Tuesday's Roto Round Up: Ben Zobrist Hits His 14th HR, Ryan Madson Blows His First Save

I was reading some of the ESPN chats today and read where A.J. Mass has Diamondbacks 3Bman Mark Reynolds in his top 5 hitters for the rest of the season!!  Reynolds is on pace for 40-100-100-30.

DH, David Ortiz, BOS-Ortiz homered again and drove in 3 runs in the Red Sox win over the Marlins. In his last 7 games, Big Papi is 6 for 16, with 3 HRs, 6 RBI, and 6 walks. Good, but not overly hot. Then again, it's Big Papi we are talking about.

CL, Ryan Madson, PHI-Madsen blew his first save closing for the injured Brad Lidge. He gave up 2 hits, 2 walks, and a run while striking out 2.

SP, Kevin Millwood, TEX-Millwood held the Astros to 1 run on 4 hits, 3 walks, while striking out 6 for his 7th win of the season. Millwood lowered his ERA to 2.62. He has allowed only 1 ER in his last 21.2 innings

C, Yadier Molina, STL-Molina went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored in the Cardinals thrashing of Justin Verlander and the Tigers. Molina was probably a late round pick in both mixed and NL-only leagues, yet he is out-hitting Dodgers catcher Russell Martin with a 4-21-4-.270 line with a sterling K/BB rate of 15/22.

C, Russell Martin, LAD-speaking of Martin, manager Joe Torre has had enough of batting Martin in the middle of the Dodgers lineup. Martin batted 8th last night against A's rookie pitcher Dallas Braden. Martin is hitting 0-20-7-.244 with a 41/30 K/BB rate. His strikeouts have steadily increased over the past 3 season-67 in 2007, 90 in 2008, and on pace to strikeout over 100 times this season. Martin's SLG percentage has dropped as well, from .469 in 2007 to .396 in 2008, to .288 this year. .288!! No wonder the Dodgers drafted 3 catchers in last week's draft.

SP, Yovani Gallardo, MIL-Gallardo won his 7th game of the season last night, but did not pitch well in doing so. He gave up 5 hits, 6 walks, 2 ER, and 8 Ks in 5 innings of work. In his last 7 starts, Gallardo has a 46/26 K/BB rate.

C, Joe Mauer, MIN-Mauer had 4 hits in 4 ABs vs Paul Maholm last night. Mauer is now hitting .429 this season. Maybe he can hit .400??

SP, Paul Maholm, PIT-Maholm was worse than a batting practice pitcher last night giving up 8 runs on a whopping 14 hits and 1 walk in 5 innings of work. His ERA jumped to 4.23, and I am sure his  WHIP jumped even more dramatically. Oh yeah, I have him in two of my keeper leagues.

OF, Carlos Gomez, MIN-Gomez went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, and stole his 6th base of the season batting 8th in the Twins lineup last night.

2B, Ben Zobrist, TB-Zobrist went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored and his 14th HR of the season. Zobrist is now hitting an Utley-like 14-39-8-.320 with a K/BB rate of 35/33!!

SP, Gil Meche, KC-Meche threw a complete game shutout of the Diamondbacks last night on 4 hits, a walk, 6 Ks and threw an astounding 132 pitches in doing so. Why?