By Ryan Taylor
August 11, 2008 4:50pm CDT

We will stick to baseball this week, though it is tempting to add the American Men's Swimming 4 X 100 relay team to the hot list. While I'm at it, the French team deserves to be on the cold list after predicting a win, but choking at the finish. I am a fan of their fries and bikinis, though. Let us now see who is hot and cold in the sport of baseball.

Hot

National League

Carlos Lee, LF, Astros (.314-28-100-61-4)
Lee's fantasy owners are sick to their stomach today after their elite fantasy player went down with a broken finger. The injury happened after Lee hit the 100 RBI mark for the fourth year in a row, and after he had a monster week with a .550 average, three home runs and 11 RBI. At the time of the injury, Lee ranked first in the National League in RBI, fifth in batting average, and sixth in home runs. Back off that ledge, Lee owners.

Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals (.350-24-75-71-6)
The great Albert Pujols once again cracks the hot list with a strong week, and the results were a .455 average, three home runs, eight RBI, and a stolen base. Pujols currently leads the NL in slugging percentage and OPS, while ranking second in both batting average and on-base percentage. Once again, Pujols is in the middle of the National League MVP debate.

Brandon Webb, P, Diamondbacks (17-4, 2.88 ERA, 139K, 1.13 WHIP in 169.0 IP)
The Diamondbacks turned to their ace on Sunday to stop a four-game losing streak and once again he came through, posting his major league-leading 17th win. In his last seven starts, Webb has given up just nine runs over 51 innings. Besides leading the NL in wins, he is also fourth in ERA, third in WHIP, and seventh in strikeouts.

American League

Marlon Byrd, CF, Rangers (.286-8-31-45-4)
Byrd is once again receiving regular playing time and he is making the most of it. This past week Byrd hit .571 with a couple of home runs, eight RBI, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases. Byrd had eight hits in three games at Baltimore this past weekend, which is significant because Byrd, like most Rangers, has extreme home/road splits. He has a .328 average and 1.009 OPS at home, with a .246 average and .671 OPS on the road.

Jeremy Guthrie, P, Orioles (9-8, 3.26 ERA, 102 K, 1.17 WHIP in 163.0 IP)
Don't let Guthrie's won/loss record fool you; he has become an elite fantasy pitcher. The Orioles have scored just 11 runs in the eight losses that Guthrie has suffered. Meanwhile, Guthrie has won six of his last seven decisions and given up just five runs in his last four starts. Currently he is second in the American League in innings pitched and ninth in both ERA and WHIP.

Jose Lopez, 2B, Mariners (.310-10-64-59-4)
Though the Mariners are nearly 30 games behind the first-place Angels in the American League West, Lopez has quietly had a solid season. This past week Lopez hit .429 with a home run and had back-to-back three-hit games versus the Twins. At just 24-years old Lopez is becoming a good fantasy source that should only be getting better.

Cold

National League

Jorge Cantu, 3B, Marlins (.281-20-64-68-4)
For most of this season Cantu has looked like he did in 2005 when he hit .286 with 28 home runs and 117 RBI for Tampa Bay. This past week Cantu fell off the pace hitting .111 for the week, though the Marlins are still in the race, just 2.5 games back heading into play on Monday. The Marlins will need Cantu to play like he did earlier this season to catch the Phillies and Mets in the National League East.

Aaron Cook, P, Rockies (14-8, 3.87 ERA, 79 K, 1.30 WHIP in 172.0 IP)
Cook has given up 17 runs (15 earned) and 30 hits in his last three starts. The Rockies appeared ready just a few weeks ago to make another run at the National League West until their ace went suddenly south after pitching well for most of the season. Cook pitches to contact, so when his sinker is off his ERA and WHIP can shoot up in a hurry. Cook's fantasy owners should watch him very carefully.

Jeff Francoeur, RF, Braves (.226-9-49-49-0)
Francoeur was optioned to Double-A back on July 4 to try to get his swing straightened out, but the results are still not good. Last week Francoeur hit just .130 with only one RBI, and he is hitting more than forty points below his career average. Francoeur has always been a free-swinger that dislikes taking walks, but he has also had over 100 RBI the last two seasons. Right now there is little fantasy value in Francoeur.

American League

Jack Hannahan, 3B, A's (.222-5-36-37-2)
Erik Chavez is out for the season and Hannahan is the guy at third base for the rest of the year. If Hannahan wants to be there next year he needs to start putting up better numbers. Last week Hannahan went 1-for-24 with no RBI, while the A's have won just three games since July 11.

Eric Hinske, OF, Rays (.247-16-49-44-8)
Hinske has done a decent job this season for the upstart Rays, having played the corner infield and outfield positions as well as the designated hitter spot. This past week Hinske slipped a bit with a .160 average and just one RBI, though Tampa Bay has won 10 of 12. The Rays have a 4.5 game lead going into play on Monday, but with Carl Crawford possibly out for the year; Hinske will need to step up.

Andy Pettitte, P, Yankees (12-9, 4.32 ERA, 119 K, 1.37 WHIP in 156.1 IP)
Pettitte's ERA has risen over half a run after his last three starts, in which he has given up 17 runs. He also gave up 27 hits in those three starts while right-handed batters are now hitting .321 against him. The Yankees need to make their playoff push now and they need Pettitte to be the big-game pitcher he has often been in the past if they are going to keep their playoff streak going.