Joe Saunders- LAA- Cold- There's no place like home and Saunders would like to be no place like home, based on how he pitches at Angel Stadium. His splits are extreme. After giving up 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks in 6 IP last night, Saunders now owns a home ERA of 4.80, compared to 2.31 on the road. Righthanders also seem to have solved Saunders to a great degree. After yesterday's game they were hitting .294 off him with 7 homers in 83 at bats. This was Saunders' third non-quality start in a row and he seems a fantasy gamble now, especially if he is pitching at home.
Radhames Liz- BAL- Rookie- I think that we can definitively say that Liz is not ready for prime time. In his third start in the major leagues he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in just 1-2/3 IP, giving him a career ERA of 9.28. Pitching coach Leo Mazzone was asked a kind of "chicken and egg"question, as to whether getting hit was affecting Liz's command. "His command is borderline right now, period," Mazzone said.
Hideki Okajima- BOS- Caution- Okajima may be running out of gas. Yesterday, he was brought into the 4-4 game in the top of 9th inning and promptly hit Toronto C Gregg Zaun. Then, after Zaun had been bunted to second base, Okajima gave up a homer to Vernon Wells that ended up being the winning runs. Okajima admits he is fatigued and when asked if he needed more rest, just shrugged. Since the beginning of August, Okajima has allowed 8 earned runs in 14 appearances covering 13-2/3 IP. He has had a lot of value in leagues that count holds, but he is no longer automatic when he goes out to the mound.
Gavin Floyd- CHA- Hot- Floyd is one of those young pitchers that is cursed with potential. He teases, as he did by posting his second consecutive quality start, giving up 1 run on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. It is tempting to try and grab him now and exploit him for the last few weeks of the season, hoping that he has finally put everything together. However, there is a reason Floyd's ERA for the season stands at 6.20. Trying to count on production from him right now would be premature.
Kenny Rogers- DET- Hot- The report on Rogers' first start since coming back from the DL has to be considered positive. He gave the Tigers 5 strong innings yesterday, allowing a run on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. Rogers will have 4 or 5 more starts this season, depending on how the Tigers manage their off days, and he will likely make them productive.
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