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Daily Dose: Gray Days

D.J. Short
Nick Nelson rounds up the trade deadline, noteworthy prospect arrivals, and more in the Week That Was

Another day, another way for the fading Athletics to hit rock bottom. Sonny Gray gave up five runs (four earned) over five innings in a 7-2 loss to the Rangers on Thursday afternoon. Last-place Texas earned a three-game sweep in the series while Oakland suffered their 25th loss in their last 36 games, falling a half-game behind the Royals for the top spot in the American League Wild Card race. Yikes.

Gray dug an early hole Thursday after allowing four runs on five singles in the first inning. He settled down from there by giving up one run on three hits and two walks over the next four innings, but the deficit was too large for the struggling A's offense to overcome against Nick Martinez and the Rangers' bullpen.

Much like the Athletics, Gray has faded as the season has continued. The 24-year-old right-hander had a 2.59 ERA coming out of his start on August 1, but he has posted a 5.05 ERA and 38/22 K/BB ratio in 57 innings over nine starts since. Now sitting at a career-high 203 innings -- he has never thrown more than 182 1/3 innings in a full season before -- it's fair to wonder if he is hitting a wall. On the bright side, his velocity on Thursday wasn't far off from what he has shown all year. Either way, the A's late-season slide continues to be a team effort. The Athletics are now just one game ahead of the Mariners.



Hamilton Hurting Again

Josh Hamilton returned to the Angels' lineup Tuesday after missing 11 straight games with right shoulder discomfort, but now a new injury has surfaced. And it could put his status for the start of the postseason in doubt.

Hamilton told Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that he's dealing with a "sharp, stabbing pain" near his chest and right rib cage. The issue originally surfaced during a round of batting practice on Monday and the pain got worse when he played in Tuesday's game to the point to where "it hurt to breathe." One positive is that Hamilton checked out fine after an MRI on Wednesday, but he was still feeling pain on Thursday and there's no clear timetable for his return.

"I don't know what to tell you as far as long term, short term or whatever," said Hamilton. "But I'm going to do whatever I need to do to get back on the field."

Hamilton is batting .263/.331/.414 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI over 89 games this season. The 33-year-old appeared primed for a big bounceback year prior to tearing a ligament in his left thumb in early April, but he owns a mediocre .696 since his return in June. If you haven't moved on in redraft leagues already, now is the time.

Nolan Done?

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado has taken a healthy step forward for fantasy owners this season, but he acknowledged to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post on Thursday that he's likely won't play in another game the rest of the way.

Arenado was forced to exit Sunday's game after what was originally believed to be a rib injury. After undergoing an MRI and CT scan on Monday, he was diagnosed with a chest bruise as well as signs of early-onset pneumonia. He said Thursday that he's "tired" and his "energy is down" and that he won't try to play again until his chest feels 100 percent. With the Rockies sitting in last place in the National League West, there's no reason to push him.

Arenado missed five weeks with a broken finger and will likely get an early start on his offseason, but he was very productive when healthy, batting .287/.328/.500 with 18 home runs and 61 RBI over 111 games. Those in redraft leagues should feel free to drop him at this point, but he should begin 2015 as a top-12 third baseman.

AL Quick Hits: Felix Hernandez struck out 11 batters and allowed just three hits (all of them singles) over seven scoreless innings, but took a no-decision Thursday against the Angels … Derek Jeter hit his first home run at Yankee Stadium this season on Thursday against the Blue Jays and snapped a 158 at-bat homerless streak in the process … Jose Bautista slugged a two-run homer -- his 33rd of the season -- in Thursday's loss to the Yankees … David Ortiz (family emergency) went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his return to action Thursday night against the Pirates … Taijuan Walker will replace the injured Roenis Elias (elbow) in the Mariners' rotation and start Friday against the Astros … Danny Salazar struck out nine and allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Indians on Thursday … Jered Weaver has been pushed back to Saturday against the Rangers, which sets him up to start next Friday and Game 1 of the ALDS ... Shane Greene struck out six batters over 6 2/3 scoreless innings Thursday, but was handed a no-decision against the Blue Jays … Josh Reddick didn't start Thursday due to a sore neck and ankle … Jake Smolinski went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Athletics … Scott Feldman was handed tough luck no-decision after tossing eight innings of one-run ball against the Indians on Thursday … Mike Aviles hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in a win over the Astros in 13 innings on Thursday … Brock Holt (concussion) will resume baseball activities Friday, but it's unclear whether he will return to game action before the end of the season ... Logan Morrison went 2-for-4 with a three-run, two out bomb to put the Mariners ahead for good in the ninth inning ... Fernando Rodney closed out the game and set the team record with his 46th save ...

NL Quick Hits: Giancarlo Stanton provided an update on his recovery Thursday and said that it will take 6-8 weeks for his facial fractures to heal … Hanley Ramirez (elbow) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in his return to the lineup Thursday against the Cubs … Anthony Rendon went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored Thursday against the Marlins … Yasiel Puig was 3-for-5 with an RBI single and a run scored in Thursday's comeback win over the Cubs … Starling Marte stayed hot Thursday by going 2-for-4 with a solo homer against the Red Sox … Wilin Rosario went 4-for-5 with a walk-off two-run homer and three RBI in a win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday … Gerrit Cole allowed two runs over seven innings Thursday in a win over the Red Sox … Michael Cuddyer went 3-for-5 with a solo homer and three runs scored Thursday against the Diamondbacks … Gio Gonzalez yielded two runs in seven innings in Thursday's win over the Marlins … The Padres could ease Joaquin Benoit (shoulder) back into action before using him in save situations ... Ryan Zimmerman (hamstring) went 1-for-7 as the designated hitter on Thursday in a simulated game and is scheduled to play seven innings in left field on Friday ... Making his first start since May 17, Robbie Erlin allowed one run over six innings in a win over the Phillies on Thursday … Tony Cruz had a walk-off RBI single in a win over the Brewers in 13 innings on Thursday ...