Z - MLB Positional Outlook

Outfielders Outlook

May 11, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

OUTFIELDERS

Table: Do not bench list

Player	Team	Player	Team
Carl Crawford	TB	Andruw Jones	ATL
Alfonso Soriano	CHC	Jermaine Dye	CHW
Vladimir Guerrero	LAA	Johnny Damon	NYY
Carlos Beltran	NYM	Juan Pierre	LAD
Manny Ramirez	BOS	Magglio Ordonez	DET
Carlos Lee	HOU	Adam Dunn	CIN
Grady Sizemore	CLE	Alex Rios	TOR
Matt Holliday	COL	Barry Bonds	SF
Vernon Wells	TOR	Torii Hunter	MIN
Bobby Abreu	NYY	Jeff Francoeur	ATL
Ichiro Suzuki	SEA	Bill Hall	MIL
Hideki Matsui	NYY	Rocco Baldelli	TB
Jason Bay	PIT

UPPER ECHELON

Delmon Young, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Schedule: 6 games - TEX (3), FLA (3)

Analysis: For those of you who drafted Young, you must be expecting more than the .240 batting average, four home runs and 14 RBI he has brought to the table so far. Things aren't looking much better either, as he has only hit .200 with one run in the last seven days. He should get a boost this week, however, as he will be facing a team he has hit well against this season. Against the Texas Rangers so far, he has hit .417 with three RBI, one home run and two runs. Young-owners should be hoping this is the series that gets him going at home, where he has hit just .203 with two home runs and six RBI in 64 at-bats. Young still has too much talent to drop much further, so consider him strongly for your lineup this week.

Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota Twins

Schedule: 6 games - @CLE (3), @MIL (3)

Analysis: Cuddyer (back) made his return to the team's starting lineup Tuesday after missing the previous five games with a back injury. He still isn't quite right, as he only has two hits in eight at-bats since returning, with no home runs or RBI. The power numbers in general have not been there this season as he is on pace for just 11 home runs. Cuddyer will be making his first appearances at both Jacobs Field and Miller Park this year; last year he hit well in both of them. At Jacobs Field, he went 11-for-33 (.333) with six RBI and five runs. At Miller Park, he went 3-for-11 (.273) with one home run, six RBI and four runs. It still might be a bit early to start Cuddyer, so keep an eye on his condition over the weekend. If he continues to play and can improve his game, he would be worth starting for your team next week.

Corey Patterson, Baltimore Orioles

Schedule: 6 games - @TOR (3), @WSH (3)

Analysis: Patterson is off to a slow start so far this year, hitting just .233 while on pace for roughly five home runs, 30 stolen bases and 60 runs. The stolen bases are about the only real value he is bringing to the table. He has shown some improvement over the past week, picking up three runs while hitting .250; however, he still is not on par with what you expect of him. If there is any week for Patterson to break out of his month-long slump, this could be it. At the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays, Patterson hit .323 (10-for-31) last year with three runs and two RBI. He also hit .364 with two RBI and one run against them in a series at Camden Yards earlier this year. At RFK Stadium, where the Nationals call home, he hit .583 (7-for-12) with one RBI, two runs and three stolen bases last year. Patterson is worth starting this week because of his past success against these teams.

Raul Ibanez, Seattle Mariners

Schedule: 6 games - LAA (3), SD (3)

Analysis: Ibanez is hitting only .270 with one home run, 19 RBI and 16 runs this season. While those numbers are well off what he was doing last season, they are similar to his two previous seasons in Seattle. He has stepped it up slightly over the past week, hitting .286 with five RBI and seven runs. He should only improve in the next week as he will be playing all six games at home, where he has hit .321 with six runs, 12 RBI and one home run in 56 at-bats. Ibanez should be started in both series this week, because of those solid home numbers.

Josh Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds

Schedule: 6 games - @SD (3), @CLE (3)

Analysis: Hamilton continues to impress as he finally lives up to the potential he showed earlier this spring. On the season he is hitting .277; however, he has been even better in the last seven days, hitting .348 with two home runs, three RBI and seven runs. He currently is sitting in a tie for eighth in the National League in home runs with eight. He has yet to play at either the San Diego Padres' or Cleveland Indians' ballpark during his career; however, on the road this season he is hitting just .245 with three home runs, eight RBI and six runs. Regardless of his unfamiliarity with the ballparks, Hamilton's recent hot streak means he should be in your starting lineup for the duration of next week.

Shawn Green, New York Mets

Schedule: 7 games - CHC (4), NYY (3)

Analysis: The former Toronto Blue Jay is having a resurgent campaign at the age of 34. Green is hitting .336 with 19 RBI, four home runs and 21 runs, which puts him on pace on erase the memory of his struggles in New York last season. He has also shown very few signs of slowing down, as he hit .250 with one home run, four RBI and four runs over his last seven games. Another reason to start Green this week is the form he has shown at home. In 52 at-bats, he has hit .327 with two home runs, nine RBI and eight runs. Green should be in your lineup this week as a solid No. 3 outfielder.

MIDRANGE

Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles

Schedule: 6 games - @TOR (3), @WSH (3)

Analysis: If Markakis could raise his average, he could come close to moving into the next echelon of outfielders. He is hitting just .235 this season; however, he has 20 RBI and 18 runs. He continues to hit at the same rate, going .217 with one home run, five RBI and two runs in the last week. Markakis has yet to play at the Rogers Centre this season, but last year he hit .227 with one home run, six RBI and four runs in 22 at-bats there. He has six hits in 12 at-bats against Toronto this year, though. He only had four at-bats at RFK Stadium last year, going hitless with one strikeout. This season, both the Blue Jays and the Nationals are struggling, which means Markakis could have two good series next week. He should be in your starting lineup.

J.D. Drew, Boston Red Sox

Schedule: 7 games - DET (4), ATL (3)

Analysis: After an early honeymoon period, Drew has been struggling recently, hitting just .118 with two RBI and two runs over the past seven days (five games). That has lowered his average to just .248, while he has only two home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs. He has been patient at the plate though; he's tied for 10th in the American League with 18 walks. His average will need to come up, though, as well as his power numbers, if he is to keep the Red Sox faithful satisfied. This week should help him as he will be playing all seven games at home, where he is hitting .275 with two home runs, seven RBI and eight runs. Despite his struggles, he should be used this week, but only as a weaker No. 3 outfielder.

Eric Byrnes, Arizona Diamondbacks

Schedule: 6 games - @COL (3), @PIT (3)

Analysis: Byrnes has been a solid all-around contributor this season, hitting .294 with five home runs, 19 RBI, 20 runs and eight stolen bases. The eight stolen bases tie him for sixth in the National League. Byrnes has also shown no signs of letting up as he has hit .333 with two home runs, three RBI, one stolen base and six runs in his last seven games. In three games at Coors Field already this season, Byrnes has gone 7-for-14 (.500) with one home run, four RBI and two runs. He has not played this season at PNC Park; however, last year he hit .429 with two runs in 14 at-bats at the Pittsburgh Pirates' home ballpark. Byrnes would make a good option to be started for both series in the coming week.

David DeJesus, Kansas City Royals

Schedule: 7 games - @OAK (4), @COL (3)

Analysis: DeJesus has been struggling over the past week, hitting just .143 with three runs. His numbers on the season, however, are still solid, as he is hitting .296 with four home runs, nine RBI and 27 runs. The high runs scored total has him ranked at second in the American League. DeJesus has yet to play at McAfee Coliseum this season; however, last year he .286 (4-for-14) with one home run and one RBI. He has not played at Coors Field in this year or last, but with it being one of the top hitters' parks, he could have a good series. If you are going to use DeJesus this week, the series against the Rockies would be your best bet.

Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies

Schedule: 7 games - MIL (4), TOR (3)

Analysis: Burrell has not had a great start to this season, hitting just .237 with one home run, 11 RBI and 13 runs. Over the past seven games, he has struggled even more, hitting .105 with one RBI and three runs. He has shown some patience at the plate this season, ranking third in the National League with 31 walks. That has given him a good on-base percentage of .419, which is good for 10th in the NL. Luckily for him, he will be playing all seven games at home next week, where he is hitting .333 with five RBI and six runs in 36 at-bats. Burrell is probably not a great option this week as he is facing a hot Milwaukee Brewers team, and he appears to be on a bit of a cold streak. He is at home, so if he shows signs, be ready to insert him.

Curtis Granderson, Detroit Tigers

Schedule: 7 games - @BOS (4), STL (3)

Analysis: Granderson has provided a solid contribution in all categories aside from average this season. He is hitting .271 but has six home runs with 15 RBI, 22 runs and four stolen bases. He also has been hot over the past seven days (five games) hitting .375 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs. Granderson will be playing his first series in Boston at historic Fenway Park, where he hit .200 (2-for-10) with just one run last season. He will then return home to face the St. Louis Cardinals. He has gone 14-for-53 (.264) at home this season with two home runs, six RBI and 13 runs. You might consider benching him for the first half of next week against the Red Sox, as he could be facing some tough pitchers, but he should be used at home against the Cardinals.

Geoff Jenkins, Milwaukee Brewers

Schedule: 7 games - @PHI (4), MIN (3)

Analysis: Jenkins is hitting .400 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs over his last five games (seven days) as the Brewers have been one of the hottest teams in the league. On the season, he is hitting .341 with seven home runs, 18 RBI and 13 runs. In 2006, Jenkins hit .357 (5-for-14) with three RBI at the Citizens Bank Park. After the four-game series in Philadelphia, Jenkins will return home, where he is hitting .360 with five home runs, 14 RBI and nine runs this season. With the Brewers currently on a long winning streak, and Jenkins a big part of that, he should be started in both series next week - at least when the club is facing a right-hander.

Brad Hawpe, Colorado Rockies

Schedule: 6 games - ARI (3), KC (3)

Analysis: Hawpe's biggest value next week comes from playing all six of his games at home at Coors Field. He is hitting .261 with five RBI and one run over the last seven days (six games), but those numbers should get a boost when he is at home. So far this season, Hawpe is hitting .308 with one home run, seven RBI and seven runs at home. He has also faced the Diamondbacks earlier this season, hitting .316 with five RBI and two runs in 19 at-bats against them. Hawpe will likely improve his recent numbers and should be used in both series next week as a No. 3 outfielder because he is playing his games at Coors.

OTHERS FOR CONSIDERATION

Josh Willingham, Florida Marlins

Schedule: 7 games - @PIT (4), @TB (3)

Analysis: Willingham will be on the road for seven games next week, which should improve his numbers, as he is hitting .320 with two home runs, 15 RBI and seven runs when playing on the road. Willingham has yet to make a start at either the Pirates' or Devil Rays' ballparks, but last year in 12 at-bats at PNC Park, he hit .333 with two RBI and one run. He also had 11 at-bats at Tropicana Field, where he hit .273 with one RBI and one run. He is off to a good start this year, and that should only improve with some more games away from Dolphin Stadium. He should be started this week as a decent No. 3 outfielder.

Ken Griffey Jr., Cincinnati Reds

Schedule: 6 games - @SD (3), @CLE (3)

Analysis: Griffey hit his sixth home run of the season Thursday, May 10, and moved into ninth on the all-time home run list. This has been a resurgent season for the future Hall of Famer, as he is on pace to reach totals in home runs, RBI and runs that he hasn't since his first season in Cincinnati (back in 2000). Before that historic homer, he was hitting .312 with six home runs, 16 RBI and 14 runs. He is also heating up over the past seven games, hitting .393 with three home runs, five RBI and four runs. Griffey has not played in either of these ballparks this season. Last year he went hitless in nine at-bats at PETCO Park, while going 3-for-12 with one home run and two RBI at Jacobs Field. With his recent form, Griffey should be in your lineup this week. Hopefully he breaks the curse he had last year in San Diego.

Kenny Lofton, Texas Rangers

Schedule: 7 games - LAA (1), @TB (3), @HOU (3)

Analysis: Like a fine wine, Lofton appears to be getting better with age. His average (.245) might not be what it once was, but he has hit three home runs, has nine RBI and is third in the American League with 11 stolen bases. Over his last six games, he is hitting just .200 but has two home runs, three RBI and four runs. If he continues on his current pace, Lofton should surpass his run, stolen base, RBI and home run totals of last year. For his first game this week, he will play at home, where he is hitting .278 with three home runs, seven RBI and 11 runs. He will then be on the road to face the Devil Rays at Tropicana Field and the Astros at Minute Maid Park. He has not played at Tropicana Field this season or last, but last year at Minute Maid Park, he hit .625 with three RBI and two runs in eight at-bats. Unless you are starved for stolen bases, Lofton should likely stay on your bench this week.

Austin Kearns, Washington Nationals

Schedule: 7 games - ATL (4), BAL (3)

Analysis: Kearns and the Nationals have gone ice-cold in May, losing all eight of their games. Kearns has cooled off as well, hitting just .219 with one home run, four RBI and two runs this month. On the season, he is hitting .267 with three home runs, 11 RBI and 16 runs. Even thought they have to break this cold streak sometime, don't expect Kearns to do much better next week, as he'll be playing all his games at RFK Stadium, a noted pitchers' park. At home, he has gone 13-for-51 (.255) with two home runs, five RBI and six runs this season. Kearns should be benched next week.

Moises Alou, New York Mets

Schedule: 7 games - CHC (4), NYY (3)

Analysis: Alou (knee) returned to the team's starting lineup Monday, May 7, after missing the previous three games with a swollen left knee. In the three games since returning he has gone 2-for-11 with one RBI. Alou has been a solid option for the Mets in the outfield, hitting .330 with two home runs, 13 RBI and 14 runs this season. Alou has been slightly worse at home than on the road this season, but he is still hitting .333 with five RBI and seven runs in 42 at-bats at Shea Stadium. Alou would make a decent option this week, although make sure his knee troubles are behind him before starting him.

Chris Duncan, St. Louis Cardinals

Schedule: 6 games - @LAD (3), @DET (3)

Analysis: With the Cardinals struggling at the cleanup spot, manager Tony La Russa opted to move Duncan to fourth in the lineup. It's probably merely a coincidence, but they have won their last two games as well as scored more than four runs for the first time in over a week. He was moved back to the second spot after just one day. On the season, Duncan is hitting .311 with five home runs and 11 RBI; over his last six games he is hitting .294 with one RBI and four runs. Duncan has not played at Dodger Stadium or Tiger Stadium this year, but last year he hit .300 with two home runs, five runs and four RBI in just 10 at-bats at the former. Away from Busch Stadium this year, he is hitting just .255, but he has four of his home runs, eight RBI and seven runs while on the road. Start him this week provided you have some other guys to bring up his average, as away from home he has not hit consistently.

Mark Teahen, Kansas City Royals

Schedule: 7 games - @OAK (4), @COL (3)

Analysis: Teahen enters this week on a bit of a hot streak: He's hitting .387 in 31 at-bats during an eight-game hitting streak entering games Thursday, May 10. Over his last 19 games, he has hit .347 with 10 runs and 11 RBI. Those numbers could continue this week as he faces off against an Oakland team he collected five hits against earlier this season. For the second series he will be facing the Rockies at Coors Field, which is every hitters dream. Teahen should be started this week, especially in the second series, because of his matchups and current hot streak.

Gary Matthews Jr., Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Schedule: 7 games - @TEX (1), @SEA (3), LAD (3)

Analysis: Matthews has been a solid addition to the Angels' lineup this season, hitting .292 with three home runs, 11 RBI, 23 runs and seven stolen bases. The run total ranks tied for seventh in the American League, while the stolen bases are tied for the fifth best total. His average has dropped a bit over the past seven days (.211 over that time); however, the rest of his numbers have stayed around the same. This weekend he will be facing his old Texas teammates for the first time this season. That should help him at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington, where he hit .324 with 11 home runs, 35 RBI and 52 runs last season. He also hit well at Safeco Field (Seattle's home ballpark) last year, hitting .314 with two home runs, three RBI and six runs in 35 at-bats. When he returns home at the end of the week, his numbers should only improve, as he is hitting .348 with two home runs, 10 RBI and 16 runs at home. Beware the Dodgers' staff, which is a solid unit, though. Matthews would be a decent start this week as a No. 3 outfielder.

Aaron Rowand, Philadelphia Phillies

Schedule: 7 games - MIL (4), TOR (3)

Analysis: Rowand continues to hit at a high rate, ranking fourth in the National League with a .360 average entering games Thursday, May 10. He also provides some decent power numbers (five home runs) and looks set for his first 100-run season. In the coming week he is set to face two teams at the opposite ends of the league. The Brewers are one of the hottest teams in the league, having won six straight (and they're 17-4 over their last 21). One thing working in Rowand's favor next week is that he's playing seven games at home. So far this season, Rowand is hitting .392 with three home runs, seven RBI and eight runs in 51 at-bats at home. Rowand should be a decent start this week because of those numbers and the seven games on the schedule.

KEY PLAYERS ON DL

Jeremy Hermida, Florida Marlins - Out Indefinitely

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Author Bio

Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.