LestersLegends.com

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When Adam Wainwright went down for the season, the Cardinals knew they would need to rely even heavier on their other three stars. So far they only have Matt Holliday running on all cylinders. Albert Pujols is hitting in the .260’s with very little power and Chris Carpenter only has one win as we approach late May.
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Conventional wisdom indicates Albert will turn things around and it is doubtful anyone willing to sell him at a discount, but Carpenter could be a candidate you can pick up in the bargain bin.
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When healthy, Carpenter is a proven winner and Cy-Young contender. Drafting Carpenter has always been an injury risk, not a performance risk. This year, Carpenter has struggled. Through May 22nd, he sits at 1-4 with a 4.88 ERA and a surprising 1.48 WHIP. Traditionally among the league leaders in WHIP, the high number is the key to his recent struggles and also provides a clue to a rebound in the near future. His BB/9
is 2.4, slightly higher than usual, but the exact same as last year when he won 16 games.
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The difference is his H/9 which stands at 10.9, his highest number since 2007, when he only pitched one game before undergoing Tommy John surgery. His career H/9 is at 9 so it seems the hitters are getting lucky on him and sure enough they have a BABIP of .343, compared to a lifetime .301. As the season progresses you should expect a correction.
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With a strikeout rate in-line with career average’s, Carpenter’s only other concern is run support. Although the Cardinals have the highest team batting average and are second in runs scored, Carpenter’s run support stands in the middle of the pack among MLB pitchers.
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Taking everything into account as the year goes on you should expect Carpenter’s ERA and WHIP to fall and his run support to climb. That should lead to more wins. The time to buy Chris Carpenter on the cheap is now.
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Also check out:

• Can Kyle McClellan Continue to Shine?
• Is Ian Kinsler a Good Trade Target?
• Can Dan Uggla Turn Around His Ugly Season?
• Should You Buy Low on Andrew McCutchen?
• Help Is Coming:  Should You Add Brian Matusz?

The Cardinals and Red Sox will both get emotional lifts tonight as Chris Carpenter and Kevin Youkilis have come of the 15-day DL. 

Carpenter injured his rib cage while swinging back in April.  He’s scheduled to start tonight against the Cubs.  On the year he’s 1-0 with 9 Ks, a 0.00 ERA and 0.70 WHIP in 10 Innings.  He’s 7-3 lifetime against the Cubs with a 3.08 ERA.

Youkilis is expected to be in the lineup for the Red Sox against Toronto.  He’s hitting .393 with 6 HRs and 20 RBIs.  He has struggled against the Blue Jays hitting .239 with 5 HRs and 19 RBIs in 58 games.

Images courtesy of Icon SMI

The Milwaukee Brewers were dealt a blow when Second Baseman Richie Weeks went down with a wrist injury.  He is lost for the season.  Weeks was hitting .272 with 28 Runs, 9 HRs, and 24 RBIs.  Casey McGehee, who is hitting .188 in 11 games will see more time at 2B.  Craig Counsell will also play the position, but at 38 years old, he’s not likely to play every day.  He is doing well though with a .324 average in 28 games.

Carlos Delgado will have his hip scoped.  The procedure could cost him a couple of months or more.  Fernando Tatis and Jeremy Reed will man First Base until Delgado can return.

The Cardinals got a three-pack of good news when they learned that Chris Carpenter and Rick Ankiel will be back on Wednesday and Ryan Ludwick should be able to return when he’s eligible to come off the DL.

Cincinnati’s Joey Votto will get checked out by doctors to try and find the cause of his recent dizzy spell.  Adam Rosales has been getting time at First Base for the Reds.

Kevin Youkilis started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket.  He went hitless in his debut with the club, but he felt good. 

Vladimir Guerrero is set to begin a rehab assignmnet for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. If all goes well, he could be back in the Angels’ lineup early next week.

Pat Burrell landed on the DL with a neck injury.  Ben Zobrist will continue to fill in for Burrell.

Chris Carpenter just can’t catch a break.  After throwing seven scoreless Innings in his season debut on April 9th against Pittsburgh, Carpenter was forced out after three Innings on Tuesday with a strained rib cage.  Carpenter surrendered four hits, but has still yet to allow an Earned Run this year.  Carpenter has dealt with elbow and shoulder injuries that have allowed him to make just six starts since the beginning of the 2007 season.  Mitchell Boggs was called up and will likely take the former Cy Young Award winner’s spot in the rotation.

Daisuke Matsuzaka also landed on the DL due to a shoulder strain.  After sporting a 18-3, 2.90 ERA, Dice-K has struggled by allowing 9 Earned Runs in 6-1/3 Innings (12.79 ERA).  He allowed just 54 Earned Runs in 167-2/3 Innings last year.  He just can’t get anyone out as evidenced by his robust 3.00 WHIP.  Some may point to his participation in the World Baseball Classic as a reason for the shoulder strain.  Dice-K was named MVP of the WBC after winning three games.  Hunter Jones got the call to replace him on the roster.  Clay Buchholz will likely replace Matsuzaka in the rotation.

Images courtesy of Icon SMI

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

Chris Carpenter was brilliant in his 2009 debut allowing just 1 Hit and an Unearned Run in 7 Innings of work.  He struck out seven Pittsburgh batters.  Carpenter did walk two batters.  Carpenter threw 92 pitches, 63 for Strikes.  Carpenter’s WHIP is 0.43 and his BAA is 0.42.  This was just Carpenter’s fifth start since 2007 as he has dealt with elbow and shoulder injuries.  Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for the 2005 Cy Young winner.