NL East Fantasy Baseball News: Harvey struggling for Mets
It's a good thing Steven Matz pitched well on Sunday. The NYC tabloids would have gone DefCon3 on Met panic if he hadn't.
Atlanta Braves
SWEEEEEP! The Braves won three straight against the Marlins over the weekend. Glancing at the boxscores makes the closer situation look murky, with Arodys Vizcaino getting Friday's save, Jason Grilli closing out Saturday's game, and Matt Wisler finishing off Sunday's after Grilli blew an opportunity in the ninth. However, manager Fredi Gonzalez wanted to give Vizcaino two days off after throwing 35 pitches on Friday - he's still the guy.
Wisler is expected to start Tuesday, with his Sunday appearance taking the place of a usual bullpen session.
Mallex Smith had three hits, three walks, 10 strikeouts, three runs scored and two stolen bases in 26 plate appearances in his first week as a big leaguer.
The Braves get Monday off before three-game sets with the Dodgers and Mets at home.
Miami Marlins
Marcell Ozuna was dropped to sixth in the lineup on Sunday, with Martin Prado batting second. Ozuna fantasy owners are not fans of this, Don Mattingly.
The Marlins have recalled RP Kyle Barraclough from Triple A. Barraclough, who was touted by some in the spring as a closer candidate, has a history of throwing really hard and walking waaaaay too many batters. So far this season, he's whiffed nine and walked one in six innings.
New York Mets
OF Michael Conforto was 5-for-12 with a homer, three RBI and four runs scored while batting third in the order over the weekend. Why do they ever take him out?
Matt Harvey had another shaky outing on Saturday. He's not throwing as hard as he normally does, and seems to be having trouble pitching from the stretch. Be patient, folks. He'll probably be fine.
Jacob deGrom, whose baby might come home from the hospital as soon as today, is expected to throw a simulated game on Tuesday while Logan Verrett takes his turn in the rotation. Sunday seems likely for deGrom's return to the mound, with the pitiful Braves as his opponent.
Catcher Travis d'Arnaud left Saturday's game after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch. The team's website calls d'Arnaud day to day, while manager Terry Collins suggested Saturday that his backstop might miss a few games.
Philadelphia Phillies
Couldn't the baseball gods have worked things out so that Vince Velasquez would face Noah Syndergaard this week, with the two combining for 50 strikeouts? Velasquez will see the Mets on Tuesday, while Syndergaard throws tonight.
The Phils played Darin Ruf in left field on Saturday, because their other options at the position aren't hitting. Better get going, Cedric Hunter and Peter Bourjos. There are plenty of options on the table.
Ryan Howard is batting .189 with four home runs and 12 strikeouts in 41 plate appearances. Glass half full, right?
Washington Nationals
Bryce Harper has homered in four straight games. Will Jose Fernandez slow him down tonight?
Nats' starters Joe Ross, Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez allowed just two earned runs in 21 2/3 innings over the weekend. Even with the Phillie factor, that's pretty good.
Wilson Ramos was the team's hottest hitter last week, going 10-for-19 with a homer and four RBI.
