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

Joe Blanton pitched seven innings of shutout, one-hit baseball on Friday but the Phillies lost in extra innings to the Pirates. Blanton walked two but struck out seven. He deserved a win for the performance, but both sides showcased great all-around pitching, and he was left with a no-decision. He carries a 3.27 ERA into his next start against the Dodgers. Blanton has a 0.64 ERA over his last two starts and a 3.27 ERA in four starts with the Phillies. He looks like a different pitcher after getting thrown into a pennant race and has reemerged as a low-end mixed-league Fantasy SP. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Steve Pearce drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the 12th inning to defeat the Phillies on Friday. Ryan Doumit kicked off the top of the 12th inning with a double to deep left center. Brandon Moss then moved Doumit over to third when he grounded out to second, and Steven Pearce delivered the big hit. Freddy Sanchez then drove in Pearce to add an insurance run. Pearce is just 7-for-33 (.212) since being called up on July 26, but he should keep getting work in the outfield. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Phillips finished 2-for-4 with a two-run homer Friday but the Reds lost to the Astros in the 10th inning. Phillips’ two-run shot in the third inning gave the Reds a 4-2 lead but the bullpen couldn’t hold on. Jeff Keppinger helped out, driving in three runs with a double, but that’s all the Reds could muster. Phillips is batting .276 with 17 home runs and 66 RBI. (Rotoworld)

John Maine (shoulder) threw a 61-pitch simulated game before Friday’s game. Maine showcased all of his pitches and declared himself ready for his scheduled start on Wednesday. Unfortunately, he has struggled recently, going less than five innings in four of the last six games. Still, against a weak team like the Nationals, you might want to go ahead and start him. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Braves 3B Chipper Jones only needed a handful of at-bats to begin looking like the guy who is leading the major leagues in hitting. Jones returned from the disabled list with a pair of hits, including a home run estimated at 434 feet, powering the Braves to an 11-6 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday night. He finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. “I was feeling very rusty early if you saw the first couple of swings,” Jones said. “That’s to be expected after going 15 days and not seeing a pitch. But it came back quickly.” Out since July 24 with a strained left hamstring, Jones raised his batting average to .371. More importantly, he didn’t feel any pain in his legs “for the first time in months.” He added: “I don’t know if I’ll be able to put any deodorant on in the morning. I’m pretty sore. But we’ll see how it goes.” Jones is one of the top Fantasy performers when healthy, but there’s the rub on him. Get him back active now, but he might have another muscle pull before season’s end. (CBS Sports)

Prince Fielder extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI single in the first inning Friday night off Washington RHP Collin Balester. Fielder hasn’t really been terribly hot during the streak. He has exactly one hit in each of his last five games. With his pop, though, you have to keep him active in any Fantasy format. (CBS Sports)

Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon, working in a non-save situation Friday against the Braves, gave up three runs — two earned — on three hits and one walk. He has allowed five runs on eight hits in his last two outings, each lasting an inning. Lyon wasn’t working in a save situation in his last outing either, so he, like many closers, might just have trouble concentrating when the game isn’t on the line. Unfortunately, he has to look over his shoulder now for Jon Rauch. Treat Lyon as a No. 2 Fantasy closer. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  44.0    37.0     81.0  -0.5 0.0
 2   X-Men               25.0    39.0     64.0  3.0  17.0
 3   Stanimals           26.0    34.0     60.0  0.0  21.0
 4   Shoeless Jews       26.0    33.5     59.5  -1.5 21.5
 5   The Pi Train        28.0    27.0     55.0  -2.5 26.0
 5   Goodfellas          36.0    19.0     55.0  1.0  26.0
 7   Uncle Lester        13.0    38.0     51.0  0.0  30.0
 8   Cover Zero          26.0    17.0     43.0  0.5  38.0
 8   Misogynistic Padres 26.0    17.0     43.0  0.0  38.0
 10  Get Off Kong!       25.0    13.5     38.5  0.0  42.5

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (8/8/08) F
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Blake, Casey 3B LA        0.2500  1 1   1    0
Blanco, Gregor M. OF ATL  0.2000  0 0   0    0
Coste, Chris C PHI        0.2500  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL    0.2500  0 0   1    0
Gerut, Jody RF SD         0.0000  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL     0.0000  0 0   1    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Moss, Brandon OF PIT      0.0000  0 0   0    0
Pearce, Steve RF PIT      0.4000  0 1   1    1
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.5000  1 1   2    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.2500  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ANA     0.4000  0 2   1    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC      0.4000  0 0   0    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI   0.5000  0 0   0    1

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (8/8/08) F
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI       18.00  0 0   0 4.00