Phantasy Phix: Rotation Rundown

Rotation Rundown
Pitchers were moved around the closer it got to the trade deadline. First, Cliff Lee was moved for the second straight season at the deadline, this year to the Texas Rangers. Then, Dan Haren was moved to the Angels in a trade that started the destruction of the Diamondbacks roster. The D’Backs also moved righty Edwin Jackson to the White Sox. This week alone saw Roy Oswalt, Jake Westbrook and Ted Lilly change jerseys in a very active trade deadline week. All of these pitchers moved to teams that are battling for the postseason and should provide depth and experience in their rotations. But Cliff Lee is the one who has everyone’s eye as he has kept the form he held with the Phillies last season and could be your difference in your fantasy team rotation.
Lee will definitely give them the same boost he did with the Phillies last season and get your fantasy team assistance in six fantasy categories. He’s an ace that can help lead any playoff contender to the World Series. The Rangers have secured an innings eater and can dominate any lineup any given start. This week, he’ll face the Oakland A’s and their weak lineup, which is why the Cliff heads up the Rotation Rundown.
Rotation Rundown mentions the best bet pitching matchups for the week.
1. Cliff Lee -TEX- (9-5, 2.51 ERA) will take hits talents to Oakland this week as he faces one of the worst offensive teams in the AL. They have little to offer Lee in their lineup, which should make this matchup much like the last time he faced them on July 27 when recorded 13 strikeouts during his complete game shutout.
2. Roy Halladay-PHI- (12-8, 2.29 ERA) has two starts this week. Doc will face the Marlins, the team which he tossed a perfect game against earlier this season. His second matchup will come against the Metropolitans on Sunday. Halladay has been masterful in his last two starts giving up 11 hits and just one earned run over his last 17 innings of work. The good fortunes should continue to come as he’s definitely the best pitcher in Fantasy and perhaps all of Major League baseball.
3. Colby Lewis-TEX- (9-7, 3.40 ERA) has two savory matchups against the Mariners and the Athletics, both are bottom feeders in the AL West. Lewis has been a strikeout machine all season. He’s remained consistent this season his first full season as a starter. Despite his near .500, Lewis has delivered a quality start in 4 of his last 5 starts. He should be able to capitalize on some of the offensive upgrades the Rangers acquired to get him the wins to go along with the strikeouts.
4. Felix Hernandez- (7-8, 2.90 ERA) If he pitched for a contender, he could very well be the best pitcher in baseball. The lack of offense shows in his wins and losses. That still doesn’t stop him from doing his part as of the Mariners staff. Though the Royals are one of the AL’s weak teams, King Felix should be able to mow them down and keep his low ERA down. If not, then we could see his numbers drop a bit but don’t expect that. He should get his first win after the All-Star break.
5. Tim Hudson-ATL- (11-5, 2.40 ERA) faces the Mets and Giants this week. The veteran has a solid ERA and has kept teams in check this season. After coming back from Tommy John surgery late last season, we have seen flashes of greatness from this righty. His explosiveness has returned and so has his winning ways. The Mets have been up and down offensively and the Giants have a terrible lineup so that should provide him with the easy matchups and make him a definite must-start in all fantasy leagues.