Veteran Scott Feldman replaces Cliff Lee (ailing back), and Dillon Gee fills in for the injured Johan Santana (pectoral muscle). Carlos Silva and Brian Bannister are both coming off DL stints, and Washington is trying out Cuban-born righty Yunesky Maya to replace the ineffective Scott Olsen. Below we figure out which of these Daily Notes newcomers is worthy of a spot on your fantasy squad.

SOURCE: ESPN

But other than Latos, Roy Oswalt and Ubaldo Jimenez, there is a lot of uncertainty about how the 29 other starters (it’s a full slate, plus one doubleheader Monday) will fare on the holiday docket. I will try to make your decisions less painful below.

SOURCE: ESPN

This weekend, more news came out about the growing feud between Colby Rasmus and Tony La Russa. La Russa has talked openly with the press about his thoughts about the shortcomings in his game – he’s mentioned going the other way as well as nebulous things like ‘playing the game right’ – which doesn’t seem like the best way to train a young player. He also told the media that Rasmus had requested a trade this year as well as last year, but Rasmus disputes the notion.

So we are left with an exciting young center fielder that has played up-and-down defense but also has shown great power and some good plate discipline, rubbing up against one of the most established managers in the game. La Russa has had these kinds of conflicts with players before, and yet we don’t really know how much Rasmus needs this kind of guidance.

SOURCE: ROTOWORLD

The early portion of the week includes several “last-ditch series,” games between playoff hopefuls where the team trailing in the standings is effectively in a must-win situation. The American League wild card-leading — and within 1½ games of the East lead — Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox tangle for three games at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox in the must-win situation being 6½ games behind the Rays. The National League Central-leading Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies play three at Coors Field, with the Rockies 6½ games in back of the wild card-leading Phillies and 7½ games back in the West. And the NL West-leading San Diego Padres host the Los Angeles Dodgers for three, with the Dodgers trailing their division rivals by nine games in the standings.

With rosters now expanded to as many as 40 players and teams beginning to consider shutting down their young starters bumping up against innings caps, expect rotations to be in a bit more flux than usual. Remember that the Forecaster only projects rotations for the upcoming weeks, rather than provides you with a guarantee, and you should be prepared for the occasional midweek shuffling; the Texas Rangers‘ recent bumping back of Cliff Lee is a prime example.

SOURCE: ESPN

SOURCE: ESPN

Just ask CC Sabathia a little about that. Since 2005, no pitcher with 100-plus innings pitched in the regular season after Sept. 1 has a lower ERA than his 2.27 in the season’s final month, his 16-win tally is tied for first, his 1.03 WHIP ranks second and his 195 strikeouts places third. Sabathia also holds one other remarkable distinction: He’s the only pitcher to have made five or more regular-season starts after that date in each of the past five seasons while maintaining a sub-4.00 ERA in the season’s final month.

SOURCE: ESPN

That date, naturally, has significance in baseball because it’s the day rosters expand to 40 players, not to mention the day after postseason rosters officially lock, meaning no more trades/waiver moves for players who will be playoff-eligible. It’s a good thing Manny Ramirez changed teams when he did; 48 hours later and he’d be sitting on the Chicago White Sox bench in October if his team reaches the playoffs!

SOURCE: ESPN

SOURCE: ESPN