Fantasy Baseball: Sunday's Roto Roundup

Jeremy Hellickson won his 3rd game in as many starts yesterday, beating the Orioles. He went 6 innings, struck out 5 and walked just 1. I'm fairly sure I said it after his last start, but I think he should be owned in every league for the rest of the season. He has the potential to be that last difference-maker a team could use to vault them over the top.

Somewhat quietly, Hunter Pence has really come on in the last month or so here. He went 3 for 4 yesterday, and has raised his batting average up to .285 for the season. He also has 16 homers, 62 runs batted in, and 15 stolen bases. I think he's got a really good chance to get to 20/20 on the season, with around 90 runs batted in still.

C.J. Wilson has really been a great story this year, and continued it with another great start yesterday. He held the Red Sox to just 1 earned run over 7 2/3 innings and struck out 8. I keep waiting for him to hit a wall due to having spent last season as a reliever, and I'm no longer convinced it's coming.

Tim Lincecum had another poor outing yesterday against the Padres, lasting just 3 2/3 innings and giving up 6 runs (5 earned). He did strike out 6 batters in that short time, but he also gave up 8 hits and walked 3. I really don't know what to make of him for next season, but I imagine he's going to have the potential to be underrated.

The fantasy demise of Albert Pujols has been greatly exaggerated (by myself as well as others), as he hit his 30th homerun of the season yesterday against the Cubs. On the season, he's now hitting .315 with 30 homers and 86 runs batted in, and well on his way to a standard Pujols season.

Kevin Slowey was pulled from his start yesterday after 7 innings of no-hit ball as the Twins were being cautious with a pitcher who missed his previous start due to tendinitis. It was a very good start, striking out 5 and walking 3 only, and I think that this was the right approach for a team in the playoff push like the Twins are.

We may finally be getting the real Adam Lind, as he went 2 for 2 with a homerun yesterday against the Angels. Since the All-Star break, he's hitting .300 with 4 homeruns and 13 runs batted in.

Homer Bailey returned from the disabled list to take the suspended Johnny Cueto's turn in the rotation on Sunday, and had a pretty good start. He went 6 shutout innings, striking out 4 and walking none. I think that he's a spot start play at this point, and should be owned if you need a lottery ticket of a pitcher.

Stephen Strasburg struck out 7 in his start against the Diamondbacks yesterday, and went 5 innings. He got a no-decision, but it's good to see him bounce back from his last start.