Fantasy Baseball - The Daily Dirt for Tuesday

by Todd Lammi

It looks like it may be coming to an end of an era for some Atlanta Braves fans that grew up watching the likes of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz a top the rotation. Maddux retired in the off season and John Smoltz left for the Boston Red Sox, but Tom Glavine decided to take a trip down memory lane and returned for one more season with the Braves. Unfortunately for Glavine, that season may now be in jeopardy. Glavine has been shelved for two weeks after inflammation was found in his rotator cuff. Glavine had left Sunday's minor league start in AA after two innings with soreness in his shoulder. He made it sound like he is willing to give it a few weeks to heal, but not much more than that. Jo-Jo Reyes will replace Glavine in the rotation and start at Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox was suspended six-games after head hunting Bobby Abreu of the Los Angeles Angels last week. Beckett appealed the decision which means he should still be able to make his start this Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.

Outfielder Lastings Milledge of the Washington Nationals was demoted to the minor leagues, opening up center field for Elijah Dukes. Look for Josh Willingham and Austin Kearns to split time in right field.

Jesse Litsch of the Toronto Blue Jays was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained forearm. It looks like he will miss more than 15 days as the current plan is for Litsch to go without throwing for two weeks. Relief pitcher Brian Tallet will get temporarily moved into the rotation to fill Litsch's spot, and gets the start Saturday against the Oakland Athletics.

Shortstop Jed Lowrie of the Boston Red Sox was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore left wrist on Monday. Nick Green should see the majority of starts at shortstop until either Lowrie or Julio Lugo return to action.

It looks like one and done for James McDonald as the 5th starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. McDonald has been replaced in the rotation by recent call up Eric Stults.

In other news around the diamond on Tuesday...

American League: Nick Swisher continues to be on fire for the New York Yankees, hitting his fourth home run of the season. Yankee outfielder Xavier Nady left the game in the seventh inning with pain in his right elbow. Pitchers A.J Burnett and Matt Garza of the Tampa Bay Rays matched performances with two runs allowed and nine strikeouts.....In the battle of unheralded lefties, rookie Ricky Romero of the Toronto Blue Jays and Glen Perkins of the Minnesota Twins each allowed two runs over eight innings.....John Buck hit two home runs and drove in five runs for the Kansas City Royals.....Nelson Cruz hit his 4th home run for the Texas Rangers and Chris Davis hit his second. Luke Scott hit his second home run of the year for the Baltimore Orioles.

National League: Chris Volstad of the Florida Marlins got his second win of the year, allowing one run in seven innings. Javier Vazquez of the Atlanta Braves took the loss, but struck out 12 in six innings. Kelly Johnson hit his 3rd home run of the year for the Braves.....Willy Taveras stole two bases for the Cincinnati Reds, giving him three on the season.....Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals left his start before the beginning of the fourth inning with a strained ribcage. Max Scherzer made his season debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks and allowed three runs in five innings.

To get all of the latest fantasy baseball news and insight, go to http://fantasybaseballtools.com.

Fantasy Baseball - The Daily Dirt from Friday

by Todd Lammi

Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels was pounded by the Colorado Rockies on Friday for seven earned runs. Hamels, who had his start pushed back due to elbow trouble in spring training, struggled with his control and his velocity. Manager Charlie Manuel suggested that Hamels could possibly miss his next start. Dexter Fowler stole his first base of the season for the Colorado Rockies. In other news around the diamond on Friday...

National League:

Jason Motte of the St. Louis Cardinals struggled again when given the opportunity for the save, allowing two hits before being replaced by Kyle McClellan. In AAA, Chris Perez threw two scoreless innings. Kevin Gregg blew a save for the Chicago Cubs, costing Rich Harden a win. Harden struck out 10 batters in six innings. Cubs manager Lou Piniella said catcher Geovany Soto should be ready to play in a few days. Matt Lindstrom blew a save for the Florida Marlins, but was bailed out when Jorge Cantu singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. John Maine and Anibal Sanchez both turned in good starts for the New York Mets and Marlins respectively.....James McDonald struggled in his first start for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt Kemp stole his first base of the season. Hiroki Kuroda was placed on the disabled list with a mild oblique strain. Eric Stults has been recalled from the minors and will start against the Arizona Diamondbacks tomorrow. D-Backs starter Brandon Webb is scheduled to make his next start on Friday, April 17th assuming the MRI that was taken does not show anything of significance.....Chipper Jones returned to the lineup for the Atlanta Braves. Braves starting pitcher Derek Lowe was removed in the fourth inning after a two hour rain delay.....Scott Hairston hit his first home run for the San Diego Padres as he continues to see playing time against left-handed starters. Emanuel Burriss got his first stolen base of the season for the San Francisco Giants.

American League:

Miguel Cabrera hit his third home run of the season for the Detroit Tigers and drove in six runs, giving him 10 RBI on the season already. Armando Galarraga turned in a nice performance on the mound for the Tigers, striking out eight in seven innings of work. Nelson Cruz hit his third home run for the Texas Rangers.....Adam Lind hit his third home run for the Toronto Blue Jays, giving him 11 RBI on the year. Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner both went yard for the Cleveland Indians as they each continue to show home run power that was missing in 2008.....Andy Pettitte got a win in his first start of the season for the New York Yankees, striking out six in seven innings. Jose Guillen of the Kansas City Royals was placed on the disabled list with a torn groin muscle. This move puts Alberto Callaspo into the starting lineup at second base, but also pushes back the eligibility time frame of Mark Teahan who now moves from second base back to the outfield.....The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Tampa Rays for the first time in their last 13 meetings, despite two home runs from Evan Longoria who now has four long balls on the young season. Outfielder B.J. Upton is expected to return from the disabled list on Monday for the Rays.....Joe Crede returned to U.S. Cellular Field, this time in a Minnesota Twins uniform, and hit a home run to propel the Twins over the Chicago White Sox. Twins starter Scott Baker, on the disabled list with stiffness in his right shoulder, had a successful minor league start in Class A, giving up one run in seven innings.....Jered Weaver had a good first start for the Los Angeles Angels, striking out eight in six and two-thirds innings. Bobby Abreau stole base number two and Chone Figgins base number three on the year for the Angels.....Rookie Brett Anderson had on average start for the Oakland As, giving up five earned runs in six innings of work. David Aardsma got a two inning save for the Seattle Mariners.

To get all of the latest fantasy baseball news and analysis, go to http://fantasybaseballtools.com.