Mike Fontenot will start at second base for the Cubs in Game 3 of the NLDS. Mark DeRosa will head out to right field to replace the struggling Kosuke Fukudome. Manager Lou Piniella is a man of his word.Source: Arlington Daily Herald

Mike Fontenot will start at second base for the Cubs in Game 3 of the NLCS. Mark DeRosa will head out to right field to replace the struggling Kosuke Fukudome. Manager Lou Piniella is a man of his word.Source: Arlington Daily Herald

Chicago Cubs 2B Mike Fontenot will start at second base for Game 3 of the NLDS Saturday, Oct. 4, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to The Associated Press.

News: Cubs 2B Mike Fontenot had his third straight multi-hit game Saturday at Milwaukee, going 2-for-5 with three RBI. He's batting .615 (8-for-13) over the last three games.

Analysis: Fontenot is hitting over .300 and has shown nice power for a second baseman. Toward the end of the season, the Cubs began to play Mark DeRosa in the outfield, allowing Fontenot to start over Kosuke Fukudome. Consider him a sleeper going into 2009 as long as he gets semi-regular at-bats

News: The Sports Xchange notes that Mark DeRosa did not play in Friday's series opener, and he may not play until Sunday as he recovers from a strained left calf, suffered Wednesday. DeRosa said he will be ready for the playoffs. Manager Lou Piniella said he wants to get DeRosa "a couple of at-bats" in Sunday's finale against the Brewers. 2B Mike Fontenot had three hits, one night after picking up three in New York to match his season high.

Analysis: Fontenot could be a valuable left-handed bat with pop off the bench in the playoffs. He might get a start or two, if Piniella plays DeRosa in right field and sits Kosuke Fukduome. Fontenot pretty much became a regular down the stretch after the Cubs lost faith in Fukudome. He has nice power for a second baseman and would have sleeper potential in 2009 if he earned regular playing time. For now, though, expect him to go only in NL-only league drafts

That's back-to-back three-hit efforts for Fontenot, marking the first time in '08 that he's accomplished such a feat. The singles-hitting infielder has been impressive in limited action this month, as he sports a healthy .361 average in 36 September at-bats.

News: Cubs 2B Mike Fontenot, who continues to start even though the Cubs have clinched home-field advantage, went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk Thursday at the Mets.

Analysis: Fontenot pretty much became a regular down the stretch after the Cubs lost faith in Kosuke Fukudome. He has nice power for a second baseman and would have sleeper potential in 2009 if he earned regular playing time. For now, though, expect him to go only in NL-only league drafts

News: Cubs 2B Mike Fontenot doubled home a run in the sixth inning of Thursday's win over the Cardinals. Fontenot went 1-for-3 and added a walk. He's batting .298.

Analysis: Fontenot played regularly with Alfonso Soriano on the DL and showed impressive power for a second baseman. Unfortunately, in his current role, he's nothing more than a low-end NL-only option

News: Cubs 2B Mike Fontenot hit a pinch-hit solo home run Thursday against the Phillies -- his ninth of the season. He has only 33 at-bats in August.

Analysis: Fontenot played regularly with Alfonso Soriano on the DL and showed impressive power for a second baseman. Unfortunately, in his current role, he's nothing more than a low-end NL-only option

While he entered Thursday's affair sporting a solid .313 average through 32 at-bats in August, Fontenot had gone homerless in that stretch while driving in just two runs. The 28-year-old infielder should be relegated to NL-only consideration until he begins to display the stroke that lifted him to a .365 clip with a .750 slugging percentage in July.