Fantasy Baseball: Wednesday News and Notes

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

• Ryan Dempster will be shelved after breaking his right big toe. Dempster's injury happened while trying to jump a dugout railing in Milwaukee over the weekend. The injury likely will not have much long-term ramifications, but is a short-term issue for owners. There is some talent available, and Jason Marquis should lead the way for those owners looking to fill the spot. Beyond him, look to his teammate Ubaldo Jimenez.
• Mark DeRosa also will miss some time, being placed on the disabled list with a sprained wrist. DeRosa will miss through the All-Star break with the injury, and this hurts owners in terms of position flexibility as well as offense output. There are some middle infield solutions available. Start with Gordon Beckham, as he gives third and short eligibility in most leagues. Another name to look at is Casey McGehee. He is hitting .417 in July, and .341 overall this season. He will help at both second and third.
• After just returning to the outfield, it looks like Vladimir Guerrero will be back at either the DH spot or on the bench. Guerrero left last night's game after straining a muscle in his right knee going after a ball. His injury history has started to make him a more risky play, as even a healthy Vlad has seen his power numbers come way down. With the depth the Angels have, his missing a few days would not be a surprise.
• Sticking with the Angels, Juan Rivera's ownership (or lack there of) continues to amaze. Last night, Rivera knocked two solo home runs. That increased his total to 16 this season to go with 52 RBI. In addition, all his split stats are impressive. He hits .299 against righties, .321 at home, .313 away, and .381 against lefties. His BABIP is 10 percent higher than his career average, so his luck may come down, but the contact percentages and home run rates make sense based on the type of contact he makes.
• Another young player hitting the ball well is Franklin Gutierrez. Gutierrez has a 10-game hitting streak after hitting a home run last night. The outfielder is taking nearly all reps in center, and is hitting .295 for the season. Those looking for some outfield help should look him up.
• Paul Konerko hit his home runs for the month all in one game. Konerko knocked three out last night and drove in seven runs. This was the first time in his career that he has hit three home runs and the most RBI he has had in a single game as well. His average is now up to .301, an area he has not been in since 2006.
• Barry Zito threw a gem for the Giants last night against the Marlins. Zito worked into the ninth inning and allowing only four hits. The Giants pitching, overall, has been among the best surprises in baseball. They lead the league with 12 shutouts on the season. Zito is now 2-0 against Florida with a 0.68 ERA.
• The fact that the Blue Jays are considering a trade of Roy Halladay is an overall good thing for fantasy owners. Still, this season, because of Toronto's offense Halladay was not being hurt in terms of wins. He is one of the best in the game, and his numbers after the break are very similar to those before. Toronto just fizzles as a team in the second half, and has for the last three years, thus impacting his wins.
• With many tea

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