2012 Fantasy Baseball Daily Fix: Matt Kemp re-injures hamstring
Some big injury news around the diamond on Wednesday. Matt Kemp left the Dodgers 6-3 loss to the Brewers, in the 2nd inning after reinjuring his left hamstring. It was his second game back from the DL. Did he return too soon? Would the hamstring have held up better with more rest? How would I know, I just tell girls that I’m a doctor so they’ll think I’m successful. Probably, though. Fire Mattingly! Kemp has an MRI scheduled for Thursday. In more first round draftpick injury news, Troy Tulowitzki left the 13-5 Rockies win over the Astros with a strained left groin. He was running out an infield ground out. Maybe Manny Ramirez had a point? Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow was cruising along with a 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 8 K day, when a comebacker to the shin forced him to be helped off the field. X-rays were negative and Morrow is day to day.
What a night for the ladies, who “dig the longball.” Home runs were flying out of parks all over the nation tonight. Was it a full moon? Pet theory, the moons gravity pulls stronger on home runs when it's full. Somebody do the research and let me know what they come up with. I promise to share the Nobel Prize. Whatever it was we had some power on Wednesday. Carlos Gonzalez hit three home runs in a row. Giancarlo Stanton continued his power binge and cranked his 12th of the month. Carlos Quentin, newly returned from the DL, hit 2 HR. Justin Smoak hit 2. Mark Trumbo hit a homer for the 4th straight game. Curtis Granderson got his 16th on the season. Freddie Freeman put his new glasses to good use with his 8th on the year. Big Papi socked his 12th of the season. There were more but you get the point. Home runs rule.
Remember in the last paragraph when I said Justin Smoak had two home runs? Well he wasn't the lone Mariner swinging the big wood on Wednesday. Jesus Montero got his 7th to go along with 4 RBIs – Smoak had 6 RBIs – and Dustin Ackley hit his 4th. The Mariners beat the Rangers 21-8, chasing Derek Holland after only 1.2 IP and 8 ER. Holland recently got a haircut and shaved his wispy moustache, so some might make the connection to Samson. I don't know about that, but I think it's fair to say, if you look like a pansy you're going to pitch like a pansy.
There was some good pitching on Wednesday night too. AJ Burnett (7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 K) won a 2-1 pitchers duel against Johnny Cueto (7 IP, 2 ER, 5 K). Francisco Liriano had 9 K in 6 IP, helping to shutout the Athletics in a 4-0 Twins win. Ian Kennedy (7.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 K) led the Diamondbacks to a 4-1 win over the Giants and Tim Lincecum (7 IP, 1 ER, 6 K).
We may have seen the last of Jamie Moyer, who was designated for assignment by the Rockies. If that's a career, it's been a fine one, if for nothing more than it's longevity. I don't know exactly how the process works, but I think they have 10 days to waive him, trade him or shoot him like a horse with a broken leg.
Written by Ryan Coombs exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Follow Ryan on Twitter @RMCoombs.
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(May 20, 2012 – Source: Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)