Fantasy Sports

BY ADAM RONIS

Many people project Brandon Lyon to be the first closer to lose his job after a terrible spring, but he retired the side in order with two strikeouts today in a 4-2 win over the Reds. Lyon isn't a strikeout pitcher and I wouldn't be confident in him. Tony Pena and Chad Qualls, possible replacements, each pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout.

The Royals bullpen did an excellent job today against a potent Tigers lineup as Brett Tomko, Leo Nunez and Joakim Soria combined to throw five scoreless innings in a 5-4 11-inning win. The Tigers bullpen will be a problem with Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney injured. Denny Bautista took the loss today. He throws hard, but doesn't have great control. He allowed three hits and two walks in two innings.

I am a huge Ben Sheets fan, but this is the first year in quite some time I don't own him. His health issues gave me an ulcer. Now, he will probably have a great year. Sheets was great today in a 4-3 win over the Cubs in 10 innings and it was even more encouraging that he came back on a cold, wet day following a rain delay, which surprised me. He went 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, two walks with seven strikeouts. If he gets off to a great start, I would sell high.

Carlos Zambrano also pitched well, but left in the seventh inning with cramps in his right forearm and is day-to-day. He allowed three hits, one walk, no runs and struck out five in 6 1/3 innings. The story of this game was the closers. Kerry Wood allowed three runs in the ninth. I've said all spring Carlos Marmol is the Cubs' best reliever. He struck out three in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Bobby Howry took the loss in the 10th. Wood will get the chance to close, but his penchant for not staying healthy could land Marmol the job. Either way, Marmol should be owned.

Eric Gagne matched Wood in the bottom of the ninth, struggling with his control and allowed a three-run tying homer on a 3-1 pitch to Kasuke Fukodume, who had three hits. David Riske pitched the 10th for the save. He is likely next in line for saves should Gagne falter.

Brad Lidge should be salivating to take the mound after Tom Gordon surrendered five runs in the ninth in an 11-6 loss to the Nationals. Lastings Milledge went 2-for-4 with a home run and will be a solid fantasy player this season.

Rays catcher Dioner Navarro went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI. I touted him as a sleeper earlier this month and he should be owned in all leagues that start two catchers.

The Giants lineup makes me sick. I'd rather watch the Brooklyn Cyclones play. The Giants will be a boring team to watch, except when Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum pitch. The Giants need to play the young players and forget Ray Durham and Dave Roberts.

I took Jim Thome in the 10th round of my NFBC draft and he hit two two-run homers today. Obviously, health is the question, but if he does healthy, he should hit 30 HRs. I targeted Franklin Gutierrez in all my drafts and came up empty. He went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs. He should be owned in most leagues.

Victor Martinez left the game with a hamstring injury and will be sent for an MRI. He is day-to-day. This is why taking catchers early is risky. Catchers are more prone for injury than other position players. A typical Joe Borowski performance today. He allowed a run, but got the save.

Back with more later on the night games.