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Fantasy Baseball Tip Sheet - July 18

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By James LoPresti / The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 18, 2008

Injury Updates

David Ortiz, DH (Red Sox) - Ortiz is making great strides in his recovery, and he is expected to be activated and inserted into the Red Sox lineup for their series against the Yankees starting July 25. Ortiz will play in at least six rehab games for Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket to get his timing back. You should give Big Papi at least a full week before putting him back into your lineup. He won't approach 50 home runs, but he is a good bet to smack 10 or 15 more home runs and maintain a .290 average the rest of the year.

Fausto Carmona, SP (Indians) - Carmona said he "felt great and ready to go" following his first rehab start for Single-A Lake County on Monday, when he allowed one hit in four scoreless innings and struck out three. He will likely make at least one more rehab start before rejoining the Indians' rotation, but Monday's start was definitely a good sign. If all goes well, Carmona will be back in the majors in late August, and he should make at least five starts before the season is done. If he is available, he is a good late-season pickup.

Takashi Saito, RP (Dodgers) - Saito will miss six to eight weeks because of a sprained ligament in his right (pitching) elbow. This kind of injury was bound to happen to the 38-year-old closer, who has thrown 184 innings in the past 21/2 years. It is not likely that he will ever return to the closer role. Manager Joe Torre has said that setup man Jonathan Broxton will take over the closer position. Broxton is a must pickup in all league formats.

Second-Half Stars

Here are some underachieving first-half players who should break out in the last two months of the season.

Alex Rios, OF (Blue Jays) - Rios has disappointed many owners who spent a third-round selection on him expecting the same .300 average and 24-homer production he put up last season. Instead, Rios has only four long balls and a .285 average, and he has struck out 24 more times than he did at this point last season. However, Rios came into the All-Star break with a seven-game hitting streak and nine RBIs in his previous six games. Look for him to keep up his pace and begin turning line drives into home runs as the season progresses.

Jimmy Rollins, SS (Phillies) - The reigning NL MVP has struggled at the plate since coming back from an ankle injury suffered in April. The fact that Rollins has hits in eight of his last nine games indicates he is starting to find his rhythm. We should begin to see his average climb toward .300 and his home run and RBI totals increase in the second half.

Salomon Torres, RP (Brewers) - Torres has been great for owners who picked him up off waivers, registering 15 saves in 16 opportunities. The acquisition of CC Sabathia and the sudden resurgence of Dave Bush will increase Torres' chances of getting more save opportunities. With Milwaukee expected to be in the mix for a playoff spot, Torres has the potential to save 25 games in the second half.

Prospect Watch

David Price, SP (Rays) - Price has been flat-out dominant in both Single-A and Double-A so far, posting a combined 8-0 record, and a microscopic 1.63 ERA. He also has yet to give up a home run in his first 602/3 innings in the minors. That begs the question: "Is he ready for the big leagues?" The answer is yes, but the Rays management likely will opt to keep him in the minors, giving him more experience before calling upon him next season to be a No. 3 or 4 starter. However, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of the Rays calling Price up in September to work out of the bullpen if they are making a strong bid for the playoffs.

Matt LaPorta, 1B (Indians) - The former University of Florida slugger was the main piece in the trade that sent CC Sabathia to the Brewers. He should make an impact for the Indians when he is called up, and he will likely be the starting first baseman next season. His average may not be great, but he has the power to hit 30-35 home runs, given a full season.

Andrew McCutchen, OF (Pirates) - McCutchen went 2-for-2 with two RBIs in Wednesday night's Triple-A All-Star Game, showing scouts why he belongs in the majors. In 92 games in Triple-A, he has hit .282, with eight home runs and 24 stolen bases. Look for McCutchen to get the call next month, especially if the Pirates decide to part ways with one of their starting outfielders.

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