MLB Fantasy Baseball: Thursday News and Notes

It feels like this is the first day all week that we have a quiet news day. There were no major trades and no real major injuries of which to speak. We here at The 'Table weren't quite sure how to approach this morning because of it. But it's ok; grab your Lucky Charms and let's get into the notes. 

• David Ortiz is expected to amp up his batting practice today and tomorrow. Ortiz will take batting practice at game speed in order to prepare himself for a rehab assignment next week. The Red Sox are hoping to get him ready and available for the series in Anaheim after the break. That's great news for owners that held on to him.
• I don't know what to make of Sidney Ponson. Ponson had several solid starts with the Rangers prior to his release for creating problems in the clubhouse. Now, with the Yankees, he's had two more good outings, including the six innings, one hit performance yesterday. Ponson isn't a starter to rely on in most mixed leagues, but he's a solid addition in AL-only formats and remains a decent spot-start option in all other formats.
• The Cardinals were hoping to add their own fire power in the NL Central through the addition of Mark Mulder from the DL. Mulder lasted a whole third of an inning yesterday before leaving with shoulder problems. Mulder could have had fantasy impact, but his injury problems will stop any team from taking the chance to add him.
• Couple doses of bad news for the Blue Jays. Dustin McGowan will join Shaun Marcum on the DL. McGowan has a partial tear in his rotator cuff that will sideline him about four weeks. McGowan had become a valuable starter at home. If you're looking for a replacement, Dave Bush is available in most formats and has stats that will parallel what you saw from McGowan. Vernon Wells also left yesterday's game with cramps in his legs. This shouldn't be anything major, but Wells has had repeated problems with his legs that has forced his value much further down.
• Kaz Matsui returned to the Astros lineup yesterday. If you held on to him, he's certainly worth keeping in your lineups. As discussed on Bleacher Report yesterday, I think Mike Aviles is a better option if you are using Matsui, but he'll be reliable as long as he remains healthy.
• Just when you think Johnny Cueto might have it together, he struggles like he did last night. Cueto is still throwing a lot of pitches, and that's not helping his arm as he gets deeper in games. He was fine through six innings last night, and probably shouldn't have been sent out for the seventh. The good news is that he did only walk two hitters. His record on the road is now 2-6 with an ERA of 5.48.
• Derek Lowe had struggled against Atlanta, but that was not the case last night. He's been very good at home this season, and those are the numbers that won out. Batters are hitting just .221 and he's posted a 3.03 ERA inside Chavez Ravine. Unless warned otherwise, I'd use him as a home spot-start, if only to gain these peripheral stats over the week. Wins will come.
• I don't know what was worse. The fact that A.J. Burnett gave up seven runs, and was allowed to give up six of them in the sixth inning, or that he still got a win out of it. The idea of buying on Burnett just seems out and out ridiculous. In his last seven starts, he's given up seven or more runs four times, but two or less in the other three. Yes, you'll get seven to 10 strikeouts a game, but the WHIP and ERA aren't worth it. He's a second half player, but right now he shouldn't be targeted until he proves his worth against AL opponents.
• For as offensively challenged as the Nationals are, their pitching staff is fast becoming a diamond in the rough. John Lannan went six shutout innings last night and has allowed three or fewer runs in seven of his last eight starts, completing six innings in all but one of those outings. Six likely qualify as "quality starts". Odalis Perez is finding a niche as a spot starter in fantasy lineups, and Jason Bergmann has been very good since his return from the DL. Most of their stats are better at home, but all can be considered adds in NL-only formats, especially in place of pitchers like Adam Eaton, Jamie Moyer, or Ian Snell.

Notes for today's games:

• Jamie Moyer is especially tough on lefties, so beware those matchups today. He struggles at home, and is 0-3 with a 4.13 ERA in his last four games. His performances against the Cardinals have been very good, as he is 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA in his last 10 starts against them. Ryan Ludwick is 1-10 lifetime against Moyer, and Pujols is hitless in seven at-bats. Troy Glaus is a .353 hitter with five home runs in 53 at-bats.
• I'd be more cautious with Braden Looper today. He's coming off a career high 120 pitches against the Cubs in his last outing, and in his relief appearances against Philadelphia (68 of them), he's posted a 5.48 ERA. Look for Geoff Jenkins in the lineup today, as he's 7-16 against Looper.
• Maine hasn't seen much of the Giants, but his two outings this year have yielded a 3.00 ERA and a 1-0 record. My concern with starting him is that he believes that he strained his forearm last time out. He could still be scratched last minute.
• I'd stay away from Barry Zito. Beltran and Delgado have struggled slightly, but Zito hasn't been effective enough to give you pause in starting any and all Mets.
• Dave Bush has been lights out at home. His .222 BAA, 1.00 WHIP, and 2.87 ERA are enough to validate starting him in all home outings, unless there is a major flag to throw up. Not the case here. Yes, he has struggled once against Colorado, but that was a start on the road. He won his home outing against the Rockies.
• Aaron Laffey has been incredibly tough on left-handed hitters. They hit just .194 against him, while righties are nearly 100 points better. If you have better options than Carlos Pena or Eric Hinske, this would be the time to use them. Laffey's home numbers should give confidence in his start. Use him if you normally would.
• Mark Buehrle is 16-6 in his career against Kansas City, with an ERA of 3.48. While Buehrle hasn't been good on the road, this is a better matchup for him than most of the teams in the central. I'd still use your Royals as normal, but Buehrle provides a solid option, specifically for your peripheral stats in WHIP and ERA. The only guy that really hurts him is Mark Teahan, who is 13-30 against Buehrle.
• Jeremy Guthrie's stats are making him a valid option in all formats. He's a pitcher that should be owned in every AL-only league and all deep, mixed leagues. Guthrie has been very good against Toronto, sporting a 1-0 record in four games with a 3.00 ERA and a WHIP of 0.93.
• I mentioned yesterday that Jason Bergmann seemed like a solid spot-start option. Doing a little more research, I'd beware this matchup. Bergmann has started against Arizona four times, going 0-2 with a 5.82 ERA. Conor Jackson and company all are good options today. All your Diamondbacks make good options here.
• Spot start calls? Let's go with Greg Smith, Guthrie, Paul Maholm, and Kevin Slowey.

Notes for Friday's games:

• Manny Parra has been the most effective starter for the Brewers outside Ben Sheets in the last month. They draw the Reds at home, meaning he's a better option than normal. Parra is a great spot option.
• We've given Jake Peavy a hard time recently, but his stats inside Petco are much better than they are on the road. He gets an Atlanta team that hasn't been hitting very well, so start him as normal. I also wouldn't hesitate to use his opponent, JoJo Reyes, strictly because of the benefit that exists with pitching in San Diego.
• Roy Oswalt will get the start for Houston. Be careful here. He's been pushed back twice already with his hip injury. I'd make plans to go without him, just so there are no surprises if there is another change in plans. Oswalt does draw Washington, but the risk outweighs the reward here.
• Clay Buchholz will get the start for Boston tomorrow as they open a series against Baltimore. Buchholz had been kept in AAA to work on his armslot and fastball location. He seems to have straightened himself out. If you had Justin Masterson, he's a good pickup. If you need a spot start, he's one of the better available options.
• Felix Hernandez will be back in Seattle's rotation. His injury was simply a sprained ankle, and he gets to come back against Kansas City. I'm usually an advocate of holding a guy out a start, but I think this is a decent option for owners.
• No concerns in starting Halladay, Gavin Floyd, Joba Chamberlain, or Cliff Lee. Spot start calls? Go with Buchholz, Parra, Eric Stults, and Reyes.

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