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Daily Dose: Diggin' Dickerson

Drew Silva
Nate Grimm discusses Corey Dickerson's new home, potentially disastrous news for a top pitching prospect and more in Friday's Spring Training Daily

Carlos Gonzalez tried his best to play through the inflammation that first began developing in his left index finger in early May, but the star left fielder finally had to throw in the towel on Wednesday.


CarGo has officially been placed on the 15-day disabled list and could need closer to three weeks to fully heal. The inflammation was both affecting him in the field -- he throws with his left hand -- and at the plate, where he would struggle at times to maintain a firm grip on the bat. The 28-year-old from Venezuela was sporting a .756 OPS through 52 games this season, his lowest OPS since 2008.


CarGo should get back to his elite-level all-around production when he returns to the Rockies’ active roster later this month. In the meantime, one of Rotoworld’s top fantasy sleepers for 2014 is finally going to get an extended shot. Corey Dickerson went 2-for-5 with a run scored as the Rockies’ fill-in left fielder on Wednesday night against the Diamondbacks and is now batting .348/.398/.663 through 103 plate appearances this season. He has tallied seven home runs and two stolen bases in that limited amount of playing time. Sign him up in all mixed fantasy leagues.


Dickerson, 25, hit .371/.414/.632 with 11 home runs, 50 RBI, and six steals in 75 games last year at Triple-A.



Britton Builds Job Security In Baltimore


Tommy Hunter (groin) made it through fielding drills on Wednesday and is scheduled to throw a simulated inning on Thursday -- good indications that he’s less than a week away from returning to the Orioles’ active roster. But the ninth-inning job will not be there for him when he gets back.


Zach Britton tossed a scoreless ninth Wednesday evening in the Orioles’ 6-5 defeat of the Rangers, earning his fifth save since May 15 while also lowering his season ERA to 0.88. The left-hander has just 20 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings and doesn’t possess the typical arsenal of a dominating closer, but it’s hard to envision O’s manager Buck Showalter abandoning what’s currently working for his second-place club.


Hunter had a 6.06 ERA in 19 appearances before straining his groin, so it’s not like this is robbery.



Tigers Try A New Look At Shortstop


Entering play Wednesday, Tigers shortstops had produced a combined .191/.244/.240 batting line. Makeover time.


Danny Worth was designated for assignment on Wednesday afternoon and 22-year-old infield prospect Eugenio Suarez was called up from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding 25-man roster move. Suarez is expected to take over as Detroit’s primary shortstop, pushing Andrew Romine and his .207/.264/.259 slash line into more of a utility role.


Suarez was hitting .288/.360/.510 with eight home runs, 36 RBI, nine stolen bases, and 32 runs scored in 54 games this season between Double-A and Triple-A. He deserves a try in all AL-only fantasy leagues and is worth a look in some deeper mixed formats.



National League Quick Hits: Diamondbacks pitching prospect Archie Bradley (elbow) is expected to resume throwing the final week of June … Aramis Ramirez slugged a three-run homer in his first game back from the disabled list Wednesday … Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter reached base in all six of his trips to the plate Wednesday in an 11-inning win over the Royals … Matt Cain (hamstring) has been cleared to rejoin the Giants’ starting rotation Friday versus the Mets … Andrew Cashner (elbow) is on track to return to the Padres’ starting rotation on Saturday against the Nationals … Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is still experiencing post-concussion symptoms … Starlin Castro finished 3-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Cubs past the Mets on Wednesday … Stephen Strasburg struck out 11 batters Wednesday in the Nationals’ defeat of the Phillies … Braves reliever Jordan Walden (hamstring) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Gwinnett … Mike Minor struck out 10 batters over seven innings of one-run ball but took a loss Wednesday against the Mariners … Hector Rondon collected his seventh save as the Cubs topped the Mets on Wednesday … Marlins reliever Carter Capps does not need Tommy John surgery for his ailing right elbow … Huston Street earned his 18th save of the season Wednesday in the Padres’ defeat of the Pirates … Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon finished 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday’s defeat of the Phillies … Pat Neshek tallied his first career save in the Cardinals’ extra-innings victory Wednesday evening in Kansas City … Rockies starter Jordan Lyles will be placed on the disabled list Thursday with a broken glove hand.


American League Quick Hits: Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Wednesday morning that he’s sticking with Joe Nathan at closer … Mike Trout (back) is aiming to return to the Angels’ starting lineup Thursday night … Hisashi Iwakuma lowered his ERA to 2.66 with seven innings of shutout ball Wednesday against the Braves … Yoenis Cespedes slugged two solo homers in the A’s win over the Yankees on Wednesday … Twins outfield prospect Byron Buxton (wrist) remains shut down from baseball activities … Ronald Belisario earned his fifth save with a scoreless ninth inning as the White Sox topped the Dodgers on Wednesday night … Carlos Beltran (elbow) could be activated from the disabled list on Thursday … Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (shins) has officially been ruled out for the remainder of the 2014 season … Miguel Gonzalez may be headed to the 15-day disabled list because of a mild oblique injury … Taijuan Walker (shoulder) will make at least one more minor league rehab start before being considered for the Mariners’ rotation … Indians right-hander Danny Salazar has been placed on the disabled list at Triple-A Columbus with a right triceps strain … A’s closer Sean Doolittle picked up his seventh save of the season Wednesday versus the Yankees … Adrian Beltre homered twice but was unable to power the Rangers past the Orioles on Wednesday … Angels starter Garrett Richards blanked the Astros for eight innings, striking out nine, in a victory Wednesday … The A’s have reportedly been shopping right-handed reliever Jim Johnson … Jonathan Villar is day-to-day with a sore elbow … Alexi Ogando landed on the disabled list Wednesday with inflammation in his right elbow … The Yankees designated Alfredo Aceves for assignment on Wednesday … John Danks tossed 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball, guiding the White Sox past the Dodgers on Wednesday in Los Angeles … Jeremy Hellickson is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment Saturday at High-A Charlotte.