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The Twins placed shortstop J.J. Hardy on the DL retroactive to May 5th because of a bruised wrist. Hardy was hitting .250 with 11 runs, 3 HRs, and 11 RBIs. Replacements could be slim thanks to the recent Furcal and Escobar injuries. The replacements I would try for (in order):

1.  Mike Aviles
2. Orlando Cabrera
3.  Cliff Pennington 
4.  Ian Desmond
5.  Juan Uribe
6.  Starlin Castro
7.  Cristian Guzman

In other news Carlos Beltran has been cleared to do some light jogging. Rotoworld is predicting a mid-June return. In shallow leagues he could be floating in waivers. If so, grab him. In deeper leagues you could try to make a play for him, especially if his owner is struggling. It’s a high risk/high reward proposition.

Quick Hits:
- Josh Beckett will have his next start pushed back.
- Ryan Braun is day-to-day after getting hit on the elbow
- Jacoby Ellsbury should start a rehab assignment this week.
- A stiff elbow caused Brad Lidge to be held out of Monday’s Phillies game.
-Huston Street should also begin a rehab assignment this week

Tuesday, August 26th
Geovany Soto went 3 for 5 with 3 Runs, 2 Doubles, a HR, and 7 RBI.  Jimmy Rollins went 5 for 7 with a Run, a Double, a HR, 3 RBI, and 3 SBs.  Orlando Cabrera went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs, 2 Doubles, a Triple, and 2 RBI.  Ben Francisco went 3 for 5 with 2 Runs, 2 HRs, and 4 RBI.  Damion Easley went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs, a Double, a HR, 2 RBI, and a Walk.  Cody Ross went 3 for 5 with a Run, a Double, a HR, and 4 RBI.  Johnny Damon hit a pair of solo HRs.  Fernando Tatis had 4 RBI.   Vernon Wells (3 RBI), Omar Infante (3 Runs), Briand Giles (3 RBI), Carlos Quentin, Manny Ramirez, Cristian Guzman, Coco Crisp, Alfonso Soriano, Nyjer Morgan, Miguel Olivo, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Craig Counsell, Jayson Werth, Torii Hunter, Adrian Beltre (it’s almost as he’s punishing the Twins for not making a move for him at the trading deadline), and Rich Aurilia each had 3 Hits.  Franklin Gutierrez, Brad Hawpe and Adrian Gonzalez each scored 3 Runs.  Jason Kendall and Kevin Kouzmanoff each had 3 RBI.

Bronson Arroyo tossed a Complete Game allowing 1 Run on 5 Hits to improve to 12-10.  John Lackey Lackey threw a Complete Game allowing 1 Run with 5 Ks to improve to 9-2 with a 2.95 ERA.  Kevin Millwood also threw a Complete Game allowing 1 Run to improve to 8-7.  Gavin Floyd gave up 2 Runs on 4 Hits in 8 Innings to improve to 14-6 with a 3.70 ERA.  Cliff Lee did it again.  He allowed 2 Runs in 7-2/3 Innings to improve to 19-2 with a 2.43 ERA.  Ben Sheets pitched 6 scoreless Innings allowing 5 Hits to improve to 12-7 with a 3.05 ERA.  Roy Halladay gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings with 7 Ks to improve to 16-9 with a 2.69 ERA.  Ryan Rowland-Smith gave up 2 Runs on 5 Hits in 7 Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 3-2 with a 3.73 ERA.  Jorge de la Rosa gave up 1 Earned Run on 5 Hits in 6 Innings to improve to 7-7.   Wandy Rodriguez gave up 2 Runs on 3 Hits in 7 Innings with 10 Ks, but got a no-decision.  Zack Greinke gave up 1 unearned Run on 4 Hits in 6 Innings with 5 Ks, but got a no-decision.  Derek Lowe gave up 2 Runs in 8 Innings with 6 Ks, but lost.

Sunday, July 27th
MIke Jacobs went 3 for 4 with 2 Runs, 2 HRs, and 5 RBI.  Geoff Blum hit a couple of HRs and had 4 RBI.  Ivan Rodriguez and Brad Ausmus went 4 for 4.  Fred Lewis also had 4 Hits.  Billy Butler and Shane Victorino each had 4 RBI.  Raul Ibanez, David Wright, Fernando Tatis, Scott Podsednik(2 SBs), Jeff Baker (3 Runs), Guillermo Quiroz (3 RBI), Ryan Braun, Alfonso Soriano (3 RBI), Gerald Laird, Kurt Suzuki (3 RBI), Mark Kotsay, Conor Jackson (3 Runs), David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Stephen Drew each had 3 Hits.  Garrett Atkins, Hank Blaylock, Martin Prado, Manny Ramirez, and Miguel Tejada each had 3 RBI.  Dan Uggla scored 3 Runs.

Johan Santana tossed a Complete Game giving up 1 Run on 6 Hits with 5 Ks to improve to 9-7 with a 2.93 ERA.  Jarrod Washburn gave up 1 Run on 4 Hits in 8 Innings to improve to 5-9.  Nick Blackburn (7 Innings, 1 Run, 4 Hits) and Jeremy Sowers (8 Innings, 2 Runs, 3 Hits go no-decisions.  Zach Miner gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 5-3 with a 3.65 ERA.  Ubalod Jimenez tossed 6 scoreless Innings to improve to 7-9 with a 3.80 ERA.  Garrett Olson gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings to improve to 7-5.  Jake Peavy gave up 1 Run on 4 Hits in 7 Innings with 10 Ks to improve to 8-6 with a 2.67 ERA.  Paul Maholm gave up 1 Run on 4 Hits in 7 Innings with 9 Ks, but got a no-decision.  Clayton Kershaw tossed 6 scoreless Innings allowing 4 Hits while striking out 5 for his first career Win.  Randy Johnson tossed 7 scoreless Innings to improve to 8-7.  It was his 292nd Win.  Jon Lester gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings with 8 Ks to improve to 9-3 with a 3.17 ERA.

Saturday, July 26th
Skip Schumaker scored 3 Runs to go with his 6 Hits.  Albert Pujols went 5 for 8 with 3 Runs, a HR, and 3 RBI.  Torii Hunter went 3 for 3 with 4 Runs, 2 HRs, 5 RBI, and 2 Walks.  Jeremy Hermida scored 3 Runs, hit a Double, and smacked 2 HRs.  Adrian Gonzalez went 3 for 5 with 3 Runs, a Double, 2 HRs, and 4 RBI.  Alex Rios and Carlos Delgado each hit a pair of HRs and drove in 3 Runs.  Brian Buscher went 3 for 5 with a Run, a HR, and 5 RBI.  Miguel Tejada and Jose Reyes each had 4 Hits.  Ryan Braun had 4 RBI.  Jose Lopez, Josh Hamilton, Greg Dobbs, Juan Rivera, Aubrey Huff, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Jason Michaels, and Mark Teixeira each had 3 RBI.  Joe Inglett, Robinson Cano (3 RBI), Chris Coste (3 RBI), Delmon Young, Magglio Ordonez, Troy Tulowitzki, Yorvit Torrealba, Mark Grudzielanek (3 Doubles), Fernando Tatis, and Rick Ankiel each had 3 Hits.  Ray Durham scored 3 Runs.

Derek Lowe gave up 1 Hit in 8 scoreless Innings to improve to 8-8 with a 3.74 ERA.  Rich Harden (5 Innings, 1 Run, 2 Hits, 10 Ks) and Chris Volstad (6 Innings, 2 Runs, 6 Ks) got no-decisions.  Jorge de La Rosa gave up 1 Run on 2 Hits with 8 Ks in 6-2/3 Innings to even his record at 5-5.  Brandon Webb gave up 2 Runs on 4 Hits in 7 Innings to improve to 14-4 with a 3.14 ERA.  Tim Lincecum gave up 2 Runs in 7 Innings with 13 Ks, but got a no-decision.

Wednesday, July 23rd
Jeff Mathis went 4 for 5 with 2 Runs, a Double, a HR, and 6 RBI.  Carlos Quentin went 2 for 4 with 2 Runs, 2 HRs, and 4 RBI.  Adam Dunn went 2 for 5 with 2 Runs, a Grand Slam, and 5 RBI.  Doug Mientkiewicz went 4 for 4 with 2 RBI.  Casey Kotchman went 5 for 5.  Howie Kendrick went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs, 3 Doubles, and 3 RBI.  Ryan Garko went 3 for 4  with 2 Runs, a HR, and 4 RBI.  Gregor Blanco went 4 for 5 with 3 Runs, a Triple, and 3 RBI.  Ryan Braun went 4 for 5 with a Run, a Triple, a HR, and a RBI.  Reed Johnson went 3 for 4 with 2 Runs, a Double, a Grand Slam, and 4 RBI.  Javier Valentin, Mike Lamb, Placido Polanco, Maglio Ordonez, Mark Loretta, James Loney, Johnny Peralta (3 Runs), Jose Vidro, Damion Easley, Conor Jackson, Chris Young, Ryan Zimmerman, Bengie Molina, Omar Vizquel, and Richie Weeks each had 3 Hits.  Miguel Cabrera, Jose Reyes, Yunel Escobar, Luis Gonzalez, Chris Snyder, and Jim Thome each had 3 RBI.  Kazuo Matsui scored 3 Runs.

C.C. Sabathia continued to sparkle for Milwaukee tossing a Complete Game three-hit Shutout.  He struck out 7 as he improved to 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA with the Brew Crew (10-8, 3.15 overall).  Mike Mussina threw 8 scoreless Innings allowing 6 Hits with 7 Ks to improve to 13-6 with a 3.26 ERA.  Armando Galarraga gave up 1 Run on 3 Hits in 7 Innings with 7 Ks to improve to 8-4 with a 3.27 ERA.  James Shields gave up 3 Runs on 6 Hits in 8-1/3 Innings with 7 Ks to improve to 9-6 with a 3.66 ERA.  Tim Hudson tossed 6 scoreless Innings allowing 3 Hits while striking out 6 to improve to 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA.