Here are some injury notes on some key players in baseball this week.  Fantasy players should pay close attention because some of the biggest names will be spending some extended time on the bench:

• Chipper Jones has already missed 8 games, and now he looks headed to the DL.  Jones has avoided the disabled list all season despite a nagging hamstring injury, but now he may also miss the All-Star game despite hitting .394 for the season.

• YunelEscobar looks ready to return for the Braves on Tuesday.  Mark Kotsay will also return to the lineup Tuesday for Atlanta moving Gregor Blanco to left field.

• Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez is back home in the Dominican Republic dealing with a family matter.  He will miss the first three games of this week’s series against the Giants.  Mark DeRosa will probably get the most playing time at third with Eric Patterson and Matt Murton getting time in left.

• Now that Interleague play has ended, Colorado has a decision to make at second base.  Clint Barmes and Jeff Baker have both played well this season, and hold fantasy value as long as they are getting at-bats.  In NL play, both players don’t have a spot in the lineup.  It will be interesting to see how manager Clint Hurdle handles this situation.  Both players bat right-handed so there is not a natural platoon possibility.  Baker has more power (and thus more fantasy value) but Barmes is clearly the better fielder.

• Detroit looked like it was getting healthy and ready to chase down the White Sox for the division lead, but that will be much harder now that left-fielder and clean-up hitter Magglio Ordonez has gone on the DL with a pulled oblique.  Rookie Clete Thomas is probably the biggest beneficiary as is the recently called up Matt Joyce.

• Another AL-Central LF went down as Michael Cuddyer is now on the DL with a strained tendon in his left hand.  Finger injuries are always precarious with hitters because it affects their ability to grip and swing the bat.  This will be something to monitor closely.  Jason Kubel will probably play close to everyday now while Craig Monroe and a cast of others should man the DH spot.  Kubel has the most fantasy value of these players having decent power skills, and is likely widely available in most leagues.