Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Brockcycle
The biggest story in baseball Tuesday was the New York Times’ revelation that the St. Louis Cardinals are being investigated for allegedly hacking into the Houston Astros’ internal communication and evaluation system called “Ground Control.” But the story doesn’t really have an on-field impact and there isn’t much for us at Rotoworld to add. If you want to read more about what has sneeringly been termed The Best Hack In Baseball, check out NBC Sports’ HardballTalk.
We’ll move on to the second-biggest story from Tuesday: Brock Holt’s cycle against the Braves.
The 27-year-old utilityman doubled in the first inning, singled in the fifth inning, slugged a solo shot in the seventh inning, and then ripped an RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday as the Red Sox defeated the visiting Braves 9-4 to snap a seven-game skid. It’s the first cycle from a Red Sox player since John Valentin accomplished the feat on June 6, 1996 against the White Sox. And it’s the first cycle against the Braves since Keith Hernandez did the deed on July 4, 1985 as a member of the Mets.
Holt is now batting .309/.400/.454 with 12 doubles, two triples, and two home runs in 176 plate appearances this season for the Red Sox, and he has appeared defensively at seven different positions. Holt isn’t a great source of counting stats, but he’s been one of the most valuable players on Boston’s roster and manager John Farrell tends to bat him near the top of the lineup when he starts. And he’s been starting a whole lot lately.
At the time of this column’s posting, Holt was owned in only 20 percent of Yahoo leagues. That should change.
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Fister Finally Cleared To Return
Doug Fister struck out six batters over six scoreless innings in his second minor league rehab start Friday at Double-A Harrisburg and then made it through a bullpen session Tuesday without issue. The next time he steps on a mound will be Thursday evening at Nationals Park in Washington’s series finale against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.
Fister had an ugly 4.31 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 39 2/3 innings before landing on the disabled list May 15 with a flexor strain in his right elbow. But consider that he got shelled for seven earned runs in two innings in his last start May 14 against the Padres and was probably pitching through some pain. Before that outing, the 31-year-old right-hander had a 2.87 ERA through 37 2/3 frames.
Fister needs to be owned in all standard fantasy leagues as he returns to the active roster. Last year, he registered a 16-6 record, 2.41 ERA, and 1.079 WHIP across 25 starts for the Nats.
Rosenthal Out Again, Saves To Siegrist
Cardinals left-hander Kevin Siegrist earned his second save in as many games Tuesday afternoon against the Twins and looks like a really good speculative grab in mixed fantasy leagues with normal closer Trevor Rosenthal currently nursing a somewhat mysterious arm injury.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has maintained that Rosenthal will not need a disabled list stint, but it doesn’t sound like the club has a great handle on what exactly is ailing the hard-throwing young right-hander. “Kind of like a knot in bicep kind of deal,” Rosenthal told Brian Stull of STL Baseball Weekly after Tuesday’s game. “I don’t really know how to explain it — I haven’t dealt with too many issues before. It was just something that was abnormal from what I had been experienced to before.”
Siegrist, 25, has posted a 1.52 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings this season. If he is asked to handle ninth-inning duties in St. Louis for an extended stretch, Siegrist is likely to excel in that role.
National League Quick Hits: Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton cranked his MLB-leading 24th home run Tuesday in a in over the Yankees … Wilson Ramos tallied a pair of home runs and four RBI as the Nationals hammered the Rays on Tuesday … Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez is expected to miss a few more games with hip discomfort … Matt Harvey held the Blue Jays scoreless over seven innings on Tuesday, earning his seventh win … Cardinals starter Lance Lynn (forearm) played catch Tuesday for the first time since being placed on the disabled list … Cubs top prospect Kyle Schwarber was officially promoted Tuesday to serve as the designated hitter in an upcoming stretch of interleague games … Charlie Morton fired seven innings of shutout ball Tuesday in the Pirates’ blanking of the White Sox … Reds third baseman Todd Frazier hit a pair of solo home runs in Tuesday’s win over the Tigers … Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons remains day-to-day with swelling in his hand and fingers … Austin Hedges slugged his first career homer Tuesday in the Padres’ loss to the A’s … Reds outfielder Marlon Byrd (wrist) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Wednesday with Double-A Pensacola … Bryce Harper finished 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, and a solo home run Tuesday in the Nationals’ defeat of the Rays … Hunter Pence (wrist) has not yet been cleared to swing a bat … Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau (concussion, neck) is not close to returning … Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett hit his second home run of the season Tuesday against the Royals … Pat Murphy has been hired as the Padres’ interim manager, replacing Bud Black … Danny Espinosa went 5-for-5 with three runs scored Tuesday as the Nationals demolished the Rays … Bobby Parnell earned his first save since 2013 in the Mets’ win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday … Dodgers outfielder Scott Van Slyke (back) will be activated from the disabled list Wednesday … Jerome Williams suffered a strained left hamstring Tuesday in his start against the Orioles … Brewers claimed third baseman Matt Dominguez off waivers from the Astros.
American League Quick Hits: Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that “it’s probably going to be pretty difficult” for Jacoby Ellsbury (knee) to return before the end of June … Manny Machado hit two of the Orioles’ eight home runs in Tuesday’s rout of the Phillies … Mark Trumbo (back) is expected to return to the Mariners’ lineup Wednesday … Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis (shoulder) could be activated from the disabled list this weekend … Omar Infante finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored Tuesday as the Royals beat the Brewers … Hanley Ramirez was held out of Boston’s lineup Tuesday because of a sore back … Astros third baseman Luis Valbuena tallied two homers and four RBI in Tuesday’s defeat of the Rockies … Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is day-to-day with a sore right shoulder … Tyler Clippard earned his 10th save Tuesday in the A’s win over the Padres … Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is day-to-day with soreness in his left knee … Victor Martinez (knee) is likely to rejoin the Tigers on Friday … Wade Miley struck out eight while limiting the Braves to two runs over 6 1/3 innings Tuesday for his sixth win … Wei-Yin Chen was optioned to High-A Frederick on Tuesday so that the Orioles could skip his turn against the lefty-mashing Blue Jays … Trevor Bauer shut out of the Cubs over seven innings on Tuesday night … Astros closer Luke Gregerson picked up his 17th save of the season Tuesday against the Rockies … Miguel Gonzalez (groin) is on track to return to the Orioles’ starting rotation June 25 … Martin Perez (elbow, groin) is on track to resume a minor league rehab assignment Monday … Royals starter Chris Young tossed seven shutout innings Tuesday night against the Brewers … Carlos Santana went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI in the Indians’ defeat of the Cubs on Tuesday … Red Sox manager John Farrell said Tuesday that Shane Victorino (calf) is close to beginning a rehab assignment … Robinson Chirinos hit a walk-off home run Tuesday in the Rangers’ victory over the Dodgers.
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