LestersLegends.com

.
Trevor Cahill @ New York Mets
Cahill is 2-2 with a solid 3.13 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. He’s 2-0 on the road with a 1.31 ERA in three starts. Citi Field is a favorable pitching location.
.
Season Totals:  14-9,  184-2/3 IP, 150 Ks, 3.51 ERA (72 earned runs), 1.19 WHIP (154 hits, 65 walks)

.
We’re over 15 percent through the 2012 baseball season. It’s too early for anyone to be out of it, but if injuries and ineffectiveness have got you down, here are some fantasy baseball team names that can at least bring a smile to your face. Feel free to offer your suggestions. You can also check out the 2012 fantasy baseball team name contest.
.
Oscar Meyer Sweeney – Boston’s Ryan Sweeney among league leaders in batting average
.
Save Big Money at Denard – Minnesota’s Denard Span and a shot out to Midwest hardware store Menards
.
Willinghammer – Minnesota’s Mark Willingham has brought some pop to Minnesota
.
Encarnacion Instant Offense - Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion and Carnantion Instant Breakfast
.
Take It to the Lillibridge – White Sox’s Brent Lillibridge among league leaders in stolen bases.
.
LaHair of the Dog – Cubs’ Bryan LaHair among league leaders in home runs.
.
Worely Bird Gets the Worm - Phillies Vance Worley among league leaders in strikeouts.
.
Lance-A-Lot – St. Louis Lance Lynn among league leaders in wins.
.
Pimpin’ Ain’t Peavy – Jake Peavy returning to form.
.
.
Also check out:

• Are You High on Smyly?
• Are You Rockin’ Reddick?
• Should You Go Bass Fishing?
• Fantasy Baseball SB Help:  Tony Campana
• Is Jon Jay on His Way?

.
Mark Buehrle @ San Diego Padres
Buehrle is 1-4 despite a solid 3.34 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. He got bombed in his last start, but four of his five starts have been the quality variety. He’s been slightly better on the road (3.26 ERA vs. 3.46) and PETCO is certainly a favorable place to make a start. He has pitched there once, throwing 7-2/3 scoreless innings.
.
Season Totals:  13-9,  175-2/3 IP, 147 Ks, 3.55 ERA (71 earned runs), 1.20 WHIP (149 hits, 63 walks)

.
If you scan the league leaders in ERA you might be surprised to see Detroit Tigers rookie Drew Smyly among the leaders at 1.23. Technically his 22.0 innings don’t qualify Smyly to be among the leaders, but it’s hard not to be impressed with what the 22-year old southpaw has done.
.
It’s not like he’s had an easy path to his early success. He’s faced the Rays, Royals, Rangers, and Yankees thus far, making his 1-0 record, 1.23 ERA, and 1.18 WHIP all that more impressive.
.
He gave up one unearned run to the Royals, but what he’s done against the three powerhouses is where he really makes the grade. He allowed just three runs on 11 hits in 16.0 innings for a 1.69 ERA and 1.13 ERA against three of the most patient, powerful offenses in the league.
.
He’s not getting it done with smoke and mirrors either. He is averaging a strikeout per inning, and even took it up a notch (10.1 K/9) against that trio.
.
He has pretty much had success across the board. He’s got a 1.80 ERA at home and a 0.75 ERA on the road. He has a 1.69 ERA during day games and has tossed six scoreless innings in night starts. The only area he has struggled is facing left-handed hitting. He has allowed a .183 BAA and a .563 OPS against righties and a .333 BAA and .983 OPS against lefties.
.
His success should not come as a surprise. He was 9-1 with a 2.80 ERA in his final year at Arkansas. He toyed with minor league hitting posting a 7-3 record and a 2.58 ERA for Single-A+ Lakeland and a 4-3 record with a 1.18 ERA for Double-A Erie. He only pitched 1-2/3 innings of Triple-A ball so his 16.20 ERA there can be ignored. Overall he had a 2.26 ERA in 127-2/3 minor league innings.
.
Smyly is owned in less than twenty percent of fantasy leagues, which will surely increase if his success continues. His next start is today against the White Sox at home. If you aren’t high on Smyly yet, perhaps you should be.
.
.
Also check out:

• Are You Rockin’ Reddick?
• Should You Go Bass Fishing?
• Fantasy Baseball SB Help:  Tony Campana
• Is Jon Jay on His Way?
• Are You Hot on Hammel?

.
Wade Miley @ New York Mets
Miley has made the most of his opportunity winning both starts since joining the rotation allowing just one unearned run on three hits in 12-1/3 innings of work. He has struck out 13 batters while walking three. His BAA this year is a ridiculous .133.
.
Season Totals:  13-9,  169-2/3 IP, 143 Ks, 3.55 ERA (67 earned runs), 1.20 WHIP (142 hits, 61 walks)

.
Oakland A’s outfield Josh Reddick is off to a solid start, chipping in a little in every category in the early going. He isn’t confusing anyone for Matt Kemp, but he’s been a solid fantasy outfielder.
.
Reddick came over from Boston in the Andrew Bailey trade and has do a solid job batting third for the A’s. He got a little revenge on the Red Sox in hitting a three-run home run off Clay Buchholz in the series opener.
.
He is hitting .275 with 13 runs, four home runs, nine RBI, and three stolen bases. Last year he hit .280 for Boston with 41 runs, seven HRs, 28 RBI, and one stolen base.
.
The good news for Reddick is that he’s performing even better his year despite been more unlucky. His BABIP last year was .318 and so far this year it’s .300.
.
Reddick is a bit odd in the sense that he has hit Major League pitching, particularly last year and the early part of this year, better than he has he did at the Double-A or Triple-A level.
.
Reddick is owned in less than ten percent of ESPN and Yahoo! leagues. I don’t think he is a player that should be rostered in the majority of fantasy leagues, but he definitely has a place in larger leagues. He has been solid against both righties and lefties so he can be plugged into lineup if you’re looking to stream batters. If he continues to produce, he’ll force his way onto more fantasy teams.
.
.
Also check out:

• Should You Go Bass Fishing?
• Fantasy Baseball SB Help:  Tony Campana
• Is Jon Jay on His Way?
• Are You Hot on Hammel?
• Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Strategy

.
Jeff Niemann vs. Seattle Mariners
Niemann is 1-3 despite a solid 3.86 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. He’s 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 0.94 WHIP at home this year. He was 1-0 against the M’s last year, allowing just three hit while striking out 11 in 6-2/3 scoreless innings. He was 2-0 against them with a 2.13 ERA in 2010. 1-0 with a 4.42 ERA against them in 2009. If you’re keeping track at home, that’ 4-0 with a 2.87 ERA against them.
.
Season Totals:  12-9,  164 IP, 138 Ks, 3.51 ERA (64 earned runs), 1.18 WHIP (135 hits, 59 walks)