Player Notes

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.

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,

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.

Red Sox recalled RHP Alfredo Aceves from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Advice: Aceves put up a 3.13 ERA while striking out nearly a batter per inning in four starts for Pawtucket. He'll be used in long relief for the Sox.

Jeremy Horst has not carried over his success from 2012, posting a 5.09 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 17 2/3 innings.
Advice: Luckily for him, Philly's bullpen depth is poor. A lack of attractive alternative options will only save Horst's job for so long, however, if he keeps getting lit up at this rate. Horst posted a 1.74 ERA over 44 games in limited time the last two seasons, which is probably why the Phillies have given him as much rope as they have.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Over 19 relief appearances, Charlie Furbush owns a 4.42 ERA in 18 1/3 innings.
Advice: The 27-year-old lefthander established himself as a potential bullpen asset in 2012, posting a 2.72 ERA over 48 appearances. In 28 less innings this year, Furbush has given up the same amount of homers (three) and only six less walks (10).

Jeurys Familia (biceps) is close to beginning a minor league rehab assignment.
Advice: Familia, out since May 8 with right biceps tendinitis, is scheduled to pitch at the team's complex in Port St. Lucie on Saturday. If all goes well, he'll begin an official rehab stint with Triple-A Las Vegas. He should get another chance in the major league bullpen before long.
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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.

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.

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.

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.

Chad Gaudin could get a shot in the Giants' rotation following the injury to Ryan Vogelsong (hand).
Advice: Gaudin has been great in long relief for San Francisco this season, posting a 2.08 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while striking out nearly a batter per inning. He's thrown more than two innings just once this month, though, so he's obviously not as stretched out as you'd hope. Manager Bruce Bochy and GM Brian Sabean have also noted that Gaudin is very valuable in his current role. Other options to replace Vogelsong include Shane Loux and Mike Kickham.
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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.

Twins transferred RHP Tim Wood from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
Advice: Wood has been out all season with a shoulder injury and recently had a setback. There's no timetable for his return.

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.