dle in practice. "If Troy was out of the game, I was playing strong safety. If Ryan Clark was out of the game, I was playing free safety. Thats just been my whole approach. W

Fantasy Forecaster updated Sunday, Sept. 4, at 10:19 p.m. ET.On tap: A pair of aces should rejoin their respective division-leading teams during Week 22: Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals. Kershaw is on track for a Sept. 9 return, setting up an electric pitchers duel versus?Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez at Marlins Park. Strasburg, meanwhile, is a candidate to return on Sept. 7.The Boston Red Soxs Drew Pomeranz returns to San Diegos Petco Park to face his former team, the San Diego Padres, on Sept. 5. Pomeranz, incidentally, has four wins, five quality starts, a 2.64 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in eight starts at Petco this year.Just days after rumors swirled that the Los Angeles Dodgers were considering making a run at reacquiring Zack Greinke, now the Arizona Diamondbacks ace, Greinke heads to Dodger Stadium to face his former mates on Sept. 5. Itll be his first start there since he signed his six-year, $206.5 million deal with the Diamondbacks in December 2015, and keep in mind that among pitchers with at least 15 career starts there, Greinkes career 2.00 ERA and 0.93 WHIP at Dodger Stadium are second-best in history behind only Sandy Koufax (1.37 and 0.82).The wild-card races have some key series matchups during Week 22. The Baltimore Orioles visit the Detroit Tigers?from Sept. 9-11;?these teams are tied for the American Leagues second wild-card spot entering play on Sept. 5. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals visit the Pittsburgh Pirates?from Sept. 5-7; the Cardinals?lead by the Pirates by 3.5 games for the National Leagues second wild-card spot.Among the weeks schedule oddities: All 30 teams play on Labor Day (Monday), and a whopping 21 teams will play in a different city Sunday. Of those 21, 11 play day games that begin no later than 24 hours after the start times of their Sept. 4 contests. Its a potentially tiring travel schedule that explains why 16 teams have Thursday off. Unsurprisingly, seven of those aforementioned 11 teams that play in 24 hours or less on Sunday-Monday are off Thursday.The Nationals and New York Mets have it especially rough, playing the Sunday Night Baseball game, with the Nationals then returning home for a game roughly 20 hours later and playing all seven days in Week 22, while the Mets hit the road to battle the Cincinnati Reds roughly 17 hours later. The Mets, unlike the Nationals, do have Thursday off.Quickly jump to any section, if you want specific intelESPN lineup deadlinesInterleague impactProjected starting pitchersPitching scuttlebuttWeek 22 pitcher rankingsHitting ratingsHitting advantagesESPN leagues: Lineup deadlinesThe Labor Day holiday causes an early start to Week 22, as the first game starts at 1 p.m. ET: Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers on ESPN/WatchESPN. Its the first game of an ESPN doubleheader; Cardinals at Pirates begins at 4 p.m. ET. Make sure to set your lineups early before heading out for your holiday activities.Remember that game times have tremendous influence upon daily planning, so be aware of every days first scheduled pitch. This week, they are:Monday, Sept. 5 -- 1 p.m. ET (Cubs at Brewers, one of 13 day games) Tuesday, Sept. 6 -- 7 p.m. ET (Houston Astros at Cleveland Indians) Wednesday, Sept. 7 -- 12:35 p.m. ET (New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds, one of four day games) Thursday, Sept. 8 -- 12:10 p.m. ET (Astros at Indians, the days only day game) Friday, Sept. 9 -- 7:05 p.m. ET (three games begin at that time) Saturday, Sept. 10 -- 1:05 p.m. ET (Cubs at Astros, one of four day games) Sunday, Sept. 11 -- 1:05 p.m. ET (Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees, one of 14 day games)Interleague impactThis weeks interleague series:Boston Red Sox at San Diego Padres (3 games, Sept. 5-7)Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros (3 games, Sept. 9-11)Red Soxs traditional DH, 3 games in NL ballparks: David Ortiz, who will be making the final trip of his career to a National League ballpark. He has made only one start at first base this season, on Aug. 6 at Los Angeles, out of five interleague games at NL parks that were against a right-handed starter, and manager John Farrell said on Sept. 4 that Ortiz will not start there in San Diego and instead will serve as a pinch hitter. The lost at-bats could make Ortiz someone to sit in ESPN standard leagues, but three starts plus pinch-hitting at-bats is enough to make him relevant in any deeper format.Cubs probable DH(s), 3 games in AL ballparks: Jorge Soler served as the DH in all three games at Oakland Aug. 5-7, freeing up catcher/second base/third base/corner outfielder at-bats for other players on this Cubs roster that has a lot of flexibility. Thanks to his .302/.366/.603 triple-slash rates in 22 games since his return from the DL, Soler will likely do the same in all three games at Houston, granting the mix of Javier Baez, Miguel Montero and Chris Coghlan the greatest odds of picking up an additional start (or three) apiece, in that order of likelihood. Baezs benefit is the most fantasy-relevant, though Montero could warrant No. 2 catcher consideration.Projected starting pitchersThe chart below lists each of the 30 MLB teams schedules and projected starting pitchers, and provides a projected Bill James game score for each days starter.Projected starting pitchers, Sept. 5-11 P: The starting pitchers projected Bill James game score, accounting for past history (three years worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. A 50 is typically deemed a quality start by this measure, while a 70 is considered a dominant start.Pitching scuttlebuttBaltimore Orioles: Chris Tillman (DL: shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Sept. 4 and will throw another one on Sept. 7. If all goes well, hell rejoin the Orioles rotation on Sept. 11, replacing Ubaldo Jimenez.Boston Red Sox: With Steven Wright (shoulder) having been scratched from his scheduled Sept. 6 start, Clay Buchholz will get a start in Wrights place.New York Yankees: With Chad Green (DL: elbow) sidelined, the Yankees will need a fill-in starter on Sept. 7. The team could either recall Bryan Mitchell from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or go with a bullpen game on that day.Tampa Bay Rays: With Alex Cobb back, the Rays will apparently stick with a six-man rotation through at least Week 22.Toronto Blue Jays: Francisco Liriano, who is currently pitching out of the bullpen, is expected to get additional starts this season, though as of Sept. 4, he was not scheduled to make any starts during Week 22.Chicago White Sox: Miguel Gonzalez (DL: groin) made a rehabilitation start for Triple-A Charlotte on Sept. 1 and will rejoin the White Soxs rotation on Sept. 6. Hell likely replace Anthony Ranaudo, pushing Jose Quintana, James Shields and Carlos Rodon back by one spot apiece.Cleveland Indians: Mike Clevinger will make a spot start on Sept. 5 in order to provide Josh Tomlin a breather. The Indians have suggested that this isnt a permanent switch; Tomlin will be available out of the bullpen on Sept. 5 and could return to his usual spot when it next arrives on Sept. 10.Detroit Tigers: Matt Boyd, who was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Aug. 30, will be recalled to start on Sept. 6, the day after Toledos season ends. Jordan Zimmermann (DL: lat) will make his final rehabilitation start on Sept 5 for Toledo, then rejoin the Tigers rotation on Sept. 10. Thats Daniel Norris spot, so it is unclear whether the team will move to a six-man rotation; Justin Verlander would lose his second start in the latter event.Minnesota Twins: Jose Berrios will be promoted from Triple-A Rochester to start on Sept. 5, replacing Pat Dean, who will be moved to the bullpen.Houston Astros: Dallas Keuchel (arm) had his next start pushed back to Sept. 6 in order to provide him with additional rest.Oakland Athletics: Sean Manaea (back) and Andrew Triggs (back) are dealing with injuries and Jesse Hahn (shoulder) has been optioned to Triple-A Nashville, leaving the Athletics rotation thin on Week 22 options. Raul Alcantara will get a Sept. 5 start and Jharel Cotton will start on Sept. 7.Los Angeles Angels: Matt Shoemaker, who was forced from his Sept. 4 start after being hit in the head by a line drive, is questionable for his next turn on Sept. 10. Meanwhile, Alex Meyer will replace Brett Oberholtzer in the Angels rotation beginning on Sept. 7. Oberholtzer could be a candidate to fill in if Shoemaker is unable to pitch.Seattle Mariners: James Paxton (fingernail) had his next start pushed back to Sept. 6 in order to provide him an additional days rest.Texas Rangers: Colby Lewis (DL: shoulder) will make one more minor league rehabilitation start on Sept. 5, lining him up to possibly rejoin the Rangers rotation on Sept. 10 or 11. The team probably will go with a six-man rotation for Week 22.Atlanta Braves: Ryan Weber will make a spot start Sept. 5 in place of Matt Wisler (side), and Williams Perez (shoulder) will join the Braves rotation on Sept. 6. Joel De La Cruz, who was scheduled to be shut down for the year in the near future, appears to be the one bumped to clear room for Perez, but he, Weber or Tyrell Jenkins could be a candidate to pitch on Sept. 11 should Wisler not be ready the next time his turn in the rotation arrives.New York Mets: Rafael Montero will make a spot start on Sept. 6 in place of Jacob deGrom (elbow).Philadelphia Phillies: With Vince Velasquez shut down for the season after he reached his innings limit, Alec Asher appears the most likely candidate to fill in the next time Velasquezs spot in the rotation arrives, on Sept. 8.Washington Nationals: Though the Nationals havent announced it yet, Strasburg (DL: elbow) is expected to rejoin their rotation without needing a rehabilitation start, so he seems a likely candidate to return on Sept. 7. In the event Strasburg suffers a setback, the team could either give Reynaldo Lopez, who made a spot start on Sept. 4 to give the rest of the rotation an additional days rest, another turn on Sept. 9, give Lucas Giolito a spot start or push Strasburg back as far as Sept. 9.Chicago Cubs: John Lackey (shoulder) rejoined the Cubs rotation on Sept. 4, and with the teams announcement that Mike Montgomery will also start on Sept. 6, it appears that the team will go with a six-man rotation for Week 22.Cincinnati Reds: Robert Stephenson will start on Sept. 5, filling in for the injured Homer Bailey (biceps). It is unclear whether Bailey will be ready to rejoin the Reds during Week 22.Milwaukee Brewers: With Junior Guerra back, the Brewers are expected to go with a six-man rotation through at least Week 22.Pittsburgh Pirates: Gerrit Cole (DL: elbow) is expected to return on Sept. 12, Monday of Week 23, so Steven Brault appears likely to get another start on Sept. 9.St. Louis Cardinals: Mike Leake (DL: shingles), who is eligible to return as of Sept. 6, threw a 40-pitch bullpen session on Sept. 4 and is expected to start on either Sept. 6 or 7 if all goes well. In the event of a setback, Alex Reyes would get another start in his place.Colorado Rockies: With Tyler Chatwood back, the Rockies will apparently move to a six-man rotation through Week 22.Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (DL: back) threw 34 pitches during a rehabilitation start for Class A Rancho Cucamonga and 15 in the bullpen afterward on Sept. 3, and he will rejoin the Dodgers rotation on Sept. 9. Brock Stewart, meanwhile, will be recalled to start on Sept. 7 in place of Julio Urias. Though the team hasnt yet announced its Sept. 10-11 starters, it appears that the team will use the five-man rotation projected above. Jose De Leon and Brandon McCarthy (DL: hip), who will make a rehabilitation assignment with Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 5, could also pitch on one of those two days.Tristans Week 22 pitcher rankings1. Max Scherzer (WSH) -- Mon-ATL (Weber), Sat-PHI (Eickhoff)2. Jose Fernandez (MIA) -- Fri-LAD (Kershaw)3. Corey Kluber (CLE) -- Tue-HOU (Keuchel), Sun-@MIN (Berrios)4. David Price (BOS) -- Wed-@SD (Cosart)5. Chris Sale (CWS) -- Mon-DET (Verlander), Sun-KC (Kennedy)6. Drew Pomeranz (BOS) -- Mon-@SD (Jackson), Sun-@TOR (Dickey)7. Carlos Carrasco (CLE) -- Wed-HOU (Fister)8. Jake Arrieta (CHC) -- Sat-@HOU (Fiers)9. Kenta Maeda (LAD) -- Mon-ARI (Greinke), Sun-@MIA (Esch)10. Jon Gray (COL) -- Sat-@SD (Friedrich): He has been immensely frustrating to own, but he paces the Rockies starters in strikeout rate and will start at Petco against a Padres team that has a major league-high 25.6 percent strikeout rate since the All-Star break.11. Noah Syndergaard (NYM) -- Wed-@CIN (DeSclafani)12. Clayton Kershaw (LAD) -- Fri-@MIA (Fernandez): Im concerned about a pitch count -- he threw only 49 pitches between the game and a bullpen session afterward on Sept. 4 -- hence the modest projection. If he had entered this game fully healthy, without any sort of workload limitation, Kershaws game score projection wouldve been 77, and hed top the rankings.13. Felix Hernandez (SEA) -- Mon-TEX (Hamels), Sat-@OAK (Graveman)14. Cole Hamels (TEX) -- Mon-@SEA (Hernandez), Sun-@LAA (Weaver)15. Carlos Martinez (STL) -- Fri-MIL (Nelson)16. Jon Lester (CHC) -- Fri-@HOU (McHugh)17. Justin Verlander (DET) -- Mon-@CWS (Sale), Sun-BAL (Tillman)18. Madison Bumgarner (SF) -- Fri-@ARI (Shipley)19. Danny Salazar (CLE) -- Fri-@MIN (Santiago)20. Chris Archer (TB) -- Sat-@NYY (Tanaka)21. Kyle Hendricks (CHC) -- Mon-@MIL (Davies)22. Yu Darvish (TEX) -- Fri-@LAA (Skaggs)23. Drew Smyly (TB) -- Wed-BAL (Bundy)24. Rich Hill (LAD) -- Sat-@MIA (Koehler): Hills blister issues made him a constant risk to exit starts early, so its difficult to rank him more generously than this even facing this favorable matchup.25. Tanner Roark (WSH) -- Fri-PHI (Thompson)26. Zack Greinke (ARI) -- Mon-@LAD (Maeda), Sun-SF (Moore)27. Masahiro Tanaka (NYY) -- Mon-TOR (Dickey), Sat-TB (Archer)28. Robbie Ray (ARI) -- Wed-@LAD (Stewart)29. A.J. Cole (WSH) -- Thu-PHI (Asher)30. Gio Gonzalez (WSH) -- Tue-ATL (Perez), Sun-PHI (Morgan)31. Danny Duffy (KC) -- Wed-@MIN (Gibson)32. Luke Weaver (STL) -- Tue-@PIT (Vogelsong), Sun-MIL (Davies): Hes quite the Week 22 sleeper, coming off back-to-back quality starts and now facing Pirates and Brewers teams that have been below-average against right-handers during the second half.33. Michael Pineda (NYY) -- Fri-TB (Snell)34. Jaime Garcia (STL) -- Thu-MIL (Guerra)35. Jameson Taillon (PIT) -- Wed-STL (Leake)36. Stephen Strasburg (WSH) -- Wed-ATL (Foltynewicz): Like Kershaw, Strasburg could face a pitch count in his first start back. The no limit projection would be 61, and hed rank 16th overall on this list.37. Jason Hammel (CHC) -- Tue-@MIL (Peralta)38. Dallas Keuchel (HOU) -- Tue-@CLE (Kluber), Sun-CHC (Lackey)39. Adam Wainwright (STL) -- Mon-@PIT (Kuhl), Sat-MIL (Anderson)40. John Lackey (CHC) -- Sun-@HOU (Keuchel)41. James Paxton (SEA) -- Tue-TEX (Perez), Sun-@OAK (Alcantara)42. Brandon Finnegan (CIN) -- Tue-NYM (Montero), Sun-@PIT (Vogelsong): Hes another big Week 22 value, facing a Mets team that leans left-handed, then pitching at PNC Park, which is poor for right-handed power.43. Ian Kennedy (KC) -- Mon-@MIN (Berrios), Sun-@CWS (Sale)44. Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA) -- Fri-@OAK (Mengden)45. Anthony DeSclafani (CIN) -- Wed-NYM (Syndergaard)46. Tyler Chatwood (COL) -- Fri-@SD (Perdomo)47. Taijuan Walker (SEA) -- Thu-TEX (Holland)48. Johnny Cueto (SF) -- Sat-@ARI (Bradley)49. Trevor Bauer (CLE) -- Thu-HOU (Musgrove)50. Clay Buchholz (BOS) -- Tue-@SD (Clemens)51. Rick Porcello (BOS) -- Fri-@TOR (Estrada)52. Jorge De La Rosa (COL) -- Thu-@SD (Richard)53. Ivan Nova (PIT) -- Thu-CIN (Straily)54. Aaron Sanchez (TOR) -- Tue-@NYY (Cessa)55. Matt Shoemaker (LAA) -- Sat-TEX (Lewis)56. Andrew Cashner (MIA) -- Wed-PHI (Hellickson)57. Jake Odorizzi (TB) -- Tue-BAL (Gallardo)58. Kevin Gausman (BAL) -- Fri-@DET (Fulmer)59. Dylan Bundy (BAL) -- Wed-@TB (Smyly)60. Jose Quintana (CWS) -- Wed-DET (Sanchez)61. Junior Guerra (MIL) -- Thu-@STL (Garcia)62. Marcus Stroman (TOR) -- Wed-@NYY (TBD)63. Matt Andriese (TB) -- Mon-BAL (Jimenez), Sun-@NYY (Cessa)64. Shelby Miller (ARI) -- Tue-@LAD (Stripling)65. Jerad Eickhoff (PHI) -- Mon-@MIA (Esch), Sat-@WSH (Scherzer)66. Chad Kuhl (PIT) -- Mon-STL (Wainwright), Sat-CIN (Stephenson)67. Daniel Mengden (OAK) -- Fri-SEA (Iwakuma)68. Michael Fulmer (DET) -- Fri-BAL (Gausman)69. CC Sabathia (NYY) -- Thu-TB (Cobb)70. Ricky Nolasco (LAA) -- Tue-@OAK (Detwiler)71. Julio Teheran (ATL) -- Sat-NYM (Lugo)72. Mike Montgomery (CHC) -- Wed-@MIL (Garza)73. Dan Straily (CIN) -- Thu-@PIT (Nova)74. Carlos Rodon (CWS) -- Fri-KC (Ventura)75. A.J. Griffin (TEX) -- Wed-@SEA (Miranda)76. Ubaldo Jimenez (BAL) -- Mon-@TB (Andriese)77. Tyler Skaggs (LAA) -- Fri-TEX (Darvish)78. Raul Alcantara (OAK) -- Mon-LAA (Weaver), Sun-SEA (Paxton)79. Steven Brault (PIT) -- Fri-CIN (Adleman)80. Jharel Cotton (OAK) -- Wed-LAA (Meyer)81. Josh Tomlin (CLE) -- Sat-@MIN (Albers)82. Seth Lugo (NYM) -- Sat-@ATL (Teheran)83. Jeremy Hellickson (PHI) -- Wed-@MIA (Cashner)84. John Gant (ATL) -- Fri-NYM (Gsellman)85. Zach Davies (MIL) -- Mon-CHC (Hendricks), Sun-@STL (Weaver)86. Jimmy Nelson (MIL) -- Fri-@STL (Martinez)87. Robert Gsellman (NYM) -- Fri-@ATL (Gant)88. Jordan Zimmermann (DET) -- Sat-BAL (Miley)89. Luis Cessa (NYY) -- Tue-TOR (Sanchez), Sun-TB (Andriese)90. Tim Adleman (CIN) -- Fri-@PIT (Brault)91. Mike Leake (STL) -- Wed-@PIT (Taillon)92. Mike Clevinger (CLE) -- Mon-HOU (Fiers)93. Yordano Ventura (KC) -- Fri-@CWS (Rodon)94. Ariel Miranda (SEA) -- Wed-TEX (Griffin)95. Dillon Gee (KC) -- Tue-@MIN (Santana)96. Chase Anderson (MIL) -- Sat-@STL (Wainwright)97. Collin McHugh (HOU) -- Fri-CHC (Lester)98. Mike Fiers (HOU) -- Mon-@CLE (Clevinger), Sat-CHC (Arrieta)99. Rafael Montero (NYM) -- Tue-@CIN (Finnegan)100. Tom Koehler (MIA) -- Sat-LAD (Hill)101. Marco Estrada (TOR) -- Fri-BOS (Porcello)102. Joe Musgrove (HOU) -- Thu-@CLE (Bauer)103. Anibal Sanchez (DET) -- Wed-@CWS (Quintana)104. Matt Wisler (ATL) -- Sun-NYM (Colon)105. Brock Stewart (LAD) -- Wed-ARI (Ray)106. Kendall Graveman (OAK) -- Sat-SEA (Hernandez)107. Colby Lewis (TEX) -- Sat-@LAA (Shoemaker)108. Derek Holland (TEX) -- Thu-@SEA (Walker)109. Robert Stephenson (CIN) -- Mon-NYM (Colon), Sat-@PIT (Kuhl)110. Ryan Vogelsong (PIT) -- Tue-STL (Weaver), Sun-CIN (Finnegan)111. Ervin Santana (MIN) -- Tue-KC (Gee)112. J.A. Happ (TOR) -- Sat-BOS (Rodriguez)113. Ross Stripling (LAD) -- Tue-ARI (Miller)114. Blake Snell (TB) -- Fri-@NYY (Pineda)115. Alex Meyer (LAA) -- Wed-@OAK (Cotton)116. Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS) -- Sat-@TOR (Happ)117. James Shields (CWS) -- Sat-KC (Volquez)118. Matt Moore (SF) -- Mon-@COL (Bettis), Sun-@ARI (Greinke)119. Jose Urena (MIA) -- Tue-PHI (Morgan)120. Edinson Volquez (KC) -- Sat-@CWS (Shields)121. Tyler Anderson (COL) -- Tue-SF (Samardzija)122. Mike Foltynewicz (ATL) -- Wed-@WSH (Strasburg)123. Matt Boyd (DET) -- Tue-@CWS (Gonzalez)124. Chad Bettis (COL) -- Mon-SF (Moore), Sun-@SD (Jackson)125. Hector Santiago (MIN) -- Fri-CLE (Salazar)126. Alex Cobb (TB) -- Thu-@NYY (Sabathia)127. Clayton Richard (SD) -- Thu-COL (De La Rosa)128. Jake Thompson (PHI) -- Fri-@WSH (Roark)129. Luis Perdomo (SD) -- Fri-COL (Chatwood)130. Chris Tillman (BAL) -- Sun-@DET (Verlander)131. Ryan Weber (ATL) -- Mon-@WSH (Scherzer)132. Andrew Albers (MIN) -- Sat-CLE (Tomlin)133. Wade Miley (BAL) -- Sat-@DET (Zimmermann)134. Kyle Gibson (MIN) -- Wed-KC (Duffy)135. Yovani Gallardo (BAL) -- Tue-@TB (Odorizzi)136. Alec Asher (PHI) -- Thu-@WSH (Cole)137. Jeff Samardzija (SF) -- Tue-@COL (Anderson)138. Miguel Gonzalez (CWS) -- Tue-DET (Boyd)139. Paul Clemens (SD) -- Tue-BOS (Buchholz)140. Bartolo Colon (NYM) -- Mon-@CIN (Stephenson), Sun-@ATL (Wisler)141. Martin Perez (TEX) -- Tue-@SEA (Paxton)142. Doug Fister (HOU) -- Wed-@CLE (Carrasco)143. Christian Friedrich (SD) -- Sat-COL (Gray)144. Jose Berrios (MIN) -- Mon-KC (Kennedy), Sun-CLE (Kluber)145. Albert Suarez (SF) -- Wed-@COL (Hoffman)146. Adam Morgan (PHI) -- Tue-@MIA (Urena), Sun-@WSH (Gonzalez)147. Jarred Cosart (SD) -- Wed-BOS (Price)148. Jered Weaver (LAA) -- Mon-@OAK (Alcantara), Sun-TEX (Hamels)149. Ross Detwiler (OAK) -- Tue-LAA (Nolasco)150. Archie Bradley (ARI) -- Sat-SF (Cueto)151. Matt Garza (MIL) -- Wed-CHC (Montgomery)152. R.A. Dickey (TOR) -- Mon-@NYY (Tanaka), Sun-BOS (Pomeranz)153. Braden Shipley (ARI) -- Fri-SF (Bumgarner)154. Williams Perez (ATL) -- Tue-@WSH (Gonzalez)155. Jake Esch (MIA) -- Mon-PHI (Eickhoff), Sun-LAD (Maeda)156. Jeff Hoffman (COL) -- Wed-SF (Suarez)157. Wily Peralta (MIL) -- Tue-CHC (Hammel)158. Edwin Jackson (SD) -- Mon-BOS (Pomeranz), Sun-COL (Bettis)Hitting ratingsThe chart below lists each of the 30 teams total number of scheduled games, home games and games versus right- and left-handed pitchers, and provides a matchup rating for the weeks games in terms of overall offense, offense for left- and right-handed hitters, and base stealing. Matchup ratings for each individual game are listed under the corresponding date.Hitting matchup chart, Sept. 5-11 H: Hitters matchup rating, which accounts for the opposing starting pitchers past history (three years worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. L: Hitters matchup rating accounting only for left-handed hitters. R: Hitters matchup rating accounting for only right-handed hitters. S: Base stealing matchup rating, which accounts for the opponents catchers ability to gun down opposing base stealers. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst.Hitting advantagesHere are this weeks volume plays, defined as the teams that play the most home games, or games against right- or left-handed starters:Total games: New York Yankees 7, Tampa Bay Rays 7, Cleveland Indians 7, Houston Astros 7, Seattle Mariners 7, Texas Rangers 7, Philadelphia Phillies 7, Washington Nationals 7, Cincinnati Reds 7, Milwaukee Brewers 7, Pittsburgh Pirates 7, St. Louis Cardinals 7, Colorado Rockies 7, San Diego Padres 7.Home games: New York Yankees 7, Washington Nationals 7, Pittsburgh Pirates 7, San Diego Padres 7, Chicago White Sox 6, Minnesota Twins 6, Oakland Athletics 6, Miami Marlins 6.Versus LH: Cleveland Indians 3, Detroit Tigers 3, Seattle Mariners 3, Texas Rangers 3, Miami Marlins 3, Colorado Rockies 3, San Diego Padres 3.Versus RH: St. Louis Cardinals 7, New York Yankees 6, Tampa Bay Rays 6, Houston Astros 6, Philadelphia Phillies 6, Washington Nationals 6, Cincinnati Reds 6, Pittsburgh Pirates 6.It was once the case that a Coors Field-Petco Park week represented polar-opposite hitting matchups, the two extreme venues neutralizing one another in weekly formats. This season, however, Petco is the 10th-best run-scoring and 18th-best home run environment in baseball per our Park Factors page. So the Rockies Week 22 schedule, with a Coors series (three games versus the Giants) and a Petco series?(four games) is a great one across the board. Thats especially true considering that the Padres, since Aug. 15, have a 24th-ranked 5.19 staff ERA. By the way, the Giants havent been rock-solid of late, either, with a 4.15 ERA and 1.31 WHIP during that same time span, and they wont line up their ace, Madison Bumgarner. Its another good week to exploit the Rockies first-base platoon -- theyre almost evenly divided between righty and lefty opposing starters -- of Gerardo Parra and now Stephen Cardullo.The visiting Giants, meanwhile, benefit from the three-game trip to Coors, followed by a three-game visit to Arizonas Chase Field, another hitting-friendly environment. The Giants offense desperately needs a schedule like this, especially one so heavy on right-handed pitching (five opposing starters), considering how lefty-heavy the team is and how much it has struggled in the second half. Denard Span has been on an absolute tear of late, batting .397/.426/.690 in his past 15 games, and other left-handed (or switch-hitting) Giants like Joe Panik, Angel Pagan and Brandon Crawford are worth starting.The Nationals face an outstanding schedule of their own, with seven home games against the out-of-contention Braves and Phillies, and theyll miss Julio Teheran during the former series. Though the Nationals are a more cut-and-dried offense for fantasy purposes -- their start-worthy players are fairly obvious -- Trea Turner (79.7 percent owned in ESPN leagues) and Jayson Werth (34.9 percent) are strangely available in a good percentage of leagues. Werth is a .255/.349/.553 hitter in his past 24 games.In the AL, the Indians have the best schedule of the bunch, with four home games against the Astros, followed by a three-game road series against the injury-plagued, struggling Twins pitching staff. That latter series drives the Indians ratings, but the added benefit of their Week 22 schedule is that theyll face three left-handed starters; the Indians are hitting .284/.341/.471 against lefties as a group since Aug. 1. Consider this a potential bounce-back week for Rajai Davis and Mike Napoli, and Brandon Guyer warrants a look in deeper-than-standard leagues, thanks to his .278/.422/.444 triple-slash rates against lefties since Aug. 1.Günstig Asics Schweiz Sneaker . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Asics Schweiz Schuhe China . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. http://www.asicsschweiz.ch/ . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Asics Schweiz Schuhe Sale . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Asics Schweiz Sneaker . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Despite spraining his right ankle "pretty good," New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle expects to be ready for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants didnt have a timetable for Rolles return, but coach Tom Coughlin was more optimistic about having his leading tackler the past two seasons back "I hope he comes back next week," Coughlin said Tuesday after practice. "Why would I talk about week one." Wearing a protective boot on his foot, Rolle made it clear that he does not like being hurt and that he will do everything in his power to play quickly. "I hate missing even a practice, being out there with my teammates, my brothers," said Rolle, who has not missed a game in three seasons with the Giants. "This is very hard for me to accept but at the same time, I have to be smart about it. I am going to push myself because that is just who I am. I push myself with everything that I do to try to be out there with my guys as soon as possible." Rolle was hurt when his feet became tangled with tight end Bear Pascoe during a sideline pass on a 7-on-7 drill on Monday. The 30-year-said the injury happened before he jumped for the pass, with his ankle rolling both to the inside and outside. "To be honest, I didnt really know what to expect," Rolle said. "I am not the kind of guy that likes to lay on the field no matter what the injury is. I tried to get up and walk off but I just couldnt bear it. I couldnt bear it to do it. Did I think it was worse? Possibly just because I heard a couple of popping sounds in my ankle. I think it was just part of my ankle rolling, it was just cracking. Just thank God it is nothing too severe, nothing I cant work through with just a little bit of time and hard work. " A nine-year veteran Rolle is the leader of the secondary. He had a career-high 108 tackles last season and was a constant voice trying to make sure his teammates were on the same page. Ryan Mundy, the five-year veterann who is working with the first team since the injury, said Rolle talked to the defensive backs Tuesday morning, telling them to keep working and he would be back.dddddddddddd "Hes one of the building blocks," defensive co-ordinator Perry Fewell said of Rolle. "Hes a brick. Hes always there. Hes tough. Hes the mortar that seals us. His presence is always valuable for us." Mundy spent the past four seasons with Pittsburgh, serving as the backup to Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu. He signed with the Giants as a free agent in the off-season and made an impression early in training camp with a hit on Ryan Torain that gave the running back a concussion. It also was a hit that drew the ire of Coughlin. "I have a reputation for hitting people, but my time in Pitt, I did whatever I was asked to do," said Mundy, who intercepted a deep pass to Rueben Randle in practice. "If Troy was out of the game, I was playing strong safety. If Ryan Clark was out of the game, I was playing free safety. Thats just been my whole approach. Whatever I need to do to help the team out, Im more than willing to do it. Mundy said that he is still learning the defence but he is confident hell get it down. Coughlin has confidence in Mundy, but he is also expecting Rolle to be ready sooner than later. "He doesnt like to miss anything," Coughlin said. "Quite frankly, if he can avoid it, he misses nothing." NOTES: Second-year CB Jayron Hosley had a good practice, knocking down passes by Eli Manning and David Carr and intercepting one thrown by Curtis Painter. ....Former Dallas linebacker Dan Connor is starting to share some of the first-team snaps at middle linebacker with Mark Herzlich. ...Fourth-round draft pick Ryan Nassib made one of his better throws of training camp, hitting Kevin Hardy on a deep go pattern with cornerback Charles James defending. ...Rookie S Cooper Taylor says his injured hamstring is getting better but he does not know when he will be back practicing. ... ' ' '