MLB Fantasy News 2011

HacheMan · Sep 14, 2011

2 New Closers, 1 Worthy Pickup

The Republican debates were earlier this week and… no, we're not going political here. We're going to lower the level of discourse even further -- and you thought that wasn't possible.

We're going to name these closer tiers after comeback lines from our collective past. If we do hear any of these in the coming election season, you'll know we've really gone off the rails. (If we haven't already.)

Tier 1: Elite (5) (AKA: The "I'm rubber, you're glue" Tier.)

Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
Joel Hanrahan, Pittsburgh Pirates
John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers

This is the classic comeback line to end all classic comeback lines. Unfortunately it's not applicable when a closer is hucking a 95 MPH fastball at you. That would be strange.
Jonathan Papelbon must be burning some rubber -- he walked two batters last week. That's the first time he's done that all year. They were the first batters he walked sine July 10th. Once his team gets right, he'll rack up five or six saves in the final two weeks and his overall line will look as dominant as his peripherals have been all season. Craig Kimbrel blew a save this last week, and that wouldn't be worrisome at all if he didn't also have five walks in his last ten innings and a history of control problems in the minor leagues. Just remember that when you start thinking about keepers, especially since closers don't make for great keepers anyway. Is Mariano Rivera, newly of 600 saves, worth keeping? Another question to be unpacked later.

Tier 2: Rock Steady (6) (AKA: The "No you are but what am I" Tier.)

J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks
Ryan Madson, Philadelphia Phillies
Drew Storen, Washington Nationals
Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers
Andrew Bailey, Oakland Athletics

Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals

This comeback suffers a little from inviting more abuse, but it's also another classic that reaches way back into our past.
Wow. J.J. Putz now has 12 strikeouts and one walk in his last ten outings. That brings his strikeout-to-walk ratio for the year above five-to-one. Amazingly, that still puts him behind Mariano Rivera and Jonathan Papelbon (as well as Koji Uehara and both Rafael Betancourt and Huston Street), but it's a top-ten number and that makes him the elite… when healthy.
Ryan Madson continues to rise in the rankings. He finally knows he's a closer and what are you? You are enjoying an elite reliever who really has been great for three years now. Three years ago he also bumped up his velocity three or four miles per hour and upped his usage of his excellent changeup. It's much more likely that those things have lead to his current ability to close, not some weird mind-set change or a sudden love of high leverage situations. In other words, since he's made those changes, he could (should?) have been closing all this time.
Still no blown saves for Jose Valverde. Still too many walks. Andrew Bailey had a scare with a batted ball in batting practice, but his head is okay and there's no reason to reach for Grant Balfour right now. Joakim Soria moves up because he's put up seven straight zeroes and has only walked one batter in his last nine outings (against 13 strikeouts). He's starting to look like his Mexcellence of old.

Tier 3: OK options (7) (AKA: The "Takes one to know one" Tier.)

Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins
Jordan Walden, Anaheim Angels
Brandon League, Seattle Mariners
Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs
Sergio Santos, Chicago White Sox

Heath Bell, San Diego Padres

Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers

Honestly, this one might be better than the comeback in the second tier, but it's just not as iconic. Also, if memory serves correctly, this one sometimes stumped people. Mostly in a good way, but still… it's nice to see that zinger recognized immediately, you know?
Joe Nathan is headed north at some point. Since his velocity has returned, he's had much better peripherals. He has struck out 13 batters in his last 9 1/3 innings, and only walked two. His ERA will slowly improve as he gets more comfortable, too. Heath Bell, on the other hand, is headed south. He gave up his fifth save of the season on Sunday, by allowing two home runs in Arizona, without racking up a strikeout. Why his strikeout rate fell so sharply in one year is a mystery.
Neftali Feliz has really righted ship over the past month. Since August 9th (yes, a day after blown save), he hasn't given up a run. Better yet, he's only given up three hits in those 13 1/3 innings. He's still showing wonky control (eight walks), but the strikeouts are back (14).

Tier 4: Question marks (7) (AKA: The "That's what she said" Tier.)

Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay Rays

Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals
Francisco Cordero, Cincinnati Reds
Mark Melancon, Houston Astros
Chris Perez, Cleveland Indians
Javy Guerra, Los Angeles Dodgers

The non-sequitir is truly the question mark of comebacks. If the last one left people wondering what you meant, this one will just leave them wondering. Ah, but it will defuse the situation. (It also might have been "Your momma [insert what they said about you]" depending on your particular set of friends.)
Jason Motte is rising fast. He's clearly the closer in St. Louis, and he even recorded his first Kimbrel on Monday. There's really not much to worry about with him. He gets ground balls where Fernando Salas didn't, so he's less likely to give up the game-losing home run. Other than that, they both had great strikeout and walk rates. He's probably even a decent keeper closer, depending on how well he does over the next two weeks.
Kyle Farnsworth has a tender elbow. It's hard to tell how big of a deal it is, but he hasn't pitched since Saturday. His team is suddenly back in the race for the postseason, though, so they'll try to nurse him to health quickly. Joel Peralta is the interim closer, and he debuted in the role with a Kimbrel, so he has some skills. Still, he doesn't have great platoon splits and is a little more volatile than the goggled professor Farns. This is probably a temporary issue, but we'll demote him for it.
Francisco Cordero is still getting saves and they're still talking about negotiating a long-term deal. And Aroldis Chapman is still a better pitcher, and cheaper. Javy Guerra was primed to move ahead of him because of the news that Jonathan Broxton is done for the year. With Broxton being a free agent, Guerra suddenly becomes the favorite for saves next year too. Don't sleep on Kenley Jansen, who has better stuff than Guerra and has been corralling the ball better this year. Oh, and Guerra has had control issues in the past… and blew the save Tuesday night with three walks, including the decisive one with the bases loaded. He's a bit of a risk, and deep league dynasty players should be looking at Jansen now.

Tier 5: Rollercoaster rides (5) (AKA: The "Your face is [insert insult]" Tier.)

1st Chair: Rafael Betancourt, 2nd Chair: Huston Street, Colorado Rockies
1st Chair: Frank Francisco, 2nd Chair: Casey Janssen, Toronto Blue Jays
1st Chair: Leo Nunez, 2nd Chair: Edward Mujica, Florida Marlins

1st Chair: Jim Johnson, 2nd Chair: Kevin Gregg, Baltimore Orioles

1st Chair: Manny Acosta, 2nd Chair: Bobby Parnell, New York Mets
1st Chair: Sergio Romo, 2nd Chair: Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants

You're really hurting when you resort to this comeback. You're mostly hurting when you resort to these closers, too.
Well, Rafael Betancourt is an excellent reliever. He has 66 strikeouts against eight walks! If you're thinking about picking him up and dropping any other closer in this tier (and probably even the tier above), you should do so right now. The problem is that Huston Street is there, too, and he has a 54 strikeouts to nine walks. He's not much worse, and he has years of closing experience behind him. If you are at all thinking about next year, Huston Street still figures into this equation. And don't worry, we'll do a keeper ranking for these closers soon in order to help separate these issues.
In the same way, Frank Francisco is relatively safe now that Jon Rauch is done for the year and headed for surgery. He's been pitching well, too. But his season speaks to his risk: he's lost the job before. And the Jays, looking to next year, might try Casey Janssen in the role. He's under team control for another year, and Francisco is a free agent.
Leo Nunez is back on the horse. That is to say, he's getting saves. And the slates are clean since his blowup at the end of August (six straight outings). But he's still risky because of all those fly balls -- and therefore home runs.
Now we get to the true chances for saves on your waiver wire. Jim Johnson has converted three straight saves and Kevin Gregg has been terrible this year. But then Gregg got on opportunity Saturday… and blew it. This can't last much longer, and Johnson got the save Tuesday night. JJ is a great waiver-wire pickup for saves. And he's even under team control for longer than Gregg, so this might last. We've been telling you how bad Gregg has been all year, and finally the Orioles decided they couldn't see much more of it.
The Mets also provide a chance for saves on the wire, but none of the Met options is very tempting at the moment. Bobby Parnell has been getting into games too early to seem like a viable closer candidate, Jason Isringhausen is hurt, and now Manny Acosta (aka The Acostapalypse) looks like the last man standing. In head-to-head leagues, you might as well turn that spot into a streamer at this point. Acosta probably won't be worth his roster spot just for a save or two. But in roto, you never know. You could be close enough that the save might make a difference. Just watch your innings pitched pace!
The Giants are just losing too often to know who the closer is right now. Sergio Romo pitched the ninth in their extra-inning win Tuesday night, and he's probably the guy. But Brian Wilson is nearing a return.

HacheMan · Sep 14, 2011

David Murphy continues to rake

Eric Karabell

• Texas Rangers outfielder David Murphy homered twice Tuesday, and continues to aid fantasy owners down the stretch. Murphy, on ESPN's most-added list but still available in 40 percent of leagues, went 4-for-4 and scored four runs, as well; he now has an RBI in 12 of the past 16 games, and will keep playing even with the return of Nelson Cruz, who came off the DL on Tuesday but didn't play.

• Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Brandon Morrow was torched for seven runs (five earned) at Fenway Park on Tuesday, raising his ERA to 5.23. Morrow has lost four consecutive decisions over five starts and allowed 10 home runs in that span. Own him for the strikeouts -- he's on pace for nearly 200 -- but the other numbers aren't fun.

• It was a big night for top catchers, as Brian McCann, Victor Martinez, Miguel Montero, Matt Wieters and Carlos Santana were among the backstops to hit home runs. Santana smacked a pair, doubled and scored three times. His .236 batting average doesn't excite, but perhaps a .222 BABIP against right-handed pitching is to blame. Santana is a top-5 catcher for 2012 drafts.

• Kansas City Royals lefty Bruce Chen bounced back from consecutive rough outings with eight innings of two-hit, shutout ball Tuesday. Chen's season ERA is 4.04 and he's won half of his 22 starts. Next up for Chen are the White Sox at home, where he generally pitches better. He'll make for a good spot-starter in your head-to-head playoffs.

• Cincinnati Reds right-hander Mike Leake will not, however. While he tossed eight innings of one-run ball Tuesday to win his 12th game of the season, the Reds announced this was Leake's final start of the season. He threw 167&frac23; innings and he finishes with solid peripherals (3.86 ERA, 1.17 WHIP). Leake will be an interesting late-round pick in 2012, and he should keep improving.

HacheMan · Sep 15, 2011

Early 2012 hitter rankings

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com


Offseason? Who needs an offseason?

Fantasy baseball is a 365-days-a-year sport, and while many of you, now out of the championship hunt in your leagues, have shifted your focus entirely to your fantasy football teams, I say such a decision is foolish. It's the people who "turn off the switch" who get feasted upon by those who don't.

I might have run the table with wins in all six of my head-to-head fantasy football leagues in Week 1 -- yes, I'm patting myself on the back but I say I'm entitled just this once, being that it's the first time I've ever "run the table" in the opening week -- but who cares? I can always check those teams out on Sunday, and use the rest of the time to hone my baseball skills for the 2012 season.

It's never too early to begin that next-year scouting, and today, I'm going to help you on your way. Consider this week's "Hit Parade" -- our final edition of 2011 -- your 2012 head start: Listed below are preliminary rankings for next season and next season alone. Player value encompasses standard ESPN rules: Rotisserie 5x5 scoring, traditional rosters. Included under each position are also some "quick picks," early predictions on some expected 2012 trends. They include

"Early buzz": A player most likely to spend the winter riding the hype machine, whether it's a top pick at his position or one primed to rise the ranks.

"Questions": Somewhat self-explanatory, but this is a player I see potentially disappointing in 2012, perhaps even comparative to my ranking of him.

"Unranked value pick": Also self-explanatory.

"Hot stove impact": Players whose projected 2012 draft-day price tag might be significantly affected by winter transactions.

"Position eligibility" (where applicable): Any important nugget or shift in a player's eligibility that might have an impact upon the rankings.

Let's get started…

Top 50 overall

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<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Ovr.
Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player </TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Pos.
Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Age
(4/1/11) </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>2011
Player
Rater </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Braun </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Albert Pujols </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>STL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1B1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Miguel Cabrera </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1B2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Adrian Gonzalez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1B3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Troy Tulowitzki </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>COL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SS1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Kemp </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>LAD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Justin Upton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ARI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jose Bautista </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TOR </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3B1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Robinson Cano </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2B1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Joey Votto </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1B4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jacoby Ellsbury </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Prince Fielder </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1B5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Evan Longoria </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3B2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>91 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Hanley Ramirez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>FLA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SS2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>120 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Carlos Gonzalez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>COL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dustin Pedroia </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2B2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">David Wright </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYM </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3B3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>115 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Andrew McCutchen </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PIT </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mark Teixeira </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1B6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Josh Hamilton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>37 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ian Kinsler </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2B3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Elvis Andrus </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SS3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Howard </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1B7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>44 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Stanton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>FLA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>49 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jose Reyes </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYM </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SS4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Curtis Granderson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Adrian Beltre </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3B4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>53 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jay Bruce </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Zimmerman </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WAS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3B5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>129 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Carlos Santana </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CLE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>C1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>103 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Hunter Pence </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Paul Konerko </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHW </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1B8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Holliday </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>STL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>55 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>34 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Carl Crawford </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>110 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dan Uggla </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ATL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2B4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>75 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Alex Gordon </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>37 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Starlin Castro </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SS5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>38 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Victor Martinez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>C2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>39 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Alex Rodriguez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3B6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>100 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>40 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Bourn </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ATL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>41 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Nelson Cruz </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>52 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>42 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Eric Hosmer </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1B9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>68 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>43 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Rickie Weeks </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2B5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>88 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>44 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Shane Victorino </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>45 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Desmond Jennings </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>OF18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>160 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>46 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Young </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3B7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>35 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>47 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Napoli </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>C3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>50 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>48 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Chase Utley </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2B6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>136 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>49 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Kevin Youkilis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3B8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>95 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>50 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Aramis Ramirez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3B9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Top 10 catchers

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 150px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>2011
Player
Rater </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Carlos Santana </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CLE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Victor Martinez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Napoli </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brian McCann </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ATL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Joe Mauer </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Miguel Montero </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ARI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Buster Posey </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Alex Avila </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Wieters </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BAL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">J.P. Arencibia </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TOR </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Early buzz: It'll surround one of two players, second-half sensation Mike Napoli (.379/.468/.690 hitter) or slugging 25-year-old Carlos Santana. Napoli will have his fans; they'll be the ones talking up his ballpark and the lineup surrounding him. That the Texas Rangers have finally figured out what they have in Napoli -- he has started 39 of their past 42 games between catcher (20 starts), designated hitter (13) and first base (6) -- bodes well for his 2012 potential, but at the same time, his .333 BABIP hints that his .310 batting average is bound to drop.

Count on there being a groundswell of support for Santana once we reach the "winter analysis" period -- the time when us stat geeks hole up in our basements and pore over stacks of data looking for an edge -- but I'm prepared to hop his bandwagon well before that. These stats stand out: Santana has 125 walks in 186 career games; only eight players since World War I had more. He also has .208 isolated power, the fifth-best number by any catcher in one of his first two big-league seasons in baseball history. Santana has more untapped power at this stage of his career than Napoli ever did; bank on 30 homers next season.

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<CITE>AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez</CITE>What will Buster Posey do coming off this scary season-ending collision back in May?

Questions: Buster Posey's recovery from three torn ligaments in his leg will not only be one of the most significant questions of 2012 spring training, but perhaps of the decade or -- gasp -- century? His injury spawned countless headlines, and there are enough naysayers out there who believe Posey will never return to form. That's why it's a pleasant development to hear that his rehabilitation is progressing, and that he'll be working at the San Francisco Giants' spring-training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., though October, meaning further updates should be upcoming. Remember, all it takes is for Posey's bat to return to form for him to recapture his spot as one of fantasy's most valuable catchers, though since the Giants have Aubrey Huff and Brandon Belt at first base, Posey's glove does need to return to form as well in order for him to receive enough at-bats to get there.

Unranked value pick: Wilson Ramos' apprenticeship under probable Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez ends in 13 days, and he showed enough with the bat this season that there's every reason to believe he could make a run at the top 10 as a full-timer in 2012. Ramos only continues to improve with experience; he's a .282/.339/.466 hitter in 46 games since July 1. He was a .285 hitter during his minor league career and he's pacing at 17 homers per 500 at-bats this year.

Hot stove impact: Rodriguez and Jorge Posada are the only "names" on the free-agent market, but as both are well past their prime, the free agent to watch might be Ryan Doumit. Doumit might be a terrible catcher, but like Posada or the aforementioned Napoli, he could be of service to an American League team as a combination first baseman/right fielder/DH. Since 2007, a span of five seasons, Doumit is a .279/.337/.455 hitter, numbers that put him in the class of Miguel Montero. If you're a fantasy veteran you know the drill: Root for Doumit to score an everyday job at a position other than catcher, because he'd retain catcher eligibility in most leagues; a spot with, say, the Tampa Bay Rays would be welcomed.

Top 10 first basemen

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 150px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>2011
Player
Rater </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Albert Pujols </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>STL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Miguel Cabrera </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>DET </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Adrian Gonzalez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Joey Votto </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Prince Fielder </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mark Teixeira </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Howard </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Paul Konerko </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHW </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Eric Hosmer </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Adam Lind </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TOR </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Early buzz: First base remains ridiculously deep, and you can count on at least half these top 10-ranked first basemen to be gone no later than the second round of any fantasy draft you're in next spring. Every one of the top seven will begin the 2012 season aged between 27 (Prince Fielder) and 32 (Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard), so calling them "buzzworthy" is an effective cop-out, being that buzz has surrounded them for years. Look at it this way: Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Gonzalez, Joey Votto, Fielder, Mark Teixeira and Howard were buzzworthy in the past, remain buzzworthy and will remain buzzworthy in 2012.

But the player for whom the buzz should ramp up to absurd levels next season is the surprise entrant to my top 10, Eric Hosmer. That's right, a (soon-to-be) 22-year-old first baseman with all of 116 games' big-league experience was worthy enough to crack the top 10 at easily the deepest position in fantasy baseball. The rationale is simple: Since July 1, he's a .299/.345/.498 hitter in 68 games, and among players with 250-plus plate appearances during that span, he ranks 31st in batting average and 28th in slugging percentage. His 86.3 percent contact rate ranks 20th among that group, his .199 isolated power ranks 35th, his .295 well-hit average ranks 14th and his .311 BABIP (55th) shows that his performance is hardly luck-driven. Plus, he has done it at the age of 21; his .312 career minor league batting average shows that he has room to grow; he can steal bases, a rarity among first basemen; and he has arguably endured his adjustment period already at the big league level. There's good reason to think he might be a .300-20-100 hitter as soon as 2012.

Questions: There are plenty, but perhaps none will ring louder than, "Is Adam Dunn done?" (No cheap puns here.) Normally a player coming off a season like his -- with two more plate appearances he'll be in position to assume the throne of lowest single-season batting average of all-time (.162), among those with 450-plus PAs -- is an easy write-off the following year, but Dunn's three years and $44 million remaining on his contract alone might be enough to convince the Chicago White Sox to give him another shot. Cop-out or not, if Dunn receives another 450 PAs in 2012, he cannot possibly be this bad, being that his BABIP of .242 is 50 points beneath his career number (.292). That said, "regression to the mean" for a player with a 42.6 percent strikeout rate might mean a .200 batting average and 20 homers, not a career-averages .244 and 38, and performance like that might A) not keep him in the lineup, and B) won't help fantasy owners. Dunn can no longer hit the fastball -- after hitting .304 and .314 against the pitch the past two seasons, he has a .170 mark against it in 2011 -- and without proof that his bat speed has returned in the spring, he's a total no-go in fantasy.

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<CITE>Jeff Gross/Getty Images</CITE>Prince Fielder is likely a top-five first baseman in 2012, no matter where he plays.

Unranked value pick: You can take your pick from any of the promising rookies of 2011, and the popular choices will either be to chase Paul Goldschmidt's power or Mark Trumbo's 2011 statistics. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but the first baseman who might truly fly beneath the radar is Freddie Freeman, especially if he falls short in the Rookie of the Year balloting as expected. Facts to consider: Among rookies with at least 250 PAs, Freeman ranks fourth in batting average (.292), third in on-base percentage (.353) and eighth in slugging percentage (.458) -- and 23 rookies did qualify -- and his .252 well-hit average ranks 49th out of all 148 qualified hitters. This kid can hit, evidenced by his .318 second-half batting average, and if you'd like a neat little stunt to pull on your competition next spring, consider reminding people that Adam LaRoche was also a .302 hitter after the All-Star break during his rookie season. Then, snatch up Freeman for yourself; he has more power potential and did it when he was two years younger.

Hot stove impact: Two of the top five first basemen, Pujols and Prince Fielder, are free agents this winter, and the early indications are that Pujols might stay in St. Louis, but Fielder probably won't return to the Milwaukee Brewers. Not many teams have the cash to land either megastud; though it's interesting to note that the New York Yankees technically have a wide-open designated hitter role for 2012. Imagine Fielder's powerful left-handed bat in Yankee Stadium? Ultimately, neither of these two players is going to suffer in terms of fantasy value wherever he plays, but it's understandably if today we dream about their potentially gaudy statistics if Pujols moved to Coors Field and Fielder to New York.

Position eligibility: Michael Young would have cracked the top 10 had he played more games at first base than third base, so look for him in those rankings. He'd have placed ninth on this list, but what fantasy owners truly wish is for the Texas Rangers to give him the seven games he needs for second-base eligibility. (Don't count on it; Ian Kinsler isn't about to sit.)

Top 10 second basemen

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 150px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>2011
Player
Rater </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Robinson Cano </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dustin Pedroia </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ian Kinsler </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dan Uggla </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ATL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Rickie Weeks </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Chase Utley </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brandon Phillips </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Howard Kendrick </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>LAA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Dustin Ackley </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SEA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>33 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ben Zobrist </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Early buzz: If you're not impressed by the rookie performance of Dustin Ackley, it probably means you checked out and focused on your fantasy football team the day the lockout ended. Shame on you! Even I'm stunned by Ackley's instant success; I firmly believed he'd be a .265-.270 hitting, little power (single-digit homers given a full year's at-bats) rookie performer as he adapted to big-league pitching, but if you project his numbers to a full 162-game Seattle Mariners schedule, he'd have a .286 batting average, 12 home runs, 69 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and 73 runs scored, plenty to get him into the top-10 discussion. Counting numbers, specifically runs and RBIs, are going to remain a problem as the Mariners work to rebuild their offense, but Ackley provides an outstanding start and his standing at one of fantasy's weaker position brings him added value.

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<CITE>Steven Bisig/US Presswire</CITE>Dustin Ackley lived up to the hype pretty quickly. Can he sustain the production over a full big league season?

Questions: There are plenty of them, with the position as a whole experiencing a host of ups and downs; five of the top 15 second basemen on average on Draft Day 2011 are complete non-candidates for that group entering 2012. One of this year's popular late-round sleepers, Danny Espinosa, might warrant the biggest question: Is he the rookie sensation who managed 15 homers, nine stolen bases and a .788 OPS the first three months of the year, or the strikeout-prone, streaky youngster who has just four homers and five steals to go along with a .223 batting average and 33.2 percent strikeout rate since? The answer might be somewhere in the middle, but that's only because he has historically shown a tendency to vary wildly in his week-to-week performance. Espinosa is the kind of player you'll be thrilled to own for noticeable chunks of time, but want nowhere near your lineup for others, and it's probably not going to change during his sophomore year. The sum total is a player just outside the top 10.

Unranked value pick: Before you ask the question, "Where is Jason Kipnis," let me answer it by making him my unranked value pick. There's an obvious rationale for why it's dangerous to put him in the "buzzworthy" class entering next season: His 28.6 home run/fly ball percentage, which completely explains his one home run-per-13.7 at-bat (37 homers per 500) rate in his first 22 big-league games. Yes, Kipnis has pop -- he had 12 homers in 343 at-bats in Triple-A ball to begin the year and 10 in 315 in Double-A in 2010 -- but the 30-homer power is a total mirage. That said, if you set your expectations at something closer to 15 than 30 homers, you're going to like what you get: A .297/.378/.486 career minor league hitter with some pop and some speed who has managed a 22.8 line drive rate and .268 well-hit average so far in the majors. This kid can hit, and could make a run at top-10 status.

Hot stove impact: For the second consecutive winter, the free-agent market at second base is bone dry, assuming, of course, the Yankees and Cincinnati Reds don't sleep through the deadline to pick up their 2012 options on Robinson Cano and Brandon Phillips. Aaron Hill is one interesting name on the market, but he's going to need to land with a team with a hitting coach who can fix his swing before he'd be an attractive bounce-back candidate. Among the other pending free agents who could score regular at-bats in 2012: Mark Ellis, Omar Infante, Kelly Johnson.

Top 10 third basemen

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 150px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>2011
Player
Rater </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jose Bautista </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TOR </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Evan Longoria </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">David Wright </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYM </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Adrian Beltre </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Zimmerman </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WAS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Alex Rodriguez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Young </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Kevin Youkilis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Aramis Ramirez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Pablo Sandoval </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SF </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Early buzz: The topic of future third basemen has come up several times during my podcast appearances this season, and I'll stress the same opinion I had the last time we discussed it, that for all the young talent at the position, I don't see a single one of these up-and-coming third sackers cracking the 2012 top 10 on the Player Rater. Not that I have anything against players like Mike Moustakas or Lonnie Chisenhall, but look at that top 10 and tell me you see either of them outperforming anyone on the list. But I'm burying the lede: It's Brett Lawrie who stands the best chance at making the cut-off next season, and certainly the buzz surrounding him will be significant enough that he very well might be drafted among the first 10 third basemen off the board. (Lawrie, for the record, is 11th in my rankings.) I'm discussing him as a word of caution more than an endorsement of that buzz; let's not forget that Lawrie's .347 batting average in the minors to begin the season came in a mere 69 games, it was probably fueled by the hitting-friendly environments of both Las Vegas' Cashman Field as well as the Pacific Coast League as a whole, and it was the first time in his professional career he had batted above .285. In addition, injuries did cost Lawrie some time midseason, and it'd be foolish of us to assume that it was a one-time thing and that he's a lock to play all 162 games. Lawrie's speed -- he managed double-digit steals in each of his three full seasons in the minors and has seven so far in the majors -- fuels quite a bit of his fantasy value, but I still see him being more of a .285-18 homer performer in 2012.

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<CITE>Bennett Cohen/Icon SMI</CITE>How will Alex Rodriguez bounce back from an injury-plagued 2011 campaign?

Questions: They surround the aging Alex Rodriguez, now 36 years old, after the surefire Hall of Famer snapped -- or inevitably will snap -- his record of consecutive 30-homer and 100-RBI seasons due to persistent injury issues. A-Rod has now failed to play even 140 games in each of the past four years, his OPS has declined in each of those four years and his isolated power this season (.191) is his lowest since his 48-game 1995. Last year at this time, I strongly urged fantasy owners to resist the instinct to describe Rodriguez a first-round talent. Entering 2012, there's no question he doesn't belong in the top 25 overall.

Unranked value pick: Lawrie already got some press above, but the utterly forgotten player who might yet make a dark-horse run at the top 10 is one who hasn't played in a single game Aug. 6, Chase Headley. While there's a chance his fractured pinkie finger might heal in time for him to make a couple spot appearances before season's end, more likely we'll enter spring training having completely forgotten he exists, his being a member of the San Diego Padres primarily responsible for that. Headley, however, brings two tremendous assets to the table: He's capable of batting close to .300 -- .292 this season and .301 lifetime in the minors -- and he's capable of stealing a base, evidenced by his double-digit steals totals in each of his past three big-league seasons. Headley also has one other thing going for him: His status as a middle-of-the-order Padres hitter, bolstering his counting numbers (runs, RBIs), mostly because the Padres lack much better.

Hot stove impact: Aramis Ramirez could be the most significant name on the winter market -- his $16 million option is mutual and would need his approval to be exercised -- and the importance of that is the understanding of the comfort zone he has reached during his time with the Chicago Cubs. For instance, since 2007, a span of now nearly five full seasons, Ramirez is a .330/.404/.587 hitter at Wrigley Field … but .254/.310/.435 everywhere else. He also hasn't had a batting average beneath .283 or an OPS under .838 at home in any full season as a Cub, so keep it in mind in the event he departs for greener pastures.

Top 10 shortstops

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 150px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>2011
Player
Rater </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Troy Tulowitzki </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>COL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Hanley Ramirez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>FLA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Elvis Andrus </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jose Reyes </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYM </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Starlin Castro </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CHC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Asdrubal Cabrera </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CLE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jimmy Rollins </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">J.J. Hardy </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BAL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Erick Aybar </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>LAA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Derek Jeter </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Early buzz: He might not be the most "buzzworthy" -- that honor probably belongs to Starlin Castro -- but Asdrubal Cabrera's prospects for a repeat of his breakout 2011 is perhaps the most important question facing the fantasy shortstops entering 2012. This is the disconcerting fact: After a .293/.347/.489 first half with 14 homers and 12 steals, Cabrera has seen those numbers slip to .224/.297/.381 with eight and five since the All-Star break. If you look closer, however, you'll notice that his home run/fly ball percentage has dropped only from 13.0 to 10.4, still a healthy number; and his isolated power from .196 to .157, still noticeably north of his career rate (.130); but his BABIP has slipped from .326 to .248. There's a good chance that Cabrera was somewhat fortunate during the first half and somewhat unfortunate the second, and that in 2012 he'll regress to still-pleasant .275-average, 18-homer, 20-steal numbers.

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<CITE>AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill</CITE>Where Jose Reyes lands in free agency could go a long way in determining his 2012 value.

Questions/hot stove impact: It's all about Jose Reyes, the free-agent-to-be who has battled a variety of hamstring problems in recent seasons that threaten to pull him down from the elite tier of fantasy players. Reyes was one of fantasy's clear-cut first-round talents before landing on the disabled list on Aug. 8, and you can be sure that if he had any chance of playing through the injury, knowing he was mere weeks away from a potentially Carl Crawford-esque payday, he would have. (On an aside, how much can interested parties like hearing Crawford's name as comparison for Reyes' probable price tag, knowing how poorly Crawford has performed this season?) All signs point to Reyes remaining with the New York Mets, at least as things currently stand, but is that necessarily a good thing? They might not have the cash to surround him with the talent necessary to bolster his counting numbers, though a player with Reyes' speed can help pad his runs-scored total with his legs alone. The greater question is how often he might steal bases looking forward; while he's 28 years old and therefore still capable of a .300-average, 10-homer, 100-run season, we might have already seen his final 50-steal campaign.

Unranked value pick: It's Dee Gordon, and I admit upfront that I'm not even much of a fan. He's all legs and no bat, but oh, what legs he has. In four professional seasons these are his stolen-base totals: 18 (albeit in 60 games), 73, 53 and 50. So far with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has 18 steals in 43 games, and you can be sure he'll be in their starting lineup come next Opening Day, being that the Dodgers, like the Mets, are seeking cost-effective options. Gordon might not help you in a single other prominent Rotisserie category -- runs, perhaps -- as his 1.7 percent walk rate and .053 isolated power so far in the majors make fellow speedy shortstop Elvis Andrus look like an in-his-prime Derek Jeter as a hitter, by comparison, but if Gordon can merely hit .250 or better and keep himself in the lineup, his steals alone might be enough to propel him into the top 10.

(More) hot stove impact: Besides Reyes, Jimmy Rollins hits the free-agent market this winter, though in his case the impact of the aging process has already had a noticeable impact upon his statistics. The Philadelphia Phillies might have no other choice but to bring him back -- barring them making a run at division rival Reyes -- but in the event that they don't, the worry is that Rollins might have to settle for a much less attractive role in fantasy than the one in which he currently resides. Granted, Rollins' home/road splits aren't significant, but be aware that during the past five seasons, he has accrued 2,739 of his 2,797 at-bats (97.9 percent) at either the Nos. 1 or 3 lineup spots? Point one: The Phillies' lineup is quite stacked at the top. Point two: What if a new team wants him to be a No. 7 hitter?

Top 30 outfielders

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 150px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>2011
Player
Rater </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ryan Braun </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Kemp </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>LAD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Justin Upton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ARI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jacoby Ellsbury </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Carlos Gonzalez </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>COL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Andrew McCutchen </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PIT </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Josh Hamilton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Mike Stanton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>FLA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Curtis Granderson </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>10 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jay Bruce </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Hunter Pence </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>11 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>12 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Matt Holliday </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>STL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>31 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>13 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Carl Crawford </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>56 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>14 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Alex Gordon </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Michael Bourn </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ATL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>16 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Nelson Cruz </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TEX </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>17 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Shane Victorino </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>PHI </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>15 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>18 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Desmond Jennings </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>80 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>19 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Shin-Soo Choo </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CLE </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>88 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Adam Jones </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BAL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Drew Stubbs </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>CIN </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>21 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Corey Hart </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>MIL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>36 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>23 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Brett Gardner </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>22 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>24 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">B.J. Upton </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>32 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>25 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jayson Werth </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>WAS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>54 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>26 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Cameron Maybin </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SD </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>27 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Ichiro Suzuki </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>SEA </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>20 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>28 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Nick Swisher </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>42 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>29 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Nick Markakis </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BAL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>38 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>30 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jason Heyward </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>ATL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>108 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Early buzz: There'll be plenty of buzz surrounding Jacoby Ellsbury's prospects for an encore, but there's no question whatsoever that the most buzzworthy member of the top 30 entering next spring will be Desmond Jennings. Despite the Rays suppressing his service time as long as possible -- something that might very well be what keeps them just shy of the wild card in the end -- Jennings has thrived in 49 games since his midseason call-up, looking very much like an early-years version of the man he effectively replaced, Carl Crawford. Interestingly enough, I've ranked Jennings five spots behind Crawford, but I could completely envision a scenario where the two finish in reverse on the 2012 Player Rater. The most compelling case for their current rankings: Both experience and lineup depth favor Crawford. But let's point out that Jennings has impressive speed, with 15 steals in those 49 games and four instances of 30-plus steals during his minor league career; he draws walks, with a 10.8 percent rate in the minors and 9.9 for the Rays this season; and he's developing power, having belted 21 homers in 138 games between the majors and minors at age 24.

Questions: Crawford faces questions following his poor debut year in Boston, but expect the questions surrounding Andre Ethier and Jason Heyward to ring louder. Knee surgery cut Ethier's 2011 short, and after back-to-back years in which he was barely better than a league-average outfielder, it's fair to question whether he even has the upside to return to top-30 fantasy status. Heyward, meanwhile, suffered as significant a sophomore slump as anyone in history, and his swing needs major overhaul after he hit 372 ground balls out of 679 balls in play (54.8 percent rate) in his first two seasons combined. We're not going to have any sense of how quickly -- or to what extent -- Heyward might be able to get his career on track until spring training, and that makes him a high-risk bet entering 2012. That said, he is not one entirely without appeal.

Unranked value pick: I'm picking Logan Morrison, who despite all the Twitter controversy this season, still has one of the better swings among under-25 hitters in baseball. One reason Morrison might fly beneath the radar in 2012 drafts: It's almost certain that he'll be rumored on the trade market, and many tend to regard that as a black mark for a young hitter. But getting out of Florida could be good for him; they're changing ballparks, yes, but until we know how the team's new venue plays for hitters, it'd be better to see him in a more hitter-friendly environment where there are historical stats to demonstrate his potential impact.

Hot stove impact: The big-ticket items this season remain in the infield, but that doesn't mean the winter market is devoid of outfielders. Two names stand out as intriguing fantasy bargains: Carlos Beltran, who has struggled during his time with the San Francisco Giants, and Michael Cuddyer, who would be all the more attractive fantasy pick if he had only played the three more games he needed to acquire second-base eligibility for 2012. Cuddyer could be particularly intriguing if rumors that the Colorado Rockies are interested in his services come to fruition; he has the kind of underrated pop and run-producing ability to be a sneaky 30-100 performer if he had Coors Field helping his cause.

Top five designated hitters

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rank </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 150px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Player <CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 50px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>2011
Player
Rater </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">David Ortiz </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BOS </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>1 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Billy Butler </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>KC </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>2 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Jesus Montero </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>NYY </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Johnny Damon </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>TB </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Vladimir Guerrero </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>BAL </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Early buzz: These days, designated hitter is more a matter of "who didn't qualify anywhere else" than "who's the best among the past-the-age-of-30" crop, as you've still got those aging veterans, David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero, but outside of them, precious few DHs played fewer than 20 games anywhere else. There were really only five viable candidates for my top five, and you see them to the right; Travis Hafner, Jorge Posada and Jim Thome are really the only other ones with a reasonable case at a ranking, and the latter two might not even play in 2012.

[+] Enlarge

<CITE>Jim McIsaac/Getty Images</CITE>Jesus Montero is very intriguing for fantasy next year, depending on what the Yankees do with him.

Jesus Montero is the buzzworthy "DH," and that position gets quotation marks because he's a catcher who has practically no chance of accruing the games behind the plate to avoid being a DH-only come draft day. One thing to like about Montero's brief, recent audition to be the Yankees' postseason DH is that he is flashing the untapped power that he didn't in the minors this season; he has three homers and a double in 35 at-bats (.285 isolated power), after swatting just 18 homers with 19 doubles in 420 at-bats for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (.179 ISO). The Yankees do have a wide-open DH role for Montero come 2012 … or they could install him behind the plate and consider trading Russell Martin … or they could sign a more proven free agent to DH (Fielder? Pujols?) and use Montero as a trade chip for starting-pitching help. But it's clear that Montero's time to play has arrived, and while he'll need to be drafted as a DH, there's a good chance that he'll get enough time behind the plate to qualify at catcher by Memorial Day.

Questions/Hot stove impact: I've already asked a few of them, but the biggest questions tend to be, who's coming back in 2012? Do Guerrero, Posada and Thome return for one more season? (My guess: Yes, yes and no.) The biggest question, however, might be this: Will David Ortiz return to the Boston Red Sox, or might we have to worry about his numbers suffering with a weaker supporting cast on another team? Ortiz and the Red Sox seem like natural partners, but don't underestimate the value of that partnership to his counting numbers.

HacheMan · Sep 15, 2011

Jason Motte continues save binge

Eric Karabell

• Need saves? The hot, available closer these days is St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jason Motte, who saved Wednesday's win and now has five saves in September. Motte remains unowned in 40 percent of ESPN standard leagues, and he boasts a 1.56 ERA and 0.92 WHIP this season.
• One struggling closer is Chicago White Sox right-hander Sergio Santos. He lost Wednesday's game, allowing an Alex Avila home run in the ninth inning and then the go-ahead run in the 10th. Santos has permitted runs in three of five September outings. Lefty Chris Sale also struggled Wednesday, but he could get more chances down the stretch.

• In non-closer news, Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas had three hits and two RBIs Wednesday, a day after hitting his second home run. Moustakas has been a huge disappointment as a big leaguer, but he's 23, and he has 10 hits and five RBIs in his past seven games. He'll keep getting better.

• Texas Rangers left-hander Derek Holland got his 14th win Wednesday, holding the Cleveland Indians to one run over seven innings. Holland, 24, has been tough to trust at times, but in his past four outings his ERA is a cool 1.64. Like Moustakas, Holland has a bright future if he becomes consistent.

• Washington Nationals right-hander Brad Peacock made his first big league start Wednesday and fared well, tossing five shutout innings at Citi Field. Peacock was 15-3 with a 2.39 ERA across two minor league levels, with 177 strikeouts in 146 2/3 innings. Investing in his next start or two is dangerous, but learn the name for 2012.

• Colorado Rockies rookie catcher Wilin Rosario slugged his second home run Wednesday, and he's been in the majors for a week. Rosario has pop -- he hit 40 home runs in 175 games over the past two minor league seasons -- but he's not a walker and probably won't hit for average. He should hit more home runs the final two weeks, though.

HacheMan · Sep 15, 2011

Injury Never Takes a Holliday

You'd think that all the injuries could just stop for a week. One week. One dang week. Then maybe you could win that playoff matchup in that league, right?

Well, no. They won't stop. Matt Holliday felt something tear in his finger but the team will shut him down for four-to-five days first and then see what happens. If you're in the middle of a crazy playoff matchup, you might want to drop him. Five days from now the Cards might not even be in the hunt for the wild card. If you're in a keeper league, try to sell him this offseason for anything you can. The speed is gone, and he was never an elite power guy. It might not get much better than his 2011 from here on out.

Other injuries leave us waiting. How about Nelson Cruz, who was activated, but has no timetable for returning to the starting lineup? That's the definition of frustrating. Samesies with Troy Tulowitzki, who will be out 'a few days' with that soreness in his hip. Or Adrian Gonzalez, who hit his 26th but left the game with his ongoing calf injuries. With the Rays streaking, they'll probably ask him to play a little more than he might otherwise. Rafael Furcal strained his knee Wednesday but is expected to return Friday. Adam Jones has missed most of the past week with his thumb injury, but expects to be back Friday. Brett Lawrie had a big collision with Jason Varitek at the plate and came out of the game later with a knee contusion. He didn't grab anything in pain after the play and is listed as day-to-day, though. Alex Rodriguez should return from his thumb problem Friday, says his manager.

* Now that we're talking one or two more starts left for pitcher, the conversation can get distilled down to the purest form. John Lackey gave up two runs in 5 1/3 against the Blue Jays at home. That might not be so interesting, even if he struck out four against one walk, but Lackey gets Baltimore at home and away for the final two starts. He might be a sneaky play for those two games. Bud Norris has been better all year, and held the Phillies to one run in seven innings, but still lost. If wins are your goal, you have to ask yourself if he can beat the Reds in Cincinnati or the Rockies at home. Rich Harden was given eight days of rest and gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Angels, and that's worrisome on a whole bunch of levels. 1) He gave up three runs to a mediocre offense. 2) He rested eight days and still couldn't do better than one strikeout. 3) Since he rested eight days, we have no idea when his next start will be. Jason Vargas held the Yankees to just one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings (with six strikeouts and one walk), but that was at home. Even though he gets the mediocre Twins offense next time out, it won't be at happen. Stream at your own peril.

Youth is getting a chance at the mound right now. Dylan Axelrod struck out eight Tigers Wednesday in his first major league start. He didn't have great ground-ball rates in the minor leagues and relies mostly on control, so he's a deep-league spot-start right now. The Rays called up Alex Torres to join Matt Moore in the pen, but there's no talk of giving either starts just yet. Moore made his debut Wednesday by allowing two runs while getting four outs, but he did strike out two. Randall Delgado gave up one run in five innings against the Marlins Wednesday, and has surprisingly moved ahead of ueber-prospect Julio Teheran. He struck out four, walked two, and gets the Marlins again next week. Keep him for that one, but starting him against the Phillies in the final week might not be a great idea. Brad Peacock made his first major league start Wednesday, and allowed only two hits in five scoreless against the Mets. But it was the Mets, he walked more than he struck out. He's as risky as any, and if the schedule holds he'll get the Phillies in Philadelphia next time out. That's probably an avoid.

* Carlos Beltran headlined the play at the plate Wednesday. His two solo home runs were literally enough offense for Tim Lincecum as the team won 3-1. He's finally healthy, but injuries will continue to be an issue the rest of his career. Miguel Montero had a couple hits and his 81st RBI. He's put together the kind of season we thought he could with a healthy year. Lonnie Chisenhall hit a home run Wednesday night, but he'll need to cut his strikeout rate a little in 2012 to be a mixed-leaguer. Chris Davis took Wade Davis out, and also added a double later. He's still striking out way too much to hit much better than the .250 he's got going now. Matt Joyce had two hits with a double and has real power. The problem is that he's a platooner most likely, which means it's hard to give him much more than a bench spot in mixed leagues.

* The bullpen update seems to get smaller as the season progresses. But we still have something. Sergio Santos blew a save and it was his fifth. His manager has also used Chris Sale in a lot of save chances this year. It probably doesn't mean a change is coming anyway. Jason Motte struck out two and picked up his sixth save Wednesday. He's a lock the rest of the way. Brian Wilson will throw again Wednesday and could come back for a couple of appearances at the end of the season. We'll admit we thought that Sergio Romo was the man in his absence, but Santiago Casilla got the save Wednesday afternoon. Huh. Joakim Soria is nursing a tight hamstring, and Greg Holland got the save on Wednesday. That's two surprises out of no-where, and another waiver wire pickup for saves.

If you want to talk to me about any of this, hit me up on the twitter.

National League Quick Hits: Tommy Hanson (shoulder) threw a second bullpen session and might yet make a start this season … Johnny Cueto was pitching well, but then he grabbed his side and now has a strained right lat; He's probably done for the year … Add Jonathan Sanchez (ankle) to the list of players that are done for the season … Chase Headley (finger) wants to return for the final homestead of the season, which starts September 23rd … Mike Pelfrey allowed two unearned runs against the Nationals with six strikeouts in seven innings, but predicting his good starts is nigh impossible … You can drop Todd Helton since he's missed six of seven and then left Tuesday's game when his back tightened back up again … Andre Ethier had his season-ending knee surgery Wednesday … The Mets' Chris Schwinden will be in the rotation the rest of the year, and will start Thursday for Miguel Batista, but his stuff is not front-of-the-rotation caliber … Kevin Millwood held the Brewers to two runs on six baserunners in Milwaukee and gets the Padres at home in a decent deeper league spot start … Johan Santana (shoulder) backed out of his scheduled rehab start and is a lock to miss the entire year now.

American League Quick Hits: Derek Holland allowed one run in seven innings and struck out six against the Indians -- he gets the A's next time out and should be a strong spot start … Whoah, Jeremy Guthrie struck out ten Rays in seven innings while holding them to two runs but he gets the Red Sox in Boston next time out, so drop him and stream on anyway … Colby Rasmus should be back Friday … Erik Bedard (lat) did some light tossing and has to wait until he is pain-free to ramp it up … Ivan Nova held the Mariners to one run in 7 1/3 innings in Seattle, and even if he walked four he makes a good spot start against the Rays next time out … Wade Davis gave up four runs in 6 1/3 innings against the O's, so don't play him against the Yankees next time out … Coco Crisp seems to be perpetually hurting; His foot and ankle might let him take some swings soon … Yunel Escobar (elbow) will miss the next few according to his manager … Jed Lowrie is probably a dropper since he's really just pinch-hitting and had to get a cortisone shot in his shoulder … Justin Smoak was pulled from the game Wednesday with a mild groin strain … Former pitcher Adam Loewen got the start in center field and had two run-scoring hits, and then two bad outs on the basepaths and an error in center … Carlos Guillen homered and delivered the go-ahead RBI in the 10th, but he still doesn't look like the starter at second base in Detroit … Carlos Carrasco underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday and will probably be out for all of 2012.

HacheMan · Sep 15, 2011

Justifying Jay
If you're still reading this column, that means you are either a fantasy baseball die-hard or your team still has a chance to finish in the money. In either case, thanks and kudos. I'd like to think Rotoworld (and this column) has played at least a small part in helping you make it through the season. Fantasy baseball has taken a backseat on many prominent websites, but I'll be here until the bitter end. Promise.

I'm not going to waste your time this week by telling you to pick up Rays' left-hander Matt Moore for the final two weeks of the season. Ridiculous stuff, yes, and he has a chance to be a monster in 2012, but unless he's making a start, his value is pretty limited in redraft leagues. Just enjoy the tantalizing sneak preview for now.

Let's move on to the good stuff.

Derrek Lee 1B, Pirates (Yahoo: 28 percent owned, ESPN: 42 percent)

Since returning from a small fracture in his left wrist on September 3, Lee is batting .415 (17-for-41) with four home runs, one double and 11 RBI. The 36-year-old first baseman is increasingly injury-prone and generally trending downward in his career, but remember that he is essentially playing for a contract right now. Don't be surprised if the late surge continues.

Jim Johnson RP, Orioles (Yahoo: 6 percent owned, ESPN: 11.8 percent)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter recently talked about giving Johnson a look in the starting rotation with an eye toward 2012, but the 28-year-old right-hander now has more saves (four) in the past eight days than Kevin Gregg has managed since the start of August. It's difficult to say whether this will continue, as Gregg is still under contract for next season, but it's fairly obvious that Johnson is the better pitcher right now. File him away if you're in the mood to speculate.

Alcides Escobar SS, Royals (Yahoo: 22 percent owned, ESPN: 43.1 percent)

We pretty much know what we are going to get from Escobar at this point. Sure, he's batting .324 (12-for-37) this month, but his ability to steal bases is what makes him fantasy relevant. The 24-year-old shortstop is 24-for-31 in stolen base attempts this season, including five thefts through 11 games in September. Useful if you need speed and worth a look if you need some insurance for Troy Tulowitzki.

Nick Hundley C, Padres (Yahoo: 17 percent owned, ESPN: 11.7 percent)

Hundley's ownership level has increased only slightly since I mentioned him in Waiver Wired back on August 25. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old backstop is batting .380/.436/.620 with three home runs, three doubles, six RBI and a 1.056 OPS over 55 plate appearances during the same timespan. He simply needs to be owned in more leagues right now.

Marco Scutaro 2B/SS, Red Sox (Yahoo: 27 percent owned, ESPN: 13.9 percent)

While Jed Lowrie continues to deal with a nagging injury to his left shoulder, Scutaro is batting .363 with one home run, 12 doubles, one triple, 26 RBI and 13 runs scored over his last 103 plate appearances dating back to early-August. "Scoot" doesn't offer much in the way of power, but has a knack for getting on base and making contact at a high rate. As part of the power-packed Boston lineup, he makes for a fine pickup in deeper mixed formats or leagues that use a MI (middle infielder) spot.

Jon Jay OF, Cardinals (Yahoo: 12 percent owned, ESPN: 23.1 percent)

After a mediocre August, Jay is batting .442 (19-for-43) with two home runs, three doubles, one triple, four RBI and 11 runs scored over his first 12 games this month. While he has bounced around in the batting order for most of the season, the 26-year-old center fielder has been the No. 2 hitter in each of his last 13 starts. And with a red-hot Albert Pujols hitting directly behind him, that's good news for fantasy owners.

Editors note: If you want to play Daily Salary Cap Fantasy Baseball for real money, check out SnapDraft here.

Suitable streamers:

FYI: These are just some names to keep in mind if you are looking for a starting pitcher over the next few days. I'm not going to go in-depth about Javier Vazquez, Doug Fister and R.A. Dickey again, as I have done in previous weeks, so just know that those three remain recommended options the rest of the way. My objective here is to dig a little bit deeper.

Brett Myers SP, Astros (Yahoo: 32 percent owned, ESPN: 30.2 percent)

@ Chicago on Sunday

Myers has allowed exactly one run in each of his last three starts. Sure, two of those outings were against the Pirates and Giants, but he held the first-place Phillies to one run over eight innings in his most recent start on Monday. His home run rate has bounced back to his career norm this season, hence the higher ERA, but he has at least experienced better luck on the road this season. Not the best play for a win because of the team he plays on, but he's a decent last-minute option to stay alive in a H2H league.

Joe Saunders SP, Diamondbacks (Yahoo: 11 percent owned, ESPN: 8.1 percent)

@ San Diego on Sunday

I've never been a big Saunders fan, but he makes for one of the better streaming options this weekend. While luck has played a significant part in his success, the 29-year-old southpaw has a 3.39 ERA over 17 road starts this season. He also owns a stingy 2.05 ERA over three starts against the Padres during the 2011 campaign. I'd rate him slightly higher than Myers among my preferred options for Sunday, but that's mostly because of the Padres' offense and their cozy home park.

Rick Porcello SP, Tigers (Yahoo: 16 percent owned, ESPN: 11.4 percent)

@ Oakland on Saturday

Porcello is generally a risky play in mixed leagues since his fate is often in the hands of the players behind him, but I'm willing to take a chance with the Tigers absolutely rolling right now. To be fair, the 23-year-old right-hander has actually pitched pretty well recently, allowing three earned runs or less in three out of his last four outings. He also has a 4.01 ERA (3.88 xFIP) on the road this season compared to a 5.91 ERA (4.27 xFIP) at home.

Matt Harrison SP, Rangers (Yahoo: 45 percent owned, ESPN: 44 percent)

@ Seattle on Sunday

Harrison has experienced an up-and-down second half, but the Rangers are hoping some extra rest will lead to a strong finish. Making his first start in nine days, the southpaw gave up three runs over five-plus innings Tuesday in a win over the Indians. While the results were nothing special, he showed impressive velocity,retired the first eight batters he faced and struck out four while walking just one. I love the matchup against the Mariners on Sunday.

Shopping at the five-and-dime:

(Players owned in less than 10 percent of Y! and ESPN.com leagues)

Joel Peralta RP, Rays (Yahoo: 5 percent owned, ESPN: 9.8 percent)

With Kyle Farnsworth unavailable due to lingering tenderness in his elbow, Rays manager Joe Maddon turned to Peralta to save Monday's win over the Orioles. While the Rays are confident that Farnsworth will be able to pitch again this season, he hasn't even resumed throwing. With the timeline for his return unknown, Peralta should be owned in most formats.

Manny Acosta RP, Mets (Yahoo: 3 percent owned, ESPN: 4.6 percent)

The Mets' bullpen is a major mess at the moment. While Terry Collins hasn't given up on Bobby Parnell entirely, the young fireballer has a 5.40 ERA and 7/6 K/BB ratio this month, including three blown saves in his last four opportunities. Meanwhile, Acosta has a ridiculous 1.61 ERA and 34/8 K/BB ratio over 28 innings since the All-Star break. Collins could go either way on any given night, but Acosta should get his fair share of chances. Pick him up if you're desperate for saves.

Greg Holland RP, Royals (Yahoo: 4 percent owned, ESPN: 1.3 percent)

Holland locked down his third save of the season in Wednesday's win over the Twins, after which the Royals acknowledged that Joakim Soria was unavailable due to a strained right hamstring. Ned Yost is calling him day-to-day, but with the season winding down, they aren't going to rush him back to the hill. Holland has a 1.91 ERA and 69/18 K/BB ratio over 56 1/3 innings this season, so he makes for an excellent short-term play.

AL ONLY

Nolan Reimold OF, Orioles (Yahoo: 1 percent owned, ESPN: 0.5 percent)

Reimold has been playing pretty regularly since the All-Star break and while he hasn't done much to lock down a job for 2012, he at least has nine homers and five stolen bases through 259 plate appearances. Matt Angle's speed is also interesting, so don't forget him in deeper formats, but he probably won't get much playing time once Adam Jones is ready to return to the lineup.

NL ONLY

Wilin Rosario C, Rockies (Yahoo: 0 percent owned, ESPN: 0.1 percent)

The Rockies are committed to taking a long look at Rosario, which means he should see most of the playing time over Chris Iannetta the rest of the way. While I think Iannetta has been underappreciated in Colorado, Rosario is certainly worth your attention in NL-only formats. The 22-year-old had 21 homers in Double-A this season after hitting 19 last season.

Allen Craig 2B/OF, Cardinals (Yahoo: 3 percent owned, ESPN: 1.7 percent)

Matt Holliday is being shut down for the next few days due to inflammation in his right index finger, so Craig should see regular duty in left field in the short-term. The 27-year-old has benefited from an unsustainable batting average on balls in play this season, but he at least makes good contact and has enough pop to be interesting. Heck, I could even see him having some value in five-outfielder mixed leagues or leagues that use a MI (middle infielder) spot.

HacheMan · Sep 16, 2011

Choo Up, Choo Down

The Indians activated right fielder Shin-Soo Choo from the 15-day disabled list a couple hours before Thursday night’s game versus the Rangers. By the second inning, he was already injured again.

Choo aggravated the oblique strain that cost him the early part of September on an awkward first-inning swing and was informed after the game that he will be shut down for the rest of the 2011 regular season.

Choo was a high selection in fantasy drafts this year -- and rightly so given his consistently productive past -- but he missed around six weeks of the summer due to a broken thumb and is now having his season cut short by a troublesome oblique.

The 29-year-old native of South Korea will finish at a .259/.344/.390 batting line, eight home runs, 12 stolen bases and 36 RBI. He’s likely to be undervalued on fantasy boards next spring and will be worth the risk given that his injuries were mostly of the freak variety. We still love his fantasy potential and aren’t willing to label him injury-prone based off one lost season.

This is Friday’s edition of the MLB Daily Dose...

Editor's Note: Want to play salary cap fantasy football and win real cash? Snapdraft is back.

* Choo isn’t the only high profile fantasy player hitting the showers prematurely this year. Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto suffered a strained right lat muscle on Wednesday night while making a start against the Cubs. It’s not a serious injury, but less than two weeks remain in the regular season schedule and Cueto simply won’t have enough time to fully recover. The out-of-contention Reds aren’t going to push him, and admitted as much on Thursday afternoon.

Cueto posted a superb 2.31 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 24 starts this season, striking out 104 batters and walking only 47 in 156 total innings. He reworked his delivery, found a new attitude, and will head into the offseason having achieved “ace” status in Cincinnati.

* As expected, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez underwent season-ending surgery Wednesday on his right shoulder. He’s expected to be fully recovered by Opening Day next season, but the 27-year-old is going to take a considerable dip in fantasy rankings heading into 2012 no matter the status of his recovery.

Ramirez, a .306/.380/.506 career hitter, batted just .243 with a .712 OPS in 92 games this year. His days as a consensus Top 3 fantasy pick have almost certainly come to a close. Whether he rebounds under the bright lights of a new stadium and a revived fanbase will be a major storyline to watch throughout the 2012 campaign.

National League Quick Hits: Giants closer Brian Wilson (elbow) threw a successful 30-pitch simulated game Thursday and could be activated from the disabled list within the next couple days … Cliff Lee came within an out of his seventh shutout of the season Thursday against the Marlins … Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond went 5-for-6 with a double and three RBI in Thursday’s defeat of the Mets … Pablo Sandoval hit for the cycle on Thursday night against the Rockies, becoming the 26th player in Giants history to accomplish the feat … Omar Infante has rejected an initial contract extension offer from the Marlins … Giants catcher Buster Posey (ankle) is scheduled to begin hitting off a tee next week … Logan Morrison has filed a grievance against the Marlins in regards to his August demotion … Reds outfielder Jay Bruce slugged a two-run, walk-off homer in Thursday's win over the Cubs … Chase Utley started his first game Thursday night since suffering a concussion last Wednesday … Clayton Kershaw will not be suspended for hitting Gerrardo Parra with a pitch on Wednesday night ... Cubs reliever Justin Berg will undergo Tommy John surgery Friday.

American League Quick Hits: A’s rookie second baseman Jemile Weeks remains day-to-day with cramping in his left leg … Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis won’t play Friday due to ongoing issues with his hip and lingering discomfort related to a sports hernia … Clay Buchholz (back) is scheduled to throw a “full-fledged” bullpen session Saturday and will try to return as a long reliever later this month … Robinson Cano (foot) has vowed that he will be in Friday’s starting lineup … Josh Tomlin (elbow) could return to the Indians’ rotation on September 24 against the Twins … The Royals have shut down starter Luke Hochevar, who was up to 198 innings on the season … Rays outfielder Sam Fuld is day-to-day with a strained wrist tendon … Ryan Kalish underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a bulging disc in his neck … White Sox starter Mark Buehrle was pulled from Thursday’s game against the Royals after taking a line drive off his shoulder … Alexi Ogando recorded his first win in a month Thursday, tossing six scoreless innings against the Indians … David Ortiz (back) singled twice and drew a walk Thursday in his return to Boston’s lineup.

HacheMan · Sep 16, 2011

Down to the Wire

Last week in this space I highlighted Justin Verlander, who is running away in the American League Cy Young conversation. On the NL side, however, a tight race is playing out -- one that will come down to the wire.

It is practically impossible to differentiate between the numbers of Clayton Kershaw, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. Across the board, their stats look virtually identical. Sure, Kershaw has an edge in strikeouts, Halladay has his eight complete games, and Lee has amazingly recorded six shutouts. But, at the end of the day, it's pretty tough to point to one guy as being clearly better than the others.

The upcoming week may prove decisive as Kershaw, Halladay and Lee are all scheduled for two starts. At this point, Kershaw has to be viewed as the front-runner thanks to his 19 wins and the fact that Halladay and Lee are likely to split votes. The Dodgers southpaw is slated for a pair of plum match-ups, facing the Giants at home and the Padres at Petco. If he does what we expect him to do in those starts, he may effectively wrap up the award.

Halladay and Lee draw slightly tougher match-ups, but that shouldn't slow them down. Halladay is coming off a complete game shutout while Lee is the hottest pitcher in baseball, with two runs allowed over his past four starts.

I expect we'll have more clarity in this race at week's end... but maybe not much

Going Twice...
American League

Strong Plays
Ricky Romero: LAA (Weaver), @TB (Davis)
Derek Holland: @OAK (Harden), SEA (Furbush)
Jered Weaver: @TOR (Romero), OAK (Harden)

Decent Plays
Wade Davis: @NYY (Burnett), TOR (Romero)
Rich Harden: TEX (Holland), @LAA (Weaver)
Phil Hughes: MIN (Pavano), BOS (Wakefield)
Jerome WIlliams: @TOR (Morrow), OAK (Moscoso)
Gavin Floyd: @CLE (Carmona), KC (Chen)
Brad Penny: @KC (Hochevar), BAL (Hunter)
Fausto Carmona: CWS (Floyd), MIN (Hendriks)
David Huff: SEA (Furbush), MIN (Pavano)

At Your Own Risk
Brandon Morrow: LAA (Williams), @TB (Moore)
Charlie Furbush: @CLE (Huff), @TEX (Holland)
A.J. Burnett: TB (Davis), BOS (Lackey)
Carl Pavano: @NYY (Hughes), @CLE (Huff)
Liam Hendriks: SEA (Vargas), @CLE (Carmona)
John Lackey: BAL (VandenHurk), @NYY (Burnett)
Rick VandenHurk: @BOS (Lackey), @DET (Verlander)
Tommy Hunter: @BOS (Miller), @DET (Penny)

National League

Strong Plays
Edwin Jackson: NYM (Pelfrey), CHC (Coleman)
Chris Carpenter: @PHI (Halladay), CHC (Dempster)
Tim Lincecum: @LAD (Kershaw), @ARI (Kennedy)
Cory Luebke: @COL (Millwood), LAD (Kershaw)
Roy Halladay: STL (Carpenter), @NYM (Gee)
Cliff Lee: WAS (Detwiler), @NYM (Pelfrey)
Clayton Kershaw: SF (Lincecum), @SD (Luebke)
Bud Norris: @CIN (Bailey), COL (Chacin)
Ian Kennedy: PIT (Karstens), SF (Lincecum)

Decent Plays
Ross Detwiler: @PHI (Lee), ATL (Minor)
Chris Narveson: @CHC (Coleman), FLA (Hand)
Mike Pelfrey: @STL (Jackson), PHI (Lee)
J.A. Happ: @CIN, COL (Millwood)
Kevin Millwood: SD (Luebke), @HOU (Happ)
Jhoulys Chacin: SD (Latos), @HOU (Norris)
Mike Minor: @FLA (Nolasco), @WAS (Detwiler)

At Your Own Risk
Casey Coleman: MIL (Narveson), @STL (Jackson)

Streamer City

The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:

American League

Thursday, 9/22: Jeanmar Gomez vs. CWS
Gomez is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts since returning to the big leagues, and defeated the White Sox in Chicago a week ago.

Thursday, 9/22: Anthony Swarzak vs. SEA
Low K-rate aside, Swarzak continues to garner solid results and matches up well against the M's at home.

National League

Wednesday, 9/22: Wade Miley vs. PIT
The rookie southpaw has struggled with his control at times, but should be able to shut down the Bucs at home.

Tuesday, 9/21: Randall Delgado @ FLA
At just 21, Delgado has looked very sharp against big-league competition with a 3.24 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in five starts.

Wednesday, 9/22: Dana Eveland vs. SF
Eveland hurled seven shutout frames in San Francisco last week. See if he can stymy the Giants again at home.



Total Games

American League

5: KC
6: DET, OAK, TEX
7: BOS, CWS, LAA, MIN, SEA, TB, TOR
8: BAL, NYY
9: CLE

National League

6: ARI, ATL, CHC, CIN, FLA, LAD, MIL, NYM, PIT, SD, SF
7: COL, HOU, STL, WAS
8: PHI

Lefty/Righty Breakdown

American League

BAL: 7 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
BOS: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CWS: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
CLE: 6 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
DET: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
KC: 4 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAA: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
MIN: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
NYY: 7 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
OAK: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SEA: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
TB: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
TEX: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
TOR: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP

National League
ARI: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
ATL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
CHC: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
CIN: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
COL: 5 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
FLA: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
HOU: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
LAD: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
MIL: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
NYM: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
PHI: 5 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
PIT: 4 vs. RHP, 2 vs. LHP
SD: 5 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
SF: 3 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP
STL: 6 vs. RHP, 1 vs. LHP
WAS: 4 vs. RHP, 3 vs. LHP

HacheMan · Sep 16, 2011

Jeremy Hellickson finishing strong

Eric Karabell

• Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Jeremy Hellickson got his 13th win Thursday, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings at Fenway Park. Hellickson lowered his ERA to 2.91, his WHIP to 1.14, and his numbers since the All-Star break are even better. Hellickson probably doesn't have the strikeout rate to be among our top-20 fantasy starters for 2012, but his future is bright.

<OFFER>• Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond had five hits and three RBIs Thursday. Desmond, hitting .241 when September began, is hitting .328 this month with three of his eight home runs. However, miserable plate discipline and defense have hurt Desmond, and he might not be a part of the team's future, negating his fantasy value.

• Kansas City Royals rookie catcher Salvador Perez singled, doubled and tripled Thursday, raising his batting average to .318 and extending his hitting streak to nine games. Perez, 21, moved quickly through the minor leagues and has enough pop to matter; consider him a sleeper starter for deep leagues next season.

• Texas Rangers right-hander Alexi Ogando tossed six shutout innings against the Cleveland Indians Thursday, allowing only two singles and striking out four. Ogando hadn't won in a month, and his second-half ERA was 5.20 before Thursday, but now he seems a decent option for next week's outing in Oakland.

• Chicago Cubs outfielder Bryan LaHair singled in three at-bats Thursday, actually lowering his batting average to .444 over 27 at-bats. LaHair is way past prospect status at 28, but he did destroy Triple-A pitching for Iowa, hitting .331 with 38 home runs. If the Cubs use him the final two weeks, he could help those in deep leagues.

• Colorado Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin was roughed up again Thursday, allowing seven runs (four earned), nine hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings to the offensively challenged San Francisco Giants. Chacin has a 6.18 ERA in his past three starts, and walks continue to plague him. Fantasy owners should look elsewhere down the stretch.

HacheMan · Sep 18, 2011

Fister Flying Moreland Sinking

Moreland faltering, Fister flying high and other extremes highlights this week’s Week That Was.
Mitch Moreland: Mitch Moreland went took the collar again on Friday to continue what has just been a miserable second half. The overall numbers don’t look that bad (.262 with 16 dingers) but Moreland will need to get hot just to reach the Mendoza line this month (.184). The bottom line here is that you just cannot count on Moreland if you are in a fantasy pennant race. Texas is too deep with guys like Napoli, Murphy, Chavez, etc. all waiting for at bats, for them to continue to run Moreland out in their own pennant race. Look elsewhere. Or, better yet, if you league allows trading, talk up the 16 dingers and the hitters haven that is Texas and see if someone failed to read Week That Was and is willing to make a deal. Cant hurt to try!
Doug Fister: Doug Fister continued to make the Detroit front office look brilliant Friday night. Fister gave up just one run on three hits over 8 to get the win. Obviously, if you have Fister, ride him into the playoffs. The fantasy lesson worth repeating however is that the T in SMART stands for Team. Fister is 6-1 in nine starts for first place Detroit after going a sorry 3-12 for the hapless Mariners. The T for Team principle is simple. Players on better teams get more wins, more RBI chances, etc. Stated another way, the odds of a good season are better for players on a better team. [Note - for those of you thinking that closers on bad teams get a lot of saves too, that is true. However, closers on bad teams can get traded into set up roles and in the process destroy a fantasy team -- see Wood, Kerry 2010].
Ryan Braun: Ryan Braun continued his awesome year, hitting dinger number 30 and swiping base number 31. Add in his .330 average and you have a strong contender for fantasy MVP. What fantasy lesson can I glean from this you ask. Good question. Well, I would urge you all to watch what happens in preseason expert fantasy drafts and auctions. The “experts” are not always right, but they are experts for a reason. Those who were paying attention to the FSTA expert fantasy draft (on Sirius XM and in which yours truly and Rick Wolf play) would have seen one of the best there is in our business, Ron Shandler, pick Ryan Braun with the second pick. If someone as smart and as analytical and successful as Ron jumps a player way above where he is expected to go, pay attention and up his value. That sure would have paid off in 2011.
Alexi Ogando: The Rangers announced that Alexi Ogando will not start again until next Saturday (Sept 24). This is big news for those counting on Ogando to help them in what are likely tight W and K categories. In point of fact, Texas is doing you a favor if you own Ogando. He has a bloated 4.70 ERA in the second half (hidden by the 3.58 overall) and has gone 6 innings only once in his last 6 starts). The fantasy lesson here is also simple: first year major league starting pitchers are likely to run out of gas in the dog days of August. Good for you if you had Ogando cheap. Not so good if you were counting on him to carry you in September.
Joe Mauer: Joe Mauer’s forgettable season is over. According to reports, Mauer has pneumonia. Those who invested big in Mauer because he was a catcher and has such a huge name, shame on you. First, coming into this season, Mauer had over 13 dingers just once in his six full seasons as a regular. Second, Mauer has never managed more that 536 AB in any year. Thus, he gets 100 fewer AB (even in his healthiest season) than the other big money players you passed up if you bid on Mauer. Third, early draft picks and big money auction buys are not places where you can win your league. You can only lose there. So, why take such a big risk. Remember that next year when you are considering an injury prone player or one with way too much hype.
Luke Hochevar: Kansas City has closed the book on a very strong season for former number one overall Luke Hochevar. The final numbers are: 4.68 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP and 2/1 K/BB. However, it is the second half performance that makes Luke a target for 2012 -- 3.52 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Hochever will not win a ton of games in KC, but with that big park and an improving team, he can be a solid middle of the rotation guy whose value will be depressed from years of underperforming. Jot that down in your notebook for 2012.
Salvador Perez: Salvador Perez went 3-4 with a double and a triple Thursday adding further ammunition to his argument that he should be the starting catcher in 2012. His .310 average doesn’t mean he will hit .310 for you next year, but it gives hope that he can be a productive catcher in AL only leagues who will not kill your batting average like a Jeff Mathis or Drew Butera.
Melky Cabrera: Melky Cabrera has always been one of my favorite players. I admit it. I hated to see him leave the Yankees and would root for him even if he was not on two of my fantasy teams. However, my bias aside, there is no doubt that Melky has paid huge dividends for his owners this year. Thursday, the Melkman delivered by going 4-5 upping his average to .303. What is the fantasy lesson here. Well, it is one I preach all the time. Players who make the majors and play full time at 21 or 22 (like Cabrera) often are labeled disappointments too quickly. Then, like Melky, when they reach 26 or 27, they bust out. Be on the lookout for those guys in 2012.
Brandon McCarthy: Brandon McCarthy continued to defy the odds, tossing seven innings of one run ball to beat Detroit on Thursday. Not only has McCarthy continued to stay strong in his first full season in the rotation in forever, he has gotten stronger: 33 strikeouts in his last four starts. If you can, grab him for the remainder of the year. As for next year, there is a big question as to whether he will be Chris Carpenter (who has been a workhorse after injuries) or one who breaks down after his first 200 inning season. Time will tell.
Pablo Sandoval: Loyal readers know I just love to write about the guy with the best nickname in the game. Pablo “Kung Fu Panda” Sandoval went 4-4 and hit for the cycle on Thursday. After a dreadful 2010 in which he was out of shape and pretty darn bad, the Panda has come back with a vengeance hitting 314 with 12 homers in the second half and a .308 average with 20 dingers overall (numbers that would likely be much stronger had he not gotten hurt earlier in the year). Fantasy lesson: Not all news of players getting into great shape are worth relying upon. However, when you see a player out of shape one year and return to physical form the next, a rebound is much more likely. Think about that next year when reading the spring news. If you had done that this year, you would own the Panda and be very happy.
And last and but not least, Schultz says: “Apparently, Major League Baseball didn't like my proclamation in last week's column that the wild card races were essentially a fait accompli. The Atlanta Braves, once a source of dependable starting pitching, seem hell bent on keeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoff hunt and Boston, with their typical flair for historical drama, may be on the verge of a monumental collapse (to the chagrin of his owners, there's been a month between save opportunities for Jonathan Papelbon). What does this mean for roto-owners? More teams involved in meaningful games which provides the fuel for a late season charge. In the last 10 days of the season, especially in leagues with weekly transactions, you need to lose the long term memory and make the hard choice of benching the players that may be integral to your place in the standings. Ryan Howard won't be hitting home runs while resting his bursitis-afflicted foot, Chase Utley's various maladies aren't going to heal if he's avoiding a hard slide at second base, the Tigers and Brewers (who have sorely overlooked as World Series contenders) are going to make sure that Justin Verlander, Yovani Gallardo and Zack Greinke are rested and ready to carry a serious October load and despite the Nolan Ryan edict to toughen up the pitching staff, youngsters like Alexi Ogando and Matt Harrison are going to be kept fresh for the post-season.

On the other hand, teams like the Minnesota Twins are already packing up for the winter and looking ahead for 2012. Like hobbled horses, they are mercifully calling an end to the 2011 campaigns of Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel and Tsuyoshi Nishioka with decisions to officially shut down Justin Morneau and Francisco Liriano likely coming shortly. The Orioles seem to be following suit - it's unlikely that they will jeopardize Adam Jones' future by trotting him out with a wonky wrist - as are the Royals, who seem likely to set up a La Z Boy and ottoman for Joakim Soria. While the Indians are surely awestruck by the Juan Gonzalezish return of Shin-Soo Choo, they do seem inclined to let Travis Hafner tough out the rest of the season on a bad leg.

Benched players accrue no meaningful roto-stats so keep a fervent eye on what players are going to finish strong and what others are going to coast to the finish line.”
Response: You know how much I hate it when Schultz is right, but this week he is right on.
Final notes: Dear Tony Romo, you know I am a huge fan and a constant supporter. I also cannot criticize the occasional bad throw or even bad read. However, please, please, please learn a simple lesson. When your team is in chip shot field goal range, do not screw around. Watch your primary receiver make his break. If he gets separation, hit him. If he does not, toss the ball into the third row and take the three points. Had you done that last week, you would be 1-0. Think about it

HacheMan · Sep 19, 2011

Day to Day to the End of Days

The worst thing about this time of year are the day-to-day dudes. Drop em or not? You're stuck with an all-star but he's no-where near his normal self. If it's not a keeper, think about dropping the guy even if he's been useful to you all year.

You might be in the postseason, working hard to win your playoff matchup. You have Ryan Howard, but his toe has been hurting forever. He hopes he can play Thursday and so do his owners. It's too early to drop him. Or you've been dealing with Nelson Cruz all year. The Rangers outfielder might not actually return to the outfield until Friday. That's a little more DHing but at least he's still around. Matt Holliday might be done for the year, but we don't know for sure yet. He's out at least the rest of this series, and Allen Craig will continue to rake in his stead. Kevin Youkilis is the worst. His manager doesn't know when he'll be back from his hip and hernia issues, and it really depends on the standings. If you need every last stat, you can drop Youk.

* You might have thought Chad Billingsley was droppable but after his okay work against the Pirates -- one run on six baserunners and five strikeouts in five innings -- and the Padres next on the schedule, he's not. Don't drop him yet. Matt Harrison isn't as good as he's been all year, but he held the Mariners scoreless with nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. He gets them again, so pick him up early. Brett Myers has been great recently, and he held the Cubs to one earned in seven plus on Sunday. He gets the Rockies at home next week, which is okay. Ryan Dempster has been so volatile this year. He gave up three runs in seven innings to the Astros and gets the Cards next week. That's a deep-league matchup. Brandon Morrow has been iffy, yes. He held the Yankees scoreless in eight innings (with eight strikeouts), but he's still iffy. Ted Lilly only gave up one run against the Pirates in seven innings, and the best news is that he gets the Padres next.

When it comes to iffy pickups, there's always been Guillermo Moscoso. He actually struck out eight Tigers and gave up only one run in six innings Sunday. He is still an iffy pickup for the Angles next week. Joe Saunders has always been an iffy pickup, but he gave up one unearned and was an out way from a complete game. It always helps to pitch in San Diego. Aaron Harang is a risk, too, but he held the D-Backs to two runs in six innings, with three strikeouts. He has the Dodgers at home next week and agrees about the whole San Diego thing. Bruce Chen gave up four runs to the White Sox in 5 1/3 innings. He's been okay, but he faces the White Sox again next week, so he's not a great spot start for that. Chien-Ming Wang defines iffy. He held the Marlins to three runs in fewer than seven innings, and even struck out a season-high five. That's the most he's gotten all year and reason enough to avoid. R.A. Dickey seems like a risky pick. He just allowed one run to the Braves in 7 2/3 innings, and he's been good for a while. Even against the Phillies he might be an interesting start. Henderson Alvarez has great control and gets ground balls, but he gave up five runs in six innings when he went up against the Bombers. Take him for his next start against the Angels if you have the stomach for it.

* Gotta get into the doctor's office for a second. Mark Reynolds missed Sunday after Ervin Santana hit him in the helmet Saturday. It might only be precautionary, but he's droppable if it starts to drag out. Justin Morneau is done for the season with his concussion issues. Those were so bad that he's not even a great sleeper next year. Chone Figgins is also done for the rest of the season, in case you were wondering. Clay Buchholz is going to throw a simulated game or two this week. That's interesting. Erik Bedard will actually be back Tuesday from his lat problem. That quick. Yunel Escobar has had worse swelling, not better. He might be done for the year! Adam Jones has a sprain in his thumb. He expects to play through it, but he still could get shut down at any time.

* Jerry Sands had four hits (one a home run), but he's still striking out and is a deep leaguer at best. Paul Goldschmidt hit a home run, but the strikeouts are still a problem. Shelley Duncan had two hits (one a home run) and has been hot this September. Maybe if you need someone hot, pick him up, but it seems a stretch in mixed leagues. Matt Joyce had three hits and don't forget he's a valuable bench piece because he's good against righties. Adam Lind finally had a nice day. He hit two solo home runs and is a valuable power pickup in most leagues if he was dropped. Brett Pill tripled twice Saturday, but there's Aubrey Huff and Brandon Belt trying to steal his playing time away, too. Erick Aybar collected four hits and a walk in five plate appearances. Two of them were home runs! He's had a decent year.

* Brian Wilson reminds us that the end of the bullpen is still relevant at the end of the season. He's a closer again on Tuesday. Joel Peralta is filling in for the injured Kyle Farnsworth as he tends to his tender elbow. He got his fifth save Snday. Manny Acosta might be the new closer in New York. They aren't getting a ton of opportunities, but he's the guy after getting four outs and replacing Bobby Parnell in the game. Frank Francisco saved his 16th and is the closer in Toronto. Now they're talking about Jason Motte as the closer again next year, too. Just an FYI. Huston Street blew a save… in the eighth inning. Rafael Betancourt is the closer there for the rest of the year and you can drop Mr. Street. Alexi Ogando is a reliever now.

If you want to talk to me about any of this, hit me up on the twitter.

National League Quick Hits: Tommy Hanson threw a good bullpen and could make it back to the bigs in the regular season … Jason Heyward has started in 11 of the last 12 so he's a play in most leagues right now … If Roy Oswalt is a free agent, pick him up, as he held the Cardinals scoreless and has the Nationals next … Brandon Beachy gave up four runs in fewer than five innings against the Mets but is still a great start against the Nationals next week … Supposedly the Cubs will continue to play Carlos Pena until he hits his 30th home run … Dillon Gee gave up four runs in fewer than five innings and is not a start in Philadelphia next week … Tim Stauffer (shoulder) will miss his next start … Drew Pomeranz gave up two runs but struck out five in 5 2/3 innings and gets the Astros in Houston next, which is okay … Brad Lincoln gave up six runs in less than two innings and isn't a play against the Reds next time out … Esmil Rogers gave up nine runs while getting 11 outs against the Giants, so he's not a start next time out … Henry Sosa held the Cubs to two runs in six, but he gets the Rockies next and is a bad idea.

American League Quick Hits: Mike Moustakas had three hits (one a home run) and has put together a good enough September that he'll be interesting in all leagues next year … Jeff Niemann only gave up two runs in five innings to the Red Sox so he might actually be a play against the Blue Jays next week … Francisco Liriano came back and tossed two scoreless innings in relief on Saturday; He might start again, but only maybe … Gio Gonzalez held the Tigers to one run in seven innings; Even if he only struck out four he's a good spot start against the Angels next week … Zach Britton held the Angels to one run in seven innings and gets the Tigers next, so you could pick him up … Freddy Garcia gave up three runs in fewer than five innings but he's on thin ice in most leagues … Carlos Guillen strained his right calf, no way … Francisco Liriano might be activated Tuesday, and he might even start again … Carl Pavano gave up only one earned in 6 1/3 innings and it was against the Indians, who he gets next time too … Chris Carter is back with the Athletics but will he get any time?

HacheMan · Sep 19, 2011

Trends: Moustakas Mashing

SURGING

Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC

Stats: .483 avg (14-for-29) with three homers and seven RBI in his last seven games.

Bottom line: Moustakas endured an absolutely brutal slump in July (.160 average) and went homerless (while hitting .283) in the month of August, but he has rediscovered his power stroke at a useful juncture, and is worth considering in most formats given his.333 average and 911 OPS so far in September.

Shelley Duncan, 1B/OF, CLE

Stats: .320 avg (16-for-50) with six homers, 14 RBI, a .760 slugging percentage and 1.153 OPS through his first 15 games of September.

Bottom line: Duncan earned a mention in last week’s edition of this column, but as his hot streak continues (he homered again on Sunday), the 31-year-old – owned in 9 percent of Yahoo leagues – is deserving of an add across most formats, including shallow mixed leagues.

Follow me on Twitter: @MattStroup

Brent Morel, 3B, CWS

Stats: .278 avg (15-for-54) with six homers, 14 RBI and a 12/10 BB/K ratio through his first 17 games of September.

Bottom line: Morel only had three homers in 328 at-bats on the year before this unexpected spike in power, and though there’s no telling how long it might last, at this point in the season you should be willing to take advantage of any production you can find – regardless of the source. With that in mind, I have no argument against adding Morel (5 percent owned in Yahoo leagues) if you’re searching for a late-season boost.

Everett Teaford, SP, KC

Stats: 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 9/3 K/BB ratio through his first two major league starts (13.0 IP).

Bottom line: The 27-year-old lefty is slated for one more start this season, a matchup against the White Sox in Chicago this weekend. There’s certainly some risk involved in using Teaford as a spot-starter, but I’m assuming that if you’re reading this column right now, you might be in a position to attempt a gamble.

With that preamble out of the way, here’s my reasoning for recommending Teaford: In addition to the fact that he already pitched well against the White Sox this past Saturday (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 Ks), I’ve watched video and come away fairly impressed with his arsenal, which includes a fastball that can generate swings and misses while operating in the 91-93 mph range. Again, there’s certainly some risk here, and there may be more reliable spot-starting options on your waiver wire, but if you’re in a league that requires you to shovel around a little bit to find useful options, Teaford could be your answer.

Editor’s note: If you want to play Daily Salary Cap Fantasy Baseball for real money, check out SnapDraft here.

Jerry Sands, OF, LAD

Stats: .556 avg (15-for-27) with a homer and seven RBI in his last seven games.

Bottom line: Sands looked overmatched during his first stint in the majors earlier this year, but is showing definitive signs of late-September life, raising his batting average 60 points (from .187 to .247) in the past week, thanks in part to a 4-for-6 day with a homer and four RBI on Sunday. However, at this point he’s still probably best deployed in daily leagues as a matchup play against lefties – Sands has a 1.097 OPS with three homers and 14 RBI in 46 at-bats against southpaws, and a 566 OPS with no homers in 120 at-bats against right-handers this year.

HacheMan · Sep 19, 2011

Get ready for final 'week' of 2011

Be very careful when planning lineups for last days of the fantasy season

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com

Fantasy Forecaster updated Sunday, Sept. 18 at 4:19 p.m. ET.

On tap: This is it! The final "week" of the 2011 fantasy baseball season is upon us, and the quotation marks are by design, to remind you that, for the third time this year, we've got an extended week ahead. Week 24 is actually a 10-day scoring period, running from Monday, Sept. 19 through Wednesday, Sept. 28, plus any potential playoff tiebreakers necessary on Thursday, Sept. 29. (Don't bank on any this year, however, being that as of the morning of Friday, Sept. 16, no playoff spot had a differential of less than three games between first and second.)

What that means is -- barring your league's rule set dictating otherwise -- you can't set your lineups again Monday, Sept. 26, so not only are you speculating over a lengthier scoring period, but you have to do so while accounting for the high probability that playoff teams will clinch early, rest veterans, pull their best starters from outings early and shuffle rotations as needed. As of the most recent update on Sunday, Sept. 18, here are how the eight playoff spots stacked up:

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">Race</TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>1st place</CENTER></TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Magic
number</CENTER>
</TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>2nd place</CENTER></TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Games
back</CENTER>
</TH><TH style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Head-to-head
remaining</CENTER>
</TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">AL East</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">New York Yankees</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>8</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Boston Red Sox</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">AL Central</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" colSpan=4>The Detroit Tigers have clinched</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">AL West</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Texas Rangers</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Los Angeles Angels</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 1/2</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">AL Wild Card</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Boston Red Sox</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>9</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Tampa Bay Rays</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>0</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">NL East</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" colSpan=4>The Philadelphia Phillies have clinched</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">NL Central</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Milwaukee Brewers</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">St. Louis Cardinals</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>0</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">NL West</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Arizona Diamondbacks</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>6</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">San Francisco Giants</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>5 </TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>3</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">NL Wild Card</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">Atlanta Braves</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>7</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">St. Louis Cardinals</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>4 1/2</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" align=middle>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

The case can be made that the only four teams that will be playing meaningful games through at least the Sept. 24-25 weekend will be the Red Sox, Rays, Rangers and Angels, and three of those four teams will play 10 times in the final week -- all but the Rangers (nine games). The Yankees play 11 times, the Cardinals 10, and the Braves and Brewers nine apiece. If you're looking for motivated teams in need of playing their stars, those are the ones to look to first.

Due to all the early-season postponements, there are five doubleheaders during this 10-day "week," leading to five teams playing a greater number of games than there are days in the scoring period. The Indians have a pair of doubleheaders -- Tuesday, Sept. 20, versus the Chicago White Sox and Saturday, Sept. 24, versus the Minnesota Twins -- and no days off, resulting in a rare 12-game week. In addition to the Yankees, the Baltimore Orioles, Twins and Phillies each play 11 times. Conversely, the Kansas City Royals play only eight times in 10 days.

Reminder: The final week of the season has an early lineup deadline Monday, Sept. 19, with two games scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. ET. Here are this week's other scheduled first pitches by day: Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1:05 p.m. ET; Wednesday, Sept. 21, 12:35 p.m. ET; Thursday, Sept. 22, 1:10 p.m. ET; Friday, Sept. 23, 7:05 p.m. ET; Saturday, Sept. 24, 1:05 p.m. ET; Sunday, Sept. 25, 1:05 p.m. ET; Monday, Sept. 26, 7:05 p.m. ET; Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7:05 p.m. ET; Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1:10 p.m. ET.

Quick click by section, if you're seeking advice in a specific area:
Projected starting pitchers | Pitching strategies
Team advantages | Hitting strategies
Weather report | Week 24 pitcher rankings

Projected starting pitchers

The chart below lists each of the 30 MLB teams' schedules and projected starting pitchers, and provides a matchup rating for each day's starter. Pitchers scheduled to start twice this week are in gray/beige boxes.

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 30px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Mon
9/19 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Tue
9/20 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Wed
9/21 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Thu
9/22 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Fri
9/23 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Sat
9/24 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Sun
9/25 </CENTER>
</TH></TR></THEAD><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 30px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/26 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/27 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/28 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/29 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/30 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>10/1 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 14%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>10/2 </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BOS-2
Guthrie
(RHP)
P: 2
Matusz
(LHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BOS
TBD

P: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BOS
Hunter
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
Britton
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
Simon
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
Guthrie
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
TBD

P: 1
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
Hunter
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
Britton
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
Simon
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL-2
Weiland
(RHP)
P: 5
Lackey
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
Bedard
(LHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
Beckett
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
Lester
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
Wakefield
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
Lackey
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BAL
TBD

P: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BAL
Beckett
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BAL
Lester
(LHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE-2
Floyd
(RHP)
P: 7
Axelrod
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
Buehrle
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
Humber
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
Stewart
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
Danks
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
Floyd
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
Axelrod
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
Buehrle
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
Humber
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
Huff
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHW-2
Carmona
(RHP)
P: 5
McAllister
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHW
Jimenez
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHW
Gomez
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIN
Masterson
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIN-2
Huff
(LHP)
P: 4
Tomlin
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIN
Carmona
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
Jimenez
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
Gomez
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
Masterson
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@KC
Penny
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@KC
Scherzer
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
Fister
(RHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
Porcello
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
Verlander
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
Penny
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CLE
Scherzer
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CLE
Fister
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CLE
Porcello
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>DET
Mendoza
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>DET
Paulino
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
Chen
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
Teaford
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
Mendoza
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
Paulino
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
Mazzaro
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
Chen
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TOR
Williams
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TOR
Pineiro
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TOR
Haren
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TOR
Santana
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
Weaver
(RHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
Williams
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
Pineiro
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
Haren
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
Santana
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
Weaver
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
Diamond
(LHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
Hendriks
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
Slowey
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
Swarzak
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
Pavano
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE-2
Diamond
(LHP)
P: 5
Liriano
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
Hendriks
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
Slowey
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
Swarzak
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
Pavano
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIN
Burnett
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TB
Nova
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TB-2
Sabathia
(LHP)
P: 9
Hughes
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TB
Colon
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
Garcia
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
Burnett
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
Nova
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
Sabathia
(LHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
Hughes
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
Colon
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
Harden
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
McCarthy
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
Cahill
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
Gonzalez
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
Moscoso
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
Harden
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SEA
McCarthy
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SEA
Cahill
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SEA
Gonzalez
(LHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
Furbush
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
Vargas
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
Pineda
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
Beavan
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TEX
Vasquez
(LHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TEX
Hernandez
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TEX
Furbush
(LHP)
P: 2
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
Vargas
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
Beavan
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
Vasquez
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
Davis
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY-2
Hellickson
(RHP)
P: 7
Shields
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
Niemann
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
Price
(LHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
TBD

P: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
Davis
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYY
Hellickson
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYY
Shields
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYY
Niemann
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

$tex.gif$

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@OAK
Holland
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@OAK
Wilson
(LHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@OAK
Lewis
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
Harrison
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
Ogando
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
Holland
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
Wilson
(LHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
Lewis
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
Harrison
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAA
Romero
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAA
Cecil
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAA
McGowan
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAA
Alvarez
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
Morrow
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
Romero
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
Cecil
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
McGowan
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
Alvarez
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
Morrow
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
Kennedy
(RHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
Hudson
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
Miley
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
Collmnter
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
Saunders
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
Kennedy
(RHP)
P: 9
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
Hudson
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
Miley
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
Collmnter
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
Minor
(LHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
Delgado
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
Lowe
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@WAS
Hudson
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@WAS
Beachy
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@WAS
Minor
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
Delgado
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
Lowe
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
Hudson
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIL
Coleman
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIL
Wells
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIL
Garza
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
Lopez
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
Dempster
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
Coleman
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
Wells
(RHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
Garza
(RHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
Lopez
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>HOU
TBD

P: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>HOU
Bailey
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>HOU
Arroyo
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PIT
Volquez
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PIT
Maloney
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PIT
TBD

P: 1
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
Bailey
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
Arroyo
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
Volquez
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SD
Millwood
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SD
Chacin
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SD
Cook
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
White
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
Pomeranz
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
Rogers
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
Millwood
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SF
Chacin
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SF
White
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SF
Pomeranz
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
Nolasco
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
Sanchez
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
Vazquez
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
Volstad
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
Hand
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
Nolasco
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
Sanchez
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
Vazquez
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
Volstad
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CIN
Happ
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CIN
Norris
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CIN
W.Rdrguez
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
Sosa
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
Myers
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
Happ
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
Norris
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>STL
W.Rdrguez
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>STL
Sosa
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>STL
Myers
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
Kershaw
(LHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
Eveland
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
Kuroda
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
Lilly
(LHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
Billingsley
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
Kershaw
(LHP)
P: 10
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
Eveland
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
Kuroda
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
Lilly
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHC
Narveson
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHC
Marcum
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHC
Wolf
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>FLA
Gallardo
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>FLA
Greinke
(RHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>FLA
Narveson
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
Marcum
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
Wolf
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
Gallardo
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
Pelfrey
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
Schwinden
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
Capuano
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
Dickey
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
Gee
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
Pelfrey
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
Schwinden
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
Capuano
(LHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
Dickey
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>STL
Halladay
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS-2
Kendrick
(RHP)
P: 5
Lee
(LHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
Worley
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
Oswalt
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
Hamels
(LHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
Halladay
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
Lee
(LHP)
P: 9
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ATL
Worley
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ATL
Oswalt
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ATL
Hamels
(LHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
Karstens
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
Morton
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
Ohlendorf
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
Locke
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
McDonald
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
Lincoln
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
Karstens
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
Morton
(RHP)
P: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
Ohlendorf
(RHP)
P: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PHI
Lohse
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYM
Jackson
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYM
Garcia
(LHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYM
Westbrook
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
Carpenter
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
Lohse
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
Jackson
(RHP)
P: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
Garcia
(LHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
Westbrook
(RHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
Carpenter
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@COL
Luebke
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@COL
Latos
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@COL
Bass
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
LeBlanc
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
Harang
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
Luebke
(LHP)
P: 8
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
Latos
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
Stauffer
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
LeBlanc
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAD
Lincecum
(RHP)
P: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAD
Vogelsong
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAD
Bumgarner
(LHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
Surkamp
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
Cain
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
Lincecum
(RHP)
P: 8
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
Vogelsong
(RHP)
P: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
Bumgarner
(LHP)
P: 8
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
Surkamp
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PHI-2
Detwiler
(LHP)
P: 3
Milone
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PHI
Lannan
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PHI
Peacock
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
Strasburg
(RHP)
P: 9
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
Wang
(RHP)
P: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
Detwiler
(LHP)
P: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
Milone
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
Lannan
(LHP)
P: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
Peacock
(RHP)
P: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=8></TH></TR></THEAD></TBODY></TABLE>P: The starting pitcher's matchup rating, which accounts for past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.

Tristan's pitching strategies

With it being the final scoring period of the 2011 season and with so many rotations up in the air, let's for this week go team by team and discuss the various risks as well as the upside for each squad in Week 24:

• Orioles: They face the worst schedule, pitching-wise, of any team in the final week. The opposing Red Sox and Tigers rank first (5.42) and fourth (4.79), respectively, in runs per game this season, so there wouldn't be much here even if there was rotation clarity. Jeremy Guthrie, who makes two road starts, is an AL-only consideration. There is no indication Zach Britton will be shut down early.

• Red Sox: Josh Beckett's Sept. 16 outing restored his usefulness for our purposes, and he'll be lined up for two turns versus the Orioles. Jon Lester is lined up for the regular-season finale, but you can be sure he'd skip that to be available for Game 1 of a division series if the Red Sox advance. Erik Bedard (lat), Kyle Weiland or -- gasp -- Alfredo Aceves could get spot starts as the team aligns its postseason rotation.

• White Sox: Mark Buehrle (shoulder) is day-to-day and might not make another start this season. Zach Stewart would stand to make a second start, home versus the Toronto Blue Jays, if Buehrle's season is done.

• Indians: Although they play 12 games and have one of the most favorable pitching schedules -- remember that the season-ending series at Detroit would come against a Tigers team that would have long since clinched -- the Indians are likely to have been eliminated from contention before the week even starts. The pair of doubleheaders means two spot starters will be needed; Josh Tomlin (elbow) looks like one, and Zach McAllister looks like the other. Don't overlook this staff as a source of streaming candidates.

• Tigers: Justin Verlander is brilliantly aligned to start Game 1 of the division series on five days' rest, but it means he'll start once this week, Saturday, Sept. 24 versus the Orioles. Depending on whether Doug Fister or Max Scherzer is the team's No. 2 playoff starter, the Tigers might shuffle these assignments yet still give each of their four non-Verlander starters two turns this week.

• Royals: They play the fewest games and already have shut down Danny Duffy, Jeff Francis and Luke Hochevar for the season. Luis Mendoza (2) and Vin Mazzaro (1) are the leading candidates to take the three open assignments.

• Angels: There isn't much of a chance they can overtake the Rangers in the American League West yet still clinch that playoff spot before their season-ending, Sept. 26-28 series versus their division rivals, and the Angels have brilliantly lined up their rotation so Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Jered Weaver will start those three games. This might be the most set-in-stone rotation, and it assures each starter exactly two turns.

• Twins: They'll need a spot starter for the Sept. 24 doubleheader, probably Francisco Liriano, and their matchups overall are favorable. It's better news for closer Joe Nathan, who might finally sneak in multiple saves within the same week -- he hasn't done that since the week of Aug. 15-21 -- but there's streaming value here nevertheless.

• Yankees: Their six-man rotation addresses the need of an extra starter for the Sept. 21 doubleheader, but it also places CC Sabathia in an awkward spot, pitching again Monday, Sept. 26, at Tampa Bay and therefore leaving him on three days' rest for Game 1 of the division series. The Yankees will shuffle, and it might be that A.J. Burnett's Sept. 24 assignment gets skipped altogether, being that he has been horrendous against the Red Sox this year (7.46 ERA, 4 GS).

• Oakland Athletics: Heads up if you play in a daily league, as the Athletics' Week 24 matchups go in increasing order of attractiveness. Rich Harden is the one question mark; Josh Outman could be used to give him some rest.

• Seattle Mariners: Michael Pineda will make his final start of the season Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Minnesota. It's a favorable matchup on paper, as the rating shows, but there's a significant downside: He has a 4.40 road ERA (15 GS), 5.17 ERA since the All-Star break (9 GS) and 4.08 ERA on six or more days' rest (6 GS) -- he'll be on 10 days' rest.

• Rays: Matt Moore's promotion tells you all you need to know about how serious the Rays are about making a push for the wild card, although their Sept. 15-18 weekend series at Boston will have a lot to say about their standing before this week's lineup deadline. (Moore, incidentally, is unlikely to make any starts this year; he'll strictly relieve.) That Sept. 21 doubleheader at New York doesn't afford the Rays much rotation flexibility, although if the game matters in the standings, David Price might get the final-day assignment over Jeff Niemann.

• Rangers: How they align their rotation for the final week and division series has been a fascinating debate, and, as things stand, Alexi Ogando appears set to make only one more start before heading to the bullpen for the postseason. While this rotation now looks set through season's end, don't rule out Scott Feldman making a spot start should the team decide someone needs additional rest. This is a great set of matchups to exploit in daily leagues and is a tad riskier in weekly leagues.

• Blue Jays: These games matter so much more to their opponents, and Brandon Morrow and Dustin McGowan have pitched horribly lately. It's Ricky Romero in all formats, Brett Cecil in AL-only and perhaps Henderson Alvarez if you're digging deep for streamers.

• Diamondbacks: It's the best set of pitching matchups in the game this week, and the D-backs' have their rotation brilliantly aligned for the division series. Expect minimal change, and with the possible exception of Wade Miley, start 'em all.

• Braves: They need to wrap up the wild card quickly in a bad way, because their rotation isn't especially well aligned. Tim Hudson is on track for the regular-season finale, leaving him two days' rest before the division series. There will be some tinkering here, and their 3.87 September ERA, 16th in the majors, shows that there's risk. Brandon Beachy is really their only "automatic."

• Chicago Cubs: Yes, Randy Wells at Petco Park is a streaming consideration, but outside of that, the only Cubs you can really trust -- in weekly formats -- are Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza.

• Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Cueto (lat) might be done for the season, a shame because he's just six innings shy of qualifying for the ERA title (he's second with a 2.31), leaving two open assignments for either Matt Maloney or Travis Wood. With Cueto likely joining Mike Leake on the sidelines, Bronson Arroyo and Homer Bailey are the only two Reds you'll want in the final week.

• Colorado Rockies: Aaron Cook, the franchise leader in wins, will make what's expected to be his final Rockies start Wednesday, giving the team a final-week six-man rotation. Any of the youngsters, Jhoulys Chacin, Alex White or Drew Pomeranz, could skip his final-weekend start if rest is needed. This is a good team to consider in a daily league; it's a favorable set of overall matchups even if the day-to-day assignments might change due to the rotation's youth.

• Florida Marlins: Their rotation is fairly locked in, although Alex Sanabia is expected to make one more undetermined start.

• Houston Astros: No off days means little likelihood of changes, and keep in mind that four of the five Astros starters -- Henry Sosa the one excluded -- rank among the top 70 starters the past 30 days on our Player Rater.

• Los Angeles Dodgers: Hiroki Kuroda (neck) is expected to make his two remaining starts in the final week, but in addition to the injury concern, he is chasing two contract incentives for innings pitched. He's the only question mark, but as things stand, he's fine to activate.

• Brewers: If they can lock up the division early, they'll have the ability to shuffle their rotation for the division series, and in all likelihood, Yovani Gallardo will not make that start in the finale. He might be skipped entirely, both him and Zack Greinke pitching once this week, so prepare accordingly.

• New York Mets: Johan Santana won't pitch for the Mets this season, so Chris Schwinden will have a rotation spot through year's end. The Mets have played poorly lately, and these matchups are treacherous; tread carefully.

• Phillies: They've smartly aligned their playoff rotation already, so even with the Sept. 20 doubleheader, the Phillies shouldn't need to deviate from the projected rotation above. Kyle Kendrick, slated to start one of the doubleheader games, could provide rest to one of the starters in the final days.

• Pittsburgh Pirates: They're another team utilizing a six-man rotation, and the most appealing fantasy option of the bunch, James McDonald, pitches just once in the final week. These are poor matchups, and Brian Burres could spot in for someone at any time, so look elsewhere if possible.

• Cardinals: Their rotation is aligned as detailed above, without the off days to creatively reshuffle, and the matchups overall are favorable.

• San Diego Padres: Anthony Bass will make a spot start for Tim Stauffer on Wednesday, but it's a Coors Field start. It's unclear whether Stauffer will be able to return for his final assignment.

• Giants: There isn't much wiggle room, being that their most important series comes midway through their nine-game week, Sept. 23-25 at Arizona. Matt Cain could move up a day and get two starts at the expense of Eric Surkamp's second turn, but he probably won't if the team is eliminated before then.

• Washington Nationals: The grand question is, will Stephen Strasburg make zero, one or two starts during the final week? The Nationals claim they'll use a straight six-man rotation, in which case he'll pitch just once, Sept. 23 versus the Braves, but it's possible he could get a second start on the final day.

Most favorable: Indians, Twins, Diamondbacks, Cardinals
Most unfavorable: Orioles, Rangers, Mets, Pirates

For more insight into Week 24 pitching matchups, see my rankings for the top 75 starting pitchers, as well as every two-start pitcher, at column's end.

Team advantages

The chart below lists each of the 30 teams' total number of scheduled games, home games and games versus right- and left-handed pitchers, and provides a matchup rating for the week's games in terms of overall offense, offense for left- and right-handed hitters and base stealing. Matchup ratings for each individual game are listed under the corresponding date.

<STYLE type=text/css>.mod-inline td img {margin: 0px;}</STYLE>
<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 100%"><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 30px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 13%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER></CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Overall </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Mon
9/19 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Tue
9/20 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Wed
9/21 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Thu
9/22 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Fri
9/23 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Sat
9/24 </CENTER>
</TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Sun
9/25 </CENTER>
</TH></TR></THEAD><THEAD><TR><TH style="WIDTH: 30px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Team </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 13%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Games </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>Rating </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/26 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/27 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/28 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/29 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>9/30 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>10/1 </CENTER></TH><TH style="WIDTH: 10%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"><CENTER>10/2 </CENTER></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>11 total
3 home
2 vs. L
8 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 10
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BOS-2
H: 7
L: 5
R: 8
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BOS
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BOS
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 9
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
H: 1
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
H: 6
L: 10
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
H: 1
L: 1
R: 3
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
H: 10
L: 8
R: 10
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 10
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
H: 4
L: 5
R: 4
S: 9
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
4 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 10
L: 9
R: 10
S: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL-2
H: 7
L: 8
R: 5
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
H: 8
L: 10
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
H: 8
L: 7
R: 8
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
H: 8
L: 5
R: 10
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
H: 4
L: 5
R: 2
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BAL
H: 7
L: 10
R: 4
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BAL
H: 5
L: 2
R: 5
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@BAL
H: 9
L: 8
R: 10
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
6 home
2 vs. L
8 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 7
L: 5
R: 8
S: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE-2
H: 7
L: 9
R: 4
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
H: 6
L: 2
R: 8
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 9
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
H: 8
L: 9
R: 8
S: 9
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
H: 4
L: 2
R: 6
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
H: 8
L: 7
R: 10
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>12 total
9 home
4 vs. L
8 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 8
L: 9
R: 8
S: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
H: 6
L: 7
R: 6
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHW-2
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHW
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHW
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIN
H: 7
L: 7
R: 8
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIN-2
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIN
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 3
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
H: 1
L: 3
R: 1
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@DET
H: 6
L: 10
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
7 home
1 vs. L
7 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 7
L: 6
R: 6
S: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@KC
H: 8
L: 8
R: 7
S: 9
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@KC
H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
H: 4
L: 2
R: 5
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
H: 9
L: 7
R: 10
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
H: 7
L: 8
R: 5
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BAL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 4
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CLE
H: 2
L: 1
R: 2
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CLE
H: 7
L: 6
R: 8
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CLE
H: 5
L: 9
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>8 total
2 home
1 vs. L
7 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>DET
H: 10
L: 8
R: 10
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>DET
H: 7
L: 8
R: 6
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 8
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
H: 8
L: 10
R: 5
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
H: 6
L: 8
R: 5
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
6 home
5 vs. L
5 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 6
L: 6
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TOR
H: 5
L: 10
R: 2
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TOR
H: 7
L: 1
R: 9
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TOR
H: 7
L: 9
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TOR
H: 4
L: 2
R: 5
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
H: 5
L: 9
R: 3
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
H: 2
L: 4
R: 1
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
H: 9
L: 10
R: 9
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
H: 1
L: 1
R: 3
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
H: 5
L: 8
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
H: 7
L: 6
R: 7
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>11 total
6 home
3 vs. L
8 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 10
L: 10
R: 8
S: 7
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
H: 8
L: 5
R: 10
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
H: 5
L: 1
R: 6
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
H: 8
L: 10
R: 4
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
H: 5
L: 9
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE-2
H: 9
L: 10
R: 8
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
H: 7
L: 9
R: 4
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>KC
H: 5
L: 2
R: 7
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>11 total
8 home
2 vs. L
9 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 7
L: 8
R: 7
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIN
H: 6
L: 7
R: 6
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TB
H: 7
L: 8
R: 6
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TB-2
H: 2
L: 7
R: 1
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TB
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
H: 8
L: 7
R: 9
S: 10
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>BOS
H: 8
L: 10
R: 6
S: 9
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
H: 1
L: 6
R: 1
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
H: 4
L: 3
R: 5
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
3 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 3
L: 2
R: 3
S: 5
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
H: 6
L: 1
R: 7
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
H: 1
L: 1
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TEX
H: 5
L: 7
R: 1
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
H: 2
L: 2
R: 2
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
H: 6
L: 5
R: 6
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SEA
H: 5
L: 1
R: 6
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SEA
H: 7
L: 10
R: 3
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SEA
H: 8
L: 9
R: 7
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
3 home
4 vs. L
6 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 7
L: 9
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CLE
H: 9
L: 10
R: 8
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
H: 5
L: 7
R: 4
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
H: 8
L: 10
R: 5
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIN
H: 6
L: 8
R: 5
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TEX
H: 7
L: 6
R: 7
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TEX
H: 5
L: 10
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TEX
H: 6
L: 2
R: 8
S: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
H: 1
L: 3
R: 1
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>OAK
H: 4
L: 9
R: 3
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
6 home
4 vs. L
6 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 4
L: 6
R: 1
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
H: 4
L: 5
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY-2
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYY
H: 6
L: 10
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
H: 7
L: 6
R: 9
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
H: 4
L: 10
R: 2
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>TOR
H: 7
L: 1
R: 9
S: 4
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYY
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYY
H: 5
L: 8
R: 1
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYY
H: 5
L: 10
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

$tex.gif$

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
3 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 2
L: 4
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@OAK
H: 9
L: 9
R: 8
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@OAK
H: 1
L: 3
R: 1
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@OAK
H: 5
L: 6
R: 3
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
H: 9
L: 10
R: 9
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SEA
H: 7
L: 8
R: 7
S: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
H: 6
L: 8
R: 3
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAA
H: 2
L: 2
R: 2
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
4 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAA
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAA
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAA
H: 3
L: 3
R: 2
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAA
H: 6
L: 9
R: 3
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
H: 1
L: 1
R: 2
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@TB
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 3
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
H: 6
L: 8
R: 5
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
H: 6
L: 8
R: 6
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHW
H: 3
L: 3
R: 2
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
9 home
3 vs. L
6 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 7
L: 7
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
H: 9
L: 10
R: 6
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
H: 9
L: 10
R: 4
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
H: 10
L: 10
R: 9
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
H: 7
L: 8
R: 7
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
H: 2
L: 1
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
H: 2
L: 2
R: 2
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
H: 7
L: 10
R: 6
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
3 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 3
L: 2
R: 2
S: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@WAS
H: 2
L: 3
R: 2
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@WAS
H: 9
L: 10
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@WAS
H: 7
L: 4
R: 8
S: 4
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
H: 5
L: 2
R: 7
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
H: 3
L: 2
R: 3
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
3 home
3 vs. L
6 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 2
L: 2
R: 3
S: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIL
H: 6
L: 3
R: 7
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIL
H: 3
L: 2
R: 4
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>MIL
H: 6
L: 3
R: 6
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
H: 2
L: 3
R: 1
S: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 2
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
H: 1
L: 3
R: 1
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
H: 7
L: 9
R: 7
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
3 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 4
L: 2
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>HOU
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>HOU
H: 6
L: 7
R: 4
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>HOU
H: 5
L: 1
R: 6
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PIT
H: 6
L: 7
R: 6
S: 10
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PIT
H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PIT
H: 6
L: 6
R: 5
S: 7
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
H: 6
L: 10
R: 4
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
H: 5
L: 1
R: 7
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
H: 3
L: 4
R: 3
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
3 home
4 vs. L
6 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 5
L: 3
R: 6
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SD
H: 6
L: 1
R: 8
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SD
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SD
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
H: 5
L: 1
R: 6
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
H: 5
L: 7
R: 3
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SF
H: 4
L: 7
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SF
H: 2
L: 1
R: 2
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SF
H: 6
L: 7
R: 6
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
6 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 5
L: 3
R: 7
S: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
H: 8
L: 6
R: 8
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 7
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
H: 2
L: 5
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
H: 5
L: 2
R: 6
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
H: 7
L: 6
R: 8
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
H: 7
L: 4
R: 8
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
H: 6
L: 6
R: 5
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
7 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 9
L: 9
R: 8
S: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CIN
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CIN
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CIN
H: 8
L: 10
R: 4
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
H: 10
L: 10
R: 9
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
H: 10
L: 10
R: 7
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
H: 7
L: 8
R: 6
S: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>STL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>STL
H: 7
L: 5
R: 9
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>STL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
3 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 2
L: 2
R: 3
S: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
H: 4
L: 7
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>SF
H: 2
L: 1
R: 2
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
H: 7
L: 9
R: 7
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
H: 7
L: 6
R: 7
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@SD
H: 4
L: 1
R: 6
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
H: 9
L: 8
R: 10
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
H: 5
L: 6
R: 3
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
6 home
1 vs. L
8 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 8
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHC
H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@CHC
H: 4
L: 3
R: 6
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>FLA
H: 8
L: 9
R: 6
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>FLA
H: 7
L: 8
R: 6
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>FLA
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
H: 9
L: 10
R: 5
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
H: 9
L: 10
R: 4
S: 8
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PIT
H: 9
L: 10
R: 8
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
6 home
3 vs. L
6 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 1
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
H: 3
L: 5
R: 2
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@STL
H: 6
L: 4
R: 8
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
H: 2
L: 2
R: 3
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>PHI
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
H: 5
L: 6
R: 4
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
H: 7
L: 10
R: 3
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
H: 6
L: 5
R: 7
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>11 total
5 home
3 vs. L
8 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 8
L: 6
R: 9
S: 4
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>STL
H: 7
L: 8
R: 6
S: 1
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS-2
H: 8
L: 5
R: 9
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
H: 7
L: 4
R: 8
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>WAS
H: 6
L: 7
R: 5
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
H: 3
L: 4
R: 3
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@NYM
H: 6
L: 7
R: 4
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ATL
H: 5
L: 4
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ATL
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ATL
H: 3
L: 4
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
3 home
3 vs. L
5 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 3
L: 1
R: 6
S: 2
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
H: 9
L: 8
R: 10
S: 3
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
H: 7
L: 5
R: 8
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
H: 8
L: 7
R: 8
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CIN
H: 6
L: 6
R: 6
S: 1
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
H: 2
L: 1
R: 3
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
H: 5
L: 2
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@MIL
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
6 home
2 vs. L
8 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 7
L: 7
R: 8
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PHI
H: 1
L: 2
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYM
H: 6
L: 8
R: 4
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYM
H: 7
L: 10
R: 4
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>NYM
H: 5
L: 1
R: 8
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
H: 10
L: 10
R: 10
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
H: 7
L: 9
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
H: 9
L: 10
R: 7
S: 6
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
H: 4
L: 1
R: 5
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
H: 7
L: 7
R: 7
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@HOU
H: 5
L: 4
R: 6
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
6 home
2 vs. L
7 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@COL
H: 7
L: 9
R: 6
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@COL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 3
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@COL
H: 9
L: 10
R: 6
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
H: 2
L: 4
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
H: 5
L: 6
R: 3
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>LAD
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
H: 3
L: 4
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
H: 3
L: 2
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>CHC
H: 10
L: 10
R: 10
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>9 total
3 home
4 vs. L
5 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 3
L: 3
R: 4
S: 3
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAD
H: 1
L: 1
R: 1
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAD
H: 6
L: 9
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@LAD
H: 4
L: 4
R: 4
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
H: 5
L: 6
R: 3
S: 2
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
H: 8
L: 1
R: 10
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@ARI
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 3
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
H: 3
L: 5
R: 2
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
H: 10
L: 10
R: 9
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>COL
H: 5
L: 6
R: 5
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>

</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>10 total
3 home
2 vs. L
8 vs. R
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" rowSpan=2 align=middle>H: 4
L: 5
R: 3
S: 6
</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f8f8f2; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PHI-2
H: 7
L: 10
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PHI
H: 5
L: 3
R: 7
S: 4
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@PHI
H: 5
L: 5
R: 5
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
H: 3
L: 5
R: 2
S: 5
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
H: 4
L: 6
R: 2
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>ATL
H: 8
L: 6
R: 8
S: 5
</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
H: 3
L: 3
R: 3
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
H: 3
L: 6
R: 1
S: 6
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle>@FLA
H: 7
L: 9
R: 6
S: 7
</TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=middle></TD></TR><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=10></TH></TR></THEAD></TBODY></TABLE>Some of the data used to generate this chart is derived from Baseball Musings' Day-by-day database.

H: Hitters' matchup rating, which accounts for the opposing starting pitcher's past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. L: Hitters' matchup rating accounting only for left-handed hitters. R: Hitters' matchup rating accounting for only right-handed hitters. S: Base stealing matchup rating, which accounts for the opponent's catchers' ability to gun down opposing base stealers. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.

Tristan's hitting strategies

• Injuries are a significant factor at this late stage of the season, and fantasy teams in the championship hunt can scarcely afford the loss of at-bats that come with day-to-day injuries. Here's a quick rundown of Week 24's riskiest players, every one of these a noticeable risk for missing multiple games: Nelson Cruz (hamstring), Matt Holliday (finger), Adam Jones (thumb), Justin Morneau (concussion), Alex Rodriguez (thumb), Troy Tulowitzki (hip), Kevin Youkilis (hip). As always, base your decision upon the strength of your alternatives, but it's a long 10 days to wait for any of these players to return. These players are day-to-day and bear watching, although they are of less concern: Carlos Gonzalez (wrist), Brett Lawrie (knee), Jemile Weeks (leg).

• To help those of you seeking plug-ins, here are some of the hottest hands in September who remain available in at least 80 percent of ESPN leagues: Shelley Duncan (6.8 percent owned), who is receiving regular at-bats and whose Indians play a league-high 12 games; Nick Hundley (12.2), whose Padres play three games at Coors Field; Chris Heisey (1.0), who has four home runs in his past six games and whose Reds face four left-handed starters; Jesus Montero (18.1), whose Yankees play an extra game (11) this week and who is trying to score a postseason roster spot as a possible everyday DH; Mark Ellis (1.7), who is making one final push for his free-agent deal; and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (8.3), a righty killer whose Red Sox face seven right-handers.

• These are the hottest hands in September among those who remain available in at least 40 percent of ESPN leagues: Derrek Lee (46.7 owned), whose Pirates face four left-handed starters in their nine games; Omar Infante (42.8), a hot finisher in 2010 who has a .314 batting average in the past seven days; Marco Scutaro (22.9 percent), a .294 hitter whose Red Sox suddenly have a lot of motivation; and Logan Morrison (41.0), a .270/.370/.492 (BA/OBP/SLG) hitter in 17 games since his recall.

• If the Red Sox hang on in the AL wild-card hunt -- or even ascend to the division lead -- they'll do it behind the strength of their offense. Seven games (out of 10) versus the Orioles, plus three at hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium, is about the best schedule you could ask for, and here are some of the Red Sox's individual numbers both against the Orioles in 2011 and from 2009 to '11 at New York: Carl Crawford (.293/.314/.414 rates, 7 SBs in 23 career games at Yankee Stadium), Jacoby Ellsbury (.468/.519/.787 versus Orioles, .293/.376/.400 in 18 games at Yankee Stadium), Adrian Gonzalez (.457/.519/.652 versus Orioles, .227/.379/.636 in six games at Yankee Stadium), David Ortiz (.355/.459/.581 versus Orioles, .281/.390/.539 in 24 at Yankee Stadium), Dustin Pedroia (.313/.389/.563 versus Orioles), Josh Reddick (.478/.500/.913 versus Orioles).

Most favorable: Twins, Astros, Phillies
Most unfavorable: Athletics, Rangers, Dodgers, Mets

Weather report

Weatherproof games: Rockies at Astros (4, Sept. 22-25); Cardinals at Astros (3, Sept. 26-28); Angels at Blue Jays (4, Sept. 19-22); Marlins at Brewers (3, Sept. 23-25); Pirates at Brewers (3, Sept. 26-28); Pirates at Diamondbacks (3, Sept. 19-21); Giants at Diamondbacks (Sept. 23-25); Dodgers at Diamondbacks (3, Sept. 26-28); Athletics at Mariners (3, Sept. 26-28); Blue Jays at Rays (3, Sept. 23-25); Yankees at Rays (3, Sept. 26-28).

Tristan's Week 24 pitcher rankings: Top 110

Rankings take into account several factors: the pitcher's raw talent, and historical and recent performance; number of starts; strength of opponent(s); and ballpark factors. Be aware that different leagues might emphasize different pitching statistics that could change these rankings slightly. These are based on a fairly standard rotisserie scoring system, such as ESPN's.

This week's rankings encompass my entire 110 recommended starters without AL- or NL-only options or two-start pitchers to avoid, being that the 10-day period assures that the vast majority of starting pitchers will each start twice. Pitchers who fell short of this list wouldn't, except in extremely rare instances, get my endorsement for any of their matchups in Week 24. www.rapsports.com

1. Cliff Lee (PHI) -- 9/20-WAS, Gm. 2 (Milone), 9/25-@NYM (Pelfrey)
2. Clayton Kershaw (LAD) -- 9/20-SF (Lincecum), 9/25-@SD (Luebke)
3. Roy Halladay (PHI) -- 9/19-STL (Lohse), 9/24-@NYM (Gee)
4. Ian Kennedy (ARI) -- 9/19-PIT (Karstens), 9/25-SF (Lincecum)
5. Tim Lincecum (SF) -- 9/20-@LAD (Kershaw), 9/25-@ARI (Kennedy)
6. Daniel Hudson (ARI) -- 9/20-PIT (Morton), 9/26-LAD (Eveland)
7. C.J. Wilson (TEX) -- 9/21-@OAK (McCarthy), 9/26-@LAA (Haren)
8. CC Sabathia (NYY) -- 9/21-TB, Gm. 2 (Shields), 9/27-@TB (Shields)
9. Jered Weaver (LAA) -- 9/23-OAK (Gonzalez), 9/28-TEX (Harrison)
10. Jon Lester (BOS) -- 9/23-@NYY (Garcia), 9/28-@BAL (Simon)
11. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- 9/22-@LAD (Kuroda), 9/27-COL (White)
12. Cole Hamels (PHI) -- 9/23-@NYM (Dickey), 9/28-@ATL (Hudson)
13. Dan Haren (LAA) -- 9/21-@TOR (McGowan), 9/26-TEX (Wilson)
14. Chris Carpenter (STL) -- 9/23-CHC (Lopez), 9/28-@HOU (Myers)
15. Justin Verlander (DET) -- 9/24-BAL (Guthrie)
16. Mat Latos (SD) -- 9/20-@COL (Chacin), 9/26-CHC (Wells)
17. Shaun Marcum (MIL) -- 9/20-@CHC (Wells), 9/26-PIT (Karstens)
18. Anibal Sanchez (FLA) -- 9/20-ATL (Delgado), 9/26-WAS (Milone)
19. Doug Fister (DET) -- 9/22-BAL (Britton), 9/27-CLE (Gomez)
20. Ryan Vogelsong (SF) -- 9/21-@LAD (Eveland), 9/26-COL (Chacin)
21. Jeremy Hellickson (TB) -- 9/21-@NYY, Gm. 1 (Nova), 9/26-NYY (Nova)
22. Matt Garza (CHC) -- 9/21-MIL (Wolf), 9/27-@SD (Stauffer)
23. Tim Hudson (ATL) -- 9/23-@WAS (Strasburg), 9/28-PHI (Hamels)
24. James Shields (TB) -- 9/21-@NYY, Gm. 2 (Sabathia), 9/27-NYY (Sabathia)
25. Yovani Gallardo (MIL) -- 9/23-FLA (Volstad), 9/28-PIT (Ohlendorf)
26. Javier Vazquez (FLA) -- 9/21-ATL (Lowe), 9/27-WAS (Lannan)
27. Ted Lilly (LAD) -- 9/23-@SD (LeBlanc), 9/28-@ARI (Collmenter)
28. Ivan Nova (NYY) -- 9/21-TB, Gm. 1 (Hellickson), 9/26-@TB (Hellickson)
29. Gio Gonzalez (OAK) -- 9/23-@LAA (Weaver), 9/28-@SEA (Vasquez)
30. Ricky Romero (TOR) -- 9/19-LAA (Williams), 9/24-@TB (TBD)
31. David Price (TB) -- 9/23-TOR (Morrow)
32. Vance Worley (PHI) -- 9/21-WAS (Lannan), 9/26-@ATL (Delgado)
33. Roy Oswalt (PHI) -- 9/22-WAS (Peacock), 9/27-@ATL (Lowe)
34. Ubaldo Jimenez (CLE) -- 9/21-CHW (Buehrle), 9/26-@DET (Scherzer)
35. Derek Holland (TEX) -- 9/20-@OAK (Harden), 9/25-SEA (Furbush)
36. Brandon McCarthy (OAK) -- 9/21-TEX (Wilson), 9/26-@SEA (Vargas)
37. Felix Hernandez (SEA) -- 9/24-@TEX (Ogando)
38. Jhoulys Chacin (COL) -- 9/20-SD (Latos), 9/26-@SF (Vogelsong)
39. Wandy Rodriguez (HOU) -- 9/21-@CIN (Arroyo), 9/26-STL (Garcia)
40. Zack Greinke (MIL) -- 9/24-FLA (Hand)
41. Randy Wolf (MIL) -- 9/21-@CHC (Garza), 9/27-PIT (Morton)
42. Brandon Beachy (ATL) -- 9/24-@WAS (Wang)
43. Josh Beckett (BOS) -- 9/21-BAL (Hunter), 9/27-@BAL (Britton)
44. Gavin Floyd (CHW) -- 9/20-@CLE, Gm. 1 (Carmona), 9/25-KC (Mendoza)
45. Matt Cain (SF) -- 9/24-@ARI (Saunders)
46. Hiroki Kuroda (LAD) -- 9/22-SF (Bumgarner), 9/27-@ARI (Miley)
47. Brett Myers (HOU) -- 9/23-COL (Pomeranz), 9/28-STL (Carpenter)
48. Max Scherzer (DET) -- 9/21-@KC (Paulino), 9/26-CLE (Jimenez)
49. Cory Luebke (SD) -- 9/19-@COL (Millwood), 9/25-LAD (Kershaw)
50. Philip Humber (CHW) -- 9/22-@CLE (Gomez), 9/28-TOR (Morrow)
51. Edwin Jackson (STL) -- 9/20-NYM (Pelfrey), 9/25-CHC (Coleman)
52. Josh Collmenter (ARI) -- 9/23-SF (Surkamp), 9/28-LAD (Lilly)
53. R.A. Dickey (NYM) -- 9/23-PHI (Hamels), 9/28-CIN (Volquez)
54. Colby Lewis (TEX) -- 9/22-@OAK (Cahill), 9/27-@LAA (Santana)
55. Ervin Santana (LAA) -- 9/22-@TOR (Alvarez), 9/27-TEX (Lewis)
56. Stephen Strasburg (WAS) -- 9/23-ATL (Hudson)
57. Homer Bailey (CIN) -- 9/20-HOU (Norris), 9/26-@NYM (Schwinden)
58. Jaime Garcia (STL) -- 9/21-NYM (Schwinden), 9/26-@HOU (Rodriguez)
59. Trevor Cahill (OAK) -- 9/22-TEX (Lewis), 9/27-@SEA (Beavan)
60. Bartolo Colon (NYY) -- 9/22-TB (Niemann), 9/28-@TB (Niemann)
61. Justin Masterson (CLE) -- 9/23-MIN (Pavano), 9/28-@DET (Porcello)
62. Ricky Nolasco (FLA) -- 9/19-ATL (Minor), 9/25-@MIL (Narveson)
63. Jason Vargas (SEA) -- 9/20-@MIN (Hendriks), 9/26-OAK (McCarthy)
64. Phil Hughes (NYY) -- 9/20-TB (Davis), 9/25-BOS (Lackey)
65. Randy Wells (CHC) -- 9/20-MIL (Marcum), 9/26-@SD (Latos)
66. Michael Pineda (SEA) -- 9/21-@MIN (Slowey)
67. Bud Norris (HOU) -- 9/20-@CIN (Bailey), 9/25-COL (Millwood)
68. Alexi Ogando (TEX) -- 9/24-SEA (Hernandez)
69. Matt Harrison (TEX) -- 9/23-SEA (Vasquez), 9/28-@LAA (Weaver)
70. Chris Narveson (MIL) -- 9/19-@CHC (Coleman), 9/25-FLA (Nolasco)
71. Brett Cecil (TOR) -- 9/20-LAA (Pineiro), 9/25-@TB (Davis)
72. Aaron Harang (SD) -- 9/24-LAD (Billingsley)
73. Rick Porcello (DET) -- 9/23-BAL (Simon), 9/28-CLE (Masterson)
74. Derek Lowe (ATL) -- 9/21-@FLA (Vazquez), 9/27-PHI (Oswalt)
75. Guillermo Moscoso (OAK) -- 9/24-@LAA (Williams)
76. Jerome Williams (LAA) -- 9/19-@TOR (Romero), 9/24-OAK (Moscoso)
77. John Danks (CHW) -- 9/24-KC (Teaford)
78. Anthony Swarzak (MIN) -- 9/22-SEA (Beavan), 9/27-KC (Mazzaro)
79. Chad Billingsley (LAD) -- 9/24-@SD (Harang)
80. Wade Davis (TB) -- 9/20-@NYY (Hughes), 9/25-TOR (Cecil)
81. Mark Buehrle (CHW) -- 9/21-@CLE (Jimenez), 9/27-TOR (Alvarez)
82. Ryan Dempster (CHC) -- 9/24-@STL (Lohse)
83. Tim Stauffer (SD) -- 9/27-CHC (Garza)
84. Henderson Alvarez (TOR) -- 9/22-LAA (Santana), 9/27-@CHW (Buehrle)
85. Bronson Arroyo (CIN) -- 9/21-HOU (Rodriguez), 9/27-@NYM (Capuano)
86. Drew Pomeranz (COL) -- 9/23-@HOU (Myers), 9/28-@SF (Surkamp)
87. Jeff Niemann (TB) -- 9/22-@NYY (Colon), 9/28-NYY (Colon)
88. James McDonald (PIT) -- 9/24-CIN (Maloney)
89. Bruce Chen (KC) -- 9/23-@CHW (Stewart), 9/28-@MIN (Pavano)
90. Mike Minor (ATL) -- 9/19-@FLA (Nolasco), 9/25-@WAS (Detwiler)
91. Joe Saunders (ARI) -- 9/24-SF (Cain)
92. Zach Stewart (CHW) -- 9/23-KC (Chen)
93. Kyle Lohse (STL) -- 9/19-@PHI (Halladay), 9/24-CHC (Dempster)
94. Fausto Carmona (CLE) -- 9/20-CHW, Gm. 1 (Floyd), 9/25-MIN (Hendriks)
95. Randall Delgado (ATL) -- 9/20-@FLA (Sanchez), 9/26-PHI (Worley)
96. Kevin Millwood (COL) -- 9/19-SD (Luebke), 9/25-@HOU (Norris)
97. Jake Westbrook (STL) -- 9/22-NYM (Capuano), 9/27-@HOU (Sosa)
98. Felipe Paulino (KC) -- 9/21-DET (Scherzer), 9/26-@MIN (Slowey)
99. Jeremy Guthrie (BAL) -- 9/19-@BOS, Gm. 1 (Weiland), 9/24-@DET (Verlander)
100. Dana Eveland (LAD) -- 9/21-SF (Vogelsong), 9/26-@ARI (Hudson)
101. Rich Harden (OAK) -- 9/20-TEX (Holland), 9/25-@LAA (Pineiro)
102. J.A. Happ (HOU) -- 9/19-@CIN (TBD), 9/24-COL (Rogers)
103. David Huff (CLE) -- 9/19-SEA (Furbush), 9/24-MIN, Gm. 1 (Diamond)
104. Zach Britton (BAL) -- 9/22-@DET (Fister), 9/27-BOS (Beckett)
105. Scott Diamond (MIN) -- 9/19-@NYY (Burnett), 9/24-@CLE, Gm. 1 (Huff)
106. Liam Hendriks (MIN) -- 9/20-SEA (Vargas), 9/25-@CLE (Carmona)
107. Brandon Morrow (TOR) -- 9/23-@TB (Price), 9/28-@CHW (Humber)
108. Tom Milone (WAS) -- 9/20-@PHI, Gm. 2 (Lee), 9/26-@FLA (Sanchez)
109. Edinson Volquez (CIN) -- 9/23-@PIT (Locke), 9/28-@NYM (Dickey)
110. Mike Pelfrey (NYM) -- 9/20-@STL (Jackson), 9/25-PHI (Lee)

HacheMan · Sep 19, 2011

Erick Aybar fills up stat sheet

Eric Karabell

AM ET

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• Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar enjoyed his Sunday, swatting two home runs, knocking in four and scoring five runs as well. Aybar is not 100 percent owned in ESPN standard leagues, despite being a clear top-10 shortstop on the Player Rater. With 28 steals and a strong batting average, he could be a top-100 overall choice in 2012.
• Atlanta Braves right-hander Brandon Beachy struggled Sunday, allowing five hits and five walks in 4 1/3 messy innings. Beachy, a rookie with an exceptional WHIP and strikeout rate, hasn't won in September, but he's registered 32 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. Keep him active for the strikeouts alone.

• Chicago White Sox left-hander John Danks tossed six usable innings Sunday, allowing 10 hits and four runs (three earned), but didn't register any strikeouts. Owned in less than half of ESPN's leagues after years of reliability, Danks hasn't produced a quality start in September. He'll likely be a late-round sleeper next season.

• Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind homered twice Sunday, giving him 26 in an erratic season. Lind was hitting .300 with 16 home runs at the All-Star break, but his second-half numbers are terrible (.200 average, .583 OPS). Lind will be draftable in 2012, but it's looking like his big 2009 campaign was the outlier.

• Speaking of miserable splits, Florida Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez hit his 19th home run Sunday, but 13 of them came in the first half, along with a .293 batting average and .846 OPS. Since then, he's hitting .217. First base is deep in fantasy, and Lind and Sanchez are not top-20 options.

• San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson, out a month with elbow inflammation, threw a perfect inning in the team's 12-5 rout at Coors Field Sunday. Wilson fanned the first two hitters, showing good velocity, and induced a foul out. The Giants remain contenders and Wilson will inherit closing duties immediately. If you own Santiago Casilla, don't expect saves.

HacheMan · Sep 20, 2011

Mariano Makes History

Saves are an important category in most fantasy baseball leagues, but they can often be a pretty misleading way to evaluate a pitcher. Thankfully that's never been the case with Mariano Rivera.

After tying Trevor Hoffman on Saturday, Rivera made history Monday afternoon by recording his 602nd career save to become the all-time saves leader. He got there with a perfect ninth inning against the Twins, breaking a bat in the process. We may have seen that a few hundred times over the years.

Showing no signs of slowing down, the 41-year-old right-hander has 1.93 ERA, 43 saves and a 57/7 K/BB ratio over 59 innings this season. In truth, Rivera didn't need the all-time saves record to be recognized as the greatest relief pitcher ever, since it's already been abundantly clear for quite some time, but it's rather appropriate that he now sits atop the leaderboard.

While one wonders if Rivera can make it to 700 before calling it a career, here are some more news and notes from around an action-packed Monday in the baseball world.

Editor’s note: If you want to play Daily Salary Cap Fantasy Baseball for real money, check out SnapDraft here.

* On the subject of closers, is it time to worry about Craig Kimbrel? As part of a stunning loss to the Marlins on Monday night, the young fireballer served up a walkoff two-run blast to Omar Infante. The loss cut the Braves lead to 2 1/2 games over the Cardinals and 3 1/2 over the Giants in the National League Wild Card race.

Kimbrel has allowed home runs in consecutive games after giving up just one over his first 75 appearances this season. The 23-year-old right-hander has been simply fantastic during his rookie campaign, posting a 2.03 ERA, 45 saves and a 124/29 K/BB ratio over 75 1/3 innings, but there's a chance he could be hitting the wall at the worst possible time for the Braves.

* Monday's doubleheader between the Orioles and Red Sox was filled with storylines and postseason implications, but for the purposes of this column, I'm focusing on Brian Matusz.

Making his first appearance since September 5, Matusz was smacked around for six runs over 1 2/3 innings in Monday's nightcap to fall to 1-8 on the season. His ERA jumped to 10.68 in the lopsided loss, giving him the worst ERA ever for a pitcher with a minimum of 10 starts in a season. The record was previously held by Roy Halladay, who posted a 10.64 ERA over 67 2/3 innings as a 23-year-old with the Blue Jays in 2000.

We have seen our fair share of high-profile disappointments this season, but Matusz ranks pretty high on the list. The 24-year-old southpaw entered spring training with plenty of momentum after posting a 2.11 ERA over his final 11 starts in 2010, but he has looked like a completely different pitcher since making his season debut in June after returning from a strained intercostal muscle. The good news is that youth is on his side, but he will enter spring training as a major question mark for 2012.

* The Cardinals beat the Phillies 4-3 on Monday night and continue to put the pressure on the Braves in the National League Wild Card hunt, but they may have to play the rest of the season without Matt Holliday.

A team source tells Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Holliday's availability for the rest of the season is "doubtful." Holliday hasn't played since leaving last Tuesday's game with inflammation in his right middle finger. He has yet to swing a bat since returning to St. Louis, which indicates that the pain in his finger hasn't subsided. Allen Craig, who homered twice and doubled in Sunday's victory over the Phillies, makes for a worthy pickup in NL-only and deeper mixed formats in the short term.

NL Quick Hits: Ian Kennedy earned his 20th victory of the season Monday by striking out 12 and limiting the Pirates to one hit and one walk over eight innings of shutout ball … Mike Stanton went deep twice in Monday's win over the Braves, giving the 21-year-old slugger 34 homers for the season … Josh Johnson (shoulder) will throw to live hitters Thursday in an instructional league appearance … Troy Tulowitzki (hip) and Todd Helton (back) both took batting practice and participated in baseball activities Monday … Justin Upton slugged a broken bat home run in Monday's win over the Pirates ... Ryan Howard received a cortisone shot in his left ankle on Monday and hopes to return to the lineup as soon as Thursday … The Braves are hopeful that Tommy Hanson (shoulder) will be able to start the final game of the regular season on September 28 … Kyle Lohse allowed an unearned run over 7 1/3 innings in Monday's win over the Phillies … Geovany Soto homered twice and drove in five runs in Monday's win over the Brewers … Cory Luebke allowed two runs over seven innings in Monday's win over the Rockies … The Padres activated third baseman Chase Headley (finger) from the 15-day disabled list Monday, but he isn't ready to return to the starting lineup … Impending free agent Jonathan Broxton underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow Monday … Jeff Karstens allowed one run over six innings against the Diamondbacks on Monday in his final start of the season … Jair Jurrjens (knee) threw a light bullpen session Monday ... Kerry Wood will miss the rest of the season with a torn meniscus in his left knee, which will require surgery … Yonder Alonso will be limited to pinch-hitting for the rest of the season due to an ankle injury … The Phillies plan to send Domonic Brown to the instructional league following the regular season … The Diamondbacks called up prospect right-hander Jarrod Parker on Monday, but will not promote 2011 first-round pick Trevor Bauer this season …

AL Quick Hits: Curtis Granderson connected for home run No. 41 in Monday's win over the Twins … Carl Crawford didn't play during Monday's doubleheader against the Orioles due to neck stiffness … Carlos Santana has five homers in his last seven games … Ricky Romero allowed two runs over nine innings Monday, but was handed a no-decision as part of an extra-inning win over the Angels … Mark Reynolds sat out Monday's doubleheader against the Red Sox after being hit in the helmet by Ervin Santana on Saturday … Eric Thames (eye) went 3-for-4 with a walk in his return to the lineup Monday night … Dustin Pedroia, Jed Lowrie and Conor Jackson all drove in four runs in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Orioles … J.P. Arencibia went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Monday's extra-inning win over the Angels … Marco Scutaro had six hits in Monday's doubleheader against the Orioles and is now batting .298 on the season … Torii Hunter and Mark Trumbo homered in Monday's extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays … Mike Carp had a grand slam and drove in five runs in Monday's rain-shortened win over the Indians … Mike Trout didn't play Monday after fouling a ball off his left leg during Saturday's game … John Lackey was hammered for eight runs over 4 1/3 innings in the night cap of Monday's doubleheader against the Orioles, increasing his ERA from 6.19 to 6.49 on the year … Brendan Ryan (back, neck) and Casper Wells (head, illness) were slated to undergo MRIs on Monday ... The Indians called right-hander Zach McAllister up from Triple-A Columbus to start Tuesday night against the White Sox … The Blue Jays haven't ruled out Kyle Drabek making another start this season …

HacheMan · Sep 20, 2011

Alex Liddi a future AL-only option

• Seattle Mariners third baseman Alex Liddi, the first Italian-born-and-raised player in the big leagues, smacked his first home run Monday. Liddi, 23, hit 30 home runs at Triple-A Tacoma, and although he strikes out too much, his power looks legit. Keep an eye on Liddi in AL-only formats for the future.

<OFFER>• Similarly, keep Cincinnati Reds left-hander Travis Wood on sleeper lists for 2012; he tossed five shutout innings Monday in his first big league start in three months. Wood, a fantasy find in 2010 with his 3.51 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 17 starts, regressed this year and was sent to the minors, where he struggled, but he should start next season.

• Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto homered twice and knocked in five runs Monday, giving him 17 home runs this season. His batting average, however, is .224, as he continues an every-other-year trend in the category. He's capable of hitting .280 in 2012, making him a wise option in deep leagues.
• Florida Marlins second baseman Omar Infante smacked a game-winning home run off Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel on Monday, Infante's sixth home run and the second Kimbrel has allowed in as many days. Don't own Infante for power, but he has hit .323 since the All-Star break, with an OPS 250 points better than it was in his first half.

• Boston Red Sox right-hander John Lackey was strafed for eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings Monday, further cementing his status as baseball's worst starting pitcher this season, with a 6.49 ERA in 27 starts. Name value -- which has long passed -- accounts for his being owned in 15.6 percent of ESPN leagues. Move on, Lackey owners.

• Finally, congrats to New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera for setting the saves record Monday, as he passed Trevor Hoffman. Rivera, 41, likely will finish the season with a sub-1.00 WHIP for the ninth time in his career. Strikeouts will make Kimbrel fantasy's top closer for 2011 and probably next season, but Rivera ranks second on the Player Rater for relievers this season.

HacheMan · Sep 21, 2011

Not Over Yet?

Things were looking bleak for Matt Holliday as recently as Monday, when word came down via Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the St. Louis outfielder was “doubtful” to return this season due to his finger injury.

However, the outlook on Holliday shifted in a decidedly positive direction on Tuesday, when beat writer B.J. Rains reported that the 31-year-old has been cleared to hit off a tee, and is hoping to make it back this weekend against the Cubs. Though a return isn’t guaranteed, it appears that patience could be rewarded for those fantasy owners who haven’t given up on Holliday yet.

In other news from Tuesday:

* Troy Tulowitzki (hip) returned to action as a pinch-hitter and could rejoin the starting lineup Wednesday, but Jim Tracy indicated that his star shortstop might not be playing every inning the rest of the way, telling MLB.com that “He could start a game, play part of a game, and then come out.” Tulowitzki can still be an effective fantasy option even if missing a few at-bats or a game or two over the final week, so the wisest move for fantasy owners is to get him activated for now, and watch closely how Tracy deploys him in the next few days.

* Manny Ramirez, who was last heard from following a domestic incident with his wife just over a week ago, is back in the news again, this time with a report from Dionisio Soldevila that Manny is planning to report to Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League this weekend. At this point there hasn’t been any indication that Ramirez is planning a major league comeback, and he would have to serve a 100-game PED suspension if he opted to do so.

* Hunter Pence left Tuesday’s doubleheader due to what’s being called patellar tendinitis in his left knee, and is headed for a precautionary MRI Wednesday, according to beat writer David Hale. Pence, however, doesn’t sound worried about the knee and believes he could be able to return to the lineup as soon as Wednesday.

* According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, Stephen Strasburg’s start on Friday against the Braves will likely be his last of the year. The 23-year-old has posted a 1.29 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 11/0 K/BB ratio in 14 innings since returning from Tommy John surgery.

* In closing news: Jim Johnson picked up his eighth save Tuesday, though it should be noted that Buck Showalter reportedly hasn’t ruled out the somewhat odd and seemingly unlikely possibility of Johnson making a start before the season is over. Elsewhere, for the White Sox, Chris Sale received (and converted) a save opportunity instead of the recently struggling Sergio Santos.

Follow me on Twitter: @MattStroup

Pitcher injury notes: Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star estimates that Joakim Soria (hamstring) "still seems at least a few days away." … Kyle Farnsworth (elbow) is hoping to return Thursday … Bud Norris left in the third inning with right shoulder discomfort … Johnny Cueto (lat) has officially been shut down for the rest of the season … As of late Tuesday night, Joe Girardi remained uncertain whether Phil Hughes (back) would be ready to start Wednesday … Clay Buchholz (back) threw a successful simultated game as he continues to attempt to return as a reliever … Mark Buehrle (biceps) is on course to start Wednesday … Dontrelle Willis (back) could make one last start this weekend … The Twins activated Scott Baker (elbow) to pitch out of the bullpen … Juan Nicasio was scheduled to have his neck brace removed Tuesday, and is reportedly on course to be 100 percent by spring training … Jason Isringhausen (back) is hoping to return during the Mets’ season-ending homestand, which begins on Friday.

Position player injury notes: Pablo Sandoval, who’s still unable to hit right-handed, may undergo offseason surgery on his left shoulder … Aramis Ramirez (quad) told the Chicago Tribune that he has “probably” played his last game at Wrigley as a Cub, though he could return during the upcoming road trip … Mark Reynolds (head) and Adam Jones (thumb) both returned to the lineup, with Reynolds going 2-for-5 and Jones going 3-for-4 … Asdrubal Cabrera (back) was out of the lineup for the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader … Kevin Youkilis (hip, hernia) didn’t start Tuesday, but Carl Crawford (neck) did … Kyle Blanks left Tuesday’s game with a right quad strain … Cody Ross (hamstring) told beat writer Andrew Baggarly that he’s dealing with a four-week injury, but is hoping to be able to pinch-hit this weekend after receiving a cortisone shot … Justin Morneau (knee, foot) had successful surgery Tuesday … Denard Span (concussion) is hoping to return in the next day or two.

Position player injury notes (part 2): The Blue Jays placed Yunel Escobar (elbow) on the DL, but he’s eligible to return as soon as next Monday … Billy Butler was scratched due to flu-like symptoms … Jason Bay was out of the lineup due to an illness … Justin Smoak (groin) struck out as a pinch-hitter … Jayson Werth left early with a right elbow contusion … Alexi Casilla (hamstring) reportedly wasn’t 100 percent while testing out his hamstring Tuesday … Will Venable (back) isn’t expected back before Friday … Per beat writer Greg Johns, Eric Wedge is hoping that Casper Wells (sinuses) and Brendan Ryan (neck) can rejoin the Mariners on their current road trip … Jack Hannahan (calf) returned, going 0-for-3 with an RBI … Orlando Hudson left Tuesday’s game after being hit in the face while attempting a diving catch … Alex Gonzalez (who hit his 15<SUP>th</SUP> homer Tuesday) left early with a strained right calf.

Miscellaneous notes: Either Matt Moore or Alex Torres is expected to start on Saturday against Toronto … Max Scherzer is slated to start Wednesday, with Doug Fister following him in relief … The Phillies are planning to move Vance Worley to the bullpen after his start on Wednesday … Ben Zobrist (birth of daughter) is expected to be back in time for the second half of Wednesday’s doubleheader … The Reds are reportedly considering sending Aroldis Chapman to winter ball to get him stretched out to start next year … Meanwhile, Pedro Alvarez (who hit his fourth homer Tuesday, but is still hitting just .190) has told the Pirates that he won’t play winter ball … Anthony Rizzo is expected to play winter ball … The Royals recalled Lorenzo Cain, but he figures to just act as a reserve for the last week of the regular season.

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Notable pitching: Clayton Kershaw picked up his 20<SUP>th</SUP> win … Derek Holland registered win No. 15 … Heath Bell secured his 40<SUP>th</SUP> save after 8 2/3 dominant innings from Mat Latos … Ivan Nova threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings en route to his 16<SUP>th</SUP> win … Shaun Marcum pitched eight innings of one-run ball to beat the Cubs … Tommy Milone threw six scoreless innings against a Phillies lineup missing most of its regulars … Ross Detwiler hurled 7 1/3 scoreless innings in a win over the Phillies … Randall Delgado earned his first major league win with five scoreless innings against the Marlins.

Notable hitting: Adam Dunn doubled twice, giving him back-to-back two-hit games for the first time all season … Jerry Sands homered off a right-hander (specifically Tim Lincecum) for the first time in his career … Eric Hosmer went 5-for-5 and hit his 18<SUP>th</SUP> homer … Also going 5-for-5: Mike Carp.

HacheMan · Sep 21, 2011

Soria's Hammy, Holland's Opus

The die has been (mostly) cast. The chips have (mostly) fallen. It's (almost) the end of the season. So we're here to give you (just a little) help for that final push.

This will be your last (regular) Saves and Steals of the year. Next week, we'll do a keeper ranking in order to help you prepare for the offseason (which you hopefully enter victoriously). In that manner, we'll name the tiers after fantasy baseball victories.

You know that they are not all created equally. Some victories are sweeter than others.

Tier 1: Elite (5) (AKA: The "Last day, last start, last strikeout puts you over the top of your brother/best friend in your hyper-competitive money league" Tier.)

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers

There's nothing better than beating a close friend or a family member, unless it's beating them on the last day in a close matchup. Allow yourself a victory dance. Or ten.
And don't hold Mariano Rivera's celebrations this week against him. He's the best closer of all time. Yeah, Craig Kimbrel may have twice as many strikeouts, but the Atlanta wunderkind is just now starting out on his major league career and has many more years before we could even put him in the same sentence as Mo. (Well other than that sentence right there.) Jonathan Papelbon may have 40% more strikeouts than Mo, and might top our keeper rankings next week, but let the Yankee great have a few more days atop the heap. We'll blame it on Papelbon's second (!) blown save of the year Tuesday night.
But when it comes down to names that are a little further down in this tier, yes, yes we can hold a 40% difference in strikeouts against a guy. That's why John Axford is still here, at least. He gets you tons of strikeours to go with his saves.

Tier 2: Rock Steady (6) (AKA: The "A push over the last week steals that final point to win your modest money league by a half-point." Tier.)

Joel Hanrahan, Pittsburgh Pirates
J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks
Ryan Madson, Philadelphia Phillies
Drew Storen, Washington Nationals
Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers

Jordan Walden, Anaheim Angels

A win is a win, and gummibears are gummibears. Similarly, all of these closers have generally given you what you expected of them. You could easily have put together a cheap bullpen made up of these guys and be in the money right now.
In fact, this tier is a one-tier argument for not spending too much on your closers. Another failed starter, Joel Hanrahan is also a great argument for real-life teams to do the same thing and find their closers rather than draft them. Even if his declining strikeout rate has dropped him into the very good tier, his improvement in control has made him look like a solid closer for the forseeable future. Also, make sure that you pay attention to closers that took the role late in the season. Hanrahan actually became the closer late last year and his save total kept him artificially low on draft lists going into this year.
Drew Storen continues to improve his strikeout rate, which bodes well for his future. He now has 13 in his last ten outings (and two saves in the doubleheader on Tuesday). With his better control and ground-ball rates in his sophomore season, this Stanford grad has moved to the head of his class. Next year, he'll likely give up fewer home runs even (given his ground-ball ratios) and look even better.
Sure, Jordan Walden had some off-days this season. Off-weeks even. He blew nine saves, more than anyone in ball, too. But he has a plus strikeout rate built on plus velocity and a crazy jump-step delivery. And he's been slowly better his walk rate over the course of the season. He's now gone since June 26th since walking two batters in one appearance, and has six walks total in the 24 appearances since. He's also been unsecured upon in September, and only gave up one run in August. He's not without risk -- see his strange delivery and wonky control -- but he's also a young closer under team control, which often make for good investments in fantasy.

Tier 3: OK options (7) (AKA: The "A small margin of victory over your co-workers is marred by the fact that you work at an art-house indy magazine and no one has seen a game in years" Tier.)

Andrew Bailey, Oakland Athletics
Brandon League, Seattle Mariners
Sergio Santos, Chicago White Sox

Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals

Rafael Betancourt, Colorado Rockies
Heath Bell, San Diego Padres
Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers
Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins
Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs

Maybe it's a little more prevalent in football leagues, but it always seems like there's one league you're in where a good portion of the players know very little about the sport in question. How did that happen? Who knows. It's okay that you beat up on the little kids. You still win.
It's okay, Andrew Bailey. You're still a closer and you're still saving ball games. You're pretty good, even. He's an extreme fly-ball pitcher and this year his luck has turned a little on those fly balls. A few more home runs means a higher ERA. Even with his excellent control and swinging strikes. And his injury history is sorta scary too.
Brandon League just put up his first Kimbrel of the year, and that's important. He doesn't have the same strikeout rates as the other closers in his tier, so the occasional three-strikeout game really improves his value. He's had great control all year, though, and deserves his ranking despite being behind in one category.
We'll accelerate the movement of Jason Motte and Rafael Betancourt up the rankings because there's only a week left and neither should lose their job over the next week. Both guys have great peripherals and the public backing of their managers. Shallow leaguers might consider picking them up for the final week if their ratios are very important to them.
The bottom of this tier might be called Yesterday's Elite. Carlos Marmol just didn't show the near-unbelievable strikeout rate he had last year, and you see that his control needed that gaudy strikeout rate to work. He's an incredible risk year-to-year and even day-to-day. Sean Marshall even got the last save in his pen. Heath Bell lost his power, Neftali Feliz lost his control, and Joe Nathan lost his power and control after his surgery. The younger guys might be better bets to return to grace, but at least all of them still have jobs this year and should keep them the rest of the way.

Tier 4: Question marks (7) (AKA: The "Your keeper league team shows its age and loses steam, and only a spurt of streaming keeps you from falling to second place on the last day" Tier.)

Francisco Cordero, Cincinnati Reds

Frank Francisco, Toronto Blue Jays

Leo Nunez, Florida Marlins

Jim Johnson, Baltimore Orioles
Mark Melancon, Houston Astros
Javy Guerra, Los Angeles Dodgers
Chris Perez, Cleveland Indians

In this case, you know you won but there's doom on the horizon. Your players are getting older, and you lost one of your few young arms to Tommy John surgery. You're not sure how to revamp the team, and yet you won, so who's to say you need to revamp the team. Your faithful Saves and Steals correspondent has a dynasty team headed for just this sort of conclusion, after five years of winning. So it happens! In just the same way, this tier is filled with players that will keep their job the rest of the year, and will do the job that is required of them, but that doesn't mean that doom is not on the horizon.
Think about it. There isn't a guy on this list that doesn't have an Achilles Heel. Francisco Cordero is not striking anyone out and is baseball old. Frank Francisco and Leo Nunez have bouts of gopheritis because they are extreme fly ball pitchers. Even Jim Johnson doesn't strike anyone out and Mark Melancon is below-average there too. Chris Perez walks people and doesn't strike people out either. Javy Guerra has been okay, but only okay -- and has a history of control problems. Obviously some of these flaws are a little embellished for the sake of this paragraph, but it's true. They are not great pitchers.
Of course there are mitigating factors. Jim Johnson doesn't strike a ton of batters out, but he could be a Brandon League closer if they try him in the role again next year. He gets grounders. Mark Melancon actually has a decent ground-ball rate, too, and more strikeouts. There's still a chance he develops into a top-shelf closer even if he's been up and down so far.
Chris Perez, though. Not sure there's any mitigating circumstance for him. He's got the worst ground-ball rate among closers, one of the worst strikeout rates, and walks more than four per nine. he's had bad control his whole career, so he really needs to get those strikeouts back. And for some reason his swinging strike rate has declined every year he's been the bigs. He's not fooling people and he's not getting grounders. Stay away next year.

Tier 5: Rollercoaster rides (5) (AKA: The "After dominating from Opening Day to October, you pulverize nine other randoms in a ten-team public mixed league" Tier.)

1st Chair: Brian Wilson, 2nd Chair: Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants

1st Chair: Greg Holland, 2nd Chair: Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals

1st Chair: Kyle Farnsworth, 2nd Chair: Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays
1st Chair: Manny Acosta, 2nd Chair: Bobby Parnell, New York Mets

There was a time when these wins were exciting. But as you've gotten better at fantasy baseball, beating a bunch of randoms for no gummibears provides little satisfaction. Resolve to find more competition next year to avoid this empty feeling.
Brian Wilson is probably the closer, but he's only pitched once since he returned. Santiago Casilla got the last save, too. Who knows what happens when the Giants are officially eliminated, too. Both guys just have to be owned for now in deeper leagues.
It looks like Joakim Soria's hammy might keep him out for the rest of the season. Go get Greg Holland if you need saves! Holland has been playing a masterpiece this year, with a great strikeout rate, an above-average walk rate, and an average ground-ball rate. Go get him.
Joel Peralta has the last two saves in Tampa Bay, so maybe he should be listed first. It looks like Professor Kyle Farnsworth felt good after testing his arm Wednesday, and while the team is still in it, they have reason to try and get him on the mound. Again, both guys have to be owned in deep leagues.
Manny Acosta has the last two saves for the New York Mets, but the first was two weeks ago. If you're sensing a trend, you are. Both guys should be onwed in the deepest of leagues, even if the Mets won't be offering up many save opportunities. Manny Acosta was going to the be the closer Tuesday night, but then the team lost by five runs. Scratch that, maybe neither shold be owned.

* * * * * * * * * *

Injured
With the expanded rosters, injured players are still on rosters. Call it the curse of the day-to-day. Maybe Joakim Soria belongs here, but he's day-to-day and is not on the DL. Sigh.

The Deposed:

Fernando Rodney, Los Angeles
Ryan Franklin, St. Louis
Brandon Lyon, Houston
Matt Thornton, Chicago A.L.
Vicente Padilla, Los Angeles Dodgers
Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee
David Aardsma, Seattle
Jason Isringhausen, New York
Jon Rauch, Toronto
Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles
Kevin Gregg, Orioles

Is it mean-spirited to be happy that Kevin Gregg finally made it onto this list after pitching poorly all year? No. Enjoy it for a whole week!

<CENTER></CENTER><CENTER>* * * * * * * * * *</CENTER>
The Steals Department

We've talked about Dee Gordon before, but did you know he's headed to San Diego this weekend and that the Padres are the second-worst team in baseball when it comes to stopping the running game? They give up .87 steals per game, meaning Gordon should get two this weekend. Two steals, even if it will come with no (negative?) power, cold win your championship matchup, couldn't it? The Houston Astros are the worst team in the league by caught stealing percentage, and they get the Rockies over the weekend. Dexter Fowler is available in two-thirds of leagues, so check that angle out if Gordon is gone. Lastly, Ted Lilly is the worst pitcher when it comes to allowing stolen bases, and he faces the Padres on Friday. Cameron Maybin might be gone, but Jason Bartlett has 23 steals and is probably available for you. Good luck streaming for steals!
Matt Angle and Nolan Reimold last week, Robert Andino this week. We love marginal Baltimore Orioles in the deep league portion of the Steals Department, don't we. But here's the thing, the Orioles will see a lot of the Red Sox over the rest of this year. And the Red Sox give up the most stolen bases in the major leagues -- almost a full stolen base a game. Jason Varitek is getting older and Jarrod Saltalamacchia was never that good at throwing runners out. Andino stole his 11th Tuesday night just because he could, and Nolan Reimold chipped in for good measure. Just your average big lunky corner outfielder first baseman type, stealing bases. Check who's got the Red Sox -- and if John Lackey or Josh Beckett are pitching, especially -- pick up a speedster going up against them. Those two pitchers are both in the top ten in stolen bases allowed.

HacheMan · Sep 21, 2011

Eric Hosmer finishing up strong

Eric Karabell

• Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer homered among his five hits Tuesday night and knocked in three runs, continuing a standout rookie season. Hosmer, who didn't make his big league debut until May, has 18 home runs, 75 RBIs and 11 steals, and he's hitting .416 in September. This sure looks like a top-10 first baseman for 2012 drafts.
• Meanwhile, things keep getting worse for right-hander Kyle Drabek. The Toronto Blue Jays rookie was a trendy sleeper in March, but the six runs he allowed in relief Tuesday pushed his ERA to 6.03, his WHIP to 1.79. At least he didn't walk anyone. It's fair to wonder if Drabek can be relevant even next season.
• Washington Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa slugged his 20th home run of the season Tuesday, becoming the third rookie at his position to achieve the feat (Dan Uggla, Alexei Ramirez). Espinosa's .238 batting average is a drag, but it's tough to find this power-speed combo at middle infield. Espinosa should be a top-10 second baseman in 2012.

• Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis singled, doubled and stole a base Tuesday, raising his OPS to an impressive .905 over 106 at-bats. Kipnis, 24, has enough power, speed and plate discipline to contend for top rookie honors in 2012. Look for the Indians to play him regularly and fantasy owners to love him.
• Atlanta Braves right-hander Randall Delgado won his first big league game Tuesday, shutting out the Marlins for five innings. Delgado has allowed one run in four of his past five starts, and while the 21-year-old isn't going deep into games yet, he makes for a decent spot-starter next week against Philly's checked-out offense.
• One last rookie to watch: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jerry Sands homered off Tim Lincecum Tuesday; Sands also homered the previous Sunday. Sands struggled in the big leagues earlier this season, but he's hitting .390 in September, after crushing 29 home runs in 94 Triple-A games. Sands could be a 25-homer fellow in 2012.

HacheMan · Sep 22, 2011

Lawrie Lost for Year

A fractured finger has ended a fine debut season from Brett Lawrie. It's a bit of bad luck for a player that has put up gaudy numbers -- without the aid of good luck. Nothing in his peripheral statistics suggests that what he did was out of the norm that he established with his minor league statistics.

Well, that isn't to say that next year will just be the same, with three-plus times the counting statistics. He could take a step back in the power department without it being out of whack with what he's done before, for example. He seems a lock for 25+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases and a batting average over .280, but OLIVER, the forecasting system by Brian Cartwright at The Hardball Times, has him at .273/.324/.472 next year. At third base, that'll still be very valuable, but keep that number in mind when looking at your keeper decisions over the weekend, too.

The laundry list of seasons that ended on Wednesday is long. Atop the list sits Matt Holliday, who cut his batting practice short after ten swings. He's most likely done and will be a borderline keeper in most leagues too. Jair Jurrjens' knee won't allow him to return before the NLCS. Clay Buchholz's season as a starter is over. He might still help in the pen, maybe. Todd Helton will nurse his back into the offseason. Tommy Hunter left his start with a strained groin and may not be back for his final start. Bud Norris says his shoulder has ended his season most likely, too. Thanks for your contributions fellas, but we have leagues to win.

* These pitching paragraphs will try to focus on guys that might be spot-starters in their final starts. That seems to be the most useful way to do this. Bronson Arroyo shut out the Astros, which is a function of the Astros being the Astros. But he gets the Mets next and might actually be a good start even if he's given up 44 homers on the year. The Mets don't have a ton of power. Ryan Dempster gets the season finale for the Cubs against the Padres next Wednesday and is a start for that. Dustin McGowan held the Angels to two runs in five innings… and struck out eight with no walks! If he gets a start against the White Sox he's probably a deep league spot-start. Mark Buehrle held the Indians to two runs in six innings, but he doesn't strike anyone out and gets the Blue Jays next. He's not a spot-start in shallow leagues for that one. Did someone drop Ubaldo Jimenez? He struck out seven in seven in that same game and gets the Tigers next. Yes. Brandon McCarthy. He held the Rangers to one run in seven innings, so even if he only struck out one, he's a must-spot-start against the Mariners in Seattle.

Derek Lowe gave up three runs in 6 1/3 innings to the Marlins, but his next start is the Phillies and that makes him a pass for the most part. After giving up four runs (one earned) against the Orioles in his short start Tuesday, Erik Bedard has been ruled out of his start against the Yankees on Sunday. Who knows when he'll start again, but he seems like a risky start. Kevin Slowey just can't show what he once had. He gave up five runs in less than seven innings, and it was against the Mariners. Why would he be a better start against the Royals next week?

* Plenty did pleasing things at the plate. Jason Heyward had one of the Braves' two hits and September might be his best month of the season. There are worse players on the wire. Derrek Lee had three hits (one a home run) and is on fire this month. Robert Andino had three hits against the Red Sox on Tuesday and then stole a base against them Wednesday. The Red Sox give up more steals than anyone in the American League. If you're streaming for steals, he's an option in deeper leagues. Mark Reynolds homered and doubled Wednesday and if you didn't use batting average this season, he probably helped you as much as he helped the Orioles. Brent Morel hit a home run and has been awesome this month. Why not (in deeper leagues)? Dee Gordon stole his 23rd Wednesday and faces the worst team in the majors at stopping the run game next. David Freese, tripled, homered, and drove in five. If he can stay healthy all year next year he'll be a great third baseman in most leagues.

* Should we update the bullpens? We should. Joakim Soria threw off flat ground but he might not have enough time to get back. Greg Holland is the man in the meantime. Kyle Farnsworth threw 45 pitches off the mound Wednesday and might still come back this year. Joel Peralta will continue to get saves though.

If you want to talk to me about any of this, hit me up on the twitter.

National League Quick Hits: Troy Tulowitzki returned to the Rockies' lineup and some people dropped him … Hunter Pence has a strained knee and is out through the weekend … Jayson Werth (elbow) is missing games with his ailment, and Roger Bernadina is filling in … Lucas Duda hit a wall and left the game with dizziness; If it's a concussion he might miss the rest of the season … Chase Headley (finger) and Jesus Guzman (neck) returned to the Padres lineup … Chipper Jones left the team to be with his son but should be back Friday … Jaime Garcia gave up four unearned against the Mets -- ground-ballers will give up unearned runs some times as their defense makes errors -- so maybe he'll always have a better ERA than his WHIP suggests he should have … Ryan Vogelsong gave up four runs in five innings against the Dodgers (three strikeouts), so he doesn't seem like a great spot start against the Rockies on Monday … John Lannan gave up three runs in five innings to the Phillies and maybe he can do better against the Marlins on Monday … Brett Pill had three hits but is a non-prospect by age, at least when compared to Brandon Belt … Alex Gonzalez is going to miss a couple days with his strained calf.

American League Quick Hits: Kevin Youkilis (hip, hernia) is sore but not ruled out for the season just yet … Dan Haren was hit on the left wrist by a line drive in the eighth inning, but thinks he can make his next start Monday … Michael Pineda ended his rookie season with two runs in four innings against the Twins; Don't let this ending fool you next year, he's excellent … Asdrubal Cabrera (back) should be back Thursday … Denard Span (concusssion) was activated and went right into the starting lineup … Billy Butler had two hits, and his 40th double of the year, but when will those doubles turn into home runs … Jeremy Hellickson handles the Yankees in New York (two runs in seven innings), so maybe he can handle them at home … We finally have a start date for Matt Moore -- Thursday against the Yankees; Sucks if you wanted to pick him up for that one … Travis Hafner hit a home run, but is still sharing time with Jim Thome … Phil Hughes had an MRI after he missed Wednesday's start, has inflammation, and might make his start early next week against the Rays … Felipe Paulino only gave up two runs in five innings against the Tigers -- and struck out eight