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

Prince Fielder finished 2-for-4 with two home runs as the Brewers beat the Phillies 5-4 on Wednesday night. Fielder drove in four of Milwaukee’s five runs, and two of his three home runs this season have ended up winning games for the Brewers. Both of his shots tonight were blasts, and if there was any doubt that Fielder would come around, this should squash it. He did the damage against Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels, going deep in the first and eighth inning to snap a 14-game homerless drought. Fielder experienced a similar power outage early last season before hitting 44 homers after May 1, so don’t be too concerned about his slow start thus far. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

“I don’t try to hit for power. I just try to hit the ball hard,” Fielder said. “I am just trying to win the competition. He’s a good pitcher. It wasn’t about feeling good or feeling locked in.” Analysis: Fielder, the defending National League home run champion with 50 a year ago, went homerless in his first 14 games this season and hit just one in his first 68 at-bats before Wednesday. Last season, he had just two homers in his first 69 at-bats over 18 games. Fielder also homered in the first inning for his ninth career multi-homer game. Keep the hefty slugger active in all Fantasy formats. (CBS Sports)

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Mike Gonzalez is well ahead of schedule in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and hopes to return next month. Gonzalez threw 23 pitches during a two-inning simulated game on Tuesday. Gonzalez was initially expected to be sidelined through the All-Star break, but he’s avoided setbacks and might be able to make it back just 12 months after surgery. If healthy Gonzalez would replace Peter Moylan as the Braves’ primary setup man and could work his way into the mix for saves depending on Rafael Soriano’s health. (Rotoworld)

BP’s Will Carroll has an update in today’s Under The Knife:

We’ve heard this story before—a hard-throwing closer blows out his elbow, gets Tommy John surgery, then comes back early. This time, it’s Gonzalez who’s well ahead of schedule, not B.J. Ryan, throwing a simulated game and going two innings while showing solid velocity. Although he didn’t throw breaking balls, it was a big step forward. The Braves’ medical staff now believes that Gonzalez is ready for an imminent rehab assignment and could be back as soon as mid-May. The typical questions apply about his stamina, stuff, and his ability to recover for use in consecutive games, but the Braves are unusually excited about Gonzalez’s prospects to answer positively to all of them. With Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan both out, getting Gonzalez back early could be huge. Look for a rehab road map to be laid out next week, with the rehab assignment starting late next week.

Shane Victorino (calf) went 2-for-3 with a walk Wednesday in his first game for Single-A Clearwater. Victorino would already have been activated if eligible. Unfortunately, he’ll have to be held out of the Phillies’ lineup until Tuesday. (Rotoworld)

Reds 2B Brandon Phillips recorded two doubles Wednesday in a 9-3 loss to the Astros. He now has six on the season already, after only having 26 all of last season. Phillips is in a little bit of a slump lately, but has eight total bases over his last two games. He is still far too talented of a second baseman to slump for long, so keep him active in all Fantasy formats. (CBS Sports)

The Padres loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 10th inning Wednesday against Giants RP Brian Wilson before rookie Colt Morton hit a sacrifice fly for his first RBI. Trailing 3-2, Khalil Greene flied out to center and Josh Bard walked to load the bases again. Tadahito Iguchi grounded out to end the game. Wilson got his sixth save in seven chances. He allowed two hits, one run and two walks. Wilson had been doing well up until Wednesday with five straight scoreless outings. By no stretch of the imagination is Wilson a dominant closer. He makes things interesting more often than not and it could get him in trouble down the road. Heck, he might even lose his job. However, he is still the team’s closer at this time and a No. 3 Fantasy RP. Wilson gave up two hits and walked two more without striking anybody out. He now has a 5:5 K:BB ratio which is making not only his own manager nervous but fantasy ones as well. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

A good portion of the Mets’ early offensive struggles can be laid at the feet of Reyes’ poor start. Through 19 games last year, Reyes had a .329 batting average and .421 on-base percentage with 21 runs scored, 13 walks, and 12 steals in 14 attempts while the Mets’ record at the time was 13-6. This year, he is hitting just .280 with a .313 on-base percentage, which is worse than all but three other NL leadoff hitters, with only four walks while scoring 12 runs and stealing just three bases in five tries as the Mets were 10-9. Normally, this would not be that big of a concern, but since Reyes is coming off a poor second half and September collapse, some red flags have to be raised, especially by those who expended a high pick or big auction dollars in their drafts. (Rotowire)

Ryan Theriot (back) was back in action Wednesday, going 2-for-6 with a stolen base and an RBI. Theriot’s RBI single off Kip Wells with two outs in the 10th inning Wednesday night stood up in a 7-6 win. He finished the game 2-for-6 and extended his hitting streak to eight games. He is hitting .459 (17-for-37) with one homer, five RBI and seven multi-hit games in that span.That he stole a base obviously indicates that his back isn’t bothering much. Get him back into your lineup if you haven’t already. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Cardinals SP Todd Wellemeyer squandered away a 4-0 lead Wednesday against the Pirates and ended up with a no decision as Pittsburgh rallied for 7-4 win. Wellemeyer blanked the Pirates for three innings and the game was tied in the fifth after Jason Bay’s two-run homer. Wellemeyer was charged with seven hits, four runs and one walk in six innings. He struck out five. Wellemeyer has allowed four or more runs in just two of his five starts this season. He continues to be a surprise arm for the Cardinals, but could be out of a job later this season when some injured arms recover. For now, he is a decent option in larger mixed leagues. His next scheduled start is for Monday against the Reds. Wellemeyes is on track to be a two-start pitcher Fantasy Week 5 (April 28-May 4) with his second start coming against the Cubs. Wellemeyer has been solid early, but will probably struggle over the course of the season if he remains in a starting role, since he’s never pitched a lot of innings at any level. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Shoeless Jews       46.0    33.5     79.5  7.0  0.0
 2   The Pi Train        37.5    34.5     72.0  0.5  7.5
 3   X-Men               30.5    37.0     67.5  5.5  12.0
 4   Goodfellas          29.0    36.5     65.5  -7.0 14.0
 5   Misogynistic Padres 33.0    17.0     50.0  4.0  29.5
 6   Get Off Kong!       21.0    28.0     49.0  1.5  30.5
 7   Uncle Lester        12.5    36.0     48.5  -2.0 31.0
 8   Atomic Roadrunners  18.0    29.5     47.5  -6.0 32.0
 9   Stanimals           31.5    13.0     44.5  -0.5 35.0
 10  Cover Zero          16.0    10.0     26.0  -3.0 53.5  

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/23/08)
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL  0.0000  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    0.5000  2 2   4    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL     0.2500  0 0   0    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL     0.2500  0 0   0    0
Murton, Matt LF CHC       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.5000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.0000  0 0   0    1
Ruiz, Carlos C PHI        0.2500  0 0   0    0
Spilborghs, Ryan CF COL   0.2000  0 0   1    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL     0.4000  0 0   1    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC      0.3333  0 0   1    1

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/23/08)
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Wellemeyer, Todd SP STL     6.00  5 0   0 1.33
Wilson, Brian RP SF         9.00  0 1   0 4.00