Reed Johnson - Fantasy News & Updates
Reed Johnson - Fantasy News & Updates
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Johnson has been decent in his return after missing all of August and most of September with a fractured left foot. Saturday's RBIs and runs were his first since returning, but the outfielder has pasted a pair of doubles, produced a multi-hit game and drew a pair of walks in the same game among his four starts since his return to the lineup. Still, his .255 batting average, four homers and 22 RBIs with one game to go leave Johnson as a bench option in NL-only formats.
Johnson, who has been sidelined since breaking his foot July 29, figures to see minimal playing time down the final stretch. Expect little more than the occasional start against a left-hander.
Johnson still hopes to play this season, but even if he does figure out a way back into action, chances are he'll play a minimal role down the final stretch.
Johnson's foot is fractured at the arch, making it difficult for him to put any pressure on it, but he has continued to take batting practice in the meantime. If his condition makes a sudden and unexpected turn for the better, he wants to get back on the field, even if it's only for a couple of games. "It's a situation for me where I've just got to mentally keep myself sharp and that way, if I wake up one morning and this thing feels better, I'll be ahead of the game in all of the other aspects besides running," Johnson said.
Johnson has been sidelined since July 30 after fouling a ball off his left foot. The right-handed hitting outfielder was used in a platoon with Kosuke Fukudome in center field. Johnson was hitting .306 against left-handers, compared to Fukudome's .174 against southpaw pitchers. Skipper Lou Piniella's right-handed options now include rookies Jake Fox and Sam Fuld. A free agent after this season, Johnson was batting .252 in 59 games with four homers, seven doubles and 20 RBIs.
Johnson serves primarily as a right-handed bat of the bench, one whose capable of punishing left-handed pitchers when Kosuke Fuku dome needs a break. While that may be enough to spark the Cubs lineup, his .252 average, four homers and 20 RBIs offer little in leagues that count power production.
Johnson has been on the disabled list since July 30 with a fractured left foot. X-rays taken late last week showed that the bone had not fused as well as hoped. "It's going to be a little longer," manager Lou Piniella said Sunday. "We thought he'd be ready this [coming] week, but think it'll be the first of September."
Johnson sustained the injury when he fouled a ball off his foot in his first at-bat Wednesday afternoon. Although he stroked a single in that at-bat and came around to score, Johnson exited after the second inning. “It really got sore on him and it just got progressively worse,” manager Lou Piniella said. At this point, it is unclear how long Johnson will be out of action. Stevens makes a quick turnaround after being optioned to Iowa on Wednesday. The 25-year-old has posted a 2.84 ERA in five appearances with the big club.
Ramirez, sidelined since May 8 because of a dislocated left shoulder, was in the Cubs' lineup Monday night, batting fifth against the Atlanta Braves. He's been out the longest and missed the most. The third baseman was hitting .364 with four homers and 16 RBIs when he was injured. "I told him, 'Don't try to come in here and carry things -- just be yourself and do what you're capable of and we'll be happy with that,'" Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. The return of Ramirez all but crushes the value of hot-hitting rookie cornerman Jake Fox, who will have to earn his at-bats off the bench.
Johnson, who is batting .268 in 112 at-bats this season, has not played since June 20 and Cubs skipper Lou Pinella said the team could no longer afford to play shorthanded. Freel will slide into the fourth-outfielder role and provide additional depth at second and third base. He hit .152 with two RBIs with the Orioles and Cubs this season before hitting the DL May 28 with a hamstring sprain.
Johnson has hit in each of his last five starts, and is 10-for-20 (that's .500 for those without calculators) over that stretch. He's not much of a power or speed threat, but his ability to put the bat on the ball consistently makes him worth a look for NL-only owners looking for a hot player to plug into their lineups.
Staying healthy continues to be an issue for Bradley, who was bothered by a sore quad in Spring Training and had a groin strain in April. This time, the injury-prone outfielder was hurt trying to beat out a grounder and was replaced defensively by Reed Johnson.
Johnson has back-to-back three-hit efforts as he continues to log consistent playing time in center field. He showed how effective of a starter he can be last year, when he hit .307 with 45 runs scored and 44 RBIs in 77 starts for the Cubs.
There's been a heat wave around his bat lately, with Saturday representing the third time he's homered in his last six affairs. He has five multi-RBI efforts in just nine starts in May, so the center fielder is obviously quite opportunistic when he gets the call. Consider him a worthy NL-only leaguer.
Johnson has been off the fantasy radar in May, producing just two multi-hit games in five starts. In his last three starts, though, he's 4-for-11 (.364) with seven RBIs. He's worth keeping an eye on in NL-only formats, but he's clearly not getting an adequate amount of playing time to be worth a look in mixed formats.
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