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Lyle Overbay (1B-PIT) - At some point here in the near future, the Pirates are going to have to come to terms with the fact that Overbay is not an everyday first baseman. An 0-for-3 Sunday left him with a .226/.288/.355 batting line, rivaling only James Loney in the mediocre NL first basemen category. Overbay's EYE has dropped from a 0.62 career mark to 0.46 thiis year and he's simply been unable to make consistent contact. My sense is that the Pirates are going draft a college arm with the #1 overall pick in this year's draft, but moving Pedro Alvarez to first base and drafting Anthony Rendon wouldn't be a bad idea either. Until then, the Pirates could consider giving Steven Pearce yet another shot at regular playing time or perhaps moving Garrett Jones to first and using Xavier Paul a bit more.
Edinson Volquez (SP-CIN) - The Cleveland Indians are destroying everything in their path lately, so why should the Reds and Volquez be any different? Volquez's early-game woes continued Sunday, as he was battered for seven runs (six earned) while retiring just eight batters, walking four, and striking out three. We have to like this year's 9.4 K/9, but Volquez now has a 6.35 ERA in 10 starts, and with the Reds bursting with other options (Mike Leake, Sam LeCure), Volquez needs to pick things up quickly to avoid a trip to the DL or even Triple-A.
Ubaldo Jimenez (SP-COL) - From 15-1 at the All-Star break last year to 0-4 this year approaching the end of May, it's been a bit rocky for Jimenez, the teams' de facto ace. Sunday was no different, as Jimenez allowed just two hits, but the five walks contributed to two runs and left him with the loss. Jimenez though did generate a 13:7 G:F ratio, the second straight start he's notched more GBs than FBs after doing the opposite in each of his previous six starts. Still, it was the third outing in his last four that Jimenez has walked at least five batters, so until he can improve his control, Jimenez shouldn't be considered among the league's elite starters.
Paul Maholm (SP-PIT) - After going 1-11 a year ago, Ross Ohlendorf was still able to garner a huge raise in arbitration after proving that with a 4.07 ERA, it wasn't his fault that he was playing with a Triple-A offense behind him. Maholm is that guy this year after allowing just two runs over 5.1 innings against the Tigers on Sunday but dropping to 1-7 with a 3.65 ERA anyway. Maholm has allowed more than three runs just twice in 10 starts this year, though his 6.4 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 point to a guy that is going to struggle now and then. Still, 1-7? Not fair, but when you have an offense ranked 24th out of 30 behind you, this stuff is going to happen.
Joel Hanrahan (SP-PIT) - A report surfaced over the weekend that the Rangers were interested in trading for Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan. That obviously has serious fantasy implications should a deal eventually go down. In Texas, Hanrahan would set up Neftali Feliz and perhaps take over as closer in 2012 should Feliz move to the rotation. In Pittsburgh, that probably opens the door for Jose Veras in the short term, and perhaps Evan Meek in the long term should the latter get healthy and return to 2010 form. The Pirates though aren't going to give away a guy they control through 2013, particularly a guy with a 1.66 ERA and 13 saves, so just keep this one in the back of your mind as we approach July, but a deal seems unlikely.
