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DFS PLAYBOOK PRO – An exciting new offering from the Alarm is here! It’s the DFS Playbook Pro. I will be doing a daily breakdown of the hitters –Hitting Coach – while Howard Bender looks into the Pitchers (Pitching Coach).
OTHER LINKS TO BOOKMARK
ASTROS TO CALL UP FUTURE SUPERSTAR?
Quick, run to the waiver-wire to add future star Carlos Correa. That’s what the Twitterverse exploded with last night when news came down that Jed Lowrie will be out until after the All-Star break because of a torn UCL in his thumb. The only problem with the narrative is that it’s not based in reality.
Correa is a top-5 prospect in baseball according to everyone. But there’s the little matter of the fact that he’s not yet 21 years old, that he doesn’t have 250 games of experience as a professional and that he’s appeared in all of 17 games above Single-A ball. Here’s what GM Jeff Luhnow had to say.
"The way Correa has played, he starts to insert himself into the conversation," he said. Carlos is a unique player, so the typical time for each level may not apply to him. We do think there's things he's learning and benefiting from being in Corpus (Texas League)… "We do think there's value in spending more time at Double-A…”
He ain’t getting called up folks, at least not right now. In fact, it may not happen until well into the second half.
The club will go with Marwin Gonzalez and Jonathan Villar at shortstop for now. Sorry folks.
PITCHER INJURIES
I warned you over, and over, and over, and over, and over…
Masahiro Tanaka has been placed on the DL with wrist tendinitis and a forearm strain. The estimate is that he will miss “at least” a month. "We want to make 
sure that this doesn't lead to the more horrific problems that we're trying to avoid," GM Brian Cashman said when breaking down the current state of Tanaka’s arm. The team claims – wink, wink – that an MRI showed no further damage to his already torn UCL (the ligament that requires Tommy John surgery to fix when it goes all caplooie). While the team is saying that this most recent setback does not mean that Tommy John surgery is a foregone conclusion, Cashman did hare this to say when asked about a possible procedure. “Could be. I couldn't tell you. No one can answer the question.” I can Brian – Tommy John surgery is coming for Tanaka. Just read the tweet from former big league star Mark Mulder.
Maybe Tanaka can rehab "again". If you played little league you could see this coming.
Yeppers Mr Mulder.
Homer Bailey has been transferred from the 15 day DL to the 60 day DL. As my co-host on The Drive (Kyle Elfrink) on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio said a month ago – ‘I bet you that Bailey has Tommy John surgery this year.’ The club has decided to wait a while before talking about surgery, but the fact is that Tommy John surgery would appear to be a distinct possibility for the righty.
Archie Bradley is fine after taking that line drive off his noggin’. He’s been placed on the DL but the hope is that he could be back after a minimum stay since no fractures were detected and since he didn’t suffer a concussion.
Max Scherzer (thumb) is expected to make his next start on Friday after he was unable to go last night. He should be good to go, but I do hesitate to give him 100 percent of a thumbs up in his first start against the Mets. Just want to see how that thumb effects his control.
Justin Verlander (triceps) made 20 throws from 60 feet Tuesday. He won’t throw again until he has another MRI next week. We got input from a couple doctors and a very light catch is not going to impede healing at all," said Verlander. "If anything it may allow blood flow. Also, it won't get so cranky when I really do get the green light." Whatever. I would be surprised if he didn’t miss all of May at this point.
HITTER INJURIES
Desmond Jennings (knee) is out for a 4th straight game Wednesday. Doesn’t sound like a DL move is coming, and I’m still saying if he’s available to add via waivers or trade you might be wise to see how cheap he could be acquired.
Anthony Rendon is out of action for a 4th straight game as he attempts to return to the bigs. Sounds like his knee is alright, but it is now his side that is keeping him on the shelf. Ugh. No timeline is available, but it’s looking like mid-May at the moment would be a fair guesstimate for his return.
ON THE BUMP
Tyson Ross has a 4.55 ERA and 1.63 WHIP through five starts. Panic? No. Still buying. The ground balls are still there, over 55 percent, and the K-rate is fantastic (12.04 per nine). The velocity is still there too. The issue is the walk as Ross has issued 18 free passes in 27.2 innings and my assumption is that the number comes down as we move forward. I would exercise patience if I owned Ross.
SUDDENLY HOT?
Chris Carter has a hit in seven games – straight. Were you aware of that? He’s still hasn’t been able to pull his average up to .180 yet.
PADRES OUTFIELD
Wil Myers has had a strong start to his Padres career. Myers has hit leadoff in 21 of the 22 games he’s appeared, and the results include 19 runs scored, 15 RBIs and a .287 batting average. That’s all really good stuff. Also love the fact that his K-rate, over 24 percent the last two years, is down to 19.6 percent this season. The concerns follow. (1) He’s only walked two times in 22 games. As a result of never taking a free pass his OBP is a poor .309. (2) Despite the overall success his line drive rate is 12.3 percent. Going back to the start of last season his line drive rate over 453 plate appearances is just 15.0 percent. That’s scary low (the league average is usually about 20 percent). He has the talent that suggests that we merely need to give him more time, but keep an eye on it.
D’BACKS OUTFIELD
Over 18 games this season Mark Trumbo has killed it to the tune of a .324 batting average. He’s only hit two homers which is below expectations, and his total of two walks – scary bad. The power will come, no doubt, so have patience there. I do like the fact that Trumbo has only 12 strikeouts in 18 games. That would be an excellent rate for the slugger who has whiffed 566 times in 566 career games. The average will go down… the power will surge. Bank on it.
SIGNING
Jose Valverde is now a National. Don’t go rushing to add the righty vet. Drew Storen is still the closer after converting 5-of-6 save chances while striking out nine batters in eight innings. Valverde is a decent signing for the club, but he’s not mixed league worthy at the moment.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday at 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).