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

Braves RP Manny Acosta, acting as closer with both Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan disabled, pitched the ninth inning for the fourth time in five games Monday against the Nationals. He has only one save over that stretch, though, because the Braves keep winning by too many runs. He recorded one strikeout and allowed one hit in his one inning of work. Soriano might return within the next week, but Acosta looks like a nice stopgap option until that day arrives, particularly in NL-only leagues.

The Mets stayed close Thursday behind hometown pitcher, Brooklyn-born Nelson Figueroa. The journeyman right-hander struck out seven in seven innings, allowing two runs and three hits. He left with a 2-1 deficit, but it was erased in the eighth inning. Figueroa, who grew up a Mets fan, earned his first major league win since 2003 last Friday when he beat Milwaukee in a home start. Figueroa has now looked sharp in two starts with the Mets and this is what New York is hoping for — a guy that can be a band-aid until Orlando Hernandez or Pedro Martinez returns from the DL. Figueroa remains just a NL-only Fantasy option at this time. His next scheduled start is for Tuesday against the Cubs. He is on track for two starts Fantasy Week 4 (April 21-27) with his second coming against Atlanta.

Gregor Blanco started in center field and went 2-for-3 with a walk in Monday’s win over Washington. Blanco got the start against a left-handed pitcher even though he’s worked his way into a platoon in left field with right-handed hitting Matt Diaz. Blanco’s hot bat is going to keep him in the lineup when another outfielder, such as Mark Kotsay on Monday, needs a day off. (Rotowire)

Gregor Blanco becomes the first Atomic Roadrunner this season to re-join the team following his release. Blanco has worked his way into a LF platoon with Matt Diaz, something that hadn’t happened when he was released last week.

The San Francisco Giants designated outfielder Rajai Davis for assignment on Sunday, the team announced following their 3-0 win over St. Louis. “We’ll see in the next few days what transpires,” Davis said. To replace Davis on the roster, San Francisco will purchase the contract of infielder Emmanuel Burriss from Fresno. 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.

Entering Sunday’s game, the Cubs bullpen has a 2.57 ERA and Jon Lieber — a former starter — has contributed to the success. “The biggest thing was him accepting it,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “He’d been through it last year a little bit. Jon is a guy who learns quickly, and I think he learned from that experience. He likes being here and I think that helps him. Before this year is over, I think he’ll be starting at some point.” Manager Lou Piniella also hinted that Lieber might get a start. “We have (Sean) Marshall and Lieber who deserve an opportunity,” Piniella said. “I’m not talking about now, I’m talking down the road a little bit.” The Cubs intend to use Lieber as their long reliever, and haven’t been hesitant to do so thus far. If a starter in in trouble, they know Lieber, who has years of starting experience, will be ready. Lieber remains a solid Fantasy middle reliever, who could get a spot start at times.

Braves RP Peter Moylan may still need reconstructive elbow surgery, but he was feeling a little better after three hours of stretching and exercising before Friday’s game against the Dodgers. The Braves say he’ll need season-ending surgery if the rehab doesn’t work. “If you had asked me yesterday, I would have said no chance,” Moylan said. “But having treatment today and feeling how it feels now, there’s a chance. There’s at least a chance. If there wasn’t, I’d say, ‘Go ahead and have surgery.” The right-hander apparently has a bone spur imbedded in a ligament, which he said “feels like a spear in there.” The injury came when he had just started filling in as the closer for Rafael Soriano, who went on the disabled list with a tender elbow. “It crushed me,” Moylan said. “I was so amped up, so ready to pitch, I guess I was too amped up. I was throwing harder than I’ve thrown all year. The crazy thing was, I was hitting my spots better than I have all year, too. It was the best I’ve thrown in I can’t remember how long.” Moylan is usually just a setup man, limiting his Fantasy appeal mostly to NL-only leagues. At this point, Tommy John surgery seems more likely than not, but keep him stashed if you can.

FAAB Acquisitions:

• P Nelson Figueroa, Mets ($2 bid) [active]
• P Manny Acosta, Braves ($1 bid) [active]
• OF Gregor Blanco, Braves ($0 bid) [active]

Up:

• OF Matt Murton, Cubs
• C Chris Iannetta, Rockies

Down:

• OF Brian Barton, Cardinals
• OF Andruw Jones, Dodgers
• C Javier Valentin, Reds

Cut:

• P Peter Moylan, Braves
• P Jon Lieber, Cubs
• OF Rajai Davis, Giants

Note: Gregor Blanco becomes the first Atomic Roadrunner this season to re-join the team following his release. Blanco has worked his way into a LF platoon with Matt Diaz, something that hadn’t happened when he was released last week.

Victorino (calf) will make his first rehab appearance since being placed on the DL when he plays for Single-A Clearwater on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. Victorino should be ready to come off of the DL when he is eligible on April 28, meaning his first game in Philadelphia’s lineup would be against San Diego on April 29. Jayson Werth has played very well at centerfield in Victorino’s place, so it will be interesting to see how manager Charlie Manuel handles this situation when Victorino comes back. While Victorino will likely re-claim the bulk of the time in centerfield, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him replaced by Werth one or two days a week. (Rotowire)

Ryan Theriot (back spasms) was scratched from Monday’s starting lineup due to lower back pain, but was available had the Cubs needed him. “He’s fine… His back locked up on him a little bit. He was available if we needed him, but that was it,” manager Lou Piniella said. As hot as he is, this qualifies as really bad timing. Ronny Cedeno replaced him at shortstop, and Mike Fontenot moved into the second spot in the order. (Rotoworld)

Carlos Villanueva allowed two runs in seven innings against the Cardinals on Monday, but didn’t factor into the decision. Villanueva allowed just three hits, but he only struck out one and allowed four walks. Still, all his walks were granted to the heart of the St. Louis lineup, and it could be argued they were strategic. With the strong effort from Villanueva, Dave Bush and Manny Parra will have a lot of pressure on them in their starts over the next two days. One of the three will be pulled from the rotation if Ben Sheets avoids the disabled list. For now, he is scheduled to make a second start Fantasy Week 4 (April 21-27) coming Saturday against the Marlins. Villanueva remains a NL-only and larger mixed league Fantasy flier. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

John Maine allowed just two runs in six innings, but took the loss against the Cubs on Monday night. Maine allowed five hits and walked two, but had six strikeouts in his most effective performance to date. He left with the Mets down by one, but a Jose Reyes error led to a four run outburst off Aaron Heilman, ultimately putting the game away. Maine has allowed two or fewer earned runs in his last three starts, but has just one win to show for it. Talk about lack of run support. Maine still remains a No. 3 Fantasy SP in mixed leagues as his strong pitching efforts continue. He is scheduled to start Saturday against the Braves, a team he lost to April 5 after allowing four runs and eight hits in four innings. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Andruw Jones has been dropped into the eighth spot in the starting lineup for the first time since Aug. 22, 1998 for Monday’s game against the Reds. Yeah, because what he really needs to see now is more sliders low and away. Even if he is the Dodgers’ eighth-best hitter right now, this isn’t the way to handle him. He went 0-for-4, lowering the five-time All-Star’s average to .159. Jones is a candidate to buy low at this point, but don’t trade for him. He will be cut in many leagues if this keeps up. Also, if you are in a league without reserves, it will be dangerous to have him active right. Jones got paid, and reported to camp in the worst shape of his career, so it is conceivable he is finished being a reliable Fantasy option. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Chris Iannetta has started only six of Colorado’s first 19 contests. He is hitting .348 with four RBI. Starter Yorvit Torrealba has not fared as well at the plate, but he still appears to have a significant grasp on the starting job. While that could change, it doesn’t seem imminent. (Rotowire)

Chipper Jones (quadriceps) was in the Braves’ starting lineup on Monday night. Jones left Sunday’s game after aggravating the strained quadriceps that’s been bothering him since spring training, but put the Braves ahead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly. Jones also extended his hitting streak to 13 games, going 1-for-3 with a walk. “I feel like I can go out there and temper it as much as possible,” Jones said. “But if it starts barking during the game and there’s a situation where I’m on second and my run means the game, then I’ve got to be smart enough to send someone else out there who can score.”. Great news for Jones owners that the injury won’t force the veteran third baseman to miss any time, for now at least. Jones is slated to bat third Monday against the Nats. Hopefully the injury won’t linger or slow Jones down too much, as he’s off to a blistering start, hitting .458 with six homers and 18 RBI.

Jones is apparently going to keep playing through the pain, and he went the full nine innings Monday. “We’ll just take it game by game,” Jones said. “I need to be in there as much as possible.” Manager Bobby Cox will rely on Jones to make the call on when he might need time off. “I had two lineups ready today he told me, ‘Choose the one with my name on it,”‘ Cox said. “He’s a veteran. He knows his body pretty well.”He’s on quite a tear, hitting .548 (17-for-31) with five home runs over his last eight games. When healthy, he’s one of the best third basemen in Fantasy, but you have to expect him to miss time to rest his quads at some point. (Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Phillies C Carlos Ruiz, riding the pine the last couple days as Chris Coste started instead, returned to the lineup Monday at Colorado. He ripped a two-run double in the eighth inning, finishing 1-for-4. He now has three hits in his last nine at-bats. Ruiz is hitting only .212 and looks like he’s in a pretty even split with Coste for the time being. Not like he had serious upside in the first place. You should probably leave him for NL-only leagues. (CBS Sports)

Dimaondbacks RP Brandon Lyon gave up a two-out single to Jose Castillo, but then struck out pinch-hitter Rich Aurilia for his fourth save in six tries during Monday’s 4-2 win against the Giants. Lyon has pitched five straight scoreless outings. Lyon has allowed just one earned run over his last seven innings and has worked his ERA down from 27.00 to 4.50. Perhaps he was made for the closer’s role after all. He is not yet in jeopardy of losing his ninth-inning job and Lyon can be treated as a No. 2 Fantasy closer. (CBS Sports)

Brewers OF Corey Hart had a RBI triple off Ryan Franklin in the eighth inning of Monday’s game against the Cardinals to tie the game at 3, but bad pitching by Derrick Turnbow in the ninth sent Milwaukee to a 4-3 loss. Hart has now hit safely in three of his last four games (3-for-15) with one homer and three RBI in that span. The Brewers continue to bounce Hart between the fifth and sixth spot in the lineup, but they should probably keep him sixth since he is hitting .314 in that role. He came into Monday’s game hitting just .133 in four games batting fifth. Whatever the case, Hart should continue to produce with everyday at-bats. He remains no worse than a No. 3 Fantasy OF in mixed leagues. (CBS Sports)

Chase Headley is hitting just .214 with one homer and just two RBI in his past 10 games for Triple-A Portland. Headley is batting .230 with one homer and four RBI in 15 games so far this season. He was originally sent down this spring to work on his defense, learning his new position in left field. He’s a former third baseman, but that spot is blocked by Kevin Kouzmanoff — and he’s not going anywhere. Don’t completely ignore him in Fantasy. Last year, Ryan J. Braun and Hunter Pence got sent down to the minors after great offensive springs, and we all know what happened to them.