MLB Fantasy Baseball: Friday News and Notes

The final weekend of first-round play is nearly in the books, so that makes this weekend important for teams looking to find an edge. With a light schedule yesterday, the weekend games take on more importance. With players coming back, and trying to balance the September call-ups, the decisions do get harder. 

We'll be around all weekend over email, and potentially some weekend posts to get Sunday's updates in as well. Be sure to send over your questions to [e-mail]. 

On to the notes!

• Scott Kazmir continues to dominate at home and pitch well against the Yankees. He went six solid innings last night. He gave up just one hit but walked five. Kazmir has these kind of days, where everything seems to be going well on the surface, but the control simply isn't there. This shouldn't concern fantasy owners, the stats are great for the win.
• Another note: Dan Wheeler picked up the save. While Troy Percival is going to be given every opportunity to gain back the ninth-inning job, Wheeler quietly has recorded 11 saves and has been very effective in the role. Joe Maddon isn't one to mess around with what's working, so look for Wheeler to continue to see enough time in the role to give him fantasy value.
• Jered Weaver is going to miss his start this weekend, which is why Dustin Moseley is getting the call for Anaheim. Weaver was cut while sitting on the bench in the Anaheim dugout. While there appears to be no need for stitches, the discomfort was enough to push him out to next week. Adjust your lineups accordingly.
• The Phillies have decided to push Cole Hamels up to Sunday in order to throw him against Johan Santana and the Mets. Hamels shouldn't be impacted by this decision too much. He technically, thanks to off days, will be pitching on regular rest. This is simply shuffling the rotation in order to gain ground in the division. Make sure he's active against the Mets on Sunday. It's a nice little bonus for those owners that may need the win.
• Jesse Litsch recorded a complete-game shutout victory for the Blue Jays last night. The Jays have taken to their role of spoiler and are playing some decent baseball right now. Litsch is quickly becoming the reliable spot-starter that he was earlier this season, when he rattled off seven quick wins before falling apart. At home, he's a better play, but the matchups can dictate using him on the road in certain cases.
• Time to stop recommending Jeff Suppan. Suppan is so up and down, that looking to make a call on his ability in a given game is too hard to manage. He should have been able to record a win against a poor offense last night while pitching at home, but instead walks four, gives up seven hits and four earned. Not a good outing. Even if you see him recommended here, ignore it. It's just wrong.
• Joey Votto is hitting .458 in his last six games, with two home runs and eight RBI. Votto hasn't been given as much of a look as Jay Bruce in Cincinnati, simply because he doesn't have the same type of power potential. He is, however, hitting .294 in 129 games with 17 home runs this season. Votto is still available in 15 percent of leagues, and for teams needing help at first or the corner spot, he should be grabbed.

Notes for Friday

• The road for Tampa does not get easier with the Yankees leaving town. They travel to face Roy Halladay. Expect to see Rocco Baldelli in the lineup, as he is 5-for-14 against Halladay. The Blue Jays' starter has had trouble figuring Tampa out this season, as he is just 1-3 with a 4.82 ERA against them this season. His last two outings have been better, but if you're in a close matchup, this is a chance you might not want to take.
• The Red Sox starters have good numbers against Kevin Millwood. Jason Varitek (.381), David Ortiz (.467/3/8), Mark Kotsay (.286/2/6), and Kevin Youkilis (6-for-9) have all hit well against the Texas starter. While he's 5-2 at home, his ERA is 4.98. Use the Sox's starters, but avoid Millwood. Expect to see Mike Lowell back as well. He has hit well against Milwood, but give him a game or two to see where he stands.
• Looking at the numbers, there is no way Ted Lilly should be started against the Reds. Lilly is 0-3 with a 6.32 ERA in his three starts against them this season. He was a tough-luck loser last time he faced them, going seven innings and giving up just two earned runs. Guys like Adam Dunn, that gave him trouble, have gone, and he has held Brandon Phillips to one hit in 18 at-bats. In a deep league, Lilly is worth a flyer. In a close matchup, I'd leave him on the bench.
• While Braden Looper was roughed up in his last outing against the Astros, the Marlins don't pose the same type of threat at this point. Prior to that eight-run outburst, Looper hadn't allowed more than three earned in his last seven starts. He's a better option than Lilly for certain, even going against Ricky Nolasco. Nolasco has been good, but has struggled mightily on the road this season.
• If you have a better option for Torii Hunter, he is just a .221 hitter in 77 at-bats against Mark Buehrle. Chone Figgins is only 4-for-27. All other Angels can and should be started, but these two are better left alone. Buehrle is 8-3 at home this season, and batters have hit just .238 against him there. The White Sox need this performance from him, so fantasy owners should start him as well.
• Brendan Morrow will get the start for Seattle. As good as he was in relief, keep him reserved as a starter. Let's see what we have before a move is made to add him to any fantasy playoff rotation. Ichiro and Ibanez are hitting over .300 against Andy Pettitte, but that's about all Seattle has going for them tonight.
• Derek Lowe is 2-1 in four starts against Arizona and has a 2.64 ERA at home. Lowe has pitched well enough at Dodger Stadium to keep him active against the Diamondbacks. While I like Dan Haren, Lowe is the better play tonight.
• It's been a rough year for Jason Bergmann, and the Braves could only make it more difficult. They have simply raked against the Washington starter. Fringe players here are good options for some hidden offense on teams that need a boost in their averages. Even Jeff Francoeur makes a good play tonight.
• Armando Galarraga is 8-2 on the road this season, with a 2.85 ERA. He's had two solid outings against the Twins as well. While a win may not be in order, he's going against Francisco Liriano, Galarraga has been very good and, arguably, the most steady presence in the Tigers' rotation. Keep him active and grab him as a spot starter.
• Spot Starts: Jair Jurrjens, Galarraga, Braden Looper, and Ubaldo Jimenez.

Notes for Saturday

• Look to use as many regular Orioles as you can. The A's will be playing their second doubleheader in three days on Saturday, meaning that pitching will be thin. The Orioles should be able to take advantage of that, especially by the start of game two. Get them active.
• Chad Billingsley struggled in his first two outings against Arizona, but has been able to recover in his last two appearances. Billingsley gets them at home, where he is 8-4 on the season with a 3.26 ERA. Keep Stephen Drew (.375), Chris Young (.421), and Mark Reynolds (.308, 2 home runs) active. Conor Jackson is just 3-for-20 against Billingsley.
• He's finally made me snap, but Justin Verlander should only be used against Minnesota if you need the innings. Verlander's struggles have been too great in his last two starts (and six of his last eight for that matter) to recommend using him on the road against the Twins. Outside of Jason Kubel, your Twins' regulars are all good plays against Verlander, who is 4-7 on the road this season.
• Ben Sheets will get the ball against Jake Peavy on Saturday. The Padres lack of offense should be enough to convince you that Sheets is a decent play. Even with the groin injury that pulled him from his last outing, Sheets' stats dictate that he should be on the mound for fantasy purposes.
• Jamie Moyer has been up and down but is 8-3 on the road with a sub-3.00 ERA. He's just 1-1 against the Mets, but his start on the road was solid. He went seven innings, giving up just one run on two hits. Teams in need of a cheap win should look here. Pedro Martinez has struggled against the Phillies. Make sure all your Phillies are in the lineup.
• Paul Maholm's streak of six-inning starts came to an end last time out, but he gets San Francisco's offense in this next start. The only concern would be if Pittsburgh looked to limit the innings for Maholm, as he has thrown more innings already than he has in the last three seasons. They likely won't want to push him more than 15 percent beyond last season's numbers, which probably gives him another start or two. If available, he's a solid spot-start for teams that need peripheral stats if nothing else.
• Roy Oswalt is 1-0 in two starts at Coors Field since 2005. Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe remain decent plays, but the rest of the Rockies lineup has struggled against Oswalt. His last six starts have been very solid; keep him active.
• Frank Catalanatto will be in the lineup all weekend against Boston, as he feasts on Red Sox pitching. He's a .296 hitter against Tim Wakefield, so if you need offense, look here. Marlon Byrd is 4-for-8 lifetime as well. Michael Young is just a .238 hitter. Obviously, play Josh Hamilton (no history of which to speak), but Milton Bradley is only 2-for-14 against Wake.
• Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta, and Ryan Garko should all be good against Gil Meche, but Grady Sizemore is only a .222 hitter. Start him, but temper expectations accordingly.
• Spot starts: Tim Wakefield, Todd Wellemeyer (Scott Olsen has been bad on the road), Paul Maholm, and Scott Baker.

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