Fantasy Baseball: Opening Day News and Notes

It's a little sad when you get excited about the first fantasy notes column of the season, but here we are and I'm excited. As much as I'll enjoy the NCAA finals tonight, I'll be watching more baseball than I care to count, laughing at games that are snowed out, and enjoying the start to a new season. 

There wasn't much to talk about from last night's game, but here are some points to look at.

• Derek Lowe continued his dominance over the Phillies. Lowe improved to 4-0 against the Phillies since 2006, and did a fair amount to improve his fantasy ownership. He worked groundballs very effectively, and his sinker looked heavy. A 15-win season seems about right, and fantasy owners have right to be excited.
• Still, one game does not a season make. Yes, Jordan Schafer hit a home run in his first at-bat, but we should stop before we send him to Cooperstown.
  
  In fact, Schafer looked just as shaky against Brad Lidge, as the Phillies reliever buzzed him with a fastball then struck him out with a nasty slider. Schafer hadn't seen pitches like that in AA, and was all over the place after the "friendly warning".
• Brett Myers has had trouble missing Braves bats in the past, and his April ERA since 2006 is just under 5.00. He falls to 1-4 against the Braves in that same time frame with the loss last night.
• The biggest piece to watch for today doesn't necessarily involve any teams. The weather is going to be a major factor in getting any games in at all. The White Sox-Royals game has already been pushed to tomorrow.
  
  In the Northeast, the Red Sox and Rays will struggle to find time to play in Boston.

Notes for Monday's Games

• The Rays haven't done too badly against Josh Beckett overall. Akinori Iwamura, Jason Bartlett, and Evan Longoria have all had more than 12 at-bats and are all hitting over .300 against Boston's starter. I'd avoid Pat Burrell today.
  
  He's 6-for-35 against Beckett with ten strikeouts. Dioner Navarro isn't any better, checking in at 3-for-19. Historically, Beckett is strong in April, as batters have hit just .212 against him in the last three years.
• Worst play of the day? Kevin Youkilis is 0-for-17 against James Shields in his career. Your remaining Red Sox will be fine against Tampa, should they get the game in.
• Robinson Cano doesn't hit Jeremy Guthrie well, having gone 1-for-17 in his career. The Yankees didn't get to the O's starter much last season, hitting just .216 as a team, but Guthrie doesn't make a healthy gamble this early against the New York lineup.
• Melvin Mora and Brian Roberts might be reaches against C.C. Sabathia, but the Yankees starter did post an ERA near 8.00 in April last season. Something to keep in mind.
• I've never found Kevin Millwood to be the most reliable of pitchers. Given that the Indians are hitting near .290 against him as a team, that gets doubled here. Any and all Indians should be solid plays in Texas today.
• Just because an ace is on the hill doesn't mean we can't see some successful at-bats. Carlos Guillen and Curtis Granderson each have ten or more at-bats against Roy Halladay and both are hitting above .400 against him.
• I'm a fan of any pitching matchup that takes place in Petco. Hiroki Kuroda makes a solid spot-start today against San Diego, simply for that fact. Kuroda looked better each month last season, and getting the call here should be good for the Dodgers pitcher.
• Lance Berkman looks as if he'll play, but he has only hit .143 in over 60 at-bats against Zambrano. Of his nine hits, four have gone over the fence, but he does struggle against the Cubs pitcher. Zambrano is 7-2 against Houston with a 2.06 ERA and .166 BAA since 2006.
• Paul Maholm was 2-1 against the Cardinals last season, and has looked solid all spring. Even on the road, he'll put up some strikeout numbers. In 12 innings at St. Louis, he struck out 11 hitters.
• Aaron Cook may be the starter for the Rockies on Opening Day, but expect the Diamondbacks to enjoy facing him. Arizona hits .312 as a team against Cook, led by Chad Tracy (??) how is over .500 in 33 at-bats. Conor Jackson is the only red flag, as he's 0-for-12.
• Spot starters: Not much during the early season, but Paul Maholm could be in for a solid day against the Cardinals.

Quick Hits for Tuesday

• Mark Buehrle out-and-out owns the Royals. Yes, this is a much improved team, but there seems to be something about the jersey that he enjoys seeing in the batter's box. Get him active.
• Just because the Brewers have to start Jeff Suppan doesn't mean you have to. Any Giant you would start will make a decent play except Aaron Rowand, who is below .200 against Suppan. Avoid Suppan on the road most of the season.
• David Purcey's start in Toronto against the Tigers will be interesting tomorrow. The young pitcher has generate tremendous buzz all spring, and did enough to get himself on the roster. Watch closely, as he could be a waiver grab in deeper leagues and AL-only formats early on.
• Jamie Moyer has very little upside, but you do know what you're getting. Still, the lefty didn't pitch as well at home as he did on the road. He was roughed up in two starts against the Braves last season. The Braves hold a .338 team average against him.
• There were few pitchers worse on the road last season than Randy Wolf (5.74 ERA), but he did enjoy pitching in Petco. You shouldn't really "need" a starter this early, but it will be one of the few times I would recommend using him away from home until we see some consistency.
• Spot Starts: Wandy Rodriguez, Wolf, and Nick Blackburn (dynamite at home last season)