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

Tim Lincecum fanned 11 while limiting the Padres to one run in seven innings on Friday. Lincecum had a lead blown by the bullpen in a second straight start. He’s 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA and a 32/7 K/BB ratio in three starts since the All-Star break. Lincecum has 41 strikeouts in his last 28 innings and has more strikeouts than innings pitched on the season. He might have a few struggles as he approaches his career high in innings, but he should remain a must-start for the rest of the season. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Braves. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Pirates OF/1B Steve Pearce, who was recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis last weekend, will become the everyday right fielder, according to manager John Russell. Pearce had been splitting time with OF Jason Michaels in right since OF Xavier Nady was traded to the New York Yankees last weekend. Obviously we’re going to need to see the results before we rush out and put Pearce in our starting lineup, but this definitely raises his Fantasy value because we know he’ll at least be playing night in and night out. He has serious sleeper potential in the second half, but remains a low-end Fantasy option at this time. Michaels is now 100 percent just a backup for the Bucs and should only be used in NL-only leagues. (CBS Sports)

Cardinals recalled LHP Jaime Garcia from Triple-A Memphis. Since the Cards couldn’t add to their pen yesterday, Garcia will be tried as a short reliever/lefty specialist. Left-handers were hitting .324 against him in the minors this year, so we doubt this will work out very well. Garcia has long-term potential as a starting pitcher, but the Cardinals are throwing him to the wolves in relief right now. Consider him is nothing more than a low-end middle reliever for the deepest of NL-only leagues that use true middle men at this point. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Milwaukee RF Corey Hart was back in the starting lineup Friday after sitting out the previous day for a “mental break.” The Sports Xchange reports Manager Ned Yost said at the time he planned to give Hart at least two days off but changed his mind and re-inserted Hart to the lineup for the opener of a three-game series in Atlanta. Hart’s skid continued as he went 0-for-4 with one RBI. Hart is now just 2-for-16 since the beginning of Milwaukee’s series against the Cubs starting back on July 28. The All-Star is really struggling at the plate right now and could be a good candidate to sit in Fantasy Week 19 (Aug. 4-10). If his own manager thought he could use a break, maybe his Fantasy owners should follow suit. He should be back to hitting well soon, but for now he’s a risky start. (CBS Sports)

Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon allowed a leadoff single in the ninth inning of a one-run game Friday at the Dodgers, but he retired the next three batters for his 24th save. He now has four saves in the last seven days. The Diamondbacks haven’t given Lyon many save opportunities since April, but they’re giving them to him now. Get him active as a No. 2 Fantasy closer.(CBS Sports)

Cubs SP Jason Marquis fell to 6-7 on the year Friday in a 3-0 loss to the Pirates. Marquis gave up eight hits and three runs in six innings. He walked one and had two strikeouts. His ERA now stands at 4.68. Marquis fell to 0-4 in six starts since beating the crosstown White Sox on June 21. He was 2-0 against the Pirates but couldn’t get the job done again on Friday. He remains best left for NL-only Fantasy leagues and larger mixed leagues when he is a two-start pitcher. That won’t happen next week as his next scheduled start comes Wednesday against Houston. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  44.0    37.0     81.0  2.0  0.0
 2   X-Men               23.0    39.0     62.0  0.0  19.0
 3   Stanimals           30.0    31.5     61.5  -3.5 19.5
 4   The Pi Train        30.0    29.0     59.0  1.5  22.0
 5   Shoeless Jews       23.5    34.0     57.5  1.5  23.5
 6   Goodfellas          36.0    18.0     54.0  -1.0 27.0
 7   Uncle Lester        12.0    38.5     50.5  1.0  30.5
 8   Cover Zero          25.0    18.0     43.0  0.0  38.0
 9   Misogynistic Padres 26.5    16.0     42.5  -1.5 38.5
 10  Get Off Kong!       25.0    14.0     39.0  0.0  42.0

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (8/1/08)
Player                       BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Blake, Casey 3B LA       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL 0.2500  0 0   0    0
Coste, Chris C PHI       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL   0.2000  1 1   1    0
Gerut, Jody RF SD        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL    0.0000  0 0   1    0
Headley, Chase 3B SD     0.3333  0 0   0    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL    0.2000  0 0   2    0
Pearce, Steve RF PIT     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN 0.0000  0 0   1    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM    0.5000  0 1   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ANA    0.5000  0 0   0    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI  0.2000  0 1   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (8/1/08)
Player                      ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Lincecum, Tim SP SF        1.29 11 0   0 0.86
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI       0.00  0 1   0 1.00
Marquis, Jason SP CHC      4.50  2 0   0 1.50
Wilson, Brian RP SF        0.00  0 1   0 3.00