Fantasy

If you read this article posted back in March, you know why it’s important to keep an eye on your league’s waiver wire as save opportunities get shuffled around major league bullpens.

For those of you who are already looking towards next year, let’s continue our way around the diamond as we look at 2011 rankings (keep in mind that by year’s end these could significantly change):

Yesterday turned out to be a heavy day for transactions that may have an impact on fantasy lineups for the coming week. Let’s take a look.

Rick Porcello Was Demoted to Triple-A

Part of me wants to say that it’s about time. 

He has been awful this season, with a bloated ERA (6.14) and a complete lack of strikeouts. 

Yes, some of his struggles have been due to poor luck (.350 BABIP, 61.7 percent strand rate), but when you are posting a 4.2 K/9, it really doesn’t matter. 

Fantasy Baseball’s Pitching Line of the Week: 

Colby Lewis (SP-TEX) 9 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, W 

Lewis pitched his first career complete game on June 19 against the Houston Astros. He picked up his third consecutive win while allowing only one earned run on two hits, striking out nine, and walking none.

With Interleague Play continuing for another week,  five American League teams will spend the entire week in National League parks:

Later this week we will hopefully see the return of Aramis Ramirez . It's been a rough year for fantasy owners, having to either drop the All-Star third baseman or painfully hold on and possibly waste a DL spot. Somehow I've ended up with Aramis two years in a row and I literally punch a wall overtime I see an article about how his poor thumb hurts him.

Get a freaking Band-Aid!

THE GOOD

It’s time to look at the potential two-start options for the upcoming fantasy week. 

Every week, aside from my standard Fantasy Baseball dealings, I practice a little exercise to improve my research and team management skills.

On Sunday evenings I comb through who is available on the waiver/free agent wire, regardless of need, to familiarize myself with the current inventory.

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday:

Chase Utley is finally showing signs of turning things around.  Justin Smoak is hitting up. and Jered Weaver has suddenly become a strikeout machine.