Baseball Shots Of The Week – May 6, 2014

Filed Under: Colorado Rockies, Sports

1. Milwaukee Brewers (21-11)It's early, but Carlos Gomez will be in the NL MVP conversation if the Brewers keep winning. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)

Yovani Gallardo hadn't lost a game this season, but allowed four runs as the Reds beat the Brewers, 6-2.

2. Oakland Athletics (19-12)Jed Lowrie will be a very interesting free agent this winter. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Sonny Gray was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April.

3. San Francisco Giants (20-11)Matt Cain missed his scheduled start due to a cut finger, but Yusmeiro Petit picked him up with a good start. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Giants placed starter Matt Cain on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 24, with a cut on his right index finger.

4. Atlanta Braves (17-13)The Chris Johnson extension is a little surprising. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Braves snap a seven-game losing streak with Tuesday night's 2-1 win over the Cardinals.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (18-14)Yasiel Puig's big day came against the Twins, but was impressive nonetheless. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Yasiel Puig wasn't in the Dodgers starting lineup for a second straight game, but said he is ready to go back in if the manager needs him, after colliding with the outfield wall in Miami.

6. Detroit Tigers (17-9)Adding Joel Hanrahan is a smart, cheap move. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Anibal Sanchez threw off a mound for the first time since going onto the DL.

7. New York Yankees (16-14)Jacoby Ellsbury continues to be pretty good for the Yankees. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Yankees activated infielder Brendan Ryan from the 15-day DL before Tuesday's game against the Angels, and Michael Pineda's 10-game suspension expired, but was sent directly to the disabled list.

8. Texas Rangers (17-14)Robbie Ross walked six in one start. He's walked three in his other five. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)

Rangers dropped slumping shortstop Elvis Andrus into the No. 9 spot in the batting order over the weekend.

9. Colorado Rockies (19-14)LaTroy Hawkins has more saves than strikeouts. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer in the second inning off the Rangers to extend his hit streak to 25 games.

10. Washington Nationals (17-14)The Nationals bullpen has been highly effective. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Reliever Craig Stammen will receive his bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton this week.

11. Baltimore Orioles (15-14)Nice seeing Manny Machado back. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Chris Davis continues to progress ahead of schedule, he is eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday, but is not expected to be ready to play by then.

12. St. Louis Cardinals (16-16)Kolten Wong's demotion is a little surprising, but Mark Ellis' presence allows the Cardinals to do it without hurting their team. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

Jaime Garcia was hit in the left elbow by a pitch in his second-inning at-bat during his first rehab stint and was removed from the game.

13. Boston Red Sox (15-17)Who figured Chris Capuano would be this effective out of the pen? (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Jon Lester set the tone early and decisively in Boston's 6-3 win over the A's as he struck out 15 batters.

14. New York Mets (16-14)Despite some injury concerns, Jon Niese has quietly done well his first few times through the rotation. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

The Mets bullpen blew a three-run lead and game up a walk-off single in the ninth in a 4-3 loss to the Marlins on Monday.

15. Cincinnati Reds (15-16)Here's hoping Tony Cingrani is back sooner than later. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Right fielder Jay Bruce had surgery Monday to repair torn meniscus in his left knee, and could be out for a month.

16. Tampa Bay Rays (15-17)The Rays didn't want to play two on Thursday, but they managed to take both games. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Rays center fielder Desmond Jennings has been named the American League Player of the Week.

17. Kansas City Royals (14-16)Wade Davis owns some of the weirder rate stats you'll see. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Left-hander Bruce Chen was scratched from his Saturday start against the Tigers, and the Royals put him on the 15-day disabled list Friday.

18. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (15-15)Who is the more surprising Angel thus far: Collin Cowgill or Ian Stewart? (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Albert Pujols was back at first base, after spending the previous two games at designated hitter while nursing some tightness in his right hamstring.

19. Minnesota Twins (14-15)Alex Meyer should make his debut in Minny sooner than later. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Twins first baseman Joe Mauer was out of the lineup for the second straight day on Tuesday and is still listed as day-to-day after Mauer left Sunday's game with back spasms.

20. Philadelphia Phillies (15-14)Domonic Brown has disappointed thus far. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

The Phillies bullpen currently has a 4.84 ERA, which is the highest mark in the NL and ranks 27th in baseball.

21. Miami Marlins (16-15)Derek Dietrich continues to be a pleasant surprise. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

Rafael Furcal exited his rehab assignment in the fourth inning after aggravating his groin injury following his second at-bat.

22. Chicago White Sox (15-17)Paul Konerko's retirement tour is proceeding quietly. He's barely playing, and not doing much when he does. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez reached 1,000 career hits on Monday night with a 12th-inning single.

23. Toronto Blue Jays (14-17)Marcus Stroman should help no matter the role. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

J.A. Happ made his first start of the season by tossing five scoreless innings in the Blue Jays' 3-0 victory over the Phillies.

24. Cleveland Indians (13-18)Ryan Raburn's second season in Cleveland has been the inverse of the first. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)

Corey Kluber set a record in the Tribe's record book by striking out seven straight hitters.

25. San Diego Padres (14-18)Chase Headley's walk year is off to a poor start. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

The Padres have signed Cuban pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne to a Minor League contract.

26. Seattle Mariners (15-15)Roenis Elias was solid against the Yankees on Thursday. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Lloyd McClendon received his first ejection as Mariners manager in the seventh inning Saturday against the Astros.

27. Pittsburgh Pirates (12-19)Unsurprisingly, the Pirates just aren't getting production from their shortstops. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Pirates announced they have optioned left-hander Jeff Locke to Triple-A Indianapolis and recalled right-hander Phil Irwin.

28. Arizona Diamondbacks (11-23)The team has stunk, but Miguel Montero appears back to good. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

The Diamondbacks started A.J. Pollock in left field on Tuesday night against the Brewers after being held out of the starting lineup for five games.

29. Chicago Cubs (11-18)Welington Castillo is one of the league's most underrated catchers. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The Cubs placed outfielder Ryan Sweeney on the 15-day disabled list with a strained his right hamstring.

30. Houston Astros (10-21)George Springer's first weeks in the majors haven't went well.

But Springer made up for four strikeouts with a game-winning single in the 11th inning on Friday night against the Mariners. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)