton Richard faced hitters for the first time on Tuesday. "It went well. It's another step in getting ready for the season. It felt normal," Richard told MLB.com. "It's good to throw to hitters. It's been awhile since I did that. It was nice to get that out of my system."
Analysis: Richard went 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 starts before going down with the injury last year and has posted a sub-4.00 ERA in each of his first two seasons with the Padres. He has been given a clean bill of health and should be fine going forward with his shoulder. He is just two years removed from winning 14 games but as Fanatsy owners know, the 28-year-old will not receive a ton of run support in San Diego in 2012. But since Richard is a good source for strikeouts with a respectable ERA, consider him a viable option in deeper mixed leagues on Draft Day.
News:The San Diego Union Tribune reports Padres SP Clayton Richard, who is coming off August shoulder surgery, has been cleared to throw. “I had a very normal offseason,” Richard said. “I worked out, I completed my normal throwing program without a problem. I feel great. I’m here like it was any other February.” Manager Bud Black said the team will watch Richard this spring, but he also said he won't hold the left-hander back. "Our doctors and our staff feel good about him," Black said. "He's going to go through camp as a regular, healthy player."
Analysis: One thing we have learned about pitchers coming off shoulder injuries is to expect the unexpected. Richard might be cleared to throw, but he does have to avoid setback and hopefully get back to the level he was pitching at before getting hurt. Richard went 14-9 in 2010, but he dropped to 5-9 in 2011. His numbers were pretty much the same year-to-year. It's just that San Diego struggled as a team last year, which resulted in the drop in wins. Richard will once again be in the rotation in 2012 for San Diego, but with a high WHIP and low-strikeout potential, Richard is only worth drafting in deep Fantasy formats.
News: The Padres avoided arbitration with SP Clayton Richard on Monday by agreeing to a one-year contract for the 2012 season.
Analysis: Richard's 2011 season ended in August because of shoulder surgery, but he is on track to participate in spring training. Richard went 14-9 in 2010, but he dropped to 5-9 in 2011. His numbers were pretty much the same year-to-year. It's just that San Diego struggled as a team last year, which resulted in the drop in wins. Richard will once again be in the rotation in 2012 for San Diego, but with a high WHIP and low-strikeout potential, Richard is only worth drafting in deep Fantasy formats.
News: MLB.com reports that Padres SP Clayton Richard had begun a throwing program last week for the first time since undergoing surgery on his left shoulder in August. He is no longer experiencing pain in his shoulder and continues to be on track to participate in spring training.
Analysis: Richard made just 18 starts this year, and likely due to his shoulder woes, his velocity and strikeout rate were down from previous seasons. Barring any setbacks, Richard should be in line for a rotation spot next spring, and he will be worth drafting in deeper mixed leagues.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Thursday to make room for 2B Andy Parrino on the 40-man roster. Richard had season-ending surgery in his left shoulder Wednesday and is expected to be ready for spring training next year.
Analysis: Richard has been participating in strength-building exercises and likely won't start a throwing program for several weeks. The left-hander posted a 5-9 record and 3.88 ERA this year following a stellar 2010 season. Fantasy owners should leave him on waivers in all formats.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard had surgery on his left shoulder on Wednesday. He hadn't pitched since beating the Giants back on July 4. "He's projected to be ready by the first day of Spring Training, so there's no need for him to toss the ball or play catch," manager Bud Black told MLB.com. Richard's current rehab consists of strength and range of motion exercises.
Analysis: Richard finished the year going 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 starts this season. He is expected to be ready for spring training next February, but Fantasy owners should continue to monitor his status to see if he suffers a setback. He'll likely will have minimal Fantasy value for next year, as he's more of an NL-only option.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard was cleared to do "light" workouts, including range-of-motion exercises, according to MLB.com. Richard had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder July 29. "We're trying to stay away from the shoulder," Richard said. "The first six weeks, they want to let it calm down. That next period is where they start to strengthen it, working up to getting ready to throw."
Analysis: Richard was placed on the disabled list in early July with a shoulder strain and tried to rehab the troublesome injury. He finished 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 starts this season before having the surgery. He is expected to be ready for spring training next February. Fantasy owners should continue to drop Richard in all formats and he likely will have minimal Fantasy value for next year.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, on the 15-day disabled list, underwent surgery on his injured left shoulder on Friday and will miss the remainder of the season. Richard last pitched on July 4 and finished the year 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 starts.
Analysis: Richard was originally diagnosed with a strained left shoulder but his recovery wasn't going well and he opted for surgery. He was having another decent campaign for the Padres and has posted a respectable 3.79 ERA over the last two seasons. The 27-year-old should be able to bounce back in 2012 so keep an eye on his recovery. Owners in seasonal formats should feel free to drop Richard but he should be considered a low-end Fantasy SP on Draft Day next season.
News: Padres manager Bud Black said the team is concerned with the slow progress of SP Clayton Richard (strained left shoulder). "There's no doubt the medical staff is concerned because he is not recovering as quickly as they hoped," Black said. Richard has been on the disabled list since July 5. He continues to play catch for the team.
Analysis: Richard went 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his three starts before landing on the shelf. He was getting into form for the Padres and now his slow recovery is costing the team. He'll still have to go on a rehab assignment, which means he's still a week or two from returning to the team. Fantasy owners in deeper-mixed leagues should continue to stash him in hopes he returns and picks up where he left off.
News: The North County Times reports that Padres manager Bud Black said on Tuesday that LHP Clayton Richard (strained left shoulder) is "not anywhere near close to talking about" returning. Richard played catch on Tuesday for a third time in five days.
Analysis: Richard went 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his three starts before landing on the DL, but appears to be several weeks away from returning. We will continue to keep you updated during each stage in his recovery. He is having another solid campaign for the Padres and should be considered a low-end Fantasy SP, when healthy.
News: MLB.com reports Padres SP Clayton Richard (arm) played catch on Sunday. However, there is no timetable for his return. Richard has been out since early July with arm stiffness.
Analysis: It's a shame Richard continues to toil on the DL sine he was actually pitching up to potential before getting hurt. He was 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his previous three starts. Richard should be back later this summer, so stash him in deeper Fantasy formats.
News: Padres manager Bud Black told MLB.com on Friday that SP Clayton Richard, on the 15-day disabled list, will be shut down for the next few days. Richard was pulled from his start Sunday in the fifth inning after throwing just 76 pitches with arm stiffness. There is no timetable for his return.
Analysis: Richard went 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his three starts before landing on the DL so keep an eye on his progress going forward. More will be known once he can start throwing again so the All-Star break will be huge for the left-hander. He is having another solid campaign for the Padres and should be considered a low-end Fantasy SP, when healthy.
News: The Padres placed SP Clayton Richard on the 15-day disabled list Monday with arm stiffness. Richard was pulled from his start Sunday in the fifth inning after throwing just 76 pitches. In a corresponding move, the team activated RP Luke Gregerson from the DL to take his place on the active roster.
Analysis: Richard and manager Bud Black both seemed confident that the left-hander would be able to make his next start, but that is not going to be the case. However, details are still very sketchy at this point, so Fantasy owners should continue to check back for the latest news as it becomes available. Richard has won three consecutive starts and can be considered a viable SP in NL-only and deeper mixed formats when healthy.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard won his third straight start during Monday afternoon's contest against the Giants but also left early with an injury. Richard, who was making his 18th start of the season, limited the Giants to just two hits over five scoreless innings. However, he was pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the sixth inning after throwing just 76 pitches. Manager Bud Black said Richard's left arm was "a little stiff, and a little tight." Richard finished with three walks and two strikeouts while improving to 5-9 on the season.
Analysis: Richard turned in another solid outing on Monday and has now won three straight decisions for the Padres. However, he is apparently dealing with some stiffness in his throwing arm, so his status heading into his second start of Fantasy Week 14 (July 4-10) is now in jeopardy. Fantasy owners should continue to monitor status moving forward to see if he will be able to make his next start, which is scheduled for Saturday against the Dodgers. Despite his current winning streak, Richard should only be starting in NL-only and deeper mixed formats, when healthy.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard won for the first time in 12 home starts since August 2010 on Tuesday night when San Diego beat Kansas City, 4-2. Including Tuesday night's game, Richard's ERA in his last 12 home starts is 2.76. He held the Royals to two runs on five hits in seven innings of work. He issued one walk and struck out five before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Richard improved to 4-9 on the season.
Analysis: Richard has lowered his ERA to 4.09 to end the month of June and won two games for the Padres. He did lose four games, but he can't win them all. With a 1.45 WHIP and 51-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio, Richard doesn't bring much to the Fantasy table. The fact he pitches for one of the worst offensive teams in the majors, it's difficult to pile up wins. Richard takes the mound next on Monday in Week 14 (July 4-10) against the Giants. He'll be in line for two starts that scoring period. While he has Fantasy value, it is limited to deeper mixed and NL-only formats.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard picked up a gritty, gutsy victory on Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park in Boston. Richard had to pitch through two mid-game rain delays and came back each time to fulfill his five full innings necessary to earn the win in a game that ended at 5-1 after 8 1/2 innings due to the weather. "I thought he deserved this one," a proud manager Bud Black said after the game. Richard allowed a run in the fifth inning on Adrian Gonzalez's RBI single, but that was the only run he gave up over his five innings and 97 pitches. Richard, who allowed just the one run on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts, improved to 3-9 on the year for the Padres. His ERA is at 4.21.
Analysis: Richard was able to hold a very good offense in check on Wednesday afternoon, though he'd allowed five earned on 10 hits over five innings in a loss to the Twins in his previous outing. In fact, Wednesday's start was important for Richard's confidence as the starter had lost four straight and five of his last six starts overall. He really hasn't pitched as poorly as his record would suggest, but he's still mainly just an NL-only Fantasy option. He will get one start in Week 13 (June 27-July 3) with his next scheduled outing coming on Tuesday against Kansas City.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard was able to settle down after some early struggles against the Twins on Friday night, but it was too little too late. He allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits over five innings of work in the 6-5 loss. The left-hander got roughed up for five runs on four hits, including a three-run homer by Danny Valencia, in the first before settling down after that. But then in the fourth, an error by Chris Denorfia led to an unearned run. Richard also struck out two and walked two while earning his ninth loss of the year.
Analysis: Richard has lost five straight decision for the Padres, posting a 3.79 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings pitched over his last six outings. He has not won since May 16 but he has been the victim of some poor run support over that span. That will likely be a continuing trend for the 27-year-old so owners should continue to view Richard as more of a low-end Fantasy SP at this point. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Red Sox in Boston. Richard is 2-4 with a 6.33 ERA in eight starts on the road this season.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard pitched well in his outing against the Nationals on Saturday night but he could not outduel his counterpart, John Lannan. He gave up two runs on five hits over seven innings of work in the 2-1 loss. The left-hander gave up all of his damage in the first before cruising over his final six frames. Richard also struck out one and did not walk a batter while earning his eighth loss of the year. "You can't get frustrated," Richard told the North County Times. "There are days you win when you don't deserve it. There are days you lose when you pitch all right."
Analysis: Richard took his fourth straight loss on Saturday, but it hasn't been a problem of him not pitching well. He has a 3.22 ERA over his last six starts but the Padres continue to struggle to give him any kind of run support. The 27-year-old has showed in the past that he can be a viable Fantasy option, so just hope Anthony Rizzo's presence in the lineup can get the bats going. Either way, continue to view Richard as a low-end Fantasy SP heading into Week 11 (June 13-19). His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Twins. Richard is 0-1 with a 10.57 ERA in four appearances (one start) in his career against Minnesota.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard had one of his better starts of the season Monday against the Rockies, but again he could not do enough to claim victory. He gave up just one early run to Colorado, tossing some electric stuff throughout the night. Richard struck out eight hitters and allowed just five hits in the 110-pitch outing. He walked three batters in the process, but once again didn't get run support as the team was shutout 3-0 in the end. Richard took the loss, his seventh of the season.
Analysis: Richard has gotten a total of four runs of support from the San Diego offense over his last four starts. It doesn't seem as he will be able to get more runs from the lineup, though he continues to improve on the hill. Richard lowered his ERA from 4.52 to 4.20 in the solid outing, though his record fell to 2-7. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on his outings, though he is not reliable enough to utilize in most formats. Richard will be back on the hill Saturday at home against the Nationals, who he shut down for one run in seven innings of work on May 27 in a no-decision. Consider the lefty to be a low-end option at best.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard allowed three earned runs on eight hits and walked four batters in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Braves. Richard lasted just 4 2/3 innings and managed to strike out just one batter. "Too many pitches were just elevated," Richard said, "and they took advantage of them." This loss dropped him to 2-6 on the year.
Analysis: Richard has struggled mightily this season and it shows. With his 2-6 record and 4.52 ERA, the Padres lefty remains just a low-end SP option in deeper mixed leagues. But the fact he can't get wins and has a lowly 33-to-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio makes him more of an NL-only option right now. He'll be eligible for two starts in Week 10 (June 6-12), the first coming against the Rockies and the second versus the Nationals. Both those contests are at home, where he is 0-3 with a 2.42 ERA through five starts.
News: Despite pitching seven effective innings for the Padres on Friday night, SP Clayton Richard walked away with a no-decision. The game was delayed almost an hour because of inclement weather, but Richard returned to the mound in the fourth inning. He gave up three hits, one of them being a home run to Danny Espinosa in the fifth inning. That would be the only run of the game until the ninth, when both San Diego and Washington scored. The Nationals would edge the Padres, 2-1. Richard issued three walks and struck out one batter during his time on the mound.
Analysis: Richard remains 2-5 on the year, but lowered his ERA to 4.42 after Friday's contest. Despite his struggles this year, Richard still holds Fantasy value. Owners should continue to view him as a low-end SP option in deeper formats. Richard faces the Braves in his next trip to the mound. In three career starts against Atlanta, Richard is 0-3 with a 7.90 ERA.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard struggled a bit on the mound during Saturday night's 4-0 loss to the Mariners. Richard allowed three runs and seven hits over five innings, including Mike Wilson's base hit to bring in the game's first run. Jack Wilson followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. Richard was pulled after throwing 100 pitches after five innings and finished with two strikeouts and a walk while falling to 2-5 on the season.
Analysis: Richard really labored during his outing and needed to make a ton of pitches to get through some innings. That is often a problem for the 27-year-old, who needs to hit his spots in order for him to be effective. Richard's numbers have not been to impressive thus far but he will look get things turned around when he makes his next start, which is scheduled for Friday at Washington. He is 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA in three career starts against the Nationals. Richard should only be active in deeper mixed leagues heading into Fantasy Week 8 (May 23-29).
News: After suffering through four straight losses, Padres SP Clayton Richard finally got back on the winning side of the decision Monday against the Diamondbacks. He got some help from the offense, who had five runs on the board after the first two innings of the game. Richard would go on to give up just five hits, though he allowed two solo home runs to Henry Blanco before his night was over and allowed a third run on a single by Melvin Mora in the fifth frame. The lefty did manage to strikeout five hitters, though he walked three as well. Richard tossed 100 pitches over 5 2/3 innings of work in the win, just his second of the season.
Analysis: Richard got off the hook with some solid work on the mound, but he had a comfortable lead throughout the game as most of the San Diego staff has enjoyed lately. In fact, the offense has scored at least seven or more runs in each of the last five games. Richard did his part as well, finishing just an out shy of his fourth quality effort of the year. He will be back on the mound with the league's hottest lineup at his back Saturday against the Mariners for his second start of Fantasy Week 7 (May 16-22). He has started three games in his career against Seattle, and he's done well behind a 2-0 record and 1.35 ERA over 20 combined innings of work. Fantasy owners may want to give Richard a shot as a low-end option heading into the matchup with the offensively-challenged M's. He is now 2-4 this season wit a 4.79 ERA.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard couldn't make it out of the fourth inning during Tuesday's 8-6 loss to the Brewers. Richard (1-4) tossed a scoreless first inning before Milwaukee put three runs on the board in the second and third innings thanks to a barrage of singles. The Brewers hit six singles between the two frames. Milwaukee scored twice more in the fourth and Richard exited after Rickie Weeks' RBI single with one out. "It's just unfortunate when you feel like you're making pitches and they're doing what you want them to do," Richard said. The left-hander was charged with eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and one walk in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out one as he suffered a fourth straight loss.
Analysis: Richard has been betrayed by poor run support in his first two losses, but his last two have fallen on his shoulders. He has allowed 15 runs (eight earned) in his first two May starts. His starting job isn't in jeopardy, but he clearly needs to go back to the drawing board to figure out what is wrong. Since he is not a great strikeout pitcher, Richard remains a low-end Fantasy SP. Richard is on track for two starts in Week 7 (May 16-22), with his first coming Monday at Arizona.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard (1-3) surrendered seven runs -- only one earned -- and four hits in the Padres' 7-4 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Richard, who struck out four batters and walked three, is now winless in six starts since a victory at St. Louis on April 2, the second game of the season. The left-hander continues to be hampered by walks and has now yielded 10 walks in his last three starts. That total has led to a pedestrian 23:15 K:BB ratio for Richard, who lowered his earned-run average to a decent 3.55 in the loss.
Analysis: Richard has pitched well recently, but the Padres' offense and defense are not doing him any favors. He has surrendered just five earned runs in his last three outings combined, but San Diego has not been able to muster sufficient offense in those games. In Wednesday's game, Richard was hurt by two errors in the Pirates' six-run third inning. Fantasy owners should consider him a low-end SP option in NL-only formats, including his next projected start Tuesday at Milwaukee. He finished 1-0 and did not allow a run in his lone start against the Brewers last year.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard (1-2) surrendered two runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings during the Padrers' 3-2 loss to the Dodgers on Friday night. He came in 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA in six previous starts against Los Angeles, including his only big-league shutout on Sept. 21, 2010. He faltered on Friday, registering just three strikeouts and yielding three walks as the Padres lost for the seventh time in eight games. Richard also gave up his most hits this season as he suffered his second loss in a row.
Analysis: Richard also allowed Dodgers OF Andre Ethier to extend his hitting streak to 25 games with a double in the fifth inning. The left-hander had surrendered only one hit against Ethier in 15 career at-bats to that point. Richard was also tagged for his second homer of the season -- a solo blast by Juan Uribe in the fourth. Fantasy owners should consider Richard a low-end SP option in most Fantasy formats, including his projected next start May 4 against Pittsburgh. Richard is 1-0 with 13 strikeouts in two starts against the Pirates the last two seasons.
News: After giving up six runs in his previous outing, Padres SP Clayton Richard looked much sharper in his start against the Phillies on Friday night. The left-hander allowed just two runs on six hits over 7 1/3 innings of work. His only damage came in the third inning when Ryan Howard hit a two-out, two-run triple. "Great hitters like him, they'll get their doubles, triples, their home runs," he said. "It's minimizing the damage before that." However, Richard was outdueled by his counterpart, Cole Hamels, in the 2-0 loss. He struck out four and walked four while earning his first loss of the season.
Analysis: Richard was able to bring his ERA from 4.50 to 3.95 with his outing on Friday but he could receive any run support on a night when Hamels was on. The 27-year-old has had just one bad outing so far this season and could be in line for his best campaign yet. He has progressed nicely each of his first three seasons in the majors so continue to view Richard as a low-end Fantasy SP in mixed leagues. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Dodgers. Richard is 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA in six career starts against Los Angeles.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard (0-1) surrendered six runs on seven hits in just 5 1/3 innings during the Padres' 8-6 victory over Houston on Sunday. Richard, who threw a season-low 76 pitches (minimum three innings), registered five strikeouts and issued one walk. The left-hander allowed two runs apiece in the second, third and sixth innings as his ERA rose to 4.50 -- matching his highest mark of the season. Richard did remain effective keeping the ball in the park and did not yield a home run for the third consecutive outing.
Analysis: After claiming a win in his first outing of the season, Richard has now posted three consecutive no-decisions (one game was a rain-shortened one-inning start). His six runs allowed Sunday was more than the combined total in those past three games (four) as he got into trouble early against the Astros. "I could tell my stuff wasn't as good as it's been in the past," Richard said. His next projected start is also a tough matchup -- April 22 against Philadelphia. Richard went 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA against the Phillies last season.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, who tossed just one inning in his last start Friday because of a rain delay, found himself in quite a pitcher's duel with Sam LeCure on Tuesday against the Reds. Richard actually outlasted LeCure, going 7 2/3 innings to his six frames, but Richard left trailing 2-1 before San Diego tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. Richard, who finished with a no-decision, allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out four.
Analysis: While he is winless in his last two starts, Richard has pitched well in the games he has lasted more than an inning. He still has the ability to pair with Mat Latos to make a formidable 1-2 punch for San Diego. Richard is not a dominant strikeout pitcher, which hurts him in some regards in Fantasy. But the fact he is a threat for 10-plus wins and to post an ERA under 4.00 makes him a potential mid-rotation Fantasy arm. His WHIP has been high in the past, but it's quite impressive to begin 2011.
News:The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Padres SP Clayton Richard will have his next start moved up to Tuesday against the Reds, with Tim Stauffer scheduled to follow him in the series finale Wednesday. Richard is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts so far this season.
Analysis: Richard only threw one inning in his previous outing due to a lengthy rain delay so he should be fresh for Tuesday's start. The left-hander is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in three career starts against Cincinnati but he lines up as a two-start pitcher for Fantasy Week 2 (April 11-17) so consider Richard a viable option in deeper mixed leagues.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard may be able to pitch on Tuesday against the Reds, pushing Tim Stauffer's start back to Wednesday, according to MLB.com. Richard pitched just one inning on Friday night versus the Dodgers in a game that was delayed four times by rain before being suspended. "We are still working through that," said Padres manager Bud. Black. "He [Richard] will either pitch Tuesday or Wednesday. And Tim Stauffer will pitch either Tuesday or Wednesday. Don't be overly surprised if Clayton pitches Tuesday and Tim pitches Wednesday. We didn't want Clayton to get too far away [from his last full start] and the extra day might serve Tim well. He's been going at it pretty hard."
Analysis: Richard will be fresh no matter when he pitches for the Padres, but Fantasy owners aren't happy about his one-inning outing on Friday. If Richard pitches on Tuesday, he'd be a two-start pitcher for Week 2 (April 11-17), giving him more value. No matter what he'll pitch against the Reds, a team he hasn't pitched well against. He's made three starts versus Cincinnati and has not beaten them. Richard's ERA is 8.10 and has lasted just 13 1/3 innings over all three starts. If he faces the Astros, his track record isn't much better as he's never faced Houston. Fantasy owners in deeper mixed leagues should view Richard as a viable option for the week.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard last just one inning on Friday night against the Dodgers, but not because of his performance. He gave up one hit, but a 94 minute rain delay put an end to his night. Richard would not factor into the outcome of the game. The game would be delayed again in the sixth inning.
Analysis: Richard should be fresh for his next start for the Padres after pitching just one inning. Chances are his next start will get moved up, which is something to keep your eye on. Fantasy owners didn't get much out of him in this start, but Richard is still a viable SP option in deeper mixed Fantasy leagues.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard did not pitch too well during spring training but he looked good in his first start of the season on Saturday against the Cardinals. He lasted six innings, allowing three runs on five hits in the 11-3 win. He gave up a two-run single to Allen Craig in the first and a solo homer to Albert Pujols in the third for his only damage on the outing. Richard, who struck out three and walked two, also collected two RBI in the victory.
Analysis: Richard is coming off of a career year for San Diego and looked good in his first outing of 2011. The left-hander has progressed nicely each of his first three seasons in the majors and should be able to take him game to the next level this year. While the Padres might struggle at times to score runs this season, Fantasy owners should continue to view Richard as a viable option in deeper mixed leagues. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Dodgers. Richard is 4-0 with a 2.56 ERA in five career starts against Los Angeles, including one complete-game shutout.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard's poor spring finally came to an end when he got the start in Sunday's game against the Angels. He gave up nine runs (seven earned) on 11 hits in five innings of work. He struck out two and walked one in the 9-2 loss. He finished spring training 1-3 with an 8.47 ERA in four starts, and is scheduled to make his season debut Saturday at St. Louis. "Unfortunately, things didn't click quite the way we hoped they would, but there were some things accomplished," Richard said. "My arm felt good and I was in the strike zone, for the most part. But the command within the strike zone was not very good. There are times that statistics reflect the performance - and to a certain point, that was today."
Analysis: Richard was not very effective this spring but the good news is that he has struggled each of the last two camps and still went on to have decent regular seasons. The left-hander went 14-9 with a 3.75 ERA in 33 starts last year, and has progressed nicely in each of his first three seasons in the majors. The 27-year-old looks to be forming a nice one-two combination with Mat Latos at the top of the Padres' rotation and could be in for his best year yet. Consider Richard a low-end option in mixed leagues heading into opening day.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard had a rough afternoon on Tuesday as the Brewers tagged him with his second loss of the spring. Richard gave up seven earned runs on 10 hits in his 4 2/3 innings of work. He issued one walk and fanned two, but saw his ERA rise to 8.18. San Diego would be shut out by Milwaukee, 7-0. "You never want to have an outing like this," Richard said, "but sometimes it's good to have one because when having these big innings is just as important as getting up and down. What it does, you're able to learn something from it, progress and adjust."
Analysis: Richard missed some time this spring with a shoulder issue, something he didn't consider too serious. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on him the remainder of the spring to see how he pitches and if that shoulder issue pops back up. Last season, Richard won 14 games and posted a 3.75 ERA. He has the potential to be a contributing SP option in Fantasy leagues, which makes Richard worth grabbing in the later rounds on Draft Day.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard took the mound for the second time this spring on Thursday as the Padres faced the Rangers. "I thought his fastball had a lot of life to it . . . some giddy-up to it," manager Bud Black told the San Diego Union-Tribune. He allowed one earned run on four hits in his four innings of work. Richard would strike out three and issue one walk and now owns a 4.26 ERA. The Padres would win the game, 15-5. "This was a step in the right direction," said Richard. "I kept the ball down and threw strikes. Nick (Hundley) and I had a good rhythm. After I was finished, I went to the bullpen to start a simulated fifth. It was a successful night."
Analysis: Clayton made his debut last Saturday against the Rockies and gave up two earned runs on four hits. He was pleased with his outing as he tries to get into a rhythm after missing some time with a shoulder issue. The left-hander won 14 games last season and posted a 3.75 ERA. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on him as the spring continues, but Richard is worth taking in the later rounds on Draft Day.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard made his first start of the spring on Saturday against the Rockies. While he gave up two earned runs on four hits over 2 1/3 innings, he was in good spirits after the game. Richard had been slowed recently with a sore left shoulder. He walked two and struck out one batter. "I'm glad he came out of it healthy," Padres manager Bud Black told MLB.com. "It was good to get him to 40 pitches. It was a good first start for him." Richard said his first outing was about results, but rather the starting point for him to get ready for the season. "This is a time to find your rhythm," Richard said. "At times [today] I found it, at other times ... it wasn't there. It would have been nice to get three innings."
Analysis: Richard won 14 games last year and posted a 3.75 ERA. He struck out 153 batters over 201 2/3 innings for the Padres. While he's downplayed this shoulder issue all spring, it is still something Fantasy owners should monitor. Come Draft Day, owners should target the lefty in the later rounds.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, who has been out all spring because of a sore shoulder, threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is expected to make his Cactus League debut Saturday against the Reds, according to MLB.com. "It went really well," Richard said. "I had pretty good intensity and kind of worked on a little bit of everything. It's always exciting to face another opponent."
Analysis: Richard has downplayed the injury all spring and said Wednesday he was taking advantage of the time to rest early in spring training. After winning 14 games a year ago, he'll get plenty of looks in Fantasy, but his disproportionately high WHIP suggests he's due to take a step back this year. You shouldn't target him before the late rounds.
News:The San Diego Union-Tribune reports Padres SP Clayton Richard, who has been held out of spring games with a sore left shoulder, tossed batting practice for eight minutes on Monday. “To me, he looked normal,” pitching coach Darren Balsley said. “This time of year, he looked like he should.”
Analysis: Richard said his shoulder feels fine and he is confident that he will be ready for the start of the season. That's what the Padres and Fantasy owners want to hear. Richard has a rotation spot locked up after becoming a 14-game winner in 2010. His WHIP is still high because he gives up a lot of hits and walks 3.6 batters per nine innings in his career. So look to Richard in the mid-to-late rounds in Fantasy on Draft Day.
News: Padres manager Bud Black told MLB.com on Saturday that SP Clayton Richard, who has been dealing with sore left shoulder, might need another week or so until he is ready for game action. Richard has yet to appear in a game this spring but Black does not believe that this setback will hinder his availability for opening day. "He should get four [spring] starts instead of six," Black said.
Analysis: Richard, who was 14-9 with a 3.75 ERA in 33 starts last year, was a key piece in the deal that sent Jake Peavy to Chicago and has progressed nicely in his first three seasons in the majors. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on his progress over the next week or so to see when he might be able to make his spring debut. The left-hander is expected to be the No. 2 starter behind Mat Latos this season and could be in for his best campaign yet. Richard still has some decent upside at age 27 and should be considered a late-round pick in mixed leagues on Draft Day.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, who has yet to pitch this spring, has been dealing with a "cranky" shoulder, according to the North County Times, but he should be OK. He was scheduled for a bullpen session Friday, his second in three days.
Analysis: Richard is coming off a 14-win season, but considering he had a 1.41 WHIP, you have to think he benefited from some good luck. He's not without upside, but he's not an ace-in-waiting either. You're better off leaving him for the later rounds of standard drafts.
News: After finished his first full National League season with an impressive 14-9 record and 153 strikeouts, San Diego SP Clayton Richard will no longer be a stealthy starter against opponents in 2011. Richard, who was part of the package the Padres received in exchange for SP Jake Peavy in 2009, led the team in innings pitched last year and tied for the lead in wins. But the 27-year-old is not concerned with statistics. "Numbers are not something that can help me or the team win my next start," he told the San Diego Union Tribune. "If you worry about preparing and winning, the numbers will fall into place. What you do as a team is what I enjoy. There is something really special about what we do, competing for something larger than the individual goal."
Analysis: After a solid first half last season, Richard struggled after the All-Star break and compiled an 8-5 record, but also allowed 42 earned runs in 88 innings. "Clayton flew under the radar," Padres manager Bud Black told the Union-Tribune. "There is still quite a bit of upside to Clayton. There is room to grow in what we think he can accomplish." The left-hander continues to push himself and is working on his change-up in spring training. "Clayton is a lot more talented than it appears," San Diego pitching coach Darren Balsley said. "And if he develops a softer pitch, a curve or a change, to go with that fastball, the ceiling is high." Richard will likely start the season as the Padres' No. 2 starter in the rotation behind Matt Latos and should be considered as a mid-range Fantasy option in mixed leagues.
News: After a strong start in his first full season with San Diego, SP Clayton Richard was noticeably ineffective during the latter half of the year. The 27-year-old left-hander compiled an 8-5 record after the All-Star break, but also surrendered 42 earned runs in 88 innings and recorded 63 strikeouts. Richard finished with a 14-9 mark, 153 strikeouts and a career-best 3.75 ERA while benefiting from pitching at cavernous PETCO Park. He will likely start the season as the Padres' No. 2 starter in a pitching rotation that includes Matt Latos as the ace.
Analysis: Richard had an solid season overall in 2010, but the Padres would obviously like him to be effective from start to finish. He needs will need to fare better against right-handed batters in order to replicate his progress last season. Richard held left-handed batters to just 11 extra-base hits, but allowed 15 home runs and a .281 batting average against righties. He is still young and is dealing with control problems -- he registered just nine outings last season with less than two walks. Consider him a mid-range Fantasy option in mixed league drafts.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard (14-9) won for only the second time in seven starts on Friday night and held down a Giants team that has hit 17 homers in its last eight games. Richard allowed three earned runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one. Pinch-hitter Aaron Rowand connected for a two-run shot in the sixth to chase Richard. San Diego would hold onto to the 6-4 win.
Analysis: With a 3.75 ERA Richard had been a decent option in deeper mixed Fantasy leagues this year. His third year in the league has proved to be his best so far and Fantasy owners should have their eye on him heading into 2011. He should be viewed as a viable option in mixed league play.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard had a start to forget on Sunday against the Reds. Richard allowed a first-inning run and then gave up three in the fourth and two more in the sixth to allow six runs total on the game spanning five innings. Richard took the loss to fall to 13-9 on the year as he allowed six runs on five hits and four walks over five innings. He allowed two homers and struck out five. Richard has a 3.71 ERA.
Analysis: Richard has had an interesting last few starts. On Sept. 15 in Colorado, Richard allowed eight runs and 11 hits over just three innings to lose to the Rockies. In his next start, however, he pitched a complete-game shutout in Los Angeles. Now, on Sunday against the Reds, Richard had another ugly outing. One could surmise that means his next start, scheduled for Week 26 (Sept. 27-Oct. 3), the final scoring period, on Friday in San Francisco, could be a solid one. He deserves to see Fantasy use in most mixed Fantasy leagues for the final scoring period of the season.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, who had his worst start of the season last time out, allowing eight runs on 11 hits in three innings at Colorado, rebounded with the best of his career Tuesday at the Dodgers. He threw his first ever shutout, allowing eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts. "It was a long five, six days [until this start]. Those are the type of starts where you wish you got on the mound the next day," Richard said.
Analysis: Richard has a respectable 13-8 record and 3.53 ERA on the season, but his 1.39 WHIP is disproportionately high. He issues a surprisingly high number of walks for a non-strikeout pitcher, which is why he'll likely never be a high-end option in Fantasy. He's certainly a serviceable one, though. His next start and second of Fantasy Week 25 (Sept. 20-26) is scheduled for Sunday against the Reds.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard gave up a season-high eight runs and 11 hits in three-plus innings in a 9-6 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday. He only gave up one run over his first two innings before running into trouble in the third. In that frame, the left-hander allowed two of the first three batters to reach base before giving up an RBI single to Carlos Gonzalez. Troy Tulowitzki followed with a three-run blast and Richard gave up one more in the fourth before being pulled for Edward Mujica. The bullpen allowed two inherited runners to score, charging Richard with his eighth run of the outing. He struck out three and walked one while earning his eighth loss of the year.
Analysis: Richard gave up as many runs on Wednesday as he had in his previous six starts combined. The outing raised his ERA from 3.36 to 3.70 and snapped his streak of pitching at least six innings at six. He tends to have performances like this from time to time but usually bounces back. Continue to view Richard as a low-end option in mixed leagues heading into Fantasy Week 25 (Sept. 20-26). His next start is scheduled for Tuesday at the Dodgers, setting him up for two starts during the upcoming scoring period. Richard is 2-0 with a 3.97 ERA in two starts against L.A. this season.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard allowed one earned run on two hits in six innings on Friday against San Francisco. That lone run was all the Giants would need as they would win the game, 1-0. Richard (12-7) struck out three and walked one, lowering his ERA to 3.36.
Analysis: Richard has allowed seven earned runs over his last six starts for an ERA of 1.64. He's gone 3-2 over that span. He's having a solid year for the Padres -- his first solely as a starter. Fantasy owners should consider him a viable option in deeper mixed leagues heading into Week 24 (Sept. 13-19). His next start is at Colorado on Wednesday. In seven career starts versus the Rockies, he is 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA, his loss coming at Coors Field.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard pitched six innings on Sunday afternoon, allowing two runs, one earned, off nine hits against the Rockies. The left-hander gave up a solo home run to Troy Tulowitzki to leadoff the fourth inning but a Chris Denorfia error in the fifth led to another run being scored. Richard left with the game tied at two and did not factor into the decision. He struck out four and walked three while lowering his ERA to 3.43 on the year.
Analysis: Richard is 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA over his last five starts and pitched well after having his start pushed back from Saturday to Sunday. The 26-year-old is having a career season in his first year as solely a starter. He has 135 strikeouts in 173 1/3 innings pitched and remains a viable option in mixed leagues heading into Fantasy Week 23 (Sept. 6-12). His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Giants. Richard is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in four starts against San Francisco this season.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, who was originally scheduled to start Saturday, will instead start Sunday against the Rockies to accommodate rookie Cory Luebke, who is making his major-league debut Friday.
Analysis: Richard is 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA over his last four starts, making him an advisable option even in mixed leagues at this latter stage of the season. He's going seven days between starts, which is a little unusual, but he'll still get to pitch at home, where he has a 2.94 ERA.
News: After starting August 4-0 in five starts, Padres SP Clayton Richard met his match on Sunday. He allowed four runs -- two earned -- on four hits in 7 2/3 innings of work against the Phillies. He struck out five and walked one, but didn't get any run support as the Padres fell, 5-0. His counterpart, Cole Hamels, threw eight innings of scoreless baseball, baffling the Padres' bats. Two of Philadelphia's runs were unearned. Carlos Ruiz singled with one out in the third and advanced on Richard's errant pickoff throw. He took third on Hamels' groundout and scored on Jimmy Rollins' single.
Analysis: Richard (12-6) is having his best year in the majors, as he has a 3.50 ERA and has 131 strikeouts on the year. The lefty was also let down as his team committed four errors. Despite Sunday's loss, Richard has developed into a nice Fantasy pitcher worth starting in most mixed leagues. Heading into Week 22 (Aug. 30-Sept. 5), Richard is set to face Colorado on Saturday. In six starts versus the Rockies he is 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard helped keep the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard in Tuesday's 5-0 victory. The left-hander allowed just three hits over six innings. He had runners on in five of his six innings, but none advanced beyond second base. "I was able to mix it up enough and throw enough strikes to keep them off balance, and really trust the defense," Richard said. He walked five and struck out eight while improving to 12-5 on the season.
Analysis: Richard has now won five straight decisions, over six starts dating back to July. Richard is 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA and has been a very respectable starter for the Padres this season. His WHIP is a little high and he can be wild at times, but should continued to be used in deeper mixed leagues when the matchups are in his favor. He is scheduled to make his second start of Fantasy Week 21 (Aug. 23-29) on Sunday against the Phillies. Richard has never faced the Phillies in his career, but is 5-3 with a 3.24 ERA in 12 starts at home this season.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard recorded another quality start Wednesday against the Padres, winning for the fourth time in his last five. He allowed one run on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings and now has a 4.23 ERA during that five-start stretch.
Analysis: Richard's ERA has actually risen over his last five starts even though he has been winning during that stretch, but a particularly bad start Aug. 7 is to blame for that. His WHIP is a little higher than you'd expect for someone with his ERA, but his win-loss record is reason enough to own him in mixed leagues. Continue to play the matchups with the 26-year-old left-hander. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, making him a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 21 (Aug. 23-29).
News:Clayton Richard earned his third straight win over the Giants this season on Friday night, helping San Diego extend its division lead to 3 1/2 games over San Francisco in a game the Padres played under protest. It became a moot point when they won. He allowed two runs over six innings. He gave up six hits and walked two batters in his 10th win of the season.
Analysis: Richard recovered after a poor outing on Aug. 7, during which he gave up five runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. While he hasn't been a lights out pitcher by any means, he has been a very respectable starter for the Padres this season as his 10-5 record suggests. He won't hurt you in any particular category and is a candidate for a quality start each time out. He will face the Cubs in Fantasy Week 20 (Aug. 16-22).
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard lasted just 3 2/3 innings on Saturday night against the Diamondbacks, allowing five runs off five hits. The left-hander gave up a solo homer Chris B. Young in the first before settling down a bit. Arizona then battered Richard for four runs in the fourth, including one on a bizarre wild pitch during an intentional walk. Richard sailed the fourth pitch of the intentional walk over catcher Nick Hundley's head, allowing Adam LaRoche to score from third. "It is very unusual, for sure," Diamondbacks manger Kirk Gibson said of the intentional walk/wild pitch combo. "You don't expect things like that to happen." The next hitter lined a single up the middle, making the score 5-0. Luckily his teammates battled back and Richard winded up with the no-decision. He struck out two and walked two while making his shortest outing of the year.
Analysis: Richard had won his previous two starts before laboring for less than four innings on Saturday. The ineffective outing raised his ERA from 3.60 to 3.83. This was a rare bad performance for the lefty so Fantasy owners should not start to panic just yet. He has allowed over four earned runs only four times in 23 starts this season and should be considered a viable option in mixed leagues. His next start is scheduled for Friday at the Giants. In three starts against San Francisco this season, Richard is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard lasted just 5 1/3 innings on Monday, allowing four runs off 10 hits against the Dodgers. The left-hander matched his shortest outing this season but was helped out by seven runs of support while he was in the game. Richard struck out six and walked three in the 10-5 win. The lefty was coming off an 8-5 victory over the Dodgers at San Diego last Wednesday, and is 3-0 in four career starts against them. Last September, he held them to one hit over seven innings in a 5-0 win at Petco Park.
Analysis: It wasn't pretty on Monday night but Richard was able to pick up his ninth win of the year. He is now 5-1 in his last six decisions and is sporting a healthy 3.60 ERA on the year. He has 113 strikeouts in 137 1/3 innings pitched and should be considered a viable option in most mixed leagues. His next start, and second of Fantasy Week 18 (Aug. 2-8), is scheduled for Saturday at the Diamondbacks. In one start against Arizona this season, Richard allowed five runs over 6 1/3 innings but still came away with the win.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard picked up his seventh win of the year on Wednesday and impressed his manager with the use of his fastball. Manager Bud Black told MLB.com that he liked how the left-hander used his fastball, especially the velocity. "I think he was more effective. He's a fastball pitcher," Black said. "There have been a number of his games this year where he moved into his velocity [as the game wore on]. [Wednesday] he had it from the outset." Richard reached as high as 94 mph on the radar gun on Wednesday. Pitching coach Darren Balsley encouraged Richard to his his fastball more, which sinks a lot and causes plenty of ground balls. "[Balsley] noticed I wasn't pitching as well with my fastball as I'm capable of," Richard said. "So we made that pitch a point of emphasis. Sometimes I was thinking too far ahead in the count and I just got away from it."
Analysis: Richard is 2-1 in five starts in July and his performance on Wednesday will hopefully get him back to the pitcher that posted a 2.74 ERA over the first three months of the season. The 26-year-old has 107 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched with just 50 walks. He should be considered a solid option in most formats heading into Fantasy Week 18 (Aug. 2-8), as a two-start option. His next scheduled start is for Monday against the Dodgers.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard continued his recent luck of run at home with a 6-1 victory against the Dodgers on Tuesday. Richard was being outdueled by Hiroki Kuroda most of the night, as he fell behind 1-0 after Jamey Carroll had a RBI single in the third. The game remained that way until Richard was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth. San Diego would score two runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth to send Richard to the win. He allowed four hits in six innings, walking one and striking out six. He has won his last three home starts, posting a 3.72 ERA and holding the opposition to a .247 average in that span.
Analysis: Richard is 9-3 in 18 career starts at PETCO Park. He definitely has a nice home-field advantage. And it's not like he has been awful on the road this season, posting a 3.79 ERA in nine starts. His record might not be outstanding, but Richard is keeping a reasonable ERA and striking out batters as well. He definitely should be started in more than 38 percent of Fantasy leagues. His next scheduled start is for a rematch with Los Angeles on Monday. He is on track for two starts in Week 18 (Aug. 2-8), with his second against the Diamondbacks. Both starts, however, are on the road.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard (7-5) continued his July swoon on Thursday, allowing four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits over six innings. Richard, whose ERA this month now sits at 7.13, struck out five and walked two. "He couldn't get into a rhythm early," said manager Bud Black. "He couldn't get any one pitch going that he could count on."
Analysis: Richard was pitching very well coming into July, but he's now given up nine hits in three of his four starts this month. This is certainly a worrying trend for the 26-year-old, who struggled last summer before finally turning things around a bit in September. Richard will now be a viable bench candidate in most mixed leagues for Fantasy Week 17 (July 26-Aug. 1), but his RP eligibility gives him a little more value than most. He will get one start against the tumbling Dodgers in the scoring period, which will amazingly be Richard's first outing of the season against L.A.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard pitched 6 1/3 innings on Saturday night, allowing five runs off nine hits in an 8-5 win over the Diamondbacks. The left-hander gave up three in the third and one in the fourth. Then in the seventh, Clayton gave up a lead off single and faced one more batter before being relieved by Ryan Webb. Webb allowed his inherited runner to score, charging Richard with his fifth run on the outing. He struck out six and walked two while picking up his seventh win of the year.
Analysis: Richard has won three straight decisions but has allowed 16 earned runs over his last three outings. Luckily has has not collected more losses but the 26-year-old looks to have hit a wall in July. Still, his strikeout-to-walk ratio of 98-to-47 and 3.52 ERA makes Richard a viable option in mixed leagues. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at the Braves. In one start against Atlanta this season, Richard gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings while taking the loss.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard allowed a season-high six runs in Sunday's 9-7 win over the Rockies. Richard was spotted an early 3-0 lead but allowed runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings before being pulled with two outs in the fifth inning. He left in line for the loss but was bailed out by his teammates, who scored six runs over the final three innings to win the game. Richard allowed six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked and struck out three and now has a 3.33 ERA on the season.
Analysis: Richard has been good all season until his last two starts. He has allowed 11 earned runs and walked seven over that stretch. Maybe he is a bit fatigued as we head into the All-Star break. Hopefully a few extra days of rest will help him regain his status as a solid Fantasy SP in the second half of the season. He is scheduled to make his next start on Saturday at Arizona. Richard has never faced the Diamondbacks in his career.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard allowed five runs on nine hits in six innings on Tuesday against the Nationals. Richard did not get off to a good start when he allowed three runs in the first inning, including a two-run single to Mike Morse. He then allowed a Ryan Zimmerman solo home run in the fourth inning. "When you make a mistake, [Zimmerman] makes you pay for it," Richard said. "That's [been] proven to us over and over again." Ian Desmond followed an inning later with his fifth homer, another solo shot into the Padres' bullpen in left. Clayton left after the sixth inning trailing 5-2. He looked line to earn his fifth loss of the year until the Padres rallied to tie the game at five in the eighth inning, getting Richard off the hook for the loss. He walked four and struck out six.
Analysis: Despite the rough outing on Tuesday, Richard has been pretty good this season, especially of late. He has only allowed 15 earned runs over his last 45 innings and has lasted until at least the sixth inning in his last 10 starts. Richard has become a solid option in mixed leagues at this point. He is scheduled to make his next start on Sunday at Colorado. Is 1-1 with a 3.79 ERA in three starts against the Rockies this season.
News:Clayton Richard struck out a career-high 10 and drove in two runs as the San Diego Padres routed the Colorado Rockies 13-3 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep. Richard (6-4) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings while walking one. He struck out five of his first six batters. He allowed Jonathan Herrera's two-out, two-run double in the second. Richard's previous high was eight strikeouts, most recently against Milwaukee on April 30. Richard threw 107 pitches in the performance and his ERA remains solid at 2.74 on the season. It was Richard's second consecutive victory. "It was a lot of fun today," Richard said. "We had a pretty good approach going into it and attacked the strike zone, and when you get that type of run support, it makes it a lot easier to pitch. It was a lot of fun today scoring runs and playing defense."
Analysis: Richard has allowed a total of two runs on 10 hits over his last two starts (13 innings) and has 15 strikeouts over that span. Richard has been phenomenal in June, as he's lowered his ERA from 3.00 to begin the month to 2.74. The way he's pitching right now, Richard can be used in any mixed Fantasy league in Week 14 (July 5-11) and especially considering he pitches twice. His next start comes on Tuesday at Washington and he will end the two-start week in Colorado.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard (5-4) shutout the Florida Marlins, 3-0, on Friday as he struck out six and allowed seven hits through his six innings of work. Richard walked four and lowered his ERA to 2.75 for the year. This was his first win in his last six starts, although he has a 2.77 ERA during that stretch.
Analysis: Richard has pitched well this year, but the Padres haven't given him much run support. In his 15 starts the Padres have scored three runs or less 10 times -- that includes Fridays win. However, the young lefty is still a solid Fantasy option in mixed leagues. His Week 13 (June 28-July 4) start is slated for Wednesday against Colorado. In four starts against the Rockies, Richard is 0-1with a 4.30 ERA.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard blew an early lead against the Orioles to remain winless in his last five starts. San Diego scored three runs in the bottom of the first to jump out to a 3-1 lead, but Baltimore scored twice off Richard in the third and twice again in the sixth to send him to 4-4 on the season. In six innings, Richard allowed five runs (four earned) on a season-high eight hits, including a two-run homer by Adam Jones. He walked one while striking out five.
Analysis: Despite the winless streak, Richard had pitched very well in his previous three outings, allowing a total of four runs while striking out fifteen in 20 innings (1.80 ERA). His problem is run support -- the Padres have scored three runs or less nine times in his 14 starts. While this will likely cost him wins the rest of the way, Richard is still a solid Fantasy option in mixed formats. His next start is scheduled for Friday at Florida.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard seven innings on Sunday, allowing just two runs off five hits against the Mariners. The left-hander gave up a two-run homer to Milton Bradley in the fourth inning for his only damage on the afternoon. He also struck out struck out four and walked four. When Richard left, the game was tied at 2-2 but the bullpen faltered and the Padres lost 4-2. Richard has earned a no-decision in each of his last three starts.
Analysis: In Richard's last three starts, he has allowed four earned runs while striking out 15 in 20 innings pitched. He lowered his ERA to 2.71 on Sunday and remains a viable mixed league starter for his performance thus far. His next start is scheduled for Saturday against the Orioles. Richard is 1-0 with a 5.87 ERA in two appearances (one start) in his career against Baltimore.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard was sharp against the Mets on Tuesday night. Richard allowed one run on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one. He took a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning before he made his only mistake of the night. "Clayton pitched well," manager Bud Black said, "He made some critical pitches at key times to get through the middle of their order a number of times, which was great to see. But it doesn't surprise me. He's been doing it." He gave up a two-out line drive home run to Jose B. Reyes to tie the score at one. It was the fourth time in his last five starts Richard has held his opponent to one run.
Analysis: Richard had really been sharp the last three weeks. He is now 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last six starts. He's only given up more than three runs once this season and really hasn't had a poor outing all year. He remains a solid Fantasy option in mixed formats. He is scheduled to make his second start of Fantasy Week 10 (June 7-13) on Sunday against the Mariners. He is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in his career against Seattle.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard ended up with a no-decision despite allowing just one earned run against the Mets on Wednesday. He was outdueled by New York starter Johan Santana, who threw seven shutout innings, but San Diego scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and take Richard off the hook. He pitched six innings, giving up four hits and four walks, while striking out five. It was the third time in his last four starts Richard has held his opponent to one run.
Analysis: Richard has been really sharp the last three weeks, allowing a total of nine runs in 34 innings over his last five starts for a 2.38 ERA. He's only given up more than three runs once this season and really hasn't had a poor outing all year. While he doesn't get a lot of run support, he remains a solid Fantasy option in all formats, and should pique the interest of owners in the 44 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy leagues he's currently available in. He will make two starts in Fantasy Week 10 (June 7-13), his next coming Tuesday at New York. He's now 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in his career against the Mets.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard was handed his first loss since April 14 during Friday's defeat by the Nationals. He pitched seven innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits, including a pair of homers that accounted for all of his runs. He walked one while striking out five. Richard had won his last three starts, giving up four runs in 21 innings over that stretch.
Analysis: Friday was the first time all season Richard has allowed more than three runs, and he's yielded less than three runs five times in 10 starts. He's not striking out a ton of hitters, but remains a solid Fantasy option in mixed formats, and could surely be of help to owners in the 45 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy leagues he's currently available in. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday at home against New York. He's 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in his career against the Mets.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard pitched seven strong innings on Saturday night, limiting the Mariners to only one run off seven hits in a 2-1 win. The only blemish on the left-hander's night came in the sixth when Mike Sweeney hit an RBI single. Richard struck out six and didn't walk a batter, setting down nine straight and 14 of 15 during one stretch after Seattle opened the game with three straight singles - yet failed to score. He also won his fourth straight decision and pitched at least seven innings for the third consecutive outing.
Analysis: Richard has had a fantastic season this far, having not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his nine starts. The left-hander has allowed a combined four runs in his four victories and although he is averaging less than a strikeout per inning, he is quickly becoming a solid option in mixed formats. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Nationals. In one career start against Washington, Richard gave up one run over 6 2/3 innings while earning the win.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard beat the Giants for the second time in six days on Monday. Richard held the Giants to one run on three hits in seven innings. He also struck out five and walked three. In his last two starts, both against the Dodgers, Clayton has allowed only three runs in 15 innings. He is now 3-2 on the season with a 2.94 ERA.
Analysis: Richard has now not allowed more than three runs in any of his eight starts. Consider him a viable option in deeper mixed formats. His second start of Fantasy Week 7 (May 17-23) is against Seattle on Saturday. He pitched six scoreless innings against the Mariners last year in his only start against them in his career.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard held the Giants to a pair of runs on Wednesday to win his second game of the season. In seven innings, he yielded seven hits and two walks, striking out a pair of batters. Richard has given up five earned runs over 18 innings in his last three starts, earning a pair of wins.
Analysis: Richard's WHIP is 1.50 on the season, but he's getting key outs, failing to allow more than three runs in any of his seven starts. He's a viable Fantasy option in deeper mixed formats, especially for Fantasy Week 7 (May 17-23), during which he'll make a pair of starts. His next start comes Monday at home against San Francisco. He's 1-1 with a 4.67 ERA in his career against the Giants.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, who pitched six shutout innings in his last start, wasn't as effective Wednesday against the Rockies. He allowed three runs on six hits in five innings, striking out five and walking five. He didn't factor in the decision. He has only two quality starts in his last five opportunities.
Analysis: Richard is giving up far more baserunners than his 3.34 ERA would have you believe, which means something has to give eventually. The 26-year-old still has to learn consistency and is too vulnerable for mixed-league use at this stage of his career. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday at San Francisco.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard pitched six scoreless innings on Friday night in a 3-0 win over Milwaukee. The left-hander only allowed four his and struck out eight while earning his first win of the season.
Analysis: Richard is now sporting a respectable 3.00 ERA and has 23 strikeouts through five starts this season. The surprise Padres are competing early on in the NL West, which makes Richard a little more valuable Fantasy-wise. He is more than serviceable in NL-only formats. Richards next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Rockies. In one start earlier this year against Colorado, he pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while earning the loss.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard pitched to a no-decision Sunday against the Reds in a 5-4 win for San Diego. Richard gave up three earned runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings and left before the Padres took their final lead. Richard walked four batters in the ballgame and struck out just one. His ERA is 3.75 on the year.
Analysis: Richard has been solid all season and hasn't allowed more than three runs in any start. Still, he has zero wins to show for it and is 0-2 on the year. His numbers have been solid but the Padres don't afford him many wins and that limits his Fantasy value to NL-only leagues. His next start comes Friday against Milwaukee. He has a 2.70 ERA in three career starts against the Brewers and is 1-0 against them.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, who allowed three earned runs in each of his first two starts, allowed only one in his third start, a no-decision Monday against the Giants. He gave up seven hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings, recording five strikeouts.
Analysis: Richard showed what he can offer when he went 5-2 with a 4.08 ERA in 12 starts for the Padres down the stretch last season. He doesn't have huge upside, but he can be an effective starting pitcher in NL-only leagues and even has some low-end mixed-league appeal in the right matchups. His next start and second of Fantasy Week 3 (April 19-25) is scheduled for Sunday at Cincinnati.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard was cruising through five shutout innings on Wednesday before Brian McCann put Atlanta ahead 2-1 with a two-run double with one out. Luke Gregerson relieved Richard after that and allowed another run to score, which was charged to the starter. Richard had five strikeouts and only walked one in his 5 1/3 innings pitched. His next start is scheduled for Monday against the Giants.
Analysis: Two games started, two games in which Richard pitched well and only allowed three runs in a loss. The probably won't get much run support from his team this year so he is more of a NL-only Fantasy SP and low-end reserve in mixed leagues. In his one start against San Fran last year, Richard gave up six runs and eight hits in only four innings pitched.
News: MLB.com reports Padres SP Chris R. Young, who had his Monday start against the Braves scratched because of tightness in his right shoulder, will not appear in the Atlanta series, which ends on Thursday. Kevin Correia will replace Young on Monday, while Clayton Richard will pitch Wednesday after an off day and Mat Latos is expected to start in the series finale.
Analysis: Richard did fairly well in seven innings on Friday against the Rockies. He did take the loss, but he allowed just three runs. Richard continues to progress in his young MLB career and could develop into a decent lefty for the Padres. However, run support could be scare at times, so he is more of a NL-only Fantasy SP and low-end reserve in mixed leagues. Richard was 0-1 with a 23.14 ERA in his lone start against Atlanta last season.
News:Clayton Richard allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings for San Diego on Friday. He also added four strikeouts as the Padres fell to Colorado 7-0. Richard was acquired in the deal that sent Jake Peavy to the Chicago White Sox last July. Richard's next start is scheduled for Wednesday against Atlanta. In one start against the Braves last year he got rocked giving up 6 runs on 9 hits in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
Analysis: Richard's stat-line looks bad when he has a goose egg in his team's run column. Richard pitched well for San Diego after being traded from the White Sox, and if he can get some run support, he should get some wins. Richard strikes out a lot of batters but Fantasy owners in NL-only leagues would be best suited for him.
News: According to the Padres' official Twitter feed, SP Clayton Richard has been confirmed as the No. 4 starter. SP Mat Latos will be the No. 5.
Analysis: After a rough start to his spring, Richard has allowed just one earned run over his last 11 innings, spanning a pair of outings. After coming over from the White Sox in the Jake Peavy deal last July, Richard impressed with a solid strikeout rate and a respectable 4.08 in 12 starts. He's looking very much like a NL-only sleeper on the rise at the moment.
News: According to MLB.com, Clayton Richard is believed to have the inside track on the Padres' fourth starter spot. Jon Garland, Chris R. Young and Kevin Correia have already been announced as the first three starters, and Mat Latos is thought to be the front-runner for the last spot. That would leave Sean Gallagher, Wade LeBlanc and Tim Stauffer looking for bullpen roles.
Analysis: Never much of a strikeout pitcher, Richard's 114 Ks in 153 innings last year were a nice surprise. Now if the 26 year-old can rediscover the superb control he exhibited in the minors, we really have something here. He is a solid pick for NL-only leagues, and with a better team, he could be a sleeper in mixed league formats.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard struck out seven in five innings Saturday as San Diego played out a 2-2 spring tie with the Cubs. Richard allowed one run on four hits over five innings with three walks. "I'm hitting the glove now and not worrying about much else, just being aggressive and confident," said Richard. "Baseball's a simple game. We get in trouble when we complicate things."
Analysis: Richard is penciled in as the No. 5 starter in the Padres rotation to start the season, but the 26-year-old isn't a stud by any means and might not pick up many wins with this San Diego squad. Continue to leave him for deeper NL-only leagues.
News: Padres left-hander Clayton Richard threw six shutout innings, striking out three and walking two on Monday against the Diamondbacks. Entering the game, Richard had thrown 6 2/3 innings this spring. He was slated to pitch five innings, but he kept pitching because his pitch count was low. He said he felt good throughout the outing. "It's great this point of spring training to get the six-inning mark," Richard said. "Every time you pass an inning, it's kind of exciting. It's what you're looking forward to in the spring, getting more and more innings." The Padres backed him with five double plays. "The defense played great behind me, got them some opportunities keeping the ball down," Richard said. "They definitely made the most of it."
Analysis: Richard, 26, had a much better outing Monday after giving up nine runs over 5 2/3 innings in his previous two. Richard seems a shoe-in to win a spot in the rotation but pitching for the lowly Padres will be just an NL-only Fantasy option until he proves otherwise with his stats.
News: San Diego left-hander Clayton Richard spent more time in the dugout watching the Padres score than on the mound. The Padres put together three five-run innings as they outslugged the Kansas City Royals 16-14 on Wednesday. Tony Gwynn and Lance Blanks each drove in three runs for the Padres. The game included 31 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, 11 walks, a wild pitch, five errors, a passed ball and 12 unearned runs - and lasted three hours and 27 minutes. The Padres led 16-4 entering the seventh, but the Royals scored 10 unanswered runs to make it interesting. Richard watched San Diego score five runs in the second and five in the fourth. In both innings, the Padres sent 10 men to the plate. "You wish there was a way for your team to score a lot of runs and do it quick," Richard said. "I've been thinking of that for a long time on how to make that happen. You love to see the offense do well, but it's tough to sit for so long and go back out there. But you'd definitely rather have that than your team not scoring runs." While Richard was credited with the victory, he permitted four runs, three earned, on four hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings. "Even when I was missing with my pitches, I was missing where I wanted," Richard said. "I think it was definitely a positive outing. I know the stats don't really relay that message. I was definitely around the strike zone more. I felt my command was a little bit better. There were just a few balls hit hard. That's the way baseball is."
Analysis: Richard has a 12.15 ERA on the spring thus far as he tries to hold onto a rotation spot with the Padres. The 26-year-old hurler spent time with the White Sox and the Padres last season and went 9-5 overall in 26 starts with a 4.41 ERA. Richard is likely to ultimately win the rotation spot but would have value only in NL-only Fantasy leagues unless he improves.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard threw 48 pitches in two innings during a dismal start against the Rangers on Friday. He allowed six earned runs on six hits, walking four and fanning one. He was scheduled to go three innings, but his high pitch count cut his day short. "I struggled with command of everything. I think it was very evident," Richard said.
Analysis: Richard is in the mix for the fifth spot in the starting rotation after going 5-2 with a 4.08 ERA for the Padres in 2009. He won't win the job if he continues to pitch like he did on Friday, but if he does, working in a pitcher-friendly park like San Diego's he'll have Fantasy value in NL-only formats.
News: One day after his start against the Seattle Mariners was rained out, Padres pitcher Clayton Richard threw a scoreless inning Monday against the Rockies. The Padres have already announced that Richard will start on Friday against the Texas Rangers.
Analysis: This was Richard's first appearance of the spring and he'll get another on Friday as the starter. He's looking to secure a rotation spot in the back-end of the rotation and likely has it locked up with a decent spring. That said, he'll only bring Fantasy value in NL-only leagues pitching for the lowly Padres.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard was dominant on Wednesday in a win over the Dodgers. Richard improved to 9-5 on the season as he gave up just one hit over seven shutout innings for the win. He walked three and struck out two. His ERA is at 4.08. Richard's season is officially over now.
Analysis: Richard has ended the year well as he's 1-0 in his final three starts with two runs and 12 hits allowed spanning 19 innings. He pitches for a terrible team but next year anything can happen. Treat Richard with solid potential for a breakout year in 2010. He should be taken as a late-round Fantasy flier on Draft Day.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard tossed six solid innings against the Rockies but came away with a no decision. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits in the game, striking out two and walking two. His ERA went down to 4.62 with the performance.
Analysis: Richard has been pretty good in his last three starts but has taken a no decision in each occasion. He has seen his ERA with the Padres drop almost a full point with over his past two starts, allowing only two earned runs in 12 innings. Think of him as a decent option in NL-only and deeper mixed formats the rest of the way. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Dodgers.
News: San Diego starter Clayton Richard threw 103 pitches over six innings on Saturday against the Pirates and was very sharp. Richard's only issue was walking three batters as he allowed only one unearned run to cross while on the mound. He gave up four hits and left the game with the scored tied at one. He struck out five and had to settle for a no decision. His ERA is at 4.76 on the year.
Analysis: Richard (8-5) has struck out 13 in his last 11 innings but hasn't won since Sept. 1 over Washington. He's 0-1 in his last three starts and has allowed nine earned runs over that span covering 15 innings. While you can definitely say he's struggled in September, his strikeouts are still there and that keeps him viable in deeper mixed Fantasy leagues. His next start for the Padres is scheduled for Thursday at Colorado.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard pitched well on Sunday against the Rockies but left before the team could secure him a victory. Instead, he got a no decision in San Diego's win. Richard allowed three earned runs on three hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out eight. His ERA is 4.90.
Analysis: Richard (8-5) has alternated wins and losses in his previous four starts. The wins have been great: one run allowed in 12 2/3 innings. The losses have been bad: 12 runs in 6 1/3. That makes him a volatile starter worth using only in the deepest of mixed Fantasy leagues pitching for a poor team like San Diego. He definitely has upside, though. Richard's next start comes Saturday at Pittsburgh.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, who allowed only one earned run in 6 2/3 innings against the Nationals last time out, allowed six runs in four innings Monday at San Francisco. He gave up eight hits and one walk, recording three strikeouts in the loss.
Analysis: Richard is now 4-2 with a 5.40 ERA in eight starts with the Padres, which is a step back from the 4.65 ERA he had with the White Sox. You'd expect his ERA to improve moving to a bigger park and a weaker league, but then again, you should always expect the unexpected from a 25-year-old pitcher. Richard has upside, but he's looking like just an NL-only option right now. His next start and second of Fantasy Week 23 (Sept. 7-13) is scheduled for Saturday agaisnt the Rockies.
News:Clayton Richard took a shutout into the seventh inning and fellow rookie Will Venable drove in a run and made another spectacular catch, helping the San Diego Padres to a 4-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Richard (4-1) got two outs in the seventh before Josh Bard homered to left field to cut the Padres' lead to 2-1. Richard was replaced by Adam Russell, who retired pinch-hitter Willie Harris on a line drive. Richard allowed four hits and two walks while striking out six.
Analysis: Richard has won four of his last six starts and has been outstanding since coming to the Padres in the Jake Peavy trade. We are not ready to put Richard among the Fantasy aces, but he passes as a viable low-end flier in larger formats. His next scheduled start is for Monday against the Giants. He is on track for two starts Week 23 (Sept. 7-13) with his second coming against the Rockies.
News:Clayton Richard (3-1) was rocked for nine hits and six runs in 2 1/3 innings and the Padres offense returned to its anemic ways, pushing only one runner past second base against Javier Vazquez after scoring 12 runs the previous night. "It was a rough one," Richard said. "I feel like if I was taking care of business like I should have, we'd have a positive outcome. There's definitely things I can learn from and I'll take those away."
Analysis: Richard had won each of his four previous decisions before getting knocked around by the Braves on Thursday. He has been pretty decent in the Padres rotation since moving over from Chicago but cannot be recommended in much more than NL-only formats. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday against the Nationals.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, who entered the game with a 4.71 in four starts since coming over in a trade with the White Sox, had his best start for his new team against a powerful Cardinals lineup Friday. He pitched six shutout innings for the victory, allowing five hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
Analysis: Richard is off to a 3-0 start with the Padres even though Friday was only the second time he had lasted six innings. The 25-year-old was making big strides with the White Sox, pitching eight innings in back-to-back starts before the trade, but with a lesser supporting cast backing him, he's just an NL-only option. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at Atlanta.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard issued a season-high six walks in 3 2/3 innings, including Julio Lugo on five pitches with the bases loaded in the fourth, allowing the Cardinals to tie it at 3 on Sunday. Richard walked three and gave up an RBI single to Lohse in the fourth. In total, he allowed three runs on six hits in the no decision as his ERA climbed to 4.66 since joining the Padres.
Analysis: This was easily Richard's worst outing since getting shipped off to the Padres, having won his previous two decisions. He has not been overly impressive since making the move but is worth taking a look at in NL-only and some deeper mixed league formats. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Cardinals.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard (2-0) went six innings and allowed four runs on six hits during Tuesday's 13-6 win against the Brewers. He struck out three and walked two, facing Milwaukee for the second time this month in his third start for the Padres. Richard allowed a solo homer to Mike Cameron in the first and a two-run shot to Bill Hall in the sixth, but by then he already had a commanding 9-2 lead.
Analysis: Richard was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in his first two starts for San Diego heading into Tuesday since coming over in the Jake Peavy trade. The lefty is probably going to find pitcher-friendly Petco Park to his liking and also the no-DH rule. Still, San Diego is not a contender and the wins could get scarce. Richard remains a low-end Fantasy SP. His next scheduled start is for Sunday at St. Louis.
News: San Diego SP Clayton Richard had a worse outing on Thursday against the Mets than he did in his first outing with the Padres on Saturday against the Brewers but came away with a better result. He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked four, improving his record to 5-3 on the season.
Analysis: Richard received a no decision in his first start with San Diego when he gave up one run on two hits over 5 2/3 innings on Saturday in a 4-2 win over Milwaukee. He has been pretty good on the hill of late and is worth taking a look at in NL-only and deeper mixed league formats. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday at Milwaukee.
News:Clayton Richard, acquired in the Jake Peavy trade Friday, pitched strongly for the Padres into the sixth inning but came away with a no decision. Richard, one of four pitchers acquired from the White Sox in the deal, did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. The left-hander struck out five and walked three as he allowed one run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Analysis: Richard gave up one run over eight innings in each of his final two starts for the White Sox. Overall in his last three starts, he has allowed three earned runs and 11 hits in 21 2/3 innings for an ERA of 1.25. He is worth picking up in NL-only formats as pitching at Petco Park can only help his numbers. His next start is scheduled for Thursday against the Mets.
News: Padres SP Clayton Richard, acquired in the Jake Peavy trade Friday, will debut for his new team Saturday against the Brewers.
Analysis: Richard allowed one run in eight innings in each of his last two starts. He doesn't have the same supporting cast in San Diego that he did in Chicago, but his upside makes him a must-have in NL-only leagues. He could even matter in mixed leagues before season's end.
News: The Padres have traded SP Jake Peavy to the White Sox for SP Aaron Poreda, SP Clayton Richard, RP Adam Russell and SP Dexter Carter.
Analysis: Peavy isn't scheduled to return from the DL until at least late August, so Fantasy owners still have a bit of a wait before they can utilize his services. Owners who still have a ton of money left over in AL-only FAAB leagues and are in with a chance of winning their leagues have to be salivating at the chance of adding this former Cy Young winner, even though there's no guarantee what they'll get out of Peavy as he's been out so long. His mixed league owners will obviously be happy he's now on a team with something to play for, too. Continue to stash Peavy in all Fantasy formats until he's ready to pitch again. Richard, who was supposed to pitch Friday night for Chicago, will surely get a shot at featuring in the very average Padres rotation, but is at best an NL-only option with how poor San Diego is. Poreda is a nice pitching prospect who remains a solid keeper option and has a good chance of featuring in San Diego later this season. Carter is a 13th-round pick from 2008 who has done well in his short minor league career so far. He has no Fantasy value at this time, however, as he's a long way from having an impact in the bigs. Russell is a decent reliever, but has no Fantasy value while he's in the minors.
News: The Chicago White Sox placed No. 5 starter Bartolo Colon (right elbow inflammation) on the 15-day DL and called up reliever Randy Williams from the minor leagues. Rookie lefty Clayton Richard will return to the rotation now and start Friday vs. the Yankees.
Analysis: Richard has been solid of late and is a nice sleeper in deeper formats, mostly AL-only leagues. Track his performance Friday before considering him viable for Fantasy Week 18 (Aug. 3-9).
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard (4-3) allowed only a run on five hits over eight innings in a 5-1 win over the Tigers on Sunday to help the White Sox salvage a four-game series that started with them tied atop the AL Central with Detroit. Richard struck out three and walked two in the game as his ERA dropped to 4.65 on the season. However, MLB.com reports that Richard will return to the bullpen.
Analysis: This is the second straight start that Richard has tossed eight innings and allowed only one run, although he took a no decision in his previous outing against Tampa Bay. In his two starts prior to the two gems, Richard only tossed a combined 4 2/3 innings and allowed 10 earned runs. Richard had been pretty bad overall this season before his last two starts. He is heading back to the bullpen so his value will actually go down after this start. He should only be active in AL-only formats that use true middle men in Fantasy Week 17 (July 27 - August 2).
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports that White Sox SP Bartolo Colon will remain in the rotation, and will likely to start on Wednesday against the Twins, with SP Jose Contreras getting pushed back a day and SP Clayton Richard heading to the bullpen.
Analysis: Colon earned himself a spot in the rotation with some nice outings in the minors followed by his solid start on Friday against the Tigers. Richard, meanwhile, impressed in his most recent outing, but had failed to get out of the fifth in five of his seven starts before that. Contreras is currently the most Fantasy-viable option in this group as an AL-only option, but Colon might well catch him if he can continue to pitch well. Richard should be held on to in just the deepest of deep AL-only formats while he's in the bullpen.
News:Carlos Pena's sacrifice fly off Bobby Jenks capped a two-run ninth, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 Tuesday night. The late rally made a winner of Jeff Niemann (9-4) and spoiled an outstanding start by Chicago's Clayton Richard, who allowed just four hits over a career-high eight innings. He gave up his only run to Evan Longoria on a sac fly in the third. Richard walked two and struck out seven.
Analysis: Richard delivered his best outing after going 1-2 with a 10.80 ERA in his previous five starts and putting his spot in the rotation and on the roster in jeopardy. He seems to have earned a little bit longer of a stay, but Richard remains an AL-only Fantasy SP until he can iron out his problems. His next scheduled start is for Sunday against the Tigers. Richard has no record and a 5.40 ERA in two outings (one start) against Detroit this season.
News: From The Sports Xchange: Pitching coach Don Cooper said the starting rotation for the second half was finally set, with LHPs Mark Buehrle and John Danks starting things off for the Sox in the Baltimore series, followed by RHP Jose A. Contreras, RHP Gavin Floyd and then LHP Clayton Richard. Matchups went into the thinking, with the Sox setting it up so Contreras would be on the mound for the first of four games against Detroit on July 24. Richard was well aware that he's on thin ice these days. He has a 10.80 ERA over his past five starts to thank for that. "It's something where everyone in baseball goes through struggles -- some worse than others," Richard said. "It's the guys that can stay the most even-keeled that kind of persevere. I just have to keep on working on things that I can control." Easier said than done with daily mentions of Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia to deal with. "That's not for me to decide," Richard said of other pitchers being mentioned as potential replacements. "I just feel like if I get another chance I'll go out there and do the best I can. I have to worry about the next opportunity I'm given."
Analysis: Richard has to sit in all leagues for the short Fantasy Week 15 (July 16-19) that follows the All-Star break. He won't get a start, but he could be a two-start sleeper in the next week. The White Sox will have eight games in seven days due to a Friday doubleheader in Fantasy Week 16 (July 20-26). Richard will be pitching for his rotation spot.
News: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said struggling SP Clayton Richard will remain in the rotation after the All-Star break, because there aren't any alternatives for now. The White Sox are waiting for Bartolo Colon to complete his rehab assignment, and Freddy Garcia is also working his way back in the minors.
Analysis: Richard may still be in the rotation for now, but he won't likely stick for too much longer with the way he has been pitching. He got lit up in his last outing on short rest and is struggling mightily. He is only worth activating in AL-only formats and Richard won't likely get a start in a shortened Fantasy Week 15 (July 16-19).
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard was called upon to start on three days rest Thursday and did not respond well. He tossed only one-plus inning, allowing six earned runs on four hits. The killer for Richard was a second-inning grand slam hit by Kelly Shoppach.
Analysis: Richard was asked to start on three days rest because White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen wants to use John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Mark Buehrle at Minnesota this weekend. Richard has failed to pitch five innings in four of his last five outings, with a loss and three no decisions in those games. He is a struggling AL-only option. The White Sox play only three games in a shortened Fantasy Week 15, so don't expect him to get the ball in the upcoming scoring period.
News: Chicago SP Clayton Richard could not get out of the 4th inning on Sunday in a loss to the Royals. Richard lost to fall to 3-2 on the year as he gave up four runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings. Richard did not walk a batter and had three strikeouts. His ERA is at 4.75 for the season.
Analysis: Richard hasn't allowed fewer than three earned runs in four straight starts but that isn't the most alarming recent trend for him. He beat Cleveland in his last start and went six innings but that was the only time he's pitched more than 5 1/3 in his last seven starts. He isn't going deep into games or giving Chicago a good chance to win right now and should only be used in AL-only Fantasy leagues. His next start is scheduled for Thursday against Cleveland.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard went the distance for the victory at Cleveland on Tuesday. Of course, the distance was only six innings in the rain-shortened game. He allowed four runs on four hits and one walk, recording six strikeouts.
Analysis: Richard didn't even go five innings in either of his previous two starts, and he now has a 7.43 ERA over his last three. The 25-year-old can pitch effectively most of the time, but he's still pretty inconsistent at this stage of his career. Leave him for AL-only leagues. His next start and second of Fantasy Week 13 (June 29-July 5) is scheduled for Sunday at Kansas City.
News: White Sox starter Clayton Richards lasted only 4 1/3 innings on Thursday against the Dodgers in a no decision, allowing four runs on six hits and hitting three batters. He walked one and struck out another as his ERA on the season climbed up to 4.33.
Analysis: Richard has taken four straight no decisions but hasn't gone more than five innings in any of those starts. He is not all that economical on the hill and is just an AL-only Fantasy SP. He is scheduled to be a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 13 (June 29-July 5) with starts at Cleveland and Kansas City.
News: The Chicago Tribune reports the White Sox have changed up their rotation. Left-handed starter Clayton Richard will pitch Thursday against the Dodgers and Jose A. Contreras will go Friday against the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field.
Analysis: Richard's tricky pickoff move could work more effectively against the Dodgers, who are second in the National League in stolen bases and have left-handed hitters James Loney, Juan Pierre and Andre Ethier. Richard has taken a no decision in each of his last three starts, not tossing more than five innings in any of them. He has not been too economical as a starter and can only be trusted in AL-only formats.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard was unable to pitch past the third inning on Saturday, taking a no decision in a 10-8 Chicago win over the Reds. Richard gave up five runs, three earned, on six hits. He struck out four and walked one, allowing a homer. His ERA on the season jumped up to 4.03 with the performance.
Analysis: Richard has taken a no decision in each of his last three starts, not tossing more than five innings in any of them. He has not been too economical as a starter and can only be trusted in AL-only formats. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Cubs' Randy Wells.
News: With a day off on Monday, the White Sox will push back the left-handed Clayton Richard until Friday and let Jose A. Contreras pitch on regular rest on Thursday. Richard was initially slated to go on Thursday.
Analysis: Richard will now go up against Bronson Arroyo at Cincinnati on Friday. This move doesn't really change his Fantasy status for Fantasy Week 11 (June 15-21) as Richard will still only make one start. He is just a low-end mixed league option to begin with.
News: With the White Sox wanting to keep SP Jose Contreras on regular rest, SP Clayton Richard has been pushed back to the June 19-21 series against the Reds, instead of starting Thursday against the Cubs.
Analysis: The Reds are 5-11 in their last 16 games, so Richard's owners will be glad to see he's facing them instead of the Cubs. Still, he's just an AL-only option for Fantasy Week 11 (June 15-21).
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard tossed five innings and took a no decision on Friday against Milwaukee, working on three days rest. He allowed one unearned run on four hits, walking three and striking out three. His ERA on the season dropped to .376 with the performance.
Analysis: Richard has not worked past the sixth inning in his last three starts, going 0-1 with 10 earned runs allowed in 16 innings of work. He has three decisions in eight starts this season with a 2-1 record and 3.76 ERA. He remains a low-end Fantasy SP for mixed leagues. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at the Cubs against Randy Wells.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard pitched relatively well on Monday against the Tigers in a no decision. Well, that is until the fifth inning with two outs. Richard lost his control at that point. Magglio Ordonez singled before Richard walked three consecutive batters, including Brandon Inge to force in a run, and put Detroit ahead 3-1. Richard finished allowing three runs on five hits and five walks over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four. His ERA is 4.14 on the year.
Analysis: Richard looked quite dominant from May 18-29 a span of three starts in which he gave up a total of three runs on 12 hits over 20 innings and went 2-0. Since, however, he's gone 0-1 in two starts spanning 10 innings and has allowed eight runs, 12 hits and walked nine over that span. The biggest problem is the nine walks in his last 10 innings. He must lower that rate if he wants to be successful. He pitches again this week on Saturday at Milwaukee, where he'll have to bat. Richard can be a solid AL-only Fantasy starter when his command gets a bit stronger.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard (2-1) gave up seven hits and five runs and surrendered all three of Oakland's homers in a 5-3 loss on Wednesday. He walked four and struck out four as his ERA shot up to 3.97 on the season.
Analysis: Richard won his last two starts heading into Wednesday's contest. He has only allowed a total of two earned runs in those starts that spanned 13 innings. This was clearly a much different performance from him as he couldn't avoid the long ball. Richard remains a decent AL-only Fantasy SP and deeper mixed leagues. He is slated to be a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 10 (June 8-14) with starts against the Tigers and at Milwaukee.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard (2-0) went seven innings for his second straight victory during Friday's 11-2 win against the Royals. He gave up six hits, including Billy Butler's two-run homer, walked only one and struck out seven in his 12th major league start. Richard also got some good defense early, including a 6-4-3 double play to end the second inning while the outcome was still in doubt. "The defense made some big plays early in the game that got me out of situations I didn't want to get into," Richard said. The only problem, he added with a grin, were all those long stretches when the White Sox batters refused to make outs. "That's a tough thing as a pitcher, having those long innings," Richard said. "You want those big innings but you want them to be quick big innings. That's a tough thing to sit for a long time and then gear back up and go out and go. But you'd definitely rather get those runs than not get them."
Analysis: After Richard yielded the homer to Butler in the sixth, the 25-year-old left-hander struck out the side in the seventh as Chicago won for the seventh time in 10 games. Richard didn't fare well in his first start May 12 as Cleveland battered him for four runs in 3 1/3 innings, but he has since allowed just three earned runs in his last three starts. He has really buckled down and is showing the kind of potential he brings to the table. Richard is still a young pitcher and will have his ups-and-downs, but he is worth a look as a low-end Fantasy flier in larger formats. His next scheduled start is for Wednesday against the A's.
News: Chicago SP Clayton Richard picked up his first decision, a win, on Saturday as he defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates. Richard, making his third start, did not allow a run on four hits over six strong innings. He walked three but struck out eight. His ERA is 3.55 on the year.
Analysis: Whether as a reliever or a starter, Richard has pitched fairly well this season for the Sox. He definitely deserves to pitch every fifth day for the club. His next start comes Friday at Kansas City against Luke Hochevar, who has struggled since joining the majors. Richard should definitely be starting in AL-only leagues.
News: According to Scott Miller of CBSSports.com, Padres SP Jake Peavy has invoked his no-trade clause, nixing a deal that would have sent him to the White Sox for Aaron Poreda and Clayton Richard, among other players.
Analysis: Richard isn't quite on the same level as Poreda, but he has a fair amount of upside and is already in the majors. He's still worth using in deeper AL-only leagues, especially coming off a dominant seven-inning start against the Blue Jays. Keep in mind the White Sox aren't afraid to trade him, though.
News: The White Sox are close to acquiring Jake Peavy from the Padres, subject to the pitcher's approval of the deal, CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler has confirmed. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune,Jake Peavy and Padres manager Bud Black met late Wednesday night to discuss a deal. Peavy "referred to the situation as 'something to think about' yet also restated his desire to stay in the National League," the Union-Tribune reported. According to MLB.com, left-handers Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda are believed to be in the deal.
Analysis: Richard would get a nice situation in San Diego, because he would be assured of a rotation spot and would get a solid pitcher's park to work in. Track this news closely in the coming hours. Peavy should be prepared to make a quick decision.
News: Chicago left-hander Clayton Richard gave up one earned run and three hits in a career-high seven innings Monday. He walked three and struck out three.
Analysis: Richard is a nice sleeper for AL-only leagues at this point. The White Sox are struggling, but they can heat up and make Richard a winner for Fantasy owners. He gets another start before Fantasy Week 8 (May 25-31) on Saturday vs. Pittsburgh. That outing could make him a sleeper for even mixed leagues if he pitches well again.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard, who moved into the rotation when the team sent Jose A. Contreras to the minors, didn't fare well in his first start of the season Tuesday at Cleveland. He allowed four runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings, issuing three walks and recording two strikeouts. He managed to avoid a loss, however.
Analysis: Richard had little success out of the bullpen before joining the rotation and had a 6.04 ERA in 13 appearances, including eight starts, last year. He has some measure of upside, but you clearly can't trust him outside of deeper AL-only leagues right now. His next start is scheduled for Monday at Toronto, which would make him a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 7 (May 18-24).
News: The Chicago Tribune reports that White Sox SP Clayton Richard will start Tuesday instead of Wednesday. Mark Buehrle will now get an extra day of rest.
Analysis: This move doesn't affect either guy's status any, as with Thursday's off day, only Gavin Floyd was to get two starts in Fantasy Week 6 (May 11-17) for the Sox. Richard, who was 2-5 with a 6.35 ERA in eight starts last season and has been working out of the bullpen so far in 2009, is just way too risky to worth starting in Fantasy play outside of the deepest AL-only formats.
News: From the The Sports Xchange:Clayton Richard will come out of the bullpen and replace Jose A. Contreras in the rotation Wednesday in Cleveland. "He's our future and will be a starter in a few years," manager Ozzie Guillen said of Richard. "He's the best we have in the bullpen right now for the job and I like lefties against Cleveland." Richard, 25, has been a starter through his career, including making eight starts last season in his first call-up with the team. "Good deal," Richard said when told he would start Wednesday. "Coming up last year and my whole career has been starting, I'm comfortable with that role. Any time you get an opportunity, you want to make the most of it and hopefully go out there and do what I'm capable of -- but really just put the team in a position to win."
Analysis: Richard is a nice sleeper in deeper leagues, mostly AL-only formats for Fantasy Week 6 (May 11-17). Consider him a potential sleeper to stick in the rotation long term, but we think prospect Aaron Poreda will eventually wind up in the No. 5 starter's spot this season.
News: The Chicago Tribune reports that White Sox SP Clayton Richard will join the Chicago rotation on Wednesday against the Indians, replacing SP Jose Contreras, who will be sent down to the minors to try and regain his form.
Analysis: Richard is 2-5 with a 5.63 in 24 major league appearances. He played in 11 games this season out of the bullpen, but did make eight starts last season, putting up a 6.35 ERA. He will only be worth adding in deeper AL-only formats. Contreras should be back at some point this season, but is only worth stashing if you're in a super-large AL league and have pitching trouble.
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Clayton Richard is the most likely candidate to replace Jose Contreras in the White Sox rotation.
Analysis: Richard has allowed eight runs in 16 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and five walks. He doesn't have a ton of upside, but is worth taking a flier on in AL-only formats.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard, who is working out of the bullpen to start the season, has walked three guys in three innings of work so far in 2009.
Analysis: Richard walked only 13 guys in 47 2/3 innings last season, so he doesn't really have a history of control issues. Hopefully he's just getting the kinks worked out early on, and Richard remains a decent sleeper option in deeper AL-only formats because of his potential to get spot starts here and there in 2009.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard gave up three runs and six hits over six innings Wednesday against the Padres, issuing one walk and recording four strikeouts. He likely doesn't have a spot in the rotation with Jose A. Contreras and Bartolo Colon expected to recover in time from their injuries.
Analysis: Richard has had some nice season in the minor leagues recently and is likely the first person out of the minors as soon as somebody gets injured. He'll likely make an impact in AL-only leagues before season's end, but you should probably avoid him in all but the deepest of formats.
News: The Cubs scored seven times Friday in the first inning to chase White Sox starter Clayton Richard, who got only one out. "He couldn't find the plate, and when he found the plate, he got hit," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "With the combination of those two things, you're not going to have a good outing. It was the first outing he struggled all spring."
Analysis: Richard wasn't a well-regarded prospect, and in fact was off the radar, coming into the year, but it is hard to argue with the results. The Futures Game starter was headed for the Olympic team -- perhaps as the ace -- before the White Sox decided he was too important to their pennant race. They called him up to mixed results, but he likely will be slotted as a member of the rotation heading into the season. We don't see him being more than a back-end Fantasy starter in his first full season, especially because the White Sox play in a hitter's park, but that offense could make him a winner as a late-round sleeper, especially in AL-only formats.
News: From the The Sports Xchange: LHP Clayton Richard is one potential replacement for RHP Bartolo Colon in the rotation if the veteran pitcher isn't ready for the start of the regular season. Each outing for Richard this spring has been better than the last, and what manager Ozzie Guillen really likes is that the southpaw throws strikes. The other option is RHP Jeff Marquez, but Richard has slightly out-performed him. "You have to be prepared for what's Plan B, and (Richard and Marquez) are the Plan B," Guillen said. Aaron Poreda apparently is out of the mix right now.
Analysis: Richard is the flier of choice in AL-only formats right now. Marquez seems to be a more high-risk option, while Poreda is the elite prospect flier ticketed for Triple-A and perhaps a midseason call-up. We seem to think Colon still will be ready, but he has a few more starts to make to decide things.
News: White Sox starter Clayton Richard gave up seven runs - five earned - and 11 hits in four innings Sunday against the Athletics. The 25-year-old left-hander, in the mix for the rotation if Bartolo Colon and Jose Contreras aren't healthy, was hurt in the first inning by wind-blown popups and bad defense. Then he was hit hard in a four-run third. "I felt physically good, but there were some pitches I'd like to have back," he said. "It happens. You've got to minimize the damage, and I didn't do that."
Analysis: Richard ended up picking up the win in the wild game on Sunday as his ERA rose to 5.06 on the spring in 21 1/3 innings. Richard has started six games this spring and has allowed 12 earned runs, walked five and struck out seven. With the uncertainty surrounding Richard's rotation spot, it will be hard to gauge his Fantasy worth. Even if he wins a spot, you should just leave Richard for AL-only leagues.
News: White Sox pitcher Clayton Richard, whose spot in the Chicago rotation depends on the health of Jose Contreras and Bartolo Colon, worked four scoreless innings before surrendering a two-run homer to Arizona's Ryan Roberts in the fifth on Tuesday. Richard allowed two runs and three hits in five innings. He struck out one, walked one and hit a batter, throwing 69 pitches, 41 strikes. The left-hander will be a long reliever if Contreras and Colon are ready to go when the season starts. "In no way do I control what their progress is," Richard said, "so what I try to do is worry about myself and what I can do to get better and take control of what I can control."
Analysis: With the uncertainty surrounding Richard's rotation spot, it will be hard to gauge his Fantasy worth. Richard has a 3.65 ERA in 12.1 spring innings with five strikeouts and four walks. Even if he wins a spot, you should just leave Richard for AL-only leagues.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard allowed five hits and two runs in 3 1/3 innings Thursday against the Royals, striking out two and walking three. "He threw well," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He was out of gas a little bit at the end. He was over 50 pitches."
Analysis: Richard has made a strong case for a spot in the White Sox rotation thus far, but his 2008 numbers (2-5, 6.04 ERA) could hurt him if Jose A. Contreras and Bartolo Colon are indeed healthy. Even if he wins a spot, you should just leave Richard for AL-only leagues.
News: White Sox left-hander Clayton Richard pitched four shutout innings during Saturday's spring game against the Rangers, but his chances of being in the rotation decreased because right-handers Jose Contreras and Bartolo Colon both threw 55 pitches in a bullpen session -- another step toward being ready for the season. If Contreras and Colon are ready for opening day, that could fill out the White Sox rotation behind Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Gavin Floyd. That would send Richard and Jeff Marquez to the bullpen or Triple-A. "I don't worry about it. It's out of my control," said Richard, who started eight of his 13 games last season. "The only thing to control is our outings on the mound and try not to worry about what they are doing with their progress."
Analysis: Richard allowed just four hits Saturday, but didn't strikeout a batter. He has 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in nine spring innings (three starts). Richard has made a strong case for a spot in the White Sox rotation thus far, but his 2008 numbers (2-5, 6.04 ERA) could hurt him if Contreras and Colon are indeed healthy. Even if he wins a spot, you should just leave Richard for AL-only leagues.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard, who pitched two scoreless innings in his first start of the spring last week, didn't fare so well Monday against the Mariners. He allowed four runs -- three earned -- on four hits in three innings, striking out three.
Analysis: Richard was 2-5 with a 6.04 ERA in 13 appearances last season, including eight starts. He has a chance to win a rotation spot this spring, but with Jose A. Contreras and Bartolo Colon rapidly recovering from their injuries, he might have to begin the year in the minors. Even if he wins a spot, you should just leave him for AL-only leagues.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard worked two hitless innings with one walk in his first start of the exhibition season Wednesday at the Angels. He is competing with Bartolo Colon, Lance Broadway, Jeff Marquez and Jose A. Contreras for what could be two open spots in the rotation behind Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Gavin Floyd. "I know what Richard can bring to the table," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I don't know about Marquez. I'll have to watch him. If Colon and Contreras are with the White Sox on opening day, I'll take my chances."
Analysis: Richard was 2-5 with a 6.04 ERA in 13 appearances last season, including eight starts. He has modest upside, but he looks like he's ready for the majors. Even if he wins a spot, you should just leave him for AL-only leagues.
News:Clayton Richard, Gavin Floyd, John Danks and Aaron Poreda are scheduled to start exhibition games next week, beginning Wednesday.
Analysis: Floyd and Danks are third-year starting pitchers who deserve to be picked among the top 30 at their position, while Richard or Poreda are sleepers for deeper leagues if one of them wins the No. 5 starter's spot. Even if Poreda doesn't get the job out of spring training, he is an elite talent that warrants a flier in deeper AL-only and all long-term keeper leagues. A starting role in the majors should eventually be Poreda's and he could be a dominant force in Fantasy once he arrives.
News: The fifth spot in the White Sox rotation -- behind Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, John Danks and Bartolo Colon -- could be a spring competition between several pitchers, including Lance Broadway, Aaron Poreda, Clayton Richard and Jeff Marquez, who was acquired in a trade with the Yankees involving Nick Swisher. The White Sox also have Jose A. Contreras, who ruptured his Achilles' last season. He is ahead of schedule in his recovery and could return after the All-Star break, pitching coach Cooper said.
Analysis: Poreda is an elite prospect and talent that would have value in all Fantasy leagues when, not if, he arrives. Richard is likely the most ready to start in the majors, but he and the others are more of AL-only Fantasy options if they win a rotation spot.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard was in control against the Yankees on Wednesday. Until the seventh inning, that is. Richard ended up with the loss as he fell to 2-5 on the year. He couldn't get out of that seventh as he allowed two runs on five hits over 6 2/3. He walked two and had five K's.
Analysis: Richard is nothing more than a high-risk option for the deepest of AL-only leagues down the stretch. There is a measure of long-term potential here, but he will have to really pitch lights out next spring to have a legit chance at starting for the contender out of camp. It is not yet known when he'll next start.
News: Manager Ozzie Guillen named Clayton Richard (2-4) as their starter Wednesday. He was chosen over Lance Broadway, who could still get a spot start later in the week.
Analysis: Richard is nothing more than a high-risk option for the deepest of AL-only leagues down the stretch. There is a measure of long-term potential here, but he will have to really pitch lights out next spring to have a legit chance at starting for the contender out of camp.
News: Chicago SP Clayton Richard fell to 2-4 on the year on Tuesday night in a loss to the Blue Jays in the second game of a doubleheader. Richard allowed five runs on five hits over just four innings. He walked one and had one K. He allowed two Toronto homers and has a 6.94 ERA.
Analysis: Richard was supposed to pitch twice this week but will instead have two starts in Fantasy Week 25 (Sept. 15-21). He'll face the Yankees (on Monday) and Royals and both of those games will come on the road. Since he's gone just one, four and four innings in his last three starts, we don't recommend him in anything other than the deepest of mixed Fantasy leagues over next period.
News: The Blue Jays' game Monday at the White Sox was rained out, with a doubleheader rescheduled for Tuesday. A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez, Monday's scheduled starters, will likely both pitch in the doubleheader along with Tuesday's scheduled starters, Jesse Litsch and Clayton Richard.
Analysis: Vazquez won't get to make his second start until Sunday now, meaning even though Richard will pitch Tuesday as expected, he won't get a chance to make his own second start Sunday. If you started Richard expecting two starts, you might want to rethink your decision before the lineup deadline.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard gave up four runs -- three earned -- on six hits in four innings Monday at Cleveland, losing for the first time in five appearances. He issued two walks and recorded two strikeouts.
Analysis: Richard came out of the bullpen in two of those five appearances, but he entered Monday's game with a 2.25 ERA over his last two starts. He obviously has the ability to pitch well, but his inconsistency makes him just an AL-only option right now. His next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Angels.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard gave up three runs on six hits in six innings Monday at Baltimore, walking one and striking out four. He won for the second straight start since returning from the minor leagues.
Analysis: Richard was 0-2 with a 9.64 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance during his first callup, but he looks like a different pitcher now. He has upside, so take a flier on him now in AL-only leagues. His next start is scheduled for Sunday at Boston.
News:Clayton Richard pitched six innings for his first major league win and the Chicago White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 5-0 Tuesday night. Richard (1-2), making his fourth major league start, allowed five hits, struck out two and walked one in his first appearance his he was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday. Picked for the U.S. Olympic team, the 24-year-old left-hander reported to Chicago instead of Beijing when the White Sox purchased his contract from Charlotte on July 21. Richard escaped trouble in the first after his throwing error allowed Ichiro Suzuki to reach second. Miguel Cairo followed with a single, but Nick Swisher fielded Raul Ibanez's grounder to first, stepped on the bag and threw home for a double play. Richard maintained his poise after leadoff doubles by Adrian Beltre in the fourth and Ibanez in the sixth.
Analysis: He was 0-2 with a 9.64 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance during his first callup, but he dominated against the miserable Mariners. He has upside, but you don't want to use him even in AL-only leagues right now regardless of this game. The Mariners have a way of making anyone look like an ace. Richard next pitches on Monday at Baltimore and could start twice in Fantasy Week 22 (Aug. 25-31) slightly elevating his worth for the week.
News: Before Monday's game at Seattle, manager Ozzie Guillen said LHP Clayton Richard will start on Tuesday against the Mariners.
Analysis: Richard has a 10.38 ERA in three starts this season, failing to go five innings in all of him. He has upside, but you don't want to use him even in AL-only leagues right now.
News: According to The Sports Xchange notes: Manager Ozzie Guillen said he was still weighing his options for a fifth starter, and the targeted date he will need to come up with a name will be Tuesday. With several off days over the next three weeks, the Sox can go with a four-man rotation at times. But not this week. The leading candidates are RHP D.J. Carrasco or RHP Clayton Richard, but they could dip into the minor-league system. Aaron Poreda, their top pick in the 2007 draft, is their top pitching prospect and has been considered a candidate to help down the stretch.
Analysis: Poreda is the flier to take in deeper AL-only and long-term keeper leagues. He has just been added to CBSSports.com's database. Richard or Carrasco are nothing more than a low-end middle relievers or high-risk spot starters for the deepest of AL-only formats if they get the nod. An announcement is expected Tuesday.
News:Clayton Richard was brought up to fill Lance Broadway's spot Friday, but to what extent was still to be determined, according to The Sports Xchange. Richard was a starter when Jose Contreras first went on the 15-day disabled list, but struggled in that role.
Analysis: Richard could end up filling the team's fifth starter void this Tuesday against Seattle, but manager Ozzie Guillen still has to decide. "It's something I'm not going to worry about," Richard said. "The coaching staff and everyone will make those decisions, so I'll do what they tell me to do." Even if the White Sox move him back into the rotation, he is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy SP in AL-only leagues.
News: Before Friday's game at the Athletics, the White Sox recalled LHP Clayton Richard from Triple-A Charlotte. Richard took the roster spot of RHP Lance Broadway, who was optioned to Charlotte on Thursday.
Analysis: Richard gave up 11 hits and nine runs -- six earned -- in 4 1/3 innings Sunday against Kansas City. In three starts since being called up in July, Richard was 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA while giving up 25 hits in 13 innings. Even if the White Sox move him back into the rotation, he is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy SP in AL-only leagues.
News: The Chicago White Sox optioned left-hander Clayton Richard to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday. The White Sox will make a corresponding roster move before beginning a three-game series against Detroit on Tuesday.
Analysis: Richard gave up 11 hits and nine runs 0- six earned 0- in 4 1/3 innings Sunday against Kansas City. In three starts since being called up in July, Richard was 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA while giving up 25 hits in 13 innings. Richard is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy SP in AL-only leagues, if he returns to the majors.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard, who was making his third big league start, gave up nine runs (six earned) on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings during a 14-3 loss to the Royals Sunday. Richard was hurt by a Mike Aviles' two-run homer in the second and a Jose Guillen solo homer in the third. He walked one and struck out two while his ERA went from 9.35 to 10.38.
Analysis: Richard has allowed four or more runs in each of his starts and hasn't made it to five innings. He isn't giving the White Sox many reasons to keep him in the rotation, especially since Jose Contreras is on the rehab path. Richard is temporarily penciled in to start Saturday against the Red Sox, but it wouldn't surprise us if he didn't make the outing. Richard is nothing more than a risky AL-only Fantasy option at this time.
News: White Sox SP Clayton Richard didn't have good results in his second major-league start Tuesday at Minnesota. He allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings, recording three strikeouts. He suffered his first defeat. "I liked what I saw. He's going to be back out there next outing," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He's got a lot of guts. He goes after people."
Analysis: Richard, who went 12-6 with a 2.44 ERA in the minors this season, has been a quick riser in the White Sox system. He went 6-0 in Triple-A and started the All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. Richard's future in the White Sox rotation is still uncertain since he is merely filling in for injured SP Jose A. Contreras, but expect him to make his next start Sunday at Kansas City.
News: While White Sox SP Clayton Richard's seven strikeouts in four innings during his major league debut Wednesday against the Rangers were nice, the five runs on seven hits weren't. Richard also walked a batter in the no-decision.
Analysis: Richard, who went 12-6 with a 2.44 ERA in the minors this season, has been a quick riser in the White Sox system. He went 6-0 in Triple-A and started the All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. Richard's future in the White Sox rotation is still uncertain, and he could well be sent back down before his next turn. Only consider him in larger AL-only leagues and keeper formats until he earns a concrete starting spot.
News: The Chicago White Sox recalled left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard from Triple-A on Monday, after optioning pitcher Adam Russell to the minors on Sunday. Richard, 24, will make his debut Wednesday, starting for the injured Jose Contreras. Mark Buehrle was scheduled to start Wednesday, but his start moved up to Tuesday so he can attend his grandfather's funeral in Missouri.
Analysis: Richard, who went 12-6 with a 2.44 ERA in the minors this season, has been a quick riser in the White Sox system. He went 6-0 in Triple-A and started the All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. He was scheduled to pitch for the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing, but had to be optioned to the minors by Tuesday for that to happen. "This is a dream in itself," Richard said. "That's something I can't really worry about." Richard is only going to get one start now for Fantasy Week 17 (July 21-27) and should be used in larger AL-only leagues.
News: The Chicago Tribune reports the White Sox have called up SP Clayton Richard from Triple-A Charlotte and the 24-year-old will start Tuesday's game vs. Texas. Richard was on Team USA's Olympic roster, but has now been removed. To make room for Richard on the 40-man roster, the Sox transferred RP Andrew Sisco to the 60-day DL.
Analysis: Richard, who pitched in the Futures Game, won all six of his starts at Triple-A Charlotte and had a 2.37 ERA after being promoted from Double-A Birmingham. He was 6-6 with a 2.47 ERA with the Barons. He has 20 walks and 82 strikeouts in 19 minor league starts this season, limiting hitters to a .206 average. He is definitely worth adding in deeper AL-only leagues, especially as he could get two starts in Fantasy Week 18 (July 28-Aug. 3) if the rotation stays as it is. Sisco should continue to be ignored in all formats.
News: White Sox starter Clayton Richard is tearing up Triple-A hitting right now for the Charlotte Knights. Unfortunately for the White Sox, Richard will miss the month of August to play for Team USA in the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Analysis: Richard is 6-0 with a 2.37 ERA in six starts since being promoted from Double-A back on June 12. The 24-year-old is pitching deep into games and has just four walks to go with 29 strikeouts since being promoted. The White Sox rotation is pretty set, but they are just one injury from needing someone like Richard to pitch. That won't happen now until at least the September call up when rosters expand.
