Atomic RoadRunners

Tim Lincecum lost for the first time since April 12 after giving up four runs — three earned — in eight innings Wednesday against the Angels. Lincecum took a 3-1 lead into the eighth against a lineup missing Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu and Vladimir Guerrero, but he couldn’t hold it after giving up four straight hits to start the frame. Two of those were delivered by Hunter and Guerrero as pinch-hitters. Lincecum dropped to 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA. Lincecum had nine strikeouts, and his numbers across the board are looking a lot like his Cy Young effort from a year ago. (Rotoworld)

Todd Wellemeyer improved to 6-6 on the season, holding the Tigers to two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win on Wednesday night. Wellemeyer allowed six hits, but the only runs scored from two Curtis Granderson home runs. He fanned five and walked two in his first victory since May 27. Wellemeyer has a less than impressive 51/32 K/BB ratio in 80 2/3 innings this season. With the drop in velocity, he’s nothing more than an occasional spot starter in fantasy leagues right now. Wellemeyer is back at .500 after snapping a two-game losing streak. He’d been pretty poor in his last three outings but pitched well against Detroit. Wellemeyer starts twice in Week 12 (June 22-28) so get him active in deeper mixed leagues. His first start comes Monday at the Mets against Tim Redding and he’ll end the week against the Twins. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Adam Dunn launched his 18th home run in a win over the Yankees on Wednesday night. Dunn was 1-for-3 with a walk. The fourth inning homer was his first since June 6. Even with the brief hiatus, he currently ranks fifth in the National League in homers. It was a solo shot off of Chien-Ming Wang to open the scoring in the game. Dunn also drew a walk in the game and struck out once.Dunn is having a poor month of June, hitting only two home runs and sporting a paltry .209 batting average. He’s struck out 69 times this season and drawn 51 walks. He’s still a must-start option however, considering his power potential and ability to draw walks. He typically is able to make up for the overabundance of strikeouts. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Manager Jerry Manuel said on Wednesday that Jose Reyes will have to rest for about another week before he begins a rehab program. A couple weeks ago the Mets had some hope that Reyes could return during the second half of June, but clearly that won’t be the case. There’s still no definitive timetable for his return. (Rotoworld)

John Baker’s struggles at the plate continued Tuesday, as he went 0-for-3. He hasn’t homered since May 24, and is just 5-for-41 (.122) since then with all five hits being singles. He seems to be wearing down as the everyday catcher, so don’t be surprised if Ronnie Paulino gets more work in the short term. (Rotowire)

Hitting ninth in the order, Emilio Bonifacio went 2-for-3 Tuesday with a double, two runs scored and his 12th stolen base of the season. He’s upped his OBP a touch in June, hitting .245/.310/.283 in 53 at-bats, but those still aren’t numbers of a useful major league starter. His days as the regular third baseman have to be numbered. (Rotowire)

Brandon Webb (shoulder) will throw off a mound for the first time since April on Friday, the Arizona Republic reports. “I feel like this past week, the last three times throwing, it’s been real good,” Webb said. “I think it just keeps progressing. We’re moving in the right direction. It feels better than it’s felt since the season started.” No schedule has been mapped out for his minor league rehab assignment, but manager A.J. Hinch said it’s not out of the question that he’ll return before the All-Star break. Unless he starts getting stretched out in the next week or so, we expect him to be out until after the mid-summer classic. (Rotowire)

San Diego LF Chase Headley hit his sixth home run of the season on Wednesday in a 4-3 loss to the Mariners. He went 1 for 4 in the game with a strikeout as his batting average remained at .236 on the season. Headley has not been what Fantasy owners were hoping for this season, but he could end up being a decent contributor in deeper mixed leagues in the second half of the season. Hopefully this homer will help turn his fortunes around. (CBS Sports)

Colorado C Chris Iannetta hit his ninth home run of the season on Wednesday in a 5-3 win over the Rays. He went 2 for 3 in the game with an RBI and two runs scored with his other hit being a double. His batting average improved to .228 on the season. Iannetta is not having too terrific of a season with the Rockies so far. This was his first homer since returning from the DL on June 9 from a hamstring injury. He has a boatload of talent and should be able to turn his fortunes around soon. He makes for a solid option in deeper mixed leagues. (CBS Sports)

Pirates RP John Grabow worked two scoreless relief innings Wednesday against the Twins, but it didn’t come without some troubles. Against Grabow in the seventh, the Twins loaded the bases with one out and couldn’t score. Joe Crede bounced one back toward the mound to end that threat. Grabow allowed one hit, walked three and struck out one in two innings. Grabow has been pitching very effective lately. He has allowed just two earned runs in his last 15 outings. He is one of the Pirates’ long relievers and gets a save chance every now-and-then, but Grabow remains more of a Fantasy flier in leagues that use true middle men. (CBS Sports)

Mets LF Fernando Tatis pinch-hit and hit a double in Wednesday’s loss to the Orioles. He went 1 for 2 and is batting .263 on the year. Tatis figures to get the less amount of at-bats in a true platoon with Daniel Murphy. Consider him nothing more than a part-timer for the Mets and the deepest of NL-only leagues at this point. (CBS Sports)

STANDINGS through 06.17.09