Player Notes

Wesley Wright holds a 2.95 ERA over 21 appearances.
Advice: Wright broke out in 2012, putting up a 3.27 ERA while striking out over a batter per inning. Over his first three seasons, batters teed off to the tune of a 5.33 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 134 games. In the last three years, Wright has turned into a fine LOOGY, posting a 2.94 ERA and 8.4/2.9 K/BB/9 rate. Owners in deep AL-only formats should note that Wright's WHIP this year (1.53) sits right around where it did during the dark years of his career. He's walking fewer batters then he ever has, but has surrendered 23 hits over 18 1/3 frames.

Seth Smith went 2-for-4 with a homer, two walks and three runs scored versus the Rangers on Monday.
Advice: The A's are hoping Smith's slump is over. His OPS dropped from 1.072 on April 23 to .933 on April 30 to .755 on May 17, but he's now gone 4-for-8 in his last two games. Of course, it was in late April and early May that the A's really needed him. Now that Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp and Chris Young are healthy again, Smith isn't so important to the attack anymore.

Chris Denorfia went 3-for-4 with a steal and an RBI versus the Cardinals on Monday.
Advice: Certainly one of the game's most unheralded players, Denorfia keeps producing no matter which outfield position the Padres may ask him to play on a given night. The 32-year-old is batting .301/.352/.406 with five steals (and no pickoffs), two homers, 14 RBI and 19 runs and 133 at-bats. He's given NL-only owners everything they could have hoped for.

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.

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.

Dylan Axelrod held the Red Sox to two runs and four hits in six innings to pick up a win Monday.
Advice: It's just Axelrod's second win in nine outings this season, but he's given the White Sox five quality starts, plus two more in which he was pulled in the sixth having allowed three or fewer runs. He's now probably moved back ahead of Hector Santiago with John Danks due back and a rotation spot on the line.

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.

Jason Marquis limited the Cardinals to two runs -- one earned -- on three hits over six innings to improve to 6-2 on Monday.
Advice: Marquis has won each of his last five trips to the bump and has been one of baseball's best starters over that stretch. We aren't here to pimp Marquis, however, as he's benefited from smoke and mirrors and his home park perhaps more than any pitcher in the game. Marquis' 28 walks lead the National League. And that five-game winning streak? He posted a hideous 17/18 K/BB rate over 31 2/3 innings during that stretch. This house of cards is about to topple and you'd be wise to identify the sucker in your league to pay for Marquis' 6-2 record and 3.27 ERA before it does.

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.

Shelby Miller coughed up three runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings in the Cardinals' loss to the Padres Monday.
Advice: He struck out five and walked three. It was the second consecutive start in which Miller labored and was pulled after 5 2/3 innings, tallying 96 pitches against the Mets on Wednesday and 107 this evening. Undoubtedly, Miller must learn how to be more efficient. That will come in time. He already has down the dominate-major-league-brutes thing, posting a 1.74 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over nine starts.

According to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, the Mets have discussed demoting Ike Davis, Ruben Tejada, and Jordany Valdespin.
Advice: Davis doesn't come as a big surprise given his miserable slump, but Tejada has also been a major disappointment while Valdespin hasn't produced enough to be worth the distraction his presence causes on the roster. The Mets still see Davis and Tejada as potential long-term pieces, so any decision will be made with careful consideration about their development.
More: New York Daily News

Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon started at second base Monday night for Double-A Harrisburg.
Advice: It's interesting given Danny Espinosa's struggles, but Nationals manager Davey Johnson doesn't think Rendon is ready to play second base at the major league level yet. "We like him - we like him a lot," said Johnson. "But putting him at second at the major-league level, he's not there yet. He's not (playing second) specifically. He's just occasionally going over there." Rendon is hitting .390 (23-for-59) with four home runs and 16 RBI since his demotion earlier this month. Nothing appears imminent, but it would be a good idea to continue to monitor his progress in fantasy leagues.
More: FOX Sports

Brad Ziegler owns a 2.61 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 24 appearances.
Advice: The former 20th-round pick hasn't received much attention since he blew onto the scene as a rookie in 2008 (finishing eighth on that season's Rookie of the Year balloting), but he hasn't slowed down much. The right-handed specialist has posted a career 2.45 ERA over 347 appearances, which makes him a good bullpen piece in deeper formats, even if he had more saves in that rookie season (11) than he's had since (eight).

Rangers optioned C Robinson Chirinos to Triple-A Round Rock.
Advice: He's clearing the way for A.J. Pierzynski's return from the DL on Tuesday. Chirinos picked up three hits in 12 at-bats with the big club.

Dane De La Rosa has a 4.91 ERA over 21 appearances.
Advice: The 6-foot-7 hurler has allowed four runs over 3 1/3 innings in the last week. His 20/8 K/BB rate in 22 innings is decent, but it doesn't necessarily speak to any potential improvement coming. De La Rosa has never solved the puzzle of major league hitters, posting a 7.08 ERA over 33 games despite a shiny 33/13 K/BB rate.