The Fantasy Baseball Hitting Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming week. Every week, we provide you with news and notes for each team, tracking hot and cold players, injuries and lineup changes.
All statistics are up to date as of Friday, June 4.
Interleague play resumes this week, so any AL team that travels to the NL will lose a hitter, and any NL team that travels to the AL will gain one. The section labeled "Interleague Effect" offers a best guess as to which players will lose or gain at-bats as a result of playing in the opposite league.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Schedule: ATL4, STL3
Heating
Up: Good luck finding one. Chris Snyder
showed some signs of coming around when he homered Sunday and Monday,
but he's 0 for 5 in two games since.
Cooling Off: Most of the
team could fit into this category. Chris B. Young
is worth mentioning since he's an on-the-fence type. He's batting .097
(3 for 31) over his last nine games. Stephen Drew
is pretty much impossible to sit, but he's batting .091 (2 for 22) over
his last six games. Conor Jackson is
batting .192 (14 for 73) since coming off the DL and isn't worth your
time in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: Mark Reynolds missed a second straight game Wednesday with a
strained quadriceps, though he did appear as a pinch hitter. The injury
has apparently bothered him for much of the season, but he reaggravated
it recently. The Diamondbacks have at least considered putting him on
the DL, so you'll want to monitor this situation closely over the
weekend. Rusty Ryal has been starting
in his absence.
Platoon Possibilities: The Diamondbacks face
one left-handed pitcher this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty
platoons.
Lineup Changes: None.
Atlanta Braves
Schedule: @ARI4, @MIN3
Heating Up: Troy Glaus' May madness has continued into June. He's batting .379
(11 for 29) with four homers during a nine-game hitting streak. The
streaky slugger is worth activating in all leagues when he's on a roll
like this. Martin Prado is back swinging
the bat the way he did at the start of the season, batting .405 (15 for
37) over his last eight games. If you benched him for any reason, get
him active again. Yunel Escobar is
showing his first signs of life after an injury-plagued first couple
months, batting .474 (9 for 19) over his last five games. You should
obviously have him active at the weak shortstop position.
Cooling
Off: Nate McLouth is getting worse
before he gets better, batting .063 (2 for 32) over his last 12 games.
Surely nobody is using him in mixed leagues anymore, right?
Injury
Concerns: Chipper Jones left Wednesday
and sat out Thursday with a finger injury, but what else is new? He
might need a cortisone shot over the weekend, which would set him back a
few more days. As always, he's looking like a risky option in Fantasy.
Platoon
Possibilities: The Braves face two left-handers this week, which
means Eric Hinske could sit twice for Melky Cabrera. Both are just NL-only options.
Lineup Changes: Omar Infante will start at third base with Jones sidelined, but his
lack of pop makes him just an NL-only option.
Interleague Effect:
The Braves will probably use their DH spot to give Brian McCann some extra rest. David Ross
will get more at-bats than usual, but not enough to make a huge impact
in NL-only leagues.
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Player | Start % | |
1. | Jose Lopez, 3B, Mariners | 54 |
2. | Buster Posey, 1B, Giants | 65 |
3. | Troy Glaus, 1B, Braves | 59 |
4. | Franklin Gutierrez, OF, Mariners | 57 |
5. | Yunel Escobar, SS, Braves | 52 |
6. | Chone Figgins, 2B, Mariners | 66 |
7. | Scott Rolen, 3B, Reds | 65 |
8. | Mike Napoli, C, Angels | 69 |
9. | Garrett Jones, OF, Pirates | 51 |
10. | Marco Scutaro, SS, Red Sox | 56 |
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Baltimore Orioles
Schedule: NYY3, NYM3
Heating Up:
The Orioles don't have any hitters exceeding expectations right now.
Cooling
Off: Adam Jones homered Thursday,
but he's batting just .150 (3 for 20) over his last six games. He's
still too inconsistent for mixed-league use. Matt Wieters has been inconsistent himself, going 0 for 14 over his
last four games, but because he plays the weak catcher position, you
don't have many alternatives. Garrett Atkins
hasn't done anything all season, but he has been even worse lately,
batting .067 (2 for 30) over his last 10 games. You don't want him.
Injury
Concerns: None.
Platoon Possibilities: The Orioles face
three left-handers this week. Corey Patterson
might have to sit out those games, which is yet another reason why you
shouldn't use him in mixed leagues.
Lineup Changes: None.
Boston Red Sox
Schedule: @CLE4, PHI3
Heating Up:
Even with more left-handed pitchers on the schedule, David Ortiz has yet to slow down, batting .364 (12 for 33) with four
homers over his last 11 games. Victor Martinez
is also on the right side of streaky, batting .465 (20 for 43) with four
home runs over his last 12 games. He's an obvious must-start. Marco Scutaro is looking like a viable mixed-league option again,
batting .407 (11 for 27) over his last six games.
Cooling Off: Dustin Pedroia, who's usually batting well over .300 by now, is just 9
for 54 (.167) over his last 13 games. Still, you wouldn't want to bench
a player with his potential.
Injury Concerns: Mike Cameron sat out for a third straight game Thursday with a
strained abdominal -- the same injury that put him on the DL earlier in
the year. The Red Sox expect him to return over the weekend, but if he
doesn't, you obviously wouldn't want to start him in AL-only leagues.
Too much risk there.
Platoon Possibilities: The Red Sox face
two left-handers this week, but Ortiz is no longer guaranteed to sit out
those games. Mike Lowell could replace
him for one or both, but since the Red Sox play seven games total this
week, you might want to start Ortiz anyway. Jeremy Hermida, who has been playing with Jacoby Ellsbury sidelined by a rib injury, could sit for Bill Hall against the lefties.
Lineup Changes: Other than
the changes to the outfield, none.
Chicago Cubs
Schedule: @MIL3, CHW3
Heating Up: Geovany Soto is batting (4 for 14) with a home run over his last five
games. It's nothing special, but it's a step in the right direction for
a player who has been up and down all season. Plus, he's the only Cub
who even remotely fits the category.
Cooling Off: Marlon Byrd is still coming back down to earth from his impossibly hot
April, batting .143 (6 for 42) over his last 13 games. His ceiling isn't
high enough for you to start him when he's struggling. Aramis Ramirez has done nothing but struggle all year and has only
gotten worse lately, batting .083 (2 for 24) over his last seven games.
Injury
Concerns: Derrek Lee missed
Wednesday's game with a tight hamstring. He's supposedly day to day, but
you never know with those hamstring injuries. Keep a close eye on him
this weekend. Given his struggles this season, you should err on the
side of caution.
Platoon Possibilities: The Cubs face three
left-handers this week, meaning Kosuke Fukudome
will sit at least three times for Xavier Nady.
Now isn't the time to use him in mixed leagues.
Lineup Changes: Mike Fontenot, who's batting .313, has begun stealing at-bats from Ryan Theriot, who's batting just .135 (5 for 37) over his last nine
games. Hey look, another struggling Cub. Considering his lack of pop,
you clearly wouldn't want to start him when he's getting less than
full-time at-bats.
Chicago White Sox
Schedule: DET3, @CHC3
Heating
Up: Alex Rios has been hot all
season, but he has taken it to another level over his last 12 games,
batting .386 (17 for 44) with five home runs and four stolen bases.
Start him.
Cooling Off: Juan Pierre,
who finally began to look like himself in May, has cooled off over his
last nine games, batting .152 (5 for 33). Unless you play in a league
that highly values stolen bases, you can sit him for now. Andruw Jones did finally homer Thursday, but he's batting .167 (11 for
66) over his last 18 games and is no longer worth starting in mixed
leagues.
Injury Concerns: None.
Platoon Possibilities:
The White Sox face one left-hander this week, but they don't have any
lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup Changes: Omar Vizquel has taken over as the everyday third baseman with Mark Teahen sidelined by a broken finger, but he was barely a viable
Fantasy option in his prime. At age 43, he's no more than a last resort
in AL-only leagues.
Interleague Effect: The White Sox will
probably give each of their outfielders a day off when they visit the
Cubs at the end of the week. The interleague matchup shouldn't affect
how you set your lineup in Fantasy.
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Player | % Change | |
1. | Buster Posey, 1B, Giants | 36 |
2. | Corey C. Hart, OF, Brewers | 26 |
3. | Angel Pagan, OF, Mets | 15 |
4. | Scott Rolen, 3B, Reds | 14 |
5. | Troy Glaus, 1B, Braves | 14 |
6. | Juan Uribe, SS, Giants | 14 |
7. | Seth Smith, OF, Rockies | 13 |
8. | Josh Willingham, OF, Nationals | 12 |
9. | Mike Napoli, C, Angels | 12 |
10. | Andres Torres, OF, Giants | 12 |
Cincinnati Reds
Schedule: SF4, KC3
Heating Up: Brandon Phillips, who was hovering around the .250 mark for much of
May, is all the way up to .280 thanks to his 12-for-27 (.444)
performance over his last six games. He remains a must-start for his
20-20 potential. Scott Rolen's power
stroke has lasted long enough that you almost have to think of him as a
must-start too. He's batting .423 (11 for 26) with three home runs over
his last seven games.
Cooling Off: Orlando Cabrera was hot for much of May, but he slowed down toward the
end of the month and is batting just .200 (7 for 35) over his last nine
games. He's still usable at age 35, but you can probably do better right
now in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: None.
Platoon
Possibilities: The Reds face two left-handed pitchers this week, but
with Jonny Gomes getting full-time
at-bats, the team doesn't have any lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup
Changes: None.
Cleveland Indians
Schedule: BOS4, WAS3
Heating
Up: Jason Donald has modest
offensive potential, but he's batting .375 (12 for 32) over his last 10
games. He's worth a flier in AL-only leagues.
Cooling Off: Travis Hafner, who got his batting average all the way up to .281 in
May, is just 1 for 20 since. He's still no more than an AL-only option. Shin-Soo Choo is a mixed-league option, but he's batting just .115 (3
for 26) over his last six games. You should probably stick with him,
though.
Injury Concerns: None.
Platoon Possibilities:
The Indians face two left-handers this week, which means Luis Valbuena will sit at least twice. Mark Grudzielanek starts for him sometimes against righties too.
Lineup
Changes: None.
Colorado Rockies
Schedule: HOU4, TOR3
Heating Up: Miguel Olivo's power numbers have slowed down a little bit, but he's
still batting .526 (10 for 19) over his last five games. Continue to
start him.
Cooling Off: Brad Hawpe
has just one homer since returning from the DL on May 10, and he's
batting .143 (5 for 35) over his last seven games. His track record
suggests you'll want to start him more often than not, but now might not
be the time. Todd Helton, who was a .325
hitter just one year ago, is batting .083 (2 for 24) over his last seven
games. You wouldn't be crazy to give up on the 36-year-old.
Injury
Concerns: Olivo, who missed Wednesday's game after partially
separating his thumbnail from his thumb Tuesday, should return to the
lineup over the weekend. He's still swinging the bat too well for you to
consider benching him.
Platoon Possibilities: The Rockies face
two left-handed pitchers this week. Seth Smith
might sit out those games for Ryan Spilborghs,
but the two aren't in a strict lefty-righty platoon.
Lineup
Changes: None.
Detroit Tigers
Schedule: @CHW3, PIT3
Heating Up: Miguel Cabrera is always a must-start in Fantasy, but he has been a
terror lately, batting .409 (18 for 44) with eight home runs over his
last 11 games. Austin Jackson, who
encountered his first rough patch in mid-May, has heated back up over
his last 13 games, batting .377 (20 for 53). The rookie remains an
advisable start in mixed leagues.
Cooling Off: Brennan Boesch had three hits Thursday but is still batting just .238
(10 for 42) over his last 12 games. With four lefties on the schedule
this week, you should avoid him in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: Carlos Guillen, who just returned from a hamstring injury to claim the
starting second base job, left Thursday's game with a bruised left toe.
But as long as he returns over the weekend, you can continue to start
him in AL-only leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Tigers face
four left-handers this week, giving Ryan Raburn
some sleeper appeal in deeper AL-only leagues. He doesn't have a clear
platoon partner, but he figures to start some against the lefties.
Lineup
Changes: None.
Florida Marlins
Schedule: @PHI3, @TB3
Heating Up: Chris Coghlan is beginning to take off the same way he did last year
when he hit .380 over his last 292 at-bats to capture the NL Rookie of
the Year award. He's batting .438 (14 for 32) over his last eight games
and will be getting some second looks from Fantasy owners over the
weekend.
Cooling Off: Cameron Maybin
is back to doing a whole bunch of nothing, batting .143 (5 for 35) over
his last 12 games. Leave the overmatched 23-year-old for NL-only leagues.
Injury
Concerns: None.
Platoon Possibilities: The Marlins face
one left-hander this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup
Changes: None.
Interleague Effect: The Marlins don't have
any obvious candidates to serve as their designated hitter for their
three-game series at Tampa Bay, which makes you wonder if they might use
it as justification to call up top prospect Michael Stanton. That's nothing more than wild speculation, of course.
Houston Astros
Schedule: @COL4, @NYY3
Heating Up: Hunter Pence can be streaky, but if you own him in Fantasy, now's the
time to start him. He's batting .395 (17 for 43) with three home runs
over his last 11 games. Jeff Keppinger
has been on fire since taking over as the starting second baseman,
batting .370 (27 for 73) over his last 17 games. Still, his complete
lack of power limits his appeal to NL-only leagues.
Cooling Off: Michael Bourn is batting .205 (8 for 39) over his last 10 games. You
normally have to start him in Rotisserie leagues because of his stolen
bases, but he can't steal them if he isn't reaching.
Injury
Concerns: None.
Platoon Possibilities: The Astros face two
left-handed pitchers this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty
platoons.
Lineup Changes: None.
Interleague Effect:
The Astros can't even fill out an eight-man lineup adequately, so anyone
they use during their three-game series at the Yankees won't matter to
you. Geoff Blum is the most likely
candidate.
Kansas City Royals
Schedule: @MIN3, @CIN3
Heating
Up: David DeJesus doesn't have much
power or speed, but he's still contributing in Fantasy right now,
batting .406 (26 for 64) over his last 16 games. He's worth a look if
you need a stopgap.
Cooling Off: Jose Guillen, who has been up and down all season, is back down
again, batting .091 (3 for 33) over his last 10 games. Alberto Callaspo has also struggled over his last 10, batting just .175
(7 for 40) to cost him must-start status in mixed leagues. He still has
nice peripherals that will make him an advisable option more often than
not.
Injury Concerns: None.
Platoon Possibilities:
The Royals don't face a single left-handed pitcher this week, which
gives Chris Getz more opportunity than
usual to cut into Mike Aviles' at-bats.
The two aren't in a strict lefty-righty platoon, though.
Lineup
Changes: New manager Ned Yost is still tinkering with his lineup,
but he has begun to use Getz more, making Aviles once again a risky
start in mixed leagues.
Interleague Effect: The Royals might
send Mitch Maier to the bench for their
interleague series at Cincinnati, allowing Guillen, the designated
hitter, to remain in the lineup. Considering Guillen's slump, though,
you should avoid using him either way.
L.A. Angels
Schedule: @OAK4, @LAD3
Heating Up: Hideki Matsui, who began May in an 8-for-55 (.145) slump, is batting
.349 (15 for 43) with two home runs in 12 games since. He's again worth
a look in mixed leagues. Bobby Abreu has a
nine-game hitting streak during which he's batting .333 (12 for 36), but
you'd start him regardless.
Cooling Off: Maicer Izturis has two homers in seven games since returning from the
DL, but he's batting .179 (5 for 28) during that stretch. Even though
he's playing more or less every day, he remains just an AL-only option.
Injury
Concerns: Juan L. Rivera sat out
Thursday's game after fouling a ball off his foot Wednesday. As long as
he returns over the weekend, you're free to start him in AL-only
leagues. He has been too inconsistent for mixed-league use. Brandon Wood began a rehab assignment Monday, but considering he was
batting .156 (19 for 122) before straining his right hip flexor, you
have to think the Angels won't rush to activate him. Jeff Mathis, who hasn't played since April 19 because of a fractured
right wrist, will begin a rehab assignment over the weekend and could
return in the days that follow. He has never been more than an AL-only
option, though.
Platoon Possibilities: The Angels face two
left-handed pitchers this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty
platoons.
Lineup Changes: Mike Napoli
has bounced between catcher and first base with Kendry Morales sidelined by a broken leg. He won't get to catch as
much when Mathis returns from the DL, but he'll remain a must-start in
Fantasy as long as he continues to man first.
Interleague Effect:
Matsui might get some time in the outfield when the Angels visit the
Dodgers at the end of the week, but he won't start every game. With the
way he has heated up lately, he still might be worth starting.
L.A. Dodgers
Schedule: STL3, LAA3
Heating Up:
Nobody is exceeding expectations right now.
Cooling Off: Manny Ramirez is batting .114 (4 for 35) over his last 12 games.
Considering he no longer plays every day at age 38, you wouldn't be
crazy to sit him. Russell Martin is
batting .154 (6 for 39) over his last 11 games, but good luck finding a
replacement catcher.
Injury Concerns: Casey Blake was a late scratch Thursday with back spasms, which is
never good for a player in his late 30s. He hasn't been especially hot
lately, so if he's at risk of missing any time this week, you should
bench him.
Platoon Possibilities: The Dodgers face one
left-hander this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup
Changes: Andre Ethier returned to
the lineup Monday after missing some time with a broken pinkie.
Considering he was leading the NL in all three Triple Crown categories
before the injury, you should get him active. Ronnie Belliard or Jamey Carroll would
see an increase playing time if Blake sits out, but neither has the
upside to matter in mixed leagues.
Milwaukee Brewers
Schedule: CHC3, TEX3
Heating
Up: Corey C. Hart's batting average
has dipped a bit lately, but he's still on an incredible run, batting
.267 (20 for 75) with 11 homers over his last 19 games. Don't be afraid
to start him in mixed leagues. Prince Fielder
is batting .333 (8 for 24) with two home runs during a seven-game
hitting streak. Eventually, his first-round talent is going to show up.
Maybe this is the start of it.
Cooling Off: Casey McGehee hasn't been terrible, but he's the only Brewer
underachieving right now, batting .150 (3 for 20) over his last five
games. Still, if you're used to starting him at second or third base,
you probably don't have many alternatives.
Injury Concerns:
None.
Platoon Possibilities: The Brewers face one left-hander
this week, but Carlos Gomez gets the
majority of the starts over Jim Edmonds
regardless of whether the team is facing a righty or a lefty.
Lineup
Changes: Other than the increase in at-bats for Gomez, none.
Minnesota Twins
Schedule: KC3, ATL3
Heating Up: Michael Cuddyer was heating up before leaving for a family emergency,
batting .345 (10 for 29) with two home runs over his last eight games.
He'll be back in time for Tuesday's game, so keep him active.
Cooling
Off: Joe Mauer is cold by his
standards, batting .182 (4 for 22) over his last six games. He could
change that with one game, though. Keep him active.
Injury
Concerns: Orlando Hudson missed his
third straight game Thursday with a wrist injury suffered in a collision
with Denard Span on Sunday. The Twins
keep saying he's day to day, but if he doesn't return to the lineup over
the weekend, you wouldn't want to take a chance on him.
Platoon
Possibilities: The Twins face one left-hander this week, which helps Jim Thome's chances of playing, but the team doesn't have any
strict lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup Changes: The Twins
recently called up prospect Danny Valencia
and could give him some starts at third base. He wasn't hitting for any
power in the minors, though, so he's not worth adding outside of deeper
AL-only leagues.
N.Y. Mets
Schedule: SD3, @BAL3
Heating Up: Jeff Francoeur, who hit .127 (9 for 71) during a 22-game stretch to
begin the month of May, is batting .467 (14 for 30) over his last nine
games. He's hard to trust if he's burned you before, but if you ever
hope to use him, now would be a time. David Wright
is batting .533 (8 for 15) over his last four games after batting .150
(9 for 60) over his previous 16, but you would never consider benching
him.
Cooling Off: Ike Davis
has two home runs over his last nine games but is batting .147 (5 for
34) during that stretch. He'll endure his share of struggles just like
any rookie.
Injury Concerns: Luis Castillo, who has missed time off and on with a bruised left
foot, could go on the DL this weekend. He doesn't offer much outside of
NL-only leagues when healthy, so you obviously shouldn't bother with him
now.
Platoon Possibilities: The Mets face two lefties this
week, but they don't have any lefty-right platoons.
Lineup Changes:
None
Interleague Effect: Chris C. Carter is the most obvious choice to DH when the Mets visit
Baltimore at the end of the week, but he barely matters even in NL-only
leagues.
N.Y. Yankees
Schedule: @BAL3, HOU3
Heating Up: Nick Swisher has always been a streaky player, but usually the cold
streak has come along by now. He remains hot, batting .410 (16 for 39)
with two homers over his last nine games and .369 (38 for 103) with
seven over his last 28. Get him active while you still can. The Yankees'
All-Star middle infield of Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano has caught fire of late, with Jeter batting .444 (20 for
45) over his last 11 games and Cano batting .465 (33 for 71) during a
17-game hit streak.
Cooling Off: Francisco Cervelli, who impressed when Jorge Posada
first went on the DL, is batting .111 (3 for 27) over his last nine
games, lowering his batting average to .294.
Injury Concerns:
None.
Platoon Possibilities: The Yankees face one left-hander
this week, but with all the changes to their lineup over the last week,
they no longer have any clear lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup
Changes: The Yankees activated both Curtis Granderson (groin) and Posada (foot) recently, bumping Marcus Thames and Kevin Russo from
the starting lineup. Posada has been playing DH instead of catcher,
allowing Cervelli to remain in the starting lineup. Granderson and
Posada are both must-starts. Cervelli, though not a power hitter,
retains some low-end appeal in mixed leagues.
Oakland Athletics
Schedule: LAA4, @SF3
Heating
Up: Rajai Davis' .300 (12 for 40)
batting average over his last nine games isn't out of this world, but he
has eight stolen bases during that stretch. You might want to give him
another look in Rotisserie leagues. Daric Barton
is batting .351 (13 for 37) with two home runs during a 10-game hit
streak, but his lack of power makes him hard to recommend in mixed
leagues. Kurt Suzuki has three homers in
his last two games, so hopefully you didn't give up on him as he
struggled through an injury-plagued first two months.
Cooling Off: Cliff Pennington continues to fade into obscurity. He has just one
hit in his last 32 at-bats for a pitiful .031 batting average over his
last 10 games.
Injury Concerns: Ryan Sweeney took a knee to the face on a fly ball Thursday and left
with some dizziness. A concussion could sideline him through the
weekend, making him a risky start for the upcoming week. Even when
healthy, he's just an AL-only option.
Platoon Possibilities:
The Athletics face three left-handers this week, so you can expect Jack Cust to sit three times for Jake Fox.
You might not want to start either this week.
Lineup Changes:
None.
Interleague Effect: Cust and Fox stand to lose at-bats
when the team travels to San Francisco over the weekend, which is just
another reason to sit them.
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Team | Schedule | |
1. | Red Sox | @CLE4, PHI3 |
2. | Mariners | @TEX4, @SD3 |
3. | Rockies | HOU4, TOR3 |
4. | Nationals | PIT3, @CLE3 |
5. | Yankees | @BAL3, HOU3 |
Philadelphia Phillies
Schedule: SD1, FLA3, @BOS3
Heating
Up: Carlos Ruiz is the only Phillie
who even comes close. He's batting .500 (6 for 12) over his last four
games and is still viable in Head-to-Head leagues because of his high
on-base percentage.
Cooling Off: Jayson Werth, who was batting over .340 for much of May, is all the
way down to .296 after going 2 for 23 (.087) over his last seven games. Chase Utley, normally a .300 hitter, is all the way down to .270
after going 4 for 35 (.114) over his last nine games. You couldn't
justify sitting either, though.
Injury Concerns: Jimmy Rollins, who is on the DL for the second time with the same
calf injury, could potentially return this week, but he has yet to begin
a rehab assignment. Because he'll likely play no more than half a week,
you should keep him reserved. Placido Polanco,
who hasn't played since May 27 because of a bruised elbow, expects to
return to the starting lineup Friday. Assuming he proves healthy and
effective over the weekend, you're free to activate him, though he isn't
necessarily a must-start in mixed leagues.
Platoon Possibilities:
The Phillies face one left-hander this week, but they don't have any
lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup Changes: Greg Dobbs has been starting at third base with Polanco sidelined,
but he figures to go back to the bench once Polanco returns.
Interleague
Effect: Of course, Dobbs could get some at-bats in the weekend
series at Boston, but the Phillies might use the opportunity to play Ben Francisco some as well. Nobody stands out as the clear
beneficiary here.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Schedule: @WAS3, @DET3
Heating
Up: Garrett Jones looks like he's
about to take off, homering twice in his last three games. Then again,
he has had a few of these short bursts of production already this
season, and they haven't led anywhere. He has some sleeper appeal this
week, though you shouldn't necessarily rush to put him in your lineup. Neil Walker also has some sleeper appeal, though more for NL-only
leagues. He's batting .313 (10 for 32) with a homer in eight games since
coming up from the minors.
Cooling Off: Andy LaRoche, who was batting .304 on May 10, is all the way down to
.250, having hit .154 (8 for 52) over his last 16 games. Given his lack
of pop at a traditional power position, he's hardly worth starting even
when hot.
Injury Concerns: None.
Platoon Possibilities:
The Pirates don't face a single left-handed pitcher this week, which
means Jeff Clement might come close to
getting a full week of at-bats. Too bad he has lost most of his sleeper
appeal. Jones should benefit from the righty-loaded week, though his
splits against righties and lefties have been more even than they were
last year.
Lineup Changes: Walker has effectively replaced Akinori Iwamura as the team's starting second baseman, making him even
more enticing in Fantasy. He'll need to keep this hot streak going a
little longer before you look to him in mixed leagues, though.
Interleague
Effect: The Pirates will probably use their DH slot to rest some of
their mainstays, such as Jones and Ryan Doumit.
Nobody stands to see a significant increase in at-bats.
San Diego Padres
Schedule: @PHI1, @NYM3, SEA3
Heating
Up: Jerry Hairston, getting full-time
at-bats with Everth Cabrera (hamstring)
back on the DL, is batting .297 (11 for 37) with three homers over his
last nine games. He's a worthy stopgap in NL-only leagues. Nick Hundley has taken off with Yorvit Torrealba away for personal reasons, batting .563 (9 for 16)
with a double, a triple, a homer and seven RBI over his last seven
games. That performance could help him work his way back into an even
platoon with Torrealba, but he's still just an NL-only option.
Cooling
Off: Will Venable wasn't a major
part of the team's 18-run outburst Monday, and it shows. He's batting
.163 (7 for 43) over his last 12 games. His hot streaks are too few and
far between for you to use him in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: Kyle Blanks, on the DL with a strained right elbow, recently began a
rehab assignment, but he has yet to play the field. His return to the
majors will depend somewhat on his performance and appears unlikely this
week.
Platoon Possibilities: The Padres face four lefties this
week, so Scott Hairston should get
plenty of opportunities to show off his underutilized power. He's a
decent stopgap in NL-only leagues. Venable and Tony K. Gwynn will sit against the lefties, allowing Oscar Salazar to get some extra at-bats as well.
Lineup Changes:
Other than Jerry Hairston taking over at
shortstop, none.
|
||
Team | Schedule | |
1. | Dodgers | STL3, LAA3 |
2. | Orioles | NYY3, NYM3 |
3. | Marlins | @PHI3, @TB3 |
4. | Padres | @PHI1, @NYM3, SEA3 |
5. | Athletics | LAA4, @SF3 |
San Francisco Giants
Schedule: @CIN4, OAK3
Heating
Up: Aubrey Huff is batting .500 (11
for 22) with two home runs over his last seven games, raising his season
batting average to .298. If he keeps this going for much longer, he'll
begin to matter in mixed leagues again. Freddy Sanchez's lack of pop limits his appeal to NL-only leagues
right now, but he's batting .478 (11 for 23) over his last seven games.
Cooling
Off: Aaron Rowand's recent struggles
have dropped him to eighth in the lineup. He's batting .125 (5 for 40)
over his last 11 games and clearly isn't worth using in mixed leagues. Bengie Molina's slump has lasted even longer than that. He's batting
.068 (3 for 44) over his last 13 games and isn't beyond benching right
now.
Injury Concerns: Mark DeRosa,
who hasn't played since May 8 because of inflammation in his surgically
repaired wrist, began a rehab assignment Monday but said the wrist
didn't feel right. He'll resume his rehab assignment this weekend but is
a long shot to return this week. In fact, he might need season-ending
surgery.
Platoon Possibilities: The Giants face two
left-handers this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup
Changes: The Giants recently called up top prospect Buster Posey to play first base, moving Huff to left field and Nate Schierholtz to the bench. Posey's upside is obvious, but that's
not even the biggest reason he's a must-add in Fantasy. As a
catcher-eligible player getting everyday at-bats elsewhere on the
diamond, he'll get more playing time, and therefore more Fantasy points,
than the average catcher.
Seattle Mariners
Schedule: @TEX4, @SD3
Heating
Up: Jose Lopez, who was practically
invisible for the first quarter of the season, has caught fire lately,
batting .395 (15 for 38) with three home runs over his last 10 games. He
is notoriously streaky, so if you've been waiting patiently for him to
get going, now's the time to activate him. Chone Figgins, who has also struggled for much of the season, is
batting .346 (9 for 26) with two stolen bases over his last seven games.
It's not much, but it's progress.
Cooling Off: Milton Bradley has been mostly absent at the plate since returning
from the restricted list, batting .179 (7 for 39) over his last 10
games. He remains just an AL-only option. Mike Sweeney has suddenly come back down to earth, batting .095 (2
for 21) over his last five games.
Injury Concerns: None.
Platoon
Possibilities: The Mariners face three left-handed pitchers this
week. Casey Kotchman is more likely to
sit against left-handers, but the team doesn't have any strict
lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup Changes: The retirement of Ken Griffey frees up some at-bats for Sweeney and Michael Saunders, but he was pretty much out of the picture already.
Interleague
Effect: With the loss of the DH spot, Sweeney will likely sit out at
San Diego. He has slowed down a bit recently, though, making him more of
an AL-only option anyway.
St. Louis Cardinals
Schedule: @LAD3, @ARI3
Heating
Up: The Cardinals' middle of the order appears to be coming around. Matt Holliday is batting .520 (13 for 25) with one home run over his
last seven games. Ryan Ludwick is
batting .375 (12 for 32) with one home run over his last eight games. David Freese is batting .356 (16 for 45) with one home run over his
last 11 games. Of the three, Holliday is the only must-start, but
Ludwick and Freese are good sleeper choices for this week.
Cooling
Off: Yadier Molina is batting just
.186 (13 for 70) over his last 21 games. He has shown some improvement
lately, batting .261 (6 for 23) over his last six games, but you could
probably do better than him in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: Felipe Lopez, who has recently overtaken Brendan Ryan as the team's primary shortstop, missed Tuesday's game
with a bruised thumb, but he should return Friday. He has no better than
modest power and speed, limiting his appeal to NL-only leagues.
Platoon
Possibilities: The Cardinals face one lefty this week, which should
keep Colby Rasmus' bat in the lineup.
His inconsistencies have made him far from a must-start, though.
Lineup
Changes: None.
Tampa Bay Rays
Schedule: TOR3, FLA3
Heating Up: Evan Longoria is batting .345 (10 for 29) with three doubles, a
triple and a homer over his last seven games. Then again, that's pretty
much the standard for him.
Cooling Off: Carlos Pena's last 13 games have been a microcosm of his entire
season. He's batting .116 (5 for 43) during that stretch, lowering his
season mark to .176. You know he'll blow up for five homers the week you
sit him, but right now, he's not giving you much choice.
Injury
Concerns: Kelly Shoppach, who hasn't
played since undergoing knee surgery a few days into the season, is set
to come off the disabled list Friday. He has good power potential, but
with John Jaso still swinging a hot
bat, his projected playing time is unclear. Better leave him for AL-only
leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Rays face three
left-handers this week, which means Hank Blalock
will likely sit three times for Willy Aybar.
Neither player figures to get enough at-bats to matter outside of deeper
AL-only leagues. Gabe Kapler will also
get three starts, replacing either Reid Brignac
or Sean Rodriguez.
Lineup Changes: With
Jason Bartlett going on the DL with a
strained hamstring, the door is open for Brignac and Rodriguez to play
alongside each other. Both have some measure of upside, but neither has
done much with limited playing time this season. They're both sleepers
for AL-only leagues, but nothing more.
Texas Rangers
Schedule: SEA4, @MIL3
Heating Up: Michael Young is simply unstoppable right now, batting .441 (26 for 59)
over his last 14 games. He has multiple hits in 10 of those games. David Murphy, who's back in the starting lineup, is showing he might
have some usefulness in deeper leagues, batting .407 (11 for 27) over
his last seven games.
Cooling Off: Ian Kinsler, who missed the beginning of the season with an ankle
injury, just hasn't been able to get on any sort of roll. He's batting
.133 (4 for 30) over his last seven games. Still, his upside makes him
too valuable to bench in Fantasy.
Injury Concerns: Vladimir Guerrero, who took a ricocheted ball off the left eye in
batting practice Wednesday, missed his second straight game Thursday. He
should return sometime over the weekend, though, so you'll want to keep
him active in Fantasy.
Platoon Possibilities: The Rangers face
two left-handers this week. Craig Gentry
will likely replace Julio Borbon for
those games.
Lineup Changes: Murphy is back getting regular
at-bats with Nelson R. Cruz sidelined by
another hamstring injury. Despite his hot hitting of late, he lacks the
upside to make an impact in mixed leagues.
Interleague Effect:
In fact, Murphy might have to sit out a game or two when the Rangers
visit Milwaukee over the weekend. Guerrero won't spend all weekend on
the bench, though you can't expect him to start all three games in the
outfield either.
Toronto Blue Jays
Schedule: @TB3, @COL3
Heating
Up: Fred Lewis and Lyle Overbay have each made a splash in AL-only leagues recently.
Lewis is batting .412 (14 for 34) with a homer and a steal over his last
eight games, and Overbay is batting .526 (10 for 19) with three homers
over his last five. Because of the uncertainty of interleague play, you
wouldn't want to take a chance on either in mixed leagues. Aaron Hill is showing his first real signs of coming around, batting
.313 (10 for 32) with three homers over his last eight games. You want
him starting.
Cooling Off: Edwin Encarnacion, who had that three-homer game soon after returning
from a wrist injury, is batting .071 (2 for 28) over his last nine
games. He'll matter in mixed leagues at some point this season, but not
right now. Adam Lind's May slump has
carried over into June. He's batting .129 (4 for 31) over his last eight
games and .221 overall. Until he shows clear signs of returning to his
elite form, he's less than a must-start in mixed leagues.
Injury
Concerns: None.
Platoon Possibilities: The Blue Jays face
two left-handers this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty
platoons.
Lineup Changes: None.
Interleague Effect:
Lewis is the most obvious candidate to sit for the three-game series at
Colorado to end the week, but the Blue Jays could attempt to play Jose A. Bautista or Encarnacion at first base, allowing them to sit
Overbay instead. Or they could just sit Encarnacion. Bottom line: Lind
will play, so you should continue to use him as you normally would.
Washington Nationals
Schedule: PIT3, @CLE3
Heating
Up: Adam Dunn hasn't put up crazy
power numbers lately, but he's still swinging a hot bat, batting .368
(14 for 38) over his last nine games. He remains a must-start. So does Ryan Zimmerman, who's batting .467 (7 for 15) with three home runs
over his last six games.
Cooling Off: Josh Willingham, who recently hit four homers in six games, is
batting .211 (4 for 19) over his last six games. That's not to say his
hot streak is over, but if he doesn't bounce back over the weekend, you
should probably sit him.
Injury Concerns: Ivan Rodriguez, who is on the DL with a lower back strain, should be
able to come off the DL on Tuesday, which would give him potentially a
full week of at-bats. Even at age 38, he was looking like a serviceable
mixed-league option before the injury, batting .325. Still, unless you
play in a two-catcher league, you might want to give him a week to prove
his health.
Platoon Possibilities: The Nationals face three
left-handers this week. Roger Bernadina
is likely to sit out those games, though his platoon partner is unclear
now that Cristian Guzman has unseated Adam Kennedy as the starting second baseman. Mike Morse got the start for Bernadina on Wednesday and is as good a
guess as any.
Lineup Changes: Other than the situation with
Guzman and Kennedy, none.
Interleague Effect: The Nationals
will probably use their three games at Cleveland to spell Dunn or
Willingham in the field, replacing them with Kennedy or Willie Harris.
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