FanHouse Vin Mazzaro

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

Jon Garland has a 6-10 record on the season with a 4.26 ERA and I'm about to tell you that he's been the victim of poor run support. Well, that's at least part of the reason for his double digit loss column.

We've heard it before from the Diamondbacks and their pitchers. Dan Haren started the season with three straight losses even though he gave up only four total earned runs in those three games. But Haren is an ace and it was believable when we played the run support card with him. Garland, on the other hand, just doesn't have the track record.

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.

After yet another poor Stream Team start, this one a no-strikeout, two-HR allowed head-scratcher from Vin Mazzaro, I was in the dumps. Three straight stinkers left me with a pretty bad success rate. Luckily, Joe Blanton came out and locked the Mets down by scattering four hits through 7.1 innings, allowing no runs while striking out five batters. He also gave the Stream Team our first win! Who should we stream as we play for our second victory?

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.

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.

After yesterday's start, Kevin Correia provided us with the perfect example of how streaming spot-starters can blow up in your face. However, if you keep plugging away and consistently make the smart decisions, you can overcome those inevitable stinkers. Don't be surprised if Correia is dropped by many owners today -- if so, he still makes a worthwhile pickup if you need some pitching help.

Manny Ramirez is in Albuquerque, Jimmy Rollins isn't stealing bases, and Alex Rodriguez's batting average resembles 2008 Craig Counsell. Top picks have disappointed and the fantasy baseball world has been turned upside down by injuries (Thanks, Dice-K!). Knox Bardeen and I try to sort through the madness in this week's cram session. Check out the podcast after the jump.

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

Fantasy football season is a sprint. Fantasy baseball is a marathon. You might have heard this before, but it bears repeating when we see such headlines as: "Opening-day starter Ricky Nolasco demoted to minors" and "Magglio Ordonez benched indefinitely."

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

You Oughta Know ...
The Rockies are 4 1/2 games out of the NL wild card after Thursday's 5-4 victory over the Brewers.

OK, so they're still four games under .500, and fourth in their division. But Colorado has won eight straight games – all on the road, no less – to climb toward respectability.

"It's hard to expect to win eight in a row, but we definitely are a team capable of doing it," [Ian] Stewart said. "Our pitching has been unbelievable these last eight days. Timely hitting with runners in scoring position, keeping innings alive. Everything has kind of been going our way. We know we can be this good, so we just have to continue to play this way."

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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.

Continuing along with their youth movement in the pitching staff, the Athletics called up 22-year-old Vin Mazzaro last week to make his first major league start. He didn't disappoint.

On Tuesday, Mazzaro threw 6.1 innings of shutout baseball and only gave up three hits. It was a great start where he earned his first victory, but his four walks with only one strikeout weren't ideal.

The A's threw him back out there again on Sunday and Mazzaro impressed again. In 7.1 innings of work he allowed five hits and, once again, did not allow an earned run. He also struck out four batters and walked none; seemingly fixing his control issues from his first start.

After two starts, Mazzaro has a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA in 13.2 innings of work. He's struck out five and walked four. And now you're wondering... "When can I pick him up in mixed leagues?"

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

Hahaha. Get it? The Who? Tommy? Yeah. Dated cultural references mixed into fantasy baseball news FTW, eh? Sorry. Anyway, Tommy Hanson made his debut yesterday for the Atlanta Braves -- and while he was perfect through two innings, yeah, notsomuch the rest of the way: Hanson ended up getting knocked around for six hits and six earned through six innings (sign?) while striking out five and giving up three gofer balls.