3 Picks: The Rocket Limps Into July Seeking That Elusive Second Win

Sunday, July 1: James Shields (6-3)(TB) vs. Cliff Lee (4-4)(CLE)

Shields has been a real shot in the arm for my fantasy rotation. And the best part is that he wasn't on any one's radar before this season started. It's a little like the season Cliff Lee had a couple years back now. Cleveland will throw a good offense at Shields as he tries to work the pitching-friendly confines of Jacobs Field.

Devil Rays 2, Indians 3(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Devil Rays player of the Game: (DH) Ty Wigginton - WPA +.122
1/3, 0R, 0HR, 0RBI, 1BB, 0SO
Devil Rays lowest contributor: (CF) Delmon Young - WPA -.227
0/3, 0R, 0HR, 1RBI, 0BB, 2SO

Indians player of the Game: (SP) Cliff Lee - WPA +.425
8.0IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 9SO, 1HR
Indians lowest contributor: (2B) Josh Barfield - WPA -.134
0/3, 0R, 0HR, 0RBI, 0BB, 1SO

James Shields: 6.1IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 0BB, 10SO, 1HR - L

Cliff Lee: 8.0IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 9SO, 1HR - W

Ten strikeouts wasn't going to get the job done with the shoddy Devil Rays defense (allowing one unearned run - the difference in this ballgame) combined with Cliff Lee's 4-hit/1-run effort. But in fantasy-land, 10 K's is golden. Keep 'em coming James.

Monday, July 2: Boof Bonser (5-4)(MIN) vs. Roger Clemens (1-3)(NYY)

Clemens is about to set a record for the most money spent per win as he adds his expensive arm to the sputtering Yankees rotation. And today he faces indignities handed out by a fine pitcher named Boof.

Twins 1, Yankees 5

(Win Probability Graphing by Fangraphs)
Twins player of the game: (C) Joe Mauer - WPA +.064
2/4, 0R, 0HR, 0RBI, 0BB, 0SO
Twins lowest contributer of the game: (CF) Torii Hunter - WPA -.104
0/3, 0R, 0HR, 0RBI, 0BB, 1SO

Yankees player of the game: (SP) Roger Clemens - WPA +.317
8.0IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 4SO, 0H
Yankees lowest contributer of the game: (LF) Hideki Matsui - WPA -.133
0/4, 0R, 0HR, 0RBI, 0BB, 0SO

Boof Bonser: 5.1IP, 9H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 6SO, 1HR - L

Roger Clemens: 8.0IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 4SO, 0HR - W

Clemens looked much better in this start than he did in Baltimore. Perhaps the cooler weather helped the old man out. Whatever it was, he put up some vintage Rocket numbers and the Twins - normally a better hitting team - couldn't figure him out.

Tuesday, July 3: Scott Kazmir (5-4)(TB) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-5)(BOS)

I've been going into Dice-K withdrawals and I don't know if I can wait until Tuesday for this one. Big Papi will be looking to rock the Kazmir in this one.

Devil Rays 1, Red Sox 4

(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Devil Rays player of the game: (RP) Jason Hammel - WPA +.007
1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 2SO, 0HR
Devil Rays lowest contributor: (SP) Scott Kazmir - WPA -.146
6.0IP, 6H, 4R, 3ER, 3BB, 6SO, 0HR
Red Sox player of the Game: (SP) Daisuke Matsuzaka - WPA +.349
8.0IP, 4H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 9SO, 0HR
Red Sox lowest contributor: (RF) Wily Mo Pena - WPA -.090
0/4, 0R, 0HR, 0RBI, 0BB, 4SO

Scott Kazmir: 6.0IP, 6H, 4R, 3ER, 3BB, 6SO, 0HR - L

Daisuke Matsuzaka: 8.0IP, 4H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 9SO, 0HR - W

Dice-K shuts out the lowly Devil Rays through 8 innings. The shutout would have been complete if Jonathan Papelbon hadn't allowed Carlos Pena to hit the only home run of the game. But it still goes down as a W. And on a day when the Yankees win, it keeps that distance over their rival.