Chicago Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome will be used in right field if 2B/OF Mark DeRosa (calf) cannot play in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, according to The Chicago Tribune.

News: Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome, batting leadoff, hit a two-run home run -- his 10th -- in the ninth inning Saturday at Milwaukee. He finished 1-for-4.

Analysis: Fukudome lost his starting job after the All-Star break and is hitting only .216 in the second half. Even if he enters 2009 with an everyday job, he's just a low-end option in mixed leagues

Boy did Fukudome need this. He had suffered through a 25-game power outage before Saturday's blast, which coincided with a far greater slump that saw him go 13-for-61. The former Japanese star's first year in the bigs was a tale of two halves. Prior to the midseason respite he batted .279 with a .383 on-base percentage. In 60 games since the break he's hit just .217.

For the first time since August 24th Kosuke Fukudome hit a home run in the Cubs' 7-3 win over the Brewers. The long ball was his 10th of the year.Fukudome started the 2008 season on fire but he is definately limping to the finish line. His average has dropped all the way down to .257.

Kosuke Fukudome had two hits in three at-bats with a double and an RBI, though it was not enough as the Cubs lost to the Mets, 6-2.Fukudome has been limping towards the finish for some time, but his average is back up over .260 for the time being.

The Associated Press reports Chicago Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome was the only Cubs regular in the lineup Sunday, Sept. 21.

Kosuke Fukudome had two hits on Sunday, one his 24th double of the year, and he also scored a run.After a good start to the year, Fukudome has seen his average fall with monthly marks of .305, .293, .264, .236, .193 and September's .172. If he keeps this up much longer, he likely won't be seeing much time come playoff time for the Cubs.

News: Slumping Kosuke Fukudome hit leadoff Sunday so he could get more at-bats and try to get out of his funk -- he had two hits and also made a strong throw from right field to cut down a run.

Analysis: Fukudome is nothing more than an NL-only option in the final Fantasy Week 26 (Sept. 22-28). Consider avoiding him if you have more productive options. You cannot be sure how much he will play at this point

Rick Gano, of The Associated Press, reports Chicago Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome was not in the starting lineup for the fifth straight game Wednesday, Sept. 17. He may remain on the bench if he does not break out of his slump. Fukudome's average has dropped to .259.

News: According to The Sports Xchange notes: RF Kosuke Fukudome is officially out of favor with manager Lou Piniella. For the third straight game, Fukudome did not start. It marked the sixth time in seven games he didn't start, and in September, Fukudome has started just three of 11 games. He batted .236 in July and .193 in August. So far in September, he's 2-for-12 (.125).

Analysis: Fukudome has been a huge disappointment in the second half and looks like nothing more than a reserve for the Cubs and the deepest of NL-only Fantasy leagues down the stretch

Kosuke Fukudome has not played for three consecutive games, and it appears that he will continue to ride the pine the for much of the remainder of the season, according to Scout.com.Fukudome simply hasn't been able to hit the ball since June, which precipitated his lack of playing time. With three more years and $36 million remaining on his contract, the situation bears watching into next season.

Kosuke Fukudome returned to the Cubs' lineup Wednesday after riding the pine for three straight games and five of the last six, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.It is possible that Fukudome is suffering from fatigue as the MLB season is longer than he is used to while playing in Japan.

Carrie Muskat, of MLB.com, reports Chicago Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome will likely return to the lineup Wednesday, Sept. 10. He is hitting just .183 in his last 32 games entering the team's game Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Chicago Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome is batting .218 over his last 61 games, according to The Associated Press. During the month of August, he only hit .193. As a result of his struggles, OF Micah Hoffpauir has started the last two games in place of him in right field.

Chicago Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome was given the day off Saturday, Sept. 6, against the Cincinnati Reds, according to The Associated Press. He was also out of the starting lineup Sunday, Sept. 7.

News: Sensing a need for change, Cubs manager Lou Piniella shook up the lineup, benching slumping All-Star right fielder Kosuke Fukudome and center fielder Jim Edmonds on Saturday. He made the right choice by leaving Alfonso Soriano in the No. 1 spot even though he's been struggling as well. Soriano homered three times, and the first-place Cubs emerged from their longest losing streak, ending a six-game slide with a 14-9 win over the Reds.

Analysis: Fukudome has been a huge disappointment in the second half and looks like more of a NL-only option down the stretch. There could be a market correction in him before season's end, but we would have thought that might have come weeks ago, too

Kosuke Fukudome missed his third straight start on Saturday as the Cubs routed the Reds. Micah Hoffpauir took his place again.Fukudome hit just .193 in August and is just 1-for-9 in September. His replacement, Hoffpauir, is hitting .368 in 21 games.

News: Slumping Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome didn't start Tuesday, but entered as a pinch-hitter, walking once and getting a hit. He won't play Wednesday against lefty Randy Wolf, but the left-handed hitter should be back in the starting lineup this weekend, manager Lou Piniella said.

Analysis: Fukudome has been a huge disappointment in the second half and looks like more of a NL-only option down the stretch. There could be a market correction in him before season's end, but we would have thought that might have come weeks ago, too

The Associated Press reports Chicago Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome (rest) will not be in the lineup Wednesday, Sept 3, against a left-handed pitcher. Manager Lou Piniella said Fukudome will be back in the lineup this weekend.

Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome was given the night off on Tuesday, as he is just 16-for-87 (.184) in his last 29 games, according to MLB.com.It was time for fantasy owners to cut bait with Fukudome a while ago. He is offering little to no production recently.

Gordon Wittenmyer, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports Chicago Cubs OF Kosuke Fukudome (rest) received the day off Tuesday, Sept. 2. He hit .193 in the month of August and has just three hits in his last 20 at-bats.