Player Notes

Matt Cain allowed two hits over 6 2/3 innings and combined with three relievers on a shutout of the Pirates on Thursday.
Advice: Cain wasn't efficient enough to pitch deep into this one, but it was a second straight strong outing for him. He's lowered his ERA from 5.45 to 4.70 by allowing one run and six hits over 13 2/3 innings in his last two starts.

Yu Darvish wasn't involved in the decision after allowing one run in seven innings and striking out nine Blue Jays on Thursday.
Advice: Darvish was certainly more dominant than Esmil Rogers tonight, but it did him no good. It was a 1-1 game when he left, and the Jays immediately took a 3-1 lead afterwards. It's the fourth straight start in which Darvish has received a no-decision. He hasn't won since May 16.

Jeremy Bonderman shut out the Astros for eight innings in a no-decision on Wednesday.
Advice: The Mariners finally gave Bonderman a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth, only to quickly blow it in the ninth. After getting lit up in his Seattle debut, Bonderman has allowed one run in 14 innings in his last two starts. We did recommend using him in AL-only leagues tonight, but that was just because of the matchup. He's not a great bet to have any long-term value.

Tom Wilhelmsen was charged with five runs in one-third of an inning Wednesday in a blown save and a loss against the Astros.
Advice: Not that Wilhelmsen was very good tonight, but he certainly didn't deserve that. The ninth went: infield single, single, sac bunt, intentional walk, two-run double and intentional walk, at which point Wilhelmsen was pulled. Both of those intentional walks came around to score later. Wilhelmsen has been quite shaky of late, and his strikeout rate is down this year. On the other hand, his velocity is still excellent, and we're not sure anyone else in the Seattle pen is a better bet. It's unlikely Wilhelmsen will lose his closer gig over this one, but another blown save within the next 7-10 days could do it. If so, Carter Capps, Charlie Furbush, Oliver Perez and Yoervis Medina could factor into a closer by committee.

Jordan Lyles struck out a career-high 10 in seven scoreless innings Wednesday against the Mariners.
Advice: Lyles previous high was eight strikeouts, done twice (both times against the Pirates). He gave up eight runs in a loss to Texas on May 12 and now eight earned runs in six starts since. Unfortunately, he's picked up wins in just two of those games. We're not optimistic that he'll keep it up, but he's certainly giving the Astros some hope for the future. After all, he's still just 22 years old.

Mike Pelfrey allowed three runs in seven innings Wednesday, taking a no-decision as the Twins came back to beat the Phillies.
Advice: Big Pelf actually pitched pretty well despite the three runs allowed, giving up just five hits and a walk while striking out seven. It was one of the few bright spots for Pelfrey this year, as he still owns a 3-6 record and 6.12 ERA. He'll next toe the rubber against the White Sox on Tuesday.

Jarrod Parker held the Yankees to two runs over eight frames in Thursday's 3-2 extra innings victory.
Advice: Parker served up a two-run homer to Robinson Cano in the first inning, but he managed to hold the Bombers scoreless over the next seven innings, striking out a pair on the day. After a rough start to the season that looked like it could result in a demotion, Parker has recorded seven straight quality starts, lowering his ERA from 7.34 to 4.45 in the process. He has a tough matchup in Texas next week.

Joe Blanton will start for the Angels on Tuesday against the Mariners.
Advice: Blanton was skipped over the weekend, but he hasn't lost his spot in the rotation, at least not yet. He holds a 5.87 ERA and 1.63 WHIP for the season but has, for the most part, pitched better of late.
More: Jeff Fletcher on Twitter

Randall Delgado will be called up from Triple-A Reno to start Tuesday against the Marlins.
Advice: He'll take the rotation spot of Tyler Skaggs, who was sent down to the minors last week. Delgado has made one appearance with the Diamondbacks this season and owns a 5.91 ERA and 57/35 K/BB ratio in 64 innings over 13 starts at the Triple-A level. He's more of an option in NL-only leagues.
More: Arizona Diamondbacks on Twitter

Nathan Eovaldi (shoulder) will be activated from the disabled list to start Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.
Advice: Eovaldi has been out all year with shoulder inflammation, but he didn't have any setbacks during five rehab starts. He should be worth owning in NL-only leagues.
More: Joe Capozzi on Twitter

J.A. Happ (head) threw a bullpen session last week.
Advice: It's the first time he's thrown from a mound since he was injured in the scary incident in Tampa. Happ is still weeks away from a return, but he's obviously making some progress.
More: Gregor Chisholm on Twitter

Zach Britton could start on Monday against the Tigers in place of Jason Hammel (illness).
Advice: Hammel is dealing with a stomach bug and is unlikely to be ready. The Orioles scratched Britton from his scheduled start Sunday, indicating that he'll likely be their choice to fill in if need be. Britton holds a 3.28 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 11 start for Norfolk this season. He allowed six runs over six innings in his lone start for the O's.
More: Roch Kubatko on Twitter

Giants designated RHP Ramon Ramirez for assignment.
Advice: Ramirez was called up from the minors late last month and allowed seven runs on nine hits and five walks over just 5 2/3 innings. Jake Dunning will replace him in the Giants' bullpen.

Jonathan Papelbon took his first blown save of the year when he gave up a solo homer to the Nationals' Chad Tracy on Monday.
Advice: Papelbon was a perfect 13-for-13 this season before missing inside to Tracy tonight. It wasn't much more than a 340-foot flyball, but it was well placed down the line at Citizens Bank. Papelbon ended up getting the win anyway after the Phillies scored in the bottom of the ninth.

Jorge De La Rosa came out after limiting the Blue Jays to one hit over seven scoreless innings on Monday.
Advice: De La Rosa, who took a loss in his last start while pitching with a cut on his middle finger, dominated the Blue Jays tonight, allowing one or no runs for the fifth time in his last nine outings. Unfortunately, there was no run support to be had from the Rockies offense, and Colorado ended up losing 2-0.

Scott Atchison (elbow) is expected to rejoin the Mets' bullpen at some point this weekend.
Advice: Atchison began a rehab assignment on Wednesday at Double-A Binghamton and should be cleared after one or two more appearances. The right-hander has been on the disabled list since May 14 with a sore elbow.
More: ESPN New York

J.J. Putz (elbow) could begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno on Monday.
Advice: Putz is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Friday before possibly being cleared to begin a rehab assignment. Given that he's already been out for over a month, he should require a handful of rehab appearances before returning in late June.
More: Arizona Republic

Felix Doubront permitted four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in Baltimore on Thursday.
Advice: He struck out five and walked one in the no-decision. Baltimore's offense ground Doubront for 103 pitches before his premature departure. The southpaw will bring a 4.91 ERA into a start against the Rays next week.