Kuzul

Everyone is concentrating on which teams are buying or selling. But these guys were concentrating on hurting the baseball and sending the pitcher back to the bullpen in tears.

Luke Scott, Jim Edmonds and Jack Cust surprised everyone with outstanding production last week. Hot Streak regulars like Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, and Miguel Cabrera didn’t let us forget why they are All-Stars.

1)       OF Luke Scott Bal

The Orioles outfielder surprisingly went 13-for-27, 6 R, 4 HR, 7 XBH, 8 RBI, and put the cherry on top last week with a .481 AVG.

No one knew who Luke Scott was until last week. He had fantastic numbers and helped the Orioles line-up. Baltimore fans must be excited about having more than just the return of Roberts to the roster to be happy about.

Scott was the hottest pick-up off waivers this week. He had a 37 percent increase in fantasy ownership with his recent production.

He is currently hitting .296 with 16 home runs with 38 RBI for the season.

2)       OF Jim Edmonds Mil

The Brewers outfielder went 8-for-17, 5 R, 3 HR, 5 XBH, 7 RBI, 2 BB, and capped off last week with a .471 AVG.

Edmonds had a fantastic week but saw only a slight increase in fantasy ownership

He is likely playing the last nine weeks of his career. He is 40 years old and has been battling an Achilles issue for few days but he will continue to play.

He is currently hitting .286 with seven home runs with 19 RBI for the season.

3)       OF Jack Cust Oak

The Athletics outfielder went 7-for-17, 6 R, 3 HR, 6 XBH, 7 RBI, 7 BB, and a .412 AVG last week.

He hit two home runs on Saturday with three passes to first.

His fantasy ownership rose 13 percent from nearly no ownership. Basically nobody had Jack Cust on their radar until last week. He would be a nice pick-up as it looks like he will be playing more regularly.

He is currently hitting .300 with eight home runs with 29 RBI for the season.

4)       3B Chris Johnson Hou

The Astros outfielder went 10-for-23, 6 R, 3 HR, 4 XBH, 7 RBI, 1 BB, and finished last week with a .435 AVG.

Johnson had a slight increase in fantasy ownership.

If he continues his top notch production he may earn himself a trade out of Houston like Oswalt.

He is currently hitting .309 with three home runs for the season.

5)       1B Miguel Cabrera Det

The MVP candidate went 14-for-26, 5 R, 2 HR, 8 XBH, 9 RBI, 2 BB, with a .500 AVG last week.

The Tigers are still in the race to make the playoffs. Cabrera needs them to play in October to assist in obtaining the MVP trophy.

He is currently hitting .350 with 24 home runs and 88 RBI for the season.

6)       OF Delmon Young Min

The Twins outfielder went 14-for-31, 2 R, 2 HR, 5 XBH, 11 RBI, and finished last week with a .452 AVG.

Young had a 6 percent increase in fantasy ownership with his recent streak.

He is currently hitting .322 with 13 home runs with 74 RBI for the season.

7)       OF Josh Hamilton Tex

The Rangers’ storied outfielder 13-for-27, 5 R, 1 HR, 5 XBH, 8 RBI, 3 BB, and finished last week with a .481 AVG

Hamilton has been streaking like crazy for the last two months. His contributions last week kept the Texas Rangers in the top three teams in baseball.

He has been a regular on the “Hot Streak Report” and was #1 “Kings of Swing” for June.

He was the top producers in June as he went 49/108, 23 R, 9 HR, 20 XBH, 31 RBI, 5 BB, 3 SB, and a .454 AVG.

He is currently hitting .357 with 23 home runs and 74 RBI as he is nipping at the heels of Cabrera this season.

8)       1B Mark Teixeira NY

The Yankees first baseman went 10-for-23, 10 R, 2 HR, 5 XBH, 8 RBI, 5 BB, and finished last week with a .435 AVG.

He is currently hitting .264 with 20 home runs with 70 RBI for the season.

9)       1B Aubrey Huff SF

The Giants first baseman went 10-for-25, 5 R, 2 HR, 3 XBH, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 1 SB, and finished last week with a .400 AVG

It looks like San Francisco made a good call picking up Huff this season.

He is currently hitting .309 with 19 home runs and 60 RBI for the season. He has already exceeded his projected 15 home runs.

10)   OF Jason Heyward Atl

The Braves’ “Chosen One” went 14-for-26, 7 R, 2 XBH, 3 RBI, 5 BB, and finished last week with a .538 AVG

Atlanta’s favorite rookie extended his hit streak to eight games. He has been lacking in power lately however. He has not had a home run in 70 at-bats.

If the Braves make it to the World Series a lot of people will credit Heyward as the X-factor that got them there.

It would be a nice send off for Bobby Cox in his last season as the skipper.

He is currently hitting .276 with 11 home runs and 48 RBI for the season.

Honorable Mentions :

3B Adrian Beltre Bos

The Red Sox third baseman went 11-for-29, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 XBH, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB, and finished last week with a .379 AVG

The Red Sox acquisition of Beltre for his glove has paid off more with his bat. He is the reason why the Red Sox hasn’t fallen out of contention.

Beltre was #8 on the Hot Streak Report last week and #3 on the “Kings of Swing” in June.

He had a phenomenal June as he went 38/101, 19 R, 7 HR, 16 XBH, 19 RBI, 7 BB, 0 SB, and a .376 AVG. It looks like July will finish much like last month.

            He is currently hitting .332 with 16 home runs with 63 RBI for the season.

      OF Nelson Cruz Tex

The Texas outfielder went 12-for-30, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 XBH, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB, and finished last week with a .400 AVG

Cruz has been on a tear and is riding the same wave of success that Hamilton and Young are on.

This could be the year the Rangers win it all. He was #2 on the Hot Streak Report last week.

He is currently hitting .330 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI for the season.

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1.                   New York Yankees 61-34

The Yanks has won three straight and is in the midst of a series with the bottom-dwelling Royals. They won their series with the Rays keeping their top spot in the AL East and are 7-3 in the last ten games. The pinstripe superstars will be without Andy Pettitte and A.J. Burnett for the next few weeks.

2.                   Tampa Bay Rays 57-38

The Rays lost a tough series to the Yankees. They are in a series with the Indians after winning their last game against the Orioles. They are 5-5 in the last ten games.

3.                   Texas Rangers 57-40

Nelson Cruz, Molina, and Josh Hamilton have been on hot streaks since the All-Star break. After destroying the Red Sox they are now tackling the Angles. Don’t be surprised if you see the Rangers in the World Series.They are 7-3 in the last ten games.

4.                   Atlanta Braves 56-40

The Braves are sitting on top of the NL East with the best home record in the NL. They are 5-5 in the last ten games.

5.                   San Diego Padres 56-39

The Padres is the top dog in the NL West and is currently in a series with the pitiful Pirates so they should stay there for the time being.

6.                   Boston Red Sox 55-42

The Rangers handled the Sox at Fenway Park. Beckett is set to return but several other starters are still sitting on the DL.

7.                   St. Louis Cardinals 54-43

The Cards ran through the Dodgers to take first place in the NL Central. But they have since lost two straight to the Cubs leaving them only half a game ahead of the Reds. They are 8-2 in the last ten games.

8.                   Cincinnati Reds 53-44

The Reds are only half a game behind the Cards for the top spot in the NL Central. Like the guys they are chasing they get some easy games against the Astros.

9.                   Chicago White Sox 52-42

Gordon Beckham has stepped up in the last week to help the men in black keep the top spot in the AL Central.

10.               San Francisco Giants 54-43

The Giants are 3.5 games behind the Padres in the NL West. They are 8-2 in the last ten games. “Kung Fu Panda” Pablo Sandoval did well last week hitting .308 with six RBI.

11.               Colorado Rockies 51-45

The Rockies are on a three game losing streak and are in the middle of a series with the Phillies.

12.               Los Angeles Dodgers 51-46

They look to fair better than the Rockies this week, so look for them to nip at the Giants for second place. Manny Ramirez is back on the DL.

13.               Minnesota Twins 51-46

The Twins are in a three-way tight race for first place with the White Sox and Tigers in the AL Central. They will cruise against the worst team in baseball, the Orioles this week.

14.               Detroit Tigers 50-44

The Tigers have won two straight and are only two games behind the White Sox.

15.               Los Angeles Angels 51-47

The Angels have a nice record but unfortunately they are in second place and seven games behind the Rangers.

16.               Philadelphia Phillies 50-46

Ryan Howard has been on fire launching balls into the bleachers. The Phillies are currently battling AL Central’s best, St. Louis Cardinals.

17.               New York Mets 50-47

The Mets have lost four straight before finally getting a win against the Dodgers.

18.               Oakland Athletics 48-47

The Athletics are in a tough series against the first place Rangers so it doesn’t look good for improving their record.

19.               Toronto Blue Jays 48-48

The Blue Jays are 13.5 games behind first place in the AL East. Yunel Escobar was doing terrible when he was wearing a Braves uniform. Now that he is sporting a new jersey, he has hit two home runs already.

20.               Florida Marlins 48-48

The Marlins are eight games behind in the NL East. Hanley Ramirez didn’t do well last week posting only a .174 AVG with four hits in 23 at-bats.

21.               Milwaukee Brewers 45-53

The Brewers are 9.5 games behind the Cards in the NL Central. They have won two straight and are currently in a series against the Nationals. Rickie Weeks hit four home runs last week.

22.               Chicago Cubs 43-53

The Cubs are ten games behind the Cards in the NL Central. They are 6-4 in the last ten games.

23.               Washington Nationals 42-55

The Nationals are in last place in NL East. But everyone has forgotten that with the arrival of Stephen Strasburg who has two wins with a 2.31 ERA.

24.               Kansas City Royals 41-55

Zack Greinke is a fantastic pitcher, yet he is 6-9 for the season. That is what it is like to be on the Royals.

25.               Cleveland Indians 41-55

They are sellers in the second half as they match the Royals’ success this season.

26.               Houston Astros 39-57

The Astros are in a series with the Reds. The Phillies are looking to pick up Roy Oswalt, as the Astros have accepted defeat.

27.               Seattle Mariners 37-59

The Mariners seemed to have made all the right moves in the off-season. Now it looks like none of them panned out.

28.               Arizona Diamondbacks 37-60

The Diamondbacks are in last place in the NL West and it doesn’t look like that will change anytime this season. Justin Upton hit two home runs and went .464 AVG last week.

29.               Pittsburgh Pirates 34-62

The Pirates lost two straight games and are in a series with the Padres.

30.               Baltimore Orioles 31-65

Brian Roberts is finally off the DL. That’s the only good news that the Orioles have had in a year.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

1)       1B Ryan Howard Phi

Philadelphia’s powerhouse went 8-for-20 with four home runs, nine RBI, five runs and finished last week with a .400 AVG.

The last few weeks have been filled with players hitting three or more home runs in a week. But last week, he was the only player with four home runs.

He is on the wave of a five-game hitting streak.

Howard is currently hitting .299 with 21 home runs and 74 RBI for the season.

2)       OF Nelson Cruz Tex

The Texas outfielder went 12-for-23 with one home run, 10 RBI, four runs and finished last week with a .522 AVG.

He is riding a eight-game hitting streak and hit the game winning home run on Monday night’s game against Detroit.

Cruz is hitting .325 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI for the season.

3)       3B,/2B Gordon Beckham CWS

The White Sox infielder went 11-for-18 with one home run, six RBI, three runs and finished last week with a .611 AVG.

He is currently the hottest pick-up off free agency at 29% increase in fantasy ownership.

If he is already on your team you might be able to sell high based on his recent production.

Beckham is currently hitting .241 with four home runs and 28 RBI for the season.

4)       C Bengie Molina Tex

The Texas catcher went 6-for-13 with two home runs, four extra base hits, six RBI, three runs and finished last week with a .462 AVG.

The man known as the slowest player in the majors hit for the cycle against the Boston Red Sox last week. He went 4-for-4 with 4 RBI that night not to mention a grand slam. This ranks up there in unlikely feats with Edwin Jackson’s no-hitter.

He saw only a slight increase in his fantasy ownership this week.

Molina is currently hitting .261 with five home runs and 23 RBI for the season.

5)       2B Rickie Weeks Mil

The Brewers second baseman went 8-for-21 with three home runs, six RBI, six runs and finished the week with a .381 AVG.

Weeks is currently hitting .275 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI for the season.

6)       SS Yunel Escobar Tor

Toronto’s newest addition went 8-for-17 with two home runs, seven RBI, four runs and finished last week with a .471 AVG

He was doing terrible when he was wearing a Braves uniform. Now that he is sporting a new jersey, he has hit two home runs already.

His fantasy ownership increase is about 5% in most leagues but he is still at only 45% total ownership.

Escobar is hitting .252 with two home runs and 26 RBI for the season.

7)       OF Justin Upton Ari

The Diamondbacks popular outfielder went 8-for-17 with one home run, six RBI, four runs and finished last week with a .471 AVG.

Upton is hitting .270 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI for the season.

8)       3B Adrian Beltre Bos

The Red Sox third baseman went 6-for-15 with two home runs, three RBI, three runs, and finished last week with a .400 AVG.

With all the injuries to a large portion of the starting line-up, he is one of the only bats that are keeping the Red Sox in the race.

He is currently hitting .333 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI for the season.

9)       3B/1B Pablo Sandoval SF

Kung Fu Panda was kicking tail as he went 8-for-17 with five RBI, four extra base hits and finished last week with a .471 AVG

He was doing horrible in July hitting under .200 until last week.

Sandoval is hitting .273 with 6 home runs and 39 RBI this season.

10)   OF Josh Hamilton Tex

The Texas outfielder went 10-for-22 with three RBI, four extra base hits, three runs and finished last week with a .455 AVG.

He is only two home runs behind leading home run hitter, Cabrera. However he recently sustained a calf injury last week, which may put out his fire.

Hamilton is hitting .353 with 22 home runs and 67 RBI for the season.

Honorable Mentions:

JJ Hardy

Jason Bartlett

Evan Longoria

Delmon Young

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We were entertained by the rockets’ red glare as these pitchers were having their own pyrotechnic shows from the hill.

1. Felix Hernandez, Seattle

Hernandez tossed the ball hard for nine innings only gave up two hits with 11 strike outs. He earned a .000 ERA and the deserved victory.

In week 13, he was dominated, and the Monday that followed Independence Day, he was equally good. However, his bullpen gave up the win he deserved.

The popular Seattle ace is 6-5 with 122 strikeouts and a .301 ERA for the season.

2. Adam Wainwright, St. Louis

Wright threw for 16 innings from the mound last week and had 16 strikeouts with only three walks. His appearances gave him two wins and a .059 ERA.

Last Sunday, he threw a complete game and picked up the victory.

The Cardinals’ starting pitcher is one of the best right now and doesn’t show signs of slowing down.

He is currently sitting pretty with a 12-5 record and a 2.24 ERA with 123 strikeouts for the season.

3. Jered Weaver, Los Angeles (Angels)

Weaver sat down six and allowed only two hits, which gave him a .000 ERA and the win.

The box score looks great, but he did hiccup when he had trouble retiring the last few batters he faced.

He is 8-4 with 130 strikeouts and a .2.97 ERA for the season.

4. Matt Capps, Washington

Capps picked up two wins in three innings of relief. He garnered a .000 ERA and only gave up two hits.

Capps has had five straight scoreless appearances.

His season has been decent with a 3-3 record, 23 saves, 32 strikeouts, 3.26 ERA.

5. Huston Street, Colorado

Street spent six innings on the hill last week and struck out six with no walks and only two hits. His performance gave him two saves and a .000 ERA.

The Colorado hurler’s fantasy ownership increased about five percent with his recent outings.

He is 1-1 with two saves and eight strikeouts for the season.

6. Matt Latos, San Diego

Latos worked eight innings to get the win. He struck out eight and only walked two which gave him a .000 ERA.

Latos and Jimenez are tied for the most shutout innings this season thus far.

He is 9-4 with a 2.62 ERA with 91 strikeouts for the season.

7. Tommy Hanson, Atlanta

Hanson played some catch with McCann and earned a victory with a .000 ERA after six innings on the mound. He sent eight back to the dugout with strikeouts and only gave up two walks.

He is 8-5 with a 4.19 ERA with 98 strikeouts for the season.

8. Roy Oswalt, Houston

Oswalt threw for seven innings on the mound and struck out seven with two walks and only three hits. His performance gave him the win and a .000 ERA.

The Houston starting pitcher may be wearing a different uniform after the All-Star break. If Texas picks him up, he won’t need to travel far for his new assignment.

The Astros haven’t helped Oswalt’s record of 5-10 despite his ERA of 3.32 with 104 strikeouts this season.

9. Brad Lincoln, Pittsburgh

Lincoln had a nice outing with six strikeouts and one walk in seven innings. He earned the win and a .000 ERA.

He did very well in week 13 but he followed it up with his worst outing this past Tuesday.

The Pirates starting pitcher is a huge risk. Fantasy owners should stay clear until he provides more consistent performances.

He is 1-3 with a 5.25 ERA for the season.

10. Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati

Arroyo had six solid innings with three strikeouts and two walks, giving him a .000 ERA and the win.

The Reds hurler gained some fantasy ownership as a result of this performance. He is up five percent in most leagues.

Arroyo is available around 50 percent in most leagues. He would be a nice pick up if your fantasy staff has fallen by the wayside.

He is 9-4 with a 3.04 ERA with only 54 strikeouts this season.

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We were entertained by the rockets’ red glare as these pitchers were having their own pyrotechnic shows from the hill.

1)       Felix Hernandez Sea

Hernandez tossed the ball hard for nine innings, only gave up two hits, and recorded 11 strikeouts on route to picking up the deserved victory.

In Week 13, he was dominating, and the Monday that followed Independence Day he was equally good. However, his bullpen gave up the win he deserved.

The popular Seattle ace is 6-5 with 122 strikeouts and a 3.01 ERA for the season

2)       Adam Wainwright StL

Wainwright threw 16 innings from the mound last week and had 16 strikeouts with only three walks. His starts gave him two wins and a 0.59 ERA.

Last Sunday, he threw a complete game and picked up the victory.

The Cardinals starting pitcher is one of the best right now and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

He is currently sitting pretty with a 12-5 record and a 2.24 ERA with 123 strikeouts for the season.

3)       Jered Weaver LAA

Weaver sat down six and allowed only two hits, giving him the win.

The box score looks great, but he did encounter a minor hiccup when he had trouble retiring the last few batters he faced.

He is 8-4 with 130 strike outs and a 2.97 ERA for the season.

4)       Matt Capps Was

Capps picked up two wins in three innings of relief. He garnered a 0.00 ERA and only gave up two hits.

Capps has had five straight scoreless appearances.

His season has been decent, with a 3-3 record, 23 saves, 32 strikeouts, and a 3.26 ERA.

5)       Huston Street Col

Street spent six innings on the hill last week and struck out six with no walks and only two hits. His performance gave him two saves and a 0.00 ERA.

The Colorado hurler’s fantasy ownership increased about five percent with his recent outings. 

He is 1-1 with two saves and 8 strikeouts for the season.

6)       Matt Latos SD

Latos worked eight innings to get the win. He struck out eight and only walked two.

Latos and Jimenez are tied for the most shutout innings thus far.

He is 9-4 with a 2.62 ERA with 91 strikeouts for the season.

7)       Tommy Hanson Atl

Hanson played some catch with McCann and earned a victory after six innings on the mound. He sent eight back to the dugout on strikes and only gave up two walks.

He is 8-5 with a 4.19 ERA and 98 strikeouts for the season.

8)       Roy Oswalt Hou

Oswalt threw for seven innings on the mound and struck out seven with two walks and only three hits. His performance gave him the win.

The Houston starting pitcher may be wearing a different uniform after the all-star break. If Texas picks him up, he won’t need to travel far for his new assignment.

The Astros haven’t helped Oswalt’s record of 5-10 despite his ERA of 3.32 with 104 strikeouts.

9)       Brad Lincoln Pit

Lincoln had a nice outing with six strikeouts and one walk in seven innings. He gave up no earned runs and picked up the win.

He did very well in week 13, but he followed it up with his worst outing of the season this past Tuesday.

The Pirates starting pitcher is a huge risk. Fantasy owners should stay clear until he provides more consistent performances.

He is 1-3 with a 5.25 ERA for the season.

10)   Bronson Arroyo Cin

Arroyo had six solid innings with three strike outs and two walks, giving him a 0.00 ERA and the win.

The Reds hurler gained some fantasy ownership as a result of this performance. He is up five percent in most leagues.

Arroyo is available around 50 percent in most leagues. He would be a nice pickup if your fantasy staff has fallen by the wayside.

He is 9-4 with a 3.04 ERA with only 54 strikeouts this season.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Fireworks were bursting in the air as we celebrated Independence Day, but they weren’t coming from these players.  Here’s a list of those who slumped the most last week:

1) Kevin Kouzmanoff, Oak. 3B

The “Crushin’ Russian” hasn’t been doing much crushin’ lately as the Oakland third baseman had no hits in 21 at-bats last week.

His fantasy stock has dropped over ten percent in most leagues.  He is hitting .266 with eight home runs with 40 RBI, and 34 runs this season.
 
2) Justin Smoak, Tex. 1B
 
Unlike his teammates, Smoak has not been productive, going hitless in 20 at-bats last week. His fantasy hype has gone from fire to smoke.  Smoak’s fantasy ownership dropped around five percent in most leagues.
 
 
3) Juan Uribe, SF. IF
 
California was hot, but Uribe and his teammate Renteria were locked in the freezer.  Uribe managed only one hit in 22 at bats.
 
 
 
4) Adrian Gonzalez, SD 1B

San Diego’s powerhouse went 1-for-19 last week.

There isn’t anything to get worried about, though, as he is hitting .293 with 16 home runs, 52 RBI, and 44 runs this season.
 
5) Edgar Renteria, SF SS

Renteria had only one hit in 18 at-bats last week.
 
Renteria started the season hot, but since recently returning from the disabled list he is still trying to find his swing.
 
He has lost some fantasy ownership since the slump. On the bright side, he didn’t have much fantasy presence since he only has around ten percent ownership in most leagues.
 
 
6) Ty Wigginton, Bal. IF
 
Wiggington went 1-for-24 last week.
 
About two months ago Wigginton was a hot pick up, but has since seen his fantasy ownership decline.
 

7) Troy Glaus, Atl. 1B
 
Glaus was scorching hot for weeks, but it took fantasy owners some time to warm up to the injury prone slugger.
 
He didn’t make many fantasy owners happy last week, going 1-15, and saw his ownership drop about five percent in most leagues.
 
 
8) Rajai Davis, Oak. OF
 
The speedster from Oakland had one hit in 13 at-bats last week.
 
Further, his stolen base numbers weren’t enough for fantasy owners to keep him around as his fantasy ownership took a 15 percent plunge in most leagues.
 
 
9) Justin Upton, Ari. OF
 
Upton went 2-for-20 last week, hitting more like his weak-hitting brother B.J.  His fantasy ownership was not affected, however.  

10) Vernon Wells, Tor. OF  

Wells , much like Renteria, started the year grabbing headlines, but had only three hits in 23 at bats last week.
 
His fantasy ownership was not affected by his latest slump.
 
 
Un-honorable Mention
 
Robinson Cano, NYY OF  3/23 .130 AVG.

Derrek Lee,  ChC 1B   3/23 .130 AVG.

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The fireworks were going off on the July 4. These guys were putting on a show the week leading up to our nation’s birthday. The summer nights were lit with their bats and the fire burned many pitchers on the hill.

1)      SS Rafael Furcal LAD

The Dodgers outfielder was 14-for-26 with two home runs, five RBI, one stolen base, and finished last week with a .538 AVG.

He is hitting .336 with five home runs, 33 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and 45 runs for the season.

2)      DH Jim Thome Min

The Twins designated hitter was 8-for-20 with four home runs, eight RBI, and ended last week with a .400 AVG.

The Twins have been doing some shifting with their infielders and designated hitters, giving Thome more playing time.

Thome has nearly no fantasy presence with not many owners buying into his recent streak.

It would be wise to wait to see if Thome can continue his production before picking him up.

He is hitting .263 with 10 home runs, 28 RBI, 27 BB, and 20 runs for the season.

3)      DH Vladimir Guerrero Tex

The Texas slugger was 8-for-22 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and finished last week with a .364 AVG.

The Rangers are one of the best teams in baseball, and one of the reasons is because Guerrero’s power production.

He put a hurt on his old team last week with a home run and three RBI in the win over the Angels.

The deserving American League All-Star has had a terrific year. He is currently hitting .330 with 19 home runs, 72 RBI, and 54 runs for the season.

4)      OF Matt Kemp LAD

The Dodgers outfielder was 9-for-22 with three home runs, seven RBI, and finished last week with a .409 AVG.

Kemp had a horrible June. He drug around a .208 average last month.

He is hitting .267 with 16 home runs, 49 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and five runs for the season.

5)      OF Torii Hunter LAA

The Angels outfielder was 8-for-19 with two home runs, seven RBI, eight walks, one stolen base, and ended last week with .421 AVG.

He is hitting .302 with 14 home runs, 60 RBI, 39 walks, and 50 runs for the season.

6)      3B David Wright NYM

The Mets’ poster boy was 14-for-32 with three RBI, two stolen bases, and finished last week with a .538 AVG.

He is hitting .317 with 14 home runs, 64 RBI, 43 walks, 15 stolen bases, and 52 runs.

7)      IF Felipe Lopez StL

The versatile Cardinals infielder was 12-for-27 with one RBI, one stolen base and finished last week with a .444 AVG.

Lopez has only a 10 percent ownership in most leagues. He has seen a slight increase in ownership in the last few days.

He could be a solid pick-up if you need some options in your infield.

            He is hitting at .275 with five home runs, 21 RBI, three stolen bases, and 27 runs.

8)      1B Mark Teixeira NYY

The Yankees first baseman went 9-for-21 with five RBI and finished last week with a .429 AVG.

All of the fantasy owners are waiting for Teixeira to break out and provide the production he is know for. Last week might be a sign of that turn around.

You could likely get a strong trade for him if you are tired of waiting for him to bring the fantasy points you expected.

He is hitting only .241 with 14 home runs, 54 RBI, and 57 runs.

9)      1B James Loney LAD

The Dodgers first baseman went 10-for-23 with five RBI, and finished last week with a .435 AVG.

10)  2B Sean Rodriguez TB

The Rays second baseman went 12-for-28 with one home run, three RBI, two stolen bases, and .429 AVG.

Rodriguez is an excellent fielder and is getting a lot of attention in Tampa lately.

            Last week’s performance has improved his stock by nearly 25 percent.

He is hitting .280 with six home runs, 29 RBI, six stolen bases, and 45 runs for the season.

Honorable Mentions:

OF Juan Pierre CWS10/24, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB, .417 AVG.

SS Cliff Pennington Oak 10/24, 4 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB, .417 AVG.

OF Dexter Fowler Col 10/24, 8 R, 3RBI, 9 RBI, 2 SB, .417 AVG.

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These ballplayers put “the hurt” on the baseball all month long. The listed men rung up opposing pitchers and didn’t blink as they sent their ERA into space. Their team jersey sales have sky rocketed and they might end up on an upcoming episode of MTV cribs. The few, the proud, they are “The Kings of Swing”.

1)    OF Josh Hamilton Tex       

49/108, 23 R, 9 HR, 20 XBH, 31 RBI, 5 BB, 3 SB, .454 AVG

The Texas Ranger caught everyone’s eye during the All-Star Home Run Derby 2008 where he rocked 28 bombs in the first round. He had a great story to go along with his bat making him an instant star.

He suffered from a laundry list of ailments in 2009 which made him a more of a Texas fan than a Rangers ball player. Last year’s injuries made fantasy owners a little hesitant to pick him up for the 2010 season. It has paid off for those brave owners who opted to take a chance on him this season.

He finished June with a 23 game hitting streak and led the Majors with 31 RBIs and a .454 average.

The Texas outfielder went 10-for-22 with two home runs, five RBI, one walk, one stolen base, and a .455 AVG. in the last week of June.

He is currently hitting .340 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs for the season.

Is it too early to think of Triple-Crown run?

2)    3B David Wright NYM        

42/104, 20 R, 6 HR, 17 XBH, 29 RBI, 9 BB, 4 SB, .404 AVG

Wright had a June that made you forget about who the “other” third baseman in New York was.

With his .404 AVG, he is the first player in the history of the Mets organization to do just that in a single month.

He was 11-for-22 with two home runs, eight RBI, four walks, one stolen base, and a .500 AVG. in the last week of June.

He is currently hitting .307 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs for the season.

3)    3B Adrian Beltre Bos

38/101, 19 R, 7 HR, 16 XBH, 19 RBI, 7 BB, 0 SB, .376 AVG

With half of the Red Sox starters on the DL, Beltre had to be good if Boston expected to be in the pennant chase this year.    

He started June with a collision with Jeremy Hermida. But that little mishap didn’t stop him from being a beast at the plate.

He has a .349 average with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs this season thus far.

4)    1B Adrian Gonzalez SD

37/102, 14 R, 7 HR, 19 XBH, 23 RBI, 9 BB, 0 SB, .363 AVG

It was hot in San Diego and it’s because of Adrian Gonzalez.

Gonzalez hit three into the stands and had seven RBI and was 10-for-25 with a .400 AVG in the second week of June setting the tone for the month.

Gonzalez hit two solo blasts against the Phillies in one of the games during their series.

The Padres power house is currently hitting .297 with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs this season.

San Diego might be looking to deal Gonzalez out around the All-Star break. With his current production is looking like a major acquisition for potential play off teams.

5)    2B Dustin Pedroia Bos

34/91, 19 R, 4 HR, 14 XBH, 16 RBI, 13 BB, 6 SB, .374 AVG

The Red Sox second baseman was on a burning hot streak in June.

He went 6-for-13 with three home runs, five RBI, four walks, and a .462 AVG in the last week in June until his injury.

Pedroia had the game of his career when he was 5-for-5 with three bombs, pushed five us teammates across the dish and scored four runs on Thursday night against the Rockies.

Pedroia was placed on the disabled list with a displaced fracture in his foot as a result of a foul ball the following night. He will likely miss six weeks.

The DL designation is a huge hit to fantasy owners who was thriving on Pedroia’s hot streak.

Fantasy owners will ride out the DL and pick up a temporary replacement at second base.

Pedroia is hitting .292 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs for the season.

6)    OF Chris Coghlan Fla          

40/106, 30 R, 3 HR, 20 XBH, 13 RBI, 15 BB, 2 SB, .377 AVG

The Marlins outfield was simply awful at the start of the year. He has since provided some production in sunny Florida.

Coghlan’s fantasy stock has gone up significantly in June. He saw nearly a 10 percent increase in ownership.

He is currently hitting .282 with 5 home runs and 27 RBIs.

7)    1B Gaby Sanchez Fla         

39/104, 16 R, 4 HR, 12 XBH, 16 RBI, 10 BB, 2 SB, .375 AVG

Sanchez was been quietly putting up big numbers in June.

The Marlins first baseman’s fantasy stock went up nearly 30 percent, making him the big pick-up this week off waivers.

8)    OF Manny Ramirez LAD

30/82, 16 R, 4 HR, 11 XBH, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 1 SB, .366 AVG

Ramirez did very well in “Manny-wood” in June when he returned from the disabled list.

Unfortunately, he ended June with an inflammation of the hamstring and will likely sit for the first week in July.

He is currently hitting .322 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs this season.

9)    2B Brandon Phillips Cin      

41/110, 22 R, 2 HR, 9 XBH, 7 RBI, 6 BB, 3 SB, .373 AVG

The Reds second baseman was in a bit of legal trouble when he was charged   with reckless driving.

Phillips did quite well considering that he battled hamstring issues in the middle of June.

He is hitting .308 with nine home runs and 25 RBIs this season.

10) OF David DeJesus KC        

41/100, 12 R, 1 HR, 9 XBH, 16 RBI, 7 BB, 1 SB, .410 AVG

DeJesus is making himself look great for a trade to a contending team after the All-Star break.

The veteran could help fill the holes in the outfield for teams like the Red Sox, who outfielders are mostly injured.

His fantasy stock went up a little bit with about a six percent increase but only owned at 50 percent. He would be a nice pick-up off waivers if your outfielders have been letting you down. You’re not committing to a long-term relationship, just someone to get your through the tough spots.

He is hitting .331 with five home runs and 35 RBIs this season.

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This is a weekly focus on the hurlers that dominated their adversaries. These pitchers put up nasty numbers and made big league hitters wish they were playing T-Ball again.

1)    Edwin Jackson Ari

9 IP, 8 BB, 6 K, 1 W, 0.00 ERA

Edwin Jackson is yet another pitcher to join the list of no-hitters this year. He tossed 149 pitches against the Rays to put his name in the history books.

Jackson ’s outings leading up to his no-hitter weren’t spectacular. He was dragging around a 5.05 ERA before that night. The previous game against Detroit, he gave up nine hits in seven innings.

It would appear that fantasy owners aren’t biting on his recent success, either. He is only owned by 51.1 percent of owners with a slight increase of 2.5 percent in ESPN leagues. His current record of 5-6 and a 4.63 ERA isn’t exactly something that makes you jump out of your chair.

Much like Dallas Braden, the fantasy owners’ look at your total work and not one game.

He has posted a 1.62 ERA with two consecutive wins with 16 innings pitched in the last two weeks.

Regardless of his lack of success in the weeks prior, Jackson pitched a no-hitter and deserves the top spot for his performance last week.

2)    Chris Carpenter StL

8 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 7 K, 1 W, 0.00 ERA

Carpenter took a line drive off his forearm and is listed day-to-day. He is still likely to make his next scheduled start.

He is currently 9-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He already has 100 strike outs in 116 innings pitched.

3)    Mariano Rivera NYY

5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 W, 0.00 ERA

Whenever there is talk about him getting old, he puts up phenomenal numbers. He was able to pick up two wins and sit down eight with strikeouts last week.           

Rivera has a 2-1 record with 17 saves and a 0.92 ERA for the season so far.

4)    Yovani Gallardo Mil

9 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 12 K, 1 W, 0.00 ERA

Gallardo is a killer on the mound. He was sitting down batters like an usher at a wedding.

He is 8-3 with a 2.56 ERA and 120 strike outs for the season.

5)    Carl Pavano Min

9 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 W, 0.00 ERA

Pavano got the shut out victory after a grueling nine innings last week.

Pavano is one of the hottest players in fantasy free agency. His ownership sky rocketed by 26 percent in ESPN leagues.

He has a 9-6 record and has a nice 3.33 ERA with 59 strikeouts for the season.

6)    Jamie Moyer Phi

15 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 12 K, 2 W, 1.80 ERA

Moyer simply spot on last week with two wins and only a 1.80 ERA in 15 innings pitched.

The fantasy world still has no respect for Moyer. His ownership only jumped 5 percent to a total ownership of 12 percent in ESPN leagues. His high season ERA is keeping owners from taking a chance on him despite his recent success.

He is 3-0 for the last two weeks and touted a nice 1.96 ERA since mid-June.

He has a 9-6 record with a 4.30 ERA with 51 strike outs this season.

7)    Trevor Cahill Oak

7.2 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 10 K, 1 W, 0.00 ERA

          He has a 0.99 WHIP and is undefeated in June.

Cahill is fantasy baseball’s sexy waiver pick up with 35 percent increase in ownership in ESPN leagues.

He has a 7-2 record with a 2.88 ERA and 1.08 WHIP this season.

8)    Jon Lester Bos

15 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 15 K, 1 W, 1 L, 1.20 ERA

Boston has been bitten by the injury bug. With Beckett, Pedroia, Martinez, and Ellsbury on the DL it is amazing that they are nipping at the heels of the first place Yankees.

Lester’s performances on the hill would have a lot to do with their recent success.

Lester only allowed one run against the Giants in a complete game earning him the win with nine strikeouts.

He ended up with a loss despite a fantastic outing against the Rockies, giving up only one run.

He is 9-3 with a 2.86 ERA and 111 strikeouts for the season.

9)    Jake Peavy CWS

7 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 W, 0.00 ERA

In June, Peavy was excellent with a 1.75 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.

He has a 1.23 ERA with 21 strikeouts in the last two weeks.

It would appear most of the fantasy owners who dropped Peavy during his early season struggles have picked him back up.

He is 7-6 with a 4.70 ERA and 91 strike outs.

10) J.J. Putz CWS

3 IP, 1 K, 2 W, 0.00 ERA

Putz pitched only three innings last week but was able to pick up two wins and a save. Bobby Jenks was on the shelf, but looks to be returning soon which would push Putz back into his set up role.

There is no reason to pick him up off waivers, as his fantasy value after this week will dwindle.

Putz is simply being recognized for the job he did while Jenks was away.

Honorable Mentions*

Roy Halladay Phi 7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 W, 0.00 ERA

Gavin Floyd CWS 7 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 9 K, No Decision, 0.00 ERA

Derek Lowe Atl 7 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

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Headaches for fantasy owners were the result of their poor production. Their names are recognizable. Their pictures are likely one of your top current baseball cards. The bench might be the right place for them to think about what they did this week to so many hopeful fantasy baseball teams.

1) Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves

Heyward has made his way once again onto the slump report. He went only 1-for-16 and ended last week with a .062 AVG.

The Braves outfielder was placed on the disabled list due to a thumb injury. The test results showed that there was no structural damage but the organization wants to play it safe.

Sell Heyward immediately. His name and hype might get you a decent starter. His current production along with his thumb injury makes it unlikely that he turn it around anytime soon.

Atlanta’s “Chosen One” is only hitting .251 with 11 HR for the season. I am still not a believer that this kid will be the next Chipper Jones for Atlanta.

2) Ben Zobrist, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays outfielder was only able to manage a hit in 15 plate appearances. He did manage to successfully steal three bases and worked out seven walks. His average last week was horrific with a .067.

The base thefts and walks were high this week, but it doesn’t remove the fact that he missed 14 opportunities to smack the ball.

I wouldn’t be concerned with this recent slump. He will bounce back quickly. He is projected to hit around 20 home runs with near 90 RBI for this season. Zobrist is currently hitting .293 with 38 RBI and 5 home runs.

3) Adam Lind, OF, Torton Blue Jays

The Toronto outfielder was only 2-for-23 and ended the week with a .087 AVG. The bright side is that one of his only two hits last week was a home run.

Lind has seen his ownership drop dramatically in the last few weeks. I would recommend dealing him out by selling his power upside. You might want to consider simply dropping him and take a chance on a free agent.

Lind’s 2010 projections are favorable with a .300 AVG and over 35 home runs.

He is only hitting .204 with 9 home runs this season. It doesn’t look like he will get anywhere near his projections this year.

4) Russell Martin, C, Los Angeles Dodgers

Hollywood’s latest horror is sitting behind home plate. Martin has only been able to muster two hits in the last 20 at-bats. He finished up last week with a .100 AVG.

His seven free passes are the only think to be happy about after a terrible week.

The Dodgers catcher let his frustrations at the plate get the best of him, which lead to him being ejected from Monday’s game against the Giants.

Martin’s fantasy ownership is at a low point and appears that the latest slump is causing more owners to jump ship.

Martin is currently hitting .241 with nine home runs. He is projected to hit only 11 home runs so he may surpass that number.

5) Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburg Pirates

Pittsburgh’s speed demon was only 2-for-19 with a .105 AVG last week. He was able to steal a base and took four walks to get on the bag.

He will break the slump sooner than later, so don’t panic.

McCutchen is projected to hit around 20 home runs and finish up around .270. He is currently hitting .299 with seven home runs.

6) Jorge Posada, C, New York Yankees

The New York Yankees catcher mustered up only two hits in 16 tries. He finished up the cold week with a .125 AVG.

Posada’s foot injury may have something to do with his poor production last week.

There has been a very slight decline in fantasy ownership concerning Posada and his recent slump.

He is projected to hit around 20 home runs and finish up around .280. Posada is currently hitting .299 with seven home runs.

7) Chris Young, OF, Arizona Dimondbacks

The Diamondbacks outfielder went 3-for-24 and ended the week with a .125 AVG. His only ray of sunshine was a bomb into the stands and a stolen base. His 2010 projections have him hitting around 25 home runs with a .247 AVG.

Young is hitting .261 with 13 home runs this season.

8) David Ortiz, DH, Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox designated hitter didn’t hit much. “Big Papi” was 2-for-14 and ended the week with a .143 AVG.

After receiving player of the month award, Ortiz has been in a June slump. He is a good sell high option.

He is projected to hit 25 home runs and finish up the season with a .250 AVG.

Ortiz is hitting .252 with 16 home runs this season.

9) Michael Cuddyer, OF, Minnisota Twins

The Twins outfielder had three hits with 21 at-bats and finished up the week with a .143 AVG.

You should have Cuddyer ride the pine until he shows signs of breaking out of the slump. He is only hitting .170 with no home runs in the last two weeks. His fantasy ownership is taking a hit and appears to keep on dropping.

He is project to hit around 25 home runs and end the season with a .270 AVG.

Cuddyer is currently hitting .259 with seven home runs.

10) Stephen Drew, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks short stop had three hits with 21 plate appearances. He ended the week with a .143 AVG.

His knee soreness has had him listed day-to-day.

Drew’s fantasy ownership has taken a slight hit.

He is only hitting .209 with only two RBI in the last two weeks.

His projections have him at 20 home runs and a batting average around .290.

Dishonorable Mention*

OF BJ Upton TB 3/21 3 R, 1 HR, 2 XBH, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 3 SB, .143 AVG

1B Troy Glaus Atl 3/19, 2 R, 2 XBH, 1 RBI, 3 BB, .158 AVG

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