MLB Fantasy Baseball Box Score Breakouts: 3/31/11

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

 

Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals

Chipper Jones may be old, but he got off to a great start: He went two for four with the first run of the year.

Derek Lowe, my streaming pitcher option, threw 5-2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out six batters and had a 0.88 WHIP. For the Nationals, Danny Espinosa went two for three.

Livan Hernandez took the loss, but only gave up two runs and four hits (no walks) in 6-1/3 innings for a 2.84 ERA and a 0.63 WHIP.

Milwaukee Brewers @ Cincinnati Reds

Ramon Hernandez not only sealed the deal for the Reds, he got off to a monster start for fantasy teams. He went four for five with a game-winning three-run home run.

John Axford gave up four runs, including the game-winner, in two-third innings to blow a save. You don’t lose your closer gig in one day, but this is a bad way to start the year.

Setup man Takashi Saito struck out two in one inning of work.
 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim @ Kansas City Royals

Maicer Izturis went two for five with an RBI and a stolen base for the Halos.

Jeff Mathis went two for four with a home run. Melky Cabrera went three for five with a stolen base for Kansas City. Aaron Crow struck out three in one and one-third innings of relief.
 

San Diego Padres @ St. Louis Cardinals

Cameron Maybin went two for five with a home run for the Padres. Nick Hundley was two for four with two RBIs. Lance Berkman went two for four with a run for the Cardinals.

Brian Tallet stuck out two in an inning of relief. Ryan Franklin blew a save opportunity.
 

San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers

Jonathan Broxton got the save, but gave up a home run to Pat Burrell, while Hong-Chih Kuo pitched a scoreless inning.

You can’t lose the closer gig on Opening Day, but if you Broxton owners have to feel a little uneasy with his start.

Click here for today's streaming pitcher option.