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

Shane Victorino (calf) went 2-for-5 Friday with two walks and an RBI for Single-A Clearwater. It’s expected that Victorino will be in the Phillies’ lineup when he’s eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday. (Rotoworld)

Blake DeWitt will be recalled Saturday to replace the injured Nomar Garciaparra (calf) as the team’s starting third baseman, the Dodgers’ official site reports. Garciaparra left Friday night’s game against the Rockies with the injury. With Blake DeWitt getting sent down on Thursday and the Dodgers having no other third basemen on the roster, Russell Martin had to go from behind the plate to replace Garciaparra at third base. Strange roster management by the Dodgers - who could have foreseen Nomar possibly getting hurt? DeWitt makes the flight back to Los Angeles after having just flown to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday. He’ll bat eighth in the lineup. (Rotowire)

Dodgers OF Andruw Jones, hitting only .169 through 77 at-bats, blames allergies on his poor start at the plate this season, according to the Chicago Tribune. “Allergies have been killing me,” he said last week. “My body is achy. This time (of year), it always comes in.” He fouled a pitch off his left calf Friday and left the game. Jones was replaced by Matt Kemp who promptly had two hits and scored the winning run on Russell Martin’s sacrifice fly. Jones missed some time recently with flulike symptoms, which were more likely reactions to his allergies than the actual flu virus. The allergies could potentially affect him at the plate, but after he hit only .222 last year, you have to wonder if he has much Fantasy appeal outside of NL-only leagues at this point in his career. This calf injury might sideline him for a few days, so consider him a risky start for Fantasy Week 5 (April 28-May 4). Joe Torre may realize that the club is better off with Juan Pierre starting with the two kids in the outfield and Jones on the bench, but it’s hard to see the club resting an $18 million / year player too often. (CBS Sports, Rotowire)

Closer Brian Wilson continues to post impressive save totals for the suddenly contending Giants. He recorded his eighth save in nine chances Friday against the Reds, striking out one in a perfect inning of work. He has allowed only one run in his last eight appearances. Wilson entered with one runner on and a two-run lead with the middle of Cincinnati’s order due up, so it was a high stress situation. He’s still battling control problems this year, but so far he’s proven to be a bargain in fantasy leagues. Wilson has a pretty high WHIP, but a couple of particularly bad performances account for it. He’s getting the job done for the Giants right now, but they’ll have to keep winning for you to trust him in Fantasy. For now, he’s a No. 2 Fantasy closer. (CBS Sports)

Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon worked the ninth inning in a non-save situation Friday at San Diego, and he threw another scoreless inning, striking out one while allowing neither a hit nor a walk. He has now worked eight straight scoreless innings. Lyon blew a couple of saves earlier in the season, but he hasn’t allowed a run since the second one. With the Diamondbacks looking like an NL powerhouse this season, he should get plenty of save opportunities. He might even be emerging as a No. 1 Fantasy closer, so get him active. (CBS Sports)

Braves RP Manny Acosta, acting as closer with Rafael Soriano sidelined by elbow tendinitis, pitched the ninth inning of a three-run win Friday at the Mets, but he didn’t record a save because he pitched only the final-two thirds of the inning. The Braves used left-hander Royce Ring to record the first out. Acosta was blasted in his first appearance this season for four runs in 2/3 of an inning, but the young right-hander hasn’t slipped up since. He continues to act as closer with Rafael Soriano on the DL, but it might only be a temporary job. Acosta remains a nice stopgap Fantasy option for the time being. (CBS Sports)

Pirates SP Zach Duke allowed the visiting Phillies to take a six-run lead against him Friday, ultimately falling for the second time this season. His troubles started when he walked two of the first three batters. “Those two walks in the first inning really set the tone,” Duke said. “I fell apart there. I wasn’t really sharp. That’s the way it goes.” Duke allowed only those six runs in six innings, surrendering nine hits and three walks. He struck out two. After getting the season off to a good start, Duke has struggled in his last two outings, his ERA rising to 5.34. He’s not a dominant pitcher, and his lack of strikeouts and general inconsistency limits his Fantasy appeal to NL-only leagues. Duke started off with three solid outings, but he’s allowed 11 runs in 10 innings his last two times out. As few strikeouts as he gets, his margin for error is just so slim. He has nine K’s through five starts, six of them coming in one game. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday at the Mets. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Shoeless Jews       44.5    30.0     74.5  2.0  0.0
 2   The Pi Train        37.5    35.5     73.0  1.5  1.5
 3   Goodfellas          38.0    30.0     68.0  -4.5 6.5
 4   X-Men               27.0    37.5     64.5  2.5  10.0
 5   Misogynistic Padres 31.0    24.0     55.0  9.0  19.5
 6   Atomic Roadrunners  20.0    30.0     50.0  -3.5 24.5
 7   Get Off Kong!       18.5    29.5     48.0  0.5  26.5
 7   Uncle Lester        11.5    36.5     48.0  -2.5 26.5
 9   Stanimals           30.5    11.5     42.0  -3.0 32.5
 10  Cover Zero          16.5    10.5     27.0  -2.0 47.5  

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/25/08)
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL  0.7500  0 1   0    0
Bowker, John OF SF        0.3333  0 0   0    0
Dewitt, Blake 3B LA       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL    0.0000  0 0   0    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   1    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  1.0000  1 1   1    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Ruiz, Carlos C PHI        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Spilborghs, Ryan CF COL   0.0000  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL     0.4000  0 0   1    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC      0.5000  0 0   1    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/25/08)
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Acosta, Manny RP ATL        0.00  0 0   0 0.00
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI        0.00  1 0   0 0.00
Wilson, Brian RP SF         0.00  1 1   0 0.00