Weekly Leagues Touts (May 16-22)

By Mike Salfino and David Ferris

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Put 'em in

Eric Chavez, 3B, A's. The 27-year-old All Star is too good to keep struggling so mightily. When Chavez breaks out of his duldrums, pitchers are going to pay big-time. Don't let it happen when he's on your bench.

Matt Clement, P, Red Sox. Clement is flashing dominating stuff and gets the light-hitting A's and Braves this week. Against Atlanta, Clement has 15 Ks and 2 BBs in 13 career innings.

Bench 'em

Casey Blake, OF, Indians: Blake has flashed power but is struggling to keep his average over .200. Lefty Jody Gerut could get most of a platoon split when his rehab assignment in Triple A ends this week.

Joel Pineiro, P, Mariners: One start this week against the suddenly-mighty-again Yankees. Pineiro has a declining strikeout rate and increase in homers allowed suggest his mysterious arm troubles of 2004 remain a problem.


NATIONAL LEAGUE

Put 'em in

Brady Clark, OF, Brewers. He very quietly leads the NL in runs, and the Brewers are one of just two Senior Circuit clubs to get a full seven games.

Glendon Rusch, P, Cubs. He gets just one turn but it's coming against a Pittsburgh lineup that can't touch lefties. This is a great time to spot-start Rusch.

Bench 'em

Preston Wilson, OF, Rockies - He's hitting just .167 on the road and .246 with runners on. Wait for one more Coors-aided three-run homer from Wilson, then move him immediately. There's a good chance he won't be in Colorado all summer.

John Thomson, P, Braves. Normally you'd love him entering a two-start week, but Thomson's cranky back has acted up of late, and his second turn comes in a dangerous spot, Fenway Park.