Daily Notes: End of Rivalry Weekend
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Aaron Harang, RHP (5-1, 4.42 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) versus
Paul Byrd, RHP (3-1, 3.49 ERA, 1.24 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: The Battle for Ohio. Yeah, I'm not too excited about it either, but it makes the locals happy. Harang has pitched well against the current Indians, with the exception of Grady Sizemore (4-for-10). In addition to Sizemore, play the bigger name Indians. Byrd has seen a lot of the current Reds during his tenure in the NL, and those that have seen him, hit him. Make sure to start your Reds, and in particular, Jeff Conine (6-for-14, 1 HR) and Ryan Freel (3-for-7).
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Brad Thompson, RHP (2-0, 4.03 ERA, 1.41 WHIP) versus
Justin Verlander, LHP (4-1, 2.76 ERA, 1.22 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: While Thompson has been serviceable this year, he faces the best power-hitting team against righties in the majors. Start all your Tigers with the possible exception of Marcus Thames, and don't get Thompson for a spot start. Verlander looked good in his last outing, and the Cards are rudderless right now. However, Verlander threw 120 pitches in his last outing -- the most pitches he's thrown this season. The game after he threw his second most (113), he only lasted three innings. Call it a hunch, but don't be afraid to start your Cardinals in this one.
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Sergio Mitre, RHP (1-2, 2.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) versus
James Shields, RHP (3-0, 3.13 ERA, .90 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: Mitre has pitched well this season and the Devil Rays -- who have not seen Mitre before -- are middle-of-the-pack against righties. Start the bigger name Devil Rays and add to that list Carlos Pena (28-for-82, 7 HRs versus righties). Against most pitchers I would say to pick up Mitre for a spot start win, but not against Shields. Actually, this could be the pitching matchup of the day. The Marlins had success against Shields the one time they saw him in 2006, but this is a tougher pitcher than he was a year ago. Start the big-name Marlins and add to that list -- gulp -- Aaron Boone.
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Tim Hudson, RHP (5-1, 1.77 ERA, .92 WHIP) versus
Kason Gabbard, LHP (0-0, N/A ERA, N/A WHIP)
Notable Injuries: J.D. Drew, OF (back, DTD)
Game Story: The current Red Sox have almost 150 at-bats against Hudson, so they know him. Their success has been mixed. In addition to the usual big names, start Jason Varitek (7-for-19, 1 HR) and make sure to sit Julio Lugo (0-for-10). Gabbard is getting the call to replace the blistered Josh Beckett, and looked decent in spring training. If he could get a few starts, he could possibly stick with the club, but Sunday's game is against a Braves team that doesn't fear lefties, especially 25-year-old ones from Pawtuckett. Start your Braves, including Matt Diaz.
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Derek Lowe, RHP (4-4, 3.90 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) versus
Kelvim Escobar, RHP (4-2, 3.35 ERA, 1.23 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: The Angels know Lowe from his days in Boston, but have not hit him well. Stick to the bigger name Angels. Over the last three years Escobar has pitched about the same at home as away, so there's no advantage there for him. In addition, the Dodgers have had some success against him. You definitely want to start Nomar Garciaparra (9-for-26, 2 HRs) and the bigger name Dodgers.
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Matt Morris, RHP (4-1, 3.27 ERA, 1.49 WHIP) versus
Joe Kennedy, LHP (1-2, 2.53 ERA, 1.24 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: Ray Durham, 2B (groin, DTD); Milton Bradley, OF (hip, DTD)
Game Story: Morris has been serving up the long ball this month, and as we saw on Friday night, the A's can hit home runs when they want. Start your Athletics. While I like Joe Kennedy overall this season, I hate him this Sunday. The Giants have seen him before and have hit him hard. Make sure to start Pedro Feliz (8-for-19, 1 HR), and Bengie Molina (4-for-15, 1 HR) but sit Omar Vizquel (1-for-17).
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Justin Germano, RHP (1-0, .69 ERA, .54 WHIP) versus
Felix Hernandez, RHP (2-1, 2.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: Pitchers like Germano are temptresses whose great starts either decay into mediocrity or lead fantasy teams to championships. I'll go out on a limb and say he's this year's Zach Duke or Chuck James (which means the latter). Pick him up for the long haul, and sit your Mariners not named Ichiro Suzuki, Raul Ibanez or Jose Vidro. Even though you should start Germano, don't expect a win against King Felix. If you sat all of your Padres, I wouldn't disagree. Okay, perhaps you start Adrian Gonzalez, but that's it.
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Erik Bedard, LHP (3-2, 4.67 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) versus
Micah Bowie, LHP (0-2, 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: Remember that interleague games played at National League parks are without designated hitters, so look at this weekend's lineups from Friday and Saturday to see who's sitting. Bedard is pitching much better lately. The Nationals are awful against lefties (and righties and ambidexterities and&). This one's simple: Sit your Nationals, but think about starting two players that have experience against Bedard in the American League, Dmitri Young and Ronnie Belliard. Bowie has pitched quite nicely this season and the Orioles are only average against lefties. Start the bigger name Orioles, including Corey Patterson, but sit Nick Markakis (.180 OBP versus lefties in 2007).
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Tomo Ohka, RHP (2-4, 5.52 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) versus
Adam Eaton, RHP (3-3, 6.42 ERA, 1.49 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: My impression of Eaton talking to Ohka: "Oh yeah, at least my WHIP's below 1.50!" Both pitchers are throwing batting practice this year and should give up a healthy amount of runs. Start all of your Phillies and Blue Jays, with the possible exception of Lyle Overbay (1-for-9 against Eaton).
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Ramon Ortiz, RHP (3-4, 4.89 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) versus
Claudio Vargas, RHP (3-0, 2.93 ERA, 1.35 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: Rickie Weeks, 2B (wrist, DTD)
Game Story: The Brewers know Ortiz well and most have had success against him. Start most of your Brewers -- especially Bill Hall and Geoff Jenkins -- but sit Kevin Mench (0-for-11) and Rickie Weeks, who may be sitting anyway. Note that J.J. Hardy is 0-for-7 against Ortiz, but there's no way I'd tell you to sit the league home run leader. Vargas has a 2.00 ERA this month and should continue his good pitching against the Twins. Only start the bigger name Twins.
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Brandon McCarthy, RHP (3-4, 6.51 ERA, 1.71 WHIP) versus
Woody Williams, RHP (1-5, 5.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: Hank Blalock, 3B (arm, DL); Jerry Hairston Jr., OF (shoulder, DTD)
Game Story: The Rangers are experiencing lots of injuries and worse, they're still trotting McCarthy out to the mound. Start all of your Astros, but expect Mike Lamb to start over Morgan Ensberg. Williams has pitched well in the past against the current healthy Rangers, but this isn't the same Williams. If the Florida matchup is the pitching game of the day, then the Texas one is likely the offensive explosion of the day. Start all batters, sit all pitchers.
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Jose Contreras, RHP (3-4, 3.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) versus
Carlos Zambrano, RHP (4-3, 5.13 ERA, 1.53 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: Joe Crede, 3B (face, DTD); Derrek Lee, 1B (neck, DTD)
Game Story: To give you an idea about Contreras' chance of success against the Cubs, keep in mind Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano are 5-for-11 against him, and all five hits are home runs. Sunday will not likely be Contreras' day. Start your Cubs except for Jacque Jones. This year is a battle of wits between myself and Zambrano. I know he's going to have a bad overall year, but each specific game I say he'll pitch badly, he doesn't. Bad, Carlos, bad. I'll go ahead and say this will be a tough game for Zambrano, and you should start the big-name White Sox plus Rob Mackowiak (10-for-30, 1 HR), but sit Joe Crede, Alex Cintron and Juan Uribe.
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Brian Bannister, RHP (0-2, 4.15 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) versus
Jason Hirsh, RHP (2-4, 3.99 ERA, 1.33 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: Even though the Rockies don't hit righties for power, this matchup is too good to pass up. Start your Rockies. Hirsh has given up a minimum of three runs in his last four games. He's a better pitcher than this, but he has to show me he can turn things around before I start recommending him. Start your big-name Royals, especially Mark Teahen.
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Tyler Clippard, RHP (0-0, N/A ERA, N/A WHIP) versus
John Maine, RHP (5-1, 2.15 ERA, 1.25 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: none
Game Story: This is supposed to be a one-shot deal for Clippard, but I like his skills … two years from now when he puts some muscle on his 6'4" frame. Right now he's averaging more than a strikeout an inning in Triple-A, and could have some success against a Mets team that like lefties more than righties. If you're looking for a Met to sit, think about Carlos Delgado. As for Maine, he's given up as many runs in his last two games as he did in the previous six, but the results have still been bearable for his owners. The Yankees hit righties very well, so this may be the dreaded "three-in-a-row" start that he has to absorb before getting back on track. Start your Yankees except Josh Phelps, who likely sits anyway.
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Randy Johnson, LHP (1-2, 4.80 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) versus
Paul Maholm, LHP (2-5, 5.67 ERA, 1.43 WHIP)
Notable Injuries: Chris Young, OF (groin, DTD); Scott Hairston, OF (wrist, DTD); Chad Tracy, 3b (ribs, DL); Jack Wilson, SS (shoulder, DTD)
Game Story: Johnson is about a month behind the rest of the league this season, so last week's Rockies start was his opening day. That doesn't bode well for the Pirates as they do not hit him well. Sit your Bucs, even the big-name ones. Maholm probably wishes the same were true of the Diamondbacks. In general Arizona has bad luck against lefties, but not with Maholm. Start your Diamondbacks except for Carlos Quentin.
Jeff Conine, 1B/OF, CIN @ Cleveland Indians
Aaron Boone, IF, FLA @ Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Carlos Pena, 1B, TB versus Florida Marlins
Pedro Feliz, 3B, SF @ Oakland A's
Justin Germano, SP, SD @ Seattle Mariners
Corey Patterson, OF, BAL @ Washington Nationals
Rob Mackowiak, OF, CWS @ Chicago Cubs
Mark Teahen, 3B, KC @ Colorado Rockies
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
