Thursday's Roto Round Up: Wandy Rodriguez K's 11 In Coors, Bourn Steals Home

Thursday's roto roundup comes to you as I listen to Going Down the Road Feeling Bad performed at the 2/18/1971 Grateful Dead show from Portchester, NY on XM57. Thanks to XM, I can listen to shows I missed when I was in 2nd grade.

SP, Wandy Rodriguez, Hou - The case against Wandy-Rod over the last few years was, get him in your lineup when he pitches at home, sit him on the road. Well, not so in 2009. Wandy-Rod pitched a gem in Colorado yesterday, striking out 11 Rockies en route to his 4th win on the season. His ERA stands at 1.90, with a 48-18 K-BB rate in 52 innings pitched, and he has yet to give up a HR this season.

CF, Michael Bourn, Hou - Bourn had 4 hits, 2 SBs, one of which was a steal of home. I think the steal of home is becoming more common than a HR hit at Citifield. Bourne raised his average to .317 and has 13 SBs on the season.

C, Russell Martin, LAD - Ever since I wrote an article here on Faketeams about selling low on Russell Martin, all he has done is prove me wrong. Well, it won't be the first time, nor the last. Martin went 3for 4 with the game-winning RBI in the 10th yesterday in Philadelphia. Martin also stole his 4th base. Hope faketeamers had more patience with him than I did.

SP, Chad Billingsley, LAD - Billz is on a mission this year. He is out to prove all his critics wrong after he blew up in last year's NLCS vs the Phillies. Billz returned to Citizen's Bank Park yesterday and outpitched Cole Hamels, striking out 9, walking 4, and allowed only 3 hits and 1 run. His ERA sits at 2.30.

SP, Justin Verlander, Det - Verlander pitched a gem in Minnesota yesterday, but his bullpen let him down. Verlander struck out 13 Twins in 6 1/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 BBs. Verlander had double digit K's for the 3rd straight start, and now has 69 K's in 50 IP. He has 35 K's in his last 22.1 IP, not quite Strasburg-esque, but pretty close.

SP, CC Sabathia, NYY - Sabathia may be in the 1st inning of his season long dominant streak. Sabathia pitched 8 innings to eanr his 3rd win of the season, striking out 5 Blue Jays in the process. His ERA is down to 3.70.

C, Victor Martinez, Cle - V-Mart went 4 for 5 with 4 RBI, and is now hitting .400 on the button. Where as he in the pre-season catcher rankings by all the experts? I am an NL guy, so I am not sure.

OF, Matt Laporta, Cle - Is Laporta heating up now? He went 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a SB in the Indians 11-7 win over the Rays.

CL, Brandon Morrow, Sea - Morrow gave up homers to Hank Blalock and Chris Davis to blow his 2nd save in as many days, spoiling a gem by Felix Hernandez. Morrow's ERA now stands at 9.72. His days as a closer may be coming to an end.