MLB Fantasy Baseball: Monday Morning Notes

There's always some good news and some bad news when you wake up on Monday morning and look at the paper. Some players continue to come through, some struggle, and some get hurt. Let's get into all of that as Celtics fans everywhere breathe a sigh of relief that the fourth quarter wasn't two minutes longer. On to the notes.

• Justin Masterson improved to 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA in four starts. He's holding righties to a BAA under .120. There are times you sit back and say that pitchers are too young and need to develop more, but Masterson continues to prove with each outing that his command makes him worth keeping around. They won't, but they could. He will get a start in Cincinnati, and I like him there this weekend.
• Joba Chamberlain looked good in his second outing, and was able to get into the fifth inning. He threw 78 pitches and used much more of his off-speed stuff. He'll have to continue to do that to be effective. As a one-inning pitcher, he was able to rely on his fastball. As a starter, he'll need those secondary pitches. This was a good sign for him, expect pitch counts to basically be lifted next time out.
• Time for me to get back on the horse of one of my favorite waiver-wire guys. Luke Scott was 2-4 yesterday, belting two home runs. He's .348 in his last seven games, and he is swinging the bat as well now as he did in April. Scott struggled in May, but he would make a solid fill-in again now and certainly a streak to ride out.
• Vernon Wells's return to the Blue Jays has been a sudden impact to say the least. Make sure he is in lineups this week, as he swung the bat well over the weekend, and he should continue that as he regains his full strength.
• Joe Crede has been eating his Wheaties. His last five games are sick, as he checks in at .611-5-12. Most owners probably have another option if you own Crede, but make sure he's in the lineup the next few days. He has one more against Minnesota, a team he has hit .432 against this season.
• Injury concerns abound, as Chipper Jones has a partial tear in his quad. It looks like it will be something he can play through, but he was given last night off to make sure of it. Keep an eye on this one. Another injury involves Michael Young. Young has a hairline fracture in his non-throwing hand. He's going to play through it as well, but this could be painful. He had back-to-back days off to recover.
• Bad news for Jake Westbrook, but good news for Aaron Laffey owners. Westbrook's surgery likely means a long-term stay for Laffey.
• With the way that Jose Guillen is hitting, it's amazing that there are about ten percent of leagues where he's still available. Guillen is a streak hitter, and he's riding a hot streak right now. Not a bad guy to grab. With the way some current outfielders are playing, Guillen is a bat worth owning in all AL-only formats and most mixed leagues.
• Dustin Pedroia's average has fallen 40 points in the last 15 games. I'm not saying that he's the best second basemen in the league, but he's far from as bad as this. Buy low if you can, and enjoy what he'll bring going forward. We've all seen that when Pedroia hits, he hits well. Side note, Jacoby Ellsbury will be back this week.
• Rod Barajas is owned in nine percent of leagues, but is hitting well over .300. His last six games show him at .316. He's worth owning in deeper leagues, especially if you're waiting for other catchers to come around. He could steal a week for you with his bat right now.

Notes for today's games:

• Mike Mussina gets the ball in the finale against the Royals. Mussina's last five outings have been surprisingly good. He got knocked out in the first inning of one of those, but even there only gave up one earned run. I like him today to pick up his tenth win, but that doesn't mean to sit Guillen, since he hits .316 against Mussina.
• John Danks has been good, but not so much against Minnesota. In two games, he's only pitched a total of seven-and-a-third innings, yet given up nine earned runs. Use him with caution today. Justin Morneau is 4-10 with two home runs and Michael Cuddyer is 5-9.
• Cliff Lee's last couple of outings have been rough, and the Tigers are hitting .307 against him as a team. Ivan Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez, and maybe even Marcus Thames should be in lineups today. Three of Lee's last four outings have seen him give up more than four earned runs. Be cautious.
• Jesse Litsch may have struggled against the Yankees, but Seattle is not New York. Litsch has been very good at home, holding opponents to a BAA of .248 and sporting a 2.97 ERA. I'd have him in my lineup. Kevin Mench and Shannon Stewart are solid spot-plays against Jarrod Washburn. Both hit well over .300 with some power against Washburn.
• Even at home, Mark Hendrickson is a risky start. The Reds are hitting .390 against him as a team, and Hendrickson has struggled his last several outings. The Angels offense has been bad, but Edwin Jackson on the road doesn't make me feel that great.
• Spot starts? Jesse Litsch, Dontrelle Willis, and Zach Duke in that order.

 

Notes for Tuesday:

• Daniel Cabrera has held his opponents to a .225 BAA on the road. He's been good against Boston as well. A cautious start, but you can use him if you have him. Keep Alex Cora on your mind, as he is over .400 against Cabrera.
• While Jay Payton and Brian Roberts hit well against Josh Beckett, the rest of the Orioles don't and Beckett is pitching well again. His slight slip on the mound last time out is of no concern, according to the Red Sox.
• Greg Maddux starts at home tomorrow, so certainly use him. I like Clayton Kershaw as well, given the big ballpark and the lack of offense from San Diego.
• Start all your Blue Jays against Carlos Silva tomorrow. Not much to go on, but Dustin McGowan has been good at home with a 1.64 ERA and only Ichiro has a solid average against him.
• Tim Redding is a much better pitcher on the road than at home. The Pirates haven't seen much of him, so not a bad spot play here. Brett Myers's struggles, however, have largely been on the road and Florida is a good hitting team. Keep him on reserve.
• The Yankees don't hit lefties as well as righties. I'm going to regret this, but I'm recommending Dana Eveland at home against the Bombers. I just can't help myself with this guy.
• Mark Teixeira is 4-20 against Ted Lilly, and Lilly holds opponents down at home. His last few starts there have produced better results. All your major Cubs should be in the lineup against Glavine.
• Early spot-start calls, let's go with Redding, Kershaw, Eveland, and Jose Contreras.

 

Back as the need arises. Check back later for Part III of our Rest of the Season Preview. Check out the full Roundtable Blog.