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

Phillies starter Joe Blanton was making his first start for the Phillies since being acquired from Oakland last week to solidify a shaky rotation on Tuesday vs. the Mets. He took the spot of Adam Eaton, who was 3-8 with a 5.71 ERA. Blanton came in having thrown 15 shutout innings against the Mets in two starts for the A’s and he looked as if he were pitching to form until he walked Jose Reyes on four pitches to open the third. He gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings and picked up a no decision. Blanton didn’t have the debut Philly fans would have liked, but the Phils won the game anyway. Still, Blanton hasn’t exactly been on target in his last eight outings. He’s given up at least four runs five times over that span and is just 2-5. Target him in NL-only leagues because he works deep into games and has better potential than he’s shown so far, but he obviously won’t give you an instant ace the way CC Sabathia and Rich Harden did. He was a two-start pitcher this week and his next start comes Sunday against the Braves. (CBS Sports)

Shane Victorino has been dropped to the seventh spot in Philadelphia’s lineup on Tuesday. It looks like manager Charlie Manuel wants to take advantage of Pat Burrell’s long tradition of success against the Mets, so he has him batting third and Chase Utley hitting second tonight. Victorino would have less fantasy value as a No. 7 hitter, but this could be temporary. (Rotoworld)

Ryan Spilborghs (left oblique) remains a long way from returning, according to the Denver Post. He is halfway into a projected month-long absence. Spilborghs is limited to running in the treatment pool and will probably be out longer than the initial one-month projection. (Rotowire)

Corey Hart (cold) will be back in the starting lineup against the Cardinals on Wednesday night, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports. The Brewers were able to put together a comeback win without Hart on Tuesday night, but be sure to get him back in your active lineup as soon as you’re allowed to do so. (Rotowire)

Nationals SP Jason Bergmann was plagued by three homers during a 6-3 loss to the Giants Tuesday. Fred Lewis hit his first career leadoff home run when he connected to right on a 1-0 pitch from Bergmann (1-7). Bengie Molina added a two-run homer three batters later and then hit a solo homer off Bergmann leading off the fourth. Bergmann allowed five runs (four earned) and six hits in five innings. He didn’t issue a walk and struck out one. Bergmann is winless in 11 starts since beating the Mets in New York on May 15. Tuesday was the first time in six starts he allowed more than two earned runs. Bergmann has been pretty solid since his recall in mid-May and has run into some unfortunate luck pitching for Washington. For that, he remains a low-end Fantasy SP. His next scheduled start is for Sunday against the Dodgers. (CBS Sports)

Cubs SP Jason Marquis dropped to 6-6 on the year Tuesday in a loss to the Diamondbacks. Marquis gave up five hits and three runs in six innings of work. He walked two and struck out three. Marquis hasn’t won in his last four starts and is 0-3 over that span. He didn’t pitch terribly on Tuesday, however, and didn’t give up any runs in his previous outing on July 11 against the Giants. He was a two-start pitcher this week and next goes Sunday against Florida. He’s normally nothing more than an NL-only starting option. (CBS Sports)

Braves RP Charlie Morton allowed four runs and two hits in 5 2/3 innings during a 4-0 loss Tuesday against the Marlins. The right-hander watched as four Florida pitchers combined to one-hit Atlanta. Morton struck out five and walked four while his biggest mistake came on a three-run homer from Mike Jacobs. Morton has allowed four or more runs in three of his last four outings (1-2). He has a 6.00 ERA on the season and is taking his lumps as a rookie pitcher. He is not yet in jeopardy of losing his starting job since the Braves have been depleted by injuries. Morton remains a risky NL-only Fantasy SP. Morton’s next scheduled start is TBD. (CBS Sports)

Steve Pearce, who is playing first base in Triple-A, hit his 26th double Monday night. Minor league doubles become big league homers: It is a axiom you should subscribe to. Pearce looks like he could force Adam LaRoche to the trade market before next spring, but he could also be a corner outfield replacement if the Pirates decide to get rid of Jason Bay and/or Xavier Nady. Adam McCutchen will be one of the Pirates’ outfielders alongside 2008 breakthrough player Nate McLouth. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  44.0    39.0     83.0  0.5  0.0
 2   X-Men               22.5    39.0     61.5  0.5  21.5
 2   Stanimals           31.0    30.5     61.5  3.5  21.5
 4   The Pi Train        28.0    31.0     59.0  -1.5 24.0
 5   Shoeless Jews       22.0    32.5     54.5  0.0  28.5
 6   Goodfellas          35.0    17.0     52.0  -1.0 31.0
 7   Uncle Lester        12.0    38.5     50.5  -0.5 32.5
 8   Misogynistic Padres 29.0    15.0     44.0  0.0  39.0
 9   Cover Zero          26.0    16.0     42.0  -1.0 41.0
 9   Get Off Kong!       25.5    16.5     42.0  -0.5 41.0

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (7/22/08)
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
Coste, Chris C PHI       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL   0.5000  0 0   1    0
Gerut, Jody RF SD        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Headley, Chase 3B SD     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL    0.2500  0 1   2    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL    0.3333  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN 0.2000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM    0.0000  0 1   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC     0.5000  0 0   0    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI  0.5000  1 2   1    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (7/22/08)
Player                      ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Bergmann, Jason SP WAS     7.20  1 0   0 1.00
Blanton, Joe SP PHI        7.50  1 0   0 1.83
Marquis, Jason SP CHC      4.50  3 0   0 1.17
Wilson, Brian RP SF        0.00  1 1   0 1.00