Were you as frustrated as I was with Carlos Santana over the first half of the season? All is well now. Santana slugged six home runs last week - including five over a three-game span against the Royals from Friday through Sunday - to raise his total to 20 for the season. Yes, he's batting .232 for the year, but that BA is .307 since the beginning of June.
Is there a fantasy recommendation here? Not really - Santana is owned in 95.9 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, and you're not buying low on him any more. After Santana's explosive weekend, it just seemed appropriate to remember the cliche I like to spout to my colleague Ryan Fowler: Water usually reaches its level.
Sunday's (other) studs & duds
Stud: Nationals SP Doug Fister raised his record to 10-2 with seven shutout innings against the Reds. Fister was just a tad better than Cardinals' ace Adam Wainwright on Sunday.
Stud: Pirates 2B Josh Harrison had four hits, two runs, two RBI, a homer and two stolen bases against the Rockies on Sunday. That's a pretty good fantasy week.
Stud: Mets 1B Lucas Duda hit his 18th home run of the season - and his third in the four-game series against the Brewers.
Dud: There weren't any notable fantasy duds, so let's go with Pirates SP Edinson Volquez, who allowed 10 baserunners in four-and-one-third innings against the Rockies.
News & notes
Looking for the fantasy fallout of Jake Peavy's move to the Giants? Allen Webster takes Peavy's rotation slot with the Red Sox, and he pitched OK on Sunday. Peavy was just OK himself against the Dodgers on Sunday night, and he essentially takes the place of Matt Cain (elbow), who might not pitch again this season. I'd ignore both Peavy and Webster in 12-team mixed leagues, but might take a shot at Peavy in a deeper mixed format if he's still available.
Lots of news from the Padres today. Ian Kennedy will miss tonight's start due to an oblique strain. Also, this San Diego Union-Tribune story reports that Andrew Cashner threw a bullpen session on Sunday; Jedd Gyorko will come off the DL today; and Carlos Quentin (knee) is headed to the DL for the 137th time in his career.
I don't know anything about the "dry needling procedure" that Troy Tulowitzki - or is it Tulowizki? - will have on his hip. Hopefully, he'll be back by mid-August.
A's OF Coco Crisp (neck) is expected to miss this week's series in Houston, and might be headed for the DL.
B.J. Upton is back in the leadoff spot for the Braves, and had a nice weekend in the role. He's going to suck me back into his vortex of fantasy disappointment, isn't he?
The Twins are hoping to send 1B Joe Mauer on a rehab assignment next week.
It sounds like Andre Ethier is the last man standing in the Dodgers' game of outfield musical chairs.
Brewers 2B Scooter Gennett (quad) made a pinch-hitting appearance on Sunday, and should be back in the lineup tonight.
It sounds like Jason Vargas (appendectomy) could return to the Royals' rotation by next week.
Rangers SP Nick Tepesch (knee), who left Saturday's game early, hopes to make his next start on Friday.
Streaming starters
Charlie Morton got knocked around on Friday, Jon Niese wasn't so good on Saturday, and Jimmy Nelson was solid on Sunday; we're now 60-44 for the season. Today's pick is Bartolo Colon (owned in 24.7 percent of FOXSports.com leagues) versus the Phillies, while Tuesday's choice is Colorado's quietly surging Jorge De La Rosa (21 percent owned) at Wrigley against the Cubs. De La Rosa has a 1.77 ERA over his last four starts, with 19 strikeouts against seven walks in 25 1/3 innings.
See you back here tomorrow morning, or earlier if there's a big trade.
