Fantasy Baseball

BY ADAM RONIS

Mark Teixeira returned to the lineup after missing two games with back spasms. He went 0-for-4 with a run and walk. Buy low before he goes on a tear.

Chipper Jones hit his 11th homer and is hitting .418. Should we have a pool to guess the day he gets injured?

A good sign to see Jimmy Rollins steal a base after coming off an ankle injury.

Blaine Boyer picked up his first save for the Braves. He allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings. Rafael Soriano or John Smoltz will be the closer soon.

Brett Myers was horrible again. He has been hurt by the homer and he allowed three more tonight and has surrendered 15 for the season. He is 2-4 with a 5.91 ERA. I wouldn't give up on him. Bench him until he turns it around.

J.J. Putz threw two scoreless innings to pick up a win. He has struggled, so this is a good sign. Jarrod Washburn picked up the save.

Tim Redding continues to pitch well for the Nationals. He doesn't go deep in games, but he is 5-3 with a 3.55 ERA. Pitch him in NL-only leagues while he is doing well.

Claudio Vargas made his Mets debut and was solid. He went 6 1/3 innings and allowed three hits, two runs, four walks and struck out six. Use him in NL-only leagues based on the matchup.

Daniel Cabrera is now 4-1 after beating the Red Sox. He has a 3.58 ERA. His strikeouts are down, but he didn't walk anybody in seven innings, while allowing 10 hits and striking out three. Not ready to say he has turned the corner just yet.

George Sherrill picked up save No. 15.

Bronson Arroyo threw his second consecutive great outing, but the Reds bullpen blew the win for him. He threw seven scoreless innings.

Ryan Garko homered for the second straight game.

Joe Blanton has been a pitcher with bad luck this season. He allowed two runs in seven innings, but fell to 2-6 with a 3.69 ERA.

C.C. Sabathia is back. He threw a five-hit shutout, walked two and struck out 11.

With Eric Gagne unavailable after pitching three innings the last two days, Guillermo Mota blew the save. He allowed three runs in the top of the ninth to take the loss.

Mike Mussina is 6-3 after beating the Rays tonight. He has a 3.99 ERA. Mariano Rivera recorded save No. 11.

Ted Lilly has turned it around. He threw his fifth consecutive excellent start striking out 11 in six innings. He is 4-4 with a 5.33 ERA after an atrocious start to the season.

Justin Verlander had one of his better outings, but still fell to 1-7 with a 6.05 ERA. He allowed two runs in six innings.

Luke Hochevar threw six scoreless innings and is 3-2 with a 3.94 ERA. He should be owned in AL-only leagues. Joakim Soria picked up save No. 10 and still hasn't allowed an earned run this season.

Micah Owings threw six scoreless innings to pick up his 5th win. He is 5-1 with a 3.81 ERA. Brandon Lyon allowed two hits, but picked up his 11th save.

Carlos Quentin hit third and delivered his 10th homer and five RBIs. Jose Contreras has quietly pitched real well. He allowed one run in seven innings. He is 4-3 with a 3.35 ERA.

John Lackey returned from the DL and went seven innings in a no-decision. He allowed six hits, one run, one walk and struck out four.

Lance Berkman hit his 14th homer.

Chan Ho Park will start for the Dodgers on Saturday.