Player Notes

Bartolo Colon pitched the A's past the Rangers by allowing just two runs over seven innings on Monday.
Advice: Colon walked as many batters tonight (two) as he did in his first eight starts combined, but he had his best outing in a month anyway, winning for the first time since April 23. He's 4-2 with a 4.31 ERA overall.

Ty Wigginton went 0-for-2 with a walk in Monday's loss to the Padres.
Advice: He was also caught stealing. Wigginton doesn't draw many starts, and he doesn't do much with them when he does, slashing .194/.286/.226 with no homers or steals and one RBI through 31 at-bats. St. Louis doesn't often make mistakes, but the two-year, $5 million deal they gifted Wigginton in mid-December certainly qualifies.

Craig Stammen was knocked around the park by the Giants Monday, allowing two runs on seven hits over 2 2/3 innings.
Advice: Washington didn't have much of a chance after Zach Duke spotted the Giants an early lead, but Stammen's poor performance sealed their fate. Stammen stranded a handful of runners to limit the damage this game had on his ERA, which jumped from 2.25 to 2.78. As a long reliever, Stammen has fulfilled expectations, adding a 1.19 WHIP and 23/5 K/BB rate over 22 2/3 innings.

Andres Torres went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's win against Washington.
Advice: Prior to the evening, Torres hadn't collected a hit since May 8. The 35-year-old backup outfielder is batting just .247/.282/.346 over 81 at-bats this season.

Reserve outfielder Logan Schafer has posted a .455 OPS for the Brewers this season.
Advice: Although Shafer at times looks like a high-schooler at the dish -- slashing .182/.250/.205 -- he's actually registered a positive WAR, due to the three runs he's estimated to have saved in the field, per Baseball Reference. That's good enough to keep a roster spot in the majors, of course, but glove-only subs will have to wait until fantasy baseball evolves to include advanced defensive metrics to have any value even in the deepest of leagues.

Red Sox prospect right-hander Rubby De La Rosa was scratched from Tuesday's start with Triple-A Pawtucket for precautionary reasons after he tweaked a muscle in his side.
Advice: It's evidently not a major concern, but the Red Sox didn't want to risk him making things worse. De La Rosa has a 3.65 ERA and 29/14 K/BB ratio in 24 2/3 innings across eight starts this season in Triple-A and should make an impact with the big club before long.
More: Brian MacPherson on Twitter

Rex Brothers hasn't allowed a run since April 6.
Advice: And that run, surrendered to the Padres, is the only blemish on his campaign to this point. Brothers has six holds, a 0.47 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 20/7 K/BB ratio over 21 appearances. He's been Colorado's best reliever, but closer Rafael Betancourt is also pitching well for the 24-21 Rockies. Brothers could be Colorado's full-time closer next season, but he likely won't earn saves in 2013 barring injury.

Giants recalled RHP Sandy Rosario from Triple-A Fresno.
Advice: He'll provide a fresh arm for the bullpen with Santiago Casilla (knee) headed to the disabled list. Rosario appeared in one game with the Giants earlier this month and owns a 3.33 ERA and 28/8 K/BB ratio over 24 1/3 innings this season in Triple-A.

Dale Thayer notched his eighth hold in Monday's victory against St. Louis.
Advice: Thayer induced Ty Wigginton into a double-play after surrendering a leadoff single to Jon Jay. After walking Pete Kozma, he was yanked for Joe Thatcher, who ended the inning. Thayer holds a 3.15 ERA and 0.90 WHIP over 20 appearances.

Nationals placed RHP Ryan Mattheus on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 20, with a fractured right hand.
Advice: Mattheus suffered the injury Sunday after he gave up five runs on four hits and two walks over one inning against the Padres and punched his locker in frustration. No word yet on how long he'll be sidelined, but he's obviously facing an extended absence. The Nationals are calling up Yunesky Maya and Fernando Abad for some bullpen insurance.

Pat Neshek owns a 2.81 ERA over 18 appearances.
Advice: Born and bred in Minnesota, Neshek has been a decent middle reliever since he was unceremoniously waived by the Twins prior to the 2011 season. Over the last two seasons in Oakland, he's posted a 2.02 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 27/14 K/BB ratio over 42 appearances.

Eric Hinske is batting .188 with a .548 OPS over 34 plate-appearances.
Advice: The Diamondbacks handed Hinske a one-year, $1.35 million contract in December after he batted just .197/.272/.311 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 91 games last season for the Braves. The former Rookie of the Year, now 35, is reaching the end of a respectable 12-year career.

Pedro Strop was slapped with a loss Monday against the Yankees after allowing two runs over two-thirds of an inning.
Advice: Called upon to begin the 10th inning, Strop gave up consecutive doubles to Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells before recording a pair of outs. He was asked to intentionally walk Robinson Cano before the O's tabbed Brian Matusz, who allowed an inherited runner to score. Strop's stuff is absolutely lethal, but his post-WBC efforts haven't impressed. The 27-year-old holds a 5.19 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 21 appearances. He's got closer's stuff, but is nowhere close to being trusted in the ninth inning.

Nationals recalled RHP Yunesky Maya from Triple-A Syracuse.
Advice: Maya has an ugly 5.07 ERA and 34/17 K/BB ratio in 49 2/3 innings over eight starts this season in Triple-A, but the Nationals need a fresh arm for their bullpen. This will be his first stint in the majors since 2011.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Tuesday that Samuel Deduno will be called up from Triple-A Rochester to start Friday's game against the Tigers.
Advice: In other words, Kyle Gibson's major league debut will have to wait. Deduno, who had a breakthrough performance during the World Baseball Classic, has a 2.70 ERA and 17/10 K/BB ratio in 16 2/3 innings over three starts with Triple-A Rochester since returning from a groin injury. He'll have a pretty tough first matchup, so fantasy owners should steer clear for now.
More: Dustin Morse on Twitter

Matt Lindstrom has allowed an earned run in three of his last five relief appearances.
Advice: The streaky Idahoan didn't allow a run through April 20, then gave up six in his next four appearances, then was perfect in May until the 10th, when his newest batch of concerns cropped up. The 32-year-old reliever, signed to a one-year, $2.8 million contract over the winter, holds a 4.76 ERA over 17 innings. Lindstrom will continue operating out of a middle relief role.

Joe Thatcher earned his fifth hold by tossing two-thirds of a scoreless inning against the Cardinals on Monday night.
Advice: When healthy, the southpaw has been terrific for the Padres. Between 2009-2011, he posted a 2.66 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10.9 K/9 rate. This year he is 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 10/1 K/BB rate over 21 appearances. As an effective LOOGY who calls PETCO home, Thatcher is a solid middle reliever in deeper NL-only formats.