| Players of the Week: July 14 - 20 |
| American League |
| Luke Scott |
 | Team: Baltimore Orioles |
| Pos: OF |
| Stats: He hit .538 (7-13) with four runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and six RBI. |
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| National League |
| Willie Harris |
 | Team: Washington Nationals |
| Pos: LF |
| Stats: Hit .583 (7-for-12) and led the N.L. with seven RBI. |
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Alphabetical Listing
Position Listing
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Fantasy Updates
Indians make another trade, get Reyes
Anthony Reyes, RP STL
News: Anthony Reyes, who won Game 1 of the 2006 World Series for St. Louis, was traded by the Cardinals on Saturday to the Cleveland Indians for minor league pitcher Luis Perdomo. It was the second trade of the day for the Indians, who earlier dealt third baseman Casey Blake to the Los Angeles Dodgers for switch-hitting catcher Carlos Santana and pitcher Jonathan Meloan.
Analysis: The 26-year-old Reyes has split this season between the Cardinals' bullpen and the starting rotation at Triple-A Memphis. The right-hander was on St. Louis' opening day roster and went 2-1 with a save in 10 relief appearances. He was placed on the disabled list in June with a sprained right elbow. He should be picked up in AL-only formats as a possible second-half sleeper with a chance for a revival in Fantasy value on a new club.
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Blake traded to the Dodgers
Casey Blake, 3B LA
News: The Dodgers have traded Carlos Santana and right-hander Jonathan Meloan to Cleveland for third baseman/outfielder Casey Blake and cash. The Indians would move Andy Marte into their everyday third base slot. There is still no word on if the Dodgers plan to use Blake as their everyday third baseman ahead of Blake DeWitt and Andy LaRoche.
Analysis: Blake is batting .289 for the Indians, but he's been hot over the last month, with a .347 average, four home runs and 12 RBI in his last 21 games. This would obviously be a blow to anybody who owns him in AL-only formats, but Fantasy owners in NL-only leagues should get ready to invest on Blake off the waiver wire. He'll get regular at-bats at third base it appears and will be a solid corner infield option in those leagues.
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 Hunter has career day vs. Orioles
Torii Hunter, CF ANA
News: Torii Hunter homered twice, had five RBI and scored four runs to carry the Los Angeles Angels over the skidding Baltimore Orioles 11-6 Saturday night. Hunter went 3-for-3 with two walks. He hit a two-run single in the first inning, a solo homer in third and a two-run shot in the ninth. It was his third two-homer game of the season and the 11th of his career.
Analysis: Hunter's home run total is 15 for the season and he's now riding am eight-game hitting streak. He remains a decent option in most leagues on a regular basis, but his days of approaching 30 homers, 100 RBI and 20 steals appear to be behind him. He appears to be very hot right now.
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 Millwood on DL; Laird off DL
Kevin Millwood, SP TEX
News: The Rangers placed RHP Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right groin and activated C Gerald Laird from the DL. Laird had been sidelined since June 21 with a strained right hamstring.
Analysis: Laird will most likely back up Jarrod Saltalamacchia for the Rangers. He's only a viable Fantasy candidate in deeper mixed formats if he can put together a string of starts. Millwood wasn't pitching very well lately, anyway, and should only be an option in AL-only leagues, when healthy. He was scheduled to make two starts next week, but that won't happen.
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Sweeney's pinkie keeps him out
Ryan Sweeney, CF OAK
News: Oakland OF Ryan Sweeney was held out of the starting lineup Saturday against the Rangers with a sore left pinkie.
Analysis: The A's young lead off hitter was heating up and should grow into a nice low-end Fantasy option in most deeper mixed leagues over the second half of the season. You will see his percentage owned numbers steadily rise in the coming weeks, but only if he can get over this terrible pinkie injury.
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Salty goes 2-for-3 Saturday
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C TEX
News: Texas long-named catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia went 2-for-3 on Saturday against the Oakland A's. The man doubled, drove in two runs and crossed the plate twice for the Rangers. He also walked.
Analysis: Salty is on a three-game hitting streak and has hits in five of his last six games. He's only batting .232, however, and since the Rangers recalled Gerald Laird, he may see less time behind the plate. That makes him just an AL-only option at this time.
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Davis continues assault on Mr. Rawlings
Chris Davis, 1B TEX
News: Texas 1B Chris Davis continued his hot hitting Saturday against the A's by going 2-for-4 and hitting his 10th home run of the season in 89 plate appearances. Davis drove in two runs and scored two of his own.
Analysis: Davis has his batting average up to .303 after notching four straight multi-hit efforts. He's got three homers and five RBI in that grouping. He's hot and should be starting in all Fantasy formats as long as he stays that way. He's still available in 47 percent of Fantasy leagues, so go pick him up if you need help at his position.
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Byrd homers Saturday against Oakland
Marlon Byrd, CF TEX
News: Texas center fielder Marlon Byrd picked up his fifth home run of the season against the Athletics Saturday. Byrd went 2-for-4 and chipped in a single. He's batting .252.
Analysis: Byrd is actually pretty hot right now as he's hit in seven of his last eight appearances. He doesn't have much power, however. Rangers manager Ron Washington is fond of the former top prospect, despite his lack of discipline at the plate. Still, we don't recommend him outside of AL-only Fantasy formats.
Profile
Hamilton homers again, has 103 RBI
Josh Hamilton, CF TEX
News: Josh Hamilton emerged from a postgame workout in the weight room sporting a royal blue "HAMILTON MACHINE" T-shirt. And nobody can argue with the message. Hamilton keeps one-upping himself. There's no choice -- hardly anyone in the majors can keep up with his production. Hamilton hit a three-run homer to increase his major league-leading RBI total to 103, and the Texas Rangers beat All-Star pitcher Justin Duchscherer and the Oakland Athletics 9-4 on Saturday. "That ball was hit well," Hamilton said. "I don't know if I can hit a ball much better." The night before, Hamilton hit a two-run shot and reached 100 RBI for the first time in his career -- in his 99th game of the season, no less.
Analysis: There simply isn't a better story in Fantasy baseball than him and Fantasy owners should continue to reap the benefits of taking a low-risk on him and getting such a high reward out of it.
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E. Brown slams ninth homer Saturday
Emil Brown, LF OAK
News: Oakland outfielder Emil Brown got a start on Saturday against the Texas Rangers and made the most of it. Brown hit his ninth home run of the season. It was his only hit in five ABs.
Analysis: Brown is hitting .246 this season. He is part of a crowded outfield in Oakland, but he gets enough starts to be worthy in some AL-only formats.
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Ellis hits home run No. 10 for A's
Mark Ellis, 2B OAK
News: Oakland 2B Mark Ellis hit his 10th home run of the season on Saturday against the Rangers. It was his only hit in four ABs.
Analysis: Ellis has just four hits in his last eight games and isn't seeing regular playing time with a .232 batting average. Ellis will put together some nice streaks and power outbreaks, but he doesn't perform well over long stretches. Ellis remains a low-end Fantasy 2B.
Profile
 Duchscherer winless since All-Star Break
Justin Duchscherer, SP OAK
News: A's SP Justin Duchscherer (10-7) is winless in three starts since the All-Star break and lost for only the second time in 10 starts at home Saturday against the Rangers. He allowed season highs of nine hits and eight earned runs after not yielding more than three earned runs all year.
Analysis: This is the second loss in a row for the man who's name it is difficult and tedious to spell. Still, it's not like he was allowing many runs before Saturday's gaffe and the Rangers are one of the best hitting teams in the league. You may want to back off the normal must-start pitcher in Fantasy week 18 (July 28-August 3) because the Athletics will meet Boston at Fenway in his next scheduled start Friday.
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Harrison earns 2nd major league victory
Matt Harrison, SP TEX
News: Texas starter Matt Harrison could only pitch five innings on Saturday against the Athletics, but earned his second victory of his career. Harrison allowed three runs -- one earned -- on five hits. He walked three and notched one strikeout. In four starts he's got a 7.32 ERA.
Analysis: Harrison won his MLB debut July 8 against the Los Angeles Angels. He then looked terrible in his next two starts. Though he didn't pitch deep into the game Saturday, he certainly looked pretty good. Harrison will continue to start for the Rangers and is normally only viable in AL-only leagues. You may want to give him a whirl in Fantasy week 18 (July 28-August 3), however, as he next pitches Thursday against lowly Seattle.
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Hurley to pitch Sunday; Ramirez goes down
Eric Hurley, SP TEX
News: Texas manager Ron Washington said Saturday the club plans to activate RHP Eric Hurley on Sunday and send reserve C Max Ramirez to the minors.
Analysis: Manager Ron Washington said Hurley should be activated and start Sunday at Oakland. Hurley has upside and only a 3.57 ERA through four starts, but until he develops more of a track record, leave him for AL-only leagues. Ramirez doesn't have much Fantasy worth, especially in the minors.
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Feliz sits again Saturday for Phils
Pedro Feliz, 3B PHI
News: Phillies 3B Pedro Feliz was not in the lineup Saturday after being scratched from the lineup Friday against the Braves because of tightness in his lower back. He has gone 1-for-21 (.048) since the All-Star break.
Analysis: Feliz probably could use the rest, injury or no injury. This particular ailment doesn't sound too serious, but if he continues to rest over the weekend, you might want to consider reserving him for Fantasy Week 18 (July 28-August 3). He's not much of a mixed-league option anyway.
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Braves' Kotsay picks up two hits
Mark Kotsay, CF ATL
News: Atlanta outfielder Mark Kotsay had a pretty nice little game on Saturday against the Phillies. Kotsay went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk. He's batting .283 on the year.
Analysis: Kotsay has hits in six of his last seven games with four of those coming as multi-hit nights. Still, he doesn't give you enough power production or steals to be much of a viable Fantasy candidate in any league. He's mostly just an NL-only option.
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