So this is the day where I don't do rankings, but instead, I do PICK-UPS! You probably need a pick-me-up on Mondays anyways, either since your team got blown out, or barely beat, or maybe even you just want to improve your team. They are available in over 50% of leagues on ESPN, maybe Yahoo as well, or other leagues, not sure, but they're players that you should look out for!
Hitters
Ramon Hernandez - Cincinnati Reds - C
Ryan Hannigan got dinged up on Friday. As a result, Ramon Hernandez has been getting the starts. In the past week, Hernandez has gone 9-for-17 with 4 runs, 4 homers, and 5 RBIs. He's probably someone you want to pick up and is owned in under 5% of leagues.
Jonathan Lucroy - Milwaukee Brewers - C
I don't think anyone outside of Wisconsin realizes this guy exists. He's been hitting .321 on the season with 10 runs, 2 HRs and 12 RBIs. But get this: last week's numbers 9-for-18, 5 runs, 2 homers, 9 RBIs. After having him bat seventh for a couple games, he went back into the 8 spot and started crushing the ball. Also owned in under 5% of leagues
Todd Helton - Colorado Rockies - 1B
I think most of us remember Tood Helton from the late 90's, early 2000's when he was an elite first basemen with 30 homers and 100 rbis... then he got old and we all forgot about him. Well, the past couple games, he's shown he still has some of it left in him. After taking a day off on Wednesday, Helton has put up the numbers we expected way back when going 6-for-14 with 5 runs, 3 homers, and 4 RBIs. People are noticing and picking him up. Hope he's still available in your league when you read this and go get him.
Alberto Callaspo - Los Angeles Angels - 3B (maybe 2B in some leagues)
ESPN only has him at 3rd base, I picked him up for 2nd base in a yahoo league, so he may or may not have 2nd base eligibility depending on the league. (Or ESPN is retarded) Regardless, Callaspo has been on a seven game hitting streak going 11-for-28 over that span with 2 runs and 8 rbis. He doesn't have power numbers, but he'll hit and drive in runs if runners are on base going 5-for-10 with RISP over that span
Jason Bartlett - San Diego Padres - SS
He had a monster series against Milwaukee and followed it up with a respectable series again Colorado. 8-for-15 with 3 runs, 4 rbis, and 2 stolen bases against the brew crew and 3-for-13 with a run and 4 rbis against the Rockies. That's 11-for-28 with 4 runs, 8rbis, and a pair of stolen bases. If you need help at SS, look no further
Cameron Maybin - San Diego Padres - OF
Part of the trade of Dontrelle Willis, Maybin has never proven himself to be anywhere close to as good as the Marlins thought he would be when they got him. Now, however, he's provided better plate discipline and as a result, is hitting much better. Before his 0-fer yesterday against the Rockies, Maybin has been batting fifth in the order which seems to work well for him. He's batting .424 with 10 runs, 1 double, 3 homers, 7 rbis, and 1 stolen base. In the past two series, he's 11-for-26 with 8 runs, 2 homers, and five rbis. The dude needs to be picked up.
Laynce Nix - Washington Nationals - OF
Guess who's won the job in left field for the Nats? This guy! And he's deserved it! With 12 hits in his last 7 games batting .400 with five runs, 2 homers, and 7 RBIs as well as a stolen base, he's showing that he can be a full-time starter. Pick him up if you need outfield help.
Corey Patterson - Toronto Blue Jays - OF
This dude has bounced around on so many teams, I don't even know what joke to make here... he's never consistent? Anyways, he's on a hot streak in his past seven games with a .323 batting average, 8 runs, 6 rbis, and 3 stolen bases. If you need help on the base paths, he's you man.
2-starter pickups for the week
Daisuke Matsuzaka - Boston Red Sox (vs Bal, vs CHC)
Since Daisuke got lit up by the Rays back in mid-April, he's pitched quite well. In the four starts since (including the one where he got pulled early due to elbow tightness), he's 3-0, with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 0.80 along with 20 K's. Plus, he's only served up one homer. I have a feeling the trend will continue. The Orioles are not a great hitting ball club and the Cubs have had their problems hitting consistently. Look for Daisuke to put up some solid numbers this week.
Homer Bailey - Cincinnati Reds (vs CHC, at Cle)
Homer Bailey has been wrecking in the two games he's pitched. 0.69 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP. Add to that 12 K's and it looks like we've got ourselves a stud. Only problem is that both games were against the Astros. The only concern is the amount of fly balls to ground balls ratio 3:2. Against Chicago and Cleveland, depending on the weather, that might be a problem, however, his first two games do look promising.
Edwin Jackson - Chicago White Sox (vs Tex, vs LAD)
Edwin Jackson has had two phenomenal starts the past two games, only to be outdone in one by a no-hitter thanks to Liriano. He's capable of putting up high K's or low K's in either game, but the more important thing is that he's kept his WHIP low the past two games and an ERA of 0.60. Both games are at home where Jackson has a 2.18 ERA and a 1-1 record (again, the Liriano perfect game) and his K:BB ratio is almost 5 to 1. His opponent's BAA is .221 and WHIP is barely over 1. Expect two great starts outta Edwin Jackson.
Rick Porcello - Detroit Tigers (vs Tor, at Pit)
Porcello got shelled for five runs in each of his first two starts, since then, he's had four straight quality starts and and although he only pitched five innings in his last start, he still got the win. In his past five starts, he has a 1.99 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 3:1 K:BB ratio with 21 K's. He's 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and a WHIP of 1.00 against Pittsburgh as well as in PNC Park and 2-2 against Toronto with a 3.75 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. It would not be at all surprising if he goes 2-0 this week.
Joel Pineiro - Los Angeles Angels (at Oak, vs Atl)
Pineiro is 2-0 since he's come back with a 1.33 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He's only got 10 K's, but he managed to shut down Boston and the White Sox, two solid offenses that have been producing this month. He pitched well against the A's last season to the tune of a 1.57 ERA and 1-0 record in three games, including a complete game. He hasn't pitched against Atlanta in a while, but last time in 2009 he went 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA in two games. So that should give you a good idea of why you should get him for the week.
Tim Stauffer - San Diego Padres (at Ari, vs Sea)
He had one bad game against the Brewers, but had 4 straight quality starts before that. He's also averaging about 5 K's a game and although his record is 0-1, he's received poor run support, with four or less runs in all except three starts, including the Brewers game. I think he'd be a good pickup and should finally get a win this week against two very poor hitting clubs in Seattle and Arizona.
Jason Vargas - Seattle Mariners (vs Min, at SD)
Jason Vargas has been phenomenal in May. He's 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. 7 K's is ok, but he's only given up 3 walks. Against Minnesota and San Diego he's 1-1 against each with an ERA around 3.50 between the two. He has a good shot to win against both teams after his phenomenal performance against the O's where he went 9 innings without giving up a run.
Closers?
St. Louis Cardinals - it's either Fernando Salas, or Mitchell Boggs... I'd advise picking him up over Boggs since both are probably available
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