Daily Roundup

Around the League: April 2, 2013

by Clint Chisam and Joe Hamrahi

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As we get set to begin the 2013 season, we introduce another new feature here at Baseball Prospectus. Thanks to Jason Martinez and Clint Chisam of MLB Depth Charts, we'll now be bringing you daily news, notes, transactions, injury updates, and notable performances from the previous day's games...throughout the entire season! (For the first full week of the new campaign, this feature will be completely free to all readers!)

And if you like what you see here, don't forget to check out MLBDC's Insider subscription (http://www.mlbdepthcharts.com/2013/02/mlbdepthcharts-insider.html), which also includes starting pitcher rankings and matchups, top 25 batter vs pitcher stat rankings, lineup tracker (includes lineups from past 7 games), rotation report, stat tracker, and more!

Probable Pitchers for April 2, 2013

Pitchf/x cards of today's probable pitchers can be found here: BrooksBaseball.net Probable Pitchers

Yesterday's Notable Lines:

National League:

Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI in the Braves' 7-5 win over the Phillies.
Tim Hudson was removed after allowing three runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Phillies.
Cole Hamels gave up three homers and five runs in five innings to the Braves in a loss Monday.
Chase Utley went 3-for-3 with a homer, a triple and three RBI against the Braves.
Johnny Cueto allowed one run and three hits in seven innings and struck out nine against the Angels.
Clayton Kershaw pitched a complete-game shutout and hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth as the Dodgers beat the Giants 4-0.
Matt Cain struck out eight in six scoreless innings against the Dodgers.
Carl Crawford went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored from the leadoff spot.
Pablo Sandoval had two of the Giants' four hits in Monday's opener against the Dodgers.
Jonathan Lucroy delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly in a 5-4 win over the Rockies in 10 innings.
John Axford blew his first save chance of the season Monday after giving up a solo home run to Dexter Fowler.
Yovani Gallardo yielded three runs in five innings against the Rockies.
Jhoulys Chacin earned a no-decision after limiting the Brewers to one run in 6 2/3 innings in Monday's Opening Day start.
Troy Tulowitzki went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in the season-opening loss to the Brewers.
Jeff Samardzija allowed just two hits over eight shutout frames in the Cubs' 3-1 win over the Pirates.
Carlos Marmol was pulled from his first save opportunity of the season against the Pirates after he allowed three out of the four batters he faced to reach base.
A.J. Burnett gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings in Monday's season-opening loss to the Cubs.
Anthony Rizzo bashed a two-run homer in Monday's season-opening win over the Pirates.
Collin Cowgill went 2-for-5 with his first career grand slam and two runs scored in the Mets' 11-2 win over the Padres.
Jon Niese gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings in the Mets' season-opening win over the Padres.
Edinson Volquez was lit up for six runs over three-plus innings in the Padres' Opening Day loss to the Mets.
Yonder Alonso clubbed a solo homer in Monday's loss to the Mets.
Bryce Harper launched two home runs in the Nationals' 2-0 victory against the Marlins.
Rafael Soriano tossed a scoreless ninth inning against the Marlins to earn his first save of 2013.
Stephen Strasburg went seven scoreless innings in the Nationals' season-opening win over the Marlins
Ricky Nolasco yielded two runs over six innings in the Marlins' season-opening loss to the Nationals.

American League:

Chris Iannetta homered in the third and delivered a two-run single in the 13th to lead the Angels to a 3-1 win over the Reds.
Ernesto Frieri struck out two of the four batters he faced in the 13th to pick up a save against the Reds.
Justin Verlander pitched five scoreless innings and struck out seven to beat the Twins.
Vance Worley gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings in a loss to the Tigers.
Phil Coke got the final two outs to earn the save for the Tigers in a 4-2 game against the Twins.
Jered Weaver yielded a run and two hits over six innings in a no-decision against the Reds.
Chris Sale scattered seven hits over 7 2/3 innings as the White Sox edged the Royals 1-0.
James Shields lost Monday despite holding the White Sox to one run in six innings.
Tyler Flowers homered for the game's only run in the White Sox's win over the Royals.
Mike Moustakas went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts from the cleanup spot against the White Sox.
Jacoby Ellsbury went 3-for-6 with two RBI in Monday's 8-2 season-opening defeat of the Yankees.
Jon Lester limited the Yankees to two earned runs over five innings in Monday's season-opening win.
CC Sabathia allowed four earned runs over five innings in the Yankees' loss to the Red Sox.

Transactions:

National League:

Cubs purchased the contract of INF Alberto Gonzalez from Triple-A Iowa.
Cubs placed 2B Darwin Barney on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 31, with a left knee injury.

American League:

White Sox acquired 1B/OF Lars Anderson from the Blue Jays for cash considerations.
Chris Snyder has accepted a spot at Triple-A Salt Lake.

Injury Updates:

National League:

David Freese (back) is slated to play in extended spring training games on Friday and Saturday.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said that the best-case scenario would have Cody Ross (calf) returning on April 8.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the best-case scenario is Jonny Venters (elbow) being sidelined for a month.

Pablo Sandoval said that while his right elbow bothers him when hitting left-handed, it's not going to keep him out of the lineup

Delmon Young (ankle) will play three innings in right field Tuesday in an extended spring training game
Ryan Ludwick has been diagnosed with a dislocated right shoulder and will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
Chase Headley (thumb) took soft ground balls Monday.
Shaun Marcum (neck) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Tuesday at the Mets' spring training complex.
Brandon Inge has been diagnosed with an incomplete fracture in his right scapula (shoulder blade).
Christian Garcia (forearm) played a successful game of catch on Monday morning.
Carlos Beltran said Sunday that the discomfort in his fractured right pinkie toe is manageable.

American League:

Mark Teixeira was given clearance Monday to remove the protective brace from his right wrist.
John Danks (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Thursday in Arizona.
Derek Jeter (ankle) played catch again Monday at the Yankees' spring training complex in Tampa, Florida.
Phil Hughes (back) tossed seven innings Monday morning in an extended spring training game.
Ryan Madson (elbow) is hoping to resume his throwing program within the next couple of days.
David Ortiz (heels) is hoping to begin playing in minor league rehab games by early next week.
An MRI taken this weekend on Dylan Bundy's sore right elbow showed no structural damage.
Alex Rodriguez told reporters Monday morning that his recovery from left hip surgery is "going very well."

Notes and Rumors:

National League:

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Monday that he is sticking with Carlos Marmol as his closer.

American League:

CC Sabathia said he was unconcerned about the lower than normal velocity he displayed on Monday.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Rangers have reached agreement on a new eight-year, $120 million contract extension with shortstop Elvis Andrus.

Joe Hamrahi is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
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