Daily Dose: Upton No Good?
For analysis on some of the changing closer situations throughout Major League Baseball, check out Matthew Pouliot’s Sunday Strike Zone column. And you can always find the most up-to-date fantasy information on Rotoworld’s player news page. This is Monday’s edition of the MLB Daily Dose.
Braves center fielder B.J. Upton is quietly beginning to make some noise. If that sentence makes any sense at all.
The 28-year-old is still sporting a weak .175/.273/.316 overall batting line and is still being upstaged in Atlanta by his younger brother Justin Upton, but things are legitimately looking up. B.J. had two singles, a double and three walks during the Braves’ three-game weekend series at Milwaukee’s Miller Park and he now boasts a promising .844 OPS in 82 total plate appearances this month.
B.J. has also doubled his season-long steals total (six) since June 14 and should feel more comfortable trying to run as he continues to get on base at a higher clip. He stole 31 bases in 37 attempts last season with the Rays while tallying 28 home runs and 78 RBI. There are few better buy-lows right now in fantasy baseball.
Twins Turn To Top Prospect
Kyle Gibson is on his way back from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery and he is joining a Twins team that is currently four games under the .500 mark, but there’s still reason for excitement leading up to his Saturday debut against the Royals at Minnesota’s Target Field. Gibson, the 22nd overall selection in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft, registered a 2.35 ERA and 52/19 K/BB ratio over his final 61 1/3 innings this year at Triple-A Rochester, holding opponents to a .209/.272/.259 batting line during that span.
He is not going to strike a ton of hitters out and he does not possess elite-level command, but Target Field is among the most pitcher-friendly parks in the majors and that should help keep Gibson’s ERA in a respectable range. The 25-year-old right-hander is worth a try in most mixed fantasy leagues and all AL-only formats. After the Royals -- assuming he gets to stay in the Twins’ starting rotation -- Gibson will face the Yankees, Rays and Yankees leading into the 2013 All-Star break.
National League Quick Hits: Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez suffered a left shoulder sprain Sunday while making a leaping catch at the wall … Michael Cuddyer went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in the Rockies’ win over the Nationals on Sunday … Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (foot) will be activated from the disabled list on Monday … David Wright tallied four extra-base hits in the Mets’ blanking of the Phillies on Sunday … Dodgers starter Chris Capuano threw five scoreless innings Sunday in a win over the Padres … Delmon Young went 0-for-3 on Sunday against the Mets and is now batting .220/.277/.390 over his first 44 games with the Phillies … Cardinals leadoff man Matt Carpenter finished 2-for-3 with a home run in Sunday’s loss to the Rangers and is now batting .322/.403/.472 through 72 games this season … Jayson Werth left Sunday’s game against the Rockies with a left groin strain … Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen earned his fourth save of the season Sunday against the Padres … Jay Bruce had two doubles Sunday in the Reds’ win over the Diamondbacks, upping his slugging percentage to .538 … Hanley Ramirez has homered in each of his last two games and is batting .358/.397/.679 this season … Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is day-to-day with leg cramps … Ryan Sweeney tallied a career-high six RBI in the Cubs’ rout of the Astros on Sunday … Nationals starter Dan Haren is headed to the 15-day disabled list with shoulder stiffness … Matt Harvey went six scoreless innings Sunday against the Phillies … Joe Kelly has been named the Cardinals’ new fifth starter.
American League Quick Hits: Jose Bautista had a double, two walks and three RBI in the Blue Jays’ blowout win over the Orioles on Sunday … Jacoby Ellsbury tallied his 32nd stolen base of the season in Sunday’s loss to the Tigers … Angels closer Ernesto Frieri blew his second save of the season Sunday in the Angels’ loss to the Pirates … Adam Dunn slugged his 20th home run of the year but the White Sox fell to the Royals on Sunday … Rangers closer Joe Nathan earned his 25th save of the year Sunday against the Cardinals … Fernando Rodney tallied his 15th save of 2013 in the Rays’ win over the Yankees on Sunday in New York … Jose Reyes (ankle) is on track to be activated from the disabled list this Thursday … Rangers setup man Joakim Soria (elbow, pectoral) made his second rehab appearance on Sunday with Double-A Frisco … Kendrys Morales hit a walkoff three-run homer in the Mariners’ defeat of the A’s on Sunday in Seattle … Brett Myers will pitch out of the bullpen for the Indians when he returns from the disabled list … Royals closer Greg Holland earned his 16th save of the season Sunday against the White Sox … Prince Fielder tallied three RBI in the Tigers’ win over the Red Sox on Sunday in Detroit … Joe Mauer finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored Sunday as the Twins beat the Indians … Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino is day-to-day with lingering lower back tightness … Angels manager Mike Scioscia acknowledged Sunday that Ryan Madson (elbow) could be shut down for the rest of the season … The A’s are open to offers for Jemile Weeks ... The Astros promoted outfield prospect George Springer from Double-A Corpus Christi to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
