Last time Dan Wheeler found himself closing games, it was in Houston as a result of Brad Lidge’s mental health. This time, he could again be claiming ninth-inning duties in Tampa Bay with the news that 38-year old closer Troy Percival was placed on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

After breaking the news story, the Tampa Tribune also made several other key points to consider when making roster decisions in fantasy. First, manager Joe Maddon is leaning towards a committee to close games. Second, Percival has been bothered by sore hamstrings all season. And third, Percival was none too pleased about the team’s decision. Read more »

Last time Dan Wheeler found himself closing games, it was in Houston as a result of Brad Lidge’s mental health. This time, he could again be claiming ninth-inning duties in Tampa Bay with the news that 38-year old closer Troy Percival was placed on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

After breaking the news story, the Tampa Tribune also made several other key points to consider when making roster decisions in fantasy. First, manager Joe Maddon is leaning towards a committee to close games. Second, Percival has been bothered by sore hamstrings all season. And third, Percival was none too pleased about the team’s decision. Read more »

Memorial Day has come and gone and as predicted, without surprise, the lovable loser Chicago Cubs share baseball’s best record with, judging by attendance figures, the unlovable Tampa Bay Rays.

The surprises at the top of this week’s power rankings, stunning as they are, are matched by the disappointing teams littering the bottom half. The New York Yankees and New York Mets continue to struggle while the preseason favorite Seattle Mariners became baseball’s last team to 20 wins. Read more »

Free agency time again, and we take a look at some of the more dependable starting pitchers on your waiver wire. We also throw in some upside picks with left-handers Andrew Miller and Francisco Liriano; two guys bound to find a groove as summer approaches.

Veteran help can be found in large quantities, with Tim Redding, Mike Mussina and Daniel Cabrera leading the way. Here is a look at the latest free agent starting pitchers than can provide an immediate, and dependable addition to your fantasy squad. These players are available in at least 50 percent of ESPN.com leagues. Read more »

The arrival of much anticipated rookies Jay Bruce and Clayton Kershaw has shaken up the top 10 rookie rankings. The two phenoms join an already impressive class of rookies that includes: early Cy Young contender Edinson Volquez, Red Sox sparkplug Jacoby Ellsbury, and one of the game’s most productive catchers in Chicago’s Geovany Soto.

Here are the top rookies that have and will continue to make huge fantasy impacts. Read more »

It’s free agent time once again, and as the temperature continues to warm across the country, so do batting averages and home run totals for slow-starting fantasy players.

Two Philadelphia Phillies and two Pittsburgh Pirates are capitalizing on favorable ballparks; Willy Tavares and Julio Lugo continue to run despite being slowed by poor averages; and the season of Frank Thomas is beginning to eerily resemble his 39 homer campaign of 2006. Read more »

It’s always nice catching a highlight and seeing that a major league team scored 20 runs in a game. For a game based on statistics, both in fantasy and real-life baseball, there is fun to be had in checking out that box score. And early in a season like this, a big individual outburst can have quite an effect on a player’s bottom line. More on that below.

Of course, for as good as the Phillies’ offense was, the Rockies’ pitching staff was just as bad. Fortunately, in fantasy, it was a bunch of no-names absorbing all the damage. A sketchy, six-man effort got through the game by throwing a whopping 202 pitches and allowing 19 hits and 8 walks. Read more »

Closer candidates Rafael Soriano and John Smoltz are both working through rehab assignments in efforts to return to the Atlanta Braves bullpen. Smoltz (shoulder) and Soriano (elbow) are neck and neck in the race to come back, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that both will have tests to pass on Tuesday before doing so.

Smoltz will make another rehab appearance for Class-A Rome, according to the AJC, and Soriano will throw a bullpen session. If both are setback-free, they could join the Braves in Milwaukee, where they kick off a seven-game road trip on Tuesday. Read more »

First, it was Dodgers phenom Clayton Kershaw on Sunday. Now, it will be Reds super prospect Jay Bruce making his major league debut on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 21-year old outfielder will presumably take over full-time duties in center field, pushing Corey Patterson and Ryan Freel back into reserve roles.

Bruce was hitting .419 for Triple-A Louisville in the month of May, raising his season average to an International League-leading .364 in 49 games. He had 10 home runs, 24 extra-base hits, 37 RBIs and 8 stolen bases, and he ranked among the league’s top four in slugging percentage (3rd, .630), OPS (4th, 1.023) and total bases (2nd, 116). Read more »

Entering Sunday, Eric Byrnes was a .224 career hitter with the bases loaded, but it was Byrnes that came through with the sacks full to give his Arizona Diamondbacks a 9-3 win over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. It was Byrnes’ first career grand slam and second home run in as many days, and perhaps more importantly, a hit that could get the struggling outfielder back on track.

On a day that saw both in baseball headlines, Dan Uggla and Byrnes have headed in opposite directions this May. Uggla hit his 12th home run of the month, while Byrnes was hitting .135 in 74 at bats before breaking through at the expense of Tom Glavine. Read more »