Outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp have been platooning in right field killing any potential fantasy value for the two young potential stars

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Notes: Luis Gonzalez is off to a surprisingly fast start this season. Through seven games, the 39-year-old is batting .308 with two home runs and four RBI. Outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have been platooning in right field so far and that figures to continue for the time being. The potential is there for it to be a pretty productive platoon, but so far Kemp is the one thriving in the situation (.429-0-3 in 14 at-bats).

Injuries: Rafael Furcal (ankle) will begin a two-game rehab assignment at Single-A Inland Empire on Tuesday and is expected to rejoin the Dodgers Friday. Matt Kemp is day-to-day with a bruised right shoulder after crashing into the wall attempting to make a catch in Monday’s game. Starting pitcher Jason Schmidt left Monday’s game in the fifth inning with right hamstring tightness and is considered day-to-day.

Player to watch: Third baseman Wilson Betemit really needs to step up his play or he could be at risk of losing his job. He has been relegated to a platoon role so far and even that has not gotten him going. Through six games Betemit is hitting a meager .067 with no homers and just two RBI. Top prospect Andy LaRoche looms at Triple-A if Betemit cannot kick things up a notch in the next few weeks. LaRoche, incidentally, is off to a slow start as well or Betemit might really be feeling the heat.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Notes: We all wondered how the outfield situation in Milwaukee was going to shake out. The idea that Geoff Jenkins and Kevin Mench were going to platoon all season seemed a bit far-fetched, didn’t it? Well, they have sort of platooned so far this season, but it has been far from a strict platoon. So far manager Ned Yost has chosen to split the playing time fairly evenly between Jenkins, Mench, Bill Hall, and Corey Hart. That being said, Hart seems to be the one on the verge of getting squeezed out of the mix as he is off to a very disappointing start, hitting just .176 with one homer, two RBI, two runs, and a stolen base in 17 at-bats. The fact that Hart has even taken a seat to Mench against right-handed pitching on two occasions would certainly appear to be a bad sign in terms of Hart’s fantasy value moving forward.

Injuries: The Brewers are relatively healthy at this point.

Player to watch: Jenkins is absolutely on fire right now, hitting .350 with three home runs and eight RBI in 20 at-bats, and could be on the verge of getting some starts against lefthanders soon. Mixed leaguers should monitor the situation very closely over the next several days and consider possibly picking him up.

NEW YORK METS

Perez was effecient in his first start concentrating on slotting his pitches instead of strike outs creating a high pitch count.

Notes: Oliver Perez pitched very well against the Braves Friday night, holding the Braves to five hits and one earned run while striking out six and walking none in seven innings, and was probably picked up in quite a few leagues afterwards. We still urge extreme caution with Perez as he has teased us all plenty of times over the past few years. It will be interesting to see how he does against the Phillies. If he has another strong outing, it might be worth taking a flier on Perez in mixed leagues, but even then, expectations should be kept low.

Injuries: Duaner Sanchez will have surgery today to insert a screw into the hairline fracture in his shoulder. The procedure will stabilize the fracture in the front of his shoulder and keep him out of action for about four months.

Player to watch: Outfielder Lastings Milledge is currently pictured on a milk carton near you. The 22-year-old top prospect has appeared in just two games and has received just two at-bats through seven games. It makes you wonder why the Mets are even keeping him on the roster if they are not going to let him play more than they have thus far.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Notes: Pitchers Zach Segovia and Joe Bisenius were both optioned to Triple-A Ottawa on Sunday. The moves make room for Jon Lieber (strained oblique), who was activated from the disabled list, and newly acquired pitcher Francisco Rosario. The Phillies acquired Rosario from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash. Both Lieber and Rosario will pitch in middle relief.

Injuries: Freddy Garcia (biceps) threw a bullpen session on Saturday and will make a rehab start for Single-A Clearwater on Tuesday. If all goes well, he is expected to take the mound for Phillies in Houston on Sunday.

Player to watch: Outfielder Shane Victorino is expected to run more this season and has the potential to swipe 25-30 bases while batting .280-.285 and slugging 10-12 home runs. As such, he bears watching in mixed leagues.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Notes: Ian Snell has pitched very well in two starts this season – in his 13 innings, he has allowed just ten hits, two walks, and three earned runs while striking out 14 – be he has just an 0-1 record to show for it. That’s the life of

Gorzelanny was easily the Pirates best pitcher in the second half of '06

pitching on a poor team, unfortunately. Still, it is certainly a positive for the Pirates organization to see the 25-year-old pitching like this to kickoff the season. If he is still available in your mixed league, go ahead and pick him up.

Injuries: John Grabow (elbow) has yet to pitch in an extended spring training game and is at least three weeks away from returning. He has been on the disabled list since March 23.

Player to watch: Starter Tom Gorzelanny has been hampered by elbow
problems at times over the past couple of years, but he is a very good pitching prospect. He had a solid 2007 debut at Houston – five innings, allowing seven hits, a walk, and two earned runs, while striking out four – and he is scheduled to face the Cardinals on Tuesday. If he pitches well again, mixed leaguers may want to consider rolling the dice and picking him up.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Notes: Kip Wells has resembled the 2003 version of himself so far this season. Through two starts, the 29-year-old is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 14K/5BB and a .143 batting average against in 13 innings. It is impossible to know how much longer he can continue to pitch anywhere near this level considering he has pretty much stunk up the joint since 2003, but fantasy owners and Cardinals fans should enjoy it while it lasts. With today’s late breaking news on the ace of the Cardinals staff (more on that just below), they are going to need many more strong performances from Wells.

Injuries: Chris Carpenter was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 2^nd, with arthritis and an impingement in his right elbow. The Cardinals plan to re-evaluate Carpenter in 10-14 days and decide where to go from there. On a positive note, the MRI found no ligament damage. Utility journeyman Scott Spiezio (food poisoning) is day-to-day.

Player to watch: Anthony Reyes was a guy we liked as a sleeper in mixed leagues this season. He followed a fantastic spring with a solid 2007 debut at Houston on Saturday, and he is a pitcher who should be monitored closely in mixed leagues going forward. He is scheduled to face the Brewers on Friday.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Notes: Chris Young has reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with a club option for a fifth year that would keep him with the Padres through 2011. According to reports, the deal will be announced Tuesday. Check back with us throughout the day Tuesday for details as they become available. Clay Hensley has been bothered by a blister on his right middle finger, but he is expected to start Tuesday’s game against the Giants.

Injuries: Scott Cassidy (knee), on the disabled list since March 23^rd, had arthroscopic surgery on his knee on April 5^th and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.

Player to watch: Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff is off to a slow start, but he is too talented to continue to play this poorly. This is a guy who hit .379-22-75 with five stolen bases in 94 minor league games split between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Buffalo in 2006.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Notes: Barry Zito pitched well in his Giants premiere, but struggled mightily in second start. Zito allowed nine hits and eight earned runs in six innings Sunday against the Dodgers. He has historically struggled in the early going throughout his career, however, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.40 WHIP lifetime in the month of April.

Injuries: Mark Sweeney (bruised right foot), on the disabled list since March 29^th, will begin a rehab assignment at extended spring training Tuesday. He is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on Friday, but it remains to be seen whether or not Sweeney will return at that time.

Player to watch: Russ Ortiz will need to pitch much better than he did in his first start if he wants to hang on to his current job. Tim Lincecum, the team’s top prospect, is waiting in the wings at Triple-A Fresno. The 22-year-old Lincecum pitched very well in his 2007 debut and could be promoted to the majors by June.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Notes: Jay Bergmann swapped places with Jerome Williams in the starting rotation after Williams’ woeful performance on April 5^th, where he allowed five hits, six walks, and four earned runs and he could not even get out of the fourth inning, leaving with just two out. The aforementioned starting rotation has been a mess for the Nationals to this point.

Injuries: Outfielder Nook Logan (hyperextended left foot) was placed on the disabled list April 3^rd along with shortstop Cristian Guzman (hamstring strain). OF Alex Escobar (shoulder), placed on the disabled list on March 28, has been shut down and prohibited from throwing. There is currently no timetable for his return. Reliever Luis Ayala (offseason elbow surgery) was shut down recently due to a neck problem.

Player to watch: John Patterson has not pitched very well in his first two starts this season (0-2, 9.35 ERA, 2.08 WHIP and 4K/7BB in 8.2 IP), but he should continue to progress. Keep in mind the ability he showed last season prior to injury and the subsequent offseason forearm surgery. Watch Patterson closely over his next few starts and be prepared to add him to your roster as soon as it seems like he is getting it together. Chances are he is floating around in the free agent pool in your mixed league.