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.