2. Ryan Howard
Projection: .273/.395/.601, 53 HR, 107 R, 133 RBI, 0 SB in 579 AB
2008 stats: .207/.313/.472, 14 HR, 36 R, 37 RBI, 0 SB in 193 AB

He’s raised his slugging percentage 80 points in the last nine days. Let’s not give up on him just yet.

3. Prince Fielder
Projection: .294/.406/.592, 44 HR, 105 R, 123 RBI, 4 SB in 564 AB
2008 stats: .273/.367/.432, 6 HR, 22 R, 25 RBI, 0 SB in 183 AB

Rickie Weeks is in the top 10 in the NL in runs scored and Mike Cameron has scored 15 times in 24 games since returning from his suspension. So how is it that Fielder has driven in just five runs all month? Someone needs to get to the meat of the issue.

4. Mark Teixeira
Projection: .303/.397/.557, 36 HR, 106 R, 126 RBI, 2 SB in 610 AB
2008 stats: .267/.354/.422, 5 HR, 28 R, 31 RBI, 0 SB in 187 AB

Always a slow starter. Teixeira still figures to get his 30 homers.

5. Justin Morneau
Projection: .290/.366/.537, 37 HR, 94 R, 117 RBI, 1 SB in 600 AB
2008 stats: .305/.376/.487, 8 HR, 24 R, 39 RBI, 0 SB in 187 AB

On pace for 126 RBI even though the power hasn’t been there as hoped.

6. Lance Berkman
Projection: .293/.405/.540, 32 HR, 102 R, 106 RBI. 4 SB in 543 AB
2008 stats: .385/.471/.759, 16 HR, 53 R, 46 RBI, 10 SB in 187 AB

Already as many steals as he had the last two seasons combined.

7. Derrek Lee
Projection: .296/.385/.509, 28 HR, 103 R, 93 RBI, 8 SB in 582 AB
2008 stats: .300/.362/.554, 12 HR, 41 R, 36 RBI, 3 SB in 213 AB

The OPS projection here looks pretty good, but I underestimated the Cubs lineup as a whole. If Lee keeps this up, he’ll finish with far more than 103 runs and 93 RBI.

8. Carlos Pena
Projection: .267/.387/.530, 35 HR, 104 R, 116 RBI, 2 SB in 551 AB
2008 stats: .238/.346/.442, 10 HR, 26 R, 30 RBI, 0 SB in 181 AB

Pena has raised his OPS by 90 points over the last three days. He still looks like a pretty good bet for 30 homers and 100 RBI.

9. Paul Konerko
Projection: .273/.358/.496, 32 HR, 86 R, 106 RBI, 0 SB in 561 AB
2008 stats: .204/.325/.333, 5 HR, 18 R, 23 RBI, 1 SB in 162 AB

Konerko’s injured hand appears to be a major problem. He could be the biggest bust of the first basemen.

10. Todd Helton
Projection: .310/.424/.493, 18 HR, 97 R, 87 RBI, 2 SB in 558 AB
2008 stats: .274/.397/.392, 4 HR, 25 R, 15 RBI, 0 SB in 186 AB

Traditionally as effective a hitter as one will find with RISP, Helton is hitting just .227 in those situations this season. It explains the awful RBI total. He will get his average up, but he’ll also need more help from his teammates in order to meet expectations.

Others

12. Conor Jackson
Projection: .301/.389/.475, 19 HR, 86 R, 88 RBI, 1 SB in 558 AB
2008 stats: .298/.395/.522, 6 HR, 30 R, 34 RBI, 3 SB in 161 AB

Jackson’s recent slump has brought him a lot closer to where I had him. He finished April at .348/.430/.630.

14. Carlos Delgado
Projection: .262/.359/.486, 27 HR, 80 R, 102 RBI, 1 SB in 512 AB
2008 stats: .215/.294/.387, 8 HR, 23 R, 25 RBI, 0 SB in 181 AB

.235/.390/.459 during May, and he’d have a sixth homer this month if not for poor umpiring.

20. Richie Sexson
Projection: .243/.321/.464, 28 HR, 73 R, 93 RBI, 0 SB in 526 AB
2008 stats: .200/.277/.413, 9 HR, 18 R, 21 RBI, 0 SB in 155 AB

All Sexson can do these days is hit the occasional ball over the fence. The Mariners could improve by bringing in any capable left-handed hitter to platoon with him at first base.