In today’s Fantasy baseball notes, we discuss Wily Mo Pena‘s chances for more PT and Alex Cora‘s value to the BoSox.

• Now that Trot Nixon has landed on the DL in Beantown, Wily Mo Pena finally has a chance to prove that the BoSox weren’t completely taken to the cleaners in the Bronson Arroyo to Cincy deal. Monday night, Pena gave the fans a glimpse by falling just a double short of the cycle. The book on him with the Reds was always “geez, what would this kid do with 500 at-bats?” Well, we’re not going to find out this year, but BoSox fans should quickly warm to this behemoth of a man who’s still just 24 and definitely has some 40-HR season waiting to emerge in that bat of his.
• Alex Cora has helped ensure there’s no defensive dropoff when Alex Gonzalez or Mark Loretta need a day off for Boston, and until recently he was actually hitting pretty well. But a current 2-for-15 skid is more of what we’ve come to expect from Cora, a sub-.250 hitter over his career. He brings some speed to the table, but is really only of use is very deep AL-only leagues.

Talk about help from a surprise source. Rusch had been shelled for 18 earned runs in 15 IP over his last five appearances before Sunday’s four-hit, two-run, two-walk, five-strikeout start. With the Cubs’ rotation in shambles, Rusch could have bought himself another couple of starts with this win. But we’ll have to see a lot more before suggesting he’s worth a waiver wire claim. more