• I wouldn’t exactly call him a major fantasy option, but Milwaukee middle reliever Rick Helling does deserve a look. With three striaght scoreless outings, Helling now has a 2.20 ERA in 10 games since the break. His opponents batting average since then? Try .132. Because he’s often used as a multi-inning man, Helling doesn’t see action very often, but his numbers definitely merit some consideration.
• Call it NL Middle Relievers Day. Hey, it might not be sexy, but everyone needs their day in the sun. So how about Darren Oliver of the Mets? He’s been pitching very effectively, if sporadically, this season. He’s only given up 51 hits in 36 games and 66 2/3 innings, walking just 19 with 51 Ks. Oliver has been bombed for 10 jacks, but at 4-1, 2.84, with a 1.05 WHIP and .209 BAA (.170 vs. lefties), he’s been a useful asset in mid-sized NL leagues and even in extremely deep mixed leagues.

Round nine. You’re sitting there wondering if Muhsin Muhammad might actually amass more than 800 yards or if Trent Green’s imminent fantasy demise can be staved off for another year. Let’s be honest, it gets a little dull after the top 70 or 80 players are off the board. I have one word for you: [...] more

Richie Sexson, just dreadful the first couple of months of the season, has spent the past few weeks trying to justify that huge cash outlay by the Mariners. Since the break, the hulking Sexson is batting .280 with 11 homers while getting on base at a .354 clip. That home run total is the second [...] more

In this week’s Spikes Up, we covered Justin Verlander’s struggles in his latest start and how the AL ROY debate may not be over yet as a result. We also put out an APB for Ben Grieve and discuss the outfield situation for the White Sox. Read all of these and other fantasy baseball topics in [...] more

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Shea Hillenbrand finally contributed something other than team-inspiring epitaths on the clubhouse blackboard. After getting ushered out of Toronto for predicting nautical disasters, he’s been next to useless with the Giants, batting just .215 since arriving. But that was before Cincinnati came to town and Hillenbrand proceeded [...] more