Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.Heading into the season, the signs were there that the Rockies' 25-year-old right-handed starter Ubaldo Jimenez was ready for a breakout campaign. The only question was his occasional lack of command, which reared its ugly head in April (he started the season 1-3 with a 7.58 ERA and 2.11 WHIP). Since then, though, Jimenez has actually been one of the best hurlers in baseball and he's been even hotter for the past month.
Once Jimenez exited April, he was ready to rock. Omitting that pesky first month from Jimenez's season gives him a stout stat-line: 10-6, 2.87 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 126 strikeouts in 147 1/3 innings. In 21 starts, he's averaging 7 innings per start -- and he hasn't gone less than 6 in a single outing. 17 of the 21 outings are quality starts.
More recently, Jimenez has become a bonafide ace -- both in fantasy baseball and for the Colorado Rockies. He hasn't lost a game sine July 10, a game in which he was provided only 1 run in support. Still, in the 7 starts since then, Jimenez is 5-0 (the Rockies have gone 6-1). His rate stats -- 2.49 ERA and 1.01 -- rival anyone in baseball. He's struck out 44 batters, while only walking 18, in 50 2/3 innings.
Most importantly, and this is something the spreadsheet squad couldn't tell you, Jimenez has a swagger. It's not conceit, but he's developed what the great pitchers do when things finally start to click. When he walks on the mound, you can tell he's comfortable and ready to dominate whomever should step into the box against him.
Expect his fortunes to continue and be prepared to draft Jimenez as a front-line fantasy starter next season. This is only the beginning.
Bits From the Box Scores:
- Nyjer Morgan now has 21 stolen bases in 42 games for the Nationals since being traded. That's full-season pace of 81, yet he's still a free agent in more than 30 percent of fantasy leagues out there. I guess those leagues don't use steals as a category? Oh, his average during that time is .365 ...
- Speaking of cheap speed, is anyone paying attention to Julio Borbon? The rookie has only 30 career plate appearances, but he's been on base 15 times (.536 OBP) and has already stolen 8 bases without ever getting caught. Take a look at this 23-year-old speedster in all leagues where you need steals help.
- Derek Lowe looked atrocious Tuesday night against the Mets, and his ERA is now 1.21 points higher than it finished last season. His hits allowed are up, walks are up and strikeouts are down. He's likely not cooked, but, at 36, you have to start wondering if he's beginning his descent.
- Luis Castillo, on the other hand, is enjoying quite the renaissance. The 33-year-old currently sports his highest batting average (.306) and on-base percentage (.399) since 2000, when he was 24.
- Tiny Tim, say it ain't so. The Reds, really? Tim Lincecum gave up 5 earned runs in 6 innings, while walking 3 and only striking out 2. The only thing this outing really says is that every great player occasionally has an off-night -- nothing more.
- Ricky Nolasco continued his roller-coaster of a season. The last two outings were so exaggerated it was like Top Thrill Dragster. He went from a horrific 3 1/3 inning, 10 earned run, 1 strikeout game to a complete game, 2 earned run, 10 strikeout and 0 walk outing in one turn. Against the same team! He's a high-risk, high-reward starter. Good luck.
- You have got to be kidding me. I just looked at the Angels' box score from Tuesday night. When the game finished, all nine hitters in the lineup had an average at or above .300. That's insanity. I wouldn't pitch anyone other than a must-start stud against them anytime soon. Here's a great feature on them by our own Andrew Johnson.
- Carl Pavano teased Minnesota fans with his first outing, but, now, he's back. Yes, that's an 8.18 ERA in his last two starts for the Twinkies. There's more where that came from.
- CC Sabathia is picking up steam. The big man has won four straight starts (and six of seven). He now leads the league in innings pitched. In his last three times out, he's allowed only 3 earned runs (1.14 ERA), striking out 26 and walking just 5. That's more than a punch-out per inning and a 0.63 WHIP. Look for him to dominate down the stretch as the Yankees cruise to the best record in baseball.
- Man, I love King Felix. Too bad the bullpen blew his win, but he's still 12-4 with a 2.66 ERA. And he's 23.
- Josh Beckett got roughed up by the Blue Jays -- to the tune of 7 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Expect a bounce-back. He's allowed a bad outing.
- Aubrey Huff went 1-4 in his Tigers debut, but he left four guys on base. The knee-jerk, small-sample thing to take away from this is that he'll see plenty of RBI opportunities in Detroit when he plays.
- Good to see Matt Wieters go deep for the first time since July 5. The rookie has been a fantasy bust due to a probably unfair amount of preseason hype, but don't forget about him next year. The future is bright.
- In what is great news to both their fantasy owners and real team, Pat Burrell and B.J. Upton were a significant part of the Rays' offense Tuesday night. Burrell had a career-worst OPS entering Tuesday night and had been a colossal free agent bust for the small-market Rays. He went 2-4 with a homer and scored twice. Upton was hyped all over the place -- including FanHouse, which was my personal doing (sigh) -- before the season as a fantasy stud in the making. Instead, he's been one of the bigger busts in fantasy, other than his 35 steals. He went 3-4 with a triple and home run Tuesday night. Maybe things will pick up for both. They certainly have the talent.
- Intriguing timing for a rain delay in Philly, eh? Pedro Martinez allowed a home run to lead off the game, but settled in after that -- sitting down 9 of 10 batters. Then, after the skies opened up for about an hour, his night was finished. Jamie Moyer, who was replaced in the rotation by Pedro came on to finish the game and earn the victory, pitching six shutout innings, allowing just two singles and striking out 5.
The Afflicted: Jason Kubel fouled a pitch off his knee and left the game. It appears a day-to-day malady.
Lineup Lock Time: We'll be hooking it up at 2:05 PM ET.
Pitching matchup to watch: Cliff Lee and Dan Haren square off in Citizen's Bank Park at 7:05 PM ET. Cy Young winner against future Cy Young winner. Lefty versus righty.
You'd expect Lee to easily handle the young Diamondbacks' offense, and when Haren's on, it doesn't matter who he's facing -- as his superb 2.50 ERA can attest. I'd definitely start both.
Regardless, it's one for fantasy baseball and real baseball fans alike to enjoy.
