Gonzalez sharp for sixth win: Washington starter Gio Gonzalez couldn’t keep his pitch count down low enough to finish off the masterpiece he painted in Philadelphia on Monday night. Gonzalez lasted just six innings as he threw 108 pitches over that span. Still, he earned the win to improve to 6-1 on the season as he mowed down the Phillies all night with nine strikeouts. Gonzalez pitched six shutout innings with just three base hits allowed to go with three walks. His gem lowered his ERA to 1.98 on the year as he earned the win for the Nationals, though manager Davey Johnson would like to see him go deeper. "I'd prefer he didn't have as many strikeouts or as many pitches so he could go further," Johnson said. "He has such great stuff. I'd prefer he get into the seventh or eighth inning. Six innings puts a crimp in my bullpen." (Updated 05/21/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/25/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Gonzalez is pretty much breezing at this point in the season with wins in four consecutive starts. Gonzalez hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any start since his first on the year and he’s mowed down at least six batters in every start he’s made this season. After the nine Ks on Monday, Gonzalez has 69 on the year over 54 2/3 innings. Already with six wins for the Nationals, Gonzalez has turned himself into a must-start Fantasy option in all mixed leagues. He will make another scheduled start this scoring period and that comes on Sunday at Atlanta. (Updated 05/21/2012).
05/21/2012 22:06 Gonzalez K's 9 in Nationals' victory
Gio Gonzalez allowed three hits over six innings and Ian Desmond homered and drove in both runs to lead the Washington Nationals to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.
05/20/2012 22:47 The Lineup: Lucroy explodes, Yu vs. King Felix on tap for Monday
3 Up, 3 Down; On Deck; Pepper. It's The Lineup. Today's version gives some love to Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Cook and Scott Van Slyke. We also look ahead to Yu Darvish vs. Felix Hernandez and have a video of an instant replay FAIL in Japan.
05/20/2012 12:52 Brandon McCarthy hits disabled list with strained shoulder
The Oakland A's have placed opening-day starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right shoulder, the club announced Sunday.
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.
05/16/2012 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.
Fantasy owners remember Gio Gonzalez as the up-and-down performer who perhaps cost them a spot in the playoffs with his rocky July and August following an All-Star first half. A's fans will remember him as the guy who landed them A.J. Cole, Brad Peacock, Tommy Milone and Derek Norris in an offseason trade with the Nationals. With all the hype -- both positive and negative -- surrounding him over the past 12 months, Gonzalez's Fantasy value is difficult to pinpoint. On the one hand, he's coming off back-to-back 15-win seasons and recorded nearly 200 strikeouts last season. On the other hand, he led the majors in walks and actually saw his already unimpressive WHIP rise slightly to 1.32. Chances are he wasn't as good as those numbers that earned him a trip to the midsummer classic -- specifically, the 2.33 ERA over his first 19 starts -- but considering he rebounded to go 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA in September, he wasn't as bad as he looked in July and August either. If you can tolerate the hit in WHIP, Gonzalez's production in the other categories is enough to make him an advisable third starting pitcher in mixed leagues. Heck, he might even improve his ERA a little now that he's in the NL. (Updated 1/18/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start