AP Photo/Mark Duncan
Joba Chamberlain earned his first win since May 10 by working eight strong innings.
Chamberlain entered Monday's game at midge-infested Progressive Field in Cleveland -- you remember the last time he pitched there, in the 2007 playoffs -- having never made it past the seventh inning in any of his previous 21 major league starts. In fact, Chamberlain had made it into the seventh inning only four times.
All that changed against the Indians, as the Yankees continued to get strong pitching and defense. The team didn't make an error for the 18th consecutive game, a major league record. Chamberlain played a role with a diving catch of a Kelly Shoppach bunt in the fifth inning, turning it into a double play. During this 18-game stretch, the Yankees are allowing 3.61 runs per game and are 14-4. Before that, the team was 16-17, had made 20 errors and was permitting 6.06 runs per game. Ah, the joys of defense and pitching.
One way to ensure the soft underbelly of this first-place Yankees team -- the middle relief and set-up corps for Mariano Rivera -- doesn't get exposed is to get more innings out of the starting pitching. Chamberlain being more efficient would go a long way toward that goal. In 10 starts this season, he has pitched 53 1/3 innings, although that figure is a bit misleading, since he left his May 21 start against Baltimore in the first inning when he was hit by a line drive. Last week, he went only four innings against the Rangers, walking four and allowing three runs in 84 inefficient pitches. Against the Indians, Chamberlain allowed four hits and two walks in eight full innings, throwing 106 pitches. This isn't a pitcher likely to toss many complete games. But hey, going eight innings is a start, a very good start.
The Yankees will have a decision on their hands if and when Chien-Ming Wang proves ready for the rotation, and it's likely Phil Hughes will be the odd man out. Loud whispers about Chamberlain moving back to the bullpen, where he has terrific career numbers -- 1.53 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 59 innings versus a 3.25 ERA as a starter -- continue to run rampant, but those discussions should be tabled for a while. It's nice to see Chamberlain be the one to table them with his performance.
Previous editions: June 1: Hamilton bound for DL? | May 31: Price rebounds nicely
• Meanwhile, Hiroki Kuroda had started the opening game of the season for the Dodgers and nothing since, so his activation for Monday against the Diamondbacks also was pretty significant. Finally recovered from his sore oblique, Kuroda went five innings and allowed three hits and two runs. Unlike Volquez, a major strikeout pitcher owned in nearly 96 percent of ESPN leagues, fantasy owners seemed to tire waiting for Kuroda's return. He's available in 28 percent of ESPN leagues.
• I wouldn't have pegged White Sox right-hander Gavin Floyd as a buy-low option when his ERA increased to 7.71 a few weeks back. He probably was close to losing his rotation spot. Then Floyd got a no-decision Monday, but he did throw seven strong innings against the Athletics, allowing four hits. His ERA has decreased to 5.75, and most significantly, he has eight strikeouts in each of his past three outings. Floyd fanned 145 hitters in 206 1/3 innings while winning 17 games in 2008. Maybe he's back to that level or beyond it. He's owned in 26.2 percent of ESPN leagues.
• Roy Oswalt doesn't want to pitch for the White Sox, but is he on the trade block? It probably doesn't matter much in fantasy, but Oswalt did begin to spike his value with Monday's outing, his best in more than a month. He won his second game of the season and fanned a season-best eight hitters. It's worth noting that Oswalt has a 97-34 record after June 1 for his career, with a 3.19 ERA; prior to that, date he is 34-32 with a 3.56 ERA.
• LaTroy Hawkins picked up save No. 7 for the Astros, which is only one shy of full-season closers Kerry Wood and Kevin Gregg, among others. Hawkins hasn't held the job very long. Injured incumbent Jose Valverde threw off a mound Monday for the first time since hurting his calf more than a month ago. The Astros hope to get Valverde back in mid-June, but both he and Hawkins could be trade bait in July.
• Just when you thought you might not see him at all in 2009, Troy Glaus and his balky shoulder have been cleared to resume baseball activities. This obviously is noteworthy because, say what you will about Glaus, he hit 27 homers and knocked in 99 runs in 2008, and the Cardinals are not getting production from third base. Those eagerly waiting for prospect Brett Wallace, hitting .284 at Triple-A Memphis, don't want to see Glaus return anytime soon.
• Speaking of comebacks, Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady had a setback in his recovery from an elbow injury, although he's not having any problem swinging a bat. Nady needs to play the outfield because Hideki Matsui can't, but something will have to give here. Matsui's keeper-league owners are hoping the soon-to-be 35-year-old gets some playing time in the outfield, or he will be DH-only in 2010.
• There were rumors in the Mets world over the weekend that Bobby Parnell was close to replacing J.J. Putz as the eighth-inning guy, and the changing of the guard might have happened Monday when Putz got obliterated and blew a lead against the Pirates, giving up four runs without registering an out. Parnell, meanwhile, got one out in the sixth and decreased his ERA to 2.08. Francisco Rodriguez is safe as closer, but with his back problems, it's notable who is next in line. It appears Putz, now 1-4 with a 4.76 ERA, might not be, and Parnell could be in line for a bunch of holds and the occasional save.
• Each of the LaRoche brothers played a key role in the big eighth inning against the Mets, with Adam LaRoche starting the inning with one of his two doubles and scoring twice in the game, and the younger Andy LaRoche tripling and knocking in three runs. While first baseman Adam struggled in May and showed up on the ESPN most-dropped list, Andy might soon make the most-added list. After hitting .254 in April, the third baseman batted .330 in May, and he's off to a fine start in June.
Colby Rasmus, Cardinals
Rasmus is losing playing time now that Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick are back for the Cardinals, but he made the most of his start Monday. Rasmus hit his sixth home run, singled, doubled and scored twice, accounting for most of the St. Louis offense in a 5-3 loss. Rasmus, owned in 2.8 percent of ESPN leagues, should still play occasionally, and it would help if he would keep hitting.
Rich Hill, Orioles
Welcome back, Rich Hill. The Orioles picked up the lefty for a song from the Cubs this past offseason, and start No. 4 for Hill could be a sign fantasy owners should buy in. Hill shut out the Mariners in seven innings, allowing two hits and three walks, striking out seven. He's 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA, and the potential is there for many strikeouts.
After scoring his 32nd run of the season Monday, Derek Jeter enters Tuesday just one run short of 1,500 for his career. He would become the fourth player since 1930 with a .310 batting average, 2,500 hits and that many runs, joining Wade Boggs, Stan Musial and Ted Williams, all left-handed hitters, by the way. Jeter is the No. 3 shortstop on ESPN's Player Rater.
• The Indians placed right-hander Rafael Betancourt on the DL with a right groin strain suffered Sunday night against the Yankees. After a bad 2008, Betancourt had become relevant as the top set-up man for Kerry Wood, who hasn't been perfect this season. Look for Jensen Lewis to reclaim the set-up role, although the recall of lefty Tony Sipp also could affect the late-game hierarchy.
• A few NL East players fantasy owners are well acquainted with are scheduled to come off the DL on Tuesday and get right into action. Anibal Sanchez, the Marlins right-hander who tossed a no-hitter as a rookie and has battled shoulder problems since, is slated to start against the Brewers. Sanchez has a 5.79 ERA in six starts this season for Florida. Meanwhile, the Nationals are desperate for Elijah Dukes to return, as the team's pitchers have seen enough of Austin Kearns manning center field. Dukes and his sore hamstring went on the DL on May 18, so the Nationals aren't waiting long to get him active.
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Christopher Harris: I'm going to play contrarian a little bit here and say Wieters, simply because of positional scarcity. I mean, there just aren't any good catchers out there. Beyond Joe Mauer and Victor Martinez, and maybe Brian McCann, that's about it. Wieters isn't going to be in that class this year, but he could be soon -- and if he is, he'll deliver much more relative value than Price will relative to the starting-pitcher universe. But of course, the truth is that Price probably has more upside.
-- Full chat transcript
Matthew Berry: I'll say Hamilton, Manny, Beltran and Grady. Don't think Grady gets the average up and Beltran will come back to earth a bit.
-- Full chat transcript
Tuesday's fantasy chat schedule:
AJ Mass, 11 a.m. ET
Brendan Roberts, 3 p.m. ET
• I anxiously await the Marlins' recall of Ricky Nolasco on about 10 of my teams, and that call could come later this week. Nolasco's second start for Triple-A New Orleans was nearly as strong as his first last week, as he went seven innings and allowed one run, with one walk and five strikeouts. The Marlins also could promote reliever Tim Wood at some point for bullpen help. Wood relieved Nolasco Monday and tossed two scoreless frames, giving him a 0.54 ERA this season.
• The White Sox got another 0-for-4 performance from Josh Fields, with three strikeouts, while at second base, Jayson Nix saw his average drop to .191. Chris Getz also hasn't done much. How much longer could it be before Gordon Beckham gets called up? The eighth pick in the 2008 draft can play shortstop but for now is working at third base, and in his short time at Triple-A Charlotte, he's 10-for-20 after delivering three hits, two RBIs and three runs Monday.
• Think the Mets could use Mike Carp now, especially the way J.J. Putz is pitching? Carp hit his ninth home run and 14th double at Triple-A Tacoma, upping his batting average to .302. The Mariners are enjoying Russell Branyan so far, but Carp is the future at first base. The Mets, meanwhile, are getting nothing at that position from Danny Murphy, Fernando Tatis and Jeremy Reed. Oh well, at least Putz, the key to the three-team, 12-player offseason deal, is having an awesome campaign.
• The Phillies will turn to a new name to replace Brett Myers and his injured hip: Antonio Bastardo, who struck out 51 in 47 2/3 innings at two levels of the minors. The lefty might or might not be ready for the majors, but if there's any team and stadium to have him debut at, it's against the Padres at Petco Park. Then again, he's facing Jake Peavy. Good luck, kid.
• Rick Porcello of the Tigers is one of the most-added players in ESPN leagues, and for good reason: He won all five of his May starts, permitting five runs in the process, and he ranks 11th in the AL in WHIP. He's 20. He'll oppose Daisuke Matsuzaka, currently sputtering with a 8.82 ERA and 2.33 WHIP. I'll take Porcello.
• For more on Tuesday's games, check out Daily Notes.