MLB Fantasy Baseball: Friday News and Notes

• In the same way you don't start Greg Maddux on the road, you don't start Randy Wolf on the road. I don't care who the opponent is, it's not worth it. Get all your Cardinals in the lineup.
• Leave the bats at home in the Yankees-A's matchup. Justin Duchscherer and Joba Chamberlain will not make it worth starting anyone but your absolute studs. Same is true when you look at Ben Sheets against Jonathan Sanchez. Only start the hot bats here, like Corey Hart and J.J. Hardy. Your studs are always good plays, but if you have decent bench players, go that route in these types of matchups.
• Vlad Guerrero is just 5-23 against Josh Beckett. The only decent play on the Angels is Garrett Anderson, who is 4-10 against the Boston starter. No one else cracks the .300 mark and has at least eight plate appearances. Beckett may just be 4-4 on the road, but his BAA is .234.
• Matt Garza is always a decent play at home. The Blue Jays' offense just hasn't been good, so take the chance of starting him against Halladay. He'll give you decent WHIP and strikeout numbers, even if he can't provide the win you might be looking for. And just so we're clear, unless under the most dire of circumstances, you don't bench Doc Halladay.
• I don't trust Daniel Cabrera, even if he's 3-0 at home. Cabrera's stuff is electric, but he loses composure quickly and has trouble with his command. I'll take the Tigers bats in this matchup over the Baltimore pitcher. Could be an offensive battle, as Nate Robertson has been awful away from home.
• Gavin Floyd has simply dominated at home, going 7-1 with a .172 BAA and a 2.57 ERA. The Royals are no reason to think that will change. Gil Meche was roughed up by the White Sox in his last outing and sports an ERA near five on the road. A.J. Pierzynski and Joe Crede don't hit Meche well, but all other White Sox regulars should be in lineups.
• While Lance Berkman has four home runs against Carlos Zambrano, he's just 8-54 lifetime against the Cubs' pitcher. Carlos Lee is the best bet for success, going .364/4/12 against Zambrano. No other Astros player has the numbers to start. Especially true given his dominance in July.
• Find other options for Mark DeRosa or Jim Edmonds if you start them regularly, but all other Cubs should be in the lineup against Wandy Rodriguez. Weird that he can dominate anyone, but there you have it.
• Tim Hudson has held the Nationals to a collective average just at .200. He's a solid option against them, especially at home. John Lannan has a 2.53 ERA on the road, but hasn't pitched well in his two previous starts against Atlanta this season.
• Oliver Perez would have made a good start just because he's going against Josh Fogg. His numbers against the Reds make that an even better play, as the Reds are under .200 as a team against Perez.
• Spot starts? Go with Jeremy Sowers, Scott Olsen, and Todd Wellemeyer.

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