Around The Diamond
Wondering who has the most favorable matchups this week? How about the most unfavorable? Each Monday, we'll take a look at every position on the field and give you a guy who looks to be in line for big-time numbers, as well as a guy who could be in line for big-time disappointment.
Make sure you play ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Texas Rangers
Salty has come back from a groin injury with a hot bat in his hands, hitting .333 with four RBI in five games. The Rangers are at home for seven this week.
Honorable mention: Dioner Navarro, Tampa Bay Rays (.400 over the last two weeks)
Don't expect much from ... Rod Barajas, Toronto Blue Jays
Barajas gave fantasy owners a jolt when Gregg Zaun went on the DL, but he's been pretty useless of late, batting .238 over the last two weeks. The Jays face all righties this week, so we could see Zaun getting the starting nod more often than not.
Honorable mention: Jason Kendall, Milwaukee Brewers (.187 this month)
Make sure you play ... Chris Davis, Texas Rangers
Davis has mashed since his recall, and he's been particularly good of late, with a .395-4-8 line over the last two weeks. This week the Rangers play seven games at home, where Davis boasts a 1.226 OPS.
Honorable mention: Adam LaRoche, Pittsburgh Pirates (.390-5-9 over the last two weeks)
Don't expect much from ... John Bowker, San Francisco Giants
The Giants have been willing to let the young Bowker sink or swim, and lately he's been sinking like a stone, hitting just .094 over the last two weeks. The Giants play three at LA and three at San Diego this week.
Honorable mention: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (.162 over the last two weeks; Cincy on the road all weeks)
Make sure you play ... Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox
The Cuban defector is looking more and more comfortable against major league pitching as the days pass. Over the last two weeks, he's batting .395 with a homer, six RBI and three steals. The Sox are on the road for seven this week, and Alexei has batted .345 BA with a .831 OPS away from home.
Honorable mention: Freddy Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates (.405-2-7 over the last two weeks)
Don't expect much from ... Mark Ellis, Oakland A's
Maybe Ellis doesn't want to be traded, because he's hit so poorly in July (.155) that his value has perhaps dropped. The A's face just one southpaw this week.
Honorable mention: Mark DeRosa, Chicago Cubs (.182 over the last two weeks)
Make sure you play ... Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
Tulo has attempted to make up for lost time, as he's batting a robust .522 in five games since coming back from his second stint on the DL. The Rox are in pitcher's parks this week (Pittsburgh and Florida), but you should ride Tulo while he's hot.
Honorable mention: Jhonny Peralta, Cleveland Indians (.405-2-9 over the last two weeks)
Don't expect much from ... Cristian Guzman, Washington Nationals
The Nationals could be having a bit of buyer's remorse after rewarding Guzman with a contract extension, as the veteran is batting a paltry .139 over the last two weeks. Cristian has been ordinary against right-handed pitching this year, and the Nats face five righties this week.
Honorable mention: Jack Wilson, Pittsburgh Pirates (.150 over the last two weeks)
Make sure you play ... Ian Stewart, Colorado Rockies
Stewart has been manning the hot corner for the Rox lately, and his bat has been red-hot. Over the last two weeks, Ian is hitting a blistering .483 with a homer and 12 RBIs in just seven games.
Honorable mention: Casey Blake, Los Angeles Dodgers (.412-2-7 over the last two weeks)
Don't expect much from ... Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs
A-Ram is hitting just .192 in July. The Cubbies would love for him to break out of his funk soon, as they'll face off with the Brewers in Milwaukee four times to start off the week. With C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Manny Parra slated to toe the rubber for the Brew Crew in the first three games, Aramis could have a rough go of it.
Honorable mention: Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox (.224, 1 HR this month)
Outfield
Make sure you play ... Adam Lind, Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have wised up and are playing Lind on an everyday basis now, and he's rewarded them with a .397 average and 17 RBIs this month. The Jays face all right-handers this week.
Honorable mention: Reed Johnson, Chicago Cubs (.417-2-6 over the last two weeks; 3 games vs. LHP)
Don't expect much from ... Jose Guillen, Kansas City Royals
Guillen has been very streaky this year, and of late he's been streaking in the wrong direction with a .097 average and no homers over the last two weeks. Complicating matters is that he's dealing with a groin injury that could keep him out of at least a few games this week.
Honorable mention: Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox (.122, 0 RBIs, 0 steals over the last two weeks)
Make sure you play ... Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox
Buehrle has been outstanding over the last two months, posting an ERA of 1.99 since June 1. He faces the Twins and Royals this week, and against those squads the southpaw boasts a career record of 38-18.
Honorable mention: Armando Galarraga, Detroit Tigers (2.69 ERA on the road this year)
Don't expect much from ... Brett Myers, Philadelphia Phillies
Myers proclaimed himself a changed man after a stint in the minors, but his first outing back offered little promise. His two scheduled outings this week (@ WAS, @ STL) look pretty good on paper, but you should look elsewhere.
Honorable mention: Jered Weaver, LA Angels (@ BOS, @ NYY)
