Player Notes

Dillon Gee was slapped with a loss despite pitching a gem Monday, allowing two runs over 8 1/3 innings to the Braves.
Advice: He struck out six and walked one. Gee was absolutely cruising through eight innings and entered the ninth in Atlanta with a 1-0 lead. He surrendered a leadoff single to Justin Upton and Jason Heyward ended the game with a 365-foot blast to right field. Gee revealed after his last start that he's dealt with flexor tendonitis all season, but he appeared just fine on Monday. He's 5-7 with a 4.56 ERA.

Albert Pujols went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 11-3 victory against the Mariners.
Advice: While his big night must be qualified -- Aaron Harang was on the mound, after all -- Pujols' heat check must be recognized. El Hombre is 12-for-23 (.522) over his last five games. He's batting .333 with an OPS over .900 in June after struggling mightily over the first two months of the season. If you can buy low, now's the time to do it.

Patrick Corbin hurled eight innings of two-run ball in a no-decision against the Marlins on Monday.
Advice: He gave up just two hits, striking out seven and walking one. Corbin was outstanding outside of a two-run mistake Giancarlo Stanton deposited into the left-field seats in the seventh. Corbin remains a perfect 9-0, to go with an outstanding 2.28 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, but Monday marked the first time Arizona has lost one of his starts. The Snakes are now 13-1 with Corbin on the mound in 2013.

Giancarlo Stanton swatted a pair of home runs and collected all of Miami's RBI in Monday's 3-2 victory against Arizona.
Advice: Stanton's two-run job off Patrick Corbin in the seventh tied the game at two and his homer off Heath Bell in the ninth turned out to be the decisive run. Stanton has hit safely in all seven games since coming off the disabled list and has collected two or more RBI in four of those contests. He's one of the hottest hitters in the game right now.

Heath Bell was charged with the loss after allowing a ninth inning solo homer to Giancarlo Stanton in a tie game Monday.
Advice: Entering a 2-2 contest in the top of the ninth, Bell struck out Ed Lucas before Stanton homered to right. Bell (4.23 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) has allowed a home run in three consecutive appearances. Consider it a course-correction after he enjoyed some good luck earlier this season. With J.J. Putz (elbow) close to returning, the clock on Bell's reign as closer may be ticking.

Nick Tepesch lasted just 3 2/3 innings and gave up six runs to the A's in a loss Monday.
Advice: Tepesch's time in the rotation may soon come to an end. He's given up 17 runs over 15 2/3 innings in his last three starts, and he hasn't picked up a win since beating Houston on May 12. The Rangers might give him one more chance, but if he doesn't improve, he could be replaced by Martin Perez.

Aaron Harang was tagged for four runs on 12 hits in five innings by the Angels in a loss Monday.
Advice: He struck out four and didn't walk a batter. Harang actually has an outstanding 56/9 K/BB rate and a solid 1.31 WHIP. That's the good news for Seattle management and AL-only owners still holding out hope he'll turn it around. To the naked eye, however, Harang just doesn't have the stuff to get out major league hitters anymore. It's great to eliminate free passes, but it doesn't do much good if the slop you loft over the plate is obliterated all over the park. Harang (3-7) and his 5.73 ERA aren't to be trusted in any format.

Dan Straily was tagged for six runs and two homers in 4 2/3 innings by the Rangers on Monday.
Advice: Straily had turned in a nice run of outings coming into this one -- he went six straight starts without allowing a homer -- so an odd night in Arlington isn't such a bad sign. He'll have a friendlier matchup in Seattle next time out.

Lucas Duda will start at first base for the first time this season in Monday's game against the Braves.
Advice: Meanwhile, Daniel Murphy has moved back over to second base while Jordany Valdespin is on the bench. Mets manager Terry Collins has resisted using Duda at first base because they anticipate Ike Davis returning at some point, but there's no question that they are a much better defensive team with Duda at first base as opposed to left field.
More: Adam Rubin on Twitter

Jose Reyes (ankle) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Monday with High-A Dunedin.
Advice: Reyes is slated to 4-5 innings in his first game back. He will finish his rehab stint against more advanced competition, but should return from the disabled list by the end of the month if he can avoid setbacks. The speedy shortstop has been sidelined since April 12 with a severely sprained left ankle.
More: John Lott on Twitter

Santiago Casilla (knee) is expected to throw off a mound within the next week.
Advice: Casilla had a cyst removed from his right knee late last month but has recovered quicker than expected. It appears that he'll rejoin the Giants' bullpen prior to the All-Star break.
More: Steve Corkran on Twitter

After the Royals scored a run on a wild pitch in the top of the frame, Greg Holland pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth for the save as the Royals edged the Indians 2-1 on Monday.
Advice: The Royals only play 2-1 or 3-2 games, so Holland is racking up the save chances of late. He has eight saves and a win in the last 19 days after going the previous four weeks without any saves.

Zach Britton will be called up from Triple-A Norfolk to start Tuesday against the Tigers.
Advice: He'll make the start in place of Jason Hammel, who is just getting his strength back following a stomach bug. Britton made one start for the Orioles this season and owns a 3.28 ERA in 11 starts with Triple-A Norfolk. He's a shaky option in mixed leagues against the Tigers.
More: Brittany Ghiroli on Twitter

Michael Pineda (shoulder) will make his next rehab start on Thursday for the High-A Tampa Yankees.
Advice: Pineda will try to get past 80 pitches in this one. He has looked sharp so far on the farm and is on track to join the Yankees' starting rotation around the end of this month. Get him stashed in fantasy leagues.
More: Andy McCullough on Twitter