Our weekly digest of everything fantasy baseball. Facts don't lie and The Lineup is full of 'em. Projections for the week of Sept. 23- Sept. 29. Stats through Sept. 21:



Colorado Rockies, OF
Stats: .429 AVG, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 8 R, 0 SB
Comment: Blasted two solo homers on Thursday. Despite playing for a team that will not be participating in the playoffs, he really deserves that MVP honor.

Atlanta Braves, 3B
Stats: .462 AVG, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 0 SB
Comment: He's locked in a tight race with teammate Edgar Renteria and Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday for the NL batting title.

Toronto Blue Jays, DH
Stats: .350 AVG, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R, 0 SB
Comment: Put a big hurting on the Red Sox this week with a three home run performance.


Kansas City Royals, SP
Stats:1-1, 0.68 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 13 SO
Comment: Starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter is showing folks that perhaps he belongs in the rotation after all.

San Diego Padres, RP
Stats:0-0, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2 SO
Comment: With a save on Thursday, Hoffman has now recorded 40 saves or more in nine seasons of his brilliant career.

San Diego Padres, SP
Stats: 2-0, 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 11 SO
Comment: Looks reinvigorated as a Padre in back-to-back quality starts.



New York Yankees, 3B
Stats: .125 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB
Comment: Hey, even MVPs go through slumps. Even if A-Rod doesn't have another hit for the rest of the season, you can't take anything away from this tremendous year.

Kansas City Royals, OF
Stats: .182 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R, 0 SB
Comment: Royals hoping that Teahen can regain his power-stroke; his low home run total has been disappointing this season.

Baltimore Orioles, SS
Stats: .130 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 0 SB
Comment: Rumors abound that the O's brass is seriously considering shifting Tejada from shortstop to third base due to his diminished fielding range.


Philadelphia Phillies, SP
Stats: 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 2 SO
Comment: Not sharp in his first start back from an elbow injury, but the Phillies are thrilled to have him back while in the thick of the playoff hunt.

New York Mets, SP
Stats:0-1, 16.62 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 6 SO
Comment: Nightmarish second-half continues for Maine, who may have pitched his way out of the post-season rotation.

Milwaukee Brewers, SP
Stats: 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 0 SO
Comment: Is 50-50 for his next start, meaning the Brewers playoff drive could very well be over.


Los Angeles Dodgers, C
Comment: : Slumping in September a bit, but expect him to snap out of it this week. He's got pretty good numbers in 2007 against the Rockies (.333 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 10 R, 4 SB in 10 games) and Giants (.400 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R, 2 SB in 14 games).

Atlanta Braves, C
Comment: You'd be hard pressed to find a better fantasy catcher this week thanks to McCann's season stats versus Philadelphia (.354 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB in 13 games) and Houston (.286 AVG, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2 R, 0 SB in 3 games).

San Diego Padres, 1B
Comment: A terrific play this week thanks to this year's numbers against the Giants (.281 AVG, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R, 0 SB in 15 games) and Brewers (.700 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 0 SB in 3 games).

Cincinnati Reds, 1B
Comment: Rookie is shining at home so far: .455 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB in 8 games.

Toronto Blue Jays, 2B
Comment: Having a nice September thus far: .329 AVG, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 13 R, 1 SB in 18 games.

Texas Rangers, 2B
Comment: In 2007, Kinsler has feasted on the pitching of the Angels (.294 AVG, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 2 SB in 10 games) and Mariners (.385 AVG, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 12 R, 2 SB in 11 games).

Atlanta Braves, SS
Comment: One of the most up-and-down players in baseball is on the good side of a streak this September: .341 AVG, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 0 SB in 11 games.

Texas Rangers, SS
Comment: Paying dividends to his fantasy owners with his hot September: .366 AVG, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 10 R, 1 SB in 20 games.

Colorado Rockies, 3B
Comment: Since the beginning of August, Atkins has been killing the ball: .355 AVG, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 23 R, 0 SB in 47 games.

Philadelphia Phillies, 3B
Comment: Solid home numbers this season for a fantasy third-baseman: .285 AVG, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 24 R, 2 SB in 158 at-bats.

Atlanta Braves, OF
Comment: Free-swinger has performed far better on the road in 2007: .312 AVG, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 46 R, 2 SB in 75 games.

San Diego Padres, OF
Comment: Practical fantasy commodity when he's playing on the road this year: .302 AVG, 10 HR, 28 RBI, 36 R, 4 SB in 54 games.

Milwaukee Brewers, OF
Comment: Hearty home stats in 2007: .321 AVG, 13 HR, 37 RBI, 49 R, 17 SB in 62 games.

Philadelphia Phillies, OF
Comment: UPDATE! sees no problem starting Werth when he's playing at home this year: .346 AVG, 0 HR, 19 RBI, 17 R, 4 SB in 107 at-bats.

Kansas City Royals, SP
Comment: Pitching twice this week and while he has yet to face Baltimore this season, he absolutely owned Cleveland in two starts this year: 1-0, 0.69 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 4 SO in 13 IP.

Chicago White Sox, SP
Comment: Awful season altogether, but he's been money in September: 3-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 16 SO in 28 IP.

Minnesota Twins, SP
Comment: A dud at home, but a lot better on the road in 2007: 3-1, 2.21 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 33 SO in 36.2 IP.

New York Mets, SP
Comment:Glavine gets two starts against sub-par squads (Marlins and Nationals). To top it off, he gets them at Shea Stadium, where his numbers are quite impressive: 7-1, 3.33 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 44 SO in 92 IP.


San Diego Padres, C
Comment:Barrett has been a mess since the beginning of August: .159 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, 0 SB in 18 games.

New York Mets, C
Comment: Home numbers this year are hard to stomach: .231 AVG, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 16 R, 0 SB in 56 games.

New York Mets, 1B
Comment: He'll likely play this week, but he's been Delgad-awful this season at home: .213 AVG, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 25 R, 1 SB in 62 games.

Boston Red Sox, 1B
Comment: Hasn't really done anything at the plate this year against Oakland (.250 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 1 SB in 6 games) and Minnesota (.250 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 0 SB in 3 games).

Arizona Diamondbacks, 2B
Comment: If you had Orlando Hudson on your team, Callaspo is not a reliable replacement. Just look at his road numbers: .212 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, 0 SB in 52 at-bats.

Milwaukee Brewers, 2B
Comment: It's unbelievable how bad he has been at home this season: .206 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 31 R, 7 SB in 50 games.

Los Angeles Angels, SS
Comment: Has played great overall this season, just not so much against Oakland (.206 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R, 0 SB in 16 games) and Texas (.242 AVG, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 15 R, 2 SB in 16 games).

Detroit Tigers, SS
Comment: Just hasn't got it going in September: .219 AVG, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 0 SB in 18 games.

Boston Red Sox, 3B
Comment: Against both the Athletics and Twins this season, Lowell is hitting a miniscule .093 with just one run, one RBI and no homers.

St. Louis Cardinals, 3B
Comment: Nice to see that he's cleaned himself up, but his September thus far shows that he needs some time to get the rust out: .143 AVG, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 0 SB in 8 games.

Pittsburgh Pirates, OF
Comment: His September has helped solidify his season as a giant bust: .182 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6 R, 1 SB in 12 games.

Seattle Mariners, OF
Comment: Like the Mariners, Guillen is having a rough time this month and with Seattle looking more and more like a non-playoff team, you have to wonder if Adam Jones is going to steal some at-bats this week.

Los Angeles Angels, OF
Comment: May miss at-bats this week due to a gimpy ankle and Angels likely clinching of a post-season berth.

Arizona Diamondbacks, OF
Comment: Plant Young on your bench this week; he has done nothing this season against Pittsburgh (.182 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB in 4 games) and Colorado (.214 AVG, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 1 SB in 11 games).

Atlanta Braves, SP
Comment: No need to start James based on his season numbers against the Phillies (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 16 SO in 16 IP) and Astros (1-0, 7.20 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 3 SO in 5 IP).

Chicago Cubs, SP
Comment: Has been up and down this season versus Florida (0-1, 6.43 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 9 SO in 7 IP) and Cincinnati (1-1, 4.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 24 SO in 18 IP).

St. Louis Cardinals, SP
Comment: He's been an embarrassment on the road in 2007: 5-7, 6.33 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 42 SO in 75.1 IP.

San Diego Padres, SP
Comment: In the first half, he was a front-runner for the NL Cy Young Award. But since then, he's been all over the place. Need proof? Look at his September: 0-2, 5.73 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 24 SO in 22 IP.


Starbonell is UPDATE! Major League Baseball Editor.

200 Career wins for New York Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte. He earned the win on Wednesday against Baltimore.

57 Years since the Detroit Tigers have had four players with at least 100 runs. This season, outfielder's Magglio Ordonez and Curtis Granderson, second baseman Placido Polanco and designated hitter Gary Sheffield all have reached the century mark.

9 Runners left on base during an 0-for-4 performance by San Diego Padres catcher Michael Barrett.

4 Walks issued to Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard during Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Cardinals.


Cincinnati Reds, SP
Comment: Keeper-leaguers take notice, Homer's back! During his first run in the Reds starting rotation, Bailey was hardly impressive, going 2-2, with a 6.99 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 15 SO in 28.1 IP. Not the type of numbers that fantasy owners were looking for from the highly-touted prospect. After being sidelined by a groin injury in July, Bailey has returned to the Reds rotation. In his first start back, Bailey looked great, allowing just 1 earned run in 5 1/3 innings while giving up three hits, one walk and striking out three. Fantasy owners desperate to gain an edge should nab Bailey for the last week of the season, while keeper-leaguers should make a hard dash for him (if he's still available). With the state of the Reds rotation, Bailey should easily make the opening day roster in 2008.


It's coming down to the wire for these two teams as they battle for their playoff lives in a critical four-game series this week. The Brewers and Cubs are in one of the tightest races in baseball for the NL Central and Milwaukee needs every win they can get if they want to creep into the post-season. Meanwhile, the Padres are trying to keep themselves ahead of the wild-card pack and still have the NL West division in play. San Diego swept Chicago in their previous meeting this season at Petco Park, despite scoring just two runs in the match-up. With all eyes squarely on October, this promises to be an intense series. As it stands now, San Diego's scheduled starters are Jack Cassel, Greg Maddux, Chris Young and Brett Tomko, while Milwaukee sends out Yovani Gallardo, Ben Sheets (if healthy), Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan.

 A-ROD INTERVIEW

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