Baltimore Orioles

Infielders: Second baseman Brian Roberts’ average is still low (.268), but you can live with three homers and nine stolen bases so far in April.  Catcher Ramon Hernandez (.181) started five games last week and had three hits.  His backup, Guillermo Quiroz (.278) started one game, homered and drove in two runs.  Look for more from Quiroz.     

Outfielders: Luke Scott taking a breather?  Jay Payton has started three of the last four games in leftfield.  Adam Jones had nice game last Thursday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles.  A glimpse of what’s to come.  He’s still striking out too much, whiffing 12 times over the last 10 games, but it will come.   

Rotation: Hard luck starter Jeremy Guthrie threw well enough to win last Sunday.  With four quality starts this year he’s better than his 0-3 record.  Daniel Cabrera was dominant last Wednesday, eight innings, five hits, five strikeouts and NO WALKS.  He’s ready to help.  Adam Loewen struggled last Thursday and was placed on disabled list Apr. 25.  The Orioles are going with six pitchers this week, Garrett Olson and Jim Johnson joining the rotation on a trial basis.  If you’ve got room, take a flyer on either/both.  The Orioles continue to amaze.  Brian Burres was brilliant last Saturday tossing eight shutout innings, striking out four.  He moves to 3-1.  

Bullpen: Closer George Sherrill keeps getting it done.  He’s recorded nine saves in nine opportunities.   

Players to Target/Watch: Quiroz, Payton, Olson, Johnson.

Other Notes

What’s with the Orioles?  They’re tied with the Tampa Bay Rays atop the AL East.  Anyone else feel uneasy?   

Boston Red Sox

Infielders: First baseman Kevin Youkilis batted cleanup last Monday and has gone
1-for-20 since.  He can be streaky.  Shortstop Julio Lugo went supernova Apr. 21 with four hits, and a stolen base.  That might be it for the season.  Second baseman Dustin Pedroia registered three doubles and a stolen base last Apr. 22, but his 14-game hit streak was snapped last Saturday.  He’s seventh in the AL in batting average (.324).  Catcher Jason Varitek (flu) missed most of last week, but returned Saturday.  Kevin Cash was decent in relief but will see limited action with Varitek healthy.  Designated hitter David Ortiz (knee) homered in consecutive games last Wednesday and Thursday, but was scratched for both weekend games.  He should be good for Tuesday.  Third baseman Mike Lowell was sent to Triple-A to rehab over the weekend and could rejoin the BoSox as early as Tuesday.  An end to infielder Jed Lowrie’s gig?  With first baseman Sean Casey on the disabled list, Lowrie may stick around, but he’d be better served with more at-bats in the minors.     

Outfielders: Jacoby Ellsbury’s recent renaissance (remember the playoffs!) has made him the main man in centerfield.  Ellsbury is second in the AL in runs (20) and tied for third in stolen bases (8).  Coco Crisp (hamstring) returned last Thursday after two weeks on the shelf.  He’s seen time in the outfield with Manny Ramirez taking over at designated hitter while Ortiz is out.  Crisp is much better than a reserve player so a trade, possibly for relief help, makes sense.  J.D. Drew is cooling off with only four hits in the last nine games.  His hot start was simply an illusion.  Remember last year?    

Rotation: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Clay Buchholz to the mound.  He was outstanding Apr. 21 and should’ve won last Saturday with eight innings of three-hit ball, striking out nine.  Kid’s alright, get him active pronto.  Josh Beckett (neck/flu) was scratched from his start Apr. 22 but struck out a career-high 13 Tampa Bay Rays in a tough loss last Sunday.  No worries.  Emergency starter David Pauley, called up from Triple-A, was not effective and is no longer in the majors.  Daisuke Matsuzaka (flu) was scratched Apr. 23 forcing Jon Lester to pitch on three day’s rest.  Lester wasn’t sharp in a no-decision.  Justin Masterson, called up from Double-A as an emergency starter Apr. 24 pitched six strong innings and left with the lead but received a no-decision.  He was sent back down, but watch for his name in the future.             

Bullpen: A rough week for the bullpen.  The return of five healthy starters should ease the burden.

Players to Target: Buchholz – he’s still not owned in all leagues!

New York Yankees

Infielders: First baseman Jason Giambi (thumb) was removed from the game Apr. 22, but returned the following day.  He capped off the week with six hits, including three homers, three walks and a stolen base.  The big left-handed slugger bumped up his average almost 70 points and is almost a safe play at the corner.  Catcher Jorge Posada (shoulder) returned behind the plate Apr. 22 and was on a 7-for-17 roll before being scratched just before last Sunday’s game and placed on the disabled list for the first time in his 13-year career.  Second baseman Robinson Cano (.158) finally got a hit last Sunday, ending a four-game hitless streak.  He was promptly picked off first base.  Look for something better (anything) until his head unfolds.  Third baseman Alex Rodriguez (hamstring) returned to the lineup last Friday after missing three games.  He’s gone 2-for-11 since returning and has complained of soreness.  Shortstop Alberto Gonzalez started for the slumping Cano Saturday and may see more action if Cano continues to give more can’t than can.      

Outfielders: Johnny Damon was simply Damonesque last week with 11 hits and six runs in six games.  Use it while he’s giving it.  Melky Cabrera continues to get a look higher up in the order, but sadly has not taken advantage of it.  His value will skyrocket if he can land consistently at number one or two.   

Rotation: No worries, Chien-Ming Wang has blown the rust off.  He was dominant over seven scoreless innings last Sunday striking out a season-high nine.  He’s now 5-0.  Mike Mussina got the win in his start last week but gave up two solo homers (seven on the season).  It could’ve been a lot worse.  Phil Hughes gave up one hit while registering a strikeout over two innings last Thursday, but was pulled because of an hour-long rain delay.  The jury is still out with Hughes.  Reserve him if you’ve better options until he shows more promise.  Andy Pettitte admittedly ran out of gas last Friday, taking a messy loss to fall to 3-2.  He’s alternating between good and bad starts.  Ian Kennedy received a no-decision Saturday.  He’s still walking too many batters (2.11 WHIP) 

Bullpen: Closer Mariano Rivera recorded a five-out save Apr. 23 and a “normal” three-outer last Sunday to join Lee Smith and San Diego Padre closer Trevor Hoffman as the only members of the 450-save club.  He still has no ERA (0.00).  Joba Chamberlain suffered his first major league loss Apr. 24, but man-handled the opposition in his next eighth-inning appearance, striking out two.  Still pen-bound at the moment, the shaky starting rotation is giving management plenty of reason to consider Chamberlain in a different light – a starter.        

Players to Target: Damon, Cano (if you can stomach the dry spell), Chamberlain.

Tampa Bay Rays

Infielders: Catcher Dioner Navarro (hand) returned Apr. 22 after missing almost three weeks and has gone 7-for-18 in six games.  He’s legit.  First baseman Carlos Pena is struggling.  He’s struck out 11 times in his last 17 at-bats.  Last year a fluke?  Swim in warmer water until Pena’s bat thaws.  Evan Longoria hit his second and third major league homers last week.  He’s raised his average almost 40 points in seven games.  Needles to say, keep him active.  First baseman Dan Johnson was outrighted to the minors last Friday without getting an at-bat for the Rays.  He’ll be back.  

Outfielders: Carl Crawford is hitting, stealing bases again.  His 12-game hit streak was snapped last Friday, but his average is now a healthy .300.  That’s far cry from .204 on April 12.  Seven stolen bases so far in April is right on track.  

Rotation: Has James Shields turned the corner?  His two-hit, seven strikeout shutout victory over the BoSox last Sunday was sublime.  Don’t look back.  Get ready, Scott Kazmir should be back by the end of the week.  Jason Hammel not sharp last Wednesday and may be the odd-man-out in the rotation when Kazmir returns.  He’ll get one more crack this week.  Andy Sonnanstine still has a high ERA (5.28), but two solid wins in a row seem to have cemented his spot in the rotation.  Matt Garza’s first start back from the disabled list (a no-decision) was acceptable, with some room for improvement.  Like a lot of young pitchers he’s got to cut down on free passes.  Edwin Jackson returned to dominance in his fifth start Apr. 26.  That’s three beauties and two stinkers on the year.  In this case, side with beauty.       

Bullpen: Troy Percival had four saves last week.  With the Kazmir and Garza returning from injury this could get interesting.

Players to Target: Percival, Navarro, Jackson, Garza.

Other Notes

Six consecutive wins without their staff ace and a cleanup hitter batting only .200.  Onward and upward from here.   

Toronto Blue Jays

Infielders: Matt Stairs is the new designated hitter in town.  His 11-game hitting streak was broken Apr. 24, but his .309 average is head and shoulders better/bigger than the old/Hurt designated hitter (Frank Thomas at .167).  Third baseman Scott Rolen certainly hasn’t wasted any time working out the kinks.  Activated last Friday, Rolen’s gone 4-for-10 with two doubles, a home run and a stolen base in his first three games back.  Get him, it’s go-time for the veteran. 

Outfielders: Adam Lind was called up last Saturday and has taken over in left field.  He’s been held hitless in seven at-bats so Shannon Stewart owners don’t have reason to jump just yet – but they’re near the edge.  Alex Rios led off last Sunday and had four hits including a double and a triple.  The Jays need a more dynamic force at the top of the order.  If Rios sticks at the top, sell the farm to get him.  He’s got 30-30 written all over him.  Can the Jays read?      

Rotation: Shaun Marcum had an off-outing Apr. 21, but pitched well enough to win (he lost) last Saturday.  Don’t give up on him.  Beaten up in his last two starts, Jesse Litsch righted the ship last Sunday winning his third game of the season.  Litsch worked seven strong innings allowing only five hits while striking out four.  Roy Halladay pitched another complete game loss last Wednesday.  That’s three complete games in a row with only one win.  Shame on the offense.  Dustin McGowan started very strong last Thursday, but fell apart, walking seven over four innings. Needless to say he lost, but struck out six.  McGowan is still putting it together.  A.J. Burnett was a tough-luck loser last Friday, he left with the lead, but the bullpen took him out to the shed.  Like McGowan, expect better things.       

Players to Target: Lind, Rolen, Stairs, see who’s soured on Marcum, McGowan and Burnett. 

Other Notes

The Jays broke out of a mini six-game funk last Sunday.  Expect Rolen to spark the suddenly listless lineup.