The Week Ahead: The Strasburg era begins - MLB

Finally, it’s Stephen Strasburg time.

On Tuesday, the man with the million-dollar arm (or $50 million, if
Scott Boras gets his way) will be the first player selected in the
First-Year Player Draft.

After months of hype and wonder over Strasburg, he of the 100-mph
fastball and ridiculous control, he’ll finally be a pro. Well not
exactly. He’ll have to sign first, and don’t expect that to happen
quickly. But you get the point.

The MLB draft obviously doesn’t compare to the NFL or the NBA when
it comes to hype and excitement, but the presence of Strasburg, the
greatest pitching prospect since — well maybe, ever? – should make Tuesday fun.

After the Nats make him the top pick, things will get a little more
complicated, as teams stock up on more mortal talents like Dustin
Ackley and Aaron Crow.

You can see a nice mock draft here, and a good list of the top 33 prospects here.

There’s yet another list here.

On Tuesday, return to Circling the Bases for a recap of the draft. You’ll be able to find bios of the top players on Rotoworld.com.

Now, on to a great week of baseball action …

FIVE SERIES TO WATCH

Yankees at Red Sox, June 9-11: They’re the top two teams in
the AL East, fierce rivals, and longtime antagonists. Their fans hate
each other even more than the players do. What’s not to like?

Phillies at Mets, June 9-11:
These two teams have been trying to create their own version of Red
Sox-Yankees. And while it hasn’t reached that level, it still makes for
some entertaining baseball. It helps, too, that they’re No. 1 and 2 in
the NL East.

Mets at Yankees, June 12-14: In the latest version of the Subway Series, these two teams bring their rivalry to the new Yankee Stadium for the first time.

Red Sox at Phillies, June 12-14:
Could this be a preview of the World Series? Way too early to say, of
course, but it’s an interesting idea to think about. Also gives Boston
a chance to rest Big Papi.

Dodgers at Rangers, June 12-14: Heck, maybe THIS matchup is a
World Series preview. The Dodgers are dominating the NL, and the
Rangers just keep on making fools out of everyone who expects them to
start losing.

ON THE TUBE

Monday, 7:05 p.m. ET: Rays at Yankees (ESPN)
Wednesday, 7:10 p.m.: Yankees at Red Sox (ESPN)
*Saturday, 4:10 p.m.: Cardinals at Indians (FOX)
*Saturday, 4:10 p.m.: White Sox at Brewers (FOX)
*Saturday, 4:10 p.m.: Mets at Yankees (FOX)
Sunday, 1 p.m.: Mets at Yankees (TBS)
Sunday, 8:05 p.m.: Cardinals at Indians (ESPN)

*Check local listings

And finally, for some fantasy tips for this week, click here.

The Yankees placed Nestor Cortes on the 15-day injured list with a left rotator cuff strain that will sideline the left-hander for at least two starts.

The move is retroactive to Monday and Cortes will be shut down for at least 15 days.

After Tuesday’s game, Cortes said the shoulder has been bothering him between starts and more so after he pitched five innings May 30 in Seattle.

“I took two days off and when I got to LA and threw that first day, I didn’t feel right,” Cortes said Tuesday. “But it was first day coming back from pitching so I knew it was going to be nagging a little bit. So I waited a little bit.

“That second day in LA was when I said something because it felt like I had pitched yesterday. So I wasn’t recovering in time.”

Cortes is 5-2 with a 5.16 ERA in 11 starts and has particularly struggled later in outings. Opponents are hitting .447 when facing him for the third time in a game.

Last year, Cortes was an All-Star and went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 28 starts.

Randy Vásquez was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to take Cortes’ spot in the rotation and will make his second career start in Thursday’s doubleheader. Vásquez made his major league debut May 26 against San Diego when the Yankees needed a starter because Domingo Germán was serving a 10-game suspension for using sticky substances.