Those holding Cy Young Award votes will be taking copious notes as the Wednesday slate features several of the leading candidates. Theyll all pitch another turn or two, but for some, it may be the last chance for a statement game before their clubs turn their attention to setting up a rested playoff rotation. For others, its a consolation prize on a noncontending team. Either way, the candidates may be given a little extra leeway to pad their resumes, which in turn embellishes their fantasy performance. Well cover this and more in Wednesdays daily notes.PitchingEliteChris Sale wont have as many wins as Rick Porcello, but in terms of skills, hes at least on par with the Red Sox righty and definitely has him in strikeouts. The Chicago White Sox southpaw is in a great spot to widen the gap in whiffs even more with a date against the strikeout-prone Philadelphia Phillies in Citizens Bank Park. The home team has been especially impotent versus left-handers over the last month, giving Sale a great chance for his seventh straight game tossing at least eight innings. The projected game score of 73 is no accident; Sale has been dealing, and the Phillies have been reeling versus lefties.Max Scherzer hasnt been pitching as deep into games as Sale, but with five wins and a no decision in his last six outings, no one is complaining. Over that span, the Washington Nationals righty fanned 48 with only nine walks, covering 43 frames. Most importantly, he surrendered just one homer in that stretch. With the NL East essentially wrapped up, this could be Scherzers last start before the brass cuts his effort short, keeping him sharp but also fresh. As such, he may be allowed to stay in the game against the Miami Marlins so long as the pitch count is reasonable. On paper, Sale is still the better option, but the possibility of a longer outing makes Scherzer the top pick for those fading Sale.There will be no hardware for Zack Greinke. Instead, after a disappointing, albeit injury-riddled campaign, the Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander looks to close out strong with a date in Petco Park. Considering the San Diego Padres are fanning at a 26 percent clip versus righties the past month, Greinke is in a great position to do just that.Corey Kluber, who won the 2014 AL Cy Young with a late-season push, is aiming to make it two awards in three seasons as hes in the thick of the Junior Circuit race. The Cleveland Indians right-hander takes the hill in Progressive Field against the Kansas City Royals. Despite losing Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, the Tribes in the drivers seat for the AL Central crown. However, without that pair, Kluber will be relied upon even more heavily come playoff time, so you know the club wont risk something going awry next week. The Indians havent clinched, so it should be status quo for Kluber this time, but dont be shocked if his last two outings are abbreviated. The Royals whiff at an average pace, tempering Klubers upside, rendering him more a fine cash-game option.SolidKenta Maeda may not be vying for the Cy Young, but hes in the thick of the NL Rookie of the Year race. That said, the Los Angeles Dodgers likely wont veer from the course thats allowed Maeda to hurl seven innings just twice all season. Along with the typical five- or six-inning performance, Maeda isnt likely to accrue many punchouts facing a grinding San Francisco Giants offense in Chavez Ravine. Maeda is safe for cash play but offers no upside integral for GPP deployment.Masahiro Tanaka may not be in the lead pack, however, the New York Yankees ace will garner some Cy Young attention. The Bronx Bombers visit Tropicana Field to take on the Tampa Bay Rays and their 25 percent strikeout rate versus right-handers for the past month. On another slate, Tanaka could be one of the top options, but here, hes more an option for those preferring a diversified portfolio.If recent numbers are telling, Matt Moore checks in as a sneaky tournament selection. The San Francisco Giants lefty opposes Maeda, whose offense has fanned at a bloated 29 percent clip with a southpaw on the hill over the past month.John Lackey and Felix Hernandez close out the solid tier. Lackey draws a Cincinnati Reds club that has hit righties well lately, while King Felix squares off with the dangerous Toronto Blue Jays in Safeco Field. Of the two, Hernandez is more DFS viable as a GPP option since the Jays whiff at an above-average pace.StreamersThe streaming tier features several recognizable names with current ESPN ownership less than 50 percent, no doubt a function of the time of the season. As is our custom, those in the best spots will be featured, but everything is contextual. If you want some extra analysis on an option that isnt covered, please request it via the comments below or via Twitter to @ToddZola. Remember, my role is to help work you through the matchup. Ultimately, its your team, ergo your call.Even considering the lateness of the season, it was a bit surprising to see Alex Cobb is available in 79 percent of ESPN leagues. The Tampa Bay Rays southpaw hasnt dazzled in his return from Tommy John surgery, but he certainly looks good enough to use in the pitcher-friendly Trop against a New York Yankees club that may be running out of gas after an impressive post-break run. Cobb will hold the platoon edge over all the key Yankees except Gary Sanchez.Jerad Eickhoff draws the unenviable task of facing Sale, but the Philadelphia Phillies righty should do his part by keeping the Chicago White Sox offense in check. Eickhoffs 31 percent ownership is surprising but serendipitous for those searching for solid innings with some punchouts.Do you need some more strikeouts? If you answered yes, consider picking up Chad Kuhl for his date with the Milwaukee Brewers in Miller Park. Its a big park downgrade for the Pittsburgh Pirates righty, but so long as you can absorb a potential blow to your ratios, Kuhl should get some whiffs challenging an offense that fans 26 percent of the time with a right-hander on the bump.Whats gotten into Luis Perdomo? Thats something well look at in the offseason. For now, the San Diego Padres righty is in play for a home affair against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Three of Perdomos last five outings have been gems, and hes in good shape for another, charming a Snakes squad thats the worst in the league for the past month on the road versus righties.AvoidOnly Jered Weaver and Buck Farmer land in the automatic avoid range by means of a projected game score 45 or below. Weavers home run tendencies do not play well in Arlington, while Farmer is replacing Anibal Sanchez in the Tigers rotation, drawing a tough Twins squad in Target Field.If you own Jose Berrios in a keeper or dynasty format, chalk up 2016 to learning the ropes; better days lie ahead. That said, the rookie is still raw and risky with the experienced Tigers offense in town. Colorado Rockies righty German Marquez may project just outside of the automatic range but is far too risky to use at home against the St. Louis Cardinals, embroiled in a three-way battle for the two Senior Circuit wild-card berths.Speaking of which, fueling the New York Mets second-half surge is an increase in homers versus righties. Braves right-hander Ryan Weber is a ground ball pitcher, yet he has allowed five homers in just 31 1/3 innings. This is enough to look elsewhere.HittersDespite a couple of rookies working in Coors, the Texas Rangers lead off facing the veteran Jered Weaver in Globe Life Park. The Angels righty hasnt been blown up lately but is still in a tough spot facing a lineup with the fifth best home run rate versus right-handers. Weaver is equally generous to both sides of the dish, so dont sweat platoon matchups. Adrian Beltre, Carlos Gomez, Ian Desmond, Carlos Beltran, Jonathan Lucroy and Rougned Odor are all threats to take Weaver deep. Also in the mix are Mitch Moreland and Nomar Mazara, albeit only in a deep stack, as theyre situated at the bottom of the Rangers order.Next up is the freshman orientation in Denver with Luke Weaver on the hill for the Cardinals, facing 21-year-old Marquez of the Rockies. Weaver has impressed in his short stint in the bigs, giving the nod to the Redbirds hitters. The Cardinals left-handed contingent enjoy the platoon edge with Matt Carpenter, Brandon Moss and Matt Adams the chief beneficiaries. However, dont sleep on Stephen Piscotty, Aledmys Diaz or Randal Grichuk, all capable of taking advantage of the rarified air.As hinted, stacking against Luke Weaver is a risk though many a promising hurler has received his comeuppance in Coors Field. The usual lefty-swinging brethren are the main targets, including Charlie Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez and David Dahl.Kuhl was cited in the pitching notes for his strikeout upside. However, when the Brewers do make contact, its usually productive. Jonathan Villar is intriguing since the Bucs receivers are among the poorest at catching would-be base thieves. Scooter Gennett has displayed some recent pop from the two-hole, while Ryan Braun is quietly having a strong season.Most likely to hit a homer: Adrian BeltreDo I get extra points if I call for Beltre to do one of his patented homer-from-the-knees? Either way, hes the pick.Most likely to steal a base: Jonathan VillarBase stealers loathe finishing the season a bag or two short of a total ending in zero. Villar is within shouting distance of 60, so expect him to run every chance he gets. Custom Nike Seattle Mariners Jerseys . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Custom Nike New York Mets Jerseys . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/custom-nike-san-diego-padres-jerseys/ . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. Custom Nike Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Custom Nike San Francisco Giants Jerseys . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. NAPA, Calif. -- When the Oakland Raiders set out this offseason to upgrade their defense, general manager Reggie McKenzie systematically targeted every apparent need except for one.McKenzie rebuilt his secondary, added a pass rusher in Bruce Irvin and fortified the defensive line by using a second-round pick on Jihad Ward but was content to stand pat at middle linebacker to give second-year player Ben Heeney a chance to win the job.It definitely lets you know they have confidence in you, Heeney said. It makes you feel good but that doesnt mean anything. Its just what you do on the field every day.Heeney had been groomed to be Oaklands middle linebacker after being drafted in the fifth round out of Kansas in 2015. He had played more on the outside in college but the Raiders liked him in the middle, where he backed up veteran Curtis Lofton for most of last season.Heeney played about one-quarter of the defensive snaps last season but got more time as the year went on and he gained the confidence of his coaches.Now as the starter this year, Heeney has been given the green-dot helmet, which will allow him to get the plays directly into his headset from coordinator Ken Norton Jr.Hes smart, hes fast, and hes relentless, Norton said. He has a nose for the ball, very instinctive. Ben is going to be a very good football player. He cares a lot, hes always getting better. You cant get him out of the film room, asking all the right questions, and we have a lot of confidence in him.Heeney had been the defensive signal caller in college so the role is not new for him and he says it involves little more than hearing the play from Norton and relaying it to his teammates.Having teammates like All Pro Khaalil Mack, Irvin, Dan Williams, Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson gives Heeney the confidence that he can perform this season.dddddddddddde have playmakers all over the field, he said. Its definitely fun to be able to give the plays to those guys and see what they can do with it.The Raiders felt little need to upgrade at middle linebacker after letting Lofton go, believing Heeney could fill that role this season.While he is not the prototypical thumper in the middle who can stuff the run, the 226-pound Heeney brings much more speed and agility to the field than Lofton and will be last apt to get exploited in coverage or in space.Ben Heeney is a dog, Irvin said. Hes not the biggest guy, but he plays bigger than what he is. The guy leaves it out there for me. Its just practice, so I can only image what he does for me in a game. Hes a team guy. Thats the biggest thing, having a bunch of team guys who are willing to leave it out there for each other. I can already tell Ben is one of those guys.Heeney finished his rookie season with 27 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks but expects big improvements with more playing time and the comfort level that comes from a year in the NFL and the familiarity with the defensive system.You definitely want the game to slow down as far as seeing your reads, he said. But I like to play fast. I always like to play fast, go get the ball and make plays. Theres a lot of times where I was overaggressive last year. Thats something that hurt me in college. Thats one of the knocks I had.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '