Championship Series pitching chart

Pitching Chart, Championship Series

AL Los Angeles Angels New York Yankees
Thursday --- ---
Friday @NYY-Lackey LAA-Sabathia
Saturday @NYY-Saunders LAA-Burnett
Sunday --- ---
Monday NYY-Weaver @LAA-Pettitte
Tuesday NYY-Kazmir @LAA-Sabathia2*
Wednesday --- ---
Thursday, Oct. 22 NYY-Lackey2 @LAA-Burnett2
Friday, Oct. 23 --- ---
Saturday, Oct. 24 @NYY-Saunders2 LAA-Pettitte2
Sunday, Oct. 25 @NYY-Weaver2 LAA-Sabathia3

*-The Yankees are expected to come back with workhorse LHP C.C. Sabathia for a Game 4 start on just three days’ rest. That also would enable him also to start a seventh game, if there is one. Never let it be said that Major League Baseball, whose money-counters seem to think the Yanks and Red Sox are the only teams that matter, would add an extra day during the series’ stay in Anaheim that would seem to help New York, which has no more than three reliable starters.

NL Los Angeles Dodgers Philadelphia Phillies
Thursday Phi-Kershaw @LAA-Hamels
Friday Phi-Padilla @LAA-Martinez*
Saturday --- ---
Sunday @Phi-Kuroda LAA-Lee
Monday @Phi-Wolf LAA-Blanton**
Tuesday --- ---
Wednesday @Phi-Kershaw2 LAA-Hamels2
Thursday, Oct. 22 --- ---
Friday, Oct. 23 Phi-Padilla2 @LAA-Lee2
Saturday, Oct. 24 Phi-Kuroda2 @LAA-Blanton2
Sunday, Oct. 25 --- ---

*-Philadelphia has indicated that it would go in Game 2 with RHP Pedro Martinez, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 30, instead of LHP J.A. Happ or RHP Joe Blanton, who pitched Sunday. The second time through the four-man rotation, the Phillies could skip the aging Martinez in favor of LHP Cliff Lee, who started Monday, and Blanton.

**-Blanton seems likely to be Philly’s starter in Game 4 (and 7, if necessary), with Happ in the bullpen.

The most annoying talk-show host A.S.A.S.*

A.S.A.S. means After Stephen A. Smith.

His barely lamented departure resulted in the mere ascencion of the guy in second place to No. 1. Kind of like when the top-ranked team in college football is knocked off and No. 2 has beaten some schlub team 69-3.

The guy in second place during the reign of Stephen A. Smith, AKA The Dark Ages, also is on ESPN. Still, somehow. He's opinionated, which he's supposed to be. He also seems very weak on research, and shoots off his mouth with very little factual information to back up his weakly conceived points.

His name is Colin Cowherd, and he annoys the hell out of me.

Hot and Not going into postsesaon

The players listed here were the statistical leaders during the final week of the season for the nine teams still playing in the majors.
This post is designed to help you in forming a fantasy team for leagues or special contexts involving postseason play, or merely to help you enjoy the playoffs while having your friends marvel at your incredible baseball knowledge.
Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.

Hot

Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

OF Magglio Ordonez, Tigers 12-22 .545 1-6 0
SS Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies 11-22 .500 2-6 2
SS Orlando Cabrera, Twins 15-33 .455 0-5 0
OF Delmon Young, Twins 12-27 .444 1-10 0
1B Todd Helton, Rockies 11-26 .423 1-5 0
SS Jimmy Rollins, Phillies 10-25 .400 1-2 1
1B Ryan Howard, Phillies 9-25 .360 2-5 1
1B/3B Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox 7-20 .350 2-7 1
OF Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox 7-20 .350 0-0 3
OF Denard Span, Twins 10-30 .333 0-2 0
OF Jason Bay, Red Sox 7-21 .333 0-3 0

This is the second consecutive week for Helton on the Hot list.

Home runs – Tigers OF Curtis Granderson and Angels 1B Kendry Morales 3; Howard, Tulowitzki, Youkilis, Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira and Phillies OF Jayson Werth 2.

RBI – Young 10; Morales 8; Youkilis 7; Ordonez, Tulowitzki, Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter and 1B Albert Pujols, Twins OF Jason Kubel and Red Sox 1B/C Victor Martinez 6. Carpenter had a very productive three at-bats in his final start.

Stolen bases – Werth 4; Ellsbury 3; Pujols, Tulowitzki and Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal 2.

Runs – Cabrera and Helton 8; Howard, Morales and Tulowitzki 7. Note that Tulo was on each of these lists, making him a five-tool fantasy player.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Matt Palmer, Angels 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.57 4:3
RHP Ervin Santana, Angels 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.89 2:1
RHP Aaron Cook, Rockies 8.0 1.13 1-0 0.63 2:1
LHP Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers 10.0 1.80 0-0 1.10 14:4
RHP Nick Blackburn, Twins 14.0 1.93 0-0 0.79 9:1

Blackburn has been on this list in each of the last two weeks.

Wins – Twins RHP Jon Rauch 2.

Saves – Angels LHP Brian Fuentes 4-for-4; Twins RHP Joe Nathan 3-for-3; Phillies RHP Ryan Madson 2-for-2. This is the fourth consecutive week for Nathan on this list, and the second for Fuentes. Madson's success increases the possibility that he, and not RHP Brad Lidge, would be Philadelphia's closer for the NLDS.

WHIP – Palmer and Angels RHP Sean O'Sullivan 0.57; Cook 0.63; Blackburn 0.79; Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa and Yankees RHP Chad Gaudin 0.88.

Strikeout/walk ratio (at least 10 Ks and a 2.5:1 ratio) – De La Rosa 12:3; Kershaw 14:4; Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez 10:4.

* * *

Not

Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

C Gerald Laird, Tigers 2-20 .100 0-1 0
2B Chase Utley, Phillies 2-20 .100 0-2 0
2B/SS Clint Barmes, Rockies 3-21 .143 0-0 0
OF Matt Kemp, Dodgers 3-21 .143 0-1 0
OF Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals 3-21 .143 0-4 0
1B James Loney, Dodgers 4-22 .182 0-0 0
1B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers 5-26 .192 1-1 0
OF Colby Rasmus, Cardinals 4-20 .200 0-1 0

Walk/strikeout ratio (generally 10 or more strikeouts) – No players on a playoff team struck out 10 times during the regular season's final week. The worst performance was by Dodgers OF Manny Ramirez 3:9.

Caught stealing – Red Sox OF Jacoby Ellsbury 3-for-5.

The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Edwin Jackson, Tigers 12.0 9.75 0-2 1.50 8:4
LHP Cole Hamels, Phillies 9.2 8.38 0-2 1.76 7:5
RHP Joe Blanton, Phillies 11.2 7.71 1-1 1.89 7:6
LHP Andy Pettitte, Yankees 10.1 4.35 1-1 1.94 5:7
RHP Kyle Lohse, Cardinals 11.0 4.09 0-2 1.45 9:2

Losses – Hamels, Jackson and Lohse 2.

Blown saves – Dodgers RHP Jonathan Broxton, Cardinals RHP Kyle McLellan, Rockies RHP Jon Rauch and Red Sox RHP Takashi Saito 0-for-1; Rockies RHP Huston Street 2-for-3.

Pitching Chart for Division Series

Here are the expected starters for Tuesday’s playoff game between the Tigers and Twins to get into the playoffs and for the Division Series.

AL 10/6 Gm 1 10/9 10/10 10/11 10/12 10/13 10/14
Bos --- @LAA
Lester @LAA
Beckett --- LAA
Buchholz LAA
Matsuzaka --- @LAA
Lester2
Det @Min
Porcello* @NYY
Jackson @NYY
Verlander --- NYY
Porcello2 NYY
Jackson2 --- @NYY
Verlander2
LAA --- Bos
Lackey Bos
Weaver --- @Bos
Kazmir @Bos
Saunders --- Bos
Lackey2
Min Det
Baker** @NYY
Blackburn @NYY
Pavano --- NYY
Baker2 NYY
Blkbn2-3* --- @NYY
Pavano2
NYY --- XXX
Sabathia XXX
Petttte-4* --- @XXX
Burnett @XXX
Sabathia2 --- XXX
Pettitte2

*-If the Tigers win and the Twins lose Sunday, there wouldn’t be a playoff game Tuesday. RHP Rick Porcello would be the likely Game 1 starter against the Yankees, moving the remainder of Detroit’s ALDS rotation back one game. If the Tigers lose and the Twins win, Minnesota would win the American League Central and Detroit wouldn’t advance to the ALDS. Or if the teams finish the regular season tied, Tuesday’s one-game playoff would determine which team would play on.

**-The opposite scenarios from the paragraph above would apply. So if the Twins win the division title outright, RHP Scott Baker would start Game 1 in New York, and the other pitchers would move back one game. Or if Minnesota loses either after 162 games or in a Tuesday playoff, the Twins wouldn’t advance to the ALDS.

3*-It’s likely that Minnesota would use just three starters in the ALDS, meaning RHP Nick Blackburn would start Game 4, and LHP Brian Duensing and RHP Jeff Manship would move from the Twins’ rotation to their bullpen.

4*-Based on the season-ending rotation, LHP Andy Pettitte would be in line to start the second game of the Yankees’ ALDS. They could decide to move RHP A.J. Burnett ahead of Pettitte to make two ALDS starts.

NL Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
Col @Phi
Cook @Phi
Jimenez --- Phi
DeLaRosa* Phi
Marquis --- @Phi
Cook2
LAD StL
Wolf StL
Kershaw --- @StL
Billingsley-2* @StL
Garland-3* --- StL
Wolf2
Phi Col
Lee Col
Hamels --- @Col
Blanton @Col
Happ-4* --- Col
Lee2
StL @LAD
Carpenter @LAD
Wainwright --- LAD
Pineiro LAD
Smoltz-5* --- @LAD
Carpenter2

*-LHP Jorge De La Rosa left Saturday’s game because of a tight left groin. He could be ready to start Saturday, if not Thursday. If De La Rosa couldn’t pitch, the Rockies could move RHP Jason Marquis ahead in their rotation or insert RHPs Jason Hammel or Jose Contreras to start Game 3.

**-Dodgers RHP Hiroki Kuroda will miss the NLDS because of a bulging disk in his neck. That means LHP Clayton Kershaw would be likely to pitch in Game 2 Thursday on his usual four days’ rest after pitching the division-clinching win Saturday. RHP Chad Billingsley hasn’t pitched effectively late in the season, but could be Los Angeles’ best third option.

3*-The Dodgers’ second decision would be whether to start RHPs Jon Garland or Vicente Padilla in Game 4. Padilla’s record this year is better, but Garland has a better long-range track record.

4*-The Phillies have selected more durable LHP J.A. Happ over RHP Pedro Martinez as their fourth starter for the playoffs.

5*-RHP John Smoltz, who has a far more distinguished postseason track record than RHP Kyle Lohse, is likely to be the Cardinals’ choice as their fourth starter. Both had losing records this season. With trigger-happy Tony LaRussa as manager, expect St. Louis to use plenty of pitchers in Game 4 regardless of who starts.

Hot and Not: Wainwright keeps making his case

The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders during the week preceding this final week of the season.
Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.

Hot

Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

1B Joey Votto, Reds 14-25 .560 1-8 0
SS Miguel Tejada, Astros 12-23 .522 2-5 0
1B/3B Jorge Cantu, Marlins 11-23 .478 0-5 0
1B Todd Helton, Rockies 10-21 .476 0-4 0
SS Rafael Furcal, Dodgers 13-28 .464 1-7 1
1B Daric Barton, Athletics 10-22 .455 0-8 0
1B Kendry Morales, Angels 9-20 .450 2-4 1
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees 10-23 .435 0-1 4
OF/2B Eric Patterson, Athletics 9-21 .429 1-4 3
1B Billy Butler, Royals 11-26 .423 3-9 0
1B/3B Chris Davis, Rangers 11-26 .423 1-4 0
OF Ryan Sweeney, Athletics 11-26 .423 0-2 0

This is the second consecutive week on a Hot list for Votto, after a week on the Not list. If you think it’s too late for a hot streak to help a player’s average, change that thinking. Votto raised his average 14 points last week, from .304 to .318, and he has enough plate appearances to qualify for the National League batting title.

Home runs – Butler, Rangers OF Marlon Byrd, Red Sox 1B David Ortiz and Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez 3. There’s also speculation that there might be a new A-Rod Jr. or third-generation hottie on the way.

RBI – Phillies 1B Ryan Howard 14; Byrd 11; Ortiz 10; Butler and Rangers OF David Murphy 9.

Stolen bases – Rangers OF Julio Borbon, Yankees SS Derek Jeter and Twins 2B/3B/SS Nick Pinto 4; Patterson, Rodriguez, Mets 2B Luis Castillo and Padres OF Tony Gwynne 3.

Runs – Votto 11; Twins SS Orlando Cabrera, Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Blue Jays 2B Aaron Hill and Braves 2B/1B/3B Martin Prado 9.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Carlos Zambrano, Cubs 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.33 8:1
RHP Roy Halladay, Blue Jays 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.78 9:0
RHP Kevin Correia, Padres 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.78 7:1
RHP Anibal Sanchez, Marlins 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.50 7:2
LHP C.C. Sabathia, Yankees 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.43 8:2
RHP Nick Blackburn, Twins 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.14 6:0
RHP Jake Peavy, White Sox 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.14 8:2
LHP John Lannan, Nationals 7.0 0.00 0-1 1.29 6:3
RHP Zack Greinke, Royals 13.0 0.69 2-0 1.08 13:5
RHP Javier Vazquez, Braves 9.0 1.00 1-0 0.44 7:1

Sabathia and Vazquez have been on this list in each of the last two weeks.

Wins – Greinke, Phillies RHP Joe Blanton, Cubs LHP Tom Gorzelanny, Rangers RHP Kevin Millwood and Angels LHP Joe Saunders 2.

Saves – Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera 4-for-4; Royals RHP Joakim Soria and Braves RHP Rafael Soriano 3-for-3; Angels LHP Brian Fuentes, Brewers RHP Trevor Hoffman, Twins RHP Joe Nathan, and Astros RHP Jose Valverde 2-for-2. This is the third consecutive week for Nathan on this list, and the second for Hoffman.

WHIP – Zambrano 0.33; Sabathia 0.43; Vazquez 0:44; Sanchez 0.55; Mets RHP Nelson Figueroa, Braves RHP Tommy Hanson, Marlins RHP Ricky Nolasco and Brewers LHP Manny Parra 0.71.

Strikeout/walk ratio (at least 10 Ks and a 2.5:1 ratio) –.Brewers LHP Chris Narveson 10:0; Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright 11:1; Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez and Tigers RHP Justin Verlander 11:2; Yankees RHP A.J. Burnett 11:3; Gorzelanny 14:4; Greinke 13:5. Wainwright continues to be a frequent visitor to the Hot list, including the last three weeks.

* * *

Not

Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

OF Andre Ethier, Dodgers 1-21 .048 0-3 0
OF Jayson Werth, Phillies 2-24 .083 0-4 1
SS Ian Desmond, Nationals 2-20 .100 0-1 0
3B/C/OF Brandon Inge, Tigers 3-25 .120 0-3 0
OF Jason Kubel, Twins 3-22 .136 1-3 0
3B David Wright, Mets 3-21 .143 0-1 0
C A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox 3-21 .143 0-1 0
OF Torii Hunter, Angels 4-27 .148 0-1 0
OF Nate McLouth, Braves 4-27 .148 0-2 0
SS Everth Cabrera, Padres 5-31 .161 0-1 0

The week’s hitless wonders were Yankees C Jose Molina and Athletics C Landon Powell 0-for-12 and Mets C Josh Thole 0-for-10.

Walk/strikeout ratio (six or more strikeouts) – Brewers OF Mike Cameron 1:10; Cabrera 2:11 and Inge 2:11; Athletics OF Jack Cust 2:10; Angels OF Bobby Abreu 4:10; Werth 4:11.

Caught stealing – Rangers SS Elvis Andrus 4-for-6.

The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP David Bush, Brewers 5.2 15.88 0-2 3.18 7:5
RHP Chris Tillman, Orioles 7.0 12.86 0-2 2.29 7:4
LHP Jorge De La Rosa, Rockies 7.1 11.05 1-0 2.18 10:6
RHP Edgar Gonzalez, Athletics 8.1 10.80 0-2 2.28 4:3
RHP Edward Mujica, Padres 8.0 10.13 0-1 2.38 8:3
LHP Lenny DiNardo, Royals 10.0 9.90 0-1 2.70 2:9
RHP Livan Hernandez, Nationals 10.0 9.90 0-1 1.90 2:5
RHP Braden Looper, Brewers 10.0 9.00 0-1 1.80 4:1
LHP Barry Zito, Giants 8.1 7.56 0-1 2.40 7:8
LHP Pat Misch, Mets 10.1 6.97 1-1 1.84 3:4

Some of these are pitchers failing auditions to be in a major league rotation next season.

De La Rosa fell from the Hot list a week earlier.

Losses – Bush, Gonzalez, Tillman and Red Sox RHP Paul Byrd 2.

Blown saves – Mariners RHP Mark Lowe 1-for-3.

A general guide to your final-week fantasy pitching staff

This began as the usual 1-2 paragraph preamble to the weekly Pitching Chart, explaining any particular variations from the norm expected during that coming week.

As you can see, this week's explanation expanded to the point that it's almost as long as the chart itself, which will be coming your way in a few hours.

The season’s final week is a time for experimentation. Twenty or so teams have been or will be eliminated from playoff contention, so those would be resting veterans who don’t have a secondary goal such as a 20th (or maybe 15th) win or 200 strikeouts. Some teams will shut down rookies who have shown what they need to show for the team to go into the off-season penciling them in or out of the 2010 rotation. Pitchers with any injury from a torn rotator cuff to a hangnail will be shut down in favor of 28-year-old number three starters from the Triple-A farm team.

Then there are the Yankees, who already have clinched the American League East title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Their only goal for the four (or possibly three) pitchers who would start in the Division Series would be to line them up with the accustomed four days’ rest for their first postseason outing.

Other teams, such as the Red Sox and Angels would go into a similar mode as soon as they clinch their postseason position, which could be as early as Monday. And the losers in the playoff derby, such as the Rangers, would go into a play-it-safe mode as soon as they were eliminated. That would mean that the rookie starting a final-week game for Texas could be RHP Guillermo Moscoso instead of LHP Derek Holland.

Finally, there are a few teams in a legitimate race to get into the postseason or a more favorable playoff matchup. Fitting that description are the Tigers, Twins, Rockies and Braves. If the uncertainty extended until Sunday, they’d play that game as if it were the seventh game of the World Series. Just be glad the Cardinals aren’t in that position, or Tony LaRussa could drag the game out long enough to delay the National League playoffs by a week or so.

Your pitching goal for this week should be to protect yourself from losing pitching points and to determine other categories in which you could gamble to gain multiple pitching points if necessary. Here’s some information from an Email I sent to a fantasybaseballlscout.com subscriber:

It all depends on what you have, what you need.

If you need wins and could gain more than a point with enough wins, you'd need to stock up on pitchers who MIGHT start twice and hope that they do.

If you need saves and could gain a point or more with those, you'd need to use as many GOOD relief pitchers (preferably closers or secondary closers), you'd need to stock up on those.

If you need to protect ERA and wouldn't lose more than a point in wins, you'd need to use every GOOD reliever, or reliever who might not pitch at all as possible.

If you could gain more than a point in WHIP and wouldn't lose more in Wins than you'd gain in WHIP, you'd want GOOD relievers and want them to pitch significant innings -- unless you're trying to protect WHIP, in which case you'd want a few quality innings from GOOD relievers and maybe a pitcher or two who wouldn't pitch.

If you're in a 5x5 league and could pick up more than a point in Ks, you'd want to throw out as many strikeout pitchers as you could. Any of those who MIGHT make two starts would be musts.

General rule. GOOD relief pitchers could help you more than even good starters in three categories -- saves for sure, ERA almost certainly and WHIP if they are average or above-average control pitchers (figure < or = 3 walks per 9 innings).

General rule: Good (#1-3 in most rotations) starters could help you more in Wins and SO than relief pitchers would.

In some leagues, your choices might be dictated by rules that state minimum or maximum innings for the season. If you need to get over the minimum, you'd need starters pitching. If you need to stay under the maximum, you'd need relievers or inactive pitchers.

Absolute rule: You don't want bad pitchers (4-5 starters in most rotations, #3 starters on most bad teams, crappy relief pitchers with no chance for saves) starting for you even once. One guy giving up 4 ER in an inning could mean 2-3 hundredths lost in ERA and WHIP.

Durham wins Triple-A Championship; my man Hellickson is MVP

The Durham Bulls are the champions of minor league baseball for 2009.

Durham defeated the Memphis Redbirds tonight at Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Ballpark in the Triple-A National Championship. To most people, the means the Bulls are sort of like the champions of the tallest group of midgXXXX, little people.

The game’s most valuable player was a guy who hadn’t been in the game for more than two hours when it ended after 11 innings and 3:48. Durham right-hander Jeremy Hellickson allowed just two hits and a walk in five scoreless innings, left with a 4-0 lead and watched the Bull pen give up the lead.

The Bulls won it 5-4, when Oneli Perez entered the game as Memphis’ sixth pitcher and threw one pitch. The ball went to the backstop, and pinch runner Rashad Eldridge scored from third base on the wild pitch.

The Bulls, representing the International League as the Tampa Bay Rays’ top farm team, defeated the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate that won the Pacific Coast League championship.

Doubles by Ray Olmedo and Desmond Jennings broke a scoreless in the bottom of the third inning. Durham was designated as the home team as a reward for the International League’s victory in the Triple-A all-star game.

Sean Rodriguez led off the fourth with a home run into the left field seats. The Bulls added two more in the inning on Olmedo’s run-scoring double and losing pitcher P.J. Walters’ mental lapse.

With two out and Olmedo at second base, Walters ran to cover first base on a grounder to first baseman Mark Hamilton, but too late to put out the speedy Jennings. As Walters continued past first base, Olmedo broke for home and beat the pitcher’s throw.

Dutham left-hander Jason Cromer nearly undid the Bulls’ 4-0 lead while pitching to four batters and retiring none of them.

Jon Jay led off the Redbirds’ sixth with an opposite-field home run to left field. After Tyler Greene singled, Allen Craig sliced a two-run homer over the wall near the 325-foot mark at the right field foul pole to cut the lead to 4-3.

Memphis tied the game in the seventh on David Freese’s sacrifice fly sandwiched among three walks and a hit batsman.

It was good to see Hellickson win the MVP award, and to get a chance to talk with him. He has spent the last two or three years in some of my fantasy teams’ farm system. Here’s why I like him: In 4 ½ minor league seasons, Hellickson has a 37-13 record -- including 9-2 this year for Double-A Montgomery and Durham. And a whole lot of other excellent statistics that tell me he’ll be a star in the major leagues as soon as 2010.

Hot or Not: Fukudome slipping

The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.

Hot

Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

1B Mark Teixeira, Yankees 13-25 .520 2-9 0
2B/OF Skip Schumaker, Cardinals 11-22 .500 0-0 0
C Matt Wieters, Orioles 12-25 .480 2-10 0
3B/2B Adam Kennedy, Athletics 10-22 .455 1-7 0
OF/2B/SS Willie Bloomquist, Royals 10-22 .455 0-0 1
OF Carl Crawford, Rays 13-29 .448 1-5 3
1B Joey Votto, Reds 10-23 .435 1-3 0
2B/OF Ben Zobrist, Rays 12-28 .429 1-5 0
OF Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox 11-26 .423 2-6 2
SS Erick Aybar, Angels 10-24 .417 0-2 1
2B Robinson Cano, Yankees 10-24 .417 0-1 0

This is the second consecutive week on a Hot list for Teixeira and Ellsbury. Votto was on the Not list in batting average a week earlier..

Home runs – Twins 1B/OF Michael Cuddyer, Royals C Miguel Olivo and Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki 4; Red Sox OF Jason Bay, Blue Jays 3B Edwin Encarnacion, Dodgers OF Andre Ethier, Orioles OF Luke Scott and Reds OF Drew Stubbs 3.

RBI – Olivo 13; Cuddyer 11; Wieters 10; Bay, Teixeira, Royals 2B/SS Alberto Callaspo, Braves C Brian McCann and Athletics OF Ryan Sweeney 9.

Stolen bases – Athletics OF Rajai Davis 4; Crawford, Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal and Cubs SS/2B Ryan Theriot 3; Ellsbury, Stubbs, Mets 2B Luis Castillo, Padres OF Luis Durango, Cubs 2B/3B Mike Fontenot, Yankees OF Brett Gardner, Dodgers OF Matt Kemp, Pirates OF Lastings Milledge and Giants OF/2B Eugenio Velez 2.

Runs – Tulowitzki and Brewers 2B Felipe Lopez 8; Davis, Furcal, Kennedy, Olivo and Braves 2B/1B/3B Martin Prado 7.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Luke Hochevar, Royals 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.44 5:1
RHP Brett Tomko, Athletics 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.56 3:0
RHP Wade Davis, Rays 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.67 10:2
LHP Jorge DeLaRoas, Rockies 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.63 9:2
RHP Chris Carpenter, Cardinals 8.0 0.00 0-0 1.25 4:2
RHP Matt Garza, Rays 7.1 0.00 1-0 1.23 10:6
RHP Trevor Cahill, Athletics 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.43 7:2
LHP C.C. Sabathia, Yankees 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.86 8:2
RHP Javier Vazquez, Braves 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.86 6:3
RHP Homer Bailey, Reds 7.0 0.00 0.71 8:2

Wins – Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin, Dodgers RHP Jon Garland, Red Sox RHP Diasuke Matsuzaka, Rays LHP David Price and Royals RHP Robinson Tejeda 2.

Saves – Twins RHP Joe Nathan 4-for-4; D-backs RHP Juan Gutierrez and Marlins RHP Leon Nunez; Brewers RHP Trevor Hoffman and Cubs RHP Carlos Marmol 2-for-2. This is the second consecutive week for Nathan and Nunez on the list.

WHIP – Cahill 0.43; Hochevar 0.44; Pirates LHP Zach Duke 0.55; Tomko 0.56; DeLaRosa 0.63

Strikeout/walk ratio (at least 10 Ks and a 2.5:1 ratio) –.Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo 12:2; Athletics LHP Brett Anderson and Phillies LHP Cole Hamels 10:1; Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright 18:3; Padres RHP Kevin Correia 12:2; Davis and Cubs RHP Ryan Dempster 10:2; D-backs RHP Dan Haren and Phillies LHP Cliff Lee 11:3; Rockies RHP Jason Hammel 10:3. Wainwright has been a frequent visitor to the Hot list, including the last two weeks.

* * *

Not

Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

3B/SS Jhonny Peralta, Indians 2-27 .074 0-1 0
OF Nick Markakis, Orioles 2-26 .077 0-1 0
OF Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs 2-23 .087 0-2 0
SS Cristian Guzman, Nationals 2-21 .095 0-0 0
OF/3B Bill Hall, Mariners 2-21 .095 1-1 0
3B Gordon Beckham, White Sox 3-26 .115 1-1 0
3B Mark Reynolds, D-backs 3-25 .120 1-3 1
SS/2B Ronny Cedeno, Pirates 3-23 .130 0-0 0
C Miguel Montero, D-backs 3-23 .130 0-1 0
OF Mike Cameron, Brewers 3-23 .130 0-3 0

Fukudome is on this list for the second consecutive week, an eventful week for Cubs outfielders.

The week’s hitless wonder was Indians SS/2B/3B John McDonald, 0-for-10.

Walk/strikeout ratio (six or more strikeouts) – Angels 1B Kendry Morales 1:12; Blue Jays OF Travis Snider 1:11; Reynolds 1:10; Marlins 2B Dan Uggla 2:10; Rockies 2B/3B Ian Stewart 3:11.

Caught stealing – Indians OF Michael Brantley 0-for-3; Rays OF Carl Crawford 3-for-6; Athletics 1B Daric Barton 0-for-2; Royals OF/2B/SS Willie Bloomquist and Padres SS Everth Cabrera 1-for-3; Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez 3-for-5.

The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Fausto Carmona, Indians 11.0 10.64 0-2 2.09 5:4
RHP Jason Berken, Orioles 9.1 10.61 1-1 2.14 5:3
RHP Joba Chamberlain, Yankees 7.0 10.29 0-1 1.86 4:3
RHP David Hernandez, Orioles 9.0 8.00 0-1 2.11 6:3
RHP Ricky Nolasco, Marlins 12.0 6.75 1-1 1.25 14:1
LHP Jeremy Sowers, Indians 8.0 6.75 0-1 2.25 3:3
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies 9.2 6.52 1-1 1.66 14:5
RHP Scott Baker, Twins 10.0 6.30 0-1 1.60 10:3
RHP Justin Verlander, Tigers 14.1 6.28 0-1 1.47 15:2
RHP Garrett Mock, Nationals 13.0 6.23 0-2 1.54 7:4

Losses – Carmona, Mock, Pirates LHP Phil Dumatrait, Angels RHP Jered Weaver and Astros LHP Wesley Wright 2.

Schedule notes, Sept. 21-27

This week's greatest advantage in games played goes to the six American League teams -- Red Sox, Tigers, Royals, Athletics, Rangers and Blue Jays -- scheduled for seven games. That's 40 per cent more than the Rays, who would play just five games. Their disadvantage means that it's not a good week for you to have Tampa Bay batters and relief pitchers in your lineup.

The National League also has six teams -- Cubs, Brewers, Phillies, Pirates, Padres and Giants -- scheduled for seven games, giving them a slight advantage over the 10 teams that would play six times.

Two teams in each league are scheduled to play seven games at home. Kansas City would host seven games (Red Sox four, Twins three) in a relatively good hitters' park. The others -- Toronto (Orioles three, Mariners four); Milwaukee (Cubs three, Phillies four), and Pittsburgh (Padres one, Reds and Dodgers three each) have home parks slightly favoring pitchers.

The best hitters' parks in use for six games this week are at Arizona (Giants and Padres), Colorado (Padres and Cardinals) and the south side of Chicago (Twins and Tigers). Parks at Washington (Dodgers and Phillies) and Cleveland (Tigers and Orioles) slightly favor hitters.

Other National League parks that would slightly favor pitchers for six games are at Florida (Phillies and Mets) and Houston (Cardinals and Reds). The Angels have a neutral park that would host the Yankees and Athletics for three games each.

Overall, those parks would indicate a slight advantage for hitters in the AL and for pitchers in the NL. However, because batters will be going against so many Triple-A and tired major league pitchers, I'd say hitters should have the edge this week in the majors.

Pitchers scheduled to start twice at home this week are RHPs Zack Greinke, Dirk Hayhurst, Josh Johnson, Yorman Bazardo, Bud Norris, Braden Looper, David Bush, Daniel McCutchen and Livan Hernandez, and LHPs John Danks, Lenny DiNardo, Joe Saunders, David Purcey, Doug Davis and Jorge De La Rosa. Because there also will be a number of Triple-A batters in lineups this week, the best major league pitchers should dominate more than usual. My highest recommendations are Greinke, Johnson, Danks, Saunders and De La Rosa. For a live longshot, try Looper. If you really need some good innings and have to gamble on a pitcher, try Hernandez. If he did well, you could gloat over your intelligence or prescience, but whatever you do, don't hold me responsible. Take all the credit if he comes through and blame somebody else if he bombs, which is a 2:1 or more proposition.

Overall, it should be a good week for pitchers. The only teams scheduled to play seven games at home are the Dodgers (against the Cardinals for three games, Cubs four), Mets (Giants one, Braves and Phillies three each) and Padres (Cubs three, Cardinals four). San Diego is one of the majors' most extreme pitchers' parks, and Dodger Stadium and Citi Field favor pitchers but to a lesser degree. There would be six games at Houston (Marlins and Diamondbacks) and Pittsburgh (Brewers and Reds) which also tend to be pitchers' parks. Note that it should be a bad week for Cubs batters in hostile pitchers' parks. Even in the American League, scheduled to play all six at games are the Athletics (Yankees and Tigers), Rays (Orioles and Rangers) and Blue Jays (Red Sox and Angels). Oakland has an extreme pitchers' park; Tampa Bay and Toronto are slightly less pitcher-friendly.

The best hitters' parks that would be in play for all six games would belong to the White Sox (Royals and Orioles in this week's most extreme hitting conditions), Indians (Angels and Mariners) and Nationals (Rockies and Brewers).

The best hitters' parks in use for all six games would be at Baltimore (Athletics and Angels) and Arizona (Mets and Dodgers).

Pitchers scheduled to start at home twice this week are RHPs Fausto Carmona, Vin Mazzaro, Tommy Hanson, Bud Norris, Charlie Haeger, Chad Billingsley, Livan Hernandez, Kevin Hart, Kevin Correia, Cesar Carrillo and Craig Stammen, and LHPs Mark Buehrle, David Price, Ricky Romero and Oliver Perez. My highest recommendations are Hanseon Romero, with other young live longsots in Hart, Carrillo and Price.

Pitching Chart, Sept. 21-27

This week’s new element that could disrupt rotations is that some teams will clinch postseason berths. At the very least, the Cardinals will, and others could. Reaching the playoffs means a team might rest some veterans – skipping a turn, giving them an extra day between starts or at the very least pulling them from games early – and trying out rookies. However, even St. Louis might keep going pedal to the metal because the Cards are in a tight race with the Phillies and Dodgers for the National League’s best record and home-field advantage.

The net impact is even more uncertainty in rotations than there has been since active rosters expanded Sept. 1.

AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Bal
@Tor @Tor @Tor/ --- @Cle @Cle @Cle
Tillman* Hendrickson** Guthrie/ --- Hernandez Berken Tillman2
Bos
@KC @KC @KC @KC/ @NYY @NYY @NYY
Wakefield Byrd Beckett Buchholz/ Lester Matsuzaka Wakefield-3*
CWS
Min Min Min/ --- Det Det Det
Carrasco-4* Danks Buehrle/ --- Peavy-5* Garcia Danks2
Cle
--- Det Det Det/ Bal Bal Bal
--- Laffey Masterson Carrasco/ Huff Sowers Carmona
Det
--- @Cle @Cle @Cle/ @CWS @CWS @CWS
--- Jackson Porcello Verlander/ Robertson Bonine-6* Jackson2
KC
Bos Bos Bos Bos/ Min Min Min
DiNardo Greinke-7* Hochevar Hughes-8*/ Tejeda DiNardo2 Greinke2
LAA
NYY NYY NYY/ --- Oak Oak Oak
Saunders Santana Kazmir/ --- Weaver Lackey Saunders2
Min
@CWS @CWS @CWS/ --- @KC @KC @KC
Blackburn Manship Duensing/ --- Pavano Baker Blackburn2
NYY
@LAA @LAA @LAA/ --- Bos Bos Bos
Pettitte Gaudin-9* Burnett/ --- Sabathia Chamberlain Pettitte2
Oak
Tex Tex Tex Tex/ @LAA @LAA @LAA
Ed.Gonzalez Cahill Mortensen Anderson/ G.Gonzalez Eveland-10* Ed.Gonzalez2
Se
--- @TB @TB/ @Tor @Tor @Tor @Tor
--- Rowland-Smith Morrow/ Hernandez Fister Snell Rowland-Smith2
TB
--- Se Se/ --- @Tex @Tex @Tex
--- Niemann Davis-11*/ --- Shields Garza Price
Tex
@Oak @Oak @Oak @Oak/ TB TB TB
Millwood-12* McCarthy Hunter Feldman/ Holland Millwood2 McCarthy2
Tor
Bal Bal Bal/ Se Se Se Se
Purcey Hayhurst-13* Richmond/ Romero Halladay Purcey2 Hayhurst2

*-The Orioles have said they would shut down rookie RHP Chris Tillman after Sunday’s start.

**-One of the down sides to shutting down young pitchers to save wear on their arm is that their team could then get stuck with an inferior pitcher such as LHP Mark Hendrickson in their rotation.

3*-Red Sox RHP Tim Wakefield would start twice this week if his balky back holds up. If he couldn’t go, RHP Paul Byrd and the remainder of the rotation could be moved ahead a day.

4*-The White Sox are moving RHP D.J. Carrasco from the bullpen to start Monday. RHP Gavin Floyd has a hip injury. He and LHP Mark Buehrle could be shut down if Chicago is eliminated from playoff contention. (Its magic number currently is 9.)

5*-RHP Jake Peavy won tonight for the White Sox in his first start since suffering a strained tendon in his right ankle while pitching for the Padres. He would start again Friday.

6*-The Tigers will keep RHP Eddie Bonine in their rotation, but taking the place of LHP Jarrod Washburn instead of LHP Nate Robertson. Washburn is out because of an injured left knee. Robertson, who missed a start because of pelvic inflammation, is expected to be ready to start again Friday.

7*-Royals RHP Zack Greinke will make his scheduled start Tuesday despite leaving Thursday’s game after a line drive struck his forearm.

8*-LHP Dusty Hughes made his first major league start tonight for Kansas City. He would start again Friday, unless RHP Kyle Davies could return from his oblique injury.

9*-RHP Chad Gaudin is more likely than RHP Sergio Mitre to pitch Tuesday as the Yankees’ fifth starter. Gaudin simply has pitched batter.

10*-The Athletics will start LHP Dana Eveland today in place of RHP Brett Tomko, who has a nerve problem in his arm. Eveland’s next scheduled start would be Saturday.

11*-Rookie RHP Wade Davis, who pitched his first major league shutout Thursday, will remain as the Rays’ fifth starter with RHP Andy Sonnanstine moving to Tampa Bay’s bullpen.

12*-RHP Kevin Millwood is scheduled to start Monday, even though he needs just 4 1/3 innings to trigger a $12-million contract for 2010 that would be difficult for the cash-strapped Rangers to pay. If they decide not to keep him or struggling LHP Derek Holland in the rotation, RHP Dustin Nippert would move in.

13*-Blue Jays LHP Brian Tallet left Wednesday’s start because of a bone bruise in his right ankle, caused when Yankees 2B Robinson Cano hit it with a line drive. Tallet isn’t likely to pitch again this season. Because Toronto has shut down most of its young pitchers, that would leave RHPs Dirk Hayhurst or Brian Wolfe out the bullpen to start Tuesday.

NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Ari
SF SF SF/ --- SD SD SD
Davis Buckner Mulvey/ --- Scherzer Haren Davis2
Atl
@NYM @NYM @NYM/ --- @Was @Was @Was
Lowe Jurrjens Hudson/ --- Vazquez Hanson* Lowe2
ChC
@Mil @Mil @Mil/ @SF @SF @SF @SF
Gorzelanny** Wells Lilly/ Dempster Zambrano Harden Wells2
Cin
--- @Pit @Pit @Pit/ @Ho @Ho @Ho
--- Lehr Maloney Bailey/ Arroyo Wells Lehr2
Col
--- SD SD SD/ StL StL StL
--- DeLaRosa Marquis Hammel/ Jimenez Rogers-3* DeLaRosa2-4*
Fla
--- Phi-2 Phi/ --- NYM NYM NYM
--- Johnson-Sanchez VandenHurk/ --- Nolasco West Johnson2
Ho
StL StL StL/ --- Cin Cin Cin
Bazardo-5* Norris Moehler/ --- Paulino Bazardo2 Norris2
LAD
--- @Was @Was @Was/ @Pit @Pit @Pit
--- Kuroda Billingsley-6* Padilla/ Garland Wolf Kuroda2
Mil
ChC ChC ChC/ Phi Phi Phi Phi
Looper Bush Narveson/ Suppan Gallardo Looper2 Bush2
NYM
Atl Atl Atl/ --- @Fla @Fla @Fla
Misch-7* Figueroa Pelfrey/ --- Redding Maine Misch2
Phi
--- @Fla-2 @Fla/ @Mil @Mil @Mil @Mil
--- Blanton-Moyer-8* Hamels/ Happ Martinez Lee Blanton
Pit
SD/ Cin Cin Cin/ LAD LAD LAD
McCutchen/ Duke Hart Morton/ Ohlendorf Maholm McCutchen2
StL
@Ho @Ho @Ho/ --- @Col @Col @Col
Lohse-9* Pineiro Smoltz/ --- Carpenter Wainwright Lohse2
SD
@Pit/ @Col @Col @Col/ @Ari @Ari @Ari
LeBlanc Mujica Stauffer Richard/ Correia LeBlanc2 Mujica2
SF
@Ari @Ari @Ari/ ChC ChC ChC ChC
Zito Cain Sanchez/ Penny Lincecum Zito2 Cain2
Was
--- LAD LAD LAD/ Atl Atl Atl
--- Hernandez Detwiler-10* Martin/ Lannan Mock Hernandez2

*-It’s still not clear whether the Braves would shut down rookie RHP Tommy Hanson, scheduled to start Saturday, if they’re eliminated from playoff contention.

**-The Cubs are skipping RHP Rich Harden for at least one start. That means LHP Tom Gorzelanny would start Monday. Gorzo would also go Saturday if Chicago decides not to start Harden then.

3*-Rookie RHP Esmil Rogers is scheduled to pitch Sunday. He would be in line to pitch again Saturday, unless RHPs Jose Contreras (strained right quadriceps) or Aaron Cook (shoulder injury) could return. They both pitched today in a simulated game.

4*-Just a reminder that one of my top recommendations of Pitchers to Seek back at the end of May was Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa. He was 0-6 at the time, but has gone 15-3 since. Jackpot!

5*-It’s possible that Astros RHP Roy Oswalt agreed to be shut down because he thought the season was over. That would be because Oswalt looked at Houston’s distinctly minor league rotation, including RHP Yorman Bazardo, and thought he was pitching at Triple-A Round Rock.

6*-The Dodgers skipped RHP Chad Billingsley for one start to work on some issues that had made him ineffective. He’s expected to start Tuesday. LHP Clayton Kershaw, who has a separated right shoulder, could return as early as this weekend.

7*-The Mets have dropped RHP Bobby Parnell as a starter and returned him to the bullpen. Look who has stayed in the rotation – LHP Pat Misch has been the most effective starter – and it’s easy to see why New York has sucked so much this season.

8*-LHP Jamie Moyer has had plenty of starts since being dropped from the Phillies’ rotation, and will have another chance Tuesday when they play a doubleheader against their closest pursuers, the Marlins.

9*-RHP Kyle Lohse, who has been out because of a forearm injury, is scheduled to return to the Cardinals’ rotation Monday.

10*-The Nationals’ rotation is even worse than the Mets’. After all, New York released RHP Livan Hernandez, and he’s close to the best starting pitcher Washington has. Wednesday’s starter, LHP Ross Detwiler, is 0-6.

Pitching Chart, Sept. 14-20

AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Bal
TB TB TB TB/ Bos Bos Bos
Hernandez Berken Tillman Matusz/ Guthrie Hernandez2 Berken2
Bos
--- LAA LAA LAA/ @Bal @Bal @Bal
--- Matsuzaka Byrd Beckett/ Lester Buchholz Wakefield*
CWS
--- @Se @Se @Se/ KC KC KC
--- Garcia Floyd Danks/ Buehrle Torres** Garcia2
Cle
@Min @Min @Min/ @Oak @Oak @Oak @Oak
Sowers Carmona Laffey/ Masterson Huff Carrasco-3* Sowers2
Det
Tor/ KC KC KC/ @Min @Min @Min
Verlander/ Washburn-4* Bonine-5* Jackson/ Porcello Verlander2 Washburn2
KC
--- @Det @Det @Det/ @CWS @CWS @CWS
--- Tejeda DiNardo Greinke/ Hochevar Davies Tejeda2
LAA
@NYY/ @Bos @Bos @Bos/ @Tex @Tex @Tex
Weaver/ Lackey Saunders Santana/ Kazmir Weaver2 Lackey2
Min
Cle Cle Cle/ --- Det Det Det
Pavano Baker Blackburn/ --- Manship Duensing Pavano2
NYY
LAA/ Tor Tor/ --- @Se @Se @Se
Chamberlain/ Gaudin-6* Pettitte/ --- Burnett Sabathia Chamberlain2
Oak
@Tex @Tex @Tex/ Cle Cle Cle Cle
Tomko Ed.Gonzalez Mortensen-7*/ Anderson Cahill G.Gonzalez Tomko2
Se
--- CWS CWS CWS/ NYY NYY NYY
--- Snell Rowland-Smith Morrow-8*/ Hernandez Fister Snell2
TB
@Bal @Bal @Bal @Bal/ Tor Tor Tor
Price Niemann Sonnanstine-9* Davis/ Garza Shields Price2
Tex
Oak Oak Oak/ --- LAA LAA LAA
Feldman McCarthy Nippert-10*/ --- Millwood Hunter Holland-11*
Tor
@Det/ @NYY @NYY/ --- @TB @TB @TB
Purcey-12*/ Halladay Tallet / --- Richmond Romero Halladay2

*-The Red Sox are hoping the loose fragments in RHP Tim Wakefield’s back will remain in one place long enough to allow him to pitch in a six-man rotation until Boston clinches a wild-card playoff berth.

**-Unless RHP Jake Peavy can come off the disabled list this weekend, rookie RHP Carlos Torres is the best option as the fifth starter for the White Sox as they try to remain in playoff contention.

3*-The Indians seem likely to keep a fraudulent prospect, RHP Carlos Carrasco, in a six-man rotation. The alternative might be to arrest the Phillies for stealing LHP Cliff Lee.

4*-LHP Jarrod Washburn could start twice this week if a painful left knee doesn’t prevent him from pitching.

5*-The Tigers are moving RHP Eddie Bonine into their rotation because LHP Nate Robertson is suffering from pelvic inflammation and RHP Armando Galarraga has an inflamed elbow.

6*-RHP Chad Gaudin pitched well enough in his most recent start to remain as the Yankees’ fifth starter.

7*-Rookie RHP Clayton Mortensen will stay in the Athletics’ rotation until RHP Vin Mazzaro recovers from a shoulder injury.

8*-RHP Brandon Morrow won for the first time in Friday’s start, and is now part of the Mariners’ five-man rotation.

9*-Sunday’s doubleheader meant that the Rays will need a sixth starter. RHP Andy Sonnanstine was manager Joe Maddon’s choice.

10*-The Rangers also played a makeup doubleheader Sunday. RHP Dustin Nippert was selected to be the sixth starter charged with trying to right a sinking ship.

11*-Rookie LHP Derek Holland is still in Texas’ rotation even though his pitches appear to have flattened out, making them much easier to hit.

12*-The Blue Jays have shut down rookie LHP Brett Cecil. They moved LHP David Purcey into the rotation as Cecil’s replacement. It’s likely that Toronto would move RHP Roy Halladay ahead of Purcey to start Sunday.

NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Ari
@SD @SD @SD/ --- Col Col Col
Buckner Haren Davis/ --- Mulvey* Scherzer Buckner2**
Atl
--- NYM NYM NYM/ Phi Phi Phi
--- Hanson Lowe Jurrjens/ Hudson Vazquez Hanson2-3*
ChC
Mil Mil Mil Mil/ @StL @StL @StL
Dempster Zambrano Harden Wells/ Lilly Dempster2 Zambrano2
Cin
Ho Ho Ho/ Fla Fla Fla Fla
Arroyo Wells Lehr/ Cueto Bailey Arroyo2 Wells2
Col
@SF @SF @SF/ --- @Ari @Ari @Ari
Hammel Jimenez DeLaRosa/ --- Rogers-4* Marquis Hammel2
Fla
@StL @StL @StL/ @Cin @Cin @Cin @Cin
Nolasco West Johnson/ Sanchez Volstad Nolasco2 West2
Ho
@Cin @Cin @Cin/ --- @Mil @Mil @Mil
Rodriguez Oswalt Norris/ --- Moehler Rodriguez2-5* Paulino
LAD
Pit Pit Pit/ --- SF SF SF
Garland Wolf-6* Kuroda/ --- Padilla-7* Billingsley Garland2
Mil
@ChC @ChC @ChC @ChC/ Ho Ho Ho
Suppan Gallardo Looper Bush/ Narveson-8* Suppan2 Gallardo2
NYM
--- @Atl @Atl @Atl/ Was Was Was
--- Misch Parnell Figueroa/ Pelfrey Maine Redding-9*
Phi
--- Was Was Was/ @Atl @Atl @Atl
--- Lee Blanton Hamels/ Moyer Martinez Lee2
Pit
@LAD @LAD @LAD/ --- SD SD SD
McCutchen Duke Hart/ --- Morton Ohlendorf Maholm
StL
Fla Fla Fla/ --- ChC ChC ChC
Wellemeyer-10* Wainwright Pineiro/ --- Lohse-11* Carpenter Smoltz
SD
Ari Ari Ari/ --- @Pit @Pit @Pit
Correia LeBlanc Mujica-12*/ --- Stauffer Richard Correia2
SF
Col Col Col/ --- @LAD @LAD @LAD
Lincecum-13* Zito Cain/ --- Sanchez Penny Lincecum2
Was
--- @Phi @Phi @Phi/ @NYM @NYM @NYM
--- Mock Hernandez Martin/ Detwiler-14* Lannan Mock2

*-The Diamondbacks are giving RHP Kevin Mulvey, acquired on waivers from the Minnesota organization, a trial in their rotation. If he were really good, Mulvey would be pitching for the Twins now.

**-Arizona could move ace RHP Dan Haren ahead of RHP Bill Buckner to start Sunday’s game.

3*-The Braves have indicated they would keep rookie RHP Tommy Hanson in their rotation until they are eliminated from playoff contention.

4*-RHP Jose Contreras’ strained right quadriceps left an opening in the contending Rockies’ rotation. They have chosen to fill it by promoting RHP Esmil Rogers.

5*-The Astros could move their ace, LHP Wandy Rodriguez, ahead of struggling RHP Felipe Paulino in their rotation.

6*-LHP Randy Wolf may have recovered sufficiently from a hyperextended elbow to start Tuesday’s game. It’s only against the Pirates, so that’s no big deal.

7*-RHP Vicente Padilla has pitched well for LA, but he could be out of the rotation once LHP Clayton Kershaw returns from a back injury.

8*-Because of LHP Manny Parra’s neck spasms, the Brewers had LHP Chris Narveson make his first major league start since 2006 on Sunday. That would put him in line to start again Friday if Parra couldn’t go then.

9*-RHP Tim Redding pitched well enough Sunday in a loss to the Phillies for the Mets to keep him as part of a six-man rotation.

10*-Cardinals RHP John Smoltz couldn’t start Monday because of a shoulder injury. He’s scheduled for a side session this week. If his shoulder allows, Smoltz would start Sunday, with RHP Todd Wellemeyer returning to the bullpen.

11*-An MRI exam on RHP Kyle Lohse’s forearm showed he should be physically sound enough to start for St. Louis Friday.

12*-Padres RHP Edward Mujica pitched well enough as a starter in four scoreless innings Friday to earn another start.

13*-RHP Tim Lincecum missed Tuesday’s start because of a sore back, but returned to pitch Monday.

14*-The Nationals promoted RHP Marco Estrada to fill in as their fifth starter Saturday. Next, they’ll try LHP Ross Detwiler again in that role, on Friday.

Hot and Not

The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.

Hot

Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

3B Alex Rodriguez, Yankees 10-20 .500 1-6 0
OF Jeff Francoeur, Mets 11-23 .478 0-1 0
OF Vernon Wells, Blue Jays 10-21 .476 1-4 2
OF Nate McLouth, Braves 11-25 .440 2-4 0
OF Rajai Davis, Athletics 11-25 .440 0-2 5
OF Marlon Byrd, Rangers 11-26 .423 2-8 0
1B Billy Butler, Royals 13-31 .419 2-12 1
1B Derrek Lee, Cubs 10-24 .417 3-4 0
2B/3B Juan Uribe, Giants 9-22 .409 3-7 0
2B Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox 9-22 .409 3-6 0
SS Hanley Ramirez, Marlins 9-22 .409 2-7 1

Seeing Pedroia and Ramirez here together reminds me of when they formed the double-play combination at Double-A Portland in 2005.

Home runs – Phillies OF Raul Ibanez 4; Lee, Pedroia, Uribe, Astros 1B/OF Lance Berkman, Rangers OF Julio Borbon, Dodgers 1B James Loney and Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols 3.

RBI – Butler 12; Dodgers C Russell Martin 9; Byrd, Loney, Orioles 2B Brian Roberts and Marlins OF Cody Ross 8. And this list reminds me that on one fantasy team I have three of the four players who drove in eight runs – but two of them weren’t in my lineup last week.

Stolen bases – Davis 5; Astros 2b Kazuo Matsui and Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan 4; Blue Jays SS/2B/3B Marco Scutaro 3; Borbon, Roberts, Wells, Royals OF Josh Anderson, Rangers SS Elvis Andrus, Indians OF Michael Brantley, Athletics 2B Mark Ellis, Red Sox OF Jacoby Ellsbury, Yankees SS Derek Jeter and Rockies 2B Eric Young 2.

Runs – Lee 10; Nationals 2B/OF Willie Harris 8; Twins OF Denard Span and Yankees OF/1B Nick Swisher 7; Angels OF Bobby Abreu 6; Berkman, Borbon, Ibanez, Loney, Matsui, Pujols, Royals SS Yuniesky Betancourt and OF David DeJesus, Braves SS Yunel Escobar, Rangers OF David Murphy, Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira and Padres OF Will Venable 6.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP John Lackey, Angels 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.67 7:1
LHP Jon Lester, Red Sox 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.63 7:3
RHP Jair Jurrjens, Braves 8.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 7:2
LHP Paul Maholm, Pirates 8.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 2:2
RHP Tommy Hanson, Braves 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.63 7:0
RHP Adam Wainwright, Cardinals 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.86 6:1
RHP Scott Feldman, Rangers 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 5:2
RHP Clay Buchholz, Red Sox 14.0 0.64 1-0 0.86 10:4
RHP Felix Hernandez, Mariners 14.0 0.64 1-0 0.86 8:5
RHP Kyle Davies, Royals 11.0 0.82 2-0 1.64 4:12

When I hear people saying Wainwright is not a strong candidate for the National League Cy Young Award, I think of all the weeks when he has been on this list. Then I think he’s a really good candidate..

Wins – Davies, Rockies RHP Rafael Betancourt, Cubs LHP Ted Lilly, Phillies RHP Pedro Martinez, Dodgers RHP Vicente Padilla, Giants RHP Brad Penny and Braves RHP Javier Vazquez 2. Look at that Martinez-Padilla-Penny axis and remember that all of them had been released or out of baseball during this season.

Saves – Blue Jays RHP Jason Frasor and Royals RHP Joakim Soria 4-for-4; Rockies LHP Franklin Morales 3-for-3; Dodgers RHP Jonathan Broxton, Twins RHP Joe Nathan, Marlins RHP Leo Nunez, Red Sox RHP Jonathan Papelbon and Astros RHP Jose Valverde 2-for-2..

WHIP – Dodgers RHP Hiroki Kuroda 0.38; Rockies RHP Jason Hammel 0.55; Royals RHP Zack Greinke and Angels LHP Joe Saunders 0.57; Hanson and Lester 0.63.

Strikeout/walk ratio (at least 10 Ks and a 2.5:1 ratio) –.Brewers RHP David Bush 14:0; Rays RHP Matt Garza 15:1; Vazquez 17:4; Martinez 11:3; Astros RHP Felipe Paulino 13:4; Lilly 14:5; Buchholz 10:4.

* * *

Not

Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

OF Jermaine Dye, White Sox 1-20 .050 0-0 0
OF Andrew McCutchen, Pirates 3-25 .120 0-2 0
OF Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies 3-24 .125 01- 2
OF Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs 3-24 .125 0-2 0
3B Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals 3-22 .136 1-1 0
1B Justin Morneau, Twins 3-22 .136 1-3 0
OF Jonny Gomes, Reds 3-22 .136 2-5 0
2B/3B/1B Martin Prado, Braves 3-20 .150 0-0 0
OF Garret Anderson, Braves 3-20 .150 0-3 0
OF Justin Upton, D-backs 3-20 .150 1-3 0

The week’s hitless wonders were Rays OF Fernando Perez 0-for-12 and Angels C Mike Napoli 0-for-11.

Walk/strikeout ratio (six or more strikeouts) – Red Sox OF Jason Bay 3:10; Reds 1B Joey Votto 5:10.

Caught stealing – Astros OF Hunter Pence and Giants OF/2B Eugenio Velez 0-for-2; Athletics OF Rajai Davis 5-for-7.

The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Scott Richmond, Blue Jays 10.1 10.45 0-1 1.94 5:7
LHP Clayton Richard, Padres 9.0 9.00 0-1 1.67 11:4
RHP Jeff Manship, Twins 8.1 7.56 0-1 1.80 7:5
RHP Carlos Carrasco, Indians 11.0 7.36 0-1 1.82 7:4
RHP Chad Billingsley, Dodgers 10.0 6.30 0-1 1.90 10:3
LHP Ricky Romero, Blue Jays 12.2 4.96 1-1 1.82 8:6
LHP Jamie Moyer, Phillies 13.0 4.85 0-0 0.85 4:1
RHP A.J. Burnett, Yankees 13.0 4.85 1-1 1.23 12:5
RHP Rick Porcello, Tigers 12.0 4.50 1-0 1.17 6:3
RHP Ervin Santana, Angels 12.2 4.26 0-1 1.58 9:4

Losses – Rays RHP Lance Cormier, Astros RHP Felipe Paulino, Mets RHP Tim Redding and D-backs LHP Daniel Schlereth 2.

Blown saves – Padres RHP Heath Bell 2-for-4.

Hot and Not: Coghlan for Rookie of the Year

The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.

Hot

Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

OF Seth Smith, Rockies 13-24 .542 4-10 0
OF Matt Holliday, Cardinals 11-23 .478 3-6 0
OF Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals 10-21 .476 2-8 0
3B Evan Longoria, Rays 14-30 .467 3-11 0
1B/3B Jorge Cantu, Marlins 14-30 .467 1-8 0
2B Placido Polanco, Tigers 11-24 .458 2-5 1
OF/2B Chris Coghlan, Marlins 15-33 .455 0-2 0
2B Brandon Phillips, Reds 11-25 .440 2-6 2
3B Melvin Mora, Orioles 9-21 .429 2-6 0
C/1B Victor Martinez, Red Sox 9-21 .429 1-5 0
OF Lastings Milledge, Pirates 9-21 .429 0-3 0
C Ryan Doumit, Pirates 9-21 .429 0-2 0

This is the second consecutive week on this list for Coghlan. Let me be the first to say it: He should be the National League Rookie of the Year. In the American League, Elvis Andrus should win the award.

Home runs – Smith, Cubs 1B Derrek Lee and Reds OF Drew Stubbs 4; Holliday, Longoria, Rangers OF Nelson Cruz, Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez, Tigers 3B/OF Carlos Guillen, blue Jays OF Adam Lind, Yankees C Jorge Posada and OF/1B Nick Swisher, Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols, Rockies 3B/2B Ian Stewart and D-backs OF Chris B. Young 3.

RBI – Lind and Longoria 11; Cruz, Smith and Brewers 3B/2B Casey McGehee 10.

Stolen bases – Astros OF Michael Bourn and White Sox 2B Chris Getz 4; Yankees OF Melky Cabrera, White Sox OF Scott Podsednik and D-backs OF Justin Upton 3.

Runs – Longoria and Smith 10; Lind and Pujols 9; Coghlan, Blue Jays 2B Aaron Hill and Rays 1B Carlos Pena 8.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Roy Halladay, Blue Jays 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.44 9:3
LHP Ted Lilly, Cubs 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.50 5:0
RHP Brad Penny, Giants 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.75 2:1
RHP Felix Hernandez, Mariners 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.88 6:3
RHP Ross Ohlendorf, Pirates 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.63 11:1
RHP Zack Greinke, Royals 8.0 0.00 0-0 1.25 8:2
RHP Kevin Correia, Padres 7.2 0.00 1-0 0.65 5:2
RHP Carlos Torres, White Sox 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.71 6:0
LHP Wandy Rodriguez, Astros 7.0 0.00 1-0 7:0
RHP Robinson Tejeda, Royals 7.0 0.00 0-0 0.57 7:2
LHP Brian Duensing, Twins 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.00 7:2
RHP Bobby Parnell, Mets 7.0 0.00 0-0 1.14 7:3
RHP Ryan Dempster, Cubs 7.0 0.00 0-1 1.43 7:1

Halladay and Parnell were on the previous week's Not list.

Wins – Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa, Red Sox LHP Jon Lester, Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte, Angels LHP Joe Saunders and Padres RHP Tim Stauffer 2.

Saves – Reds RHP Francisco Cordero 5-for-5; Padres RHP Heath Bell 4-for-4; Mariners RHP David Aardsma, Dodgers RHP Jonathan Broxton, Rangers RHP Frank Francisco, Cubs RHP Carlos Marmol and Rockies LHP Franklin Morales 3-for-3.

WHIP – Halladay 0.44; Lilly 0.50; Tejeda and Rays RHP Wade Davis 0.57; Ohlendorf, Mariners LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith and Tigers RHP Justin Verlander 0.63.

Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – White Sox RHP Gavin Floyd 15:0; Ohlendorf and Giants RHP Tim Lincecum 11:1; Twins RHP Nick Blackburn 10:1; Dodgers LHP Randy Wolf 12:2; Phillies LHP Cole Hamels 15:3; Reds RHP Johnny Cueto 14:3; Lester 17:4; Astros RHP Roy Oswalt 11:3; Giants LHP Jonathan Sanchez 17:6..

* * *

Not

Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

1B Justin Morneau, Twins 1-21 .048 0-1 0
2B/OF Delwyn Young, Pirates 2-27 .074 0-0 0
OF Alex Rios, White Sox 2-23 .087 0-0 0
2B Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox 2-23 .087 0-0 0
DH David Ortiz, Red Sox 2-22 .091 0-1 0
3B Adrian Beltre, Mariners 2-22 .091 0-2 0
OF Carl Crawford, Rays 2-22 .091 1-1 0
OF Shane Victorino, Phillies 2-21 .095 0-0 1
1B/3B Andy Marte, Indians 2-21 .095 2-2 0
OF Matt LaPorta, Indians 2-20 .100 0-0 0
1B Joey Votto, Reds 2-20 .100 1-2 0

This is Morneau's second consecutive week on this list. Clearly, he still is not right after missing time because of an inner ear infection. That has put a damper on his season, and is taking the Twins' season down with it. LaPorta was on the Hot list the previous week.

Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Reds C Corky Miller 0-for-12; Mariners OF Michael Saunders 0-for-10.

Caught stealing – Angels 3B Chone Figgins and 1B Kendry Morales, Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler and Rays OF Fernando Perez 0-for-2; Twins OF Denard Span and Reds OF Drew Stubbs 1-for-3.

The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

LHP Derek Holland, Rangers 6.1 22.74 0-2 3.00 7:6
RHP Luke Hochevar, Royals 9.0 13.00 0-2 2.33 7:6
LHP Lucas French, Mariners 8.2 12.46 0-2 2.31 3:3
LHP Brett Cecil, Blue Jays 9.1 9.64 1-1 2.04 7:3
RHP Yusmeiro Petit, D-backs 8.0 9.00 0-1 1.75 8:4
LHP Brian Tallet, Blue Jays 10.0 8.10 1-1 2.10 9:7
RHP James Shields, Rays 13.1 6.75 1-0 1.50 11:2
LHP Paul Maholm, Pirates 11.0 6.55 0-1 1.73 11:4
RHP Livan Hernandez, Nationals 13.0 6.23 0-2 1.54 11:5
RHP Joel Pineiro, Cardinals 13.0 5.54 1-0 1.31 3:2

Losses – Franch, Hernandez, Holland and Hochevar 2.

Blown saves -- Braves RHP Kris Medlen 0-for-2; Marlins RHP Leo Nunez 1-for-3.

Pitching Chart, Sept. 7-13

Again this week, and for the remainder of the season, each team’s rotation will be in flux. In addition to pitchers moving on to the active roster from the minors or other teams, major league teams will be shutting down some young pitchers whose innings the team wants to limit. I’m not saying they should; it’s just fashionable to do that these days.

AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Bal
--- @Bos @Bos/ --- @NYY @NYY @NYY
--- Hernandez Berken/ --- Tillman Matusz Guthrie
Bos
@ChC/ Bal Bal/ --- TB TB TB
Beckett/ Buchholz Byrd/ --- Wakefield Lester Beckett2
CWS
Bos/ Oak Oak/ --- @LAA @LAA @LAA
Buehrle/ Torres* Garcia/ --- Floyd Danks Buehrle
Cle
Tex Tex Tex/ --- KC KC KC
Carrasco** Laffey Carmona/ --- Sowers Masterson Huff
Det
--- @KC @KC @KC/ Tor Tor Tor
--- Porcello Verlander Washburn-3*/ Robertson-4* Jackson Porcello2
KC
LAA/ Det Det Det/ @Cle @Cle @Cle
Davies/ Chen Tejeda Greinke/ Hochevar Davies2 Chen2
LAA
@KC/ Se Se Se/ CWS CWS CWS
Santana/ Kazmir Weaver Lackey/ Saunders Santana2 Kazmir2
Min
@Tor @Tor @Tor @Tor/ Oak Oak Oak
Manship Duensing Pavano Baker/ Blackburn Masship2 Duensing2
NYY
TB-2 TB TB/ --- Bal Bal Bal
Sabathia-Burnett Gaudin Chamberlain/ --- Pettitte Sabathia2-5* Burnett2
Oak
--- @CWS @CWS/ --- @Min @Min @Min
--- Tomko Cahill/ --- Mortensen-6* Anderson G.Gonzalez
Se
--- @LAA @LAA @LAA/ @Tex @Tex @Tex
--- Hernandez Snell Rowland-Smith/ French Fister Hernandez2
TB
@NYY-2 @NYY @NYY/ --- @Bos @Bos @Bos
Garza-Sonnanstine Price Niemann/ --- Shields Davis-7* Garza
Tex
@Cle @Cle @Cle/ --- Se Se Se
Hunter-8* McCarthy Feldman/ --- Millwood-9* Holland Hunter2
Tor
Min Min Min Min/ @Det @Det @Det
Richmond Romero Halladay Cecil-10*/ Tallet Richmond2 Romero2

*-RHP Carlos Torres has taken over as the fifth starter for the White Sox. He defeated the Cubs Thursday in this season’s final interleague game.

**-Because they are limiting LHP David Huff to 170 innings this season, the Indians have added RHP Carlos Carrasco to make a six-man rotation. Cleveland has had problems with its fifth starters this year; don’t expect Carrasco to be even that good as a sixth starter.

3*-LHP Jarrod Washburn has been having knee trouble. If he couldn’t start Wednesday, expect the Tigers to restore RHP Armando Galarraga to their rotation.

4*-Detroit manager Jim Leyland said LHP Nate Robertson has earned a regular rotation role with his pitching in two starts since returning from elbow surgery.

5*-Don’t be surprised if the Yankees skip inconsistent RHP Sergio Mitre, who gave up 11 runs today, and move LHP C.C. Sabathia and RHP A.J. Burnett ahead one day, but still on four or five days’ rest. On the other hand, New York’s lead in the American League East could be secure enough that they would want their starters to pitch less frequently.

6*-The Athletics have added to their rotation RHP Clayton Mortensen, acquired from the Cardinals in the Matt Holliday trade. Mortensen was not living up to his billing in the St. Louis organization.

7*-RHP Wade Davis made an auspicious start in his major league debut today. He could replace RHP Andy Sonnanstine in the Rays’ rotation.

8*-The Rangers are moving RHP Tommy “Big-Game” Hunter ahead of fragile RHP Brandon McCarthy to start Monday’s game.

9*-RHP Kevin Millwood and LHP Derek Holland have pitched poorly recently. Texas could decide to replace one of them with RHP Dustin Nippert, who lost his starting job when McCarthy most recently came off the disabled list.

10*-The Blue Jays already have shut down LHP Marc Rzepczynski for the season; they’re expected to do the same with LHP Brett Cecil after Thursday’s start.

NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Ari
LAD LAD LAD/ --- Mil Mil Mil
Scherzer Buckner Haren/ --- Davis Petit Scherzer2
Atl
--- @Ho @Ho @Ho/ @StL @StL @StL
--- Vazquez Hanson* Lowe / Jurrjens Hudson Vazquez2
ChC
@Pit @Pit @Pit/ --- Cin Cin Cin
Lilly Dempster Zambrano/ --- Harden Wells Lilly2
Cin
@Col @Col @Col @Col/ @ChC @ChC @ChC
Bailey Maloney** Arroyo Wells/ Cueto Bailey2 Lehr
Col
Cin Cin Cin Cin/ @SD @SD @SD
Jimenez Marquis Hammel Contreras/ DeLaRosa Jimenez2 Marquis2
Fla
--- @NYM @NYM @NYM/ Was Was Was
--- VandenHurk Nolasco West/ Johnson Sanchez VandenHurk2-3*
Ho
Phi/ Atl Atl Atl/ Pit Pit Pit
Moehler/ Paulino Rodriguez Oswalt/ Norris Moehler2 Paulino2
LAD
@Ari @Ari @Ari/ --- @SF @SF @SF
Padilla Billingsley Garland/ --- Kershaw Wolf Kuroda-4*
Mil
StL StL StL/ --- @Ari @Ari @Ari
Bush Parra Suppan/ --- Gallardo Looper Bush2
NYM
--- Fla Fla Fla/ @Phi @Phi @Phi-2
--- Redding Misch Parnell/ Figueroa Pelfrey Redding2-Misch2
Phi
@Ho/ @Was @Was @Was/ NYM NYM NYM-2
Happ/ Martinez Lee Blanton/ Hamels Happ2 Martinez2-Moyer-5*
Pit
ChC ChC ChC/ --- @Ho @Ho @Ho
McCutchen-6* Duke Hart/ --- Morton-7* Ohlendorf Maholm
StL
@Mil @Mil @Mil/ --- Atl Atl Atl
Carpenter Smoltz Wainwright/ --- Boggs-8* Pineiro Carpenter2
SD
@SF @SF @SF/ --- Col Col Col
Richard Correia LeBlanc/ --- Mujica-9* Stauffer Richard2
SF
SD SD SD/ --- LAD LAD LAD
Penny-10* Lincecum Zito/ --- Cain Sanchez Penny2
Was
--- Phi Phi Phi/ @Fla @Fla @Fla
--- Lannan Mock Hernandez/ Martin Balester-11* Lannan2

*-With a day off Monday, the Braves could move RHP Derek Lowe ahead of RHP Tommy Hanson to start Wednesday.

**-RHP Justin Lehr is nursing a groin injury, so the Reds are bringing LHP Matt Maloney back from Triple-A Louisville to start Tuesday. Lehr said he thought he would miss only one turn, which would put him back in the rotation Sunday.

3*-Even with two former starters, RHP Chris Volstad and LHP Andrew Miller back up from Triple-A New Orleans, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said he would keep the current rotation intact. A poor start by RHP Rick Vanden Hurk Tuesday could put one of the other pitchers back into a starting role Sunday.

4*-Dodgers RHP Hiroki Kuroda returned from the disabled list to start (and lose) tonight. His next start would be scheduled for Saturday.

5*-Sunday’s doubleheader means the Phillies would have to add a sixth starter. The most likely candidate is LHP Jamey Moyer, who went to the bullpen when they activated RHP Pedro Martinez.

6*-The Pirates promoted RHP Daniel McCutchen from Triple-A Indianapolis to add a sixth starter to their rotation.

7*-RHP Charlie Morton moved back three days in the rotation, until Friday, because of a groin injury.

8*-Cardinals RHP Mitchell Boggs had his most successful major league start Saturday, but still Monday’s off day means St. Louis could move RHPs Joel Pineiro, Chris Carpenter and John Smoltz ahead of Boggs.

9*-RHP Mat Latos would be in line to start Friday’s game, but the Padres have shut the rookie down for this season. A possible replacement could be RHP Edward Mujica from the bullpen, or San Diego could use a pitcher such as RHP Cesar Carrillo from Triple-A Portland’s depleted rotation.

10*-RHP Brad Penny, signed after the Red Sox rotation, made a successful debut with the Giants and is in line to start again Monday.

11*-Nationals RHP Craig Stammen has undergone season-ending surgery. Likely to replace him in Washington’s rotation is RHP Collin Balester. Another possibility would be RHP Shairon Martis.

Hot and Not

The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.

Hot

Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

OF Matt Diaz, Braves 17-29 .586 1-5 0
OF Milton Bradley, Cubs 11-21 .524 2-5 0
1B Kendry Morales, Angels 12-25 .480 3-9 0
OF/2B Ryan Roberts, D-backs 11-24 .458 1-5 0
SS Hanley Ramirez, Marlins 10-22 .455 0-0 0
OF/2B Chris Coghlan, Marlins 11-25 .440 2-3 0
3B Aramis Ramirez, Cubs 11-25 .440 1-7 0
SS/2B Anderson Hernandez, Mets 10-23 .435 0-3 0
OF Matt LaPorta, Indians 12-28 .429 2-3 0
OF Garret Anderson, Braves 9-21 .429 1-3 0

This is the second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average for Diaz, who is batting .538 (28-for-52) during that time, and Ramirez. Bradley and Hernandez were on the Not list a week earlier. The only reason I can figure why we don't hear much about Coghlan as a Rookie of the Year candidate is that no one sees him play in Miami.

Home runs – Phillies 1B Ryan Howard 5; Morales, Blue Jays C Rod Barajas, Red Sox OF J.D. Drew, Dodgers OF Matt Kemp, Indians 1B/3B Andy Marte, Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen, Orioles OF Felix Pie and Phillies 2B Chase Utley 3.

RBI – Howard 12; Braves C Brian McCann 10; Morales, Tigers 1B/3B Miguel Cabrera and Yankees 2B Robinson Cano 9.

Stolen bases – Brewers C Jason Kendall and Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler 4; White Sox OF Scott Podsednik and Giants OF/2B Eugenio Velez 3; Kemp, Astros OF Michael Bourn, Angels 3B Chone Figgins, Mariners OF Franklin Gutierrez, Yankees SS Derek Jeter, Mets OF Angel Pagan and Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols 2.

Runs – Bradley 9; Drew, Jeter and Roberts 7; Kendall, Pagan, Utley, Royals OF David DeJesus, Red Sox SS Alex Gonzalez, White Sox 1B Paul Konerko, D-backs OF Justin Upton and Padres OF Will Venable 6.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Tim Lincecum, Giants 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.88 8:3
RHP Homer Bailey, Reds 8.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 7:1
LHP Cole Hamels, Phillies 8.0 0.00 0-0 1.13 7:2
RHP Trevor Cahill, Athletics 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.57 2:2
RHP Javier Vazquez, Braves 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.71 6:0
RHP Jon Garland, D-backs 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.86 5:1
LHP Barry Zito, Giants 14.1 0.63 1-0 1.26 11:7
RHP Adam Wainwright, Cardinals 14.0 0.64 2-0 0.50 12:3
RHP Zack Greinke, Royals 17.0 1.00 2-0 0.47 20:2
LHP David Price, Rays 7.1 1.23 1-0 0.82 4:1
LHP Randy Wolf, Dodgers 7.1 1.23 1-0 0.95 5:2

Garland was on the previous week's Not list.

Wins – Greinke, Wainwright, Reds LHP Daniel Herrera, Indians LHP Rafael Perez, Mariners RHP Ian Snell and Marlins LHP Shane West 2.

Saves – Mariners RHP David Aardsma, Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin, Twins RHP Joe Nathan, Marlins RHP Leo Nunez, Red Sox RHP Jonathan Papelbon and Tigers RHP Fernando Rodney. This is Franklin's third consecutive week on this list.

WHIP – Greinke 0.47; Cahill and Twins LHP Brian Duensing 0.57; Wainwright 0.64; Vazquez 0.71.

Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Greinke 20:2; Rays/Angels LHP Scott Kazmir and Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia 10:1; Mets RHP Nelson Figueroa 12:2; Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw 17:3; Twins RHP Scott Baker 11:2; Athletics LHP Brett Anderson 10:2; D-backs RHP Dan Haren 13:3; Wainwright and Angels RHP John Lackey 12:3.

* * *

Not

Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

3B Gordon Beckham, White Sox 3-29 .103 1-4 1
2B/SS Clint Barmes, Rockies 3-26 .115 1-2 1
3B Andy LaRoche, Pirates 3-24 .125 1-2 0
OF Carlos Quentin, White Sox 3-23 .130 1-2 1
OF Jermaine Dye, White Sox 3-22 .136 1-1 0
1B Justin Morneau, Twins 3-22 .136 1-2 0
OF Bobby Abreu, Angels 3-22 .136 1-5 0
2B Luis Castillo, Mets 3-21 .143 0-0 0
OF Raul Ibanez, Phillies 3-21 .143 0-1 0
2B Brian Roberts, Orioles 4-27 .148 0-3 0

Beckham has been on this list each of the last two weeks, when he has batted .118 (6-for-51). The top of this list tells you why the White Sox are circling the drain. Castillo was on the previous week's Hot list.

Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Brewers OF Mike Cameron 1:12; Reds OF Drew Stubbs 2:11; Padres OF Will Venable 2:10; Blue Jays OF Travis Snider 4:12; Athletics OF Jack Cust 4:10; Nationals 1B/OF Adam Dunn 6:11.

Caught stealing – Red Sox OF J.D. Drew, Brewers 2B/3B Casey McGehee and Rockies 2B Eric Young 0-for-2; Rays SS Jason Bartlett, Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen and Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki 1-for-3.

The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Carlos Zambrano, Cubs 7.2 12.91 0-2 2.74 7:3
RHP Bobby Parnell, Mets 9.2 12.10 0-2 1.86 5:5
RHP Joba Chamberlain, Yankees 7.0 11.57 0-1 2.29 6:3
RHP Jose Contreras, White Sox 6.0 10.50 0-2 3.00 4:5
RHP Gil Meche, Royals 11.0 9.00 0-1 1.64 4:2
RHP Roy Halladay, Blue Jays 12.0 8.25 0-2 1.75 14:2
RHP Justin Masterson, Indians 11.2 6.17 0-2 1.80 10:6
RHP Clay Buchholz, Red Sox 13.0 5.54 1-0 1.08 12:5
RHP Vin Mazzaro, Athletics 10.0 5.40 0-1 1.70 8:5
RHP Kevin Millwood, Rangers 11.2 5.40 1-0 1.71 4:7
LHP Jeremy Sowers, Indians 11.2 5.40 1-0 1.37 3:4

Losses – Contreras, Halladay, Masterson, Parnell, Zambrano, Nationals RHP Jason Bergmann and Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez 2.

Hot and Not

This is one of the toughest weeks of the season for figuring teams’ pitching rotation. On Sept. 1 (Tuesday), the active roster expands. That means teams will be bringing back pitchers from the disabled list and recalling promising prospects. Sometimes, they’ll take the place of someone at the bottom of the rotation. At other times, they’ll be added as a sixth starter. At still others, they might make spot starts when a pitcher has a minor injury. An increasing trend in baseball also is limiting the number of innings a young prospect pitches in a season. So you might see some teams dropping one of its best prospects from the rotation in favor of another youngster who might have been the No. 2 or 3 starter in Double-A or Triple-A.

The teams most likely to receive a lot of starts from unproven rookies are those that are hopelessly out of the playoff race, or way ahead of the pack. A couple of teams in New York come to mind. Some pitchers might arrive a week or more later if the parent team wants them to compete in minor league playoffs.

AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Bal
NYY NYY NYY/ --- Tex Tex Tex
Guthrie Hernandez Berken/ --- Tillman Matusz Guthrie2
Bos
--- @TB @TB @TB/ @CWS @CWS @CWS
--- Lester Beckett Buchholz/ Tazawa* Byrd** Lester2
CWS
@Min @Min @Min/ @ChC/ Bos Bos Bos
Floyd Danks Buehrle/ Contreras-3*/ Garcia Floyd2 Danks2
Cle
--- @Det @Det @Det/ Min Min Min
--- Huff Laffey Carmona/ Sowers Masterson Huff2
Det
TB/ Cle Cle Cle/ @TB @TB @TB
Washburn/ Jackson Porcello Robertson-4*/ Verlander Washburn2-5* Jackson2
KC
@Oak @Oak @Oak/ --- LAA LAA LAA
Hochevar Davies Bannister/ --- Meche Greinke Hochevar2
LAA
@Se @Se @Se/ --- @KC @KC @KC
Saunders Santana Kazmir-6*/ --- Weaver Lackey Saunders2
Min
CWS CWS CWS/ --- @Cle @Cle @Cle
Blackburn Manship-7* Duensing/ --- Pavano Baker Blackburn2
NYY
@Bal @Bal @Bal/ @Tor @Tor @Tor @Tor
Pettitte Burnett Sabathia/ Mitre-8* Chamberlain Pettitte2 Burnett2
Oak
KC KC KC/ Se Se Se Se
G.Gonzalez Ed.Gonzalez-9* Cahill/ Tomko Mazzaro Anderson G.Gonzalez2
Se
LAA LAA LAA/ @Oak @Oak @Oak @Oak
French Fister Hernandez/ Snell Rowland-Smith French2 Fister2
TB
@Det/ Bos Bos Bos/ Det Det Det
Shields/ Sonnanstine-10* Garza Price/ Niemann Shields2 Sonnanstine2
Tex
Tor Tor-2 Tor/ --- @Bal @Bal @Bal
Holland Nippert-McCarthy-11* Hunter/ --- Feldman Holland2 McCarthy2
Tor
@Tex @Tex-2 @Tex/ NYY NYY NYY NYY
Cecil Rzepczynski-Tallet-12* Richmond/ Romero Halladay Cecil2 Rzepczynski2

*-The Red Sox optioned RHP Junichi Tazawa to Triple-A Pawtucket, but he could return to start Friday. RHP Tim Wakefield was expected to return to the rotation this week, but his back has been giving him trouble again.

**-RHP Paul Byrd made his first start this season for Boston Sunday, and pitched six scoreless innings to beat the Blue Jays.

3*-RHP Jose Contreras didn’t pitch well in losing to the Yankees Saturday, but the fading White Sox might not have a better option for their rotation. Chicago hoped to have RHP Jake Peavy off the disabled list, but he left Saturday’s injury-rehab start at Triple-A Charlotte after 3 1/3 innings because of a tight elbow.

4*-On Saturday, Tigers LHP Nate Robertson pitched well in his first start since returning from elbow surgery. His next turn would be Thursday. Robertson might not stay in the rotation long because RHP Armando Galarraga will be eligible to come back Sunday after being optioned to Triple-A Toledo.

5*-For the second consecutive week, there’s a wraparound series plus a home-and-home series against the same opponent that will result in the same pitchers facing each other in consecutive starts during the same week. This time, it’s Detroit LHP Jarrod Washburn vs. Rays RHP James Shields. If I had to pick one of them to dominate, it would be Shields, who has pitched better than Washburn recently. In addition, Tampa Bay needs the wins more than the Tigers do. Last week, I wrote that Giants LHP Barry Zito should prevail over Rockies RHP Jason Marquis. Zito allowed only one earned run in 14 1/3 innings, when he won one game and had no decision in a 14-inning loss for San Francisco.

6*-LHP Scott Kazmir is scheduled Wednesday to make his first start since being traded to the Angels. He would replace rookie RHP Trevor Bell in LA/Anaheim’s rotation.

7*-Rookie RHP Jeff Manship, who was having a good year at Triple-A Rochester, is scheduled to make his first major league start Tuesday for the Twins. Minnesota’s rotation has been in a surprising shambles, but the Twins are playing there way back into the American League Central race.

8*-RHP Sergio Mitre had allowed only one hit when a line drive struck his right forearm and knocked him from Saturday’s game against the White Sox. Manager Joe Girardi conceded, “There’s some concern there.” If Mitre couldn’t pitch Thursday, New York could turn to RHP Chad Gaudin, who finished the one-hitter against the White Sox.

9*-The Athletics are planning to use a six-man rotation to lighten the load on their young starting pitchers. There won’t be another dynamic youngster joining them, but journeyman RHP Edgar Gonzalez.

10*-The Rays are recalling RHP Andy Sonnanstine, who started for them last year, from Triple-A Durham to take Kazmir’s place in the Tampa Bay rotation beginning Tuesday.

11*-With a doubleheader against the Blue Jays Tuesday, when the active roster limit expands from 25 to 40, the Rangers will bring RHP Brandon McCarthy back from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City to start one game. If he pitches well, he could take RHP Dustin Nippert’s place in Texas’ rotation.

12*-Toronto would bring LHP Brian Tallet back out of its bullpen to start one game of the doubleheader.

NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Ari
@LAD @LAD @LAD @LAD/ @Col @Col @Col
Davis Petit Scherzer Garland/ Haren Davis2 Petit2
Atl
@Fla @Fla @Fla @Fla/ Cin Cin Cin
Hudson* Vazquez Hanson Lowe/ Jurrjens Hudson2 Vazquez2
ChC
Ho Ho Ho/ CWS/ @NYM @NYM @NYM
Harden Wells Lilly/ Dempster Zambrano Harden2 Wells2
Cin
Pit-2 Pit Pit/ --- @Atl @Atl @Atl
Wells-Cueto** Lehr Bailey/ --- Maloney Arroyo Cueto2
Col
--- NYM NYM NYM/ Ari Ari Ari
--- DeLaRosa Jimenez Marquis/ Hammel Morales-3* DeLaRosa2
Fla
Atl Atl Atl Atl/ @Was @Was @Was
Johnson Sanchez VandenHurk-4* Nolasco/ West Johnson2 Sanchez2
Ho
@ChC @ChC @ChC/ --- Phi Phi Phi
Oswalt Moehler Bazardo-5*/ --- Norris Rodriguez Oswalt2
LAD
Ari Ari Ari Ari/ SD SD SD
Wolf Padilla-6* Billingsley Haeger/ Kershaw Wolf2 Padilla2
Mil
--- @StL @StL @StL/ SF SF SF
--- Looper Bush-7* Parra/ Gallardo Suppan Looper2
NYM
--- @Col @Col @Col/ ChC ChC ChC
--- Pelfrey Redding Misch-8*/ Parnell Figueroa-9* Pelfrey2
Phi
--- SF SF SF/ @Ho @Ho @Ho
--- Hamels Happ Martinez-10*/ Lee Blanton Hamels2
Pit
@Cin-2 @Cin @Cin/ --- StL StL StL
Maholm-D.McCutchen-11* Morton Duke/ --- Hart Ohlendorf Maholm2
StL
--- Mil Mil Mil/ @Pit @Pit @Pit
--- Pineiro Carpenter Smoltz/ Boggs Wainwright Pineiro2
SD
Was Was Was/ --- @LAD @LAD @LAD
Stauffer Richard Correia/ --- LeBlanc Carrillo-12* Stauffer2
SF
--- @Phi @Phi @Phi/ @Mil @Mil @Mil
--- Sanchez Lincecum Zito/ Cain Martinez Sanchez2
Was
@SD @SD @SD/ --- Fla Fla Fla
Hernandez-13* Martin Lannan/ --- Stammen Mock Hernandez2

*-The Braves are taking RHP Tim Hudson off the disabled list to make his first start this season Monday. That Aug. 31 date is significant. Because he’s on the 25-man roster as of Aug. 31, Hudson would be eligible for the postseason roster. And Atlanta is a very viable playoff contender. He’ll be replacing RHP Kenshin Kawakami in the rotation.

**-For their day-night doubleheader against the Pirates Monday, the Reds will bring RHP Kip Wells out of the bullpen and RHP Johnny Cueto off the disabled list to start.

3*-The Rockies will need a fifth starter with RHP Aaron Cook on the disabled list. They reportedly are one of the teams with interest in RHP Brad Penny, released by the Red Sox. If they don’t sign Penny, they might not bring back RHP Jhoulys Chacin, who hasn’t pitched well after contributing to a no-hitter for Triple-A Colorado Springs. Instead, they might turn to LHP Franklin Morales from their bullpen.

4*-The Marlins optioned ineffective RHP Chris Volstad to Triple-A New Orleans. They could bring him back in September, but it’s more likely for Wednesday’s start that Florida would recall another minor league pitcher such as RHP Rick Vanden Hurk. Other options are LHP Andrew Miller, or RHP Burke Badenhop off the disabled list.

5*-RHP Yorman Bazardo didn’t pitch well in his start Friday, but with a depleted farm system the Astros don’t have many options. So Bazardo could start again Wednesday.

6*-The Dodgers signed RHP Vicente Padilla after the Rangers tired of his negative clubhouse influence and released him. He won his first start for LA, and is scheduled for two more this week. Don’t get too excited about Padilla.

7*-RHP David Bush returned from the disabled list to start Thursday’s game, and would be scheduled for his next start Tuesday.

8*-LHP Pat Misch pitched well Friday in his first start for the Mets – replacing LHP Oliver Perez, who will miss the remainder of the season because of knee surgery. Misch’s next start would be Thursday.

9*-In his umpteenth major league opportunity, RHP Nelson Figueroa won Sunday’s start and earned another one Saturday.

10*-For the second time in four starts since joining the Phillies, RHP Pedro Martinez had his appearance Friday shortened because of a rain delay. Both times, LHP Jamie Moyer, whose ineffectiveness as a starter put Pedro in the rotation, relieved the righty and picked up a win.

11*-To start one game of Monday’s doubleheader, the Pirates recalled RHP Daniel McCutchen from Triple-A Indianapolis to make his major league debut. He is likely to receive more starts for Pittsburgh in September.

12*-Padres manager Bud Black indicated he would shut down rookie RHP Mat Latos, who began the season in Double-A, after Saturday’s start. Latos showed enough to pencil himself into San Diego’s 2010 rotation. Taking over could be RHP Cesar Carrillo, who was Latos’ teammate at San Antonio and San Diego but has been demoted from the Padres to Triple-A Portland.

13*- Veteran RHP Livan Hernandez, whom the Nationals signed after the Mets released him, is schedule for two starts with Washington this week. Unless you have to have a definite gamble work out for you to stay in your fantasy race, think of Hernandez as having twice as big an opportunity to hurt your team.

Hot and Not: Jeter still smoking

The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders last week. Batting averages are based on 20 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.

Hot

Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

2B Luis Castillo, Mets 14-26 .538 0-4 2
3B/SS Michael Young, Rangers 15-30 .500 1-8 1
1B/3B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers 11-22 .500 1-5 1
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees 13-27 .481 1-4 1
OF Matt Diaz, Braves 11-23 .478 2-7 0
OF Aaron Rowand, Giants 13-28 .464 3-7 0
1B Adam LaRoche, Braves 12-26 .462 4-9 0
SS Hanley Ramirez, Marlins 11-24 .458 1-3 1
OF Jayson Werth, Phillies 11-25 .440 5-9 0
OF Pat Burrell, Rays 9-21 .429 2-3 0

This is Jeter’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average.

Home runs – Werth 5; LaRoche and Orioles 2B Brian Roberts 4; Rowand, Rangers OF Marlon Byrd, Twins OF Michael Cuddyer and C Joe Mauer, Athletics OF Jack Cust, Angels OF Vladimir Guerrero, Braves C Brian McCann, Red Sox DH David Ortiz, Rays 1B Carlos Pena and 2B/OF Ben Zobrist, White Sox OF Carlos Quentin, Tigers OF/2B Ryan Raburn and Phillies C Carlos Ruiz 3.

RBI – Ortiz 10; Byrd, LaRoche and Werth 9; Roberts, Young, Giants 1B Ryan Garko and Pirates OF Garrett Jones 8.

Stolen bases – Roberts, Angels SS Erick Aybar, Rangers OF Julio Borbon and Athletics OF Rajai Davis 3; byrd, Mauer, Raburn, Angels Of Bobby Abreu, Rays SS Jason Bartlett, Astros OF Michael Bourn, Brewers OF Ryan Braun, Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan, Mets OF Angel Pagan and Phillies 2B Chase Utley 2.

Runs – LaRoche, Ortiz and Roberts 8; Diaz, Guerrero, Jeter, Werth, Young and Braves SS Yunel Escobar 7.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

LHP Cliff Lee, Phillies 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.22 11:0
RHP Jered Weaver, Angels 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.89 3:1
LHP Wandy Rodriguez, Astros 8.0 0.00 1-0 0.75 7:2
RHP Roy Oswalt, Astros 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.43 2:0
RHP Rich Harden, Cubs 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.57 8:3
RHP Brett Tomko, Athletics 11.0 0.82 2-0 1.00 9:3
LHP Jon Lester, Red Sox 8.0 1.13 1-0 0.63 5:2
RHP Matt Cain, Giants 8.0 1.13 0-0 1.13 3:1
RHP Bronson Arroyo, Reds 8.0 1.13 0-1 1.25 5:1
RHP Joel Pineiro, Cardinals 7.2 1.17 1-0 0.78 7:2
LHP Paul Maholm, Pirates 7.2 1.17 1-0 1.30 5:2

Arroyo also was on the ERA Not list a week earlier.

Wins – Tomko, Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter, Braves RHP Tommy Hanson, Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia and Tigers LHP Bobby Seay 2.

Saves – Rockies RHP Huston Street and Astros RHP Jose Valverde 4-for-4; White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks 3-for-3; Dodgers RHP Jonathan Broxton, Pirates RHP Matt Capps, Cardinals RHP Ryan Franklin, Phillies RHP Brad Lidge, Tigers RHP Fernando Rodney, Braves RHP Rafael Soriano and Giants RHP Brian Wilson. This is Franklin's second consecutive week on this list.

WHIP – Lee 0.22; Oswalt and Dodgers LHP Randy Wolf 0.43; Harden and White Sox RHP Jose Contreras 0.57.

Strikeout/walk ratio (10 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Lee 11:0; Sabathia and Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez 15:1; Tigers RHP Justin Verlander 10:1; Rangers RHP Scott Feldman 15:3; Hanson and Jimenez 14;3; Indians RHP Fausto Carmona 12:3; Cubs RHO Ryan Dempster 15:4; carpenter 14:4.

* * *

Not

Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

3B Chipper Jones, Braves 1-20 .050 0-1 1
OF Milton Bradley, Cubs 2-23 .087 1-1 0
3B/OF/C Brandon Inge, Tigers 2-23 .087 1-2 0
3B Melvin Mora, Orioles 2-22 .091 1-2 0
3B Chone Figgins, Angels 3-24 .125 0-1 0
SS/2B Anderson Hernandez, Mets 3-24 .125 0-2 0
OF Trent Oeltjen, D-backs 3-22 .136 0-0 0
OF Franklin Gutierrez, Mariners 3-22 .136 0-1 1
OF/1B Ross Gload, Marlins 3-22 .136 0-2 0
3B Gordon Beckham, White Sox 3-22 .136 1-2 0
SS Yuniesky Betancourt, Royals 3-22 .136 1-4 0

Figgins has gone from Not to Hot and back to Not over the last three weeks..

The week’s hitless wonders were Indians C Kelly Shoppach 0-for-13, Braves 2B Kelly Johnson 0-for-12, Mets C Brian Schneider and Cardinals SS Julio Lugo 0-for-11.

Walk/strikeout ratio (10 or more strikeouts) – Mariners 1B/3B Russell Branyan 2:13; Tigers OF Clete Thomas 2-10; Red Sox OF Jason Bay 3:11; Oadres SS Everth Cabrera 3:10; Rockies OF Brad Hawpe 5:10.

Caught stealing – Braves OF Matt Diaz and Giants 3B/1B/C Pablo Sandoval 0-for-2.

The following pitchers made two starts last week, doubly damaging their real and fantasy teams.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

LHP Oliver Perez, Mets 5.2 15.88 1-1 2.12 4:3
RHP Bud Norris, Astros 6.2 14.85 0-2 2.85 5:4
RHP Trevor Bell, Angels 7.0 11.57 1-1 3.00 4:6
RHP Derek Lowe, Braves 8.2 11.42 0-1 2.42 3:1
RHP Josh Beckett, Red Sox 13.1 10.13 0-1 1.43 9:1
RHP A.J. Burnett, Yankees 13.0 8.31 0-2 1.46 11:4
RHP Cesar Carrillo, Padres 8.0 7.88 1-1 2.15 3:10
LHP Manny Parra, Brewers 9.1 7.71 0-2 1.93 3:4
RHP David Hernandez, Orioles 9.1 7.71 0-2 1.82 5:7
RHP Jon Garland, D-backs 11.1 7.15 1-1 2.12 7:3
LHP Mark Buehrle, White Sox 11.1 7.15 0-1 1.94 4:2

Buehrle was on the Hot list a week earlier.

Losses – Burnett, Hernandez, Norris, Pena and D-backs RHP Max Scherzer 2.

Blown saves – Mariners RHP Mark Lowe 0-for-2.

Pitching Chart, Aug. 24-30

AL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Bal
@Min @Min @Min/ Cle Cle Cle Cle
Tillman Matusz Guthrie/ Hernandez Berken Tillman2 Matusz2
Bos
CWS CWS CWS CWS/ Tor Tor Tor
Buchholz Lester Wakefield* Tazawa/ Beckett Buchholz2 Lester2
CWS
@Bos @Bos @Bos @Bos/ @NYY @NYY @NYY
Garcia** Contreras Floyd Danks/ Buehrle Peavy Contreras2
Cle
@KC @KC @KC/ @Bal @Bal @Bal @Bal
Sowers Masterson Huff/ Laffey Carmona Sowers2 Masterson2
Det
@LAA @LAA @LAA/ --- TB TB TB
Verlander Washburn Jackson/ --- Galarraga-3* Porcello Verlander2
KC
Cle Cle Cle/ @Se @Se @Se @Se
Meche Greinke Hochevar/ Davies Bannister Meche2 Greinke2
LAA
Det Det Det/ Oak Oak Oak Oak
Weaver Lackey Saunders -4*/ Santana Bell Weaver2 Lackey2
Min
Bal Bal Bal/ --- Tex Tex Tex
Baker Gabino-5* Blackburn/ --- Duensing-6* Pavano Baker2
NYY
--- Tex Tex Tex/ CWS CWS CWS
--- Chamberlain Pettitte Burnett/ Sabathia Gaudin-7* Chamberlain2
Oak
@Se @Se @Se/ @LAA @LAA @LAA @LAA
Mazzaro Anderson Gonzalez/ Cahill Tomko-8* Mazzaro2 Anderson2
Se
Oak Oak Oak/ KC KC KC KC
Snell Rowland-Smith French/ Fister Hernandez Snell2 Rowland-Smith2
TB
@Tor @Tor @Tor/ --- @Det @Det @Det
Niemann Shields Kazmir/ --- Garza Price Niemann2
Tex
--- @NYY @NYY @NYY/ @Min @Min @Min
--- Millwood Holland Nippert/ Hunter Feldman Millwood2
Tor
TB TB TB/ --- @Bos @Bos @Bos
Halladay Cecil Rzepczynski/ --- Richmond-9* Romero Halladay

*-RHP Tim Wakefield (back injury) will return from the disabled list to the Red Sox rotation – most likely replacing RHP Brad Penny, whose next start would be Wednesday. While the Yankees were hammering Penny Friday, Wakefield was allowing only one run and two hits in 5 2//3 innings in an injury-rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket. He indicated he has been ready to pitch for a while but his back bothered him while fielding.

**-RHP Freddy Garcia returned from Triple-A Charlotte to make his first major league start this season, and would have his next turn Monday. His place in the White Sox rotation could be short-lived, however, because RHP Jake Peavy is expected to be ready to pitch again in the majors Saturday. He gave up three earned runs in four innings Tuesday for Charlotte, and in his next start Sunday is likely to face another rehabbing major leaguer, RHP Tim Hudson of the Braves’ Triple-A team at Gwinnett.

3*-The Tigers are playing with 11 pitchers on their roster – which should be enough, but other major league teams have 12 or 13. As if a guy who’s not good enough to be the 11th pitcher on their staff could actually help. Anyway, Detroit might add a seventh reliever by going briefly with a four-man rotation. Thursday’s off day would make it possible for them to send RHP Armando Galarraga briefly to the minor leagues and bring him back Tuesday, Sept. 1, when the team next would need a fifth starter.

4*-Angels LHP Joe Saunders could return from the DL to start Wednesday. Otherwise, that would be RHP Sean O’Sullivan’s turn in the rotation. He or fellow rookie RHP Trevor Bell, an even more recent arrival in the majors, could lose a starting role. Saunders threw 55 pitches in a simulated game Friday.

5*-After the Rangers hammered RHP Anthony Swarzak, the Twins demoted him to Triple-A Rochester. Up from the Red Wings to make his major league debut Tuesday will be RHP Armando Gabino.

6*-Rookie LHP Brian Duensing is Minnesota’s scheduled starter Sunday. He would be on schedule to start again Friday, but the Twins might skip him and push veteran RHPs Carl Pavano and Scott Baker ahead of Duensing.

7*-With Monday’s off day, the Yankees can skip RHP Chad Gaudin, who last started Wednesday, to have him pitch Saturday – 10 days later.

8*-The Athletics signed RHP Brett Tomko after the Yanks released him from their bullpen, and added the veteran to their young rotation.

9*-The Blue Jays expect to keep two rookies, LHP Marc Rzepczynski and RHP Scott Richmond, in their rotation for now but shut them down in September to keep down their innings pitched. Rookie LHP Ricky Romero, who has spent time on the disabled list this season, would continue to start in September.


NL
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Ari
--- @SF @SF @SF/ Ho Ho Ho
--- Haren Davis Petit/ Scherzer Garland Haren2
Atl
--- SD SD SD/ @Phi @Phi @Phi
--- Jurrjens Kawakami Vazquez/ Hanson Lowe Jurrjens2
ChC
--- Was Was Was/ NYM NYM NYM
--- Zambrano* Harden Wells/ Lilly Dempster Zambrano2
Cin
--- @Mil @Mil @Mil/ LAD LAD LAD
--- Arroyo Harang Owings/ Lehr Bailey Arroyo2
Col
SF/ LAD LAD LAD/ @SF @SF @SF
Marquis-2*/ Hammel Eaton-3* DeLaRosa/ Jimenez Marquis2 Hammel2
Fla
--- NYM NYM NYM/ SD SD SD
--- West Johnson Sanchez-4*/ Volstad Nolasco West2
Ho
--- @StL @StL @StL/ @Ari @Ari @Ari
--- Rodriguez-5* Oswalt Moehler/ Norris Bazardo Rodriguez2
LAD
--- @Col @Col @Col/ @Cin @Cin @Cin
--- Kershaw Weaver-6* Wolf/ Haeger Billingsley Kershaw2
Mil
@Was/ Cin Cin Cin/ Pit Pit Pit
Gallardo/ Suppan-7* Looper Burns/ Parra Gallardo2 Suppan2
NYM
Phi/ @Fla @Fla @Fla/ @ChC @ChC @ChC
Parnell/ Santana Pelfrey Redding/ Perez Parnell2 Santana2
Phi
@NYM/ @Pit @Pit @Pit/ Atl Atl Atl
Lee/ Blanton Hamels Happ/ Martinez-8* Lee2 Blanton2
Pit
--- Phi Phi Phi/ @Mil @Mil @Mil
--- Ohlendorf Maholm Morton/ Duke Hart Ohlendorf2
StL
--- Ho Ho Ho/ Was Was Was
--- Wainwright Pineiro Carpenter/ Boggs-9* Smoltz-10* Wainwright2
SD
--- @Atl @Atl @Atl/ @Fla @Fla @Fla
--- Latos Stauffer Richard/ Correia Carrillo Latos2
SF
@Col/ Ari Ari Ari/ Col Col Col
Zito/ Cain Sanchez Martinez/ Lincecum Zito2 Cain2
Was
Mil/ @ChC @ChC @ChC/ @StL @StL @StL
Balester/ Mock Martin Lannan/ Stammen Balester2 Mock2

*-Cubs RHP Carlos Zambrano is coming off the disabled list to start Monday, replacing LHP Tom Gorzelanny in the rotation.

**-An oddity in this week’s schedule, with a wraparound series ending Monday at Colorado, is that Rockies RHP Jason Marquis and Giants LHP Barry Zito are scheduled to pitch against each other twice. The games could have a major impact on the teams’ battle for the National League wild card, and I like Zito in the matchups Monday and Saturday.

3*-The Rockies expected to put RHP Aaron Cook, whose velocity was down Friday because of a sore shoulder, on the disabled list. Taking his place in their rotation could be RHPs Adam Eaton or Josh Fogg from the bullpen, or RHP Jhoulys Chacin from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Chacin, who began this season at Double-A Tulsa, pitched 5 1/3 innings Tuesday in a four-man combined no-hitter for Colorado Springs. A week earlier, he had started and lost for the Rockies against the Pirates.

4*-RHP Anibal Sanchez came off the 60-day disabled list to start for the Marlins Friday. His next scheduled turn would be Thursday.

5*-The off day Monday would give the Astros an opportunity to move LHP Wandy Rodriguez ahead of rookie RHP Yorman Bazardo, who started Wednesday’s game. He would have another chance as the fifth starter Saturday.

6*-Injuries have moved RHP Jeff Weaver from the Dodgers’ bullpen to a starting role. He started Thursday’s game, and would be in line to go again Wednesday.

7*-The Brewers would like RHP Jeff Suppan to return to their rotation Tuesday from an injury-rehab assignment. However, he struggled Thursday for Triple-A Nashville, allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings. If he’s ready, Suppan would replace RHP Carlos Villanueva as a starter.

8*-RHP Pedro Martinez is scheduled to pitch Sunday and again Friday. He pitched better Tuesday than he had in his first start as a Phillie. Pedro went just three innings Tuesday, but he left because of a rain delay and not because he was ineffective.

9*-RHP Kyle Lohse left Friday’s game after suffering a strained left groin muscle while leaving the batter’s box. He could go on the DL and miss his start Friday. RHP Mitchell Boggs would be the likely replacement for Lohse. RHP Blake Hawksworth also could be an ineffective substitute.

10*-RHP John Smoltz is scheduled to make his first start for the Cardinals Sunday, which would put him in line to start again Saturday. He was just 2-5 when the Red Sox released him.