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

Giants designated outfielder Rajai Davis for assignment. Manny Burriss will officially be called up on Sunday to replace him. Now the Giants are going to be wasting 40-man roster spots on both Brian Bocock and Burriss long before they had to. Both were 2006 draft picks, and neither has hit at all in the minors. That was the part of the move we had the bigger problem with. Davis should prove to be a long-term fifth outfielder, but if there’s one thing the Giants are loaded with, it’s fifth outfielders. As a career .252/.335/.338 hitter with 27 steals in 222 at-bats, he’s a definite candidate to be snatched up on waivers. The Marlins, Padres, Orioles and White Sox are a few teams that figure to consider him. It’s incredible what Brian Sabean is being allowed to get away with while running the once-proud franchise. Burriss presumably will split time at shortstop until Omar Vizquel returns. When Dave Roberts (knee) was placed on the disabled list, it meant Davis was to get more starts for the Giants. He played Friday and Saturday against the Cardinals, but was hitting just .056 with four stolen bases. It’s time to cut bait with him in Fantasy play. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports, Rotowire)

Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon pitched the ninth inning of a win Saturday against the Padres, but after Arizona scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth, he didn’t need to. He allowed neither a hit nor a run. Lyon had some rough moments this season, including a walkoff three-run homer to Edwin Encarnacion, and that accounts for his 5.14 ERA. However, he has improved recently and is still the closer in Arizona. Treat him as a No. 2 Fantasy RP with his team going so well. (CBS Sports)

Mets SS Jose Reyes, who began the season cold but has started to come around lately, had another huge game Saturday at Philadelphia. He went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer — his second in four games. He also stole a base for the third time this season. He finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Analysis: Reyes hit his head on Chase Utley’s knee Friday and has dealt with a hamstring injury early this season, but neither injury appeared to affect him Saturday. He’s hitting .435 (10-for-23) with two home runs and two stolen bases over his last five games and is performing like a Fantasy first-rounder again. He might not steal the 78 bases he did last year, but he’s still a must-start in all leagues. (CBS Sports)

Chuck James tossed five innings of one-run ball to beat the Dodgers in his spot start Saturday. An Andruw Jones homer was the only damage. James experienced tightening in his left forearm in Saturday’s start against the Dodgers, which is why manager Bobby Cox said he didn’t take a chance with having James pitch more than five innings. Both Cox and James say it’s nothing serious, but the same thing bothered James at various points last season. James figures to get one more start next week before Tom Glavine comes off the DL, and if he also pitches well then, it’s likely that he’ll stay in the rotation until Mike Hampton returns, which could happen in early May or sometime in the year 3,000. He’s not yet a safe play in NL-only leagues. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Andruw Jones hit his first homer of the year and walked twice Saturday in his second game back in Atlanta. Jones has four extra-base hits during his current five-game hitting streak. He’s still at just .182 for the year, but it’s a start. (Rotoworld)

Jason Marquis picked up his first win of the season Saturday in a six inning, one run performance that defeated the Pirates. Marquis struck out seven and is now 1-0. His ERA sits at 3.86. Marquis was 12-9 last season with a 4.60 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 191 2/3 innings. Fantasy owners should expect more of the same from him this season, making him a useful starter on weeks when he faces very favorable matchups or two starts. He’ll be pitching at hitter-friendly Coors Field in Colorado on Thursday. So consider reserving him in most formats. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Giants closer Brian Wilson allowed just a hit while pitching the ninth inning Saturday at St. Louis for his fifth save of the season. Wilson has saves in back-to-back games, which means he could be rested on Sunday even if the team does have a save situation. He had some struggles in a few of his early outings this season is why he has an inflated 3.68 ERA. However, he has looked more like a reliable closer in his last few outings and Fantasy owners can breath a little easier. He remains a No. 3 Fantasy closer in mixed leagues at this time. (CBS Sports)

Tim Lincecum shut out the Cardinals for seven innings Saturday and picked up the win in a 3-0 Giants victory. Jack Taschner and Tyler Walker contributed on a scoreless eighth inning, and closer Brian Wilson got the save in the ninth. Lincecum allowed six hits — all singles — and struck out five. He moves to 3-0 and has a 1.57 ERA. “You kind of get lucky from time to time against certain teams,” Lincecum said. “Those guys were swinging early, so I had to try to take advantage of it.” Last Sunday, Lincecum struck out 11 in six innings to beat the Cardinals. Unfortunately for Fantasy owners, the two teams won’t play again this season after Sunday’s game. Just the same, Fantasy owners will want to have the undefeated young pitcher in their lineups for his next start at San Diego in most formats. He’s quickly becoming a Fantasy ace. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Cubs recalled outfielder Matt Murton from Triple-A Iowa. Murton is worthy of a roster spot anyway, and he certainly should have been recalled the day Alfonso Soriano landed on the disabled list. The Cubs are making the switch now apparently because they weren’t satisfied with what Mike Fontenot was giving them at second base. Murton will share time in left with Mark DeRosa and should have a little short-term value. Fontenot figures to see less action at second base. (Rotoworld)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif   Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ----- ------
 1   Goodfellas          33.0    40.0     73.0  1.5   0.0
 2   Shoeless Jews       44.0    27.5     71.5  6.0   1.5
 3   The Pi Train        30.5    37.5     68.0  2.0   5.0
 4   X-Men               20.0    36.0     56.0  -4.0  17.0
 5   Atomic Roadrunners  22.0    32.0     54.0  5.5   19.0
 6   Get Off Kong!       29.5    23.5     53.0  9.0   20.0
 7   Misogynistic Padres 34.0    18.0     52.0  -1.0  21.0
 8   Uncle Lester        12.0    34.5     46.5  -4.5  26.5
 9   Stanimals           30.0    16.0     46.0  -0.5  27.0
 10  Cover Zero          20.0    10.0     30.0  -14.0 43.0  

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/19/08)
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Barton, Brian OF STL      1.0000  0 0   0    0
Bowker, John OF SF        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Dewitt, Blake 3B LA       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL    0.3333  0 2   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL     0.2500  1 2   1    0
Jones, Andruw CF LA       1.0000  1 1   1    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL     0.3333  0 1   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.0000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.5000  1 2   2    1
Ruiz, Carlos C PHI        1.0000  0 0   1    0
Spilborghs, Ryan CF COL   0.2000  0 0   1    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL     0.5000  0 1   2    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC      0.5000  0 3   0    0
Valentin, Javier C CIN    0.0000  0 0   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/19/08)
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Lincecum, Tim SP SF         0.00  5 0   1 1.29
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI        0.00  0 0   0 0.00
Wilson, Brian RP SF         0.00  0 1   0 1.00