Happy deadline day, folks! Here's my fantasy-related assessment of the George Sherrill deal; the Orioles seem to have confirmed that Jim Johnson will get the first shot at closing.

If and when other trades happen before today's 4 p.m. ET deadline, check our main fantasy baseball page for the fantasy-related implications. I have a feeling I'll be writing a Roy Halladay-to-the-Yankees item this afternoon.

FRIDAY

First pitch: 7:05s all around. Here's the full schedule.

Pitcher to start: Baltimore's Brad Bergesen pitched another terrific game yesterday, raising our record to 62-65 for the season.

Unfortunately, Bergesen got hit in the shin by a Billy Butler line drive on his last pitch of the seventh inning. X-rays were negative, but Bergesen suspects he might have a hairline fracture. We'll know more in the next day or two, but make plans to be without the O's rookie for at least a start. 

Tonight, let's go with Toronto's Scott Richmond (20.7 percent owned) against the A's. Richmond returns from the DL tonight, and it's hard for a pitcher to get a better road matchup.

SATURDAY

First pitch: There are three 4:10 starts on FOX - Yankees-White Sox, Royals-Rays and Dodgers-Braves.

Pitcher to start: Have you been paying attention to Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann (15.3 percent owned)? He's got a 3.22 ERA over his last 10 starts.

SUNDAY

First pitch: The Tigers and Indians start the AL action at 1:05, while a pair of NL games begin five minutes later.

Pitcher to start: You think Niemann's been good lately? Kansas City's Brian Bannister (24.3 percent owned) has a 2.89 ERA over his last 10 starts. I don't love that he's facing the Rays on the road, but I still think he's the best option.

On to the news:

• At this point, all sources report a big fat maybe on whether Roy Oswalt will make his Sunday start for the Astros. If Oswalt can't go, rookie Bud Norris will make his first major-league start. If you're setting lineups, plan to be without Oswalt unless you hear otherwise.
• In case Red Sox fans missed it, here's the story on the David Ortiz/Manny Ramirez positive PED tests in 2003. Interesting that Ortiz used the "I didn't know I did it" defense. I wish someone would be original in one of these cases.
• Phillies OF Shane Victorino is day-to-day with a bruised knee, so you might want to bench him until further notice. Also, new acquisition Cliff Lee starts tonight.
• Sean McAdam has a nice column here about the fallout in Boston from the positive test reports. How many references to this issue do you think I can include today? It puts a little smile on my face every time, so I'll make sure to try again.
• Both Braves' middle infielders were injured last night. SS Yunel Escobar (shin) is expected to miss two or three days, while 2B Martin Prado (shin) hopes to play tonight, but don't count on it.
• Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan might miss the entire weekend after fouling a ball off his ankle last night. The story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says that Ryan's ankle "swelled grotesquely" before he got back to the dugout. That's a good word.
• Were you hoping for D'backs co-ace Brandon Webb to return in September? Forget it.
• The headline on the back page of today's New York Daily News is BOSTON CHEAT PARTY. Not exactly clever, but effective. I love when some of these local papers try to cover stories like fans. I know I do the same thing, but at least I don't pretend to be objective.
• The Yankees are facing three lefties this weekend, so they might promote OF/DH Shelley Duncan to do ... something besides start for your fantasy team.
• By the way, the Pirates made another trade yesterday, dealing setup man John Grabow to the Cubs in a five-player deal filled with players of little fantasy value. The Pirates now have six players remaining on their active roster, so Paul Maholm will pitch all three games this weekend, and the duo of Andrew McCutchen and Lastings Milledge will cover all three outfield positions. OK, I'm kidding.
• See you in 2010, Joel Zumaya.
• This horrendous outing got Russ Ortiz waived immediately after yesterday's game by the Astros. On the bright side, Russ' name wasn't leaked in any drug test reports yesterday, like some other Ortizes we know.
• Brewers 3B Bill Hall's long fall continues, as he'll now try to fix his swing in the minors. Teammate Jeff Suppan is on the DL with the very popular strained oblique.
• Looking for speed in an AL-only league? This article says that Josh Anderson is about to become the Royals' starting center fielder, though the GM and manager stopped short of that assessment on the team's Web site. If Anderson does start on most days, it means that Willie Bloomquist will return to his utility role.
• Today's Hot Streak pick is for Russell Branyan to hit a home run off Vicente Padilla. If you can't pick against a pitcher with swine flu, why play at all? Make your pick now!

That's all for now. Today's trade news can be found right here, where you'll be in the very capable and diligent hands of Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi. Enjoy!