Who will close for the Angels the final week of the season? I really don’t know. Gave my thoughts about it this morning in Daily Trends.

Who will close for the Nationals this week with Jonathan Papelbon suspended for the rest of the year? Matt Thornton started the 9th Monday though the Nats had a four run lead. Drew Storen is pitching poorly. Ditto Casey Janssen. It might just be Thornton, but I’m guessing it will be committee city.

Charlie Blackmon has a homer, three steals and a 1.035 OPS the last five games. With three more homers he will have that elusive 20/40 season. Teammate Corey Dickerson has return with wild abandon in his own right hitting .481 with two homers and seven runs scored in seven games. In just 60 games this season he’s hitting .320 with eight homers, 26 RBIs and 26 runs scored.

Robinson Cano (abdomen) and Nelson Cruz (quad) should play all three games against the Astros. Manager Lloyd McClendon did say that both could be rested during the weekend series with the Athletics. Be careful with both vets this week.

You don’t have to watch the whole video, just make sure you watch the second kid, the one with the cell phone. That kid is pissed off.

Shin-Soo Choo has a .348/.429/.652 slash line over his last six games. He’s hit two homers, scored seven times and driven in eight runs. Since the All-Star game he’s hitting .350 with a .465 OBP and .559 SLG. That’s as well as he’s ever produced. Did you have patience with him or let him loose when he was struggling in the first half?

Lucas Duda is hitting again. Finally. Over his last six games he’s hit three homers and driven in 12 RBIs. His SLG is 1.059 in that time as well. All told he’s up to 25 homers with 70 RBIs. His slash line this season (.246/.354/.482) is nearly identical to last season (.253/.349/.481).

Adam Jones back is still acting up. It was stiff Monday after be played Sunday. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow. It’s clear he won’t be at 100 percent until 2016. On the year he’s hit 27 homers with 82 RBIs, and he’s also scored 74 runs. He’s reached all of those counting category numbers each of the last four seasons. He will fall below .280 for the first time since 2009. He’s hitting only .269.

Mat Latos signed with the Angels. It’s too late for him to be eligible for the postseason roster. He is likely to see some innings out of the pen. Hard for me to see him making a start in the final week.

Yes Emily, testicle pain is a real thing. Check out the 3:00 mark.

Tommy Pham is out of the Cardinals starting lineup for the second straight day. Over his last 12 games he’s hitting .381 with a .413 OBP and a .857 SLG. He’s hit four homers, driven in 12, scored 12 times and stolen a bag. Yet he sits as the Cardinals go with Stephen Piscotty in right, Jason Heyward in center and Matt Holliday in left. Randal Grichuk still can’t make full on throws from the outfield because of his elbow. They have too many bats for too few a spots. Might be why their team is so good.

Kevin Pillar is blasting away at the dish hitting .524 the last six games. He’s hit two balls into the seats and driven in six runners as well. Hell, he’s even ripped off five steals for the Jays. He’s been the most productive fantasy player in baseball the past week. Never thought I would be typing that.

Masahiro Tanaka’s arm is sound for now. His hamstring ditto. Well, at least it’s good enough that he will be able to make a start for the Yankees on Wednesday. He has a 0.99 WHIP over his 149 innings this season. 

 

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