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Fantasy Baseball and MLB News, Rumors and Injury UpdatesNational League Central Weekly Outlook
By Nicholas Minnix CHICAGO CUBSWEEKLY SCHEDULE: 6 GAMES - @CIN (1), MIL (2), COL (3) PARK FACTORS: CIN - ADV HITTER; CHC - ADV HITTER For many teams the news couldn't have come at a worse time; for the Cubs, it's always a bad time. There's never a good time for this sort of news, anyway. First baseman Derrek Lee may miss the rest of the year to care for his ailing 3-year-old daughter, Jada, who's lost some vision in one eye. Some things are more important than baseball. There's still a little baseball left, though. To wrap it up, on Monday the Cubs play the final game of their four-game series at the Cincinnati Reds before hosting the Milwaukee Brewers for two and the Colorado Rockies for three. HITTING OVERVIEW
In the past week the Cubs batted .296 and scored 5.0 runs per game. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been tearing the cover off the ball. Second baseman Ryan Theriot, as hot as he's been, could easily make his way into mixed leagues for people desperate to make up ground. With Lee out, catcher Henry Blanco has been playing at first and behind the plate. That means a few at-bats for right-handed rookie catcher Geovany Soto and left-handed first baseman Scott Moore, depending on the matchup. Neither is worthy of fantasy consideration unless the league is pretty deep. At home Cincinnati has the worst ERA (4.83) and second-worst BAA (.277) in the NL. On the road Milwaukee (5.14 ERA, 15th, and a .279 BAA, 12th) has been pretty bad, but Colorado (4.58 ERA, seventh, and a .272 BAA, tied for eighth) has been respectable. HITTING MATCHUP: SLIGHTLY POSITIVE PITCHING OVERVIEW The Cubs have been getting
some dominant pitching lately, with a 3.84 ERA and a .193 BAA in the past week.
Starter Carlos Zambrano returned from back stiffness to hurl a gem Sunday,
Sept. 17. Rookie starter Rich Hill turned in a complete-game, two-hit shutout the day before. What may be most
interesting (at least for next season) is the progress of starting pitcher Wade
Miller. He hasn't been able to last more than five innings, but to be fair,
before this month he hadn't pitched since last August. He's been wild, but in
his last outing he allowed only one earned in 4.2
innings. Watch for him next season. At home the Reds have scored 5.0 runs per
game and batted .273 (eighth), but they're really struggling. On the road the
Brewers (4.2 runs per game and a .256 average, 10th) and the PITCHING MATCHUP: POSITIVE CINCINNATI REDSWEEKLY SCHEDULE: 7 GAMES - CHC (1), @FLA (3), @PIT (3) PARK FACTORS: CIN - ADV HITTER; FLA - ADV PITCHER; PIT - ADV PITCHER The Reds dropped like a brick from the Wild Card race, and now they're essentially out of it. Injuries played a part, with outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. (toe) doing his usual disappearing act in September. In other news, outfielder Ryan Freel (thumb) and starter Eric Milton (elbow) are out for the season and a relay throw hit second baseman Brandon Phillips (eye) in the eye this week, but the club hopes to have him back by the weekend. The Reds host the dismal Chicago Cubs for the final game of a four-gamer on Monday, and then they hit the road for three each with the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates. HITTING OVERVIEW
In the past week nothing the Reds have tried has worked: a .186 team average with a mere 2.7 runs scored per game. Catcher David Ross has lost considerable time after a torrid summer. With little help or protection, it's hard to advise the use of Phillips or even outfielder Adam Dunn in anything beyond NL-only leagues, especially with this week's road schedule. You'd think rookie outfielder Chris Denorfia would get at-bats at this stage of the season, and he might get them now that Freel is done for the year. On the road the improving Cubs have a 4.81 ERA (12th) and a .267 BAA (tied for fifth). At home the Marlins (3.98 ERA, fourth, and a .261 BAA, tied for eighth) have been good while the Pirates (4.17 ERA, sixth, and a .278 BAA, worst) haven't had to pay for the hits they've allowed. HITTING MATCHUP: SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE PITCHING OVERVIEW That 5.19 ERA from the past week is atrocious. It's hard to recommend another starter besides Bronson Arroyo, and even he's been shaky. He was stellar (32 innings with four earned runs allowed) before Wednesday's blowup - 5.1 innings and seven earned - although in his defense, manager Jerry Narron left him in way too long. On the road Chicago has hit .259 (tied for sixth) and scored 4.2 runs per game. At home Florida (4.5 runs per game and a .257 average, 12th) hasn't done a whole lot, but Pittsburgh (4.9 runs per game and a .285 average, fourth) can stay in the game. PITCHING MATCHUP: NEUTRAL HOUSTON ASTROSWEEKLY SCHEDULE: 7 GAMES - @PHI (1) @PIT (3), @ATL (3) PARK FACTORS: PHI - ADV HITTER; PIT - ADV PITCHER; ATL - ADV PITCHER It must've seemed like a long walk to the dugout for starting pitcher Roger Clemens, who received multiple ovations after what is most likely the last home start of his career (again, and for now). Outfielder Willy Taveras (shoulder) wasn't on the diamond for it, however; an ailing shoulder has forced him to miss a few games, and he might need at least a few more days to heal. What a long strange road trip this could be, with a makeup game at the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday followed by visits to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves for three games apiece. HITTING OVERVIEW
In the last seven days Houston has scored 4.2 runs per game while hitting .246. Outfielder Chris Burke's at-bats have picked up while Taveras is out, but once Taveras returns, Burke might have little worth. Outfielder Luke Scott, a hot-hitting former Houston farmhand, has been electric, and in addition to his three homers this past week, he has tacked on three triples. Use him, perhaps even in mixed leagues. At home the improving Phillies staff is still not great (4.67 ERA, 14th, and a .275 BAA, tied for 13th). The Pirates (4.17 ERA, sixth, and a .278 BAA, worst) have been effective. The Braves (4.53 ERA, 11th, and a .273 BAA, tied for 11th) haven't been so much. HITTING MATCHUP: NEUTRAL PITCHING OVERVIEW The team has gone 2-4 in the past week because the pitching hasn't held up (4.33 ERA). Starter Andy Pettitte (elbow) skipped a start last week with elbow pain, and this week he was pushed back so that he could be with his ailing father. He was scheduled to go in Thursday's game with the St. Louis Cardinals. It appears as if the Rocket will get two more starts to close the year, so you gotta use the 43-year-old in what could be his last week ever available. At home Philadelphia (5.4 runs per game and a .270 average, tied for ninth) lights up the board. Pittsburgh (4.9 runs per game and a .285 average, fourth) and Atlanta (5.0 runs per game and a .281 average, fifth) both can hang. PITCHING MATCHUP: SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE MILWAUKEE BREWERSWEEKLY SCHEDULE: 6 GAMES - @CHC (2), @STL (4) PARK FACTORS: CHC - ADV HITTER; STL - NEUTRAL There isn't much to report on the home front of the Brewers, who at the break weren't certain whether they were contenders or pretenders. Now they know for sure. But as the final week plays out, they can be confident that they found a budding slugger at first in Prince Fielder. Of course, the offseason will present a whole new set of questions. To cap off 2006, Milwaukee visits the Chicago Cubs for two games, then sails into St. Louis for four more with the Cardinals. HITTING OVERVIEW
With 3.0 runs per game and a .250 average in the past week, this O is having some trouble. At least the club has settled on an outfield for the rest of the way, it seems. With Fielder, third baseman David Bell and moderate prospect Tony Gwynn Jr., an outfielder, the Brewers are looking to corner the market on big-league offspring. And see, outfielder Geoff Jenkins is really ripping it up. He belted a walk-off job in the bottom of the ninth of a scoreless game to drop the Cardinals Wednesday. Kudos if you're using him to solidify your power numbers for the last two or three weeks of the year. At home the Cubs (4.66 ERA, 13th, and a .246 BAA, second), though poor, have come on a bit. The Cardinals (3.84 ERA, second, and a .252 BAA, tied for fifth) only get the job done at home. HITTING MATCHUP: SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE PITCHING OVERVIEW With a 4.50 ERA in the past week, things haven't been so bad. With starting pitcher Tomo Ohka (hamstring) finished for the season, pitcher Carlos Villanueva looks to be the man for that spot. He came on in long relief and pitched six innings of two-hit, one-run ball when Ohka left his Sept. 15 start. Then he took the hill Wednesday and twirled seven innings against St. Louis, allowing only three hits and no runs in a no-decision. It's risky giving the nod to such an unknown, but at this stage what have you got to lose, especially against the Cubs? At home they've scored 4.4 runs per game while batting .279 (sixth). The Cardinals have scored 5.0 runs per game while batting .275 (seventh) at home. PITCHING MATCHUP: SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE PITTSBURGH PIRATESWEEKLY SCHEDULE: 6 GAMES - HOU (3), CIN (3) PARK FACTORS: PIT - ADV PITCHER The club welcomed left-handed starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny (elbow) back from the disabled list last weekend, and reports say that closer Mike Gonzalez (elbow) has been making progress and could return before the season ends. Unfortunately, that means little to a floundering franchise like Pittsburgh. At least the Pirates have a good shot at finishing above SOMEONE (the Chicago Cubs). Heck, they had won five in a row and seven of eight, including a sweep of the New York Mets and taking the first two of a three-gamer at the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the final week of action they host two three-game series with some members of the broken hearts club: the Houston Astros and the Cincinnati Reds. HITTING OVERVIEW
The Pirates have mounted a decent attack lately, scoring 5.4 runs per game and batting .284. The Pirates are testing utilityman Jose Bautista at second base to see what they'll need in free agency this offseason. So Bautista doesn't yet have eligibility there, but he could soon. That means less time for second baseman Jose Castillo, who's stunk it up. Use outfielder Chris Duffy in a last-ditch effort to catch someone in steals. At this time it's dire straits in the Central when the Cubs and Pirates might have the most fantasy worthy bats. Houston's road numbers (4.27 ERA, third, and a .259 BAA, second) will make you think twice about a Pirates bat. Cincinnati's (4.40 ERA, fifth, and a .283 BAA, 14th) won't as much, but they've kept the scoring down. HITTING MATCHUP: SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE PITCHING OVERVIEW Break up the Pirates! They've gone 5-0 in the past week thanks largely to their pitching (2.40 ERA and .209 BAA). Reliever Salomon Torres may be helping you put the lockdown on saves (10 this month after zero the previous five). With only one run allowed, each of his outings in September has resulted in one. All Pirates starters have been good their last couple of times out. Gorzelanny was solid (four innings, four hits, one run) in his return, and once he gets his bearings against the weak-hitting San Diego Padres Friday, Sept. 22, he should be a decent play in his last go of the season. The road offenses of the Astros (4.5 runs per game and a .257 average, ninth) and Reds (4.4 runs per game and a .243 average, last) are just offensive. PITCHING MATCHUP: POSITIVE ST. LOUIS CARDINALSWEEKLY SCHEDULE: 7 GAMES - SD (3), MIL (4) PARK FACTORS: STL - NEUTRAL Closer Jason Isringhausen (hip) had season-ending surgery to repair his left hip. Shortstop David Eckstein (oblique) still isn't sure when he'll be able to play in the field. And it looks like a long week for the Cardinals. Perhaps this is not the way to head into the postseason. The schedule could get worse: the club had a rainout on Sunday, Sept. 17, but the home game with the San Francisco Giants won't be made up unless it would affect the playoff picture. St. Louis finishes at home, with three against the San Diego Padres and four versus the Milwaukee Brewers. And you can bet that the club will be rooting against the Giants this week, too. HITTING OVERVIEW
The Cardinals haven't had much trouble scoring lately (7.0 runs per game and a .284 average in the past week). With stalwarts like first baseman Albert Pujols and third baseman Scott Rolen, it might seem easy. But middle infielder Aaron Miles has filled in admirably for Eckstein. Utilityman Scott Spiezio has been getting more at-bats at the expense of a cool Preston Wilson, but this situation is murky heading into the playoffs. San Diego has fielded the best staff on the road (4.02 ERA and a .257 BAA), while Milwaukee (5.14 ERA, 15th, and a .279 BAA, 12th) has had one of the worst. For good measure, San Francisco (4.68 ERA, 10th, and a .267 BAA, tied for fifth) has been respectable. HITTING MATCHUP: NEUTRAL PITCHING OVERVIEW With a 2.47 ERA in the past week, the pitching staff could be rounding into form at just the right time. The Cardinals might be better off with Izzy (4.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and seven saves since the break) gone and a combo of relievers Braden Looper (2.90 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP since; one run in 8.2 September innings) and rookie Adam Wainwright (3.08 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP since; no runs in seven straight appearances) closing out games anyway. Starting pitcher Jeff Suppan, who has allowed zero runs in four of his last six outings (and one in another), is a viable option at home (7-2, 2.97 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP at Busch) this week. On the road the Padres have scored 5.1 runs per game and batted .278 (first), making them a tough draw. The Brewers have scored 4.2 runs per game and batted .256 (10th), meaning they're not. And, of course, the Giants (just in case) have scored 4.3 runs per game and batted .253 (12th) on the road. PITCHING MATCHUP: SLIGHTLY POSITIVE More Articles You Will Like
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Author Bio
Nicholas Minnix KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010. The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter. Featured LinksTalk Sports 24/7! |
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