Daily Notes: Giants match up well against Oswalt
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Johan Santana, LHP (4-3) versus Fausto Carmona, RHP (4-1)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: It's not yet June, so Santana is going to be hittable a little while longer. That's anecdotal, of course, but he does seem to take a couple of months to get into the season. Jason Michaels and Jhonny Peralta should be nowhere near your starting lineup, but don't be afraid to start the big-name Indians like Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez. Carmona suffocated the Twins with groundballs last time out and could do so again. Start your Twins, especially Jason Kubel.
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Matt DeSalvo, RHP (1-0) versus Jon Garland, RHP (2-2)
Notable Injuries: Jason Giambi, 1B (foot, DTD)
Game Story: DeSalvo has pitched well so far, but his only stranglehold has been on the Mariners. Plus, he's had more fly outs than ground outs, and has a 2/6 K/BB ratio. All of that says "stay away" to me. It also says to start your healthy White Sox. The current Yankees are all over the board against Garland, but hey, you'd still start Derek Jeter even if I told you he had a .211 average against Garland. You should sit Josh Phelps (0-for-12, 5 K's) as the Yankees are likely to as well. And if you're in some type of daily home run league, Bobby Abreu is your man (5-for-7, 3 HRs).
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Scott Elarton, RHP (0-0) versus Dallas Braden, LHP (1-2)
Notable Injuries: Huston Street, RP (elbow, DL)
Game Story: Scott Elarton? Really? Start all of you're A's, except Shannon Stewart. Those of you that own Oakland starters are about to learn how important it is to have a reliable bullpen. Wins aren't awarded until after the last pitch, not when the starter leaves. Don't expect too many W's for your A's starters. Braden should pitch well against a Royals team that can't hit lefties, but he hasn't gotten out of the fifth inning in his last two starts. Sit your Royals except for Esteban German, Mark Teahen, David DeJesus and John Buck.
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Game 1: Mike Maroth, LHP (3-0) versus Julian Tavarez, RHP (1-4)
Game 2: Chad Durbin, RHP (3-1) versus Curt Schilling, RHP (4-1)
Notable Injuries: J.D. Drew, OF (back, DTD); Placido Polanco, 2B (back, day-to-day)
Game Story: The Tigers are a perfect 7-0 in Maroth's seven starts this season, but of all the matchups in which the streak could end, an assignment in Boston is as good a bet as any. He's 0-4 with an 8.02 ERA in four career starts at Fenway, and current Red Sox are a combined 34-for-109 (.312) with six homers against him. Jason Varitek (10-for-16, .625, 3 HRs) positively owns Maroth, whose 1.71 WHIP says sit him here. As for Durbin, the Red Sox haven't seen much of him, so in the end, your best bet is to start every Boston player you have, with the possible exception of Eric Hinske. Tavarez is a poor start as well. He has a 6.60 ERA and the Tigers score runs in bunches in their own right, so load up on Tigers, especially those who hit Tavarez: Sean Casey (6-for-17, .353, 1 HR) and Ivan Rodriguez (7-for-15, .467). That should help make up for having to face Schilling in the nightcap, as no Tiger outside of Casey (6-for-16) seems to know how to hit him.
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Kameron Loe, RHP (1-3) versus Scott Kazmir, LHP (2-2)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: I love Loe as a road warrior (2004-2006: 3.40 ERA away, 5.53 ERA home), but start your big-name Rays. Mark Teixeira and Sammy Sosa are a combined 9-for-12 with 1 HR against Kazmir. Start them and your other big Texas bats.
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Bartolo Colon, RHP (4-0) versus Jarrod Washburn, LHP (3-3)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: Colon is the rare pitcher whose ERA is too high for his WHIP (rare, unless you look at my NL-only keeper team where I'm tied for first in WHIP and am eighth in ERA). Since he's been more of a fly ball pitcher this year, expect him to have an easy time of it at Safeco. Sit your Mariners except Raul Ibanez, Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima. I continue to see Washburn on various waiver wires because of his low wins and strikeouts, but there aren't too many pitchers pitching better than he right now. The Angels are middle-of-the-pack against lefties, so play only big name ones.
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Chuck James, LHP (4-3) versus Matt Chico, LHP (2-4)
Notable Injuries: Chipper Jones, 3B (thumb, DTD)
Game Story: Speaking of teams hitting lefties, the Nationals can't. James has not been the force he was last year, but this is his third time facing the Nationals this season, and he's only given up three earned runs in 11 innings against them. The only Nationals to start are Felipe Lopez and Ronnie Belliard. Chico also has faced them two previous times, and in his outings he surrendered only 2 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings. Yes, he's both Chico and The Man. Start your big-name Braves, with the exception of Edgar Renteria, and keep any Braves relievers you have active in case there's a vulture win about.
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Angel Guzman, RHP (0-0) versus Jason Vargas, LHP (0-0)
Notable Injuries: Derrek Lee, 1B (neck, DTD); Mark DeRosa, 2B (finger, DTD); Moises Alou, OF (quadriceps, DTD)
Game Story: Guzman's 17/4 K/BB ratio looks inviting, and over time, he'll be a reliable starter. However, he has 12 major league starts under his belt, but no wins to show for it. He likely doesn't get his first against the Mets. Start all those guys from Queens. As for Vargas, this is the one that has gopheritis. Before you throw Shea Stadium in my face, remember he pitched for the Marlins the past two seasons. Ohhh, snap! The Cubs are in the middle hitting lefties for power and near the bottom for average. Start your healthy big-name Cubs (a list that shrinks daily).
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Ben Sheets, RHP (3-2) versus Freddy Garcia, RHP (1-2)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: Sheets is getting dangerously close to that innings total where we sit and wait for the report of the DL stint. Until then, ride him into the ground. The Phillies don't hit him well, with one notable exception: Pat Burrell (6-for-11, 1 HR). Start your big name Phillies. Garcia has a reasonable K/BB ratio, but has had trouble keeping the ball in the park at home. The Brewers lead the league in home runs, with 52. Fuel + Oxygen + Heat = Kablooey! Start all of your Brewers, including Tony Graffanino.
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Livan Hernandez, RHP (3-2) versus Josh Fogg, RHP (1-4)
Notable Injuries: Chad Tracy, 3B (ribs, DTD)
Game Story: Hernandez has given up three or less earned runs in six of his eight starts. However, he gave up 15 in those other two starts. The Rockies hit Hernandez like he said something about their mothers. Start all of them with the possible exception of Troy Tulowitzki (0-for-6, 3 K's). If you ever hear of Fogg getting traded to a pitcher's park, pick him up. Until then, keep in mind these two numbers: 8.03 and 4.45. Those are his home and away ERAs, respectively, this year. Start all of your Diamondbacks unless they are first basemen, and make sure to start Carlos Quentin.
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Ricky Nolasco, RHP (1-1) versus Tony Armas, RHP (0-3)
Notable Injuries: Mike Jacobs, 1B (thumb, DTD); Jose Bautista, 3B (ankle, DTD)
Game Story: Consider this the battle of the curtain calls. Both pitchers are likely heading out of their starting rotations very soon. The Pirates have limited at-bats against Nolasco, but start them all regardless. As for Armas, the Marlins know him well, and well, I'd be surprised if he sees the end of the fourth inning. Start all of your Marlins, especially Aaron Boone (3-for-6, 2 HRs), who is quietly not terrible this year.
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Tim Lincecum, RHP (1-0) versus Roy Oswalt, RHP (6-2)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: Tim Lincecum wlll experience the usual rookie ups and downs, so be ready to absorb outings like his first one, but don't write him off. The Astros aren't especially good against righties, but they have some hot hitters right now. I'd likely sit Lincecum for this one and start my power-hitting Astros (um, not you, Morgan Ensberg). Before you sit your Giants, realize there are four starters with at least 11 at-bats who are hitting .400 off of Oswalt and that doesn't include Barry Bonds' insane 4-for-4 with 1 home run (3.500 OPS, thank you). Start those five Giants (along with Bonds, include Randy Winn, Pedro Feliz, Ray Durham and Rich Aurilia) and let Mark Sweeney sit this one out.
Jason Kubel, OF, MIN @ Cleveland Indians
Esteban German, 2B/3B/OF, KC @ Oakland A's
John Buck, C, KC @ Oakland A's
Pat Burrell, OF, PHI versus Milwaukee Brewers
Tony Graffanino, IF, MIL @ Philadelphia Phillies
Carlos Quentin, OF, ARI @ Colorado Rockies
Aaron Boone, 3B, FLA @ Pittsburgh Pirates
Pedro Feliz, 3B, SF @ Houston Astros
Rich Aurilia, 1B, SF @ Houston Astros
Randy Winn, OF, SF @ Houston Astros
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
