A monster performance from Bartlett, who closes out a sizzling August hitting .389 with the homer, five RBIs and 14 runs scored. Sunday's jack was Bartlett's first of the season as he remains a stellar option in most formats while locked in at the plate.

Jason Bartlett went 4-for-4 and hit his first homer of the season as the Rays topped the Orioles 10-4 on Sunday. He was also hit by a pitch and scored three times. [...]

Jason Bartlett went 4-for-4 in Sunday's win over the Orioles. The shortstop scored three runs, drove in two, and knocked out his first homer of the year.Bartlett hasn't given fantasy owners much to love this year after his decent 2007 campaign. However, he is hitting .340 (33-for-97) since the All-Star break.

Bartlett is batting at the bottom of the Rays lineup, but even that spot has some value in Tampa Bay's loaded offense. His .270 batting average is slightly better than the .265 mark he posted last season, although his on-base percentage is down more than 30 points. His walk percentage has dropped from 8.9 percent to 4.4 percent, helping lower that on-base mark.

News: Rays SS Jason Bartlett went 3-for-4 against the White Sox on Saturday as he scored two runs hitting in the No. 9 spot in the order. Bartlett doubled and singled twice.

Analysis: Bartlett is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy. He does have steals potential for deeper Rotisserie leagues, though

Bartlett has now found himself in an eight-game hitting streak, batting .345 (10-for-29) with three doubles, a triple and five runs scored in that span.

Rays.MLB.com's Bill Chastain reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (knee) didn't feel any lingering effects from Saturday, Aug. 16, when he felt a pop and a shooting pain in his right knee.

Jason Bartlett is questionable for Sunday's game after having "some issues" with his knee following a third-inning slide. Bartlett might want to take some sliding lessons. [...]

News: The Sports Xchange notes that Jason Bartlett returned to the lineup at shortstop Friday at Texas for the first time since Aug. 3, when he was hit by a pitch and sustained a bruised right index finger.

Analysis: Ben Zobrist will be in more of a super-utility role and could start in the outfield against a lefty, with Rocco Baldelli as DH, and likely will get a game at second so Akinori Iwamura can get a day off. Bartlett is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy. He does have steals potential for deeper Rotisserie leagues, though

Bartlett made his first appearance at shortstop Thursday since being hit on his right index finger by Detroit's Fernando Rodney on Aug. 3. He has been used as the Rays' DH three times since injuring his finger.

Jason Bartlett is back in the lineup Friday for the first time since August 3. He has been out with a bone bruise on his finger.If steals are your bag, then stick Jason back in your lineup right away. That's the only thing he offers fantasy owners.

Marc Topkin, of the St. Petersburg Times, reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) is back in the team's starting lineup Friday, Aug. 15.

Bartlett was charged with an error, not exactly easing concerns regarding his finger injury. Odds are he'll return in the next few days, though it's unclear how much running he'll do. Rays manager Joe Maddon said there is a good chance that Jason Bartlett will start at shortstop on Friday night.

Bartlett was charged with an error, not exactly easing concerns regarding his finger injury. Odds are he'll return in the next few days, though it's unclear how much running he'll do.

News: Tampa Bay SS Jason Bartlett still didn't get into the starting lineup in the field on Thursday against the A's, but after starting at DH a few times lately he came on as a defensive replacement at short Thursday. That makes him healthy enough to get back into the lineup shortly. It's just a matter of whether manager Joe Maddon wants to start him.

Analysis: He is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy. He does have steals potential for deeper Rotisserie leagues, though

Marc Topkin, of the St. Petersburg Times, reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) is not in the lineup Thursday, Aug. 14, with a bruised right index finger. There is a good chance Bartlett will start Friday, Aug. 15, according to manager Joe Maddon.

Jason Bartlett has been cleared to resume playing at shortstop, according to the St. Petersburg Times. His throws still aren't perfect, but they are good enough for him to return to the field. He said, "Obviously it doesn't feel great, but I'm throwing, I can actually throw. The only bad thing there's cutters, and they're sailing a lot. It's just a matter of trying to get that feeling back again."Despite extensive treatment, Bartlett still has a bone bruise, and the longer-than-expected healing time has been frustrating for him. Bartlett wore a pad on the finger Wednesday, and plans to limit his throws between innings. He has also experimented with using his middle finger more.

Jason Bartlett has been cleared to resume playing at shortstop, according to the St. Petersburg Times. His throws still aren't perfect, but they are good enough for him to return to the field. He said, "Obviously it doesn't feel great, but I'm throwing, I can actually throw. The only bad thing there's cutters, and they're sailing a lot. It's just a matter of trying to get that feeling back again."Despite extensive treatment, Bartlett still has a bone bruise, and the longer-than-expected healing time has been frustrating for him. Bartlett wore a pad on the finger Wednesday, and plans to limit his throws between innings. He has also experimented with using his middle finger more and intends to take it easy a bit more.

Jason Bartlett (finger) has been cleared to resume playing shortstop. Bartlett hasn't started there since bruising his right index finger on August 3. "Obviously it doesn't feel great, but I'm throwing, I can actually throw," Bartlett said. [...]

News: Tampa Bay SS Jason Bartlett remained out with a bruised right index finger on Wednesday against the Athletics.

Analysis: Manager Joe Maddon said "more than likely" Bartlett, who is able to hit and was the DH again Tuesday, won't be back at shortstop until this weekend in Texas. He is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy. He does have steals potential for deeper Rotisserie leagues, though

Bartlett has not played shortstop since Aug. 3, when he was hit on the right index finger on a bunt attempt. Bartlett said Foley told him his throws looked a lot better Wednesday than they did Tuesday and should to the team by Friday, Aug. 15.

Tampa Bay shortstop Jason Bartlett has been hitting for a couple of days and serving the team as a designated hitter, but tonight the Rays report he is close to return to full field duties, according to MLB.com.Barlett played catch with infield coach Tom Foley this evening and reports indicate he looked just fine. Rays manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday he expected Bartlett to return to shortstop by the start of the Texas series Friday, but Wednesday Maddon did not rule out using him as a late-inning replacement against the A's on Wednesday night, nor did he rule out the possibility of starting Bartlett at shortstop Thursday afternoon.

Manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday that Jason Bartlett (finger) "more than likely" won't be ready to play shortstop until at least this weekend. [...]

The Associated Press reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) returned to the lineup Tuesday, Aug. 12, and recorded two hits.

News: Rays SS Jason Bartlett, who has a bruised right index finger, played DH for the third time in four days Saturday at Seattle. He went 2-for-4 and doubled and singled. His finger hurts too much for him to play the field right now.

Analysis: Bartlett is just a few weeks removed from a DL stint regarding a right knee injury. He is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy. He does have steals potential for deeper Rotisserie leagues, though

Bill Chastain, of MLB.com, reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) is expected to be in the team's starting lineup Tuesday, Aug. 12, after missing the game Sunday, Aug. 10.

News: Rays SS Jason Bartlett, who has a bruised right index finger, played DH for the second time in three days Saturday at Seattle. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. His finger hurts too much for him to play the field right now.

Analysis: Bartlett is just a few weeks removed from a DL stint regarding a right knee injury. He is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy. He does have steals potential for deeper Rotisserie leagues, though

Mark Topkin, of the St. Petersburg Times, reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) was in the starting lineup as the designated hitter Saturday, Aug. 9.

Jason Bartlett is still being bothered by a bruised right index finger and is not yet able to throw a baseball. "He threw and it was okay, but still not where he needs to be," manager Joe Maddon said. [...]

News: Rays SS Jason Bartlett, dealing with a bruised right index finger, returned as a DH on Wednesday but remained out of the lineup entirely Friday at Seattle.

Analysis: Bartlett is just a few weeks removed from a DL stint regarding a right knee injury. He is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy. He does have steals potential for deeper Rotisserie leagues, though

News: The Sports Xchange notes that Jason Bartlett said his bruised right index finger felt better Thursday, but there was still too much pain when throwing for him to return to the field.

Analysis: Bartlett is able to hit and hopes to return to the field Friday. He is just a few weeks removed from a DL stint regarding a right knee injury. He is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy. He does have steals potential for deeper Rotisserie leagues, though

Bartlett, who returned to the lineup as the team's designated hitter Wednesday, missed the Aug. 4-5 games after getting hit while attempting to bunt on Aug. 3. But he's still not quite ready for a return to shortstop due to the swelling in his finger that makes throwing painful. And with tough right-hander Felix Hernandez on the mound Thursday night, Cliff Floyd was used as the DH. Consider Bartlett day-to-day.

Marc Topkin, of the St. Petersburg Times, reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) is not in the starting lineup Thursday, Aug. 7.

News: SS Jason Bartlett played for the first time since bruising his right index finger while trying to bunt in Sunday's victory against Detroit. He served as the DH on Wednesday and was 3-for-4 with two doubles. The second double started the ninth-inning rally.

Analysis: Bartlett is just a few weeks removed from a DL stint regarding a right knee injury. He is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy. He does have steals potential for deeper Rotisserie leagues, though

The Rays have to be encouraged by this, as Bartlett has struggled mightily since returning from the disabled list with a bruised right index finger. After batting just .250 in July, he's gone 7-for-14 to get August off on the right foot.

News: Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) did not return to the starting lineup Wednesday against the Indians. He has missed the last three games.

Analysis: Bartlett is just a few weeks removed from a DL stint regarding a right knee injury. It doesn't appear this finger issue will put him back on the shelf. He is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy

The Associated Press reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) is in the lineup at DH Wednesday, Aug. 6.

Jason Bartlett (finger) is back in the Rays' lineup Wednesday at designated hitter. Even the Mariners laugh at a DH with a sore finger and 602 OPS. Even better, Bartlett is batting seventh, with Eric Hinske and Gabe Gross below him in the lineup. [...]

Jason Bartlett is out on Tuesday and likely won't be available until Thursday, MLB.com reports. He has a bruised right index finger. "There's some sensitivity in the fingertip," Bartlett explains. "We're going to go out there and throw and see how it goes."Bartlett hadn't been hitting very well since coming off the DL on July 24, and hopefully he is not in any fantasy lineups this week.

Updating a previous report, The St. Petersburg Times reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) is not in the starting lineup Tuesday, Aug. 5, because of an injured right index finger.

The Associated Press reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) could be out of the lineup again Tuesday, Aug. 5.

News: Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Carl Crawford and shortstop Jason Bartlett were both out of the starting lineup Monday night against Cleveland due to injuries. Bartlett hurt his right index finger Sunday when he took a pitch off the finger when he tried to bunt. Doctors drilled through the fingernail to help reduce swelling. "I'm not doing anything today," Bartlett said. "Who knows about tomorrow? It's day to day. It's a lot better today, and hopefully it will be a lot better tomorrow."

Analysis: Bartlett is just a few weeks removed from a DL stint regarding a right knee injury. It doesn't appear this finger issue will put him back on the shelf. Bartlett is a light-hitting infielder that is nothing more than an AL-only Fantasy option when healthy

Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett is day-to-day with an injury to his right index finger after he was hit with a pitch, according to MLB.com. He is available to pinch-run, but that is all he will likely be able to do for a few days.Bartlett has limited use in AL-only fantasy leagues, and none in mixed leagues. His on-base percentage is under .300, though he has stolen 18 bases on the year.

While manager Joe Maddon said he "wouldn't bet" on starting Bartlett on Tuesday, the club could use the speedy infielder to pinch-run. With Sunday's X-ray coming back negative, Bartlett said the main concern was bringing down the swelling and draining some of the blood that had built up underneath the nail. He was scheduled to be re-evaluated by the team's medical staff sometime Monday.

News: Rays SS Jason Bartlett took a pitch off one of his fingers on Sunday and won't be able to throw for a few days, reports the St. Pete Times.

Analysis: Bartlett should be benched for Fantasy Week 19 (Aug. 4-10) as he's likely to miss at least half of the scoring period. When healthy, he is only worth using in deeper AL-only rotisserie formats

Joe Smith, of the St. Petersburg Times, reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) is not in the team's starting lineup Monday, Aug. 4. Bartlett said he will likely not be able to throw for a few more days.

Jason Bartlett, who sustained a bruised right index finger Sunday, noted that he does not expect to be able to throw for two days, according to the St. Petersburg Times. X-rays revealed no break, and he should avoid the DL.If the club does not decide to recall Ben Zobrist from the minors, they could go Evan Longoria at shortstop, and employ Willy Aybar at third base, while Bartlett is out of action.

The St. Petersburg Times reports that Jason Bartlett "does not expect to be able to throw for two days" after being hit on the hand by a pitch Sunday. [...]

The Associated Press reports Tampa Bay Rays SS Jason Bartlett (finger) may miss the game Monday, Aug. 4, after being hit on the right index finger Sunday. X-rays showed no broken bones.

The Rays shortstop had to leave the game, and subsequent X-rays showed no break or fracture, which will leave Bartlett as a game-time decision Monday.

Jason Bartlett could miss Monday's game with a bruised right index finger sustained Sunday. Bartlett was hit on the hand while attempting to bunt. X-rays were negative. [...]

Jason Bartlett was hit by a pitch on Sunday, and though it looked bad at the time, x-rays came back negative, according to MLB.com. Will the injury sideline Bartlett? "Just have to wait and see what it feels like tomorrow," Bartlett said.If Bartlett can't go, the club would likely turn to Ben Zobrist who they would have to call up from the minors. Either that or they could mix things up and start Evan Longoria at short with Willy Aybar inserted into the lineup to play third.