Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By David Ferris

Did you miss out on wonder kids Jay Bruce and Clayton Kershaw? No worries, we can still get some help to your Mudville Nine, even if the upside isn't quite so tasty. It's time to fire up this week's look around the NL Landscape.

Batters

BUY

Jesus Flores, C, Nationals: There are questions about his defense, but he's shown a nifty bat over the last few weeks (.344/.420/.590), which means the Nats have a decision to make when Paul Lo Doca gets healthy. There have been whispers within the organization that Flores will remain the starter even when everyone is healthy.

Gregor Blanco, OF, Braves: You're not going to get much power here, but Blanco can get on base (.409 OBP) and swipe a few bags (4 for 4 in that department). Playing time won't be a problem; Bobby Cox is a Blanco fan, and the Braves just lost Matt Diaz to a PCL (knee) tear.

SELL

Josh Willingham, OF, Marlins: His rehab continues to slog around at a slow pace, and any back injury has the potential to linger and sap power for an extended period of time. If there's a Willingham speculator in your league, give him a reasonable price and think about cutting your losses.

HOLD

Jerry Hairston, Utility, Reds: He's carrying four-position eligibility and his leadoff spot looks secure now that Corey Patterson has been farmed out. Over the last four days Hairston has collected eight hits and five steals; that should earn him some leash with skipper Dusty Baker.

Pitchers

BUY

Andrew Miller, SP, Marlins: The Mets roughed him up Tuesday, but the four turns prior to that get your attention (25 innings, 4 earned runs, 7 walks, 26 strikeouts). Miller passes the eye test (mid-90s fastball, biting slider), and the pedigree is in place (sixth overall pick in 2006). If he can sharpen his command a little bit in the next year or two, he's going to be a No. 1 or No. 2 starter for the Fish.

SELL

Ian Snell, SP, Pirates: Not all of his indicators are going in the wrong direction -- he's allowing fewer home runs this year and keeping the ball on the ground more often -- but given the wreckage of his walk/strikeout ratio, it's not a good time to get cute with a speculation play. I'm not convinced Snell is fully healthy right now.

Mark Hendrickson, SP, Marlins: He's been serviceable in two-thirds of his starts this year, but he doesn't miss enough bats (36 strikeouts over 63 innings) and even his better efforts seldom go into the seventh. His career ratio (1.45) is another warning flag that portends a likely collapse; get out before you get hurt.

HOLD

Bronson Arroyo, SP, Reds: He's made four quality starts this month and he hasn't allowed a homer for five turns, so the buy-low window might be just about closed. Arroyo also has 61 strikeouts over 64.2 innings this year; even when he was getting knocked around, his stuff wasn't that far off. His fly-ball tendencies are always going to be a little rocky in the tiny Cincinnati park, but Arroyo nonetheless should be a $12-13 arm the rest of the way.

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