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

Duaner Sanchez pitched a perfect eighth and Billy Wagner only allowed a walk in the ninth Wednesday. The Mets said they wanted to expand Sanchez’s role amid Aaron Heilman’s early season struggles, and apparently he is the new setup man. Sanchez and Heilman are solid middle relievers for leagues that use true middle men, while Wagner has not allowed a hit in eight innings this season. Wagner is not yet getting consistent save chances, but he is one closer you shouldn’t worry about in that regard.

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. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday at the Mets. He is by no stretch of the imagination a dominant pitcher, but Duke was passing in NL-only leagues earlier in the season.

FAAB Acquisitions:

• RP, Duaner Sanchez, Mets [$0 bid, active]

Up:

• Shane Victorino
• Andruw Jones

Down:

• Nelson Figueroa
• John Bowker
• Matt Murton

Cut:

• Zach Duke

Notes: I had also bid $0 on the Reds’ Jerry Hairston, Jr., and $0 on Cubs SS Ronny Cedeno.  I was outbid by Tom Ross of Get Off Kong! on both.  He won Hairston with a $4 bid, and Cedeno with a $13 bid.  Yikes.

Brett Myers said Sunday that decreased velocity is to blame for his struggles, which include allowing 10 homers in six starts. “I’m lost,” Myers said. “I’m lost throwing 88 mph. I’m thinking I’m still a fastball pitcher because I usually am. I usually establish my fastball early in the game. I’ve always been that guy. I’ve always done that. But right now I’m going to other crap earlier than I want to. Usually if I’m behind in the count 2-1 or 3-1, I’m never pitching backward. Right now I’m pitching backward.” This news comes as a relatively high concern for Myers, as the power righty normally relies on his fastball to hit around 95 m.p.h. Myers has maintained that he is healthy and that his arm feels fine, so hopefully he will be able to figure out the problem. If you are a Myers owner, think twice about having him active in your lineup until he can prove to be back on track. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Myers had a 10-minute, closed-door meeting with manager Charlie Manuel after allowing four runs on eight hits Sunday in a 5-1 loss to the Pirates. “I’m trying to throw as hard as I can every time,” said Myers. “There are no mis-hits. Arm feels fine. That’s the thing why I can’t figure it out. It’s not like I’m hurt. It’s not like it’s aching. Right now, it just ain’t coming out. It’s like doo-doo going up there.” “I haven’t seen his (good) fastball,” Manuel said, and Myers admitted he has stayed away from the pitch because his velocity has dropped from 92-95 to 88-90 for no reason he can fathom. “Doo-doo” is a nice way to put how Myers has been pitching over his last two starts. His roller coaster season will continue in Fantasy Week 5 (April 28-May 5) with a start against the Giants on Saturday. He is supposed to go against Barry Zito, but Zito might move up a day to replace the injured Kevin Correia. If that does happen, Myers would face Matt Cain instead. Myers is worth starting in most Fantasy formats for the period, regardless of who he faces, but you never know what you’re going to get. (CBS Sports)

Because of Monday’s rainout, Nelson Figueroa will have his next start skipped. Johan Santana and Oliver Perez will both have their starts pushed back a day, and a Thursday off day will allow Santana to pitch again on Sunday. With Claudio Vargas pitching well in his first minor league appearance, Figueroa can’t be happy he’s getting skipped. (Rotoworld)

Rafael Soriano (elbow) experienced soreness during a bullpen session Sunday and is now unlikely to come off the disabled list Tuesday. Manager Bobby Cox indicated afterward that Soriano will likely throw on the side at least two more times before returning from the DL, giving Manny Acosta another week to be in line for saves. “He feels like the more he throws, it’ll go away,” Cox said. (Rotoworld)

Giants closer Brian Wilson worked the ninth inning of a win Monday against the Rockies despite not having an opportunity to earn a save. He allowed two hits and recorded three strikeouts. He has allowed only one run in his last nine appearances. 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 extended his scoreless streak to 10 innings with his eighth save Monday against the Astros. He struck out one without surrendering a hit or a walk. Lyon blew a couple of saves earlier in the season, but he hasn’t allowed a run since that 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)

Cardinals SP Todd Wellemeyer took his first loss of the season Monday against the Reds, but he settled down after the beginning. He allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings, striking out five, but only two of those hits came in his last three innings. He had been 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his first two starts at home this season. Wellemeyer has allowed four or more runs in three of his last four starts, lifting his ERA to 4.14 after such a hot start. He continues to strike out a good number of batters, but is looking more and more like a less-than-certain bet in Fantasy. His next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Cubs. (CBS Sports)

Giants OF John Bowker played first base for the ninth time Sunday against the Reds. He went 0-for-4 at the plate, though, and has gone 1-for-18 over his last five games. Bowker got off to a hot start, hitting home runs in each of his first two games, but he’s batting only .224 now. Reserve him in all but deeper NL-only leagues. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   The Pi Train        36.0    34.5     70.5  -1.0 0.0
 2   Goodfellas          37.5    31.5     69.0  -3.5 1.5
 3   Shoeless Jews       42.0    26.0     68.0  -4.5 2.5
 4   X-Men               29.0    38.5     67.5  5.5  3.0
 5   Misogynistic Padres 35.0    22.5     57.5  11.5 13.0
 6   Atomic Roadrunners  21.5    33.5     55.0  1.5  15.5
 7   Stanimals           33.0    18.0     51.0  6.0  19.5
 8   Get Off Kong!       17.0    27.5     44.5  -3.0 26.0
 8   Uncle Lester        10.5    34.0     44.5  -6.0 26.0
 10  Cover Zero          13.5    9.0      22.5  -6.5 48.0  

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/28/08)
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    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Murton, Matt LF CHC       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.6667  0 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   1.0000  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC      0.0000  0 0   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/28/08)
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI        0.00  1 1   0 0.00
Wellemeyer, Todd SP STL     6.00  5 0   0 1.50
Wilson, Brian RP SF         0.00  3 0   0 2.00