Welcome to Week 5. This week the Twins and Braves only play five games, so it is a good week to reserve Mark Teixeira, Chipper Jones, Carlos Gomez and
Justin Morneau. A-Rod, Nick Markakis, Vlad Guerrero, Tori Hunter, Grady Sizemore, Victor Martinez, and Nate McClouth are all good plays as they each have a seven game week coming up.
Sports Buff Contest
I would recommend these two start pitchers in the Sports Buff contest.
1.Johann Santana($55)- PIT Home, ARZ Away
2.Johnny Cueto($32) - STL Away, ATL Away
3.Greg Smith($29) - LAA Away, TEX Home
4.Dan Haren($44) - HOU Home, NYM Home
5.Roy Halladay($49) - BOS Away, CWS Home
6.Chad Gaudin($37) - LAA Away, TEX Home
7.Matt Cain($36) - COL Home, PHI Away
8.Tim Lincecum($45) - COL Home, PHI Away
9.Cole Hamels($52) - SD Home, SF Home
10.Ian Snell($40) - NYM Away, WAS Away
11.Greg Maddux(34) - PHI Away, FLA Away
12.Ben Sheets($43) - CHC Away, HOU Away
13.Derek Lowe ($38)- FLA Away, COL Away
I personally like Smith, Gaudin and Maddux.
CDM Diamond Challenge
I would recommend these two start pitchers in the CDM Challenge.(Dollar amount in Millions)
1.Johann Santana($1800)- PIT Home, ARZ Away
2.Johnny Cueto($750) - STL Away, ATL Away
3.Dan Haren($1190) - HOU Home, NYM Home
4.Roy Halladay($1180) - BOS Away, CWS Home
5.Tim Lincecum($880) - COL Home, PHI Away
6.Cole Hamels($1120) - SD Home, SF Home
7.Ian Snell($800) - NYM Away, WAS Away
8.Ben Sheets($930) - CHC Away, HOU Away
Team Schedules
Seven Games - Baltimore, Cleveland, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Oakland, Pitsburgh
Five Games - Atlanta, Minnesota
Everybody else play Six Games.
Injuries
1. Nomar Garciappara(3B LAD) - On the 15 Day DL most of his life.
2. Kevin Correia(SP SF) - He may be out a month with a left oblique strain.
3. Jake Westbrook(SP CLE) - He is out for three weeks with a bad back.
4. Jorge Posada(C NYY) - Headed for the DL with that bad shoulder.
Players on the Rise
1. Hanley Ramirez(SS FLA) - Hitting .337 with 8 HR's and 18 RBI's.
2. Brandon Webb(SP ARZ) - He is now 6-0, and outdueled Jake Peavy this past week.
3. Chase Utley(2B PHI - He has blasted 10 Dingers and has 21 RBI's.
4. Edinson Volquez(SP CIN) - He is 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA.
Players on the Decline
1. John Smoltz(SP ATL) - He is complaining of a sore shoulder, and at age 40, this is not a good sign of things to come.
2. Garry Sheffield(DH DET) - He is hitting an anemic .159 in that potent Tigers offense.
3. Andruw Jones(OF LAD) - Right now he could not hit the side of a barn, batting only .159
Got a fantasy question you would like answered in my column? Send it to me via
e-mail at mikek@creativesports.com. Until next week, I wish you the best of
luck.