The slumping Los Angeles Dodgers will not have Hiroki Kuroda on their roster when they open the National League Division Series this Wednesday.
Kuroda has been ruled out of the first round by mananger Joe Torre after "a small herniation of the cervical spine" was discovered following an MRI on his ailing neck.
The Dodgers have struggled mightily over the last week, losing five straight entering play Saturday and watching their lead in the NL West dwindle to one game as Colorado matched their skid with a five-game winning streak of its own. In other words, Los Angeles wasn't exactly steamrolling toward the postseason to begin with; now it will be without Kuroda, who probably would have started for Torre in Game 2 or 3.
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.
Today's spot start of Hiroki Kuroda looked like the perfect matchup to get us back on track, yet it was not to be. Luckily, only three of Kuroda's seven runs were earned, limiting the damage done to our ratios just a bit. If you weren't the rocked Kuroda owner in today's game, you had to enjoy Andy LaRoche's performance, as the Pittsburgh 3B went 5 for 5 with 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, and 6 RBIs.
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.
After a long run of success, the Stream Team put up a couple stinkers over the weekend. Wade LeBlanc gave up four runs in five innings on Saturday, and Ryan Rowland-Smith gave up five runs in seven innings today. Both pitchers struck out three batters while allowing one walk, keeping us in line with our 3:1 K:BB ratio over the month. If we can stick to that, we should be successful more often than not.
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.
There's a starting pitcher available in two-thirds of your leagues that has a 1.10 WHIP and nearly four strikeouts to every walk? Yep, and since it looks like his ownership rates aren't going to rise to the level they should, you should be taking advantage of how great Hiroki Kuroda as been this season. We streamed him for his last two starts (14 innings, 12 Ks, 0 BBs, 3 ERs), and we're streaming him again tomorrow in Washington.
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.
Don't blame yourself if you didn't see a big line coming from Trevor Cahill. Coming off a three-inning, three-run game in Chicago, Cahill had to travel to Texas to take on a pretty good offense. On Wednesday, this offense was without Michael Young and Josh Hamilton, but that still left the hot Julio Borbon (.323 BA coming into the game) and Elvis Andrus (coming off a 16-game hitting streak), starsIan Kinsler and Nelson Cruz, and other players that have been hot over the course of September.
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.
We suggested streaming Bronson Arroyo last night -- as soon as the article went live, I started having second thoughts. After all, every time it looks safe to pick up Arroyo and start him, he gives up a seven-run pounding and finds himself right back on the wire. Last night, he kept humming along, pitching seven innings and striking out six, allowing one run and earning a win. We've got a 3.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in September, with 9 wins and a K/BB ratio better than 3/1.
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.
Yesterday we gave you Hiroki Kuroda, and he was amazing, giving up three hits and no walks in eight innings, striking out five. He gave up two runs on sacrifice flies, but we'll take a 2.25 ERA, 0.38 WHIP any day, especially when it comes with a win attached. That gives us six straight quality starts, and anyone shadowing the Stream Team this week has a great shot of winning ERA and WHIP in their playoff H2H matchup.
Colorado downed Cincinnati 5-1 with a five-run third inning and six scoreless innings from its bullpen after starter Jose Contreras suffered a strained quadriceps running to first base.
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.
Yesterday, Jon Garland delivered us another quality start, but just barely, pitching six innings and allowing three runs for a no-decision. I did jinx his control, and now Garland becomes our first pitcher this month to give up more than two walks in a game. Tonight, Ryan Rowland-Smith faces Los Angeles in Anaheim, a scary draw no doubt, and one I avoided in my actual league, streaming a hitter instead (Johnny Gomes, who's 1 for 1 thus far).
From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday -- it's running Friday this week.
Earlier this week, Brad Lidge's nightmare 2009 season continued, when he allowed a walk-off homer to Andrew McCutchen. Ed Price covered the outing the following morning. The abysmal performance by the Phillies' closer underlines the only weakness of the defending World Series Champions.
The slumping Los Angeles Dodgers will not have Hiroki Kuroda on their roster when they open the National League Division Series this Wednesday.
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the 
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the 
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the 
Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the 
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the 
Starting Five
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the 
