Fantasy Baseball: Week 9 Start/Sit

Another week, another column. Who are the eight Must-start players for week 9? Which eight strugglers do we sit this upcoming week? Let's find out:

Start’em

1. Shaun Marcum, SP TOR:
It has been a great year north of the border for Marcum. He is 4-2 with an impressive 2.50 ERA, which ranks him ninth in the Major Leagues. He has not surrendered more than two runs in any of his last six starts. He will make two starts in Week 9, making him a great start.

2. Ryan Dempster, SP CHC:
Once a closer and now a starter, Dempster has had a smooth transition back into the rotation in Chicago. Dempster has been phenomenal in 2008. He posts an ERA of 2.70, which ranks 12th best in the Major Leagues. In his last four starts, he has only allowed six runs in 26.1 innings while striking out 31. It is about time to put him in every of his fantasy team's starting lineups for Week 9, in which he will also be making two starts.

3. Milton Bradley, OF TEX:
Bradley is making the most of his opportunity in Texas and proving that he is not done. He has a seven-game hit streak going, in which he is batting .407 with four home runs and 10 RBI. For the season, he has eight home runs, 26 RBI, and a .319 average. It is about time fantasy owners start becoming aware of this Ranger. He is a must-start for Week 9.

4. Robinson Cano, 2B NYY:
He started 2008 in a dreaded slump and now is starting to live up to his draft position. Since the start of May, Cano is hitting .296 with two home runs and five RBI. He is becoming a factor again and his patient owners will now reap the benefits of his upward progression.

5. Jimmy Rollins, SS PHI:
He has not missed a beat since returning from the disabled list. Rollins is hitting over .350 with seven RBI and three stolen bases in eight games since being actived from the DL. He is a must-start in Week 9 and should continue his stellar play.

6. Adam Jones, OF BAL:
He did not get off to the start he and Orioles fans wanted, but it was only a matter of time until he produced. He had a career-high four RBI against the Yankees and will play the Yankees and Boston next week. At home this year, Jones is hitting .313 and could be a good fill-in candidate for Week 9.

7. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B WAS:
He ranks sixth among all third basemen in the majors in home runs (eight) and leads the team with 25 RBI. In 18 games in May, Zimmerman has five homers with 12 RBI and has hit for a .280 average. He currently has a five-game hit streak going, and should be a great start for Week 9.

8. Javier Vazquez, SP CHW:
In his last four starts, Vaquez has only allowed eight runs in 28 innings pitched. He has struck out 28, while only walking four batters. He will face Paul Byrd in Week 9 on the road, where Vazquez excels.

Sit’em

1. Jeff Francoeur, OF ATL:
Francoeur has been in an horrendous slump in the past two weeks. In that span, he is 6-for-33 with only four RBI. It is apparent that manager Bobby Cox, seeing that Francouer is struggling at the plate, gave him a day off, ending his 370 consecutive-games streak. He is not a recommended start for Week 9.

2. Alex Rios, TOR, OF LAA
Many expected Rios to have a breakout year for the Jays in 2008, yet it has not happened. Rios is only hitting .252 with three homers and 17 RBI. In his last six games, he is hitting .192 with two RBI. It will not get any easier for Rios in Week 9 because the Jays travel to Oakland and visit the Angels. Oakland currently boasts the best ERA in baseball, and with the return of John Lackey, the Angels staff is finally pieced together. Look for another option in the outfield in Week 9.

3. Xavier Nady, OF PIT:
Nady, who is off the best start of his young career in Pittsburgh, recently ended a road trip going 2-for-21. He should still be capable of hitting over 20 home runs, but his average may start to come back to his normal numbers of the past. Coming into play he is hitting .313, and his 36 RBI has him tied for fourth in the majors. Look for him to be on the bench in Week 9.

4. Jeremy Hermida, OF FLA:
Hermida is having a great start in 2008, as is the entire Florida Marlins team, who leads the NL East coming into play in Week 8. Hermida has been in a slump over his last six games. In that span, he is only hitting .160 and slugging .320. He is a nice No. 4 OF, but his recent struggles warrant a place on the bench for Week 9.

5. Paul Byrd, SP CLE:
This year, Byrd has been either great or horrible for Cleveland. He will follow up one great outing with a complete disaster the next. In Week 9, he will face hard-throwing Javier Vazquez. Byrd is too unpredictable to start and is better suited on the bench.

6. Joey Votto, 1B CIN:
It has been a great year so far the rookie, but he has struggled in his last six games. In that span, he is only hitting .143. In May, his average has suffered tremendously, being at .208. It might be time to sit the rookie until he can get out of his slump.

7. Julio Lugo, SS BOS:
How far has Lugo fell? A few years ago, he was one of the most underrated shortstops in the game. Since being dealt to the Dodgers in 2006, he has not been the player who played well in his time in Tampa Bay. For the year, he has only 11 RBI and six stolen bases. He should not be starting until he can prove he can hold down his position.

8. Johnny Damon, OF NYY:
The month of May has seen Damon drop his average by over 60 points. He is hitting .210 with two homers and only five RBI in 15 games. His value as a fantasy player is starting to diminish with the good play of Melky Cabrera. Look for Damon to hit the bench for Week 9.

John Arias is a fantasy baseball columnist for Fantasy Maniaxs.com.