Baseball season is moving right along, but remember more than 60% of the season is still to play, so big gaps can still be made up with good decisions and some luck.

 
Stock Up

Michael Morse, 1B/OF, WAS – Morse is still rocking the ball and is back in the Stock Up column again this week. Over the last two weeks, he hit .357 with 4 homers, 15 RBI, 10 runs scored and even added a stolen base. This guy started out ice cold but is a great play if he is still lingering on your waiver wire.

Brennan Boesch, OF, DET – Like Morse, Boesch also started the season without a full-time gig, but his bat is hot. Take advantage of the .340/5/14/11 over the last two weeks and assume it will continue for a bit longer. The average will eventually cool off, but the power should continue all season.

Eric Hosmer, 1B, KC – If this highly touted prospect is still on your waiver wire, you need to stop reading this and go pick him up right now. Hosmer is a legitimate bat and will give you power and average. He put up .371/2/14/11/1 over the fortnight and is likely to produce all season.

Corey Patterson, OF, TOR – Patterson finds himself on this list for the second straight week. When the opportunity presented itself, Patterson was ready to answer the call. During the last two weeks, he has hit .322/3/8/13/2 and will continue to get full time at bats as long as he’s producing.

Miguel Olivo, C, SEA – If you are looking for a hitting catcher, Olivo might be your answer. He hit .277/4/15/8/1 during the last two week stretch, so ride the wave.

Alexi Casilla, 2B/SS, MIN – If you need steals, Casilla might be your man. While hitting .321 with six ribbies and 8 runs scored in the last two weeks, Casilla also ripped off five bases and is a great middle infield play right now.

Ryan Ludwick, OF, STL – Ludwick is another repeat offender on the Stock Up list. In the last two weeks, Luddy has put up .396/0/7/9. He’s not hitting for power, but he is hitting the ball well right now so grab him and hope the power flares up.

Adam Kennedy, 1B/2B/3B, SEA – Kennedy has a lot of position flexibility and is getting playing time at the expense of other Mariners who aren’t hitting as well. Kennedy is hitting in the middle of the order and playing most anywhere around the infield while hitting .317/1/7/9/1 in the last two weeks. This is a very odd situation for a utility infielder with a historically weak bat to see this kind of attention, but why should you argue with this kind of production?

Jon Niese, SP, NYM – Niese is 4-1 with 36 K, a 2.25 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP since May 1. His home starts are significantly better than those on the road, so he’s a great spot starter.

 
Stock Down

Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI – Howard is really struggling without the complimentary pieces that he is accustomed to having around him. This season, he’s missed Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Domonic Brown and others. Over the last two weeks he’s posted .191/2/10/3 and isn’t getting too many quality pitches to hit. If someone is offering you full value, you might want to jump as he’s likely to find himself without much help for the rest of the season.

Shin-Soo Choo, OF, CLE – Choo is about the only Cleveland Indian who is struggling at the plate this season as the magical summer on Lake Erie continues for a most unlikely team. Over the last two weeks, Choo has posted .209/0/0/3 and it is unclear if he can get it together any time soon. He is hitting .169 with runners in scoring position this season and a recent DUI arrest may not be good for getting his focus back any time soon.

Adam Dunn, 1B, CWS – Dunn has hit 38 or more home runs in each of the last seven seasons and a new home at one of the most homer-friendly parks in baseball was supposed to elevate him into the 50-homer club. That only works if you can actually make contact, which is a big problem for Dunn these days. During the last two weeks, Dunn has only managed .143/1/3/5 and he may have the same disease that Pat Burrell suffered while with Tampa Bay. That disease is one where a player plays awful defense in the National League, while still hitting well. The obvious answer is a designated hitter gig in the American League, but for whatever reason it brings down their hitting. Dunn will most likely regain his stroke if he can get back to the NL, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone interested in his contract, which still guarantees him more than $50 million.

Jon Lester, SP, BOS – Lester dominated in April and then has struggled in May. His average fastball is still at 92 MPH, so he seems healthy. He’s probably just hit a rough patch that will work itself out and there is nothing to worry over even though his ERA has risen from 2.33 to 3.96 since his May 3 start.