The forecast is back in it's regular format, and the Brewers seem to be heading back on the right track.
Henry Rowengartner's Encore
These flame-throwers won't need to break their arms to post solid fantasy numbers this week. Make sure you lock them in to your lineup.
Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow -- Morrow has struck out 42 batters in 33.1 innings and is coming off four straight quality starts. Plus, the Blue Jays were riding a five-game winning streak into the weekend, so momentum is in their favor.
Reds starter Johnny Cueto -- Cueto hasn't exactly had a good start to the 2010 season, but he'll be matched up against a Pittsburgh team that has not only scored just 104 runs this season, but has Russ Ohlendorf going in his first start back from the disabled list. I'm going to say Cueto will get the run support needed to give him the confidence to throw a gem.
Tigers starter Justin Verlander -- Not only has Verlander been red hot lately, but he's matched up against the Yankees this week; a lineup he has owned recently. Last season, Verlander posted a 1.29 earned run average and struck out 15 batters in 14 innings against New York.
Giants closer Brian Wilson -- San Francisco starts the week against a Padres offense that is batting .245 with 23 homers and finishes up the week against a Mets team that is averaging just 4.3 runs per game. With the rotation that the Giants have been running out there this season, Wilson should see some save opportunities.
The Boppin' Bambinos
Here are a few fantasy players who by Italian standards are not little, and will be swinging for the fences like the great one this week.
Reds outfielder Jay Bruce -- Bruce has two of his four homers against the Pirates this season, and their pitching staff has combined for a 6.05 team ERA through 28 games.
Braves second baseman Martin Prado -- Prado is not only hitting .319 this season, but has career batting averages of .294 and .462 against Brewers and Diamondbacks pitching staffs that have team ERAs of 4.95 and 5.26 in 2010.
Rays first baseman Carlos Pena -- Yes he's gone 1 for 21 (into Saturday), but Pena is a lifetime .302 hitter (his highest career average against any American League team) against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Plus, the Angels have allowed an AL high of 39 homers this season. Look for Pena to find rhythm against Los Angeles, only to return home to hammer the Mariners later in the week.
Rangers outfielder/designated hitter Vladimir Guererro -- Guerrero is red hot, as he has homered four times while driving in 12 in the last four games. Next week he'll be up against two teams he's a combined 11 for 23 against this season, and is batting .280 and .321 against for his career.
Colder than the Bad News Bears
Here are a few players who are making Walter Matthau's crew seem like all-stars.
Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick -- Heading in to Friday, Ludwick was 2-for-21 during the previous seven days, and was even benched in favor of Nick Stavinoha for the Cardinals May 6 games against the Phillies. Ludwick was hitting .291 before the poor seven-day stretch.
Brewers shortstop Alcides Escobar -- Escobar has just two hits in the past 17 at-bats, is batting .234 for the season and has yet to steal a base through 25 games in 2010; this after stealing four in 72 games during his 2009 campaign.
Mariners first baseman Casey Kotchman -- In his past seven games, Kotchman has just one hit in 27 at-bats. He is currently hitting .202, and hasn't homered since April 19th. For the month of May, Kotchman has an OBP of .160.
White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham -- Beckham has just one hit in his last 20 at-bats, and half of those 20 at-bats have resulted in strikeouts. He is off to a disappointing start, and is currently hitting .198 with one homer and four RBI.
Royals starting pitcher Gil Meche -- In 23.2 innings this season Meche has allowed 26 earned runs and boasts a 9.89 earned run average. His WHIP is out of control at 2.28, and he has more walks (18) than strikeouts (14). At this point, Meche may have to stay on fantasy benches until he strings a couple of good performances together to prove that he's not a 2010 fantasy washout.
Hotter than Dottie Hinson
Here are a few players that are making Dottie look more like Courtney Love, Donatella Versace, and maybe even teammate Doris Murphy (Rosie O'Donnell) all wrapped in one. (All stats as of Friday)
Braves outfielder Jason Heyward -- The young slugger has finally caught fire again, and in the past seven days is batting .571 with four homers and ten runs batted in. For the season he's hitting .294 with eight homers and 26 RBI.
Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson -- Jackson has recorded at least one hit in each of the past eight games, and for the season is batting .369 with a homer, nine runs batted in, and five stolen bases. As of right now he looks to be a permanent fix for the Tigers in center field.
Yankees starting pitcher AJ Burnett -- Burnett didn't exactly start strong, but in his past two starts has gone 2-0, has allowed no runs to cross home plate, has struck out 12 batters, and has gone at least 7.1 innings in each start. He is 4-0 with a 1.99 ERA for the season.
Phillies starting pitcher Roy Halladay -- After suffering his first hiccup against the Giants on April 26th (which I called two weeks ago, by the way (Provide link)) Halladay has fired two gems, including a complete game shutout against the Mets on May 1st. He is currently 6-1, with a 1.45 ERA and has struck out 48 batters for the season.
Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff -- Huff has recorded at least one hit in eight of his previous nine games, including three homers. And according to the Sabermetric stats heading in to Friday games, along with Brett Gardner, he led all of baseball with four walks per strikeout in the last seven days.
Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier -- Ethier has been perhaps the hottest hitter in baseball lately, as he has 13 hits in his past 25 at-bats, including four long-balls. He has also driven in 13 runs, and has scored eight times.
Roger Bomman's Binoculars Say.....
These 10 players are must starts this week.
Vladimir Guerrero vs. Oakland and Toronto
Justin Morneau vs. Chicago (AL) and New York (AL)
Howie Kendrick vs. Tampa Bay and Oakland
Prince Fielder vs. Atlanta and Philadelphia
Colby Lewis vs. Oakland and Toronto
Adrian Beltre vs. Toronto and Detroit
Shane Victorino vs. Colorado and Milwaukee
Jason Bay vs. Washington and Florida
Alfonso Soriano vs. Florida and Pittsburgh
Shin Soo-Choo vs. Kansas City and Baltimore
Final Thoughts
There are three National League pitchers who are having phenomenal seasons thus far. The first is Ubaldo Jimenez, who already has thrown a no-hitter, and currently carries a 0.87 earned run average, and is averaging 9.58 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. The second is the aging Livan Hernandez, who is just the opposite as Jimenez in the strikeout department, but currently carries a 0.99 earned run average. The third is Cardinals emerging star Jaime Garcia, who besides spelling his name backwards is carrying a 1.13 ERA and has lasted at least six innings in each of his first five starts.
However, I have to say that I'm most impressed with Mariners starter Doug Fister, who is making a strong case for American League Cy Young honors. Yes, I know it's early, but in his last four starts Fister has surrendered just three runs, has lasted eight innings in three games, and seven in the other. He has finished games with exactly 100 pitches three times this season, and has yet to let any balls fly out of the park. And although he only has struck out 16 batters in 35 innings, his command has been out of control good as evident by his league leading 0.80 WHIP.
Overall Fister isn't a pitcher who is going to blow away batters, or fans and fantasy owners for that matter. However, he does everything well, and if he continues at the pace he's going and the Mariners offense can give him a little more run support he will quickly turn in to a household American League name.
