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

Blake DeWitt was 5-for-5 for Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday as he continues to play second base, the Los Angeles Times reports. That leaves DeWitt with 11 hits in his last 19 games. He’ll be up when rosters expand and could be an option for the club’s starting second base job next year. (Rotowire)

Blake DeWitt is hitting .316/.385/.474 for Triple-A Las Vegas, but more importantly is doing it while logging most of his time at second base. If DeWitt can handle the position defensively (a big “if”), then he could be a prime candidate to take over for Jeff Kent in 2009. He may not have the bat to be an asset as a corner infielder, but at second base, DeWitt could be above average offensively. (Rotoworld)

Dodgers optioned third baseman Blake DeWitt to Triple-A Las Vegas. DeWitt goes and Andy LaRoche stays. The arrival of Casey Blake via trade makes DeWitt the odd man out. After a great start, DeWitt has hit .200 (25-for-125) in his last 40 games. They must see Andy LaRoche as better equipped to serve as a bench player. DeWitt was hitting .257/.324/.36 in 280 at-bats. (Rotoworld)

FAAB Acquisition:

• P Joe Blanton, Phillies [$21 bid, Add to Actives]

Up:

• P Jason Bergmann
• P Jason Marquis
• OF Jody Gerut (to Utility)

Down:

• P Seth McClung
• P Jaime Garcia
• P Josh Johnson
• 3B Blake DeWitt

Cut:

• P Jared Burton

Notes:

• I didn’t expect to with the bidding for Blanton, and was presented with a “oh, great” reaction when I saw I had acquired him.

Blake DeWitt, who has started nine of the last 10 games at third base, went 0-for-4 in Saturday’s one-run loss to the Diamondbacks. Andy LaRoche also isn’t doing much of anything, but he’s barely had a chance. DeWitt has been a sinkhole for seven weeks now. He doesn’t have an extra-base hit in July, and he has no homers and five RBI in 120 at-bats since the beginning of June. It’s time to give the player with the superior track record a real opportunity. (Rotoworld)

Up:

• 3B Blake DeWitt (to Utility)
• P Jason Bergmann

Move:

• U Chase Headley (to OF)

Down:

• OF Jody Gerut
• P Charlie Morton

Notes:

• No FAAB acquisitions for the Atomic Roadrunners this week, as domestic discussions regarding an upcoming trip to San Diego extended through the transaction deadline. Whoops. Just as well.
• Cover Zero acquired former AaRr P Duaner Sanchez for $0 FAAB. In the process, he released former AaRr P Jon Lieber.
• Stanimals acquired former AaRr 2B Aaron Miles for $0 FAAB.

Dodgers 3B Blake DeWitt totaled three singles and one run in three at-bats Monday against the Braves. It was his first multi-hit game since June 5. Dewitt has just 2-for-14 (.143) in his first five July games. DeWitt has really been scuffling at the plate since late May and his solid start to the season seems to have happened ages ago. The minors might be calling his name before too long. DeWitt still sees plenty of starts at third base, but remains more of a NL-only Fantasy option. (CBS Sports)

Los Angeles 3B Blake DeWitt went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts and a leadoff walk in the fifth inning Monday. He now has two hits in 19 at-bats with eight strikeouts over his past eight games (five starts). DeWitt struck out 15 times in his first 38 games this season (132 plate appearances), but since then, he has struck out 29 times in his past 34 games (124 PAs). The minors might be calling his name before too long. He’s nothing more than an NL-only reserve right now. (CBS Sports)

Los Angeles Dodgers 3B Blake DeWitt didn’t get the start in Thursday’s loss to the Chicago White Sox, but he did make an appearance in the game. DeWitt pinch hit in the 9th inning and grounded out to go 0-for-1 on the afternoon. DeWitt has just four hits in his last eight games and isn’t getting regular at-bats for the Dodgers. He’s been just awful in June, causing the Dodgers to call up Andy LaRoche to fill in for him. The minors might be calling his name before too long. He’s nothing more than an NL-only reserve right now. (CBS Sports)

Blake DeWitt drove in two runs as the Dodgers defeated the White Sox 5-0 on Wednesday night. DeWitt finished the night 1-for-3, raising his average to .269 on the season. His average was at .303 when the month of June started, but after hitting .185 this month he’s now hitting .269 on the season. He’ll have to break out of this slump to ensure he keeps playing regularly. (Rotoworld)

Dodgers 3B Blake DeWitt stroked a single and scored once in four at-bats Tuesday against the Reds. Dewitt has just six hits and no multi-hit games in his last nine games. His average has gone from .298 to .278 in that span. DeWitt has been awful in June and is hitting under .200 for the month. His struggles have prompted the team to recall Andy LaRoche from the minors. It might be only a matter of time before DeWitt is one the bench or back in the minors, if he doesn’t improve at the plate. Right now, DeWitt is primarily a NL-only Fantasy option. (CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• P Charlie Morton, Braves [$9 bid, add to actives]
• P Seth McClung, Brewers [$6 bid, add to actives]
• P Josh Johnson, Marlins [$0 bid]

Up:

• 3B/OF Chase Headley (to Utility)
• OF John Bowker
• P Jorge Campillo
• P Mike Gonzalez

Down:

• P Jason Marquis
• P Carlos Villanueva
• P Todd Wellemeyer
• P Jason Bergmann
• OF Ryan Spilborghs
• 3B Blake DeWitt

Cut:

• P Manny Acosta
• P Greg Reynolds
• P Doug Brocail

Blake DeWitt went hitless on Thursday and is hitting .189 with no RBI through 11 games this month. With Andy LaRoche up, DeWitt has picked a bad time to go into a slump. He’ll be in danger of losing playing time to Andy LaRoche if this keeps up. (Rotoworld)

The Los Angeles Times reports that Andy LaRoche will start Wednesday and “the Dodgers plan to use him regularly against left-handed starters.” It’s unclear whether he’ll be replacing Blake DeWitt at third base or James Loney at first base. LaRoche could take everyday at-bats from DeWitt, or perhaps even more the less powerful DeWitt over to second base behind Jeff Kent. “We’ll find somebody whose place he’ll take against left-handers,” manager Joe Torre said. “Now that he’s here, we have to find places to get him enough at-bats so he can help us.” (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Blake DeWitt was scratched from Thursday’s game due to lower-back pain. There’s no word on the severity of the injury, but it’s bad timing for DeWitt, who was making a strong case to keep the starting job even after Nomar Garciaparra returns. For today, Russell Martin will start at third. DeWitt is hitting .320, so the Dodgers are certainly anxious to get him back in the lineup. The back doesn’t seem to be anything to be concerned about. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)