Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.The Mets are beginning to look like the Patriots when it comes to injury information. Just a couple of weeks ago, I told you to be worried about Jose Reyes' bum leg when we found out he had a "calf strain." Thursday night, the team confirmed Reyes has a torn right hamstring tendon and this is believed to be something new. Excuse me for being cynical, but this is the latest in a long line of sketchy diagnoses. Let's take a look at what else New York bungled, shall we ...
¬ J.J. Putz will miss 8-10 weeks to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. Recall that Putz had gone weeks with decreased velocity on his fastball and poor location. Jerry Manuel pronounced him ready to pitch in mid-May after he first missed two games with the bone spur. Now he needs surgery. Got it. Plan on seeing a lot more of Bobby Parnell.
¬ Carlos Delgado was scratched in late April after he "aggravated his hip." He got a few games off to rest, was placed back in the lineup for a week ... then surprise, surprise, he was out of the lineup again and it took nearly a week before a decision was made to place Delgado on the disabled list. He then underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and a bone spur, and the timetable has gone from "10 weeks" to Delgado saying "the plan is just get healthy first."
¬ In 2008, when Ryan Church suffered his second concussion in two months, there was initially no concrete update on his status and he even played again before hitting the DL. He was also allowed to fly across the country after he had the concussion. Church wound up missing a chunk of the season with post-concussion syndrome.
At some point, you have to hold the Mets' medical staff (and GM) accountable just as you would a manager when the team stinks. And if you own Reyes in a fantasy league, strongly consider an alternative for the next couple of months. There's a lack of trust issue at work here. Grab Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen ASAP if you need steals/runs and likely can't get them from the shortstop position. Unless you are totally comfortable with Elvis Andrus or Emmauel Burriss -- which I'm not -- it's time to try a different route with a power-hitting middle infielder like Ben Zobrist and be creative with your lineup.
Bits from the Box Scores
• Speaking of McCutchen, not only was he the recipient of a shaving cream pie in his rookie debut, he collected two hits, scored three runs and stole a base. If the Pirates continues to pencil in McCutchen and Nyjer Morgan atop the lineup, they won't get a lot of pop, but they'll have the fastest tandem in baseball. I could see McCutchen stealing 20 more the rest of the season.
• On the South side, Gordon Beckham made his rather forgettable debut for the White Sox. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout from the 8th spot in the order. Ozzie played Beckham at third base, which seems to be the most logical place for him to get at-bats, but we could see him at second and even shortstop depending on the game. Position versatility aside, I think McCutchen will end up proving more valuable this season.
• Three-hundred wins is splendid, but unfortunately we don't count career statistics in fantasy. That's why you sell high on 45-year-old Randy Johnson while his name is in the news. Don't forget he obliterated team ERAs with seven earned runs on three earlier occasions.
• Don't sleep while Jason Giambi is waking up. He hit his third homer in his last five games and can be scooped off most mixed-league waiver wires.
• Wakey wakey for B.J. Upton, too. He has a homer, four RBI and two doubles so far in June. More power could be on the way.
• Lou Piniella is giving Geovany Soto a "mental break" for the next few games. It's unclear how long he'll be out, but I'd consider this a temporary move. Buy low on Soto, and you've been kicking yourself for drafting him over Victor Martinez, all you can do is wait it out. You're not going to get fair return if you trade him now. Roll with someone like Florida catcher John Baker. For deeper leagues, Jason Jaramillo has seven RBI in his last four games.
• If you're digging for saves, know that J.P. Howell is by far the best option in the Rays' pen. Howell picked up his second save by pitching a perfect ninth in a one-run game versus the Royals.
• Toss out the first few starts and buy low on John Lackey. He tossed seven solid innings against the Blue Jays and has a 16:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio overall. Ervin Santana may have been brought back too soon, but I think Lackey's going to be fine.
• Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz has nine homers and five steals over his last 15 games. I was wary about how much hype Cruz received preseason, but I'm on the bandwagon now that he's proven late 2008 was no fluke. I'd rather have him than Matt Kemp heading into the summer.
• Welcome back to the majors, Chien-Ming Wang. You shall have no place on our fantasy teams.
• Scott Baker, however, does have a spot. He fanned 10 in seven quality innings against the Tribe. His 49:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio is very appealing, but he'll have to continue to avoid the ERA-killing home runs. Grab him for your bench and see if he can make it a trend.
• Kevin Youkilis keeps getting banged up in a variety of ways. He left Thursday's game in the fourth inning with a tight right calf. Nothing serious, though.
• If you're a Chris Carpenter owner, enjoy this magical ride. There's no way you're trading him unless you're getting back another stud in return, regardless of injury fears.
Down on the Farm: The Rockies purchased the contract of outfielder Carlos Gonzalez from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Gonzalez was batting .339 with 10 homers and 59 RBI in the minors. The 23-year-old is more valuable in NL-only leagues, but he could be worth a pickup in mixed leagues as well depending on how many at-bats manager Jim Tracy gives him.Don't Forget About: Ricky Nolasco. Many fantasy owners were so frustrated with Nolasco they jettisoned him to the waiver wire. He had two strong outings down in Triple-A New Orleans and will be recalled to start Sunday against the Giants. Keep him stashed to see if he can get his act together at the major-league level.
The Afflicted: Miguel Cabrera is day-to-day with a hamstring strain, but it appears to be a minor injury. Evan Longoria (hamstring) will likely return to the starting lineup Saturday. Jeremy Bonderman's successful rehab stint is over with Triple-A Toledo and he should return to the Detroit rotation next week. He's worth a flier in most AL-only leagues. The Cardinals are placing Kyle Lohse on the 15-day DL with a right forearm strain. Cleveland activated Travis Hafner from the 15-day DL and demoted Fausto Carmona to the Arizona Rookie League (!). Hafner is only worth playing in AL-only leagues until we can gauge how much he can start regularly. Milton Bradley will avoid the DL despite calf pain. What a relief! (sigh) Rich Harden (back) will make a five-inning rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.
Lineup Lock Time: All nightcaps Friday, starting at 7:05 PM ET.
Weekend Aces in the Hole: Max Scherzer (2-4, 4.47 ERA) struck out 10 Padres when he pitched against them last week. Hiroki Kuroda (1-1, 2.53 ERA) faces the Phillies at home in his third start back from injury. Trevor Cahill (2-5, 4.33 ERA), who has a significantly better WHIP at home, plays the Orioles. Orioles southpaw Rich Hill (2-0, 4.15 ERA) gets the lefty-allergic Athletics (.209 vs. LHP) on Sunday. Also on Sunday, Tommy Hanson makes his rookie debut against Milwaukee. He's worth adding in deep mixed leagues, and if you're pitching-deprived, start him and see if he can make those Brew Crew bats whiff.
