Matt Kemp has had a poor season for the lofty expectations that were set for him. I projected the Los Angeles centerfielder at .301BA/25HR/111RBi/28SB. He was ranked as the second best fantasy outfielder by most, but just hasn’t been that good. He is currently at .255/22/74/18.

While most players would be more than happy to post these numbers for a season, Kemp has been outperformed by teammate Andre Ethier and there have even been rumors of trading Kemp away from the Dodgers.

For those in keeper leagues, now is the time to pounce. This guy turns 26 at the end of September and is likely to return to his once lofty status. The batting average and RBi are lower than expected, but he quietly went .302/5/17/3 in August. This is not a guy to ignore, Kemp is a guy to pursue and his owner might be willing to sell him at a discount.

Another Dodgers outfielder not putting up the stats he was expected, Manny Ramirez appears to be on his way to Chicago’s south side. A grumpy Manny is not a useful piece to his team, but a happy Manny can be a one-man wrecking crew.

For a reminder of his ability to turn it on, see his stats from 2008 when he was traded to the Dodgers. After sulking in Boston for 100 games, he was sitting at .299/20/68, but in only 53 games with the Dodgers, Man-Ram posted a line of .396/17/53. The moral of the story is that Manny gets bored and needs a change of scenery to regain his interest. He’s about to get the change he desires.

This week, all team are scheduled to play at least six games this week while Cleveland, New York (both), Oakland, Seattle, Atlanta, Colorodo, and Philadelphia are all on the docket for seven.

Now, the projected 2-start pitchers for this week. For those of you in leagues who require you to set your lineup at the beginning of the week, these are guys you should strongly consider:

Rick’s Picks
Five best bets for double-start pitchers this week

1. Roy Halladay. Best pitcher in baseball. Enough said.

2. Carlos Zambrano has had his fair share of drama this season but when his head is in the game, he is one of the best. Getting the Pirates and Mets at home this week will be the right tonic for Big Z.

3. Phil Hughes gets Oakland and Toronto at home. What’s not to like?

4. Wade LeBlanc gets the benefit of two starts this week of a somehow still upright Padres team. This team is still winning despite all the signs that say they should be mediocre. LeBlanc will take advantage at Arizona and at home against Colorado.

5. Jair Jurrjens is a tremendous pitcher at home and mediocre on the road. He gets the Mets in Atlanta and then the Marlins on the road, so look for one big outing and then a crap shoot in the second matchup.

As we watch Stephen Strasburg and Ricky Nolasco shut down for the year with surgery likely looming in their futures and Cody Ross and Rod Barajas given away to other teams, we think how strange the last six weeks of the baseball season are.

Though their injuries are serious, Strasburg and Nolasco remind us that young pitchers with the slightest of injuries can be shut down for the season in fear of making a small problem worse by exposing them to more wear and tear on their arms. The Nationals and Marlins will look closer at the injuries this week, but either way, these young players are done for 2010. Cut bait and find a useful arm.

Ross was awarded to San Francisco after the Giants claimed him off waivers this week. They are already too full in their outfield with Pat Burrell, Jose Guillen, Aaron Rowand, and Andres Torres looking for at bats, but now they add the left handed Ross to the mix. At least they didn’t let him slip to a possible contender.

The Dodgers were in need of a catcher and were awarded Barajas from the Mets. With Russell Martin out for the rest of the season, Barajas will provide the Dodgers with some pop from behind the dish.
All of these situations were unforeseen just a few days ago, but they all help shape the fantasy landscape.

The winners will be the starters in Washington and Florida who pick up starts, Barajas who finds himself with full time at bats again and anyone who picks up Cameron Maybin, Ross’ replacement in Florida’s centerfield. All the Giant outfielders will lose at bats and Brad Ausmus and A.J. Ellis will find themselves with few at bats down the stretch.

This week, Detroit, Minnesota, Texas, Toronto, Houston, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Washington are all on the docket for seven games. All other teams are scheduled to play six games this week.

Now, the projected 2-start pitchers for this week. For those of you in leagues who require you to set your lineup at the beginning of the week, these are guys you should strongly consider:

Rick’s Picks
Five best bets for double-start pitchers this week

1. Adam Wainwright. If you don’t know why, you haven’t been paying attention. He also gets two patsies (at PIT, at WAS).

2. Matt Cain seems to be back in the saddle after a rough patch following the All-Star Game. He gets two games at home (where he is a much better pitcher than on the road) against two teams (vs CIN, vs ARZ) that can hit or be shut down on any given night. Cain should handle these two outings well and is likely to reward you this week.

3. Tim Hudson gets two challenging games (at COL, vs FLA) this week. The first at Colroado is dangerous for the obvious offensive reasons at cavernous Coors Field, but many pitchers tend to struggle in the game after they visit Denver as they try to recover from the high altitude and the stresses it puts on the body. Huddy is having a great season, but these are two potential landmines.

4. Two road games aren’t a good indicator of success on the week, but Josh Johnson isn’t an average pitcher. He goes to New York and Atlanta for a couple of divisional matchups in two stadiums that seem to favor pitchers. Look for his strikeouts and ratios this week and maybe a win or two.

5. Colby Lewis has very quietly had a very good season. His 9-10 record doesn’t tell the whole story quite as much as his 3.37 ERA and 1.17 WHIP do. His ERA is below 3.00 at home, where he gets Minnesota and Oakland this week. His offense might not score a lot for him, but the ratios should be good as always. Play him confidently.

As we go into the last quarter of the season, you have to watch out for a number of pitfalls that trip a lot of fantasy owners as they head down the stretch.

You have to know when your league’s trade deadline is and if you should make a last second deal. Trading away a prospect for a legitimate producer that can help you win a title is always the best way to go. You never know if your prospect will develop into a stud or if you will be back in the hunt next year. Go for it now.

Watch for the September callus. Your veteran players on teams out of the hunt might get a little extra rest as their team tries to give the young kids an opportunity to show what they can do. Likewise, your prospects on the teams in contention might not get as many chances as their team is fighting it out for a playoff berth.

Don’t forget about the Coors Effect. The ball jumps a lot better at Coors Field in August and September than the first four months. Play your hitters and watch out for your pitchers.

As the NFL gets underway, don’t let almost five months of hard work go up in smoke just because pigskin games are starting up. Make sure you pay attention to your fantasy baseball team and give them the attention they need to have a chance to win.

This week, Milwaukee and St. Louis are scheduled to play only five games this week while Baltimore, Detroit, New York (AL), Oakland Tampa Bay, Texas, Atlanta, Chicago (NL), Florida, Houston, Los Angeles (NL), New York (NL), Pittsburgh, and San Diego are all on the docket for seven. All other teams are scheduled to play six games this week.

Now, the projected 2-start pitchers for this week. For those of you in leagues who require you to set your lineup at the beginning of the week, these are guys you should strongly consider:

Rick’s Picks
Five best bets for double-start pitchers this week

1. C.C. Sabathia gets Detroit and Seattle at home this week. The big fellow is dominant at home (8-0, 2.35 ERA). With the Bronx Bombers offense backing him up, this is a no-brainer.

2. Roy Oswalt is still trying to settle into Philadelphia and this week’s matchups should help. Home games against San Francisco and Washington are just what he needs to get the brotherly love he’s been craving.

3. Johan Santana has lost his ability to dominate games with strikeouts, but he’s still a formidable pitcher. Despite two road games this week, playing Houston and Pittsburgh are matchups any pitcher would want.

4. Matt Garza gets Texas and Oakland to visit Tropicana Field. Garza has taken that next step forward this season in becoming a premier pitcher and despite one power hitting team showing up this week, he’s still a safe play at home.

5. Since his return from the disabled list in May, Cliff Lee has found the form that made him one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last two years. He gets a tough first game at Tampa Bay, but he finishes with an easy second game at Baltimore. He rarely blows up and you can always count on strikeouts from the big lefty making this a worthwhile week to play Lee.

Now is the time of the season to be the most diligent. As some owners are losing interest in the baseball marathon and gearing up for their fantasy football draft, now is the time to make your move. With their lack of focus, you can move up the standings.

The long baseball season takes focus and dedication and it is easy to refocus your attention elsewhere when your team is not living up to expectations. The best part about fantasy sports is that there’s always another sport and another opportunity just around the corner if the last didn’t work out like you planned. But if you are in the hunt, now is the time to be vigilant scanning the waiver wire and making trade offers that can move you into the money or towards the championship.

Of note, the Texas Rangers are scheduled to play only five games this week while Arizona, Baltimore, Boston, both Chicago teams, Kansas City, Milwaukee, New York (AL), and San Francisco are all on the docket for seven. All other teams are scheduled to play six games this week.

Now, the projected 2-start pitchers for this week. For those of you in leagues who require you to set your lineup at the beginning of the week, these are guys you should strongly consider:

Rick’s Picks
Five best bets for double-start pitchers this week

1. Chris Carpenter is a must play any week he gets two starts. The first matchup is a tough divisional battle (at CIN) but the second should be a walk in the park (vs CHC). You have to play Carpenter if he is on your squad.

2. Stephen Strasburg gets two teams who are already looking towards next season at home (vs FLA, vs ARZ). Neither has an offense that will do much and the boy wonder is likely to strike out a ton this week. This is a guy you want.

3. Ervin Santana gets two great matchups at home (vs KC, vs TOR). The Angels are desperate to catch up in the A.L. West, so two wins here would go a long way to helping the team’s playoff chances and your fantasy team’s stats.

4. Wade LeBlanc gets two weak offenses (at SF, vs PIT). The Padres continue to defy logic and win games. This week should be no different.

5. Jon Lester is a heck of a pitcher, but gets two tough teams on the road (at NYY, at TEX) this week. Neither matchup is favorable, but this kind of pitcher is the kind you have to play.

As we have now passed the Major League non-waiver trade deadline, watch certain teams closely. Teams who have decided that they are out of the running are likely to do things that will benefit their team for the future, rather than what might be of benefit right now.

For instance, while the Houston Astros traded their two biggest stars in Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman, they have turned to youngsters to build their experience. The Astros brought up Brett Wallace to see what he can do in the big league lineup. Though his glove is substandard, will his bat measure up? They are likely to give him the next nine weeks of baseball to find out. That time in the lineup can affect the owners of Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn, and Carlos Lee if Wallace doesn’t live up to his hype. A downgrade from Berkman to a poor-hitting Wallace will hurt other Astros. But if Wallace is the real deal, the rest of the offense can benefit.

You also have to keep an eye on the competitors. Teams will juggle their rotations to either rest starters or position certain pitchers to face or avoid certain teams. The Tampa Bay Rays will bring up studly prospect Jeremy Hellickson to start Monday, but will likely be send him back down afterward. This is being done to give their five starters extra rest to make sure they have enough gas in the tank for their playoff run.

The moral of the story is to watch how each MLB team uses your fantasy players and plan their starts accordingly. There is little more frustrating than seeing your guy not playing in games that you expected them to do so.

Now, the projected 2-start pitchers for this week. For those of you in leagues who require you to set your lineup at the beginning of the week, these are guys you should strongly consider:

Rick’s Picks
Five best bets for double-start pitchers this week

1. Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball. You don’t really need to know he gets the Marlins on the road or the Mets at home, but there you go.

2. Tim Hudson gets two weak offenses (vs NYM, vs SF) at home. He’s been awesome since returning from Tommy John surgery, so play him with confidence.

3. Trevor Cahill gets two good offenses at home. The Royals and Rangers are coming to town, but Cahill has been lights out lately and has only yielded a 2.19 ERA at home this season. He should reward you this week.

4. Mat Latos gets the Dodgers at home and Arizona on the road. Arizona has already given up and the Dodgers shouldn’t be too long for it. Latos is the next young star pitcher, so ride him this week and see what he does for your fantasy squad.

5. I don’t like the second matchup in the Bronx (at NYY), but the first one against the Cleveland White Flaggers is very promising for Josh Beckett. If you can pull him after the first start, you might want to do so, but Beckett is a big game pitcher.

As we approach the Major League Baseball trade deadline, a lot can change with your fantasy team without you lifting a finger. Stars can be acquired on teams that end up pushing lesser players to the bench and all of a sudden your starting third baseman is a part time player. If you play in one of the quickly becoming extinct AL-only or NL-only leagues, you know you just lost Dan Haren from your league or else he just became available for all your FAAB dollars.

Speaking of Haren, be wary of teams who posture too much about acquiring players but never do. The New York Yankees were front and center of all trade rumors surrounding Cliff Lee and Dan Haren, but when the deal was finally struck, they were nowhere to be found. They only have a few players that anyone would be willing to trade for (Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Jesus Montero), but the Yankees aren’t about to trade them away.

Don’t let this be your fantasy team, because no one will take you seriously when you decide that you want to acquire someone. The guy who talks a lot of smack but rarely shows any action is quickly dismissed as a wannabe, unless you have the Yankees bottomless pockets and can buy players and their bad contracts.

Now, the projected 2-start pitchers for this week. For those of you in leagues who require you to set your lineup at the beginning of the week, these are guys you should strongly consider:

Rick’s Picks
Five best bets for double-start pitchers this week

1. Josh Johnson pitches in two pitchers parks (at SF, at SD) against two weak offenses. This is a no brainer for a guy with a 1.61 ERA.

2. Francisco Liriano has been dominant in six of his last nine starts and games at Kansas City and home against Seattle should just help him pad his stats. This guy has finally got the 2006-07 form back again.

3. and 4. Gavin Floyd and John Danks both get Seattle and Oakland at home. There is no reason not to play either this week.

5. Facing the Braves and Phillies isn’t usually a recipe for making this list, but Stephen Strasburg isn’t your average pitcher. He gets both divisional juggernauts at home so the wins probably won’t materialize but look for good ratios and strikeouts from the phenom.

We are now just past the mid-way point of the 2010 season and it is time for a little self reflection. Do you have a chance to compete or is it time to start preparing for fantasy football?* Understanding your league rules and looking at results realistically will be the key to success.

* Editor’s note: Cheatsheet Compiler & Draft Buddy Football now available.

In my NFBC league, I am behind in strikeouts by almost 50 Ks. I’m sure my team can get more than 50 strikeouts before the end of the season, but the team ahead of me will assuredly keep piling up the Ks too. So the question is can I pick up 50 Ks more than my opponent for the remainder of the season given the current players on our two teams. Since he is beating me so far and none of my players was underperforming too much, it is unrealistic to expect to make up that ground. So I should use this opportunity to try to make up points in other categories instead while punting strikeouts for the rest of the season.

Depending on your league rules, your decisions can vary. If you are in a re-draft league, you have no way to keep your players for next season and have no choice but to keep playing for this season, no matter how far down in the standings you are. If you decide to abandon your team, that is your choice, but don’t give your best players away for next to nothing to another team. You’d be pretty upset if a competitor of yours got the same advantage if you were challenging them.

If you are in a league that allows keepers then you have to decide if it is best to be a seller or a buyer. Just like a Major League general manager, you must decide if your team is in contention or if it is time to start selling pieces in preparation for next season. Have your players underperformed in the first half and are reasonably expected to find their second half swing? Or do you trade some youth for a difference maker that can help give your team an edge on the competition? If so, give it a go and see if you can find yourself in the playoffs, where anything can happen. But if not and your team is just not excelling like you had hoped, maybe it is time to sell off the players not worth keeping and find a few who are.

Now, the projected 2-start pitchers for this week. For those of you in leagues who require you to set your lineup at the beginning of the week, these are guys you should strongly consider:

Rick’s Picks
Five best bets for double-start pitchers this week

1. Chris Carpenter gets the Phillies at home and the Cubs in Chicago. You can’t go wrong with the big righty.

2. Ubaldo Jimenez goes on the road for games at Florida and Philadelphia. He’s too dominant to let you down.

3. Phil Hughes hosts the Angels and Royals. Both have good hitting squads, but Hughes has figured out this starting thing and will get plenty of run support.

4. Mike Leake is still befuddling hitters. It will likely be next season before they start to catch up, so enjoy two weak offenses flailing away (vs WAS, at HOU).

5. Going on the road is never good for newbie rookies, but Dan Hudson will face two weak hitting teams in pitchers parks (at SEA, at OAK). This kid has success written all over him so play him with confidence.

What on earth is going on down in San Diego? Most every baseball pundit predicted the Padres would be one of the worst teams in baseball and would likely be shipping off their best players at the trade deadline. Instead, the Padres are looking for a durable pitcher as well as a legitimate bat as they are trying to hold their division lead. Selling Adrian Gonzalez or Heath Bell to the highest bidder is not part of the equation that likley involves the team taking on more payroll in an attempt to compete right now.

Why they are winning is kind of a mystery. Their payroll is just over $38 million, the second lowest in MLB. The off season committment to adding talent was more geared toward building for the future rather than trying to win in the present. Yet somehow they are leading the NL West by 2.0 games at the break and Baseball Prospectus even gives them a 60% chance of making the playoffs.

With so many low expectations, where are the Pads exceeding those expectations and winning games they shouldn’t be winning? They only have one regular batting above .300 and three slugging above .400, so their bats are certainly not tearing things up.

Adrian Gonzalez leads the team in batting average, runs scored, home runs, runs batted in, on base percentage, and hits. His team lead in home runs is 10 and RBI is 24, so he’s carrying the offensive load where the rest are just simply spare parts.

PetCo Park is well known for being a pitchers park and the team ERA certainly shows that. The team ERA is a MLB leading 3.25, but the ERA in home games is 2.89. Opponents are hitting .238 against San Diego pitchers in all games and .228 in San Diego. These stats show that pitching is winning games for the Pads.

Injuries have more to do with a team’s successes as almost anything else and the Padres have only been significantly hurt by the loss of starting pitcher Chris Young. Otherwise, the team has been pretty healthy, which is more than their division foes can say.

All four division rivals have had significant injury problems that have slowed their progress this season. Not that the injuries to their compettion is the only reason for the Padres success this season, but it is one factor. It is as much to their credit that they took advantage of those injuries to rise above their foes.

So what about the future? First baseman Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bell would be welcome on any team in baseball. Starting pitcher Mat Latos is the real deal. Outfielder Kyle Blanks is blocked at his primary position by Gonzalez, but a bat like his will always find a spot in the lineup. Third baseman Chase Headley is starting to live up to expectations. But this team is rather thin after than. It just doesn’t appear to be a team built to win this year or any other in the near future, so don’t build up too many high expectations. The Padres are definitely a greater whole than the sum of their parts.

There once was a team of Padres
Whose players offense was very passe
But their pitchers were stout
And their faith was devout
That in first place they could stay

There are a few players who could provide your club with a nice boost if you are willing to scan the waiver wire. Coco Crisp and his fresh legs could provide steals. Tom Gorzelanny‘s newfound rotation opportunity could provide strikeouts. Aubrey Huff is a surprising source of most offensive stats along with a little position flexibility.

Also, with the rash of injuries to middle infielders (Troy Tulowitzki, Dustin Pedroia, Brian Roberts, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins), there are plethora of unusual suspects getting opportunities that could help you, like Bill Hall, Jonathan Herrera, and Wilson Valdez.

Eight teams in each league play seven games this week while the others all play six games this week.

Now, the projected 2-start pitchers for this week. For those of you in leagues who require you to set your lineup at the beginning of the week, these are guys you should strongly consider:

Rick’s Picks
Five best bets for double-start pitchers this week

1. C.C. Sabathia faces two weak offenses in pitchers parks (at OAK, at SEA). This should be a big week for Carston Charles.

2. Felix Hernandez gets a cupcake (KC) and a juggernaut (NYY) this week, both at home. Play him confidently.

3. Roy Halladay has been beatable in the last month, losing six of his last eight starts. But in those eight starts, he’s only thrown two clunkers (against two A.L. powers, Boston and New York), so feel confident in the best pitcher in baseball. The reason he’s #3 and not #1 is because he is facing two very tough opponents (vs ATL, vs CIN).

4. After being putrid for most of April and May, Jake Peavy seems to finally have the American League style of baseball figured out. Home games against the Angels and Royals will provide an opportunity to keep going in the right direction.

5. Jeff Niemann has been downright nasty this season. He gets Boston and Cleveland at home and should be good for a strong week.

The Mariners trade for Russell Branyan is a valuable lesson for all fantasy owners: When you are out of contention, don’t start trading your future for the present, no matter who it is. If you are out of the hunt, realize that and start planning for next year. The only exception to this rule is if they already have another deal worked out like sending Branyan in a trade with Cliff Lee to another team for a much better package of minor leaguers.

Interleague play is over so all players are back to their expected roles. Twelve NL teams and three AL teams play seven games while the Boston Red Sox only play five games this week.

Now, the projected 2-start pitchers for this week. For those of you in leagues who require you to set your lineup at the beginning of the week, these are guys you should strongly consider:

Rick’s Picks
Five best bets for double-start pitchers this week

1. & 2. Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter get two teams that are considering when to start their fire sales (vs ARZ, vs MIL). The two best pitchers in the National League don’t need this much help from their opponents, but it sure helps.

3. Tim Hudson has found his way back after Tommy John surgery and is pitching very well. Two mediocre opponents at home (vs WAS, vs FLA) is a good recipe for success this week.

4. Stephen Strasburg is pitching great baseball, but gets two very tough opponents (at ATL, vs NYM). Don’t expect him to go away empty handed, but temper your expectations a bit.

5. Barry Zito has found the fountain of youth again and is finally earning his ridiculous salary. Though he gets two tough division opponents (vs LAD, at COL), he should do just fine.