Fantasy Baseball: Thursday News and Notes

Last Night Rewind

• One of the hottest pitchers in baseball was Joel Pineiro. Unfortunately prior to last night's start against Boston, Pineiro strained an oblique muscle. The pitcher will be sidelined for six to eight weeks while the injury heals. The Angels are certainly short on pitching right now with Scott Kazmir out and Dan Haren hurting as well. Not much in the minors for them at this point, so a move may be in the cards.
• It should surprise no one that Ben Sheets will once again be sidelined for the remainder of the season. An exam yesterday found that Sheets had injured the same tendon in his elbow that required him to miss all of the 2009 season. Right now, no surgery is planned but we should certainly anticipate that it will not be easy for him to come back on time next year.
• Reports are swirling that Stephen Strasburg will miss his next start and will really be given a break. Jim Riggleman is looking to give him a break of about 10 days according to reports. Strasburg described the tightness in the throwing shoulder more as hitting a wall as opposed to actually injuring himself. Still hold on to him and keep him on the bench this week.
• The Tigers were able to acquire Jhonny Peralta from the Indians yesterday. Peralta should receive immediate playing time due to the injuries suffered by Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen. Even when they return, he has a good enough bat to find his way into the lineup on a regular basis. Right now, Detroit's middle infield is weak and Pearlta's offense will help. Do not be concerned if you currently own him, this will be short-term playing time.
• With Shane Victorino on the DL, owners should not be afraid of looking long and hard at Domonic Brown. Brown had 20 home runs and a .327 average in his time with Double-A and Triple-A. He has the bat to do some damage and would be a nice addition to NL-only and all 14-team mixed leagues. His speed and offense will be a nice short-term boost for owners that have lost Victorino.

Thursday Notes

• Ugly numbers for Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham against Derek Lowe. Dunn is 5-for-28 without a home run and Willingham is 5-for-25. Nyjer Morgan is worth the play here. He is 9-for-16 against Lowe. In another random number, Adam Kennedy has hit .402 in 32 at-bats against the Atlanta starter. Use all others as normal.
• Ubaldo Jimenez is certainly one of the best pitchers in baseball, but he is getting killed of late. Jimenez has a 7.64 ERA in his last six starts. Add to it that he has struggled with command, walking 11 batters in his last 15.1 innings of work. Two good signs for him in this one, though: Jimenez is 6-0 at home this season and he faces the Pirates.
• Rick Porcello will once again take the ball for the Tigers. He has not won since early June and has been incredibly inconsistent over the bulk of the year. After a stellar outing against Cleveland, where he allowed one run in eight innings, he walked four batters without striking out one in a loss against Toronto. With the way Tampa is playing, not a good gamble here.
• Mat Latos has been simply impressive. He is 4-2 at home this season with a 2.23 ERA in those starts. In 44.1 innings, he has allowed only three home runs. Latos is 3-0 in July and has struck out 22 batters in his last 21 innings.
• C.J. Wilson continues to throw the ball exceptionally well. He has given up more than two earned runs just twice in his last 10 outings. In July, he may only have a 3-2 record, but he is holding opponents to a .159 average. On the season, he is 7-2 at home. Wilson has been brutal to lefties this season, holding them to a .090 average. Look to avoid Jack Cust and Daric Barton as a result.
• Look, I am not one to always advocate living on the wild side, but sometimes you do have to respect the statistics. Vicente Padilla has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last six starts. In fact, he has allowed only six earned runs in his last 41.2 innings pitched. The Padres have not seen much of Padilla, and the numbers lead you to believe this would be a good start. Go for it here.
• Benching Chone Figgins today would be a good idea. Figgins is only 2-for-25 against Freddy Garcia lifetime. Jose Lopez is just 2-for-11 as well. You will always start Ichiro and you should look at Milton Bradley today as well. Bradley is 4-for-11 with a home run against the Chicago starter.
• Vin Mazzaro has won his last four decisions and he continues to be a pleasant surprise in the Oakland rotation. While he may not have the best offense behind him, he continues to produce at a level that would help many owners in a spot. Mazzaro may draw the hot-hitting Rangers, but he is 4-1 on the road this season and 3-0 in July. Expect a pitcher's duel down in Texas.
• Spot Starts: Mazzaro, Talbot, Padilla

Friday Notes

• Be careful using Roy Oswalt on Friday. His numbers have been fine, but there are rumors flying that he could be traded before he gets to the mound. A potential deal with the Phillies is in place and would only require Oswalt's OK for it to go forward. Simply a warning.
• Expect Blake DeWitt to get a start against Tim Lincecum tomorrow. DeWitt has the best numbers on the Dodgers against the starter, having gone 6-for-11. Look to avoid the 0-for-14 of Russell Martin and the 2-for-17 of Matt Kemp. Rafael Furcal at 3-for-16 is not much better.
• Ervin Santana has allowed just four earned runs in his last three starts, covering 23 innings of work. Josh Hamilton has been on fire of late, but he is only 2-for-18 against Santana while Nelson Cruz checks in at 4-for-19. Both Ian Kinsler and Michael Young remain solid plays. Young is hitting .400 against Santana lifetime.
• Jon Lester at home is always a good play. He is 6-2 inside Fenway Park this season and has held batters to a .215 average against him. Newly-acquired Jhonny Peralta should be held out of lineups where possible. Peralta is only 2-for-15 against Lester lifetime. No other concerns for your Tigers in this one from the numbers, but Lester has pitched very well of late.
• Chris Carpenter does not have a win this season against the Pirates, but he is 8-2 at home so far, a good sign. Only Lastings Milledge at a very limited 3-for-7 has had any reliable success against the St. Louis starter. Carpenter is 2-0 in his last three starts against Pittsburgh, allowing just six earned runs in 22 innings of work.
• Spot Starts: LeBlanc, Dan Hudson, Fister