This has been an interesting week for the Kansas City Royals. Alberto Callaspo is gone, traded to the Angels where he started his career. David DeJesus is done for the season. He will have surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right thumb. DeJesus was in many trade discussions, but it is now unknown if he would have remained with the Royals or not. This week the Royals host Minnesota for three games and Baltimore for a four game series.

Zach Greinke is on schedule to have two starts this week. He has pitched much better as of late. In his last seven starts, he is 6-1 with 47 strikeouts while issuing eight walks. Greinke pitched decently against Baltimore this year but not so well against Minnesota. Those two starts were before his recent turn around. Due to a two start week, Greinke should be active in all formats. Joakim Soria has continued to have a decent season. Even with rare save opportunities, he has been one of the best closers. The one thing I look for in relievers is if they average over a strikeout per inning pitched. Soria has 47 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched. He holds a 2.25 ERA and 1.20 WHIP and still remains a must start in all fantasy formats. Billy Butler has a .298 batting average against Minnesota and Baltimore in his career. If not for his .314 average, I would suggest sitting Butler. He does not have the overall number I am looking for from a first baseman but is worth starting in most formats. As of now, you know what you are going to get with Butler.

Jose Guillen has hit Minnesota and Baltimore very well this season with a .361 batting average in 11 games. He has the ability to hit for power and knock in a few runs. I would only start him this week if you need to fill a spot for an injury, other than that I would sit him. He is worth the roster spot in deeper mixed leagues and AL only formats. Scott Podsednik is one of those players that do great things during the game to help his team but as far as fantasy goes, there isn’t much there. For fantasy, he will help the batting average (.338 in July), give plenty of stolen bases, and throw in a few triples. He is worth a roster spot in deep mixed and AL only leagues.

Just called up:

Rick Ankiel is someone I would not even dream of picking up at the moment. He is not worth the roster spot until he can give some production. Alex Gordon on the other hand is worth picking up in deep mixed leagues. He tore apart Triple-A pitching this season. Even though Gordon has not lived up to the hype and high expectations put on him during college and minor leagues, he is still young enough to recover from a disastrous start in the Major Leagues. He is eligible to play third base so if you need help at that position, Gordon could be your answer.

Fantasy Minor League Profile of the week:

The Fantasy Profile of the Week is John Lamb. He was selected in the 5^th round (No. 145 overall) of the June 2008 First-Year Player Draft. Lamb is currently a starting pitcher for the Single-A Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Carolina League. He has been a surprise this season while being one of the best pitchers in Single-A if not all of the Minor Leagues. In 6 games since June 17th, Lamb is 4-0, allowing only 2 earned runs in 35 2/3 innings pitched. He has struck out 46 while giving up 4 walks. Lamb is a pitcher on the rise and if available, I recommend picking up immediately. He is a terrific long term keeper since he most likely will not reach the Major Leagues until 2013 at the earliest.

The Cardinals have Monday off then will travel to New York to take on the Mets for three games and return home to take on Pittsburgh for a 3 game series. As always the Cardinals have plenty of fantasy value and it will continue this week.

Albert Pujols might have a career low batting average right now but all other numbers are very productive. He still ranks towards the top in all of fantasy. Do not even think about sitting him. As always, Pujols should be active in all formats. Matt Holliday continued his hot hitting last week by ending it with a 11 games hit streak. There seems to be no slowing down for Holliday now. In July he is batting .314 with 7 home runs, 19 RBI’s, and scoring 12 runs. Another bonus for this week, Holliday is batting .571 against Pittsburgh and New York this season. He is an elite outfielder and should be active in all formats.

Colby Rasmus has done little to get back into the swing of things since returning from injury. Since the All-Star break, he is hitting .107 with 0 home runs and 1 RBI. Rasmus is healthy now and will have to hit his way out of the slump. Overall season numbers are still above average but until he starts to hit like he was pre-All-Star game, sit him and monitor production. Once he starts to produce, he should be active in most formats. Ryan Ludwick has returned from the disabled list. I would hold off activating him right away. Most likely he will not get a full week of action. Ludwick is a streaky hitter so monitor his production this week. Jon Jay will most likely take away at bats from Rasmus and Ludwick. The way he is hitting the ball, Jay will find more at bats. If you need batting average help, Jay should be activated in NL only or deep mixed leagues as long as he continues to hit the ball like he is now.

Adam Wainwright has a record of 14-5 with an ERA of 1.94 on the season. There has been no pitcher better in July. He is 3-0, with an ERA of 0.31, 22 strikeouts, four walks, and has given up one earned run in 29 innings pitched. Be looking for a possible two start week since Tony La Russa has mentioned he might move him up a day to give Jaime Garcia an extra day of rest. Wainwright is an elite fantasy pitcher and should be active in all formats. Chris Carpenter is scheduled to pitch Saturday against Pittsburgh. His last appearance against the Pirates he struck out eight, walking none while allowing two earned runs over seven innings. Carpenter continues to pitch deep in ball games and should have be active in all formats. Jaime Garcia is scheduled to pitch Tuesday against New York and to be a two start pitcher. As mentioned above, that could change with Garcia moving to Wednesday. He has continued to be a viable fantasy starting pitcher this season. Garcia is 2-0 in July while allowing five earned runs and striking out 20 in 22 2/3 innings pitched. Continue to monitor his productivity for signs of fatigue. Garcia should be active in most fantasy formats. Ryan Franklin has continued to be solid all season. His ERA is currently 3.28 and he still has not allowed an earned run since July 6^th. Franklin has converted 18 of 19 save opportunities. Since he plays for one of the best team in the majors, there should be many save chances to come. Keep him active in all formats.

Fantasy Minor League Profile of the week:

Carlos Matias is the Minor League Profile of the week. He was signed this season during the International Signing Period. Matias is currently a starting pitcher in the Rookie Dominican Summer League. He may not be in the official Minor Leagues right now but is worth mentioning if Cardinal fans do not know who he is. Matias maybe small at 6 foot 165 pounds but can bring the heat with a 99 mph fastball. If you are in a deep keeper league, I recommend picking up Matias now even though he is at least five years away from the Major Leagues.