Fantasy Sports

BY ADAM RONIS

Geovany Soto went 3-for-3 with his sixth homer, a double and a walk. He is hitting .352 with six homers and 24 RBIs. I don't think you should sell high, but with so many catchers not producing, I would throw him out there and see what you can acquire. I'd always trade a catcher for a player at another position. Catchers also tend to wear down late in the year.

Johnny Cueto picked up his second win of the season. He went six innings, allowing six hits, three runs, two walks and struck out eight. He is 2-3 with a 5.27 ERA, which is inflated because he allowed six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings in his last start. His K/BB ratio of 41/8 indicates he will be good.

Francisco Cordero made things interesting in the ninth by allowing two hits and two walks, but he escaped to get his fifth save. He's had few save chances. He has a 2.08 ERA.

David Ortiz, who sat Sunday with a sore knee, hit his sixth homer. His knee should be better as the weather warms up. As long as it's not serious, he will put up power numbers close to last season.

It seems like Mike Lowell is a fan of this blog. I wrote how he didn't have an RBI in 51 at-bats to start the season and he he hit a two-run homer tonight for his first RBIs of the season. Maybe if I trash all of the Mets they'll be more consistent?

Dice-K improved to 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA, but it wasn't picturesque. He walked eight in five innings. He threw 109 pitches; 60 were strikes. He has been real tough to hit, but the walks are forcing him to come out of games early. He has pitched seven innings just once this season. He has lasted 5 1/3 innings or less four times in seven starts. His K/BB ratio is an awful 33/27, but he has pitched out of trouble frequently.

Jonathan Papelbon picked up his 10th save.

Javier Vasquez pitched very good, but was outpitched by Dustin McGowan. McGowan threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings allowing four hits, no walks and struck out six. He is 2-2 with a 2.95 ERA.

B.J. Ryan walked three batters to load the bases in the ninth, but induced a double play to end the game for his fifth save.

If there was a Santana that would start the season 6-0, everyone, including Angels fans, would bet the house on it being Johan. Instead, it's Ervin Santana. It came against the Royals, but he threw a four-hitter, walked none and struck out nine in a 4-0 win. He has a 2.02 ERA. A 38/9 K/BB ratio has propelled his success. He was 16-8 two years ago, but 7-14 last season. Santana was good at home last season, but putrid on the road going 1-10 with a 8.38 ERA. It was 3.27 at home. He has pitched much better on the road, where he was tonight. It appears he is in line for a good season.

Jarrod Washburn left after six innings with a calf injury, but still picked up the win.

When Oliver Perez has struggled, it's usually because of poor control leading to walks. He allowed just one home run coming into tonight, but surrendered three in a loss to the Dodgers. he walked two in six innings. He'll be inconsistent.

Chad Billingsley was solid for the second straight start to improve to 2-4. He still needs to cut down on his walks, which elevates his pitch count. Still, he's a guy that will be solid. He walked four in six innings, but allowed five hits and one run.

Max Scherzer didn't throw a perfect game? The hype surrounding stud rookies reaches epic proportions these days and it was sky high for Scherzer. He wasn't as good as his major league debut in relief, but he was hurt by poor defense. He lasted just four innings, allowing seven hits, five runs -- two earned -- walked two and struck out five. He threw 92 pitches; 58 for strikes. His stay in the rotation could be brief with the impending return of Doug Davis.