Unfavorable Matchups, American League
Kurt Suzuki Oakland (19 for 47, .404 CS%): 3 against Philadelphia (Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley, Eric Bruntlett), 3 against San Francisco (Fred Lewis, Randy Winn, Ray Durham, Emmanuel Burriss)
Ivan Rodriguez Detroit (14 for 37, .378 CS%): 3 against San Francisco (Fred Lewis, Randy Winn, Ray Durham, Emmanuel Burriss), 3 against San Diego (Jody Gerut, Khalil Greene)
Joe Mauer Minnesota (15 for 44, .341 CS%): 3 against San Diego (Jody Gerut, Khalil Greene), 3 against Milwaukee (Corey Hart, Ryan Braun, Mike Cameron)
Favorable Matchups, American League
AJ Pierzynski CHW (10 for 60, .167 CS%): 3 against LAD (Juan Pierre, Matt Kemp), 3 against CHC (Ryan Theriot, Kosuke Fukudome)
Ramon Hernandez BAL (12 for 62, .194 CS%), 3 against CHC (Ryan Theriot, Kosuke Fukudome), 3 against Washington (Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes)
Kenji Johjima Seattle (8 for 40, .200 CS%): 3 against NYM (Jose Reyes, David Wright, Luis Castillo, Carlos Beltran, Endy Chavez), 3 against San Diego (Jody Gerut, Khalil Greene)
Unfavorable Matchups, National League
Jason Kendall Milwaukee (21 for 44, .477 CS%): 3 against Atlanta (Kelly Johnson, Gregor Blanco, Matt Diaz), 3 against Minnesota (Carlos Gomez, Delmon Young, Nick Punto, Michael Cuddyer, Alexi Casilla)
Yadier Molina STL (11 for 44, .324 CS%) 3 against Detroit (Carlos Guillen, Ivan Rodriguez), 3 against Kansas City (Joey Gathright)
Bengie Molina SF (12 for 38, .316 CS%): 3 against Cleveland (Grady Sizemore, Jamey Carroll, Franklin Gutierrez), 3 against Oakland (Rajai Davis, Mark Ellis, Bobby Crosby, Ryan Sweeney)
Favorable Matchups, National League
Carlos Ruiz PHI (12 for 49, .245 CS%): 3 against Oakland (Rajai Davis, Mark Ellis, Bobby Crosby, Ryan Sweeney), 3 against Texas (Ian Kinsler, David Murphy, Milton Bradley, Michael Young)
Brian McCann Atlanta (14 for 58, .241 CS%): 3 against Milwaukee (Corey Hart, Ryan Braun, Mike Cameron), 3 against Toronto (Alex Rios, Marco Scutaro, Scott Rolen)
Russell Martin: LAD (11 for 49, .224 CS%) 3 against CHW (Orlando Cabrera, Carlos Quentin), 3 against LAA (Chone Figgins, Torii Hunter, Macier Izturis, Gary Matthews, Erick Aybar)
Pickup Recommendations:
Rickie Weeks: Weeks should be back sometime next week. If someone has dropped him because of his .210 batting average, run and pick him up. The average is being held back by a .185 BHIP% and Weeks can steal bases, 10 for 13 this year.
Willie Bloomquist: For some reason the Mariners are playing Ichiro Suzuki in right field to open up AB for Bloomquist. Outside of speed, 7 steals in 9 tries, Bloomquist will offer nothing else, so only use him in AL-only leagues if you are desperate for steals.
Cesar Izturis: The best things that you can say about Izturis is that he gets regular playing time and he doesn’t miss pitches very often, 95% Ct%. With 6 steals in 9 tries this year, he also seems to have rediscovered an ability to steal bases, 25 steals in 34 attempts in 2004, but just 12 steals in 27 attempts from 2005 to 2007. Use him in NL-only leagues but cut bait if you start to see a lot of caught steals.
Mark Ellis: Ellis is flying under the radar as a power, 8 home runs and 15 doubles in 238 AB, and speed source, 6 steals in 8 attempts. He can be an asset even in mixed leagues.
Gregor Blanco: Since he doesn’t hit for power, 1 home run in 167 AB, and makes mediocre contact, 83% Ct%, his value is limited to NL-only leagues. However, Blanco can take a walk, 14.8% BB%, and knows how to steal a base, a perfect 5 for 5 this year.
Ryan Sweeney: Back from the DL, Sweeney appears to be playing full-time. He won’t provide much power, just 2 home runs in 140 AB and with a .311 BHIP%, there is downside risk to his .307 batting average, but Sweeney could provide help in the steals category, a perfect 5 for 5 this year.
Emmanuel Burriss: Keep an eye on the SS situation in San Francisco. If the Giants deal Omar Vizquel, it would open up playing time for Burriss, who has swiped 6 bases in 8 tries, despite only coming to the plate 97 times this year.
