AccuScore provides industry leading sports simulations, game forecasts, betting predictions, and fantasy tools for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAAF and NCAAB.

Thursday was a day for sweeps as eight different teams broke out the brooms against their foes.  The biggest of them all was probably Tampa Bay which continued its franchise-best season by finishing off the Cubs powered by Carl Crawford.  There are also some nice fantasy options in obscure places if you look hard enough.

Jonathan Lee

AccuScore Analyst

Twitter @thejonlee

The Cubs had the best record in the major leagues when the series started so this was a big step forward for the Rays.  They are now just 1.5 games behind the Red Sox and have the third best record in the majors.  The schedule gets a little easier for Tampa now with upcoming series against Houston, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City.  On Thursday Shields struck out nine in 6.1 innings in his return from suspension.  He did not last long enough to get the win, but his team came back against Carlos Marmol who has been the best reliever in baseball.  Very impressive.

• Bad news for the Cubs as Carlos Zambrano will miss his next start Tuesday with should problems.  Sean Marshall will likely take his place.  Zambrano is obviously a big key to Chicago’s season, and is one of the best in fantasy as well.  More information is to come, but this does not look good. 

• The White Sox are coming into their weekend showdown with their city neighbors with a lot more momentum as they swept the Pirates by scoring 37 runs in 3 games.  Chicago came back from a 0-6 deficit Thursday by scoring 6 runs in the 2^nd and 4 in the 7^th.  Jermaine Dye hit two home runs, and now has 14 on the year.

• The Yankees removed the shackles from Joba Chamberlain and the results were very good.  He reached 100 pitches for the first time in the majors, and it ended with his best start so far.  Chamberlain struck out nine Padres in 5.2 innings, and the Yankees eventually completed the sweep with a 2-1 win.  Opposing pitcher Josh Banks continued his fantasy relevancy by limiting New York to just two runs in 5.1 innings.  Banks is a control pitcher that does not strike out very many batters, but it’s hard to argue with his results so far (1.62 ERA, 33.1 IP).  I would not trust him completely but I would definitely spot start him at home at Petco. 

• New York stole four bases off San Diego which continues an obvious trend.  The Padres have given up the most steals in the majors this season.  If you need steals and are spot starting players, playing match-ups, etc. definitely go with guys against the Padres.

• The Royals somehow swept the Cardinals by winning 4-1.  This might signal the beginning of the end for the Cardinals as their record seems to defy their current talent level especially with injuries starting to poke holes in the rotation.  Mark Teahan went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer. 

• The Astros have lost eight straight now getting beat by the Orioles 7-5.  George Sherrill got his 24^th save for Baltimore which just keeps on finding ways to win.  More players on the roster are useful for fantasy than you might think as well.  Luke Scott has always had power, and now he has hit 12 home runs, 8 in the last month.  Aubrey Huff has done what he always does and now has 12 home runs, 39 RBI, and a respectable .266 which is very useful and will come very cheap.

• Dave Bush took a no-hitter into the eighth against Toronto, but eventually gave up two hits and a run.  The seven run lead he staked the Brewers to almost wasn’t even enough as the bullpen gave up six runs, but held on for the 8-7 win to complete another sweep.  Prince Fielder got a home run, but in an unexpected way via the inside the park variety.  It was his 13^th of the year.  Russell Branyan is the NL-version of Marcus Thames either striking out hitting a home run, got his 10^th. 

• Minnesota dominated the Nationals outscoring them 22-6 in a sweep.  The Twins have a terrible situation at third rotation Matt Macri, Mike Lamb, and Brian Buscher.  You want no part of any of them.

• Cleveland continues to reel as it got swept away by Colorado.  Jorge De La Rosa was very un-like himself notching 10 strikeouts in 6 innings.  He is absolutely not for real.  His current K/9 is over 10 which won’t last, and his ERA and WHIP are already sky-high.  Someone who actually is useful on Colorado is Omar Quintanilla currently filling in at shortstop.  He has raised his batting average nearly 50 points in just 10 days, but it might be too late.  Troy Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes are ready to make rehab assignments, and will be back shortly.  Quintanilla probably gets one more week to show what he can do. 

• The Dodgers finally found some offense averaging 5.3 runs in the 3 wins over the Reds.  Eric Stults took the place of the injured Brad Penny and struck out 5 in 6 innings.  He has for years been a fill-in for L.A., and he is exactly that.  Not a name you need to know in fantasy.  Hiroki Kuroda also went on the shelf, and he will be replaced by Chan Ho Park who, by some metrics, has shockingly been the best pitcher on the team.