MLB Fantasy Baseball: Monday News and Notes

Notes for today's games:

• Three of Fausto Carmona's last four outings have been just plain bad. He's just 4-3 at home on the year with an ERA of 4.76. That said, this is a bad Baltimore offense that just hasn't been able to get going all year. This could be what breaks the slump for Carmona.
• As good as Justin Verlander's run was leading up to the All-Star break, his last three outings have been just as bad. He's given up a total of 18 earned runs in 17-1/3 innings pitched. Two of those bad outings were against the White Sox, and all were within the division. He's held the Blue Jays to a .237 average in his career and has held all batters to a .232 mark this season. When things go bad, they just go very bad. He's struggled against the White Sox and on the road, so the recent stats are skewed. Keep him active today against a weak hitting Toronto team.
• Glen Perkins has had a good run of success at home, but not so much against the Yankees. Perkins has faced them twice this season, posting an 0-2 record, and ERA of 9.00, and a BAA of .429. Not the gamble to take here.
• Sidney Ponson has been hit hard in his last two road outings, and most of the season in general. He's been a pitcher that has been lucky with run support, and that could be the case again today. Ponson still allows batters to hit over .300 against him on the road. Keep him reserved, unless you desperately need the win.
• Josh Beckett has been moved up a day to cover for the injured Tim Wakefield, but is still pitching on normal rest thanks to the off-day on Thursday last week. What we saw out of Beckett last outing is much closer to what we're used to seeing. Orlando Cabrera is 8-32 and Jim Thome has three home runs, despite a .222 average. Those are the best numbers, so keep Beckett active.
• Zach Duke has had limited success against the Mets, but no one has enough at-bats to reveal any trends. What is telling is that Duke is 0-4 on the road in 11 starts. He's put up an ERA of 5.82 and a BAA of .319. Not good numbers to be looking at, especially in an offense that has been depleted.
• Ronnie Belliard is 6-10 against Dave Bush, and Austin Kearns is .313/2/5 in his at-bats against the Brewers starter. Those are the only two numbers to be concerned with at this point. Bush has been good enough at home to still be started in all formats if you need the win or the peripheral numbers to help your cause.
• Joel Pineiro has struggled on the road, so keep all Marlins active. He hasn't had much success in terms of keeping averages down, with lefties hitting .297 against him and righties at .317.
• Ryan Howard is just 2-13 against Derek Lowe, but Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, and Chase Utley have all had good success against the Dodgers' righty. This is the time to start him, though, as Lowe has a 2.72 home ERA and .211 BAA inside Chavez Ravine. He's a good matchup against Kyle Kendrick to pick up stats if nothing else.
• Spot starts today? Go with Lowe, Bush, and Anibal Sanchez.

Notes for Tuesday:

• We always advocate riding the hot hand until something changes your mind. Given the way Jeff Karstens has pitched, you have to keep him in the lineup against the Reds. He's a solid play, even against Volquez. While the win may not be there, the stats certainly will be.
• Since his run of success early on, Garrett Olson has been nothing but trouble for fantasy owners. He's not a decent option on the road against Cleveland here either, as his splits just don't stack up. Get all Indians into the lineup and don't be afraid of Jeremy Sowers as a spot start.
• Nick Blackburn is 0-2 against the Yankees, but his record at home makes him a healthy gamble. He's 6-2 at home, with an ERA of 2.54. He's also 2-0 already in August. In deep leagues, keep him active.
• Brian Bannister has had a rough year, and it only gets harder for him on the road. Don't expect much out of him in Chicago on Tuesday. Make sure any and all White Sox are in the lineup here. Don't necessarily start Vazquez, as his troubles with the Royals make that a risky play as well.
• Chone Figgins is just 2-22 against Jarrod Washburn, and Torii Hunter is only 7-40, but the remaining Angels should all be in the lineup against the Mariners. In every game, not just this one.
• Clayton Kershaw at home is a decent play, especially given his last outing. The Phillies, as a team, have struggled against lefties enough to make the potential for a win strong in this matchup.
• Early spot start calls? Go with Gio Gonzalez, Jon Garland, Blackburn, and Kershaw.

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