Little change at the top of our rankings, with the exception being Albert Pujols’ miraculous return to health and the No. 8 spot on our list. Alex Rodriguez continues to man the No. 1 position, followed by familiar faces in middle infielders Hanley Ramirez and Chase Utley.

More middle infielders follow as a grand total of four are among the top seven players and six are among the top 12. Scarcity is a good reason why, but the class of the second base and shortstop positions can flat out play. Ian Kinsler is the latest to rise into the elite with his combination of average, power, speed and run production.

The full list (previous rankings in brackets):
Stats as of July 5
 
1. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY: Among game’s best with 9 HRs and 5 SBs in June [1]
2. Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA: Just off 40-40 pace, .925 OPS easily tops among SS [2]
3. Chase Utley, 2B, PHI: MLB home run leader (24) also frontrunner for NL MVP [3]
4. David Wright, 3B, NYM: Offense is there, but has zero SBAs since June 1 [4]
5. Jose Reyes, SS, NYM: Has most HRs (9) among players with 25+ SBs [5]
6. Lance Berkman, 1B/OF, HOU: Fantasy MVP makes impact in 5 roto categories [7]
7. Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI: Only player with 10+ SBs to not be caught (19-19) [8]
8. Albert Pujols, 1B, STL: Fast healer missed minimal time with calf strain [INJ]
9. Ryan Braun, 3B/OF, MIL: Hand injury more of a nuisance than a concern [6]
10. Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI: Still slugging, not getting traction with .219 avg. [9]
 
11. Matt Holliday, OF, COL: Has batting title potential, getting fewer RBI opps [12]
12. Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL: Losing sight of .400 as he nurses quad injury [10]
13. Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE: Showing big power; has realistic shot at 40-40 [16]
14. Ian Kinsler, 2B, TEX: Roto monster on pace for .324-25-95-140-44 season [22]
15. B.J. Upton, 2B/OF, TB: Plenty of opportunities to run with .392 OBP [11]
16. Johan Santana, SP, NYM: Must make 2nd half push to keep top SP honors [13]
17. Miguel Cabrera, 1B DET: On pace for disappointing .281-23-93 stat line [14]
18. Ichiro Suzuki, OF, SEA: Lone bright spot for M’s; amazing 33-for-35 SBAs [15]
19. Carl Crawford, OF, TB: Closed June with 4 HRs, 12 RBIs in final 11 games [20]
20. Carlos Beltran, OF, NYM: In mini-slump; 3-for-22, 0 HRs, 1 RBI in last 6 [17]
 
21. Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX: Rangers finding different ways to keep him healthy [21]
22. Manny Ramirez, OF, BOS: Power outage; has just 1 HR in last 19 games [18]
23. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS: Slowing on basepaths; has 1 SB in last 14 games [19]
24. Dan Uggla, 2B, FLA: Gruesome ankle sprain the cause of 5 straight DNPs [25]
25. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, SD: Guiding light for MLB’s most anemic offense [23]
26. Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN: No fluke; AVG, OBP, OPS eerily similar to ‘07 [28]
27. Jake Peavy, SP, SD: Good so far, should be even better in 2nd half [29]
28. Edinson Volquez, SP, CIN: Has a 7.45 ERA, 3 Ks and 6 walks in last 2 starts [26]
29. Derrek Lee, 1B, CHC: Slugging pct. has fallen from .682 to .504 since May 1 [24]
30. Brandon Webb, SP, ARI: 3-4 with 4.80 ERA since 9-start winning streak [27]
 
31. Prince Fielder, 1B, MIL: Still has chance for 40 HRs; RBIs opps way down [30]
32. Carlos Lee, OF, HOU: Quietly on target for usual 35 HRs, 120 RBIs [31]
33. Vladimir Guerrero, OF, LAA: Average so far, but is annual 2nd half killer [32]
34. Miguel Tejada, SS, HOU: Production falling; has no HRs or RBIs in last 13 [33]
35. Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN: Well behind ‘07 HR pace, when he had just 31 [35]
36. Cole Hamels, SP, PHI: Has worked 7+ innings in 15 of his 18 starts [36]
37. Jonathan Papelbon, RP, BOS: Powerful blend of saves, ERA, WHIP and Ks [37]
38. Francisco Rodriguez, RP, LAA: ERA falling as fast as saves total (34) is rising [38]
39. Garrett Atkins, 3B, COL: Extreme splits; hitting .354 at home, .259 on road [34]
40. Brian Roberts, 2B, BAL: Has at least one XBH in 10 of his last 12 games [40]
 
41. C.C. Sabathia, SP, CLE: In Cy Young form; has 2.16 ERA in last 11 starts [47]
42. Nick Markakis, OF, BAL: Rounding into 2nd half form with 10 RBIs in last 12 [41]
43. Aramis Ramirez, 3B, CHC: Followed hot streak by going hitless in 22 at-bats [42]
44. Carlos Quentin, OF, CHW: Slowing down, but on pace for 34 HRs, 117 RBIs [39]
45. Roy Halladay, SP, TOR: Innings horse leads MLB with 130.1 IP, 6 CGs [44]
46. J.D. Drew, OF, BOS: Hit 12 of his 16 HRs as part of red-hot June [45]
47. Alex Rios, OF, TOR: 18 SBs don’t make up for disappointing 4 HRs, 31 RBIs [43]
48. John Lackey, SP, LAA: Has 1.44 ERA, 7+ IP in 9 starts since return from DL [48]
49. Mark Teixeira, 1B, ATL: Expect usual 2nd half tear as he’ll finish .300-30-100 [57]
50. Cliff Lee, SP, CLE: Is no fluke, but look for gaudy stats to normalize soon [53]

51. Carlos Zambrano, SP, CHC
52. Ryan Ludwick, OF, STL
53. Josh Beckett, SP, BOS
54. Milton Bradley, OF, TEX
55. Nate McLouth, OF, PIT
56. Mariano Rivera, RP, NYY
57. Tim Lincecum, SP, SF
58. Kerry Wood, RP, CHC
59. Dan Haren, SP, ARI
60. Brad Lidge, RP, PHI

61. Russell Martin, C, LAD
62. Corey Hart, OF, MIL
63. Ervin Santana, SP, LAA
64. Jermaine Dye, OF, CHW
65. Scott Kazmir, SP, TB
66. Jason Bay, OF, PIT
67. Torii Hunter, OF, LAA
68. Ben Sheets, SP, MIL
69. Vernon Wells, OF, TOR
70. Joe Nathan, RP, MIN

71. Evan Longoria, 3B, TB
72. Matt Kemp, OF, LAD
73. Chone Figgins, 3B, LAA
74. Brian McCann, C, ATL
75. Justin Duchscherer, SP, OAK
75. Bobby Abreu, OF, NYY
76. Ryan Dempster, SP, CHC
77. Joakim Soria, RP, KC  
78. Rich Harden, SP, OAK
79. Carlos Guillen, 1B/3B/SS, DET
80. Derek Jeter, SS, NYY

81. Curtis Granderson, OF, DET
82. Felix Hernandez, SP, SEA
83. Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, BOS
84. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, BOS
85. Jay Bruce, OF, CIN
86. Carlos Pena, 1B, TB
87. Justin Verlander, SP, DET
88. Pat Burrell, OF, PHI
89. Jason Giambi, 1B, NYY
90. Joe Saunders, SP, LAA

91. Tim Hudson, SP, ATL
92. James Shields, SP, TB
93. Michael Young, SS, TEX
94. Kevin Youkilis, 1B, BOS
95. Gavin Floyd, SP, CHW
96. Jose Guillen, OF, KC
97. Joba Chamberlain, SP, NYY
98. J.J. Hardy, SS, MIL
99. Chad Billingsley, SP, LAD
100. Takashi Saito, RP, LAD

101. Joe Mauer, C, MIN

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.