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

Brett Myers picked up his 11th loss of the season on Wednesday, allowing four earned runs while striking out nine in a loss to the Marlins. A demotion to the minors earlier this season has helped Myers cut down on his two biggest afflictions — home runs and walks. He has given up three bombs with a 65:16 K:BB ratio in 71 innings pitched since his return. The four earned runs marks the highest tally against Myers since he was called up on July 23. Put Myers’ early season struggles behind you and run him for every start. (Rotowire)

Luis Ayala pitched a perfect ninth inning against the Nationals on Wednesday, converting his sixth straight save opportunity. He has given up four runs — three earned — since moving to the closer’s role, but Ayala should continue to shoulder the load for the Mets. His 44:23 K:BB ratio in 69.2 innings isn’t ideal for a closer, but the Mets lack any other options. Ayala has been perfect in save chances in September and hasn’t allowed a run in five outings (five innings). He has really stepped up in the absence of Billy Wagner (elbow) and will be counted on heavily down the stretch. Consider Ayala a viable No. 2 Fantasy closer for the contending Mets. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Brandon Lyon took his fifth loss Wednesday after giving up two runs to the Giants in the ninth. Lyon pitched a scoreless eighth with the Diamondbacks down by one, but he had a chance to get the win after the team scored twice in the top of the ninth. He just would have had a better chance had he come out of the game then. the Diamondbacks let another game slip away in the final at-bat when Eugenio Velez hit a two-out, two-run triple off Arizona’s Brandon Lyon to lift the Giants to a 4-3 win on Wednesday. Velez was down 0-2 to Lyon (2-5) when he drilled a fastball to the gap in right-center, scoring pinch-runner Ryan Rohlinger and Aaron Rowand as the afternoon crowd at AT&T Park roared. Lyon fell to 2-5 as he allowed three hits, a walk and two runs over 1 2/3 innings. Even with the defeat, his ERA dropped to 10.91 since the All-Star break. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Brian Wilson blew a save in a second straight game by giving up two runs Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. Just like on Tuesday, he blew a one-run lead by giving up two runs in the top of the ninth. And just like on Tuesday, the Giants made sure he didn’t take a loss in addition to the blown save by winning in the bottom of the ninth. The difference is that Wilson got the victory last night. Alex Hinshaw relived him in the ninth today and received the win. Wilson shouldn’t be in any danger of losing in the closer’s role, but he might need a couple of days off. (Rotoworld)

Jose Reyes stole his 48th and 49th bases of the season in Wednesday’s win over Washington. His 49 steals rank second behind Willy Taveras’ league-leading 66. Reyes has a lot of work to do to reach 60 steals for the fourth straight season, but he has eased the blow a bit by slugging .477 — the second highest mark of his career. (Rotowire)

Blake DeWitt was 2-for-3 with a walk, single, and RBI double on Wednesday in a win over the Padres. That’s a mini five-game hitting streak for DeWitt, who is 8-for-18 during that timeframe. DeWitt has been strong at the plate in September, raising his average from .256 to .268. He’s making a strong case to be the team’s full-time second baseman next year, a move that would allow the club to pursue a front-line starter along the lines of C.C. Sabathia or Ben Sheets. (Rotowire)

Ryan Theriot (dizziness, dehydration) said he finally felt 100 percent Wednesday, the Chicago Sun-Time reports. Theriot went on to admit that he wasn’t feeling perfect when he returned to the starting lineup the day before. In any event, he’s safe to reinsert into your lineup now. (Rotowire)

Phillies C Chris Coste went 1-for-3 on Wednesday against the Marlins. Coste doubled home a run and scored a run for Philadelphia. Coste only plays every other day and notched his first base hit since August on Wednesday. That makes him someone to avoid in Fantasy in all leagues except deeper NL-only formats at this time. (CBS Sports)

Jody Gerut missed his 13th consecutive game on Wednesday and is still have trouble with his sprained left middle finger, the Padres’ official site reports. Gerut hit balls off a tee on Tuesday, but he’s still not able to participate in batting practice. When he returns is still anyone’s guess; manager Bud Black said he hopes it’s during this weekend’s series against the Giants, but admitted even he doesn’t know. In the meantime, Will Venable, who is getting most of Gerut’s playing time, is hitting .342. (Rotowire)

Mark Teixeira sat out Wednesday’s win over the Yankees because of an infection and a temperature, the Associated Press reports. This isn’t anything serious, and now that the Angels already have the division wrapped up, there’s no need to push Teixeira until he’s fully healthy. “I started running a fever last night, so they got me on antibiotics to make sure it doesn’t get worse,” Teixeira told MLB.com. “You know how you feel when you have a fever and your body is achy and you don’t feel right.” He’ll probably return on Thursday. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Reds 2B Brandon Phillips will have season-ending surgery Friday to have a pin inserted into his broken right index finger to help it heal properly. Phillips broke the finger in Tuesday night’s game at Milwaukee when he was hit by a pitch on a bunt attempt. The Reds’ medical director, Dr. Timothy Kremchek, examined him Wednesday in Cincinnati. Kremchek and hand specialist Dr. Andrew Markewicz will perform the surgery, the Reds said. The 27-year-old Phillips couldn’t match his breakthrough 2007 campaign, but his speed-and-power mix is still rare and elite at his position. He is easily a top five second baseman in spring 2009 and a pretty good bet to improve on his 2008 numbers. (CBS Sports)

John Maine, on the disabled list with a bone spur in his right shoulder, expects to resume throwing Monday but manager Jerry Manuel does not expect him to return before the regular season ends, the NY Newsday reports. With Maine scheduled to throw Monday, it raises the possibility that he could pitch in relief (there isn’t time for him to build up enough strength to start a game). Manuel said that it’s possible that Maine will be ready for the playoffs, but he is not anticipating that he will. (Rotowire)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
 1   Atomic Roadrunners  42.0    37.5     79.5  0.0  0.0
 2   X-Men               31.0    38.0     69.0  -0.5 10.5
 3   Shoeless Jews       32.0    34.0     66.0  0.5  13.5
 4   Goodfellas          40.0    22.0     62.0  2.5  17.5
 5   Stanimals           24.0    37.0     61.0  3.0  18.5
 6   The Pi Train        25.0    27.5     52.5  0.0  27.0
 7   Uncle Lester        12.0    39.0     51.0  0.0  28.5
 8   Cover Zero          26.0    15.0     41.0  -1.0 38.5
 9   Get Off Kong!       23.5    12.0     35.5  -2.5 44.0
 10  Misogynistic Padres 19.5    13.0     32.5  -2.0 47.0

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (9/10/08)
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Blake, Casey 3B LA        0.2000  0 0   0    0
DeWitt, Blake 3B LA       0.6667  0 1   1    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL    0.2500  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Headley, Chase 3B SD      0.2500  0 0   0    0
Iannetta, Chris C COL     0.3333  0 2   0    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL     0.7500  1 3   1    0
Milledge, Lastings LF WAS 0.0000  0 1   0    0
Moss, Brandon OF PIT      0.0000  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.0000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.3333  0 1   0    2
Sandoval, Pablo C SF      0.0000  0 1   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ANA     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI   0.0000  0 0   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (9/10/08)
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Ayala, Luis RP NYM          0.00  0 1   0 0.00
Lindstrom, Matt RP FLA      0.00  0 0   0 0.00
Lyon, Brandon RP ARI       10.80  1 0   0 2.40
Myers, Brett SP PHI         4.91  9 0   0 1.23
Wilson, Brian RP SF        27.00  0 0   0 4.50