Salfino (AL), Ferris (NL) on June 13 - 19

Ferris is killing me here as I grapple to come up with a methodology for evaluating players in five- or six-game stretches.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Put 'em in

Chris Young, P, Rangers: His last three weeks: 25 innings, 25 Ks, 8 walks, 2.8 ERA, 0.9 WHIP. Plus he gets two starts this week (Braves, Nationals in Arlington).

Placido Polanco, 2B, Tigers: Polanco has been anointed the starting second baseman and No. 2 hitter for Detroit and fills a middle-infield slot due to his middling power and handful of steals.

Bench 'em

Dannys Baez, P, Devil Rays: He's been inconsistent all year and now has a sore pitching shoulder that makes his status next week uncertain. Look for Lance Carter to get saves in his place.

Tony Womack, OF, Yankees: Womack is batting .181 the last three weeks with three walks. Forget those steals, he'll lose at bats in the outfield and won't supplant rookie Robbie Cano, who Joe Torre likened to "Rod Carew with power."


NATIONAL LEAGUE

Put 'em in

Chris Capuano, P, Brewers: One of the success stories from Mike Maddux's laboratory, Capuano is a good play any week. That goes double for the next slate, when Capuano gets two turns, one against the Devil Rays.

Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies: Sure, he hasn't hit lefties yet, but Utley hasn't really been given a fair chance on that either. He's set to play every day with Placido Polanco gone, which means we could see 20 home runs over the next four months.

Bench 'em

Esteban Loaiza, P, Nationals: Normally you'd like him in a two-start week, but turns in Anaheim and Texas will remind Loaiza why he left the American League in the first place. Working in the NL East is working with a net, but this is too risky.

Cristian Guzman, SS, Nationals: Just who does he have Polaroids on, anyway? Guzman is batting .141 with no homers and no steals over the past month, and it's not like he's the second coming of Ozzie Smith in the field.