FanHouse Johan Santana

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

You Oughta Know ...
That reigning NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum is actually better this year, which makes it seem like a long time ago that we wondered how he'd top his 2008 season. Lincecum has erased all memory of that slow start by stringing together 23 consecutive scoreless innings, including seven against the Astros on Saturday.

Lincecum is now 9-2 with a 2.23 ERA, lower than last year's 2.64 ERA. He's looking like a strong candidate to start the All-Star Game in St. Louis, which would be a nice way of making up for last year. Lincecum was picked to go to the game in New York, but he was too sick to attend.

"It would mean a lot -- the hard work paid off," said Lincecum. "If I do happen to start, it will make up for the fact I didn't even make it to the field last year."

As a team, the Giants have now pitched two shutouts in a row for the second time in a week. Previously, they hadn't done it since 2002.

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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.

Well, that was ugly. After a promising first start three days ago, the Stream Team took a quick nosedive with my last two picks, including Felipe Paulino's horrendous start against the Giants last night. But since whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger, it's time to pick up the pieces and see if we can put together enough quality outings to alleviate the damage done to the Stream Team's ERA and WHIP. Vin Mazzaro takes the mound tonight, and I'll be on Twitter tracking his start -- you can follow me @rjwhite1.

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

In yesterday's Rush, we mentioned that Gordon Beckham is heating up and that the power would come. As if right on cue, he posted a 4-2-3-2 line in the box score. That is 4 at-bats, 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBI, for those box score challenged. One of the hits was a home run. Beckham went through some predictable growing pains when he was first called up the majors, but he's since raised his on-base percentage to .353. His OPS is 1.396 in his last five games. It's time to keep your eyes on him in all fantasy leagues. There's a reason he was in the majors less than a year after he was drafted.

Boy are we getting a treat this week.

Some of the biggest of big-named pitchers are throwing twice this week. With names going like Johan Santana, Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay and Dan Haren, to name a few, we are absolutely going to see great pitching.

In total there are 42 pitchers who are getting two starts. Be sure to set your fantasy baseball lineups by 7:05 PM ET tonight.

Must Start
Dan Haren, Diamondbacks - Tuesday at CIN (B. Arroyo) and Sunday at COL (U. Jimenez)
Jon Lester, Red Sox - Monday at BAL (J. Berken) and Sunday vs SEA (B. Morrow)
Gavin Floyd, White Sox - Monday at CLE (C. Pavano) and Saturday at KC (L. Hochevar)
Ricky Nolasco, Marlins - Monday vs WAS (S. Olsen) and Sunday vs PIT (R. Ohlendorf)
Nick Blackburn, Twins - Monday at KC (L. Hochevar) and Sunday vs DET (R. Porcello)
Johan Santana, Mets - Tuesday at MLW (M. Burns) and Sunday at PHI (J. Blanton)
Tim Lincecum, Giants - Monday at STL (B. Thompson) and Saturday vs HOU (R. Oswalt)
Chris Carpenter, Cardinals - Tuesday vs SF (R. Johnson) and Sunday at CIN (B. Arroyo)
Roy Halladay, Blue Jays - Monday vs TB (J. Niemann) and Sunday at NYY (J. Chamberlain)

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

By the looks of his season stats, you wouldn't know that Jordan Zimmermann has actually been one of the most dominant pitchers in the majors over the past month. We're talking a 1.90 ERA and a .198 batting average against. On that same note, Minnesota's Scott Baker is holding opposing hitters to a .205 average over his last five starts. The turnaround of these pitchers teach fantasy owners an important lesson about staying patient and swooping in when the time is right.

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

When you think of Chicago Cubs starting pitchers, you first think of Carlos Zambrano. Next is probably Rich Harden, especially in terms of sheer talent -- plus, the injury woes probably keep him fresh in your mind. After last season, Ryan Dempster should be hanging out in your baseball-knowledge-filled brain as well. The best Cubs' starter of 2009, though, has been Ted Lilly. After yet another quality start Sunday, the Cubs' left-hander is 7-4 with a 2.94 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.

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 Subway Series is finally living up to the hype on the field that Big Apple seamheads give it off the field. Friday, Luis Castillo made one of the most memorable fielding gaffes lately to cost the battered and reeling Mets a win. Saturday, Yankees walking injury relief pitcher Brian Bruney ripped record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez for his antics on the mound just prior to Castillo's flubbed popup.

The series finale had a bit of everything.

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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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NEW YORK -- Blasphemy, you'll say, but think about it. What are you going to remember about Tuesday night's Yankees-Red Sox game? David Ortiz's third home run of the year? Nick Green's second? Maybe Josh Beckett, fine, but the fact is this isn't 2003-04 anymore, the Red Sox own the Yankees now and they're both probably making the playoffs anyway, what with the Rays looking like World Series-hangover-roadkill.

No, this here is where it's at for big-time baseball rivalries circa 2009. Mets-Phillies has morphed from spring training trash talk to nailbiting, in-season theater, complete with all the subplots, drama and good, intense baseball you can take. Tuesday night had everything anybody could ask of a midseason rivalry game, and in the end it was the battered-underdog Mets who came away with a 6-5 victory that was in no way easy but in all ways satisfying.

There are a total of 46 two-start pitchers this week. None have it tougher than poor J.A. Happ who faces the Mets and Johan Santana, and then Boston and Josh Beckett. I'm afraid Happ's perfect record might become blemished this week.

There are two afternoon games on Monday so your weekly lineups need to set by 2:05 PM ET.

Must Start
Derek Lowe, Braves - Tuesday vs PIT (R. Ohlendorf) and Sunday at BAL (D. Hernandez)
Josh Beckett, Red Sox - Tuesday vs NYY (A. Burnett) and Sunday at PHI (J. Happ)
Ted Lilly, Cubs - Tuesday at HOU (B. Moehler) and Sunday vs MIN (S. Baker)
Mark Buehrle, White Sox - Tuesday vs DET (D. Willis) and Sunday at MLW (B. Looper)
Johnny Cueto, Reds - Tuesday at WAS (J. Zimmermann) and Sunday at KC (B. Bannister)
Cliff Lee, Indians - Tuesday vs KC (B. Bannister) and Sunday vs STL (C. Carpenter)