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

Brandon Webb scattered nine hits while going the distance Tuesday in a 3-1 victory over the Pirates. Webb, who struck out four and walked none, improved to 4-0 in his last seven starts and became the year’s first 16-game winner. He’s 5-0 with a 2.11 ERA in six career starts versus the Pirates. Webb has worked seven innings or more in five straight starts, compiling a 1.85 ERA during that stretch. He has fully bounced back from his June swoon and again looks like one of the top pitchers in Fantasy.

After the game, Webb said that the Diamondbacks recently rescinded a contract offer that would have kept him in Arizona through 2013. The Diamondbacks announced a contract extension for Dan Haren earlier in the day. “I just want to let fans know that I’m not the one who pulled it off the table,” Webb said. “We just didn’t see eye to eye on a couple of things, and that was it. I love Arizona, and this is my first choice.” Webb is under the team’s control through 2010, so there’s still plenty of time to work something out. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Josh Johnson blanked the Phillies over six innings on Tuesday night as the Marlins cruised to an 8-2 victory. It was Johnson’s most effective outing since joining the Marlins rotation in July after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He struggled with his control issuing four walks and throwing just 55 of 97 pitches for strikes, but kept the Phillies’ powerful offense in check and improved to 2-0. Jeremy Hermida’s four RBI helped carry the Fish to an easy win. (Rotoworld)

Phillies OF Shane Victorino hit a two-out, two-run homer in the seventh inning Tuesday against the Marlins. He finished 2-for-5. What has gotten into Victorino? He had two home runs right before the All-Star break and has six already afterward. He had underperfomed power-wise before this recent hot streak, but he again looks like a 15-40 candidate. (CBS Sports)

Padres OF Jody Gerut hit a three-run homer off Mets SP Aaron Heilman in the ninth inning Tuesday, but it was not enough in a 6-5 loss. Gerut, who has eight homers sand 27 RBI, finished the game 3-for-5. He has four multi-hit games in his last six outings. Gerut continues to platoon in center field for the Padres. He has decent numbers for a platoon player, but since he doesn’t start everyday, he is primarily a NL-only Fantasy option. (CBS Sports)

Brewers OF Corey Hart, who was in a 4-for-23 slump, hit a two-run triple in the first inning Tuesday against the Reds. Hart later added a double and a sacrifice fly as he finished 2-for-3 with one run. Hart now has 33 doubles and four triples. Hart has hit safely in four straight games and appears to have worked out his troubles at the plate. Hart is an unsung Fantasy hero, but he fills the stat sheet and is usually a safe start more often than not. (CBS Sports)

John Maine (shoulder) had a successful bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to throw a simulated game Friday. Barring a setback Maine is on track to return from the disabled list with a start next Wednesday versus the Nationals. (Rotoworld)

Prince Fielder made amends by apologizing, then hit a two-run homer Tuesday night that helped the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-1 and quickly move beyond their ugly altercation in the dugout. The Brewers were on their best behavior a day after Fielder shoved pitcher Manny Parra in the dugout during a series-opening loss. Fielder apologized before the game on Tuesday, then helped Milwaukee’s uptight offense relax by hitting his sixth homer in his last nine games. Fielder’s homer in the eighth off Nick Masset extended his hitting streak to nine games. He finished 1-for-4 with two runs and one walk. Fielder is 12-for-32 (.375) with the six homers and eight RBI during the hitting streak. Fielder is not only landing punches off the field, he is also doing damage in between the white lines and starting to produce like we expected from Day 1. Continue to start Fielder in all Fantasy formats. “That’s just something that happened in the moment,” he said. “I can’t take it back. I could have handled it better. But I don’t apologize for the full meaning behind it and the fire.” Fielder was included in Wednesday’s lineup. (CBS Sports, Rotoworld)

Braves closer Mike Gonzalez pitched a scoreless ninth inning in a non-save situation Tuesday at San Francisco, giving up one hit. He also recorded one strikeout. The Braves just can’t seem to give Gonzalez save chances even when they win. They don’t figure to win many games down the stretch, so treat him as a low-end Fantasy closer. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  44.5    37.0     81.5  0.0  0.0
 2   X-Men               22.0    39.0     61.0  0.0  20.5
 3   Stanimals           28.0    32.0     60.0  0.0  21.5
 4   Shoeless Jews       25.0    34.0     59.0  -2.0 22.5
 5   The Pi Train        28.5    29.0     57.5  0.0  24.0
 6   Goodfellas          36.0    19.0     55.0  1.0  26.5
 7   Uncle Lester        13.0    38.0     51.0  0.0  30.5
 8   Cover Zero          27.0    18.0     45.0  2.5  36.5
 9   Misogynistic Padres 27.0    16.0     43.0  0.0  38.5
 10  Get Off Kong!       24.0    13.0     37.0  -1.5 44.5

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (8/5/08) F
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Blake, Casey 3B LA        0.0000  0 0   1    0
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL  0.0000  0 1   0    0
Coste, Chris C PHI        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL    0.2500  1 2   2    0
Gerut, Jody RF SD         0.6000  1 1   3    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL     0.6667  0 1   3    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL     0.0000  0 1   0    0
Moss, Brandon OF PIT      0.2500  0 0   0    0
Pearce, Steve RF PIT      0.0000  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.0000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ANA     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC      0.3333  0 2   0    1
Victorino, Shane CF PHI   0.4000  1 1   2    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (8/5/08) F
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Gonzalez, Mike RP ATL       0.00  1 0   0 1.00
Johnson, Josh SP FLA        0.00  3 0   1 1.50
Lindstrom, Matt RP FLA      0.00  0 0   0 1.00
Webb, Brandon SP ARI        1.00  4 0   1 1.00