Fantasy Baseball: Tuesday News and Notes

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

• Though limited, the Diamondbacks have enjoyed playing against Bronson Arroyo. Look to Felipe Lopez today for a few hits, as he is 9-for-21 against Arroyo. While the Reds starter is 4-2 at home, his ERA is 5.82 in seven starts. In June, he is 1-3 with a 6.51 ERA. Look to avoid him here and start all your Diamondbacks.
• Joe Saunders is 0-4 with a double-digit ERA in his last four starts at Rangers Ballpark. The Angels starter has had a lot of trouble with Texas on the road, and you should look to avoid using him in this one because of these recent numbers. Texas has hit close to .320 against him in their home ballpark. Nothing adds up for Saunders in this one.
• Lyle Overbay is the only Blue Jays regular with an average over .300 against Matt Garza. The Blue Jays starters that have recorded at least 11 at-bats top out at .273 other wise, and that's just the 3-for-11 of Adam Lind and Vernon Wells. Keep Garza active, as he has a good start to build on, but do not look to Toronto to help the offense here. Only use as you normally would, and substitute where you have options.
• Paul Konerko and Scott Podsednik are necessities in your lineup against Cliff Lee. Konerko is 16-for-45 with five home runs against the Cleveland starter. Podsednik has hit .348 in 23 at-bats against Lee. Lee has pitched very well over most of the season, and has a 2.21 ERA at home. He just has simply received no run support. Without DeRosa, that is not going to get much better.
• Scott Baker has been lights out against the Royals. While Mark Teahan still is a decent play based on his .308 average in 26 at-bats, the rest of the Royals all hover around the .200 mark. Billy Butler is just 1-for-16, with David DeJesus and Jose Guillen at 3-for-14 and 4-for-17 respectively. Baker has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last five starts.
• There is no happier person to see the end of interleague play than Derek Lowe. Lowe was roughed up by the AL East, but now gets a more comfortable opponent in the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins will be back in the lineup, and he has hit .304 in 23 at-bats against Lowe. Ryan Howard is just 2-for-19 and Pedro Feliz is only 5-for-26 against Lowe.
• Something has to give in the Garrett Atkins vs. Chad Billingsley scenario tonight. Atkins has been swinging very well, to the point that he should see an increase in playing time at third base. Still, he is just 1-for-17 against Billingsley. Look to keep your other Rockies active. Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki, and Todd Helton are all good starts tonight.
• If a team is going to get to Ted Lilly it will happen on the road. Lilly is 3-4 with a 4.96 ERA in eight road starts this season. Adam LaRoche is 5-for-12 against the Cubs starter, but no other Pirate is going to pose an initial credible threat against Lilly. While the numbers are tough, there just is not enough offense in Pittsburgh to make his start a concern.
• Randy Johnson has been up and down this season, but has had good success against the Cardinals that are likely to be in the lineup. Johnson has been pitching much better, so do not let the road numbers fool you. He is 3-1 in June, with a 2.93 ERA in five starts. Two of his three wins have come on the road.
• FYI, Jordan Zimmermann's start has been moved to Wednesday.
• Spot Starts: Scott Feldman (Joe Saunders Corollary, deep leagues only), Ross Ohlendorf, and (gulp) Jason Marquis

Wednesday Notes

• Look to see Ty Wiggington stay in the lineup against Josh Beckett. Wiggington is 8-for-25 with three home runs against the Boston starter. Most Orioles will still be fine in this one, at least as you would normally use them. Brian Roberts checks in at .300, while Aubrey Huff and Nick Markakis both are right around .300 as well.
• Jarrod Washburn could be auditioning for the Yankees with his start against them. Largely, the Yankees have performed well against him. Look to avoid Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui, and Robinson Cano, but otherwise your regulars are going to be in decent shape for this one.
• Kevin Millwood continues to amaze. He has gone 3-1 in June with a sub-1.50 ERA. At home, the starter has been almost unhittable. He is 6-1 with a 2.17 ERA in his starts in Arlington. Still, the Angels have hit him well. Vladimir Guerrero is a .333 hitter with four home runs, and Torii Hunter has pounded the ball as well, sitting at 13-for-32. Bobby Abreu has been strong too. Millwood is 3-4 against the Angels going back the last three seasons and ten starts.
• Casey Kotchman is 4-for-11 against Cole Hamels, and three of those hits have gone for home runs. Look to your normal Braves in this one, but do not reach beyond that. Matt Diaz and Jeff Francoeur, for example, have combined to go 11-for-54 against the Phillies' ace.
• Be careful using Gil Meche. While the Royals starter has been cleared to go tomorrow, he had a lot of problems with velocity in his last start, according to multiple sources. After an impressive six start run, Meche has given up 13 runs in his last 8.1 innings. The Twins have struggled some against Meche, and this would be a good opportunity otherwise. Still, avoid this situation.
• Spot Starts: Washburn, Brad Bergesen, Glen Perkins

Collin Hager writes The Elmhurst Pub fantasy blog. You can get your questions answered by sending an email to elmhurstpubroundtable@yahoo.com. He's also on Twitter @TheRoundtable.

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