Bedard bailed out by bats : Pirates starter Erik Bedard did not factor into the decision during Monday night's contest against the Mets. Bedard, who was making ninth start of the year, allowed four runs on six hits over five innings in the 5-4 win, including a two-run single off the bat of Lucas Duda in the second inning. He was pulled after throwing 97 pitches and was in line to take the loss, but the Pirates were able to tie up the score in the seventh inning, taking him off the hook for the defeat. Bedard finished with four strikeouts and three walks, while earning the no-decision. (Updated 05/21/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/25/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Bedard has now allowed four earned runs in each of his last two outings after yielding two runs or less in his first seven starts. He only has two wins on the season but that has been the result of some bad luck and poor run support as the Pirates have been one of the worst offensive teams in baseball thus far. Still, the left-hander has posted a 1.39 WHIP on the year and has racked up 48 strikeouts over his 46 innings pitched. Bedard will look to get himself back in the win column when he makes his second start of Fantasy Week 8 (May 21-27), which is scheduled for Sunday vs. the Cubs. The veteran is still winless over his four starts at home thus far, going 0-2 with a 3.15 ERA at PNC Park this year. Continue to view Bedard as a low-end option in deeper mixed formats heading into his next outing. (Updated 05/21/2012).
05/20/2012 08:36 Top 70 starters for Week 8
A lot to take into consideration before setting your pitching staffs for Fantasy Week 8. Our Al Melchior runs through his Top 70 starting options and has all the matchups.
05/17/2012 14:59 By the Numbers: Weighing in on the Chens
Which starting pitchers have ratios that suggest a correction -- good or bad -- is in their immediate future? Our Al Melchior shares some buy-low and sell-high starting pitchers in his By the Numbers.
05/16/2012 22:17 Gonzalez Ks 10, Nats knock off Bucs
Adam LaRoche broke open a tight game with a three-run double for his 1,000th career hit after homering for No. 999, and Gio Gonzalez took over the NL strikeout lead from teammate Stephen Strasburg by fanning 10 in seven innings Wednesday night, leading the Washington Nationals past the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4.
05/10/2012 16:01 Ray Searage on Erik Bedard
Pittsburgh pitching coach Ray Searage joins the Fantasy Baseball 360 crew to discuss the injury concerns surrounding Erik Bedard.
05/09/2012 19:33 Erik Bedard leaves game in second inning
Pirates starting pitcher Erik Bedard left his start Wednesday night against the Nationals with what the team called "back spasms."
Erik Bedard got himself back on the Fantasy map last year and proved to be a viable option when healthy. After making just 30 starts from 2008-10, he earned a spot in the Mariners' rotation out of camp and settled down after a rough start to the season. He would post an 8.56 ERA over his first three outings but was able to bring that mark down to 2.93 by the time his 14th start rolled around. The left-hander went 4-7 with a 3.45 ERA in 16 starts for Seattle before being traded to the Red Sox at the deadline. The injury bug bit him again down the stretch but he would finish with a 3.62 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 129 1/3 innings over 24 starts between the two clubs. Bedard signed a one-year deal with the Pirates in the offseason and will pitch in the National League for the first time in his career. His strikeout numbers should translate well in the NL and the 32-year-old could be in for a bounce-back campaign if he can stay healthy. Injury risk is always an issue with Bedard, but he might be worth taking a flier on in deeper mixed leagues on Draft Day. Target him in all NL-only formats as well. (Updated 1/12/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start