MLB Fantasy Baseball: Monday News and Notes

• Jose Contreras had been a reliable starter at home for the White Sox, but that will not be the case the rest of the season. The White Sox starter ruptured his achilles tendon on a routine play Saturday,  attempting to cover first base. Contreras' stats can be made up through strategic use of many pitchers with solid home/road splits. Where he was most effective at home, look to pitchers from Milwaukee or Minnesota to help make up the ground.
• The news is not as good for Orlando Hudson, who will be sidelined the rest of the season with a dislocated wrist. Hudson was one of the more reliable middle-infielders in fantasy baseball this season, but he too can be replaced at second base. Many leagues still find Kaz Matsui available, as well as a few that would let you grab Mike Aviles. Both will provide reliable stats the rest of the way. Otherwise, look to Mark Ellis in Oakland.
• Carl Crawford is hitting the DL, and his status for the rest of the season is unknown. Crawford has a "subluxation of a tendon in his right middle finger." That just SOUNDS painful. Crawford's availability should be doubted the rest of the way until proven otherwise. Personally, we find Crawford to be one of the more overrated fantasy players that has not lived up to the billing this season because of leg injuries. We've seen his power numbers fall off (again) as well. He's not irreplaceable. Look to Marcus Thames, Jason Kubel, and Mark Teahan to help out. They're available in most formats.
• Boston's pitching woes continue. Clay Buchholz was destroyed by the White Sox in three innings of work and, after the game, it was announced that Tim Wakefield will hit the DL with tightness in his shoulder. The Red Sox have the pitching internally to fill in these holes. Josh Beckett will be moved up to start today and look for David Pauley to potentially get the call to pitch Wakefield's next start. As for Buchholz, he shouldn't be owned in any format until he proves he can throw strikes that don't land over the fence.
• Chris Carpenter left with another injury last night. Carpenter had started off well in his comeback bid, but will now be sidelined with a strained triceps muscle. Part of that has to be strictly getting back to the type of throwing that he's doing, but it's a problem nonetheless. Carpenter could have been a decent addition for most teams, but now quickly becomes spot-start material if/when he returns.
• And another injury note, Carlos Lee is lost for the year as well. Lee broke his left pinky after being hit by a slider off the arm of Bronson Arroyo. The six-to-eight-week timeline is enough to basically end any and all fantasy consideration that Lee would have the rest of the way. Erstad will take the everyday left field spot for Houston.
• Ryan Braun was held out of the lineup again yesterday with what is being termed a lower-back injury. Braun hasn't missed much time all season and hasn't had much to deal with in terms of injury in his limited career. It will be important to see how he responds to treatment, but expect him back in the lineup this week if you need to make the weekly call.
• In a bit of good news/bad news, Vernon Wells is back for the Blue Jays, but Scott Rolen is heading to the DL. Wells has much more fantasy relevance and should be added for any team in need of an outfielder as a result of all these injuries. Wells can still produce and be effective the rest of the way.

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