Welcome back to our exclusive weekly player hot and cold feature. I recommend you use the information in this column like I do to identify players who might be worth picking up this week, as well as ones to consider benching or moving, perhaps.

 

Consider this the ultimate in short-term gratification. We’re not looking at histories of contact rates or command or anything other than what has occurred over the last week in the ten standard fantasy scoring categories, whether good or bad.

 

I will be calling out names that may have eluded your notice that either could still be available on your waiver wire in a mixed league or perhaps stashed on someone’s bench in an AL or NL-only league. I will pick anyone who is on ice, as that information can help guide your line-up selection choices.

 

Fire

 

Catcher

Kurt Suzuki, Oak

.632 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 4 R

After a lost May, during which he batted just .213 with five RBI, Suzuki has revved up his engine this month. He doubled his RBIs to ten and is hitting a robust, Chipper Jones-like .377. The second-year catcher may be available in some mixed leagues, but if so, he probably won’t be for long.

 

First Base

Jeff Baker, Col

.421 BA, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, 8 R

The former Rockies top prospect is working himself into a supersub role, playing at first, second and in the outfield. Baker has a .417 average this month. He hit long balls in four consecutive games last week, incredibly tying the club record. Yet, with Troy Tulowitzki back and Clint Barmes on his way back, too, playing time could become an issue.

 

Second Base

Damion Easley, NYM

.353 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R

Seems like Easley has been in MLB forever. Pretty close, as he was drafted in 1988 and came up in 1992. Yet, playing behind hobbled Luis Castillo, with Jose Reyes needing some rest, injured outfielders right and left and a new coaching staff could add up to more at-bats for the veteran.

 

Shortstop

Mike Aviles, KC

.333 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 6 R

What? A Kansas City hitter on fire? And, it is a guy no one has heard of? A great story, in that the 27 year-old finally got his big break and is running with it. You are probably too late in AL-only leagues, but Aviles might be to the point he is worth a mixed league filer if you need middle infield help.

 

Third Base

Russell Branyan, Mil

.333 BA, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, 5 R

Bill Hall, who? If you didn’t see this coming, get in line with the rest of us. Of course, the 32-year-old has done this before in short stretches. All indications are that he will continue to get playing time for the struggling Brew Crew. Since last with Milwaukee, here are some of the organizations that gave up on Branyan – San Diego, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and St. Louis along with earlier stops in Cincinnati and his initial home, Cleveland. That doesn’t even count minor league assignments.

 

Outfield

Willie Bloomquist, Sea

.500 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 SB, 4 R

It was a relatively-modest 8-for-16 week. Yet with hits in his last five games, three of them multi-hit outings, and a new coaching regime in place, Bloomquist could see more time for the M’s. A long-time fave of our Lawr Michaels, Willie provided his owners with a pair of stolen bases last week. AL players, take note. Bloomquist also has middle infield eligibility in many leagues.

 

Elijah Dukes, Was

.462 BA, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 SB, 5 R

Who cares if the guys on your fantasy team are ones you might not want to bring home for dinner? Since dusting it up with Manager Manny Acta on June 10 over a lack of handshakes, Dukes has raised his average 75 points and stolen five bases.

 

Ryan Sweeney, Oak

.333 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 SB, 6 R

Even those who follow the A’s for a living never seem to know for sure which players will be manning their outfield. By my count, they have had at least eight of them in the first half. Yet a now-healthy Sweeney is hitting just under .300 and put together a 13-game hitting streak. He also doubled his stolen base total last week.

 

Starters

Kevin Millwood, Tex

1 W, 14 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 9 K

Sure, Millwood has been a bust for fantasy owners since signing with the Rangers. But he has been on a modest string recently, with three wins and three quality starts in his last five outings. The veteran righty could help you still in an AL format. I just grabbed him in my local league.

 

Zach Duke, Pit

0 W, 13 IP, 2.77 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 6 K

Of course, because Duke toils for the Bucs, he has no wins to show for a pair of nice outings against Baltimore and Toronto. Still, he can help, having not given up more than four runs in his last ten outings. I picked up Duke for $10 FAAB in NL Tout Wars last week.

 

Tim Redding, Was

0 W, 12 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 9 K

You can count on Redding for six innings and three earned runs, but no wins. Still, he has pitched well enough for six consecutive no-decisions, which is a feat in itself considering his club is 30-45 on the season. Interesting, but no real help to your fantasy squad. Move along.

      

Reliever

Brian Fuentes, Col

4 SV, 0 BS, 0-0 W-L, 4 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4 K

If you want to trade for a closer, I suggest targeting Fuentes, who regained his job earlier in the season from Manny Corpas. Play off the rumors that Fuentes could be traded to a contender and become a set-up man, ala Mike Gonzalez a few years ago. I think the Rockies want to compete, still only eight games out in a weak NL West, and Fuentes is their man.

 

Ice

 

Catcher

Geovany Soto, ChC

.211 BA, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R

Getting out of the gates quickly cemented Soto’s reputation and being the young catcher to have. Yet, his average by month has been plummeting – April .341, May .271 and June .224. Worse, after totaling 38 RBIs prior to this month, Soto has just five in June. If you were going to sell high, always a decent idea with hot-starting catchers, don’t wait too long.

 

First Base

Todd Helton, Col

.091 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R

Helton is in the midst of an uncharacteristic 8-for-44 drought, dropping his season average to a most pedestrian .277. Without average, Helton is a total liability. Just remember this. Helton’s last season of more than 20 home runs was 2004. His last year with 100 RBI was 2003. In other words, the former top pick has essentially become Lyle Overbay.

 

Second Base

Chase Utley, Phi

.000 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 2 R

Utley is so good that he scored twice and drove in two last week despite going totally hitless. Maybe this 0-for-23 stretch is the time to try to trade for him. Good luck in that!

 

Shortstop

Michael Young, Tex

.077 BA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R

You can’t be too greedy. What comes after a 23-game hitting streak? How about a balancing slump of 1-for-31? It is a part of the game, so deal with it. By the way, Young has already quietly scored 52 runs on the season.

 

Third Base

Scott Rolen, Tor

.091 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R

Though his trademark, Gold Glove Award-quality defense hasn’t suffered, Rolen’s power is gone. He already had his obligatory DL stint with a broken finger, so maybe that is done with, but Rolen slugged under .400 last season and is at .415 this year. His career mark is over .500. Looks like the Cardinals did better, getting Troy Glaus in trade to replace the fading Rolen.

 

Outfield

Adam Dunn, Cin

.150 BA, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 1 R

Some things never change. Dunn is among the MLB leaders in walks, he is hitting for power (18 HR/43 RBI), but is also a batting average black hole (.223). Perhaps a rumored trade would help matters, but don’t count on it helping. Also, don’t count on it being to Toronto.

 

Bobby Abreu, NYY

.091 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 1 R

The Yankees right fielder is struggling this month, hitting just .205 with one home run and eight RBI. Consider a temporary benching until he comes back around again. He will.

 

Ken Griffey, Jr., Cin

.083 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, 0 R

In his defense, Junior has been dealing with a stomach ailment. On the other, he is hitting just .244 on the season with seven home runs. He needs to kick it up if he wants to be an appealing trade target for any club.

 

Starters

Randy Johnson, Ari

0 W, 12.1 IP, 10.22 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 4 K

The man formerly known as The Big Unit is now The Big Mediocre, lugging a sub-.500 record for a first-place club, an ERA over five and a WHIP of 1.42. The only real positive is 71 strikeouts in 77 innings. But those are expensive Ks.

 

Aaron Cook, Col

1 W, 13 IP, 6.23 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, 6 K

I have a special method to indicate overachieving players. I look at trade offers made to me in the National League Tout Wars competition. Sure enough, I received two different deals touting Cook last week from an owner trying to sell high while getting some of my steals and saves. I passed.

 

Adam Eaton, Phi

0 W, 11.2 IP, 6.94 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, 3 K

After a brief promising stretch, Eaton has returned to being… Eaton. He doesn’t fan enough hitters to help 5x5 players, allows too many baserunners and doesn’t pitch deep enough into games to collect many wins, either. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?

 

Reliever 

C.J. Wilson, Tex

2 SV, 0 BS, 0-1, 3.1 IP, 13.50 ERA, 3.60 WHIP, 2 K

The first-year closer is carrying an ERA over five and in addition to taking a loss last week, he was pulled from another save situation before he could blow it. While the job is Wilson's for now, grab veteran Eddie Guardado for insurance and hope for the best.

 

Brian Walton’s work can also be found daily at stlcardinals.scout.com.