NL Player Notes - July 25th, 2013

Taylor Jordan -- The Nationals said yesterday that rookie start Taylor Jordan would be shut down after another 20 or 30 innings. He had Tommy John surgery two years ago and was held to 54.1 innings last year, so this an extension of keeping him healthy on that plan. Jordan has been a pleasant surprise for even mixed league owners, particular those in 4x4 leagues, given his groundball tendencies and excellent control. His xFIP is 3.76 and he should continue being useful in these types of mixed leagues and NL-only formats for his remaining starts.

Tim Hudson -- It's bad news for Tim Hudson owners. Hudson suffered a fractured right ankle when Eric Young Jr. stepped on his foot yesterday, and the Braves are saying that he will undergo season-ending surgery soon. Hudson was having a bit of an off-year with a 4.08 ERA, but his 3.66 xFIP indicates that was mostly bad luck. Brandon Beachy will replace him in the rotation starting Monday.

Brandon Beachy -- Brandon Beachy is reportedly all clear to rejoin the Braves' rotation, likely on Monday against the Colorado Rockies. Beachy had been recovering from Tommy John surgery and had already experienced one setback, but he seems good to go now. He's a must-add in deeper mixed leagues and all NL-only leagues in which he wasn't stashed. As long as he's healthy, Beachy should be a 3.75 ERA type of pitcher with an above-average strikeout rate.

Kris Medlen -- Word out of Atlanta was that the Braves could be sending Kris Medlen to the bullpen with Brandon Beachy set to come off the Disabled List and Alex Wood in need of a rotation spot, but with Tim Hudson's injury yesterday, Medlen's rotation spot appears safe for the time being. Beachy will slide in for Hudson on Monday, but there is still the matter of what will happen with Wood and Medlen once Paul Maholm comes off the DL. Medlen's overall numbers look good (3.99 xFIP), but he's posted a 7.40 ERA in four July starts, so his job is definitely in jeopardy.

Jeff Francoeur -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy said yesterday that Jeff Francoeur would become his regular left fielder, bumping him out of a platoon with Kensuke Tanaka. Bochy mentioned that Frenchy is "a proven major league hitter, and this offense needs help," which is completely absurd because the only thing Francoeur has proven himself to be is below-average, but his fantasy owners will be happy by the move (I'm a Tanaka owner, if you hadn't guessed). He won't hold much value in mixed leagues aside from the very deep ones, but he'll get a sizeable bump in AL and NL only leagues.

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