Ben Sheets- MIL- Cold- Sheets' performances have gotten worse each time out since he returned from the DL. From his first time out, when he went 6 IP and allowed 1 run, he has slipped to lasting just 3 IP and allowing 5 runs on 6 hits while walking 2. Is Sheets still not completely healed? I don't know, but at this point you probably have to keep throwing him out there and hoping for the best as long as the Brewers keep sending him to the mound.
Adam Dunn- CIN- Hot- Dunn is almost duplicating his previous best major league season, his 2004 campaign, in which he hit .266 with 47 homers, posted a .388 OBP, and stole 6 bases in 568 ABs. Currently he is hitting .267 with 39 homers has a .384 OBP and has stolen 9 bases in 499 ABs. Dunn has also already exceeded his 2004 RBI total of 102 by one. He still strikes out a lot (157) but his rate has come down slightly over his career mark. With a decent enough batting average to not be a large drag in that category, Dunn has produced well in the other categories and is a fantasy asset.
Dontrelle Willis- FLA- Cold- Yes, Willis won his first game in a month, but it was far from an impressive performance. In 6 innings he allowed 5 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks while striking out 3. Willis has 1 quality start in his last 5. In 2005 Willis averaged 104 pitches over 34 starts. That's a lot of work for a 23-year-old arm. Since then, his performance has gone downhill. Willis may end up as a prime example of a mismanaged young pitcher whose career suffers from early overuse.
Chad Cordero- WAS- Cold- Cordero blew his 9th save of the year yesterday, allowing a run on 2 hits and 2 walks in his inning of work. He now leads the NL in blown saves. While certainly not automatic, his 33 saves is 6th in the league and his 3.09 ERA doesn't hurt you in that department. Cordero is tied for 3rd in the NL with 42 save opportunities and is the only closer from a non-contender in the top 6 in the league in that department. He has gotten an inordinate amount of chances, compared to his team's record, and counting on a repeat of that number of saves in 2008, barring a massive improvement for the Nationals when they move into their new ballpark, would be risky.
Brad Hawpe- COL- Cold- Hawpe's struggles at the plate landed him on the bench at the start of yesterday's game. He is batting .179 against lefties for the season, so sat when Dontrelle Willis started for the Marlins. Hawpe's recent struggles go deeper than a lefty/righty split differential. He hasn't been hitting anyone lately, posting a .190 average this month. Hawpe's Batting EYE has gone down the drain since the All Star Break, as he has posted a .46 mark, as opposed to .70 in the first half. This performance continues a trend of second half slippage that Hawpe has exhibited in each of his major league seasons. Keep this in mind next year.
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