Several Free Agents Vying For Roster Spots

It's been a good week for several free agents. Ryan Theriot, who is eligible to play both second base and shortstop, is 10 for 18 with four RBI, three runs scored, a 600 OBP and three stolen bases. Outfielder Michael Saunders is 7 for 12 with a stolen base, a home run, and a .643 OBP. Another outfielder, Aoki Norichika is 6 for 13 with two home runs, five runs scored, and a .500 OBP. Strike while the iron is hot.

Jersey Boys 6, Scully's Slammers 5

The Jersey Boys couldn't get on base Thursday, opening the door for the Slammers to climb back into this series. Curtis Granderson, Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, and Brett Lawrie were a combined 0 for 17. Granderson struck out four times. Catcher Russell Martin is carrying his weight for the Jersey Boys, slugging his second home run of the series to go along with five RBI. Carlos Beltran and Jed Lowrie both had home runs for the Slammers Thursday but this series might be over if the team had started Allen Craig. Craig is the top-rated player in the league this week, going 9 for 17 with two homers, seven RBI and seven runs scored. Sonavabench! On the mound, R.A. Dickey and Aaron Harang each earned quality starts for the Jersey Boys but the normally reliable bullpen was pounded. Edward Mujica gave up three runs while recording just one out and Joel Hanrahan gave up a run in an inning. Mark Buehrle earned a quality start for the Slammers leaving the team just one back in the category. Hiroki Kuroda will take the mound tonight for the Jersey Boys in a very important start in this series.

Give it a Yankee 9, The Bulls 3

The Bulls continued to whiff at the plate Thursday, collecting six hits in 25 at bats. The team had just two runs and two RBI on the night but Daniel Murphy nabbed a stolen base to lift the Bulls to a two point lead in the category. Alex Rios and Adrian Gonzalez drove in five of Give it a Yankee's six RBI Thursday with Rios clubbing a homer. On the mound, Santiago Casilla earned a save for the Bulls while Joaquin Benoit scored the first hold of the series for either team. Shaun Marcum and Felix Doubront will start for the Bulls tonight while Wandy Rodriguez and Luke Hochevar take the mound for Give it a Yankee.

Los Coche Bomba 10, High Cheese 0

Bomba continued to pound High Cheese Thursday as Miguel Cabrera and Michael Bourn both went deep. Bomba scored seven runs, drove in six more and had just three strikeouts in 36 at bats. Jay Bruce homered for High Cheese but David Freese smacked two homers while tethered to the bench. Sonavabench! On the mound, Derek Lowe and reliever Steve Cishek combined to give up nine earned runs in six innings pitched for High Cheese while Matt Garza earned a quality start for Bomba and Jose Veras added a hold. Rookie Tommy Milone will make a perilous trip to the desert to face Arizona for High Cheese tonight while Matt Harrison pitches in San Francisco for Bomba.

Lower Haighters 8, Marin Menehunes 2

After watching several veterans fill the stat sheet for the Menehunes over the first three days of this series, the Lower Haighters unleashed an old dog of their own on Thursday. Outfielder Coco Crisp was 2 for 4 with a home run, a triple, four RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base. He was the day's highest rated player. Crisp keyed an offensive onslaught for the Haighters that ended with four home runs, 10 RBI, seven runs scored, and two stolen bases. CC Sabathia continued the team's momentum on the mound, striking out 12 and earning a quality start. The bright spot for the Menehunes was Jason Grilli's hold, which tied the category. The Menehunes will look to Barry Zito and Johan Santana to get them back in the series Friday while the Lower Haighters will start Erik Bedard.

Twinkle Toes 6, The Machine 3

Gregor Blanco and Buster Posey are bound and determined to win this series for the Toes. Both hit home runs Thursday and now have three of the team's four homers for the week. Cliff Pennington added two stolen bases to give the Toes a three point lead in the category. Chase Headley knocked in two of the Machine's three RBI Thursday and the team scored just two runs. On the mound, the Machine made things interesting as Matt Cain and Jake Peavy both had quality starts while Brian Matusz was floundering for the Toes. Joel Peralta also earned a hold for the Machine to tie the category. Friday is a big night for starting pitchers on both sides. Jeremy Hellickson and Bronson Arroyo throw for the Toes while Ricky Nolasco, Gavin Floyd, and Daniel Hudson start for the Machine.

Vicious Fishes 6, A-Rod's Mirrors 4

Eight categories are still in play as this series looks like it will go down to Sunday's final at bat. Cole Hamels picked up the first quality start of the series for either team when he struck out six over six innings Thursday for the Mirrors. David Price was solid for the Fishes, striking out eight over five innings, but he labored with his pitch count against the Yankees. In the 'pen, Jose Valverde nailed down a save for the Mirrors but Chad Qualls blew up, allowing three runs while getting just one out. At the plate, Bryan LaHair hit a home run for the Fishes while the Mirrors suffered a power outage, driving in just one RBI  on the day. Ace Stephen Strasburg toes the rubber tonight for the Mirrors along with journeyman Jake Westbrook. The Fishes will rely on young Jake Arrieta to keep them in the hunt for quality start points.

The Cys 6, HUMA 6

Martin Prado had a home run and three RBI while Melky Cabrera and Jason Kipnis each stole a base to help the Cys tie this series Thursday. HUMA continued its struggles at the plate, striking out 12 times while plating just three runs and two RBI. Four days into the series, the Cys still have just one quality start as Yu Darvish gave up six runs in 5.1 innings Thursday and Mike Minor couldn't get into the sixth inning despite a solid performance. In the 'pen, Aroldis Chapman finally gave up a run for the Cys. C.J.Wilson and Edinson Volquez will pitch tonight for the Cys while Mat Latos throws for HUMA.

Bacon at Mile 11 6, Home Run 101 4

Rookie Lance Lynn struck out 11 and earned a quality start for Bacon on Thursday but it was the work of Bobby Parnell and Jonny Venters in the 'pen that earned the team the series lead. The two relievers combined to issue just two walks over 1.2 innings while earning two very important holds. At the plate, Jason Heyward and Ryan Zimmerman provided all of Bacon's offense, combining for three homers, all three of the team's RBI, and three of the four runs scored. Lucas Duda hit a home run for Home Run 101 but the team scored just two runs and had two RBI yesterday. Cory Wade hurt the team ERA, allowing a run in relief. Neither team has a starter on the mound tonight so it will be up to the bullpen arms to wage battle over the strikeout category which Bacon currently leads by one.