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Player News - American - American

Date: Team: Pos:

Alexei Ramirez - SS - White Sox

Alexei Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI against the Marlins on Saturday.

Always a free-swinger, Ramirez has only six less walks this year (10) than he did over 593 at-bats last season. That's the good news. The bad is that Ramirez hasn't found his power stroke. Ramirez (one home run) is slugging only .354, the lowest mark of his career.

May 26 - 4:53 AM

Nate McLouth - OF - Orioles

Nate McLouth went 2-for-4 with a walk in Saturday's victory against the Blue Jays.

The 32-year-old is thriving atop Baltimore's potent lineup, posting a .285/.365/.437 slash line and leading the American League with 15 steals. He's also sixth with 34 runs scored. Between 2010-2012, McLouth often looked dead in the water, batting an anemic .221/.320/.346 line over 255 games. McLouth hasn't played this well since 2008, when he was a 26-year-old All-Star for the Pirates.

May 26 - 4:44 AM

Jerry Blevins - R - Athletics

Jerry Blevins has posted a spectacular 1.99 ERA and 0.66 WHIP in 22 appearances.

In addition, he's 3-0 and has posted an amazing 20/1 K/BB ratio over 22 2/3 frames. Owners in holds leagues should note that this veteran left-hander hasn't yet recorded one, but Blevins has proved over the last few years to be a decent middle reliever in AL-only leagues.

May 26 - 4:04 AM

Derek Holland - S - Rangers

Derek Holland struck out a season-high 10 batters and allowed no earned runs over 6 2/3 innings in Saturday's 5-2 win against the Mariners.

Both runs scored during Holland's watch were unearned. He scattered four hits and walked three, throwing 119 pitches and out-dueling Felix Hernandez. Seattle's feeble offense cured Holland's recent struggles; he'd allowed four runs in each of his last two outings. The must-start 26-year-old lefty will carry a 2.97 ERA and 1.16 WHIP into a showdown against Arizona next week.

May 26 - 2:28 AM

Justin Smoak - 1B - Mariners

Justin Smoak left Saturday's game due to a strained oblique and will be reevaluated Sunday.

If Smoak lands on the DL, the Mariners would likely simply turn to Kendrys Morales or Michael Morse at first base, opening up extra at-bats for Jason Bay and Raul Ibanez. Rather than call up someone from Triple-A, they could activate Franklin Gutierrez.

Source: Larry Stone on twitter

May 26 - 2:27 AM

David Murphy - OF - Rangers

David Murphy went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Saturday's 5-2 victory in Seattle.

Murphy's two-run double in the second off Felix Hernandez spotted Texas a 3-0 lead. Murphy, one of the league's few tormentors of King Felix, had another good game against the All-World hurler. Unfortunately, he hasn't been hitting anyone else, batting .229/.279/.405 through 47 games. Murphy does have eight hits in his last six games, hopefully portending the end to his batter's box misery.

May 26 - 2:19 AM

Jurickson Profar - 2B - Rangers

Jurickson Profar went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's victory against the Mariners.

It counts as the best game of Profar's young career, which consists of only four games. Baseball's best prospect has a .308/.286/.308 slash line with three RBI and two runs over 13 at-bats. He hasn't drawn a walk or collected an extra-base hit, but the 20-year-old doesn't look over matched, which is all that really matters at this stage in his career.

May 26 - 2:12 AM

Felix Hernandez - S - Mariners

Felix Hernandez had a very uneven performance Saturday, striking out nine but allowing five runs over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the Rangers.

When King Felix's stuff wavered, the powerful Rangers lineup capitalized, collecting nine hits and a home run. The Mariners' ace didn't have the best last few weeks. A back injury forced him out of a start against the Yankees on May 14 and he's surrendered 11 runs -- 10 earned -- in his next two outings. While one wonders if he's still dealing with some back tightness, fantasy owners aren't advised to remove him from starting lineups.

May 26 - 2:05 AM

Josh Donaldson - 3B - Athletics

Josh Donaldson finished 4-for-4 with a homer and two RBI as the A's beat the Astros 11-5 on Saturday.

The magic continues for Donaldson, who boasts an outrageous .322/.398/.544 batting line in 49 games this season. He's on pace for 23 home runs and 97 RBI, which would make him a top tier third baseman (or very close to it) in standard mixed fantasy leagues. Some regression should be expected, but the 27-year-old is obviously a viable starting option in most formats right now.

May 25 - 10:58 PM

Jason Castro - C - Astros

Jason Castro went 3-for-4 with two home runs but the Astros lost to the A's on Saturday in Houston.

Castro launched a solo shot in the first inning, another solo shot in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the sixth. The 25-year-old backstop now has six home runs and is on pace to finish with 20. The batting average and OBP aren't good, but Castro is a decent power threat at catcher in deep mixed fantasy formats.

May 25 - 10:54 PM

Jake Peavy - S - White Sox

Jake Peavy threw a complete game Saturday as the White Sox won 2-1 over the Marlins.

Peavy did not allow a run until Derek Dietrich took him deep in the top of the ninth inning. The veteran right-hander struck out five batters and allowed only six hits in his nine total frames. He is now 6-2 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 63/15 K/BB ratio in 60 2/3 innings this season. The Cubs are on tap for him next.

May 25 - 10:13 PM

Conor Gillaspie - 3B - White Sox

Conor Gillaspie hit a walkoff RBI single Saturday to lift the White Sox past the Marlins.

Gillaspie singled up the middle in the second inning, singled to right field in the fourth and then roped a walkoff RBI single to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Dewayne Wise from second base. Gillaspie has a solid .298/.362/.444 batting line with three homers and nine RBI in 42 games this season.

May 25 - 10:09 PM

Fernando Rodney - R - Rays

Rays manager Joe Maddon said after Saturday's blown save that he's still confident in closer Fernando Rodney.

The blown save was Rodney's fifth of the year and his second in two games after blowing just two all of last season. The right-hander now has a 6.05 ERA, and while votes of confidence are nice, they fade quickly when results don't follow. Rodney remains the closer for now, but the leash is likely very short. Joel Peralta is a must-add.

Source: Roger Mooney on Twitter

May 25 - 8:58 PM

Lyle Overbay - 1B - Yankees

Lyle Overbay cranked a go-ahead homer in the top of the 11th inning to lead the Yankees past the Rays by a score of 4-3 on Saturday night at Tropicana Field.

Overbay also scored a crucial run in the top of the ninth inning that helped extend the game to extras. His solo shot in the 11th then put the Yankees ahead for good. Overbay, 36, has eight home runs and 28 RBI in 46 games this season. He has been a nice surprise.

May 25 - 8:31 PM

Fernando Rodney - R - Rays

Fernando Rodney blew his fifth save of the season Saturday in the Rays' loss to the Yankees.

Rodney entered the game with Tampa Bay leading by two. He got Ichiro Suzuki to fly out and fanned Jayson Nix, but Lyle Overbay drew a walk, Brennan Boesch doubled and Brett Gardner singled. That all netted the Bombers two runs and they broke through to win it in the 11th. Rodney is a mess right now. Joel Peralta needs to be owned in all standard fantasy leagues.

May 25 - 8:27 PM