Major League Baseball
NL East

Marlins keep the top spot

All of teams in the NL East will be playing at home this week. This gives Florida (9-7) and Atlanta (8-7) a slight advantage since they are the only 2 clubs above .500 at home.

Standings

Florida Marlins 21-16 (.568)
Philadelphia Phillies 19-17 (.528)
New York Mets 18-20 (.474)
Atlanta Braves 17-19 (.472)
Montreal Expos 13-25 (.342)

Florida Marlins
Hot (last 7 days)
Mike Lowell (3B): .391 (9-23), 3R, 2-2B, 2HR, 2RBI
M. Cabrera (OF): .280 (7-25), 2R, 3-2B, 2RBI
Dontrell Willis (SP): 1-0, 1CG, 2.00ERA, 0.89WHIP, 9.0IP, 1K
Brad Penny (SP): 1-1, 2.13ERA, 1.03WHIP, 12.2IP, 11K
A. Benitez (RP): 2SV, 0.00ERA, 0.67WHIP, 3.0IP, 3K

Not
Hee Seop Choi (1B): .000 (0-12), 8K, 4BB
Wil Cordero (1B): .091 (1-11), 1RBI
Alex Gonzalez (SS): .167 (3-18), 0R, 1-2B, 5K
Josh Beckett (SP): 0-1, 9.00ERA, 1.83WHIP, 6.0IP, 5K
Darren Oliver (SP): 0-1, 6.23ERA, 1.38WHIP, 4.1IP, 1K

Injuries/DL
A.J. Burnett (SP) - 60-day DL (Elbow)
The Marlin’s transferred A.J. Burnett to the 60-day DL on May 12th. Burnett tossed batting practice last week and is on pace to return on June 2nd.
Cad Fox (RP) – 15-day DL (Elbow)
Chad Fox was told not to throw for four weeks, however he can run and lift weights to stay in shape. Do not expect Fox to start rehab until the mid-June time frame.

Philadelphia Phillies
Hot (last 7 days)
Bobby Abreu (OF): .474 (9-19), 2R, 1-2B, 3HR, 9RBI, 4SB
Pat Burrell (OF): .409 (9-22), 5R, 2-2B, 1HR, 8RBI
Jim Thome (1B): .368 (7-19), 4R, 1-3B, 4RBI
David Bell (3B): .333 (7-21), 3R, 1-2B, 1HR, 2RBI
Jimmy Rollins (SS): .310 (9-29), 9R, 1-2B, 1RBI, 3SB
Ryan Madison (RP): 0-0, 0.00ERA, 0.86WHIP, 4.2IP, 3K, 1SV
Tim Worrell (RP): 0-0, 0.00ERA, 1.13WHIP, 2.2IP, 1K, 1SV
V. Padilla (SP): 1-0, 1.35ERA, 1.65WHIP, 6.2IP, 3K

Not
Chase Utley (2B): .182 (4-22), 3R, 1-2B, 1HR, 5RBI
Marlon Byrd (OF): .208 (5-24), 3R, 1-2B, 1-3B, 5RBI
Mike Lieberthal (C): .222 (4-18), 2R, 1-2B, 2RBI
Kevin Millwood (SP): 1-0, 6.17ERA, 1.89WHIP, 11.2IP, 8K
Randy Wolf (SP): 0-1, 6.00ERA, 1.50WHIP, 6.0IP, 3K

Injuries/DL
Roberto Hernandez (RP) – 15-day DL (Strained right calf)
Hernandez was placed on the 15-day DL May 5th. He could return as soon as May 20th.
Billy Wagner (RP) - 15-day DL (Strained Left Groin/Back Spasms)
Billy Wagner was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 8th. Wagner is eligible to be activated on May 23rd.
Placido Polanco (2B) – 15-day DL (Quadriceps)
Placido Polanco was placed on the 15-day DL May 8th. Polanco is eligible to be activated on May 23rd.

New York Mets
Hot (last 7 days)
Eric Valent (OF): .364 (8-22), 6R, 2-2BI
Mike Piazza (C): .333 (8-24), 4R, 2-2B, 2HR, 5RBI
Kazuo Matsui (SS): .310 (9-29), 7R, 5-2B, 1HR, 4RBI, 2SB
Tom Glavine (SP): 1-0, 0.00ERA, 0.65WHIP, 7.2IP, 3K
Braden Looper (RP): 2SV, 0.00ERA, 0.92WHIP, 4.1IP, 3K

Not
Karim Garcia (OF): .056 (1-18), 5K
Mike Cameron (OF): .111 (3-27), 3R, 1HR, 1RBI, 1SB
Danny Garcia (2B): .176 (4-23), 4R, 1-2B, 1HR, 2RBI, 7K
J. Phillips (1B): .200 (3-25), 1R, 2-2B, 5RBI
James Baldwin (SP): 0-2, 15.00 ERA, 3.00WHIP, 6.0IP, 1K, 5BB
Dan Wheeler (RP): 1-0, 12.46ERA, 2.31WHIP, 4.1IP, 9H, 4K
Al Leiter (SP): 0-1, 11.25ERA, 2.00WHIP, 4.0IP, 2K, 5BB

Injuries/DL
Scott Erickson (SP) - 60-day DL (Hamstring)
Erickson is still feeling tightness in his hamstring and was transferred to the 60- day DL.
Jose Reyes (SS) - 15 day DL (Hamstring)
Reyes has starting hitting off a tee and has played catch. There is no timetable for his return as of yet. The All-Star break seems to be the most likely date for his return.

Atlanta Braves
Hot (last 7 days)
Johnny Estrada (C): .429 (9-21), 2R, 2-2B, 1HR, 6RBI
Marcus Giles (2B): .353 (6-17), 3R, 1-2B, 1RBI, 1SB
A. Alfonseca (RP): 2-0, 0.00ERA, 0.00WHIP, 3.1IP, 2K
John Smoltz (RP): 2SV, 0.00ERA, 0.43WHIP, 2.1IP, 2K

Not
Mark DeRosa (3B): .158 (3-19), 1RBI
Andruw Jones (OF): .227 (5-23), 2-2B, 2HR, 4RBI
Mike Hampton (SP): 0-1, 6.00ERA, 1.67WHIP, 6.0IP, 5K
Jon Thompson (SP): 0-0, 8.31ERA, 1.85WHIP, 4.1IP, 5K
Russ Ortiz (SP): 0-0, 27.00ERA, 7.50WHIP, 1.1IP, 1K, 7BB

Injuries/DL
Paul Byrd (SP) - 60-day DL (Elbow)
Paul Byrd will go on a rehab assignment with AA-Greenville, Byrd is eligible to come off the 60-day DL June 3rd.
Eli Marrero (OF) – 15-day DL (Upper respiratory infection)
Eli Marrero could go on a rehab assignment sometime this week. Marrero lost 15 pounds and has yet to regain the lost weight.
Marcus Giles (2B) – (Fractured clavicle)
Marcus Giles is expected to be placed on the 15-day DL today and will miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured clavicle.

Montreal Expos
Hot (last 7 days)
Terrmel Sledge (OF): .316 (6-19), 5R, 1-3B, 2HR, 4RBI
Juan Rivera (OF): .333 (6-18), 1-2B, 3RBI
Brad Wilkerson (1B/OF): .286 (6-21), 1-3B, 2RBI, 1SB
Claudio. Vargas (SP): 1-0, 0.00ERA, 1.14WHIP, 7.0IP, 2K
Livan Hernandez (SP): 1-0, 2.04ERA, 0.91WHIP, 17.2IP, 16K, 3BB

Not
Juan Rivera (OF): .154 (2-13), 2RBI
Orlando Cabrera (SS): .160 (4-25), 2-2B, 2RBI, 3SB
Jose Vidro (2B): .182 (4-22), 2-2B
Sun-Woo Kim (SP): 0-1, 13.50ERA, 2.36WHIP, 4.2IP, 4K

Injuries/DL
Nick Johnson (1B) – 15-day DL (Back)
Nick Johnson had no set backs this week during his rehab.
Tony Armas (SP) – 15- day DL (Shoulder)
Armas is on a rehab assignment. The Expos are targeting a return for Armas sometime after his fourth rehab start this weekend for AAA-Edmonton.
Carl Everett (OF) – 15-day DL (Shoulder)
Carl Everett is on a rehab assignment in the minors. Everett is on schedule to join the Expos Tuesday for their first game in Puerto Rico.
Peter Bergeron (OF) - 15-day DL (Right rib strain)
Bergeron has begun to take batting practice.
Rigo Beltran (SP) – 15-day DL (Oblique strain)
Beltran was placed on the 15 day DL because of an oblique strain.
Joey Eischen (RP) – 15-day DL (Elbow)
Joey Eischen has been bothered by soreness in his surgically repaired elbow. Eischen is still a month away from joining the bullpen.

News:
The Montreal Expos signed second baseman Jose Vidro to a four-year, $30-million contract extension. Vidro has a no-trade clause involving six to eight teams, most of them also with tenuous franchise situations. Vidro also has some type of out clause if the Expos don't land a permanent home.

The Montreal Expos also signed starting pitcher Livan Hernandez to a three-year, $21 million contract extension further solidifying the fact that they will not be in Montreal next year. The Expos, and their 29 owners, wouldn't be committing all this future money if they were staying in Montreal. There are formalities to go through, of course. Baseball's owners will meet next week to debate all of their potential relocation sites.