MLB Fantasy Baseball: Monday News and Notes

It's amazing what a difference 24 hours can make. Yesterday, we all assumed C.C. Sabathia would be traded. But no one likely realized how immediate that change would be. On top of that, more pitchers are hurt and have had starts adjusted, rookies are getting more looks, and the All-Star break isn't even here yet. Let's get to the notes.

• The Sabathia trade obviously leads the way. From a pure baseball perspective, I hope Milwaukee can sign him, or they run the chance of losing both Sheets, a top prospect in Matt LaPorta, and Sabathia at the end of the year. Sabathia's value increases in the NL because he gets to face lineups that are slightly weaker in the bottom third. This is especially true in the weaker Central and West divisions.
• I'm not normally one to talk about personal problems in relation to fantasy sports, but we have seen they can have an impact. Alex Rodriguez getting dragged through a divorce could very well be a distraction he's not ready to deal with. It may not bother him at all, but I'd watch very closely over the next month. We've seen family problems impact much stronger players than Rodriguez.
• Johnny Damon is hitting the disabled list for the first time in his career. The outfielder was among the most consistent players in New York, and he is worth keeping on the DL if you have the spot for it. He'll be back and should be fine.
• Roy Oswalt's start against the Braves was pushed back to Tuesday, and now it has been pushed back again. Oswalt is still being bothered by the hip inflammation from his last outing. The Astros are being cautious, as they should be. Don't be surprised if this ends up as a DL stint, should he not be able to go this week.
• Troy Tulowitzki ended up with a weird injury that will see him on the DL as well. Tulo slammed a bat following a strikeout. When the bat shattered, a piece scratched his hand and resulted in 16 stitches. He's expected to be out just the two weeks, but if this isn't another case to get rid of these maple bats, I don't know what is.
• Erik Bedard may be done until after the break after experiencing tightness in his pitching shoulder. Bedard hasn't really been healthy all season, experiencing back and hip problems, as well as the shoulder. They may use this time to get him fully healthy.
• Felix Hernandez should be back in the rotation for Seattle on Thursday or Friday of this week. Good news for the Mariners, as their ace threw a successful bullpen session over the weekend. J.J. Putz is also closer to returning. I'd expect his return at the end of the month at this point.
• I hope everyone has enjoyed what they've seen of Milton Bradley. He's been good, and now he's injured again. Bradley left last night's game with tendonitis in his knee. This is the same knee he had repaired during the offseason. Bradley's problem has never been talent as much as it has been his ability to stay off the DL and out of trouble in the clubhouse. This will be how his whole season goes.
• Nick Markakis has started to turn it on. He's good once the calendar hits July, and that's what we're seeing. Markakis is at .387 in his last seven games, with a home run and eight RBI. He's a second-half player and a perfect guy to try to get right now.
• Just when you think it's ok to trust Jeff Suppan at home, he lays an egg like yesterday. Suppan only went three innings, giving up six runs on five hits while walking two more. The Pirates did not come into this game swinging well against Suppan, with their stars all well below the .250 mark. I'll chalk this up to a bad game and will likely put him back out again for his next home start.
• J.J. Hardy continues to swing the bat well, knocking two more home runs. Hardy is a hot-and-cold guy who is as hot as anyone in baseball right now. He's a more than adequate shortstop and will provide solid offensive numbers. It's like I say, ride the hot hand while you can.

Notes for today's games:

• No concern in starting your Rays against Gil Meche. Crawford and Pena already have solid numbers against him and Meche has not had success on the road. The only concern would come in Eric Hinske, who is 2-19 against Meche. The Royals pitcher is 1-2 since 2005 against the Rays with a 4.15 ERA.
• Matt Garza is starting to get the respect he deserves, at 93 percent owned in standard leagues. Garza's a better play at home than on the road, and gets to pitch from the Trop today. He's 5-1 with a 2.16 ERA in eight home starts this season.
• Scott Baker's struggles have come on the road against better offenses. The Red Sox qualify as one of those, in this case. He hasn't given up more than three earned runs in any start since his return from the DL, but does have an ERA around 4.50 on the road. I wouldn't use him tonight. This early in the week, you have time to make up the stats.
• Dana Eveland's success has been at home, and he'll get a struggling Mariners offense. Eveland is 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA at home. His one loss to Seattle was on the road early in the season. The question with Eveland is control. He's walking 4.5 batters every nine innings at home, but opponents are only hitting .230. His strand-rate has been very good. Against Seattle, he's a healthy gamble.
• Greg Maddux's last two outings have been rough. But if you're looking for a spot to use him, it's certainly at home. He's not recording wins, but his ERA is 2.45 in nine starts. Given the choice between Maddux and his opponent, Ricky Nolasco, I take Nolasco. In a big ballpark, his flyball tendencies won't show themselves nearly as much.
• Start all your Mets against Adam Eaton today. Eaton hasn't had success against any major Mets player, with the exception of David Wright, and Wright is swinging the bat too well right now to put on the bench.
• Not much action today. If you're looking for spot starts, I like Hiroki Kuroda and Jorge Campillo (but Kuroda is the better play at home), Eveland, and Nolasco.

Notes for Tuesday's Games:

• The problem in looking at many of the Twins' pitchers is that much of their success has been at home. Nick Blackburn is the extreme of that. I'd stay away from him if at all possible.
• Jon Lester is coming off a great outing against the Yankees and has been in control for most of the season. Lester holds lefites to a .223 BAA, so better options are likely available for Morneau and Mauer if you have them.
• Not a big fan of starting Andy Pettitte against Tampa. Johnny Gomes will likely get the start for Tampa, as he's 8-19 against the lefty. Tampa, as a team, hits .279 against him, and all your regular Rays are close to or above .300. Pettitte has a 5.32 ERA against them since 2005 and is 1-2 this season.
• If you have options outside of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, I suggest using them against Scott Kazmir. The two are a combined 5-41.
• Randy Wolf could be auditioning for his next team. No better place than at home for him to do it. He's a good play in Petco. I like him better than Andrew Miller, but both should provide solid strikeout numbers.
• I'm backing Manny Parra until there is reason to do otherwise. He's been very good overall in his last six starts, and he's flat-out unbeatable at home. Against Mark Redman, good play.
• Justin Verlander has given up three runs or less in his last six starts and he gets a Cleveland team he's pitched very well against. Verlander will draw a fill-in starter, as he was supposed to face Sabathia. Makes a decent play for that reason alone and the Tigers have been hitting well. Add to that, batters are hitting just .234 against him at home.
• Daniel Cabrera has been just plain hit or miss. He's just 3-4 on the road in 11 starts this season and has an ERA of 4.17. Dustin McGowan has been very good at home. I'd take McGowan and make Cabrera put up a second solid outing before I start buying that one again.
• Spot start calls? I like Odalis Perez, Wolf, Miller, and Jair Jurrjens (who is virtually not a spot player anymore based on ownership percents).

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