MLB Fantasy Baseball: Tuesday News and Notes

• Daisuke Matsuzaka finally danced with fire too long. He was erratic through most of his start against Anaheim, culminating in a mess that was the sixth inning. Matsuzaka couldn't get out of it. He should shrug this off and be back to a solid dominating position again, but expect this to happen at least one more time. It's how he seems to be throwing.
• Jorge Posada will be on the DL for the rest of the season. Probably the best move for the team, as they now can focus on life without him. For Posada owners, we've gone over replacements. Kurt Suzuki is still likely the best option.
• Roy Oswalt returned from the DL and grabbed a win. Based on his performance, make sure to get him back in your lineup for his next time out. Oswalt is a solid buy-low candidate if he's healthy. He could add some life to any team heading down the stretch.
• John Maine hurt his shoulder and could miss a turn in the rotation. He felt pain after his last start and left after 75 pitches last night. He'll undergo testing to see if there is any further damage in the shoulder.
• Jarrod Washburn already has minimal fantasy value. Washburn has struggled pitching against any team with a decent offense and has had a track record of poor performances against the AL East, specifically the Red Sox. The idea that the Yankees think he will solidify a rotation is borderline laughable. He hasn't pitched in no-pressure environments and is expected to pitch in the biggest spotlight of them all? Not buying it, and neither should you. Leave this one alone, regardless of a trade.
• Mark Teixeira on the trading block does have fantasy implications. Teixeira is a second-half player who has hit well in both Texas and Atlanta, two smaller market areas. He'll continue to succeed regardless of where he hits. Don't expect this to bring his value down. A smaller park could, in fact, enhance it more than anything else.
• Interesting that A.J. Burnett was told that he won't be traded and then went out and dominated the Rays. Maybe this was something weighing on his mind. It can't be the reason behind all of his control problems, but it could be a way for him to turn the page. Look for him as a potential boost to any mixed-league staff the rest of the way.
• Kevin Slowey looked very good at home. We've talked about the home-road splits that many staffs are experiencing. Nowhere is it more prevalent than Minnesota and Milwaukee. Minnesota pitchers should all be considered solid plays unless told otherwise when pitching in the confines of the Metrodome.
• We can't explain Manny Ramirez either. We're not going to try. We will, though, say that as long as he's hitting that he's a player you start. Knowing what we know about the guy, the safe bet is for him to tear pitching up for the next two months. He now knows he's basically playing for his next team. It just wouldn't be smart to think there won't be another incident. If you can deal with that, he's great. If not, give him a week and sell high.
• Greg Maddux and Paul Byrd both got wins at home. This is where they work best in all formats. Maddux was finally able to get a win period. It doesn't have anything to do with how he's pitching, but more run support than anything. They both are good spot-plays in all formats, but don't look to them for long-term solutions to pitching problems.

Notes for today's games:

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