Week 21 Fantasy Hitting Planner

The Fantasy Baseball Hitting Planner is your guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming scoring period. Every week, we'll give you the latest on injuries, lineup changes, streaks and matchups, highlighting the players at each position who might surprise or disappoint as a result. NOTE: The Planner will be updated with the latest information every Sunday prior to lineup deadlines.

Any players not listed here fall into the "status quo" category, meaning you should take your usual approach with them.

All statistics are updated through Saturday, Aug. 20.

Catcher

He may not be a household name, but Ryan Lavarnway is a starter for the Red Sox, at least for the time being. Boston promoted the catcher prospect to play DH on Thursday with David Ortiz in a walking boot because of right heel bursitis. Lavarnway hit .293 with 30 homers and a .931 OPS between two stops in the minors, but we've all heard numbers like that from minor leaguers before. The key for Lavarnaway is that scouts have thought for a while now that his bat was major-league ready; he just needed to work on his defense. Because that's not an issue under these circumstances, he's an intriguing pickup in deeper Rotisserie and AL-only leagues. Tyler Flowers has taken over as the White Sox's starting catcher with A.J. Pierzynski on the DL with a fractured wrist. Flowers is a former prospect who has lost much of his luster but still has plenty of power, hitting 15 homers in 222 at-bats for Triple-A Charlotte. He's worth a flier if you currently have a nobody at catcher. Hank Conger is back for the Angels after spending about a month in the minors. He's a prospect more because of his offense than defense, which would seem to be a good thing for Fantasy owners, but it keeps him in a battle for at-bats with defensive-minded Jeff Mathis. You can leave Conger for deeper leagues.

Must-Start Options: Brian McCann, Carlos Santana, Victor Martinez, Joe Mauer, Alex Avila, Mike Napoli

Heating up
Victor Martinez: .363 (33 for 91), 2 2Bs, 1 HR, .828 OPS, 8 BBs, 7 Ks in 24 games
Alex Avila: .442 (23 for 52), 4 HRs, 12 RBI, 1.356 OPS, 15 BBs, 14 Ks in 16 games
Mike Napoli: .324 (12 for 37), 2 HRs, .970 OPS during nine-game hit streak
Nick Hundley: .536 (15 for 28), 2 HRs, 3 3Bs, 4 2Bs, 1.659 OPS in eight games

Cooling off
Miguel Montero: .200 (11 for 55), 3 2Bs, .568 OPS, 9 BBs, 17 Ks in 17 games
Jarrod Saltalamacchia: .143 (6 for 42), 2 HRs, .515 OPS, 2 BBs, 16 Ks in 12 games
Chris Iannetta: .172 (5 for 29), .549 OPS, 4 BBs, 10 Ks in eight games

Worth a second look
J.P. Arencibia (53 percent started): Arencibia is clearly on the wrong side of streaky in August. He's batting only .157 (8 for 51) for the month. But with three left-handed pitchers on the schedule this week -- including two low-end ones in Bruce Chen and Jeff Francis -- he could be on the verge of a rebound. He has an .869 OPS against lefties compared to .663 against righties. If you rely on Arencibia's power potential at catcher, don't bench him now.
Jonathan Lucroy (47 percent): Lucroy has been in a steady regression since his red-hot May, but he has been swinging the bat a little better lately, batting .300 (18 for 60) with two homers over his last 19 games. He has favorable matchups this week against the Pirates and Cubs pitching staffs, so if you're constantly rotating catchers off the waiver wire, this week looks like a good time to turn back to him.

Approach with caution
Miguel Montero (91 percent started): OK, the majority of Montero owners won't be able to find a good enough alternative to justify sitting him, and I almost left him on the must-start list for that reason. But consider the facts. He has put up mostly uninspiring numbers in the second half. He has done nothing against left-handed pitchers all season, batting .176 with a .498 OPS. The Diamondbacks face four lefties this week. How much do you honestly expect him to contribute? Again, Montero is by no means a must-sit, but you should at least consider your alternatives.
Geovany Soto (56 percent): Soto, who has been in a season-long slump, has shown signs of coming around lately, homering four times in August and putting together three straight multi-hit games in August. But a week against the Braves and Brewers pitching staffs is a bad time to regain your confidence in him.

Injury concerns
Rod Barajas hasn't played since Friday because of a strained groin, which is the kind of injury that could potentially put him on the DL. He's just a low-end option even when healthy, providing little more than the occasional home run, so you wouldn't want to take a chance on him in mixed leagues. The light-hitting Dioner Navarro has been starting in his absence ... John Jaso came off the disabled list Friday after missing more than a month with a strained oblique, but because he's a light-hitting platoon player, you can leave him for AL-only leagues.

First base

Not much happening at first base outside of Baltimore, where recent acquisition Chris Davis finally learned the source of his shoulder soreness on Tuesday. He has a small tear that won't require surgery. Davis will try to return this season, but obviously, he doesn't have much of a window to work with. Mark Reynolds will move across the diamond to replace Davis at first base, with the Orioles using an assortment of low-end infielders at third base.

Must-Start Options: Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Joey Votto, Mark Teixeira, Ryan Howard, Lance Berkman, Paul Konerko, Michael Young

Heating up
Mike Carp: .368 (28 for 76), 4 HRs, 18 RBI, .986 OPS during 19-game hit streak
Billy Butler: .441 (15 for 34), 2 HRs, 9 RBI, 1.150 OPS during nine-game hit streak
Joey Votto: .500 (10 for 20), 3 HRs, 1 SB, 1.655 OPS, 9 BBs, 2 Ks in seven games
Mitch Moreland: .550 (11 for 20), 3 HRs, 8 RBI, 1.571 OPS, 1 BB, 1 K in five games

Cooling off
Carlos Lee: .138 (9 for 65), 1 HR, .473 OPS, 12 BBs, 7 Ks in 19 games
Gaby Sanchez: .102 (6 for 59), two extra-base hits, 1 SB, .307 OPS in 17 games
Adrian Gonzalez: .136 (3 for 22), two extra-base hits, .427 OPS in six games

Worth a second look
Mitch Moreland (46 percent started): With his two-homer, five-RBI game Friday, Moreland got back on the radar in mixed leagues -- and just in time for his seven-game week at home, where he's batting .287 with an .828 OPS. Better yet, the Rangers are facing only one left-handed pitcher this week. Not only does Moreland occasionally sit against lefties, but he's batting only .247 with a .610 OPS against them. He's in a perfect situation to keep the hot streak going.
Casey Kotchman (35 percent): No matter how much you try to deny it, Kotchman has become one of the safer sources for batting average in Fantasy. And against right-handed pitchers, he's not a half bad source of power either. Seven of his eight home runs this season have come against righties for a .907 OPS. The Rays face six righties in their seven games this week -- and some pretty shaky ones in Brad Penny, Doug Fister and Henderson Alvarez -- so Kotchman should have a good enough week for mixed-league use.

Approach with caution
Gaby Sanchez (70 percent started): As good as Sanchez was over the first three months of the season, he has been just as bad over the last two, batting .207 with three homers since the beginning of July. His OPS is now lower than it was during his rookie season. During a week in which the Marlins are facing Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt and Roy Halladay, you can probably do better than Sanchez at first base.
Mark Trumbo (68 percent): Even though Trumbo heated up over the weekend with three multi-hit games and a homer, you'll probably want to sit him this week. The Angels are playing only five games, and three of them are against some pretty good pitchers in Mark Buehrle, C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis. Trumbo is such an all-or-nothing player that the risk far outweighs the reward with the shortened timetable.

Injury concerns
Just when he was (hopefully) beginning to get comfortable at the plate again after missing two months because of neck surgery, Justin Morneau fouled a ball off his foot Saturday and had to sit out Sunday. The injury isn't considered serious -- the Twins might have sat him in a day game after a night game anyway -- but it's one less chance for him to prove he's worth activating this week, when the Twins have favorable matchups against the Orioles and Tigers. Leave Morneau for deeper leagues ... Adam Lind missed Sunday's game after getting hit by a pitch in the wrist Saturday. X-rays were negative, and he took some hacks before Sunday's game, so he should be healthy enough to play. Of course, he's just a borderline option in mixed leagues given his recent struggles.

Second base

Jason Kipnis just can't seem to catch a break. When he was finally ready to return Thursday from an oblique injury that had sidelined him for three games, he came down with a strained hamstring and had to go on the DL. The rookie had gotten off to a good start, but unless you have a free DL spot or a glaring need at second base, you probably can't afford to stash him in mixed leagues.

Must-Start Options: Dustin Pedroia, Robinson Cano, Ian Kinsler, Chase Utley, Ben Zobrist, Michael Young, Dan Uggla, Brandon Phillips

Heating up
Robinson Cano: .373 (19 for 51), 3 HRs, 12 RBI, 1.056 OPS during 12-game hit streak
Orlando Hudson: .382 (13 for 34), 1 HR, 1 SB, 1.036 OPS in 10 games
Ben Zobrist: .455 (15 for 33), 1 3Bs, 6 2Bs, 2 SBs, 1.210 OPS in nine games

Cooling off
Gordon Beckham: .163 (14 for 86), 2 HRs, 2 SBs, .478 OPS, 6 BBs, 24 Ks in 26 games
Dustin Ackley: .191 (9 for 47), two extra-base hits, .567 OPS, 10 BBs, 15 Ks in 14 games
Justin Turner: .115 (3 for 26), two extra-base hits, 1 SB, .450 OPS in eight games

Worth a second look
Neil Walker (82 percent started): Walker hasn't been as much of an offensive contributor in the second half, but he has picked it up recently, batting .529 (9 for 17) with a homer over his last five games. If he can continue to produce at even a fraction of that level, he should be able to put up a healthy number of Fantasy points this week with the Pirates playing eight games. The seven righties on tap should also help his cause. Nine of Walker's 10 homers this season have come against righties.
Dustin Ackley (60 percent): Some Fantasy owners might be beginning to lose faith in Ackley given his recent struggles. But just about any player is capable of putting up similar numbers over such a small sample size, so you shouldn't necessarily attribute them to his inexperience. His overall numbers are still impressive, and during a seven-game week against the Indians and White Sox pitching staffs, he has a good chance of adding to them.

Approach with caution
Howard Kendrick (71 percent started): Kendrick is batting just .265 (61 for 230) with two home runs since June 4. In Head-to-Head leagues, he's had only one 20-point week since Fantasy Week 4 (April 25-May 1). He won over Fantasy owners with a big April and has retained their loyalty even though he has done almost nothing since. With the Angels scheduled to play only five games this week, time to pull the plug.
Kelly Johnson (54 percent): Johnson is batting only .143 (10 for 70) over his last 19 games, and even if that changes this week, he might not get enough at-bats for it to make a difference. His struggles have progressed to the point that the Diamondbacks are losing patience with him. They've sat him four of the last eight games, shifting Ryan Roberts over to second base and giving Sean Burroughs and Cody Ransom some at-bats at third. It's probably not a permanent arrangement, but until Johnson wins back their trust, he doesn't deserve yours.

Injury concerns
Tsuyoshi Nishioka sat out both Saturday and Sunday with back spasms. The Twins don't think it's a big deal, but that injury often turns out to be worse than initially feared. Of course, for Fantasy owners, it's practically irrelevant. Nishioka has been a complete bust in his rookie season, offering below-average production in every category. You can ignore him in all leagues.

Third base

Alex Rodriguez rejoined the team Thursday after undergoing knee surgery just before the All-Star break, but the Yankees didn't activate him until Sunday. No doubt, you would have liked to see him play more before deciding whether or not to activate him in Fantasy, but at a weak position like third base, he deserves the benefit of the doubt. His stock had fallen this year before the injury, but not enough for him to lose must-start status. Pedro Alvarez's latest audition with the big club was yet another step backward, so the club demoted him to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. Josh Harrison and Brandon Wood will split time at third base going forward, with the former offering speed and the latter offering power. Neither is consistent enough for mixed-league use, though, especially in a part-time role.

Must-Start Options: Albert Pujols, Jose Bautista, Evan Longoria, Ryan Zimmerman, David Wright, Michael Young, Pablo Sandoval, Aramis Ramirez

Heating up
Ryan Zimmerman: .410 (43 for 105), 4 HRs, 2 SBs, 1.061 OPS in 26 games
Brett Lawrie: .346 (18 for 52), 3 HRs, 10 RBI, 1 SB, 1.038 OPS in 15 games
Aramis Ramirez: .472 (17 for 36), 4 HRs, 10 RBI, 1.346 OPS in nine games

Cooling off
Ty Wigginton: .091 (2 for 22), .258 OPS in nine games
David Wright: .133 (4 for 30), 1 HR, 1 SB, .578 OPS, 5 BBs, 5 Ks in eight games
Alberto Callaspo: .120 (3 for 25), no extra-base hits, 1 SB, .299 OPS in seven games
Ryan Roberts: .067 (1 for 15), no extra-base hits, .243 OPS, 7 Ks in five games

Worth a second look
Mark Reynolds (72 percent): Part of riding the wave that is a Mark Reynolds season is accepting the bad with the good. If you lose faith and bench him during the bad, you risk missing out on the good and getting absolutely nothing from him. Sure, he has been miserable in August, but with an eight-game week against the back end of the Twins and Yankees rotations, he could turn it around in a heartbeat. The Orioles will miss CC Sabathia in the Yankees series, so the best pitcher Reynolds has to face this week is Francisco Liriano. He is dealing with a minor ankle injury, but it shouldn't cost him any playing time.
Edwin Encarnacion (71 percent): As hot as Encarnacion is right now, how could you possibly bench him? He's batting .339 (40 for 118) with six homers since the All-Star break and has scored at least 18 Head-to-Head points in each of the last six weeks, making him as good as any player you'll find at the weak third base position. Granted, it might not last, but it probably will this week, with all six of his games at home. He has hit 10 of his 12 homers this season at home, putting together a .938 OPS there.

Approach with caution
Chipper Jones (46 percent started): Jones has hit the ball pretty well lately, but he's still not playing all that consistently, sitting out four of the last 11 games. Every time he plays, one of Jose Constanza and Jason Heyward has to sit, which isn't an ideal scenario for the Braves. Because you can't rely on Jones to play more than every other day at age 39, he's hard to recommend in mixed leagues.
Ty Wigginton (34 percent): Speaking of lost playing time, Wigginton no longer seems to be the starter in Colorado, even with Ian Stewart in the minors. Chris Nelson has started most of the games at third base for the Rockies, which is no doubt partially related to Wigginton's recent struggles. Wigginton is capable of playing other positions, but he probably won't get consistent enough at-bats for mixed-league use this week.

Injury concerns
The Red Sox had to place Kevin Youkilis on the disabled list Thursday because of a nagging back problem. They don't have a clear timetable for his return -- just however long he needs to feel better, probably -- so you should prepare to go without him for the next few weeks. Obviously, as an elite option at the position, he's worth stashing in all Fantasy leagues. Placido Polanco has a nagging issue of his own -- a sports hernia -- and finally had to surrender to the DL on Tuesday. He's supposed to return Monday, but you probably wouldn't want to use him. He hasn't hit well since all the injury problems began just before the All-Star break and will continue to play with pain even after receiving a cortisone injection. Until he proves he can produce consistently, you should avoid him in mixed leagues.

Shortstop

Jimmy Rollins strained his right groin while fielding a ground ball Sunday and will have an MRI on Monday. If nothing else, you can expect him to miss that game. As a player who relies so much on his legs, he could end up on the DL. Normally, Rollins is a must-start Fantasy option, but if you can find a halfway serviceable replacement at shortstop this week, you might want to go that route instead. With Dee Gordon on the DL with a shoulder injury, fellow rookie Justin Sellers (and not veteran Jamey Carroll) has been getting most of the at-bats at shortstop. Sellers put up some good numbers at Triple-A Albuquerque, hitting .304 with 14 homers in 270 at-bats, but he isn't considered a top prospect. You can leave him for NL-only leagues.

Must-Start Options: Troy Tulowitzki, Asdrubal Cabrera, Starlin Castro

Heating up
Troy Tulowitzki: .435 (27 for 62), 5 HRs, 1 SB, 1.269 OPS, 7 BBs, 11 Ks in 17 games
Derek Jeter: .487 (19 for 39), 1 3B, 2 2Bs, 1 SB, 1.102 OPS, 2 BBs, 2 Ks in nine games
Darwin Barney: .467 (14 for 30), 1 HR, 1 SB, 1.133 OPS, 1 BB, 3 Ks in seven games

Cooling off
Erick Aybar: .100 (6 for 60), one extra-base hit, 2 SBs, .246 OPS in 15 games
Yunel Escobar: .069 (2 for 29), no extra-base hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks in seven games
Yuniesky Betancourt: .091 (2 for 22), 1 HR, .403 OPS in six games

Worth a second look
Rafael Furcal (35 percent started): At first glance, Furcal's numbers since joining the Cardinals don't look all that great. He's batting only .216 (16 for 74) with two homers and no stolen bases during that stretch. But just by playing in a deeper lineup, he has improved his production in Fantasy. He scored at least 15 Head-to-Head points in Fantasy Weeks 16-19. Asdrubal Cabrera and Starlin Castro can't even say that. If you're struggling to find consistency at the weak shortstop position, give Furcal a look.
Jed Lowrie (22 percent): Lowrie was forced to split time with Marco Scutaro at shortstop when he first returned from a shoulder injury in early August, but with third baseman Kevin Youkilis now dealing with a back injury, Lowrie figures to play every day at that position. He has been especially productive against lefties this year, batting .378 with a .983 OPS compared to .201 and .554 against righties, so he could do some damage with three lefties on the schedule this week. At a weak position like shortstop, that should be music to your ears.

Approach with caution
Erick Aybar (59 percent started): If Aybar was rolling along with his usual numbers, he could probably survive the Angels' five-game week, but with his miserable numbers in August, you have to wonder if he'll be able to contribute anything in such a short timeframe. He's hardly a lost cause, but you should see what else you can do at the position this week.
Darwin Barney (45 percent): Yes, Barney has been hitting better lately, but it's still just a bunch of singles in a lineup that has a hard time generating runs. Whatever minimal contributions he's making in Fantasy could come to an abrupt end this week with pitchers like Jair Jurrjens, Brandon Beachy, Yovani Gallardo and Zack Greinke on the table.

Injury concerns
Jose Reyes, who has been out since Aug. 7 with a strained right hamstring, ran for team trainers twice over the weekend but didn't give them any reason to believe he'll be able to return when eligible Tuesday. Obviously, an elite player like Reyes would be worth activating for most of a scoring period, but right now, he'll be lucky to play even half the week. Plan to go without a Reyes for another week, but keep a close eye on his progress ... The Marlins have yet to provide much of an update on Hanley Ramirez's status. At last report, some within the clubhouse had begun to wonder if he might miss the rest of the season. Obviously, you'll want to keep him reserved this week.

Outfield

The Angels recalled top prospect Mike Trout to the majors on Friday. Trout got some playing time earlier this year when Peter Bourjos was out with a hamstring injury, but the Angels say he's here to play every day now. Because the Angels don't have a clear opening in their outfield, they're likely to rotate five players at four positions, with Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu and Bourjos each getting some time on the bench. Trout has huge upside, but at age 20, he'll endure his share of struggles, as he did in his first stint in the big leagues. He's not necessarily a must-add player in mixed leagues. Adding to his repertoire (and fueling speculation that his future is somewhere other than behind the plate), Joe Mauer got a start in right field Thursday. He had never played the outfield in either the majors or the minors. He could potentially gain eligibility there before the end of the season, but it wouldn't make much of a difference to Fantasy owners. Mauer is a must-start option at the weak catcher position, but at a deeper position like outfield, his loss of pop this year would place him in the middle of the pack. The Tigers acquired Delmon Young from the Twins on Monday. Young responded by homering in his first game with his new team, giving some pundits reason to believe the change of scenery might help him regain his 2010 form. It's possible, but Young has been so miserable all year that you'll want to see more before getting him active. With Logan Morrison in the minors, Bryan Petersen has been starting in left field for the Marlins and has been putting up decent numbers. He hit .351 in 248 at-bats for Double-A New Orleans, so he's at least worth monitoring, but he has never been considered a high-upside player. Jose Tabata is back after missing about six weeks with a quadriceps injury and seems to have an everyday job in Pittsburgh still. The Pirates outfield will become even more crowded when Alex Presley returns from a hand injury, though, so you might want to sit Tabata until we know how it'll all shake out.

Must-Start Options: Jose Bautista, Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Matt Holliday, Josh Hamilton, Curtis Granderson, Lance Berkman, Andrew McCutchen, Shane Victorino, Justin Upton, Nelson Cruz, Melky Cabrera, Michael Bourn, Ben Zobrist, Alex Gordon, Carlos Gonzalez, Jay Bruce, Mike Stanton

Heating up
Torii Hunter: .418 (28 for 67), 4 HRs, 13 RBI, 1.145 OPS during 18-game hit streak
Angel Pagan: .385 (25 for 65), 3 HRs, 7 SBs, 1.012 OPS in 15 games
Curtis Granderson: .357 (15 for 42), 6 HRs, 1 SB, 1.341 OPS in 11 games
Matt Kemp: .381 (16 for 42), 2 HRs, 4 SBs, .970 OPS, 3 BBs, 14 Ks during 10-game hit streak
Adam Jones: .436 (17 for 39), 2 HRs, 1.073 OPS in 10 games
Ryan Braun: .414 (12 for 29), 3 HRs, 3 SBs, 1.279 OPS in nine games
Carlos Gonzalez: .367 (11 for 30), 4 HRs, 14 RBI, 1.324 OPS, 5 BBs, 4 K in eight games
Peter Bourjos: .483 (14 for 29), 2 HRs, 2 SBs, 1.397 OPS in seven games
Casper Wells: .375 (9 for 24), 4 HRs, 1 SB, 1.358 OPS, 3 BBs, 11 Ks in seven games

Cooling off
Chris Young: .124 (11 for 89), 1 HR, 5 SBs, .430 OPS, 16 BBs, 23 Ks in 26 games
Vernon Wells: .132 (12 for 91), 1 HR, 3 SBs, .355 OPS, 10 Ks in 25 games
Carl Crawford: .175 (7 for 40), one extra-base hit, 4 SBs, .414 OPS, 2 BBs, 11 Ks in 11 games
Raul Ibanez: .108 (4 for 37), two extra-base hits, .290 OPS, 1 BB, 5 Ks in 10 games
Andre Ethier: .100 (3 for 30), no extra-base hits, 7 BBs, 7 Ks in nine games
Corey Hart: .152 (5 for 33), 1 HR, .495 OPS in nine games
Matt Holliday: .125 (3 for 24), 3 2Bs, .464 OPS in seven games
Coco Crisp: .154 (4 for 26), one extra-base hit, 0 SBs, .434 OPS in seven games
Jason Bay: .040 (1 for 25), 1 BB, 6 Ks in six games

Worth a second look
Chris Young (76 percent started): Yes, Young has been nothing short of miserable since the All-Star break, and, yes, he has frequently appeared on the "approach with caution" list in the Hitting Planner. But this week looks like the week he could get back on track. Not only are the Diamondbacks at home, where his OPS is 121 points higher than on the road, but they're facing four left-handers. Young is batting .294 with nearly half of his home runs and a .948 OPS against lefties. If you don't want to risk missing out on the resurgence, get him active.
Desmond Jennings (75 percent): Jennings deserves a spot on this list for no other reason than because he's batting .310 with a .975 OPS since coming up from the minors. He has been a weekly lock for 20 Head-to-Head points, and he's facing pitchers like Brad Penny, Doug Fister, Henderson Alvarez and Luis Perez in a seven-game week. If he's not active for you yet, what are you waiting for?
Shin-Soo Choo (58 percent): Sure, you wouldn't have wanted to activate Choo for his first full week back from a seven-week absence for a broken left thumb, but his three hits and a homer Saturday are reason enough to believe he's seeing the ball fine. And if that's the case, he should be able to take advantage of favorable matchups like Jason Vargas, Blake Beavan, Anthony Vasquez, Felipe Paulino, Danny Duffy and Bruce Chen in a seven-game week. Remember: Choo was an elite player coming into the season.
Jason Kubel (46 percent): OK, so all those righties on the schedule didn't go so well for Kubel in Fantasy Week 20 (Aug. 15-21). But this week will go better. How could it not considering some of the righties on tap are Jeremy Guthrie, Alfredo Simon, Rick Porcello and Brad Penny? Kubel should get back to swinging the bat like he did when he first returned from the DL in late July, batting .319 (22 for 69) with four homers in his first 18 games. You'll want him active for that.
Garrett Jones (19 percent): Jones has been a platoon player much of the season, but he has been getting everyday at-bats at first base with Derrek Lee (wrist) on the DL. Not that it makes much of a difference this week considering seven of the eight pitchers the Pirates face are right-handers. For all of his struggles against lefties, Jones is capable of doing some damage against righties. If you're looking for some cheap pop off the waiver wire, he's worth a shot this week.

Approach with caution
Carl Crawford (89 percent started): Crawford has appeared among the "must-start options" for much of this season, but when you take a good, long look at his numbers, you realize he's getting by on reputation alone. He's batting .267 in 31 games since returning from a strained hamstring and has 17 stolen bases all season. It gets worse. He's batting just .179 with one stolen base against lefties, and the Red Sox have three on the schedule this week. If you ever needed an excuse to sit Crawford in a mixed league, there you go.
Cameron Maybin (60 percent): For all of his struggles at home, Maybin has impressive numbers on the road, batting .316 with an .852 OPS. But most likely, those numbers didn't come against pitchers like Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Ian Kennedy. Or in a five-game week. Unless you think Maybin can put up a week's worth of numbers against Josh Collmenter and Joe Saunders, sit him.
Juan Pierre (55 percent): Pierre is batting .356 (16 for 45) over his last 10 games, which is great and all, but he's doing it with just a few scattered stolen bases here and there instead of the league-leading amounts he used to collect. In a five-game week, singles alone won't amount to much.
Bobby Abreu (47 percent): Abreu's high walk rate has kept him from fading into oblivion in Fantasy, but the fact of the matter is he's batting .173 (22 for 127) over his last 36 games. Hard to say if he's done or not at age 37, but with only five games on the schedule this week for the Angels, now probably isn't the time to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Jason Bay (38 percent): Bay has had his moments of usefulness in the second half -- he had five doubles and three homers during a recent 14-game stretch -- but he appears to be lost at the plate again, collecting just one hit in his last six games. Maybe you can hold out some hope for him going forward, but against the Phillies and Braves pitching staffs this week, he's likely to remain lost.

Injury concerns
Jacoby Ellsbury was hit by a pitch in the back Friday and has a significant bruise. The Red Sox held him out of the lineup both Saturday and Sunday, but mostly as a precaution. This injury shouldn't require a DL stint, which means Ellsbury should be able to return early in the week. Considering his across-the-board production, you'll want to keep him active in just about every Fantasy format ... Carlos Quentin injured his shoulder on a diving catch Saturday. He didn't break anything, but because it's an injury that will affect his swing, the White Sox anticipate him missing a few games. Quentin hasn't been swinging the bat all that well lately anyway, so he's probably too risky for mixed-league use ... The Giants finally had to put Carlos Beltran on the disabled list Tuesday after trying to nurse him through a hand injury for more than a week. Beltran could potentially return when eligible Aug. 23, but considering his lack of progress so far, you wouldn't want to roll the dice on him. Brandon Belt has gotten regular playing time in Beltran's absence but hasn't been especially consistent at the plate. Still, given his upside, he's worth owning in deeper leagues ... Michael Cuddyer still hasn't played since Aug. 10 because of a neck injury, but he had an epidural on Thursday and appears to be on the verge of returning. With the Twins out of the race, they can afford to give him an extra day or two, so you might not want to activate Cuddyer until he proves both healthy and effective. Then again, if he's far and away your best option in a deeper league, you should at least get something out of him this week ... Eric Young, who has been getting most of the starts in left field for the Rockies recently, missed Sunday's game with a calf injury. Calf injuries are often slow to heal and are especially bad news for a speedster like Young. The injury is just another reason why you shouldn't trust him yet in mixed leagues ... Jordan Schafer, who has been out since the July 31 trade deadline with a fractured finger, went 5 for 5 in a rehab game Saturday and should make his Astros debut Monday. He'll likely play more often than not in the Astros outfield, but the exact distribution of playing time is unclear. Because Schafer hasn't proven he can do anything other than steal bases in the majors, you should leave him for NL-only leagues.

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