The Phillies placed Brad Lidge on the DL with elbow tightness. We were told that Lidge’s MRI came back clear and only showed inflammation, but in the end I guess the Phillies are comfortable with Jose Contreras and Danys Baez in the back of the bullpen until Lidge can some back healthy.
Contreras is the guy you want to own, as he’ll be called upon to get the saves, and he has been throwing the ball real well this season.
Speaking of closers, Huston Street was shut down today after only five pitches due to a tired arm while pitching for AA Tulsa. It is not known at this time what or how bad this setback is, but it appears that Street won’t be back until June at the earliest now. Manny Corpas will try to finish off games until Street is healthy.
X-rays on Dodgers slugger Andre Ethier’s jammed pinkie finger showed a small fracture on the tip. Ethier is being fitted for braces that he might wear if he decides to stick it out and play through the pain. Ethier has been the Dodgers’ best hitter all season, and it will be a big loss to the Dodgers and to fantasy owners if he has to hit the DL as a result.
The Rockies will be without speedy 2B/OF Eric Young Jr. after Young suffered a broken tibia while rounding first base the other night. He will miss between six to eight weeks of the season and very likely could be sent to AAA Colorado Springs on a rehab assignment afterwards.
Rumors out of New York (imagine that!) are that injured 1B Nick Johnson might actually need surgery on his injured wrist because the cortisone shot he received hasn’t helped as much as originally thought. Johnson is out for at least another month and definitely more if and when he has the surgery on his wrist. Marcus Thames will continue to see some more playing time until Johnson comes back.
Kung Fu Panda, otherwise known as Pablo Sandoval, had X-rays on his foot after being plunked by a Jeff Francis pitch late in Friday night’s game. The X-rays came back clear of any breaks, but there is some swelling and discomfort that kept him out of the lineup today.
Be careful when inserting him into your Sunday lineup, as the team might shut him down until Monday or Tuesday in hopes of getting him all straightened out by then.
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