Friday Fantasy Baseball News and Notes

To say I have a few things to say about last night's Red Sox game is probably an understatement. I caught the whole brawl, which really was a true brawl. And there are certain players that I have lost any sort of respect for.

We'll check the fantasy impact on that and all the injuries lately in the notes. Let's get down to it.

• In case you missed it, the major players involved were Coco Crisp, Johnny Gomes, Carl Crawford, and James Shields. The latter two are the only ones that likely have any material fantasy impact. Crawford threw several cheap shots, and I didn't think he was that kind of guy. Once MLB gets their hands on that tape, expect at least a five game suspension to be handed out. Shields will likely get five games as well, which basically equates to one start. All will appeal any suspension, so there will be minimal impact next week to your lineups.
• Jacoby Ellsbury left the game with what is being called a sprained wrist. He's day-to-day right now and the Red Sox feel he will likely be available next week. He's out of the lineup today for certain, and I'd plan your weekend lineup without him as well. We'll check back in as we start to learn more. Ellsbury is scheduled for tests today.
• Manny Ramirez has rasied his average 20 points during an 11-game hit streak. He's hit five homeruns in that time, and he is seeing the ball very well. You can always tell how Manny is going by how much he hits the other way. He's doing that very well right now. Unfortunately, he left last night's game with a hamstring injury. The Red Sox feel he will still likely be available to DH tonight.
• The Reds continue to struggle with left-handed pitching. Cole Hamels threw a complete game, three hitter yesterday. He also held Jay Bruce hitless for the second day in a row. Just a simple coming back to earth a bit for Bruce. He won't face many elite lefties like this, but when he does, it's probably worth holding him back in the short-term if you have a better option. Homer Bailey didn't pitch poorly in the loss, allowing only two earned runs on four hits.
• Milton Bradley is absolutely on fire. His last six games have produced five home runs, 10 RBI, and a .409 average. His teammate, Michael Young, is in the midst of a 21-game hitting streak. Young's last seven games show stats of .500/1/7 in 32 at-bats.
• Interesting developments in the Blue Jays-Yankees game yesterday. First, B.J. Ryan blew another save. He's going to still be the closer in Toronto, but expect Scott Downs to see a few more opportunities in order to get Ryan fully healthy. Next, we have Kyle Farnsworth. I hope the Yankees enjoy him as an eighth-inning guy. Yes, that's the Red Sox fan in me talking, because this has no fantasy impact. But Chien-Ming Wang does. Wang couldn't get through the fifth inning yesterday, and has had a fair amount of trouble with the Blue Jays over the course of his career. He also walked four more batters. Walks don't work well for contact pitchers, and Wang is proving that. He still makes a good play against Oakland next time out.
• Scott Baker's return to the rotation was pretty good. Baker went five innings, giving up two earned runs. Better, he was able to get to 99 pitches. Sure, you don't want that many pitches over only five innings, but it's a good sign as far as his ability to throw on his leg. He's good to start next time out. My bad on Garrett Olson, who dominated the Twins lineup.
• Time to take a good look at the Tim Redding bandwagon. Redding went five-and-one-third innings yesterday, giving up six runs on nine hits and a walk. Not good numbers, and this was at home. Redding is a better matchup play than anything. If you're going to own a Nationals pitcher, Jason Bergmann is more the way to go right now. But for the most part, they all make better situational plays.
• Other Notes: Jair Jurrjens got the win, but made sure it was an adventure. He allowed five runs in six innings, with a WHIP over 2.00. Matt Stairs went three for five yesterday, continuing his solid hitting against Want. Paul Maholm and Todd Wellemeyer didn't steer you wrong yesterday as spot starts, both recorded a win.

 

Notes for today's games:

• Biggest caution I can give you today is about Paul Byrd. He struggles on the road, to say the least. His road ERA is 7.71 with a BAA of .325. Keep him benched.
• Don't be afraid to start Felix Hernandez against Boston. J.D. Drew hits .417 against him, but the remainder of the Red Sox are well below .220 as a team. And he will get a lineup without David Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury, potentially even Manny Ramirez. He's a good gamble, despite his outing last time.
• Bartolo Colon has pitched well since coming back to Boston. He looked good against Seattle his last time out and I'd throw him out there again pitching at home.
• I'd beware of Javier Vazquez. Justin Morneau is .361/6/12 against him, and as a team, the Twins are at .283. Vazquez has been pitching well at home, but struggles against lefties, allowing them to hit over .300 on the season.
• Eric Chavez is a decent bat to put in your lineup if you're looking for a couple of hits. He's a .304 hitter against John Lackey in 46 at-bats. He's the only guy on Oakland worth starting. Vlad Guerrero is a .226 hitter in 31 at-bats against Joe Blanton, but the Angels have hit Blanton well as a team. Keep him benched.
• Hunter Pence should be in your lineup anyway, but as a .438 hitter against Braden Looper, the situation is even better. Looper has been good, but he's struggled against the better bats in the Astros lineup. I'd keep him on the bench today.
• Jason Bay is 0-12 against Brandon Webb. Nick Markakis is .385/4/4 against Shaun Marcum.
• Spot starts today? Hiroki Kuroda, Darrell Rasner, Jason Bergmann, and Randy Wolf.

 

Notes for Saturday:

• Brian Bannister has been roughed up on the road, sporting an ERA of 8.18 and a BAA of .325. In his limited outings against the Yankees, New York has hit .325 against him. I wouldn't have him in my lineup.
• Jeremy Guthrie is a good spot start against Toronto. He's held them down in the past, sporting an ERA of 3.60 in three games last season. On the road, he's held opponents to .207 and a 3.52 ERA.
• Burnett's last five outings have been very strong, as he hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of them. Four out of five have been on the road, so I don't feel his home stats stack up to how well he's pitching. Use him with confidence. Keep Aubrey Huff on your bench, as he hits .103 against Burnett, as well as any other Oriole not named Brian Roberts.
• Mark Buehrle shouldn't make if off your bench tomorrow. Why? Because I'm pretty sure if I put on a Twins uniform, I'd hit .300 against him. Minnesota destroys him. The Twins are led by Michael Cuddyer and (great spot start tomorrow) Craig Monroe. The .335 team batting average doesn't bode well for Buehrle, nor does his 4.56 home ERA.
• Miguel Batista isn't good, that much we know. But he's worse on the road. Keep him down against Boston. Tim Wakefield was lights out his last outing against Seattle. Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt are worthy plays, but they're about it. Ichiro, by the way, is 4-22 against Wakefield.
• Kyle Kendrick has been pretty good at home. On the road is a different story, as his ERA jumps to over six and his WHIP to nearly 2.00. He hasn't pitched well against Chipper Jones or Brian McCann, either. I'd leave him alone tomorrow, but start all your Braves.
• Tom Gorzelanny has been awful. His command hasn't been with him all season, and he's walked 21 batters at home this season. This could be the last you see of him for a while. Start all your Diamondbacks.
• Bronson Arroyo looked good last time out against Florida, but that start was at home. On the road, Arroyo is a different pitcher, allowing opponents to hit .322. Don't expect much here.
• Adam Wainwright holds the Astros big bats down. The team his just .175 against him. Carlos Lee is just 1-13 and Hunter Pence is a .214 hitter. Lance Berkman has two home runs in his five hits, but only a .278 average.
• Early spot start calls? Let's go with Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Guthrie, and Oliver Perez.

 

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