FanHouse Jose Contreras

In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down each of the playoff teams from a scouting perspective.

With several key players still left on the roster from their run in 2007, the Rockies will have the playoff experience that they were lacking two years ago. This will not be a team that scares and they'll come out as ready and seasoned as any club in the mix. So, what's the formula for taking them out? This is a lineup that is as geared for the good fastball as any in baseball -- filled with hitters that never met a heater they didn't like.

Whoever is able to quiet this lineup will need a good mix of breaking pitches and be able to pitch backwards whenever possible. While they aren't a free-swinging lineup by definition, these are potent, fastball-hunting bats that, if challenged, will burn you again and again.

As a whole, the baseball season in Chicago has been a disappointment. The Cubs were expected to contend for a World Series title only to be thrown off track by injuries and Milton Bradley, while on the other side of town the White Sox have failed to exceed expectations. As is usually the case when this happens to large-market teams, wholesale changes are made.

The White Sox parted ways with Jim Thome and 2005 World Series hero Jose Contreras, and it's likely other players such as Jermaine Dye, Bobby Jenks and Paul Konerko could be following them out of town this winter. Still, that doesn't mean everybody in the White Sox organization is leaving.

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the NL West is up for grabs.

With their seventh straight win, the Rockies closed within two games of the idle Dodgers for the division lead on Thursday.

Colorado downed Cincinnati 5-1 with a five-run third inning and six scoreless innings from its bullpen after starter Jose Contreras suffered a strained quadriceps running to first base.

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Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.

Ahhh, the National League -- where pitchers can play out their golden years without a care in the world.

Think of the NL as baseball's rest home.

Just in the past few weeks, Brad Penny and John Smoltz have reached the legendary fountain of youth that Ponce de Sabathia discovered last year in the wilds of Wisconsin.

"In reality, it's a little tougher to pitch in the American League than it is the National League," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who formerly managed in Seattle and Tampa Bay.

At least he admits it.

A month after they shocked the baseball world by adding Jake Peavy at the non-waiver trade deadline, the White Sox dismantled part of their 2009 club, sending Jim Thome to the Dodgers and pitcher Jose Contreras to Colorado.

FanHouse's Jeff Fletcher has the details on the Thome deal and more.

As for Contreras, he represents rotation insurance for the Rockies, who have been without stalwart Aaron Cook since he injured his right shoulder on Aug. 21.

Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

For the second consecutive year, the Indians have given a playoff contender a huge boost. For the second consecutive year, they traded the previous season's AL Cy Young award winner. And for the second consecutive year, he's absolutely dealing in the National League.

Through five starts, Cliff Lee is 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 2 complete games and 39 strikeouts (with only 6 walks) in 40 innings. Sound familiar?

Ever since the Chicago White Sox traded four pitchers to the San Diego Padres for Jake Peavy in a trade deadline shocker, they've been pretty cautious with their newest acquisition. Even though adding him to their starting rotation would be a nice boost for a team trying to reach the playoffs, they don't want to risk injuring Peavy's ankle, which he strained in June, any further.

However, after another successful rehab start in Charlotte on Monday night, Peavy's time may be drawing near.

Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.

Manny Parra was able to put up a quality start on Tuesday, but the win and the strikeouts didn't come, so we'll chalk that up as an unsuccessful pick. Tonight, we went with Jeff Niemann against the Orioles. Surprisingly, the 4-11 Jose Contreras would have been a great spot start today, as he struck out eight, walked one, and allowed only one run against the Royals in an afternoon game in Chicago.

Over the last few weeks, the Chicago White Sox have been a lot better at catching balls with their arms and thighs while in the batter's box than they've been in the field with their gloves. Their manager, Ozzie Guillen, is getting tired of it. Having seen three of his batters hit by a pitch on Saturday -- Carlos Quentin was hit as well in the game, but the home-plate umpire missed it -- Guillen gave the rest of the majors a warning.

If you hit his players, whether intentional or not, the White Sox are going to retaliate.

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

So, quick apology on my part: the Power Rankings were supposed to go live Wednesday, but things happened, I'm a jerkstore, excuses, etc., and here we are. It's not Wednesday! So please note that the records reflect Wednesday -- not Thursday, not Friday, not Saturday. Don't freak out in the comments and call me names. Please. I can't take that in my fragile emotional state right now. I might turn into Raul Ibanez, at which point I would yell at you and then strain my groin. And that wouldn't be good for anyone.