1. TIGERS: Justin
Verlander is making a push for Cy
Young consideration.
2. RED SOX: Desperately need
fifth starter not named Kyle Snyder,
Jason Johnson.
3. METS: Jose Reyes (.171 average
since All-Star Game) must pick it up
on offense.
4. YANKEES: Desperately need
fifth starter not named Sidney
Ponson, Shawn Chacon.
5. TWINS: They are going to win
the AL Central if Detroit doesn't
stay very, very hot.
6. WHITE SOX: "All-Star" Mark
Buehrle is 0-2, 10.80 ERA since the
break.
7. CARDINALS: Might be only team
that can give Mets a legitimate run
in the NL.
8. BLUE JAYS: Trying Dustin
McGowan at fifth starter, for now.
9. PADRES: RHP Jake Peavy homers,
doubles; more importantly, he beats
Dodgers.
10. ATHLETICS: Frank Thomas (23
homers, $500,000 salary) is best
bargain in baseball.
11. ANGELS: Bartolo Colon's elbow
problems could cost them the AL
West.
12. REDS: Still hanging onto NL
wild-card lead, but precariously so.
13. DIAMONDBACKS: Can't decide to
sell or buy - here's a tip: sell,
sell, sell!
14. RANGERS: Annual summer swoon
well under way in Texas.
15. GIANTS: Indict him, already!
16. BRAVES: Adam LaRoche (20
homers) having career year.
17. ASTROS: Aubrey Huff batting
.224 since being acquired.
18. MARLINS: Joe Borowski (21
saves) having a nice season in South
Florida.
19. MARINERS: Adrian Beltre (nine
HRs) must have changed his diet this
year.
20. NATIONALS: Win streak
notwithstanding, they need retooling
from top to bottom.
21. PHILLIES: Chase Utley's hit
streak all Philly fans have to look
forward to.
22. ORIOLES: Rodrigo Lopez (6-11)
needs a change of scenery.
23. BREWERS: Ben Sheets' return was
good, but too late to help in race.
24. ROCKIES: What in the world is
wrong with Todd Helton (.288 batting
average)?
25. INDIANS: Built to win 90 games;
they might not win 80.
26. DODGERS: Congratulations,
Odalis Perez, you're a Royal!
27. CUBS: Mark Prior chooses now to
flirt with a no-hitter?
28. DEVIL RAYS: Scott Kazmir is on
the DL? There's panic in Tampa.
29. PIRATES: Nate McLouth leads
Bucs in steals. Who? Exactly.
30. ROYALS: How will they survive
without Tony Graffanino?
FANTASY CORNER
CORY LIDLE, YANKEES: The
veteran right-hander always has been
a second-half pitcher. In 121
appearances (75 starts) in his
career after the All-Star break, he
is 40-25 with a 4.07 ERA. His
pre-break ERA is 4.92.
SETH McCLUNG, Devil Rays: The
25-year-old right-hander has made
four saves for Triple-A Durham, an
indication his transition to closer
is proceeding nicely. The Rays will
bring him up soon, perhaps this
week.
NOMAR GARCIAPARRA, Dodgers:
So, it was too good to be true. His
right knee is gimpy, and he's on the
DL, a familiar place. Olmedo Saenz
is the fill-in.
AL Extra
Bases
Having traded OF Kevin Mench and RHP Francisco Cordero
to Milwaukee for LF Carlos Lee,
the Rangers are hoping the addition
of RHP Adam Eaton (who made
his first start for Texas on Tuesday
after suffering a middle finger
injury in spring training) can
provide an additional lift in the AL
West race. Eaton lost to the Yankees
in his debut, but reported no
problems with the finger. … Yankees
RF Gary Sheffield had the
cast removed from his injured left
wrist last week and played catch in
the outfield prior to the games
against the Rays during the weekend.
He's scheduled to have the wrist
examined Monday and could receive a
timetable for his return at that
time.
NL Extra Bases
OF Jose Guillen underwent
Tommy John surgery Tuesday. With
free agency and an eight- or
nine-month recovery period ahead,
Guillen's days with the Nationals
appear to be done. … Former Cubs OF
Sammy Sosa, the team's
all-time home run leader, was miffed
at being left out of the group of
five players represented in the
Hometown Heroes voting currently
underway on
mlb.com. The five were Ryne
Sandberg, Ferguson Jenkins,
Ernie Banks, Billy
Williams and Ron Santo. …
The Dodgers' Tomko, who made 15
starts before going on the DL with a
strained oblique, was activated and
moved into the bullpen Friday. He
pitched a scoreless inning during
Los Angeles' 13-1 victory against
the Nationals.
