The All-Star break throws a bit of a wrench into the considerations for whom to start and whom to sit this week.
Note: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em will follow the weekly schedule of most fantasy
leagues, that is, starting Monday and ending Sunday.
START 'EM!
Kevin Kouzmanoff | 3B
San Diego Padres
Kouzmanoff, like the rest of the Padres, struggled badly in April, but he has actually been quite good since then, hitting for good power considering his home park. His .486 SLG since May 1 puts him only behind Adrian Gonzalez among Padres hitters, and this week, he hits at homer-friendly Cincinnati and against the hitter-friendly Pittsburgh pitching staff. Perhaps the best news? He will miss Edinson Volquez when they face the Reds, meaning Kouzmanoff is a must-start.
Shaun Marcum | SP
Toronto Blue Jays
Sure, Marcum is just coming off an injury, and yes, he has not pitched since June 18. However, he couldn't ask for two better rehab starts, first against the Orioles, and then against the Mariners. Although Baltimore could give problems, and he might not throw enough pitches to get a decision, he should have a much easier go of it when he faces Seattle next Sunday, provided, of course, that he does not make his injury worse.
Barry Zito | SP
San Francisco Giants
Don't laugh. Sure, Zito is terrible, and he is easy to find on waiver wires, but he will face the Nationals and the Diamondbacks this week, two teams he has pitched well against recently. Since 2005, Zito has limited the Nationals to 13 hits in 18 innings (but then again, who hasn't limited the Nats to such numbers?), garnering a 3.50 ERA against them, while he has limited the Diamondbacks to 25 hits in 27 innings, and has a 3.00 ERA against them. Both teams are struggling to score runs this year, and Zito has actually pitched respectable ball of late, so he is a good start, if only for the next seven days.
SIT 'EM!
Aubrey Huff | 1B/3B
Baltimore Orioles
Huff has become a sexy pickup from the waiver wires, given his rise back to hitting respectability (19 HR, 61 RBI, .523 SLG). However, he will face a tough Toronto pitching staff this week, followed by an equally difficult Anaheim pitching staff, including against Roy Halladay, Joe Saunders, Jon Garland, and Ervin Santana. Huff is still a nice story this season, just not this week.
Cody Ross | OF
Florida Marlins
Ross has risen up in the ranks with a power-packed summer, so normally you would take advantage of his kind of hot streak. Look at who he faces this week, though. His week starts off nicely against Atlanta, but the Marlins finish that series facing Tim Hudson, and then they face the top of the Cubs' rotation, namely, Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, and Rich Harden. He should finally see some relief when facing Jason Marquis to end the week, but it might be too late by then to salvage his week.
Troy Percival | RP
Tampa Bay Rays
Normally, one should be hesitant about relying on a closer who just came off the DL. However, Percival gets thrown back into the fire against the likes of Oakland, who can't score more than a run per game, and Kansas City, who may not be having problems scoring runs, but can't win games regardless. Of course, the possibility exists that Percival will re-aggravate his injury, but that is a risk worth taking against two struggling teams.