Fantasy Sports

BY ADAM RONIS

I targeted Nate McLouth has a late-round sleeper before the season. I expected good numbers with some power and speed, but the power he has displayed so far has been surprising. He hit his 12th homer and is hitting .312 with 36 RBIs. He has 24 home runs since last season's All-Star Break. He didn't even earn the starting position until late in the spring. No wonder why the Pirates never win.

It seems obvious, but there are plenty of owners who get acid reflux when their stars get off to slow starts. Alfonso Soriano is displaying another example of why you don't go crazy when a stud player stumbles out of the gate. Soriano was awful before his DL stint, but after a 5-for-5 day with two home runs, he is up to .295 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs. He has seven homers in the last six games. Was anyone able to buy low on him before the streak?

Carlos Zambrano failed to go at least six innings for the first time this season. He went just four innings, but had a no-decision. Carlos Marmol took the loss after allowing a two-run homer to McLouth in the ninth. Marmol has pitched 27 innings in 21 games, so beware of his workload.

Johan Santana cut down on his pitch count and lasted 7 2/3 innings to improve to 5-2 with a 3.30 ERA. He has allowed 11 homers after surrendering three more today, which has been his biggest blemish. Santana is usually a lights-out second half pitcher, so expect him to get even better.

Billy Wagner threw 1 1/3 innings scoreless innings and has yet to allow an earned run this season. He picked up his ninth save. Wagner needs to speak up more since no one else on the Mets does and he has backed it up.

Ryan Ludwick!! What is up with this guy? He hit two more homers and has 10 for the season with 28 RBIs and a .336 average. Ryan Franklin threw two scoreless innings to get the win.

Blake DeWitt continues to impress for the Dodgers. He went 2-for-4 with his fourth homer and is batting .327. Ride the hot wave.

Next guy in line for the Indians closer please? Masa Kobayashi picked up two saves before allowing three runs in hist first blown save. Who would have thought the Indians would be pining for the return of Joe Borowski? He could be back Friday.

Dice-K improved to 7-0 with a 2.15 ERA after allowing no earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. If he cuts down on his walks, imagine how much better he will be. Jonathan Papelbon allowed another run, but picked up save No. 12.

It was just a couple of weeks ago when Mike Lowell didn't even have an RBI for the season. Since then, he has been on fire. He hit his fifth homer and has 15 RBIs with a .282 average.

A.J. Burnett is starting to slowly come around. He struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings to improve to 4-4. B.J. Ryan has yet to allow an earned run and picked up save No. 8.

Another day, another Lance Berkman home run. I should just copy and paste this every day to save my fingers from typing. He has 16 homers and 44 RBIs with a .399 average.

Milton Bradley has had a nice season so far with a .323 average, seven home runs and 23 RBIs. Should we start an injury pool date for him?

Roy Oswalt allowed six runs in six innings and left with a groin strain.

Vicente Padilla is now 6-2 with a 3.16 ERA. He has had spurts like this before. Don't see it lasting in the summer Texas heat when the longs ball will be flying out. Sell high.

Ryan Zimmermann has started to flash some power. He hit his eighth homer and has 24 RBIs.

George Sherrill picked up save No. 17 proving why closers are not worth taking early.

Mike Jacobs finally returned to the starting lineup and hit his 10th homer. Imagine Jacobs on the Mets instead of Delgado!

Hope you listened and sold on high on Brian Bannister. He allowed six runs in 6 1/3 innings and is 4-5 with a 4.29 ERA.

The walks will catch up to Scott Olsen. He walked five and allowed seven hits in six innings, but gave up just three runs in a no-decision.

Rich Harden was excellent in his second start back from the DL. He allowed one run in seven innings and struck out eight. Always a sell-high with his injury risk.

Huston Street allowed three runs in one inning and has a 4.91 ERA.

Matt Joyce hit his fourth homer hitting second for the Tigers today.

In what could be his final start, Max Scherzer fell to 0-2, but didn't allow an earned run in five innings. He gave up three hits, two unearned runs, walked four and struck out five and threw 102 pitches.

Rich Hill left his Triple-A start on Friday with lower back stiffness. He walked three and allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings. Don't expect him back for at least a month.

Brad Penny had his start pushed back to Monday because of arm stiffness.