Welcome to Week 12. Interleague play continues this week. NL teams getting another bat in the lineup are Houston, San Diego, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, Pittsburgh, New York, and Florida. AL Teams losing the DH are Boston, Detroit, Oakland, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Toronto.
Sports Buff Contest
I would recommend these two start pitchers in the Sports Buff contest.
1.Jar Jurrjens($30) - COL Away, SEA Home
2.Cole Hamels($52) - BOS Home, LAA Home
3.Tim Lincecum($45) - DET Home, KC Away
4.Bartolo Colon($35) - PHI Away, STL Away
5.Manny Parra($32) - TOR Home, BAL Away
6.Brandon Webb($51) - OAK Home, MIN Away
7.Jonathan Sanchez($34) - DET Home, KC Away
8.Felix Hernandez($47) -FLA Home, ATL Away
9.Scott Olsen($33) - SEA Away, OAK Away
10.Johann Santana($56) - LAA Away, COL Away
11.Ian Snell($40) - CHW Away, TOR Home
12.Tim Hudson($44) - TEX Away, SEA Home
13.Scott Kazmir($45) - CHC Home, HOU Home
I personally like Kazmir, Jurrjens and Lincecum.
CDM Diamond Challenge
I would recommend these two start pitchers in the CDM Challenge.(Dollar amount in Millions)
1.Cole Hamels($1120) - BOS Home, LAA Home
2.Tim Lincecum($880) - DET Home, KC Away
3.Brandon Webb($1300) - OAK Home, MIN Away
4.Johann Santana($1800) - LAA Away, COL Away
5.Tim Hudson($1020) - TEX Away, SEA Home
6.Scott Kazmir($1020) - CHC Home, HOU Home
Team Schedules
Seven Games - Atlanta, Colorado.
Everybody else plays six games.
Injuries
1. Rickie Weeks(2B MIL) - On the DL with a bad knee.
2. Albert Pujols(1B STL) - He is out till early July with a strained calf.
3. Alfonso Soriano(OF CHC) - Will be out 6 weeks with a broken bone in his hand.
4. Brad Penny(SP LAD) - Going for an MRI on a sore right shoulder.
5. Victor Martinez(C CLE) - He will miss 6-8 weeks after surgery on his right elbow.
6. JJ Putz(RP SEA) - Went on the 15 Day DL with a sore right elbow.
Players on the Rise
1. Adrian Gonzalez(1B SD) - Has gotten hot with 19 HR's and 53 RBI's.
2. Dan Uggla(2B FLA) - Also has 19 Dingers with 48 RBI's.
3. Grady Sizemore(OF CLE) - Blasted 5 Dingers last week, and is now has 17 for the season with 40 RBI's.
4. Kelly Shoppach(C CLE) - Martinez injury opens the door for more playing time.
5. Aaron Cook(SP COL) - He is 10-3 with a 3.89 ERA.
Players on the Decline
1. Ryan Braun(OF MIL) - Had a bad week going 5-25, a .200 average.
2. Randy Johnson(SP ARZ) - Has gotten ripped his last 2 starts.
3. Nick Swisher(OF CWS) - Hitting .219 for the year.
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.