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Player News - National - National

Date: Team: Pos:

Matt Guerrier - R - Dodgers

Matt Guerrier struck out a pair over two scoreless innings of relief Tuesday against the Rockies.

He entered the contest with just four punch outs, so last night's performance qualifies as an outburst. Guerrier used to be a holds machine for the Twins, but he's posted just 19 over the past three seasons for the Dodgers, four less than he had in his last year in Minnesota. An elbow injury cost the veteran most of last season. He owns a 3.45 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and ugly 6/6 K/BB rate over 18 appearances.

May 22 - 5:27 AM

Matt Belisle - R - Rockies

Matt Belisle tossed a scoreless inning of relief in Tuesday's victory over Arizona.

The veteran has notched a 3.86 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 21/7 K/BB rate in 21 games. He's also sixth in the National League with eight holds.

May 22 - 5:18 AM

Xavier Paul - OF - Reds

Xavier Paul has hit whenever he's been called upon by the Reds, slashing .270/.400/.405 over 90 plate appearances.

Since he was called up by the Reds last July, Paul has hit as well as any reserve outfielder, batting .294/.389/.438 with four homers and 20 RBI in 160 at-bats. Paul has cost Cincy four runs below replacement defensively in limited opportunities this year, so he'll have to keep his lumber warm to steal at-bats.

May 22 - 5:14 AM

J.P. Howell - R - Dodgers

J.P. Howell's first season in Los Angeles is off to a strong start, as the left-hander has a 2.89 ERA through 19 appearances for the Dodgers.

Coming off a stellar 2012 campaign, having posted a 3.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 42/22 K/BB ratio in 55 appearances for the Rays, Howell inked a one-year, $2.85 million contract with the Dodgers. Howell is allowing a few more base runners this season (1.34 WHIP compared to 1.21 in 2012), but his strikeout rate is slightly up and, more importantly, he hasn't surrendered a home run yet.

May 22 - 4:59 AM

Wil Nieves - C - Diamondbacks

Wil Nieves has just one hit since April 25.

The seldom-used 35-year-old has slashed .280/.321/.280 through 28 plate appearances. Nieves, who entered 2013 a .229/.274/.301 career hitter over nine major league seasons, will continue to play sparingly behind starter Miguel Montero.

May 22 - 4:15 AM

Pablo Sandoval - 3B - Giants

Pablo Sandoval hit a walkoff homer off Yunesky Maya in the 10th inning Tuesday as the Giants beat the Nationals 4-2.

Maya wasn't exactly the Nationals' first choice to pitch in the 10th inning of a tie game, but he did manage to get one out before the two-run jack. That's something, right? Sandoval's blast to right-center was his eighth homer of the season. If he can stay healthy, he should surpass his career highs of 25 homers and 90 RBI established in 2009.

May 22 - 1:40 AM

Stephen Strasburg - S - Nationals

Stephen Strasburg pitched seven innings of one-run ball, striking out seven, in a no-decision against the Giants on Tuesday.

Strasburg has allowed just two earned runs in his last three starts, dropping his ERA from 3.45 to 2.66. That overstates how well he's pitched -- he's given up nine unearned runs this season -- but tonight's performance was maybe the most impressive one he's put together this year and should give him something to build on.

May 22 - 1:37 AM

Rafael Soriano - R - Nationals

Rafael Soriano took his third blown save after giving up a run in the ninth against the Giants on Tuesday.

Soriano also took a blown save on Friday, but that was aided by a Ryan Zimmerman throwing error and he ended up notching the win in the 10th. Soriano still has nothing to worry about as far as job security -- he's more trustworthy than Drew Storen right now -- but the Nationals can't afford to continue being let down by their pen when their offense has been so poor.

May 22 - 1:35 AM

Danny Espinosa - 2B - Nationals

Danny Espinosa went hitless in a fourth straight game Tuesday, leaving him with a .159 average in 139 at-bats.

Maybe more patience would be warranted if Espinosa were healthy, but it's quite possible he needs surgery for the partial rotator cuff tear he suffered last year. Besides, he's just killing the Nationals offense right now. Not only is he batting .159, but he's walked just three times all year. His OBP stands at .186.

May 22 - 1:32 AM

Daniel Descalso - 2B - Cardinals

Daniel Descalso went 3-for-3 with his first career grand slam and an RBI double in the Cardinals' 10-2 rout of the Padres on Tuesday.

Descalso's slam followed an intentional walk to Jon Jay. Descalso entered the game with an ugly .197/.265/.289 line, and he probably wouldn't have been in the lineup if not for David Freese's thumb injury. The home run was his seventh in 813 major league at-bats.

May 22 - 1:27 AM

Adam Wainwright - S - Cardinals

Adam Wainwright limited the Padres to one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings to pick up his sixth win Tuesday.

Wainwright had a 5.77 ERA on this day a year ago before finally turning around his season with a shutout of the Padres on May 22. This year, he's been on target since day one; he ranks in the top 10 in the NL in wins, ERA, WHIP and strikeouts.

May 22 - 1:24 AM

Anthony Bass - R - Padres

Padres reliever Anthony Bass was charged with four runs in his second inning of work Tuesday against the Cardinals.

Bass was ripped off tonight. The first hitter to reach against him did so on a strikeout/wild pitch. The second had a clean single, but Yadier Molina followed with a double-play ball, only Everth Cabrera vacated second base way too early on the relay and wasn't given credit for the out. With runners on second and third with one out, Bud Black had Bass intentionally walk Jon Jay, and Daniel Descalso followed with a grand slam. That was certainly a mistake for Bass, but he could have been out of the inning before then and he didn't deserve for his ERA to jump from 2.60 to 3.64 tonight.

May 22 - 1:19 AM

Brian McCann - C - Braves

Brian McCann went 3-for-4 with a home run Tuesday in the Braves' 5-4 extra-innings win over the Twins.

Freddie Freeman also had a big game, hitting an RBI double to get Atlanta on the board in the first inning and a walkoff RBI single in the bottom of the 10th. McCann singled twice and hit a solo shot in fourth. He is now batting .282/.383/.590 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 12 games since returning from the disabled list.

May 22 - 12:05 AM

Rafael Betancourt - R - Rockies

Rafael Betancourt is considered day-to-day after being diagnosed with a tight right groin.

Betancourt had to leave Tuesday's game with the discomfort after throwing just two pitches. It doesn't sound like a serious ailment, but it's possible a DL stint could be in order if he doesn't recover as hoped over the next few days. Rex Brothers is worth scooping up.

Source: Troy Renck on Twitter

May 22 - 12:03 AM

Evan Gattis - C - Braves

Evan Gattis hit his ninth home run of the season in the Braves' late win over the Twins on Tuesday.

It was another pinch-hit home run and it sent the game to extra innings. Gattis still has a weak .302 on-base percentage and doesn't play enough anymore to carry relevance in mixed fantasy leagues, but he should remain a dangerous bat off the Atlanta bench all year.

May 22 - 12:00 AM