Joel Pineiro, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Status: Having career year in St. Louis
Basics: 13-9, 3.11 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 84 Ks in 170.2 IP
Key Stats: Leads MLB with 359 groundball outs
What to Watch For: Strong September finish
Other Notes: Has been particularly effective at home with a 6-4 record and 2.39 ERA … is a groundball pitcher who walks few hitters, so he maintains a solid WHIP and minimizes damage … is tied for eighth in the majors with 19 Quality Starts, a good measure for picking and choosing spot starters
Verdict: Be cautious for road starts, but add for all home outings

John Smoltz, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Status: Finding old, dominant form in St. Louis
Basics: 3-5, 6.71 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 48 Ks in 51.0 IP
Key Stats: Is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in 2 NL starts
What to Watch For: Continued effectiveness
Other Notes: Needed a change of scenery, perhaps a return to the National League, to get back to form … immediately jumps into NL pennant race for one of the league’s best teams … has great value down the stretch because of lengthy track record, good strikeout rate and high win probability … rough stretch with Boston is a thing of the past
Verdict: Add and give him a permanent roster spot in all formats

Alcides Escobar, SS, Milwaukee Brewers
Status: Holding his own since Aug. 12 callup
Basics: .321 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 1 SB in 10 games
Key Stats: Had 42 SBs at Triple-A Nashville
What to Watch For: Production in addition to SBs
Other Notes: Has little power, but should hit for a decent average, steal some bases and score some runs as a big leaguer … ranked second in the Pacific Coast League with his 42 steals … is just 22 years old, but has shown steady improvement throughout his minor league career … is Milwaukee’s top prospect, but defense is his most recognized strength
Verdict: Add for the upside and a chance to make up ground in SBs

Chris Coghlan, OF, Florida Marlins
Status: Hitting .353 since the All-Star break
Basics: .289 AVG, 7 HRs, 34 RBIs, 6 SBs in 90 games
Key Stats: Has a .391 AVG, 1.000 OPS this month
What to Watch For: Premium contributions - power, speed
Other Notes: Is a nice hitter who has an excellent approach and feel for the strike zone at just 24 years old … have to watch for speed potential; stolen bases will make or break his fantasy value … has walked 41 times to 63 strikeouts and posted a solid .365 on-base percentage … has multiple hits in 18 of his last 30 games, raising his batting average from .241 to its current .289 … has the second-most hits (34) in the National League this month
Verdict: Add him, even in mixed leagues; makes nice contributions across the board

Justin Duchscherer, SP, Oakland Athletics
Status: Set to make 2009 debut this week
Basics: 10-8, 2.54 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 95 Ks in 141.2 IP in ‘08
Key Stats: Has 3.14 ERA in 426.2 career innings
What to Watch For: Health, successful return from elbow surgery
Other Notes: Expected to make season debut Tuesday against the Yankees … could be extremely productive over the second half, if his elbow can hold up … was an All-Star last season in first stint as a starter … hasn’t stayed healthy for an entire season since making 65 relief appearances in 2005
Verdict: Brittle, but effective; add to bench, wait to deploy him in starting lineups

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies
Status: Making the most of an opportunity
Basics: .285 AVG, 6 HRs, 16 RBIs, 8 SBs in 51 games
Key Stats: Hitting .400 with 4 HRs in 45 August at-bats
What to Watch For: Playing time in crowded Rox’ outfield
Other Notes: Came to Colorado last season from Oakland in a deal for closer Huston Street … was sent to Oakland the previous offseason in a deal for pitcher Dan Haren … series of trades and struggles in Oakland had many mistakenly writing him off … arrives in a hitter’s haven in Colorado having hit .339 at Triple-A Colorado Springs … has five-tool skills that could come to life in a big way in the thin Colorado air
Verdict: Swing for the fences if desperate for a boost; has five-category potential

J.A. Happ, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Status: Establishing himself as Phils’ most reliable starter
Basics: 8-2, 2.75 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 89 Ks in 121.0 IP
Key Stats: Has made Quality Starts in 9 of last 10
What to Watch For: Endurance as innings count rises
Other Notes: Has been a key stabilizer in shaky Phillies’ rotation … has had some shaky outings at Citizen’s Bank Park, recording a 3.77 home ERA compared to 1.84 ERA on the road … in 528 minor league innings, he allowed just 440 hits and struck out 545 batters … also had a solid stint in the majors as a reliever in 2008 with a 3.70 ERA in 31.2 IP
Verdict: Add in all formats; no reason he shouldn’t be owned in 100 percent of leagues

Billy Butler, 1B/DH, Kansas City Royals
Status: Finally reaching power potential
Basics: .302 AVG, 13 HRs, 57 RBIs, 50 runs in 109 games
Key Stats: Has multiple hits in 6 straight games
What to Watch For: Power to keep improving
Other Notes: Aggregate numbers won’t blow you away, but is trending up in a big way … is hitting .441 (15-for-34) with a 1.241 OPS in August … Royals have needed more power, and he has delivered … already has 49 extra-base hits, 16 more than he had all of last season … continued improvement in power game could lead to 30-HR, 100-RBI season in very near future, likely 2010
Verdict: Add in all formats; could be a star in the making

Eugenio Velez, 2B/OF, San Francisco Giants
Status: Back in the majors from minor league purgatory
Basics: .333 AVG, 3 HRs, 11 RBIs, 3 SBs in 37 games
Key Stats: Hitting .417 (25-for-60) over 12-game hitting streak
What to Watch For: Legitimacy - is he this good or just hot?
Other Notes: Has made a triumphant return to the parent club after being demoted in May … has hits in all 12 games while staking his claim to the Giants’ valuable leadoff spot … keeps middle infield eligibility, but is back in San Francisco as an outfielder … isn’t the first player and won’t be the last to need a demotion to finally reach his potential … safe to expect a 40-stolen base pace for the rest of the season, so long as he continues to hit … is a .301 career hitter in the minors
Verdict: Snatch him up in all leagues as a rare stolen base threat with some upside

Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B/SS, Cleveland Indians
Status: Back from the disabled list (shoulder)
Basics: .304 AVG, 2 HRs, 33 RBIs, 7 SBs in 59 games
Key Stats: Hitting .208 (5-for-24) since return from DL
What to Watch For: His ability to get back on track after DL stint
Other Notes: Is a good play at shallow middle infield positions … can get away with lack of power, but ideally would develop 15 HR potential to go along with solid batting average … word of warning: peripherals are on the decline … had a .434 OBP, 13 walks and 17 strikeouts in 70 April at-bats; numbers slipped to .345-7-21 in 131 May at-bats … declining K-to-BB rate indicates that average is likely to fall below .300
Verdict: Add as a reserve, see if/when he gets hot again