Matt Kemp (OF-LAD) - Batting just .161 in his last eight games, Kemp was removed as a part of a double-switch Saturday, and the frustration was very visible. Whether that was frustration with the embattled Don Mattingly or more with himself is something only Kemp knows, though he did downplay the incident after the game. Kemp also snapped a bat over his knee in a recent batting practice session, so either way he's clearly frustrated with how things are going. I went with Robinson Cano over Kemp at #4 overall in a draft this spring, but I know plenty of folks that made him a top-four pick, if not higher. Kemp has just two homers all year, so we logically have to wonder whether his surgically-repaired shoulder is a part of the issue. Mattingly said recently that he noticed a change in Kemp's swing from prior years, so we have to think with Kemp's competitiveness and Mattingly's expertise, that Kemp will come out of this. I can't recommend benching Kemp despite his struggles and the drop in his EYE .47 to .26 over the last couple seasons.
Tyler Skaggs (SP-ARI) - Skaggs will make his return to the big leagues as the starter for the first game of Monday's doubleheader. Skaggs had a poor spring and then got off to a very slow start for Triple-A Reno, but in his last three starts, Skaggs has a 2.69 ERA and impressive 22:3 K:BB in 20.1 innings. He was recently more highly thought of than Pat Corbin, who is pitching lights out, so don't discount Skaggs coming in and giving the Dbacks an impressive start and something to think about should Wade Miley continue to struggle.
Michael Wacha (SP-STL) - With the latest injury to a Cardinals starter (John Gast - shoulder), it appears 2012 first-round pick Wacha will get a start this week. Wacha was scratched from his Triple-A start Sunday, so this looks to be close to happening. Wacha has a 2.05 ERA in nine starts, though his 34:15 K:BB in 52.2 innings indicates he may struggle initially. That said, Wacha does wear a Cardinals jersey and they seem to know a thing or two about developing pitchers. Wacha stands an impressive 6'6", and it's easy to see him developing more velocity as he matures. Some scouts have compared him to soon-to-be teammate Adam Wainwright.
Mike Kickham (SP-SF) - Someone is going to have to replace Ryan Vogelsong, and with Chad Durbin remaining in the bullpen, Kickham seems like the most likely possibility. Kickham, 24, is a 6'4" lefty with a 4.33 ERA for Triple-A Fresno, but in the month of May, Kickham has a 1.72 ERA and 29:9 K:BB in 31.2 innings. Kickham sits in the 92-94 mph range, and his slider has been termed a plus pitch, but the big think holding him back has been a lack of control. Kickham has his BB/9 down to 3.7 this year compared to 4.5 last season, and that will probably be enough for the Giants to give him first crack at the spot. He also does a good job keeping the ball on the ground with a 1.77 GO/AO.
Ike Davis (1B-NYM) - This got ugly a while ago, but now it's apparent that the Mets are nearing a decision to have Davis try and work things out in Triple-A. Davis struck out four times on Friday and has just two hits in his last 44 at-bats and overall he's fanned in more than a third of his at-bats, including 25 times in 64 ab's this month (39%). We could sort of live with the strikeouts last year, as Davis hit 32 homers (16.2 AB/HR), but this year he's gone deep just four times for a 37.3 AB/HR. I guess one silver lining would be a 9.6% BB%, but Davis is clearly in need of a reset button.
