Daily Dose: Texas Tolleson

Brad Johnson covers the latest in the world of closers and stolen bases. The seats are getting hot in Texas

Follow @drewsilv and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.


Neftali Feliz finished the 2014 season as the Rangers’ closer and opened the 2015 campaign in that same role, but he lost the job 10 days ago and then landed on the disabled list Monday morning with an axillary abscess on his right side. It’s not clear when Feliz might be ready to return, though that might be inconsequential now from a fantasy perspective.


Feliz hasn’t been the same since coming down with elbow problems in late 2012. He eventually needed Tommy John reconstructive surgery to correct the issue, and the right-hander had registered a 5.09 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, and 15/9 K/BB ratio over his first 17 2/3 innings in 2015.


Enter Shawn Tolleson.


A waiver claim from the Dodgers just 16 months ago, Tolleson earned his fifth save in six days on Tuesday night against the Indians. He has rattled off 10 1/3 straight scoreless innings and the 27-year-old right-hander owns a shiny 30/4 K/BB ratio in 22 1/3 total innings this season. Pair that with a 2.82 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.


He also had a 2.76 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 71 2/3 frames with the Rangers last summer.


There isn’t a standard fantasy league where Tolleson should be unowned. Texas is playing much better baseball now -- Tuesday marked the club’s seventh straight win -- and Tolleson has very little competition in that bullpen should things go awry for a stretch. As of this posting, he was rostered in only 47 percent of Yahoo leagues.




Adams Looking At Extended Absence


Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams pulled up lame on a fifth-inning double Tuesday night against the Diamondbacks and manager Mike Matheny acknowledged after the game that the big slugger is headed for the disabled list with a right quad strain. That’s a three-week injury at the very least, and this looked like an especially bad one. Adams limped very slowly off the field and down into the clubhouse at Busch Stadium. We may not see him again until sometime in July.


Mark Reynolds entered Tuesday’s game when Adams left and figures to be the Cardinals’ primary first baseman for however long Adams is out. Reynolds is a frustratingly inconsistent hitter, but he when he does make contact the ball usually travels far. For his career, the 31-year-old Reynolds has averaged 32 home runs and 88 RBI for every 162 games.


Fantasy owners looking for a boost in power -- and aren’t we all looking for power? -- should set their sights on St. Louis.



Seattle’s Seager Slumping No More


Kyle Seager batted .268/.334/.454 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI in 159 games last year at age 26 and appeared to be emerging as one of the top offensive third basemen in the major leagues. But he opened the 2015 season with a .245/.292/.357 slash line in his first 27 games and panic began to set in from some of our readers. Maybe he had peaked. Why did we have him ranked so high? Time to bail?


Nah.


Seager went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and a game-winning 10th-inning solo shot as the Mariners took down the Rays on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. He tallied six total RBI, and he’s now suddenly batting .281/.328/.497 for the season -- not all that different from his line in 2014.


Over his last 12 games, the 27-year-old Seager has 18 hits, five home runs, and 10 RBI. It’s on.



National League Quick Hits: Mets ace Matt Harvey (arm) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and will make his scheduled start Friday against the Marlins … Johnny Cueto underwent an MRI on Tuesday which showed no structural damage in his throwing elbow and he is planning to play catch Wednesday … Cubs second baseman Addison Russell delivered a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday to beat the Nationals … Hunter Pence hit a solo homer on Tuesday night in Milwaukee and is now batting .326/.370/.535 in 11 games since being activated … Juan Uribe is in the process of being traded to the Braves ... Bryce Harper belted his 17th home run of the season Tuesday in the Nationals’ loss to the Cubs … Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (toe) is on track to be activated Monday … Randal Grichuk finished 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in the Cardinals’ defeat of the Diamondbacks on Tuesday … Jose Fernandez (elbow) is scheduled to begin pitching in extended spring training games Monday … Josh Harrison went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and two runs scored Tuesday in the Pirates’ defeat of the Marlins … Brandon Phillips reaggravated the turf toe in his left foot and is considered day-to-day … Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores knocked in the tying and game-winning runs Tuesday against the Phillies … Anthony Rendon (knee, oblique) played three innings Tuesday in a simulated game … Jeff Locke held the Marlins scoreless over 5 2/3 innings Tuesday in a Pirates victory … Marlins placed Michael Morse on the 15-day disabled list with a right finger sprain … Jorge De La Rosa (hand) is expected to return to the Rockies’ starting rotation Saturday in Philadelphia … Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw tossed seven scoreless innings Tuesday to beat the Braves … Travis d’Arnaud (finger) caught five innings Tuesday in an extended spring training game … Diamondbacks slugger Yasmany Tomas had two doubles and three RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals … Matt Cain threw to hitters Tuesday for the first time since suffering a flexor strain in his right arm … Matt Holliday has reached base in 42 straight games to open the season … Casey McGehee accepted an assignment to the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate.



American League Quick Hits: White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia will be held out until Thursday with right knee inflammation … Josh Donaldson homered twice, one of which was a walk-off three-run blast in the ninth inning, as the Blue Jays bested the White Sox on Tuesday night … Rays outfielder Steven Souza (wrist) is aiming to return Friday … Prince Fielder stayed red hot Tuesday, finishing 3-for-5 with a three-run homer as the Rangers edged the Indians … Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera remains day-to-day with a mild groin strain … David Ortiz was dropped to the fifth spot in the Red Sox lineup Tuesday … Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a two-run double in Tuesday's win over the Royals … Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Desmond Jennings (knee) is "getting closer" to full baseball activities … Sean Doolittle (shoulder) was activated from the disabled list Tuesday and is expected to move back into the A’s ninth-inning role after a handful of low-leverage appearances … Twins closer Glen Perkins tallied four outs to earn his 17th save Tuesday versus the Red Sox … Justin Verlander (triceps) tossed four scoreless innings Tuesday in a simulated game and could begin a rehab assignment Sunday … A’s right-hander Sonny Gray (ankle) threw a bullpen session Tuesday with no issues … Elvis Andrus went 3-for-4 with a stolen base Tuesday in the Rangers’ win over the Indians … David Price delivered seven scoreless innings Tuesday in the Tigers' defeat of the A's ... Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias remains day-to-day with a bruised left knee … Astros starter Scott Feldman gave up only one run in six innings to get the win Tuesday against the Orioles … Danny Salazar suffered a cut nail and blister on his right middle finger Tuesday in a no-decision against the Rangers … Astros closer Luke Gregerson picked up his 13th save of the year Tuesday in Baltimore.