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

Joe Blanton picked up his first win for the Phillies by limiting the Cardinals to one run in seven innings on Saturday. Ryan Ludwick homered in the seventh to break up the shutout bid. The Phillies ended up winning 2-1 on homers from Greg Dobbs and Ryan Howard. Blanton is 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA in three starts for his new team. The Phillies acquired Blanton to be a dependable guy capable of consistently giving Philadelphia at least a chance to win ball games whenever he took the mound. He did that and more, on Saturday, though he’ll need to string a few more solid outings together before he can truly instill confidence in his teammates, coaches and fans. He still should not be owned in most mixed leagues. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Charlie Morton allowed just two runs in seven innings, but still took the loss against the Brewers on Saturday afternoon. It was his first quality start since June 14, but he falls to 2-5 regardless. Morton allowed just four hits in the strong effort, striking out four and walking one. He gets the Diamondbacks in his next start. Other than a solo homer to Prince Fielder, Morton was very sharp with his location as he held Milwaukee to two runs on four hits while striking out four and walking just one. “It was a confidence builder, a big step,” Morton said. “I just hope I can build on it. My first five outings, it was hard to realize I was pitching in the big leagues. Today it was more of a feeling that it was just a baseball game. It was the first time I felt like that.” The Braves are playing for the future the rest of the way, so look for Morton to continue receiving chances in their rotation over the final two months. (Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Prince Fielder went 2-for-3 with two homers as the Brewers topped the Braves on Saturday. He’s now gone deep in four consecutive games. He drove in three runs with the two bombs, and now has 25 homers and 65 RBI on the season. The big fella is seeing the ball very well lately, as he’s now gone deep five times over the last four contests. In 16 games since the All-Star break, Fielder is hitting .339 with seven homers and 13 RBI despite the struggles of his teammates in the recent four-game set against the Cubs. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Brandon Phillips committed a rare but costly error in the Reds’ loss to the Nationals on Saturday night. It was one of three errors by the Reds, giving them 84 on the season, second most in the NL. With the bases loaded and one out and the Reds up by one, Phillips booted a potential double play ball, allowing the tying run to score. The Nats went ahead with a two-run single on the next hitter. (Rotowire)

Ryan Spilborghs (oblique strain) played catch this week. It was the first time he’s played catch since going on the disabled list back on July 9, and he reported just normal soreness. He’s a couple weeks from returning. It still looks like late August is a reasonable estimate for his return. Spilborghs’ playing time could be slim down the stretch. The Rockies didn’t trade starting center fielder Willy Taveras and they may give Double-A prospect Dexter Fowler an extended look in September. Spilborghs will turn 29 on Sept. 5 and there’s an increasing chance that he will be a career backup. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Chipper Jones (hamstring) expects to return from the disabled list on Friday. He’s been out since July 23, but took batting practice and fielded grounders before Saturday’s game. Friday is the first day he’s eligible to come off the disabled list. “I feel great,” Jones said. “Everything feels good. I’ll be ready by Friday.” Upon his return, Jones will be competing for his first career batting title, after flirting with .400 for a decent share of the first half of the season. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Casey Blake hit his first homer as a National Leaguer, helping the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 on Saturday night. The home run came in his 26th at-bat following the July 26 trade with Cleveland. “It was big,” Blake said. “I mean, it’s not like it was really weighing on my mind. But you ask anybody, when you get that first home run out of the way, you start relaxing.” Blake has been hot and looks like a solid option in all Fantasy leagues right now, especially because he has versatility in most formats. (CBS Sports)

Giants 1B John Bowker went 2-for-3 Saturday at San Diego. He entered the game batting just .154 (6-for-39) since the All-Star break. Bowker has definitely gotten cold, but he still has decent enough power for NL-only leagues. You probably shouldn’t have reached for him in mixed leagues anyway. (CBS Sports)

Padres OF Chase Headley went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Saturday against the Giants. He is now batting .111 (2-for-18) over his last six games. Headley is an elite young talent and definitely a sleeper in deeper Fantasy leagues. Like most young players, though, he’ll have his share of cold stretches. Reserve him until he heats up again. (CBS Sports)

Giants closer Brian Wilson recorded his fifth save since July 22 and second in two days Saturday at San Diego. He recorded one strikeout in one perfect inning. Wilson hasn’t allowed a run en route to those five saves, but he does have a 4.36 ERA on the season. Because he pitches for a pitching-first team, he should continue to rack up enough saves to serve as a No. 2 Fantasy closer. (CBS Sports)

Nationals SP Jason Bergmann didn’t factor in the decision Saturday against the Reds even though he allowed five earned runs, the most he has allowed since June 6. He went six innings, giving up six runs total on six hits and three walks. He also recorded two strikeouts. Bergmann entered with a 2.66 ERA over his last seven starts. He remains a decent pitcher, but since the Nationals have only provided him one win, he won’t do your Fantasy team much good. Leave him for NL-only leagues right now, but keep him on your radar. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at Colorado. (CBS Sports)

Mets SS Jose Reyes went 2-for-5 on Saturday against the Astros. Reyes singled twice, scored a run and stole his 36th base of the season. Reyes has hits in seven of his last eight and all of those are multi-hit contests. Reyes may have come out of the All-Star break a little sluggish, but he’s hot as wildfire right now. It is once again safe to start Reyes in all Fantasy formats. We recommend it. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  44.0    36.0     80.0  1.0  0.0
 2   Stanimals           29.5    32.0     61.5  -3.5 18.5
 3   X-Men               22.0    39.0     61.0  -1.0 19.0
 4   The Pi Train        30.0    30.0     60.0  2.5  20.0
 5   Shoeless Jews       25.0    34.0     59.0  3.0  21.0
 6   Goodfellas          36.0    18.0     54.0  -1.0 26.0
 7   Uncle Lester        12.0    38.0     50.0  0.5  30.0
 8   Cover Zero          25.0    18.0     43.0  0.0  37.0
 9   Misogynistic Padres 26.5    16.0     42.5  -1.5 37.5
 10  Get Off Kong!       25.0    14.0     39.0  0.0  41.0

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (8/2/08)
Player                       BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Blake, Casey 3B LA       0.5000  1 1   1    0
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL 0.0000  0 1   0    0
Coste, Chris C PHI       0.3333  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL   0.6667  2 2   3    0
Gerut, Jody RF SD        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL    0.2500  0 1   0    0
Headley, Chase 3B SD     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Pearce, Steve RF PIT     0.2500  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN 0.2500  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM    0.4000  0 1   0    1
Teixeira, Mark 1B ANA    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI  0.0000  0 0   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (8/2/08)
Player                      ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------ ------ -- - --- ----
Bergmann, Jason SP WAS     7.50  2 0   0 1.50