We tell you who to sit and who to start in setting your hitting line-ups each week. For the top hitters for the week, we focus on questionable hitters that may or may not normally start for you that have favorable schedules this week. We won't bother listing hitters like Pujols, Hanley, or A-Rod in this article, because you always start them, regardless of schedule. Likewise, we won't list lousy hitters in the bottom section, because you'd obviously bench a hitter like David Eckstein playing in PETCO all week without our having to tell you to do so. For the bottom hitters, we focus on the average and better than average (but not star) hitters that you would normally start but have poor schedules this week. Top platoon starts are mostly RHBs playing many LHPs in the upcoming week. Bottom platoon starts are mostly LHBs facing a heavy LHP schedule. Top SB starts play against teams that allow many SBs, and vice versa.

Ask a question about your players in our FORUM. Leave a comment about this article down below.

Top Hitting Starts (#1 being the best)

1. Nyjer Morgan OF WSN (4 @ARI, 3 @LAD) - Something odd is going on in Washington and it's a good kind of odd. It's not that anyone is going to forget the '27 Yankees, or for that matter the 2010, but the Nationals seem a bit reenergized. While Matt Capps was having a great year for the Nats, Drew Storen looks pretty much ready to take over. Jordan Zimmerman is nearly back, Stephen Strasburg appears to have avoided any serious problems and Yunieski Maya has entered the fold - Maya is thought to be ahead of the widely heralded Aroldis Chapman, although not such a hard thrower. Nyjer Morgan is i the middle of nice little eight-game hitting streak where is is batting over .400.  Washington has a full schedule this week and only one Lefty (albeit the difficult to hit Clayton Kershaw). He's a great stolen base threat this week too.
2. Jose Tabata OF PIT (3 CIN, 4 COL) - The diminutive speedster went two-for-four on Sunday to push is average up to .299. and extending his hitting streak to 12. He batted .333 in July and although he got caught four times, attempted  nine steals in 25 games. Pittsburgh has a favourable schedule for the righty Tabata as they face three lefties.
3. David Ortiz 1B BOS (4 CLE, 3 @NYY) - At this point you can't be benching Ortiz as h his ona 10 game hitting streak. Delivered a walk-off three run double and the previous day a ninth inning grand slam that moved the Sawx to within 6-5. He's never going to hit for a high average for a long stretch, but during his current streak he's hit over .300 and has nearly an RBI per game since the all-star break. Ortiz is built for the new Yankee Stadium where he has gone 4-7 with a home run this season ( he was not so good last season, many of those at bats coming during his ice cold start).
4. Alexi Casilla 2B/SS MIN (4 @TAM, 3 @CLE) - Although Joe Mauer's absence for a couple days after a cortisone shot diminishes the Twins offense somewhat. The Twins have favourable matches against the weak part of the Tampa rotation (the rookie Hellickson going Monday, David Price looking recently vulnerable) and then the always welcome site of a Tribe pitching staff. Casilla has gone 10-32 since being called up and replacing the injured Orlando Hudson. He hasn't been turned loose on the bases as yet (batting second) but has been driving the ball. Well worth a look see for temporary speed too.

Top Platoon Starts (#1 being the best) 

1. John Jay OF STL (3 HOU, 3 @FLA) - The Cardinals face no left-handers this week and although Colby Rasmus has shown some life, Tony LaRussa has noticed the efforts of the overachieving Jay and seem to want to keep him in the line-up.  
2. Rick Ankiel OF ATL (3 NYM, 4 SFG) - The braves do face three left-handers, but it Ankiel may draw playing time against both sides. He was 1 of 30 after being activated and before coming over to the Braves at the deadline (he was 0-for-three Sunday). Ankiel's got to be happy to have moved back to the NL and onto the front running Braves.
3. Roger Bernardina OF WSN (4 @ARI, 3 @LAD) - With the single lefty this week, Bernardina doesn't look to miss much time this week and will benefit from a more excited Nationals squad. Barnardina isn't fantasy gold, but is batting largely at the front of the Nats squad that scored egiht, seven and four runs while taking two of three from the Phils.
4. Ryan Spilborghs OF COL (2 SFG, 3 @PIT) - Six game week but four against lefites and they draw the run-producing Pittsburgh team. With Dexter Fowler out after making a crucial catch, Spilborghs gets the playing time.

Top Stolen Base Starts (#1 being the best)

1. Brendan Ryan SS STL (3 HOU, 3 @FLA) - Don't forget the St. Louis shortstop.  He had five six two hit games coming into Sunday where he spoiled that...by getting three hits. Ryan hit .292 last season with 14 steals. 
2. Chris Getz 2B KAN (3 @OAK, 3 @SEA) - More playing time has opened up in Kansas City with the moves of Rick Ankiel and Alberto Callaspo. Getz attempted 5 steals in the week coming into Sunday where he batted lead-off.
3. Scott Podsednik OF LAD (4 SDG, 3 WAS) - Pods gets full time duty at least until Manny Ramirez returns from the DL (August 10 looks to be the earliest), but it could become longer term since Manny's contract would pass through waivers and he could be traded. Pods wants to prove he can play and seven games at home would be a great place to start winning the hearts and minds of the Chavez Ravine faithful.

Bottom Hitting Starts (#1 being the worst)

1. Gaby Sanchez 1B FLA (3 PHI, 3 STL) - Last week we had typed in Gaby as a poor start due to Florida's horrible schedule in San Diego and in San Francisco against the tough Giants rotation. At the last moment we swapped in the struggling rookie Michael Stanton, so naturally Stanton had a great week (seven of 23 with a pair of home runs coming into Sunday) and Gaby the bad one (four of 30). It was a tough week with the injury to Coghlan and the sale of Cantu, but they managed four of seven wins and some decent scoring. But we expect Gaby's struggles to continue and Roy Halladay and Chirs Carpenter to have a say in that.
2. Gregor Blanco OF KAN (3 @OAK, 3 @SEA) - Although a lot of players thrive on energy after being traded. Blanco has no power, really does not run and provides very little fantasy plus even when he is going well. 2 tough ball parks and a short week don;t help.
3. Rajai Davis OF OAK (3 KAN, 3 TEX) - We're not concerned about the matchups nor his skills. This is about the short schedule and the evident time-share with Coco Crisp now playing.
4. Brennan Boesch OF DET (4 CHW, 3 LAA) - Don't miss that the Tigers have a double-header scheduled Tuesday. Boesch had a disastrous July, batting .209. He had previous to this season been a career .260's hitter as a minor leaguer (although posted .350+ numbers in college). Nonetheless he maintained his wonderful performance for a couple of months and may yet adjust and put in some good numbers over the remaining two months. It is, as they say, now "in his bag." But it seems... less likely than before. 

Bottom Platoon Starts (#1 being the worst)

1. Ryan Church OF ARI  (4 WAS, 3 SDG) - Believe us we sympathize completely, but Ryan Church seems unenthusiastic about joing his team and may, perhaps arrive for Tuesday's game (Bobby Crosby who also came over in the Chris Snyder deal played on Sunday). We're concerned that the sale will go on.
2. Michael Morse IF/OF WSN (4 @ARI, 3 @LAD) - Although the versatile Morse has done nothing but excel when he plays, the Nationals only get one lefty this week and that one is the ever-tough (for hits if not walks) Clayton Kershaw.
3. Jim Edmonds OF MIL (3 STL, 3 HOU) - Although the veteran has been going rest two of his three righty opponents are the always tough Chris Carpenter and the white hot Brett Myers.
4. Greg Dobbs 1B/3B PHI (3 @FLA, 3 NYM) - Although Ryan Howard's ankle tweak, although minor, may cost him a couple of games and the Mets rotation may as yet not be set with the three lefties for the weekend, Dobbs makes a questionable pick.

 Bottom Stolen Base Starts (#1 being the worst)

1. Everth Cabrera SS SDG (4 @LAD, 3 @ARI) - With the acquisition of Miguel Tejada, Cabrera has been sent down to Portland **Update** Cabrera was NOT sent out, but remains a poor play off the bench.
2. Andrew McCutchen OF PIT (3 CIN, 4 COL) - Although he is evidently being allowed to run, McCutchen is still banged up and faces the formidable Hanigan and Olivo for a part of the games anyway. 
3. Ryan Theriot SS/2B LAD (4 SDG, 3 WAS) - It looks as if the newly acquired Theriot will bat between Scott Podsednik and Rafael Furcal which probably means he will not be allowed to run that much. He also gets the tough Yorvit Torrealba and Ivan Rodriguez.