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

Brewers RP Seth McClung allowed three walks, two hits and two runs over 1 1/3 innings Sunday in his first action since being removed from the rotation. McClung was splitting starts with Dave Bush in the No. 5 spot in Milwaukee, but Bush was named the full-time guy on Saturday. With his move to the bullpen, McClung lost all of his Fantasy value outside of super-deep NL-only leagues. (CBS Sports)

Rockies OF Ryan Spilborghs was moving around for the first time in a week since being sidelined with a pulled muscle in his side. Spilborghs was getting everyday at-bats hitting at the top of the Rockies lineup before getting hurt. He doesn’t have a massive amount of power, but you can expect him to hit for a decent average and for him to score some runs and steal a handful of bases, when healthy. He’s a nice, low-end starting option for NL-only leagues when healthy, so stash him in those formats for the next couple of weeks. (CBS Sports)

We’re going to miss Spilborghs. A Roadrunner for each of the past three seasons, 2008 was the first time that he had broken with the squad from Spring Training, having been selected in the third round of the minor league draft. But with a $10 salary, he wasn’t going to be protected, and facing a lengthy rehab, he likely wouldn’t be able to play until September. And at that point, the Rockies are likely to be showcasing Willy Taveras and bringing up Dexter Fowler with a call-up, so he probably won’t contribute much for the remainder of 2008.

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.

Brewers RP Seth McClung allowed three walks, two hits and two runs over 1 1/3 innings Sunday in his first action since being removed from the rotation. McClung was splitting starts with Dave Bush in the No. 5 spot in Milwaukee, but Bush was named the full-time guy on Saturday. With his move to the bullpen, McClung lost all of his Fantasy value outside of super-deep NL-only leagues. (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.

Brewers SP Seth McClung allowed St. Louis to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning Monday, but shut them down over the next four innings and was in line for the 3-2 win before a ninth-inning collapse. McClung allowed five hits and two walks while striking out five in five innings. McClung is winless in his last five starts and has last only six innings once in that span. The Brewers have already announced that McClung and Dave Bush will split starts as the team’s fifth starter, so despite a good run in the rotation, McClung is best left for NL-only Fantasy leagues. His next scheduled start is TBD. (CBS Sports)

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Brewers manager Ned Yost is considering platooning SPs Seth McClung and Dave Bush in the No. 5 spot in the pitching rotation, depending on if the team is at home or on the road. Bush, who is 4-2, with a 2.49 ERA at Miller Park would start the home games, and McClung would start on the road, mainly because Bush is 1-6, with 6.95 ERA away from Milwaukee. “I think it makes sense,” Yost said. “I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel. All I’m trying to do is give us the best chance to win every day. … I’m trying to do what’s smart.” McClung and Bush are decent NL-only options right now, but this move just creates an extra headache for Fantasy owners. Obviously, some weeks both will get one start, while other weeks one might get two starts and the other zero. So, if you own either one of these two, you’ll have to look at where the Brewers are playing each week. Nothing like extra work, huh? (CBS Sports)

Brewers SP Seth McClung allowed two runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings during Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Rockies. McClung walked five and struck out five as he left trailing 2-0. He is winless in his last three starts (0-1) and has failed to make it to five innings in two of those starts. McClung might be struggling to make it five innings on the hill, but he has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of nine starts since entering the rotation. It doesn’t appear as though he will be yanked from his starting job any time soon. Still, McClung remains at best a low-end Fantasy SP. His next scheduled start is for Saturday against the Reds.

Brewers SP Seth McClung, who gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings in his last start, pitched more like he did in his previous four starts Wednesday at Arizona. He allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings, striking out six. He did not factor in the decision, however. Omitting that one poor start, McClung has a 2.70 ERA over his last five. He has joined the ranks of Ryan Dempster, Todd Wellemeyer and Scott Feldman this season in transforming from a mediocre middle reliever to an above average starting pitcher. Use him in all NL-only leagues and don’t immediately discount him in deeper mixed formats. He lines up for two starts in Fantasy Week 15 (July 7-13), with his next one scheduled for Monday against the Rockies. (CBS Sports)

Milwaukee SP Seth McClung only managed to pitch 4 2/3 innings Friday in a loss to the Twins. He gave up nine hits and five runs, walked two and struck out two. For McClung, this marks the first loss in his last three starts as he had won his previous two. He’s not getting past the sixth inning, but he’s limiting the damage done against him. He next pitches Wednesday at Arizona and should probably be limited to starts in deeper mixed leagues and mostly NL-only formats at this time. (CBS Sports)

Seth McClung threw 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball Saturday in a defeat of the Orioles. McClung won despite walking five. That used to be par for the course for him, but he’s walked one or none in four of his six starts since joining the rotation. He’d have to keep that up in order to be a useful fantasy starter. (Rotoworld)

RotoProfessor had a lengthy feature today studying the allure of new callup (and new Roadrunner) Charlie Morton:

What’s amazing to me is that Seth McClung, who has had 3 straight strong starts, is owned by only 7% of owners in CBS leagues.  Do I think McClung should be owned in more leagues?  No, I’m not saying that, but in my mind he has just as much a chance to pitch well, if not a better chance, then Morton.

At least McClung, a former first-round pick, has made 5 starts in the majors, 4 of which he has allowed 2 runs or less.  He had one rough start against the Braves, but otherwise it has been impressive pitching, more impressive then Morton’s one start, actually.

If Morton goes out tonight against the Rangers and shuts them down over 6 innings, my opinion may change.  Honestly, I would think the chances of him getting shelled for 5 runs is more likely, however.  If you are among the 26% who have already grabbed him, I wish you luck.  I’m certainly among the 74% of leagues who are still sitting back and waiting, and I would recommend you do the same.  He just doesn’t have any type of track record to show me anything different at the moment.

Hmm, perhaps I jumped too soon with too much FAAB?

Marlins SP Josh Johnson, who had Tommy John surgery last August, made his first rehab start Saturday, allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out seven in five innings for Class A Greensboro. He’s expected to make his next rehab start for Class A Jupiter. Johnson wasn’t expected back until September or so, but if he can get through a month of rehab without any trouble, he could be back in Florida next month. He is a top prospect and a DL stashee for all leagues where you can afford to wait until his return. There will be plenty reports on his progress in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. (CBS Sports)

Brewers SP Seth McClung continued his resurgence as a starter, lifting the Brewers to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. McClung (4-3) continued his superb turnaround since leaving the long relief role in the bullpen, scattering two runs and four hits, including a solo home run by Jason Kubel. He didn’t issue a walk and struck out four. The righty nicknamed “Chucky” after the horror movie character has pitched six innings in each of his last three starts, giving up a total of five earned runs with 13 strikeouts against just one walk. “My mechanics have always been fine, it’s just mentally, a mindset of just really not trying to overthrow that’s gotten me where I am right now,” said McClung, who was once a top-rated prospect in the Tampa Bay system before injuries and inconsistency eventually led the organization to trade him last season. McClung has done well with the Brewers, but we still like him more just as a NL-only Fantasy option. His next scheduled start is for Saturday against the Orioles. (CBS Sports)

Charlie Morton won in his major league debut, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night. Morton, whose contract was purchased from the Braves’ Triple-A Richmond club earlier in the day, allowed three runs and five hits in six innings with four strikeouts and a walk. The 24-year-old right-hander is the ninth pitcher to start a game for the Braves, who have John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Mike Hampton on the disabled list. A third-round pick in the 2002 draft, Morton threw 64 of his 104 pitches for strikes. He was 5-2 with a 2.05 ERA in his first season at Triple-A and didn’t allow a home run in his 79 innings. He now finds himself in a contender’s rotation and is a must-add in all NL-only leagues and long-term keeper leagues at this point. His numbers suggest he can help in mixed leagues as well. His next start is slated for Thursday afternoon at Texas. (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