Two start pitchers:

R.A. Dickey – The knuckleballer is posting another strong season for the New York Mets. This week he’ll be facing the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres, two of the worst offences in the majors. Seriously, the Padres and Pirates rank 29th and 30th respectively in runs scored. That’s awful. Fantasy Baseball owners couldn’t ask for a better match up, so if you’re looking for a pitcher to stream grab Dickey while you can.

Jerome Williams – While his matchups aren’t as favourable as Dickey’s, they’re pretty close. Williams faces off against the Oakland Athletics (28th in runs scored) and the Seattle Mariners (20th in runs scored). Jerome Williams isn’t a stud, but he’s a solid pitcher facing a pair of below average lineups. And that’s exactly what a Fantasy Baseball player should be looking for when they stream a pitcher.

Three batters on absolute fire:

Joey Votto - He got off to a slow start, hitting a bunch of doubles but failing to drive the ball over the wall. That all changed this week, as Votto mashed 5 homers, driving in 10 all while hitting 360. Not bad for a guy who one week ago had 2 home runs through the first month and a half of the season.

Andrew McCutchen – It’s a good thing the Pirates extended him before the season started, because he’s broken out in a big way. He was unstoppable this week, hitting 360 with 4 homers, 8 runs driven in and a stolen base. McCutchen is one of the best players in baseball, and it’s time Fantasy Baseball players recognize him as one of the top outfielders in the game.

J.P. Arencibia – He’s been on fire over the last couple of weeks, and with the demotion to Adam Lind he was promoted to the middle of the order. Arencibia didn’t disappoint, hitting 333 with 4 homers and 10 runs driven in. If you can handle the low batting averages, Arencibia is a nice option to use at catcher in deeper leagues.

Three hitters who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn:

Zack Cozart – The rookie shortstop got off to a great start to the season, but he’s stuck in a 1/23 slump right now. Cozart strikes out way too much for a guy without power, and until he cuts down on the Ks pitchers will continue to abuse his poor approach at the plate.

Ike Davis - At some point you have to wonder if the New York Mets will just do Davis a favour here and send him down to the minors. He went 1/17 this week, and his 160 batting average for the season just isn’t going to cut it. There’s something clearly wrong withDavis, and the Mets need to find a way to get him back on track.

Howie Kendrick - It’s been a rough season for Kendrick, and a 1/22 week isn’t going to cut it. Given how deep second base is, you shouldn’t be using Kendrick on your Fantasy Baseball squad unless you’re in an AL only league.

Three pitchers you don’t want to mess with:

Justin Verlander – 16 innings, 2 wins, 20 strikeouts, 3 hits allowed and an ERA of 0.56. The scary thing for the American League is that Verlander is pitching better than last year when he won the Cy Young and the MVP.

Josh Beckett – 7 innings, 1 win, 9 strikeouts, no runs allowed. Yes, Josh Beckett pitched a fantastic game against Seattle. Normally I’d put a caveat about him beating a below average lineup, but considering that he’d been getting hit all season it’s a step in the right direction.

Kevin Millwood – Turns out he has just a little bit left in the tank. 16 innings, 2 wins, 13 K’s and a dominant 0.56 ERA.

Three pitchers hitters can’t wait to face:

Chad Billingsley – He got off to a fantastic start, but he’s been looking very hittable lately. Billingsley didn’t make it out of the fifth in his last start, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits. Not the kind of performance Fantasy Baseball players were hoping for, and it’s what makes him such a frustrating pitcher to watch.

Ross Detwiler – Detwiler was looking dominant until this week, throwing 10 innings with a 9.00 ERA. That’s just not good enough. Detwiler should rebound though, so don’t give up on him.

Hiroki Kuroda – It looked like a terrific signing in the offseason, but so far Kuroda has failed to deliver. This week he allowed 7 runs over 5 innings, getting trashed by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Matchup of the week:

Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves (May 25-27)

The Nationals remain the team to watch for the second week in a row. This time they’re facing off against the Atlanta Braves, currently holding a 1.5 game lead over the Nats. This series could decide the NL East, and given how important winning the division is you don’t want to miss this preview of playoff baseball.

Texas Rangers (This Week: 1, Last Week: 1) - They’re no longer owners of the best record in the game, but they continue to hold the top spot in our MLB Power Rankings. It’s a very well rounded squad, and even with Josh Hamilton coming back down to Earth this is a team that nobody wants to mess with.

Atlanta Braves (This Week: 2, Last Week: 7)  - A few weeks ago I mentioned that Atlanta had a big series against the Cardinals and they didn’t disappoint. Sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals on the road while scoring at least 7 per game pushes the Atlanta Braves all the way to #2 on our MLB Power Rankings.

Los Angeles Dodgers (This Week: 3, Last Week: 5) - Even an injury to Matt Kemp hasn’t slowed the Dodgers down. At 26-13 they’ve got the best record in baseball, and with a 6 game lead over the rival San Francisco Giants there’s a good chance we’ll see the LA Dodgers in the playoffs. And this is not the type of team you want to face in October, considering their 3.07 ERA ranks second in the majors.

Baltimore Orioles (This week: 4, Last Week: 6) - I’ve been saying for weeks that the Baltimore Orioles biggest test was a set of games against the Texas Rangers, the New York Yankees, and the Tampa Bay Rays. Well, they split with the Rangers and Yankees while taking 2/3 from the Rays. It’s hard to believe that the Baltimore Orioles are winning with a strong offence and solid pitching, but that’s exactly what they’re doing. And it’s enough to push them to the #4 spot on our MLB Power Rankings.

St. Louis Cardinals (This Week: 5, Last Week: 4) - Getting swept by Atlanta at home is why the Cardinals dropped in our MLB Power Rankings. They’re still a fantastic team, but with Adam Wainwright’s struggles and several players overachieving it’s hard to get a real read on how good the Cardinals are. They’re still one of the best in the National League, but they’ll have to prove they can beat the top teams before they rise up again.

Washington Nationals (This Week: 6, Last Week: 3) - It’s amazing to think that they’re 23-16 with Jayson Werth, Wilson Ramos, Drew Storen, Mike Morse, and for a few weeks Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list. It wasn’t a good week for the Nats, but given their injuries it’s amazing they’re still this close.

Tampa Bay Rays (This Week: 7, Last Week: 2) - It’s amazing to think just a week ago the Rays were second in our MLB Power Rankings. Losing to Baltimore was the big blow, but they did manage to sweep the rival Blue Jays and split with the Boston Red Sox. A big series with the interleague Atlanta Braves over the weekend. The Rays sure do miss Evan Longoria though, as they’re 9-8 since he was put on the disabled list.

Toronto Blue Jays (This Week: 8, Last Week: 9) - The Jays finally demoted Adam Lind, a move that instantly improves their offence. With rumours that Vladimir Guerrero is doing well in the minors, there’s a chance we could see him sooner than expected. Yan Gomes has done a terrific job filling in for Brett Lawrie, hitting 600 with a homer and two RBI over two games.

New York Yankees (This Week: 9, Last Week: Eight) - It’s amazing to look at the AL East, as the Baltimore Orioles lead the way while the Yankees and Red Sox occupy the bottom two spots. Losing David Robertson on top of Mariano Rivera is going to test the Yankees bullpen depth, which was once one of the best in the American League. They’ve got a fairly easy week or two before June kicks in, where the Yankees will be forced to play against some of the best teams in the majors.

Cleveland Indians (This week: 10, Last Week: 10) - If you guessed the Cleveland Indians would be the only 500+ team in the AL Central, then you’re either a hardcore Cleveland Indians fan or enjoy betting on the long shot. The offence has been fantastic so far, with Asdrubal Cabrera continuing to lead the way.

No need to worry, their job is safe:

Sean Marshall – While the Cincinnati Reds do have one of the best relievers in the game in Aroldis Chapman, Marshall should be safe for now. He’s been better as of late, and seeing as the Reds have stuck with him through his struggles, it’s likely he’ll reward Fantasy Baseball players who stick with him as their closer.

Rafael Betancourt – He strikes out a ton of hitters, he’s got an ERA right around 3, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. He’s an above average closer, and with little to no competition Betnacourt is as safe a play as there is in the National League.

John Axford – Ignore the ugly 5.56 ERA. He’s struck out 22 batters in 11 innings, and yet he’s somehow allowed 15 hits. He’s too good to be allowing these hits, and when his bad luck runs out he’ll return to being one of the elite relievers in baseball.

Santiago Casilla – He’s been lights out since taking over for Brian Wilson. He’s not going to post a 1.72 ERA for the rest of the season, but he’s not going to be giving up home runs like he is now. He’s a solid option, although if he struggles there’s a chance the San Francisco Giants might pull the plug. For the forseeable future, Casilla is locked in and Fantasy Baseball players should continue to reap the rewards of signing a cheap closer in free agency.

Craig Kimbrel – The most automatic guy on this list. He’s as good as they get.

Jason Motte - He’s a dynamic pitcher, capable of striking out a significant number of batters while bailing his team out of any jam. Like Kimbrel, he’s an elite option as a Fantasy Baseball closer.

Brett Myers – He’s quietly been an effective closer for the Houston Astros. He’s not striking out many hitters so there is a chance he could struggle as the season goes on, but for now he’s a solid option.

Jonathan Papelbon – He’s been extremely effective, and with the Philadelphia Phillies struggling to score runs he’s bound to have a ton of save opportunities. He’s a perfect option to close for your Fantasy Baseball team.

Joel Hanrahan – The walks are up, but otherwise he’s locked in at the closer spot.

Risky plays for the 9th inning:

Henry Rodriguez – Even if Drew Storen wasn’t likely to come back in the next month or two, Rodriguez is a risky play for Fantasy Baseball owners. He’s got a high ERA thanks to an awful walk rate and complete lack of control. The fact that Ryan Mattheus was warming up in the bullpen during the 9th inning tells you all you need to know about Rodriguez room for error.

Heath Bell- He was temporarily removed from the position, but recently Ozzie Guillen has suggested he’s close to earning back his role as the closer. He has pitched a whole inning without allowing a run, and that has to be considered a step in the right direction. Or just a sign of how awful he’s been.

Anybody in the Chicago Cubs Bullpen – Seriously, don’t do it! It’s a trap!

Kenley Jansen – He’s only a risk because he’s not a “veteran closer” who stole the job because Javy Guerra underperformed. But Jansen is an outstanding pitcher, and Fantasy Baseball players would be advised to stick with him as he’s a tremendous option.

Frank Francisco – Somehow, he’s still the closer. But I would pick up Bobby Parnell as he’s been one of the better arms on the New York Mets, and when Francisco gets demoted Parnell is the next best option.

JJ Putz – It’s been a rough start to the season for him. He’s allowing home runs at a crazy rate, and he’s getting hit around despite the high strikeout total. There’s no good reason for why he’s struggling, so you might just have to stick with him for now.

Dale Thayer – He’s only closing until Huston Street gets back, but boy is he doing a fantastic job. 8 innings, 7 strikeouts, 6 hits allowed, 0 runs scored. Keep an eye on Thayer, as he could become an excellent option in the future.

Are the Baltimore Orioles for real?

MH: Early in the season teams tend to perform better than expected. Last season the Pittsburgh Pirates looked like they had a shot at the playoffs, and they ended the season 24 games out of first. So the Baltimore Orioles wouldn’t be the first team to do better than expected.

But something about this Baltimore Orioles team is different. Maybe it’s that they finally have some pitching, in Jason Hammel (4-1, 2.09 ERA) and Jake Arrieta (2-3, 4.23 ERA). Or maybe it’s that the bullpen isn’t filled with older pitchers with no upside, as they’ve been replaced by Pedro Strop (3-1, 1.35 ERA) and Matt Lindstrom (1.29 ERA).

Either way, there’s something different about this Baltimore Orioles squad, and it leads me to believe that they won’t just regress when June rolls around.

BL: The Baltimore Orioles are definitely the most surprising team so far in 2012. With the record of 22-13, a full game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place, it’s time to start asking ourselves are they for real? Considering how bad the Orioles have been the past decade, it’s easy to dismiss them without even looking at them in-depth, but it’s only fair to break them down efficiently.

The reason why the Baltimore Orioles are winning games is because their bullpen is overachieving to the max. The Orioles have five relievers with an ERA under 2, plus they have overachievers in the starting rotation as well. Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen have been carrying that rotation so far. Needless to say, when you think of pitchers who can anchor a staff, Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen aren’t names you would use.

 How important is a bullpen?

MH: I’m sure Bryan will try and convince you that relievers are key to a team’s success. But let’s take a look at the impact of one of the greatest relievers of all time, Mariano Rivera. Because if having him didn’t drastically change the New York Yankees fortunes, then how could any other reliever?

Using a team’s run differential, we can predict their expected win and loss total. If a team overachieved, it would likely be based on their bullpen. So how did the New York Yankees do over the last few years, compared to their run differential?

2011 = -4 (and 4th in bullpen ERA)

2010 = -2 (and 7th in bullpen ERA)

2009 = +8 (and 13th in bullpen ERA)

2008 = +2 (and 7th in bullpen ERA)

2007 = -3 (and 22nd in bullpen ERA)

The bottom line, is that despite having the greatest reliever ever to play the game, the Yankees have fluctuated quite randomly between over and under achieving. There’s no link between the success of the bullpen and the quality of the ballclub, leading me to believe that relievers are not more important than we think.

BL: The value of a bullpen is one thing I don’t necessarily think with a sabermetric mindset. I believe a team’s bullpen means a lot more than what some SABR stats say – i.e. the Orioles. As I just said, the Orioles are overachieving because they have five relievers with an ERA under 2, ergo, they are winning games because they are holding onto leads. As a whole, relievers have bad WARs because the amount of innings they pitch, but those innings are the difference in actual game results.

Good/bad pythag records happen because of bullpens. And if you look back at the past World Series champions, you will find a great bullpen behind all those champions.

Which struggling player bounces back?

MH: I believe that Jose Reyes will rebound very soon. He’s posting one of the best walk rates of his career, and limiting the strikeouts, showing that he has a strong understanding of the strike zone. He’s killing the pitches he does swing at, driving them with authority (22.4% line drive rate).

It’s only a matter of time before he breaks out. He’s not doing anything different than he was last year, when he hit 337/384/493. Maybe Jose Reyes won’t hit 337 this year, but once he rebounds he should start hitting for a much better average and driving the ball with authority. It’s only a matter of time before Jose Reyes becomes the dangerous hitter the Miami Marlins expected him to be.

BL: As I recently wrote, there are ten players who shouldn’t panic about their slow start. While you could pick one from the litter, I think Brian McCann is the one player who is most likely to rebound the quickest.

McCann has been the most consistent catcher in the past five years, and right now he’s been really unlucky. His line drive percentage is at a career high while his BABIP is at a career low. Sooner rather than later, that will even out and McCann will get his hits.

Follow Mark Hock on Twitter at @Mark_Hock

Follow Bryan Lutz on Twitter at @Lutzifer35

Two start pitchers:

Derek Lowe – Generally I like to avoid guys with 1:1 K:BB ratios in Fantasy Baseball. However, given that Lowe is facing off against the Minnesota Twins and the Miami Marlins, it’s a safe play to use him for the upcoming week. The Twins rank 28th in the majors in runs scored, while the Marlins rank 24th. Derek Lowe stands to gain two wins this week, and that’s what makes him a great pickup.

Christian Friedrich – If you’re looking for a long term option, then don’t hesitate to pick up Friedrich. He dominated the San Diego Padres in his last start, going 6 innings while striking out 7, allowing 1 ER. In the minors he struck out over a batter an inning, thanks to his 92 MPH fastball and wicked slider. This week he’ll be facing the San Francisco Giants and the Seattle Mariners, two teams with below average offences.

Three batters on absolute fire:

Josh Hamilton – It’s hard to believe just how amazing Josh Hamilton has been this week. To no surprise, he’s the #1 ranked Fantasy Baseball player over the past week, hitting 464 with 9 HR, 10 runs scored and 16 RBI. It’s actually been a fantastic week for several Fantasy Baseball players, but given the legendary performance of Josh Hamilton I can’t blame anybody for not noticing the other stars in the game.

Carlos Beltran – He’s quietly been one of the best players in the game, but it’s time to give him his due. This week he hit 400 with 5 homers, 12 RBI and 6 runs scored. Believe it or not, but he’s been one of the three best Fantasy Baseball players in the game, ranking third in standard Yahoo! Sports leagues. If you’re wondering why the St. Louis Cardinals are still winning without Albert Pujols, just look at the production they’re getting out of Beltran.

Josh Reddick – There were so many quality players this week, including Brandon Inge, David Wright, Andrew McCutchen and Dustin Pedroia. But Josh Reddick was better than all of them, hitting 409 with 3 homers, 9 runs scored, 8 RBI and a stolen base. Reddick also had a multi home run game, driving in 5 while hitting 2 homers in a losing effort against the Detroit Tigers. Looks like the Oakland Athletics have gotten a fantastic return so far on their Andrew Bailey trade.

Three hitters who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn:

Pedro Alvarez – One week he’s a superstar slugger, the next he’s 1/19 with a one scored. Has there been a more frustrating prospect in the last few years?

Chris Davis – Maybe he should stick to pitching, because lately he hasn’t been able to do much with the bat. Davis is 2 for his last 20, and that’s not going to cut it from a corner infielder.

Carlos Pena – He got off to a fantastic start, but he’s cooled down in the last few weeks. He’s 1/20 over the past week with a pair of runs scored, and it’s a big reason why the Tampa Bay Rays find themselves two games out of first.

Three pitchers you don’t want to mess with:

Carlos Zambrano – Looks like a change of scenery was all Big Z needed. Zambrano threw a complete game shutout in his last start, striking out 9 to beat the Houston Astros. Carlos Zambrano has an ERA of 1.98 through 6 starts, an unbelievable turn around for a guy the Chicago Cubs couldn’t wait to get rid of.

Zack Greinke - He got outdueled in his last start, but it’s tough to complain when a pitcher gets 11 K’s while allowing only 2 hits in 8 innings. He’s an elite starter in Fantasy Baseball, and the wins will come eventually.

Brandon McCarthy – He’s turned his career around with Oakland, and he continues to dominate for them. This week he went 7 innings, striking out 10 while earning the win. Going back to 2011, McCarthy has a 3.14 ERA over 223 innings. It’s time we start treating him like an elite Fantasy Baseball pitcher.

Three pitchers hitters can’t wait to face:

Phillip Humber – Ever since the perfect game he’s been a disaster. In his last start he didn’t make it out of the third inning, allowing 8 runs on 9 hits. Maybe he’s trying to be a little too perfect.

Josh Beckett – The hits keep on coming for the Boston Red Sox. Beckett got crushed by the Cleveland Indians, failing to get even 8 batters out. He allowed 7 runs on 7 hits, including two home runs. The lack of velocity is killing Beckett, and you have to wonder if he’s hiding an injury.

Matt Moore – He’s struggling with his command and teams are taking advantage of it. Right now the Rays need to get him out of the majors because teams are treating him like batting practice. Over his last nine innings he’s allowed 12 runs (9 earned), and there’s a good chance the Rays would be in first for now if not for the struggles of Matt Moore.

Matchup of the week:

Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals (May 18-20)

Who would have thought that a matchup between the O’s and the Nats would be a game people would be dying to see? And yet here we are, with the Washington Nationals holding a half game lead over the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles with a 2 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays. This could be an explosive series, as these are two of the hottest teams in baseball.

We’re not even two months into the season, so there’s no guarantee the Boston Red Sox will miss the playoffs. There’s 130 games left, and a lot can change over that period of time. The addition of the second wild card gives them a better chance of making it, as they don’t even need to be the second best team in their division to make the playoffs. If we assume that the Boston Red Sox would need to win at least 89 games to qualify for one of the wild card spots, they would need to win at a .585% pace. That’s going to be very difficult to put up over the course of a season, and essentially would mean the Boston Red Sox would have to play almost as well as the Tampa Bay Rays have through the early part of the season.

One thing the Boston Red Sox can do is call up former set up man Mark Melancon to the bullpen. He was one of the worst pitchers in the majors before being demoted, putting up a 49.50 ERA in the four games he appeared in. However Melancon has rediscovered his control, striking out 18 batters while walking none in 10 innings of work in the minors. He’d be a clear upgrade in the bullpen, and there’s no reason to leave him in AAA at this point.

Of course, while mentioning Melancon it’s worth pointing out that in order to acquire him the Boston Red Sox had to trade shortstop Jed Lowrie. While nobody could have expected Lowrie to be this effective, it’s a good example of why we shouldn’t trade position players with upside for relievers. Lowrie has been one of the better all around shortstops in the game, putting up an 856 OPS while playing above average defence. This, of course, would be an upgrade over the incumbent shortstop Mike Aviles.

I was not very kind to Mike Aviles in my expectations for the Boston Red Sox shortstop, and so far the results have been a mixed bag. He’s been fairly average defensively, and his bat has been slightly below average, but the combination has made him an effective shortstop. It is interesting to note that many shortstops around baseball have struggled early on, including Troy Tulowitzki, JJ Hardy, Yunel Escobar, Jose Reyes, Alexei Ramirez, and Jhonny Peralta. In a typical year Aviles would not be considered an above average shortstop, but given the struggles of several high profile players he remains a solid option.

Expecting Carl Crawford to be healthy was a mistake, and recent trades for Marlon Byrd and Scott Podsednik have done little to help. While the injury to Jacoby Ellsbury was unexpected, the Boston Red Sox lack of depth was a critical issue that they failed to address.

The bigger issue has been the complete lack of pitching. The Boston Red Sox pitching staff ranks 29th in the majors in ERA at 5.28, and there is plenty of blame to go around. Josh Beckett has been horrible, and while many would point to his attitude as reasons for his struggles, the more obvious problem is the drop in velocity. Last season he averaged 93 MPH on his fastball, and now he’s down to 91. That kind of drop would suggest a decline in skills, or that he’s hiding an injury. Daniel Bard has predictably been a disaster, and Felix Doubront hasn’t done much to show he deserves a starting spot going forward.

One of the most interesting questions regarding the Boston Red Sox has to be what happened to the ace formerly known as Jon Lester. He’s cut down on the use of one of his most effective pitches, the cutter, throwing it only 17.7% of the time compared to last year’s 27.9%. This is a significant change, and given that he hasn’t been successful when throwing his cutter less often we have to ask ourselves why Lester has changed his pitching style. Lester hasn’t been as effective as he has in the past, and it’s unlikely he’ll return to form as one of the top lefties in the game without increasing the usage of his cutter.

There are reasons for optimism with this Boston Red Sox squad – David Ortiz continues to mash, Dustin Pedroia is hitting like he did when he won the MVP, and Ryan Sweeney has exceeded expectations. Will Middlebrooks has been a revelation, and in a season with so many disappointments it’s nice to see one promising player join the lineup.

But realistically, the Boston Red Sox are a long shot to make the playoffs. Their lack of depth in both the lineup and the pitching staff has been exposed early in the season. While it’s unfair to punish them because of a few injuries, being unprepared and not having the appropriate depth is a fatal flaw that cannot be forgiven. The Boston Red Sox were a top heavy team that needed everything to go right in order to succeed, and planning for the best case is setting yourself up for failure. The Boston Red Sox can only hope that some of their struggling players can return to their career norms, or it won’t just be the 2012 season that the Boston Red Sox struggle in.

There is, however, a player in the American League who has a strong chance at winning the American League Triple Crown. And that’s none other than the Texas Rangers outifelder, Josh Hamilton. You may have heard about some of his exploits, but they need to be repeated because of how awesome they are:

• On May 8th Josh Hamilton went 5/5 with four two run home runs, driving in 8 runs.
• From his last at bat on May 7th through May 8th, five of his last six at bats ended in a home run.
• On May 11th Josh Hamilton went 3/4, hitting two home runs.
• And if that wasn’t enough, Josh Hamilton also hit a home run earlier today against the Los Angels Angels.

Josh Hamilton isn’t the first hitter to get off to a tremendous start – we have to look no further then last year, when Jose Bautista did his best Babe Ruth impression. Through the first two months of the season, Bautista had 20 home runs, 38 RBI and a batting line of 363/505/786. It was one of the hottest stretches in recent memory. And Josh Hamilton has made that look like nothing.

So far this season, Josh Hamilton has hit 402/457/877, mashing 18 homers, 41 RBI and scoring 30 runs. He’s simply unstoppable. Baseball has typically been seen as a team sport that requires all 25 players on the roster to contribute in order to earn a win, but Josh Hamilton is quickly disproving that theory. He’s a one man wrecking crew, and he’s single handedly beating opposing teams. Pitchers haven’t started to issue intentional walks to him yet, but that’s likely due to the fear of any pitch thrown within 30 feet of Josh Hamilton being launched over the fences.

Josh Hamilton is a free agent this year, and with his performance in recent days he’s looking at a monster contract. While it’s a legitimate fear that his body will break down due to years of abuse due to drugs and alcohol, Josh Hamilton is in the driver’s seat right now. His otherworldly performance has given him the ability to demand whatever salary he deems reasonable, and if the Texas Rangers refuse to pay there’s bound to be a GM who will take a chance on him.

It would be easy to proclaim that Josh Hamilton is going to win the American League MVP or even the Triple Crown right now. I’m not going to make that call, however, as we have to keep in mind it’s a very long season. But in the mean time, let’s just enjoy what is truly one of the greatest stretches of baseball we’ll ever see in our life times. Josh Hamilton is a supremely talented player, and it’s simply incredible to watch him at his craft.

Texas Rangers (This Week: 1, Last Week: 2) - So last week I asked a silly question about whether the Texas Rangers could afford to keep Josh Hamilton. After this week, the better question is how can they not afford to re-sign Josh Hamilton? One day he goes 5/5 with 4 homers, 8 RBI and a double. Three days later he follows that up with a 3/4 night hitting 2 homers and scoring 3 runs. Today he hits a pedestrian 1/4 with a solo home run. Move over Matt Kemp, because Josh Hamilton is the best player in base right now. Josh Hamilton’s effort helped the Texas Rangers retake the #1 on our MLB Power Rankings, as they took 3/4 from Baltimore at Camden Yards and took game one of a series against the Los Angeles Angels.

Josh Hamilton Fun Fact – Since the week started (May 7th), Hamilton has an OPS above 2, with 12 hits, 15 RBI and 10 runs scored. Of those 12 hits, only 2 didn’t go for extra bases as he’s crushed 9 home runs and hit a double.

Tampa Bay Rays (This Week: 2, Last Week: 1) - We’ll give them credit for a tough schedule, as the Tampa Bay Rays fall one spot in our MLB Power Rankings. They lost 2/3 to the New York Yankees and dropped another close game against the Baltimore Orioles. But Matt Moore needs to figure things out sooner, rather than later. His outstanding performance last season unfairly raised expectations, and it’s hard to remember sometimes that he is just a 22 year old rookie in his first full season.

Washington Nationals (This Week: 3, Last Week: 3) -Losing Jayson Werth for a few months has to sting, but at least Ryan Zimmerman returned to the lineup. Bryce Harper has been struggling for a few games, but it’s unfair to expect the 19 year old to carry the offence. They’ve got a relatively soft schedule next week, but their series against the Baltimore Orioles should be a lot more exciting than it looked 2 months ago.

Stephen Strasburg Fun Fact – Over his last 12 starts dating back to his return from Tommy John surgery, Strasburg has a 1.59 ERA over 68 innings, striking out nearly 10 batters per 9 while walking at a rate that Roy Halladay might be jealous of. He hasn’t even thrown 150 innings in his career, but it’s worth asking – has Stephen Strasburg turned into the most dominant pitcher in baseball?

St. Louis Cardinals (This Week: 4, Last Week: 4) - Turns out Lance Berkman didn’t return this week, but the Cardinals kept on winning. They swept the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier in the week, but lost game one of my Matchup Of The Week against the Atlanta Braves. As promised it was a high scoring affair, with the St. Louis Cardinals losing 7-9. The Cardinals remained fourth in our MLB Power Rankings, but if they lose 2/3 to the Braves they might fall a few spots next week.

Los Angeles Dodgers (This Week: 5, Last Week: 5) - Matt Kemp isn’t the best player in baseball anymore, but that hasn’t slowed down the Los Angeles Dodgers. They remain fifth in our MLB Power Rankings thanks to taking 2/3 against the San Francisco Giants. They’ve got a big series against the St. Louis Cardinals next week, so that should be a clash of the titans. The Los Angeles Dodgers won’t need to release the Kraken as long as Matt Kemp continues to mash.

Baltimore Orioles (This week: 6, Last Week: 6) - They lead the American League East by a game, but a big loss at home against Texas prevents them from moving up. One reason for the Baltimore Orioles success was that three of their key relievers hadn’t allowed a run all season until this week. That’s right, more than a month into the season and three of the Orioles relievers hadn’t allowed a run. No wonder their record is so good this season – but there’s no way they’re keeping this up. Jim Johnson allowed his first run on May 8th to the Texas Rangers, while Luis Ayala allowed his on May 10th. Matt Lindstrom also allowed a run on the 10th, and the Orioles were so surprised that he allowed a run that they figured he must be hurt and put him on the disabled list. It’ll be interesting to see if the Orioles start losing games in the future if it’s the bullpen that lets them down, because to this point those three guys have been historically good.

Atlanta Braves (This Week: 7, Last Week: 7) - That the Atlanta Braves are succeeding without Brian McCann shows just how well rounded they are. Freddie Freeman is showing off some nice power, and the pitching staff is starting to turn it around. The high staff ERA is deceptive, as taking out Jair Jurrjens (9.37 ERA) and Chad Durbin (8.03) drops the Braves team ERA to 4.01.  Either way, the Braves are one of the best teams in baseball, and that’s why they remain 7th in our MLB Power Rankings.

New York Yankees (This Week: 8, Last Week: 9) - The New York Yankees won 2/3 from the Tampa Bay Rays, and would have won a third if not for a blown save. And while it seems impossible, Alex Rodriguez might be the most underrated Yankee at this point. He’s 6th among third baseman in OPS (845), and at 36 he’s still playing like an all star. The biggest question with Rodriguez is health, and while he’ll never live up to the new contract, he’s still a fantastic player on a loaded Yankees squad.

Toronto Blue Jays (This Week: 9, Last Week: Eight) -The Jays solved a few pressing issues by dropping Adam Lind down in the lineup and making Casey Janssen the closer. The rotation has performed admirably so far, but Henderson Alvarez and Kyle Drabek continue to walk a tight rope. Drabek’s total lack of control is going to come back to haunt him in the long run, while Alvarez inability to strike out hitters will prevent him from being anything more then a back of the rotation starter. But the news isn’t all bad – with two home runs last night from Jose Bautista, we could be seeing a return to form of one of the great sluggers in baseball.

Cleveland Indians (This week: 10, Last Week: 10) - The Detroit Tigers made headlines in the offseason, but the Cleveland Indians obviously aren’t willing to just hand them the division. With a two game lead the surprising Cleveland Indians continue to find ways to win. They managed to take 2/3 from Texas last week, but they’ve been scuffling ever since. Asdrubal Cabrera continues to mash, and Jason Kipnis is quietly transforming into an elite second baseman. This is a very talented team, and they should be here to stay in our MLB Power Rankings.

No need to worry, their job is safe:

Joe Nathan – There was a time when Nathan was considered one of the best relievers in Fantasy Baseball, but last year changed that perception. Well, he’s striking out more than a batter an inning, and Ron Washington is using him almost exclusively in save situations. He’s got one walk on the season, which is simply fantastic. The velocity is back again, and Nathan is once again pitching like an elite reliever.

Jim Johnson – He’s one of 3 Baltimore Orioles to have pitched 10 or more innings in relief and not allow a run. Wonder why the Orioles are in first? Their bullpen is playing a key role in its success, and Johnson is a big reason why. He isn’t likely to lose his job anytime soon, but given how well the relievers have pitched in the bullpen if he struggles, they might turn to the hot hand. But as of today, it doesn’t look like Johnson will lose it for a while. And that’s why he’s a safe option for owners in Fantasy Baseball.

Fernando Rodney – He became the closer when Kyle Farnsworth went down, and he’s been a dominating arm for one of the best teams in baseball. The only question is who closes when Farnsworth comes back in a few weeks. But until then, enjoy the strikeouts, the saves, and the low ERA.

Brandon League - One of the few closers whose job is safe, League has been a solid option for the 9th inning this season. One thing to watch is his high walk rate and the low strikeout total – it could be a problem later on in the year if League doesn’t figure out where the ball is going.

Risky plays for the ninth inning:

David Robertson – He blew a save last night, and he looked ugly in his first save of the season. But Robertson is one of the best relievers in baseball, and he should continue to get chances. If he continues to struggle, the New York Yankees might turn to Rafael Soriano to close out the ninth.

Chris Perez – He’s simply not one of the Cleveland Indians best relievers, and it’s a good question as to how long Perez will hold the closers role. Vinnie Pestano has been outstanding this season, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he ended the season closing out games for Cleveland. So make sure that if Pestano is available, you swipe him up in your Fantasy Baseball league.

Matt Capps – He’s not doing terrible, but with 5 saves Capps isn’t exactly a top closing option. The Minnesota Twins are one of the worst teams in baseball so wins, let alone saves, are going to be difficult to come by.

Jonathan Broxton – The 1.54 ERA hides the fact that Broxton has pitched pretty poorly. He’s not striking anybody out, and he’s walking a bunch of guys. That’s not a good combination, and when Broxton’s luck runs out he’ll be a worthless reliever in Fantasy Baseball. Sell high on him while you still can.

Alfredo Aceves - The only reason a closer can maintain his job with a 6.21 ERA is if the rest of the bullpen is even worse. Aceves has pitched much better over the past few weeks, so it makes sense that the Boston Red Sox have stuck with him in the closers role. Still, in order for him to get a save the Red Sox would have to have a lead to hold on to, and that’s been a rare sighting in recent days.

Hector Santiago Chris Sale Addison Reed – The Chicago White Sox continue to frustrate owners in Fantasy Baseball, designating a new closer each week. This time it’s Addison Reed, a flamethrowing right hander who has extended his scoreless streak to 10 innings. I think Reed is the best option to close, but he’s likely only doing so because Sale is currently injured.

Scott Downs- He’s currently closing, but he’s not a great option this season. The entire Los Angeles Angels bullpen is a mess, so he’s not at risk of losing his job unless they acquire someone new. But I wouldn’t expect him to be the closer two months from now either. Just a weird all around situation.

Jose Valverde – He’s a big name closer, but with a 5.27 ERA there’s only so long the Detroit Tigers will continue throwing him out there in the 9th inning. If anybody is going to steal the closer’s job, it will be Joaquin Benoit, so keep a close eye on this situation.

Grant Balfour – Grant has lived up to his name, often letting the hitters walk to first after issuing ball four. It’s been a tough season for Balfour, as he has struggled in the 9th inning this season. Ryan Cook has been fantastic for the Oakland Athletics, and the hard throwing right hander could see some time in the closer’s role if Balfour continues to struggle. For now though, just put Cook on your Fantasy Baseball watch list, as the A’s will likely let Balfour work through his struggles.

Casey Janssen – He’s been quite the underrated reliever, dominating opposing hitters since 2010. He’s an excellent option to close, but the real question here is when will Sergio Santos come back? He’s been cleared to throw, and it’s just a matter of time until he’s back. In the short term though, Janssen is a fantastic option who should have a chance at a number of saves with a low ERA total and a solid strikeout rate.

A series of trades with the Texas Rangers have paid immediate dividends with the Baltimore Orioles. Last season they sent reliever Koji Uehara and some cash to the Rangers for Tommy Hunter and Chris Davis. While Hunter has cooled down a bit, Davis has been a fantastic addition. Not only did he win a game in extra innings, but he’s added a consistent bat to the middle of the lineup. Davis has 5 homers and and 843 OPS, putting him on pace to shatter his previous career highs. In a separate trade the Baltimore Orioles sent Mike Gonzalez to the Rangers, acquiring Pedro Strop in the process. Strop has been outstanding in the bullpen, saving two games and posting a 1.59 ERA. He’s been able to stabilize the bullpen, one of the weaker aspects of the team over the past decade.

The success of the Baltimore Orioles is not limited to trades that were made at the 2011 trade deadline. During the offseason they sent Jeremy Guthrie to the Colorado Rockies for Matt Lindstrom and Jason Hammel. At the time the trade looked like a step in the wrong direction, as Hammel was a back of the rotation pitcher and Lindstrom was just a promising reliever. However, this might have been the best move of the season by the Baltimore Orioles, as Guthrie has struggled in Colorado (5.92 ERA) while Hammel and Lindstrom have flourished.

The Baltimore Orioles encouraged Hammel to use his slider, and combined with the increase in velocity of his fastball (93.5 MPH) have led to a pitching line that is amongst the best in the game. Hammel has struck out nearly a batter an inning, while cutting back on the walks and posting an elite 61% ground ball rate. This has led to a 4-1 record and a 2.09 ERA, and he’s a big reason why the Baltimore Orioles are unexpectedly leading the American League in ERA.

As for Lindstrom, he’s only managed to pitch 13 innings without allowing a run. He’s been even more effective than Strop, and it’s given the Orioles a legitimate end game duo coming out of the bullpen.

The final reason for the Orioles unexpected success is the continued development of Adam Jones and Matt Wieters. Originally Wieters was expected to be an MVP candidate, but those were unrealistic expectations placed on a rookie catcher. In his fourth season with the club he’s transformed into the hitter everybody believed he could be, mashing in the middle of the lineup with 7 homers, 18 RBI and a 964 OPS. Oh, and he’s playing gold glove calibre defence behind the plate, making him arguably the best catcher in the game. Meanwhile Adam Jones is taking advantage of his natural power, as he’s hit a team leading 8 home runs. He’s got a fantastic all around game this season, playing quality defence in the outfield, stealing 5 bases, and hitting for average. He’s finally developed into the 5 tool player that scouts once predicted he would be.

It’s unlikely that the Baltimore Orioles continue to win at their current pace. They’ve got a tough stretch against the Rangers, the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays. The next two weeks will be their first real test of the season. One thing is clear though –  regardless of the outcome over the next couple of weeks, we have all underestimated the Baltimore Orioles. And right now they’re a team that nobody wants to face.