MLB Fantasy Baseball: Tuesday News and Notes

Another night is in the books and it looks like, with just a few days remaining in August, we may have another trade on our hands. The two best teams in baseball are meeting, and neither of them are from New York or Boston. Talk about a weird year...let's get to the notes.

• When you look at how CC Sabathia has simply dominated the NL, you have to question if there really is that much strength coming from that league at all. Sabathia was pitching well for Cleveland, but has managed to now throw five complete games and go 7-0 against his NL opponents. He's a good pitcher, but is he really this dominant?
• Greg Maddux going back to the Dodgers doesn't necessarily have any material fantasy impact. He was dominant in Petco because of how large the park was. Dodger Stadium is still a pitcher's park, but not to the same degree. Maddux has struggled as much in NL West parks as he has in other road parks. Take note and don't look to use him until he pitches well at home once first (when the trade has been completed).
• In what can only be considered complete bad news, Ian Kinsler has been put on the 15-day DL with a sports hernia that could likely end his season. Kinsler has been one of the two best second basemen in the American League and has carried many teams that grabbed him early on in drafts. Guys like Mike Aviles are still around in a few leagues, and there is still the opportunity to look to Kaz Matsui or Mark Ellis in many cases. We just can't tell you the production will be the same.
• In a piece of news that has to be put in just because it is beyond funny, Carl Pavano is in the mix to start for the Yankees on Saturday. Insert your own joke here.
• Paul Maholm pitched at least six innings for his 19th-straight start, the most since Doug Drabek did so back in 1992 (thanks to Yahoo! sports for that one). He gave up just two runs in seven innings, but came up with the no decision. Maholm isn't given much respect because of playing for Pittsburgh, but the fact is he can flat out pitch and has dominated left-handed hitting all season.
• The 'Table doesn't like to talk about injuries, but that's what we're doing here again. Justin Duchscherer left last night's game against the Twins with an apparent hip injury that could sideline him for his next start. Kirk Saarloos stapped in to pitch well in the A's win and could get the turn in the rotation if it gets to that point.
• Ryan Braun left last night's game in the sixth inning with tightness in his back. This is something that he has experienced a couple times already this season and seems to be a lingering problem. The Brewers need him healthy, so expect them to be cautious this series for certain. If you have another option ready, use them today and potentially tomorrow.
• Jeremy Guthrie pitched another solid game for Baltimore, giving up just two runs over seven innings. He suffered the loss, but this was a game that was pitched well on both sides. He gave up just two solo home runs to Jason Bay and Jason Varitek, but lowered his ERA at home to 3.40 for the season. He's only 65 percent owned, but is pitching much better than that this month, going 3-1 so far with a 1.50 ERA.
• Nick Blackburn went eight solid innings last night, but suffered the loss against Oakland. Blackburn's benefit is largely when he pitches at home, and that's something that is not unique to the Minnesota staff. Minnesota pitchers should be started in almost every opportunity at home.
• Checking in from the "This Was Obvious" department, Randy Wolf was roughed up on the road and Jarrod Washburn was roughed up period. Wolf's situation got so bad he gave up a bases loaded single to Sabathia that scored two runs. Washburn, however, gave up home runs to absolutely everyone. Wolf continues to need to be benched on the road, and Washburn needs to be benched period. Can someone tell me what New York and Minnesota wanted with this guy?

Notes for today's games:

• Jason Varitek is the only Red Sox player that doesn't deserve a start against Daniel Cabrera. Cabrera is just 1-1 in four starts against Boston, with an ERA approaching five. Expect to see Alex Cora in the lineup, likely at shortstop, with Jed Lowrie playing third. Cora is a .429 hitter against Cabrera.
• A.J. Burnett has won seven of his last eight decisions and eight of his last 10 overall. Burnett has won ugly, but it's still a win in every book. His numbers against the Yankees, though, give you reason to start him. He's 2-0 this season with an ERA of 1.88. While your normal Yankees are decent plays, look for other options than Robinson Cano or Wilson Betemit.
• Joe Blanton looked bad in his last outing against the Dodgers on the road, but his prior two had been very good and were against teams that are much better offensively than the Nationals. Given the Nationals' struggles, starting Blanton as a spot play is a good option in deeper leagues.
• Oliver Perez has looked good at home, holding opponents to a .192 BAA. He's been very effective against lefties, as they only hit .169 against Perez. He's not the most reliable of starters, but the Braves represent an opportunity for him to take on another weaker offense. Keep him active and bench all lefties against him.
• Unless you're starting Scott Hairston, there is no Padres player that has good numbers against Doug Davis. Davis has owned the entire lineup and is one of the better spot plays of the day. Brian Giles, Adrian Gonzalez, and Khalil Greene are all under .200. Kevin Kouzmanoff is just over that mark.
• Ian Snell is 1-7 on the road with an ERA hovering around eight. He's 0-2 in August, and has seen his ERA swell to nearly six for the month. Just been out-and-out ugly at this point. Add to that, the Cardinals are hitting nearly .300 as a team and all your regular Cardinals make good plays against Snell.
• Johnny Cueto is just 3-8 on the road with an ERA over five. Against a divisional opponent that has been hitting on all cylinders, keep him reserved and start all your Cubs. It's the best option.
• Spot start calls? Go with Slowey, Braden Looper, Doug Davis, and Blanton.

Notes for Wednesday:

• Manny Parra has been lights-out at home for the better part of two months now. Where he's getting a struggling Houston team, keep him active and expect good numbers. Lefties are only hitting .208 against Parra on the season, and his last few losses have been on the road.
• Jeff Francis hasn't had much success against the Dodgers. Keep Juan Pierre and Jeff Kent active, as both are hitting well over .400 against Francis. Matt Kemp is only 4-18 and Andre Ethier just 4-17. Francis checks in at just 1-3 on the road with an ERA approaching seven.
• Jhonny Peralta is 11-23 against Gil Meche, and Ryan Garko checks in at 7-16. Keep both active. While Meche has been good on the road, he has struggled against Cleveland, posting a 1-1 record in three starts and a 6.46 ERA to go with a .311 BAA. Keep him reserved here.
• It's a case of which wins out with Mike Pelfrey. He has been absolutely torched by the Braves, but veen very good at home. Pelfrey is 0-2 against Atlanta, with a double-digit ERA, but 6-5 at home with an ERA under three. Four of his last five outings at home have been near perfect. We'll take the recent history on this one and recommend him as a play.
• Vernon Wells is a .414 hitter against Andy Pettitte, but Lyle Overbay is just 2-21. Kevin Mench, Alex Rios, and John McDonald all have solid numbers against the Yankees starter and should be considered good plays.
• Jake Peavy is still taking a 4-4 record and 4.14 ERA on the road with him to Arizona. The D-Backs only hit .197 against him as a team, and there is no everyday player hitting over .300 against Peavy. Adam Dunn and Chris Young are the worst offenders, and if you have other options for them, you should go that route.
• Matt Garza is always a good option at home, even against the Angels. Garza pitched very well in his last outing against Texas and is 6-2 at home with a 2.47 ERA for the season. Keep him active, as always.
• Spot starts for Wednesday: go with Todd Wellemeyer, Ted Lilly, Manny Parra, and Scott Olsen.

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