is your guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming scoring period. Every week, we'll give you the latest on injuries, lineup changes, streaks and matchups, highlighting the players at each position who might surprise or disappoint as a result. NOTE: The Planner will be updated with the latest information every Sunday prior to lineup deadlines.
Any players not listed here fall into the "status quo" category, meaning you should take your usual approach with them.
All statistics are updated through Wednesday, July 13. An update will follow on Sunday, July 17.
Ramon Hernandezhas been playing out of his mind lately, batting .349 (22 for 63) with a .951 OPS since the beginning of June to bring his season batting average up to .322 and his season OPS up to .916. The problem is you still can't use him in mixed leagues because the Reds don't feel comfortable starting him more than two games in a row. With prospectDevin Mesoracopushing for a promotion at Triple-A Louisville, Hernandez could be on the move in the weeks ahead -- hopefully to a team committed to using him more -- so even though you probably wouldn't want to use him right now in Fantasy, you'll want to keep your eye on him.
Must-Start Options: Brian McCann,Victor Martinez,Carlos Santana,Miguel Montero,Alex Avila
Jorge Posada: .136 (3 for 22), one extra-base hit, .413 OPS in nine games
John Buck (33 percent started) : Buck has been in a funk most of the season but was showing signs of life just before the All-Star break. His resurgence comes just in time for a seven-game week against the Mets' and Padres' less-than-stellar starting pitchers, with six of those games at home. SunLife Stadium is known as a tough place to hit, but Buck has actually liked it there, hitting .258 compared to .176 on the road. You've probably gotten used to ignoring the 2010 All-Star by now, but if you need help at catcher this week, he should provide it.
Wilson Ramos (20 percent) : Ramos has been getting more playing time recently withIvan Rodriguezsidelined by a strained oblique -- an injury that should keep him on the DL for at least part of this week. Ramos has taken advantage of the increased at-bats so far, batting .391 (9 for 23) with eight RBI over his last seven games. The 23-year-old has the upside to become a viable mixed-league option, so now wouldn't be a bad time to take a sneak peak.
Jonathan Lucroy (52 percent started) : Lucroy hasn't gotten off to a blazing start in July, batting .226 (7 for 31), and even if he's able to turn it around at Coors Field over the weekend, the resurgence will likely be short-lived. The Brewers are on the road for all seven of their games this week, facing pitchers likeIan Kennedy,Matt CainandRyan Vogelsong. Lucroy is batting only .227 on the road compared to .333 at home, showing why he's less than an every-week option in Fantasy.
Kurt Suzuki (44 percent) : Suzuki has picked it up a little at the plate recently, batting .368 (7 for 19) with a homer over his last six games, but he won't have many opportunities to contribute this week with only five games on the schedule. And he probably won't do much in those five games considering they're all on the road and against right-handed pitchers. For the season, Suzuki is batting .203 away from Oakland Coliseum and .207 against righties.
John Jasowas forced to go on the DL with a strained right oblique Thursday, opening the door forKelly Shoppachto get regular at-bats in Tampa Bay. Shoppach is batting only .168 on the year, but he has been a worthwhile Fantasy option in the past, hitting 21 homers in 2008. He's worth a flier in deeper leagues just in case the consistent playing time leads to more-consistent production.
The Diamondbacks finally reached a breaking point with their platoon ofJuan MirandaandXavier Nadyon Thursday, but they didn't promote 23-year-oldPaul Goldschmidtto the majors as had long been rumored. Instead, they turned to a familiar face who was also putting up killer numbers in the minors, calling upBrandon Allenand sending down Miranda. Allen has exhibited both power and patience in the minors, putting together a 1.006 OPS at Triple-A Reno this year, but because he didn't prove much in his first two stints in the majors, you can leave him for NL-only leagues for now.
Must-Start Options: Albert Pujols,Joey Votto,Adrian Gonzalez,Prince Fielder,Mark Teixeira,Kevin Youkilis,Ryan Howard,Lance Berkman,Paul Konerko,Adam Lind,Gaby Sanchez
Aubrey Huff: .125 (3 for 24), no extra-base hits in six games
Freddie Freeman (63 percent started) : The deeper we get into the season, the better and better Freeman gets. Not only has he been hot recently, but he's batting .312 with nine homers and a .914 OPS since May 19, which is slightly less than half of his season so far. With four games at Coors Field to open the week, he has a good chance of keeping it going. No reason to shy away from him now in mixed leagues.
Casey Kotchman (17 percent) : Yes, Kotchman has a few big marks against him, such as a complete lack of home-run power at a position that demands it. But this late into the season, his .336 batting average is getting pretty hard to ignore. If you need help in that category in a Rotisserie league or just happen to find yourself with a stunning lack of options at the deepest position in Fantasy, Kotchman might be a sneaky play during a seven-game week in which he faces the Royals pitching staff three times.
Aubrey Huff (50 percent started) : Even disregarding Huff's poor hitting over the last week, how can you expect a season-long underachiever to suddenly turn it around in a week he's facingChad Billingsley,Clayton Kershaw,Shaun MarcumandYovani Gallardo-- especially when all six of his games are at home, where he's only a .216 hitter? It's just not reasonable. Neither is starting him in a mixed league this week.
James Loney (23 percent) : After a miserable start prolonged by a misguided attempt to hit more homers, Loney has generally gotten his season back on track, but he still hasn't learned to hit left-handed pitchers, batting only .189 (14 for 74) against them. Against three left-handers in a six-game week, Loney isn't the kind of gamble you should take if you need help at first base.
Miguel Cabrerawas removed from the All-Star game with a slight strain of his right oblique, which he assumes will be just fine for the start of the second half Friday. But he wouldn't be the first player to make that mistake with that injury. Nobody in Detroit is panicking right now, which is reason to believe it really is just a "slight" strain, but considering oblique strains of any severity are almost always worse than originally anticipated, you'll want to keep a close eye on him this weekend. If he gets through all three games without incident, he'll obviously be a must-start in Fantasy.
Miguel Tejadahas started four of the Giants' last six games at second base, which is a fairly graceful solution to two problems: the Giants' lack of offensive firepower at the position withFreddy Sanchezsidelined and Tejada's desire to play every day. It probably won't redeem his value in mixed leagues as a 37-year-old in steep decline, but it has rejuvenated his bat in the short term. He's batting .355 (11 for 31) in nine July games.
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