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

Brandon Webb earned his 13th win on Tuesday night by holding the Nationals scoreless over six innings in a 2-0 Diamondbacks victory. Webb struck out six and walked two while scattering six hits. He had seen his ERA rise by nearly a full run over his past four outings, but got back on track tonight. He’s now 13-4 with a 3.27 ERA in 19 starts this season. This start didn’t come without a price, as Webb needed 112 pitches to get through six innings. It was the 16th time in his 19 starts Webb lasted at least six innings. Analysis: Webb has won two straight decisions, but has allowed two or fewer runs just twice in his last six starts. Webb has had some rough outings after a great start to the season, but you can’t keep a good pitcher down for long. Continue to start Webb in all Fantasy formats. His next scheduled start is for Sunday against the Phillies. Webb is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA against the Phillies this season. (Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Colorado OF Ryan Spilborghs came up limping at third with a strained left oblique and was taken out of the game against the Brewers in the sixth inning Tuesday. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said Spilborghs would return to Colorado on Wednesday and would be placed on the disabled list. “I think it took the wind out of us a little bit, because you see the tying run look like he got stabbed,” Hurdle said. “He did everything he could just to get to third. So that was a little deflating.” Spilborghs said it felt like he was shot as he was rounding second. “That was miserable,” Spilborghs said. “I think it hurt more that I couldn’t score and tie the game than the actual pain in my side.”

Spilborghs was getting everyday at-bats and was hitting at the top of the Rockies lineup. He doesn’t have a massive amount of power, but you can expect him to hit for a decent average and for him to score some runs and steal a handful of bases, when healthy. He’s a nice, low-end starting option for NL-only leagues so this comes as a disappointment for many. Check back to see just how much time he will miss, but a DL trip seems imminent. Tough break for Spilborghs, who was 11-for-25 in July and was getting frequent starts. Oblique injuries can be slow to heal, so he might miss longer than 15 days. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Tim Lincecum lost for just the second time all season Tuesday when he allowed four runs and two homers over six innings against the Mets. Mike Pelfrey outpitched All-Star Tim Lincecum to win his fifth straight start, and the surging New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 7-0. Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Carlos Delgado also connected off Lincecum (10-2) to help the Mets win their fourth in a row. Lincecum, selected to his first All-Star team Sunday, allowed a season-high nine hits in six innings. He struck out four, increasing his NL-high total to 126, and walked two. The 24-year-old right-hander was 6-0 in 12 starts since his other loss, 3-2 against Colorado on April 29. He had won two straight starts coming into Tuesday’s outing. Lincecum has allowed four or more runs in three of his last five outings, but it’s nothing for Fantasy owners to fret about. The young fireballer is still an elite Fantasy SP thanks to a killer strikeout pitch. His next scheduled start is for Sunday against the Cubs. Lincecum beat the Cubs in his previous outing, allowing three runs in six innings. (CBS Sports)

Braves closer Mike Gonzalez had to pitch the final two-thirds of the ninth inning Tuesday at the Dodgers, recording two strikeouts. He didn’t record a save, though. The Braves have shown no qualms about using Gonzalez, who recently returned from Tommy John surgery, on back-to-back days. He has a 2.08 ERA so far and could emerge as a top-10 closer in the second half. He has that kind of potential. (CBS Sports)

Mets SS Jose Reyes had two singles and one run in five at-bats Tuesday against the Giants. Reyes failed to steal his 33rd base as he was caught stealing for the 10th time this season. The speedy shortstop is 9-for-20 (.450) with one walk and three stolen bases during a four-game hitting streak. Reyes now has five multi-hit games in July and has really been hitting well since mid-May. Too bad the All-Star voters haven’t taken notice as Reyes will be watching the game from home in 2008. Fantasy owners still consider Reyes an All-Star and there is no need to bench the speedster at this time. (CBS sports)

Diamondbacks RP Brandon Lyon pitched a perfect ninth inning during Tuesday’s 2-0 win against the Nationals for his 19th save. Lyon needed just nine pitches for his second save in as many games. Lyon has allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in his last five outings, but he has been a pretty stable arm for the most part in 2008. Arizona should contend in the NL down the stretch and Lyon will likely get plenty of saves chances in the second half. He remains a high-end Fantasy RP. (CBS Sports)

Chase Headley went 3-for-5 with four RBI as the Padres trounced the Marlins 10-1 on Tuesday night. The Padres loaded the bases against Andrew Miller with one out in the first. Headley, who played eight games with the Padres last season, cleared them with his double to the fence in left-center. It was his third double since his recall. Headley, who was recalled June 17, had his first multi-hit game since June 20 and has just three since returning from the minors. However, he has hit safely in 17 of 20 games. Headley is now hitting .266/.275/.494 with five homers and 11 RBI in 20 games. As expected, he’s been a good power threat with a high strikeout rate and little patience. He’s struck out 24 times and still hasn’t drawn a walk in the majors this year. (Rotoworld)

Braves 1B Mark Teixeira had only one hit in five at-bats Tuesday at the Dodgers, but it went out of the park for his 17th home run. He has now hit .368 (7-for-19) over his last five games. Big Tex is notoriously a better player in the second half. Consider him a must-start in all leagues and a potential second-half MVP if you are looking for someone to buy in on. (CBS Sports)

According to The Sports Xchange notes: SS Ryan Theriot appears over the thumb problems that cost him time at the beginning of the just-concluded 10-game road trip. Theriot was 6-for-14 in the weekend series at St. Louis. Theriot has his OBP back up to .390. With RF Kosuke Fukudome not starting Sunday, Theriot returned to the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Theriot has been batting eighth, with Fukudome second, in recent games. Theriot is a slap-hitting basestealer worth consider in all Rotisserie leagues. He lacks power and run-production potential, though, which makes him a lower-tier option in Head-to-Head points leagues. (CBS Sports)

Chipper Jones went 0-for-4 with a season-high three strikeouts, dropping his major league-leading average to .379. Only once since Ralph Garr’s 1974 batting title with Atlanta had a Brave led the NL in hitting. That was in 1991, when current hitting coach Terry Pendleton batted .319. Pendleton’s average remains the second-lowest in history to win an NL batting crown. The lowest belongs to eight-time batting champ Tony Gwynn, who hit .313 in 1988. When Chipper is healthy, which he appears to be right now, he is a must-start in all leagues. Keep him active despite his mini slump. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  45.0    39.0     84.0  1.0  0.0
 2   X-Men               21.0    39.0     60.0  -1.0 24.0
 3   The Pi Train        29.0    30.0     59.0  -0.5 25.0
 4   Shoeless Jews       24.0    33.0     57.0  0.0  27.0
 5   Goodfellas          34.0    22.5     56.5  3.5  27.5
 6   Stanimals           32.5    19.0     51.5  -1.5 32.5
 6   Uncle Lester        13.0    38.5     51.5  1.0  32.5
 8   Get Off Kong!       27.0    18.0     45.0  -2.0 39.0
 9   Misogynistic Padres 26.5    18.0     44.5  -0.5 39.5
 10  Cover Zero          23.0    18.0     41.0  0.0  43.0

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (7/8/08)
Player                       BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL 0.3333  0 1   1    1
Bowker, John OF SF       0.3333  0 0   0    0
Coste, Chris C PHI       0.0000  0 0   0    0
DeWitt, Blake 3B LA      0.5000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL   0.0000  0 1   1    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL    0.0000  0 0   1    0
Headley, Chase 3B SD     0.6000  0 1   4    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN 0.0000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM    0.4000  0 1   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL    0.2000  1 1   1    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC     0.2500  0 1   0    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI  0.0000  0 0   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (7/8/08)
Player                      ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Gonzalez, Mike RP ATL      0.00  2 0   0 0.00
Lincecum, Tim SP SF        6.00  4 0   0 1.83
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI       0.00  0 1   0 0.00
Webb, Brandon SP ARI       0.00  6 0   1 1.33