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)

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