Fantasy Baseball: Tuesday News and Notes

Last Night Rewind

• I attended the Red Sox game last night and had a front-row seat to Carlos Santana's injury. It looked more horrifying full speed than it even did on replay, if that's possible. The good news is that the initial tests do not seem to show any serious injuries if reports are to be believed. Certainly look to pull him out of daily lineups for the next few days until we know more.
• Sticking with this game, Kevin Youkilis left last night's game after the second inning with what is being called a jammed thumb. Youkilis appeared to hurt himself on a swing in the bottom of the first. When he came out for warmups in the second he struggled to throw the ball around the infield. After completing the defensive half of the second, he was pulled before the start of the third. He is list as day-to-day.
• Jeremy Hellickson's long awaited debut certainly lived up to the hype. The Rays used Hellickson to give their starters an extra day off and it worked. He recorded his first win and struck out six in the effort while walking only two. The Rays have already optioned the rookie back to Triple-A, and it is likely that he will only be seen as a bullpen addition later in the season.
• Joey Votto missed last night's game, sitting out with a sprained wrist. The first baseman has been bothered by the injury for a few days but there is no major damage shown on the x-rays. Miguel Cairo started in his place last night. Be advised that he may not be available tonight and set your lineups accordingly in daily leagues.
• Matt Kemp had a 5-5 night last night that snapped a 2-19 drought. Kemp has certainly been slightly disappointing coming off of last season, but is now closing in on .270 this year with 18 home runs and 60 RBI. He is tearing up the Padres this season, hitting .323 in 31 at-bats against their pitchers this season.

Tuesday Notes

• Ricky Romero has had issues on the road this season, putting up just a 3-5 record with a 4.63 ERA in 12 starts. Batters are hitting .289 against him away from home this season and the Yankees have hit him hard twice. Romero has kept Robinson Cano in check, holding him to a 2-13 mark and Jorge Posada is only 3-14. Nick Swisher checks in at 4-9.
• Even if Joey Votto is not hurt, holding him back tonight would be wise anyway. He is only 3-16 against Paul Maholm. Brandon Phillips rakes against the lefty. He is 14-40 with four home runs in his efforts. Maholm has given up 12 runs in his last two starts over 11.1 innings. Take heart, though, as he is 1-0 against the Reds in two starts this season, allowing only two runs in 13.2 innings.
• Look to avoid the 5-29 of Carlos Beltran against Derek Lowe. In fact, only Luis Castillo and David Wright have an average greater than .300 against Lowe and have recorded at least seven at-bats. Lowe is 7-3 at home this season and has simply had rough luck against the Mets. Though 0-2 against them, his ERA is just 3.65 in those starts.
• Worth noting that Miguel Cabrera is 0-12 against Mark Buehrle lifetime. Ryan Raburn and Ramon Santiago are no better off. Otherwise, the Tigers you would have in your lineup are of no concerns. Buehrle has had rough starts in his last outing against Seattle, but he has allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his last nine starts.
• Ted Lilly will get the ball for the Dodgers in his first start since being acquired. Only Scott Hairston has numbers that you would want to have in your fantasy lineup against Lilly. Hariston is 6-17 with two home runs. Ryan Ludwick is just 5-26 and Miguel Tejada is only 10-45. No Padres player outside of Hariston cracks .275.
• Mat Latos will oppose Lilly in this matchup and he has been nothing but strong at home this season. Latos is 7-2 at Petco with a 2.63 ERA. Batters are hitting just .191 against him at home. As long as the Padres are starting him, you should too. He has had one strong outing against the Dodgers already this season and has allowed two or fewer runs in nine of his last 10 starts. If there is a concern it would be the three home runs allowed in his last 11 innings.
• Bud Norris simply dominates against the Cardinals, despite his having struggles against them his last time out. Norris allowed five earned runs in his last outing against them. He has allowed just six runs in his last 33.2 innings against them going back the last three seasons.
• Roy Halladay is 2-1 in three starts against the Marlins this season. He has allowed only three earned runs in 25 innings. In that time he has struck out 23 while walking just one batter. Keep Dan Uggla in your lineup. He is 4-13 against Halladay with a home run. Hanley Ramirez has decent numbers as well. Otherwise, bench your Marlins.
• Colby Lewis is 2-0 in three starts against Seattle this season, surrendering just two runs in 23 innings of work against them this season. Chone Figgins is only 3-13 against the Rangers starter and Jose Lopez is 0-10 in his at-bats. Lewis is a solid start in this one given the numbers this season against Seattle.
• Spot Starts: Lowe, Norris, Mazzaro

Wednesday Notes

• Ryan Dempster has recorded two wins against the Brewers so far this season and draws them at home this time out. Dempster has struck out 72 batters in 75.1 innings at home while allowing batters to hit just .229 against him. Corey Hart may have a new deal, but he is just 4-27 against Dempster while Ryan Braun is 6-33. Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, and Casey McGehee are worth the plays here.
• Mike Pelfrey may be 2-1 against the Braves this season, but he has allowed 24 hits in 16.2 innings against them this season. Brian McCann is a .441 hitter against Pelfrey in 34 at-bats and Chipper Jones checks in at .333 as well. Look to keep them in the lineup in this matchup. Only concern would be in Troy Glaus for this one.
• Hanley Ramirez is only 5-21 against Kyle Kendrick while Dan Uggla is 5-20. Look to use Cody Ross here given his 4-12 mark and Ronny Paulino is 4-10. Lefties are raking against Kendrick this season to the tune of .312 in 2010. Kendrick does have a win against the Marlins this season, and has surrendered nine home runs in 66.1 innings away from home this year.
• Chris Carpenter has dominated the big bats in the Houston lineup. Carlos Lee is just 7-37 while Michael Bourn is only 2-12 and Hunter Pence is just 1-12. Carpenter took the loss in his only outing against Houston this season, but this is a different lineup again and Carpenter is 8-2 at home this season.
• Ubaldo Jimenez was roughed up by the Giants in his last start against them but got on track in his outing just five days ago. Jimenez is now 7-0 at home this season. He has struggled with his command of late, walking 12 batters in his last 14.1 innings. Pablo Sandoval is 10-25 against Jimenez, but that's the best of the bunch. No other Giants starter will crack .275 against Jimenez. Use him here with confidence and bench your Giants where possible.
• Spot Starts: Sanchez, LeBlanc, Kennedy