Atomic RoadRunners

FAAB Acquisitions:

• C Carlos Ruiz, Phillies ($2 bid, add to actives at DH)
• MI Brendan Ryan, Cardinals ($0 bid, add to actives at MI)
• 1B Fernando Tatis, Mets ($1 bid, add to actives at 1B)
• SP Antonio Bastardo, Phillies ($3 bid, add to actives)
• SP Matt Maloney, Reds ($2 bid, add to actives)
• RP Clay Zavada, Diamondbacks ($0 bid, add to actives)

Up:

• C Chris Iannetta

Down:

• 1B Casey Kotchman (15-Day DL – shin contusion)
• SS Jose Reyes (15-Day DL – hamstring and calf)
• DH Jake Fox
• RP Matt Lindstrom
• RP John Grabow

Cut:

• C Robinzon Diaz
• RP Kyle McClellan
• RP Clay Condrey
• OF Jody Gerut
• 3B Brian Barden
• OF Austin Kearns

Notes:

• Bastardo was also bid on by The Pi Train ($1) and Misogynistic Padres ($0)
• Ruiz was also bid on by Misogynistic Padres ($0)
• Iannetta is scheduled to be activated from the 15-Day DL today
• Both Ruiz and Ryan have been on the Roadrunners previously
• Tatis was originally drafted by The Pi Train in the 6th Round of the 2009 WBRL Minor League draft, thus his salary is $10
• Zavada’s middle name is “Pflibson”

Trade:

• OF Conor Jackson (along with AaRr 12th-Round Minor League Draft) to The Pi Train, for his 4th-Round Minor League Draft in 2010.

FAAB Acquisitions:

• DH Jake Fox, Cubs ($3, add to actives)
• SP Mat Latos, Padres ($0, reserve)

Up:

• P Matt Lindstrom
• P Sean West
• OF Matt Diaz

Down:

• DH Brian Barden
• P Kyle McClellan
• P Kenshin Kawakami
• OF Austin Kearns

Cut:

• OF Jonny Gomes

Notes:

• San Diego RP Edward Mujica was a backup pickup if Fox wasn’t acquired.  He was picked up by Get Off Kong!
• Conor Jackson may not return this season, due to his contraction of Valley Fever.  He’s currently on the 15-Day DL, and based on his $16 price tag and .190 batting average, he probably isn’t a candidate to be protected.

Austin Kearns is back in the lineup Wednesday after missing five consecutive games with a bruised left hand. Kearns is playing right field and batting fifth. He has posted a .213/.364/.416 batting line this season with five doubles, two triples, three home runs and 15 RBI in 89 at-bats. (Rotoworld)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• C Robinzon Diaz, Pirates ($0 bid, reserve)

Up:

• OF Matt Diaz (to DH)

Down:

• OF Conor Jackson

Move:

• DH Austin Kearns to OF

Cut:

• RP Juan Gutierrez

Notes:

• Lost on bidding for Marlins 2B/OF Chris Coghlan.  I bid $5, as did Pi Train, but Get Off Kong! bid $11
• Lost on bidding for new Cubs 3B/OF Ryan Freel.  I bid $3, as did Get Off Kong!, but Misogynistic Padres bid $5
• Conor Jackson was placed on the 15-Day DL (illness) after the transaction deadline.  I had already decided to send him down.

OF Austin Kearns is hitting .321 with a .486 on-base percentage in his past 10 games, the product of a change in his swing that manager Manny Acta said is making the difference between this year and last season, when Kearns hit just .217 in 86 games. “He took it upon himself and flew down to Florida (before spring training) and spent a few days with (hitting coach) Rick (Eckstein),” Acta said. “He’s been able to level his swing a little bit more. He doesn’t have that slight uppercut that he had, so he’s able to get to pitches inside that he wasn’t able to.” Kearns has been a nice sleeper in deeper leagues this season, mostly NL-only formats. He has always been talented but has never lived up to the hype. At least now, he is outperforming expectations for owners in real deep leagues. (CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisition:

• RP Clay Condrey, Phillies ($0 bid, Add to Actives)

Up:

• SP Shairon Martis
• SP Chad Gaudin
• CM Emilio Bonifacio
• OF Austin Kearns (to DH)

Move:

• 1B Conor Jackson (to OF)
• CM Casey Kotchman (to 1B)

Down:

• RP John Grabow
• RP Kyle McClellan
• RP Juan Gutierrez
• 3B Brian Barden
• OF Jody Gerut

Cut:

• OF Jose Tabata (Minors)

Notes:

• Tabata will miss the next six weeks with a hamstring strain, and he was only hitting .250 at AA Altoona, so at this point he’s not a strong protection for 2010.

Nationals OF Austin Kearns hit his third homer of the season in Sunday’s win over the Mets. He finished the day with three runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Kearns isn’t having a superb start to the season and doesn’t even play every day for the sorry Nationals. Continue to leave him for just deeper NL-only leagues. (CBS Sports)

Austin Kearns hit a grand slam in the loss to the Marlins on Saturday. The grand slam came off Josh Johnson in the first inning. He still has just a .179 batting average in 28 at-bats. If the struggles continue, look for Josh Willingham to steal some at-bats in right. (Rotoworld)

With Lastings Milledge sent down to Triple-A, Elijah Dukes will play center field, leaving Austin Kearns as the everyday starter in right field. Josh Willingham will still be looking for at-bats, but the outfield picture in Washington is looking a lot more comfortable than it did yesterday. (Rotowire)

Austin Kearns is not in the starting lineup for Monday’s home opener, the Washington Post reports. Elijah Dukes is getting the start in right field instead. It’d be easy to read something into the fact that Kearns is on the bench for the Nats’ home opener, but right now he’s still officially the “starter” in right field. (Rotowire)

Austin Kearns started the first two games of the season for the Nationals and homered in Tuesday’s loss to the Marlins. Two starts for Kearns and none for Elijah Dukes. Kearns is only worth a look in deeper leagues, as Dukes should still be the long term option. He is 2-for-8 at the plate after the first two games of the season. Kearns, who beat out Elijah Dukes for the starting right field job, has driven in a run in each of his first two games of the season. He is likely going to hit around 20 homers if he can stay healthy with a mediocre batting average and is better saved for NL-only play. In mixed leagues, he should only be viewed as a reserve and occasional stopgap. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisition:

• RP Josh Kinney, Cardinals ($0 bid, reserve)

Up:

• SP Shairon Martis

Down:

• RP Kyle McClellan

Cut:

• OF Brandon Jones

Notes:

• Need to figure a way to get Austin Kearns into the lineup
• Also bid $0 on OF/DH Gary Sheffield of the Mets.  Misogynistic Padres also bid $0, and The Pi Train won him with a $17 bid.
• As of 9:30 AM, the OnRoto Standings have not been updated for today with yesterday’s stats.

Adam Dunn will be the Nationals’ cleanup hitter on Opening Day. Manager Manny Acta’s lineup for the opener goes as follows: CF Lastings Milledge, SS Cristian Guzman, 3B Ryan Zimmerman, LF Adam Dunn, 1B Nick Johnson, RF Austin Kearns, 2B Ronnie Belliard, C Jesus Flores. The outfield is undoubtedly crowded with Elijah Dukes and Josh Willingham in search of at-bats, but Milledge and Dunn figure to be in the lineup most days, leaving Kearns facing significant competition for playing time. (Rotoworld)

According to the Washington Post, Austin Kearns will open the season as the Nationals’ starting right fielder. Manager Manny Acta is expected to make it official soon. Elijah Dukes and Josh Willingham will probably steal enough at-bats to nullify Kearns’ fantasy value, but he hit .286/.423/.595 this spring to earn the job and will be penciled into the Opening Day lineup on Monday. (Rotoworld)

Austin Kearns hit his third homer and walked in three plate appearances Thursday against the Phillies. Elijah Dukes then took over in right field and struck out in both of his at-bats. The assumption all spring was that Dukes would have a starting job, but manager Manny Acta said yesterday that the position was still up for grabs. Kearns is hitting .286/.423/.595 to Dukes’ .224/.321/.347, so he has a real chance of being in the lineup on Opening Day. (Rotoworld)