By Eric Radom

Some Notes:
• It is time to assess and address your needs. Look for struggling players showing signs of life.
• Injuries continue to pile up. See below.
• Interleague play has started. Be aware of designated hitters playing in National League parks.
• The Orioles continue to get good pitching, and are still right there. 
• The Yankees are unstoppable right now. Not even the Nationals could beat them.
• The Blue Jays managed to lose three young starting pitchers to significant injury during the same week. Ouch. 
• You cannot stop Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey. You can only hope to contain him. He is the best fantasy pitcher so far this year. 
• A freak illness put Josh Hamilton in the hospital, but he appears OK. 
• The Dodgers' Matt Kemp and the Rays' Evan Longoria continue to struggle in their return attempts from hamstring injuries. 
• Add the Braves to the teams devastated by pitching injuries. Brandon Beachy might need Tommy John surgery. 
• Cliff Lee is still searching for his first win, which is another example of why not to chase wins. 
• Roto owners that paid for Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg are getting their money's worth, no matter how many innings he pitches this year. 
• Carlos Marmol is back in at closer for the Cubs. If you are pregnant or have a heart condition, please do not pick him up. 
• Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said Stephen Drew would be used sparingly for a while once he returns from his broken ankle. 
• More bad news is coming for Troy Tulowitzki -- his groin issue may actually be a sports hernia.   
• Joey Votto is the best hitter in the game right now. 
• It's official. The season White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn had last year was a fluke.    
• Mike Trout, the Angels' 20-year-old center fielder, is not going to be a star. He is already a star.  
• It was nice to see an actual great pitcher, San Francisco's Matt Cain, throw a perfect game last week.
• Ryan Cook is the new closer in Oakland, and there is no reason why he can't get more than 20 saves the rest of the year.     

The Infirmary: 

AL East:
• Nick Markakis is out until at least late June with a hand injury.
• Zach Britton could be back before July from a shoulder injury.
• Andrew Bailey is out until at least late July because of thumb surgery.
• Nolan Reimold is out until at least the All-Star break with a bulging disc in his neck.
• Kevin Youkilis is day-to-day with a toe injury.
• Carl Crawford is out until at least mid-July with a sprained elbow.
• Brandon Morrow is out until at least early July with an oblique injury.
• Kyle Farnsworth has an elbow strain and is out until at least July.
• Sergio Santos is out until at least July with a strained shoulder.
• Kyle Drabek is out for the season with an elbow injury.
• Jacoby Ellsbury hurt his shoulder and is out until at least July.
• Mariano Rivera is out for the season with a torn ACL.
• Josh Beckett is out until at least late June with a shoulder injury. 
• Nick Swisher is day-to-day with a quadriceps injury.
• Jeff Niemann is out until at least late June with a fractured foot. 
• Brett Gardner is out until at least mid-July with an elbow injury.
• Evan Longoria is out until early July with a partial tear in his hamstring.
• Matt Joyce is day-to-day with the flu.
• Luke Scott is out until at least late June with a back injury.
• Cody Ross should be back this week from a foot injury.
• Daniel Nava is day-to-day with a hand injury.
• Jeff Keppinger is out until at least late June with a foot injury.
• Scott Podsednik is day-to-day with a groin injury.
• Drew Hutchison is out until at least early July with an elbow injury.

AL Central:
• Grady Sizemore had back surgery and is out until at least July.
• Alex Avila could be back late this week from a hamstring injury. 
• Victor Martinez is out until at least August with a torn knee.
• Joakim Soria is out for the season with a torn elbow.
• Lorenzo Cain is out until at least late June with a groin strain.
• Josh Tomlin is out until at least late May with a wrist injury.
• Salvador Perez is should return shortly from knee surgery.
• John Danks is out until at least July with a shoulder injury.
• Chris Getz is out until at least early July with a leg injury.
• Danny Duffy is out for the season with a torn elbow ligament.
• Drew Smyly is out until at least late June with a finger injury.
• Matt Capps is day-to-day with a shoulder injury. 
• John Danks is out until at least early June with a shoulder injury.
• Brent Morel is out until at least late June with a back injury.
• Travis Hafner is out until at least late June with a knee injury.
• Joe Mauer is day-to-day with a quadriceps injury.

AL West:
• Dallas Braden has had a setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery and might not return until July.
• Bartolo Colon is day-to-day with an oblique injury.
• Brandon McCarthy is probable for June 19 after a shoulder injury. 
• Brett Anderson is out until at least August after elbow surgery.
• Jered Weaver is expected to return from a back injury June 20.
• Mike Carp is out until at least late June with a shoulder injury.
• Yoenis Cespedes is day-to-day with a hamstring injury.
• Chris Iannetta is out until at least late June because of a wrist surgery. 
• Vernon Wells is out until at least late July with a thumb injury.
• Brandon McCarthy has had a sore shoulder and is expected to start June 2.
• Neftali Feliz is out until at least July.
• Josh Hamilton is day-to-day with an illness.
• Derek Holland is out until at least late June with a shoulder injury. 
• Alexi Ogando is out until at least mid-July with a groin injury.

NL East:
• Brandon Beachy is out until at least early July with an elbow injury.
• Freddie Freeman is day-to-day with a thumb injury. 
• Ryan Howard will be out until at least early July with an Achilles injury.
• Chase Utley has serious knee issues. He is on a rehab assignment and might return in July.
• Roy Halladay is out until at least mid-July with a shoulder injury.
• Drew Storen had bone fragments removed from his elbow. He could come back in early July.
• Mike Pelfrey is out for the season with elbow surgery.
• Jason Bay is out until at least late June with a concussion. 
• Jayson Werth is out until at least late July with a broken wrist.
• Brad Lidge is out until at least late June after having surgery for a sports hernia.
• Wilson Ramos is out for the season with a torn ACL.
• Emilio Bonifacio is out until at least mid-July with a hand injury.
• Hanley Ramirez is day-to-day with a knee injury. 
• Stephen Strasburg is day-to-day with a finger injury.   
• Chipper Jones is day-to-day with a calf injury.

NL Central:
• Ryan Dempster is out until at least late June with a back injury. 
• Ryan Madson is out for the season with an elbow injury.
• Ian Stewart is out until at least early July with a wrist injury.  
• Chris Carpenter has nerve issues in his shoulder and neck and could be back in late July or early August.
• Drew Stubbs is hoping to return Friday from an oblique injury.  
• Mike Leake is day-to-day with an illness.  
• Mat Gamel is out for the season with a knee injury.
• Jon Jay is out until at least late June with a shoulder injury. 
• Lance Berkman is out until at least mid-July with a knee injury.  
• Matt Carpenter is out until at least late June with an oblique injury.
• Bud Norris is out until at least early July with a knee injury.  
• Jonathan Lucroy is out until at least July with a hand injury. 
• Shaun Marcum will miss at least his next start with an elbow injury.  
• Charlie Morton is out for the season with an elbow injury. 
• Matt Holliday is day-to-day with a hip injury.  

NL West:
• Stephen Drew should be back by July from ankle surgery.
• Jorge De La Rosa is on track for a late June return from elbow surgery.
• Matt Kemp has a hamstring injury and could be back by late June.
• Juan Nicasio is out until at least late June with a knee injury.
• Troy Tulowitzki is out until at least July with a groin injury.
• Mark Ellis is out until at least late July with a leg injury.
• Brian Wilson is out for the season with an elbow injury.
• Cory Luebke is out for the season with an elbow injury.
• Ted Lilly is out until at least July with a shoulder injury.
• Jhoulys Chacin is out until at least late June with a shoulder injury.
• Carlos Gonzalez is day-to-day with a knee injury. 
• Aubrey Huff is out until at least late June with a knee injury. 
• Tim Stauffer is out until at least late July with an elbow injury. 
• Jason Bartlett is out until at least mid-July with a knee injury.

Top Performing Fantasy Players For 2012 (By Position)  

Top 15 Fantasy Catchers: Yadier Molina, Carlos Ruiz, A.J. Pierzynski, Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, Jonathan Lucroy, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Mike Napoli, Matt Wieters, A.J. Ellis, Jesus Montero, Brian McCann, Wilin Rosario, Miguel Montero, J.P. Arencibia

Top 15 Fantasy First Basemen: Joey Votto, Miguel Cabrera, Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Trumbo, Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, Michael Cuddyer, Prince Fielder, Chris Davis, Albert Pujols, Adam LaRoche, Bryan LaHair, Mark Teixeira, Paul Goldschmidt, Lucas Duda

Top 15 Fantasy Second Basemen: Jason Kipnis, Ian Kinsler, Jose Altuve, Robinson Cano, Brandon Phillips, Mike Aviles, Dan Uggla, Kelly Johnson, Omar Infante, Ben Zobrist, Aaron Hill, Marco Scutaro, Neil Walker, Dustin Pedroia, Danny Espinosa

Top 15 Fantasy Shortstops: Starlin Castro, Hanley Ramirez, Elvis Andrus, Rafael Furcal, Derek Jeter, Ian Desmond, Mike Aviles, Jose Reyes, Jed Lowrie, Dee Gordon, Asdrubal Cabrera, Troy Tulowitzki, Jimmy Rollins, Marco Scutaro, Alcides Escobar

Top 15 Fantasy Third Basemen: David Wright, Miguel Cabrera, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Adrian Beltre, Hanley Ramirez, Martin Prado, Mike Aviles, Alex Rodriguez, David Freese, Chris Davis, Brett Lawrie, Chase Headley, Jed Lowrie, Kyle Seager, Mike Moustakas

Top 25 Fantasy Outfielders: Josh Hamilton, Carlos Gonzalez, Ryan Braun, Adam Jones, Carlos Beltran, Melky Cabrera, Andrew McCutchen, Michael Bourn, Curtis Granderson, Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo, Alejandro De Aza, Hunter Pence, Jose Bautista, Josh Reddick, Michael Cuddyer, Andre Ethier, Matt Holliday, Alex Rios, Angel Pagan, Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Willingham, Jay Bruce, Martin Prado

Top 25 Fantasy Starting Pitchers: Matt Cain, R.A. Dickey, Justin Verlander, Lance Lynn, Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, Chris Sale, Cole Hamels, Madison Bumgarner, Brandon Beachy, Colby Lewis, Jake Peavy, C.J. Wilson, James McDonald, Johnny Cueto, Chris Capuano, Clayton Kershaw, Brandon Morrow, Jered Weaver, Wade Miley, Jason Hammel, Ryan Dempster, Zach Greinke, Ryan Vogelsong, David Price

Top 20 Fantasy Relief Pitchers: Fernando Rodney, Jim Johnson, Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman, Joel Hanrahan, Chris Perez, Kenley Jansen, Santiago Casilla, Jonathan Papelbon, Jason Motte, Joe Nathan, Ernesto Frieri, Brett Myers, Jonathan Broxton, Tyler Clippard, Rafael Soriano, Matt Capps, Ryan Cook, Rafael Betancourt, Alfredo Aceves

Finds: Trevor Plouffe, Brandon Belt, Ike Davis, Mark Reynolds, Ervin Santana, Ryan Cook, Justin Masterson, Tom Wilhelmsen

Flukes: Jason Marquis, Brandon Moss, Casey McGehee, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Clayton Richard, Felix Doubront, Jarrod Parker, Jose Quintana

Trade Bait: Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo, Pedro Alvarez, Josh Reddick, Chris Sale, James McDonald, Wade Miley, Ryan Dempster

Trade Targets: Rickie Weeks, Geovany Soto, Ike Davis, Mike Morse, Jon Lester, Ian Kennedy, Josh Johnson, Ricky Romero

On Fire: Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Trevor Plouffe, Brandon Moss, R.A. Dickey, Colby Lewis, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner

Ice Cold: Chris Young, Giancarlo Stanton, Kendrys Morales, J.P. Arencibia, Jeremy Hellickson, Erik Bedard, Carlos Zambrano, Gavin Floyd

Hot Pickups Of The Week: Trevor Plouffe, Ryan Cook, Brian Roberts, Clay Buchholz, Doug Fister, Mark Reynolds, Michael Saunders, Trevor Cahill

Last Week: Jonathan Lucroy, Justin Morneau, Andy Pettitte, Mitch Moreland, R.A. Dickey, Tyler Clippard, Ervin Santana, Brennan Boesch

Two Weeks Ago: Raul Ibanez, Dayan Viciedo, Jose Tabata, Mark Ellis, Carlos Zambrano, Felipe Paulino, James McDonald, Bud Norris, Addison Reed

Fantasy MVP Pitcher For The Week: R.A. Dickey

Fantasy MVP Hitter For The Week: Joey Votto

Ut Oh Of The Week: The Blue Jays lost three-fifths of their starting rotation in a matter of five days. That is impossible to overcome in the AL East.

Fantasy Baseball: Start 'Ems Of The Week  

Must-start Batters: Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, Jose Bautista, Robinson Cano, Carlos Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Jose Reyes, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, Joey Votto, Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler, Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, Andrew McCutchen, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Santana, Hunter Pence, Matt Holliday, Mike Napoli, Mark Teixeira, Giancarlo Stanton, Alex Rodriguez, Shin-Soo Choo, Nelson Cruz, Matt Wieters, Brian McCann, Jay Bruce, Ben Zobrist, Elvis Andrus, David Wright, Michael Bourn, Brandon Phillips, Joe Mauer, Michael Young, Brett Lawrie, Asdrubal Cabrera, Dan Uggla, Corey Hart, Miguel Montero, Jimmy Rollins, Desmond Jennings, Ichiro Suzuki, Paul Konerko, Andre Ethier, David Freese, Carlos Beltran, Adam Jones, Billy Butler, Buster Posey, Starlin Castro, Jason Heyward, Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Edwin Encarnacion, Yadier Molina, Rafael Furcal, Jason Kipnis, Shane Victorino, Mike Trout

Others To Consider This Week: Aramis Ramirez, B.J. Upton, Alex Gordon, Kevin Youkilis, Michael Cuddyer, Drew Stubbs, Howard Kendrick, Neil Walker, Aaron Hill, Paul Goldschmidt, Cameron Maybin, Alex Rios, Jesus Montero, Ike Davis, Nick Markakis, Erick Aybar, Martin Prado, Gaby Sanchez, Nick Swisher, Logan Morrison, Brennan Boesch, Dexter Fowler, Jeff Francoeur, Melky Cabrera, Lucas Duda, Delmon Young, Austin Jackson, Matt Joyce, Josh Willingham, Dee Gordon, Alex Avila, Yunel Escobar, J.J. Hardy, J.P. Arencibia, Dustin Ackley, Freddie Freeman, Russell Martin, Kelly Johnson, Jemile Weeks, Ian Desmond, Rickie Weeks, Mark Reynolds, Kendrys Morales, Bryce Harper, Bryan Lahair, Mike Aviles, Jose Altuve, Torii Hunter, Adam Dunn, Mike Moustakas, Jordan Schafer, Eric Hosmer

Must-start Pitchers: Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Roy Halladay, Felix Hernandez, David Price, Jered Weaver, CC Sabathia, Tim Lincecum, Cole Hamels, Zack Greinke, Dan Haren, Madison Bumgarner, Yovani Gallardo, Matt Cain, Ian Kennedy, C.J. Wilson, James Shields, Yu Darvish, Stephen Strasburg, Tommy Hanson, Matt Moore, Gio Gonzalez, Matt Garza, Jordan Zimmermann, Jake Peavy, Jonathan Papelbon, Fernando Rodney, Craig Kimbrel, Chris Perez , Rafael Betancourt, Joe Nathan, Huston Street, Santiago Casilla, John Axford, J.J. Putz, Jason Motte, Joel Hanrahan, Brandon Morrow, Jim Johnson, Tyler Clippard, R.A. Dickey, Lance Lynn

Others To Consider This Week: Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez, Jeremy Hellickson, Colby Lewis, Trevor Cahill, Ervin Santana, Hiroki Kuroda, Chad Billingsley, Wandy Rodriguez, Johnny Cueto, Edwin Jackson, Jonathon Niese, Brandon McCarthy, Adam Wainwright, Bartolo Colon, Kyle Lohse, Tom Wilhelmsen, Brett Myers, Jonathon Broxton, Sean Marshall, Josh Johnson, Carlos Zambrano, Jeff Samardzija, Addison Reed, Brian Fuentes, Casey Janssen, Mat Latos, Ryan Cook, Jon Lester, Ricky Romero

Now, some other guys we like this week ...

Sleepers Of The Week ...

Or, what DUD will become a STUD, at least for one week.

Hitters: Cameron Maybin, Jordan Schafer

Pitchers: Jeremy Hellickson, Kevin Millwood

Busts Of The Week ... 

Or, what STUD will become a DUD, at least for one week.

Hitters: Ben Zobrist, Danny Espinosa

Pitchers: Ricky Nolasco, Chris Sale

Posted Jun 19, 2012