MLB Fantasy Baseball: Monday News and Notes

Several key players were still sitting on the sidelines as the weekend came to a close, but others are starting to heat up and come into second-half form. It's time to take a look at the better performances of the weekend and what it meant to fantasy owners.

Let's get to the notes.

• Mike Aviles has had a fantastic start to his major-league career. Aviles was the 27th ranked prospect in the Royals' organization, but he's playing like a top-five player. Aviles is hitting .328 since his call up, recording six RBI this weekend to go along with four hits. If you need a shortstop, I'd look to Aviles ahead of many of the current starters in standard formats. Certainly put him above Stephen Drew and Bobby Crosby for the time being. It's all about streaks.
• Kevin Youkilis made his return to the lineup felt yesterday, crushing two home runs. He's hitting well, sporting a .308 season average. But Youkilis fades come July. It's been that way every year, so there is a pattern to call on. He hits 60 points worse after the break than before. Beware, and be ready to sell.
• Johnny Cueto flashed some of the dominance we saw at the beginning of the season. He only went five innings, due to rain, but was very effective. Cueto gave up one run on four hits and struck out seven. Most importantly, he did not walk a batter. His last two starts should help build confidence, but let's wait one more before many spot-start calls are made here.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka went one-plus innings on Saturday, giving up seven earned runs. Granted, three were actually yielded by the relief pitching on a Troy Glaus grand slam, but Matsuzaka was ineffective and decidedly wild. He is still scheduled to make his next start, but I'd hold him out again. I don't think, as an owner, there are many other options.
• I give Joe Borowski a rough time, but I think a lot of it is deserved. The Cleveland "closer" blew a save on Friday, and then wasn't allowed out of the bullpen the rest of the weekend. Masa Kobayashi recorded the save Friday and got the win in relief on Saturday. He's pitching better than anyone in that bullpen, yet Eric Wedge is too stubborn to turn the job over to him. If I'm looking for a way to steal saves though, Kobayashi is on my team. He'll also grab holds and post solid WHIP and ERA numbers.
• Also of note in Cleveland, Paul Byrd lost on the road again. He pitched better, outside of the first inning. He gave up four in the first, but none in his remaining six innings. Still recorded the loss, but a better outing overall. I think it helps that the Dodgers don't seem to know where offense will come from on a day-to-day basis.
• Jeff Suppan made a liar out of me, struggling in his home outing on Friday. Aubrey Huff hopefully helped some owners though, as he owns Suppan and demonstrated that with a 4-5 performance. Manny Parra made me feel better about the home cooking in Milwaukee, garnering the win in another solid performance on Sunday. Parra struggled more with his control, walking six, but only allowed three earned over five innings. Seth McLung got the win at home too, but I'm waiting a while before I use him as a spot start in any league...ever.
• Huston Street might be doing a little more thinking his next time out. Street suffered through a rough Saturday, giving up four runs in the loss. The problem for Street is that there are definite fallback plans in Oakland, including Santiago Casilla and former closer Keith Foulke. Watch this one closely. Dana Eveland, however, went six-plus innings, allowing only two earned. Just sayin'.
• Justin Verlander recorded his first road win of the season, pitching very well in San Diego. Randy Wolf didn't do poorly, Verlander was just better. The key to all this is good pitchers do well in Petco and poor pitchers can be made to look like geniuses. When you're looking for spot starts, this has to be the first ballpark you examine if you're looking for a win. It's heaven for pitchers, especially those that pitch to contact like Wolf and Greg Maddux. Similar to Oakland in that regard.
• Other key notes: solid performances by Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn this weekend. Dustin McGowan came through as well. Some calls that weren't so good though included Jorge Campillo, who should have been removed after six, Kyle Davies (what the hell happened??), and Garrett Olson.

Notes for today's games:

• Only five games on the slate today, so limited options for spot starts.
• Surprisingly, Johan Santana struggles with the Mariners. Ichiro, Raul Ibanez, Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre, and Yuniesky Betancourt are all solid options. Sexson and Beltre are below .300, but Sexson has taken Santana deep and Beltre is at .286. Ibanez and Suzuki are the best plays. If there is ever a time to sit an ace, it might be here.
• Both Ben Sheets and JoJo Reyes have pitched very well so far. Sheets enters the game 5-0 on the road, with a 2.62 ERA and .220 BAA. In June, he's 2-0 with a .216 BAA and 2.84 ERA. If Chipper Jones plays, he does hit .348 against Sheets. Reyes has struggled at home, but only gave up one earned run in his start against the Brewers in Milwaukee. He's 1-1 in June, but both his outings of four or more runs have come at home.
• This might be a night you see Sean Casey in Boston. Casey is 5-13 against Dan Haren. Manny Ramirez is 6-12 with a home run and Coco Crisp has hit .417 against him. I'd keep Varitek on the bench, who is 0-5 against Haren and hasn't had a hit in his last 24 at-bats. Haren doesn't make a great play against Boston for these numbers alone, but on top of that, he is 0-3 on the road with a 4.62 ERA
• Josh Beckett's June has been much better. His home numbers are still high in terms of ERA and WHIP, but you have to look at the last three starts, where he has allowed zero, four, and one runs. He's still an ace, and should still be in all lineups.
• Jeff Francis hasn't pitched well against good offenses. While that may not be Kansas City, they have been swinging the bats very well, as evidenced by the weekend against the Giants. I don't like Francis as a play here. Brian Bannister has been very good at home, and he makes a solid start against the Rockies, even with their stars back.
• John Lackey should dominate tonight. Period.
• Need a spot start? I'd go with Jason Bergmann of the pitchers available in most leagues. JoJo Reyes would be a distant second.

Notes for Tuesday:

• Dave Bush has been good at home, but not so much on the road. I'd shy away from the Brewers' pitcher in this case. Batters hit 50 points better against him on the road.
• Tom Gorzelanny isn't really ever a good play, but every Yankee certainly is against him. The Yankees have been hitting well, and the three games they will have against Pittsburgh pitching are only going to help them out.
• Jeremy Guthrie's problems early this year were with control. The righty has been much better in June and has limited himself to just seven walks in 26 innings. On the road, opponents hit only .224 against him and they have only been at .240 for June. I'd keep him in the lineup, even against the Cubs.
• I'll continue to recommend Justin Masterson until he does something to prove me wrong. Masterson has pitched very well in his brief starts, sporting a 4-0 record and a 3.00 ERA. His one trouble outing came in Cincinnati, but he'll get a struggling Arizona team at Fenway this time around. Masterson has pitched well against righties, so keep those players back if you have better options.
• The Blue Jays have hit Bronson Arroyo well. Keep Vernon Wells, Scott Rolen, and David Eckstein around, as they lead the way. Arroyo's ERA is over six in June, and it's nearly six on the road. When added up, it's clear that you need to bench him. 
• Early spot start calls? Kevin Slowey (@ Petco), Derek Lowe (@ home), Aaron Laffey (vs. SF), and Braden Looper (@ DET).

Back as the need arises. Check out the full Roundtable blog.