Fantasy Baseball

The fourth game of the Pinstripes' young season showcased the much-talked-about sophomore stud Ivan Nova vs the less-and-less talked about Scott Baker and the Twins. Six innings and 84 pitches later (50 for strikes) was plenty for Nova to earn his second career win and first of the 2011 season.

Here’s a look at the unheralded fantasy baseball players who played well yesterday.

Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland Indians
Orlando Cabrera went three for four with two runs, a home run and two RBI. Justin Masterson scattered seven hits over seven innings, allowing one run, for the win.

Chicago Cubs’ shortstop Starlin Castro is 8-for-13 (.615) with four runs and one RBI through three games this season, and already has the fantasy baseball community buzzing over his potential.

Castro’s 2011 spring totals turned some heads last month, as he displayed surprising power: 66 at-bats, 14 runs, nine XBH (four HRs), 15 RBI, two steals, .348/.386/.621.

You shouldn't be trading right now. I've written for years, from the opening pitch until the third Sunday of the season, there should be no trading.

But if you feel so inclined, and you are looking for some buy-low starting pitchers, this is the place to find them. These guys will all have different asking prices, and I'll try to give an accurate idea of what I would pay for each. 

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The Atlanta Braves have placed Jair Jurrjens on the DL (retroactive to March 25) with an oblique injury.

The team is confident that he wont need more than a week to return to 100 percent. In fact, he’s already scheduled for a rehab start on April 11 at Triple-A Gwinnett, and should be back with the Braves April 16.

The season is only a few days old, but there are certainly plenty of injuries that need discussing.  Let’s take a look at the latest:

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians
Gordon Beckham went 2-for-4 with a run and 2 RBI. Brent Morel went 1-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base. Edwin Jackson picked up the win while allowing two earned runs in six innings. He struck out seven. Chris Sale struck out a pair in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Rafael Perez struck out a pair in a scoreless inning of relief for the Tribe.

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria expects to miss no more than a week after leaving Saturday’s game with a sore left oblique.

Manager Joe Maddon, however, has not ruled out a DL stint. Longoria will be reevaluated on Sunday.

According to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, Baltimore Orioles starter Brian Matusz will miss 3-6 weeks with a strained intercostal muscle.

Zack Britton will take Matusz’s spot in the rotation, making his major league debut on Sunday against the Rays.

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies

Wilson Valdez, playing for Chase Utley, went 2-for-4 with the game-tying RBI. He’s no Utley, but it’s a nice start. Shortstop Angel Sanchez batted second for the Astros, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Neither is good fantasy option.