Baseball Daily Dose: Dose: Donaldson Down
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Josh Donaldson was being called a DFS must-play in all afternoon slates on Wednesday and he rewarded that confidence with a three-run bomb off Rays left-hander Matt Moore in the top of the third inning. But the reigning American League MVP looked to be limping as he made his way around the bases on that home run trot and he pulled up lame just beyond the batter’s box after hitting a chopper to the left side of the infield in the top of the seventh inning. Darwin Barney was at third base when the bottom of the seventh began and manager John Gibbons announced after the game — an eventual 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay — that Donaldson had been diagnosed with a right calf strain.
Gibbons expressed optimism during his postgame press conference that the injury might be mild, but calf strains often lead to 15-day disabled list stints. And they can sometimes linger for several weeks.
Here’s hoping this one isn’t like the others.
Donaldson was among the most productive hitters in baseball last season — as represented by the MVP hardware — slashing .297/.371/.568 with 41 home runs and 123 RBI in 158 games. He was named an American League All-Star for the second time — the first was in 2014 with Oakland — and he also took home his first Silver Slugger Award.
The 30-year-old third baseman also homered Monday in the Blue Jays’ second regular-season game. That’s two homers in four games, or an 81-homer pace. Barney, a .246/.294/.339 career major league hitter, doesn’t offer much hope for fantasy production as a fill-in.
We’ll just have to wait it out. Test results on Donaldson should be coming Thursday.
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Nicasio Meets Hype In Pirates Debut
Juan Nicasio generated quite a bit of buzz around these parts as a potential fantasy sleeper when it was announced in January that he would have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Pirates’ starting rotation this spring. He took that opportunity and went into a full-on sprint with it, registering a 24/5 K/BB ratio across 15 scoreless innings in the Grapefruit League before being named the Pirates’ No. 3 starter late last week.
Nicasio made his 2016 regular-season debut on Wednesday night against the visiting Cardinals and was absolutely terrific, yielding just two hits and one run over six innings while striking out seven. He didn’t issue a single walk and the only real blemish on his performance was a sixth-inning solo shot from Cardinals reserve outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker.
Nicasio probably could have gone an inning or even two deeper into the game on Wednesday, but Pirates manager Clint Hurdle opted to pinch-hit Sean Rodriguez in the bottom of the sixth following a Jordy Mercer leadoff walk and Rodriguez came through with an RBI double to left field that gave the Bucs a commanding 5-1 lead over St. Louis. Nicasio finished at 84 pitches.
The 29-year-old right-hander has always had good stuff, and he’s playing this year in a pitcher-friendly home park with a good defense behind him and arguably the best pitching coach in the game, Ray Searage, guiding his game plans. Nicasio struck out 65 batters but walked 32 in 58 1/3 innings last season for the Dodgers. Searage has maybe already helped with the command.
Nicasio’s average draft position in Yahoo leagues was 242.6. That is already looking silly.
Revere Out, Taylor In For Nationals
Nationals center fielder Ben Revere tweaked a muscle around his rib cage in the fourth inning of Monday’s season opener against the Braves and landed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday evening with what is officially being labeled a right oblique strain. It’s a common baseball injury that usually requires 3-4 weeks of recovery time. Revere is likely going to miss the rest of April.
Filling in at leadoff and in center field on Wednesday night in Atlanta was Michael Taylor, a guy who was already being treated as a worthwhile stash in most standard fantasy leagues. Now the dynamic 25-year-old is a must-own and a must-start.
Taylor batted just .229/.282/.358 in 511 plate appearances last season for Washington, but that poor slash line came with 14 home runs, 63 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. He’s a counting stats collector with legitimate upside, and he is probably going to continue batting at the top of the Nats’ lineup for however long Revere is sidelined. Taylor tallied 23 homers and 37 stolen bases in 110 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse in 2014. He stole 51 bases at High-A Potomac in 2013. His batting line in 2014 at Double-A and Triple-A was .304/.390/.526.
Taylor is good enough to steal playing time from veteran Jayson Werth even when Revere returns.
National League Quick Hits: Rockies shortstop Trevor Story slugged his fourth home run in three games Wednesday in a win over the Diamondbacks … Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda threw six scoreless innings and slugged a home run in his major league debut Wednesday versus the Padres … Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (oblique) pitched a simulated game on Wednesday and is lined up to start Sunday against the Pirates … Denard Span is day-to-day with the flu … Brewers first baseman Chris Carter belted his first home run of the season Wednesday in a win against the Giants … Brandon Phillips was scratched from the Reds’ starting lineup on Wednesday due to flu-like symptoms … Marlins ace Jose Fernandez struck out 13 batters over 5 2/3 innings Wednesday, but he ultimately gave up five runs in a loss to the Tigers … Phillies right-hander Dalier Hinojosa blew his first save chance and took a loss Wednesday after giving up hits to four of the five Reds he faced … Jung Ho Kang (knee) played five innings of defense during extended spring training action on Wednesday … Adonis Garcia went 3-for-4 on Wednesday and is now 5-for-7 with a homer to start the season … Pirates closer Mark Melancon earned his first save of the season Wednesday night against the Cardinals … Yasiel Puig went 3-for-4 and slugged his first home run of the season Wednesday in the Dodgers’ third straight shutout of the Padres … Marlins left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (elbow) is probable to make his Monday start against the Mets … Stephen Strasburg limited the Braves to one run over six innings to earn a win Wednesday … Dodgers infielder Howie Kendrick (calf) will play in simulated games each of the next three days … Cardinals left-hander Marco Gonzales will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache this week in Los Angeles about a left elbow injury … Marlins pitching prospect Tyler Kolek underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday.
American League Quick Hits: Angels placed left-handed starter Andrew Heaney on the 15-day disabled list with a left flexor muscle strain … Steven Souza homered twice as part of a 4-for-4 day as the Rays topped the Blue Jays on Wednesday … David Ortiz slugged his second home run in as many games Wednesday as the Red Sox fell to the Indians … Mariners left fielder Nori Aoki sat out Wednesday’s win over the Rangers with a sore shin … Carlos Correa went 4-for-5 with two home runs Wednesday in the Astros’ loss to the Yankee … Jarrod Dyson (oblique) took batting practice Wednesday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium and is aiming to come off the disabled list next week … Tigers manager Brad Ausmus indicated that Shane Greene will not necessarily exit the rotation once Daniel Norris returns to health … Robinson Cano homered twice and plated five total runs Wednesday in Texas … Kevin Gausman (shoulder) threw 30 pitches in a simulated game on Wednesday and remains on track for an April 19 debut … Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson fell apart Wednesday in a loss to the Mariners, allowing five hits and five earned runs without recording an out … Starlin Castro went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, and five RBI in the Yankees’ rout of Houston on Wednesday … A’s ace Sonny Gray made his 2016 debut Wednesday after a bout of food poisoning and twirled seven innings of one-run ball against the White Sox … Orioles closer Zach Britton struck out the side to lock down his first save of the season Wednesday versus the Twins … A’s starter Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch live batting practice session on Wednesday … Royals pitching prospect Kyle Zimmer is hanging back at extended spring training after developing some arm fatigue.
