Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse

Stream Team: The 2009 Results

R.J. White — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Greetings, streamers! I hope my advice did a small part in helping you to your 2009 fantasy baseball title. Over the last three months, I've identified widely-available pitchers for you to add for a day to benefit from their stats in spot starts. Many leagues have rules in place to prevent daily streaming, such as transaction limits, game limits or weekly lineup submissions, but if your league doesn't have these rules in place, streaming is a great way to lead the pack in wins and Ks, while hopefully staying competitive in ERA and WHIP.

Unfortunately, our last Stream Team starter was replaced on Sunday, as the Twins decided to roll with Carl Pavano for the critical start instead of my guy Brian Duensing, who instead was lit up by the Yankees in Game 1 on Wednesday. That being said, 17 wins in 33 September and October starts along with a 3.03 ERA and 1.22 WHIP are great stats for streamers and could have tipped the balance in your favor as you competed for the title. Throw in the 155 strikeouts, and we basically gave you Johan Santana's truncated 2009 (plus a few more wins) over the last 34 days of the season.

But how did we fare over the course of the season? We started with a 4.40 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 109 Ks and 4 wins in July, numbers that were far better after the All-Star Break (3.41, 1.28, 73, and 4, respectively). In August, we did better in wins and Ks, but the ratios suffered, as we turned in a 4.59 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 130 Ks, and 14 wins. You already know how we did in September and October, so let's look at our final numbers for the season:

2009

534.2 innings
39 wins
543 hits
268 runs
234 earned runs
394 strikeouts
151 walks
63 homers allowed
3.94 ERA
1.30 WHIP

If your league rules allow it, you'd be foolish to pass up that kind of production.

That's going to do it for Stream Team 2009. Join us next year as we try and navigate spot-starters each day to find you the waiver wire gems that could help win your leagues.

Stream Team: The 2009 Results originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: One Last Push

R.J. White — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

This will be the last Stream Team column of the season, so I'll give you two days' worth of streamers as you try and close out your championship. I'd call our first season of streaming a success, and I'll be back with the final numbers for you on Monday. Until then, let's keep our eyes on the prize and figure out who we want in our rotation on the most critical days of the season.

Saturday: Our best option today looks to be Wade LeBlanc, the San Diego lefty that was roughed up a bit (5 IP, 4 ER) when we streamed him a few days ago. This time, we have the Giants' poor offense and the fact that LeBlanc is pitching in Petco park working for us. He does face a pretty good pitcher (Matt Cain), so a win may be hard to come by. At any rate, his ratios should be solid and we should get a few Ks from the Padre. He's only made two of his eight starts at home this year, so he'll definitely have more of an advantage than he usually does.

Sunday: Minnesota lefty Brian Duensing takes the mound at home on the last Sunday of the season, and if you don't think that's a big deal, you don't know your splits. Since joining the rotation on August 22nd, Duensing has made four starts at home, and he's allowed only one run combined in those four starts. Yes, he shut out the White Sox, A's and Tigers in his last three home starts after allowing just one run to Texas on August 28th. In those four starts, Duensing has amassed a 22/5 K/BB ratio over 27.1 innings. Bottom line: he's been great, and he should dominate the Royals in Minnesota in his last start of the season.

That's going to do it. I hope you're all ahead in your H2H championship, and if not, I hope these spot-starters get you there. Good luck!

Stream Team: One Last Push originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: Petco Pitcher

R.J. White — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Petco Park is one of our favorite ballparks in which to stream pitchers, as it generally has a great effect on pitcher's numbers, turning great pitchers into superstars and mediocre pitchers into world beaters. Thus, it's not too surprising to see San Diego pitcher Kevin Correia with some great stats this season. Correia currently has a 3.89 ERA and 1.31 WHIP this season (along with 12 wins), but there's actually several reasons to like him as a spot starter tomorrow.

First of all, you have to love it when a bad offense comes to a pitcher's park, and that's exactly what Correia will face on Friday. The Giants offense has posted just a .664 OPS in September, which is the worst mark in the majors this month. They are also the only offense with an OBP of under .300 in September. Clearly, this is who you want your spot-starter to face.

Correia generally does better in Petco (3.63 ERA and 1.26 WHIP at home this year), but he's actually been lights out over his last two starts, which have both come on the road. On September 20th in Pittsburgh, Correia blanked the Pirates for seven innings, striking out five while walking none and allowing six hits in a win. He followed that performance with a better one on September 25th, throwing a complete-game shutout in Arizona while striking out seven batters and allowing just one walk. That's lowered Correia's September ratios to 1.25 (ERA) and 1.00 (WHIP).

Correia has a 3.50 ERA and an 11/2 K/BB ratio against the Giants in three starts this year, but judging from his recent string of dominance, he could actually be even better this time out. Correia should give us another win as we try and stream our way to a title. Good luck!

Stream Team: Petco Pitcher originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: Anderson Cruising

R.J. White — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Thursday leaves us with another shortened schedule of baseball, and as usual, that leaves us with not many good options for the Stream Team. Luckily though, there's one rookie pitcher that stands out above the rest: Brett Anderson.

The Oakland A is finishing his rookie season strong, winning his last four starts (at home against Seattle, in Minnesota, and at home against Cleveland and Texas). He has definitely saved his best baseball for September, as his 4.12 ERA is the lowest it's been all season.

Still not convinced? Check out Anderson's K/BB ratio -- starting pitchers generally need to have that ratio above 2.0 to be successful, and above 2.5 to be great. Anderson's K/BB ratio is currently 145/44, which is about 3.25. Over 170 innings, that's astounding for such a young pitcher.

Usually we see high strikeout rates mixed in with bad walk rates, but Anderson has conquered any control problems a rookie might expect to encounter. As he's gotten better in September, it's been reflected in his walk rate, as he's walked just three batters in 23.2 innings this month. That's reflective of his post-All Star break dominance -- he's posted a remarkable 81/19 K/BB ratio over 83 innings in that time frame.

Anderson should be owned in all dynasty leagues at this point, and he should stay on the mind of owners in redraft leagues, as his second-half numbers really hint at a great 2010 for Anderson. He'll try to finish the season off strong against the Mariners on Thursday, and he should give the Team another quality start.

Stream Team: Anderson Cruising originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: Penny Dominates Arizona

R.J. White — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:50:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Man, these AL Central and NL Wild Card races are the best. The Twins took Game 1 of a doubleheader with the Tigers to pull to within one game of a division lead, and if they can come through again tonight, the AL Central will be locked up. In the National League, the Braves have forgotten how to lose, winning 15 of their last 17 games to tighten the NL Wild Card race to two games. Considering the Rockies must face the NL West-leading Dodgers on the final weekend, both these races are far from over.

Stream Team favorite Bronson Arroyo is now owned in 40% of your leagues, which means I won't use him as my pick for tomorrow. Instead, I think we have to stream Brad Penny, who's facing the Diamondbacks at home. Penny has excelled at AT&T Park, going 2-0 in his three starts there with a 2.05 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. Batters are hitting just .192 against him when he's on the mound in San Francisco.

Throughout his career, Penny has had a ton of success against Arizona. In 16 starts against the D-Backs, he's posted an 8-3 record with a 2.13 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 101.1 innings. That's quite a large sample size to just dismiss, so it appears pretty clear that the Giant righty has Arizona's number. This Arizona offense is scoring less than four runs per game in September while posting a .718 OPS, so they should prove to be easy for Penny to beat.

Other options include Robinson Tejeda at New York and Clayton Richard at home against the Dodgers.

Stream Team Data

September: 170 IP, 14 Ws, 3.39 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 130 Ks, 44 BBs.
Post-ASB: 437.1 IP, 32 Ws, 3.89 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 333 Ks, 128 BBs.
Since 7/1: 499.2 IP, 36 Ws, 4.12 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 369 Ks, 144 BBs.

Stream Team: Penny Dominates Arizona originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: Rookie Ray Reprise

R.J. White — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Today's spot start of Hiroki Kuroda looked like the perfect matchup to get us back on track, yet it was not to be. Luckily, only three of Kuroda's seven runs were earned, limiting the damage done to our ratios just a bit. If you weren't the rocked Kuroda owner in today's game, you had to enjoy Andy LaRoche's performance, as the Pittsburgh 3B went 5 for 5 with 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, and 6 RBIs.

Tomorrow we're streaming Wade Davis, a young Tampa Bay pitcher who's making a case to be included int he 2010 rotation. In four starts this September Davis has pitched great in two, solid in another, and horrible in one. Take the horrible start out of the equation and he's sporting a 25/4 K/BB ratio; even with that eight-run outing accounted for, his K/BB ratio is still a very good 28/8.

If that's not enough, consider he faces the Orioles on Tuesday, the team he completely dominated less than two weeks ago. On September 17th, Davis went the distance in Baltimore, allowing just four hits and two walks in the shutout while striking out 10 batters. Anything close to that level of dominance again will make for an excellent spot start for the Team.

Another excellent option for tomorrow is Tim Hudson, who's been great in his two home starts this year, posting a 2.57 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. He faces Florida, a team he's dominated in his career to the tune of a 2.68 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 14 career starts, going 8-2 in the process.

Stream Team Data

September: 170 IP, 14 Ws, 3.39 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 130 Ks, 44 BBs.
Post-ASB: 437.1 IP, 32 Ws, 3.89 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 333 Ks, 128 BBs.
Since 7/1: 499.2 IP, 36 Ws, 4.12 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 369 Ks, 144 BBs.

Stream Team: Rookie Ray Reprise originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: Kuroda at Pittsburgh

R.J. White — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

After a long run of success, the Stream Team put up a couple stinkers over the weekend. Wade LeBlanc gave up four runs in five innings on Saturday, and Ryan Rowland-Smith gave up five runs in seven innings today. Both pitchers struck out three batters while allowing one walk, keeping us in line with our 3:1 K:BB ratio over the month. If we can stick to that, we should be successful more often than not.

Looking to tomorrow as we try and finish up your H2H playoffs strong, Hiroki Kuroda is still available in plenty of fantasy baseball leagues, although he really shouldn't be. In four starts over the past month, Kuroda has an outstanding 2.16 ERA and 0.88 WHIP, which has brought his season ratios down to 3.65 and 1.09, respectively. The last time he allowed more than three earned runs in a start was July 8th.

The 8-6 Kuroda faces Pittsburgh, a team he dominated two starts ago on September 16th. On that day, Kuroda allowed six hits and one earned run while striking out seven batters and walking none. The performance was in line with Kuroda's dominant line against the Pirates in his career, as he now has a 1.89 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in three starts against the team, going 2-0 with 11 strikeouts and one walk in 19 innings.

If Kuroda is unavailable, you might want to pick up Anibal Sanchez, who was excellent in his last outing (8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER) against the Phillies. He'll take on the Braves tomorrow. Good luck!

Stream Team Data

September: 166 IP, 14 Ws, 3.31 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 127 Ks, 42 BBs.
Post-ASB: 433.1 IP, 32 Ws, 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 330 Ks, 126 BBs.
Since 7/1: 495.2 IP, 36 Ws, 4.10 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 366 Ks, 142 BBs.

Stream Team: Kuroda at Pittsburgh originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: Go With Rowland-Smith

R.J. White — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:35:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Friday saw spot-starter Jon Garland give up three unearned runs in a loss, and the fact that he's credited with no earned runs in his six-inning outing brings our September ERA down to 3.04. Clearly 154 innings of 3.04 ERA is a big help during the H2H playoffs in September, and don't forget about the 14 wins and 121 strikeouts. Wade LeBlanc is up next for the Team tonight.

We're faced with some difficult options for tomorrow, as most of the solid pitchers that are starting are owned in 50% of your leagues or more. The best pitcher that falls in our range is Ryan Rowland-Smith, a Seattle pitcher who hasn't given up more than three runs in a game since August 20th. He's rocking a 3.70 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 13 starts this season, quality numbers for a waiver wire find.

He faces the Blue Jays and an offense that has scored about 4.5 runs per game over the last week. Toronto has the fifth-highest total of runs scored in September, but a mediocre .745 OPS suggests they may be getting a bit lucky. Rowland-Smith has faced the Blue Jays one other time this season, pitching seven innings while allowing two runs and walking none in a win. If we can get a repeat performance on Sunday, we'll have snagged another winner. Take him on the road against Brian Tallet and Toronto.

Stream Team Data

September: 154 IP, 14 Ws, 3..04 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 121 Ks, 40 BBs.
Post-ASB: 421.1 IP, 32 Ws, 3.78 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 324 Ks, 124 BBs.
Since 7/1: 483.2 IP, 36 Ws, 4.04 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 360 Ks, 140 BBs.

Stream Team: Go With Rowland-Smith originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: Pick Up the Padre

R.J. White — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

The Team is rocking as we close out the season, with 14 wins, a 3.16 ERA, and a 1.23 WHIP over the course of September. We've basically taken Joel Pineiro's surprisingly-great 2009, condensed it down to a 24-day span, and handed it to you streamers. It goes without saying that my suggestions won't be available in every league, but the ownership percentages of the pitchers I select show them as being available in at least six out of every ten leagues, and usually more.

Today we're stepping away from the safer 25%-35% owned players to select a guy that should be available to most, if not all, of you streamers. Wade LeBlanc has been very successful in September, sporting a 2-0 record with a 1.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 24 innings this month. He's been walking a lot of batters, but an extremely-low hit rate has limited the damage of those walks. While low hit rates are more luck than anything, LeBlanc has a good shot at continuing his luck tomorrow against Arizona.

The Diamondbacks are hitting just .247 this month, posting a .707 OPS over the course of September. They're scoring less than four runs per game during this month, making them a great offense to stream against. Aside from Mark Reynolds, they should offer little resistance as LeBlanc goes for his fifth straight start of allowing two runs or less.

Other potentially fruitful spot-starters include Barry Zito and Tom Gorzelanny, who face each other in San Francisco tomorrow. Good luck!

Stream Team Data

September: 148 IP, 14 Ws, 3.16 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 115 Ks, 39 BBs.
Post-ASB: 415.1 IP, 32 Ws, 3.84 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 318 Ks, 123 BBs.
Since 7/1: 477.2 IP, 36 Ws, 4.09 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 354 Ks, 139 BBs.

Stream Team: Pick Up the Padre originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Baseball Expert Chat

Knox Bardeen — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:40:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire, Expert Chats

We're on the final stretch. Some teams are fighting for their playoff lives while some are sitting back -- blowing bubbles. With less than ten games to play for most major league teams, if your fantasy baseball team is going to need help -- now is the time.

Stop by our live chat on Friday and we'll talk about players that could help out in the last week and a half and strategies to use to get your team a few extra spots in the standings. We'll be chatting for an hour starting at 1:00 PM ET.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=4586fb34ce&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Fantasy Baseball Expert Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Fantasy Baseball Expert Chat originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roto Rush: AL Cy Young Dogfight

R.J. White — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Locking Your Lineup, MLB Sleepers, MLB Waiver Wire

Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

Love some Cy Young award discussion? Two of the AL's top pitchers were in action yesterday, and both walked away with their 17th wins of the season. This puts the pair of Cy Young contenders two wins ahead of Zack Grienke, who has by most accounts been the best pitcher in baseball this season, yet may be in a bit of a race for the award. On Thursday, Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez showed why they, along with Grienke and CC Sabathia, are part of a very tight AL Cy Young race.

Verlander's signature this season has been his gaudy strikeout numbers, and he came through again, striking out 11 batters in seven innings while allowing two earned runs. This gives Verlander 256 Ks on the season, a number that will impress anyone. His ERA is now 3.41, which puts him right in the same area as Sabathia (3.31). The Yankees pitcher has a slightly better record, though, and with a better record and better ERA, Verlander is more likely to finish fourth than first in the voting.

Hernandez also struck out 11 batters in his game while holding the Blue Jays to three earned runs in eight innings. He poses the most serious threat to Grienke in terms of the Cy Young award. Not only is Hernandez's 2.49 ERA in the same league as Grienke's 2.08 ERA, but Hernandez now sports a 17-5 record, which looks much better to the voters than Grienke's 15-8 record.

What works against Grienke and Hernandez is the fact that their teams haven't been in playoff contention at all this season, and that's why Sabathia may sneak into the picture and nab the award, even with an ERA over 3.00. When all is said and done, I feel the voters will remember how dominant Grienke was in the first few months, and the once embattled righty will take home his first Cy Young award.

Bits From the Box Scores
o. Two Rockies launched milestone HRs last night. First came Troy Tulowitzki, who hit his 30th HR in the first inning of Colorado's game against San Diego. Tulowitzki came into this season with 33 homers over 1,000-plus at-bats in his career, and his 30th homer of 2009 came in his 508th at-bat of the season. Then in the eighth inning, Ian Stewart connected for his 25th HR of the season. Considering Stewart's 2B eligibility, his power has offset the terrible average to a degree and made him a valuable fantasy commodity this season.

o. Big props to Knox Bardeen, who gave you Jack Cust as a fantasy fill-in for yesterday's abbreviated schedule. All Cust did was homer, single and walk to finish 2 for 4 with two runs and the one RBI. Knox also suggested Lastings Milledge, who hit his third homer of the season on Thursday. Way to go, Knox, and stay dry!

o. You wouldn't have believed this in June, but Jimmy Rollins smacked his 20th homer of the season, which gives him a very nice 20/30 season, if you can avoid looking at the average and remembering he was a first-round pick in most leagues. Anyone that traded for him on July 1st got themselves a pretty useful hitter over the second half of the season.

o. Bronson Arroyo came through with yet another great start, holding the Pirates to one earned run in seven innings and picking up the win. Arroyo's ERA for the season is now under 4.00, so do yourself a favor and pick him up for his last start(s). Francisco Cordero picked up his 39th save in the victory.

o. Also shining on the mound was Clay Buchholz, who shut out the Royals through 6.2 innings, allowing no walks and striking out eight batters during the win. The young pitcher has seen a massive turnaround, and now has a 4-0 record in five September starts, with a 1.38 ERA for the month.

o. Jacoby Ellsbury stole two more bases yesterday, giving him 66 now on the season. The .303 average is nice as well, and I'm very surprised the speedster doesn't have more runs this season (he now has 88). That speaks to the letdown the middle of the Boston lineup has suffered, although David Ortiz did hit his 26th homer of the season in yesterday's game as well.

o. Ian Kinsler stole his 30th base of the season and sits one HR shy of a 30/30 campaign, but like Rollins, you'd be wise to cover up that average and remember the good times. Adam Kennedy also reached a milestone, stealing his 20th base in the same game. He hasn't had that many SBs since his 2003 year with the then Anaheim Angels.

o. Lastly, Michael Brantley had a 2 for 5 day atop the Indians lineup with a stolen base. As the leadoff hitter, he could be a sneaky good source of runs and steals over the last week of the season, and he's been hitting at a very good average to boot. If he wins a starting spot in 2010, I'd use a late-round flier on the guy.

Lineup Lock Time: We're jumping off at 7:05 ET tonight. Have a great weekend!

Roto Rush: AL Cy Young Dogfight originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: A Couple Great Starters

R.J. White — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:45:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

We earned a pretty solid start from Wade Davis on Wednesday. The rookie Ray only gave up two earned runs in 5.2 innings in a no-decision, and a 6/1 K/BB ratio speaks to an even better performance than the final line indicates. He's definitely on the watch list for next year. Today, Bronson Arroyo pitched another gem against the Pirates, giving up one run in seven innings en route to another win.

Two great options present themselves for tomorrow, and for drama's sake, let's reveal the second-best option first. Robinson Tejeda has been a machine since being moved to the starting rotation, allowing just nine hits and two runs in 22.1 innings over the span of four starts. He's won the last three of those starts, and now faces the Twins at home. With Minnesota playing well, he ranks just behind our suggested spot start of the day, although I'd definitely make room on my team for both.

Friday's pick is Jon Garland, who has five wins in his last six starts, and the last five of those starts have been quality starts. He doesn't strike a lot of people out, but pitching with the Dodgers' offense at his back has obviously led to a lot of win opportunities, and it has had a positive effect on his pitching. He next goes to Pittsburgh, a team that many pitchers have been beating up on this season. I like Garland's chances to earn another win for the Dodgers -- and for the Stream Team.

Stream Team Data

September: 148 IP, 14 Ws, 3.16 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 115 Ks, 39 BBs.
Post-ASB: 415.1 IP, 32 Ws, 3.84 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 318 Ks, 123 BBs.
Since 7/1: 477.2 IP, 36 Ws, 4.09 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 354 Ks, 139 BBs.

Stream Team: A Couple Great Starters originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: A Full Thursday

R.J. White — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Yesterday we spot-started Hiroki Kuroda again, and he was brilliant yet again. He threw six innings while giving up two runs, but both were unearned. He also threw in six strikeouts on his way to an easy win for the Dodgers. His six innings with no earned runs drops our September ERA to 3.26, using pitchers that are available in a majority of your leagues. I hope you're winning your championship game, and now I'll do my best to give you a bigger lead.

Even though tomorrow offers its usually sparse schedule, we do have several great options available to us. Bronson Arroyo has a streak of 11 straight quality starts, and he takes his improved act on the road to Pittsburgh to face a terrible Pirates offense. He's been quite good against the Pirates in his career (3.42 ERA, 1.28 WHIP in eight starts), so he's a must-start if available in your league.

Brett Anderson is coming off a six-inning, 10-strikeout game against Cleveland in which he gave up no runs and walked only one batter. He takes on the slumping Rangers at home, where he excelled against the team the last time he faced them (7.2 innings, 2 ERs, 8 Ks). He's had impeccable control as of late, walking six batters combined in his last six starts, and he now has a 139/44 K/BB ratio this season. He should have another great start tomorrow.

It would be easier suggesting Vicente Padilla had he not gotten knocked around a bit in his last outing but even so, he's a great spot-starter for you in Washington. His one drawback is that he doesn't go too deep into games -- six innings seems to be his limit. This will be his first trip outside of the NL West in the last month, so while he does look like a great start, he's one to pass on if you feel pretty confident in your current stats.

Rank 'em the way I wrote about 'em, and good luck with your matchup tomorrow.

Stream Team Data

September: 135.1 IP, 13 Ws, 3.26 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 105 Ks, 37 BBs.
Post-ASB: 402.2 IP, 31 Ws, 3.89 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 308 Ks, 121 BBs.
Since 7/1: 465 IP, 35 Ws, 4.14 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 344 Ks, 137 BBs.

Stream Team: A Full Thursday originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Fill-Ins: Thursday

Knox Bardeen — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:42:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

For a number of major league teams Mondays and Thursdays are travel days. Every Wednesday and Sunday, Fantasy Fill-Ins finds guys who should be widely available on the waiver wire and can step in for the day, helping you gain ground or hold off the pack.

There are nine games scheduled for Thursday. That means we may need to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find some solid fill-ins. Here are five of the best options.

Jack Cust, Athletics - Cust hasn't been the model of consistent hitting this season and as of late he's been less then stellar batting .221 over the last month. But, he has a pretty good track record against Scott Feldman (five hits and two home runs in 15 at-bats) so could fill-in nicely on Thursday. Cust is only owned in 16% of fantasy leagues.

Freddy Sanchez, Giants - Sanchez is going to do one thing, and one thing only for you -- help with your batting average. Don't expect runs, RBI or any kind of power at all. Sanchez, over his career, has six hits in 17 at-bats (.353) and over the past week is hitting .313 as well. He's only owned in 32% of fantasy leagues.

Lastings Milledge, Pirates - Milledge is 11-for-22 over the past week (.500 batting average) and has two stolen bases to boot. He's only owned in 20% of fantasy baseball leagues.

Andrew McCutchen, Pirates - McCutchen enters Wednesday night's game with a nine-game hitting streak going. He's also batted 10-for-24 (.412 batting average) over the last week and is only owned in 42% of fantasy leagues.

Willie Bloomquist, Royals - For a straight stolen bases play, Bloomquist could be your guy. Over the last week he's swiped three bags and he's batting .350 for an added bonus over that time. He's only owned in 4% of fantasy leagues.

Just in case you're wondering how credible these picks are, I wanted to share my report card with you. Since we started this Fantasy Fill-Ins segment I've made player selections five times (five players each time). Here are the results.

o. 20 of the 24 players (83.3%) that I selected have hit safely the next day (it should be 25, but one of the games was rained out).
o. My hitters have gone 31-for-101 (.307) with 11 runs scored, 15 RBI and two home runs.

Fantasy Fill-Ins: Thursday originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roto Rush: My Apology to Derrek Lee

Matt Snyder — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:37:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Injury Report, MLB Locking Your Lineup, MLB Waiver Wire

Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

Before the season started, I was rough on Derrek Lee. I named him the biggest bust on the Cubs for this coming season and included him on the list of "five guys to lose" your fantasy league. I even predicted Mike Fontenot would hit more home runs than Mr. Lee. Obviously, it sounds outlandish now, in hindsight, as Lee clubbed his 35th home run Tuesday night. In the process, he established a new career high in RBI with 109. His OPS is the second-highest it's ever been -- trailing only his insane 2005 season when he did an Albert Pujols impersonation.

It's not like I hated Derrek Lee before the season started. It was nothing of the sort. He plays for my favorite team. He's a good leader in the clubhouse and a great guy off the field.

It's just that he was coming off a season where he had a .462 slugging percentage. In the second half of 2008, he hit .266 with a dismal .390 slugging percentage. Those are rate stats of a light-hitting middle infielder, not the three-hole of a team who won 97 games. Plus, he was 32 years old and had already begun to trend downward during the 2007 season.

Yes, I'm aware he broke his wrist in 2006, following his career year, but I've never heard of a player losing power for three freaking years after a wrist injury.

Whatever it was, though, Derrek Lee is back and I felt it necessary to call myself out for being so incorrect about him.

Oh, and get this, he's hit 24 bombs since July 1. That would be a full-season pace of 50-plus jacks and he leads the majors since that date. He appears to have plenty of gas left in the tank.

Bits From the Box Scores
- Big outing for Joe Blanton and he's now worked in 13 consecutive scoreless innings. He's struck out 16 batters in those two starts as well. In fact, he's got a 9-4 record with a 2.78 ERA since May 26, and that's including a 4 2/3 inning, 8 earned run outing against the Nationals. He's a great option for his final two starts.

- Edwin Jackson also had a good outing, and his was big news for a different reason. Amidst reports that he was tipping pitches, Jackson had a 6.12 ERA in his first four September starts. It was nice to see him work seven shutout frames, though we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. He was facing the dreadful Indians and he only struck out 2 while walking 3.

- Adam Dunn hit his 38th home run of the season, which means he's about to hit 40 again. There are few certainties as each baseball season begins, but one of them is Adam Dunn hitting at least 40 bombs. This season will mark the sixth consecutive time he's done it. If he ends up exactly on 40, it will be for the fifth straight time (which is an amazing coincidence).

- Not sure if anyone has noticed, but Lastings Milledge is hitting the hell out of the ball, and has been for the past five weeks or so. Since August 17, Milledge is hitting .357. Keep an eye on him for next year. The Pirates figure to give him an everyday job.

- Matt Wieters is picking up the pace as the season's end grows closer. In his last nine games, he's hitting .471 with 2 home runs, 11 RBI and a 1.235 OPS. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets drafted lower next year than he did this past year when he was a hype machine. Thus, he'll be a great value pick as he emerges as a stud.

- Rafael Soriano is probably going to make a decent chunk of dough as a free agent closer. Don't fall in love with him due to his new home, though. Since becoming the closer, Soriano is 19-for-22 on save chances, sure, but his ERA in that time is 5.23 and his WHIP is 1.29. He's allowing nearly a hit per inning. If he signs in the AL, beware.

- Zack Greinke should be the number one pitcher drafted next season. Period.

- John Danks had been in a pretty good groove. His ERA in his previous eight starts was 2.14. Tuesday night, though, he was destroyed by the Twins (6 innings, 8 hits, 7 earned runs, 3 home runs). Just remember, he's only 24 and the Twins are playing as well as anyone right now. Danks will still be a quality option next season.

- Dexter Fowler is going to be a star and his break-through is going to come next year. Since August 2, the speedy center-fielder is hitting .341 with a .962 OPS. He hasn't hit a home run during that period and has only stolen 3 bases, but those features of his game will come when he fully reaches a comfort level. That's coming.

The Afflicted: White Sox closer Bobby Jenks will miss the rest of the season because of a strained calf muscle. Octavio Dotel and Matt Thornton will split closing duties in his absence. Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is day-to-day after being pulled from Tuesday's game with a tight left hamstring. Add back tightness on top of Kevin Kouzmanoff's already existing calf injury. It looks like he will miss the rest of the season. Josh Hamilton took batting practice and shagged fly balls. He should be back in action this weekend. Brett Myers was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his right lat muscle and won't pick up a baseball for another week.

Lineup Lock Time: 3:35 PM ET

Roto Rush: My Apology to Derrek Lee originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: Four to Score

R.J. White — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Barry Zito finally turned in an ugly start on Monday, giving up three earned runs in 4.1 innings while walking three guys and allowing six hits. We've still posted great numbers in September, so we shouldn't let the bad spot start get to us. Hiroki Kuroda is on the mound for our purposes today, so be sure to send positive thoughts towards him.

Tomorrow we're looking at three or four very good options. Homer Bailey has been on point lately, posting a 1.83 ERA over the last month. He goes to Pittsburgh to take on a terrible Pirates offense. He's 2-0 in his two starts against the team in his career, so fear is clearly not a factor when it comes to the young Red.

Wade Davis comes off a fantastic start in Baltimore, a complete-game shutout of the Orioles on September 17th. He's facing the Mariners in Tampa Bay tomorrow, and he makes for an excellent pickup if you need strikeouts. Two of his three professional starts have been brilliant -- hopefully, that's what you'll get tomorrow as well.

Brian Duensing has done his part to bring the Twins back into contention, shutting out the Tigers in his last start after shutting out the A's in his start previous to that one. The one red flag in his case is that he's traveling to Chicago. Duensing has given up one run over a span of four home starts since August 28th, but his one road start yielded three runs in five innings at Toronto.

Finally, we come to Tim Hudson. He's allowed just one walk in each of his last three starts and has a 3.70 ERA in his four starts since returning to the team. He also suffers from a road start, as both of his great outings have come at home, but the road start will be in New York, so he gets the benefit of working in a pitcher's park.

As for which to pick up, I rank them:

1. Davis
2. Hudson
3. Bailey
4. Duensing

Add however many you need. Good luck!

Stream Team Data

September: 129.1 IP, 12 Ws, 3.41 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 99 Ks, 35 BBs.
Post-ASB: 396.2 IP, 30 Ws, 3.95 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 302 Ks, 119 BBs.
Since 7/1: 459 IP, 34 Ws, 4.20 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 338 Ks, 135 BBs.

Stream Team: Four to Score originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark DeRosa Rubs Salt in Cubs' Wound

Matt Snyder — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Injury Report, MLB Locking Your Lineup, MLB Sleepers, MLB Waiver Wire

Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

On the day Milton Bradley began serving a team-mandated, season-ending suspension, former Cubs fan favorite Mark DeRosa suited up for the Cubs rival. He's been doing so since coming over in a trade from Cleveland. This past offseason, the Cubs moved DeRosa to the Indians as part of a concerted effort to free up payroll. The target: Bradley.

Thus, it was only fitting the chain of decisions were further cemented as awful when DeRosa hit two home runs and drove in four runs Monday night.

At the time of the move, it could have been argued the Cubs were moving DeRosa after his career year. After all, he'd never hit more than 13 home runs in a season, and he knocked 21 out of the park in 2008. Being 33, it's not like he was just entering his prime.

Well, he entered Monday night with 21 bombs, meaning his first homer of the night marked his career high. At age 34. His rate stats are down, but with his positional versatility and power, you could do much worse than DeRosa in fantasy baseball or in real life.

Bradley, on the other hand ... I just don't have the energy anymore. What a waste. Of everything. I'm embarrassed that I even bothered to give him a chance. It won't be happening again.

Bits From the Box Scores
- Chase Headley is quietly putting together a nice extended stretch. He went 5-for-6 with 3 doubles and a home run last night, which is hardly quiet, but look at his numbers for the last few months. Since July 29, Headley is hitting .328 with a .406 on-base percentage and .884 OPS. He's only hit 3 home runs during that time, but you aren't going to get power in San Diego from anyone other than the huge power threats. Headley is definitely someone to keep an eye on for 2010.

- David Purcey has now strung together two good starts. He's thrown 13 1/3 innings and allowed just 3 earned runs in those outings. Still, the Jays look to have a crowded rotation for next season and he's walked 8 batters in those innings.

- Tim Wakefield is having a rough September. In two starts, he's lasted just 9 innings. Not only that, he's given up 11 hits, 10 walks and 8 earned runs in those outings (6.55 ERA and 2.33 WHIP). He's not worth running out there again this season.

- Josh Anderson stole his 22nd base of the season Monday night. He won't help anywhere else, but he's a good source of cheap speed in large AL-Only leagues.

- Nick Blackburn threw 7 shutout innings, striking out 6 and walking no one. He's a good spot-start down the stretch as the Twins look to take down Detroit.

- Kenshin Kawakami will be an interesting option next season. The Braves will likely trade him if they don't plan to have him in the rotation, which means he'll be a starting pitcher somewhere. He was dominant in 4 innings of relief work Monday night, and he had a 3.30 ERA in his last 10 starts.

- Julio Borbon has been pretty impressive in his time this year. Expect the Rangers to hand him the leadoff spot next year, which is a prime place to accrue runs. He's also stolen 16 bases and hit .321. The 4 homers aren't too shabby either. The 23-year-old prospect appears to be headed for stardom and he'll be a hot late-round commodity in fantasy leagues, too.

- Alex Rodriguez has had a down year in terms of batting average, but he's hitting .371 since September 2. In fact, his rate stats are looking like they'll be quite similar to those of Mark Teixeira before it's all said and done.

- Take note: Brian Fuentes did get the save Monday night -- against the Yankees. The Angels still obviously have some trust in him.

The Afflicted: Denard Span left Monday's game after getting beaned with an apparent head injury. The guess here is he'll be day-to-day.

Called Up: Tyler Colvin, a 24-year-old Cubs outfielding prospect, has gotten the call -- in a corresponding move with the suspension of Bradley. It didn't take long for him to make an impact, as he garnered his first major league hit and RBI Monday night. Looking at Colvin's minor league stats, he's not an entirely appealing fantasy prospect. Just a solid all-around player who hit .286 with 15 home runs, 60 RBI and 8 stolen bases in the minors this past season. He can play center, but he's more suited for the corners. It will be interesting to see if the Cubs can move Bradley in the offseason. If they can, Colvin has a real shot of playing for the 2010 Cubs.

Lineup Lock Time: 7:05 PM ET

Mark DeRosa Rubs Salt in Cubs' Wound originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stream Team: Back to Kuroda

R.J. White — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

There's a starting pitcher available in two-thirds of your leagues that has a 1.10 WHIP and nearly four strikeouts to every walk? Yep, and since it looks like his ownership rates aren't going to rise to the level they should, you should be taking advantage of how great Hiroki Kuroda as been this season. We streamed him for his last two starts (14 innings, 12 Ks, 0 BBs, 3 ERs), and we're streaming him again tomorrow in Washington.

Kuroda gone? Then pick up Trevor Cahill! He faces Texas at home, six days after one-hitting them in Texas. In three starts against the Rangers this year, Cahill now has 17 strikeouts and four walks, as well as a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHIP, thanks largely to that gem he threw on September 16th.

Other suitable options for tomorrow's streaming include:

Jamie Moyer, who will pitch the back end of a double-header against the Marlins,
Ryan Rowland-Smith, facing Tampa Bay and throwing a Kuroda-like 1.10 WHIP over the last month, and
Dave Bush, at home against Chicago and a much better pitcher in Milwaukee this season.

Good luck, and win that title!

Stream Team Data

September: 125 IP, 12 Ws, 3.31 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 95 Ks, 32 BBs.
Post-ASB: 392.1 IP, 30 Ws, 3.92 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 298 Ks, 116 BBs.
Since 7/1: 454.2 IP, 34 Ws, 4.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 334 Ks, 132 BBs.

Stream Team: Back to Kuroda originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roto Rush: A Prince Among Men

R.J. White — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Injury Report, MLB Locking Your Lineup, MLB Waiver Wire

Poppin' out of the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

What a fantasy season it has been for Prince Fielder. Of course, we must thrown the "fantasy" before season, as I'm sure Fielder pictured himself squarely in the middle of a playoff race when looking ahead to September 21st earlier in the season, but his owners must be pleased by their second-round pick's production. Fielder launched his 40th homer of the season Sunday, making this year the second (2007) in which he's reached the 40-HR mark. His average is still trucking along near .300 (currently at .299), which is a pleasant surprise, and his 128 RBIs tie with Albert Pujols' total as the best mark in baseball.

Heading into 2010, you have to love Fielder as a first-round pick. With his walk total now above 100, he's making strides in his plate discipline, which is leading to better pitches to hit. What this says to me is that a .300 average might be the norm for Fielder heading forward, not the anomaly.

Sunday's game against the Astros was the last start of the season for Yovani Gallardo, and he made it count for his owners. Even though he was lifted after 77 pitches, the 23-year-old righty went five innings to get the win, striking out seven while allowing no runs. He finishes the year with a 13-12 record, 3.73 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 204 strikeouts and 94 walks in his 185.2 innings pitched. As the Brewers let his leash out a little longer, expect that innings total to be above 200 next year, provided Gallardo keeps his health.

Bits From the Box Scores
o. Atypical for him, but Tim Lincecum was knocked around in his Sunday start against the Dodgers, pitching just four innings and striking out three batters while allowing five runs and four walks. Being in the thick of the H2H playoffs, this comes at a most inopportune time for his owners. If you think Lincecum just ruined your fantasy season with that line, be sure to remember who got you there in the first place. Andre Ethier went deep for the 31st time this season in the Dodger win.

o. If you need to make a pickup or two to help out some categories, you may want to take a look at some of the key Royals from Sunday's win against the White Sox. Josh Anderson stole his 20th base of the season, and since it looks like he's locked into playing time for the Royals, the opportunity should be there for a few more steals before season's end. Willie Bloomquist is leading off for Kansas City, has multi-position eligibility in your league, and is hitting over .400 in September. And finally, Robinson Tejeda continues to soar, striking out five while allowing a run in 6 innings, pushing his record to 4-1.

o. Daisuke Matsuzaka picked up his second win in as many starts since coming off the DL, striking out five and walking one in 5.1 innings while allowing three runs. He's a great add for anyone that needs a couple more wins. Jason Bay smacked his 35th HR in the win, while Jacoby Ellsbury contributed both a homer (his eighth) and a stolen base (his 63rd) while scoring three hits and a walk in the win over Baltimore.

o. I had been wondering where the speed of Jayson Werth went, but he finally stole a bag on Sunday for the first time since July. Other Sunday speed freaks: Julio Borbon (15th), Elvis Andrus (28th), Luis Castillo (17th), Hanley Ramirez (26th), Aaron Hill (fifth), B.J. Upton (38th), Scott Podsednik (28th), Rafael Furcal (ninth), Yadier Molina (ninth). Yes friends, Yadier Molina and Rafael Furcal have stolen the same number of bases.

o. Howie Kendrick put together a nice 3 for 5 game that featured his 10th homer and five RBIs. Though it took him half a year to get going, he's turning on the burners in a way that will win over many owners' hearts and heads in the draft room next year. Other power surges on Sunday: Joey Votto (22nd), Juan Rivera (23rd), Chone Figgins (fourth), Luke Scott (24th), Carl Crawford (14th), Adam Kennedy (11th), Ken Griffey Jr. (16th), Jake Fox (11th, which came in the 11th inning).

o. Dan Haren faced off against the Rockies in Arizona, and it was clear that he was the second-best starting pitcher on the mound at Chase Field on Sunday. While Haren allowed five runs in eight innings, Ubaldo Jimenez stifled the Diamondbacks, striking out eight batters in seven innings while allowing one run in the win. Jimenez has done a wonderful job at cutting down his walk rate from 2008 and deserves to be drafted higher that you would expect from a Rockies pitcher. Despite the 34 earned runs since the start of August, Haren still has a sub-3.00 ERA. Yeah, he's that good.

o. 2010 Prospect Watch: Aroldis Chapman, one of the world's best young pitchers, has defected from Cuba and turned up in the European country of Andorra. He'll likely sign with a major-league team soon, and I expect him to dominate the lower minor leagues, and possibly the high minors as well. He could debut in the majors at some point in 2010 and deserves to be atop your prospect wish list this offseason.

The Afflicted: Zack Grienke looks ready to roll for Tuesday's start, in which he's a must start for your team. While he's been magic when on the mound, Pedro Martinez left his last start early with pain in his neck. He could very well miss his next start, so don't be afraid to drop him -- time's running out. Say goodbye to Marco Scutaro, who's been very valuable at several positions in 2009. The Blue Jays infielder is having an MRI on his heel, and there's no need for the Jays to bring him back this season. Ross Ohlendorf is done for the season, but kudos for wringing some value out of him while you did. Michael Young had a very successful season as a third baseman, but his hamstring injury isn't allowing him to return.

Lineup Lock Time: 7:05 ET tonight. This is it, ladies and gentlemen, so make it count!

Roto Rush: A Prince Among Men originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Fill-Ins: Monday

Knox Bardeen — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:50:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Waiver Wire

For a number of major league teams Mondays and Thursdays are travel days. Every Wednesday and Sunday, Fantasy Fill-Ins finds guys who should be widely available on the waiver wire and can step in for the day, helping you gain ground or hold off the pack.

Monday is a big travel day as only ten teams are seeing action. It's time to dig deep to find fantasy baseball fill-in hitters as there isn't much time left to catch the front-runner in your league.

Erick Aybar, Angels - Over the last week Aybar is hitting .333. But, it's his career mark versus Andy Pettitte that makes Aybar a good fill-in on Monday. Against Pettitte, Aybar is 6-for-13 (.462) and is only owned in 24% of fantasy leagues.

Ryan Sweeney, Athletics - Sweeney is only owned in 3% of fantasy leagues but has a batting average of .344 over the last month. He's also 4-for-9 against Kevin Millwood in his career.

Randy Winn, Giants - Winn is hitting .333 with two stolen bases over the last week and is 15-for-48 (.313) in his career versus Doug Davis. Winn is only owned in 10% of fantasy leagues.

Alberto Callaspo, Royals - It's always a dicey proposition to pick any hitter to flourish against knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. But Callaspo is hitting .320 with nine RBI over the last week and could be a nice run producer if your team needs RBI. Callaspo is only owned in 32% of fantasy leagues.

Eugenio Velez, Giants - If your fantasy team could use some stolen base help, Velez is only owned in 4% of fantasy leagues and he's batting .313 over the last week with two swipes.

Fantasy Fill-Ins: Monday originally appeared on Fantasy Baseball Fanhouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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