MLB Fantasy Baseball: Friday News and Notes

In between picks of the draft last night, there was certainly baseball to watch and notes to take. Let's get to the notes, and remember, if all else fails, at least it's Friday.

• Matt Garza decided to make a liar out of me last night. From now on, we'll say he can't pitch outside the state of Florida. He allowed one hit and one run against Florida yesterday afternoon, simply dominating the Marlins' hitters. Garza has really come around with his fastball, and this was evident at the end of last season as well. His location has been fantastic most of the year, and he's a valid AL-only option and deep, mixed-league add.
• Albert Pujols returned to the Cardinals' lineup yesterday and had three hits. Pujols should be immediately placed in every lineup without reservation.
• Chipper Jones is expected back in the Braves' lineup this weekend and perhaps as soon as tonight. Jones, obviously, is one of the best third basemen in the league at this point. His absence in the Braves' lineup hurts total production because there are ways to pitch around hitters like Mark Teixeira. His return is good news all around.
• Josh Hamilton can't catch a break. He's struggled with the knee since the series against Washington, and last night he was hit in the hand by a Wandy Rodriguez fastball. He's listed as day-to-day again, but be cautious in using him tonight. He could very well miss a game or two as a result.
• Akinori Iwamura is expected to start serving his suspension tonight. Iwamura has been hitting well, but will be required to sit three games for his role in the brawl against the Red Sox.
• I'm trying to understand what's going on with Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw went just four innings, throwing 70 pitches, while allowing two runs. He actually looked relatively good over his entire outing, but again struggled with his command. That's been the major problem with Kershaw. Once he is able to limit his walks, he'll be a more viable option.
• It's worth noting the struggles that the White Sox have with left-handed pitching. They hit just .231 as a team against lefties. Carlos Quentin and Joe Crede are the worst offenders, both well below .200.
• Edinson Volquez had his first rough outing of the season. This was going to happen, strictly because it's nearly impossible to be as dominant as he has been for an entire season. Volquez gave up five earned over four-and-a-third innings, also one of his shortest outings of the season. Don't have concerns over this. He should still start every time, and this is not the beginning of the end.
• Even with Volquez's struggles, pitching was the story of the day. Cliff Lee looked great over eight innings. He gave up just four hits and struck out 11 hitters. Lee against sub-par offenses is just not fair, and it really has been that way all season. Rich Harden struck out 11 as well, giving up just two hits over eight innings. Everyone already knows this, but it's worth saying again: Harden, when healthy, is nearly untouchable.
• In most leagues, Evan Longoria was a waiver-wire pickup. It's like found money. If you have another third baseman ranked in the top-10 in your league, it's worth moving one of them. I'd move the known commodity just because of the perception of higher value, and in a keeper league, you don't let Longoria go at all. Longoria gives owners leverage to improve in another spot, because he likely wasn't someone you drafted to begin with.

Notes for today's games:

• Micah Owings is 0-3 in June, with an ERA over eight. On the road, Owings has posted a 4.67 ERA with a WHIP of 1.36. Florida was just held down, don't expect that to last. That's as solid an offense as there is in the NL, and Owings hasn't proven himself enough in his last five starts to make the gamble worth it.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka makes his second start since coming off the DL. This is normally where I recommend playing a guy, especially if he pitched well in his first start. Not the case with Daisuke. Let's see how he looks this time out and make the call for his one start next week.
• Randy Wolf's stats at home are amazing. He's 4-2 with a 2.52 ERA and a WHIP just over 1.00. Batters are hitting just .220 against him at Petco. Even better, he's striking out more than a batter an inning. He gets a struggling Mariners team that just hasn't produced offensively all season. He's a solid option.
• Looking at Dustin McGowan's recent starts, you wouldn't want him in the lineup. But, three of his last four outings have come on the road, skewing his numbers for the month. McGowan threw a complete game against the Mariners in his one start at home this month. Even with the Braves getting Jones back, I'd start McGowan here. He's 4-1 with a 1.73 ERA at home on the season.
• McGowan's counterpart, Jair Jurrjens, also is a decent play. Jurrjens has had two solid outings in a row against two teams with slightly below-average offenses in Seattle and Colorado (they were without Tulo and Holliday). The Blue Jays really aren't much better. I'd use Jurrjens as well.
• Do yourself a favor and make sure you start your Mets today. I know they have a doubleheader, and that makes figuring which game that the stars will play difficult. And I know even more that because it's in two different stadiums, that the issue is probably more complicated. But Sidney Ponson is on the mound for the Yankees in game two (at least that's the schedule now).
• The Royals are so hot in interleague play right now, Gil Meche becomes one of the best options available. Keep Mike Aviles, Mark Teahan, Alex Gordon, and Jose Guillen in lineups as well.
• Spot starts today? Nick Blackburn, Wolf, Dana Eveland, and Jurrjens in that order.

Notes for Saturday's games:

• I'm not putting much stock in the fact that Brandon Webb has struggled in his last two outings. He's still one of the best in the game and should be started, especially against a team with a collective .217 average against him.
• I don't like Andy Pettitte in the matchup against the Mets. Carlos Delgado, specifically, owns him, going .333/5/17 in 63 at-bats. Carlos Beltran, David Wright, and even Damion Easley are solid plays.
• Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui have both handled Johan Santana well over their careers, posting averages well over the .300 mark. Santana has been good in June and for the most part has had tough-luck losses because of poor offense on the road. You always start him, but I like his chances for a win even more thanks to the Pettitte numbers.
• Jerry Hairston and Brandon Phillips are both 4-9 against Paul Byrd. Byrd's numbers are much better at home than on the road, but he hasn't had much success anywhere in his last seven starts. I wouldn't have him going until he shows a solid outing, which could very well be here. If I'm close in WHIP and ERA for the week though, I wouldn't want to play him.
• I'm pretty sure that anyone here at the Roundtable could get a hit off of Carlos Silva at this point. He's 0-4 in June with an ERA of 5.70, and on the road he's 1-5 with a 6.31 ERA. Even in Petco, he's not a good play.
• Manny Parra's success has virtually all come at home, as his ERA on the road is well over seven. Even with his recent outings, this isn't a gamble worth taking. Minnesota's offense is clicking and could give Parra fits. Especially given that he has a BAA of .369 on the road.
• The Brewers saw a fair amount of Livan Hernandez in the National League and enjoyed their time. Mike Cameron, Jason Kendall, and Russell Branyan are the best plays. Cameron's average isn't great, but four of his nine hits against Hernandez have been home runs.
• The Cubs have destroyed Javier Vazquez. Every Cub is worth having in the lineup, but the stars have really been able to shine against him. Lee, Ramirez, Edmonds, and DeRosa are all must-plays. Vazquez's struggles in June (.312 BAA, 6.94 ERA) make it all the more worthwhile.
• Keep any bats from Oakland or San Francisco down, as Tim Lincecum and Justin Duschcherer face off against each other.
• Other pitchers that should see no issues include Kazmir, Hamels, Billingsley, and Verlander. I'd even start Johnny Cueto.
• Spot start calls? Let's go with Garrett Olson, Kyle Davies, and Jon Lester. It's slim pickings though.

Check out the 'Table this weekend for a great debate over two young outfielders in a keeper league, and why winning a trade isn't the only thing you should be concerned with, as well as your daily notes.

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