Unfavorable Matchups, American League
Dioner Navarro Tampa (15 for 40 .385 CS%): 1 against Kansas City (Joey Gathright), 2 against NYY (Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Abreu, Melky Cabrera, Derek Jeter), 4 against Cleveland (Grady Sizemore, Jamey Carroll, Franklin Gutierrez)
Ivan Rodriguez Detroit (16 for 42, .381 CS%): 2 against Cleveland (Grady Sizemore, Jamey Carroll, Franklin Gutierrez), 4 against Minnesota (Carlos Gomez, Delmon Young, Nick Punto, Alexi Casilla, Denard Span)
Kurt Suzuki Oakland (20 for 56, .357 CS%): 4 against Seattle (Ichiro Suzuki, Adrian Beltre, Willie Bloomquist), 3 against LAA (Chone Figgins, Torii Hunter, Macier Izturis, Gary Matthews, Erick Aybar, Garrett Anderson)
Favorable Matchups, American League
AJ Pierzynski CHW (11 for 68, .162 CS%): 3 against Kansas City (Joey Gathright), 3 against Texas (Ian Kinsler, David Murphy, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young)
Jason Varitek Boston (8 for 39, .205 CS%): 3 against Minnesota (Carlos Gomez, Delmon Young, Nick Punto, Alexi Casilla, Denard Span), 3 against Baltimore (Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones)
Ramon Hernandez BAL (15 for 72, .208 CS%), 3 against Toronto (Alex Rios, Marco Scutaro, Scott Rolen), 3 against Boston (Jacoby Ellsbury, Coco Crisp, Julio Lugo, Dustin Pedroia)
Unfavorable Matchups, National League
Jason Kendall Milwaukee (22 for 47, .468 CS%): 4 against Colorado (Willy Taveras, Matt Holliday, Ryan Spilborghs, Scott Podsednik), 3 against Cincinnati (Brandon Phillips, Corey Patterson, Jerry Hairston)
Yadier Molina STL (12 for 35, .343 CS%) 3 against Philadelphia (Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley, Eric Bruntlett), 3 against Pittsburgh (Nate McLouth, Jason Bay)
Bengie Molina SF (14 for 45, .311 CS%): 3 against NYM (Jose Reyes, David Wright, Luis Castillo, Carlos Beltran, Endy Chavez), 3 against CHC (Ryan Theriot, Kosuke Fukudome)
Favorable Matchups, National League
Russell Martin: LAD (11 for 52, .212 CS%) 3 against Atlanta (Kelly Johnson, Gregor Blanco, Matt Diaz), 4 against Florida (Hanley Ramirez, Alfredo Amezaga)
Brian McCann Atlanta (17 for 70, .243 CS%): 3 against LAD (Matt Kemp, Russell Martin), 3 against San Diego (Jody Gerut, Khalil Greene)
Geovany Soto Chicago (13 for 48, .271 CS%): 3 against Cincinnati (Brandon Phillips, Corey Patterson, Jerry Hairston), 3 against San Francisco (Fred Lewis, Randy Winn, Ray Durham, Emmanuel Burriss)
Pickup Recommendations:
Jason Bartlett: Bartlett is still available in many leagues. He will not offer much in the way of power or batting average but he has 17 steals, which translated over a full season is roughly 35 steals. That is too many steals for someone to be sitting on a waiver wire.
Rajai Davis: 64 games played with just 98 plate appearances tells you that the A’s use Davis mostly as a pinch-runner, which is a good thing considering how much trouble he has getting on base on his own, .213 batting average and a 3% BB%. However when he is on base, he becomes a one-man wrecking crew, 15 steals in 18 attempts. The lack of playing time limits his value to AL-only leagues.
Kaz Matsui: If someone in you league has soured on Matsui because of his injury, he makes for a good pickup in all formats, 15 steals in 18 attempts while playing in just 57 games.
Coco Crisp: Crisp is a factor in mixed leagues until David Ortiz returns to the lineup. After that, barring another injury in the Red Sox lineup, he would only be good for AL-only leagues unless he is traded.
Eric Bruntlett: Bruntlett has swiped 8 bases in 9 attempts, but with Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley in the MI, playing time will be scarce, which limits his value to NL-only leagues.
Adam Jones: Jones is available in many mixed formats. There are still many holes in his game; not much power, a 5% BB%, and a 75% Ct%, but he can steal bases, 7 steals in 9 tries. He doesn’t turn 23 until August 1st, so there is a good possibility that he gets better as the year progresses. Any improvement in his ability to get on base will translate into more steals.
Gregor Blanco: Since he doesn’t hit for power, 1 home run in 215 AB, and makes poor contact, 77% Ct%, his value is limited to NL-only leagues. However, Blanco can take a walk, 13.3% BB%, and knows how to steal a base, 7 steals in 8 attempts.
