Player Notes

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.

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.

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.

Pitching exclusively out of the bullpen, Josh Collmenter is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 22 innings.
Advice: Last year's horrific April that cost him a rotation spot seems like a distant memory. Collmenter finished with a 2.13 ERA in 72 innings (seven starts, 17 relief appearances) over the final five months in 2012 and has carried that success into a new season. Of particular interest is his strikeout and K/BB rate, both improved over last year, which were both improvements over 2010's fifth-place-ROY-voting campaign.

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.

Giants placed RHP Santiago Casilla on the 15-day disabled list with a cyst on his right knee.
Advice: Casilla has been dealing with a cyst on his right knee and recently started wearing a brace, but he is apparently still feeling discomfort. The Giants are clearly hoping that a couple of weeks of rest will do the trick. Sandy Rosario will replace him in the bullpen.

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.

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.

Tony Sipp's walk rate (6.0) and strike-to-walk rate (1.38) are the highest and lowest of his career, respectively.
Advice: Sipp's only pitched 12 inning over 18 appearances, so it's not time for Kirk Gibson to panic, but the left-hander will be playing with fire if he can't iron out his control issues. His 3.75 ERA is better than last season's 4.42, but Sipp's peripherals suggest that he was a better hurler in 2012. The improvement in ERA is entirely tied to Sipp keeping the ball in play. He's surrendered only one bomb after giving up nine last year.

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.

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.