Week 19 Fantasy Hitting Planner
The Fantasy Baseball Hitting Planner is your guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming scoring period. Every week, we'll give you the latest on injuries, lineup changes, streaks and matchups, highlighting the players at each position who might surprise or disappoint as a result. NOTE: The Planner will be updated with the latest information every Sunday prior to lineup deadlines.
Any players not listed here fall into the "status quo" category, meaning you should take your usual approach with them.
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All statistics are updated through Saturday, Aug. 6.
Catcher
The departure of Chris Davis has opened the door for designated hitter Michael Young to play third base, which has in turn opened the door for Mike Napoli to play every day, at least until Adrian Beltre (hamstring) returns from the DL. Napoli, who was already serving as backup catcher and right-handed platoon partner for first baseman Mitch Moreland, now gets to man DH in between. As hot as he is right now, that's an especially attractive development for Fantasy owners. Napoli might not be quite an automatic start in Fantasy, but he's the next-best thing.
Must-Start Options: Carlos Santana, Joe Mauer, Miguel Montero, Alex Avila
Heating up
Mike Napoli: .421 (32 for 76), 8 HRs, 19 RBI, 1.305 OPS, 8 BBs, 11 Ks in 21 games
Yorvit Torrealba: .457 (16 for 35), 1 HR, 1.187 OPS in nine games
Chris Iannetta: .550 (11 for 20), 2 HRs, 1.491 OPS in six games
Alex Avila: .462 (6 for 13), 3 HRs, 1.687 OPS in four games
Cooling off
Matt Wieters: .137 (7 for 51), one extra-base hit, .327 OPS, 2 BBs, 12 Ks in 13 games
Miguel Montero: .136 (3 for 22), no extra-base hits, .396 OPS in seven games
J.P. Arencibia: .077 (1 for 13), 1 HR, .508 OPS in four games
Worth a second look
Yadier Molina (66 percent started): Molina has agreed to serve his five-game suspension for a confrontation with umpire Rob Drake on Tuesday, which means he'll miss the first of the Cardinals' six games this week. Chances are he would have sat out one of those games anyway, so you shouldn't let the suspension scare you away in Fantasy, especially since Molina is batting .452 (19 for 42) over his last 12 games. Plus, the Cardinals are at home, where he's a .314 hitter.
David Ross (8 percent): Ross hasn't gotten off to the best start with Brian McCann (oblique) on the DL, but he's a legitimate power hitter who has five homers in only 112 at-bats this year. When he gets regular playing time, he has the ability to do some damage, as he showed by hitting 21 homers in 247 at-bats in 2006 and 17 homers in 311 at-bats the following year. He's no guarantee to put up those same numbers, of course, but if you need a second catcher, don't sleep on him.
Approach with caution
Russell Martin (68 percent started): Martin has hit safely in nine of his last 12 games, which could be enough of a "hot streak" to lull some Fantasy owners into using him again. But it doesn't change the fact he's a .224 hitter this year. Maybe with better matchups, you could give him the benefit of the doubt, but with the Yankees scheduled to face three legitimate aces in Dan Haren, David Price and James Shields, you should leave him on your bench.
A.J. Pierzynski (56 percent): The White Sox do have excellent matchups this week against the Orioles and Royals pitching staffs, but Pierzynski isn't the player you should expect to exploit those matchups. Three of the pitchers on tap are left-handers. Pierzynski is batting .241 against lefties compared to .288 against righties. Those splits aren't dramatic enough to condemn him to a week of misery, but they're reason enough to look into other options in mixed leagues.
Injury concerns
Victor Martinez sprained his left knee attempting to score a run Saturday, but the Tigers think he'll be able to return Tuesday. Manager Jim Leyland said the injury scared Martinez more than anything else, and the 32-year-old looked normal stepping onto the team bus Sunday morning. Martinez isn't without risk this week, but given the lack of alternatives at the catcher position, you should probably keep a high-end option like him active ... Nick Hundley -- who has played only 18 games since May 4 because of a combination of injuries, most recently to his elbow -- has begun a rehab assignment at Double-A San Antonio and could return for the weekend series against the Reds. He was a viable mixed-league option at the beginning of the year, so even though you wouldn't want to activate him right away, he's worth monitoring ... Ivan Rodriguez suffered another setback Thursday in his rehabilitation from an oblique injury, and though he was cleared to continue catching, the Nationals aren't so anxious to have him swing a bat again. Clearly, he's not close to returning, making Wilson Ramos' grip on the starting job even tighter.
First base
In addition to their flurry of trades at the July 31 deadline, the Astros saw fit to make some in-house changes, most notably optioning Brett Wallace to the minor leagues. Wallace got off to a good start this season, but his power numbers were always lacking, and over time, his batting average began to dwindle as well. He's worth stashing in NL-only leagues in the hope he makes a quick return. For now, Carlos Lee will move in from left field to play first base full-time, opening the door for Brian Bogusevic and Jason Michaels to share time in what might be the least appealing platoon in Fantasy.
Must-Start Options: Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Gonzalez, Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Mark Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis, Ryan Howard, Lance Berkman, Paul Konerko
Heating up
Freddie Freeman: .402 (33 for 82), 2 HRs, 2 SBs, 1.018 OPS, 7 BBs, 20 Ks during 20-game hit streak
Billy Butler: .360 (18 for 50), 6 HRs, 19 RBI, 1.144 OPS in 12 games
Casey Kotchman: .406 (13 for 32), 1 HR, 1.035 OPS, 3 BBs, 3 Ks in eight games
Prince Fielder: .500 (13 for 26), 2 HRs, 9 RBI, 1.409 OPS in seven games
Cooling off
James Loney: .108 (7 for 65), one extra-base hit, .278 OPS in 25 games
Adam Lind: .158 (9 for 57), 1 HR, .428 OPS in 14 games
Adam Dunn: .143 (3 for 21), 1 HR, .503 OPS in six games
Worth a second look
Freddie Freeman (83 percent started): Freeman's hot streak goes back much further than his 20-game hitting streak. He's batting .337 with a .934 OPS since May 19. This is becoming more and more of a no-brainer. The matchups don't even really matter anymore, not that they're bad this week against the Marlins and Cubs. Get Freeman active if he isn't already.
Jesus Guzman (22 percent): Guzman is a relative no-name in Fantasy and an option better left for deeper leagues. Still, owners in those deeper leagues might want to take note of what he's been doing recently. With Anthony Rizzo back in the minors and Kyle Blanks content in left field, Guzman has stepped in and hit .421 (16 for 38) with three homers and two steals over his last 11 games. Though never considered much of a prospect, his minor-league numbers are just as impressive. During a seven-game week against the Mets and Reds pitching staffs, Guzman has a shot at more big numbers.
Approach with caution
Adam Lind (77 percent started): Not only has Lind been slumping over his last 14 games, but he's batting only .210 in his last 41 and hasn't had a 20-point Head-to-Head week since Fantasy Week 11 (June 13-19). Pitchers like Gio Gonzalez, Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver and Dan Haren should be enough to keep Lind at bay during a six-game week. First base is a deep enough position that you shouldn't feel obligated to stick with him.
Adam Dunn (30 percent): With the White Sox's favorable matchups against the Orioles and Royals, this week might seem like the ideal time to take a chance on Dunn, who remains owned in the majority of Fantasy leagues. But Dunn hasn't been able to take advantage of good matchups in the past, putting together only one 20-point week all season. Plus, manager Ozzie Guillen is talking about giving the 31-year-old slugger another extended break. He might not even get the at-bats to make a worthwhile contribution. Keep him reserved and don't plan on starting him again until he does something huge.
Injury concerns
Justin Morneau, who is working his way back from June 29 neck surgery, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester on Friday and might only need a week of at-bats before returning. You wouldn't want to start him in Fantasy for only half a week, especially after such a long layoff, but now would be a good time to stash him ... Daniel Murphy was spiked in the knee Sunday and needed help off the field, apparently unable to put pressure on his left leg. He has emerged as an advisable Fantasy option over the last few weeks, but because he might need a trip to the DL with this injury, you should avoid him in mixed leagues. Scott Hairston and Nick Evans figure to see more at-bats in Murphy's absence ... Derrek Lee got hit by a pitch in the left hand Wednesday in what initially seemed like a minor injury, but he hasn't played since. He was reportedly available for Sunday's game, though, so chances are he won't miss too much more time. The 35-year-old is in obvious decline, making him just a low-end Fantasy option even when healthy ... Justin Smoak sat out over the weekend with a sore left thumb. He thinks he's close to returning, but you wouldn't want to activate him in most leagues even if he was completely healthy. A prolonged slump has more or less ruined his mixed-league appeal ... Matt LaPorta got hit by a pitch in the foot Friday and hasn't played since. Since he's just a platoon player, you shouldn't be using him outside of an AL-only league regardless ... Chris Davis (shoulder) and Conor Jackson (back) are both expected to return from minor injuries for the start of Fantasy Week 19 (Aug. 8-14), but neither has proven productive enough for mixed-league use.
Second base
The Royals promoted Johnny Giavotella to the majors on Friday and plan to give him about five starts per week at second base, ending Chris Getz' run as an everyday player. Giavotella was hitting .338 at Triple-A Omaha, so he has some offensive potential. He doesn't have quite the power potential to rank with high-end prospects like Dustin Ackley and Jason Kipnis, though, so you can leave him for AL-only leagues right now. Howard Kendrick, who hasn't had much to offer at the plate since suffering a hamstring injury in mid-May, has been losing playing time recently, sitting out two of the last six games in favor of Maicer Izturis. Kendrick is also capable of playing left field, so chances are he'll still get close to full-time at-bats when all's said and done. For now, though, he's a player to avoid in mixed leagues.
Must-Start Options: Dustin Pedroia, Robinson Cano, Ian Kinsler, Chase Utley, Ben Zobrist, Michael Young, Michael Cuddyer, Dan Uggla
Heating up
Dan Uggla: .362 (38 for 105), 12 HRs, 26 RBI, 1.175 OPS during 27-game hit streak
Neil Walker: .370 (20 for 54), 1 3B, 1 2B, .819 OPS in 12 games
Jason Kipnis: .333 (10 for 30), 5 HRs, 1 SB, 1.261 OPS in seven games
Cooling off
Danny Espinosa: .137 (10 for 73), 4 2Bs, .404 OPS, 6 BBs, 21 Ks in 18 games
Jemile Weeks: .207 (12 for 58), 2 3Bs, 2 2Bs, 2 SBs, .523 OPS, 1 BB, 11 Ks in 13 games
Ian Kinsler: .093 (4 for 43), one extra-base hit, 2 SBs, .304 OPS in 10 games
Kelly Johnson: .114 (4 for 35), .356 OPS, 3 BBs, 14 Ks in nine games
Worth a second look
Dustin Ackley (65 percent started): What more does Ackley have to do to win over Fantasy owners? He's batting .309. He has a .921 OPS. His five homers in 149 at-bats are actually more than what was expected of him at this stage of his career. He's only gaining momentum with a .375 (18 for 48) batting average over his last 13 games. And yet he's started in fewer leagues than Howard Kendrick. This is silly. If you don't have one of the must-start options at the position, Ackley deserves to be starting for you.
Jason Kipnis (22 percent): Kipnis isn't quite Dustin Ackley, but among the midseason callups at second base this year, he's the next-best thing, as he showed by homering in four straight games recently. He could stand to have a few more multi-hit games, becoming the consistent .300 hitter he was in the minors, but let's not nitpick. If you need help at second base, you should be gravitating toward him.
Approach with caution
Danny Espinosa (64 percent started): Just when we were all about to go all-in on Espinosa, the rookie's high strikeout rate finally got the better of him. He's not a lost cause or anything, but you shouldn't expect him to break out of his slump with Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt and Roy Halladay on the schedule this week. Plus, Espinosa does most of his damage against left-handers, batting .283 against them, which means the five righties on tap certainly won't help his cause.
Jemile Weeks (44 percent): Weeks has had more good times than bad during his rookie season, but he's clearly on the wrong side of streaky now. He has been terrible against left-handed pitchers this season, batting .231 compared to .322 against righties, so with four lefties on tap in a six-game week, his struggles will likely continue. Now isn't the week to use him in mixed leagues.
Injury concerns
Brandon Phillips sprained his right ankle Saturday and had to sit out Sunday. He's likely to avoid a DL stint but could miss a couple games at the start of the week. Since he's not quite the power-speed threat he used to be, you can afford to look into other options this week in mixed leagues ... Omar Infante, who had recently begun to show some life at the plate, fractured his right middle finger Thursday and had to go on the DL. Most likely, Emilio Bonifacio will move over from third base to man Infante's spot at second, but shortstop Hanley Ramirez will have to return from a shoulder injury before that can happen. As for Infante, his upside isn't great enough for you to stash him in mixed leagues.
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| Player | % increase | |
| 1. | Brett Lawrie, 2B, Blue Jays | 23 |
| 2. | Jesus Guzman, 1B, Padres | 20 |
| 3. | Jason Kipnis, OF, Indians | 19 |
| 4. | Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks | 18 |
| 5. | Hideki Matsui, DH, Athletics | 14 |
| 6. | Yuniesky Betancourt, SS, Brewers | 10 |
| 7. | Casey McGehee, 3B, Brewers | 9 |
| 8. | Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, Red Sox | 9 |
| 9. | Jason Bourgeois, OF, Astros | 9 |
| 10. | Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Royals | 9 |
Third base
Brett Lawrie, whose expected promotion in late May was set back by a fractured hand, finally got the call to the majors on Thursday, with Travis Snider going back to Triple-A. Lawrie has taken over everyday duty at third base, bumping Jose Bautista back to the outfield. Bautista got the necessary 20 games at third base to retain eligibility at the position heading into next season, so no worries there. Lawrie put up huge numbers at Triple-A Las Vegas, hitting .353 with 18 homers in 292 at-bats, so he's worth a flier in all leagues, especially since he got off to such a hot start over the weekend. Fellow rookie Mike Moustakas was benched recently for his inability to adapt to the majors, but he and hitting coach Kevin Seitzer have apparently gotten to the bottom of the problem. Moustakas' upside makes him well worth watching, but you'll want to see some productivity from him before getting him active in mixed leagues. The Astros finally got their fill of Chris Johnson, optioning him to the minors on July 31 for Jimmy Paredes. Paredes isn't considered a high-upside player, but as long as he's getting consistent at-bats, he deserves a look in NL-only leagues.
Must-Start Options: Albert Pujols, Jose Bautista, Evan Longoria, Ryan Zimmerman, Kevin Youkilis, David Wright, Michael Young, Pablo Sandoval, Aramis Ramirez
Heating up
Edwin Encarnacion: .352 (31 for 88), 3 HRs, 3 SBs, .998 OPS, 13 BBs, 13 Ks in 24 games
Ryan Zimmerman: .444 (28 for 63), 1 3B, 6 2Bs, 2 SBs, 1.057 OPS during 15-game hit streak
Casey McGehee: .342 (13 for 38), 3 HRs, 12 RBI, 1.056 OPS in 10 games
Ryan Roberts: .478 (11 for 23), 2 HRs, 1 SB, 1.473 OPS, 11 BBs, 3 Ks in eight games
Cooling off
Mike Moustakas: .120 (11 for 92), 4 2Bs, .325 OPS in 24 games
Evan Longoria: .119 (5 for 42), 2 HRs, .588 OPS, 11 BBs, 12 Ks in 12 games
Emilio Bonifacio: .167 (6 for 36), 1 HR, 1 SB, .495 OPS, 1 BB, 13 Ks in eight games
Worth a second look
Ryan Roberts (66 percent started): After fending off has-beens like Sean Burroughs and Geoff Blum to keep his job, Roberts has gotten more comfortable at the plate recently, looking more like the player who emerged as an attractive mixed-league option when he took over as the starting third baseman in May. The Diamondbacks have favorable matchups against pitchers like Aneury Rodriguez, Brett Myers, Dillon Gee, Mike Pelfrey and Chris Capuano, so you'll want to get Roberts active again.
Casey McGehee (48 percent): McGehee has been a non-factor virtually all season, but he has shown signs of turning the corner recently, most notably with his three-homer game Wednesday. The sample size is still too small for most mixed-league owners to jump on board, especially since McGehee has been so miserable for so long, but if you're desperate for help at third base, he's a sneaky play off the waiver wire. It's not like he has tough matchups this week, facing pitchers like Edwin Jackson, Kyle Lohse, Jake Westbrook, Paul Maholm, Kevin Correia and Charlie Morton.
Approach with caution
Emilio Bonifacio (78 percent started): Bonifacio's recent hitting streak put him on the map in Fantasy, and now that he's back stealing bases in abundance, he may stay there. But this week probably isn't the best time to use him. Not only has he cooled off recently, but he's facing Brandon Beachy, Tim Hudson, Matt Cain Tim Lincecum and Ryan Vogelsong in a six-game week, making him unlikely to get back on track all of a sudden.
Ty Wigginton (34 percent): Even when Carlos Gonzalez was out with a wrist injury, the Rockies made little effort to get the power-hitting Wigginton in their lineup. Now that Gonzalez is back, Wigginton will be even less likely to get regular playing time. In fact, he has started only four of the team's last nine games, sitting in favor of Ian Stewart at third base and Eric Young in left field. That's not much incentive to start him, is it?
Injury concerns
Chase Headley, who was in line to have a big week with favorable matchups against the Mets and Reds rotations, might end up having to go on the DL after fracturing his left pinkie on a slide Saturday. Players have played through similar injuries before, but with the Padres out of the playoff race, they don't have any reason to push him ... Chipper Jones, who had missed 10 straight games with a quadriceps injury, returned to the lineup Saturday but then got another day off Sunday. The injury-prone 39-year-old might get more rest than usual down the stretch, making him hard to recommend in mixed leagues. Keep an eye on his status going forward ... David Freese, who was enjoying one of the healthiest stretches of his career, couldn't get out of the way of a Clay Hensley pitch Thursday and suffered what the team called a mild concussion. With the seven-day DL in play this year, Freese is a candidate to miss extended time, especially since he has now missed three games with the issue. Reserve him in mixed leagues.
Shortstop
Hanley Ramirez suffered a sprained left shoulder on an attempted diving catch Tuesday and hasn't played since. The Marlins are confident he won't miss significant time, but he wasn't able to return when expected Saturday and had to sit out Sunday as well. For this sort of injury, the timetable is always fluid, but considering Ramirez said he doesn't have full range of motion yet, you have legitimate reason to sit him in mixed leagues, even with his recent resurgence. Though not quite as high-end as Ramirez, Jed Lowrie has some Fantasy clout of his own and is on the verge of returning from the shoulder injury that has sidelined him since June 16. He was kind of a disappointment in Fantasy after getting off to a hot start but still has decent upside and will likely reclaim the starting job from Marco Scutaro. He could return as early as Monday, so he's worth stashing again even if you wouldn't want to start him right away.
Must-Start Options: Troy Tulowitzki, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jimmy Rollins, Starlin Castro, Elvis Andrus
Heating up
Yuniesky Betancourt: .382 (26 for 68), 3 HRs, 15 RBI, .976 OPS in 18 games
Troy Tulowitzki: .514 (19 for 37), 2 HRs, 11 RBI, 1 SB, 1.346 OPS in 10 games
Asdrubal Cabrera: .382 (13 for 34), 2 HRs, 3 SBs, 1.093 OPS during nine-game hit streak
Starlin Castro: .500 (16 for 32), 1 HR, 3 2Bs, 1 SB, 1.217 OPS during seven-game hit streak
Cooling off
Erick Aybar: .163 (8 for 49), 2 2Bs, 3 SBs, .384 OPS in 12 games
Jhonny Peralta: .167 (4 for 24), .417 OPS, 0 BBs, 8 Ks in seven games
J.J. Hardy: .107 (3 for 28), 1 HR, .383 OPS in seven games
Worth a second look
Derek Jeter (76 percent started): No, Jeter isn't the player he used to be, but the continued disregard from Fantasy owners is getting a little embarrassing. At a weak position like shortstop, Jeter is still more than serviceable and deserves to start in most leagues even with the Yankees' tough matchups this week. Since returning from his calf injury on July 4, he has scored 94.5 Head-to-Head points. The only shortstops to score more during that stretch are Jimmy Rollins, Emilio Bonifacio and Troy Tulowitzki. Let's get real, people.
Rafael Furcal (27 percent): Slowly but surely, Furcal is beginning to turn his season around, first with a few multi-hit games in his last days with the Dodgers and then with a homer in only his fourth game with the Cardinals. It's not much, but for a player with his upside, it's notable. Maybe the change of scenery will help him regain his form. If you're hurting at shortstop, don't forget about him on the waiver wire.
Approach with caution
J.J. Hardy (61 percent started): Hardy has missed a few games recently with a minor ankle injury, but that's not even the biggest reason to shy away from him this week. As hot as he was in June and early July is as cold as he is now, hitting safely in only two of his last seven games. Even during his best years with the Brewers, streaks were the norm for him, so you shouldn't think of him as an automatic start this week.
Eduardo Nunez (31 percent): Despite Nunez's admirable play in the absence of Alex Rodriguez (knee surgery), the Yankees have begun platooning him with has-been Eric Chavez, who has started each of the Yankees' last eight games against right-handed pitchers. With tough matchups this week against the top of the Angels and Rays rotations, Nunez would be a candidate to sit anyway, but especially now that he won't get enough at-bats for mixed-league use.
Injury concerns
Jose Reyes left Sunday's game with stiffness in the same hamstring that forced him to the DL before the All-Star break. The Mets recalled Ruben Tejada after Sunday's game, giving reason to believe Reyes is on his way back to the DL. Reyes has been one of the most valuable players in Fantasy this season, but he obviously comes with significant risk this week. Unless his situation improves right before the lineup deadline, you should plan on sitting him ... Dee Gordon, who has taken over for the departed Rafael Furcal in Los Angeles, landed awkwardly on his shoulder while tagging a runner Saturday and missed Sunday's game. The injury is of the day-to-day variety, but because Gordon has yet to contribute much with his bat, it's all the reason you need to sit him ... Alexi Casilla, who is working his way back from a strained hamstring, will begin running the bases soon and has a chance of returning from the DL when eligible Friday. He was one of the fastest rising middle infielders in Fantasy at the time of his injury, so if you need help at second base or shortstop, he's worth stashing even in mixed leagues.
Outfield
After two attempts at a quick return and an eventual DL stint, Carlos Gonzalez's month-long battle with a bone bruise in his right wrist has finally come to an end. The 25-year-old returned from the disabled list Saturday and showed no ill effects from the injury, going 2 for 5. Eric Young, who was filling in for Gonzalez in left field, has remained in the lineup, shifting Gonzalez over to right. Seth Smith has instead been the odd man out. That arrangement won't necessarily continue, but for now, it destroys Smith's mixed-league appeal. Kosuke Fukudome, who was a platoon player with the Cubs, has been playing every day with the Indians. He hasn't been hitting particularly well, but his value still figures to improve if he continues to get regular at-bats. With Fukudome's move to Cleveland, Tyler Colvin has gone back to starting against right-handers for the Cubs. Though he has power potential, he hasn't shown enough of it this year for mixed-league use. Andres Torres is looking less and less like the everyday center fielder for the Giants. He has started only four games there since the acquisition of Carlos Beltran, losing starts to Cody Ross and Aaron Rowand. Torres has had a down season anyway, so if you still own him in a mixed league, this is the last excuse you need to drop him. Mariners prospect Trayvon Robinson, the prize of the Erik Bedard deal, made his major-league debut on Friday, starting in left field. His arrival will likely cost Casper Wells and Mike Carp some at-bats. Both had been gaining momentum in AL-only leagues with their solid play of late, but because Robinson has the most upside of the three, he's the one you want to see getting the majority of the playing time. The Mariners will have to rotate the three between two positions.
Must-Start Options: Jose Bautista, Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Matt Holliday, Josh Hamilton, Curtis Granderson, Jacoby Ellsbury, Lance Berkman, Andrew McCutchen, Shane Victorino, Justin Upton, Carl Crawford, Carlos Beltran, Nelson Cruz, Michael Bourn, Ben Zobrist, Alex Gordon, Michael Cuddyer
Heating up
Coco Crisp: .348 (23 for 66), 1 HR, 10 SBs, 10 BBs, 7 Ks in 17 games
Hideki Matsui: .509 (28 for 55), 3 HRs, 1.322 OPS, 6 BBs, 2 Ks during 14-game hit streak
Michael Morse: .514 (18 for 35), 2 HRs, 9 RBI, 1.328 OPS during eight-game hit streak
Hunter Pence: .382 (13 for 34), 2 HRs, 1.052 OPS during eight-game hit streak
Corey Hart: .444 (16 for 36), 3 HRs, 1 SB, 1.168 OPS during eight-game hit streak
Jason Bay: .406 (13 for 32), 2 HRs, 8 RBI, 1.160 OPS in eight games
Ryan Braun: .462 (12 for 26), 4 2Bs, 1 SB, 1.115 OPS in six games
Matt Holliday: .381 (8 for 21), 4 HRs, 1 SB, 1.536 OPS in six games
Rick Ankiel: .357 (10 for 28), 4 HRs, 9 RBI, 1.236 OPS in six games
Cooling off
Bobby Abreu: .139 (11 for 79), 1 HR, 2 SBs, .481 OPS in 21 games
Logan Morrison: .183 (8 for 49), 3 HRs, .652 OPS, 9 BBs, 16 Ks in 16 games
Chris Young: .106 (5 for 47), no extra-base hits, 4 SBs, .378 OPS in 14 games
Vernon Wells: .143 (7 for 49), one extra-base hit, 3 SBs, .356 OPS in 12 games
Jason Heyward: .167 (6 for 36), one extra-base hit, .480 OPS, 5 BBs, 6 Ks in 11 games
Nate Schierholtz: .135 (5 for 37), two extra-base hits, .347 OPS, 1 BB, 11 Ks in 11 games
Carlos Lee: .067 (2 for 30), 1 HR, 2 BBs, 2 Ks in eight games
Eric Thames: .036 (1 for 28), 1 BB, 10 Ks in seven games
Jon Jay: .111 (2 for 18), .269 OPS in six games
Worth a second look
Chris Young (75 percent started): Yes, Young has been in a free fall since the All-Star break, but for a free-swinger like him, prolonged slumps are nothing out of the ordinary. He's due for a hot streak, and the Diamondbacks' seven-game week against the Astros and Mets seems like an ideal time for it, especially since all seven games are at home. Young is a much better hitter at home, posting an .823 OPS there compared to .696 on the road. Keep him active.
Desmond Jennings (70 percent): Jennings has done nothing to disappoint Fantasy owners since making his long-awaited return to the big leagues on July 23, posting an OPS over 1.000. With four games against the Royals pitching staff to open a seven-game week, he has every reason to sustain the hot hitting, making him an advisable play in all formats.
Juan Pierre (47 percent): Pierre has cooled off a little from his mid-July hitting streak, but he's still batting .333 (16 for 48) over his last 13 games to make him relevant in mixed leagues. And if the White Sox make the most of their favorable matchups this week against pitchers like Jeremy Guthrie, Jo-Jo Reyes, Tommy Hunter, Chris Tillman, Bruce Chen, Luke Hochevar and Jeff Francis -- yeah, that's seven -- Pierre should be able to score plenty of runs at the top of the lineup.
Hideki Matsui (32 percent): The Athletics' face four left-handed pitchers this week, which may seem like a bad thing for the left-handed-hitting Matsui, but it's not. Not only is he one of the hottest players in baseball right now, but seven of his 10 homers this season have come against lefties, giving him an .878 OPS against them compared to .708 against righties. At age 37, Matsui doesn't have much value in mixed leagues anymore, but now would be a decent time to take a flier on him.
Josh Willingham (27 percent): Willingham was long overdue for one of his patented hot streaks and seems to be having it now, batting .294 (15 for 51) with four homers, 15 RBI and a 1.005 OPS over his last 14 games. That's reason enough to roll the dice on him in mixed leagues. The four games against left-handed pitchers, against whom he has an .817 OPS, only make it easier.
Approach with caution
Jayson Werth (74 percent started): Werth seems to be on a pretty good run right now, batting .282 (11 for 39) with two home runs and two stolen bases over his last 10 games. But he doesn't have more than two hits in any of those games and is still batting only .222 on the season. With tough matchups coming up against pitchers like Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt and Roy Halladay, this week may not be the best time to put your confidence in him again in mixed leagues.
Logan Morrison (65 percent): Even as his batting average and on-base percentage have gone in the tank, Morrison has managed to stay productive in Fantasy because of timely power hitting. That won't last forever, though, and with the Braves and Giants rotations on tap in a six-game week, it might not last at all. If you have viable alternatives in a mixed league, now would be a good time to give them a look.
Jason Heyward (62 percent): You'd think the Braves' acquisition of Michael Bourn would force recent callup Jose Constanza to the bench. But instead, Heyward has sat out three of the last four games. Manager Fredi Gonzalez wouldn't call the move a benching, but considering Heyward's .220 batting average, it's probably more than just a motivational ploy. Heyward would need to start just about every one of the Braves' six games this week to make a worthwhile contribution in mixed leagues, and that seems like a long shot.
Vernon Wells (51 percent): Wells' season-long slump has only gotten worse over the last couple weeks, with no end in sight. He's batting .179 against right-handed pitchers this year, so unless the Angels are facing a bunch of lefties, you can leave him on your bench in mixed leagues. The two lefties in the team's six games this week aren't going to cut it.
Rajai Davis (22 percent): Davis is looking like the odd man out in the Blue Jays' outfield with Colby Rasmus on board, which is a shame considering his high number of steals this season. He has started three of the nine games since Rasmus' arrival, sitting against the right-handed pitchers. With five righties on the schedule this week, Davis should be nowhere near mixed-league lineups.
Injury concerns
Corey Hart was hit by a pitch in the left hand Saturday and was forced to sit out Sunday as well. The injury is considered a bruise, so he's unlikely to miss an extended period of time. As hot as he's been lately, you'll want to keep him active in most Fantasy formats ... Melky Cabrera left Saturday's game with soreness in his left ankle and remained out of the lineup Sunday. The injury isn't considered serious, and considering Cabrera's all-around production has made him more or less a must-start option when healthy, you'll probably want to stick with him even if he's at risk of missing a game or two at the start of the week ... Coco Crisp stole a career-high four bases Saturday but strained his calf in the process. As we've seen already with Derek Jeter and Ryan Braun this season, strained calves don't go away overnight. Crisp has been hot recently, but because his value in Fantasy is entirely dependent on his legs, you should probably avoid him this week ... Jose Tabata, who has been out since June 29 with a strained left quadriceps, suffering numerous setbacks along the way, began a rehab assignment for Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday. The Pirates will evaluate him on Wednesday, meaning he won't return before the weekend. You'll want to sit him one more week in Fantasy, but he might be available to you in Fantasy Week 20 (Aug. 15-21).
| | |||||||
| Team | 8/8 | 8/9 | 8/10 | 8/11 | 8/12 | 8/13 | 8/14 |
| White Sox | @BAL | @BAL | @BAL | @BAL | KC | KC | KC |
| vs. Guthrie | vs. Reyes | vs. Hunter | vs. Tillman | vs. Chen | vs. Hochevar | vs. Francis | |
| A seven-game week against arguably the worst two pitching staffs in baseball makes this one an easy call. | |||||||
| Diamondbacks | HOU | HOU | HOU | HOU | NYM | NYM | NYM |
| vs. W. Rodriguez | vs. Lyles | vs. A. Rodriguez | vs. Myers | vs. Gee | vs. Pelfrey | vs. Capuano | |
| Go to the waiver wire and count how many of these pitchers are on it. That says it all right there. | |||||||
| Padres | @NYM | @NYM | @NYM | @NYM | @CIN | @CIN | @CIN |
| vs. Pelfrey | vs. Capuano | vs. Dickey | vs. Niese | vs. Arroyo | vs. Bailey | vs. Willis | |
| Road trip always a good thing for Padres hitters, especially when best pitcher they're facing is Dickey. | |||||||
| Reds | COL | COL | COL | COL | SD | SD | SD |
| vs. Hammel | vs. Rogers | vs. Johnson | vs. Chacin | vs. Latos | vs. Stauffer | vs. LeBlanc | |
| Chacin and Latos have their moments, but most of these pitchers belong at the bottom of the rotation. | |||||||
| Rays | KC | KC | KC | KC | @NYY | @NYY | @NYY |
| vs. Hochevar | vs. Francis | vs. Paulino | vs. Duffy | vs. Sabathia | vs. Colon | vs. Garcia | |
| Sabathia and Colon the only pitchers holding Rays back. Four games against Royals looking awfully nice. | |||||||
| | |||||||
| Team | 8/8 | 8/9 | 8/10 | 8/11 | 8/12 | 8/13 | 8/14 |
| Yankees | -- | LAA | LAA | LAA | TB | TB | TB |
| -- | vs. Haren | vs. Takahashi | vs. Chatwood | vs. Price | vs. Hellickson | vs. Shields | |
| Return home normally good for Yankees hitters, but not with Haren, Price and Shields waiting for them. | |||||||
| Marlins | ATL | ATL | ATL | -- | SF | SF | SF |
| vs. Lowe | vs. Beachy | vs. Hudson | -- | vs. Cain | vs. Lincecum | vs. Vogelsong | |
| Even dodging the best part of Braves staff, Marlins don't have a soft spot on their schedule this week. | |||||||
| Nationals | @CHC | @CHC | @CHC | -- | @PHI | @PHI | @PHI |
| vs. Garza | vs. Lopez | vs. Dempster | -- | vs. Hamels | vs. Oswalt | vs. Halladay | |
| Of course, this ranking assumes Dempster and Oswalt won't both be at their best. If they are, yikes. | |||||||
| Pirates | @SF | @SF | @SF | -- | @MIL | @MIL | @MIL |
| vs. Vogelsong | vs. Bumgarner | vs. Sanchez | -- | vs. Narveson | vs. Greinke | vs. Marcum | |
| Missing Lincecum and Cain helps, but rest of Giants staff still pretty tough, as are Greinke and Marcum. | |||||||
| Blue Jays | OAK | OAK | OAK | -- | LAA | LAA | LAA |
| vs. Harden | vs. Gonzalez | vs. Moscoso | -- | vs. Santana | vs. Weaver | vs. Haren | |
| Weaver's decision to drop his appeal pushes him back to the Blue Jays series. Bad news for their hitters. | |||||||
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