Description: Arizona lefthander Trevor Cahill surrendered just one run in eight innings Friday night in a victory over the Marlins.
Insight: Cahill is really on a roll right now. Over his last five starts, he's 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA. Walks have been an issue (24 in 58 innings) but other than that, Cahill hasn't given his owners much to complain about this season.
Description: D'Backs third baseman Eric Chavez collected four hits Friday in a win over Miami.
Insight: That gives Chavez eight hits in his last three games. Chavez (.337, 5 HR, 18 RBI) is on pace for 69 RBI this season, which would be his highest total since 2006.
Description: Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had another monster game Friday night against the Marlins (4-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI).
Insight: It didn't take Goldschmidt long to become a fantasy superstar. The 25-year-old is hitting .338 this year with 12 HR, 35 RBI and four steals. He hasn't missed a game yet in 2013.
Description: New York righthander Hiroki Kuroda was dominant Friday in a win against Toronto.
Insight: Kuroda fanned five and walked just one batter over eight shutout innings. The 38-year-old is 6-2 with a 1.99 ERA in nine starts this season. That 1.99 ERA is good for fourth-best in the American League.
Description: Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson will miss the next 2-to-4 weeks with a sprained ankle. SOURCE: Bob Dutton, Kansas City Star
Insight: Dyson (.268, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 6 SB) could be a solid fantasy contributor if he played every day but that hasn't happened this season (41 at bats in 18 games). With Lorenzo Cain (.323, 1 HR, 22 RBI) occupying center field, it's going to be tough for Dyson to see regular at bats.
Description: Nationals lefthander Ross Detwiler will miss his start Monday against the Giants. He's out with a lower back injury. SOURCE: Bill Ladson, MLB.com
Insight: Detwiler could be headed for the DL. He's 2-4 with a 2.76 ERA in eight starts this season.
Description: Rays closer Fernando Rodney had a meltdown Thursday against Boston. Despite Rodney's struggles, manager Joe Maddon says he's "not really concerned." SOURCE: Tampa Bay Times
Insight: Rodney gave up three runs and four walks in just two thirds of an inning. His season ERA is up to 5.28, his highest since 2003. It's only May and Rodney has already blown more saves (three) than he did all of last season (just two in 50 save chances).
Description: Athletics starter Brett Anderson has a stress fracture in his right foot and won't be able to pitch for at least four weeks. SOURCE: A's on Twitter
Insight: Well, that's Anderson (1-4, 6.21 ERA) for you. Great talent, but never healthy. The A's will be lucky if he's back before the All-Star break.
Description: Ian Kinsler will be out of the lineup Friday night against Detroit. The Texas second baseman has bruised ribs.
Insight: Kinsler is off to a hot start. He's hitting .302 with seven homers and 20 RBI in 39 games. Kinsler hasn't hit over .300 for a full season since 2008 (.319).
Description: Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer is out with a stiff back.
Insight: With Mauer sidelined, Ryan Doumit (.216, 3 HR, 16 RBI) will do the catching Friday night against Boston. Mauer (.349, 2 HR, 13 RBI) should be back later in the series.
Description: Atlanta relief pitcher Jordan Walden has been moved to the 15-day disabled list.
Insight: Walden has inflammation in his right shoulder. He hasn't recorded a save yet in 2013. Even when Walden is healthy, there's no reason to own him in fantasy.
Description: Mariners right fielder Michael Morse has been scratched from Friday night's starting lineup.
Insight: He's dealing with eye irritation. Morse has gone 9-for-17 over his last four games to raise his average from .220 to .261. Endy Chavez (.284, 0 HR, 4 RBI) will draw the start in right field.
Description: Atlanta right fielder Jason Heyward has been activated in time for Friday's game with the Dodgers.
Insight: When we last left Heyward he was struggling mightily with the bat (.121, 2 HR, 5 RBI in 17 games). Hopefully, he will find his swing quickly as he has as much talent as any outfielder.
Description: The Royals brought up lefty David Lough to replace injured outfielder Jarrod Dyson.
Insight: Although Lough batted .465 in spring training he was sent to the minors where has has continued to hit, batting .340 for Triple-A Omaha. Given a full season of work, he appears to be have 10-15 home run power who can also steal double digit bases. He won't get that much work as the backup outfielder to Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain and Jeff Francoeur.
Description: Cubs starter Matt Garza (lat) three six scorelss innings in a rehab start and will throw a bullpen session on Saturday. If all goes well he could be activated and starting next week.
Insight: Garza was a 15 game winner back in 2010 (with Tampa Bay), but has just 15 wins in two seasons with the Cubs. His ERA has been under four in six consecutive seasons and he's a decent low end fantasy starter.
Description: Rockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer (.319, 7 HR, 23 RBI in 31 games) is struggling to get over his neck injury and at this point doesn't seem likely to be activated on his first day of eligibility (May 24).
Insight: He was still having problems as of Thursday and is a couple of days away from even starting baseball activities. Colorado is 2-6 since Cuddyer was knocked out of the lineup and scored zero or one run in half those games.
Description: Cleveland starter Brett Myers (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on Friday, according to mlb.com
Insight: Myers was placed on the DL on April 21 with a mild tear of his UCL. When healthy he can be a viable fantasy starter and could rack up a few wins behind the Indians' offense.
Description: Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier is expected to get Friday off. Manager Don Mattingly said it's just a rest day for the outfielder, according to an LA Times report.
Insight: Ethier has played 38 of the Dodgers 39 games this season, but is 8-for-16 over his last five games and probably would like to stay in the lineup while he's hitting so well.
Description: Yankees DH Travis Hafner is dealing with right shoulder tendinitis and is questionable for Friday's game against Toronto.
Insight: Hafner has been scuffling in May, hitting .133 in his last 10 games, and perhaps the shoulder is to blame. With Curtis Granderson back from the disabled list, the Yankees have four outfielders and can use one of them at DH so Hafner can rest his sore shoulder.
Description: Reds starter Tony Cingrani is expected to start on Friday, but has been dealing with a sore shoulder and is listed as probable.
Insight: Cingrani (2-0, 2.89) has struck out 37 batters and walked just seven in 28 innings this season, but this might be his last start before heading back to the minors if Johnny Cueto is ready to take a spot in the rotation.
Description: Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is a career .360 hitter with three home runs and a 1.269 OPS versus Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner.
Insight: CarGo went 5-for-5 on Tuesday, but is hitless in the two games since then. He struggles against most of the Giants pitching staff with a career average of .216 and a .681 OPS, well below his career numbers of .299 and .879, respectively.
Description: Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is 8-for-13 (.615) against Houston hurler Jordan Lyles.
Insight: McCutchen has struggled this week, but facing the Houston pitching staff should fix that problem. Historically, May is McCutchen's most productive month of the season (career .315 batting average, .930 OPS).
Description: Pirates 1B/OF Garrett Jones is a career .500 hitter (6-for-12) with a pair of home runs and a 1.583 OPS against Houston starter Jordan Lyles.
Insight: Jones is having a solid season (.284, 5 HR, 23 RBI and going against the Astros pitching staff is almost always a good strategy.
Description: Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto is 7-for-16 (.438) versus Phillies lefty Cliff Lee.
Insight: Although Votto is batting .325 with a solid .930 OPS, he's been too patient for fantasy owners, frequently leaving the job of driving in runs to Brandon Phillips. His four home runs, 17 RBI and league-leading 35 walks are a bit frustrating to fantasy owners.
Description: White Sox outfielder Casper Wells could get a rare start against Angels lefty C.J. Wilson. He's a career .417 hitter (5-for-12) with three doubles and a pair of home runs.
Insight: This would be a good opportunity for the White Sox to sit DH Adam Dunn who is batting .087 versus left-handers. If manager Robin Ventura makes the change, consider starting Wells.
Description: Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton is a career 1-for-8 against White Sox left-hander Chris Sale with a pair of strikeouts and a .325 OPS.
Insight: Hamilton (.215, 5 HR, 12 RBI) has a modest four-game hitting streak, but in last week's series against Chicago he went 1-for-12 so the White Sox know how to pitch him. Avoid this matchup.
Description: Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino is 3-for-3 with a home run against Minnesota starter Vance Worley.
Insight: Victorino was Worley's center fielder when they were teammates in Philadelphia so Shane knows exactly what his pitches do and what he likes to throw. Therefore we are discounting the small sample size and recommending you start the Flyin' Hawaiian.
Description: Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is a career .500 hitter (8-for-16) against Boston starter Clay Buchholz.
Insight: The bad news is that all eight hits were singles. Morneau still isn't hitting for power (2 HR), but he is batting .306 and knocking in runs (28).
Description: Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is 6-for-10 against Detroit starter Rick Porcello with a couple of extra base hits and a 1.445 OPS. He's also stolen two bases against the Tigers' right-hander.
Insight: Kinsler has added a .300 batting average to he repertoire which makes him one of the top fantasy second baseman.
Description: Toronto outfielder Colby Rasmus should be taken out of fantasy lineups based on his 3-for-24 (.125) history versus Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda.
Insight: Rasmus continues to swing and miss at a stunning rate (57 times in 126 at-bats) and would probably be sitting a lot more often if Rajai Davis were healthy. He should not be in fantasy lineups.
Description: Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia is 7-for-15 (.467) against Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda with a 1.267 OPS.
Insight: Arencibia (.236, 10 HR, 20 RBI) is producing solid power numbers, but still hitting for a low average. This is a favorable matchup that should work to his advantage.
Description: Yankees first baseman Lyle Overbay should get the day off on Friday based on his 0-for-18 history against Blue Jays lefty Mark Buehrle. That includes eight strikeouts.
Insight: Overbay has done a solid job as a fill-in first baseman for the Yankees, hitting .260 with six homers and 24 RBI. Mark Teixeira will be back by June 1, so Overbay only will have usefulness to fantasy owners for another two weeks, but not in this matchup.
Description: Yankees outfielder Vernon Wells is a .480 hitter (24-for-50) with three homers and a 1.289 OPS against Blue Jays starter Mark Buehrle.
Insight: Wells (.295, 10 HR, 23 RBI) is one of the biggest reasons the Yankees are playing over .500 baseball despite their numberous injuries. He'll likely continue to start even with the return of Curtis Granderson as long as he's hitting at this level. He's a must start on Friday in this favorable matchup.
Description: New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is a career .400 hitter (8-for-20) versus Toronto left-hander Mark Buehrle with thee home runs, nine RBI and a 1.405 OPS.
Insight: Cano (.298, 10 HR, 26 RBI) has not been hitting the ball well over the past two weeks (.245, .669 OPS), but this matchup could get the best second baseman in the game started again.
Description: Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis is a career .444 hitter (8-for-18) versus Tampa Bay right-hander Jeremy Hellickson with a home run and a 1.167 OPS.
Insight: Davis leads the American League with 11 HRs, a .659 slugging percentage and a 1.067 OPS and this favorable matchup should add to those totals. He's a must start.
Description: Nationals manager Davey Johnson doesn't believe that Ross Detwiler will make his start Monday against San Francisco. SOURCE: Adam Kilgore, Washington Post
Insight: Detwiler (2-4, 2.76 ERA) hurt his back Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Craig Stammen (2-1, 2.25) could be called upon to make a spot start if Detwiler can't go on Monday.
Description: According to Mike Dillon from Reynolds Sports, Boston righthander Joel Hanrahan had successful Tommy John surgery on Thursday.
Insight: Obviously, he won't be returning in 2013. Andrew Bailey is on the DL as well, which means that Junichi Tazawa will be handling the ninth inning for the Red Sox until further notice.
Description: Giants manager Bruce Bochy is giving Ryan Vogelsong one last chance to prove he belongs in the starting rotation. SOURCE: Alex Pavlovic, Mercury News
Insight: Vogelsong (1-4, 8.06 ERA) has thrown just one quality start in eight tries this season. He'll make his scheduled start Monday against Washington but we're not sure what will happen after that.
Description: Nats outfielder Bryce Harper is back in the lineup for Thursday's series opener against the Padres.
Insight: Harper smacked into a wall and busted his chin earlier in the week. He went 0-for-1 in a pinch-hitting appearance Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Description: Rangers starter Alexi Ogando has been placed on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis.
Insight: Ogando is 4-2 with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP this season. Texas has an entire rotation of starters on the DL -- Ogando, Matt Harrison, Neftali Felix, Colby Lewis and Martin Perez. Josh Lindblom will start Monday, but Perez is on his way back from a fractured forearm and could join the rotation soon.
Description: Rays pitching prospect Chris Archer made his scheduled start for Durham Thursday afternoon, making it likely that the team will go with Jake Odorizzi Monday to replace David Price (triceps).
Insight: Odorizzi and Archer are ranked by MLB.com as the No. 42 and 43 prospects, respectively, in baseball this season. Archer brought a 3.97 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 34 innings into Thursday's start and is someone to keep an eye on, but Odorizzi is likely the guy the team will choose to fill in for Price Monday and beyond.
Description: Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter (shoulder) is conditioning himself to be a starter, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Insight: Carpenter told reporters in March that he was unlikely to pitch again due to a nerve irritation in his shoulder, but he has made a remarkable recovery and has been on a throwing program since the beginning of May. After throwing 30 pitches in the bullpen Wednesday, Carpenter will take two days off and throw an extended session Saturday during which he will take three breaks to simulate the changing of sides.
Description: Rays pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi is the likely choice to replace David Price in the rotation Monday. Price was placed on the 15-day DL Thursday with a strained left triceps.
Insight: Odorizzi is 4-0 with a 3.83 ERA and a 47/15 K/BB in 44 2/3 innings with Triple-A Durham this season, while Chris Archer is on a limited pitch count after some abbreviated starts at Triple-A, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. If Archer makes his scheduled start Thursday afternoon with Durham, we'll know the team has chosen Odorizzi. Odorizzi should be added in most formats given Tampa Bay's past success with pitching prospects.
Description: Rays starter David Price has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left triceps muscle.
Insight: The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner left Wednesday's start with the injury and has a 5.24 ERA in 55 innings. His fastball velocity is down a couple ticks, so it would make sense if this injury has been lingering unbeknownst to Price or the Rays. Jake Odorizzi or Chris Archer likely will be called up to take the spot in the rotation, and both would make for good fantasy options given the Rays' past success cultivating pitching prospects.
Description: Mariners starter Aaron Harang has been scratched from Thursday's start against the Yankees due to back stiffness, according to Shannon Drayer of 710 AM ESPN Seattle.
Insight: Harang had an 11.37 ERA in three April starts but has gone 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP in two starts this month. Hector Noesi will make a spot start Thursday against his former ballclub.
Description: According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Braves reliever Jonny Venters underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday for the second time in eight years.
Insight: In retrospect, throwing Venters for 83 innings in 2010 and 88 innings in 2011 may not have been the best idea. He has dealt with elbow trouble since last season.
Description: Mariners shortstop prospect Nick Franklin is hitting .339 with four homers and a 16/24 K/BB in 30 games with Triple-A Tacoma this season. He ranks as MLB.com's No. 44 overall prospect.
Insight: Seattle Mariners' shortstops have combined to hit .121 with 34 strikeouts and a .318 OPS this season, so Franklin should be on the way up soon.
Description: Tigers top prospect Nick Castellanos (OF) is batting .256 with 13 doubles, four homers, 20 RBI and a 36/13 K/BB in 41 games with Triple-A Toledo.
Insight: Castellanos hit .320 with 32 doubles, 10 homers and an 118/36 K/BB across two levels in 2012 and is ranked as the No. 21 prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com. Andy Dirks is scuffling in left field and center fielder Austin Jackson is on the DL, but Castellanos' numbers don't warrant a callup.
Description: Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar, who is the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com's rankings, is hitting .250 with 24 strikeouts and a .720 OPS in 34 games with Triple-A Round Rock.
Insight: Profar hit .368 with 14 homers, 16 steals and a .368 OBP at Double-A Frisco last year, but he struggled this spring with a .216 average and zero homers in 51 at-bats. With Mitch Moreland hitting .290 with nine homers and Profar slumping at Triple-A, there's no need to shift Ian Kinsler to first base to call up Profar anytime soon.
Description: Phillies starter Roy Halladay had surgery Wednesday to remove a bone spur and repair a torn rotator cuff and a frayed labrum in his right shoulder. He'll rest for 6-8 weeks, according to Philly.com.
Insight: However, there's no guarantee that he'll be ready to start a throwing program in 6-8 weeks, or that the surgery will reverse his declining performance.
Description: Washington lefty Ross Detwiler left his start Wednesday with lower back spasms and is questionable to take his next turn, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
Insight: Detwiler only threw three innings Wednesday before exiting. He has a 2.76 ERA despite allowing 56 hits in 45 2/3 innings. Chris Young has allowed 41 hits and 23 earned runs in 26 innings with Triple-A Syracuse this season, so even if he does take Detwiler's next start, he shouldn't be considered by fantasy owners.
Description: Rays manager Joe Maddon said the MRI on David Price's left triceps showed "nothing serious," according to Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune, but the left-hander is unlikely to make his next start Monday. He'll be reevaluated Thursday.
Insight: Price hasn't ruled himself out of Monday's start. He said he'll know more Thursday when he comes to Tropicana Field and tries to play catch. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner left Wednesday's start with the injury and has a 5.24 ERA in 55 innings. His fastball velocity is down a couple ticks, so it would make sense if this injury has been lingering unbeknownst to Price or the Rays.
Description: Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (nausea, shoulder, knee, rib cage) said after pinch-hitting in the ninth inning Wednesday that he was feeling "terrible," according to the Washington Post.
Insight: Harper collided with an outfield wall Monday against the Dodgers and suffered multiple injuries. His left side and abdomen are giving him the most issues, while his knee and shoulder soreness has subsided. He's questionable for Thursday's game, but it sounds like he needs another day off.
Description: St. Louis left fielder Matt Holliday is not in the starting lineup for Thursday afternoon's game against the Mets, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
Insight: He's getting a routine day off, giving Ty Wigginton a chance to start. Wigginton is 4-for-10 with two doubles, three RBI and five walks against Mets starter Jon Niese. Jon Jay is also out of the lineup, while Yadier Molina and David Freese return to action after their day off Wednesday.
Description: Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is hitting .444 with six RBI during his current six-game hitting streak and homered in two of the last three games. However, he has an unfavorable matchup with Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin on the hill Thursday.
Insight: Belt is 25-for-96 (.260) with five homers against right-handers this season, compared to 5-for-26 (.192) against lefties, but Chacin, a righty, has held him hitless in 10 career at-bats.
Description: Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has been sent down often against Giants starter Matt Cain. He is 4-for-34 with 10 K versus San Francisco's scheduled starter Thursday.
Insight: CarGo went 5-for-5 with two homers Tuesday, but otherwise has been in a slump, going 2-for-24 with 11 strikeouts in his other at-bats since May 8.
Description: Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval has homered in three of the last four games and is 7-for-17 with two blasts and three walks against Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin.
Insight: Sandoval suffered a broken hamate bone in his hand in each of the last two seasons and missed all of May in 2011 and most of May last year, so he's already ahead of the curve this season with 154 at-bats, a .312 average, seven longballs and 30 RBI on May 16.
Description: Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki should enjoy seeing Matt Cain on the mound Thursday for the Giants. Tulo is 18-for-53 (.340) with five doubles, four homers, six RBI and five walks against Cain.
Insight: Tulowitzki is the top shortstop in fantasy baseball as long as he can stay healthy. He has done that so far and is hitting .322 with eight homers, 32 RBI and a 1.013 OPS.
Description: Milwaukee outfielder Carlos Gomez has faced former teammate Francisco Liriano just eight times, but he has gone 5-for-8 with a double, two homers and two walks against the left-hander.
Insight: Gomez and Liriano played together for a few years on the Minnesota Twins. Gomez is having a career year, batting .365 and hitting a career-high 20.2 percent line drives. His .431 BABIP is unsustainable, but he should hit Liriano Thursday.
Description: White Sox left fielder Dayan Viciedo has gone 8-for-18 since returning from the DL and homered in each of the last two games. Thursday could be another big day, as he'll face Jerome Williams of the Angels.
Insight: We saw what Viciedo can do when he heats up when he hit .351 and eight homers last May. Williams has never retired Viciedo in five career at-bats (5-5, 1 HR).
Description: After hitting .361 over the first 27 games of the season, Torii Hunter predictably has hit a slump. He's batting .200 (7-for-35) over his last eight games. However, fantasy owners should keep him in the lineup, even with nasty Yu Darvish on the hill Thursday.
Insight: Hunter has become a hard groundball hitter over the last two seasons -- he had a groundball rate of 52 percent and hit .327 on grounders last year, and has a groundball rate of 55.8 percent and is hitting .333 on grounders in 2013 -- which has enabled him to hit for a BABIP in the .380s. However, his BABIP over the first 27 games of the season was well above .400, and it wasn't going to stay there forever. He has gone 6-for-18 (.333) with one homer and five RBI against Darvish, so he might be able to jump-start his bat Thursday.
Description: Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz' power has returned to his past levels this season after an outage in 2012, but he's unlikely to do much with the stick Thursday with Detroit starter Justin Verlander on the bump.
Insight: Cruz hits a lot of flyballs (42.3 percent FB rate), and has a career HR/FB of 16.1 percent, but last year that declined to 13.1 percent and he hit just 24 homers. He's back up to a 21.3 percent HR/FB and has 10 homers in 2013. However, Verlander has limited him to two hits in 15 at-bats (.133) and struck him out four times.
Description: Tigers starter Justin Verlander, who will be on the hill Thursday, has held Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus to a .188 average (3-for-16) in their career meetings.
Insight: Andrus has a strong line-drive rate of 23.7 percent, but he has been incredibly unlucky this season. He has lined out on 14 of his 33 liners. He has a career .678 average on line drives, and if he picked up just three more hits on liners this season, he'd be hitting .285 instead of .267. His luck should turn eventually, but he's unlikely to get good wood on the ball against Verlander Thursday.
Description: Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is 2-for-17 over his last four games and he'll face Justin Verlander Thursday against the Tigers.
Insight: Kinsler is 3-for-25 (.120) with six strikeouts against Verlander. His overall numbers -- .304, seven homers, 20 RBI, 22 runs, three steals, 16/12 K/BB -- are fantastic, but he's doubtful to produce anything worthwhile Thursday.
Description: New York right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is 0-for-20 with five strikeouts over his last five games and has a terrible matchup Thursday against the Mariners.
Insight: Ichiro is 1-for-16 (.063) against Seattle starter Aaron Harang. Now that Curtis Granderson is back in the lineup, Ichiro will need to hit better to remain in the everyday lineup. He shouldn't be in any fantasy lineups for the foreseeable future.
Description: Yankees first baseman Lyle Overbay has hit .458 with five doubles in 24 career at-bats against Mariners starter Aaron Harang.
Insight: Overbay has done a solid job as a fill-in first baseman for the Yankees, hitting .266 with six homers and 24 RBI. Mark Teixeira will be back by the end of the month, so Overbay only will have usefulness to fantasy owners for another two weeks. Make sure he's in your lineup Thursday against Harang.
Description: Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche is hitting .390 with a homer, five RBI and seven walks during his 12-game hitting streak.
Insight: LaRoche's bat has awakened from its usual April slumber, though he still has a ways to go. He has struck out eight times in his last 16 at-bats and just snapped a 22-game homerless streak Wednesday night.
Description: Dodgers closer Brandon League tossed a scoreless inning to pick up his ninth save of the season Wednesday against the Nationals.
Insight: League is teetering on the edge of losing his job to Kenley Jansen, but manager Don Mattingly went to Jansen to get the final out of the seventh inning and to pitch the eighth Wednesday night. Instead of moving Jansen to the ninth, Mattingly might want to save his better reliever for the high-leverage situations and leave League where he is. After all, League is 9-for-10 on save chances despite carrying a 5.87 ERA.
Description: Dodgers starter Zack Greinke threw 83 pitches over 5 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and one run to beat the Nationals in his return to action Wednesday night.
Insight: Greinke made a remarkably quick recovery from the broken collarbone he suffered on April 11. He shouldn't have a problem living up to expectations going forward.
Description: Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain went 2-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI, two runs and a stolen base Wednesday against the Angels.
Insight: Cain's line-drive rate is good, but not spectacular (21.8 percent), so he has been extremely lucky to have a .390 BABIP. He's still a solid fantasy option, but sell high if you can.
Description: Angels outfielder Mike Trout has homered in two straight games and three of his last five.
Insight: Trout has turned it on over his last 15 games, batting .368 with six homers, 17 RBI, three steals, 13 runs and an 8/7 K/BB. His overall numbers are still a bit disappointing, but the buy-low window is closing quickly.
Description: Mets starter Shaun Marcum took a step in the right direction Wednesday with his first quality start of the season. He allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) in 6 2/3 innings.
Insight: Marcum lost the game and dropped to 0-4, but his start is certainly a positive development. He allowed 24 hits and 14 earned runs over his first 14 2/3 innings this season after missing most of April with a neck strain.
Description: Mets outfielder Rick Ankiel hit his first homer with the team Wednesday as part of a 2-for-4 game against the Cardinals, the team he played for from 1999 to 2009.
Insight: Ankiel has struck out an absurd 37 times in 74 plate appearances, but he has hit six homers and three doubles and has an ISO of .300, which would rank fifth in baseball if he had enough plate appearances. He could play himself into regular at-bats with the Mets, as the team's outfield is one of the worst in all of baseball.
Description: Cubs outfielder David DeJesus has gone 6-for-12 with a homer, three RBI and five runs over his last three games.
Insight: DeJesus doesn't have much power or speed and his career average is .281, so he has never been a strong fantasy option. But he has a .290 average, five homers, 17 extra-base hits and an .878 OPS through 38 games.
Description: Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija won his first start since Opening Day Wednesday against Colorado with eight innings of five-hit, two-run ball. He walked two and struck out seven.
Insight: Samardzija has a K/9 of 10.16, he has raised his groundball rate from 44.6 percent to 50 percent and his line-drive rate is way down. He's 2-5 despite recording a 3.49 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.
Description: Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks hit his third homer of the season Wednesday against the Pirates.
Insight: Weeks is off to another terrible start, hitting .187. He hit .183 with six homers and 94 strikeouts through June 30 last year, but rebounded to bat .269 with 15 homers and 75 K over his final 84. There's reason to believe he'll have another resurgence. He has a 14 percent BB rate and a 19.8 percent line-drive rate (16.9 percent LD in 2012), but his BABIP is an unlucky .250.
Description: Pittsburgh left-hander Wandy Rodriguez won his second straight start Wednesday night by holding Milwaukee to one run on six hits in seven innings.
Insight: Rodriguez is allowing line drives at a rate of 16.3 percent, the lowest of his career, but in turn he has given up a higher rate of flyballs and HR/FB. Homers don't count towards BABIP, so that explains why Rodriguez has a low BABIP of .233. He's not as much of a regression candidate as you would think, because as his BABIP goes up, you have to figure his 1.62 HR/9 will dip. His career HR/9 is 1.03.
Description: Diamondbacks closer Heath Bell has saved five of six chances since J.J. Putz went down with an injury.
Insight: Bell had a slip-up on May 12 against the Phillies when he allowed two runs on four hits to blow a lead, but otherwise he hasn't allowed a run in his other five save opportunities since May 7. The right-hander is starting to gain back the trust of fantasy owners after his disastrous season with the Marlins in 2012.
Description: Reds outfielder Shin-Soo Choo slammed two solo homers and scored three runs as part of a 4-for-5 night at the plate Wednesday against the Marlins.
Insight: Choo hit just 16 homers in 598 at-bats last year with Cleveland, but already has nine in 146 at-bats with the Reds. He came into Wednesday's game with a 28 percent flyball rate and a 23.3 percent HR/FB. He had a 27.1 percent flyball rate last season, but his HR/FB was just 13.2 percent.
Description: Reds starter Mike Leake made his case to remain in the rotation with 6 2/3 scoreless innings and six strikeouts against the Marlins Wednesday.
Insight: Leake allowed nine hits in the game, but nobody on Miami could come up with a clutch hit. Leake has a 3.72 this season, but his WHIP is 1.49. Tony Cingrani is a much better fantasy option, but one of the two will have to leave the rotation when Johnny Cueto returns Monday.
Description: Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo walked four batters but held Pittsburgh to two runs on three hits in six innings Wednesday in a loss.
Insight: Gallardo has issued 20 free passes and struck out just 36 batters in 52 innings this season. His velocity is down on both his two-seam and his four-seam fastball and he was serving up line drives on 28.3 percent of his batted balls prior to Wednesday's start.
Description: Blue Jays DH Adam Lind went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer Wednesday against the Giants and is now hitting .286. He has three homers over his last six games.
Insight: Lind has played exclusively against right-handers this year, which has helped protect his numbers. The DH has an impressive 12/17 K/BB and an OBP over .400 in 29 games, but he hasn't accumulated the counting stats that would make him fantasy-worthy until recently.
Description: Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong allowed six hits and eight runs (three earned) in two innings Wednesday against the Blue Jays. The Giants made a couple of errors behind him, and he compounded them by serving up two homers.
Insight: After eight starts, the right-hander is 1-4 with an 8.06 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. He has allowed six or more runs in each of his last four starts. According to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com, manager Bruce Bochy said after the game that there is no guarantee Vogelsong will take his next turn in the rotation.
Description: The Mariners greeted Yankees starter Phil Hughes with six hits and seven earned runs in the first inning, knocking Hughes out after just two outs had been recorded.
Insight: Hughes had a 3.60 ERA after his start on May 4, but it didn't last. He has given up 13 hits and 13 earned runs in 6 1/3 over his last two turns. Fantasy owners should know by now that Hughes is extremely boom-or-bust.
Description: Yankees outfielder Vernon Wells went yard for the 10th time this season Wednesday against the Mariners.
Insight: With Curtis Granderson back in action, it's unclear if Wells will have an everyday spot in the lineup since the Yankees also need to get Ichiro at-bats in right field and Travis Hafner at-bats at DH, but Wells certainly has earned it over the other two.
Description: Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager went 2-for-4 with a homer, a walk and three RBI Wednesday at New York.
Insight: Seager has five homers, 21 RBI and a .286 batting average. His K rate is up from last year, but so is his BB rate. Also, he's hitting fewer flyballs, which is helping him hit for a higher BABIP (.286 last year, .330 this year).
Description: Mariners OF/DH Raul Ibanez went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and a two-run homer Wednesday against the Yankees, his former team.
Insight: Ibanez hit 19 homers in 384 at-bats with the Yankees last season, and he has returned to Yankee Stadium with three homers over the last two games. Overall, he has four homers and 11 RBI over his last four games.
Description: Angels reliever Ryan Madson (elbow) will report to his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake Thursday. He said it will last "several weeks," according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
Insight: Madson is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and has had several minor setbacks since spring training. Ernesto Frieri will likely hold onto the closer role even after Madson returns, but the right-hander eventually could return to the ninth inning.
Description: Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (nausea, shoulder, knee, rib cage) will probably need one more day before he returns to action, manager Davey Johnson said. SOURCE: Amanda Comak, Washington Times
Insight: Harper collided with an outfield wall Monday against the Dodgers and suffered multiple injuries. He took batting practice and did some running Wednesday and should be ready to go Friday after sitting out Thursday.
Description: Brewers first baseman Corey Hart (knee) has started running without assistance, but he likely won't be ready to come off the DL when he's eligible on May 30. SOURCE: Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Insight: Hart had surgery on his right knee in January. He said at the end of April that he would need a 10-day rehab assignment before he's ready to rejoin the major league club, but he won't be ready to go out on an assignment by May 20.
Description: Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen grabbed the save Tuesday against the Nationals, but manager Don Mattingly wouldn't go as far as naming him the closer after the game, according to MLB.com.
Insight: Brandon League has blown just one save in nine chances but has allowed 10 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings this season. "In that game, I had to go with the guy who's throwing the ball best; as much as anything (Jansen has) been throwing the ball better than anybody," said Mattingly. Jansen is the reliever you want to own in the Dodgers bullpen, as it is only a matter of time before Mattingly makes him the guy in the ninth inning.
