FanHouse Mat Latos

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.

About halfway through the 2009 season, the San Diego Padres looked poised to be among the worst teams in baseball. They were 38-62 and being outscored at an alarming rate. All of a sudden, though, they seemed to put some things together. In their last 62 games, they won 37 (a .597 winning percentage). There seems to be a foundation of youth in place, though they aren't yet ready to compete with the Dodgers, Giants or Rockies in the NL West.

The biggest issue is their offense. It's been well-documented it's tough to score runs in their home park because it sucks the power out of anyone. True to form, the Padres were last in the NL in slugging percentage and 13th in home runs. Still, it's not just the ballpark. Their .321 OBP was 12th in the NL, which was a major they scored fewer runs than everyone in the NL except the Pirates.

---

---

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

Before we get our heaping of box score browsing, let's look at a related subject: The fantasy baseball stretch run. With the annual ushering in of September baseball, we see roster changes galore. Not only are there call-ups with the legal expansion of rosters, but players with seemingly minor injuries are shut down on teams who have fallen out of the race. You also have younger players being given an audition for 2010, or being shut down so the team doesn't overwork them in their first season of increased workload. If you are in the thick of things in your fantasy baseball race, now is not the time to use a laissez-faire approach.

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 select Carlos Pena in fantasy baseball, you know you aren't getting batting average help. Still, his career-low .223 mark this year was well below expectations, and up until August 5, the power numbers weren't nearly high enough to console disappointed Pena owners.

Well, that has all changed. Since that date, Pena has slugged 11 home runs and driven home 22. His average has been respectable (.286) and his OPS is ridiculous (1.307). On the season, Pena now has a six home run lead on the rest of the AL with 37. He's also third in RBI (91).

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.

I had a little trouble choosing between Jeff Niemann and Mat Latos for last night's spot start. Luckily, I took Niemann, who brought us another win (our 12th in August) by pitching 7.1 innings and allowing one run and one walk while striking out five.

On the flip side, Latos was rocked for five earned runs in 3.2 innings. In his last two starts, Latos' ERA has jumped from 2.43 to 4.82. With the imposed inning limit on his arm, I would discard Latos in redraft leagues, unless you play in an NL-only or very deep mixed league.

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.

Yesterday, the Rangers staked Tommy Hunter to a big lead, and while his four earned runs allowed in 5.2 innings weren't great, he did come away with five strikeouts and a win, the Stream Team's 11th win in 17 August games. I gambled on Manny Parra harnessing his wildness tonight against Pittsburgh; we'll see if it pays off.

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.

On Saturday, San Diego rookie Mat Latos pitched yet another gem, allowing one run in six innings while striking out seven. The Padres' offense gave the kid enough support to earn another win.

Sunday, Brett Anderson coasted through six innings before running into some trouble in the seventh, where he allowed three straight hits before exiting the game. All three runners eventually scored, so Anderson wound up with a bit of a pedestrian line. At least he gave the Team another win, our sixth in August.

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.

Through six innings, Jeff Niemann was rolling along to another quality start, having allowed just a solo HR in the first. After giving up another HR in the seventh, Niemann put two runners on base before Tampa Bay went to the bullpen. Both runners ended up coming around to score, giving our pitchers a disappointing four-run outing in 6.1 innings. With five strikeouts and only one walk allowed yesterday, Niemann's final line wasn't indicative of his strong overall performance against the Mariners.

Today, we have Mat Latos taking the mound for our Team against the Mets. Yesterday, Kevin Correia went six innings against those Mets without allowing an earned run.

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.

Tommy Hunter overcame a rough first inning yesterday to give the Team another quality start, allowing two earned runs in seven innings en route to a win. That's an impressive four wins in six starts for our guys in August. Jeff Niemann takes the hill tonight, and I know at least one of our Friday chatroom guys is playing along at home.

For tomorrow, we have two excellent options, and I recommend picking up either, or both if you have the roster space. Since I limit myself to one streamer per day, I have to make a tough choice.

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

A few weeks ago we discussed the possibility of the Padres promoting 21-year-old phenom Mat Latos. Well, he now has four major league starts under his belt, and, needless to say, he's doing just fine. After a solid outing Monday night, Latos is 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA and a sparkling 0.89 WHIP. He's struck out 16 while only walking 6 in 23 2/3 innings. He's also pitching in one of the best pitcher's parks in baseball.

So, he should be owned in all fantasy leagues, right?

There are only 39 pitchers starting twice this week and while you have your normal distribution of both good and bad options, it's the guys in the middle who are intriguing.

Of the seven pitchers who I call "Solid" headed into fantasy week 18, six are owned in less then 70% of fantasy leagues. This week would be a great week to go trolling for two-start pitchers on the waiver wire.

• Jamie Moyer is only owned in 12% of fantasy leagues
• Randy Wells is only owned in 53% of fantasy leagues
• Ryan Rowland-Smith is only owned in 2% of fantasy leagues
• Mat Latos is only owned in 15% of fantasy leagues
• Brett Anderson is only owned in 27% of fantasy leagues
• Zach Duke is only owned in 67% of fantasy leagues