A sampling of today's notes...
Stephen Fife (SP-LAD) - Dodger start pitchers continue to drop like flies, with Chad Billingsley the latest casualty this weekend. Billingsley's elbow is acting up again, and that's probably not a good sign given he appeared headed for Tommy John surgery a few months ago. Fife has been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque, where Fife had a 4.61 ERA in three starts. Fife had a 2.70 ERA in five starts for the Dodgers last year with a 20:12 K:BB in 26.2 innings. Fife has the potential to be an adequate fill-in for the Dodgers when needed, but his stuff (upper 80s fastball) is likely to result in the occasional poor outing. To that, Fife was hit hard by the Orioles on Sunday, but he was just good enough to keep the team in the game. Fife should get at least another couple starts until Chris Capuano returns from a calf injury.
Homer Bailey (SP-CIN) - Bailey had an ugly start back on April 10, allowing seven runs on nine hits over five innings against the Cardinals. Sunday though, Bailey was in good form, holding the Marlins to a pair of runs over six innings with eight strikeouts. The three walks prevented Bailey from going deeper into the game, but this is now three quality starts in four outings for Bailey, who has a solid 26:9 K:BB in 25 innings so far this season. He's averaging 93.4 mph with his fastball versus last year's 92.5, so as long as Bailey can keep the ball in the park (three HR allowed against STL), Bailey should continue to have success.
Dillon Gee (SP-NYM) - Gee has opened the season with three consecutive losses and an 8.36 ERA to go with four homers allowed in just 14 innings. Sunday though went much better, as Gee held a good Nationals lineup to just three hits over 5.2 scoreless innings. Three walks and six strikeouts prevented Gee from going deeper into the game, but the net result was Gee's ERA dropping to 5.95 on the year. Gee is going to have some bad outings given his career 1.0 HR/9 and so-so 3.4 BB/9, but if he can build off of this start and keep the ball in the park, Gee should have decent NL-only and deep mixed league value.
Jonathan Sanchez (SP-PIT) - Sanchez predictably struggled again Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks while lasting only three innings against the Braves. He did strike out five, and actually lowered his ERA - to 11.12. Sanchez seems to be a prime candidate to be designated for assignment, as he's allowed a whopping 18 hits with eight walks and three home runs in just 11.1 innings. Sanchez now has a career 5.0 BB/9 to go with a 1.0 HR/9, and that's not a good combination. At some point soon, you have to figure the Pirates will get rid of Sanchez and begin the Gerrit Cole era. The guess here is that the Pirates will make that move within the next two weeks.
Jon Rauch (RP-MIA) - I've touted Rauch as a potential closer-in-waiting due to struggles that we've seen from Steve Cishek, but after Sunday, that seems unlikely. Rauch entered the game in the seventh inning with the score 2-2, but the bases loaded with no outs. Instead of inducing a double-play or perhaps even a sacrifice fly, Rauch did this - single, walk, single, out, out, bases-clearing double, RBI double. Fortunately I was watching a different game, but this sounded pretty ugly. Should Cishek need to be replaced, perhaps Ryan Webb gets the call. So much for Rauch pitching well and being a July trade chip. That 9.72 ERA probably needs to come down quickly for Rauch to avoid a Triple-A gig.
