Player Notes

Matt Guerrier struck out a pair over two scoreless innings of relief Tuesday against the Rockies.
Advice: He entered the contest with just four punch outs, so last night's performance qualifies as an outburst. Guerrier used to be a holds machine for the Twins, but he's posted just 19 over the past three seasons for the Dodgers, four less than he had in his last year in Minnesota. An elbow injury cost the veteran most of last season. He owns a 3.45 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and ugly 6/6 K/BB rate over 18 appearances.

Daniel Descalso went 3-for-3 with his first career grand slam and an RBI double in the Cardinals' 10-2 rout of the Padres on Tuesday.
Advice: Descalso's slam followed an intentional walk to Jon Jay. Descalso entered the game with an ugly .197/.265/.289 line, and he probably wouldn't have been in the lineup if not for David Freese's thumb injury. The home run was his seventh in 813 major league at-bats.

Rockies optioned 2B Josh Rutledge to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Advice: Manager Walt Weiss indicated recently that he was going to stick with Rutledge through his slump, but evidently he had a change of heart. The second baseman sports just a .242/.298/.357 batting line for the season and is hitting only .206/.250/.294 over his last 11 games. The Rox appeared poised to go with D.J. LeMahieu at second base for now.
More: Troy Renck on Twitter

Mark Melancon earned his first save of the season Wednesday as the Pirates defeated the Cubs.
Advice: Jason Grilli threw 35 pitches on Tuesday night and was unavailable on Wednesday, so Melancon filled in and was able to convert. That setup man and closer combo has been excellent all season for the Pirates.

B.J. Upton hit his first homer since April 23 off the Twins' Vance Worley on Wednesday.
Advice: It gave him just his second RBI in May. Facing Twins pitching got B.J. going just a little; he's 3-for-7 the last two days. It's just the second time in a month that he's had three hits in a series.

Cubs placed RHP Shawn Camp on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right big toe.
Advice: Rafael Dolis has been called up to replace him in the bullpen. Camp owns an ugly 7.56 ERA and 12/6 K/BB ratio across 16 2/3 innings of work this season.

Francisco Liriano fired seven scoreless innings Wednesday in the Pirates' 1-0 victory over the Cubs.
Advice: Liriano has been dominant in all three of his starts since returning from the disabled list and is a must-own in every mixed fantasy format at this point. He allowed only two hits to the Cubs on Wednesday, fanning nine batters and walking just one. The left-hander is clearly enjoying his first taste of the National League but has an interleague matchup next week against a tough Tigers offense. It'll be a good test.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that the club has discussed calling up prospect outfielders Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson.
Advice: Very interesting. However, while the Dodgers are struggling to score runs, it's hard to see a great fit for playing time as long as Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Carl Crawford are healthy. Puig, 22, is batting .314/.385/.579 with six homers and a .964 OPS through 32 games this season with Double-A Chattanooga. Pederson has been even better, batting .327/.400/.554 with eight homers, 13 stolen bases and a .954 OPS.
More: Dylan Hernandez on Twitter

Xavier Paul has hit whenever he's been called upon by the Reds, slashing .270/.400/.405 over 90 plate appearances.
Advice: Since he was called up by the Reds last July, Paul has hit as well as any reserve outfielder, batting .294/.389/.438 with four homers and 20 RBI in 160 at-bats. Paul has cost Cincy four runs below replacement defensively in limited opportunities this year, so he'll have to keep his lumber warm to steal at-bats.

Eduardo Nunez (rib cage) took batting practice Wednesday.
Advice: It's the first time he's done so since landing on the DL, as he had been limited to hitting off a tee and taking soft-toss. When Nunez will be ready to return to game action isn't known, but it shouldn't be too far off.
More: The LoHud Yankees Blog

Rangers optioned RHP Cory Burns to Triple-A Round Rock.
Advice: Wednesday's starter, Ross Wolf, will replace him on the active roster. Burns allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings during his brief stint with the big club and should get another shot in the Rangers' bullpen later this year.

Mitch Moreland is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Athletics.
Advice: He's just getting the day off. Jeff Baker will make the start at first base.
More: Anthony Andro on Twitter

Danny Espinosa went hitless in a fourth straight game Tuesday, leaving him with a .159 average in 139 at-bats.
Advice: Maybe more patience would be warranted if Espinosa were healthy, but it's quite possible he needs surgery for the partial rotator cuff tear he suffered last year. Besides, he's just killing the Nationals offense right now. Not only is he batting .159, but he's walked just three times all year. His OBP stands at .186.