Our weekly digest of everything fantasy baseball. Facts don't lie and The Lineup is full of 'em. Stats through July 27:



Detroit Tigers, OF
Stats: .387 AVG, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 10 R, 2 SB
Comment: Hitting at a .407 clip thus far in the second half of the season and is tied for fourth in the League with 81 R this season.

New York Yankees, OF
Stats: .371 AVG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R, 0 SB
Comment: Matsui hit 10 HR in July, the most he has ever hit in one calendar month in his Major League career.

New York Yankees, 3B
Stats: .320 AVG, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 10 R, 2 SB
Comment: Just one away from joining the exclusive 500 HR club, he would become the 22nd member and the youngest person to accomplish the feat.


Kansas City Royals, SP
Stats: 2-0, 0.64 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 9 SO
Comment: Spun 7 shutout innings against the Texas Rangers Friday and has only walked three batters in his last three games.

Chicago White Sox, RP
Stats: 1-0, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 3 SO
Comment: Rebounded incredibly this week after enduring a tough start to his July.

San Francisco Giants, SP
Stats: 2-0, 1.29 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 13 SO
Comment: Dominant July; opponents are hitting just .181 against him while he has struck out 38 in 33.1 innings.



Cleveland Indians, DH
Stats: .115 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 0 SB
Comment: Disappointing season continues for Pronk and his fantasy owners.

Atlanta Braves, OF
Stats: .179 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R, 0 SB
Comment: Perhaps a bit presumptuous for people to declare his slump over.

Chicago Cubs, OF
Stats: .160 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 0 SB
Comment: After a tremendous June, July has not been kind to Soriano (.245 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 14 R, 3 SB, 22 SO in 22 games).


Florida Marlins, RP
Stats: 0-1, 16.20 ERA, 2.40 WHIP, 3 SO
Comment: Don't think anyone really needs to worry about closer Kevin Gregg losing his job to this bum.

San Francisco Giants, SP
Stats: 0-1, 8.31 ERA, 2.31 WHIP, 2 SO
Comment: Poor performance against Atlanta on Monday was his ninth loss in his last 10 decisions.

Minnesota Twins, SP
Stats: 0-1, 10.80 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 4 SO
Comment: Allowed 4 HR in a game for the first time in 163 MLB starts.


Seattle Mariners, C
Comment: Very solid career stats against the L.A. Angels (.295 AVG, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 11 RBI, 1 SB in 26 games) and Boston Red Sox (.326 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB in 13 games).

CLos Angeles Dodgers, C
Comment: Has been slumping recently but don't worry. He has terrific numbers this season against the San Francisco Giants (.483 AVG, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 1 SB in 8 games) and Arizona Diamondbacks (.353 AVG, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, 0 SB in 8 games).

Chicago White Sox, 1B
Comment: Road AVG stands at an underachieving .254, but the power numbers are actually better away from US Cellular Field (12 HR, 38 RBI, 25 R in 52 games).

St. Louis Cardinals, 1B
Comment: Just in case some of you are even considering benching him because of his struggles, keep his road numbers in mind: .347 AVG, 14 HR, 14 HR, 33 RBI, 39 R in 52 games.

Baltimore Orioles, 2B
Comment: Sparkling numbers away from Baltimore in 2007: .327 AVG, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 35 R, 15 SB in 53 games.

Pittsburgh Pirates, 2B
Comment: Is streaking right now and has great lifetime batting averages against St. Louis (.313) and Cincinnati (.354).

Minnesota Twins, SS
Comment: Those of you in need of steals can use the Twins infielder with some confidence this week. Home stats this season: .292 AVG, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 24 R, 12 SB in 48 games.

Chicago Cubs, SS
Comment: Told you to bench him last week, but be sure to play him now. Theriot's home stats are very fantasy-friendly: .308 AVG, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 31 R, 12 SB in 186 plate appearances.

Seattle Mariners, 3B
Comment: Is a hot or cold hitter, but right now he's on the good side of a streak. July numbers: .333 AVG, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 9 R, 2 SB in 25 games.

Toronto Blue Jays, 3B
Comment: Has been productive this season against Tampa Bay (.316 AVG, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R in 6 games) and Texas (.294 AVG, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R in 6 games).

Arizona Diamondbacks, OF
Comment: Mr. Byrnes has had an excellent time this season against the San Diego Padres (.323 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R, 2 SB in 8 games) and L.A. Dodgers (.343 AVG, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 2 SB in 9 games).

San Diego Padres, OF
Comment: Is hitting well since being activated off DL in late-June. July numbers are good enough to make him a solid start this week: .333, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 11 R, 2 SB in 22 games.

Baltimore Orioles, OF
Comment: Finally breaking out? July has been a good month for Patterson: .333 AVG, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 16 R, 9 SB in 22 games.

Philadelphia Phillies, OF
Comment: Having a breakout year so far, but the Flyin' Hawaiian's road numbers are particularly impressive: .318 AVG, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 39 R, 18 SB in 52 games.

Chicago White Sox, SP
Comment: Career numbers against Tigers point to a strong start: 11-8, 3.22 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 95 SO in 151 IP).

San Francisco Giants, SP
Comment: Has been ice-cold lately, but he has a great track record in his career against the San Diego Padres (3-2, 2.01 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 48 SO in 53.2 IP).

New York Yankees, SP
Comment: A little inconsistent this year, but his lifetime stats make him a no-brainer start against the Kansas City Royals: 25-7, 2.18 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 276 SO in 301.2 IP).

Atlanta Braves, SP
Comment: Forget about the fact that's he's white-hot, James has 2.90 ERA home ERA this season and is getting two starts at Turner Field this week.


Minnesota Twins, C
Comment: Below-average Joe at home this season: .259 AVG, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 18 R, 3 SB in 36 games.

Philadelphia Phillies, C
Comment: The road has not been kind to Ruiz this season: .217 AVG, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 9 R, 0 SB in 34 games.

Cincinnati Reds, 1B
Comment: Those of you plugging this guy in for batting average help should keep his road numbers this season in mind: .226, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 15 R in 124 at-bats.

Baltimore Orioles, 1B
Comment: Playing away from Camden Yards has been difficult for Huff in '07: .216 AVG, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 17 R, 0 SB in 48 games.

Chicago Cubs, 2B
Comment: Batting just .191 since May 7, Giles was benched for three games against the New York Mets.

Florida Marlins, 2B
Comment: Struggling in his career against both the Colorado Rockies (.148 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB in 6 games) and Houston Astros (.235 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 0 SB in 9 games).

Milwaukee Brewers, SS
Comment: With the way he's playing, he needs to ride some pine until he begins to hit consistently. In shallow leagues, you can even drop him without worrying.

Kansas City Royals, SS
Comment: Really poor road stats this season: .224 AVG, 0 HR, 16 RBI, 9 R, 2 SB in 46 games.

Oakland Athletics, 3B
Comment: Injury-prone Chavez is having back problems and although he has returned to the A's lineup, fantasy owners should let him sit until he proves productive.

Chicago White Sox, 3B
Comment: Many are taking a flier on the youngster due to his hot week, but temper those expectations as he will face some good starting pitching staffs in the N.Y. Yankees and Detroit Tigers.

Philadelphia Phillies, OF
Comment: A nightmare on the road for fantasy owners in '07: .203 AVG, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 18 R, 0 SB in 48 games.

San Diego Padres, OF
Comment: Has ugly career AVG against both the Arizona Diamondbacks (.206) and San Francisco Giants (.201).

Florida Marlins, OF
Comment: Horrible at home in 2007 with a .192 AVG and just 7 runs in 31 games.

Texas Rangers, OF
Comment: Road numbers in 2007 ain't pretty: .235 AVG, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 25 R, 4 SB in 51 games.

New York Mets, SP
Comment: Expect him to press while trying to nail down win no. 300. Plus, he’s just 3-5 with a 5.89 ERA on the road this season.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays, SP
Comment: In two starts this season against Baltimore, Kazmir has given up 6 ER, 7 walks and 13 hits in 10.2 innings.

Florida Marlins, SP
Comment: Even without his horrible loss this week against Arizona (5 IP, 7 ER, 11 Hits, 3 Walks), his off-the-field troubles and poor play mean that it is time to give up on Olsen's 2007 season.

Chicago White Sox, SP
Comment: Little success against the Detroit Tigers in his career: 2-4, 5.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 35 SO in 38.2 IP.


Starbonell is UPDATE! Major League Baseball Editor.

481 Distance, in feet, of a homer hit (one of two on the day) by Boston Red Sox OF Manny Ramirez Thursday at Cleveland. It was the third-longest HR ever hit at Jacobs Field.

17 Times Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley has been hit by a pitch this season. He is the leader of the category, but may be passed as he suffered a broken hand this week.

7 Los Angeles Dodgers SP Chad Billingsley is off to a 7-0 start. He's the first Dodger pitcher to open the season at 7-0 since 2000.

1 Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester made his first start — and earned his first win — of the season on Monday. He was diagnosed with a treatable form of lymphoma in August 2006.


New York Mets, OF
Comment: Injuries have helped open the door for Milledge, whose stock was at an all-time low earlier this season amid some dirty rap lyrics and questions about his character. Those are non-issues at the moment as he is producing for an inconsistent Mets offense. Over the past seven days, Milledge has amassed a .458 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI and 6 runs. If he keeps up this pace, expect the Mets to keep him in the starting lineup, likely jettisoning OF Shawn Green to a reserve role due to his poor defense and mediocre offensive production this season.


If the Los Angeles Dodgers keep playing great baseball, the San Diego Padres are going to have to aim for the NL Wild Card, with the Arizona Diamondbacks being one of their major obstacles. Both teams have playoff aspirations and this three-game set, which begins Tuesday, is incredibly important for these ball clubs. The Diamondbacks are leading the season series so far, with 5 wins in 8 games. The Padres continue to stumble in July and the loss of SP Chris Young is not going to help. The Diamondbacks are having trouble too, playing under .500 for the month of July. It will be interesting to see who takes the series as it could help get them back on the winning track. The scheduled starting pitchers in this series for Arizona are Brandon Webb, Micah Owings and Yusmeiro Petit, while the Padres are sending out Justin Germano, David Wells and ace Jake Peavy.

• The Lineup: July 21-27 2007
• The Lineup: July 14-20 2007
• The Lineup: July 7-14 2007
• The Lineup: June 30-July 6, 2007
• The Lineup: June 24-30, 2007
• The Lineup: June 17-23, 2007
• The Lineup: June 10-16, 2007
• The Lineup: June 3-9, 2007
• The Lineup: May 27-June 2, 2007
• The Lineup: May 21-27, 2007
• The Lineup: May 14-20, 2007
• The Lineup: May 7-13, 2007
• The Lineup: April 30-May 6, 2007
• The Lineup: April 23-29, 2007
• The Lineup: April 16-22, 2007
• The Lineup: April 9-15, 2007
• The Lineup: April 2-8, 2007
• The Lineup: March 26-April 1, 2007
• The Lineup: March 19-25, 2007
• The Lineup: March 12-18, 2007
• The Lineup: March 5-11, 2007
• The Lineup: Feb. 26-March 4, 2007
• The Lineup: Feb. 19-25, 2007
• The Lineup: Feb. 12-18, 2007
• The Lineup: Feb. 5-11, 2007
• The Lineup: Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2007
• The Lineup: Jan. 22-28, 2007
• The Lineup: Jan. 15-21, 2007
• The Lineup: Jan. 8-14, 2007
• The Lineup: Jan. 1-7, 2007