News: The North County Times reports Padres starting pitcher Cory Luebke has a partially torn UCL in his pitching elbow. However, Luebke is deciding whether or not to rehab the injury for six weeks and then continuing to pitch or opt for surgery. Analysis: It seems if Luebke has surgery, then Tommy John is the likely option to fix his elbow. That would put him out a calendar year and he would likely miss the start of the 2013 season. If he rehabs, then he's got a chance to return in 2012, but the potential for a setback is still there. Clearly, stash Luebke in Fantasy at your own risk.

News: MLB.com reports Tigers closer Jose Valverde is listed as day to day with a lower back strain. Joaquin Benoit is considered the likely closer unless matchups dictate otherwise. Valverde says he expects to be ready to pitch this weekend in the series against the Pirates. Analysis: Valverde injured his back during his Tuesday outing. It seems it's not a DL situation just yet, but we will keep you posted on Valverde's status in the coming days. Valverde is off to a shaky start this season and a big part of his problem is that he's not getting hitters to miss at the pace he has in the past. Batters are swinging and missing on just 8.5 percent of Valverde's offerings, which is a career low. Batters are also making contact at 80.4 percent, which is also a career high. Valverde isn't on the verge of losing his job, but he's not as strong of a Fantasy option if these trends continue.

News: Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie was in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees a day after getting ejected from Tuesday's game against the Rays for arguing strikes. Lawrie got into a heated exchange with umpire Bill Miller and accidentally hit Miller with his helmet after throwing it at the ground in anger. MLB announced Wednesday that Lawrie was suspended four games, but he is appealing. Analysis: The good news is that Lawrie isn't looking at a long suspension. We will keep you posted about his appeal, but for now you can keep him active in all Fantasy formats. Lawrie is batting .324 in his last 10 games. When Lawrie sits, then Edwin Encarnacion will probably see the bulk of starts at third base.

News: ESPN analyst Buster Olney told WEEI that the Red Sox might have to look into trading third baseman Kevin Youkilis to clear everyday at-bats for Will Middlebrooks. “I’ve talked with a number of executives at other teams this week, because this looks like it’s headed down that path,” Olney said. “Unless there’s an injury to a David Ortiz or to an Adrian Gonzalez, eventually you’re going to have a situation when the Red Sox, who are presumably going to want to find a way to keep Middlebrooks in the big leagues, they’re going to have to figure out what to do with Youkilis.” Olney added that other general managers have said Youkilis will need to put together at least three productive weeks once he returns to gauge his trade value. “They think then, that’s when you can get a little something in return,” Olney said. “Not great, they’re not going to get a Grade A prospect, they’re probably not even going to get a Grade A-minus prospect because of the amount of money owed to him. But there’s clearly a lot of places where he could land. The Dodgers, I think are in an evaluation period now with their first baseman James Loney, because he’s gotten off to a terrible start. … I think the Chicago White Sox potentially are a fit for Youkilis as a third baseman, and potentially in his hometown of Cincinnati would be a great fit for him because they need a right-handed hitter who can play third base especially now that Scott Rolen’s career might be over.” Analysis: Can you really be shocked that Youkilis trade talk has surfaced with the emergence of Middlebrooks, who is slated to be demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket once Youkilis comes off the DL? Youkilis, who is rehabbing a back injury, will begin a rehab assignment with Pawtucket on Wednesday. If all goes according to plan, then he's expected to be activated early in Fantasy Week 8 (May 21-27). Youkilis is off to a slow start this season, but if he returns to form once healthy, then Boston could look to trade him to clear at-bats for Middlebrooks. Don't forget that Boston holds a $13 million option on Youkilis for the 2013 season. He has a $1 million buyout as well. For the immediate future, however, Youkilis will play regularly once he's activated. It's just that he's more of a low-end Fantasy starter until his numbers start to rise.

News: The Phillies scratched starting pitcher Vance Worley from his Wednesday start on Tuesday because of right elbow inflammation. On Wednesday, the Phillies went even further by putting Worley on the 15-day DL. Joe Savery was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Worley's roster spot and Kyle Kendrick will replace Worley in the rotation, starting Wednesday against the Cubs. Analysis: We were hoping Worley wouldn't need a DL stint, but you can't really be surprised by this move. With pitchers needing elbow surgery left and right these days, the Phillies being cautious with Worley is the right move. Worley is striking out a career-high 9.2 batters per nine innings in 2012 and continues to be a viable Fantasy start when healthy. Some potential replacements while Worley is out include Carlos Zambrano (owned 77 percent of leagues), Edinson Volquez (73 percent), Bud Norris (70 percent), Wei-Yin Chen (48 percent), Christian Friedrich (41 percent), Derek Lowe (44 percent) and Henderson Alvarez (59 percent).

News: Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp received a PRP injection on Tuesday, reports the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. Kemp, who is on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, may be asked by manager Don Mattingly to play in at least one minor league rehab assignment game before returning to the Dodgers when eligible. Analysis: Kemp doesn't want to stay on the shelf any longer than he has to considering Monday marked the first game he has missed since Aug. 18, 2009. Still, if Mattingly says he needs a rehab assignment, he'll get one. Kemp needs to rest and get back to his usual self once healthy. He is off to another MVP-caliber season this year with 12 homers and a .359 batting average, but should be reserved in all Fantasy formats for now.

News: Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (wrist) was activated from the 15-day DL prior to Wednesday's game against the Tigers. He was immediately put into the starting lineup at first base. Chris Parmelee was optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday to clear a roster spot. Analysis: Morneau will continue to bounce between first base and DH in an attempt to keep him off the DL. Morneau is not back to being an elite offensive player yet, but you know the potential is there. Consider him a low-end Fantasy starter until he goes on an offensive tear.

News: Tampa Bay has acquired outfielder Rich Thompson from the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league outfielder Kyle Hudson, reports CSNPhilly.com. Analysis: The 25-year-old Hudson has been playing at Triple-A Durham in the Tampa Bay organization and was batting .291. Hudson provides Philadelphia with some youthful outfield depth, but has low-end Fantasy value at this time.

News: Tampa Bay has acquired outfielder Rich Thompson from the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league outfielder Kyle Hudson, reports CSNPhilly.com. Analysis: Thompson is likely to report to Triple-A Durham, at least at first, as he could see time on the Rays' bench at some point. The 33-year-old was batting .307 this year with Philadelphia's Triple-A club Lehigh Valley. Thompson has low-end Fantasy value at this time.

News: Boston relief pitcher Rich Hill became the latest Red Sox pitcher to get hit by a batted ball during batting practice on Wednesday, reports ESPN.com. Hill was hit in the left arm by a fly ball but immediately signaled that he was OK as he was walking off the field. Felix Doubront was hit in batting practice on Tuesday. Analysis: Hill said he was fine and should be going forward. He's been solid this year for Boston with a 1.17 ERA over 7 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts. Hill is in a middle relief role for the Red Sox and has just low-end Fantasy value for leagues that care about middle men.