Player Notes: National League

NL Player notes - April 3, 2007

Rafael Furcal - SS - Dodgers
Rafael Furcal (ankle) has yet to resume running, leading to doubt that he'll be ready to play when eligible on Saturday. Furcal reportedly played catch with trainer Stan Conte at about 75 feet Monday morning and threw very gingerly, even grimacing on some of the throws. Ramon Martinez and Wilson Valdez are going to fill in for him at shortstop for at least the next few days.
Source: Los Angeles Daily News

Nook Logan - OF - Nationals
The Nationals placed center fielder Nook Logan on the 15-day disabled list with a left foot strain. An MRI confirmed the strain, and Logan is expected to miss two or three weeks. The Nationals will move Ryan Church to center field and go with Kory Casto as their primary left fielder. The offense should benefit from the change. The defense will suffer, but since John Patterson is the only Nationals starter worth using right now, that doesn't matter very much from a fantasy perspective.
Source: Washington Post

Cristian Guzman - SS - Nationals
The Nationals feel Cristian Guzman's hamstring problem is more serious than the ankle injury suffered by Nook Logan on Monday. Manager Manny Acta said that if Guzman is out for "a long period of time," then Felipe Lopez would shift back from second base to shortstop and Ronnie Belliard would play second. If it's just going to be a day-to-day thing, the Nationals will go with Josh Wilson at shortstop, a scenario that Lopez prefers. "I'm playing second. I don't want to switch. I don't want to start all over again," Lopez said. "If I have to, if they ask me -- but right now I want to stay at second. ... I've already got my mind set and got our game plan. I'm comfortable now."
Source: Washington Post

Chris Duncan - OF - Cardinals
Chris Duncan is expected to start in left field and bat second in Tuesday's game against the Mets. He should be in the lineup against every righty. "I definitely didn't swing the bat good against left-handers this spring," said Duncan. "I think [manager Tony La Russa] gave me an opportunity in spring to face some guys. It's the way it goes." Duncan hit .170 against left-handers last season, but had .318 average with 20 home runs against right-handers. So Taguchi started in left instead of Duncan on Opening Night .
Source: St Louis Post-Dispatch

Mike Cameron - OF - Padres
Mike Cameron (strained hamstring) will start Tuesday's game in center field. Cameron missed the last six spring training games due to the sore hamstring. He has taken batting practice the past few days and should be safe to use in fantasy leagues.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

Freddy Sanchez - 3B - Pirates
Freddy Sanchez (sprained MCL) is playing in extended spring training games and expects to play for Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. Sanchez is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on Saturday, but the Pirates could wait until after the weekend so he can get some at bats in Triple-A to get comfortable at the plate.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Freddy Garcia - SP - Phillies
Freddy Garcia (biceps tendinitis) said his bullpen session on Monday went very well. "I threw harder," Garcia said. "Today, I had life." He will make a rehab start in Clearwater on Thursday.
Source: Philadelphia Daily News

Luke Scott - OF - Astros
Manager Phil Garner says he plans to "semi-platoon" Luke Scott and Jason Lane in right field to begin the season. "I felt like Luke, based on what he did for the last part of the season and he had a very nice spring, he deserved to start the game," Garner said. "I will use a semi-platoon. I will play Jason Lane against left-handers a lot of times." Scott started Monday's opener against lefty Zach Duke.
Source: Houston Chronicle

Eric Milton - SP - Reds
Eric Milton (stiff back) played long-toss in the outfield prior to Monday's game. Milton, who is eligible to come off the disabled list on Saturday, will test his back during a simulated game on Wednesday.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer

Wade Miller - SP - Cubs
Wade Miller will throw a simulated game on Tuesday to prepare for his start on Sunday. Miller had a 3.63 ERA during spring training. He will get at least three or four starts to prove he belongs in the rotation. If he struggles the Cubs could potentially replace him in the rotation with Mark Prior.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Mark Prior - SP - Cubs
Mark Prior will remain at extended spring training until he is able to get his pitch count high enough to start for Triple-A Iowa. "I want to make sure he's up to at least five innings," said farm director Oneri Fleita. "We just want to make sure he's ready to go, 100 percent. If it's one start or two starts, it doesn't matter." Prior was expected to throw a bullpen session Monday afternoon.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Ted Lilly - SP - Cubs
Ted Lilly has been sick with the flu since Sunday, but he doesn't think it will cause him to miss Wednesday's scheduled start. "I feel a lot better," Lilly said on Monday. "I'm a little more gung-ho. I've been looking forward to this opportunity for a while. Especially coming off a loss on Opening Day, there will be a little more emphasis."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Lance Cormier - RP - Braves
Lance Cormier (shoulder) will test his injured shoulder during a bullpen session on Tuesday. If Cormier is pain-free during the session he will start Sunday against the Mets. Kyle Davies will take the April 8 start if Cormier still feels any tightness in his shoulder.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Eric Byrnes - OF - Diamondbacks
Eric Byrnes was nearly removed from Monday's game because of an ankle injury sustained in the fourth inning. "I thought I was going to have to take him out of there because he really rolled that ankle, but he was saying `There's no way I'm coming out of this game,"' manager Bob Melvin recounted. "He's a tough guy and to see him hobbling around like that I was sure I'd have to take him out, but he stayed in the game and played a phenomenal game on top of that." Byrnes should be in Tuesday's lineup, but if not, this is probably going to be reason.

Matt Kemp - OF - Dodgers
Matt Kemp will get a start against left-hander Chris Capuano on Tuesday, manager Grady Little said. Little isn't committing to a platoon, but Kemp wouldn't be on the roster unless the Dodgers planned to get him into the lineup against lefties. Unfortuantely, it's likely that most of his at-bats will come at the expense of Andre Ethier, rather than Luis Gonzalez. Despite the difference in ballparks, Ethier had more than 100 points of OPS on Gonzalez against lefties last season. Ethier is also the better defender, as has already been made obvious in Monday's game.

Rich Hill - SP - Cubs
Rich Hill had his throwing session cut short Sunday by the blister on the middle finger of his left hand. "It'll be all right," Hill said. "It happened twice last year." Hill remains scheduled to start Friday.
Source: Cubs.mlb.com

Josh Hamilton - OF - Reds
Josh Hamilton is likely to make his first major league start Thursday against the Jason Marquis. A nice matchup to break him in with. Since it's a day game after a night game, either Ken Griffey Jr. or Ryan Freel could get the day off.
Source: Cincinnati Post

David Weathers - RP - Reds
Asked who would close Monday if the Reds had a one-run lead going into the ninth, manager Jerry Narron replied with David Weathers' name. Interestingly, he said Jon Coutlangus could start the ninth if a left-hander was up. Mike Stanton is supposed to be the top lefty in the Cincinnati pen, but Coutlangus, a rookie, was more impressive this spring.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer