The Hot the Cold and The Injuried

NL

Hitters

Corey Hart - OF, Milwaukee Brewers Jun. 11, 11:47 p.m.

Corey Hart went 3-for-5 with two homers as the Brewers defeated the Astros on Wednesday night.
Fantasy Source spin: Both of his shots were two-run blasts, giving him four RBI on the night. Hart is hitting in the leadoff spot following Rickie Weeks' injury, which should boost his run and steal totals. His RBI totals could be negatively affected, but with just 32 entering tonight, that hadn't really been his bread and butter thus far. His nine homers and 10 steals put him on about a 25-25 pace.


Mark Reynolds - 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks Jun. 11, 11:21 p.m.

Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer as the Diamondbacks lost to the Mets on Wednesday night.
Fantasy Source spin: Reynolds had three ugly looking strikeouts before coming up to bat in the bottom of the ninth with two men on. His homer tied the game, sending it into extra innings, but the Diamondbacks ended up losing. Reynolds' playing time seemed in jeopardy when Chad Tracy returned, but he's raised his average about 35 points in the last two weeks, hitting seven homers in that span.


Ryan Doumit - C, Pittsburgh Pirates Jun. 11, 10:37 p.m.

Ryan Doumit went 3-for-4 with a solo homer as the Pirates defeated the Nationals on Wednesday night.
Fantasy Source spin: He now has three homers in the last two days, and it doesn't appear his thumb contusion has affected his power. He's hitting .358/.385/.634 in 127 at-bats on the season, and with eight homers he should be owned in all leagues.


Ryan Ludwick - OF, St. Louis Cardinals Jun. 11, 10:16 p.m.

Ryan Ludwick went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer as the Cardinals defeated the Reds on Wednesday night.
Fantasy Source spin: Ludwick's homer was his 16th, and he also drove in a run with his 19th double as the Cards tallied 10 runs in the contest. Ludwick is now hitting .323/.395/.687 on the season, and he has homered in back-to-back games. Still, his numbers figure to be hurt by the absence of Albert Pujols.


Jorge Cantu - 3B, Florida Marlins Jun. 11, 9:48 p.m.

Jorge Cantu went 3-for-4 with two homers as the Marlins beat the Phillies on Wednesday night.
Fantasy Source spin: Both blasts were solo shots, and Cantu finished the night with two RBI and three runs scored. He's hit three homers in the past two days, bringing his total to 14. He also has 39 RBIs.


Edwin Encarnacion - 3B, Cincinnati Reds Jun. 11, 5:52 p.m.

Before Jerry Hairston Jr. landed on the DL, the Reds were planning on having Jeff Keppinger play third base on his rehab assignment in the minors.
Fantasy Source spin: Keppinger will be needed at shortstop now, but it's very interesting that they were intending to use him at Edwin Encarnacion's position. Encarnacion is currently hitting .243/.329/.441 with 10 homers. He had a terrible May, but he has an 1.115 OPS through 10 games in June. It sounds as though another slump could put his job in serious danger after Keppinger and Alex Gonzalez return.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer

Pitchers

Tim Lincecum - SP, San Francisco Giants Jun. 12, 12:23 a.m.

Tim Lincecum shut out the Rockies for seven innings, but he didn't factor into the decision as the Giants lost 1-0.
Fantasy Source spin: Lincecum struck out nine and walked three while issuing six hits. His record sticks at 8-2, and he's been able to overcome the Giants' woefull offense by never allowing more than three earned runs in a start this season. He'll face Detroit next week.
Next start: 6/11: @COL

Mike Pelfrey - SP, New York Mets Jun. 11, 11:26 p.m.

Mike Pelfrey allowed just one run in eight-plus innings as the Mets defeated the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.
Fantasy Source spin: Pelfrey struck out eight and walked just two while allowing five hits. He came out to start the ninth, but he gave up a single and was replaced by Billy Wagner, who gave up a double and a homer to blow his fourth save of the season. Pelfrey's allowed only four runs in his last 21 innings, taking a full run off his ERA, which now sits at 4.24. He pitches against the Angels in Anaheim in his next start.
Next start: 6/11: ARI

Ian Snell - SP, Pittsburgh Pirates Jun. 11, 10:44 p.m.

Ian Snell allowed just one run in six innings to win his third game of the season against the Nationals on Wednesday night.
Fantasy Source spin: Snell struck out six, but he walked three and issued six hits. It was his first quality start since May 9, but he's allowed just two runs in his last 11 innings. He'll pitch against the White Sox in Chicago in his next start, making him a risky play.
Next start: 6/11: WAS

Braden Looper - SP, St. Louis Cardinals Jun. 11, 10:25 p.m.

Braden Looper threw a complete-game shutout as the Cardinals beat the Reds 10-0 on Wednesday night.
Fantasy Source spin: Looper allowed just three hits, striking out four without issuing a walk. His record now sits at 8-5. He's allowed just five runs in 20 2/3 innings so far in June, and he has struck out 14 in his past 15 innings. Despite the recent success, it's hard to argue that he's much more than an NL-only leaguer. He has just six quality starts in 15 attempts this season.
Next start: 6/11: @CIN

Cole Hamels - SP, Philadelphia Phillies Jun. 11, 9:52 p.m.

Cole Hamels struck out 13 and allowed just two runs in eight innings on Wednesday night, but he took a no-decision.
Fantasy Source spin: Hamels allowed just three hits on the night, but two of them were Jorge Cantu solo homers. Hamels retired 17 consecutive batters between the two blasts, and he left the game down 2-1. In the bottom of the ninth, Tom Gordon gave up a single and two walks before issuing a grand slam to Dan Uggla.
Next start: 6/11: @FLA

AL

Hitters

Jose Guillen - OF, Kansas City Royals Jun. 11, 12:07 a.m.

Jose Guillen went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI in a losing effort against the Rangers on Tuesday night.
Fantasy Source spin: Guillen has been a bright spot for this struggling Royals offense. After a terrible first month of the season, he heated up with an .823 OPS in May and is now hitting .436/.450/.897 in nine June games.


Pitchers

John Lackey - SP, Los Angeles Angels Jun. 11, 6:21 p.m.

John Lackey pitched 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball in a victory over the Rays on Wednesday.
Fantasy Source spin: With Gary Matthews Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero helping him along with homers, Lackey improved to 9-1 lifetime against Tampa Bay. For the fourth straight start, Lackey allowed fewer hits and walks than innings pitched. He's 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA.
Next start: 6/11: TB

Felix Hernandez - SP, Seattle Mariners Jun. 11, 4:52 p.m.

Felix Hernandez had additional trouble with his calf muscle during his start Wednesday, but he was able to finish eight innings.
Fantasy Source spin: "I didn't finish the game because of my leg,'' Hernandez said. "The seventh inning was long and my leg was getting tighter and tighter.'' Hernandez's calf has been bothering him for a few weeks, but it hasn't cost him a start yet.
Source: Seattle Times
Next start: 6/11: @TOR

Felix Hernandez - SP, Seattle Mariners Jun. 11, 3:25 p.m.

Felix Hernandez allowed just an unearned run in eight innings and struck out eight Wednesday in a win over the Blue Jays.
Fantasy Source spin: Hernandez got the win after Raul Ibanez delivered a go-ahead single off B.J. Ryan in the top of the ninth. This makes three straight starts in which King Felix hasn't allowed an earned run. His final strikeout today was the 500th of his career.
Next start: 6/11: @TOR

Shaun Marcum - SP, Toronto Blue Jays Jun. 11, 3:21 p.m.

Shaun Marcum struck out nine in seven innings Tuesday against the Mariners, but wasn't involved in the decision after allowing one run.
Fantasy Source spin: Not that every pitcher doesn't love facing the Mariners, but it's an especially advantageous matchup for Marcum, who can throw pitches six inches off the corner all day long and watch impatient hitters flail away. Continue starting Marcum in all formats.
Next start: 6/11: SEA