Dose: Dickerson Planted
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Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson was one of the breakout stars of the 2014 fantasy baseball season, producing a .312/.364/.567 slash line with 24 home runs, 76 RBI, eight stolen bases, and 74 runs scored in 131 games. And he was off to a promising start in 2015, boasting a .306/.342/.523 slash line with five homers and 16 RBI in 33 games.
But we’ll have to put this budding star’s story on hold.
Dickerson was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday afternoon with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. It’s something that has bothered him for several weeks, and the 25-year-old experienced an extremely painful flare-up this past weekend in the Rockies' four-game series at Dodger Stadium.
"When I stopped on my toes, it felt like a tearing sensation, a burning, like somebody lit your heel on fire," Dickerson told beat writer Nick Groke of the Denver Post after the Rockies put him on the disabled list Tuesday afternoon. "It's time to let it rest. I was spending five hours in the training room -- I just don't have the recovery that I should. I need to give it a break and let it heal to make it manageable again."
Colorado can’t be sure that a 15-day disabled list stint will solve the problem entirely. Plantar fasciitis just doesn’t work like that. So this is something that will warrant monitoring even when Dickerson is invited back to the Rockies’ active roster sometime in early June.
Drew Stubbs, who’s owned in only eight percent of Yahoo leagues, will see an uptick in starts while Dickerson is out (and maybe even when he returns). Stubbs has posted a rough-looking set of numbers so far in 2015, but the 30-year-old outfielder has good speed and a little pop and he’s worth grabbing in most standard formats. Stubbs entered play Tuesday night with a .778 OPS, 17 home runs, and 21 stolen bases in 155 career games with the Rockies. Coors Field remains a wonderful place for toolsy players.
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Burgos The Best Bet In Arizona?
Addison Reed was officially demoted from the Diamondbacks’ ninth-inning role last Friday after blowing his second save of the season in brutal fashion at Nationals Park. Veteran reliever Brad Ziegler seemed like the smart pick to fill in, but both of the club’s save opportunities since Reed’s demotion have gone to 24-year-old right-hander Enrique Burgos. And he has converted each of them with little trouble.
Burgos struggled with his control in the minors and he has walked eight batters over his first 11 2/3 major league innings, but the rookie needs to be owned in all formats until the spotty command begins to haunt him. He does have nasty swing-and-miss stuff. Between two different lower-farm levels in 2014, the Panamanian-born Burgos struck out 83 batters in 54 2/3 innings. And he’s racked up 20 strikeouts in 10 appearances this year for the Snakes.
Mesoraco Swinging And Squatting Again
Devin Mesoraco hasn’t made a start at catcher since April 11 because of a left hip impingement, but the Reds have refused to place him on the disabled list and he is finally making some tangible progress.
Mesoraco worked through catching drills for the first time in more than a month Tuesday before the Reds’ series-opener at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium and reported feeling fine. He got into a squat about 15 times and made around 15 throws to second base at less-than-full effort. Mesoraco then started at designated hitter for the visiting Reds and finished 2-for-2 with a walk in their loss to the Royals.
There is still no timetable for Mesoraco’s return to catcher and he’ll be back in a pinch-hitting role after the Reds complete their five-game interleague road trip on Sunday in Cleveland, but it sounds like the 26-year-old slugger should be able to avoid season-ending hip surgery. Brayan Pena will continue to serve as Cincinnati’s primary backstop for the foreseeable future. He has a cool .322/.398/.367 batting line in 28 games this season, though the 33-year-old has never produced much in the way of counting stats.
National League Quick Hits: Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman broke a 6-6, 10th-inning tie with a walkoff two-run home run Tuesday off Yankees closer Andrew Miller … Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu is considering season-ending shoulder surgery … Jayson Werth was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a left wrist contusion … Phillies outfielder Ben Revere is being tracked by scouts from opposing teams for a potential trade … Francisco Liriano was hammered for seven runs in two innings Tuesday in the Pirates’ loss to the Twins … Ryan Braun hit an RBI double and a three-run home run Tuesday in the Brewers’ rout of the Tigers … Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said Tuesday that Jake Lamb (foot) should be ready around June 1 … Braves third baseman Chris Johnson (hand) could be activated from the disabled list next Monday … Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies … Tsuyoshi Wada will join the Cubs’ starting rotation on Wednesday … Jimmy Nelson surrendered only one run over eight innings as the Brewers rolled the Tigers on Tuesday night … Cardinals outfielder Randal Grichuk finished 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits and three RBI in Tuesday’s trouncing of the Mets … Padres manager Bud Black said Tuesday that Yonder Alonso (shoulder) is "still a ways away" from rejoining the active roster … Josh Harrison went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI single, and a run scored in Tuesday’s loss to the Twins … Jorge De La Rosa (groin) has been cleared to make his scheduled start on Thursday versus the Phillies … Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella (oblique) will be sidelined for at least another month … Rockies catcher Nick Hundley hit a tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning Tuesday against the Phillies … Jon Jay (wrist) is expected to return from the disabled list when first eligible on May 26 … Giants right-hander Tim Hudson tossed 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball Tuesday in a defeat of the rival Dodgers … John Axford picked up his fifth save of the season in the Rockies’ victory over the Phillies on Tuesday night … Padres catcher Derek Norris hit a go-ahead two-run double in Tuesday’s win against the Cubs … Dodgers finalized their six-year, $62.5 million contract with Cuban infielder Hector Olivera.
American League Quick Hits: Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with inflammation in his left knee … Jose Reyes (rib) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday … Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz cranked his MLB-leading 16th home run on Tuesday night in Baltimore … Mark Teixeira walked twice and finished 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's extra-inning loss to the Nationals … Masahiro Tanaka (forearm, wrist) will make his first minor league rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre … Royals closer Greg Holland was not available to pitch Tuesday due to a stiff neck … Jacoby Ellsbury has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee sprain … Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Rangers … Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis missed a third straight game Tuesday with lingering irritation in his left shoulder … Mike Moustakas finished 3-for-4 with two RBI in the Royals’ win over the Reds on Tuesday night … Carlos Santana (back) said Tuesday that it could be "a couple of days" before he returns to the Indians’ starting lineup … There is growing optimism that Drew Smyly (shoulder) will be able to return this season … Mariners acquired catcher Welington Castillo from the Cubs for right-hander Yoervis Medina … Trevor Bauer tossed 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball Tuesday in the Indians’ defeat of the White Sox … Bruce Rondon (biceps) will begin a rehab assignment this Thursday with Triple-A Toledo … Drew Pomeranz (shoulder) has flown back to the Bay Area to be examined on Wednesday and is a candidate to be placed on the disabled list … Orioles right-hander Bud Norris (illness) will make a minor league rehab start on May 22 at Triple-A Norfolk … Pat Neshek earned a save in relief of Astros closer Luke Gregerson on Tuesday night against the A’s … Royals manager Ned Yost said Tuesday that Alex Rios (hand) could begin a rehab assignment in a week … Coco Crisp is again day-to-day with tightness in his neck … Angels closer Huston Street notched his 13th save of the season Tuesday against the Blue Jays … Matt Wieters (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment May 26 at Double-A Bowie and should join the Orioles when first eligible on June 4 … Royals starter Yordano Ventura blanked the Reds over seven innings on Tuesday night … Yankees right-hander Chase Whitley underwent Tommy John surgery on Tuesday … Red Sox manager John Farrell indicated Tuesday that Rusney Castillo could be promoted soon … Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia (hip) is close to beginning a rehab assignment … Rafael Furcal has officially announced his retirement from baseball.
