MLB Fantasy Baseball: Sunday Trade Talk and Daily Notes

Before we get to the daily notes, a question about who to add when looking to fill a DL spot.

Q: I have to pick up a pitcher to fill a DL spot. Who would you rather have, Armando Galarraga, Randy Wolf, or Mark Buehrle.

A: Of the three, Galarraga would be my choice.

Randy Wolf will record strikeouts, but is really only a decent option when playing at home. When at Petco, his ERA is 2.46 and batters hit only .214 against him. His WHIP is outstanding at 1.00 flat. But that drastically changes on the road. In any other park, his ERA is 5.84 on the season and batters hit .286. Huge difference in totals there. I'd take him off the list immediately.

Mark Buehrle is Jekyl and Hyde. In seven of his last ten outings, he's allowed less than three runs. But, when he blows up, it's big. My biggest concern is that his flyballs allowed per game seems to be increasing. He has struggled with the long ball in the past, and that could be an omen of things to come. Batters also hit 100 points better against him on the road than at home. In the last three seasons, his numbers after the All-Star break have been worse as well. He's allowed a run more and batters averages improved 50 points.

Armando Galarrago has been the most consistent of the Detroit pitchers. With Rodney coming back and Zumaya on schedule, the bullpen will be able to protect his leads better. Dontrelle Willis being demoted helped him tremendously as well, since now he won't be looking over his shoulder should he stumble. I like his long-term the best, and his season this year is shaping up to be much better than the other two options.

Hope this helps.

Notes for Sunday:

• Jon Lester will be pitching on short rest for one of the first times in his career. Lester has been pitching well and has the benefit of being at home, but this is not something most pitchers are used to. I'd sit him here and start most Cardinals.
• Might want to find another option for Jason Varitek. He's 0-13 lifetime against Joel Pineiro. Manny Ramirez, however, is hitting .435 with three home runs. Pineiro has an ERA close to five on the road and has a .287 BAA. Keep him on the bench.
• Kyle Davies has nearly convinced me that he should be owned. Davies is 3-0 overall, 2-0 in June, and enters Sunday's matchup with a 1.37 ERA for the month. He faces an offensively challenged Giants squad and is a great spot-start. Might not get the win, going up against Tim Lincecum, but his other stats will be solid.
• Andrew Miller should be owned in most NL-only formats and deeper, mixed leagues. His stats still show his early struggles, but his last two road outings have seen him allow less than three runs. Miller has done well against struggling offenses, and Oakland doesn't light the world on fire with their bats.
• Both Randy Wolf and Justin Verlander are good options. I give the edge to Verlander, but Wolf is great at home. Something in the water there...or the fish tacos.
• Avoid the pitching matchup at Yankee Stadium if you can. Johnny Cueto has been roughed up on the road and the Reds have hammered Pettite, sporting a .304 team average in nearly 200 at-bats. Any and all Reds and Yankees will be good plays. Pettite's struggles at home just make it more true (5.23 ERA, .296 BAA)
• Another day, another Brewers starter that pitches well at home. Start Manny Parra, and don't shy away from Garrett Olson either.
• I still won't start Paul Byrd on the road for Cleveland, and definitely not against Chad Billingsley. Byrd has a 7.19 road ERA and a .312 BAA. In June, Byrd has been bad overall, with an ERA over eight.
• Need a spot start? Let's go with Dustin McGowan, Manny Parra, Garrett Olson, and Kyle Davies.

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