Fan News

Let’s take a look at who had a big day and who didn’t yesterday:

Three Hot:

The San Francisco Giants did three significant things during their humongous four-game series against the San Diego Padres. Call it a pleasant coincidence that the team also won three of the weekend contests.

By taking three of four in Petco Park, the good guys exorcised some serious demons in a personal house of horrors. Since the start of the 2009 campaign, the Giants had only won three of the last 14 contests played in the Friars' home. You have to imagine the lads enjoyed doubling a two-year win total in four days.

While some division races are winding down, others are just starting to heat up.

The Rockies, dead in the water two weeks ago, have ripped off 10 wins in a row and are now in the mix for both the Wild Card and NL West title.

Carlos Gonzalez continues to remind voters why he should be in the MVP conversation.

Troy Tulowitzki has jut finished a incredibly hot stretch as well. How hot? Well how does eight home-runs and 17 RBI in nine games sound?

The tandem are the reason the Rox find themselves within striking distance.

As of September 12th, the Yankees are 87-56, a half game up on the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. The division will be at stake with the crucial upcoming Rays series in St. Petersburg.

With the Trenton Thunder's 8-1 win Friday night in New Hampshire, the Yankees Double-A affiliate advanced to the Eastern League finals for the third time in the last four seasons.

With absolutely stunning pitching, the Thunder's starters and relievers held the Fisher Cats to ONE run in 30 innings over the three games.

The Yankees were swept today by the Texas Rangers and now have lost six of their last seven games as Cliff Lee was brilliant tonight holding them to one run on two hits over eight innings. Dustin Moseley was impressive, but ultimately not good enough as he allowed four runs over 6.2 innings as the Yankees lost 4-1.

Here are some highlights:

No, the bad news is that the Pittsburgh Pirates didn't exactly win the recent series against the division-leading Cincinnati Reds. The good news is that the two lost games were "ties" (at the end of nine innings).

Paul Maholm, Charlie Morton and Brian Burres all had quality starts going into the seventh inning and received no decisions. Late-inning surges won the final game outright, and gave the visitors chances in the other two encounters.

Defense wins championships. Well maybe not in baseball. Still, as the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, the 2009 Seattle Mariners, and the 2010 San Diego Padres have shown us, a good defense goes a long way in today's game.

Defense is the unappreciated side of the game. You don't see players winning MVP awards for their defensive play. Fielding wizards like Carl Crawford often fly under the radar, their offensive game attracting much more attention than their rare defensive skills.

It’s time to look at the potential two-start options for the upcoming fantasy week.  If I have someone rated as a three, four or five-star option, they are someone I would definitely use.  A two-star option is someone who is borderline, but I’d strongly lean against it unless I have no other options.  The one-star options are an absolutely not scenario.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at the players available to you this week:

Five-Star Options:

Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner will have an MRI performed on his right wrist due to what has become an ongoing problem.

Gardner has had trouble with his wrist since June 27, when he was hit by a pitch during the Yankees interleague series with the Dodgers.