FanHouse Charlie Morton

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Taking Charlie Morton was a gamble on my part, one that did not pay off. The Pirates pitcher labored through four ugly innings yesterday, giving up five runs while taking the loss. The Stream Team had been cruising along before that terrible start, so we'll pray that Morton's outing was a minor hiccup and not a trend. Brad Penny is on the hill for the Team tonight, and I'm confident he'll face a better fate.

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

It appears the Stream Team is back on track with another great performance from Mike Hampton. His start against the Pirates wasn't just similar to his previous two performances against the team -- by again pitching seven innings and allowing only one earned run, yesterday's start was nearly an exact replicate of the other two. The three walks were on the high side, but he balanced the wildness by allowing only three hits.

Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

There I am. Bottom of the 10th inning. Promenade section of Citi Field.

With my hands swollen from furious applause throughout the night and my legs bobbing to stay warm, Fernando Martinez laced a hit to right field. We came alive once more, while the old man sitting next to me grumbled: "Another friggin single? Pelfrey's the only one who drove somethin'."

Sixteen hits and pitcher Mike Pelfrey was the Met with pop.

You may remember Charlie Morton from a few outings last season with the Atlanta Braves. Overall, he wasn't much help in any fantasy league -- outside a few Suckball ones. The 24-year-old righty went 4-8 with a 6.15 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. He only struck out 48 guys in 74 2/3 innings.

Last week, Morton was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of what is now known as The Nate McLouth Trade. Wednesday night, Morton will get the chance to face the team who traded him away. He's taking the ball for the Pirates against the Braves in place of Jeff Karstens -- who was needed in the 15-inning game Monday night.

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Yankees are a .654 team against everyone else, but a .000 team when they face the Red Sox. Yes, Boston and New York hooked up for their third series of the season beginning Tuesday night, but despite the Yankees' surge up the AL East standings since the last time the rivals met, they dropped to 0-6 against the Sox this season.

Much of the focus in New England will be on David Ortiz, who cranked a two-run home run to straightaway center field, ran his hitting streak to seven games and maybe, just maybe, is emerging from a bewildering two month-slump.

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The 2009 trading season began in earnest Tuesday evening.

The Pittsburgh Pirates sent Nate McLouth to Atlanta in exchange for three prospects, according to a statement released by the Braves. Outfield prospect Gorkys Hernandez and pitching prospects Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke are headed to Pittsburgh in return for McLouth.

It's not surprising to see the Braves acquire some outfield help; none of their outfielders has an OPS above .700 and they're still well within striking distance in the NL East. McLouth was an All-Star in 2008 and despite an oblique injury, he was off to a good start in 2009, hitting .256/.349/.470 with nine home runs for the Pirates. In addition to his offense, he won a Gold Glove last year playing center field in spacious PNC Park.

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On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

Houston Astros (35-41) vs. Texas Rangers (39-38) - 8:05PM Est.

Generally when baseball has their "rivalry" matchups during interleague play, they schedule them for the weekend. That's not the case in Texas, as the Astros and Rangers prepare to begin a three-game set tonight at Minute Maid Park. I'm not sure the reasoning behind this, but I'm just going to guess that there's probably a big high school football scrimmage on Friday night, and the Astros are worried that it will hurt attendance numbers.

Of course, it could also just be that neither the Astros or Rangers have done much the last few seasons. The Astros haven't come anywhere near the success they achieved in 2005 when they won the National League, and the Rangers have only had one winning season (89-73 in 2004, which was good enough for third place!) since we entered the new millenium.

Yet tonight the Rangers are poised to go a whopping two games over .500 for the first time since September 22, 2006. Will history be made tonight in Houston?