MLB Fantasy Baseball: Fourth of July News and Notes

What better way to celebrate the holiday than with a batch of fantasy notes and updates? I say it's the American way!

• Nothing better than to start with injury news. Rafael Furcal will be out for eight weeks after receiving surgery on his back. Furcal was a player that most owners were looking to help teams in the second half. This puts his return at the end of August, which makes it borderline for any sort of fantasy help, especially when his timing is taken into account.
• The Dodgers will receive Nomar Garciaparra and Andruw Jones back. I don't know how much help this is, but it will limit time for some fantasy players that owners have been relying on. Andre Ethier will see a reduction in his time, and it's possible that we'll see less of Blake DeWitt now that there is a viable option at third for the Dodgers beyond him. That will all depend on how Nomar hits.
• Matt Capps is likely done for the year as the Pirates' closer. If you're looking to replace him, grab Damaso Marte. Other options still available in most formats are Brendan Morrow and Mike Gonzalez. Both will be the primary closers until further notice.
• Other DL notes, Luis Castillo will be heading to the 15-day DL with a hip-flexor problem and Jason Bartlett will be put on with a knee sprain. Bartlett could be replaced in most formats by grabbing the suddenly hot J.J. Hardy off waivers. Hardy is hitting .423 in his last six games and now has nine home runs on the season. He was never as bad as his April and May would indicate and could be a great second-half pickup.
• Jon Lester's issues heading in to this season were largely focused on pitch counts and his ability to throw strikes with his off-speed pitches. Lester has shown dramatic improvement, highlighted by his performance against the Yankees. After walking the first two hitters, Lester threw first-pitch strikes to the next 18 of 20 hitters. He was in command of all his pitches all night long. Lester is a solid option to own in all formats.
• I'm still not as sold as many others on the validity of Elijah Dukes as an everyday player. I'll reserve the right to change my stance, but this is his first extended time in a lineup. His playing time is assured, so if you are in need of an outfielder he makes a good pickup. I would just anticipate a similar drop off to what we saw from Jay Bruce after his hot start.
• Johnny Cueto pitched well against the Nationals. He has so much movement on his breaking pitches that it has taken him a while to be able to control the pitch. He seems to have a better handle on it and makes a good add heading into the second half of the season.
• Who is currently the best pitcher in the National League? The answer is not Brandon Webb or Jake Peavy, but Chad Billingsley. Billingsley has dominated in his last eight starts, with an ERA under 2.50. He suffered from some difficult luck at the beginning of the season, but has been the most consistent pitcher in LA (in both leagues). I'm not a fan of the sell-high perspective here. He'll carry your team.
• Mike Pelfrey has to be one of the most frustrating pitchers in fantasy baseball. Against St. Louis, he throws seven innings and gives up just one earned run. But in his prior four outings, he's given up four, zero, six, and one runs. As a manager, using him as anything more than a spot start is tough because of the incredible lack of consistency. Until he can put together back-to-back solid outings, that's the most he should be used for.
• This is the Manny Parra that everyone was so high on to start the season. Parra didn't get the win against the Diamondbacks, thanks to his bullpen, but did not give up an earned run in his six innings of work. In his last ten starts, he's had two rough outings and both were on the road. The big thing for Parra, as I've said for many young pitchers recently, is that he's limiting his flyballs. Groundball pitchers are, by definition, more successful (if they aren't power strikeout guys). Parra moves the ball well and is certainly an add in all NL-only leagues. He's a definite start for each home outing, and is becoming a decent option in deeper, mixed leagues. Not a full add yet, but getting much closer.

Notes for today's games:

• Given a choice between Darrell Rasner and Josh Beckett, I take Beckett. Bobby Abreu is only a .193 hitter against Beckett in 57 at-bats. Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano should both be ok to start against the Red Sox ace. Beckett hasn't been great at Yankee Stadium, sporting an ERA over six, but his last three starts have been electric.
• I wouldn't start Bronson Arroyo for your team, let alone my own. Arroyo's struggles have just been too rough to even justify his 15 percent ownership. All your Nationals make good plays. I would recommend Jason Bergmann. He's allowed one run in each of his last three starts.
• The Giants hit .315 against Derek Lowe as a team. I'd start Rich Aurilia, Ray Durham, and Aaron Rowand for certain. Lowe does not make a good play on the road, as he has a 4.62 ERA and opponents hit close to .300 against him.
• Jason Bay (.370) and Xavier Nady (.529/3/9) should be in the lineup, even with an ace like Ben Sheets on the mound. Ryan Doumit has three hits against Sheets in eight at-bats, two for home runs. I'd still play Sheets, as he's 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA against the Pirates.
• Need a bat for tomorrow? Look to Emil Brown, who is 16-36 (.444) against Mark Buehrle with three home runs. Buehrle has been good at home, posting a 2.96 ERA, and makes a decent spot play against a struggling offense in the A's.
• Jered Weaver did not enjoy his last outing against Toronto, and his two recent rough outings have come at home. A.J. Burnett has held down the better bats in Anaheim's lineup. Picking between the two, I'd take Burnett. If you have better options for Vlad Guerrero (.184 in 38 at-bats), Torii Hunter (1-13), and Garrett Anderson (2-10), I'd suggest using them.
• The Cubs have hit just .179 against Braden Looper, who makes a solid spot-play if you aren't looking for a guaranteed win but need other stats. Carlos Zambrano will be back on the mound and has pitched very well against St. Louis. Pujols has four home runs, but only a .234 average in 47 at-bats. Zambrano is 7-0 against the Cardinals since 2005.
• Last piece of advice: Do not start Paul Byrd on the road. Get all your Twins in the lineup.
• Spot starts? Let's go with Looper, Scott Olsen, Jeremy Guthrie, and Edwin Jackson.

Notes for Saturday's Games:

• As tough as Justin Masterson has been on right-handed hitters, lefties are getting the better of him. I'd make sure to have any and all of them in my lineup. Masterson has shown some vulnerability, and this will be his first major test in Yankee Stadium. The Yankees are patient, and he has struggled with his command. Not a good combination.
• If Jason Varitek's recent struggles weren't enough, he hits just .172 against Mike Mussina. Mike Lowell (.579/3/8), Manny Ramirez (.280/9/24), Kevin Youkilis (.316), and Dustin Pedroia (.462) are all must-plays.
• You probably have better options than Carlos Beltran against Jamie Moyer. Beltran hits just .222 against the lefty. The rest of the Mets should be in all lineups. You may even want to grab one off of waivers, specifically Carlos Delgado (.423/8/17). Moyer also has one of the worst BAA's at home, allowing opponents to hit .305.
• Shannon Stewart is the only Blue Jay worth having in the lineup against John Lackey. Lackey has just been out-and-out dominant. No need for concern here at all. Roy Halladay will still give you the peripheral stats, but expect Lackey to record another win. Torii Hunter is the only Angel regular with poor numbers against Halladay.
• Kevin Slowey is pitching better at home than his 2-3 record indicates. Slowey sports a 1.00 WHIP and .232 BAA. The only concern is the number of flyballs he allows, but he has kept the home run totals in check his last three starts. He's a good option against the Indians if you need a starter.
• I wouldn't go out of my way to start lefties against Aaron Laffey. Better options probably aren't plentiful if you own Justin Morneau or Joe Mauer, but explore them if you have them. Lefties are only hitting .176 against Laffey.
• Ah, the Brewers are at home. Time to start Dave Bush. Opponents are only hitting .235 against Bush at home and at Miller Park he has a 3.18 ERA this season. Keep your regular Pirates in the lineup unless you have better options. Freddy Sanchez, though, is a .438 hitter against Bush.
• Conor Jackson is a .320 hitter against Jake Peavy, but no other Diamondback has decent numbers. Despite Peavy's struggles on the road, you don't bench an ace unless there is a legit threat on the other side. Conor Jackson does not qualify. Another bad outing by Peavy on the road and we'll seriously re-evaluate. Right now, his ERA is 5.61 and opponents hit over .300 against him away from Petco.
• Doug Davis has kept the Pirates to a .197 average as a team. He's a solid spot-start option.
• Roy Oswalt is expected to make his start against Atlanta. Mark Kotsay is a good option against him if you're looking for a few points in average. Oswalt should be started if healthy enough to go.
• Spot starts? Go with Greg Smith, Dave Bush, Doug Davis, and Armando Galarraga.