With the All-Star Game set to take place tonight, now is the perfect time to assess your fantasy team and make the proper adjustments to solidify your chances of post-season glory.  It is also the time that general managers around the MLB are contemplating whether or not to make a final push for the playoffs or to give a look at young players.  Below the GNUru ranks the top 10 second-half sleepers for the 2007 season!

1. Matt Garza, Minnesota Twins, SP

Matt Garza is one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball.  The proven ability of the Minnesota Twins to assess and develop pitching talent is no secret and Garza has the stuff to follow in the footsteps of Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano.  Garza could be just the guy to propel the Twins and your fantasy team into the playoffs!

2. Andrew Miller, Detriot Tigers, SP

Much like Garza, Andrew Miller is a highly touted pitching prospect playing for a contender known to develop pitchers.  Although Miller doesn’t have the professional experience to lean on, Miller has shown he belongs in the bigs with his 4 wins in 6 starts and 3.31 ERA.  While his strikeout totals will not compete with Garza, Miller may be the better bet to pile up the wins.

3. Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals, OF

Billy Butler was a fairly sexy pick entering the 2007 fantasy draft but his failure to make the big club left him on the waiver wire in most leagues.  The 21-year old slugger looks like he will be given an opportunity to play everyday with the oft-injured Mike Sweeney on the disabled list.  The youngster has plenty of upside and could emerge as a keeper in deeper leagues.

4. Josh Fields, Chicago White Sox, 3B

With Joe Crede out with a bad back for the rest of the season, the out-of-contention White Sox will look to give Josh a long look the see.  The highly touted prospect has put up decent numbers thus far (.252, 5 HR, 18 RBI) in 111 at bats and should only continue to get better as his raises his comfort level in the big leagues. 

5. Chad Billingsley, Los Angeles Dodgers, SP

Chad Billingsley is finally getting his shot at the rotation and has looked impressive at times.  Other times he hasn’t looked so impressive but that can be expected from a young pitcher shuffled from the minors and the bullpen.  Billingsley has some nasty stuff and should excel given ample opportunity. 

6. Noah Lowry, San Francisco Giants, SP

If your like the GNUru, you’ve avoided Lowry like the plague after getting burned by him a few years back.  Lowry is a career second-half pitcher and his 3 straight victories heading into the break are reason to give him a look.  He doesn’t have dominant stuff but he will post nice stats down the line. 

7. Jason Kubel, Minnesota Twins, OF

Jason Kubel was once regarded as the future of the Twins organization along with Joe Maurer and Justin Morneau.  Injuries have held him back at this point but Kubel has shown signs that he is ready to break out on the Major League level.  If you have the roster space stash away Kubel. 

8. Zach Greinke, Kansas City Royals, RP

Now that the infamous Zach Greinke has been moved to the bullpen we are finally seeing glimpses of what scouts have been raving about since 2002.  Greinke has been nearly unhittable since his ‘demotion’ with an impressive 0.95 ERA in 19 innings.  In addition his strikeout totals are up and he is back to throwing 97-98 MPH.  Deeper leagues that reward holds and saves will learn to value Greinke by seasons end.

9. Brad Wilkerson, Texas Rangers, OF/1B

Yet another player forgotten by most fantasy baseball enthusiasts, Wilkerson seems to have found his stroke of late.  If he can secure regular at bats, his power and on-base percentage potential is certainly intriguing. The fact the he has multi-position eligibility makes him an even more attractive guy to have on your bench.

10. Lyle Overbay, Toronto Blue Jays, 1B

Although Overbay is no secret anymore, his injury and sluggish start has put him on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.  When healthy, Overbay is certain a top 15 first basemen and deserve lineup consideration!

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The first 13 weeks of the 2007 Fantasy Baseball season are just about in the bags and that means that now it's time to turn your attention to week 14.  Lucky for you the GNUru is here to help you with your week 14 lineup decisions.

Week 14 - GNUru Batter Banter

With the season approaching the midway point, player values have reached equilibrium- that is those that are playing well have high value and those that aren't, do not (regardless of what name is involved).  With that, it's time to reconsider some of your struggling veteran players off to slow starts.  At this point in the season you can now safely bench or even drop some of your sluggish sluggers in favor of some the hot hitters.  Below is a list of the hottest hitters the past few weeks to aid your lineup decisions.  While some on the list are no-brainers (Alex Rodriguez, Chase Utley, Alfonso Soriano, etc.) others are still scratching their way into fantasy lineups (Mike Fontenot, Marlon Byrd, Corey Hart, Troy Tulowitski, etc.) and warrant lineup consideration. 

Who's Hot

Also of interest are the teams that play a full schedule of games and those that play a light schedule.  Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Florida, Houston, L.A. Dodgers, Milwaukee, N.Y. Mets, Oakland, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Texas and Washington all play 7 games this week.

Week 14 - GNUru Rotation Ramblings

Finally, we start to see some pitchers settle down and most games being played.  Now is the time you can begin to make assumptions on players, ride the hot hands, and play the double-start game.  Here is a list of the scheduled double start pitchers.  As always, be warned some pitchers could lose that advantage in a heartbeat via a rainout.  So make sure you chose your pitchers wisely!

Probable Week 14 Double Starters

In weekly head-to-head (H2H) leagues, it's often the better strategy to avoid weak double starters and go with pitcher with proven track records (or at least look to be in mid-season form).  Here is a list of which starting pitchers have impressed early and warrant rotation consideration regardless of how many starts they will make in week 13. Numbers are compiled during the last 14 days.

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I'm in a 16 team, standard CBS, head-to-head, keeper league and was offered Brad Penny and Kelvim Escobar for Cole Hamels.  I am pretty weak at Starting Pitching and the 2 quality pitcher for 1 sounds appealing but I am hesistant to deal Hamels.  Any insight into this trade would be appreciated. The rest of my rotation is below.

1. Cole Hamels

2. James Shields

3. Greg Maddux

4. Ted Lilly

5. Joe Blanton 

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