Fantasy Baseball: Wednesday News and Notes

For many, the fantasy playoffs have started this week. For others, this is the last chance to make a push to get into them. Regardless, it is important for owners to look to make moves where it helps them out. Depth is not a luxury now. Players sitting on a bench do not provide you with any points. 

While trades are certainly not possible the rest of the way, waiver moves can be just as profitable. Now is not the time to be showing loyalty to players that have struggled all season. Not when talent is available to help the cause.  

Remember, the objective is to win a title. If a player is not starting for you, there is likely a reason. Injuries happen, and being protected from them makes sense. That said, maximizing your opportunities is also a key driver.

An owner that does not reach the maximum at-bats allowed by their league is not awarded anything other than opportunities left on the table. The same is true for those that leave spots empty in a given week. 

Keep tinkering with your rosters; it will prove beneficial more times than not. 

On to the notes. 

Tuesday Rewind

• Do not expect Jonathan Papelbon to pitch tonight for the Red Sox. Papelbon worked two innings last night to get the save, the first time he has done so in nearly two years. While it was only 28 pitches, Terry Francona will likely look to Daniel Bard in any sort of save situation tonight.
• WEEI said this morning that Jon Lester was pulled after 97 pitches last night because of some tightness in his groin. The move was precautionary, and the team does not expect this to impact his next start. At that pitch count through six with the lead Boston had, saying anything after the start is surprising. Not many managers would have sent him out for the seventh inning with the bullpen Boston has developed.
• Tim Hudson returned to the mound last night to get a win against Florida. Hudson had missed the bulk of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He worked 5.1 innings and gave up only two runs. While he did load the bases in the sixth, the signs here were encouraging in terms of his ability to throw all of his pitches for strikes.
• Since working nearly eight shutout innings against the Red Sox in Yankee Stadium, A.J. Burnett has given up at least three runs in each of his last five starts. In only one of those appearances did he work more than six innings. In that span, his ERA is 7.17. Yes, he still has ability, but Burnett struggles with Jorge Posada catching him. At some point, Joe Girardi will probably figure that out.
• As hard as it is to admit, J.D. Drew is looking like he could carry a team down the stretch. Last season, Drew put together one of the more impressive months of June in all of baseball. This season, he tore up August and has started September well. Drew hit .329 in August with six home runs after putting up only a .217 mark for July. At only 35 percent owned, he could help.
• Josh Hamilton doubled his home runs total since his return from the All-Star break by hitting two last night. Hamilton's average has been there, as shown by the .355 mark over the last 30 days. The power numbers simply have not been around. It could be that he is finally closing in on 100 percent. If that is the case, it is a good time for it to happen.
• It was not pretty for Edwin Jackson last night, despite getting the win. Jackson only worked through five innings, and his control was spotty at best. Jackson gave up nine hits and walked two batters in giving up four earned runs. The only positive was that Carlos Carrasco was just a bit worse. Jackson has had two hard outings in a row, but his 3.09 ERA is still one of the best in baseball.
• David Wright did rejoin the Mets yesterday. Wright suffered a concussion after being hit in the head, but showed no signs of any effects in his return. Look to activate Wright in your lineup as soon as possible to get the benefit of having the All-Star.
• The starting nine here cannot be complete without mentioning the performance of Cole Hamels. The Philadelphia starter worked a complete game last night and gave up two hits in his shutout performance. In his last two starts, Hamels has worked 17 innings without giving up a run. Hamels has been a disappointment this season, but owners should be encouraged by these appearances.

Wednesday Notes

• It seems to have been mentioned several times this season, but it is worth bringing up again. Matt Garza has owned the Red Sox lineup. Only Jacoby Ellsburyhas put up an average over .300 against Garza in players with at least 10 at-bats. Look to avoid as much of this lineup as you can.
• Ted Lilly has allowed only four runs in 19.1 innings since returning from the DL, and he continues to be nearly unhittableat home. In 10 starts in Chicago, he is 6-1 with a 1.92 ERA. Expect Jeff Keppinger to get a shot here. He is 7-for-22 against Lilly. Avoid as many other Astros as you can. The team is hitting just .195 against Lilly.
• Teams get to Zach Duke on the road. While he has put up 10 wins this season, only three have come away from home. Batters are hitting over .300 against him on the road, and his ERA has climbed to 4.15. Brandon Phillips is just 2-for-18 against Duke, but he is the only red flag in this matchup.
• From the random stats, do not expect big things from Julio Lugo against Dave Bush. Lugo is just 1-for-14 against him. Rick Ankiel has gone 4-for-10 with a home run, and he could help those that have him stashed on the bench today. Bush has not faced the Cardinals, but has a 6.58 ERA on the road. Not a good sign.
• If a team is going to hit Felix Hernandez, it is going to be the Angels. Chone Figgins and Juan Rivera have struggled against Hernandez, with Rivera having only one hit to show in 15 at-bats. Howie Kendrick is just 2-for-18 as well. Still, even with these numbers, the Angels are hitting .289 as a team against the Mariners' ace. Hernandez has given up 17 hits in 12.1 innings of work this season against the Angels.
• Carlos Pena has been red-hot through August, but he is only 3-for-23 against Josh Beckett. In those at-bats, he has struck out 13 times. Carl Crawford and Akinori Iwamura are your best bets against the Red Sox ace. Both are hitting over .310 against Beckett.
• Stephen Drew has the big numbers against Chad Billingsley. Drew is a .400 hitter in 30 at-bats against Billingsley. No major drawbacks to playing your remaining Diamondbacks in this one, but nothing outstanding either. The Dodgers starter threw six innings of shutout ball against them in his only other appearance this season.
• The Orioles have not put together much in terms of offense against C.C. Sabathia. Melvin Mora is only 3-for-25, and Ty Wiggington and Nick Markakisare at .235 and .167 respectively. Only Adam Jones and his 4-for-9 mark is worth a go in this matchup.
• Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer have had some major problems against Mark Buehrle. The two are hitting .204 and .230, respectively, in their at-bats against the lefty. Otherwise, nearly every Twins regular is going to be above .300 in this one. Buehrle has been hit hard by the Twins this season, posting a 5.87 ERA and a 2-2 record in four starts this season. Beware when putting him in your lineup.
• Spot Starts: Kevin Correia, Ubaldo Jimenez, Tommy Hunter

Thursday Notes

• Not many looked at the month of April and expected Ricky Nolasco to be pitching for his 10th win of the season. Unfortunately, based on history, it may have to wait. Chipper Jones is 10-for-20 against Nolasco with four home runs, and Yunel Escobar is 8-for-16. Matt Diaz is 6-for-11, and even Brian McCann has three home runs in 25 at-bats. Tough matchup for Nolasco.
• Nate Robertson will again take the turn of Armando Galarraga in the Detroit rotation. Robertson has struggled against Jhonny Peralta and Grady Sizemore. Both have more than 30 at-bats against Robertson and are hitting over .400 in those instances. Look to avoid the 4-for-30 mark of Travis Hafner.
• Jon Garland's first start with the Dodgers will be against his former team in the Diamondbacks. Garland was not effective at home when he was with Arizona, but he should have some better run support with the Dodgers. Garland is not a spot start to pick up in this matchup, as he just is not consistent enough.
• Owners have been enjoying the home runs hit by Marcus Thames, but he is 0-for-14 against Fausto Carmona. Looking for a power boost? Aubrey Huff is 4-for-13 with two home runs in his appearances against Carmona. Your normal Tigers are going to be good plays otherwise.
• There will be one interleague contest tomorrow as a make-up game, as the White Sox will take on the Cubs. Ryan Dempster has struggled with some of his Chicago counterparts. Look for your standard starters in this one, and add Scott Podsednik to that as well. Podsednik is 5-for-15 against Dempster and has hit a home run to boot.
• Spot Starts: Clay Buchholz, Ricky Romero, Jason Marquis

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.