Fantasy News Get'em Set'em

Fantasy Sports News

Chris Bahr
Inside Pitch July 3, 2008
SportingNews.com

PICKUP OF THE WEEK

Whenever you're in a pinch, just scan the matchups and look for a team facing the Giants, Padres, Mariners, Nationals, etc. You know, a team that packs the punch of this guy. The head-to-head matchup isn't great for Sean Gallagher on Thursday -- he'll be facing Tim Lincecum -- but it isn't all about wins and losses. In five June starts, Gallagher fanned 30 batters in just 27.2 innings. We know Lincecum will be piling up the Ks, but so will Gallagher.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Note to self: Stay away from Randy Johnson at the craps table. In three of his past four starts, he has been tagged for an unlucky seven runs. Somehow, he managed to sneak in a gem vs. Boston, but that certainly has been an exception. Even with his next start at San Diego, the Big Unit belongs on your bench. Something -- an injury? -- isn't right. ... Frank Francisco (a great pickup in redundancy leagues) had a tough three-week stretch from late May through mid-June, but he has logged seven consecutive scoreless outings. In that span, he has a 9/1 K/BB ratio, and he is getting more late-inning work. That's key in leagues that reward holds. ... Few SPs had a better month of June than Mark Buehrle (4-0, 1.60 ERA in six starts). Sure, you still aren't going to get any Ks from him, but he has become a must-start mixed leaguer. And his two starts leading into the All-Star break are quite favorable (vs. Oakland, at K.C.). ... The once unhittable Carlos Marmol is being knocked around like a nerd at recess. His ERA stood at 2.09 on June 15 but has jumped all the way to 3.56 after a three-run drubbing Wednesday. Just as we feared, his high workload is catching up to him.

CLOSER WATCH

Where to start? How about in Cleveland, where it took awhile, but Joe Borowski unfortunately is back doing what he does best: surrendering runs/leads. He has blown two of his past three save chances, and has made Masa Kobayashi a hot pickup again. ... Troy Percival (hamstring) is back on the DL, meaning Dan Wheeler is the favorite for saves in Tampa Bay. However, the quietly effective Grant Balfour , who picked up the save Tuesday, also makes a sneaky addition to your 5x5 roster. ... Eric Gagne is off the DL, but Salomon Torres got the save chances Tuesday and Wednesday. That's a sign of things to come. ... Yes, that was Joel Zumaya picking up the five-out save Tuesday. Don't read too much into that yet, but also don't dismiss it. ... In Texas, a pair of factors has given C.J. Wilson more job security. First off, Wilson is pitching a bit better. Second, Eddie Guardado has been sidelined by a sore shoulder.