Welcome to Week 19. The Rockies have the schedule edge this week with 7 home games. They play the Nats 4 times and the Padres 3 times. Matt Holliday, Jeff Baker and Brad Hawpe could all have big weeks. Plus, Aaron Cook could be a very good two-start pitcher. The Astros have 3 games in Chicago, and 4 in Cincinnati, two good parks for Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee to tally some good stats this week. Over in the AL, the Yankees have 4 games in Texas, so Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler are all good plays.
Sports Buff Contest and CDM Challenge
1. Roy Halladay ($49) - OAK Home, CLE Home
2. Ryan Dempster ($35) - HOU Home, STL Home
3. Manny Parra ($32) - CIN Away, WAS Home
4. Cliff Lee ($33) - TB Away, TOR Away
5. Matt Garza ($36) CLE Home, SEA Away
6. Joba Chamberlain ($35) - TEX Away, LAA Away
7. Aaron Cook ($33) - WAS Home, SD Home
8. Dan Haren ($44) - PIT Home, ATL Home
9. Joe Saunders ($38) - BAL Home, NYY Home
10. Jair Jurrjens ($30) - SF Away, ARZ Away
11.Matt Cain($36) - ATL Home, LAD Home
12.Edinson Volquez($36) - MIL Home, HOU Home
13.Brandon Webb($51) - PIT Home, ATL Home
I personally like Garza, Parra and Cook.
CDM Diamond Challenge
1. Brandon Webb ($1300) - PIT Home, ATL Home
2. Dan Haren ($1190) - PIT Home, ATL Home
3. Joe Saunders ($530) - BAL Home, NYY Home
4. Roy Halladay ($1180) - OAK Home, CLE Home
5. Ryan Dempster ($1170) - HOU Home, STL Home
6. Manny Parra ($750) - CIN Away, WAS Home
7. Cliff Lee ($750) - TB Away, TOR Away
8. Matt Garza ($540) CLE Home, SEA Away
9. Joba Chamberlain ($700) - TEX Away, LAA Away
10. Matt Cain ($880) - ATL Home, LAD Home
11. Edinson Volquez ($400) - MIL Home, HOU Home
Team Schedules
Seven Games - Arizona, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, New York Yankees, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Texas, Toronto, Washington.
Everybody else plays six games.
Injuries
1. Tim Hudson (SP, ATL) - He will finally have season ending elbow surgery.
Players on the rise
1. Kelly Shoppach (C, CLE) - Hit .476 last week with 4 dingers and 6 RBI.
2. Mike Aviles (SS, KC) - Hit .500 with 2 HR last week.
3. Jermaine Dye (OF, CHW) - 26 HR, 68 RBI and is hitting .308 for the year.
4. Francisco Liriano (SP, MIN) - Was finally recalled from AAA Rochester this week.
Players on the decline
1. Jeff Kent (2B, LAD) - Hitting ony .254 with 10 HR.
2. Livan Hernandez (SP, MIN) - He was released this past week.
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.