Daily Leaders 5/18/11

Bats

1.  Cody Ross, SF; 2 for 3, HR, 3 RBI, BB, R, SB:  Ross' contributions to the Giants run last year cannot be overlooked, but that doesn't mean he's a regular fantasy contributor.  In deeper leagues, his eligibility makes him valuable, so keep him in mind for your second half push in all formats.

2.  Hanley Ramirez, FLA;  2 for 5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB:  Yes, that's Hanley Ramirez, shortstop for the Marlins.  That guy that was going in the first two picks.  I swear.

3.  Corey Hart, MIL; 3 for 5, 3B, R, SB:  With no home runs and only one RBI since coming off the DL, Hart owners (like myself) are getting antsy.  On the bright side, he goes into tonight's game with a nine game hitting streak.

4.  Endy Chavez, TEX; 2 for 3, 2 BB, 2 R, SB;  Since moving into the leadoff spot after his call up, the Little Endy That Could has played like a man possessed.  Grab the steals now, if you can.  Hamilton and Cruz are coming back and the Rangers OF shuffle will soon end.

5.  Pedro Alvarez, PIT;  1 for 3, HR, 3 RBI, R:  Plenty of people had this guy penciled in for upwards of 40 home runs.  I played against him in high school and knew he had holes in his swing, but then again, I'm a baseball genius.


Arms

1.  ^Jake Peavy, CWS; CG, 3 H, 8 K, W:  Glory, glory hallelujiah.  Peavy hasn't walked a man in his two starts this year, and his velocity was reminiscent of 2007 at a few times last night.  For those who hung with him through April, congrats.

2.  Charlie Morton, PIT; CG, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K, W:  Morton improved to 5-1 on the year last night with a complete game shutout in Cincy.  When you combine his good control with the fact that he pitches in the NL Central, if the Bucs can give him run support he might be a nice steal off the waiver wire.

3.  Cole Hamels, PHI;  8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, BB, 8 K, W:  All the reports out of Clearwater during spring training this year had Hamels looking like the most impressive of the Phils' Big-4.  Personally, he sounds like a whiner to me, but a whiner with a filthy change up will always have a spot on my team.

4.  Jonathon Niese, NYM;  7 IP, 6 H, BB, 7 K, W:  The Mets pushed Niese back a night after postponning a game while it wasn't raining Tuesday.  In a torrential downpour, they sent him to the mound Wednesday.  The Nationals must have been swinging umbrellas at the plate because they couldn't touch him.

5.  Bartolo Colon, NYY;  8 IP, 3 H, BB, 7 K:  In the four years since Girardi has taken over the reins, only one Yankees pitcher has gone nine innings for a complete game win.  When you have Mariano Rivera looming it's an easy decision to make, but with just 87 pitches when he came out, perhaps Colon would have closed the door himself before the 15th inning.