Fantasy Baseball: Week 10 Start/Sit

Football ManiaxsMay 29, 2008

Players to Start in week 10:

1. Rich Harden, SP Athletics:
He is back off the Disabled List and is showing no signs of injury. He has been phenomenal in all but one start this season. He has only allowed more than three runs only once this year in five starts. He has 37 strikeouts in only 27 1/3 innings pitched and is scheduled to start twice in week 10. Look for him to come away with two wins.

2. Jose Guillen, SS Royals:
He had an 11-game hitting streak stopped earlier in the week but has been on a tear. He started May with a .176 batting average and has been able to raise it to .242. In May he is hitting .311 with three home runs and an impressive 20 RBI in just 20 games. He is a hot, must grab in any fantasy format, making him a great start for week 10 and the entire season.

3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B Padres:
What would the Padres be without Adrian Gonzalez? The former No. 1 pick has been the only thing that Padres fans have had to cheer about. In May, he has hit a career best 10 home runs and has driven in 25 runs. He is a must-start for next week.

4. Hunter Pence, OF Astros:
He has gradually played better as the weeks have gone by and now is a factor in fantasy play. He is hitting .378 in May with six home runs. He has hit in 22 of his last 24 games and has raised his average from .250 to .311. Expect him to continue his hot streak for week 10.

5. Chad Billingsley, SP Dodgers:
After a shaky start to the season, Billingsley has been the most consistent pitcher in the Dodgers staff. His record of 4-6 does not reflect how well he has pitched of late. In his last six games, Billingsley is 4-2 but has an ERA of 2.13 and five of his six starts have been solid performances. He has 35 strikeouts in 38 innings and has a WHIP of 1.13. Look to grab him if available and start him for week 10.

6. Garrett Atkins, 3B Rockies:
His .335 average and 30 RBI make him second and seventh respectively overall in fantasy numbers for third basemen. He has been the most consistent Rockies player and has been killing the ball of late. In his last six games, he is hitting .333 with one home run and three RBI. In that span his OPS (On-base Percentage & Slugging) is well over .800.

7. Brad Penny, SP Dodgers:
May has been an awful month for Brad Penny. His ERA has risen from 3.19 to 5.32. Penny is scheduled to pitch twice in week 10 and this is the week he starts to turn it around. He faces the Rockies and Cubs this week. Against the Rockies this year he is 2-0 and the Rockies are hitting only .175 against him. Look for a solid performance this week.

8. Ian Kinsler, 2B Rangers:
Kinsler has been a great player since coming to the Majors. He is currently in a 12-game hitting streak and has hit four home runs with 13 RBI. He ranks in the top five for second basemen in RBI, home runs, and leads all second basemen with 44 runs and 15 stolen bases. Keep him active and reap the benefits.

Players to Sit in week 10:

1. Justin Upton, OF Diamondbacks:
He is in a dreaded slump causing his average to fall off the map. He is 0-26 and is struggling to find his swing. In May, he only has one home run and seven RBI. He is hitting .203, where in April he hit .340. Upton is a talented rookie but he must not start in week 10.

2. Torii Hunter, OF Angels:
Hunter has done well in his first season in Anaheim but has struggled lately. In his last six games he is hitting .239 with only one home run and one RBI. The Angles will travel to Seattle where Hunter has only hit .239 this season. He is a No. 3 fantasy outfielder, at best, and look for him to struggle in week 10.

3. James Loney, 1B Dodgers:
He is five for his last 27 and has seen his average drop. In that span, he only has one home run and two RBI. After his hot start, Loney is having a tough time driving in runs. The Dodgers offense is struggling recently and it has had an effect on Loney. Look for another option in week 10.

4. Jeremy Bonderman, SP Tigers:
It has been a struggle for the entire pitching staff but particularly for Bonderman. He has an ERA of 4.34 and a WHIP of 1.54. In 64 1/3 innings he only has 39 strikeouts and has walked 36. He has been pitching better of late but with his strikeout to walk ratio less than one-to-one, he is pitching on the edge. In week 10, he is scheduled to pitch twice and because of his inconsistency around the plate, Bonderman should not be trusted in week 10.

5. Delmon Young, OF Twins:
It has been a disappointing year for Young and his owners who drafted him. He is two for his last 22 and has yet to hit a home run. The only bright side to Young is his eight steals on the season. However, if he does not start to swing the bat soon, it will only be a matter of time until he is on the bench. Put him there for week 10.

6. Vicente Padilla, SP Rangers:
He is scheduled to start twice in week 10 but is a questionable starter at best. Even though he has a record of 7-2, Padilla is helped by his offense. He has a respectable ERA of 3.67 but in his last two games he has an ERA is over 5.00. He has been fortunate to receive in his last four starts a combined 39 runs of support. Look for that to not continue in week 10.

7. Raul Ibanez, OF Mariners:
He is a very streaky hitter and May has not seen his best. In May, he is hitting .239 with only two home runs. His average peaked at .305 and since then he is 5-35 with no home runs and only six RBI. Look for him to ride the bench in week 10.

8. Emil Brown, OF Athletics:
Did you know that Emil Brown ranks eighth in baseball in RBI? He is one of the reasons that the Athletics are still in the mix in the A.L. West. However, he has started to struggle at the plate. In his last six games, he is hitting .167 with no home runs. In May he is hitting .227 and slugging only .330. He should be on the bench for week 10.