Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly still doesn't sound worried about SS Hanley Ramirez, but it would be nice to see him on the field. Ramirez missed another game on Wednesday due to an irritated joint in his right shoulder, and will reportedly see the team orthopedist today for an MRI. Before Wednesday's game, Mattingly said, "Hanley's better," and didn't rule out using him as a pinch hitter (though that didn't end up happening). Earlier this month, the same injury kept Ramirez out for two games, and with tonight's first pitch against the Cardinals scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET, you'll want to keep him inactive unless you can make the decision very late.
Wednesday's studs & duds
Stud: Tim Lincecum's no-hitter earns him a mention today, right? It's too bad his ERA since the beginning of 2012 is 4.70.
Stud: Blue Jays SS Jose Reyes had three hits, a home run, a stolen base, two runs scored and an RBI in a loss to the Yankees. That's a nice job of filling the fantasy stat sheet.
Dud: Bad Zack Wheeler showed up again last night, allowing six earned runs in two innings.
News & notes
Pirates' notes: OF Starling Marte is day to day with a bruised right middle finger, but passed all concussion tests after injuring his head on Tuesday. SP Gerrit Cole will come off the DL to start on Saturday.
Reds 2B Brandon Phillips missed his third straight start on Wednesday due to a bruised right heel. Consider him day to day.
It sounds like Taijuan Walker will take Erasmo Ramirez's place in the Mariners' rotation on Monday.
Alex Wood tossed seven scoreless innings in his return to the Braves' rotation. Wood is owned in 51.2 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, and should be a solid starting option for the remainder of the season. He also starred for the high school around the corner from my house in South Charlotte, but you probably don't care about that.
Indians SP Justin Masterson will miss his Sunday start (and possibly more time) due to a sore knee.
Red Sox OF Shane Victorino (back) had a setback in his rehab on Tuesday, and won't come off the DL this weekend as planned.
Kevin Gausman will come back from the minors to start one of the Orioles' doubleheader games versus the Rays on Friday. The talented Gausman has allowed two earned runs over 19 innings in his last three starts, and I never should have traded him and Jon Singleton for Joe Nathan in my AL keeper league. That deal has Dale Murray-for-Fred McGriff written all over it.
Tigers OF J.D. Martinez has six home runs in his last nine games, and is owned in 34.5 percent of FOXSports.com leagues. I'm calling "fluke" on this streak.
"There are a lot of positives that can happen with us being able to have Ernie as that back-end guy ... If it becomes Joe, I don't know if we have quite the same impact, because Joe is a unique guy, the way he can match up against righties and sink the ball and get a ground ball." So said Angels' manager Mike Scioscia on Wednesday about relievers Ernesto Frieri and Joe Smith. Just remember that Smith has the closer job now, and the notion of Frieri improving is easier said than done.
Dodgers 3B Juan Uribe (hamstring) is expected to come off the DL today.
Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria (triceps) might be headed for the DL.
Twins SS Danny Santana left Wednesday's game with a knee injury, and his prognosis is TBD.
Streaming starters
Charlie Morton didn't beat David Price, but he pitched very well, giving up two earned runs in seven innings and striking out 11 batters to raise our Fantasy Quality Start record to 49-35. Today's pick is Jarred Cosart (owned in 5.5 percent of FOXSports.com leagues), while Friday's selection is the aforementioned Mr. Gausman, who is 8.2 percent owned.
Happy 40th birthday, Derek Jeter!
See you back here tomorrow morning.
