Atomic RoadRunners

Todd Wellemeyer will start on Tuesday when the Cardinals begin a series at home against the Mets. Wellemeyer was slated to start Sunday against the Cubs, but that game was rained out. He’ll pitch on six days rest against the Mets. “I’m going to play catch [Sunday] and play some catch [Monday] and that’s about it,” he said on Sunday afternoon. “I might watch some video of my last start and some other stuff.” he game was called about 3 hours before the scheduled first pitch with more rain forecast throughout the night, and it will be made up July 12th as a day-night doubleheader. Bad news for Wellemeyer owners who needed his Sunday stats, but the postponement will help a taxed Cards’ bullpen get a needed break, with Monday a scheduled off day as well. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Brandon Webb (shoulder) tossed 22 pitches off flat ground Sunday. Webb is set to throw a bullpen session Monday, then it might be time for a short minor league rehab assignment. “I don’t want to rule it out,” manager Bob Melvin said of a possible rehab stint. “If it is, it would be only one game.” Webb has been out since April 7. (Rotoworld)

Here’s an Under the Knife update from Will Carroll:

Webb is passing all of the tests the Diamondbacks are putting in front of him. He’ll progress from flat ground to the mound on Tuesday, and sources tell me that they don’t anticipate any problems, since he has been “living in rehab,” going above and beyond. One compared Webb’s reaction to that of Ivan Rodriguez a few years ago, when he first had back problems. He became fanatical about his stretching and other treatments designed to keep his back from becoming a problem again, and to this day, it hasn’t been. That kind of a wake up call would be great for Webb and for his future. If he can make it back and stick, getting anything close to his Cy Young-caliber results, he’ll be set up for a huge free-agent payday, insured or not. While he won’t make it back at the minimum, he won’t be far behind.

Chris Iannetta went 1-for-3 with a solo shot in Sunday’s loss to the Dodgers. Better yet, he didn’t strikeout in the contest, breaking a six game streak of games with a K. “I’ve been terrible,” Iannetta told the team’s official site. “I was 0-for-god-only-knows [18]. It’s not something I’m used to doing. It felt good to get back on track and start from Day 1 and we’ll try to continue it tomorrow.” He’s still hitting just .083 on the year but hopefully the dinger, his first hit since Opening Day, is a sign of change. Iannetta needs to snap out of this cold start soon, or he’ll start losing more and more at-bats to Yorvit Torrealba. Iannetta has as much OPS potential as any catcher in baseball, walking at a higher rate that most with legitimate power, so you should keep him active despite this early slump. Maybe this home run is a sign of things to come. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones returned to action on Sunday against the Pirates at PNC Park after missing the previous four games with a bruised left thumb that has already been aggravated numerous times before. Jones always seems to return well and went 1-for-3 in the game with a walk and two runs scored. Jones is hitting .333 on the season. Jones has 27 at bats this season and has one home run and four RBI. He’s been an injury risk for much of the season but remains a high-end Fantasy player worth using in all Fantasy leagues when he is healthy. (CBS Sports)

Nationals OF Adam Dunn went 2-for-2 and reached base all five times he stepped to the plate on Sunday in a loss to the Marlins. Dunn walked three times and was caught stealing in the game. He’s hitting .324 on the year. Dunn failed to hit in his previous two games and that dropped his average below .300 for the first time all year. Never fear, he’s back above the plateau right now and is hitting well this season for the Nationals. Dunn has three homers and 11 RBI and should be active in all NL-only and most mixed Fantasy formats. (CBS Sports)

Brad Hawpe went 2-for-3 with a homer in Sunday’s 14-2 loss to Los Angeles. Hawpe just continues to hit and now has two homers, 9 RBI and a .303 batting average. Hawpe is one of the few Rockies hitters doing anything right now. He has the upside to hit 30 home runs and has begun playing more and more against left-handers over the last few years. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Brian Wilson pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save as San Francisco beat Arizona 2-0 on Sunday. Wilson, who was pitching in his third game of the series, picked up his second save in three days and now has six strikeouts while allowing only two hits in 4.2 innings. Wilson only had one save in five appearances coming into Sunday’s game. The Giants simply were not giving him the opportunities as he doesn’t have any blown saves. He’s allowed just one run this season in 4 2/3 innings and can remain worthy of starting as a No. 2 Fantasy RP in all formats. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Marlins C John Baker doubled twice Sunday in a win over the Washington Nationals. Baker went 2-for-5 with two RBI. He’s batting .333 on the year. Baker has one home run and nine RBI this season for the Fish over 32 at bats. Hopefully Baker can show off his power stroke more often and is worth using in NL-only leagues and deeper mixed formats as a No. 2 Fantasy catcher. (CBS Sports)

Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout on Sunday against the Nationals for his third save of the season. Lindstrom’s ERA is 1.50 on the year. Lindstrom has allowed just one earned run in six innings this season. He only has one blown save and still earned the win in that game. Still, with the Marlins at 11-1 on the year, you’d think he’d have more than three saves. He has had a few rocky outings but should be thought of as a No. 2 Fantasy RP with the opportunity to develop into more. (CBS Sports)

According to The Oakland Tribune, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said right-handed reliever Sergio Romo, who’s been out since spring training due to a sprained elbow ligament, will pitch in extended spring training soon and could be back with the Giants by early May. Romo had an excellent 2008 season, posting a 2.12 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in 34 innings. He is an exceptional middle reliever when healthy and can be used in leagues that use true middle men. (CBS Sports)

STANDINGS through 04.19.09
 

Atlanta 1B Casey Kotchman went 2-for-4 with two singles, an RBI and a run scored on Sunday against the Pirates. Kotchman added a walk and is batting .268 on the year. Kotchman has just three RBI on the year for Atlanta despite playing almost every day. Hopefully he begins to turn it on shortly because this is not what we expected out of him this season. Right now, Kotchman only deserved to be used in NL-only leagues. He should be owned in deeper mixed formats but he’s not worth using until he starts to hit. (CBS Sports)