Baseball News To Use and Get'em Set'em

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Baseball News To Use and Get'em Set'em

LATEST FANTASY BASEBALL HEADLINES

King Felix expects to make next start

Sheets' one-run complete game beats Braves

Nationals' Johnson to undergo wrist surgery

Pirates' Snell to have MRI on elbow

Braves' Teixeira belts three homers in win

Blue Jays place Shaun Marcum on DL

Pujols set to make his return on Thursday

King Felix Slams, Leaves

06/24/2008

BY Aaron Gleeman

What happens when an ambidextrous pitcher faces a switch-hitting batter? Mostly there's a lot of confusion, followed by some gamesmanship, a little frustration, a few on-field meetings, and then finally . well, I won't ruin it for you. Check out this highly amusing eight-minute clip of a low Single-A game last week and see for yourself. Trust me, it's worth watching.While Pat Venditte immediately becomes one of my favorite pitching prospects, here are some notes from around baseball .* Monday's matchup of Venezuelan aces Johan Santana and Felix Hernandez predictably proved to be an interesting one, but hardly went as expected. King Felix made history in the second inning by taking Santana deep to the opposite field for the first grand slam by an AL pitcher in 37 years. After giving himself an early lead Hernandez cruised through 4.2 dominant innings before injuring his ankle when Carlos Beltran slid into him during a play at the plate following a wild pitch. Hernandez was in obvious pain and could barely put weight on the ankle, yet attempted to remain in the game and even tried to talk his way into a second warm-up pitch after hopping around for several moments following his first throw. Clearly in no position to pitch, he finally relented and was carried off the field, visibly upset about coming one out short of his fifth straight win. X-rays were negative and Hernandez said afterward that he expects to make his next scheduled start.

While the Mariners hope that Hernandez can avoid the sidelines, manager Jim Riggleman said Sunday that J.J. Putz is unlikely to make it back from his elbow injury before the All-Star break. "We don't want to rush it," Riggleman said. "It seems like with those elbows a guy says, 'I'm over it' and then he gets in the adrenalin of a game situation and it flares up again." Putz being out for the remainder of the first half would give Brandon Morrow at least three weeks with closer duties.Of course, Morrow needs to get over health problems of his own first. He hasn't pitched since June 17 because of back spasms, but had what the Mariners deemed an "extensive" throwing session prior to Monday's game and is expected to be available Tuesday. Morrow was among the most unhittable relievers in baseball prior to the back problems, tossing 20 innings with a 0.90 ERA, 30-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and .164 opponent's batting average. He can do the job.

Injuries and poor run support kept Ben Sheets from winning more than a dozen games in any of his first seven seasons, but he's avoided his usual assortment of arm problems so far this year and looks capable of approaching 12 wins by the All-Star break. Sheets improved to 9-1 with a complete-game victory Monday, retiring the last 16 batters he faced while holding the Braves to one run on four hits. Sheets totaled seven strikeouts without issuing a free pass, giving him an excellent 84-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio to go along with a 2.59 ERA over 104.1 innings. He hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since May 15 and leads the league with three complete games, the latest of which required just 106 pitches. He has a favorable schedule leading into the break, with a road start against the Twins followed by home starts against the Pirates and Rockies.

After posting a career-best 3.07 ERA last season and moving from the spacious foul territory in Oakland to the hitter-friendly environment in Arizona during the winter, Dan Haren struck me as a good candidate to decline in 2008. Instead, he's been better than ever in his first season with the Diamondbacks, shutting out the Red Sox for seven innings Monday to defeat Josh Beckett and improve to 8-4 with a 3.04 ERA.

AL Quick Hits:

Kevin Youkilis left Monday's game in the fifth inning when a Mike Lowell warm-up throw took an odd bounce and hit him in the eye . Justin Verlander had double-digit strikeouts Sunday for the first time in 20 starts and has lowered his ERA from 6.43 to 4.49 over the past eight outings . John Lackey held the punchless Nationals to one run over eight innings Monday, improving to 5-1 while slicing his ERA to 1.65 . Josh Beckett was a tough-luck loser Monday, falling to 7-5 despite racking up eight strikeouts over eight innings of two-run ball . According to manager Joe Girardi, the Yankees may call up Sidney Ponson from Triple-A to start in Friday's doubleheader . Orioles president Andy MacPhail said Sunday that the team will continue to look for an upgrade at shortstop after handing Alex Cintron the job .

Curt Schilling underwent surgery Monday to repair his labrum and biceps, but no major damage was found in his rotator cuff and pitching again hasn't been ruled out.

NL Quick Hits:

Mark Mulder (shoulder) was scratched from his scheduled minor-league rehab start Monday because of back soreness and may not be readyy to rejoin the Cardinals' rotation as planned next week . Eric Byrnes came off the disabled list Monday after sitting out 25 games with matching hamstring tears and slid into the leadoff spot . Manager Jerry Manuel expressed doubt Sunday that Moises Alou (calf) will be able to play again this season, suggesting that he may "head to the house" and retire rather than struggle through more injuries . Matt Holliday went 2-for-3 with a homer Monday, going deep for the first time since coming off the shelf . John Lannan left Sunday's start after being hit on the wrist by a line drive, but a CT scan Monday revealed no major damage . Mike Cameron returned to the lineup Monday after sitting out four games with a hyperextended knee and smacked a two-run homer . Making little progress on his rehab stint, Matt Clement (shoulder) has shifted to the bullpen at Triple-A . Nationals top prospect Chris Marrero will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his fibula last week.