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

Cubs RP Jon Lieber (2-1) got the 7-3 decision by pitching 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings Thursday against the Pirates after starter Rich Hill needed 72 pitches to get through three innings. Lieber allowed five hits, zero walks and struck out one. Lieber has wins in his last two relief outings and pitched 7 1/3 scoreless relief innings during the three-game series against Pittsburgh.Lieber remains a solid Fantasy middle reliever, who could get a spot start at times. (CBS Sports)

Cubs manager Lou Piniella hinted that he could take Rich Hill out of the rotation until he works out his control issues. “I’m going to sit down and talk to our pitching coach about that. I want what’s best for Hill. We’ve got to get him straightened out. That’s the important thing,” Piniella said. Hill could trade places with Jon Lieber, who bailed him out after his second poor start of the season on Thursday. Lieber pitched 4.1 scoreless innings Thursday for his second win of the season. He struck out one and didn’t walk a batter. Lieber, who hasn’t been scored upon yet this season, has taken well to his long relief role. If Jason Marquis (flu) can’t go on Sunday, then Sean Marshall would likely get the nod instead, especially after Lieber’s four-plus inning outing Thursday. At this point, it’s unclear whether Lieber is next in line to join the rotation or whether the Cubs are content to keep him in the pen. One reason to think that Lieber would get the call if the Cubs needed a permanent replacement in the rotation is that Marshall’s the only lefty in the pen, while the Cubs already have two left-handed starters (Ted Lilly, Rich Hill). (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

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