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Brendan Roberts

  (2:59 PM)

Hi there, all! Just about football time ... but we're sticking with baseball here, helping those who have playoff matchups ahead, important decisions to make and, let's face it, money on the line. So I'll stick to baseball for now, turning to football at a later date. Let's get to it!

Leena (Girl needs Help) (NC)

Hi Brendan - Only 3 weeks left in my fantasy season and I want to know if I should hold onto Pena and Zobrist, tough schedule. Can't drop Evan (and wouldn't) but could bench him. What do you thin?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:01 PM)

Pena is red-hot, and lately, it doesn't matter whom he's facing. The renowned second-half hitter is tearing it up, and you know Longoria is "caution: flammable" too. I suppose if you really need his roster spot, Zobrist can be let go. His big season has deflated a little with a .242 August. But I wouldn't overrate the schedule; the Rays are a good, and streaky, team and can hit any batch of good pitching.

Drew (Work)

J Grey says that, long-term, J Upton is more valuable than M. Kemp? Is your crazy colleague crazy?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:03 PM)

Yes, I've had this conversation with Jason, and in his defense, he gets to see Upton play (live) a lot more than anyone on staff. I probably like Kemp more as a long-term 5x5 option because I think he'll steal more and even hit for a slightly better average long-term, but really you can't go wrong with either of them.

Kelly (WI)

Think Tim Hudson will be good in his first start back tonight versus the Marlins?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:04 PM)

I do. At least I think he'll worth starting. The only thing I'm concerned about with him is his stamina and pitching deep into the game, but since he's facing Anibal Sanchez, he really shouldn't have to to earn the victory. I see maybe 5-6 innings and a three earneds runs, maybe three K's and a walk ... not great numbers, but I do think he'll win.

Logan (Chicago)

David Wright is expected to come off the DL today, but will he actually play? A worthy start for a team making a playoff push?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:06 PM)

By all accounts, he will play, and resume his regular role. And I don't think he'd be back if he wasn't at least close to capable to producing like he normally does (which, of course, is pretty good). Staying healthy the final month? Not sure. I could see a scenario in which they shut him down the final week or so, but I think he's definitely a strong start for a playoff-bound or playoff team.

Terry (Houston)

Russell Martin has been awful all year for me. Are there any catchers out there who can give better production the next couple weeks?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:08 PM)

I doubt it. Martin has had a bad season, by his standards, but he's still as capable on any given day/week/month as any of the options you have on the FA wire, most likely. PLUS, with September call-ups arriving, and teams going to three catchers, even those "sleepers" become less so because their playing time is reduced slightly. Unless you have a Mike Napoli or someone like that available, and I doubt you do, I'd stick with R-Mart.

Anthony (Cali)

what do I do with Jermaine Dye now? Is he worth dropping for Rajai Davis, or should I hold?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:09 PM)

He's struggling, and that Sox lineup is just poison right now -- and it just lost Thome. The Sox are folding up the tent right now, and I just don't see Dye tearing it up. Meanwhile, Rajai has been surprisingly productive as a 5x5 option. Unless you're protecting a lead and/or need power over speed, yeah, I can endorse that move. At this point, you gotta do what you gotta do. And there's only five weeks left to make you pay if you done wrong.

Scott (KC)

Wondering how the outfield in Colorado is going to shake out...who is going to get the bulk of the playing time? Where does Eric Young Jr. fit in over the final month?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:11 PM)

Well, he's really just a Dexter Fowler fill-in right now. As far as I know, Fowler will return in about 10 days, when eligible, and be right back in the starting lineup, and Young will become a glorified pinch runner. With the Rox in a heck of a playoff/division battle, they can't afford to be starting wet-behind-the-ears rookies. So whereas Young might help you now, I don't see him doing so much over the course of the month.

JT (Boston)

Keeper League with 'good not great' OF - do I hang on to Damon, Victorino, Adam Jones and Choo hoping to work some off-season deals - or dump any of those for the Travis Snider's of the FA pool hoping to catch some lightning in a bottle and win now?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:13 PM)

Not sure where you stand exactly for this season, but I say you try to win now, and those four guys are awfully good options to get that accomplished. And even if you don't, they're still good options for 2010. That's how I approach keepers. I do consider long-term, but I put a lot more weight on 2010 than most others. I guess I don't have the patience to wait forever.

Jay (NYC)

Does Thome remain DH in fantasy even tho there's no DH in the NL?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:15 PM)

Good question. Yes, he's a DH in mixed leagues, and in NL leagues, he'd have to become a UTIL until/if he gets enough PT at first base. And honestly, it doesn't sound like he will. He'll be the team's lefty pinch-hitter, and that's about all. Little more than, say, Matt Stairs was for the Phils last year. Very unfortunate for his value, and single-year-league owners can drop him now. BUT, AL keeper owners might want to keep him around in a bench spot, if possible. It's likely that he ends up back in the AL next season. Unless he retires, which I haven't heard any indication he'll do.

Peter (Jacksonville NC)

So what's up with Kendry Morales. Is he going to produce like this again next year or will he fade back into what he was before?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:17 PM)

What he was before was just a player who had trouble adjusting both socially (learning the language) and physically in the States after coming over from Cuba. That happens a lot with Cubans, who are almost isolated from the big-league game, its players and its culture where they're at. He's adjusted now, and I think he's still on the rise, if anything. So yes, I think he can repeat what he did this year.

Chris (NY,NY)

Time to give up on Ibanez? He looks horrible.

Brendan Roberts

  (3:18 PM)

Very tempting to, I realize, but this is a little market correction and a slump happening here. The bottom line is he's still a good hitter in one of the league's best lineups, and in an RBI role, and he's in a great ballpark. Plus, by all accounts, he's still healthy. I think you have to stand by him.

Gary (Vermont)

I have Soto in three leagues and he is killing me for production at catcher. Any good waiver ideas for who could give me decent production over the playoff weeks? Inge is available in one league.

Brendan Roberts

  (3:20 PM)

Yup, Soto has been awful, and Lou Piniella hinted recently that he's going to platoon the catcher role even more in September in order to take the load off the seemingly tired Geovany. So his value isn't going to increase. I could see dropping him for Inge. Granted, Inge has been just as bad of late, but he's in a tight playoff race, will play everyday, and is a renowned streaky hitter. Also, Inge still tends to hit homers when he is struggling. Inge it is.

James (Boston)

Joey Votto? I am perplexed.

Brendan Roberts

  (3:23 PM)

It might not seem like it, but he's still a stud. Sure, he hit .220 in August, but he's still hitting .304, and he actually had his second-best monthly RBI total of the season. He's still a stud, and I think next year will be his true breakout season. I thought that this year, but the illness/injuries nagged him, as well as his (understandable) struggles dealing with the death of his father. I foresee a good September and GREAT 2010 from the 25-year-old.

Peter (Springfield)

With the Sox lineup being "poison", would you drop A. Ramirez and pick up O. Husdon

Brendan Roberts

  (3:25 PM)

Nah, I'd hang on to Alexei there. Unlike Dye, Alexei is still hitting (.282 in August). Plus, I could see a scenario where the Dodgers set it on cruise control and play Loretta a bit more over there in the last few weeks.

MIKE (TAMPA, FL)

Same question as Peter, but Juan Rivera

Brendan Roberts

  (3:28 PM)

Can't remember what Peter asked, but I'm assuming you're asking whether Rivera can maintain his 2009 play, and carry it into next season. ... I'd have to say I'm less confident in that for Rivera, but I'd draft as something close to what he did this season. In other words, yes, I think he can repeat 2009. This is really the first time in his "prime years" that he has been healthy and in the right situation to play everyday. And he has flourished. Most encouraging to me is that he has hit righties at a .285 clip with 13 homers after being labeled just a "lefty killer" in previous years. And he's hitting .316 on the road, meaning the rigors of travel and everyday play haven't worn him down physically or mentally. I wouldn't expect anything more than what he's doing now, but i think what he's doing now is very possible again.

Dustin (Philly)

I am holding a lead in the championship matchup and Ludwick is cold do i stick with him or start Matt Diaz?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:31 PM)

Good looking out, but I think you have to stick with Ludwick. He has a favorable schedule coming up, against teams he has hit well (over .300) against this season. He faces the Brewers, the Pirates, then Brewers again.

Jason (Seattle)

What does it take to get a question answered? I ask at least three questions every day during Fantasy Baseball chats and they always get ignored. While stupid comments about lunch and stuff get answers.

Brendan Roberts

  (3:31 PM)

We don't see all the questions, but I don't think I've talked about my lunch at all. Hang in there, bro. We move 100 miles an hour and get to as many good questions as we can.

Eric (Phoenix)

Are you believing in Chris Davis's decent rebirth since being called back up to the Rangers?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:34 PM)

Yes, I do. Honestly, I don't even know who that was earlier this season, because he doesn't look anything like this guy now and the guy who came up. It looked to me like he was guessing on every pitch and loading up. It's like shooting at a moving target blindfolded. Now it seems he's sitting back and actually reading pitches again. ... I'm a believer, and if anything, his horrible first half allows you to get him at a bargain next year (at least conceivably).

Josh (VA)

Coughlan or Brandon Phillips at 2b for the rest of the season (don't need SBs)?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:35 PM)

Phillips is playing hurt, and admittedly having a tough time dealing with it. Since steals aren't an issue, I'd pick the guy I think would hit the best in the final month, and that's Coghlan. Sad, but true.

JC (OH)

Markakis or Pence for 2010?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:38 PM)

If Pence ran a little bit more, and with a better success rate, I might say him. But as it is, they're about equal in home runs, Pence has only 10 more steals, and Markakis beats him pretty good in the other three categories. So, Markakis easily to me. People are down on Markakis because he hasn't really had that breakout season we all expected, but fact of the matter is he's still only 25 years old, and has elite skills. In fact, though it doesn't seem like it, Markakis is actually YOUNGER than Pence. Not by much, but most people wouldn't guess that.

Rob (NJ)

DeRosa...is he hurting? Will he have value down the stretch?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:40 PM)

DeRosa is hurting; he's playing with a torn tendon sheath in his wrist. If there's one thing I know about Tony La Russa, it's that he likes to use his bench, and now he has a big bench. And Glaus is coming back. And the Cardinals are in the driver's seat in the division. ... I don't think DeRosa will do much in September, honestly. The Cards will save him for the playoffs, and like I said, he's hurting, and seems to me he's struggling to reach and extend to the outside pitches. In a standard mixed league, if there's a good guy on the FA wire you need, I could see you dropping DeRosa.

Frank ((Beans))

Should I start Jonathan Sanchez tonight? My opponent had Pettite yesterday so I need some good stuff..

Brendan Roberts

  (3:42 PM)

Sure, why not. Sanchez has been really hot, and he actually pitched decently against the Phils about a month ago. Plus, he should rack up plenty of K's.

AJ (MASS)

Is Latos worth hanging onto or does he get shutdown soon? Drop for Penny?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:43 PM)

I haven't really heard. If they shut him down, it'd likely be the last week or much later than now ... I'd stick with him over Penny and play for the short-term.

John (Cancun)

High upside in 2010 Jake Fox or Borbon?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:44 PM)

Obviously depends on what you're looking for, but I'm on record as saying I think Fox is a future All-Star. I think we'll get to see that more next season, and he'd be my pick here.

Bob (DC)

Milton Bradley. Is he going to finish the year strong or will the ridicule from the Wrigley faithful continue?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:45 PM)

Uh, both! He's just on the wrong side of the Confines Faithful, and that'll be tough to change. But I do see him finishing the year strong. Lou has enough depth to get him the occasional day off to keep him healthy, and Bradley will reward him.

Adam ((Pa))

Does Arron Hill repeat and would you take him over Brian Roberts?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:47 PM)

I still like Roberts because of the multitude of things he does for you. I don't want to overrate this, but it seems Hill has gotten very "pull-happy" in his homer purge, and I think that might someday wreak havoc on his batting average numbers. And he doesn't run much as it is.

Taylor (MO)

I have Wright on the DL and need to drop a player. Is Stephen Drew droppable if I have Zobrist and Asdrubal at SS?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:48 PM)

Unfortunately, he probably is. That second-half surge hasn't come like expected, and it's bothersome to me that the lefty hitter is batting .191 against lefty pitching. That's a split that usually doesn't change quickly.

BJ Upton (TB)

What do you expect from me over the next month? More of the same or a strong finish?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:49 PM)

More of the same. In fact, I think he might not even be an everyday starter. The Rays do have some depth in the outfield, including Fernando Perez, who can play a similar role to Upton (without the pop, of course). I don't see him finishing strong.

Nick (NY)

Is Zambrano hurting? Does Gorzelanny get back in the rotation? And does Wade Davis get starts the rest of the way?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:51 PM)

Zambrano supposedly is not hurting; the Cubs are saying it's his mechanics. Whether his poor mechanics are caused by pain somewhere is up for debate, but I don't see him bouncing back in the final month. The Cubs, like the Sox, are about to start folding up their tents, in my mind. But I don't see Gorzy getting back, or Davis getting more than a spot start.

JoLiET JaKE (IL)

For the fantasy playoff push, who do you believe has more value..Carlos Guillen, Carlos Gonzo, or Chris Davis?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:52 PM)

I like all three, but I'd pick Davis in that group, followed by C-Gonz. The Rockies have 19 of their last 31 games at home, or something like that. I do like Guillen, but I like the other two guys more.

Pico (Brazil)

Brantley called up today....what are the chances he starts in 2010?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:54 PM)

Ah, you must be speaking of Indians OF prospect Michael Brantley, a nice speed prospect and OBP prospect. Well, this September is an audition for him, and it sounds the Indians will clear him some PT for him. That said, I don't think he's ready to hit consistently, and I think he ends up back in Triple-A to start next season. Maybe looking for a June 2010 call-up for good.

TK (NYC)

Talk to me about the universe of closers. Anyone we should be keeping an eye on?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:56 PM)

Not really anybody that isn't already being ranked and discussed in Eric Karabell's Relief Efforts. I will say I have my eye on the A's, Phillies and D-backs situations. Lidge, specifically, in Philly, Andrew Bailey's knee status in Oakland (he expects to pitch through it, but I have my doubts he can make it), and who will close in Arizona. Looking like it'll be Juan Gutierrez.

Gabe (NJ)

Jake Peavy. I read on ESPN Chicago (shameless plug) that the sox are shutting him down for now. Time to let go?

Brendan Roberts

  (3:57 PM)

Appreciate that plug! I haven't read or heard that, but I wouldn't be surprised. He's been snakebitten, and considering the Sox really don't need him for this season -- or probably won't soon -- they might as well let him get 100 percent.

Lee (NOLA)

One last try before the buzzer: better keeper for 2010: Wainwright or Haren? Thanks, Brendan.

Brendan Roberts

  (3:58 PM)

I'd have to say Wainwright. Better ballpark, better team and fewer innings on his arm the past two years.

Jeff (Toronto )

Garza has underwhelmed, drop him for Pineiro or Blanton for 2009?

Brendan Roberts

  (4:00 PM)

Pineiro, no way. I'm tellin' ya from watching the guy, it's all smoke and mirrors what he's doing now. A lot of hard-hit balls right at people. But Blanton? Now that one is tough. I'd probably still lean toward Garza; he still has pretty good numbers overall and has great K potential. Plus, he was crushed really only in his last start. Blanton is tempting, but I'd stick with Garza. One more ...

Rob (NJ)

McLouth had an MRI confirming the hammy strain. Is he worth waiting for or just cut-bait...

Brendan Roberts

  (4:01 PM)

Good question. He's clearly not right since he seems to be hitting setbacks right away when he reaches a new level of activity ... and it's not like he was tearing it up before. Yeah, if you need his spot in a standard mixed league, I can see dropping him.

Brendan Roberts

  (4:02 PM)

And that oughta do it. Thanks for stopping by and talkin' baseball. I'll be doing the same thing again next week. You stay classy!