MLB Fantasy Baseball: Wednesday News and Notes

Wait, the Red Sox just scored again... 

If you happened to catch the highlights to the Red Sox-Rangers game last night, you must be as tired as those of us that sat to watch it. What an utterly revolting display of pitching that game was. There was nothing good about it from a defensive perspective, but the offensive firepower that came from both lineups carried many fantasy teams last night for certain. 

On to the notes!

• The only injury of concern last night came in the form of Tim Lincecum, who took a nasty line drive back up the middle off his knee. He will be re-evaluated today, and there is no sense that he is going to miss a start as a result of the hit. We'll keep an eye on this one and update as the situation dictates.
• Chris Carpenter will miss his next start after an MRI revealed a strained muscle in the back of his pitching shoulder. The Cardinals don't seem overly concerned and it is likely that Carpenter will make his scheduled start next week. He isn't widely owned, and is still only a spot-start option in nearly all formats.
• Paul Byrd, the bane of my existence, was traded to Boston yesterday for cash considerations. Byrd is 4-0 since the All-Star break with an ERA under two. His last three road starts have been nothing short of outstanding, and the Red Sox needed pitching help. As far as fantasy impact, his outings since the break already made him a good add in AL-only formats. The boost in run support he should see will help the win totals, but he is now pitching in a much smaller ballpark with virtually zero foul territory. What he adds in wins he may give up in ERA or WHIP. He will start Friday against Toronto.
• Freddy Garcia agreed to a free-agent deal with the Tigers. The Tigers have been in need of pitching most of the season. He is expected to be assigned to a minor-league team this month to work off the rust, and there is no set time table for a start in the majors. It's a nice note that should have little fantasy impact this season, if any at all.
• David Ortiz swung the bat better than anyone in Fenway Park last night, and that's saying something. Ortiz hit two mammoth three-run home runs in the first inning, nearly had a third (fan interference double), and drove in six runs. He was also walked to set up the game-winning three-run home run by Kevin Youkilis. As slow as Ortiz had been since the Ramirez trade, he is now hitting .350 in his last five games with 10 RBI.
• I don't know how he keeps doing it, but A.J. Burnett gave up four runs over six innings and still managed to pick up another win. He flirts with disaster more than any pitcher in baseball, but comes away smelling like roses. Unless you really need wins, avoid using Burnett until he demonstrates that he can keep opponents under four runs a game.
• Not saying that Huston Street has out-and-out lost the closer job in Oakland, but just noting that Brad Ziegler recorded his second save of the year. Ziegler has been nothing short of spectacular and has given the A's leverage to look to move Street to another team while using Ziegler as full-time closer. He's a great keeper pick.
• Gio Gonzalez out-dueled Scott Kazmir for the win in Oakland. He went five innings and gave up just one run. Another A's pitcher that will be a steal in drafts next season. Kazmir pitched well, but has had some tough luck on the road. The loss dropped him to 3-5 on the season with an ERA still above four. He's pitched very well against Oakland, falling to 2-1, but posting a 1.42 ERA and BAA of .125 for the season.
• The pitcher's duel in Los Angeles nearly lived up to the hype. Cole Hamels went seven innings, giving up just two runs while striking out seven. Clayton Kershaw went six innings, giving up three runs and striking out eight. Kershaw has more value at home than on the road, and this continues to show the struggles that Philadelphia is having against left-handed pitching.
• Chris Ianetta could be a solid fantasy catcher if he's ever given the full-time job. Ianetta hit home run No. 14 last night and is hitting .261 for the season. Given the limited number of solid hitting catchers across baseball, Ianetta's power is a welcome find. The Rockies just need to find a taker for Yorvit Torrealba because, right now, this is a straight time-share.

Notes for today's games:

• Kevin Slowey has been much more effective against right-handed hitters than he has left. Righties are hitting just .238 against him for the season. At home, batters hit just .225 against the Minnesota starter. He struggled during his last outing against the Yankees, but is worth the gamble at home.
• Ok, Boston and Texas CANNOT combine for 36 runs and 37 hits again tonight, right? That's the working theory. That in mind, Jon Lester has only lost six times in his entire career at this point and is 6-1 at home heading into the game against Texas. His 2.87 home ERA makes him a good start even against a high-powered Texas attack.
• Vernon Wells and Alex Rios have owned Kenny Rogers. Wells checks in at .308, while Rios is a .409 hitter. Both have more than 20 at-bats to draw from, so the sample is significant. The Blue Jays as a team are hitting .309 against the Tigers starter. Rogers is 0-2 in August and has an ERA of 4.28 at home this season.
• Luke Hochevar has been roughed up on the road, having gone just 2-5 this season with a 6.49 ERA in nine outings. He's 0-1 against the White Sox in two outings, and was hit hard both times. Lefties are hitting .322 against Hochevar for the season.
• Mark Teahan and Billy Butler are solid options against Mark Buehrle, but Buehrle has enjoyed success over his career against the Royals. Though just 1-2 this year, He's 6-2 since 2005 against the team with an ERA under 4.00.
• Nate McLouth is 5-9 against Josh Fogg, with three home runs. He's good to keep in the lineup, as are most Pirates against the struggling Reds pitcher. Lefties are hitting just .167 against Paul Maholm for the season, and he continues to be tough since the beginning of July. At home against Josh Fogg, he's a good option for a cheap win. Pick him up as a spot starter and bench Jay Bruce.
• Ricky Nolasco has allowed three runs or less in eight of his last 10 outings. He's worked beyond the fifth inning in all but one of those starts. He hasn't necessarily been getting all the wins he should, but has been pitching well enough to win in most cases. He's holding righties to a .234 average this season and has allowed just a .204 BAA in two starts in August.
• Jeff Francis has not enjoyed his time against the Diamondbacks. Any and all make good plays, as the team is hitting .311 against the Rockies starter. Conor Jackson has gone .375/4/10 in 32 at-bats, while Chris Young, Stephen Drew, Mark Reynolds, Chad Tracy, and Justin Upton all have more than 12 at-bats and all are hitting over .400.
• As good as Felix Hernandez has been, don't be afraid to start your Angels stars. Vlad Guerrero, Gary Matthews, Garrett Anderson, and Torii Hunter are all well over .300 against the Mariners' starter. Chone Figgins, though, has been the exact opposite. If you have better options for him, use them today.
• Spot start calls? Go with Joe Blanton, Ricky Nolasco, Guthrie, and Slowey.

Notes for Thursday:

• No Tigers have a solid track records against Roy Halladay. Placido Polanco and Curtis Granderson are good options, as both are above .400, but Brandon Inge, Carlos Guillen, and Gary Sheffield are all FAR below the Mendoza Line in over 20 at-bats against the Blue Jays ace.
• Brett Myers is still just 1-6 on the road this season with a 6.61 ERA. Myers is still tough on lefties, but is allowing right-handed hitters to bat over .300 against him for the season and all batters to hit .312 against him on the road. Keep him reserved and activate all Dodgers.
• Johnny Cueto has been a mess on the road, and Ian Snell has not had good success against the Reds. From an offensive standpoint, anyone on both of these teams will make solid plays.
• Greg Maddux is pitching at home. Even against Ben Sheets, he's a solid play because of the peripheral stats he has a chance to put up in that ballpark. Keep him active, or make him a spot-start play.
• Aaron Cook has been hit hard by nearly every Diamondback player. Keep him reserved for that reason alone, not to mention the fatigue he has experienced in his lower back. Likely from carrying that staff all the way to August.
• Early spot start calls, go with Maddux, Armando Galarraga, Hiroki Kuroda, and Scott Olsen.

Back as the need arises.