Fantasy Baseball: Down To The Wire, Latos and Tolerant

Fantasy baseball players can break your heart like an ex-girlfriend. If players get off to bad starts you start to hate them, but if they are hot out of the gate you love them. There are several players off to awful starts, and some don't even deserve to be on rosters right now with the way they are playing.

Players like Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Quentin, Gordon Beckham, and Grady Sizemore are playing like they are in little league. For some of them, it's time to cut bait. You've waited more than a month for them to get hot, but nothing seems to be working. Even if you invested a third or fourth-round pick on these players, it may not be worth holding on to them to see if they turn things around. If you are one of these owners searching for replacements, here is a list of players that may be available in your league:

C- John Buck (C TOR) 33 percent owned - I've never been a huge Buck fan, but since catcher is in such a brutal hitting position, it's time to take a chance on him. He's off to a scorching start (.276 8 HR 23 RBI 16 RS) and is worth picking up right now. The Blue Jays have a solid lineup and he is in there almost every day.

1B- James Loney (1B LAD) 74 percent owned - Loney is only 74 percent owned in Yahoo leagues and he has been on fire. First base is a very deep position, but Loney is a legit slugger. He hits in a dangerous Dodgers lineup and is driving in plenty of runs. His stats so far are: .320 4 HR 24 RBI 23 RS 5 SB. It's time to pick him up if he's available.

1B- Troy Glaus (1B ATL) 12 percent owned - The power has finally come back and Glaus is looking like the guy who used to regularly hit 30 or more homers every year. He's now up to a .283 average with five homers and 25 RBI. Scoop him up before he goes on a power trip.

2B- Martin Prado (1B/2B/3B ATL) 73 percent owned - Prado is on an absolute tear as of late. He can play three positions and is a very valuable utility player to own. Prado's stats are mind blowing for a middle infielder right now: .323 4 HR 18 RBI 23 RS. He is batting lead-off, and unless he completely falls apart he's going to stay there. Grab him now if you have a bench spot for him.

3B- Jose Bautista (3B/OF TOR) 31 percent owned - He won't give you a lot for average (.241), but he looks like Mark Reynolds' light. He all ready has 10homers with 29 RBI and is on a tear right now. Ride the hot streak and bench him when he goes into a cold streak.

SS- Ryan Theriot (SS CHC) 78 percent owned - Theriot has been one of the most underrated players in fantasy baseball for quite some time. He's also very consistent. Ever since he got off to a rough start to the year, he's been very solid. He bats lead-off for the Cubbies and there's no reason for Lou Piniella to mess with his success. He'll steal you bases, score runs, and hit for a high average. His stats thus far are: .318 12 RBI 21 RS 6 SB.

OF- Hunter Pence (OF HOU) 71 percent owned- Pence was off to a horrid start to the year, but he's turned things around lately. He's batting .277 in May with four homers, 15 RBI and 17 runs. Pence has always had enormous potential and looks like he's realizing it right now. Grab him before he breaks out for good.

SP- Matt Latos (SP SD) 36 percent owned- Ladies and gentleman, the Matt Latos era has begun. Latos looks like Tim Lincecum when he had his first break-out year. He pitches in a pitcher-friendly park at Petco and faces some struggling offenses like the Giants all year. He pitched a one-hit shut-out against the Giants last week and gets them again this week. If he's available, don't even think about it and drop your worst player for him right now. His stats his last two starts are: 2-0 17 IP 3 hits 0 BB 15 K. Latos is the next big thing and could be the difference-maker for fantasy championships this year.

Jose Contreras (SP/RP PHI) 35 percent owned- Brad Lidge went on the DL again after having a brief return after his last stint. What a shocker! All jokes aside, Jose Contreras just became fantasy relevant again. Contreras steps right into Lidge's closer's role and he could keep it the whole year if he becomes more reliable than Lidge. He is proving doubters wrong with a stellar start to the season: 2-1 0.68 ERA 18 K 2 BB 1 save. Grab him in all formats before his value takes off.