MLB Fantasy Baseball: Thursday News and Notes

It's been incredibly quiet inside the Bronx. While there are questions being asked, no one seems to be blowing up and making rash decisions. It's times like these that I wish George Costanza were involved. That team needs Bodysuit Man to go streaking across the field. It will at least make everyone forget the disaster that has been the month of August.

To the notes!

• If this season has done nothing for fantasy owners, it has shown that there are good players ready to emerge, if they are given the opportunity to play every day. No place was this more evident than with the injury to Victor Martinez in Cleveleand. Kelly Shoppach was simply cast off by Boston, and they have to be regretting that decision. It's rarely brought up, though. Shoppach homered again last night, giving him 17 on the season, to go with a .263 average. The lack of power at the catching position is amazing. But even more amazing is that Shoppach is only 30 percent owned. Riddle me that one.
• Dan Murphy came through for the Mets again yesterday. Murphy is currently stuck in a crowded outfield, thanks to the emergence of Fernando Tatis and the recovery of Ryan Church. Add Damion Easley and Endy Chavez to that mix, and it just gets tough to manage. Murphy has done an admirable job in his brief stint with the big club. He has posted a .328 average with a couple home runs. Another one to watch heading in to next season.
• Between what I heard on ESPN, as well as what I have been reading in the Boston papers, it seems the root of Paul Byrd's early problems came in the fact he was tipping his pitches. I'm not sure I buy that as the complete explanation, especially given his solid performances at home. That said, whatever he's fixed is working. He tracked down people to help with his curveball and has been better for it. He's still available in a majority of leagues and can be counted on in fantasy playoffs as a reliable starter that will generate positive WHIP and win chances.
• Matt Garza continued his dominance over the Toronto Blue Jays last night with a stellar performance that saw him give up no runs while working into the eighth inning. He combined with two relievers on the shutout. He's now 3-1 against Toronto, with a miniscule 0.29 ERA. Seriously, if this matchup happens again, continue to bench everyone on Toronto. It's for your own good.
• David Ortiz is hitting nearly .330 in his last 15 games. Ortiz has been on a tear, belting extra-base hits like they're going out of style. He continued his solid hitting last night against New York, as did the rest of the Boston roster. Dustin Pedroia should be looked at as one of the top-four second basemen heading in to next season. You can make arguments as far as the order between Dan Uggla, Ian Kinsler, Pedroia, and Chase Utley, but the rest of the field is incredibly lagging.
• Interesting night for Greg Maddux. He did work into the sixth inning and gave up four runs. Only two of them were earned, though. Maddux gave up eight hits and walked one, for a WHIP that approached 2.00 and did not earn the win. Sort of a mixed bag. He largely didn't hurt you, but he didn't provide a whole lot of help either.
• Mark Kotsay was acquired by Boston yesterday and will start in right field today, with Jacoby Ellsbury moving to center and Coco Crisp sitting down on the bench. Kotsay's acquisition makes you think there is more to the injury of J.D. Drew than is being let on. Drew hasn't been seen in game action for a while and has struggled since his solid month of June.
• Glen Perkins has 12 wins. Let that sink in for a second, then read it again. Yes, 12 wins. He gave up four earned runs over seven innings against the Mariners last night and improved to 4-1 on the road. Perkins is now 4-0 in August and will draw a weaker A's lineup his next time out. Look for him to continue his streak.

Notes for Today's Games

• We have some early first-pitch times, so get your lineups set early.
• The Yankees have struggled against left-handed starters for most of the season, and Jon Lester is coming out to prove that his last start against Toronto was a fluke. Lester has held lefties to a .227 batting average this season and has been just as tough on the road as he has at home. He's 2-0 against New York this season, with a 1.13 ERA. Check out yesterday's post for thoughts on Mike Mussina.
• With how hot the Cubs have been, starting Ryan Dempster against the Phillies is almost a no-brainer. He's actually handled the Phillies well, with only Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins posting averages over .300 against him. Rollins is hot, so expect that to continue facing a familiar pitcher. Reserve as many other Phillies as you can. Dempster has allowed more than two runs only once in his last 10 outings and is 3-1 in August with a 2.52 ERA.
• Aaron Harang is just 2-7 on the season away from home and has posted a 5.20 ERA in that time. He's been roughed up all month in three starts with a 10.80 ERA. Start all your Astros and keep Harang away from your lineups.
• Expect to see Frank Catalanatto in the lineup for Texas today, as he's a .308 career hitter against Jon Garland. Garland, as noted yesterday, has done nothing but struggle when it comes to the number of runs he's allowed at home. Texas has hit him well overall, with only Michael Young exhibiting anything that resembles a struggle. Keep Garland down, and start all Rangers against the righty.
• Dana Eveland's promise has largely been at home, where he has posted a 5-3 record with a 3.48 ERA. Eveland has been very tough on lefties, as they are only hitting .231 against Oakland's starter. He's a risk play, but a solid spot-start opportunity. Nick Blackburn has struggled on the road, posting a 3-5 record and .310 BAA. He's the first Twins pitcher to not recommend this week. Bleacher Report counterpart Shaun Copsey agrees on Eveland.
• Clayton Kershaw is quickly becoming a reliable option for the Dodgers and in fantasy rotations. Since the end of July, he's only had trouble with Philadelphia, and that happened in his last outing. Otherwise, he hasn't allowed more than three earned in his last six. Going against a weaker Nationals lineup, Kershaw is a solid option to use and is worth the start in all formats.
• Jesse Litsch has been outstanding since his return to the rotation this month. In his two August starts, he's held down two good hitting lineups in Detroit and Boston. The Blue Jays' offense hasn't produced much in general, save one game against Boston, but Litsch has the potential to provide a nice boost to the pitching staff and keep them in games. In deep leagues, look to him as a spot start option.
• Spot starts: Kershaw, Eveland, Litsch.

Notes for Tomorrow's Games

• Josh Beckett is slated to take the mound tomorrow for Boston, but Terry Francona was slightly non-committal. Honestly, given the type of injury, he's probably a pitcher you want to keep reserved. Yes, Beckett can be dominant, but it has been a roller coaster of a season for him. His last outing was rough, to say the least. The White Sox are hitting well and a recent injury makes me think sitting is the best course, depsite his record against the ChiSox.
• The guys that have done the most damage against Javier Vazquez are all hurt for Boston. Mike Lowell, Sean Casey, Drew, and Lugo will all be sidelined. Mark Kotsay is a .188 hitter against Vazquez, and Ortiz is just .250 for his career. Not saying to start Vazquez, because he is just 4-6 on the road this season and has a 4.55 ERA in 13 starts.
• A.J. Burnett has owned the Yankees all season long, to the point that it isn't even funny. Burnett is 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA against New York. The team is hitting just .200 against him. Burnett has won his last six decisions and is 4-0 in August. Yes, his ERA is high, but his dominance against the Yankees is worth taking the gamble in all formats.
• Jeremy Guthrie has posted solid numbers in August, having gone 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA. Against Tampa, he's 0-2, but his ERA is still a respectable 3.93. On the road, he's still posting a 2.92 ERA and 6-4 record. Look for him to pitch well enough in Tampa to earn the start in all formats. Carlos Pena (.429/1/3) is still a must start, but all other Rays should be reserved.
• Melvin Mora is just 2-for-22 against Scott Kazmir, and Kevin Millar checks in with a .233 average. Aubrey Huff, Nick Markakis, and Ramon Hernandez are all still solid plays. Kazmir has been dominant at home, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.51 ERA.
• Ryan Doumit has struggled against Dave Bush, going just 1-for-12. Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, and Nate McLouth should all be active. LaRoche is a solid grab if you're looking for some offense, as he's 5-for-12 against Bush. Keep Bush starting, as he's 3-0 in August and held the Pirates to one run over eight innings during his last start against them.
• If you simply need peripheral stats, stick to Odalis Perez. While Perez is 1-5 at home, he's posted a 2.54 ERA and WHIP around 1.25. He's stuck behind a struggling offense but is worth the start for people looking to better other categories.
• The Dodgers are hitting near .300 against Doug Davis, and Davis hasn't been good in three starts against the Dodgers this season. Start all Dodgers against Davis.
• Spot starts: Hiroki Kuroda, Randy Wolf, Guthrie, and Odalis Perez.

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