MLB Fantasy Baseball: Tuesday News and Notes

Impressive night across baseball. Not only did the Cubs take another no-hitter deep into the game, but the Rays' ace couldn't get himself through four innings. The Red Sox hit more home runs last night than in their last six games. The AL Central teams couldn't take advantage of losses, both stumbling to teams that aren't even in the picture. 

Just a weird night... 

On to the notes. 

• John Maine is looking to make a comeback this season with the Mets, perhaps as a closer. Maine feels he could be in position to make a return to the staff during next week's homestand. He isn't sure about his strength and stamina, but feels that a bullpen stint could help the team. Given how many saves the Mets have blown this year, expect them to at least explore the option.
• Hopefully there weren't many of you counting on Kenny Rogers. Those that were probably have been eliminated from the playoffs anyway. That said, Rogers won't pick up a ball the rest of the way for the Tigers staff. Dontrelle Willis, though, will be taking a few turns in the rotation. He has no fantasy value.
• To say David Ortiz had been struggling was an understatement. Ortiz was below .200 against Scott Kazmir and hasn't hit much all month. All that changed with one swing in the first inning. It's when he does that that owners feel justified in keeping him in the lineup at all. He's still an everyday option, but one that requires more patience.
• The Cleveland Indians continued their hot hitting, led by two of the best pickups for the next two weeks in Kelly Shoppach and Shin-Soo Choo. Both hit home runs last night and have been the driving forces behind the Indians' offense. Those looking for a quick boost should turn to these two hitters.
• Robinson Cano is being made an example by Joe Girardi. Some might argue that it's too little too late at this point in the season to be doing that, but it doesn't matter what some think. Those holding on to Cano should look to adjust lineups accordingly for the next day or two if they want to keep getting at-bats.
• Takashi Saito returned to the Dodgers' bullpen last night. Saito is still going to have to earn the job back from Broxton, but it's a nice weapon for the Dodgers to be able to use. Sticking with closers, Chad Qualls recorded the save last night for Arizona, in his first appearance since replacing Brandon Lyon.
• Brandon McCarthy, who has been a pleasant late-season surprise, left last night's game against the Tigers with a strained tendon in his middle finger. McCarthy recorded the first two outs in the first inning, but then was forced to leave the game. No word on his status at this point, but surgery is a possibility.
• Akinori Iwamura continues to rope Boston pitching. If you only use the guy a handful of times, against Boston is the way to go. The Rays' infielder has hit more home runs against Boston than he has against everyone else in the league combined. He's also well over .300 on the season against the team.
• John Lannan seems to have a short-term memory. Lannan was roughed up by the Mets on the road, but he bounced back last night to record the win. He threw seven solid innings, giving up just one run on one hit while striking out seven. Lannan is a matchup type play, and still is just 4-8 at home this season. It's a nice start, but nothing that vaults him into true relevance beyond that.

Notes for Tuesday

• Lefties are still pounding Bronson Arroyo. They hit .303 against him overall. Arroyo, though, has improved his record at home and his ERA. He's now sporting a 3.86 home ERA in a tough ballpark to pitch in. He's 1-1 against the Cardinals this season in three starts. There are no major guys not hitting Arroyo well, but no one is jumping off the stat sheet either. In deep leagues, he's a decent play if you already own him. As we noted yesterday, Braden Looper is still the better option.
• Andy Sonnanstine was legit against the Red Sox last time out, but he still has an ERA hanging around 5.00 at home. Batters at the Trop are hitting .293 against him on the season. Pedroia and Youkilis haven't hit Sonnanstine well, but they are the only concerns. Fact is, you still start them anyway.
• The White Sox have hit Andy Pettitte and hit him hard. They check in with a team average of .328. Jim Thome is a .240 hitter against the Yankees starter, but no other concerns at all with regards to starts. Pettitte's 5.28 ERA in home starts this season makes this an easier call as well.
• Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen should be benched if you have other options. The two have combined to go 7-for-47 against Kevin Millwood. Your other Tigers are all decent plays against the Rangers starter. Millwood came out and threw a complete game against the Tigers last time, but he has struggled with a 5.37 ERA at home this season.
• John Lackey has had two bad outings in a row, but a poor Oakland offense should help to cure that. Lackey is 2-0 against Oakland this season, with a 1.13 ERA and .193 BAA. Jack Cust has hit .333 against Lackey, but he's the only real option of choice if you need to start anyone from the A's.
• Conor Jackson is hitting .385 against Matt Cain, but the Diamondbacks, as a team, haven't been stellar against the Giants' pitcher. Cain, even on the road, is a good option against Arizona. He may not provide the win, going against Dan Haren, but he will provide decent stats to make the start worth it.
• Looking to steal a few cheap hits today? Jason Kendall is 14-for-32 against Ryan Dempster, good for a .438 AVG. Ray Durham is hitting .545 against the Cubs starter. Your regulars are usually good plays, but J.J. Hardy is 0-for-13 against Dempster for his career. Given that he's 3-0 against the Brewers this season, use other options than your Brewers if you have them.
• We love Odalis Perez at home. We hate Odalis Perez against the Mets. History is a better judge here, as Perez hasn't looked good against the Mets this season. The one Mets hitter to keep on the bench is Delgado. Yes, he's looking at an MVP second half, but at just 1-for-13 against Perez; there are better options. Jose Reyes (.727) and the rest of the Mets regulars should be started.
• Spot Starts: Brendan Morrow, Braden Looper, Ubaldo Jimenez, and, if needed, Zach Jackson.

Notes for Wednesday

• Scott Baker has been very consistent all season long. Baker is still under 50 percent owned, yet has posted a 3.57 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Even with the injury suffered earlier this season, he has nine wins. Baker checks in with a 2.37 ERA against Cleveland in three starts this season and is 6-3 on the road this season.  Start him, even against Cliff Lee.
• Jeff Francis has posted an ERA under 1.00 against the Padres in two starts this season, but both have been at Petco. Francis is just 2-7 with a 5.15 ERA at home this season, and that doesn't give me the confidence to go out and start him. Your regular Padres should provide solid numbers here.
• Russell Martin and Andre Ethier have been good against Zach Duke, but other Dodgers haven't had as much luck. That said, Duke is still just 4-8 at home and batters are pounding his pitching to the tune of a .300 AVG. Righties are hitting .307, so this should be good news for Manny Ramirez owners as well.
• Matt Garza at home is one of the best plays in baseball. Even though he struggled against Boston on the road, at Tropicana, he's been lights out against everyone. Don't expect anything different here.
• The Phillies keep handing Kyle Kendrick the ball, so we should continue to start offensive threats against him. That covers just about everyone in the Atlanta lineup. While you don't want to reach, starting regulars is a must. Jair Jurrjens has been solid in his two appearances against the Phils, expect more of the same.
• Don't expect to see Cesar Izturis and his 0-for-17 in the lineup against Aaron Harang, but start all other Cardinals. Can you explain why Harang and his 4.96 ERA and 1.40 WHIP are more widely owned than Scott Baker? If you're willing to start Harang, you should own Baker.
• Derek Lee hits Ben Sheets better than almost anyone in the league, but the rest of the Cubs lineup hasn't followed suit. Sheets should still be started against the Cubs, but avoid as many Cubs regulars as your lineup allows.
• Spot Starts: Jair Jurrjens, Ricky Nolasco, and Scott Baker.

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