Random fantasy baseball thought: Gary Matthews Jr. is dull … and helpful

The Angels need to wrap a couple of thick rubber bands around the manila folder that contains Vladimir Guerrero’s medical history. The club is calling his latest malady a muscle strain in the back of his left knee. It forced the veteran outfielder to exit Tuesday’s contest with the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning.

Sounds minor. Probably is. With this creaky-kneed Dominican, though, you never know. MRI results taken Wednesday will tell us more.

What the Angels didn’t want to hear is Torii Hunter carpooled with "Vlad the Impaled" to the Orange Imaging Center for a similar test on his groin. Hunter still thinks he might play in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Shah, right. The Halos may have to disable him.

I warned fantasy baseball players last week. There’s no need to dwell on it.

The pairing of these partially porcelain pretend producers just means desperate souls in deep mixed leagues should consider a pre-emptive pickup of Gary Matthews Jr.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Vladimir Guerrero" width="391" height="213" />

Injuries to Vlad and fellow outfielder Torii Hunter may give Gary Matthews Jr. some value

I’m not a fan of Matthews; he’s unquestionably overpaid. He strikes out too much, especially for someone so mediocre in the power department. He isn’t a deft basestealer, disappointing for someone who plays for manager Mike Scioscia.

But he’s a solid contributor in when he receives regular playing time. As I noted in today’s Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market - Rising, he was 25-for-88 (.284) and scored 17 runs from April 16 through May 24, the stretch Guerrero missed because of a partially torn pectoral.

He’s boring, but he’s useful. Just a thought.