Buchholz cruises

Making his first start in almost a full calendar year, Clay Buchholz looks solid in a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays. While he gives up just one run on four hits, Buchholz doesn't not earn a quality start as he works 5 2/3 innings, throwing 104 pitches.

Fantasy Impact: Buchholz has dominated at the minor league level for the past two seasons, but he needs to put it together for the Red Sox. Right now it looks like Boston is going with a six-man rotation, and Buchholz's performance could force a trade. That means he's got a legitimate shot of sticking. He's worth a flier, but expect mixed results for the interim.

Berkman out a night

Lance Berkman sits out the night after suffering a mild calf strain. It doesn't sound like a problem, although Berkman is thinking about the injury.

"It's just tight and sore," he said. "It's probably a small pulled muscle or something like that. I'm just worried about a lingering issue, which I obviously don't want, especially going into a pretty important stretch for us here in the first part of the second half."

Fantasy Impact: Lingering injuries are never a good thing. They not only keep players out of the lineup now and again, they also impact statlines. Berkman might need to be benched until he gets back in the game.

2009 MLB closers - first half review

A list of the top MLB closers over the first half of 2009. Criteria used in evaluation: Saves, blown saves, ERA, WHIP, BAA

First Tier:

1. Joe Nathan
2. Heath Bell
3. Mariano Rivera
4. Ryan Franklin
5. Huston Street
6. Francisco Cordero
7. Francisco Rodriguez
8. Jonathan Papelbon
9. Jonathan Broxton
10. David Aardsma
11. Brian Fuentes
12. Trevor Hoffman


Second Tier:

13. Joakim Soria
14. Frank Francisco
15. George Sherrill
16. Bobby Jenks
17. Fernando Rodney
18. Brian Wilson
19. Rafael Soriano
20. Scott Downs
21. Andrew Bailey
22. Kevin Gregg
23. Chad Qualls
24. Matt Capps

Third Tier:

25. Matt Lindstrom
26. Kerry Wood
27. LaTroy Hawkins
28. Brad Lidge
29. J.P. Howell
30. J. Valverde
31. Mike Gonzalez
32. C.J. Wilson
33. Brad Ziegler
34. M. MacDougal
35. T. Percival

Rebirth of Berkman

Lance Berkman's slow start is appearing to be a thing of the past. The Astros first baseman slugs his 18th home run and extends his hitting streak to 11 games in a 2-4 effort in a 9-4 victory over Washington. Berkman's on pace for right around 100 RBI and 90 runs scored, which is pretty good after his woefully slow start, which included a strikeout rate of more than 30 percent. He's now hitting .277 and looking like he can climb into the .290s by season's end.

Fantasy Impact: Berkman remains one of the game's most consistent performers. His contact hitting has come around dramatically since the end of May. Berkman's struck out just 20 times since June 1st, and he's upped his average 119 points since the end of April. He's a must start, a keepable asset, and one of the top options at first base. It was only a matter of time before he came around.

Richard rocked

Clayton Richard hasn't just suffered a recent run of bad luck, the White Sox starter has pitched so poorly that he's now in danger of losing his rotation spot altogether. Richard gave up six earned runs on three walks and four hits in a single inning of work against the Indians on Thursday. He failed to record a single out in the second inning before getting pulled.

Fantasy Impact: Aaron Poreda owners will be upset, because the young phenom is not even in the running for Richard's rotation spot if he gets pulled. Instead, Bartolo Colon or D.J. Carrasco will get the first shot. The situation is fluid, however, as Richard might make his next start after the All-Star break.