The Los Angeles Dodgers promoted outfield prospect Jerry Sands on Monday after the 23-year-old hit a whopping .400/.422/.875 with five HRs and 17 RBI in 10 games (40 at-bats) at Triple-A Albuquerque.
He made his major league debut later that night, going 1-for-3 with a sac fly. He then went 1-for-4 on Tuesday night with an RBI groundout.
The Dodgers have installed Sands as their starting left fielder, and he could even relieve left-hander James Loney at first base against southpaw pitchers.
So what can Sands offer to fantasy managers in 2011 and beyond?
Through three starts (19 1/3 innings) in 2011, Seattle Mariners’ rookie Michael Pineda has certainly turned some heads. The 21-year-old boasts a 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 16/7 K/BB ratio, which includes a start at Texas.
This begs the question: How good is Michael Pineda?
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitching prospect Tyler Chatwood has been promoted from Triple-A Salt Lake, and will make his major league debut Monday against the streaking Indians.
Though he’s made just two starts above Double-A, the Angels believe the 21-year-old is MLB ready. In his first start of the season at Triple-A, Chatwood was yanked after just one inning, fueling speculation that he would soon get the call.
Chatwood, a right-hander, was drafted out of high school in the second round of the 2008 draft. His size (6-0, 185 pounds) won’t intimidate hitters, but his stuff will…
In Monday’s Closer’s Corner, I singled out the Angels’ bullpen and suggested Fernando Rodney’s struggles could soon lead to a change. On Tuesday, Mike Scioscia stripped Rodney of his ninth inning duties until “he gets back in touch with some things.”
Given Rodney’s sub-par performance in recent seasons (three-year averages: 4.45 ERA, 7.97 K/9, 5.18 BB/9), the 34-year-old’s days as a closer may finally be over.
Enter Jordan Walden…
The Atlanta Braves have placed Jair Jurrjens on the DL (retroactive to March 25) with an oblique injury. The team is confident he wont need more than a week to return to 100 percent. In fact, he’s already scheduled for a rehab start April 11 at Triple-A Gwinnett and should be back with the Braves April 16.
In the meantime, Mike Minor will take Jurrjens’ place in the rotation and will start Wednesday at Milwaukee.
Minor, the Braves No. 4 prospect according to Baseball America, was expected to win the Braves’ No. 5 starter role out of spring training. Despite allowing just one run in 10 innings this spring, he was sent to the minors in favor of Brandon Beachy…
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
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