Friday Roto Round Up: A New Dominant Middle Reliever In Town

RP Jose Mijares, Minnesota Twins:  Setting up Joe Nathan, the rookie strukc out three in an inning.  For the season, Mijares has 8 Ks in four innings.  The Twins always seem to find good no-name relievers.  Mijares looks like this year's Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, etc.

OF Bobby Abreu, Los Angeles Angels:  With two SBs, Abreu has now swiped 11 bases.  He has yet to hit a HR, but there are not likely to be any complaints from those who have the major league's stoeln base leader.

RP Ryan Perry, Detroit Tigers:  The 2008 1st round pick threw a scoreless 9th inning in the Tigers 6-5 loss.   While not a save, he was used in a high leverage spot.  Eventually, Fernando Rodney will get hurt, and Perry could be the guy.

OF Dave Dellucci, Cleveland Indians:  In his 2009 debut, Dellucci went 4-5.  With the Indians set to recall Matt LaPorta, don't be surprised to see Dellucci get more playing time than anyone thinks is reasonable.  Playing proven veterans over highly-anticipated rookies seems all too common.

SP Derek Lowe, Atlanta Braves:  With 6.2 effective innings, Lowe picked-up his 3rd win of the season.  Every good start twists the knife in the hearts of the New York Mets who pray for their free agent lefty starter to pitch just five effective innings in the same game.

OF Matt Holliday, Oakland A's:  Holliday hit his 2nd HR of the season.  The chance to buy low on the presumpitve King of Trade Rumors this July has likely passed.

1B Russell Branyan, Seattle Mariners:  With his 5th HR, Branyan picked-up in May where he left off in April.  His Ks are still too high though - 16 in 60 ABs.  If you can get another team to provide a player who is expected to be valuable all season long, I'd pull the trigger and deal him.  Branyan has received no more than 202 ABs in the last five seasons for a reason.

8th inning Set-Up: Carlos Marmol Chicago Cubs (4), Jensen Lewis (3) and Rafael Betancourt (4) Cleveland Indians, J.J. Putz Seattle Mariners (5), Scott Linebrink Chicago White Sox (2), Jose Mijares Minnesota Twins (2), Jeremy Affeldt San Francisco Giants (5)

Saves: Kevin Gregg Chicago Cubs (2), Kerry Wood Cleveland Indians (5), Francisco Rodriguez New York Mets (5), Bobby Jenks Chicago White Sox (6), Joe Nathan Minnesota Twins (4), Chad Qualls Arizona Diamondbacks (5), Brian Wilson San Francisco Giants (6)

Blown Saves: Brien Fuentes Los Angeles Angels (2)