Week 8 Fantasy Hitting Planner

The Fantasy Baseball Hitting Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming week. Every weekend, we provide you with favorable and unfavorable matchups as well as lineup changes for each team.

Weather planner: Taking into account all games with at least a 50 percent chance of precipitation according to Weather.com, the following games could potentially get rained out: Detroit at Kansas City (50 percent chance) on Monday.

This week's news and notes for each team:

Arizona Diamondbacks
Schedule: SD3, ATL4
Heating Up: We all knew Mark Reynolds had power, but who would have guessed he'd steal so many bases? He swiped six bags over the last week, including four in one game, and is batting .393 (11-for-28) with four home runs over his last seven games. His strikeouts are still a pain, but he looks like a must-start right now, especially in Rotisserie leagues.
Cooling Off: Gerardo Parra made a big splash as soon as he came up from the minors, but he's now batting .167 (3-for-18) over his last four games. Still, he's a worthwhile sleeper in NL-only leagues.
Injury Concerns: Turns out Conor Jackson had valley fever that turned into pneumonia -- a condition that made him feel weak every waking moment since the middle of April. Maybe that explains his awful numbers. He's still not feeling 100 percent and will likely need a rehab assignment before he returns to the field, so keep him reserved.
Platoon Possibilities: The Diamondbacks face all right-handed pitchers this week, not that they have any clear lefty-righty platoons right now.
Lineup Changes: Parra is clearly the everyday left fielder now, and the 22-year-old has the upside of a Shane Victorino. You can't expect him to perform at Victorino's level right away, but he deserves a look in NL-only and deeper Rotisserie leagues. Also, Chad A. Tracy has reclaimed his job as the starting first baseman. So much for all that Josh Whitesell business.

Atlanta Braves
Schedule: @SF3, @ARI4
Heating Up: It's only four games, but Jeff Francoeur seems to be snapping out of his slump, batting .538 (7-for-13). He's still not worth starting in mixed leagues until he begins hitting for power. Garret Anderson has found his stroke after injuries held him back early. He's batting .350 (14-for-40) over his last 10 games.
Cooling Off: Casey Kotchman, who had his batting average up to .319 as recently as May 11, is batting only .179 (5-for-28) over his last nine games. Don't bother with him in mixed leagues right now.
Injury Concerns: Chipper Jones missed his second straight game Saturday with a sore right big toe. Same old, same old for him. He has an iffy injury situation every other week, so simply by owning him, you've already decided what to do with him. If you can't talk yourself into starting him now, you'll never end up starting him. You have no choice but to hope for the best. Yunel Escobar missed Saturday's game with a strained right hip flexor. The Braves officially list him as day to day, but this kind of injury has the potential to sideline him into next week and beyond. Assuming he's not miraculously back in the lineup Sunday, sit him.
Platoon Possibilities: The Braves face three lefties this week, but with Omar Infante (hand) on the DL, Kelly Johnson figures to play every day. Anderson might lose a couple starts to Matt Diaz, but he's just an NL-only option.
Lineup Changes: Martin Prado has filled in for Jones, and Diory Hernandez will likely fill in for Escobar. Neither player has enough power potential for mixed leagues. Kotchman has moved up to second in the lineup, which might give him an extra at-bat per game. He had originally switched places with Johnson, but Escobar's injury moved Johnson to the leadoff spot Saturday.

Baltimore Orioles
Schedule: TOR3, DET4
Heating Up: Outfield prospect Nolan Reimold, who made his major-league debut May 14, is batting .333 (9-for-27) with two home runs over his last seven games. He'll need to keep playing this way for another week or so before he deserves a look in standard mixed leagues, but he has the upside to contribute in those formats eventually.
Cooling Off: You obviously wouldn't sit Nick Markakis, but he's in his first little funk of the season, batting .160 (4-for-25) over his last six games.
Injury Concerns: Luke Scott (shoulder) is eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday, and the Orioles expect to activate him right away. He should play designate hitter on a near-everyday basis, sitting only against tough left-handers. He's not necessarily a must-add in mixed leagues, but don't let him go unowned in AL-only leagues. Meanwhile, Lou Montanez, who directly benefited from Scott's absence, will have surgery to reattach ligaments in his right thumb. He won't miss the whole season, but he'll miss enough time that you can cut him even in AL-only leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Orioles face three left-handed pitchers this week, so Scott might lose at-bats to Ty Wigginton in his first week back.
Lineup Changes: With his hot streak, Reimold has solidified his place as the Orioles' everyday left fielder even with Scott returning from the DL.

Boston Red Sox
Schedule: @MIN4, @TOR3
Heating Up: Jason Varitek is showing he can still pop a few homers at age 37 even if he doesn't hit for a high average anymore. He's batting .368 (7-for-19) with four home runs over his last six games, making him a decent stopgap in AL-only leagues. Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 18 games Saturday. He's batting .329 (27-for-82) during that stretch.
Cooling Off: Jason Bay is batting .179 (5-for-28) over his last eight games. He's playing like an AL MVP candidate this season, though, so keep him active in all Fantasy formats.
Injury Concerns: Mark Kotsay, who has yet to play this season because of a variety of injuries, most recently to his hamstring, began a rehab assignment Saturday and could rejoin the Red Sox sometime this week. He would play strictly a reserve role, though, making him virtually worthless in Fantasy.
Platoon Possibilities: The Red Sox face two left-handed pitchers this week, not that they have any clear lefty-righty platoons. J.D. Drew might sit for Rocco Baldelli, particularly against Francisco Liriano on Monday.
Lineup Changes: David Ortiz returned from his benching this week and finally hit his first home run of the season Wednesday. He's 1-for-11 in three games since, though, so continue to reserve him in mixed leagues.

Chicago Cubs
Schedule: PIT3, LAD4
Heating Up: Derrek Lee isn't tearing the cover off the ball, but he's certainly hitting much better than he was. He has hit safely in seven straight games, batting .444 (12-for-27) with two home runs. He's still a low-end option in mixed leagues, but he has some sleeper appeal this week.
Cooling Off: Most of this team can't hit anything right now, but Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Theriot stand out as two players who have regressed in recent days. Soriano is batting .118 (2-for-17) over his last four games. Streakiness is usual for him, so you kind of have to ride out this cold spell with him. Theriot is batting .100 (2-for-20) over his last five games and isn't necessarily a must-start now that his power surge has ended.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Cubs face five left-handed pitchers this week, so you shouldn't expect Mike Fontenot's bat to suddenly wake up. He might also lose starts to Aaron Miles. Kosuke Fukudome should sit at least two or three times as well, making him an inadvisable start in mixed leagues.
Lineup Changes: Micah Hoffpauir continues to steal at-bats wherever the Cubs can find them, forcing Milton Bradley and Lee to the bench at times. Hoffpauir likely won't play much against the five left-handers this week, though.

Chicago White Sox
Schedule: @LAA3, @KC3
Heating Up: Paul Konerko has gotten back on track after a brief cold spell at the beginning of May. He's batting .366 (15-for-41) with three home runs over his last 12 games.
Cooing Off: Josh D. Fields, who was hitting .355 on April 16, has been on a steady decline ever since. He's batting .167 in May and .091 (2-for-22) over his last seven games. The 26-year-old power hitter clearly isn't consistent enough to trust in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: Carlos Quentin returned to the lineup Friday after missing five straight games with a sore heel. He missed two games with the same injury last week, so you have to consider the possibility of him suffering another setback. Considering he's hitting only .176 (9-for-51) without a single home run in May, he's not necessarily the kind of guy you need to rush back into your lineup in mixed leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The White Sox face only one left-handed pitcher this week, so you should get a full five games from Jim Thome and Chris Getz if you want to a take a flier on either as a low-end mixed-league option. Wilson Betemit and Jayson Nix tend to start for them against lefties.
Lineup Changes: Brian N. Anderson has returned from a strained oblique, but the White Sox apparently prefer to stick with Scott Podsednik as their everyday center fielder. Hey, it's their team. Anderson no longer looks like much of a sleeper. Quentin has hit sixth since returning to the lineup, which is only another reason to consider benching him.

Cincinnati Reds
Schedule: HOU3, @MIL3
Heating Up: Joey Votto, back from his latest bout with dizziness -- the results of an ear infection -- homered twice Saturday. He looks ready to rake again, so get him active.
Cooling Off: Willy Taveras has done little since his 14-game hitting streak ended, batting .121 (4-for-33) in eight games. You shouldn't have any reason to start him right now unless you play in a Rotisserie or NL-only league.
Injury Concerns: Brandon Phillips left Saturday's game after taking a ground ball off his right hand. He had X-rays taken, but the Reds didn't have the results immediately after the game. Obviously, you'll want to check back for updates Sunday. If he's in the lineup, start him. If he has a fracture, sit him. If he's not in the lineup but doesn't have a fracture, you have a tough decision on your hands. Generally speaking, if you have a feeling someone will miss more than two games in the upcoming week, you should probably sit him in mixed leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Reds face one left-hander this week. Newly promoted Jonny Gomes could start that game for Laynce Nix, but otherwise, the Reds lineup will remain more or less the same.
Lineup Changes: So much of this lineup's future hinges on the status of Phillips. If necessary, Jerry Hairston could move to second base, which would allow Adam Rosales to play third base every day unless Edwin Encarnacion returns from the DL (which seems unlikely). It's all speculation at this point, but even if those three got consistent at-bats, you shouldn't have any reason to use them outside of NL-only leagues right now.

Cleveland Indians
Schedule: TB4, NYY3
Heating Up: Mark DeRosa has hit safely in five straight games, batting .400 (8-for-20). He's due for a hot streak, so you could probably find somewhere to start him considering he qualifies at so many positions. Shin-Soo Choo is batting .467 (7-for-15) over his last four games and .429 (15-for-35) over his last nine.
Cooling Off: Victor Martinez is 0-for-9 over his last two games. Yeah, it's insignificant, but it dropped his batting average from .400 to .379.
Injury Concerns: Travis Hafner (shoulder) homered for the first time in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. The Indians will reevaluate him after the weekend and could possibly activate him this week, but with all of his struggles over the last two years, you'll definitely want to see some results from him before you activate him in mixed leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Indians face three left-handed pitchers this week, including CC Sabathia, but they don't have any lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup Changes: The Indians have dropped leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore to second in the lineup, hoping to break him out of his slump. The move shouldn't drastically alter his Fantasy appeal. Asdrubal Cabrera now bats leadoff.

Colorado Rockies
Schedule: LAD3, SD3
Heating Up: Clint Barmes has given the Rockies little reason to play Ian Stewart at second base with his performance of late. He's batting .320 (8-for-25) with one home run and one stolen base over his last eight games and isn't a terrible one-week stopgap since the Rockies play six games at home and face three left-handers.
Cooling Off: Brad Hawpe is still hitting well over .300 on the season and has emerged as a must-start Fantasy option, but he's batting .150 (3-for-20) over his last six games.
Injury Concerns: Chris Iannetta left Saturday's game with a strained right hamstring and will likely miss at least part of this week. Catcher is such a weak position that you might just prefer to stick with Iannetta rather than free a roster spot for a feeble backup. But if you already have a backup or a free roster spot, Iannetta is clearly a candidate to sit.
Platoon Possibilities: The Rockies face three left-handed pitchers this week, but they don't have any clear lefty-righty platoons. More lefties probably means less playing time for Stewart and Seth Smith, but both of them get sporadic at-bats anyway.
Lineup Changes: None

Detroit Tigers
Schedule: @KC3, @BAL4
Heating Up: Placido Polanco, whose numbers are behind pace pretty much across the board, showed small signs of life by batting .333 (8-for-24) over his last six games. He hasn't done enough for you to activate him in shallower mixed leagues, though.
Cooling Off: Curtis Granderson has gone 1-for-15 over his last four games, dropping his batting average to .246.
Injury Concerns: Don't look for Carlos Guillen (Achilles') or Marcus Thames (rib cage) to return this week. Both have yet to begin rehab assignments. Neither likely matters outside of AL-only leagues anyway, especially Thames.
Platoon Possibilities: The Tigers currently project to face right-handed pitchers in all seven of their games this week, which should mean a big week for Jeff Larish, assuming Josh Anderson doesn't steal too many at-bats from him. He's worth a flier in AL-only leagues.
Lineup Changes: The Tigers have resorted to rotating Ramon Santiago and Adam Everett at shortstop, but the move has seemingly paid off for both. Even though they're hitting a combined .325, they remain low-end AL-only options because of their part-time at-bats.

Florida Marlins
Schedule: @PHI3, @NYM3
Heating Up: Dan Uggla homered for his fourth time in five games Saturday and is batting .321 (9-for-28) during an eight-game hitting streak. If you think back, you might remember he hit .347 with 12 home runs last May, so he's the kind of player who does half his damage in one short burst. Make sure you have him active now.
Cooling Off: John Baker is batting only .200 (5-for-25) over his last seven games, but he didn't get to play as much over the last week because of matchups.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Marlins face only one left-handed pitcher this week, so Baker should get enough playing time to matter in mixed leagues.
Lineup Changes: The Marlins have dropped slumping rookie Chris Coghlan to eighth in the lineup, moving Jeremy Hermida up to second. Hermida will likely benefit from Hanley Ramirez batting behind him, but he hasn't shown much improvement yet.

Houston Astros
Schedule: @CIN3, @PIT3
Heating Up: Lance Berkman has finally gotten back on track, batting .387 (12-for-31) with two home runs over his last nine games. When he gets hot, nobody can top him, so you obviously want him active now. Miguel Tejada has a seven-game hitting streak during which he's batting .407 (11-for-27) with two home runs. Hunter Pence is batting .556 (10-for-18) over his last five games and is clearly a must-start now.
Cooling Off: Kazuo Matsui is batting only .148 (4-for-27) over his last seven games and isn't worth using in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Astros face one left-handed pitcher this week, so Geoff Blum should get five starts. He wouldn't be the worst stopgap ever in an NL-only league. He platoons with Jeff Keppinger.
Lineup Changes: The Astros have reverted back to Michael Bourn as their leadoff hitter, dropping Matsui down to second originally and then down to eighth Saturday. Tejada got a turn batting second Saturday because of his hot streak, and the protection of Lance Berkman will only help his cause.

Kansas City Royals
Schedule: DET3, CHW3
Heating Up: David DeJesus has an eight-game hitting streak during which he's batting .323 (10-for-31). Jose Guillen has a reputation for streakiness and is starting to heat up, batting .367 (11-for-30) over his last nine games.
Cooling Off: Coco Crisp is batting .111 (2-for-18) over his last five games, but he contributes enough with walks and steals to stay in your Fantasy lineup. Mark Teahen, however, does not. He's batting .063 (1-for-16) over his last four games.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Royals face three left-handed pitchers this week, which could boost Billy Butler's stats. They don't really have any platoon players, though.
Lineup Changes: Mike Aviles is back in the lineup after missing time with a stiff forearm, but Willie Bloomquist might continue to spell him if he doesn't improve his .188 batting average.

L.A. Angels
Schedule: CHW3, SEA3
Heating Up: Chone Figgins has an 11-game hitting streak during which he's batting .388 (19-for-49) with seven steals. His hot streaks usually last a while, so get him active.
Cooling Off: After hitting two home runs Monday, Kendry Morales is batting .214 (3-for-14) over his last four games.
Injury Concerns: Vladimir Guerrero, out since the beginning of April with a torn pectoral muscle, is on a rehab assignment and is almost a sure thing to return Monday, if only at DH. He's not quite an elite slugger anymore, so if you play in a shallower league and have a stacked outfield, you might want to give him time to prove himself first. In most cases, though, you need him to play right away. The Angels have used Bobby Abreu as a pinch hitter over the weekend as he battles a sore toe, but he should return to the lineup at the start of the week. Keep him active.
Platoon Possibilities: The Angels face two left-handed pitchers this week, but they don't have any true platoon players.
Lineup Changes: The biggest changes will come after Guerrero returns, most likely with Gary Matthews moving to the bench.

L.A. Dodgers
Schedule: @COL3, @CHC4
Heating Up: Juan Pierre has done his best to help the Dodgers forget about Manny Ramirez, batting .382 (13-for-34) over his last eight games. Casey Blake hasn't cooled off from a week ago, batting .462 (6-for-13) with a home run over his last four games.
Cooling Off: Andre Ethier clearly misses Ramirez. He's batting just .138 (8-for-58) over his last 15 games and is no longer a must-start in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Dodgers face three left-handers this week, but none of their players routinely sits against lefties.
Lineup Changes: None

Milwaukee Brewers
Schedule: STL3, CIN3
Heating Up: Ryan J. Braun hasn't homered since May 9, but he's batting .393 (11-for-28) over his last eight games. The home runs will come soon enough if he keeps swinging that way.
Cooling Off: Bill Hall isn't much of a Fantasy option in the first place, and he's showing why with his 1-for-25 (.040) performance over his last eight games.
Injury Concerns: Corey C. Hart missed Saturday's game with a bruised right hand. It doesn't sound particularly serious, but since he's batting only .154 (4-for-26) over his last six games, maybe you should just go ahead and sit him. J.J. Hardy missed Saturday's game and will miss Sunday's as well with back spasms -- a tricky injury that sometimes develops into something worse. You probably can't find a viable replacement on short notice at such a weak position, but if you can, Hardy probably isn't worth the risk this week.
Platoon Possibilities: The Brewers face all right-handed pitchers this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty platoons anyway.
Lineup Changes: Rickie Weeks will miss the rest of the season with a wrist injury, so Craig Counsell and Casey McGehee will split at-bats at second base for the time being. Counsell is a slap hitter who isn't even a safe bet to hit for a high batting average, so he's clearly not worth owning outside of NL-only leagues. McGehee has some pop, but his inconsistent at-bats will make him just an NL-only option as well.

Minnesota Twins
Schedule: BOS4, @TB3
Heating Up: Michael Cuddyer hit for the cycle Friday, but he was plenty hot before then. He's batting .500 (13-for-26) with four home runs over his last six games, emerging not only as a viable mixed-league option but someone you wouldn't dare sit for this upcoming week. Joe Mauer's power surge doesn't look like it'll end anytime soon. He homered again Saturday, giving him nine on the season. His career high is 13. Oh, he's also batting .429, in case you needed another reason to start him. Denard Span is batting .417 (10-for-24) with two home runs during a six-game hitting streak. Get him active.
Cooling Off: Joe Crede hasn't really gotten hot all season, but he's batting only .192 (5-for-26) over his last seven games.
Injury Concerns: Jason Kubel, hitting .336 on the season, missed his second straight game Saturday with swelling in his left knee. He has a bone bruise and could return Monday or Tuesday, so continue to use him as a low-end mixed-league option. Delmon Young continues to miss time because of a death in the family. His return is completely up in the air, but Monday is a possibility. He'll have to split time with Carlos Gomez when he returns, making him just an AL-only option.
Platoon Possibilities: The Twins face two left-handers this week -- Jon Lester and David Price -- but they don't have any clear lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup Changes: None

N.Y. Mets
Schedule: WAS3, FLA3
Heating Up: David Wright had a 13-game hitting streak snapped Saturday. He hit .469 (23-for-49) with six stolen bases during that stretch, but he didn't hit any home runs. Still, he's clearly in top form after a bit of a slow start this year.
Cooling Off: David Murphy might be starting at first base, but he's not swinging like a starting first baseman, batting .065 (2-for-31) over his last 14 games. Leave him for NL-only leagues.
Injury Concerns: Jose B. Reyes tried to return from a strained calf Tuesday but ended up leaving Wednesday feeling worse than he did originally. The Mets hold out hope he can avoid a DL stint, but a trip to the DL -- or at least a prolonged absence from the lineup -- seems inevitable at this point. Bench Reyes in mixed leagues. Ramon Martinez will start in his place. Ryan Church, who left Friday's game with an injured hamstring, missed Saturday's game but hopes to return Sunday. He hasn't hit for enough power this year to matter in mixed leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Mets face two left-handed pitchers this week, but their outfield is a jumbled mess right now. If nothing else, Church will probably sit against the lefties, replaced by either Gary Sheffield, Fernando Tatis or Angel Pagan.
Lineup Changes: The Mets keep shifting their lineup to accommodate hot hands, favoring Murphy and Sheffield to Tatis and Pagan right now. Murphy has taken over as the team's first baseman with Carlos Delgado (hip) on the DL, but Tatis could end up getting starts there against left-handers.

N.Y. Yankees
Schedule: @TEX3, @CLE3
Heating Up: Mark Teixeira has benefited from the presence of Alex Rodriguez (or just heated up as usual in the summer months), batting .467 (14-for-30) with five home runs over his last eight games. Robinson Cano looks like he's rediscovered the form that allowed him to hit .366 in April, batting .500 (8-for-16) with two home runs over his last four games. He's the kind of player who can carry your Fantasy team when he gets hot. A-Rod has six home runs in his last eight games.
Cooling Off: The notoriously streaky Nick Swisher is hitting .117 (7-for-60) in May and couldn't take advantage of the Yankees' good matchups this week. His splits are ridiculously skewed toward road games, which might just be a coincidence this early in the season, but the Yankees do play six games on the road this week, including three at Texas. He's not necessarily a must-sit. Hideki Matsui, on the other hand, probably is in mixed leagues. He's batting .162 (6-for-37) over his last 12 games.
Injury Concerns: Jorge Posada (hamstring) had some pain in his leg earlier in the week, but he'll begin a rehab assignment Sunday and could return sometime later in the week. The Yankees haven't given an exact return date, making him too much a toss-up for mixed leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Yankees face three left-handed pitchers this week, but Melky Cabrera has settled in as the Yankees center fielder, meaning Brett Gardner should remain on the bench regardless.
Lineup Changes: None

Oakland Athletics
Schedule: SEA3, @TEX3
Heating Up: Has the real Matt Holliday finally arrived? The slugging outfielder, acquired from Colorado in the offseason, is showing his first real signs of life with the A's, batting .385 (10-for-26) with two home runs over his last seven games. The A's infield has also heated up, with second baseman Adam Kennedy batting .500 (14-for-28) over his last five games and Orlando Cabrera batting .323 (10-for-31) over his last seven.
Cooling Off: After bringing his batting average up to .262 in the middle of May, Bobby Crosby is back down to .205. He's batting .074 (2-for-27) over his last 10 games and will continue to lose at-bats to Jack Hannahan and Nomar Garciaparra.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Athletics face three left-handed pitchers this week, which only means you can count on Hannahan and Travis Buck not to start those games.
Lineup Changes: The Athletics now have a three-headed monster -- or maybe mouse is the better word -- at third base with Garciaparra, Crosby and Hannahan. Garciaparra might also steal at-bats from Jason Giambi, making him the most valuable of the three in AL-only leagues.

Philadelphia Phillies
Schedule: FLA3, WAS3
Heating Up: Raul Ibanez can almost go without saying here. He has homered in four straight games and has seven home runs in his last eight games, batting .366 (15-for-41) over his last 10 games. Jimmy Rollins went 0-for-4 Saturday but is clearly back playing like himself again, batting .350 (14-for-40) with four stolen bases over his last nine games.
Cooling Off: Jayson Werth has cooled off after a torrid two-week stretch, batting .111 (2-for-18) over his last five games. He's too valuable to sit.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Phillies face three left-handed pitchers this week, none of them elite. They don't have any platoon players.
Lineup Changes: The Phillies have moved Ibanez's blistering bat up to third in the lineup, at least against right-handers, bumping Chase Utley up to second, Jayson Werth down to fifth and Shane Victorino down to sixth. Against left-handers, Ibanez and Werth switch places. All this maneuvering should help keep Ibanez hot with Ryan Howard protecting him, but it'll decrease Victorino's at-bats and run-scoring opportunities. Then again, Victorino might start running more without all the big bats behind him, which would improve his Fantasy appeal.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Schedule: @CHC3, HOU3
Heating Up: Believe it or not, Andy LaRoche has his batting average up over .280. He's batting .423 (11-for-26) with one home run and nine RBI during a seven-game hitting streak. He's still not a viable option in mixed leagues, but if he starts hitting home runs, he could quickly become one.
Cooling Off: Nyjer Morgan, who maintained a .300 batting average during the first six weeks of the season, dropped to .280 with an 0-for-3 performance Saturday. He's batting .091 (2-for-22) over his last six games and isn't worth starting right now unless you need stolen bases.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Pirates face three left-handed pitchers this week, so Craig Monroe will likely spell Brandon Moss in those games. Neither player matters outside of deeper NL-only leagues.
Lineup Changes: The Pirates have gone back to playing Jason Jaramillo over Robinzon Diaz behind the plate, not that Jaramillo has exactly seized the day with only three hits in his last seven games. Leave both of these guys for NL-only leagues.

San Diego Padres
Schedule: @ARI3, @COL3
Heating Up: The Padres have great matchups this week, so Kevin Kouzmanoff and Nick Hundley, who each hit two homers this week, have some sleeper appeal. They're not so hot that you should rush out and grab them in mixed leagues, though.
Cooling Off: Chase Headley hasn't come close to living up to his potential yet. He's batting only .056 (1-for-18) over his last eight games and isn't even getting regular playing time anymore.
Injury Concerns: David Eckstein left Friday's game after getting hit by a pitch and remained out of the lineup Saturday. He's doing nothing at the plate right now, though, making him practically irrelevant even in NL-only leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Padres face two left-handed pitchers this week, which will help Scott Hairston's cause.
Lineup Changes: The Padres exchanged Jody Gerut for Tony K. Gwynn earlier this week and immediately made him their leadoff hitter. He hasn't hit well yet, though, and doesn't have enough potential for mixed leagues.

San Francisco Giants
Schedule: ATL3, STL3
Heating Up: Aaron Rowand started hitting leadoff and immediately found his form, batting .462 (12-for-26) with three home runs over his last seven games. He's probably a long shot for 20 homers this year, but you could do worse if you need a stopgap in mixed leagues.
Cooling Off: After a hot stretch at the beginning of May, Emmanuel Burriss has cooled off dramatically over the last couple weeks, batting .154 (6-for-39) over his last 12 games. Don't bother with him in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: Pablo Sandoval had to leave Saturday's game with a sore elbow and likely won't play Sunday. The Giants seem more worried about him in the field than at the plate, which might mean a week of nothing but pinch-hit appearances. Better play it safe and bench him in mixed leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Giants face all right-handers, which should mean a full week of at-bats for Travis Ishikawa. Let's throw a ticker-tape parade.
Lineup Changes: Rowand moving to the leadoff spot was the biggest change. Randy Winn now hits fifth, which should help his RBI opportunities. Jesus Guzman is up from the minors and could replace Rich Aurilia as Ishikawa's platoon partner, assuming he doesn't overtake Ishikawa outright. Give him a look in deeper NL-only leagues.

Seattle Mariners
Schedule: @OAK3, @LAA3
Heating Up: Russell Branyan just won't quit. He's batting .464 (13-for-28) with two homers over his last nine games and remains viable in mixed leagues for now.
Cooling Off: Kenji Johjima's back to hitting like his 2008 self, batting .179 (5-for-28) over his last eight games.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Mariners face two left-handers this week, though Franklin Gutierrez has pretty much overtaken Endy Chavez as the starter in center field regardless of the opponent. Leave both for AL-only leagues. Mike Sweeney will start against the left-handers in place of Ken Griffey.
Lineup Changes: None

St. Louis Cardinals
Schedule: @MIL3, @SF3
Heating Up: Only Albert Pujols is swinging well right now, but he's doing nothing exceptional by his standards.
Cooling Off: Chris Duncan hasn't homered since May 1. He's hitting only .136 (3-for-22) over his last eight games and isn't worth using in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: Rick Ankiel, who bruised his right shoulder in a collision with the outfield wall May 4, has a chance of returning this week, possibly as soon as Monday at Milwaukee. The Cardinals could always hold him back, though, and he wasn't exactly a must-start in mixed leagues before getting hurt. Keep him benched. Ryan Ludwick, on the DL with a hamstring injury, is almost certain to come back Friday, but since he'll play only half a week, you should keep him reserved in mixed leagues.
Platoon Possibilities: The Cardinals face three left-handed pitchers this week, which means Skip Schumaker will probably sit three times in favor of Brendan Ryan, especially with Ankiel and Ludwick returning.
Lineup Changes: Brian Barden has apparently replaced Joe Thurston as the Cardinals everyday third baseman. He used to play strictly against left-handers. Nick Stavinoha has started recently with the injuries to the Cardinals outfield, but he'll return to the bench at some point this week. He barely matters in NL-only leagues.

Tampa Bay Rays
Schedule: @CLE4, MIN3
Heating Up: The surprising Jason Bartlett continues to move forward, not backward. He has a nine-game hitting streak during which he's batting .424 (14-for-33) with one home run and four stolen bases. No sense in benching him now.
Cooling Off: Carlos Pena has two home runs in the last week, but he's batting only .174 (4-for-23) over his last eight games. His power potential makes him too valuable to sit in most formats.
Injury Concerns: Pat Burrell's stiff neck has made enough progress that the Rays think he might return as soon as Wednesday at Cleveland. Since he'll play half a week at best, keep him reserved in mixed leagues. Evan Longoria took a pitch off the arm Saturday and left the game early to ice it, but he has just a bruise. He won't miss enough time for you to justify benching him.
Platoon Possibilities: The Rays face two lefties this week, so Gabe Gross will theoretically get more playing time than Gabe Kapler. Ben Zobrist will get more playing time than both, though, and he's the only one you should care about in mixed leagues.
Lineup Changes: None

Texas Rangers
Schedule: NYY3, OAK3
Heating Up: Nelson R. Cruz has recovered from a recent cold spell, batting .467 (7-for-15) with four home runs and two stolen bases over his last four games. The quick turnaround is probably reason enough to consider him a must-start going forward.
Cooling Off: Chris Davis is back to his high-strikeout, low-contact ways, going 0-for-22 with 11 strikeouts over his last seven games. The strikeout rate actually isn't abnormal for him.
Injury Concerns: Michael Young injured his foot on a pickoff attempt Friday and showed up to the ballpark on crutches Saturday. Unless he returns to the lineup Sunday -- which seems like a long shot right now -- you probably shouldn't risk starting him in mixed leagues. Josh Hamilton returned from a strained left groin Friday and is a must-start.
Platoon Possibilities: The Rangers face two left-handed pitchers this week, which means two starts for Andruw Jones, if nothing else. Hank Blalock will likely sit those two games.
Lineup Changes: David Murphy got to start a few times with Hamilton hurting, but he'll likely return to the bench this week, making him not worth starting even in AL-only leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays
Schedule: @BAL3, BOS3
Heating Up: Aaron Hill isn't about to slow down yet. He's batting .370 (10-for-27) during his seven-game hitting streak. Of course, he has only -- yeah, "only" -- one home run during that stretch.
Cooling Off: Adam Lind's batting average dipped below .300 for the first time this season because of a 1-for-19 stretch this week. He did, however, go 2-for-4 Saturday and is a risky sit in mixed leagues.
Injury Concerns: None
Platoon Possibilities: The Blue Jays will face at least two left-handed pitchers this week, but with Travis Snider now in the minor leagues, their only platoon situation is at first base, where Lyle Overbay will likely start four games while Kevin Millar starts two.
Lineup Changes: Since the Blue Jays had to drop a batter from their lineup when they went to Atlanta at the end of last week, we haven't had a chance yet to see who will start for Snider in left field. Jose A. Bautista has already been starting there against left-handed pitchers, and he has enough power potential to make an impact in AL-only leagues if he becomes a full-time player.

Washington Nationals
Schedule: @NYM3, @PHI3
Heating Up: Nick Johnson, who hit .338 in April, isn't slowing down the least bit in May. He's batting .400 (10-for-25) during an eight-game hitting streak, emerging as an every-week option in mixed leagues.
Cooling Off: Nobody of significance.
Injury Concerns: Anderson Hernandez missed his second straight game Saturday with a strained pinkie finger that affects his ability to grip the bat. Quite frankly, either of his potential replacements -- be it Willie Harris or Ronnie Belliard -- would do more for your Fantasy team than Hernandez would, but since the injury is day to day, you can't afford to start any of this trio. Jesus Flores (back) will begin a rehab assignment Monday, but he likely won't return this week. Keep him reserved.
Platoon Possibilities: The Nationals face four left-handed pitchers this week, not that it matters with their lack of lefty-righty platoons.
Lineup Changes: Josh Willingham has gotten the vast majority of at-bats in left field over Austin Kearns, but both players are hitting under .220. Leave them for the deepest of NL-only leagues. Josh Bard has become the favorite to start behind the plate over Wil Nieves with Flores sidelined. Justin Maxwell has gotten most of the starts in center field with Elijah Dukes (hamstring) on the DL, but Harris sneaks in occasional starts there too. Neither player matters outside of deeper NL-only leagues.

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