Heating and Cooling

August 25, 2008 6:08pm CDT

September is just around the corner, and pennant races are heating up in both leagues. How about your fantasy league? It is make it or break it time, and here are some players who can make or break you.

Hot

National League

Rich Harden, P, Cubs (9-2, 2.00 ERA, 162K, 1.03 WHIP in 126.0 IP)
Harden has been just plain nasty to National League hitters since coming over from the A’s. Harden now has eight starts as a National Leaguer, and in seven of those starts he has allowed one run or fewer. In five of those same eight starts he recorded double-figures in strikeouts, and his ERA is 1.47 since joining the Cubs. He has been a difference maker for both the Cubs and fantasy owners.

Matt Holliday, LF, Rockies (.343-24-78-94-22)
Holliday is having an MVP-caliber season for the Rockies, and last week he continued his strong work by hitting .417 with a home run and three stolen bases. Holliday currently ranks in the top five in batting average, runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS while also standing 10 in stolen bases. That is some impressive offensive production.

Ian Stewart, 3B, Rockies (.314-9-39-26-1)
Stewart has been up and down this season between the minor leagues and the big club, but his fantastic play of late will pressure the Rockies to do something in the offseason to keep him in the lineup full time. Look for Garrett Atkins to be dealt this winter so that Stewart can play third base for next several years. The Rockies have won seven of nine and Stewart helped lead the way last week by hitting .480 with a home run and seven RBI.

American League

Raul Ibanez, LF, Mariners (.301-20-88-66-1)
Ibanez could have been had at the trade deadline, and he is now making several teams wish they had pulled the trigger. Last week Ibanez hit .360 with a home run, and for the entire month of August he is hitting .423 with five home runs and 24 RBI. What team couldn’t have used that kind of production in a pennant chase?

Cliff Lee, P, Indians (18-2, 2.43 ERA, 141 K, 1.08 WHIP in 177.2 IP)
Those waiting for Lee to cool off, please don’t hold your breath. Lee hasn’t lost since early July, and seven of his last eight starts have been quality starts. He is currently leading the American League in wins and ERA, while also ranking in the top eight in WHIP and strikeouts. He should be the runaway winner of the AL Cy Young Award no matter how many saves Francisco Rodriguez gets.

Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles (.301-9-48-91-33)
The Orioles are sitting in last place in the American League East, but don’t place the blame on Roberts. He is having a solid fantasy season. Last week he continued his strong play by hitting .407 with a home run and three stolen bases. Though Roberts was on the trading block earlier this season, he may remain in Baltimore as part of the core that the Orioles build around.

Cold

National League

Livan Hernandez, P, Rockies (11-10, 6.28 ERA, 59 K, 1.70 WHIP in 152.0 IP)
The Rockies picked up Hernandez in early August after he was let go by the Twins, and so far it has been a huge disaster for all involved. Hernandez has started three times and given up 21 earned runs in those three starts, covering just 12.1 innings. Livan is listed as 33 years old, but has been looking like a 53 year-old as of late. It appears like he is at the end of the road of his Major League career.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies (.255-8-42-58-31)
Philadelphia fans have never held back their displeasure when they feel one of their own is not performing up to expectations. Rollins is the latest to hear the boo birds, as he has not had a good season on the field. This past week was no different, as Rollins went 2-for-25 with no extra-base hits, no RBI, and no stolen bases. The Phillies sit just a half game back in the NL East, so Rollins still has a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the Philadelphia faithful before October.

Alfonso Soriano, LF, Cubs (.283-22-62-60-14)
Soriano and all his tools hit just .111 last week with no RBI, but the Cubs have still won 10 of their last 13. Soriano had solid months in May and July, but not so much in April, June, and August. This means he could get hot again in September. Overall, he is still an elite fantasy player.

American League

Carlos Gonzalez, CF, A’s (.245-4-23-27-4)
Gonzalez may some day be a very good fantasy option, but he is of little use right now outside of keeper leagues. The A’s are just playing out the season right now, so Gonzalez should see plenty of time. After this past week Gonzalez will hopefully learn from his mistakes after going 2-for-25 with eight strikeouts and no extra-base hits. Gonzalez is just 22 years old and has a lot of tools, so there is still plenty of time for him to make fantasy stardom.

Carlos Silva, P, Mariners (4-14, 6.36 ERA, 59 K, 1.55 WHIP in 140.0 IP)
Silva has not earned his contract this year. Far from it. He has given up 27 earned runs in his last five starts, covering just 21.1 innings. It doesn’t matter if opposing hitters are left or right handed, home or away; they are all hitting over .300 against him. Silva now finds himself on the DL with elbow tendinitis, though he may be back by the end of the week. Not that you are waiting to welcome him back into the fantasy fold, of course.

Frank Thomas, DH, A’s (.227-8-30-24-0)
While his teammate Carlos Gonzalez can blame inexperience on his underwhelming performance of late, Thomas can blame age and injuries on his lack of production. Last week Thomas went 2-for-24 with no extra-base hits and just one RBI. Thomas is now 40 years old and may not have much left in the tank.