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

Joe Blanton held the Cubs hitless until Aramis Ramirez hit a two-out single in the fourth inning Friday afternoon, but he did not factor in the final decision. Blanton gave up two runs and two hits in 5 2/3 innings and left the game with the score tied 2-2. He allowed five walks and struck out four in the outing. Blanton was coming off a solid outing against the Dodgers in which he had allowed just one run. But He hasn’t made it through six innings now in three of his last four games. He doesn’t strike out a lot of batters and his ERA isn’t too great, so he’s not helping Fantasy owners much if he can’t eat up innings. Blanton pitches for a contender now, but he remains just a low-end mixed-league option. His next start is scheduled for Sept. 3 at Washington against the Cubs. (CBS Sports)

Phillies SP Joe Blanton allowed one run and six hits in six innings during a no decision Sunday against the Dodgers. He allowed Los Angeles to get on the board in the top of the first, but then pitched five shutout innings. He left in a 1-all tie. Blanton walked three and struck out four for his fourth no decision. Blanton has allowed one or fewer earned runs in three of his last five starts, but has just one win to show for it. He continues to bounce all over the place with his starts, but has been pretty decent since joining the Phillies. Blanton pitches for a contender now, but he remains just a low-end mixed-league option. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Cubs. (CBS Sports)

Phillies SP Joe Blanton allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings Tuesday against the Nationals in his sixth start since joining the Phillies in a trade with Oakland. He walked one, struck out three and didn’t factor in the decision. He has gone only five innings in each of his last two starts. Blanton had gone seven innings in two starts before this latest two-start stretch, which looks more in line with his numbers from earlier the season. Blanton pitches for a contender now, but he remains just a low-end mixed-league option. His next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Dodgers. (CBS Sports)

Joe Blanton was remarkably average against the Dodgers on Wednesday night, giving up four runs on nine hits over 5.0 innings. He struck out six, walked three, and gave up two homers. After watching his counterpart Brad Penny get hammered, Blanton actually kept the Phillies in the game despite the numbers. He struggled and needed 97 pitches just to get through five innings. Blanton left with a 6-4 lead after five innings Wednesday against the Dodgers, but the bullpen faltered in the late innings and cost the right-hander a win. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Up:

• P John Maine
• P Joe Blanton
• 3B Chipper Jones
• OF Chase Headley

Down:

• OF Gregor Blanco
• OF Steve Pearce
• P Matt Lindstrom
• P Carlos Villanueva

Move:

• 3B Casey Blake to Utility
• U Jody Gerut to OF

Joe Blanton pitched seven innings of shutout, one-hit baseball on Friday but the Phillies lost in extra innings to the Pirates. Blanton walked two but struck out seven. He deserved a win for the performance, but both sides showcased great all-around pitching, and he was left with a no-decision. He carries a 3.27 ERA into his next start against the Dodgers. Blanton has a 0.64 ERA over his last two starts and a 3.27 ERA in four starts with the Phillies. He looks like a different pitcher after getting thrown into a pennant race and has reemerged as a low-end mixed-league Fantasy SP. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Joe Blanton picked up his first win for the Phillies by limiting the Cardinals to one run in seven innings on Saturday. Ryan Ludwick homered in the seventh to break up the shutout bid. The Phillies ended up winning 2-1 on homers from Greg Dobbs and Ryan Howard. Blanton is 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA in three starts for his new team. The Phillies acquired Blanton to be a dependable guy capable of consistently giving Philadelphia at least a chance to win ball games whenever he took the mound. He did that and more, on Saturday, though he’ll need to string a few more solid outings together before he can truly instill confidence in his teammates, coaches and fans. He still should not be owned in most mixed leagues. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

FAAB Acquisition:

• 3B Casey Blake, Dodgers [$35 bid, add to actives]

Up:

• P Josh Johnson
• OF Steve Pearce

Down:

• 3B Chipper Jones
• P Joe Blanton
• OF John Bowker

Cut:

• OF Andruw Jones

Notes:

• This is the first week this season that the Atomic Roadrunners infield has been disrupted, here in Week 18. The core of Prince Fielder, Mark Teixeira, Chipper Jones, Jose Reyes, Brandon Phillips, and Ryan Theriot had not been interrupted this season. The catching situation has been remarkably stable as well, as Chris Iannetta replaced Javier Valentin in Week 4, and Chris Coste replaced Carlos Ruiz in Week 8.
• Former 2008 Roadrunner Matt Herges was released by Stanimals when he picked up John Grabow.
• I also bid $3 on Joel Hanrahan, who had been on my scout team since the pre-season, due to his scoreless innings streak in Spring Training. X-Men acquired him for $41 FAAB, as he is now the presumptive closer for the Nationals with the trade of Jon Rauch.

Phillies starter Joe Blanton and Braves starter Jorge Campillo both left today’s game early due to a rain delay in the second inning. A rain delay of 1 hour and 57 minutes chased both starters from the game. Blanton allowed two runs and three hits in two innings Sunday against the Braves in his second outing since he arrived in a trade with Oakland. Blanton also walked one and struck out once. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Phillies starter Joe Blanton was making his first start for the Phillies since being acquired from Oakland last week to solidify a shaky rotation on Tuesday vs. the Mets. He took the spot of Adam Eaton, who was 3-8 with a 5.71 ERA. Blanton came in having thrown 15 shutout innings against the Mets in two starts for the A’s and he looked as if he were pitching to form until he walked Jose Reyes on four pitches to open the third. He gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings and picked up a no decision. Blanton didn’t have the debut Philly fans would have liked, but the Phils won the game anyway. Still, Blanton hasn’t exactly been on target in his last eight outings. He’s given up at least four runs five times over that span and is just 2-5. Target him in NL-only leagues because he works deep into games and has better potential than he’s shown so far, but he obviously won’t give you an instant ace the way CC Sabathia and Rich Harden did. He was a two-start pitcher this week and his next start comes Sunday against the Braves. (CBS Sports)

Phillies starter Joe Blanton was making his first start for the Phillies since being acquired from Oakland last week to solidify a shaky rotation on Tuesday vs. the Mets. He took the spot of Adam Eaton, who was 3-8 with a 5.71 ERA. Blanton came in having thrown 15 shutout innings against the Mets in two starts for the A’s and he looked as if he were pitching to form until he walked Jose Reyes on four pitches to open the third. He gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings and picked up a no decision. Blanton didn’t have the debut Philly fans would have liked, but the Phils won the game anyway. Still, Blanton hasn’t exactly been on target in his last eight outings. He’s given up at least four runs five times over that span and is just 2-5. Target him in NL-only leagues because he works deep into games and has better potential than he’s shown so far, but he obviously won’t give you an instant ace the way CC Sabathia and Rich Harden did. He was a two-start pitcher this week and his next start comes Sunday against the Braves. (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.