It’s the last full week of the regular season, so here’s some middle infield and pitching help for those of you needing to make up some ground in your leagues (or pad your lead, either works)…
Mike Aviles | 2B, 3B, SS | Red Sox | Ownership: 20% Yahoo!, 15% ESPN
Kevin Youkilis is dealing with some serious injury issues at the moment, and even though he tried to play through them at one point last week, he was on the shelf over the weekend. Aviles stepped in at the hot corner and had a huge series against the Rays, going 6-for-13 with two doubles and two homers. The Red Sox have seven games left against the Orioles, and frankly their pitching staff pretty much stinks. Barring an unexpected return by Youkilis, Aviles will get playing time against bad pitchers in hitters’ parks this week. Might be able to steal some counting stats, stolen bases included.
Chien-Ming Wang | SP | Nationals | Ownership: 3% Yahoo!, 0.4% ESPN
It’s been a long road back for Wang, who has made ten starts this year after missing the majority of the last three seasons due to injury. He was understandably shaky at first, but he’s pitched must better of late, as Mark Zuckerman explains…
Most telling evidence of Wang’s progress? First 7 starts: 13 BB, 9 K. Last 3 starts: 0 BB, 12 K.
Wang will forever rely on his sinker and getting ground balls, but it’s nice to see some improvement in the stuff he controls outright. He’s one of the few pitchers with two starts left, scheduled to go Friday against the Braves, then next Wednesday against the Marlins in the final game of the season.
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