FanHouse MaicerIzturis

A lot of stories are coming out of the American League Championship Series this year. Alex Rodriguez has shunned his one major downside -- an inability to deliver in the clutch -- to destroy everything in his path. Joba Chamberlain is pitching out of the bullpen for fear that his presence will summon a collection of animals that will be the Yankees' downfall. And, most importantly, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are turning into Mr. Bean every time the game is on the line.

Tonight we switch gears and spotlight the OTHER championship series going on between the Angels and Yankees. Tonight's Dugout is after the jump.

NEW YORK -- Of course it would end this way, in such classic, expected fashion. What, you didn't have Jerry Hairston Jr. scoring the winning run for the Yankees in the bottom of the 13th inning, after the Angel infield completely lost its heads? Join the club with millions of other baseball fans who watched Saturday's American League Championship Series melt into Sunday morning, and still aren't sure how and why this astonishing Game 2 concluded as it did.

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Just this week there were two enormous injuries in the world of fantasy baseball: Alfonso Soriano and Albert Pujols. There were also significant returns in Jake Peavy and Matt Holliday. Those are four elite echelon players changing places in the span of only a three days.

They weren't alone. All around the league players are dropping like flies while also returning. It's been an onslaught. For the value machine, it actually makes sense at this point in the season. Sure, players are bound to get hot and cold, but for the most part we are approaching the dog days of summer ... most movement in fantasy leagues will be triggered by injuries.

We've covered Pujols, Soriano, Holliday, and Peavy already this week here on Fantasy FanHouse. Obviously the former two would have an evil next to their respective names while the latter two would have the nice, reassuring residing next to theirs. Here are the most notable of the rest:

Vernon Wells -- Returned Saturday to the Jays' lineup and announced his presence with authority on Sunday (3-4, HR). He stormed out of the gates this year, but he is a pretty inconsistent performer. Studly in 2003 and 2006 while disappointing owners in the other seasons of his career. Sell high time, as far as I'm concerned.

Man, there's something about being the top team in the AL West that makes a team have to use it's disabled list a lot more often. I already went over the Athletics' problems with keeping people healthy yesterday, but the injury bug isn't limited to Oakland's city limits.

Nope, it's made it's way down to southern California as well. Invading Anaheim, Orange County, Long Beach, Compton, Los Angeles, and whatever else the Angels are putting in their name these days. After already being without Chone Figgins and Howie Kendrick, it looks as though the Halos are going to have to add Erick Aybar to the disabled list as well.

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar left Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning after dislocating his right pinky while fielding a ground ball.

X-rays on Aybar's hand were negative, but he will visit a specialist on Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage.

The Angels finished the game by moving Maicer Izturis over from third to short, and putting Robb Quinlan at third. They're going to await the results of Erick's trip to the specialist today before making any move official, but I'm guessing that if Aybar has to go on the disabled list, that the Angels will call up Brandon Wood to take his spot on the roster.

Cheap Yard Work helps fantasy owners to lock their lineups weekly by providing lesser owned options who are recently raking.

Jayson Werth
Last seven days: .348/.400/.813, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 10 R

Do I believe? Not particularly, but mainly because Shane Victorino will get the gig back once he returns. In the meantime though, Werth is a pretty ... werth-y ... start for larger fantasy leagues, especially if you want an upside riddled short term answer in the outfield.

Fred Lewis
Last seven days: .400/.456/.733, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 10 R

I believe more in Lewis, because I think he holds onto the job with Dave Roberts out, and even if he comes back -- what do they Giants have to lose by turning to youth? But the one swipe is a little disconcerting, and obviously expecting a .400 batting average pace is just naive. Still, definitely a nice option for this week.

Kazuo Matsui
Last seven days: .345/.345/..482, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB, 8 R

Who doesn't need a starting second baseman? And it seems like Matsui is finally at a point where he can produce sans the fear of expectations. Oh, no, wait. That was last year. So he should be fine if he can stay healthy. He's not a total monster at the position but he did steal 32 bases last year, so it's hard to complain too much when he's cheap/free.

Maicer Izturis
Last seven days: .316/.412/.474, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 3 SB, 5 R

Maicer makes the list just because of the three swipes. And because he's getting on base over 40% of the time. And because he's generally eligible at second, third, maybe short, CI, MI ... basically everything that you could possibly need if you've got someone injured this week (like Yunel Escobar or something). Izturis is still batting below the Mendoza line though, so there's not a high chance he's owned.