This week's action puts a new group of stars in the spotlight, from Arizona's ace delivering, to an Astro who might be ready to lift off when Houston heads to New York later this week. Who is the hitter or pitcher you need to follow? What's the rumor you need to know about for its impact on your team's postseason hopes? Who is the fantasy asset you want to have in your lineup? And who is the Ranger whose slow rehab from injury you need to keep tabs on?
The pitcher whose start you should catch: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks. There are four starting rotations currently averaging more than a strikeout per inning: the Red Sox, Indians, Dodgers and Greinke's Diamondbacks, whose 9.55 whiffs per nine innings lead the National League.
One key to the D-backs' whiff-happy staff has been Greinke's turnaround. After struggling during his Arizona debut a season ago, Greinke has reverted to his Cy Young form and will enter his next start on a roll. Over his past four outings, Greinke has struck out 33 while walking just three batters.
If this week's pitching probables hold up, Greinke will face another hot starter in Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole on Thursday. Cole has 31 K's against five walks in his last four starts, so it should be a matchup to watch. -- Bradford Doolittle
The hitter you must watch: Carlos Correa, Houston Astros. The seasonal numbers may not look that impressive, but a slow start to his season featuring a lot of weak contact and a hand injury has muted Correa's recent hot streak at the plate. Correa has already regrouped, putting up a .944 OPS in the past two weeks, as well as a .302 well-hit average that places him in MLB's top 10 over that time.
What's missing is some extra power, but that could come later this week. Correa has three career home runs in Yankee Stadium in five games. You should look forward to seeing his power stroke make a comeback too during the Astros' visit to the Bronx, starting Thursday. -- Christina Kahrl
The rumor you need to follow: Jason Vargas has a chance to become one of the most coveted pitchers of the summer market. Not only is he pitching well -- with a 1.19 ERA in six starts -- but he's relatively inexpensive. The expectation among some executives is that with the compensation-pick rules altered, more teams will look to unload salary before the trade deadline this summer. But Vargas, in the last year of a four-year deal, is making just $8 million, much less than some of the other pitchers who might be available in deals in July. -- Buster Olney
The injury you need to be updated on: Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers. Although hamstring strains are among the most common causes of trips to the disabled list when it comes to lower-extremity injuries, Beltre could make a case for calf strains being equally debilitating. Originally injured in mid-February, the 38-year-old opened the season on the DL and has yet to return to baseball activities. Reports of a Grade 1 (mild) right calf strain reflect the disconnect between how injuries can appear on imaging and how disabling they can be. A calf injury can be asymptomatic until a powerful push-off while baserunning or quick defensive play renders it susceptible to reinjury.
The Rangers have delayed Beltre from even running in the hopes of avoiding another setback. Given the cautious nature of his rehab progression, his age, his history of prior soft-tissue injuries (including right calf strains) and his slow recovery this time, a return before June should be viewed as optimistic, not automatic. -- Stephania Bell
The fantasy asset you want to own: Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs. Zobrist fantasy owners seem frustrated by his modest production and low batting average, but he remains a lineup staple even in shallow formats, and this week the champs travel to Denver and St. Louis to face mostly underwhelming right-handed pitching. Another thing to watch: If Kyle Schwarber doesn't start hitting, Zobrist could start getting regular starts in the leadoff spot, adding at-bats and run-scoring possibilities. -- Eric Karabell