Elijah Dukes is beginning to live up to the promise of his considerable potential.

Mixed League Options

Adam Jones, OF, BAL- Jones has returned from injuries to try to finish off his first full season on a good note. A five-tool stud, Jones has 20-20 potential or perhaps even more down the road, and has shown definite signs of being close to his potential. Though he just turned 23, Jones has already spent parts of three seasons in MLB, and that experience should help him come next season. This year, the outfielder who came over in the off-season Bedard trade has a .275 batting average, ahead of what many expected with him, as well as putting up close to double digit homers and steals. Down the stretch he could get hot and provide help for your team in both of those categories. Jones is a name that should be permanently transfixed on your radar, as he could double his power and speed numbers next season. If he can work on his plate discipline, the sky is the limit for the toolsy outfielder.

Elijah Dukes, OF, WAS- Dukes is in the same boat as Adam Jones and teammate Lastings Milledge as human toolsheds who just need to put it all together on the diamond. Dukes has perhaps looked the best of the three this year, despite missing a lot of time with injuries. Obviously, Dukes carries some emotional baggage, as well as injury concerns, but if you project out what he’s done over a full season’s worth of at bats, Dukes is knocking on the door of 25-25. That is scary considering he is 24 and playing his first full year of Major League Baseball. He has also shown outstanding plate discipline, a bonus that also puts him ahead of Milledge and Jones. Dukes has homered three times in his last four games, and when he is playing is among the best outfielders in the game. It may sound like I am exaggerating, but I’m not, this kid is that good. Dukes has crazy ability and if he can stay out of trouble and out of the training room he should be owned in every fantasy league.

Max Scherzer, SP, ARI- With the recent announcement that Scherzer would take over Yusmeiro Petit’s rotation spot, suddenly the hotshot should be owned in every league again. The 24-year old Missouri product has an electric arm with a mid to upper 90’s fastball and showed it off in his last start, an 11 K performance in just 5 innings against the Dodgers that earned him his starting role. His command has made huge leaps this season and as a result he is as good as any young pitcher in baseball right now. Remember how big the clamoring there was to own Scherzer earlier this season? Well here comes the second installment, and you had best pickup Scherzer for the last few weeks of the season before somebody else does. He should win games and strikeout batters in bundles, and is definitely the best SP option out there right now.

NL Only Options

Nate Schierholtz, OF, SFG- In all likelihood, Schierholtz could have contributed all year for the season after a great year in Triple A last season. Instead, the Giants chose to send the 24-year-old back to Fresno, where he put together an even better year, hitting .320 with 18 HRs and 9 SBs. He should start down the stretch in the outfield for the Giants, and his potential is in the average department for this season, obviously with 20 HR power to come in the future. As for the steals, Schierholtz is a big boy whose steals in the minors were a result of his athleticism, so he will probably not be much of a steals producer for your team or in the future. He isn’t a franchise hitter, but is a solid regular who will have value in NL only leagues down the stretch this season and in seasons to come.

Shairon Matis, SP, WAS- With Jason Bergmann on his way to the bullpen, Matis will get a full time crack at starting with a full time spot in the rotation down the stretch. The rookie impressed in his major league debut, allowing just 2 ER in 5 innings, a solid start to be sure. He is just 21 years old, and his 5 walks compared to just 2 strikeouts certainly do not bode well for him. His ERA was around 4 in the minors this season, and that is probably his upside in the majors too. He has plenty of growing to do still, and this is definitely not someone you can rely on a lot down the stretch, but is a warm body getting starts, often a very valuable thing in the last few weeks of the season, especially in deep NL only leagues. That alone makes him worth a look for your team.

James Parr, SP, ATL- Atlanta seems to be able to pull good pitchers out of nowhere (see Jorge Campillo). James Parr is a 22-year-old prospect that finds himself in the starting rotation for the Braves after stringing together a very good minor league season in which he won 13 games in the high minors. So far, so good, as Parr has yet to allow a run through 12 big league innings, although he has only 1 win to show for it. Parr does not have overpowering stuff and is more of a command and control pitcher, but whatever he’s throwing has worked so far. He doesn’t strike out an overwhelming amount of hitters, but doesn’t hurt himself with walks either, contributing to a low WHIP total. Parr is a 4^th or 5^th starter at best in the future, a guy in the same mold as Chuck James, but worth a pickup for fantasy owners in NL only leagues while he can’t be touched. Ride out the hot streak down the stretch, and hope for some more wins to come.

AL Only Options

Fernando Perez, OF, TB- Perez, a very intelligent ballplayer and a Columbia graduate, has been getting some at bats in the Tampa lineup down the stretch. The 25-year-old is a pretty useful ballplayer, a guy who can get on base and run like the wind. His batting averages have been good throughout his career, although that may not carry into the majors. He will however, continue to walk and continue to steal bases, as he’s stolen 43 this year in the minors, and 2 already in the majors. Throughout the minors, Perez ran often, though not always successfully, and his blazing speed makes him interesting in fantasy leagues. He won’t play everyday, and in the long run is probably a 4^th outfielder type, but for now he is worth a pickup in AL only leagues for his high SB potential.

Alfredo Aceves, SP, NYY- Aceves turned heads this week by shutting down a powerful Angels lineup, giving up just 1 run over 7 innings for the win. At 25, he is no Joba Chamberlain, but has found his way into the majors with steady success in the Mexican leagues and by winning at every stop he made in the minors. He has put up pretty good strikeout numbers this season, but with just 2 Ks in his first win, he doesn’t appear to be fooling as many big leaguers. Aceves is the kind of out of nowhere starter the Yankees seem to be depending on way too much lately, and is one that you should not be relying on very much either. However, any pitcher who starts in front of the Yankees lineup should be looked at very hard by owners in AL only leagues looking for starts down the stretch, especially those trying to gain a bunch of wins very quickly.

Brandon Wood, SS/3B, LAA- Once a can’t miss prospect, Wood somewhat faded from the spotlight following disappointing seasons in 2006 and 2007, but is still a legitimate hitter, who will definitely be a big league regular and perhaps an all-star before all is said and done. Wood hit 31 Triple  A home runs this season before his promotion, and the Angels seem to be giving him a shortstop audition down the stretch with the playoffs already clinched. Fantasy owners should pray that Wood can find a way to remain at shortstop, as his 30 HR power there would put him in the top tier at that position. He even has some speed, and has stolen 20 bags a year in the minors before, although he has run less frequently recently. The great part about Wood is that he is jus 23, and offers a lot of potential over the next 5 years. Recently, he has been smacking balls out of ballparks left and right, and certainly deserves to start at SS over many AL only options. Keep an eye out in mixed leagues too, as Wood’s bat is for real.