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American LeagueJon Lester – SP – BOS - In the first 41 2/3 innings Lester pitched this season, he issued 23 walks. In his last 20 1/3, he's issued just five. Granted, one of those outings was his no-hitter, but it's still an encouraging trend. Control has been the young pitcher's biggest problem (besides, uh, cancer) in the majors, and maybe his stellar outing on Monday will give him the confidence to attack the plate with more regularity. He's predictably seen a spike in ownership lately, and while he's worth owning, it's probably best to make sure he's used only in the right match-ups until he proves he's figured out how to hit his spots for good. Recommendation: Should be owned in AL leagues, streamed in mixedBartolo Colon – SP – BOS He's back! Again! In his first start of the season, Colon limited the Royals to two runs in just five innings. Colon was working in the low nineties, and figures to improve on that as he continues get back in shape. Of course, being "in shape" for Colon probably has a different meaning than for the rest of us. Colon was solid in Triple-A rehab appearances, going 14 innings with a 0.64 ERA and striking out 11, but durability issues will almost certainly hamper him this season. In 2007, five of his first six starts were quality, but he was pretty terrible after that and had to go back on the disabled list twice. In the early part of the season, he should contribute to fantasy teams, just don't expect it to last.Recommendation: Should be owned in AL leagues, streamed in mixed leagues Hank Blalock – 3B/1B – TEX Based on last year's September, in which he hit .313 with five homers in just 64 at-bats, experts everywhere were predicting that Blalock could return to his 30-homer ways. His April numbers weren't incredibly inspiring, but he did hit three homers while struggling with a bad back. Blalock will return to first base, which should help him stay healthy in the short term, and he'll join an offense that has scored the third most runs in baseball this season. The upside makes him a worthwhile gamble in leagues of most sizes.Recommendation: Should be owned in AL leagues, considered in mixedJoey Devine – RP – OAK - Both Andrew Brown and Santiago Casilla have been knocked out due to injury, so Devine figures to see plenty of work late in close games. Devine's biggest problem in his brief stints in the majors has always been walks. In 19 2/3 innings prior to this season, he had issued 22 free passes. In his first 16 1/3 innings this season, he issued just 3 bases on balls, although he's given up four in three innings since assuming a larger role. Still, Devine has struck out 26 hitters in 19 1/3 innings, compiling a 1.40 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. With Santiago Casilla sidelined for the next month, Devine is also a top candidate to replace Huston Street if something happens to him. Even if that doesn't happen, he should post solid numbers with plenty of strikeouts in Oakland.Recommendation: Should be owned in AL-only leagues, watched in mixedEric Chavez – 3B – OAK - Eric Chavez could be back as soon as next week, and he could be just what's needed for teams starved for help at third base. His last two years have been zapped by injuries, but as we mentioned in our draft guide, he's only 30 years old and could return to his old form if he can stay healthy. He's been able to hit all season, but the team has been cautious with him due to fielding concerns. He's currently hitting .421/.450/.737 in 19 minor league at bats, and while expectations should be tempered, he's available in almost every league.Recommendation: Worth consideration in AL and mixed leagues.Jose Guillen – OF – KC - Guillen has been covered here before, but he's raised his average almost 100 points this month after a dismal April. He's already hit six home runs, tempering fears raised by offseason steroid allegations, and he's shown in the past that he can maintain a batting average right around .290. As the cleanup hitter in Kansas City, he has value as a third or fourth outfielder.Recommendation: Should be owned in AL leagues, considered in mixed leaguesJeremy Reed – OF – SEA - Reed was once one of the better prospects in the game, but disappointing 2005 in the majors has been followed by injuries and he now projects to be little more than a fourth outfielder. He did manage to hit .300 at Triple-A last season, and had hit an impressive .349 there this year before getting called up on Monday. He had just 19 homers in over 700 at-bats during that span, but don't be surprised if he starts seeing more playing time in Seattle's anemic offense. He's 2-for-6 since getting recalled, and the Mariners really have nothing to lose by giving the 26-year-old one more shot with the team. Recommendation: Watch in AL, mixed leaguesAlexei Ramirez – 2B/OF – CHW First off, and perhaps most importantly, this guy looks exactly like Starvin' Marvin from South Park. It's uncanny. He's one of the skinniest ballplayers I've ever seen, but he displayed plenty of power in Cuba and has an absolute cannon of an arm. What he doesn't have is consistent playing time in Chicago. Over the last week he's been filling in for Juan Uribe, and he's gone 7-for-22, raising his average to .203. The only other time he's gotten regular playing time was in spring training, when he hit .358/.375/.582 with just 12 strikeouts in 67 at-bats. Still, both Juan Uribe and Danny Richar figure to challenge him for playing time, giving Alexei little long-term job security. Recommendation: Flier in AL leagues, watch in mixed leaguesNational LeagueSalomon Torres – RP – MIL - Eric Gagne is suffering from rotator-cuff tendonitis, and while it's possible he'll be able to avoid a trip to the disabled list, he's going to miss at least a week and quite possibly more. The Brewers say they'll close by committee, but Torres is the favorite to get most save opportunities in the meantime. Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues for now.Wandy Rodriguez – SP – HOU Rodriguez could return to Houston's rotation as soon as next week, and once he does return he should slip right back into his familiar role as "guy who you only start when he's at home." He had a 2.94 ERA at home last season, compared to 6.37 on the road. This year he's tallied a 0.98 mark at home, limiting batters to a .188 average against him in Houston.Recommendation: Stream in both NL and mixed leagues.Dmitri Young – 1B – WAS - It's almost as if Nick Johnson would rather watch Da Meat Hook play than trot out there himself. Just as Young was nearing a return from the sprained back that has sidelined him for most of the season, Johnson went and messed up his wrist, handing Young the starting job for the second year in a row. Young's fantasy value seemed to be zapped before he tallied a .320-13-74 line in 136 games last season. His new stadium is a better hitter's park, and he has at least a month at first base, possibly longer depending on Johnson's recovery.Recommendation: Grab in NL-Only leagues, watch in mixed leagues Andrew Miller – SP – FLA - For a solid analysis of Andrew Miller, check out Aaron Gleeman's always-stellar Daily Dose from Friday.Recommendation: Should be owned in NL leagues, worth a flier in mixed leagues.
Mark Kotsay – OF – ATL - Kotsay has been moved up to the second spot in Atlanta's order, and although he's hitting just .256 in that slot this season, he's scored nine runs in just 39 at-bats in the two-hole. Kotsay is hitting .296 on the season, and has little speed or power, but he should continue to score plenty at the top of Atlanta's lineup. Just be aware that his back injury could flare up at any time.Recommendation: Should be owned in NL leagues, considered in AL leagues.Chris Perez – RP – STL - Chris Perez is the closer of the future in St. Louis, and with Jason Isringhausen expected to be out for the next four-to-six weeks, he could get a chance soon. He had posted a 2.04 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings in Triple-A this season, and since getting called up he's pitched three scoreless innings without allowing a single hit. On Sunday, he was trusted to pitch in the top of the ninth in a tie game. He could get a look if Ryan Franklin falters, and should get plenty of holds and strikeouts in the meantime. Recommendation: Worth grabbing in deep NL leagues, watch in mixed leagues.Jacque Jones – OF – FLA - November 12 was a devastating day for NL-only leagues in France, as national hero Jacque Jones was traded from the Cubs to the Tigers. Rest easy, Francois! He's back! Jones is currently on a minor league rehab assignment, but he figures to start against righties when he makes it back to the majors. Jones is hitting just .165, but it's in only 79 at-bats. Also, he didn't really heat up until the second half of last season, hitting .332 after the All Star game. Recommendation: Grab in NL-Only leagues, monitor in deep mixed leagesMichael Barrett – C- MIL - Wednesday night in San Diego was quite a roller coaster. At first, it was pure excitement as Albert Pujols smacked a liner right into Chris Young's face, breaking his nose. That was followed by the uncomfortable embrace of Pujols and Adrian Gonzalez, who apparently decided to start praying for Young while locked in a side hug. Thankfully, Pujols again livened things up by giving Josh Bard a high ankle sprain as he slid into home. Michael Barrett is currently finishing up a rehab assignment in Triple-A, but he should be back within a week. Big things were expected of him last season, but a fight with Carlos Zambrano, a trade to San Diego and an injury were all parts of a disappointing season. Barrett had three straight seasons with 16 homers and an OPS over 820 before last year, though, and while playing in Petco will clearly hurt, he could end up making a case to be the Padres' full-time catcher.Recommendation: Worth consideration in NL leagues, watch in mixed leaguesUbaldo Jimenez – SP – COL - Jimenez has pitched well in his last three outings, surrendering six runs in 20 2/3 innings while compiling a 17/6 K/BB ratio. One thing to consider is that the outings came against San Diego, Minnesota and San Francisco, who are hardly offensive juggernauts. Still, it's encouraging for his odds at success this season that he seems to have found his control in his most recent starts. He's still going to need to improve if he's ever going to become an icon in America, and finally make the name "Ubaldo" popular, but the three performances are at least a step in the right direction.Recommendation: Worth owning in NL leagues, watch in mixed leaguesTim Redding – SP – WAS - After shutting out the Phillies for 6 1/3 innings on Monday, Tim Redding now has a 3.16 ERA, but that masks a very mediocre 36/22 K/BB ratio. So far Redding's shown that he can't get through the order more than three times without getting hit hard, and his .234 BABIP is bound to rise. Still, he could be worth using in the right match-up this season, but with Milwaukee and Arizona next on the schedule, now's not the time to start counting on him. Recommendation: Worth owning in NL leagues, stream in mixed leagues.Jack Wilson – SS- PIT - Wilson is nearing the end of a rehab assignment and could be back with the Pirates in the next couple of days. He posted a solid .293 batting last season, but his peripheral numbers were pretty weak. When he returns this season, though, he'll be a part of an offense that is in the top 10 in terms of runs scored, compared to an offense that was in the bottom ten last season. It's unlikely he'll maintain the solid numbers from last season, but the better surrounding cast could boost his fantasy relevance.Recommendation: Should be owned in NL leagues, watch in mixed leaguesJesus Flores – C – WAS - Through 14 games, Jesus Flores is hitting .357, and the Nationals staff has taken notice, with GM Jim Bowden saying that Flores might remain the primary catcher once Paul Lo Duca returns from the disabled list. Of course, for that to remain true, Flores' unsustainable .467 BABIP can't come down before then. Flores has a bright future as a power-hitting catcher, but the 23-year-old still needs time to refine his game. Even if the last-place Nats let him develop in the majors, don't expect this level of success to continue. That being said, he's worth using in NL leagues, even though he will suffer a drop from his current lofty production.Recommendation: Worth consideration in NL leagues, watch in mixed leagues