Fantasy Baseball: Friday News and Notes

Baseball milestone moments are seemingly coming fewer and further between. The ones that are seen often times have fans wondering whether or not it was chemically enhanced. It's to the point where numbers that used to mean something are viewed all too skeptically. 

Not the case yesterday. 

Randy Johnson's 300th win is a milestone that appears to be done the right way. Watching him from his time in Seattle to now, he is a pitcher that has reinvented himself to become dominant in different forms.  

The early Johnson was wild, making hitters wonder if the next pitch would be down the middle or at their head. This Randy Johnson does not have the same fastball. He's developed different pitches to complement a fastball that still sits in the low-90s. Certainly, he still has the most devastating slider in baseball. 

Fans, unfortunately, are going to be given a plethora of articles about how Johnson will be the last pitcher to 300 wins. Do not read or believe them. Every time the last of something seems to happen, another last takes its place. There are pitchers that will compete for that mark. The game just needs time to find and develop them further. 

A short list for you before the notes. Most devastating pitches of the last 25 years: Randy Johnson's slider, Nolan Ryan's fastball, Roger Clemens' split-finger, Mariano Rivera's cutter, Fernando Valenzuela's screwball, Pedro Martinez's change-up, Burt Blyleven's curveball, and Tom Candiotti's knuckleball. Your thoughts? 

On to the notes. 

Thursday Rewind

• Jose Reyes is going to be sidelined longer than expected. After returning to New York for another exam, a small tear in the hamstring tendon was found. Reyes will rest for two more days before returning to treatment. Short-term solutions are still available. Look to Ben Zobrist or Orlando Cabrera first.
• Andrew McCutchen had an impressive debut for the Pirates. The center fielder recorded two hits, stole a base, and scored three runs. There should be no doubt about his overall ability. He has speed and can certainly hit. Continue to watch his progress, as he could be a nice addition to deep mixed leagues.
• The reported eye check for David Ortiz feels like grasping at straws. Maybe he really does have a vision problem, but that does not appear to be the full reason behind his plummet. When you watch his swing, it is painfully obvious that he is off balance and has to cheat on every fastball in order to hit it. Do not expect this appointment to change what we already have seen.
• Chris Carpenter put together another dominant pitching performance yesterday, allowing just one run on three hits in the complete game. Look, the risks are obvious with Carpenter. It all comes down to health, and he has not been healthy for a full season since 2006, when he made 32 starts. His ability is without question. Keep riding him, but this is a pitcher where owners should always be willing to listen to offers.
• Jason Kubel had two things go well yesterday. First, he hit two massive home runs off Fausto Carmona. Those hits improved his number against Carmona to 10-for-20 with eight RBI. Second, he played the outfield. After missing games last week with soreness in his knees, this should help alleviate any concerns.
• Three bad outings in a row for Wandy Rodriguez, and it seems that it came right after being declared a start under any circumstances. Good call there, right? Rodriguez has had problems with his command, missing location and getting hit hard as a result. Bench him for his next start against the Cubs, as they have some decent numbers to throw at him in their lineup. See what happens, but do not drop him yet.
• It does not get much hotter than Nelson Cruz. Cruz is mashing the ball, posting eight home runs in the last 15 days to go with an average approaching .400 over that time. There were certain writers (ahem) that did not think Cruz would perform this way. With 16 home runs before the All-Star break, even a complete power outage likely has him approaching 25 for the season. Right around what was being expected. Definitely proving his doubters wrong.
• Abbreviated as it was, Matt Cain picked up his seventh win last night against the Nationals. Cain improved to 3-0 on the road in five starts this season. Some of this is luck, as batters are hitting just .235 against him on the road and he continues to strand runners at an alarming pace. Still, look to him away from home until the luck runs out.
• It is expected that Jeremy Bonderman will re-join the Tigers on Monday. If that is the case, what Dontrelle Willis has done since his first start is going to weigh heavily on the mind of Jim Leyland. Willis could not find the plate yesterday, giving up five runs WITHOUT A HIT. He becomes just the fifth pitcher since 1958 to ever accomplish that. While Armando Galarraga is not pitching well, this was an unmitigated disaster.
• Yesterday's results: A big 0-4. Not one guy helped me out.

Friday Notes

• No major concerns with the Angels regulars, even with how well Justin Verlander is pitching. With the exception of the 1-for-11 from Chone Figgins, the Angels lineup has performed well against the Tigers starter. Use them as you normally would for this tilt.
• While Chase Headley has hit over .300 against Doug Davis, the rest of the Padres lineup has looked pedestrian against him. Brian Giles is just 6-for-37, and even Adrian Gonzalez is 7-for-27. Davis has pitched well this season, and is only showing a 2-6 record because of run support. You have to keep Gonzalez active though, as he is on a home run tear.
• Ervin Santanaowners are already slightly frustrated, and he is starting to be dropped in more shallow leagues. Santana is expected to make his start tonight, but nothing is guaranteed beyond that. With Matt Palmer having pitched well, it is possible we see Santana moved to the bullpen until he makes a full recovery from the ligament damage suffered in his elbow. Use with caution tonight.
• Loving Ryan Garko tomorrow. Garko is 7-for-19 against John Danksfor his career, having hit three home runs. Careful with Jhonny Peralta, as he checks in at just 3-for-17. Most other Indians have not shown much in terms of success against Danks. The White Sox starter has been much more effective at home, and should be a decent start here.
• Felix Hernandez has pitched well against every good bat on the Twins with the exception of Joe Mauer. Mauer is 10-for-16 with two home runs against Hernandez. Justin Morneau is just 3-for-19, and Jason Kubel is 3-for-11. Michael Cuddyer has also struggled, and his injury makes him even less of a play. Hernandez was solid against Minnesota in one start, and roughed up in another this season.
• The Red Sox have simply raked against Kevin Millwood. You'll want to start Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek, and J.D. Drew for certain to go with your regulars. Millwood has given up a .338 average to the Sox hitters in his time against them.
• Brad Penny has not had tremendous success against the hitters on the Rangers he has seen. Andruw Jones is 15-for-45 with six home runs, and Omar Vizquel is 10-for-33. Even Michael Young is 5-for-7 against the Red Sox starter. Penny has basically given up three runs over six innings in his last six starts. The Rangers are hitting well. He likely works into the sixth and gives up four earned in this one. Beware, the weather in Boston is not looking good for this game tonight.
• Would not be shocked if there was a Gabe Kapler sighting for the Rays tomorrow. Kapler is 4-for-11 against CC Sabathia in his career. Unfortunately, he is about the best the Rays will have to offer. Carlos Pena is 4-for-21. That is the bad news. The good news is that two of those hits went over the wall.
• Micah Owings has given up at least three runs in his last three home starts. His ERA in the ballpark has jumped to 5.98 in four outings this season, continuing to prove how tough a ballpark Cincinnati has to pitch in. With batters closing in on a .300 average against him at home, look to use as many Cubs as possible. Chicago needs to jump start the offense, and this could be where to do it.
• Spot Starts: Carl Pavano, Dallas Braden, Doug Davis
• Keep on the Bench: Ervin Santana

Weekend Notes

• Scott Richmond will get the ball again for Toronto after having his last start skipped. Richmond has been good this season, but has the flexibility of being able to pitch out of the bullpen based on his history. He is 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA, and has a favorable matchup against Luke Hochevar and a struggling Royals offense.
• Hiroki Kuroda is continuing to work back from an oblique injury that sidelined him. He threw 85 pitches during his first outing, and should see his workload increase against Philadelphia this time out. Another good matchup for him, but wait one more outing to ensure full strength. Where he is available, he should be owned.
• Roy Oswalt has been nearly perfect in his last nine starts against Pittsburgh. Oswalt is 6-1 with a 1.17 ERA and .228 BAA. Look to keep Jack Wilson (.364 in 66 at-bats) and Freddy Sanchez (.367 in 30 at-bats) in the lineup, but Oswalt should be in line for one of his better starts of the season. At least, that is what the numbers say.
• Kelvim Escobar is slated to make his first start since Reagan was president. Not really, but it has been a while. Escobar draws the Tigers and the red-hot Edwin Jackson. This is a good grab in deeper leagues, but hold off on the start. He was knocked around in his AAA outing a bit, and it has been a long time since he faced talent at this level.
• The one hitter that Gavin Floyd needs to be concerned with is Jhonny Peralta. Peralta is 6-for-12 against Floyd. Use the rest of the Indians as you usually would. Floyd has looked much better in his last three outings, allowing just five earned runs in his last 23 innings while striking out 24.
• Weird set of circumstances, but it looks like Vicente Padilla will make the start on Sunday against the Red Sox, despite being on waivers. Padilla has shown decent numbers against Mike Lowell, who is hitting just .211 in 38 at-bats against him. The rest of the Red Sox are plays as normal.
• Tommy Hanson will make his debut on Sunday against the Brewers and Manny Parra. Hanson has posted dominant numbers in the minors, and needs to be considered a decent spot play in deeper leagues. He is going to be too tempting to lay off, and owners should not be afraid to pull the trigger.
• Guess who is back in town? Ricky Nolasco will get the start for the Marlins on Sunday. Look, Nolasco threw a lot of innings last season and not one pitch thrown in 2009 has provided any positive indication. Keep Nolasco down, monitor the start, and then see what the Marlins decide to do with him. Factor in that he's going against Tim Lincecum, and it gets worse.
• Jake Peavy is scheduled to make his start on Sunday despite an upper-respiratory infection that caused him to leave his last start early. Peavy has pitched well individually against Arizona, not allowing any hitter he will see to hit above .240 against him with the exception of Miguel Montero. While Peavy struggles against the Diamondbacks on the road, he has been very good against them inside Petco.
• A.J. Burnett has held down the Rays in nearly every aspect, so long as they are not named Carl Crawford. Tampa Bay has combined to hit just. 238 against him, and that includes the 14-for-42 of Crawford. Burnett is already 1-0 in two starts against the Rays this season, and is 4-3 in his last ten with an ERA that has fallen below 3.40 in those starts. He should be pitching, as he is appealing the suspension received.
• Spot Starts: Scott Richmond, Tommy Hanson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Rick Porcello, Edwin Jackson
• Keep on the Bench: Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Maine

Collin Hager writes The Elmhurst Pub fantasy blog. You can get your questions answered by sending an email to [e-mail]. He's also on Twitter @TheRoundtable.