Atomic RoadRunners | Andrew Flynn’s High-Energy Fantasy Baseball

Carlos Villanueva held the Reds hitless into the fifth inning in his latest start Thursday afternoon against Cincinnati, when he gave up a single to Scott Hatteberg and an RBI double by Paul Bako. Villanueva lasted six innings, gave up seven hits, four runs, three walks and struck out four. He took his first loss of the season as he was out-dueled by Aaron Harang. Villanueva tied a career high with six strikeouts in his first start of the season and looked decent in his second start despite the loss. It didn’t help that Harang went eight innings and allowed just one run in the game. The Brewers look like a contender very early on this season and that makes Villanueva worth a flier even in mixed leagues while he can hold a rotation spot. His next start is slated for April 16 at St. Louis. (CBS Sports)

Memo to Ned Yost: your owner and GM spent a bunch of money to bring in four new relievers in the offseason and there’s currently five guys in the Milwaukee pen capable of going multiple innings. So why do the non-Ben Sheets starting pitchers keep getting chances to blow games? Villanueva was fine through six today, so maybe he deserved a chance to start the seventh. However, it shouldn’t have taken five straight hits — the second a homer — to finally get him replaced. Yost has done nice things with the lineup this year, and it’s encouraging that he’s realized Derrick Turnbow shouldn’t be the No. 2 man in the pen. Still, he’s failing miserably at knowing when to make that first pitching change. (Rotoworld)

Pirates OF Steve Pearce hasn’t homered through eight games with Triple-A Indianapolis. The slugging outfielder is hitting just .206 (7-for-34) with zero runs, three doubles and four RBI. Pearce had quite a spring at the dish, but since Adam LaRoche is manning first base, the team opted to shift Pearce to right field. However, the move came to late and Pearce needed more time in the minors to work on his fielding. But since Xavier Nady is off to a nice start and doesn’t appear on the trade market at this time, Pearce will remain in the minors until an injury befalls a starter. He remains just a NL-only and long-term keeper stashee. (CBS Sports)

Cubs manager Lou Piniella will start RHP Jason Marquis over LHP Rich Hill against the Pirates on Thursday. The Pirates have hit .311 against lefties this season, and Marquis threw 17 innings of one-run ball against them early last season. He’s struggled in his two starts against them since then, but it’s tough to argue with Lou on this one. (Rotoworld)

Update: Rich Hill will start Thursday’s game against the Pirates after all. The Cubs were going to move Jason Marquis ahead of him in the rotation because of the Pirates’ success against left-handers, but since Marquis is a bit under the weather, he’ll start Friday as originally planned. (Rotoworld)

Update II: Jason Marquis has been scratched from his scheduled start Friday because of an illness. The original plan was for Marquis to go tonight, but the Cubs had announced earlier that Rich Hill would start. Now they’ll also go to Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly on regular rest Friday and Saturday. Marquis could pitch Sunday if he’s feeling better. (Rotoworld)

Ryan Theriot didn’t start Wednesday, but he ended up going 1-for-4 in the 15-inning game. Theriot also came off the bench and played a couple of innings Monday. He’s bothered by a sore wrist, but it seems like he should be starting anyway. (Rotoworld)

Update: Ryan Theriot is back in the starting lineup for the first time since Sunday. Theriot, bothered by a sore wrist, was limited to bench appearances the last two games. He’s batting seventh rather than his usual second tonight. Mike Fontenot, who is starting in place of Mark DeRosa, is hitting behind Alfonso Soriano. (Rotoworld)

Chuck James, activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day, took the loss after allowing six earned run in just three innings of work against the Rockies on Wednesday. James finished with five strikeouts, but he was undone by a third inning that included two hit batters, a triple, a home run and his lone walk of the evening. It was James’ first start since coming off the disabled list, and he saw limited work this spring. He might need a couple games to really stretch out. He faces the Marlins next. Whether the problem in James’ shoulder is an impingement or partially torn rotator, he should not be in your lineup until he proves he is ok to pitch. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

“Command was my problem. I was all over the place,” said James, who acknowledged he was rusty. “I couldn’t throw a strike. I fell behind everybody and wasn’t under control.” James did only walk one batter and struck out five, but allowed a three-run homer to Yorvit Torrealba. James has won 11 games the last two seasons and opted to go against shoulder surgery. When healthy, James is more of a NL-only and low-end mixed league Fantasy flier. He might get two starts in Fantasy Week 3 (April 14-20) if he goes first on Tuesday against the Marlins. However, you shouldn’t reach for him in that period just because he might get an extra start. (CBS Sports)

Update: The Braves are sending Chuck James down to Triple-A after his poor start Wednesday. James never made an appearance in the minors before coming off the disabled list and starting last night. He clearly needs the innings, and now the Braves are going to make sure he gets them. Jo-Jo Reyes could be called up to start next week. In the meantime, Jorge Campillo will be added to help the pen.  James said he needed to improve his command by throwing innings either on the side (in the bullpen) or in the minors. He made Wednesday’s start after coming off the 15-day disabled list for a shoulder injury. He’ll be back later this season, which makes him an NL-only option to reserve. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Ryan Spilborghs finished 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and five RBI as the Rockies beat the Braves on Wednesday night. Spilborghs also scored three runs. Willie Taveras certainly took notice of the potential threat’s strong effort, finishing 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. Yorvit Torrealba also contributed for the Rockies, driving in four runs in a 3-for-4 effort that also included a three-run home run. With Atlanta’s Chuck James coming from the left side, Spilborghs got the start in right field in place of Brad Hawpe. Last year Spilborghs hit .338/.395/.510 against lefties, so it was imperative to get him in the lineup on Wednesday. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Zach Duke pitched seven innings of one-run ball, but wasn’t involved in the decision against the Cubs on Wednesday night. He scattered eight hits while striking out six and just one walk, but the Pirates couldn’t muster enough offense to get him the win. Four of his Ks came on fastballs, a good sign. Of some concern is that the 24-year-old Duke was left in for 116 pitches for the second game in a row. Apparently whatever new NL Central manager Dusty Baker had is contagious. (Rotoworld)

Duke had just one strikeout in his other outing of the season and he posted just 117 in his only 200-plus inning season. So don’t think you’ll be getting five-plus K’s from him on a regular basis. That doesn’t mean he’s not a good Fantasy pitcher, though, as he did post a 1.81 ERA in 84 2/3 innings as a rookie in 2005. The troubling trend so far with him early on this season is that he’s allowed 18 hits already in 12 2/3 innings. He’s worth owning in most NL-only formats — especially in Week 3, when he’ll be slated for two starts. (CBS Sports)

Update: Catcher Ryan Doumit had nothing but praise for Duke’s outing on Wednesday that included one walk and six Ks in seven innings. “That is the best I’ve seen his stuff since I caught him in 2005,” Doumit told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Anyone who watched Duke struggle the last two seasons should rightly feel wary about picking him up. If nothing else, we’ll continue to track Duke’s progress for you. Batters are still hitting a whopping .340 against the left-hander in 2008 despite a 2.13 ERA in 12.2 innings. (Rotowire)

Brandon Lyon pitched a perfect ninth in a one-run game to earn his second save Wednesday versus the Dodgers. Lyon, who has blown two save chances already, retired Blake DeWitt, pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney and Andruw Jones on a strikeout to end it. He needs a clean couple of weeks to regain some job security. Manager Bob Melvin came out on Tuesday and said he still had confidence in Lyon, and the closer took advantage of a great chance Wednesday to prove his manager right. Continue to think of him as a low-end No. 2 closer for now until he can get a little more consistent. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Moylan could be used in save situations for the Braves after closer Rafael Soriano (elbow) was placed on the disabled list on Wednesday, the Braves’ official website reports. When asked, manager Bobby Cox didn’t specify who he’d use as his temporary closer, but either Moylan and Manny Acosta could be used in that role. It’s a toss-up as to who will be the top option, so check the box score on Thursday to see who gets the save opportunity if the Braves are in that situation. (Rotowire)

Braves manager Bobby Cox is reluctant to name a replacement. He said he’d “play it by ear,” citing no reason to put any added pressure on one pitcher. However, it is believed the top contenders to fill in for Soriano are Peter Moylan and Manny Acosta. Both have excelled in relief roles with 2.23 and 2.28 respective career ERAs. “It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth inning,” Moylan said of a potential shift in his bullpen role. “I’m still going to do what I do. I’m trying to get guys out. It’s exactly the same. It doesn’t matter if we’re up by 10 or up by one or down by one.”

The Braves would be foolish to pass on Moylan at closer because he has done so well in the majors. Last season, he posted a 5-3 record and 1.80 ERA in 80 appearances. So far in 2008, he is 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA in six outings. If you had to take a flier on one of the Braves pitchers, Moylan would be the better pick. (CBS Sports)

Mark Teixeira is hitting a lowly .167 after picking up a single, going 1-for-4 on Wednesday against the Rockies. Teixeira struggled somewhat during spring training and those struggles seem to be following him out of the gate here in 2008. He’s struggled during the first half the last two years as well. The good thing here is that he is bound to get better, as he’s done the last two years. (Rotowire)

Chipper Jones went 2-for-5 against the Rockies on Wednesday night to raise his average to .385. Jones has only two extra-base hits in his 39 at-bats this season. Don’t panic about the lack of extra-base hits - they’ll start coming soon enough. (Rotowire)

CF Shane Victorino was sprinting to catch David Wright’s fly ball to the gap in the fourth inning Tuesday when he smashed into 6-foot-5 RF Jayson Werth, who couldn’t stop himself before the collision. Victorino, 5-foot-8, held the ball but lost his breath and stayed on the ground as Werth summoned the trainers. “I said to Jayson, ‘I have a (neck) stinger,’” said Victorino, who stayed in the game. “If I relaxed, it would come back. He was worried when I said I hurt my neck. I was fine once I caught my breath. When you’re 6-5 and 5-8, you know who wins that battle. “The Flyin’ Hawaiian is solid start in all Rotisserie leagues at this point. His presence in an awesome lineup and a great home hitter’s park makes him a sleeper in Head-to-Head leagues when he is going well, too. (CBS Sports)

CF Andruw Jones went hitless in three at-bats Tuesday, dropping his average to .103. He is hitless in his past 15 at-bats with seven strikeouts, and he has three hits in 29 at-bats for the season. Jones took early batting practice before the game, but then received permission from manager Joe Torre to skip regular batting practice. The fact Jones reported to camp heavier than ever is a serious concern for a player who is performing much older than his reported age the past few years. Consider him a candidate for a comeback, but he is far less of a must-start Fantasy option at this point. Bench him for almost anyone at this point.

1B Prince Fielder’s six-game hitting streak ended Tuesday, but he made two diving catches to rob Adam Dunn of hits in the Brewers’ 3-2 victory over Cincinnati. Fielder, despite the question marks around his lack of power amid his new veggie diet, remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues through thick and thin. Keep him active in all formats. (CBS Sports)

Prince Fielder hasn’t hit a home run yet this season through 29 at-bats. “It’s God-awful,” Fielder said after Thursday’s game against Cincinnati. “Being in the middle of the lineup, I have to do a little better. I’ll just keep going out there swinging hard.” Fielder didn’t shown much of a power swing this spring and there have been some inferences made that it has something to do with his new all-vegetable diet. There is no real scientific basis for that kind of generalization and we still expect a 40-plus home run season for Prince. (CBS Sports)

The DL stint by Dave Roberts (knee) means Rajai Davis should get more starts for the Giants. Davis was a great Rotisserie sleeper down the stretch and is a base-stealer for all those formats where you need that stat. Consider picking him up in NL-only formats at this point, but he might even get enough at-bats and steals to impact mixed Rotisserie leagues now. The downside, of course, is he does do much at the plate.