Whether its the All-Star break hangover, his arm getting tired, N.L. hitter's figuring him out, or a combination of all the above, you can not deny the fact that Reds' RHP Edinson Volquez is in a slump. Volquez (13-5) got roughed up again on Tuesday night and has now lost twice in his last three starts after losing just three times in his first 20 starts. He has allowed four or more runs in three of his last four outings.

The nine hits allowed were Tuesday were a season high, and Volquez managed just two strikeouts in the game. Certainly, his lackluster play lately gives cause for concern. He was 10-2 with a 1.91 ERA after defeating the Yankees on June 20; since that point he has gone 3-3 with a 5.65 ERA in eight starts. The league seems to be adjusting to him, and now it's Volquez's job to make some adjustments of his own.

The way I see it, struggles can be expected. I just don't want Volquez' magical season to end in disappointment. There's no doubt control has been a problem at times. The Rangers knew it, the Reds know it and even when he was mowing down hitters in the season's first three months, Volquez was walking batters at an alarming rate. The biggest difference over the past 10 starts or so though is the strikeout totals.

During his last 9 starts, Volquez has watched his ERA go from 1.71 to 2.93, his win-loss record has gone from 10-2 to 13-5. His walks haven't been terrible (19 BB in 9 starts), but the strikeouts have not been there. He hasn't pitched his way out of jams like he did earlier in the year. Only once in that span did he have 10+ strikeouts, three times he struck out 5 batters, and he had five starts where he struck out three or less batters. He went from leading the NL in strikeouts being sixth. 

Fantasy owners that waited all year for Yankees' young sensation Joba Chamberlain to get into the rotation and become the man have now had their bubble bursted as the right hander is headed to the disable list due to rotator cuff tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. He is the fifth Yankees' starter to hit the DL this season.

Best case scenario is that the 23-year old will be in action in two weeks, but it could be much longer than that.  Chamberlain was diagnosed after visiting Dr.James AndrewsWednesday in Pensacola, Fla. The trip followed two exams by doctors in New York and an MRI Tuesday in New York.

Chamberlain will rest his arm for "approximately a week," then begin a throwing program "shortly thereafter," according to Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo. Assuming Chamberlain begins throwing in a week, the earliest he would likely return to the rotation would be the weekend series in Baltimore Aug. 22-24, meaning he will miss a minimum of three starts in the best-case scenario.

"You can't sit here and hang your head about it," Derek Jeter told the New York Daily News. "Hopefully it's not something that goes for an extended period of time, but we have to play well whether he's pitching or he's not pitching."

Ian Kennedy is likely to get called up this weekend and fill the void in the Yankees' rotation.  Kennedy has been pitching well at Triple-A, going 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in his last four starts for Scranton.

With only four to six weeks left in most fantasy baseball leagues' regular season, Chamberlain's injury is bad news for owners that in the hunt for their playoffs. 

The Packers traded Brett Favre to the New York Jets, ending his storied career with the Packers. All things considered, this is as good of a resolution as the Packers could've hoped for. He's not in their division, he's not even in the NFC. In fact, the Packers don't play the Jets for two years, so they'll likely never have to see or face Brett Favre on an opposing team.

By acquiring Favre, terms of the deal aren't known yet but are thought to be one single draft pick that will be determined by how well the Jets do, New York will cut Chad Pennington and move Kellen Clemens to backup. This is an immediately better team with Favre on it. The Jets had made some moves in the offseason to improve themselves and this might make them a Wild Card team, when before they weren't.

From a fantasy perspective this really improves Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery (especially Cotchery). Cotchery could be Favre's Greg Jennings this time around and Coles could be his Donald Driver. This also has to improve Thomas Jones' value because now the passing game is relevant.

For anyone decrying what a jerk Favre was for coming out of retirement and doing this to the Packers, I'd say calm down. Things are fine in Wisconsin. Green Bay can still be a playoff-caliber team without Favre. I thought and hoped Favre would stay retired, but part of me is glad to be able  to see one of the most exciting QBs of my generation back under center. And this resolution at least doesn't really tarnish Favre's legacy in the  least. It was like Joe Montana going to the Chiefs. One last swan song, but his days on the Frozen Tundra will always be what he's remembered for.