The Detroit Tigers are playing their best baseball of the season right now, winning their last six games and 10 of their last 13. Because of this recent stretch they've basically wrapped up the AL Central, putting 6 1/2 games between them and the second-place Minnesota Twins.
But even though they're winning games doesn't mean their frustrations can't get the best of them from time to time. After nearly blowing a save on Friday night in Tampa, Tigers' closer Fernando Rodney threw a baseball into the stands that landed in the press box. It was a pretty nice throw that earned Rodney a three-game suspension and a fine from Major League Baseball.
Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
The ugly pitching line from Monday night shouldn't have been a huge shock to Jarrod Washburn fantasy owners. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up 9 hits, 8 earned runs, 3 walks and 2 home runs. He struck out just 2. While it was his worst outing for the Tigers, he's been flat-out awful in Motown since he was acquired at the trade deadline. Sure, there was an 8-inning gem where he didn't allow a run. He also mixed in a quality start last time out for his first win in Detroit. Other than that, it's been horrifying.
What a quick turnaround for Chad Qualls. He had just recorded the final out in his 24th save of the 2009 campaign -- 15 more than his previous career-high -- but, in the process, had taken a liner off his knee. Tests have shown the shot did enough damage to tear his patella femoral ligament in his left knee. In layman's terms, it's a ligament that connects the knee-cap (patella) to the thigh bone (femur) and he will need surgery to repair it.
The surgery will end Qualls' season prematurely, as he'll need three to four months to get back on the hill. The good news, though, is the the Diamondbacks aren't going anywhere this year and Qualls has plenty of time to recover before 2010 spring training.
A potential season-ending injury is no way for a closer to end a game. But, Chad Qualls did just that on Sunday as he earned his 24th save but took a line drive off of his kneecap on the final play of the game.
Instead of celebrating a three-game sweep, the Diamondbacks tended to closer Chad Qualls, who suffered a dislocated left kneecap on a game-ending play.
Qualls crumpled to the dirt after deflecting a liner by Jason Michaels to shortstop Stephen Drew, who fired to first base for the final out. Qualls immediately motioned to the dugout for help, and trainers and teammates rushed to the mound. After several moments, trainers helped the 6-foot-5-inch, 220-pound Qualls to his feet and off the field.
Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said Qualls had dislocated the kneecap but had no other details about the extent of the injury. Qualls underwent X-rays after the game and did not speak to reporters.
All three will certainly be in the hunt for the Cy over the final month of the season, but Wainwright's stunning run is worth looking at in more depth.
While the Phillies seem the best bet to grab Roy Halladay -- if the Blue Jays decide to deal their ace -- they are also looking at upgrades in the bullpen.
Philadelphia sent a scout to watch Arizona closer Chad Qualls over the weekend, perhaps signaling the teams were talking about a deal.
Qualls, 31 next month, is 1-1 with a 3.76 ERA and 17 saves in 21 opportunities. He is holding right-handed hitters to a .234 average and has allowed just three homers in 38 1/3 innings (his 1.62 groundball-to-flyball ratio would work well at Citizens Bank Park).
He makes $2.535 million this year and will be eligible for arbitration after the season.
The fourth-place Diamondbacks have already begun dumping, sending infielder Felipe Lopez to the Brewers.
Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.
You Oughta Know ... That things got weird, awfully weird, at Petco Park on Sunday. The Diamondbacks carried a five-run lead into the ninth inning against San Diego thanks to seven innings of one-run ball by Dan Haren and a scoreless inning of relief by Tony Pena.
Then the wheels really fell off.
Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls surrendered five runs in the ninth, the last three of which came on a game-tying home run by light-hitting David Eckstein. Eckstein has 20 career homers in nine professional seasons, and a career slugging average of .359. So if you're keeping score, one of the most punchless players in the majors went deep in the most cavernous park in baseball, and things were only starting to get interesting.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
It's no secret we here at Fantasy FanHouse were not a fan of Matt Holliday for your fantasy baseball team this season. We told you to avoid him several times in the draft kit, and still more in chats. This wasn't because we thought he was a terrible player or a bad guy. Quite the contrary, he's a good player and seems like a swell enough guy. It's just that he was so overvalued and we knew his numbers would take a hit departing Colorado for the Bay area.
Well, now is the fun part of fantasy baseball. Now we're telling you to trade for him.
It's always nice to know how secure a closer's job is and who's next in line if somebody loses their 9th inning job. The Closer Report will give you that info. And if that wasn't good enough, we'll rank the closers from top to bottom.
As you'll see, Heath Bell has taken over the top spot on this edition of The Closer Report. A few big-name, top-of-the-charts closers from years past have fallen off quite a bit. How weird is it to see Brad Lidge near the bottom of the closer rankings and Joe Nathan stuck in the middle?
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
Who would have thought that Dexter Fowler's five stolen base game wouldn't even last a week as the high steals game in 2009. Carl Crawford did him one better Sunday, taking six in as many chances. Crawford is now 17-17 in stolen base attempts this season. Lost in the shuffle was that his 4-4 day at the plate caused his average to rise all the way up to .317.
The Detroit Tigers are playing their best baseball of the season right now, winning their last six games and 10 of their last 13. Because of this recent stretch they've basically wrapped up the AL Central, putting 6 1/2 games between them and the second-place Minnesota Twins.
Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
What a quick turnaround for 
A potential season-ending injury is no way for a closer to end a game. But, 
Starting Five
While the Phillies seem the best bet to grab 
Starting Five
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
