Fantasy Baseball: Wednesday News and Notes

All that matters is getting in to the playoffs. A team can back their way in, stumble, trip, crawl, or show up bloody and battered, but getting in is the goal. The Red Sox are out to prove that, relying on the Angels defeating the Rangers over the last two nights to clinch the AL Wild Card spot in 2009. 

On the heels of an awful performance from Michael Bowden, Clay Buchholz went out and allowed more home runs in a game than he has in his entire career. Sure, Boston came back, but it was thwarted when Kevin Youkilis struck out looking to end the game. The fact is, the team has looked lifeless. 

Whether Terry Francona is out to rest players or get them ready for the playoffs is entirely his decision. The fact remains that not winning, and in playing the way that they have, does not instill confidence. Maybe the manager has earned the right to manipulate the roster how he sees necessary, but something about losing five straight does not give fans the warm and fuzzies. 

Whatever the case, the result is a rematch with the Angels and Red Sox in the ALDS. These teams seem to meet nearly every season. For the Angels, they will simply be looking for a different result. There is no doubt that they will be catching Boston at the right time. 

On to the notes. 

Tuesday Rewind

• For a guy that says that there is nothing major going on, taking three cortisone shots seems like a weird way to enforce the opinion. Josh Beckett did just that yesterday, but declared himself ready. Beckett claims nothing major is wrong, and he should, in fact, be ready to make his next start over the weekend.
• Aramis Ramirez missed yesterday's game with a sore shoulder. The question is if he will be able to play much the rest of the season. Ramirez is not expected to need shoulder surgery, but he is in pain. Lou Piniella said he is unsure how much playing time Ramirez will see the rest of the way. Daily leagues should be very cautious. If you need a stick, dropping him likely will not hurt you.
• Josh Hamilton is officially done for the season. For those of you that were hoping he might be able to provide a quick boost of offense, it is time to cut the cord. He has missed 21 of the last 23 games, and Texas has finally decided to sit him with the pinched nerve the rest of the way. Need outfield help as a result? Garrett Jones can provide a power boost.
• Just as Adam Lind was featured in this week's Roaming the Outfield column found here, he hits three home runs against Boston last night. Lind has simply been on fire. He is now hitting .305 this season with 35 home runs. Travis Snider was the guy talked about before the season started, but Lind is the one that has solidified his spot as a top outfielder in 2010.
• Effectively wild might be the best characterization of Wade Davis last night. Still, the rookie picked up another win against the Orioles. He went seven innings giving up seven hits and walking three. He allowed just one earned run and struck out three more. It was not as impressive as his last outing against them, but he did only need just over 100 pitches to get through seven innings. His next start will be a test, as he draws the Yankees to end the season.
• The Rangers have been giving Hank Blalock more at-bats recently, and it is largely coming at the expense of Nelson Cruz. Cruz has been seeing less time against right-handed pitching, and his recent numbers are a good indication why. Cruz is just seven for his last 37 with only one home run. Keep this in mind, especially where a righty goes today for the Angels.
• Homer Bailey has been the tale of two seasons. He threw another solid outing last night against the Cardinals, and he is now 5-1 since Aug. 23. Bailey worked seven innings last night, striking out seven batters and allowing just one earned run. It is hard to overlook the disaster that was early this season, but look at this as a way for him to build in to next year.
• Chad Billingsley has now walked nine batters in his last 12 innings of work. He looked awkward yesterday. While he gave up just two hits in six innings, the five walks were alarming. In fact, in his last six starts, he has walked at least three batters four times and not once has worked through the sixth inning.
• Is anyone else concerned about the sheer volume of pitches being thrown by Justin Verlander? In his last 10 starts, six times he has thrown more than 120 pitches in a game. In his last three starts, he has thrown more than 125. Strikeout pitchers tend to throw more pitches, but this reads like a danger flag for 2010.

Wednesday Notes

• Tim Wakefield was pushed back a day to start on Wednesday against Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays. Only Kevin Millar has decent numbers against Wakefield, but the Red Sox starter has really struggled after his back injury. Normally, he is a good play at home, but avoid him in this one, despite what the numbers say.
• Continue to keep Mike Lowell out of your lineups. Boston does not expect him to be ready until Thursday, and he is only a .233 hitter in 30 at-bats against Halladay. Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek have both struggled as well. Otherwise, play your Red Sox as normal. The team has already beaten Halladay twice this season.
• John Lannan may be just 1-4 in September, but his last two starts have been very good. Even against the Mets his last time out, Lannan gave up just three runs over seven innings. He is 2-2 against them this season, with both wins coming at home. He will face them in his own park and is a nice deep-league addition.
• Javier Vazquez has been roughed up by the Marlins this season. He has gone 0-2 against them in four starts and has allowed 10 earned runs in his last 12 innings of work. Vazquez is largely solid, but this is certainly a situation where owners should be careful. Need a hit or two? Grab Ross Gload, who is 15-for-32 against Vazquez.
• Carl Pavano did not get a win against Detroit last time out, but gave up just two runs over seven innings. He is 4-0 against them in 2009, posting a 1.69 ERA in those five starts. Pavano may not be a regular in your fantasy rotation, but his numbers against Detroit should have you adding him for this matchup.
• Mark Buehrle will make his final start of the season on Wednesday against the Indians. The matchup, though, does not look to be in his favor. Buehrle is just 1-2 against the Indians this season with a 4.98 ERA in 21.2 innings of work. Get Shin-Soo Choo and Jhonny Peralta into lineups today, both make great starts.
• Owners should start Hank Blalock against Jered Weaver, but he is about it in terms of offense. Blalock has four home runs in 33 at-bats to go with a .394 average. Avoid Nelson Cruz, who has struggled against Weaver and over the last two weeks as a whole. In both cases, he is under .200.
• Pedro Martinez is going to get the start for the Phillies today against the Astros. Martinez has not pitched in 11 days. He lasted just three innings in a start against Atlanta. Still, he is 2-0 at home and this represents a decent matchup for owners in deeper leagues.
• Ricky Nolasco is still pitching better than he is being given credit for. Yes, he was knocked around by St. Louis, but he has three other wins this month and would have had four if not for his bullpen. Batters are still hitting just .238 against him this month and he will generate strikeouts.
• Spot Starts: Pavano, Martinez, Bronson Arroyo

Thursday Notes

• Scott Baker gets the ball for the Twins against the Tigers, but this is a matchup to avoid. Baker is 0-1 in three starts against Detroit, and he has given up 10 runs in his last nine innings against them. He is 8-4 on the road this season, but his 4.50 ERA does not shout confidence. Curtis Granderson, Brandon Inge and Placido Polanco have all seen him at least 30 times and not one is hitting above .235.
• Between pitching on the road and against the Angels, Kevin Millwood could be a stretch tomorrow. Millwood is 1-1 in four starts against the Angels, but has given up 35 hits in 23.2 innings to go with 17 earned runs. On the road, he has been roughed up, going 4-7 with a 4.35 road ERA. In other words, start your Angels. Only Chone Figgins should be benched, as he is 6-for-38 against Millwood.
• Jon Lester feels he should be good to go against the Indians. He threw a side session on Monday and thinks that the start should be set. Lester is 6-3 at home this season and has gone 4-1 in September. All good signs for certain, but this is one start where owners in tight races should be careful.
• All signs remain positive on Chris Carpenter, so owners would be advised to avoid all their Reds in this one. Carpenter is 8-2 on the road this season, posting a 2.15 ERA and a .200 BAA in those starts. Against the Reds, he is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA. In those three outings, he has allowed just 16 hits in 23 innings.
• The Giants do not have great numbers against Dan Haren, but Haren has struggled in his last two outings. He has given up five earned in each of his last two starts. Still, avoid Randy Winn, as he is only 7-for-41 against Haren. Aaron Rowand is a bust as well, and though Juan Uribe has been red-hot, he is only 2-for-10 against Haren.
• Spot Starts: Brett Anderson, and if you're desperate, Manny Parra

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