Four Pitchers Enter Week 8 on a Roll

Chris Sale (Vicious Fishes), Justin Masterson (Marin Menehunes), Matt Harvey (Los Coches Bomba), and James Shields (Scully's Slammers) enter Week 8 on a roll. These four pitchers are the highest-rated players in our league over the last two weeks and can change the course of a series.

Sale has been particularly dominant. He's given up just one run in his last 24 innings while striking out 24 batters compared to just three walks. His WHIP is a minuscule 0.54. Masterson attributes his recent success with a new-found confidence in his slider. He's recorded 27 strikeouts over his last 23 innings while giving up just three runs.

Harvey is the league's best player through the first quarter of 2013. In his last three starts, he's struck out 22 batters while issuing just two walks. The only blemish for Shields in his last three games are three home runs. Still, the veteran hurler has minimized the damage, striking out 23 batters while issuing just five walks.

If you face one of these pitchers this week, beware. They can make your life miserable.

The Slammers were a good outing from Doug Fister away from beating the Lower Haighters last week. Unfortunately, Fister was pitching in windy Arlington, Texas and the ball was flying out. Instead of a crucial series win against the top team in the league, they are coming off a close series loss and now face the second-ranked team. The Slammers are just 4.5 games out in the East Division, but this series feels important as the team has dropped three straight. Bomba is coming off a dominating victory over the Monkeys and have regained first-place in the South Division. It was a big series win as it erased a three-week losing streak. Over the last two weeks, Bomba has five players ranked in the Top 25 (Harvey, Andrew McCutchen, Elvis Andrus, Miguel Cabrera and A.J. Burnett). McCutchen enters this series nursing a sore right knee while the starting pitching staff takes a blow as Ross Detwiler will miss tonight's start due to a sore back/oblique. Bomba did receive some good news as catcher A.J. Pierzynski is expected to return from the DL on Tuesday. The Slammers have won two of the three meetings between these teams, including last year's 6-3-3 victory so don't be too quick to count them out. This will be a tough, hard-fought series between two playoff-caliber teams. K/9, quality starts, OBP, and runs scored will be the key categories. Baseball Monster Prediction: Los Coches Bomba 7, Scully's Slammers 6.

Three of the four teams the Menehunes have faced over the last month have winning records, yet the Menehunes lost just one of those series. They are battle-tested. The team is coming off an impressive 7-5-1 victory over HUMA and is just 3.5-games out of first place in the rugged West Division. The Bulls lost their second consecutive series last week, a 9-4 upset at the hands of the Jersey Boys, and now find themselves 5.5-games behind Bacon at Mile 11 in the North Division pennant race. These teams met twice last year, splitting lopsided victories. The Menehunes won 8-1-3 in Week 19 while the Bulls were victorious 10-2 in Week 3. Over the last three years, the Menehunes have won two of their four series with the Bulls and tied another. The Bulls need production from veteran pitcher Tim Hudson. He's given up 11 runs over his last two starts. Offensively, shortstop Jean Segura continues to swing a hot bat. He's 22-for-51 over his last 12 games with a home run, five stolen bases, and 10 runs scored. The Menehunes, desperate for some power, have added veteran slugger Raul Ibañez to the roster. Ibañez has six home runs in his last nine games. Little separates these two playoff-caliber teams. The series will be won on the mound, as every pitching category is forecast to be close. At the plate, the power categories - home runs, RBI, and runs scored - will be hotly contested. Baseball Monster Prediction: Marin Menehunes 6-4-3.

The Vicious Fishes are on a roll. They've won two straight series by a combined score of 18-6-2. They are second in the West Division, two games out of the lead, and they have the fifth best record in the league. HUMA is coming off their first series loss in three weeks, a 7-5-1 upset by the Menehunes that dropped the team into second place in the South Division. This is one of the best teams HUMA has played this year so it should be a good measuring stick to determine if the team is truly playoff ready. The last time these teams met in Week 11 last year, HUMA blasted the Vicious Fishes 9-2-1. It was the second consecutive win over the Fishes after they lost the initial meeting in 2010. Third baseman Adrian Beltre has driven in 12 runs over his past 13 games and could be a force in this series for HUMA. Pitcher Mike Minor has also found a groove, earning three straight quality starts. Outfielders Alex Gordon and Alex Rios are driving the offense for the Fishes. They've combined for six homers and 20 RBI over the last two weeks.Very little separates these teams in the offensive power categories while quality starts and net saves/holds will be hotly contested on the mound. Baseball Monster Prediction: HUMA 6-4-3.

Bacon at Mile 11 is coming off their largest margin of victory since a 10-2 shellacking of Home Run 101 in Week 21 of the 2011 season. Last week's 10-2-1 win over High Cheese pushed the team into first place in the North Division by 5.5-games over the Bulls. Bacon now has the third best record in the league and has won four straight series. They are the hottest team in the league. The Toes are going in the opposite direction. They've lost three of their past four series, including a tough 8-4-1 loss to Give it a Yankee last week. They've fallen into the East Division cellar and are 13th overall. Outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Norichika Aoki have ignited Bacon's run. They've combined for five home runs and 20 RBI over the last two weeks. The bullpen, led by Joel Peralta, Jesse Crain, and Ernesto Frieri, have combined for 16 net saves/holds in the last two series. The Toes limp into Week 8 with Ian Kinsler, Stephen Drew, Mike Adams and Michael Cuddyer all hurt. Bacon has won the last two meetings against the Toes, including last year's 8-4 win in Week 7, and they've won three of the four series since 2010. Baseball Monster Prediction: Bacon at Mile 11 12-0-1.

Don't look now, but the Jersey Boys are one of the league's hottest teams. They've won three straight series, including a 9-4 rout of the Bulls last week. It was their second straight series win against a division leader. Give it a Yankee has won two consecutive series, but the wins came against Home Run 101, the league's last place team, and Twinkle Toes, a team decimated by injuries. This will be a serious test. Leading the way for the Jersey Boys is young slugger Paul Goldschmidt. He's smacked seven home runs and knocked in 14 runs over the past two weeks. Veteran pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is the glue holding together a frayed pitching staff. Andy Pettitte, Aaron Harang, and Alexi Ogando are all injured. With Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright at the top of their rotation, there's no doubt Give it a Yankee can pitch, but they've also found some hitters. Second baseman Jason Kipnis is the team's highest-rated player the last two weeks, slugging five homers and driving in 14 runs. Outfielder Vernon Wells had a sip from the Fountain of Youth and has four homers and two stolen bases in his last 13 games. These teams have split the last two meetings by identical scores, 6-4-2. Give it a Yankee won last year while the Jersey Boys were victorious in 2011. The Jersey Boys have won three of the five series against Give it a Yankee, winning or tying 39 of the 60 categories. The offensive categories should be close but having three injured pitchers in their starting lineup is going to end the Jersey Boys' winning streak. Baseball Monster Prediction: Give it a Yankee 8-3-2.

Both teams enter Week 8 sporting serious black eyes from the beatings they took last week. The Monkeys are coming off a 9-3-1 loss to Bomba which came on the heels of a 10-2-1 loss to the Jersey Boys. Despite the slump, the team still holds a 4-game lead in the East Division. High Cheese lost 10-2-1 to Bacon last week, one of the worst losses in franchise history. Not since the team lost 10-2 to both Bacon and the Mirrors in the league's first season has High Cheese suffered such a mule kick. They've now lost three of their past four series and are 11.5-games out in the South Division. Outfielder Jay Bruce is heating up and could help High Cheese pull out of their slump. Bruce has four homers and 13 RBI over his last 11 games. For the Monkeys, shortstop Everth Cabrera is stealing bases at will. He's had nine in his last 12 games. The Monkeys earned their first series victory against High Cheese last year, with a 7-5 win in Week 7. Historically, these teams have played each other close. High Cheese has won 27 of the 48 categories in the four meetings, winning two series and tying one. If High Cheese wants to end their slide, they'll need to win the home run, GIDP, and RBI categories because the Monkeys are poised to dominate on the mound. Baseball Monster Prediction: Eephus Monkeys 9-1-3.

Over the past seven weeks, the Cys have managed just two series wins. They are 13.5 games out of first place in the South Division, they've fallen to 15th overall, and they are working on a two week losing skid. Now they face a Mirrors team that has lost just one series over the past five weeks and owns the sixth best record in the league. Things are getting desperate for the Cys. The Mirrors have received a boost from journeyman pitcher Scott Feldman (the Pride of the College of San Mateo). Feldman has three straight quality starts and has allowed just one earned run over his last 19.2 innings. Like most struggling teams, the Cys have their share of injuries. Starting pitchers Jake Westbrook and Jaime Garcia are out and Ryan Howard is nursing a sore knee. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has returned from injury and he's been hot. He has a .444 OBP over his last 11 games, knocking in 11 runs and scoring six times. The last two times these teams played each other, the Mirrors escaped with identical 7-5 victories. The Cys have beaten the Mirrors just once in their four meetings. Don't be surprised if the Cys make this close offensively, but with the injuries to the pitching staff, the Mirrors should cruise to a comfortable series win. Baseball Monster Prediction: A-Rod's Mirrors 8-4-1.

After winning two series to start the season, Home Run 101 has dropped five in a row, including an 8-3-2 loss to the Mirrors last week. The Mirrors are the only opponent during that five week stretch with a winning record. Meanwhile, the Lower Haighters have won five straight series with half of those victories coming against teams with records above .500. The Haighters are now 51-38-2 and have the league's best record. Historically, the Haighters have bashed their way to the top but this team is led by Cliff Lee, Travis Wood, and Jon Lester. They are a perfect 7-for-7 in quality start attempts the last two weeks. Home Run 101 is led by a pair of veteran sluggers, Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Beltran. They have combined for five home runs over the past 10 games, though Ramirez is nursing a sore knee to begin this series. Can Home Run 101 finally beat the Lower Haighters? They are 0-3 lifetime including last year's 7-5 loss. Home Run 101 should win the innings pitched and quality start categories but they'll also need to win the GIDP and strikeout categories on offense if they are going to make this a tight series. Baseball Monster Prediction: Lower Haighters 9-2-2.

Bacon, Bomba on verge of huge victories

Los Coches Bomba and Bacon at Mile 11 are on the verge of big victories that will reshape the pennant races in the North and South divisions.

Bomba will take the top spot in the South Division while Bacon will lead the North Division.

Barry Zito will be on the mound for Twinkle Toes today trying to protect a narrow lead in innings pitched for the team. Zito's first outing in this series was a disaster, as he lasted just 5.2 innings while giving up five runs. If he can go five innings today, it should be enough to keep Twinkle Toes ahead in innings pitched. For Give it a Yankee, the series can be won if they can score some runs. They trail by one run and if they win the category, they'll probably win the series. Second baseman Jason Kipnis leads the team, scoring six times this week. Both teams have been able to avoid the double play ball this week. The Toes have hit into just one double play while Give it a Yankee has hit into two. The Jersey Boys and Slammers have also hit into just two double plays.

These teams are tied heading into the final day of the series with quality starts, WHIP, OBP and home runs still up for grabs. The Slammers will have two opportunities to earn quality starts as Kyle Lohse and Doug Fister take the mound. Both draw difficult assignments. Fister will face Texas in Arlington while Lohse is on the road in St. Louis. Travis Wood starts for the Lower Haighters and will face the New York Mets at home. First baseman David Ortiz is red-hot this week. He's 8-for-15 with three home runs and 11 RBI. He has not struck out this week. He's not only the top-rated player for the Lower Haighters but he's the top-rated player in the league. Mitch Moreland has four home runs for the Slammers this week. Second baseman Chase Utley does not have a hit in this series for the Lower Haighters. He's 0-for-11 with three strikeouts.

This has been a tremendous series. The teams are tied with three quality starts apiece and both have starters on the mound today. The Menehunes will start Justin Masterson at home against Seattle and Andrew Cashner, who will also pitch at home against Washington. HUMA will start CC Sabathia at home against the Blue Jays, Mike Minor at home against the Dodgers, and Derek Holland at home tonight against the high-powered Tigers. Offensively, both teams need a stolen base while avoiding double plays. The Menehunes have the only stolen base in the series and have one fewer GIDP than HUMA. Outfielder Nate McLouth has two net stolen bases for the Menehunes and should be a threat today. Shortstop Alcides Escobar should give HUMA a shot at a stolen base on the final day.

A pair of chewed up pitching staffs will face off today as the Jersey Boys try to upset another division leader. Both teams are limping into the final day of Week 7. The Jersey Boys lost Andy Pettitte and Alexi Ogando to injury this week and both have landed on the DL. The Bulls could have added a crucial quality start had they added ace Zack Greinke to their roster. He was sensational in his first start after returning from a shoulder injury. Today, the Bulls will send Matt Moore to the mound against Baltimore and Dan Haren against the Padres. Both are road starts. The Jersey Boys will send R.A. Dickey against the Yankees on the road and Jason Vargas at home against the White Sox. The Jersey Boys need just one quality start to protect the category lead while the Bulls need Moore and Haren to pitch deep to protect a narrow lead in innings pitched. Justin Morneau and Paul Goldschmidt each have five RBI for the Jersey Boys in this series and they'll need to drive in a few more runs today if the teams wants to maintain its two point lead in the category.

The Mirrors took control of this series over the last two days but the lead remains tenuous. Each team has three quality starts but Home Run 101 will send young Wade Miley to the mound today in Miami with an opportunity to win the category and protect a narrow lead in the innings pitched category. With a strong outing, Miley could possibly help Home Run 101 make the WHIP category interesting. Miley is coming off a difficult start. He gave up six runs and lasted just five innings in his first start this week. The usually strong Mirrors bullpen has been hit hard this week and the team has just one more net save/hold than Home Run 101. Rafael Soriano and Charlie Furbush have both blown saves. The teams are tied in runs scored and the Mirrors have a narrow two point lead in the strikeout category. Home Run 101 needs some production from shortstop Ian Desmond today. He's just 2-for-19 with five strikeouts this week.

The Vicious Fishes took control of this series Friday when Chris Sale, C.J. Wilson, and Clay Buchholz all earned quality starts. They combined to pitch 21.2 innings while giving up just four runs. The Vicious Fishes lead five of the seven offensive categories and outfielder Alex Rios was a catalyst all week. Rios went 10-for-23 with a net stolen base, a home run, six RBI and six runs scored. Third baseman Josh Donaldson went 9-for-18 and added a homer. Bronson Arroyo was excellent for the Cys, tossing 7.2 scoreless innings while striking out six batters. Two established offensive stars failed to deliver for the Cys this week. Catcher Carlos Santana was 3-for-19 with five strikeouts while second baseman Rickie Weeks was 2-for-17 with eight strikeouts. Reliever George Kontos also hurt the team, allowing six runs over 3.2 innings.

This turned into an old-fashioned beat down as the Monkeys just couldn't get the offense going and the pitching struggled. The Monkeys had the worst ERA and WHIP in the league this week and the starters were just 2-for-8 in quality start attempts. It started early in the week when Phil Hughes gave up seven runs while getting just two outs. Conversely, Bomba had two quality starts from A.J. Burnett who struck out 13 batters in 14 innings. Outfielder Andrew McCutchen was the best player in the series. McCutchen hit two home runs, stole two bases and scored eight times. He struck out just once in 26 at bats. Robinson Cano added a pair of home runs and led the team with eight RBI.

High Cheese can thank reliever Fernando Rodney and starter Ubaldo Jimenez for their strikeouts. It was the only thing standing between the team and the league's first 13-0 rout. Bacon started the week hot and never looked back. Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez led the charge. Gonzalez was 7-for-18 with three home runs, two stolen bases, seven runs scored and six RBI. Another outfielder, Norichika Aoki, was also instrumental in the big victory. Aoki was 13-for-26 with six runs scored but he struck out just once this week. Catcher Jesus Montero continued his struggle for High Cheese. Montero was 3-for-12, hit into a double play and was caught stealing (really, who sends Jesus Montero?). Rookie shortstop Didi Gregorius also flailed at the plate, going 4-for-17 while hitting into two double plays. He was also caught stealing.

Several Injured Stars Return

Several of the game's biggest stars are poised to return from injury and should immediately help their respective fantasy teams.

Pitcher Johnny Cueto is not only set to return next week from a strained oblique but he's also scheduled to start twice. That will be music to the ears of Bailey Penzotti and Home Run 101.

Young slugger Jayson Heyward was activated today after recovering from an emergency appendectomy nearly a month ago. The Lower Haighters have had two keepers - Heyward and Giancarlo Stanton - on the disabled list for most of the season.

Outfielder Curtis Granderson was activated Tuesday and Brian Benzing inserted the dynamic outfielder into his lineup. Granderson gives the team another player capable of hitting 30+ home runs and driving in 80+ RBI.

Closer Andrew Bailey is scheduled to return Monday from a bicep injury and will provide immediate help to the Vicious Fishes. He's an immediate upgrade over either Kevin Gregg or Jose Valverde.

Outfielder Chris Young could return tonight from a quadriceps injury. He'll provide depth for the Mirrors, who can use Young's speed.

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is beginning a rehab assignment tonight and appears recovered from a rib injury. He'll likely be activated early next week and will provide additional power for Los Coches Bomba from a position where production can be spotty.

Clayton Kershaw turned in the best single performance of the week in fantasy baseball while second baseman Jason Kipnis is making loud contact on every trip to the plate as Give it a Yankee is dismantling Twinkle Toes. Kershaw fell one out short of a complete game shutout and struck out 11 to lead a potent pitching staff. Give it a Yankee is 4-for-5 in quality start attempts this week. Kipnis has led the offense, going 4-for-11 with a pair of walks, two home runs, a stolen base, four RBI and four runs scored. No team in the league has more RBI than Give it a Yankee this week. The Toes will send five starters to the mound this weekend needing quality starts. The team, which has thrown fewer innings than any team in the league over the first four days, trails in every pitching category, largely due to a horrendous start by Barry Zito. Zito gave up 12 hits and five earned runs over 5.2 innings and will take the mound in Coors Field on Sunday. Michael Morse and Matt Carpenter are keeping the Toes close offensively. Morse is 7-for-12 with a home run, a pair of RBI, and four runs scored. He's struck out just once. Carpenter is 5-for-10 with four walks, three RBI, and four runs scored. Carpenter has fanned just once.

Justin Masterson was masterful in his start while "Country Breakfast" Billy Butler is cleaning up at the plate as the Marin Menehunes are locked in a tight struggle with HUMA. Masterson had the second best start in fantasy baseball this week, allowing just four hits over nine shutout innings while striking out nine batters. No team has pitched more innings this week than the Menehunes but they are just 3-for-6 in quality start attempts. If it wasn't for Butler, the Menehunes would have no offense. They are last in runs scored and have hit just one home run this week. Butler is 7-for-9 with the dinger, seven RBI, and three runs scored. HUMA is just 2-for-5 in quality start attempts this week and Jeremy Guthrie had one of the week's worst pitching performances. He gave up 11 hits over seven innings - including four home runs - and failed to strike out one batter. It's one reason the team is last in WHIP this week. HUMA does lead five of the seven offensive categories against the Menehunes as outfielder Shin-Soo Choo continues his hot streak. He's 5-for-10, has drawn four walks, smacked two homers, and scored five times.

Too much Carlos Gonzalez and a great pitching performance by Homer Bailey has High Cheese in big trouble heading into the weekend. Bacon leads the league in OBP, ERA, and WHIP. Bailey was brilliant, scattering six hits over nine innings while striking out 10 batters for Bacon. He'll have a second start on Sunday. Gonzalez is 5-for-11 with four walks, two home runs, a stolen base, and four runs scored. Seven players for Bacon have an OBP of .450+ heading into the weekend. The biggest surprise has been outfielder Justin Upton, who has drawn four walks while striking out just twice in 10 at bats. High Cheese is just 2-for-4 in quality start attempts and closer Fernando Rodney has walked four batters and allowed three runs over 1.2 innings. The team did get a quality start from A.J. Griffin, who struck out eight over seven innings, and reliever Trevor Rosenthal struck out both batters he faced to earn a hold.

Aarrgg...the Dread Pirate has come to life. Outfielder Andrew McCutchen has had a slow start to the season but he's hitting with power in this series and has Bomba poised to rout the Monkeys. McCutchen has just three hits in 17 at bats this week but two have gone over the fence and he's stolen a base. At the same time, the Monkeys are scuffling at the plate. They have driven in just nine runs this week, the lowest total in the league. Miguel Montero is 0-for-7, Desmond Jennings is 1-for-9 and Andrelton Simmons is 2-for-13. They've drawn one walk between them. The ineptitude hasn't been limited to the offense. The team ERA is 5.77, highest in the league. Phil Hughes gave up seven runs while recording just two outs in his only start in the series. Anibal Sanchez will start twice for the Monkeys and his first start was quality. Sanchez struck out eight batters over seven innings and allowed just two runs. Jose Bautista has kept the offense within striking distance, going 4-for-8 and scoring four times.

He's limping to the plate on a surgically repaired knee that remains sore and a painful foot but Albert Pujols still has a healthy bat. Pujols is 4-for-12 with a pair of home runs, four RBI, and three runs scored and has kept the Lower Haighters close in the offensive categories. While Pujols has been solid, Mitch Moreland is red-hot for the Slammers. He's 5-for-15 with three homers, seven RBI, and he's scored four runs. On the mound, the Lower Haighters lead the league this week in net saves/holds and are tied for the league lead in ERA. David Hernandez has struck out four of the six batters he's faced this week and hasn't given up a run while earning two holds. Travis Wood turned in another quality start for the Haighters, giving up just two hits over seven scoreless innings. The Slammers need their 'pen to pick it up this weekend. Bryan Shaw and Jim Johnson have given up a combined four runs over 2.1 innings.

Young Alex Cobb has been the one pitcher in this series that has earned his paycheck. Cobb allowed just one run over 6.1 innings and has the only quality start recorded by either team. Both teams have ERAs over 5.00. The Fishes have a league-worst 1.58 WHIP and both teams have zero net saves/holds. The Fishes have four starts remaining while the Cys have three. At the plate, first baseman Brandon Belt is leading the Cys. Belt is 4-for-9 with a home run, three RBI, and three runs scored and he's struck out just once. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has also been strong, going 5-for-10 with three walks while driving in five runs. Outfielder Melky Cabrera has led the Vicious Fishes, scoring four times while going 5-for-8. The team is waiting for slugger Prince Fielder to get going this week. Fielder is just 2-for-13 with three strikeouts and he's hit into two double plays.

Jason Vargas has the Jersey Boys on the verge of another upset. Vargas allowed just five hits and two runs over seven innings while striking out seven batters. The Jersey Boys are 3-for-5 in quality start attempts while the Bulls are 2-for-5. Offensively, the Bulls can't buy a hit this week. The team is last in OBP (.267) has just two homers and 12 RBI while striking out 28 times and hitting into four double plays. Yuniesky Betancourt's coach is turning back into a pumpkin, as he's 1-for-13 with four strikeouts and a GIDP. Carlos Gomez and David Freese are a combined 5-for-27 with eight strikeouts. Shortstop Jean Segura is the one player hitting for the Bulls. He's 6-for-19 with a home run and four stolen bases. The biggest surprise in this series was the rare dud turned in by pitcher Justin Verlander for the Jersey Boys. Verlander gave up eight runs and lasted just 2.2 innings.

This series has not been a thing of beauty. The Mirrors can thank Stephen Strasburg that the team is not entering the weekend without a quality start and more blown saves than actual saves. The Mirrors will have starters Scott Diamond, Ervin Santana, and Scott Feldman (pride of the College of San Mateo) pitching on Saturday. The team's 'pen, which has been one of the league's best, has blown two saves. Charlie Furbush did so in spectacular style, allowing a hit, walking three batters, and giving up two runs while recording just one out. Home Run 101 is just 2-for-4 in quality start attempts with Wandy Rodriguez turning in the best performance, striking out five over seven innings while allowing just one run. Offensively, Home Run 101 has just two homers, 13 RBI, and 13 runs scored. Anthony Rizzo and Aramis Ramirez are a combined 2-for-23. The Mirrors have been led at the plate this week by veteran Todd Helton. Helton is 4-for-10 with a home run and four RBI.

It's a Wild Wild West Division

For the past two seasons, the South Division has been the strongest in the SFRRC Fantasy Baseball League. But through the first six weeks of 2013, the pendulum has swung to the West.

If the playoffs were to start today, every team in the West Division would qualify. Ironically, Clay Buchholz is the only player in the division ranked in the Top 10 but the West has its share of stars. Closer Jason Grilli is the top-ranked reliever in the league. John Buck ranks second at catcher. Chris Davis is the top-rated first baseman and Chase Utley ranks second at the keystone position.

A-Rod's Mirrors and the Vicious Fishes lead the league in home runs. They are also the top two teams in RBI. The division features three of the top four bullpens in the league and the Vicious Fishes have one of the best starting staffs.

With four very good teams in the division, it's going to be a bruising pennant race in the West this summer.

HUMA has emerged as the South Division leader and has the third best record in the league. Shin-Soo Choo is the top-ranked outfielder and trails only Miguel Cabrera in terms of offensive value. HUMA leads the league in runs scored and Choo leads the team with 29, tied for second in the league. The Menehunes are second in the rugged West Division and pushed one of the league's best teams, the Lower Haighters, to the edge last week. The team is third in K/9 and has lost the category just once this season. It also leads the league in net saves and holds, with Jason Grilli emerging as the top closer. The Menehunes are coming off that heart-breaking 7-6 loss to the Lower Haighters while HUMA defeated the Cys in Week 6. HUMA has won two of the four meetings with the Menehunes and tied another but the Menehunes won last year's meeting, 6-5-1. Baseball Monster forecasts another extremely close series between these teams with K/9, innings pitched, and OBP the key categories. Baseball Monster Prediction: HUMA 7-6.

The Jersey Boys shocked the league last week by destroying the Eephus Monkeys, 10-2-1. It was the first time the Monkeys had lost 10 or more categories since falling to Los Coches Bomba 11-1 in Week 20 of the 2010 season. It also marked the largest margin of victory for the Jersey Boys since a 10-1-1 drubbing of Twinkle Toes in the final week of the season last year. Now they face a Bulls team they've never defeated in three meetings. While the Bulls lost last week to division rival Bacon at Mile 11, they did maintain a slim lead in the North Division pennant race. Offensively, the Bulls have been strong in OBP and net stolen bases, losing both categories just once this season. Outfielders Starling Marte, Carlos Gomez, and shortstop Jean Segura have combined for 20 net stolen bases. The Jersey Boys are looking for some power at the plate. They've won the home run category once this year and have yet to win the RBI category. Justin Verlander and Kyle Kendrick lead a Jersey Boys pitching staff that has lost the innings pitched and quality start categories just once this season. Baseball Monster Prediction: The Bulls 9-2-2.

The Monkeys are licking their wounds after getting thrashed by the Jersey Boys, 10-2-1 last week. It was their worst loss since being drubbed 11-1 by Los Coches Bomba in Week 20 of the 2010 season. Despite the series loss, the team remains at the top of the East Division pennant race and is tied for the best record in the league with the Lower Haighters. It wasn't much better for Los Coches Bomba last week. They lost 7-6 to High Cheese and, in the process, lost their lead in the South Division. They've now lost three straight series and have fallen to fifth in the overall standings. The Monkeys have defeated Bomba in three of their four meetings, including a 6-5-1 victory in Week 17 last year. This is a different Bomba than we've seen in the past. They've scored more runs than their opponents just once this season. They've won the home run and RBI categories just twice. While they aren't hitting, they are pitching. Bomba has won the innings pitched and K/9 categories in five of their six series. But the Monkeys can also pitch. They haven't lost the K/9 category this year and have won innings pitched four times. The difference may be at the plate, where the Monkeys appear stronger than Bomba. Baseball Monster Prediction: Eephus Monkeys 8-4-1.

The Lower Haighters are now tied for the best record in the league after defeating the Marin Menehunes 7-6 in a backyard brawl of a West Division rivalry series last week. The Slammers lost 8-5 to East Division rival Twinkle Toes but gained ground in the pennant race as the Monkeys were hammered by the Jersey Boys. The Slammers are looking for their first series win over the Haighters. Last year, the Haighters defeated the Slammers 8-3-1. This series could be decided on the base paths, where neither team has flourished this season. Each team has won the net stolen bases category just twice in 2013. Both teams are very patient at the plate, with the Slammers winning the strikeout category four times while the Haighters are a perfect 6-0. They are third and fourth in the league respectively in the fewest number of strikeouts. The pitching staffs are built differently, with the Slammers loading up on starting pitchers and the Haighters on relievers. These are two playoff-caliber teams, so expect a close series. Baseball Monster Prediction: Lower Haighters 7-6.

On paper, this series looks like a mismatch. Bacon has the edge in most statistical categories, but, of course, the game won't be played on paper (well, technically, it will). High Cheese is coming off an inspirational 7-6 victory over South Division rival Los Coches Bomba. It was the team's first victory over the defending league champs in four meetings and only the third series win in nine tries against their division rivals. Bacon defeated the Bulls 6-5-1 and gained a game in the North Division pennant race. Bacon has defeated High Cheese in two of the three series they've played, including a 6-5-1 win last year. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez has been a pain in the neck for High Cheese. The slugger has missed games due to a strained neck but the injury isn't serious enough to warrant a stint on the DL. Gonzalez is the team's highest rated offensive player and he's needed in the lineup as both teams have struggled to win the home run category this year. Starting pitcher Brandon Morrow is fighting a similar pain in the neck for Bacon and is a big reason the team has won the innings pitched and K/9 categories four times in six series. Baseball Monster Prediction: Bacon at Mile 11 11-1-1.

Which of these two teams will find a way to get on base in this series? The Fishes have a .321 OBP and have won the category twice while the Cys have a .320 OBP and have one win in the category. Strikeouts will be another key category, as the Fishes have 299 Ks on the season while the Cys have 290. Both owners may want to close their eyes when Rickie Weeks and Alex Gordon come to the plate. The Vicious Fishes scored a huge 7-4-2 victory over A-Rod's Mirrors last week, only the team's third series win in nine tries against their West Division rival. The Cys fell 7-4-2 to HUMA. The Cys have to be happy to see the Fishes. They've won all five series, including last year's 6-5-1 win. On the mound, the teams are evenly matched in terms of innings pitched. The Fishes have 10 more innings pitched than the Cys over the first six weeks. Baseball Monster Prediction: Vicious Fishes 8-3-2.

The name of the game offensively for both teams this week is to avoid the double play. They are virtually even in the category, with Twinkle Toes hitting into just four more double plays on the season than Give it a Yankee. For the Toes, Michael Morse is the biggest offender, hitting into six GIDPs while Neil Walker and Mike Napoli have each hit into five for Give it a Yankee. Twinkle Toes gained huge ground in the East Division pennant race last week with a crucial 8-5 victory over the Slammers while the division leading Monkeys were getting belted. Give it a Yankee had a much needed 8-4-1 victory over Home Run 101 and gained ground in the North Division pennant race. Give it a Yankee has never lost to the Toes, winning all four series including last year's 7-4-1 victory. This is an important early-season matchup for both teams as they look to build momentum. It's going to be close. Baseball Monster Prediction: Too close to call, 5-5-3.

This series could come down to Wei-Yin Chen's strained oblique. Baseball Monster views innings pitched as a tossup category in a tight series so Chen's start is crucial. At the same time, Home Run 101 will welcome back ace Johnny Cueto, who returns from injury. Home Run 101 is reeling after an 8-4-1 loss to Give it a Yankee last week while the Mirrors are also looking to rebound after falling to the Vicious Fishes 7-4-2. The Mirrors have defeated Home Run 101 in two of the three series in which they've played, including a 7-3-2 win last year. Offensively, both teams will be looking for a spark from the top of the lineup, as they are in the bottom half of the league in runs scored. Outfielder Angel Pagan leads Home Run 101 with 25 runs while Dan Uggla has scored 24 times for the Mirrors. Home Run 101 appears to have an opportunity to snap their losing streak this week. Baseball Monster Prediction: Too close to call, 5-5-3.

Early Season Surprises and Disappointments

As with every fantasy baseball season, there are early season surprises and disappointments. Let's take a look at several players in both categories.

Surprises

Matt Harvey, SP, Los Coches Bomba - It's not a surprise that Harvey has pitched well, he was a highly-touted prospect who proved he could live up to his press clippings in limited action late last year. The surprise is how good he has been. Through seven starts, Harvey is the top-rated player in fantasy baseball. How ironic. Bomba, a team known for big bats and poor pitching, now has the best pitcher in the league. Harvey is 6-for-7 in quality start attempts with a 1.28 ERA and 0.69 WHIP. He also has a healthy 10.6 K/9 rate. It's doubtful he'll keep up this pace, but Harvey has established himself as an elite pitcher.

Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, Los Coches Bomba - Iwakuma might be a bigger surprise than Harvey. He was good in his first Major League season last year but he's been excellent this year. He's 7-for-8 in quality start attempts with a 1.74 ERA and 0.74 WHIP. His 8.9 K/9 rate is solid. This from a pitcher that many ranking services didn't have listed in the Top 50 to begin the season.

Shin-Soo Choo, OF, HUMA - Choo has All-Star credentials but nobody expected him to be ranked second behind Miguel Cabrera among all hitters. He's a big reason HUMA could be leading the South Division tomorrow. Choo's strength is getting on base. His OBP through 136 at bats is a robust .456. He has seven home runs, the same number as Cabrera, and has scored 29 runs, two more than Cabrera. In a powerful Reds lineup, it wouldn't be surprising to see Choo continue his success for the entire season.

Shelby Miller, SP, Eephus Monkeys - Miller is considered one of the best pitching prospects in the league and, through his first seven starts this season, has shown why. He's 5-for-7 in quality start attempts with a 1.97 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. He has electric stuff by evidence of his 10.1 K/9 rate. If Miller continues at this rate, he'll certainly be a keeper in 2014.

Disappointments

B.J. Upton, OF, A-Rod's Mirrors - Sure, B.J. has always had a high strikeout rate but he had the combination of power and speed that made him extremely valuable in fantasy baseball. While he never reached keeper status because of the Ks, he was an outfielder to target early in the March draft. While he's maintained his high strikeout rate (45 whiffs compared to 14 walks) Upton has flashed little power and no speed. He has just three home runs and zero net stolen bases. He's scored just eight runs for a Braves team is scoring in bunches.

Roy Halladay, SP, The Bulls - Halladay has been an ace for so long that it was scary to see how fast he fell. He was just 3-for-7 in quality start attempts with an 8.65 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. He gave up nine home runs in those seven starts. Predictably, Halladay was hiding a shoulder injury that will likely shelve him for the season.

Josh Hamilton, OF, HUMA - Hamilton is the lowest rated keeper in the league. Through his first 36 games, Hamilton has a .207 batting average, .258 OBP, and has 44 strikeouts compared to eight walks. A recent power surge has him at four home runs but he has just 11 RBI. This is not what Arte Moreno envisioned when he signed Hamilton to a long-term contract in the off-season.

Matt Kemp, OF, The Bulls - It's amazing that the Bulls remain in the pennant chase in the North Division given the number of under-performing players on their roster. Kemp has a grand total of one home run in his first 134 at bats. He's hit into more double plays (7) than he has net stolen bases (5). A player many consider to be one of the top fantasy baseball outfielders is nestled between Houston catcher Jason Castro and stumbling rookie third baseman Jedd Gyorko in the current rankings.

High Cheese Could Send Bomba to a Third Consecutive Loss

Los Coches Bomba has historically had their way with High Cheese in the South Division. Bomba has won six of the eight series including all three last year. In fact, High Cheese was able to win just seven of 36 categories against Bomba in 2012.

But the worm seems to be turning. High Cheese has taken a narrow led in the series thanks to a strong effort by their starting pitchers. They are 4-for-4 in quality start attempts with their ace, Gio Gonzalez, set to pitch on Sunday. Zack McAllister and Jeff Locke combined to allow just one run over 13.2 innings. Like Gonzalez, McAllister will have a second start in the series on Sunday.

If Bomba is unable to rally over the final three days, it will be their third consecutive series loss. And, with HUMA holding a commanding 9-3 lead over the Cys, another series loss for the defending South Division champs will likely see them fall out of first place.

While the starting pitching has been tremendous, High Cheese has had help at the plate from rookie shortstop Didi Gregorius. He's 6-for-15 with a pair of walks and only two strikeouts. Gregorius has also scored four times. The offense has needed help as outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is just 2-for-16 this week while catcher Victor Martinez has just two at bats. It should be noted that from Bomba's perspective, this series is far from decided. Three categories - home runs, net stole bases, and net saves/holds - are tied. Bomba also has five starts remaining compared to three for High Cheese. The turning point could come tonight as Jeff Samardzija, Hisashi Iwakuma, and Ross Detwiler take the mound for the defending champs. Offensively, Bomba has struggled this week. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval is 3-for-15 with three strikeouts and he's hit into three double plays. First baseman Daniel Murphy is 1-for-11 and he was caught stealing. Andrew McCutchen, who is off to a slow start for Bomba, has led the team at the plate, going 7-for-12 with a stolen base.

Little separates these West Division rivals heading into the final three days of this series. They are tied in quality starts and WHIP and separated by one in home runs and net saves/holds. The Mirrors have five starts remaining while the Fishes have four, beginning tonight with Alex Cobb facing the woeful Padres at home. Sunday is the key day for the Mirrors. Scott Diamond, Ervin Santana, and Wei-Yin Chen all take the mound. The Mirrors need to find a way to get on base if they are going to win this series. The team's .274 OBP is lowest in the league this week. Outfielder Nelson Cruz is just 1-for-12 in the series and has yet to draw a walk. The Fishes are second in the league in quality starts and are second in innings pitched behind Twinkle Toes. The team is 4-for-5 in quality start attempts, with only Clay Buchholz failing. Outfielder Alex Gordon has carried the offense for the Fishes, going 7-for-17 with three home runs, five RBI, and five runs scored.

The Jersey Boys are at it again. They are standing toe-to-toe with the East Division leaders thanks to a red-hot offense that leads the league in on-base percentage this week. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt and catcher Ryan Doumit have done most of the damage. They are a combined 13-for-30 with six home runs and 13 RBI. Tonight will be important for the Monkeys as six pitchers are scheduled to start. No more starters are scheduled to take the mound for the rest of the series so they'll need at least four quality starts tonight. The bullpen has been exceptional for the Monkeys to begin this series. They've been a key component of the team's 11.91 K/9 rate, which is second highest in the league. Young shortstop Andrelton Simmons has led the Monkeys at the plate. He's 9-for-18 with a pair of home runs and five RBI.With the Monkeys clinging two a two point lead in the RBI category, the Jersey Boys desperately need third baseman Will Middlebrooks to wake up. He's just 2-for-11 with three strikeouts.

The Menehunes traditionally play the Lower Haighters tough and this series is no exception. Every offensive category is up for grabs with the possible exception of strikeouts, where the Menehunes have been prolific this week, as they are tied for the second most Ks in the league. The same holds true in the pitching categories. The Lower Haighters are four starts remaining while the Menehunes have three with the big day on the mound for both teams coming on Sunday. That's when Kris Medlen and Ryan Dempster start for the Haighters and Tim Lincecum and Andrew Cashner go for the Menehunes. Lance Lynn had the single best performance in this series when he struck out eight batters over seven innings for the Menehunes earlier this week. The Haighters have kept things close by going 4-for-4 in quality start attempts. The Menehunes continue to dominate the 'pen, earning six saves/holds in the first four days of this series. Casey Janssen is perfect, pitching two scoreless innings while striking out two batters to earn two saves.

It's been an interesting start to the series for HUMA this week. They lead the league in net stolen bases, are second in innings pitched, but also lead the league in strikeouts. Third baseman Brett Lawrie has already struck out six times. Meanwhile, the Cys have scored 18 runs, tied for second most in the league, but have converted on just two of their first five quality start attempts. HUMA will see their lead in quality starts and innings pitched disappear this weekend as they have no more starters scheduled while the Cys have four, including ace Yu Darvish. Offensively, HUMA has been led by second baseman Jose Altuve. He's 6-for-12 with a home run and a stolen base. Shortstop Alcides Escobar will need to lift his game this weekend. He's just 1-for-18 and has ground into two double plays. Closer Glen Perkins has been a machine for the Cys this week. He's pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four of the six batters he's faced. The team needs first baseman Brandon Belt to contribute over the weekend. The inconsistent Belt is just 3-for-13 in this series.

The battle for first place in the North Division is close. Six of the seven offensive categories are up in the air. Bacon has an advantage in innings pitched and quality starts on the mound with both teams scheduled to start two pitchers over the weekend. The Bulls continue to lose pitchers to injury at a frightening rate. The latest was closer J.J. Putz, who is down with an elbow injury. At the plate, Bacon has been running into double plays all week. The team leads the league with six in four days and second baseman Dustin Pedroia has two. Recently acquired second baseman Dustin Ackley also has a GIDP to go with his 1-for-8 and two strikeouts. Outfielder Hunter Pence has just four hits in 15 at bats for the Bulls but two of those hits left the yard and he's stolen a base. The team now needs David Freese and Matt Holliday to wake up. They are a combined 2-for-14 with two double plays.

The slide continues for Home Run 101. This is eerily reminiscent of 2011, when the team won its first two series only to lose six of its next seven. Give it a Yankee leads every pitching category but both teams are loaded for the weekend. Give it a Yankee has five starters scheduled and Home Run 101 has four. Part of Home Run 101s recent slump can be attributed to injuries to pitchers. Starters Johnny Cueto and James McDonald and relievers Vinnie Pestano and Kyuji Fujikawa are all on the Disabled List. Of course, it would help if other pitchers would step up to fill the void. Closer Sergio Romo had a rare blown save this week while starter Kevin Correia couldn't get out of the fifth inning in his start. The team does have its power-hitting corner infielders firing on all cylinders as Anthony Rizzo and Aramis Ramirez are a combined 10-for-20 with two home runs. Outfielder Vernon Wells has been terrific for Give it a Yankee this week, going 5-for-12 with a home run and a stolen base in his first three games.

You can bet both teams are happy to see the Jersey Boys scrapping with the East Division leading Monkeys this week. It gives the winner of this series an opportunity to gain ground. For the Toes, it's the same story. They lead the league in innings pitched but have the worst ERA. They are 4-for-7 in quality start attempts with Ryan Vogelsong, Jeremy Hellickson, and Madison Bumgarner allowing a combined 14 runs in their first three starts this week. The Toes still have five starts remaining in this series but what the team could really use to balance its pitching staff is a few good relievers. The Slammers have seen excellent production from their 'pen this week and are tied for second in net saves/holds. Heath Bell and Jim Johnson have earned a combined five saves while tossing five shutout innings. At the plate, young Evan Gattis has cooled off for the Slammers. He's just 1-for-11 with five strikeouts and a GIDP in his first three games. The Toes have been led by veteran third baseman Evan Longoria, who is 9-for-17 with two home runs and eight RBI.

Week 6 Preview: Bulls, Bacon Set to Lock Horns

Following a record-setting performance in Week 5, the Bulls are back on top of the North Division and ready to face their bitter rival, Bacon at Mile 11.

The offensive records were falling last week as outfielder Carlos Gomez and Starling Marte exploded for the Bulls. The team tied the Jersey Boys for the most runs scored in a week this season with 43. They also set the all-time record for the most home runs in a week with 20. The Bulls lead the league in net stolen bases but has ground into more double plays than any team in the league (we won't talk about that last one).

But for all of its offensive prowess, the team is desperately searching for pitching. It leads the league in K/9 with a 10.67 mark but is last in innings pitched and quality starts. The Bulls have yet to win the innings pitched category this season.

Before we get into this week's series previews, I was asked a week ago how much detail goes into the Baseball Monster predictions. A lot. The site looks at the history between each pitcher and hitter that will face each other for the coming week, including the righty/lefty matchups. In addition, they factor in the home ballparks. A pitcher starting at Coors Field will be downgraded while a hitter will benefit. It's one reason these predictions are so accurate.

With that, here's a look at Week 6.

 Offensively, this is a matchup of two of the league's heavyweights but on the mound, it could be a mismatch. The Bulls are coming off a 10-3 thrashing of Home Run 101 and lead Bacon by two games in the North Division. It was just the third time in league history that the Bulls won 10 or more categories in a series and they set an all-time record for the number of home runs hit in a series. The offensive onslaught has been sparked by outfielder Carlos Gomez and Starling Marte. They are the top-rated players in the league over the last two weeks. Bacon earned a hard-fought 7-4-2 victory over Give it a Yankee, just the second series win in ten tries against their division rival. Felix Hernandez and Patrick Corbin have been excellent on the mound the past two weeks for Bacon, and that's where the mismatch lies in this series. The Bulls are last in the league in quality starts and innings pitched. Bacon has lost three straight series to the Bulls but they've all been extremely close. Very little has separated these two North Division rivals, as the Bulls have won just three more categories than Bacon over eight meetings. That should change this week unless the Bulls find some pitching. Baseball Monster Prediction: Bacon at Mile 11 10-2-1.

The Mirrors emerged from Week 5 with a 6-6-1 tie with the Menehunes and are now tied for second in the West Division, three games behind the Lower Haighters. The Fishes were pounded by the Haighters, 9-3-1, and are now seven games out of first place. It marked the second consecutive time the Haighters have won at least nine categories when playing the Fishes. Offensively, both the Mirrors and Fishes are striking out at an alarming rate and have virtually no speed on the base paths. Through five weeks, the Mirrors are the only team in the league without a net stolen base. What they do have is a hot pitcher. Cole Hamels, who struggled to begin the season, has rattled off three straight quality starts, allowing just five earned runs over his last 22 innings. The Fishes will counter with Clay Buchholz, who has two consecutive quality starts and has struck out 18 batters over his last 14.2 innings. Never mind the goop on his arm. The Mirrors swept the Vicious Fishes in three meetings last year and have won six of the eight series between their West Division rival over the last three years. That could end this week, as the Fishes are a slight favorite with at least six categories too close to call. Baseball Monster Prediction: Vicious Fishes, 6-4-3.

These two teams tangled during the keeper draft over rules so a natural rivalry is blossoming. We'll do our best to fan the flames. The Monkeys have the largest division lead in the league, 9.5 games over the Slammers. They are coming off an 11-2 thrashing of Twinkle Toes, the most lopsided series victory in team history and only the third time the Monkeys have won 10+ categories in a week. Two of those blowouts have come in the last four weeks. The Jersey Boys upset the Slammers 7-5-1 and have extricated themselves from the league cellar. If you like pitching, you'll love this series. Justin Verlander has allowed just two runs over his last 21 innings and is working on a string of three consecutive quality starts for the Jersey Boys. The Monkeys are led by young Tony Cingrani and veteran Anibal Sanchez. The wildcard could be the oldest player on the field, Juan Pierre. If Pierre gets on base, he could steal the net stolen base category for the Jersey Boys by himself. The Monkeys took it to the Jersey Boys in 2012, sweeping the three meetings, including a 9-2-1 beatdown in Week 14. The Jersey Boys have beaten the Monkeys just twice in seven meetings since 2010. While this Jersey Boys team struggled early, they've rebounded over the last two weeks and are a pesky, dangerous, team. They won't go down easy for their division rival. Baseball Monster Prediction: Eephus Monkeys 4-4-5.

There are series losses and then there are debacles. The Toes are coming off a humiliating 11-2 thrashing by the Monkeys and have fallen to third in the East Division, 12 games out of first place. How bad was the loss? It was the first time in team history the Toes lost 11 categories in a series and only the second time they've lost more than10. It wasn't much better for the Slammers in Week 5. They were upset by the Jersey Boys, 7-5-1, and are now 9.5 games behind the Monkeys in the race to defend their division pennant. The Slammers will bring two hot pitchers into this series, Kevin Slowey and Jordan Zimmerman. They are 5-for-5 in quality start attempts over the past two weeks and Zimmerman hasn't given up a run in his last 17 innings pitched. Buster Posey is hot for the Toes, a team that sits third in the league in home runs and RBI. Posey has three home runs and 11 RBI in his last 40 at-bats. Twinkle Toes couldn't beat the Slammers last year, losing twice and tying once. The Slammers now hold a 4-3-1 advantage over their East Division rivals, though it's been a hard-fought rivalry, with the Toes winning 42 categories, the Slammers winning 46, and the teams tying eight. Baseball Monster sees no reason why this matchup should be any different. Baseball Monster Prediction: Scully's Slammers 6-6-1.

The Menehunes tied A-Rod's Mirrors last week, 6-6-1. It was only the second time in nine meetings that the Menhunes were able to win or tie a series with the Mirrors and it kept the team tied for second in the West Division standings. The Lower Haighters are coming off a 9-3-1 thumping of the Vicious Fishes and have taken a three game lead in the division. The Menehunes have struggled offensively, ranking last in runs scored and home runs, but they've added outfielder Nate McLouth who is on a roll. McLouth has three home runs and five stolen bases over the last two weeks. Believe it or not, the Lower Haighters are being led by a 20-year-old third baseman, Manny Machado. Machado has three home runs, 10 RBI, and 12 runs scored in his last 60 at-bats. No team in the West Division has played the Lower Haighters tougher than the Menehunes. They've won three of the eight meetings, including two of the three played between the teams last year. Their lack of firepower could be their undoing this year. Baseball Monster Prediction: Lower Haighters 10-0-3.

HUMA scored a big win, 7-6, over High Cheese last week. It was the first series win for the team in three weeks and they've now moved to within one game of Los Coches Bomba in the South Division pennant race. The Cys are coming off a 9-3-1 dismantling of the defending league champions, Bomba. It was the team's largest margin of victory ever against Bomba and marked the fourth consecutive meeting between the two South Division rivals that the Cys have either won or tied. The Cys continue to be led by pitcher Yu Darvish. He has struck out 34 batters over his last 19 innings. HUMA will hope their own hot pitcher, Jeremy Guthrie, can match Darvish. Guthrie has not given up a run over his last 15.2 innings. HUMA has won five of its eight series with the Cys including two of three in 2012. The Cys did defeat HUMA in their final meeting last year, winning 7-4-1. HUMA should be too strong offensively. Baseball Monster Prediction: HUMA 8-5-0.

Bomba is slowly watching its lead in the South Division melt away. They were hammered 9-3-1 by the Cys last week, their worst defeat since losing nine categories to Give it a Yankee in Week 17 of the 2011 season. High Cheese lost a closely contested series to HUMA, 7-6, and has now dropped three of its past four series to fall into the South Division cellar. Luckily, they are only 5.5 games out. Third baseman Miguel Cabrera is getting hot and could power Bomba to a much-needed series win this week. He has four home runs and 18 RBI in his last 12 games. High Cheese added one of the hottest free-agent pitchers to its roster for this week's series. Jeff Locke has two quality starts in his last three games and has given up just three runs over his last 18 innings. Historically, Bomba has dominated High Cheese, winning six of the eight series. The defending league champions swept High Cheese in three meetings last year, winning at least seven categories in each series. High Cheese has been competitive this year and Baseball Monster expects a close contest. Baseball Monster Prediction: Los Coches Bomba 7-5-1.

It's all falling apart for Home Run 101. They are coming off their second consecutive 10-3 defeat, this time to the Bulls. For a team that has seen its share of woes, this is the first time in franchise history it has lost 10 categories or more in back-to-back weeks. Home Run 101 has lost three straight series, is now nine games out in the North Division pennant race, and has fallen back into the confines of the league cellar. Give it a Yankee is coming off a tough 7-4-2 loss to Bacon at Mile 11 and is now 7.5 games back in the North Division. It's the fourth consecutive series loss for the team after it opened the season with a win. While they are in a free-fall, Give it a Yankee does boast the best player in this series, pitcher Clayton Kershaw. He's struck out 22 batters in his last 20 innings while giving up just three runs. It's probably time for Home Run 101 to unwrap their latest youngster, third baseman Nolan Arenado. He's been the team's best player over the past week, hitting three home runs in his last seven games. Arenado is certainly not helping the team nailed to the bench. Home Run 101 defeated Give it a Yankee in two of their three meetings last year but Give it a Yankee holds a 4-3-1 advantage in the eight series played over the past three years. When these two teams last met in Week 22 last year, Home Run 101 posted a resounding 8-2-2 victory. Baseball Monster expects Give it a Yankee to continue Home Run 101's slide, but it's going to be close. Baseball Monster Prediction: Give it a Yankee 6-5-2.