MLB Fantasy Baseball: Saturday News and Notes

At this time of year, the questions that start to be sent this way center on how to improve a given team, where to make the changes, and how to adjust to make the playoffs.

The fact is, there is no set way to improve your team. It truly depends on the type of league you are in, the strength of the competition, and what you are willing to do to get there. 

Let's take a standard rotisserie-style league. At this point in the year, owners need to know where they can and can't make up points. This is especially true in pitching categories.

If you're trolling at the bottom of the league in saves, you might be able to make up a couple points, but you likely won't be able to make a big enough move in order to help your team. 

So what do you do?

We suggest here that teams become willing to punt on a category. Sometimes, you need to accept that it just isn't going to happen and that you can strengthen a team elsewhere. Perhaps you only have one strong closer. I'm sure there are other teams towards the top that feel they can make a move to pick up key points. 

Make an offer to improve your starting pitching to get a few more wins or strikeouts, or perhaps even step in to a deal to add some pop to your offense. Just know where you can make the moves and where your team's strengths lie. 

On to some quick notes for today and tomorrow:

• The Twins have called up Francisco Liriano from AAA Rochester. If he's available, he won't be for long. Grab him now. He's the type of impact player that you need to make a move late. In turn, they released Livan Hernandez. Raise your hand if this move surprises you. That makes no one.
• Joe Crede was sent down to AAA Charlotte to begin his rehab assignment. He will stay with the team through Sunday and then be activated for the ChiSox game on Wednesday. Crede has experienced lower-back stiffness, but could help a team moving in to the last month based on his potential power...if you can afford his average.
• Chien-Ming Wang is not expected to make a September return to the Yankees rotation, throwing the team more in flux with regards to their starting rotation. It is now basically safe to drop Wang from rosters, as he won't arrive in time to impact any team's playoff run or playoff position.
• Khalil Greene was placed on the DL with a broken hand, suffered after punching a wall in the dugout in San Diego. Impressive, really. He must have learned that from Julian Tavarez. Greene hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire. Mike Aviles is still available in most formats and now has eligibility at both middle-infield positions. He is a great substitution for Greene.
• John Maine will miss his next scheduled start with shoulder tightness. It shouldn't be a major setback in his season, but it is something to monitor. If one skipped start does it, then we should be ok as owners, but beware as to who that start will be against prior to putting him into your rotation. Never a good idea to put a guy with a tight shoulder out against a strong offensive team. We'll keep an eye on this one.

Quick hitters for today's games:

• We went through this last time—Mark Buehrle owns the Royals. Let's just make that abundantly clear. He's a fantastic play, and I'd bench all Royals unless there were no other decent options available. It doesn't seem to matter where these teams play, Buehrle has their number. Yes, we understand he's going to get lit up now, but it's a chance to be taken.
• Jered Weaver hasn't been very good on the road, while Mike Mussina is a very solid pitcher at home. Weaver has an ERA well over four when he heads away from sunny Anaheim. No Yankee has enough at-bats to make any numbers predictors, but bench Richie Sexson, who is just 1-14.
• Vlad Guerrero is just 5-26, Gary Matthews is 4-19, and Mark Teixeira is just 4-25 against Mike Mussina. Your other Angels are still all solid plays, especially Torii Hunter.
• The 'Table has had quite the man-crush on Dana Eveland all year, but not on the road and not against Boston. Eveland cannot pitch in smaller ballparks, and Fenway certainly qualifies as that. Keep all Red Sox available.
• Paul Byrd should not be started on the road. Paul Byrd has a 6.51 ERA on the road. Paul Byrd is 0-2 against Minnesota. Paul Byrd has an ERA over seven against Minnesota. Paul Byrd, in both scenarios, allows guys to hit over .300. Clear?
• With the exception of one start against Colorado, Paul Maholm's last 10 outings have all been very good. Sure, there is concern that he may not get the win given the offense now behind him, but he'll provide good WHIP and ERA numbers to make the start worth while against the Cubs.
• Carlos Beltran is 7-15 against Roy Oswalt, but Oswalt is good enough against the rest of the Mets to make the start in most formats. If you're going to use him, it's best to do that at home.
• While Houston's offense is sputtering, Johan Santana is giving up a fair amount of flyballs and will step in to a hitter-friendly park. Keep all Astros active and don't worry about facing an ace like Santana in this scenario.
• There are good times to use pitchers, and Hiroki Kuroda at home against a Diamondbacks team that hasn't produced much offense is one of them. He's a solid spot option in all leagues.
• Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff are both good plays against Barry Zito, but Zito has had some success in Petco. It's a good park for him and a good option if you are looking for a cheap win, even against Jake Peavy.
• Spot start calls? Go with Zito, Kuroda, Kevin Slowey, and Ricky Nolasco

Notes for Sunday's Games:

• John Lackey has been strong on the road, going 5-1 with a .223 BAA. The Yankees, though, have some decent numbers against the tough Angles starter. The only concern is Alex Rodriguez, who is just 8-42 against Lackey. You don't bench Lackey as an ace, but you do temper expectations. The Angels are playing good ball and makes it a decent start regardless.
• Francisco Liriano will get the ball for the Twins. Normally, we advocate waiting on these players, but not when they have pitched so well for so long at AAA. Take this start as a healthy gamble.
• Zack Greinke has struggled in both outings against the White Sox this season. But those numbers are skewed by one very bad outing on the road against them. In his outing at home, Greinke went seven innings and gave up just one run. He's 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA at home this season. He's worth the start.
• Carlos Silva is starting against Baltimore. We haven't advocated Silva as a decent play yet this season, but we do advocate anyone he plays against. Same is true here.
• Greg Maddux is pitching at home against the Giants. The Giants don't have an offense that should create any concern for most pitchers and Maddux has been nearly unhittable in San Diego. He's a good start for someone looking for a win.
• Randy Wolf gets the start in Houston. This is not a situation that many owners should want to be a part of initially here. He hasn't pitched well outside of San Diego all season long. Keep him reserved and make him show that he can pitch in a small ballpark.
• Early spot start calls? Go with Todd Wellemeyer, Armando Galarraga, Liriano, and Scott Olsen.

Back as the need arises.