Brian Bannister gets the White Sox tonight and that hasn’t been good news in the course of his career. This year Bannister is 1-2 in 3 starts vs. the White Sox, with a 9.69 ERA, allowing 22 hits and 7 walks while striking out 9. Overall Brian is 4-6 against Chicago in 15 games with a 7.97 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. You don’t want to take on this start if your league rules allow you to make a move this morning
Mark Buehrle took a shutout into the 8th inning on Friday, shutting down the Royals for 7+ on 6 hits and 3 walks while fanning 2. He won for his 5th time in his last 6 starts and posted his 6th straight QS. His last three starts, and wins, have been accomplished with just 4 strikeouts in 20.1 IP while allowing 21 hits and 8 walks … Stretch it to his last 4 starts and in 27.2 IP he has allowed 30 hits and 9 walks (1.31) against 8 Ks. His low strikeout total gives me pause but enjoy this while it lasts. The Twins are next and Mark has goone 5-6, 5.00 in 12 starts against Minnesota over the last three years.
The Rangers recalled Chris Davis from AAA Oklahoma on Friday to replace Justin Smoak after the Cliff Lee trade. Joaquin Arias started last night against the O’s but Davis should get the bulk of the playing time the rest of the way. He has power to spare and that makes him valuable from a fantasy standpoint. But he has holes and hasn’t been able to make adjustments when MLB pitchers pound them (to the tune of a career 34.7% K rate in the majors). Until that happens there will be rough patches. Still, he doesn’t have to do much to replace Smoak’s current production. Davis is worth a shot if he’s available in your league. There’s still a good possibility he has some development gains left in him and if he could just get near the 25% K rate he’s maintained in the minors, things could start happening.
Brandon Morrow has not fared well against the Red Sox who he is schedule to face this afternoon. In his start against them earlier this year, Brandon gave up 6 runs on 3 hits and 6 walks while recording only 5 outs. Four of those 5 outs were strikeouts however. Over his career, in 16,2 IP Morrow has allowed 12 runs on 13 hits and 16 walks … 16! … while striking out 22. His all-or-nothing approach to the Sox hasn’t worked and the Red Sox demonstrated last night that they remain a dangerous team. If you can side step this start with daily transaction you may want to take advantage today.
There are over 100 player news blurbs posted in the member area each morning, members can read the rest of today's player news by clicking here link:www.fantistics.com/baseball00/. Not a member? Join today link:www.fantistics.com/join/join.php3
