MLB Barometer: Weeks' Week

Stock Up:

Dee Gordon, SS, LAD - With the soap opera that has been the Dodgers this season, Gordon has been one of the few bright spots. Dodger fans should probably be thankful they didn't ship Gordon out a la Trayvon Robinson as they probably have a fixture at shortstop for years to come. After missing time with a shoulder injury, Gordon has been unstoppable since coming back on Sept. 1. Since then he's batted .415 with six stolen bases over a total over nine games. The 5:0 K:BB ratio over that time is a tad worrisome but he's a good source of steals for the stretch run.

Matt Angle, OF, BAL - Here's a guy to look at for those in deep leagues in need of steals. Angle offers little to fantasy owners outside of his speed, as evidenced by an OPS of less than .700 and only five home runs over 774 at-bats at Triple-A Norwich. However, over that time Angle has gone 51-for-58 (87.9%) in the stolen base department. With the Orioles playing for nothing (although Buck Showalter would likely say otherwise), Angle has picked up some playing time over the last week. While he didn't play every day, he's been on base enough to steal five bags over the last week. Again, this is someone you should roll the dice with in deeper leagues if you think you can make up some points with extra stolen bases.

Rickie Weeks, 2B, MIL - Weeks is finally returning to the lineup Sunday after missing six weeks with a sprained ankle. All reports were glowing about Weeks and his effort in rehabbing the injury, so there's no reason to not get him back into your lineup immediately.

Jordan Pacheco, 3B, COL - Pacheco, known by trade as a catcher, is going to be given an audition at third base for the Rockies from here on out. The opportunity alone makes him someone to consider in NL-only formats, especially considering he's likely eligible at catcher, despite only playing third base this season for the Rockies. Pacheco wasn't overly impressive at Triple-A Colorado Springs, sporting a .278 batting average with only three home runs over 363 at-bats. Getting the bulk of at-bats for the Rockies will boost his ownership in the majority of fantasy leagues.

Jason Bay, OF, NYM - It would have been crazy talk a few years ago to predict Bay would be on the majority of waiver wires at this point. A streaky hitter, Bay is in the middle of a nine-game hitting streak in which he's hit three home runs and driven in 12 runs. While this streak could come to a screeching halt at any point, he's worth a look if you need some power stats for the final two and a half weeks.

Salvador Perez, C, KC - I've kept an eye on Perez since he was called up at the beginning of August. He immediately got the lion's share of starts behind the plate for the Royals with Brayan Pena being relegated to backup duty. The 21-year-old has more than held his own at the plate, hitting .279 in August and improving to .333 in September. Manager Ned Yost has already stated he could see Perez catching 130 games next season so he's definitely someone to remember if you're looking for a sleeper at catcher during next year's drafts, especially in keeper leagues.

Luke Hochevar, P, KC - Sticking with the Royals, Hochevar has heated up at just the right time for fantasy owners. When looking at his recent work, his three-game stretch with two wins, a 3.323 ERA, a 1.0615 WHIP and a 24:6 K:BB ratio over 21.2 innings is impressive. Digging a little deeper, he's had success dating back to the end of July. Since July 28, at Boston, Hochevar owns a 3.54 ERA and a 59:16 K:BB (almost a K/9) ratio over his last nine starts (61 innings). Keep in mind that the pedigree is there with Hochevar, who was the first overall pick back in 2006.

Check Status:

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY - A-Rod continues to deal with a thumb injury which will sideline him for the next three to four days. This season has been a disappointment for his owners, who expected much more than 15 home runs, 56 RBI and four stolen bases. With the playoffs looming, look for the Yankees to err on the side of caution with their third baseman. Quick question - if you were drafting right now for next season, would you rather have Rodriguez or Brett Lawrie?

Michael Cuddyer, OF, MIN - Cuddyer has been battling a couple of different ailments including a neck and wrist injury. He's hoping to return to the lineup on Tuesday but is mired in a 5-for-41 (.122) slump with a 12:1 K:BB ratio over his last 10 games. There are likely better options to start for the upcoming scoring period until Cuddyer shows he's returned to his mid-season form.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI - Rollins will continue to be limited to pinch-hitting duties for the near future while he recovers from a groin injury. Expect the Phillies to ease him back into the lineup as they prepare for a run to the World Series. At this point his owners might want to look at the aforementioned Dee Gordon to replace him in their lineups.

Downgrades:

Jake Peavy, P, CHI - The White Sox have decided to shut down Peavy for the remainder of the season, given they're clearly out of contention. Peavy turned in a season of mixed stats; the 4.92 ERA doesn't really match the 1.263 WHIP and 7.66 K/9 rate. He also struggled after some initial success as shown by a 3.24 ERA in May but never posting an ERA under 5.12 in any of the three months after that. He'll be one of the tougher players to rank next year given his injury history and will likely be an end-game flier for those who are willing to gamble on him.

Carlos Quentin, OF, CHI - Peavy's teammate Carlos Quentin is also a candidate to get shut down due to his shoulder injury. Quentin was on a pace to establish a career-high for at-bats and approach 30 home runs before going down with the injury. If he gets shut down, that will give Quentin an average of only 116 games played over the last three seasons. Keep that in mind when you consider drafting him for next season and feel free to drop him immediately if you need a roster spot right now.

Kyle Farnsworth, P, TB - Farnsworth has been dealing with a troublesome elbow which is probably to blame for his last two blown saves. After a solid season, he's given up three home runs in his last two outings and will be given the next few days off to help his elbow heal. In the meantime, Joel Peralta will likely handle closing duties while the Rays make an improbable run at the Wild Card.