Ryan Church - Fantasy News & Updates
Ryan Church - Fantasy News & Updates
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Church was slowed by back problems late in the year and hit just .260 during his 44-game stint in Atlanta. At 31, his window of opportunity for claiming an everyday job in the Majors may be closing.
Church missed time during the latter part of August because of lower back discomfort and has also landed on the bench with elbow and hamstring ailments this season. The oft-injured outfielder has tallied 349 at-bats this season with the Mets and Braves and has compiled a .275 average with four homers and 39 RBIs.
A number of issues kept Jones out of the lineup. For one, he's dealing with a sore back, although Jones has stated the issue isn't serious. He's also in a massive slump, batting .113 with a .474 OPS in his last 16 ballgames. The return of Ryan Church to center field had a domino effect on the lineup, allowing Omar Infante to play second base. In turn, Martin Prado was able to move to the hot corner, giving Jones a night of rest. He's expected to return as early as Thursday.
Church provided reason for optimism, however, saying he was confident that he'd play against the Marlins on Wednesday night. "This is the best I've felt for a while," Church said. "I was hoping to be back in there [on Tuesday night]."
Church was scratched from Sunday's lineup after experiencing back discomfort during batting practice, although he said the anti-inflammatory medication he had been taking provided some pain relief on Monday. He's likely to see a chiropractor to work out the kinks in his back. Church is being counted on to man center field until Nate McLouth's return from a strained left hamstring.
Church was primed to step in to the center fielder's role vacated by the injured Nate McLouth, but wound up on the shelf himself with lower back pain. The 30-year-old vet should continue to hold down the fort in center until McLouth makes his return to the lineup at some point next week and could be useful in leagues that allow daily changes for the time being.
McLouth, who had never previously been on the disabled list, tested his strained left hamstring while running with approximately 75 percent effort on Tuesday afternoon and eported that he didn't feel any discomfort. In his absence the Braves have turned to Reid Gorecki and Omar Infante to man center with Ryan Church due to get most of the time there once he's able to return from his bout with lower back discomfort.
Church was confident that he'll return on Wednesday night. He's hitting .272 with two homers, 10 doubles and 16 RBIs in 92 Braves at-bats.
Church was a late scratch from Satuday's contest with the Marlins and didn't play on Sunday. Anderson hasn't suited up since Aug. 21 but was available to pinch-hit Sunday. Reid Gorecki and Omar Infante should head back to the bench when the two veterans are ready to take the field again alongside the scorching Matt Diaz.
Church played through lower back discomfort during Friday night's series opener against the Marlins, but when he returned to Turner Field on Saturday afternoon, he found himself battling spasms and a discomfort level that could keep him sidelined until at least Tuesday. The injury comes at a bad time for Church, who had been filling in well for the injured Nate McLouth in center and was 6-for-13 during a three-game hit streak. Church was replaced in center by rookie Reid Gorecki.
Church's stay in New York came to an unhappy end, but he made his fantasy owners very happy while working through his issues with the Mets in this one. Church snapped a 2-for-22 skid with this offensive eruption, and should continue to start everyday in center with Nate McLouth on the disabled list.
Doubles have become Church's forte since joining Atlanta, as he's hit six in his last nine games. But until he turns some of those doubles into homers and boosts that .253 average, he'll be of little use in mixed leagues.
McLouth missed three games from Aug. 9-13 with the same injury after hurting it Aug. 8 at Dodger Stadium. Despite the persistent nature of the injury, the Braves will look to give McLouth a few days of rest instead of putting him on the DL. "We're not going to disable him," manager Bobby Cox said. Ryan Church replaced McLouth in center field and would figure to log time there as long as McLouth is sidelined.
While pushing off to chase fly balls during batting practice, McLouth felt discomfort and grew concerned about the possibility of the injury snowballing into something more serious. With McLouth unable to trust his ability to use maximum effort while running, the Braves opted to replace him with Ryan Church for the second straight night in center field. "I've never had a muscle or hamstring problem in my life," McLouth said. "I need to be able to run." Owners should keep McLouth planted on the bench until his hamstring proves sound.
Church, who popped one out for the second time in 10 games, submitted his finest effort as a member of the Braves. Since getting traded from the Mets on July 10, the 30-year-old left fielder is batting .295 with 11 runs and eight RBIs in 17 games.
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