%$#@! - no Kevin Love for the Bobcats. Just another really short point guard and a big French guy who averaged five points a game last year. Yawn.

FRIDAY

First pitch: The Mets and Yankees start their doubleheader at 2:05 p.m. ET. Here's the full schedule.

Pitcher to start: So much for taking a shot with Josh Banks. Tonight, let's go with Twins control freak Nick Blackburn (5.3 percent owned) against the Brew Crew. I need a turnaround - I feel like I've been playing blackjack all week and getting nothing but 12s and 13s.

SATURDAY

First pitch: The Braves and Jays start the interleague action at 1:07. Later on, the FOX scehdule features Cubs-White Sox and Yankees-Mets at 3:55.

Pitcher to start: There aren't really a lot of options, so I'll go with my man John Lannan (2.9 percent owned) against the Orioles. Is it a bad sign than between Lannan and Jason Bergmann, I pick two Nats pitchers a LOT?

SUNDAY

First pitch: Reds-Indians and Rockies-Tigers both get underway at 1:05.

Pitcher to start: We'll conclude a weekend of my personal favorites with Minnesota's Kevin Slowey (2.6 percent owned).

On to the news:

• Fantasy MVP candidate Josh Hamilton left last night's game in the first inning after being hit in the left hand by a pitch. X-rays were negative and his status is day-to-day, but his hand was apparently pretty swollen so his chances of playing tonight don't sound promising (that's just a gut feeling based on what I read). If you own Hamilton, you can exhale now.
• I'm not surprised that Oakland's Rich Harden continues to dominate when he pitches. I am surprised that I'm still seeing him in boxscores instead of on injury lists with words like "oblique" or "lat" next to his name. He can't possibly last all year without an extended trip to the DL, right? Right?
• Speaking of dominant starts, Tampa Bay's Matt Garza was awesome yesterday. People seem to be noticing - he's now owned in 13.2 percent of leagues around here, and I'm proud to say I'm still driving the Garza train. All aboard!
• Let's see how Albert Pujols did after two weeks off. Hmm ... 4-for-4 with a walk and an RBI ... sounds about right.
• Speaking of the Cardinals, as of this morning Mark Mulder was listed as Saturday's probable starter on MLB.com, but that's not going to happen.
• The Pirates put starter Ian Snell on the DL with elbow inflammation. This sounds more like a rest thing than a possible surgery thing.
• Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome (calf) missed his second straight game last night, and his status for today is uncertain.
• If you want a Dodger startter, you'll have plenty of opportunities to get one when they go to a six-man rotation.
• Jerry Hairston was back in the Reds' leadoff spot last night after a DL stint. He played shortstop, Jeff Keppinger played third base, and Edwin Encarnacion missed a third consecutive game with back spasms. There's no news on when he'll return.
• All systems are go for Carlos Pena's return to the Rays' lineup tonight.
• The long nightmare in our nation's capital is finally about to end: Odalis Perez starts tomorrow for the Nats after spending three weeks on the DL.
• Ever have one of those young guys who keeps falling short of expectations, and you want to pick him up every time you see him return to the majors? Fernando Cabrera is one of those guys for me, and he's back with the Orioles. I'm trying to construct a logical scenario by which he can replace George Sherrill as the closer soon, but I haven't come up with one yet.
• Can't win 'em all, Edinson Volquez. Someone pointed out that I've written about Volquez twice recently - once as a "sell high" candidate, and the other time as someone I thought would continue to pitch well. If it makes sense, I stand by both. I think Volquez can be a good pitcher in the second half, but if you can find someone who will give you Johan-type value for him in a deal, you'd have to take it. If that sounds stupid, let me know.

Have a great weekend, folks.