Unfavorable Matchups, American League

Joe Mauer Minnesota (6 for 15, .400 CS%): 4 against Texas (Ian Kinsler, David Murphy), 3 against Detroit (Carlos Guillen, Curtis Granderson)

Kurt Suzuki Oakland (7 for 20, .350 CS%): 3 against Tampa (Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, Jason Bartlett), 3 against Boston (Jacoby Ellsbury, Coco Crisp, Julio Lugo, Dustin Pedroia)

Ivan Rodriguez Detroit (5 for 16, .313 CS%): 3 against Seattle (Ichiro Suzuki, Adrian Beltre), 3 against Minnesota (Carlos Gomez, Delmon Young)

Favorable Matchups, American League

John Buck Kansas City (1 for 15, .067 CS%): 4 against Boston (Jacoby Ellsbury, Coco Crisp, Julio Lugo, Dustin Pedroia), 3 against Toronto (Alex Rios)

Jason Varitek Boston (2 for 12, .167% CS%): 4 against Kansas City (Joey Gathright), 3 against Oakland (Rajai Davis)

AJ Pierzynski CHW (4 for 21, .190 CS%): 3 against Cleveland (Grady Sizemore, Franklin Gutierrez), 3 against LAA (Chone Figgins, Erick Aybar)

Unfavorable Matchups, National League

Paul Bako Cincinnati (8 for 18, .444 CS%): 3 against LAD (Juan Pierre, Matt Kemp, Rafael Furcal), 4 against San Diego (Tadahito Iguchi)

Jason Kendall Milwaukee (10 for 24, .417 CS%): 3 against Pittsburgh (Nate McLouth, Jason Bay), 3 against Washington (Felipe Lopez, Lastings Milledge)

Geovany Soto CHC (9 for 24, .409 CS%): 3 against Houston (Michael Bourn, Kaz Matsui, Lance Berkman), 3 against Pittsburgh (Nate McLouth, Jason Bay)

Favorable Matchups, National League

Josh Bard San Diego (6 for 35, .171 CS%): 3 against St. Louis (Skip Schumaker), 4 against Cincinnati (Brandon Phillips, Ryan Freel, Corey Patterson)

Chris Snyder Arizona (3 for 15, .200 CS%): 3 against Florida (Hanley Ramirez), 3 against Atlanta (Kelly Johnson)

Yadier Molina St. Louis (4 for 19, .211 CS%): 3 against San Diego (Tadahito Iguchi), 3 against LAD (Juan Pierre, Matt Kemp, Rafael Furcal)
Pickup Recommendations:

Joey Gathright: Gathright is still available in many leagues. He is a must own in AL-only and deep mixed leagues. An injury to any of the Royals starting outfielders makes him a factor in shallower mixed leagues.

Eugenio Velez: At this point Velez, 0/7/.233, is not worth using in mixed leagues, but with 4 triples and 7 steals, he should be owned in all NL-only leagues. If he can learn to walk a little more, 4.6% BB%, and receives regular playing time, he would be worth using in mixed leagues.

Scott Podsednik: With a good, crowded outfield in Colorado, Podsednik’s playing time will be limited, but when he gets in there, he is running, a perfect 6 for 6 in just 48 PA. The lack of playing time limits his value to NL-only leagues.

Corey Patterson: Due to a seemingly slow start, 4/11/200 in 90 AB, Patterson has been dropped in many leagues, but he is suffering from an absurdly low .085 BHIP%. If the Reds stick with, he is worth owning in all formats.

Coco Crisp: Jacoby Ellsbury is severely limiting Crisp’s playing, but when he plays, Crisp is running well, 5 for 5 in steals. For now his value is limited to AL-only leagues, but a trade that would land him a full-time position would make him worth using in mixed leagues.

Rajai Davis: The A’s outfield is very crowded and playing time could really dry up if Travis Buck comes back from his injury or the A’s decide to call up hot prospect Carlos Gonzalez, but for the time being Davis can be used in AL-only leagues. The A’s are not known to be a running team and Davis has only attempted one steal in 11 games with A’s, but since it is his speed that drives his value, it is doubtful that the A’s would have acquired and not have him run.

Jason Bartlett: Bartlett has been a disappointment so far this year, 0/6/.243 with 4 steals in 5 tries, but last year he swiped 23 bases in 26 attempts and would have had more if he didn’t injure his hamstring. If he can regain some of the plate patience that he exhibited last year, 2007/2008 BB%’s of 8.9%/2.7%, he may be able to take better advantage of his speed.

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