How about the season
Ryan Vogelsong is having? The 33-year-old entered the 2011 campaign with a 10-22 career record in the majors along with a 5.86 ERA, and hadn't pitched in the bigs since 2006. Yet, he's been a godsend for the Giants, quickly transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation, where he's been masterful.
In 11 starts, Vogelsong has gone 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA, allowing two or fewer runs every single time he's taken the mound. Eight of his past nine turns have been quality starts. His strikeout and walk rates are both the best of his career. Opposing hitters have routinely marveled at his stuff in post-game interviews.
Vogelsong appears atop of this week's "Strong Plays" among National League two-start pitchers, and I couldn't be happier to write him in there. What a great story. With match-ups against the Cubs and Mariners on deck, there's a good chance we'll see it last at least another week.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysC.J. Wilson: @HOU (Lyles), FLA (Vazquez)
Jeremy Hellickson: CIN (Cueto), STL (Lohse)
Gio Gonzalez: FLA (Vazquez), ARI (Kennedy)
Ervin Santana: WAS (Lannan), LAD (Billingsley)
Decent PlaysJo-Jo Reyes: PIT (Correia), PHI (Lee)
Erik Bedard: ATL (Beachy), SD (Latos)
Freddy Garcia: MIL (Greinke), @NYM (Dickey)
Nick Blackburn: LAD (Billingsley), MIL (Greinke)
Jeff Francis: @SD (Latos), @COL (Hammel)
Max Scherzer: TOR (Stewart), SF (Bumgarner)
Mitch Talbot: @ARI (Kennedy), @CIN (Cueto)
Jeremy Guthrie: STL (Lohse), @ATL
At Your Own RiskZach Stewart: @DET (Scherzer), PHI (Halladay)
Andrew Miller: @PHI (Lee), @HOU (Lyles)
National LeagueStrong PlaysRyan Vogelsong: @CHC (Davis), @SEA (Bedard)
Cliff Lee: BOS (Miller), @TOR (Reyes)
Kyle Lohse: @BAL (Guthrie), @TB (Hellickson)
Mat Latos: KC (Francis), @SEA (Bedard)
Zack Greinke: @NYY (Garcia), @MIN (Blackburn)
Chad Billingsley: @MIN (Blackburn), @LAA (Santana)
Jhoulys Chacin: @CHC (Garza), KC (Hochevar)
Johnny Cueto: @TB (Hellickson), CLE (Talbot)
Ian Kennedy: CLE (Talbot), @OAK (Gonzalez)
Matt Garza: COL (Chacin), CWS (Danks)
Brandon Beachy: @SEA (Bedard), BAL
Decent PlaysJohn Lannan: @LAA (Santana), PIT
Kevin Correia: @TOR (Reyes), @WAS (Marquis)
R.A. Dickey: @DET (Porcello), NYY (Garcia)
Jordan Lyles: TEX (Wilson), BOS (Miller)
Jason Hammel: CWS (Floyd), KC (Francis)
At Your Own RiskJavier Vazquez: @OAK (Gonzalez), @TEX (Wilson)
Doug Davis: SF (Vogelsong), CWS (Humber)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American LeagueWednesday, 6/29: Carlos Carrasco @ ARICarrasco has allowed only one run over his past three starts.
Wednesday, 6/29: Bruce Chen @ SDChen, freshly activated from the disabled list, owns a 4-1 record and 3.59 ERA this year. Meanwhile, the Padres offense is very, very bad.
National LeagueWednesday, 6/29: Rubby de la Rosa @ MINThe rookie has shown pretty good stuff since being called up directly from Double-A. Give him a look at the spacious confines of Target Field.
Friday, 7/1: Josh Collmenter @ OAKDespite his 2.06 ERA and 0.86 WHIP, Collmenter remains unowned in just over half of all ESPN leagues.
Friday, 7/1: Juan Nicasio vs. KCNicasio has generally looked sharped since joining the big-league ranks, posting a 24/7 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings.
How about the season
Ryan Vogelsong is having? The 33-year-old entered the 2011 campaign with a 10-22 career record in the majors along with a 5.86 ERA, and hadn't pitched in the bigs since 2006. Yet, he's been a godsend for the Giants, quickly transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation, where he's been masterful.
In 11 starts, Vogelsong has gone 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA, allowing two or fewer runs every single time he's taken the mound. Eight of his past nine turns have been quality starts. His strikeout and walk rates are both the best of his career. Opposing hitters have routinely marveled at his stuff in post-game interviews.
Vogelsong appears atop of this week's "Strong Plays" among National League two-start pitchers, and I couldn't be happier to write him in there. What a great story. With match-ups against the Cubs and Mariners on deck, there's a good chance we'll see it last at least another week.
Going Twice...
American LeagueStrong PlaysC.J. Wilson: @HOU (Lyles), FLA (Vazquez)
Jeremy Hellickson: CIN (Cueto), STL (Lohse)
Gio Gonzalez: FLA (Vazquez), ARI (Kennedy)
Ervin Santana: WAS (Lannan), LAD (Billingsley)
Decent PlaysJo-Jo Reyes: PIT (Correia), PHI (Lee)
Erik Bedard: ATL (Beachy), SD (Latos)
Freddy Garcia: MIL (Greinke), @NYM (Dickey)
Nick Blackburn: LAD (Billingsley), MIL (Greinke)
Jeff Francis: @SD (Latos), @COL (Hammel)
Max Scherzer: TOR (Stewart), SF (Bumgarner)
Mitch Talbot: @ARI (Kennedy), @CIN (Cueto)
Jeremy Guthrie: STL (Lohse), @ATL
At Your Own RiskZach Stewart: @DET (Scherzer), PHI (Halladay)
Andrew Miller: @PHI (Lee), @HOU (Lyles)
National LeagueStrong PlaysRyan Vogelsong: @CHC (Davis), @SEA (Bedard)
Cliff Lee: BOS (Miller), @TOR (Reyes)
Kyle Lohse: @BAL (Guthrie), @TB (Hellickson)
Mat Latos: KC (Francis), @SEA (Bedard)
Zack Greinke: @NYY (Garcia), @MIN (Blackburn)
Chad Billingsley: @MIN (Blackburn), @LAA (Santana)
Jhoulys Chacin: @CHC (Garza), KC (Hochevar)
Johnny Cueto: @TB (Hellickson), CLE (Talbot)
Ian Kennedy: CLE (Talbot), @OAK (Gonzalez)
Matt Garza: COL (Chacin), CWS (Danks)
Brandon Beachy: @SEA (Bedard), BAL
Decent PlaysJohn Lannan: @LAA (Santana), PIT
Kevin Correia: @TOR (Reyes), @WAS (Marquis)
R.A. Dickey: @DET (Porcello), NYY (Garcia)
Jordan Lyles: TEX (Wilson), BOS (Miller)
Jason Hammel: CWS (Floyd), KC (Francis)
At Your Own RiskJavier Vazquez: @OAK (Gonzalez), @TEX (Wilson)
Doug Davis: SF (Vogelsong), CWS (Humber)
Streamer City
The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:
American LeagueWednesday, 6/29: Carlos Carrasco @ ARICarrasco has allowed only one run over his past three starts.
Wednesday, 6/29: Bruce Chen @ SDChen, freshly activated from the disabled list, owns a 4-1 record and 3.59 ERA this year. Meanwhile, the Padres offense is very, very bad.
National LeagueWednesday, 6/29: Rubby de la Rosa @ MINThe rookie has shown pretty good stuff since being called up directly from Double-A. Give him a look at the spacious confines of Target Field.
Friday, 7/1: Josh Collmenter @ OAKDespite his 2.06 ERA and 0.86 WHIP, Collmenter remains unowned in just over half of all ESPN leagues.
Friday, 7/1: Juan Nicasio vs. KCNicasio has generally looked sharped since joining the big-league ranks, posting a 24/7 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings.
Total Games
American League6: BAL, BOS, CWS, CLE, KC, LAA, MIN, NYY, OAK, SEA, TB, TEX
7: DET, TOR
National League6: ARI, ATL, CIN, FLA, HOU, LAD, MIL, NYM, PHI, SD, STL
7: COL, PIT, SF, WAS
8: CHC
Lefty/Righty Breakdown
American LeagueBAL: 6 vs. RHP, 0 vs. LHP
BOS: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CWS: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CLE: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
DET: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
KC: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
MIN: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
NYY: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
OAK: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SEA: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TB: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TEX: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
TOR: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
National LeagueARI: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
ATL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CHC: 5 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CIN: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
COL: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
FLA: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
HOU: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
LAD: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
MIL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
NYM: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PHI: 2 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
PIT: 3 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
SD: 2 vs. RHP, 4 vs. LHP
SF: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
STL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
WAS: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
The Infirmary
You can get a full listing of injured players at Rotoworld's
Injury Page, but here's the latest on a few prominent players who have been out of action:
Clay Buchholz: Out indefinitely
Carl Crawford: Out indefinitely
Matt LaPorta: Out until mid-July
Chris Coghlan: Out until early July
Josh Willingham: Out until early July
Roy Oswalt: Out indefinitely
Jose Contreras: Out until August
Albert Pujols: Out until early August
Mike Napoli: Out indefinitely
Rick Ankiel: Out indefinitely