It's Memorial Day which means it's time to panic if your in the bottom of the standings in your fantasy leagues. Okay hold on and let me explain what I mean by panic. First off don't get nervous, we're only in the 8th week of the fantasy season. You have at least 12 more weeks before most of your head to head leagues enter the playoffs and about 4 months left in roto leagues. The regular season ends in early October but if you want to be relevant, now is the time to evaluate your roster. I've seen crazier comebacks throughout the years in my roto leagues and I've heard stories of teams having overcome 50 plus point deficits. For most of my leagues last year I entered the final 4 weeks in the middle of the standings and I ended up finishing 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd and 3rd in my 5 leagues (4 roto, 2 were head to head, and one head to head keeper points league). I made some great runs in the last 45 days or so due to some key pick ups (mostly Javier Vasquez). Understand that when I say panic, I mean it's time to fix your flaws via trades and free agency. If you'r in a fantasy league with me the best way to talk trade is through twitter @Awies28 but if your in a league with a bunch of muckity mucks, I'd use email and the message boards to start up trade talks. Keep in mind, your ESPN league has a trading block tab that makes it clear who you are shopping and what you would like in return. 

Now getting to my hitter rankings. A lot has changed, as of late, with some hitters heating up and cooling off. If you would like to see last week's hitter rankings click here. 

May 28th Hitter Rankings 
1. Ryan Braun MIL (1) 
2. Miguel Cabrera DET (2)
3. Josh Hamilton TEX (4)
4. Joey Votto CIN (3)
5. Carlos Gonzalez COL (5)
6. Jose Bautista TOR (6)
7. Matt Kemp LAD (9)

Kemp will return tomorrow against the Brewers in LA. He appears ready to go as the MVP candidate homered in his first minor league rehab game.  

8. Dustin Pedroia BOS (7)
9. Troy Tulowitzki COL (8)
10. Ian Kinsler TEX (11)
11. Robinson Cano NYY (13)

Three second basemen make my top 11 this year. It's anyone's guess who will finish on top. Let me know who you think will have a better season between Pedroia, Kinsler and Cano through twitter @Awies28 

12. Prince Fielder DET (14)
13. Curtis Granderson NYY (12)
14. Andrew McCutchen PIT (15)

McCutchen continued his recent tear lately smashing his 8th homer of the season this past Sunday against the Cubs. Andrew now has 8 long balls, 10 steals and a .339 average on the year. He's 25 years old.

15. David Wright NYM (17)
16. Adrian Gonzalez BOS (10)
17. Hanley Ramirez MIA (19)
18. Adrian Beltre TEX (20)
19. Giancarlo Stanton MIA (22)
20. Adam Jones BAL (24)

Giancarlo has now hit 12 home runs since April 29th (I own him in all of my leagues again this year). At some point 2 home runs in your last 37 games will get you to fall in my rankings. Of course I'm talking about Adrian Gonzalez. I'm still on board with Adrian having MVP (non Hamilton) type numbers but until we see it, I'm moving the 30 year old San Diego native down in my rankings. Adam Jones has continued his incredible money making season (recently signed a 6 year 85.5 million dollar deal) by extending his 18 game hit streak with a double off Luke Hochever on Sunday.

21. Justin Upton ARI (18)
22. Jay Bruce CIN (16)
23. Albert Pujols LAA 1B (26)
24. Paul Konerko CHW (25)
25. Michael Bourn ATL (22)
26. Starlin Castro CHC (24)

Pujols has now hit 4 homers in his last 6 games and has a .227 season average. Over his last 7 days he's hitting .321 and has a .821 slugging percentage. I wouldn't be shocked to see him in my top 20 at the All Star break.

27. Mark Teixeira NYY (27)
28. Elvis Andrus TEX (28)
29. David Ortiz BOS (26)
30. Jose Reyes MIA (29)

Jose Reyes is bringing up his average, like I predicted, and is currently riding a 9 game hit streak, which includes 5 steals. Advice to New Yorkers: don't worry, Mark Teixeira will put up numbers similar to last year it's just the usual slow start prolonged due to an illness he had a few weeks ago.

31. Matt Holliday STL (34)
32. Shane Victorino PHI (36)
33. Dan Uggla ATL (30)
34. Hunter Pence PHI (40)
35. Carlos Beltran STL (38)
36. Edwin Encarnacion TOR (52)
37. Evan Longoria TB (39)
38. Billy Butler KC (44)
39. Eric Hosmer KC (41)
40. Brett Lawrie TOR (31)
41. Matt Weiters BAL (33)
44. Carlos Santana CLE (32)
45. Nelson Cruz TEX (45)
46. Andre Ethier LAD (47)

Carlos Santana is on the 7 day DL and is a bit of a wild card for the next few weeks. Monitor him closely. Dan Uggla homered off of Stephen Strasburg last week becoming the first big leaguer to have multiple long balls off Strasburg (he has 3 if you include his spring training shot entering the season). 

47. Mike Napoli TEX (35)
48. Shin Soo Choo CLE (66)
49. Corey Hart MIL (46)
50. Jason Heyward ATL (37)
51. Ben Zobrist TB (54)
52. Derek Jeter NYY (42)
53. Brian McCann ATL (43)
54. Martin Prado ATL (55)
55. Asdrubal Cabrera CLE (50)
56. Michael Cuddyer COL (48)
57. Buster Posey SF (53) 
59. Alex Rodriguez NYY (49)
60. Melky Cabrera SF (61)

Keep an eye on Melky, Zobrist and Choo over the next few weeks, their about to go off.

61. Michael Young TEX (51)
62. Brandon Phillips CIN (62) 
63. Chris Young ARI (64)
64. Ryan Zimmerman WAS (67)
65. Alex Gordon KC (59)
66. B.J. Upton TB (75)
67. Austin Jackson DET* (85)
68. Kelly Johnson TOR (92)
69. J.J. Hardy BAL (93)

Hardy is heating up and because his average, OBP, slugging, BABIP and isolated power rating are all similar to last year, a repeat of 30 homers and 80 RBI's is possible. In fact, I'd be shocked if he finishes under 27 homers and 75 RBI's. 

70. Mike Trout LAA (94)
71. Joe Mauer MIN (69)
72. Jason Kipnis CLE (80)
73. Jimmy Rollins PHI (56)
74. Pablo Sandoval SF* (57)
75. Yadier Molina STL (72)
76. Freddie Freeman ATL (60)
77. Nick Swisher NYY (65)
78. Josh Willingham MIN (82)
79. Nick Markakis BAL (88)
80. Adam Dunn CHW (95)
81. Matt Joyce TB (68)
82. Emilio Bonifacio MIA* (76)

Bonifacio will miss 4-6 weeks with thumb surgery. The good news is that a thumb issue shouldn't affect him stealing bases upon his return.

Big Risers: Trout +24, Dunn +15, K. Johnson +24, Hardy +24, A. Jackson +18
Big Fallers: Rollins -17, Joyce -13, Sandoval -17, Swisher -12, M. Young -10

83. Ichiro Suzuki SEA (77)
84. Angel Pagan SF (99)
85. Josh Reddick OAK (NR)
86. David Freese STL (63)
87. Howard Kendrick LAA (73)
88. Bryce Harper WSH (91)
89. Desmond Jennings TB* (74)
90. Rafael Furcal STL (84)
91. Jesus Montero SEA (86)

Angel Pagan's .329 BABIP calls for a bit of regression but double digit power and 30 plus steals is likely to happen.

92. Aramis Ramirez MIL (87)
93. Cameron Maybin SD (79)
94. Brett Gardner NYY* (78)
95. Michael Morse WAS* (81)
96. Jose Altuve HOU (100)
97. Alejandro De Aza CHW (NR)

De Aza is on track for a career year but don't get him confused with a power hitter, he's a speed guy not a power threat. His homers this year have come off Cleveland's Josh Tomlin (4.99 ERA this year) and Dan Wheeler (sent to Triple A), Baltimore's Tommy Hunter (5.07 ERA this year) and Minnesota's Brian Duensing (coming off surgery and is a middle reliever).

98. Mark Trumbo LAA (NR)
99. Jed Lowrie HOU (NR)
100. Mike Aviles BOS (NR)

I mentioned Jed Lowrie on the May 26th show as someone you need to go pick up right now. I think I may have predicted him for 20 homers, listen to show to find out.




Thanks again guys, stay tuned for new pitcher ranks being released shortly.
@Awies28

Alex Wiesner