Not everyone is a great cook. Maybe Aunt Betsy can bake the best brownies, but Aunt Ethel might mangle microwave popcorn.
It’s not much different in the fantasy baseball kitchen. Some players home cooking goes down much easier than others. Here’s some home-and-away numbers to feast on while setting your lineups: Garrett Atkins, 3B, Rockies – Visits Pittsburgh and Washington this week. D.C. especially is a tough place for sluggers. Atkins is hitting a paltry .223 in 41 road games with 31 strikeouts. Don’t count of this being the week he turns around a disappointing season.
Andruw Jones, OF, Braves – Much of Jones’ troubles this year can be attributed to his struggles at Turner Field, where the Braves host the Reds and Cards this week. Jones is batting .181 at home with 32 strikeouts.
Kelly Johnson, 2B, Braves – Jones isn’t the only Brave who struggles in not-so-Hot-lanta. It’s bad enough he’s now platooning. Johnson has a meager two homers and 16 RBIs on Ted’s diamond, with a .217 average.
Dmitri Young, 1B, Nationals – RFK Stadium is worse on hitters than an Eddie Harris Vaseline ball. But somehow, Young has lobbied his way to D.C. success. He is batting .386 in 41 home games, with the Astros and Rockies visiting this week.
Paul Lo Duca, C, Mets – Petco Park in San Diego and L.A.’s Dodger Stadium will not be confused with launching pads. But that might not stop Lo Duca. The Mets backstop is hitting .331 on the road, more than 110 points better than his home average.
Eric Byrnes, OF, Diamondbacks – His 46 games on the road have yielded eight HRs and 22 RBIs to complement his .314 average. This week he visits Milwaukee before heading to Wrigley Field.
