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

Josh Johnson improved to 3-0 in six starts this season by holding the Mets to five hits and two earned runs over seven innings Sunday as the Marlins cruised to an 8-2 victory. He walked two but struck out five, dropping his ERA to 3.19. Joe Nelson, Arthur Rhodes and Kevin Gregg combined on two scoreless innings to finish out the game. Johnson will have a tough test against the Cubs next week, but he’s definitely worth a pickup in leagues where he’s available. (Rotoworld)

A month into his return from reconstructive elbow surgery, 30 pounds lighter and with a refined changeup to complement a dastardly slider and zipppy fastball, Johnson has given Florida the kind of pitcher other teams paid dearly for in midseason trades. “It’s like almost getting a big trade,” Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “To get him, for me, was like Milwaukee getting (CC) Sabathia.” The Marlins improved to 6-0 in Johnson’s starts this season, including three wins against the rival Phillies and Mets. Sabathia is 6-0 for the Brewers. Johnson (3-0), who had Tommy John surgery in August 2007 after going 12-7 in his rookie campaign of ‘06, gave up two runs and five hits to follow up six shutout innings in Philadelphia on Tuesday. He lowered his ERA from 4.18 to 3.19 with his past two starts. “I felt real good today,” Johnson said. “I absolutely attacked the zone.” (CBS Sports)

Josh Johnson blanked the Phillies over six innings on Tuesday night as the Marlins cruised to an 8-2 victory. It was Johnson’s most effective outing since joining the Marlins rotation in July after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He struggled with his control issuing four walks and throwing just 55 of 97 pitches for strikes, but kept the Phillies’ powerful offense in check and improved to 2-0. Jeremy Hermida’s four RBI helped carry the Fish to an easy win. (Rotoworld)

Josh Johnson, making his fourth start of the year after returning from Tommy John surgery, allowed four runs on eight hits over 6.2 innings and collected his first major league win since Aug. 28, 2006. He had a much better-looking fantasy line before allowing a three-run homer to Damion Easley in the seventh inning, although he had just two strikeouts to go with two walks. He also helped his own cause with an RBI double. (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.

Josh Johnson struck out eight Cubs over five-plus innings Friday, but was left with a no-decision as the Marlins won the game in the ninth inning. Johnson was charged with two earned runs on seven hits, but his only real mistakes were the solo shots he served up to Geovanny Soto and Reed Johnson. He was pulled in fifth after allowing one of those homers, but the bullpen stepped up and delivered 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Justin Miller picked up the win with Kevin Gregg tallying his 21st save of the season. (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.

Josh Johnson yielded two runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Phillies on Sunday. He struck out four, walked three, and gave up seven hits. Johnson pitched himself out of jams in the first and third, and was then bailed out by reliever Renyel Pinto with runners on second and third with two outs in the seventh. Johnson still didn’t factor into the decision, but it was an encouraging outing. He’s a risky play while just returning from Tommy John surgery, but the upside is there and he could well be worth using down the stretch run in NL-only leagues. (Rotoworld)

Marlins SP Andrew Miller will be placed on the disabled list and will miss his scheduled start Sunday against the Phillies. That will cause the Marlins to shift their rotation and Josh Johnson will move from his scheduled Monday start to make the start on Sunday. That means that Johnson no longer is a two-start pitcher in Fantasy week 17 (July 21-27). Johnson is trying to come back from Tommy John surgery in less than a year, which is a rare achievement. He looked good in his first start, but he’ll need to prove his durability before he deserves attention in the majority of mixed formats. Consider him more of an NL-only guy right now, but he certainly has the stuff to be a consistent contributor in all formats. (CBS Sports)

Marlins SP Josh Johnson will get the second start of the 2008 season when Florida take on the Braves on Monday. Johnson, who allowed three runs over five innings in his opening start, will also get a second start in Fantasy Week 17 (July 21-27) when he takes on the Cubs at Wrigley on July 26. Johnson is trying to come back from Tommy John surgery in less than a year, which is a rare achievement. He looked good in his first start, but he’ll need to prove his durability before he deserves attention in the majority of mixed formats. Consider him more of an NL-only guy right now, but he certainly has the stuff to be a consistent contributor in all formats. (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.

Josh Johnson allowed three runs in five innings in his return to the Marlins on Friday night. Johnson gave up six hits, but he struck out six batters without issuing a single walk. All three runs scored off him with two outs in the third inning, and two of the runners only reached scoring position by stealing second base. While Johnson typically threw a fastball in the low nineties before Tommy John surgery, he regularly worked in the mid-nineties on Thursday night, something that’s somewhat common after undergoing the procedure. Still, the best course of action with Johnson is probably to stash him until he shows he can pitch well consistently. (Rotoworld)

Marlins beat writer Juan C. Gonzalez of the Sun-Sentinel was tracking Johnson’s pitches, which were a bit faster than his last outing:

Josh Johnson (elbow) is scheduled to make his season debut Thursday against the Dodgers. Johnson has come back strong from Tommy John surgery, tossing eight scoreless innings in his fifth and final minor league rehab start Friday at Double-A. He’s less than 12 months removed from going under the knife, so expect some struggles. If they’re smart, the Marlins will be very careful with his workload initially. (Rotoworld)

The Marlins announced Sunday after their win against the Rockies that SP Josh Johnson will come off the DL to make his season debut on Thursday at San Diego. Johnson, who had reconstructive elbow surgery on Aug. 3, went 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA as a rookie in 2006, so he certainly is worth a flier in all NL-only leagues. He has the potential to prove viable in mixed leagues as well if he looks up to speed right away, but give him a start or two to prove his health first. (CBS Sports)

Josh Johnson (elbow) threw eight scoreless innings Friday in his rehab start for Double-A Carolina. That should be good enough to get him back into Florida’s rotation next week. Ryan Tucker is the favorite to be replaced, though Mark Hendrickson is also vulnerable. (Rotoworld)

The Marlins said Monday that Josh Johnson (elbow) will make at least one more rehab start before rejoining the rotation. He’ll pitch for Double-A Carolina on Friday. It wouldn’t make much since to bring him back next week, since he’d get just one start before the All-Star break. Count on Johnson remaining in the minors until then. (Rotoworld)