I don't know what I liked better about yesterday's PGA Championship - the fact that Y.E. Yang became the first golfer to stare down Tiger Woods in the final round of a major, or my seven-year-old next-door neighbor commenting every time "Yee Yang" hit a good shot. Anyway, nice job, Yee Yang.
Who's off: Jays, Rays, Red Sox, Indians, Tigers, Mariners, Phillies, Nationals, Marlins, Reds, Astros, Rockies
First pitch: The D'backs and Braves kick off the NL action with a 4:05 p.m. ET start, while the Angels and O's start the AL day at 7:05. Here's the full schedule.
Pitcher to start: The weekend was a mixed bag, as Randy Wells was solid on Friday, Kenshin Kawakami just missed our criteria on Saturday, and Chad Gaudin's Sunday start was pushed back. We're a crummy 70-77 for the season.
Since I'll be blogging about football tomorrow through Thursday, here are some pitching picks to hold you over (or to bet against) until Friday:
- Today: Tommy Hunter (9.9 percent owned) vs. Twins
- Tuesday: David Price (23.1 percent owned) vs. Rays. Yes, I'm stubborn, but he's been much better at home.
- Wednesday: We're going back to Randy Wells (30.7 percent owned) at home against the Padres.
- Thursday: Young Rangers' lefty Derek Holland (3.3 percent owned) is 3-1 over his last four starts, with a 1.88 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP and 25 Ks against eight walks in 28 2/3 innings. In May, I traded Holland for Joel Zumaya in a keeper league. Somehow, I'm in eighth place. %$#@!
On to the news:
- Mets 3B David Wright is on the DL with a concussion after getting beaned Saturday. It's hard to say how quickly Wright will recover, but expect the Mets to be very cautious with this situation. You might be waiting awhile.
- Yankees OF Hideki Matsui will miss tonight's game due to a swollen knee, but the team's Web site reports that they hope he'll return "early this week."
- OF Torii Hunter was back in the Angels' lineup Sunday, getting two hits and two RBI.
- Yankees SP Joba Chamberlain isn't scheduled to start again until next Tuesday. If you own him, that probably doesn't sound too bad right now.
- Rangers C Jarrod Saltalamacchia is on the DL with shoulder fatigue; Taylor Teagarden will start while Salty is out.
- In other Rangers' news, don't go overboard about Neftali's Feliz's save on Saturday. It was a two-inning stint with a comfortable lead in the ninth, and Frank Francisco was in his usual closer's role on Sunday. However, if you want to get excited about Feliz's ridiculous stat line (16 Ks, 1.04 ERA in 8 2/3 IP), go right ahead. Watch him as soon as you get the chance, because he throws really hard.
- SS Alex Gonzalez is now the everyday shortstop for the Red Sox. Gonzalez has had a few seasons with decent power, but he had three homers and a .554 OPS for the Reds this year before getting dealt to Boston. He's only viable in AL-only leagues, and even then I'd cross my fingers before picking him up.
- Dodgers SP Hiroki Kuroda is expected to miss at least one start - but not necessarily go on the DL - after getting hit in the head with a line drive on Saturday.
- Cubs SS Ryan Theriot might not play tonight due to a nasty case of the flu. In other Cubs' news, Ted Lilly returns from the DL to start tonight, and the admittedly lazy Carlos Zambrano is expected to make a rehab start Thursday with an eye on an August 25 return of his own.
- Brett Myers' weekend rehab start was postponed after he tripped and bruised his eye getting out of his wife's car following a dinner that included two or three beers, all of which was unrelated to the Jacksonville bar fight that he was close to but not involved in. Or something.
- Rays OF Pat Burrell hopes to be back in the lineup Tuesday after missing a few games with a neck injury.
- The Blue Jays' site reports that closer Scott Downs is on a rehab assignment this week. You could see him in Toronto later this week.
- Justin Duchscherer's planned Tuesday return from the DL has been postponed, and the A's aren't really saying why.
- Brewers starters Jeff Suppan and Dave Bush both hope to return next week.
- Indians OF Trevor Crowe missed all three weekend games with a sore oblique. The team Web site reports that Crowe might play tomorrow.
- Here's a shocker: Marlins 1B Nick Johnson is hurt. He's day-to-day with a hamstring injury.
- Uh-oh - it sounds like Garrett Atkins is going to start stealing some of Ian Stewart's playing time in Colorado. As a board member of Stewart's fantasy fan club, I'm unhappy with this turn of events.
- Struggling Reds SP Johnny Cueto is going to get skipped next time through the rotation.
- Braves OF Nate McLouth will miss a few more days with a hamstring injury.
- My Hot Streak pick today is for Prince Fielder to hit a home run off the immortal Kevin Hart. Make your pick now!
See you tomorrow, football fans.