Daily Notes: More Weather Issues
Ervin Santana, RHP (1-1) versus Josh Beckett, RHP (2-0)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: This game has been postponed due to weather.
Jose Contreras, RHP (1-1) versus C.C. Sabathia, LHP (2-0)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: Bad weather may delay or prevent this game from being played. The last time Contreras faced the Indians, he gave up seven earned runs in one inning. The good news is that Grady Sizemore is the only Indian that can hit home runs off of Contreras. The bad news is they can all hit him. However, his record at Jacobs Field is good, so start your Indians, but don't expect another rout. The White Sox hitters do not hit Sabathia well, but two to key on are Pablo Ozuna, who likely gets a start, and Darin Erstad.
Nate Robertson, LHP (2-0) versus Josh Towers, RHP (0-1)
Notable Injuries: B.J. Ryan, RP (elbow, DL); Reed Johnson, OF (back, DL); Troy Glaus, 3B (heel, DTD)
Game Story: Robertson has gotten off to a great start -- including a win against the Blue Jays -- and pitches well at Rogers Centre. However, some Blue Jays batters hit him well, including the hotter-than-fire Aaron Hill, as well as Royce Clayton. If you have room, pick up Adam Lind, who will play for Reed Johnson. Towers is that rare breed of pitcher not playing for the Rockies that pitches better away than at home. With Robertson striking out Blue Jays all afternoon, Towers will feel the need to be perfect. Anyone ever seen Towers perfect? Play your Tigers.
Zack Greinke, RHP (1-1) versus Jeremy Guthrie, RHP (0-0)
Notable Injuries: Ramon Hernandez, C (ribs, DL)
Game Story: This game has been postponed due to weather.
Jae Seo, RHP (0-1) versus Boof Bonser, RHP (0-1)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: Tampa's pitcher has good numbers against the Twins, but my reaction is, "Seo what?" Sure his first two assignments were tough (at Yankee Stadium and at Rangers Ballpark), but I'm not expecting much from Seo this year. He pitches well on the road, but terribly in domes. Start your Twins. As for Bonser, this is the make-or-break game that either confirms his March numbers or reveals that he just had a hot spring. I'm presuming he shuts them down, and you should sit fringe Tampa players like Ty Wigginton.
Andy Pettitte, LHP (1-0) versus Rich Harden, RHP (1-1)
Notable Injuries: Milton Bradley, OF (hamstring, DTD)
Game Story: What Pettitte did to the Twins in his last start was masterful, inducing 14 ground balls against only two fly balls. He should own the A's on Sunday, but Shannon Stewart is a definite start (.444 BA, 1 HR against Pettitte). No matter what I say, you're going to start your Yankees, but keep in mind Derek Jeter is the only non-DL superstar on the team that hits Harden well. This game could easily be a low-scoring pitchers' duel. The winner? It's April and not the postseason. That means this is the A's game to win. Ask me again in October.
Brandon McCarthy, RHP (1-1) versus Horacio Ramirez, LHP (0-0)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: The book on McCarthy against the Mariners has limited data, so no meaningful prediction can be made. However, in his first two games he lost to the Angels but beat the Devil Rays. Since Seattle is more like the Rays than the Angels, McCarthy has a decent chance Sunday. Ramirez can thank his manager's slow gait that he doesn't have a loss already, but there will be no snow-out at Safeco Field. In a limited number of at-bats, Rangers batters have hit lefties for both average and power. Consider using Brad Wilkerson, who loves lefties, including Ramirez.
Scott Olsen, LHP (2-0) versus Tim Hudson, RHP (1-0)
Notable Injuries: Alejandro De Aza, OF (ankle, DTD)
Game Story: (Updated Sunday, 11:15 a.m. ET) Olsen will make up his rained-out start today, bumping Anibal Sanchez, who had been scheduled to pitch. The advice given yesterday stands; Olsen has been all over the place in his two previous starts (nine walks, five strikeouts), and Atlanta's core lineup is strong enough that it is likely asking too much to spot start Olsen here. As for the Marlins' batters, you probably don't want to play anyone but Miguel Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez, given the way Hudson has been pitching.
Matt Chico, LHP (0-1) versus John Maine, RHP (1-0)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: This game has been postponed due to weather.
Wandy Rodriguez, RHP (0-1) versus Freddy Garcia, RHP (0-0)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: This game has been postponed due to weather.
Barry Zito, LHP (0-2) versus Ian Snell, RHP (0-1)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: This game, as well as the second-half of the doubleheader, has been postponed due to weather.
Jeff Suppan, RHP (0-2) versus Braden Looper, RHP (1-1)
Notable Injuries: Scott Rolen, 3B (back, DTD)
Game Story: Suppan returns to Busch Stadium after cashing in on his postseason success through free agency. Couple Suppan being away from Dave Duncan with a team that watched him pitch a lot last year, and it's looking like souvenir day in the outfield stands. Start all of your Cardinals, and pick up Scott Spiezio (6-for-26 against Suppan) and David Eckstein (6-for-11). The Brewers' hitters have seen Looper only as a reliever, but even in those at-bats they've batted .328 against him, but with no homers. Expect this to be the game Looper falls back to earth. Start all Brewers.
Kyle Lohse, RHP (0-0) versus Ted Lilly, LHP (1-0)
Notable Injuries: Alex Gonzalez, SS (bereavement leave); Aramis Ramirez, 3B (wrist, DTD)
Game Story: The good news for Lohse is Aramis Ramirez probably doesn't play. The bad news is the rest of the Cubs do, and they looooove Lohse. They lost to him once this year, but likely won't lose twice. If Cliff Floyd (3-for-5, 1 HR and 2 2B versus Lohse) is available, get him. Also, get Ryan Theriot for cheap steals. The Reds have not batted well against lefties this year, and likely continue this trend. However, one Cincinnati player to pick up is Jeff Conine (.304 BA, 2 HR in 23 at-bats vs. Lilly). Conine isn't a power threat, but it's nice to be surprised.
Rodrigo Lopez, RHP (1-0) versus Doug Davis, LHP (0-1)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: We're all waiting for the real Lopez to appear, but truth be known, some pitchers just pitch well in a different league (isn't that right, Bronson Arroyo?). The Diamondbacks with AL experience -- Orlando Hudson and Eric Byrnes -- hit Lopez well, but we'll see if that translates to the NL. Assume Lopez keeps the D-Backs in check on Sunday, and if he does, think seriously about picking him up. Willy Taveras has a great track record against Doug Davis, but if Davis can keep the walks down, the game could be low-scoring.
Chris Young, RHP (1-0) versus Randy Wolf, LHP (1-1)
Notable Injuries: Josh Bard, C (groin, DL)
Game Story: So far this year, Young has only pitched against the Giants, so it's hard to translate that into how he'll do against a major league team. Young's problem has been efficiency, with his first game this year -- a sixth-inning exit -- being more the norm than his second game (seven innings). However, L.A. does hit him well, and you should stay away from any middle-tier Dodgers. It's sad when someone comes between two brothers, but Marcus Giles hits Wolf very well, while Brian Giles does not. A nice pickup is Jose Cruz Jr., who should start (6-for-12 against Wolf).
*Pablo Ozuna, 2B, CWS @ Cleveland Indians
Aaron Hill, 2B/SS, TOR versus Detroit Tigers
Shannon Stewart, OF, OAK versus New York Yankees
Brad Wilkerson, OF, TEX @ Seattle Mariners
Brandon McCarthy, SP, TEX @ Seattle Mariners
David Eckstein, SS, STL versus Milwaukee Brewers
Cliff Floyd, OF, CHC versus Cincinnati Reds
Jeff Conine, 1B/OF, CIN @ Chicago Cubs
Rodrigo Lopez, SP, COL @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Jose Cruz, Jr., LAD versus San Diego Padres
*Game most likely affected by precipitation
Please Note that the notable injuries are not meant to be a comprehensive report of each team's disabled list. For brevity, we include only day-to-day injuries or new DL additions for players you might otherwise consider using in these games. Long-term DL or day-to-day injuries to starting pitchers who were not scheduled to appear are omitted.
David Young is a fantasy baseball analyst for ESPN.com and TalentedMrRoto.com. He can be reached at MrSnappy@TalentedMrRoto.com
