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

Brett Myers allowed three runs in seven innings but still lost against the Dodgers on Thursday night. Myers allowing five hits while striking out eight batters and walking just two. He’s lowered his ERA to 5.02, which is down 0.80 points since he re-joined the team. All but his first start were of the quality variety. fter that miserable start to the season that got him demoted to the minors, Myers has emerged as a must-start Fantasy SP again, looking like the same guy who dominated more often than not in 2005 and 2006. Pick him up if he remains unowned in your league. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Nationals. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Brett Myers pitched the Phillies past the Pirates by allowing one run over 7 2/3 innings on Saturday. Myers struck out six and walked one in a third straight quality start. He’s lowered his ERA from 5.84 to 5.09 since returning from the minors last month. The feisty right-hander wasn’t pleased to leave with a runner on second and two outs in the eighth. Myers muttered a few expletives when Phillies manager Charlie Manuel went to the mound. Manuel went after Myers in the dugout and the two briefly exchanged words nose-to-nose. Both dismissed the incident after the game as a heat-of-the-battle moment. Myers has allowed less than three runs in each of his last four starts and is pitching well enough to be used in most NL-only leagues. His next scheduled start is Thursday at the Dodgers.(Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• OF Brandon Moss, Pirates [$3 bid, Add to Actives]
• P Matt Lindstrom, Marlins [$0 bid, Add to Actives]

Up:

• P Brett Myers
• P Carlos Villanueva

Down:

• OF Chase Headley
• P Jason Bergmann
• P Jason Marquis
• P John Maine

Cut:

• OF Ryan Spilborghs
• P Seth McClung

Notes:

• Lindstrom had been drafted originally by Get Off Kong! in the 4th Round of the Minor League Draft, thus his salary of $10
• Moss came to the NL in the Manny Ramirez - Jason Bay - Andy LaRoche 3-Way trade at the deadline last week.  He had been on Boston’s AAA squad in Pawtucket.

Brett Myers yielded two runs in six innings Sunday versus the Cardinals. Myers followed up his fine start against the Nationals with another pretty good one against a major league offense. Ryan Ludwick did take him deep for the first homer he’s allowed in three starts since his return. He’s given up 25 on the year. After struggling with his command and walking five against the Mets on July 23 in his first game back from his minor-league assignment, Myers has looked great in his last two starts, giving up just one walk. He can’t be completely trusted yet, and has notched just seven strikeouts in the last 18 innings, but the signs are still very encouraging that he can be a reliable back-end pitcher for your fantasy squad for the rest of the season. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Brett Myers allowed just one unearned run over seven innings on Tuesday night to pick up his first win since May 30 as the Phillies beat the Nationals 2-1. Myers, who has frequently struggled with his command this season and walked five in his last outing, issued only one free pass and gave up just four hits — all singles. Chase Utley’s two-run homer in the third inning proved to be the difference in this game. Take this one with a grain of salt - it was against the Nationals. (Rotoworld)

Phillies recalled RHP Brett Myers from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Demoted to the minors on July 1, Myers posted a 3.00 ERA and 28/7 K/BB ratio in 27 innings spread over four starts. He was 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA in 17 starts for the Phillies prior to the demotion, but will rejoin the rotation with a start Wednesday against the Mets. (Rotoworld)

Brett Myers gave up two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings Friday for Single-A Clearwater. Myers will be called up to start Wednesday against the Mets. He had a 5.84 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP over 17 starts before he was optioned to Triple-A. Myers had a good amount of success in the minors, but shouldn’t be considered a strong fantasy option. (Rotoworld)

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Brett Myers is expected to be called up from the minors to start on July 23 against the Mets. Between then he’ll make one more minor league start Friday. “He’s gaining on it,” pitching coach Rich Dubee said. “His fastball command is getting better. I think Brett needed to get out of the environment.” Myers has been let go by many fantasy owners since his terrible first half and eventual demotion to the minors last month. If he’s available in your league he’s certainly worth picking up and taking a chance on, as he still has the potential to be an ace for one of the top National League teams. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Brett Myers said that he was ready to return to the big leagues after making his third minor-league on Saturday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Myers lasted eight innings allowing three runs while striking out 10 in Saturday’s loss. He hopes to return to the majors soon. “Sometimes you need to take a step back and a deep breath,” he said. “I was able to do that, so I think I’m ready to get back up there. We’ll just see.” The Phillies are planning on giving him at least one more minor-league start after the All-Star break. (Rotowire)

Brett Myers had a solid start Monday at Triple-A, allowing three runs over 7 1/3 innings. Myers had six strikeouts and two walks. “I really felt good out there tonight,” Myers said. “My location was a lot better than my last outing. I thought I threw the ball well and I threw 65 to 70 percent fastballs. I plan to be back in Philadelphia after the All-Star break. I’m down here working on my game.” (Rotoworld)

Brett Myers allowed three runs in five innings Wednesday in his first Triple-A start. Myers didn’t give up a homer. He allowed five hits, walked two and struck out six. He seems certain to make at least two more starts in the minors. (Rotoworld)

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Phillies SP Brett Myers, who was sent down Tuesday and struggled in his first minor-league start Wednesday, will be checked out by a team doctor in the next few days. “There’s no reason to believe there is anything wrong,” assistant GM Ruben Amaro said. “Talking to Brett, he feels healthy, he feels like his arm is fine,” pitching coach Rich Dubee said. “I talked to him (Monday) about it; he felt like there is no problem with his arm. That’s all you can go off of. I don’t get inside his elbow or his shoulder to examine the thing.”

The Phillies are desperately trying to find a reason for Myers’ struggles this season, but maybe he’s just going through a rough patch right now. Then again, you don’t usually get seen by a doctor unless you suspect something might be wrong. Keep Myers stashed in deeper mixed formats for now in case he does return in the second half, but be prepared to drop him if an injury is discovered. (CBS Sports)

Philadelphia optioned Myers to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Myers has 88 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings and his .284 average against is hardly that bad, but he was still ineffective because of all of the homers he allowed and he seemed to be scared of contact in his last start. Myers has struggled all season long and the Phillies had had enough, hoping that he can straighten things out in the minors. Myers, 3-9 after giving up five runs and getting knocked out without retiring a batter in the third inning in Friday night’s 8-7 loss at Texas, has a 5.84 ERA. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he spoke with Myers on Monday about accepting the assignment to work on his delivery. Myers will start Wednesday night against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. “We don’t look at it as a demotion,” pitching coach Rich Dubee said. “We look at it as the means to getting his delivery right. He’s a guy we need.” Manuel said Myers, who saved 21 games in 2007 before returning to the rotation this season, will remain a starter when he returns. “Mentally this is going to give him a blow,” Manuel said. “He needs to get sharp. He needs to get his confidence up.” (CBS Sports)

Myers agreed to accept the assignment even though he could have refused because he has more than five years of service time. “I can’t say enough about Brett’s willingness to accept this assignment,” GM Pat Gillick said. “He understood and is eager to get back on track again. He’s struggling right now, but he is a quality major league pitcher who we are going to need in the second half of the season.” (Rotoworld)

As for who will replace him for his next start, Philadelphia has stated it will make a decision on Wednesday. Cole Hamels would be able to go on five days rest, while middle-reliever and former starter Chad Durbin as well as lefty J.A. Happ from Triple-A appear to be the other two candidates. (Rotowire)

FAAB Acquisitions:

• P Thomas Hanson, Braves [$3 bid, reserve]
• P Jared Burton, Reds [$2 bid, reserve]

Up:

• P Todd Wellemeyer, Cardinals
• P Charlie Morton, Braves

Down:

• P Brett Myers, Phillies

Cut:

• P Sean Marshall, Cubs
• C Carlos Ruiz, Phillies

Ike over at Nine Bo Jacksons just ran through the biggest surprises and disappointments at the halfway mark for both hitters and pitchers. The system uses PECOTA and compares pre-season valuations to actual. Values indicate amount that the player is performing over/under projections. Here’s how some of the Atomic Roadrunners fared:

Hitters

Surprises:

• Ryan Theriot - $25.79
• Gregor Blanco - $21.74

Disappointments:

• Andruw Jones - -$31.92
• Prince Fielder - -$16.06

Pitchers

Surprises:

• Todd Wellemeyer - $14.44

Disappointments:

• Brett Myers - -$36.01

(He only ran the top/bottom 25 of each)

GM Pat Gillick, pitching coach Rich Dubee and manager Charlie Manuel have all hinted that Myers might have his spot in the rotation skipped this week, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. And according to the AP, the Phillies are considering moving Myers back to the bullpen. “I want to make sure we do what’s right for our team and Brett,” Manuel said.

With Myers slated to start Thursday night in Atlanta, Manuel said the Phils could move right-handed reliever Chad Durbin to the rotation, although he has been a critical part of their best-in-the-league bullpen. The Phillies could summon a starter from the minors, either Triple-A lefty J.A. Happ or Double-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco, their top pitching prospect. Right-hander Kris Benson continues to progress from March 2007 shoulder surgery, although after allowing four runs in four innings Sunday in his first Triple-A start, it seems Benson needs a few more starts before he is ready to return to the majors. “I’ll think about what I want to do,” Manuel said. “We could do something with Durbin. I think it depends on how far we think Myers can go in our bullpen. If something like that would happen and he could end up helping out in the back end of our bullpen, if we could see that kind of improvement in him, yeah, that might be.” (CBS Sports)

Skipping Myers in the rotation might be what’s best for him to clear his head right now, though a return to the bullpen — and presumably not the closer’s role, given the success of Brad Lidge — would significantly hurt his potential fantasy value. He’s doing fine with 88 strikeouts in 101.2 innings, but everything else is a mess, from the 44 walks to the 24 home runs to the 115 hits. Even if he does start this week, Myers has been hit hard lately and would be slated to face the Braves this week, against whom he allowed six earned runs in 4.1 innings in a start earlier this year, so he should be on your bench this week. The Phils would turn to Chad Durbin or minor leaguer J.A. Happ to take his place. (Rotowire, Rotoworld)