Mike Sweeney: Sweeney left Wednesday’s game with back spasms, which is should keep him out a couple of games. Back problems are nothing new for Sweeney who has missed huge chunks of the last three seasons with back issues. Even when he does play, the back issues seem to have taken his power away, 9 home runs in his last 423 AB. When healthy, Sweeney ability to make contact, 95% Ct% in 126 AB in 2008, can help a fantasy team’s batting average, but he only has value in daily transaction leagues where you can easily remove him from the lineup when his back inevitably acts up.
Darren Oliver: Oliver was placed on the 15-day DL with strained left triceps. Since joining the Angels, the 38 year old Oliver has pitched well out of the bullpen, 2007/2008 ERA’s of 3.78/2.88, with good skills, K/9’s of 7.1/6.0, BB/9’s of 3.2/2.0, and GB%’s of 48%/47%. The Angels gave him a start on the 18th, he allowed 1 ER in 4 innings, but he came out of it with injury, so when he comes back, look for him to go back to the bullpen, which gives him value in just AL-only leagues.
Kelvin Escobar: Escobar, who is out with a shoulder injury, was transferred to the 60-day DL, making June the earliest that he could return. He is still limited to playing catch, so even a June return is a stretch. When he last pitched in 2007, Escobar was very effective, 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA, with solid skills, 7.4 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, and a 44% GB%, but at the age of 33 and coming off of injuries the last two seasons, returning to that level is far from a sure-thing.
David Dellucci: Dellucci, who has been out since early spring training with a calf injury, is expected to need a couple weeks in a Triple-A rehab assignment before he is ready to rejoin the Indians. Over the last couple of seasons, the 35-year-old Dellucci’s power seems to be waning, 4 home runs in 178 AB in 2007 and 11 home runs in 336 AB in 2008. Although, his power is still above league average, considering that Dellucci won’t help with the batting average, 77% Ct% and a .238 batting average in 2008, or speed, 2 caught steals in 5 attempts, any further erosion in his power will severely impact his fantasy value.
Scott Lewis: Lewis, who has been out since April 11th with a forearm injury, is about two weeks away from returning to the Indians. He won a spot in the starting rotation out of spring training, so he should get another shot as a starter. In 4 starts last year, Lewis managed to go 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA, despite having pedestrian skills, 5.6 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, and a 36% GB%. As a fly ball pitcher, he will need to bump up his K/9 for sustained success because he will not always be able to count on a .222 BHIP% and 79% strand rate that he enjoyed during those 4 starts.
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