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Hawks prep for six-game road 'test'
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By Rob Steingall
CSNChicago.com
Leonys Martin, Rangers: With Mitch Moreland landing on the disabled list, an opportunity presents itself to Martin to gain regular at-bats in the short term. He was fantastic on Sunday night (3-for-4, 2 XBH, a run and three RBI), and showed very similar skills during his time in the minors this season. The knock on Martin is his poor success rate on the bases (7-for-14 in Triple-A), but he's worth a flier due to his willingness to run.
Norichika Aoki, Brewers: The Japanese import hasn't been a burner by any stretch this season, but he did steal four bases in one game against the White Sox on Saturday, placing him on our radar. With nine steals on the season, he's worth the gamble, especially since he's hitting atop the Brewers lineup. Look for plenty of runs hitting ahead of Ryan Braun, too.
Michael Saunders, Mariners: Saunders made some swing adjustments during the winter, and they really seem to be paying off in '12, as he's cut his strikeout rate significantly. Saunders is driving the ball with authority this year, and his increased on-base percentage is leading to more chances on the bases, where he is 12-for-15 on the season. He could be a 25-steal man this year, and may even have enough juice in his bat for 20 homers.
Ben Revere, Twins: We've covered Revere before, so if you've missed the boat on him, this may be your last chance to enjoy the ride. His 12 steals during the last month is among the major league leaders, and a cool .349 average only adds to his appeal. While you'll be getting no power from him, he'll balance out a low average slugger for you quite nicely.
Quintin Berry, Tigers: Berry has stolen two bases in each of the past two weeks, and has a total of 10 during the past month. His .309 batting average on the season with one home run fits the typical rabbit profile, but he's a good one to own while he's hitting on all cylinders.
