Welcome to Week 8. This week the Braves and Mets play a Doubleheader in Atlanta on Tuesday. This gives both clubs a 7 game schedule for the week and makes Chipper Jones, Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Ryan Church and Carlos Beltran all good plays this week.
Sports Buff Contest
I would recommend these two start pitchers in the Sports Buff contest.
1.James Shields($45) - OAK Away, BAL Home
2.Brett Myers($40) - WAs Away, HOU Away
3.Tim Redding($29) - PHI Home, MIL Home
4.John Maine($44) - ATL Away, COL Away
5.Cole Hamels($52) - WAS Away, HOU Away
6.Micah Owings($31) - FLA Away, ATL Away
7.Tim Lincecum($45) - COL Away, FLA Away
8.Chad Billingsley($39) - CIN Home, STL Home
9.Scott Kazmir($45) - OAK Away, BAL Home
10.John Lackey($52) - TOR Away, CHW Away
I personally like Owings, Hamels and Billingsley.
CDM Diamond Challenge
I would recommend these two start pitchers in the CDM Challenge.(Dollar amount in Millions)
1.James Shields($1020) - OAK Away, BAL Home
2.John Maine($810) - ATL Away, COL Away
3.Cole Hamels($1120) - WAS Away, HOU Away
4.Micah Owings($630) - FLA Away, ATL Away
5.Tim Lincecum($880) - COL Away, FLA Away
6.Scott Kazmir($1020) - OAK Away, BAL Home
7.John Lackey($1210) - TOR Away, CHW Away
Team Schedules
Seven Games - Atlanta, New York Mets, Boston, Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, Minnesota, Philadelphia, San Diego, Texas.
Everybody else plays six games.
Injuries
1. Roy Oswalt(SP HOU) - Tweaked his groin on Saturday and may need some time off.
2. Nick Johnson(1B WAS) - Torn tendon in his wirst has him out till late June.
3. Clay Buchholz(SP BOS) - Torn nail on right hand has him on the 15 Day DL.
4. Jake Peavy(SP SD) - Having an MRI on his sore elbow..Hmm? Not good news.
Players on the Rise
1. Alfonso Soriano(OF CHC) - He had an amazing seven days hitting 7 Dingers with 13 RBI's.
2. Lance Berkman(1B HOU) - He continues to crush the ball and now has 16 HR's for the season.
3. Josh Hamilton(OF TEX) - Hit .440 for the week with 3 HR's and 11 RBI's.
4. Jason Werth(OF PHI) - Had quite a week one night this week by bashing 3 HR's and driving in 8 runs.
5. Brandon Webb(SP ARZ) - He continues to win, and is now 9-0 with a 2.56 ERA.
Players on the Decline
1. Gary Sheffield(DH/OF DET) - With only 2 HR's in 105 AB's this season, that shoulder of his is just not right. Throw in a .190 BA, and you have to start wonder when
he will land on the DL again.
2. Barry Zito(SP SF) - He is now 0-8, and pitches for a team that just can not score. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
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.