Stock Up
Jed Lowrie, 2B/SS, BOS – Lowrie has been red hot in the last week. With .429BA/3HR/11RBI/9R, the Red Sox have to play him as often as possible. The multi-position flexibility is nice for your team and Marco Scutaro needs to be looking over his shoulder as Lowrie is attempting to put a claim on the shortstop job full-time.
Curtis Granderson, OF, NYY – Granderson has found his groove in the Bronx and is hitting a stout .429/4/6/7 over the last week. He hasn’t done much base stealing this season, but that should come with time. Enjoy the average and power for now.
Placido Polanco, 3B, PHI – Polanco is hitting just when the Phillies need someone to step up. He’s never been known for power, but he’s producing in all categories with very nice efficiency: .360/2/4/4 with 3 SB. Ride him while he’s hot.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B, SF – Plenty of fantasy players were hopeful Sandoval would bounce back this season after a disappointing 2010, and the big guy isn’t letting us down. Though the average isn’t as high as one would like, you can’t argue with the .250/3/7/6 he’s posted in the last week. If nothing else, you’ll get good power from Panda.
Jeff Francoeur, OF, KC – This is the kind of thing we expected from Francoeur about five years ago. When his game went into the toilet, most people wrote him off. Now he’s back hitting .409/2/8/4 for the week. Don’t expect anything like this to continue, but enjoy the ride as long as Frenchy is in the zone.
Kyle Lohse, SP, STL – Just when you thought the Cardinals were out of it without Adam Wainwright fronting the rotation, along comes a stellar start from Lohse. In the last week, Lohse has tossed 16.3 innings while winning two, striking out 12 and giving his owners a 1.10 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP. Will it last? Probably not, but take it for now.
Scott Baker, SP, MIN – Did Baker just fan 15 hitters in the last week? Yes he did. He’s also putting up ratios of 0.64 ERA and 0.71 WHIP. This might finally be the breakthrough season for Baker.
Jose Contreras, RP, PHI – Contreras has three saves and no earned runs in the last week. Add in five K and a 1.00 WHIP and you’ve got a great fill-in for the injured Brad Lidge.
Stock Down
Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA – Ramirez is still stinking up the joint. He hit .133 last week with only 3 RBI and 2 SB to show for it. Make a push to his owner that Han-Ram is wilting and he would do well to except whatever generous offer you are proposing.
David Wright, 3B, NYM – Wright’s poor week was the result of a 0-for-20 streak. That anemic output led to .095/1/3/2. This guy will hit, so play him and wait it out until he comes around. He’s another good buy-low candidate if his owner is getting antsy.
Carl Crawford, OF, BOS – The Red Sox thought they were buying Carl Crawford, not Cindy Crawford. Pitchers have made Carl look as bad as if Cindy was swinging the bat instead. Last week saw Crawford post a .125/0/2/1 line and a drop in the Red Sox batting order down to the seventh slot. He’ll get it going, but it might be wise to sit him for a week until he gets that confidence back.
Nelson Cruz, OF, TEX – Cruz was always known for being a great hitter who can’t stay healthy. Right now, he’s healthy and just can’t hit. He hit a paltry .136/0/0/1 for the week and doesn’t have Josh Hamilton around for the next six weeks to help him out. It might be time to put him on the trading block and see if someone is willing to pay you full price for Cruz. Don’t sell him for a discount, but jump if the price is right.
Roy Halladay, SP, PHI – Halladay put up a real clunker this week against Milwaukee. Don’t worry, this isn’t a trend. Maybe you can convince his owner that he’s lost it by throwing out the 8.10 ERA and 1.80 WHIP.
Clayton Kershaw, SP, LAD – Kershaw had one bad game and one good game that fell apart in the ninth as he was attempting to put up a CG. The ERA for the week was a dismal 5.40 and the WHIP was almost as bad at 1.50. But the 12 K shows he’s still getting hitters out on his own. He’s fine, just ride out the bumpy patch.