MLB Fantasy Baseball: Monday News and Notes

Heading into the final week of the season, and three out of the four pieces to the American League puzzle will likely be decided well before the final weekend. If that happens, the decisions made by managers could have decent fantasy consequences. It's the time of year where owners need to pay attention to who will get the ball and how often stars will play. Keep an eye on lineups, and we'll help out where we can.  

Personal note, I still think baseball screwed up royally. There is no way the Yankees should have closed that stadium out with a week to go. The Red Sox opened it in April 85 years ago, they should have also closed it. The whole thing would have been much more fitting. All it would have taken was flipping two series. Shame on baseball. 

Let's get to the notes. 

• Joe Saunders is going to miss his next start due to complications with a kidney stone. It shouldn't screw up the rotation entirely, as Jered Weaver and Jon Garland will just pitch on normal rest and not receive an extra day off. Not the worst thing, but Saunders owners should get him out of their lineups.
• Hideki Matsui has decided to undergo knee surgery that will put an end to his season. After playing last night, the Yankees outfielder has decided that it makes more sense to get himself ready for next season than to play in the final week of this one. Again, make sure he is out of lineups. This should only impact deep leagues.
• There are a few teams you can expect will be playing all their best through the remainder of the week. Milwaukee, the Mets, the White Sox, and Minnesota will, for certain, need to garner wins and maintain playoff position. Others include the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. The Phillies are very close to that, and I wouldn't expect Boston and Tampa to shut it down either. Those teams will want to avoid the cross-country trip to Anaheim that would start their playoffs. Most concerning are teams that will play no role as either spoiler or that have already clinched what they need.
• Other playoff bound teams may not be in the same position. Look for the Cubs to begin to get themselves in order as soon as they lock down home-field advantage. They will likely attempt to get pitching rotations in order and players rested. The Angels will be feeling the same way, as they look to rest their key players but still keep timing.
• While Daisuke Matsuzaka had a few brief struggles in the first inning, he settled down to allow just two walks and two hits over his seven innings of work. As hard as he is to watch on some nights, he was on yesterday. When he is, he can be one of the toughest pitchers in baseball to hit. Command can, sometimes, get the better of him. Matsuzaka hasn't lost in his last ten outings.
• Roy Oswalt continues a dominating September run. The Astros starter is now 4-1 with a 1.41 ERA for the month. Oswalt is 8-2 in his last ten decisions, dating back to the beginning of August. This is something every owner should remember when they're ready to give up on him if he has a bad first half next season. He's been nothing short of dominant.
• It seems to come up a lot in reference to the Mets, but it needs to be said: You can't draft pitching for wins. Some years, good pitchers just end up with bad bullpens. Certain starters are going to have buzzard's luck, getting tagged for losses where they pitched well, but the offense doesn't perform. Mets starters have looked good, but just struggled in the win column, as was the case again yesterday for Mike Pelfrey.
• If the Mets do falter again this season, the blame shouldn't come anywhere near David Wright and Carlos Delgado. Delgado has been nothing short of an offensive show in the second half, knocking his 37th home run of the season last night. David Wright hit number 32 and is now hitting .315 for the month of September.
• When we look at drafting relievers next year, one of the best in the second half has been Brad Ziegler. He's done it all for the Oakland bullpen. Over the weekend he recorded a win and two saves, and has been much more than the scoreless streak he had to start his career. Ziegler needs to be looked at as a solid closer heading into next season.
• Ryan Zimmerman has gone through some rough patches this year, but he still has managed to hit 13 home runs in 104 games. He's hitting .280 on the season, but has pounded left-handed pitching. For the season, he's a .326 hitter against lefties.

Notes for Monday

• Those looking forward to next season and some potential keepers should watch David Price today. Price takes the ball for the Rays against the Orioles on the road. He's climbed through the minors very quickly, and this matchup gives him good potential to pick up his first win in the majors.
• Josh Beckett has actually looked like Josh Beckett in his last three outings. While he only has one win to show for them, the Boston righty has a 0.95 ERA in three starts this month, two against the first-place Rays. The Indians haven't seen much of him, but are only posting a .238 average in 80 at-bats as a team.
• Ricky Nolasco has been strong in his last four outings on the road. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in those outings and is now 9-3 on the road for the season. His BAA is .229 away from home, and he pitched well against his only other outing against the Reds this season. Keep him active.
• Jair Jurrjens has been bitten by some bad luck against the Phillies. Jurrjens is just 1-2 against them this season, but has kept his ERA to 3.60 in three outings. The Phillies haven't hit particularly well against him overall, and Jurrjens recorded his win against them on the road, where he will pitch tonight.
• Carlos Beltran hasn't exactly lit up Jason Marquis. Beltran has been hot, but he is just 2-for-17 against the Cubs starter. No other Cubs should create any type of concern, but Beltran could be in for a long night. Marquis is much better on the road, posting a 6-3 record with a 3.05 ERA for the season.
• The Cardinals have had very little luck against Brandon Webb, and that goes up and down the lineup. If you have better options, even Albert Pujols is hitting just .238 against the Diamondbacks ace. Webb has nearly an identical ERA on the road, and his ERA is 0.30 runs better. His offense just doesn't come through as often for him.
• Numbers can be deceiving, even in the case of Kevin Millwood. Millwood hasn't been great against the A's historically, but the guys that have done the damage won't be in the lineup. Without Mark Ellis and Frank Thomas around, Millwood suddenly looks like a decent option against Oakland. In deep leagues, you could use him as a spot start option today and feel good about your chances.
• Ervin Santana has been tough on everyone wearing a Mariners jersey. Outside of Raul Ibanez, there are no definite starts around. He's 2-0 against the Mariners this year and 10-2 on the road overall.
• Spot Starts: Millwood, David Price, and, if needed, Zach Miner.

Notes for Tuesday

• James Shields is 2-0 against Baltimore in four starts this season, but has struggled on the road on the year. He's only been to Camden Yards once this season, turning in an impressive victory. Roberts, Markakis, Millar, and Huff have given Shields enough problems to keep them active.
• Brian McCann and Chipper Jones should be active against Cole Hamels, but that's it for the Braves. Philly's starter has gone 3-0 against them for the season and been even tougher to hit for the month of September.
• While Polanco, Inge, and Renteria have put up decent numbers against Zack Greinke, the Tigers true stars have struggled to numbers below .200 against him. The Royals starter is 3-1 on the month, and has pitched well against the Tigers this season. While he isn't great on the road, the other numbers give you reason to keep him active.
• I will continue to recommend Scott Baker at home. He hasn't been great against the White Sox, but he has been good at home overall. Baker is 3-1 at home in ten starts, with batters hitting just .231 against him. Orlando Cabrera has torn him up, but he's it for Chicago. Don't look for Jason Kubel or Nick Punto to be much help here, as they are a combined 7-for-47 against Chicago starter Javier Vazquez.
• Dave Bush has had very good numbers against Pittsburgh and has pitched well at home. The concern is that his pitch count has been reduced in each of his last three outings, with no true reason as to why. Keep him active, but temper expectations.
• The Padres have good numbers against Chad Billingsley. Khalil Greene (.583/1/2), Adrian Gonzalez (.304), and even Kevin Kouzmanoff (.280), should be active against him. Billingsley is 0-2 against the Padres this season, but is 9-4 at home for the year.
• Spot Starts: Garrett Olson, Scott Olsen, Scott Baker, and Jesse Litsch.

Back as the need arises.