Player Notes

Chad Durbin sports a hideous 10.38 ERA in May.
Advice: His season ERA of 8.10 isn't much better. Durbin sat at a decent 3.52 ERA on April 29. Since that time, he's been a human pi¤ata, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits and four homers over just 3 2/3 innings. Durbin, 35, registered a solid 3.10 ERA in 61 innings last season for the Braves. Philadelphia may be wondering if they purchased a $1.1 million mole at this point.

Ryan Webb has been a steady veteran influence on Miami's bullpen, posting a 2.08 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 26 innings in 2013.
Advice: The bad news, for owners in holds leagues, is that Webb has only one. Such is life for Miami relievers, who inherit leads about as often as deceased investigative reporters.

Antonio Bastardo has a 2.35 ERA through 19 appearances despite a mediocre 1.43 WHIP.
Advice: Bastardo has also blown two saves. He's punching out 4.6 less hitters per nine innings then he did last year, when he had a poor 4.33 ERA, and he's allowing more hits and walks. If Bastardo doesn't become stingier with base runners, his peripherals will begin to wreak havoc on his ERA.

James Russell has emerged as one of the Cubs' few bright spots in 2013, checking in with a 1.04 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 23 appearances.
Advice: The former 14th-round pick also has seven holds and a 19/4 K/BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings. Russell has regressed a bit since an April in which he didn't allow a run, but he's lowered his ERA every season he's been in the majors. We expect him to do so again.

Josh Tomlin (Tommy John surgery) could return near the end of the season.
Advice: Tomlin went under the knife last August. At this point in his rehab, it's hard to predict if a 2013 return is in the cards. Tomlin has said he'd rather be 100 percent for 2014 rather than making a premature late-season return this year. The right-hander posted a 6.36 ERA in 16 starts and five relief appearances with the Indians last season.
More: SportsXchange

Aaron Loup has been a bright spot in Toronto's bullpen, tallying a 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 24 2/3 innings.
Advice: Over the past two years, he's given the Jays a 2.60 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 55 1/3 innings. Toronto doesn't trust him much in high-leverage situations, however, which is why he only has four holds in 2013 and 10 in his career.

Adam Ottavino boasts a 2.01 ERA over 22 1/3 relief innings for the Rockies.
Advice: Ottavino has pitched exceedingly well as a swingman, posting a 24/5 K/BB rate and 1.12 WHIP in 14 appearances. As a 27-year-old, he appears likely to remain in the majors over the duration of an entire season for the first time in his career.

Ronald Belisario sits on a 3.22 ERA through 23 appearances.
Advice: Belisario put up a nice 2.54 ERA while striking out nearly a batter per inning last season. He's punched out one less batter per nine innings in 2013 and his control hasn't been quite as sharp. Currently, Belisario is allowing the highest batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage of his career, but he has been slightly unlucky with balls in play,

Brandon Lyon is enjoying his first season in Queens, recording a 3.06 ERA through 21 appearances.
Advice: New York guaranteed Lyon less than a million bucks as a free agent this winter, an investment that is paying off nicely. The veteran reliever has five holds, a 1.08 WHIP and 16/4 K/BB ratio in 17 2/3 innings. Lyon registered a solid 3.10 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 63/20 K/BB ratio across 61 innings last season between the Astros and Blue Jays.

Josh Willingham blasted two homers and collected four RBI in Thursday's loss to the Tigers.
Advice: It was his first multi-hit game of May. Despite an anemic batting average (.212), The Hammer is getting on base (.368) at a percentage better than his career mark (.362). Willingham is fifth in the American League with 27 walks. Despite recent struggles, he has a four-game hitting streak and three long flies during those contests. Now is probably the time to buy low.

Jason Frasor has tallied a 3.65 ERA through 17 appearances in his first season for the Rangers.
Advice: Signed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract in early January, Frasor has improved upon 2012's disappointing campaign for the Blue Jays, where he posted a rough 4.12 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 43-plus innings of relief. Frasor owns a 13/5 K/BB ratio and 1.29 WHIP through 12 1/3 frames.

Joaquin Arias has been one of baseball's worst hitters, slashing .205/.262/.205 through 43 plate appearances.
Advice: The utility infielder, making $925,000 this season, batted .270/.304/.389 with a .693 OPS in 344 plate appearances last season. He can be ignored in NL-only formats.

Tyler Clippard hasn't allowed a run in May.
Advice: Clippard is seventh in the National League with eight holds. He's collected three wins in 2013 and posted a 2.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 19/11 K/BB ratio over 19 appearances. The Yankee Clippard had a 6.33 ERA over six starts in the Bronx as a rookie in 2007. In the six years since, he owns a sparkling 2.83 ERA and 1.09 WHIP for the Nationals. It's time for a new nickname, though The National Clippard leaves plenty to be desired.

Rick Porcello was chased by the Twins for five runs on 10 hits over five innings Thursday, but escaped with a no-decision when Detroit mounted a late comeback.
Advice: He struck out two and walked one. Porcello was 0-2 with an 11.08 ERA on April 20 before a solid four-game stretch lowered his earned run average to 5.92. It's back up to 6.28, courtesy of the toothless Minnesota offense. Gamble on Porcello at your own risk Tuesday, when he has a date against the Pirates.

Jose Valverde worked a scoreless ninth inning against the Twins on Thursday, striking out two and earning his fifth save of the season.
Advice: Papa Grande -- unwanted by 30 teams a month and a half ago -- has been lethal out of the back end of Detroit's bullpen. Through 11 innings, he has a 0.82 ERA, 0.55 WHIP and 10/4 K/BB rate. He's only given up two hits and one run.

The Indians are contemplating when to promote Carlos Carrasco.
Advice: Carrasco deserves another shot in the rotation, having posted a 1.36 ERA while striking out 41 over 39 2/3 Triple-A innings. The problem is that he has to serve a suspension, which will last eight games unless it's reduced following his appeal. "Once we have a sense of what the final suspension will be, maybe it's eight games, maybe it's less, we'll have an idea how to work around it," said general manager Chris Antonetti. It would be easiest to work around the suspension at the All-Star break, but it's possible the Tribe will call Carrasco up before then.
More: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Edwar Cabrera (left shoulder impingement) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session last month.
Advice: We've read nothing further regarding Cabrera, which probably means he isn't close to a rehab assignment. The 25-year-old lefty was placed on the 60-day disabled list in February. He's eligible for activation, but not healthy enough to pitch. Cabrera ranked as Colorado's ninth best prospect by MLB.com this offseason.

Cesar Ramos has allowed runs in his last two appearances.
Advice: He took the loss Wednesday in Toronto. Prior to those outings, Ramos hadn't allowed a run in May. He owns a 3.44 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 12/5 K/BB ratio over 18 1/3 frames, but only one hold in 17 games.

Bryan Shaw boasts a 1.54 ERA over 18 appearances in his first season for the Indians.
Advice: Acquired from the Diamondbacks as a bit player in January's complicated three-team trade, Shaw has been a linchpin in Cleveland's bullpen, compiling a 1.07 WHIP and 23/7 K/BB ratio in 23 1/3 innings. He's only earned two holds, however, and they came in consecutive appearances earlier this month.

Nate Jones has been blasted this season to the tune of a 6.33 ERA over 21 1/3 innings.
Advice: Jones won the final spot in the White Sox bullpen in 2012 and rewarded Chicago's brain trust with a 2.39 ERA over 71 2/3 frames. He's running out of time to turn things around one year later and a demotion could be in the offing. An interesting anomaly, for all you stat heads: Jones was 8-0 last season. This year? He's 0-4.

Martin Maldonado has regressed at the plate in 2013, slashing .184/.253/.303 over 83 plate appearances.
Advice: In his first real exposure to Major League pitching, Maldonado batted .266/.321/.408 in 256 plate appearances last season. Perhaps he's toting his struggles onto the field with his catcher's gear. Maldonado has been a run worse than average defensively this year, according to Baseball Reference.

Steve Delabar's first full season in Canada is going swimmingly, as he's 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 25 innings for the Jays.
Advice: Acquired from the Mariners for Eric Thames at last year's trade deadline, Delabar has been excellent since he stepped off the plane. The 29-year-old pitched in independent league ball from 2008-09, missed the 2010 season due to an elbow injury and spent most of 2011 in the minors. Delabar's amazing story includes a 3.21 ERA in 98 innings since his September 2011 debut.

George Kontos has allowed six runs on 11 hits and two walks in his last three appearances.
Advice: The Northwestern product has seen better days. Though Kontos' 5.79 ERA this season is undoubtedly inflated by some bad luck, his days on the active roster may be numbered.