Tom Haudricourt, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reports Milwaukee Brewers SS J.J. Hardy will be the team's shortstop going into the 2009 season, according to general manager Doug Melvin. There have been rumors that the team might move him to third base or second base to make room for SS Alcides Escobar.
Here are the lineups for tonight's game, first pitch at 7:08 p.m.ROYALSJarrod Dyson CFEric Hosmer 1BBilly Butler DHMike Moustakas 3Bjeff Francoeur RFAlex Gordon LFAlcides Escobar SSChris Getz 2BHumberto Quintero CFelipe Paulino RHPYANKEESDerek Jeter SSCurtis Granderson CFRobinson Cano 2BAlex Rodriguez DHRaul Ibanez LFNick Swisher RFMark Teixeira 1BEric Chavez 3BRussell Martin CHiroki Kuroda RHP
Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar is heating up once again. After watching his batting average slump to .265 on May 8, Escobar has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games. He's produced a .375 average (15 for 40), three doubles, four walks, five RBI and seven runs in that 11-game span.
Analysis: The offense is finally coming around for Escobar, who hasn't quite lived up to his billing as a top prospect yet. However, perhaps this will be his breakout year in the majors. Escobar has a .296 average and .345 BABIP in 39 games. His numbers mirror that of his first extended stay in the majors in 2009, when he hit .304 with a .346 BABIP for the Brewers. Escobar is becoming more of a line-drive and ground-ball hitter, which is best for his game. He's not going to develop much home run power, but if Escobar can continue to get on base, then maybe we will finally see the speed on the base paths he flashed in the minors. Escobar is still a low-end Fantasy starter in mixed leagues, but his progress thus far in 2012 is encouraging.
MLB
David Herndon PHI
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Michael Stutes PHI
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Justin De Fratus PHI
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Austin Kearns MIA
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Matt Carpenter STL
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Austin Kearns MIA
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Matt Carpenter STL
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Matt Carpenter STL
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Austin Kearns MIA
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Darnell McDonald BOS
