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

Jason Bergmann was a nice starter, but unfortunately he recorded two wins in his 3-1/2 months on the Roadrunners. That’s what happens when you play for the Nationals. Plus, he would have cost $10 to protect, and we couldn’t risk actually activating him, so there you have it. It was a nightmarish start for Nationals starter Jason Bergmann Wednesday night against the Mets. Bergmann lasted just three innings and allowed 10 runs — all of them earned — on nine hits. He walked six men and had one strikeout. He needed 89 pitches to go just three full frames. Far and away the worst outing of the season for Bergmann, the man still has an ERA under 5.00 after this fiasco. He’d been pitching pretty well prior to Wednesday and we certainly don’t expect a repeat of this performance next week. That said, he pitches for the Nationals so wins will always be hard to come by. He is a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 21 (Aug. 18-24) but that makes him a viable option in only the deepest of mixed Fantasy leagues. His next scheduled start comes Tuesday at the Phillies and he’ll finish the week at the Cubs. (CBS Sports)

John Bowker was sent down to AAA Fresno last week, and we’re not sure he’s coming back. Even though he was second on the team in homers (with 9), he just wasn’t hitting consistently. Bowker has been seeing plenty of time at first base since mid-June, but he hasn’t homered in his last 96 at-bats. He’s also managed just nine hits in his last 78 at-bats, bringing his average down to .247 on the season. (Rotoworld)

Trade:

• Trade OF Steve Pearce ($1, 3 years) to Cover Zero.
• Acquire Nationals’ OF Lastings Milledge ($9, 1 year), added to actives

FAAB Acquisitions:

• OF Chris Dickerson, Reds [$0 bid, add to actives]
• P Noah Lowry, Giants [$0 bid]

Down:

• OF Shane Victorino

Cut:

• P Jason Bergmann
• OF John Bowker

Jason Bergmann gave up 10 runs — six earned — in the Nationals’ loss to the Mets on Wednesday night. Bergmann allowed eight hits and six walks in one of his worst starts of the year. An eight-run third was the biggest dagger, but he didn’t look good in any of the innings he pitched. Bergmann’s season-long lack of run support continued, as the Nationals were creamed, 12-0, but Bergmann didn’t help himself by setting a new career high in runs. His ERA rose to 4.51 and his record now sits at 2-9. Far and away the worst outing of the season for Bergmann, the man still has an ERA under 5.00 after this fiasco. He’d been pitching pretty well prior to Wednesday and we certainly don’t expect a repeat of this performance next week. That said, he pitches for the Nationals so wins will always be hard to come by. He is a two-start pitcher in Fantasy Week 21 (Aug. 18-24) but that makes him a viable option in only the deepest of mixed Fantasy leagues. His next scheduled start comes Tuesday at the Phillies and he’ll finish the week at the Cubs. (Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Washington SP Jason Bergmann earned his first win in nearly three months to help the Nationals beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3 in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday. Bergmann improved to 2-8 on the season as he allowed one run on seven hits over seven strong innings. He walked two and had seven strikeouts. Bergmann is a young hurler with a lot of upside. The fact that he’s pitching for the Nationals is the down side. And that isn’t going to change this season. Because his team rarely wins, he’s nothing but an NL-only and keeper option. However, in Fantasy Week 20 (Aug. 11-17) he pitches twice and has slightly elevated value. He’ll go against the Mets on Tuesday and then against the team he dominated Thursday, the Rockies, to end the week. (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.

Nationals SP Jason Bergmann didn’t factor in the decision Saturday against the Reds even though he allowed five earned runs, the most he has allowed since June 6. He went six innings, giving up six runs total on six hits and three walks. He also recorded two strikeouts. Bergmann entered with a 2.66 ERA over his last seven starts. He remains a decent pitcher, but since the Nationals have only provided him one win, he won’t do your Fantasy team much good. Leave him for NL-only leagues right now, but keep him on your radar. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at Colorado. (CBS Sports)

Clayton Kershaw outpitched Jason Bergmann for his first major league victory and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals 2-0 on Sunday. Bergmann (1-8) allowed two runs and six hits over six innings, struck out five and walked three. The only runs he allowed were on a James Loney homer in the second and Russell Martin single in the fifth. The right-hander is 0-7 with a 3.24 ERA in 12 starts since beating the New York Mets 7-0 on May 15 at Shea Stadium with seven innings of three-hit ball. He has lost his last six starts on the road. Bergmann has allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight starts. Bergmann could be a totally different Fantasy pitcher if he were playing for a contender. Since he pitches for the lowly Nationals, he remains a low-end Fantasy SP at best. His next scheduled start is for Saturday against the Reds. Bergmann lost to Cincinnati July 4 despite allowing just two runs in six innings. (CBS Sports)

Nationals SP Jason Bergmann was plagued by three homers during a 6-3 loss to the Giants Tuesday. Fred Lewis hit his first career leadoff home run when he connected to right on a 1-0 pitch from Bergmann (1-7). Bengie Molina added a two-run homer three batters later and then hit a solo homer off Bergmann leading off the fourth. Bergmann allowed five runs (four earned) and six hits in five innings. He didn’t issue a walk and struck out one. Bergmann is winless in 11 starts since beating the Mets in New York on May 15. Tuesday was the first time in six starts he allowed more than two earned runs. Bergmann has been pretty solid since his recall in mid-May and has run into some unfortunate luck pitching for Washington. For that, he remains a low-end Fantasy SP. His next scheduled start is for Sunday against the Dodgers. (CBS Sports)

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.

Nationals SP Jason Bergmann (1-6) won’t take the mound in Fantasy Week 16 (July 17-20), but he will get two starts in Fantasy Week 17 (July 21-27), against the Giants and Dodgers, both on the road. Bergmann hasn’t won since May 15, but he has been pitching superbly lately as he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last five starts. His ERA has dropped a full run over that span, but he just can’t any help from the Washington bats. He remains an NL-only option for now whose rotisserie value has been rising in recent weeks. (CBS Sports)

FAAB Acquisition:

• P Jaime Garcia, Cardinals [$7 bid - add to actives]

Up:

• P Josh Johnson

Down:

• P Jason Bergmann
• P Jason Marquis

Cut:

• P Thomas Hanson

Notes:

• Due to the All-Star break, the FAAB acquisition run occured Monday night, while activations must be in by 6:35pm Thursday.
• Due to the short week, neither Bergmann or Marquis (above) will be starting in this Week 16.
• Shoeless Jews acquired former 2008 Roadrunner Emilio Bonifacio for $0 FAAB, and released P Taylor Tankersley.

Nationals SP Jason Bergmann pitched well Thursday against the Diamondbacks, but he didn’t get the support he needed for a win. He allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings, striking out three and walking one, and has received a meager eight runs of support in his last 11 starts. Bergmann has a 1.91 ERA over his last five starts and would no doubt get more attention in mixed leagues if his team would score a run or two for him. He remains a decent sleeper in all formats, but with only one victory to show for his efforts, you can’t expect too much in the second half. Expect him to make a start in Fantasy Week 16 (July 17-20). (CBS Sports)

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.

The Washington Nationals didn’t fare so well on our nation’s Independence Day, and neither did starter Jason Bergmann against the Reds. Bergmann dropped to 1-6 on the season as he went six innings and gave up six hits and three runs — two earned — striking out five and walking three. It must be tough to pitch for the Nationals, as Bergmann has gone at least six in his last four starts and has given up two runs or less in each. Still, he has nothing to show for it and that trend should continue. He next pitches Thursday against Arizona and Dan Haren. That’s not a favorable matchup for the Nats or Bergmann and he should be a candidate to sit in all but the deepest of mixed leagues. (CBS Sports)

Nationals SP Jason Bergmann gave up one run and six hits in seven innings during a no decision Sunday against the Orioles. After Bergmann had shut the Orioles out for the first six innings, Luke Scott drove a ball into the right-center field stands for his 14th home run of the year — his second in two games — to tie the score at 1 in the seventh. Bergmann walked one and struck out three. Bergmann is winless in his last eight starts. He last won on May 15 when he pitched seven shutout innings against the New York Mets, allowing just three hits. Since then, he’s lost four games and pitched to four no-decisions. He has allowed one earned run in three straight starts and is 0-1 in that span. Talk about tough luck. Bergmann might be a decent Fantasy SP had he be pitching for a contender, but starting for the lowly Nationals makes him a low-end option. His next scheduled start is for Friday against the Reds. (CBS Sports)