Random news, notes and otherwise:

- Aroldis Chapman has been shut down due to shoulder inflammation. I'm not surprised given his motion to the plate and how hard he throws. I mentioned this somewhere last year and it wouldn't surprise me if this turns into something bigger.

- Jay Bruce has a tweaked groin, yet I'm buying here if I can get a discount. Ditto for Vernon Wells (sans the tweaked groin).

- If you were offered a wager with the odds of 12:1 that Alex Rodriguez would hit 50 or more home runs and had to wager at least an Andrew Jackson on the 12 side or accept the same on the 1 side, which would you choose and why?

- Joe Mauer was kept out of the lineup with what was labeled as soreness. This later led to him being placed on the 15-day DL with what was termed "bilateral leg weakness." This doesn't sound good and if he was just battling soreness, he could DH, right?

- Wilton Lopez is going to see the doctor about his elbow which again, doesn't sound good. I had him as the heir to the closer's role if/when Brandon Lyon implodes and now it sounds like Mark Melancon should be grabbed if Lopez misses any time.

- Evan Longoria says he's feeling better and you can look for him near the end of the month if he continues without a setback.

Colorado 6 - New York 5

-  W: Greg Reynolds (1-0), L: R.A. Dickey (1-2), S: Matt Lindstrom (2)
- Colorado broke open the game in innings 5-7, scoring all six runs during those three frames.
- Huston Street did not have his best stuff today, retiring only one batter and allowing two earned runs. Luckily he got the hook and Matt Lindstrom was able to preserve the win and get his second save. Huston Street owners, relax. His job is still secure.
- Troy Tulowitzki hit his sixth home run, while Carlos Gonzalez and Jose Reyes each picked up their first. If you questioned our high ranking of Tulowitzki this preseason (and you know who you are), please be prepared to eat a Heckle and Jeckle sandwich. Of course that can be written knowing what happens in the second game…
- HR: Carlos Gonzalez (1), Troy Tulowitzki (6), Jose Reyes (1), Scott Hairston (1)
- SB: Jose Reyes (4)
- CS: Willie Harris (1)

Colorado 9 – New York 4

- W: Jorge De La Rosa (2-0), L: Chris Capuano (1-1)
- Troy Tulowitzki hit his seventh home run, which is more than Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Joey Votto combined. Does that really mean much to the players mentioned after Tulo? No, they'll be just fine; it's just an interesting note.
- If you haven't been paying attention, Jonathan Herrera is off to a blistering pace. He's now hitting .458 with one home run and four stolen bases. Herrera is making it tough to keep him out of the lineup at this point.
- HR: Troy Tulowitzki (7), Jonathan Herrera (1)
- SB: Carlos Gonzalez (2), David Wright (2)

Philadelphia 4 – Washington 0

- W: Cliff Lee (2-1), L: Jordan Zimmermann (1-2)
- Apparently that Lee guy might have had a hiccup at Atlanta when he gave up six earned runs over 3.1 innings. Normally I hate throwing out a start but he has a 23:1 K:BB ratio over his other two starts (16 innings). I'm not a fan of the Phillies allowing their starters (Roy Halladay yesterday, Lee today) going the full game as I can see this having a negative effect later in the season.
- Jordan Zimmermann was charged with only one earned run and therefore his ERA stands at 2.45. He'd be a #1 starter going forward if this team didn't have that Stephen Strasburg guy on his team.
- Drew Storen, while not the closer, lowered his ERA to 1.23 by retiring two batters. Remember, he's still the "closer of the future" although that tag often seems to be the doom of the pitcher it's given to.
- Wilson Ramos went 1-for-2 to raise his average to .455. Yes, there are three catchers in the Capital but methinks Ramos is the one you want to own.
- HR: "He looked like a" Carlos Ruiz (2)
- CS: Wilson Ramos (1)

Milwaukee 4 – Pittsburgh 1

- W: Randy Wolf (1-2), L: Paul Maholm (0-2)
- The game of killing your closers' ERA without them in a position to gain a save. John Axford gave a run on two walks and a hit to raise his ERA to 8.66 while Joel Hanrahan gave up two runs to raise his ERA to 3.68.
- Lefty killer Matt Diaz went 0-for-4 with two Ks in the cleanup position while Pedro Alvarez continued his early season swoon as a pinch hitter, lowering his BA to .196.
- Randy Wolf was filthy, striking out 10 and allowing no runs over 6.2 innings. I'll tell you this: he's not good and he'll end up with an ERA over 4.60 by season's end; I promise you that.
- SB: Jose Tabata (6), Ryan Braun (1)
- CS: Andrew McCutchen (2) – not totally worried but he's 0-for-2 so far.

Tampa Bay 4 – Minnesota 3

- W: Kyle Farnsworth, L: Matt Capps (1-1)
- The Rays once again (well twice this season) came back in the ninth inning to eventually win the game. Johnny Damon was the hero, hitting a two-run homer in the 10th inning after Kyle Farnsworth became the lucky win pitcher after surrendering a run in the top of the 10th.
- The "Legend of Sam Fuld" continues to grow as he went 2-for-5 with a run and another stolen base. This isn't Emilio Bonafacio folks, the contact rate has always been solid and he'll be a mainstay at least until Desmond Jennings gets called up (think 5-6 weeks). Even then he might still be a regular starter.
- Another notable was Matt Joyce, who went 3-for-4 and hit the game-tying double off Joe Nathan in the bottom of the ninth. Don't sleep on him; remember he was the key in the trade that saw Edwin Jackson leave town.
- "Starting at second base….Michael Cuddyer." He started his third game at second before returning to right field.
- HR: Johnny Damon (3)
- SB: Sam Fuld (7)

Florida 6 – Atlanta 5

- W: Brian Sanches (2-0), L: Eric O'Flaherty (0-1), S: Leo Nunez (4)
- The Marlins got to Brandon Beachy early which eventually was enough to get them a win when they got the extra run in the seventh.
- Ricky "Don't believe my FIP" Nolasco was tagged for five runs over five innings. Didn't he make some ridiculous prediction about how few batters he would walk last year? Well, he's walked one over 20 innings this year but his ERA is at 4.05. Again, don't believe the FIP or xFIP here.
- The Florida bullpen isn't too bad as Clay Hensley, Brian Sanches, Mike Dunn and Leo Nunez all sport ERAs under 2.58.
- Not to be outdone, Jonny Venters (1.29 ERA) and Craig Kimbrel (0.0, Mr. Blutarsky) have been more than adequate.
- HR: Gaby Sanchez (1), Brian McCann (2), Dan Uggla (3)
- SB: Jason Heyward (1)
- CS: Scott Cousins (1)

New York 6 – Baltimore 5

- W: Mariano Rivera (1-0), L: Mike Gonzalez (0-1)
- Jake Arrieta seemed to have the Yankees hitters baffled until the second/third time around. Still, he carried the lead until the bullpen blew it for him. I wrote somewhere that a friend and I argued who was going to lose the closer's job first between Kevin Gregg and Fernando Rodney. Both are terrible. Expect Gregg to be on a ridiculously short leash especially since the Orioles are (for now) in the thick of things in the American League.
- If given the choice of the more productive fantasy player between Brett Gardner (.150 BA) or Derek Jeter (.233 BA) it's without a doubt Gardner. Of course, I picked Jeter as one of the "Busts" players for my pre-season article.
- Jorge Posada is only hitting .189 but now has five home runs.
- Joba went all "The Hut" by blocking the plate and tagging out Felix Pie on an important play at the plate that could have cost the Yankees the game.
- I wrote about Philip Hughes as a downgrade in my Barometer column last Sunday. He needs to take some time to build up his arm strength. Throwing in the high-80s to low-90s isn't going to win games in the AL-East.
- Nick Markakis seemed to find life Thursday, going 3-for-5 with his second home run and hitting the ball hard in his other two outs. Look for him to keep this going.
- HR: Nick Markakis (2), Jorge Posada (5)

Kansas City 5 – Seattle 1 (8th)

- W: Bruce Chen (2-0), L: Doug "Insert joke here" Fister (0-3)
- Bruce Chen threw eight innings of one-run ball, striking out one and walking one. Keep in mind as this was against Seattle, which will be said as many times this year as last.
- I give you the top-4 hitters Thursday in the Royales (with cheese) lineup – Chris Getz (.317), Melky Cabrera (.300), Alex Gordon (.345) and Billy Butler (.341).
- HR: Wilson Betemit (1)

Houston 1 – San Diego 0

- W: Bud Norris (1-1), L: Dustin Moseley (0-3), S: Brandon Lyon (2)
- I'm fully on the Bud Norris Bandwagon and he didn't disappoint Thursday. Norris went six innings without allowing a run and ran his K:BB mark to 20:6 over 16 innings.
- Ryan Ludwick went 0-for-4 with three Ks and left seven men on base. Almost the Golden Sombrero.
- While I'm not a believer, Brandon Lyon now has four straight scoreless appearances to lower his ERA to 6.23.
- Dustin Moseley is off to a stellar start, sporting a 1.83 ERA with a 4:6 K:BB ratio. While that doesn't excite me, he did induce 16 ground balls and only two fly balls. He could be worth streaming into your lineup when at home.
- SB: Orlando Hudson (6), Eric Patterson (1), Michael Bourn (5), Jason Bourgeois (4)

St. Louis 9 – Los Angeles 5

- W: Jaime Garcia (2-0), L: Hiroki Kuroda (2-1)
- Completely random note – Tommy Lasorda and the Mrs. celebrated their 61st anniversary. Onto the game.
- Albert Pujols hit his second home run which should make you think twice before trading him away. Matt Kemp continues to be awesome with his seventh stolen base and second home run. Kemp is now 8-for-9 in the stolen base department and looks much faster with 110 lbs. less of Rihanna on him.
- Lance Berkman actually didn't homer but went 2-for-4 raising his BA to .311.
- Ryan Franklin in a non-save situation gave up a home run Kemp. It's probably a matter of time before he's replaced; feel free to speculate who takes his role.
- Jonathan Broxton bucked the trend and threw a scoreless inning and actually struck out someone. I, for one, am not worried about him and although there hasn't been an abundance of Ks, he has worked a bunch of batters into two strike counts.
- A possible candidate for the closer's role who was just called up, Fernando Salas, gave up a run in an inning.
- HR: Albert Pujols (2), Matt Kemp (2)
- SB: Jamey Carroll (2), Matt Kemp (8)

Detroit 3 – Oakland 0

- W: Phil Coke (1-2), L: Tyson Ross (1-1) S: Jose Valverde (3)
- Coke went seven scoreless frames to notch his first win of the season. He lowered his ERA to 2.25 and is making Shannon McKeown look like a genius. All three hits Coke allowed were singles.
- The Tigers bullpen was again solid with Joakim Benoit and Jose Valverde allowing no base runners over the last two innings and struck out three.
- Gio Gonzalez reverted to his old wild ways, throwing only 53 of his 103 pitches for strikes. This in turn led to six walks in six innings. Despite the walks, he didn't factor into the decision and lowered his ERA to a miniscule 0.47. Both of the hits Gonzalez allowed were also of the single variety.