Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.Ervin Santana went 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 214 strikeouts last season. The promising 26-year-old has yet to rekindle the success in 2009, though, due mostly to arm injuries. Still, we know the potential he possesses, which is why there's no reason to give up on him halfway through the season. Any sign of a turnaround is sure to give fantasy baseball owners hope.
Thursday night, we got a glimmer. Santana dominated the A's. He worked 8 innings and struck out 4, while only allowing 3 hits, 1 earned run and 2 walks -- garnering the win in the process.
So, yes, it's a good sign and it wouldn't hurt to add Santana right now if he's still on your waiver wire. That being said, we aren't completely out of the woods here. The A's offense doesn't exactly shout '27 Yankees. They are 12th in the American League in runs scored and dead last (by a significant margin) in slugging percentage.
Also, the A's are his whipping boy -- to put it lightly. Santana is now 10-1 with a 1.35 ERA against the A's in his lifetime (100 innings isn't a small sample, either). In Network Associates Coliseum (where the A's play; the location of Thursday night's game), he's 5-0 with a 1.44 ERA.
Translation: He could be back, but we'll need to see more before fully making an accurate declaration. He's got another pretty easy start lined up Tuesday in Kansas City, so get him active for that.
Bits from the Box Scores:
- In similar news to Santana, Rich Harden had been struggling mightily of late and throttled a weak sister. The Nationals really suck, but it was nice to see Harden work 6 near spotless innings (only 3 hits and 1 unearned run were allowed) with 7 strikeouts. Next outing is in Philly, though, so he'll get a tough test to see if he's really got things fixed.
- Matt Holliday is going to be traded within the next two weeks. There isn't much question of that. Now is the time to trade for him in fantasy baseball. He hit his 9th home run Thursday night in the cavernous Oakland ballpark and a new home will see many more.
- Jose Lopez is a nice second base option who you could still probably get cheaply. He's raised his batting average to .259. He's hitting .312 with 9 home runs and 30 RBI in his past 35 games, meaning he's in the middle of a prolonged stretch of solid hitting. It's not a hot streak, he's just playing like he can.
- Another great outing for Cliff Lee, as he continues his see-saw season. His 3.31 ERA is solid, but his WHIP is a mediocre 1.36 because he continues to give up hits at an alarming rate. Even Thursday night, when he went the distance and only allowed 1 run, he yielded 9 hits to the Mariners, who are hitting only .261 as a team.
- Nyjer Morgan continues to run like there's no tomorrow. He's now stolen 7 bases in only 11 games for the Nationals -- giving him 25 on the year. Even better news: When he got horribly picked off with the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the 8th inning, it didn't hurt his fantasy stats.
- Rafael Soriano looks to be emerging as a legitimate stud closer. Since taking the loss June 11, Soriano has converted all 8 of his save chances while allowing only 2 earned runs in 15 innings (1.20 ERA). In that time, he's struck out a whopping 23 hitters while walking only 5. He already has 7 saves in July and has struck out 9 batters -- while only allowed a single baserunner -- in the past four games. He's simply unhittable right now, so get him active in all formats.
- Time to beat the dead horse again: I believe firmly in J.J. Hardy. He can get hot at a moment's notice and carry your offense for a week or two. Here we are again, with me hoping I can see the streak. After a big Thursday night, he's 6 for his last 11 (.545) with a home run and 8 RBI in his past three games. Here it comes. This time, I promise.
- Just when Homer Bailey got our hopes up, he reverted back to his old self. The Brewers touched him up for 7 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. He still can't find the strike zone, as he walked 4. His K:BB ratio is even on the season (19:19) and he's walking 6.1 hitters per 9 innings, which is just pathetic. Really, you wish he'd trust his stuff more. If he wasn't working behind all the time and giving hitters free passes on base he wouldn't yield near as many runs.
- Did you miss Raul Ibanez? He re-announced his presence with authority Thursday, screaming I will not go quietly into the night (let's just hope he keeps his stool samples to himself). After the 2 home run, 3 RBI night he's got 24 and 63, respectively. The career year for the 37-year-old continues.
- Seth Smith is quietly racking up pretty nice numbers for the Rockies. In just 155 at-bats, he's got a .303 average with 8 home runs and 25 RBI. He has good plate discipline (30 BB to only 28 K) and some speed (3 stolen bases). He's worth a look in deeper leagues, especially total points ones where the K:BB matters.
- It's no small feat to pierce through the Dodgers' potent offense, but that's exactly what Wandy Rodriguez did. Are we convinced of the left-hander's ability yet? There seems to be some malign attached to his name, but he's progressively improved for the last four seasons and is now a legitimate fantasy must-start. He's got 9 wins, a 2.81 ERA and 112 punch-outs in 118 2/3 innings this year.
- On the opposite end, Randy Wolf put together his fourth straight quality start. He's even striking guys out (21 in 24 1/3 innings to only 4 walks during that stretch). His ERA is 3.51 on the season and you'd think the Dodgers will start giving him enough run support to win some games. Take a look in bigger leagues if he's out there. He's a nice bargain option.
The Afflicted: Lance Berkman had to leave the game with a calf injury. It doen't sound serious, but sometimes these muscle issues in the legs have a tendancy to linger.
Coming Back: Alex Gordon is going to play Friday. Mike Lowell will be back Saturday, if not Friday. Carlos Quentin is nearing his return to the White Sox lineup.
Peavy Update: Jake Peavy, ace of the Padres' staff and many fantasy teams out there, has improved his chances of being helpful remarkably in the past couple days. Thursday, he was able to take off his protective boot and throw off flat ground. Peavy very tentatively set a timetable of five weeks before he returns. He's definitely worth stashing in all leagues where you have a bench.
Lineup Lock Time: You've got until 7:05 PM ET. Don't slack off at work on Friday. Earn that weekend.
