Josh Hamilton is going home again.
Hamilton resurrected his major league career with the Texas Rangers from 2008-12, hitting 142 home runs and making the all-star team all five seasons. He was also a good fantasy baseball option.
He signed with the Los Angeles Angels after that, but had a drug relapse earlier this year. You remember, that derailed the start of his professional career.
Reports surfaced Friday that the Angels would send Hamilton back to Texas basically for cash.
Hamilton is 33 and hasn’t played this year because of offseason shoulder surgery. He’s had personal problems, divorcing his wife, and likely won’t play until June. If you have a DL spot, he’s worth a stash in hopes that he’ll rediscover his old ways on the field in Texas.
That’s the big news of Friday. Two key players – Seattle starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma and Miami outfielder Christian Yelich – went on the disabled list. Yelich’s absence benefits Martin Prado in the order, hitting between Dee Gordon and Giancarlo Stanton, and should push 41-year-old Ichiro into an everyday role for 15 days or longer. Seattle won’t call up a pitcher like Iwakuma, so don’t worry there.
TWO-START PITCHERS
Are you looking to stream a two-start pitcher for next week, hoping to get that edge on wins and strikeouts while risking ERA and WHIP because certain pitcher isn’t owned in most leagues? Here are your options, with opponents in parentheses.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore – Ubaldo Jimenez (CWS, TB)
Boston – Joe Kelly (TOR, NYY)
Chicago White Sox – Jeff Samardzija, Chris Sale (BAL, MIN) – though both could be suspended after the White Sox’ brawl with Royals
Cleveland – Corey Kluber, T.J. House (KC, TOR)
Detroit – David Price, Anibal Sanchez (MIN, KC)
Houston – Collin McHugh, Roberto Hernandez (SD, SEA)
Kansas City – Jeremy Guthrie, Yordano Ventura (CLE, DET) – though Ventura could also be suspended after the brawl with the White Sox
Los Angeles Angels – Jered Weaver (OAK, SF)
Minnesota – Tom Milone, Mike Pelfrey (DET, CWS)
New York Yankees – Adam Warren (TB, NYY)
Oakland – Sonny Gray (LAA, TEX)
Seattle – Taijuan Walker, JA Happ (TEX, HOU)
Tampa Bay – Nathan Karns (NYY, BAL)
Toronto – Aaron Sanchez, Drew Hutchison (BOS, CLE)
Texas – Yovani Gallardo (SEA, OAK)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Atlanta – Eric Stults, Julio Teheran (WAS, CIN)
Arizona – Chase Anderson (COL, LAD)
Chicago Cubs – Jason Hammel (PIT, MIL)
Cincinnati – Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey (MIL, ATL)
Colorado – Kyle Kendrick (ARI, SD)
Los Angeles Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw (SF, ARI)
Miami – Jarred Cosart (NYM, PHI)
Milwaukee – Jimmy Nelson (CIN, CHC)
New York Mets – Dillon Gee (MIA, WAS)
Philadelphia – Cole Hamels, Dustin McGowan (STL, MIA)
Pittsburgh – Vance Worley (CHC, STL)
San Diego – James Shields (HOU, COL)
San Francisco – Madison Bumgarner (LAD, LAA)
St. Louis – John Lackey, Michael Wacha (PHI, PIT)
Washington – Doug Fister, Max Scherzer (ATL, NYM)
