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Two of the majors' best collide as Josh Johnson, who has the fifth-best ERA in the National League, faces the hulking bats of the Rays, who are first in runs scored and second in OPS. James Shields, Tampa Bay's starter, isn't too bad at pitching either, as the contest between the two Floridian teams looks promising. Indeed, Friday is chock-full of top-tier starters, with 11 hurlers sporting a sub-3.75 ERA. The pitcher rankings are loaded as a result, but there are still a few sleepers to spot-start if you look closely. Read on to see just whom we have in mind.

For starters

Selected notes: Despite his 3.18 ERA, Wandy Rodriguez hasn't pitched too well the past month. He has 17 walks in his past six starts, which translates to nearly five walks per nine innings. Toss in the fact that he's served up nine home runs in that span and he's treading on dangerous territory, as his 5.76 ERA in those six starts can attest to. There's not much upside in starting him against Justin Verlander, either. … Like Rodriguez, Jair Jurrjens has also seen some regression to the mean the past month, though not to quite the same extent. He has a 4.82 ERA in his past five starts, though, and if you count his three unearned runs against the Red Sox in his most recent start, his ERA would rise to 5.86. It was his own error in fact, that led to those unearned runs, and he compounded that by allowing a two-run homer after the fact, so he merely got lucky his ERA wasn't penalized. While Jurrjens may have great numbers up to this point, there's no real need to push your luck and throw him out there in his rematch versus the Red Sox, the majors' third-best offense in both runs scored and OPS. … It's always tough to handicap just what will happen when one of the top pitchers faces one of the top offenses, but Josh Johnson has been remarkably consistent this season. Compile his toughest matchups this season -- the Phillies, Rays, Blue Jays and Yankees, as well as a start against the Rockies in Coors Field -- and the result is a 1.89 ERA in 38 innings, an impressive feat. Johnson went at least seven innings in each of those starts, earning a quality start every time, striking out 31 batters. With numbers like that, he has to be considered one of the few true "must-starts," no matter the opposition. … Kevin Millwood is laughing in the face of regression, defying his middling peripherals and pitching even better in recent weeks, allowing just five runs (three earned) in his past four starts. Owners have been slow to jump on board, but have now been forced to acquiesce, as his ownership is up 8.8 percent in the past week. To the 18.4 percent that are still out there, well, what are you waiting for? … With 26 strikeouts in his past 27 1/3 innings, including four consecutive quality starts, Ricky Romero has been quite the surprise in his first nine major league starts. His minor league numbers were never very special, but it's not unforeseen for 24-year-old left-handers to make unexpected gains, and on the team level, he has a good offense to provide run support and a great defense behind him. There's some inherent risk attached, but strikeouts are too valuable not to give him a look. … Jason Hammel has picked up a win in three of his four starts this month, thanks largely to the Rockies' major league-leading .852 OPS this month; the team has scored 7.25 runs per game in his four starts. All Hammel has to do is keep the team in the game, and the three times he's been able to do that this month, he's earned a win for his troubles. Against an awful offense like the A's, you have to like his chances to pick up another quality start and another win.

Now batting

Hitters' count

• Alfonso Soriano, OF, Cubs: In his career he's 5-for-8 with three homers against Jose Contreras, and even when he's not hitting for average, Soriano is always a threat to hit one out of the park.
• Travis Hafner, DH, Indians: Back home in Progressive Field, Hafner should resume DH duties, and he's been great when he's played: In just 31 June at-bats, he has three home runs and two doubles, hitting .355 with six walks to one strikeout.
• Adam LaRoche, 1B, Pirates: LaRoche is usually a second-half player, but his production has showed up a month early this season. He's even more comfortable at home, hitting .376 with six home runs this season, and in his career -- 674 at-bats worth -- he's hitting .300 with 32 home runs at PNC Park; he hits .262 elsewhere.
• Scott Rolen, 3B, Blue Jays: Rolen is hitting .446 during his 13-game hitting streak, with nine multihit games, bringing his average on the season all the way up to .330. His power may be gone for good, but he doesn't take too many walks, so that average can help quite a bit.
• Jason Kubel, OF, Twins: Kubel bounced back from a stomach ailment that sidelined him for a couple of games to pick up right where he left off, crushing another home run on Wednesday off Braden Looper. He's now slugging a ridiculous .719 in June, and brought his line versus right-handers up to a Pujols-like .354 AVG/.409 OBP/.677 SLG. Somehow he's still available in more than a third of ESPN leagues.
• Kendry Morales, 1B, Angels: It's been only six starts, but Billy Buckner has a serious problem pitching against left-handed batters, as he's allowed nine extra-base hits -- including four homers -- in 57 at-bats against them. That's right in Morales' wheelhouse, as the switch-hitter has had all but three of his 33 extra-base hits come against righties, including every one of his 12 home runs.
• Clint Barmes, 2B/SS, Rockies: Barmes turns into Superman against left-handed pitching, hitting .357 with four homers in 56 at-bats, chipping in 15 runs and 14 RBIs as well. Indeed, for his career he hits 63 points better against southpaws, so you know he's licking his chops at the prospect of facing rookie Brett Anderson.

Pitchers' count

• Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs: He has just three hits versus Jose Contreras in 16 at-bats, and it will be a test to see whether hot hitting beats pitcher-specific ineptitude.
• Victor Martinez, C/1B, Indians: Martinez is a .133 hitter against Aaron Harang, going 2-for-15 with a double and two strikeouts.
• Brian McCann, C, Braves: He has more strikeouts (four) than hits (three) when facing Josh Beckett. Overall he's hitting .214 against Beckett with zero walks and just one extra-base hit.
• Mike Cameron, OF, Brewers: Matt Cain has thoroughly owned Cameron in his career, striking him out nine times in 25 at-bats while limiting him to three hits, leaving Cameron with a .120 average against.
• Mike Lowell, 3B, Red Sox: Lowell probably isn't 100 percent as he battles soreness in his surgically repaired hip, and manager Terry Francona vowed to give him more time off, which he did on Wednesday, a day after Lowell returned to the lineup on Tuesday after a three-game rest. The Red Sox are trying to get David Ortiz's bat in the lineup while they play in NL parks, which they can only do by sitting Lowell and moving Kevin Youkilis to third. However, assuming Lowell does play, Jair Jurrjens has limited right-handers to a .195 average on the season, so there's not much upside for his owners.
• Curtis Granderson, OF, Tigers: Nearly all of Granderson's production has occurred against right-handers, as he has just two home runs and two steals against lefties in 76 at-bats. There's not much reason to expect different when he faces Wandy Rodriguez, who has held lefties to a .208 average while striking out 20 in 72 at-bats.
• Milton Bradley, OF, Cubs: With Chris DeLuca of the Chicago Sun-Times reporting manager Lou Piniella will bench Milton Bradley until Saturday, it's probably safe to remove Bradley from your lineup, though (hopefully) he was on your bench to begin with.

If you're hardcore

• Gary Sheffield, OF, Mets: If Sheffield is able to play, he does have a strong track record against CC Sabathia -- and lefties in general -- with a home run and two doubles among his five hits in 18 at-bats.
• Garret Anderson, OF, Angels: He's garnered hits in nearly half of his at-bats versus Josh Beckett, 9-for-20 overall, with a little power to boot: two doubles and a homer.
• Micah Hoffpauir, 1B/OF, Cubs: The Cubs have the DH available to them through Sunday, so Hoffpauir should start for the short term, and he did pop a home run on Tuesday and Thursday. He's a decent option against most righties, including Jose Contreras, who has an .887 OPS against left-handed batters.
• Jonny Gomes, OF, Reds: Gomes is 5-for-10 with two homers and a double in his past four games, and he even got the start against a right-hander, Scott Richmond, on Wednesday, whom he took out of the park. With the Reds struggling to find offense, Gomes could see his at-bats increase. Regardless, he's still a sure bet to start against lefties, and Jeremy Sowers could be the next to feel his wrath when they face off on Friday.
• Nolan Reimold, OF, Orioles: Now that the Orioles are back at home, Reimold can gain consistent at-bats as the designated hitter, and he's still hitting well, with a .288 average and three home runs in 52 at-bats this month. He smacks left-handers particularly hard (.333 average and three home runs in 36 at-bats), making him a good bet against rookie Ross Detwiler.
• Colby Rasmus, OF, Cardinals: Rasmus is hitless in his past 15 at-bats, but he earns a spot in this space because he's hitting .338 on the month, and more importantly, Glen Perkins is extremely susceptible to left-handed hitting. Lefties are hitting .345 off him the past two seasons, including .375 this year. Rasmus may swing at everything -- a 12-0 strikeout-to-walk rate this month -- but what does it matter when the pitcher is so hittable?

Triage

Injury list: Out

• Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets (15-day DL, knee): Mets brass expects Beltran to return just after the All-Star break.
• Coco Crisp, OF, Royals (15-day DL, shoulder): Crisp underwent surgery for a torn labrum and is done for the season.
• Matt Lindstrom, RP, Marlins (elbow): Lindstrom admitted he's been battling the injury for the past month, and now he won't be allowed to throw for four weeks. MLB.com reports six weeks is his earliest possible timetable.

Injury list: Day-to-day

• Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays (hamstring): Longoria tweaked his left hamstring on Wednesday, the same injury that sidelined him for six days earlier in the month. The injury isn't believed to be serious, but the initial injury was minor, too, and Longoria still ended up missing a week.
• Charlie Morton, SP, Pirates (hamstring): Morton's hamstring is still bothering him, the same one that caused him to last just one inning in his Pirates debut on June 10. If Morton is unable to go, right-hander Virgil Vasquez is expected to be called up from Triple-A to replace him.
• Leo Nunez, RP, Marlins (ankle): Expected to take over Lindstrom's role as the closer, Nunez is battling an injury of his own. It's not serious, however, and he's questionable for Friday.
• CC Sabathia, SP, Yankees (biceps): Sabathia left his most recent start with tightness in his left biceps, but claims to be ready for his start Friday.
• Gary Sheffield, OF, Mets (knee; available to pinch hit): Sheffield received a cortisone shot on Tuesday, and hopes to play by Friday. If not, he risks heading to the disabled list.
• Chris B. Young, OF, Diamondbacks (groin; available to pinch hit): Young was unable to play on Wednesday and has now missed five straight games. He did pinch hit on Wednesday and manager A.J. Hinch expected him back earlier in the week, so he could be back in the lineup soon.

Weather concerns

• Tampa Bay (Marlins-Rays), Houston (Tigers-Astros), Milwaukee (Giants-Brewers) and Arizona (Angels-Diamondbacks) host the four weatherproof games of Friday.
• Only in Baltimore, New York and Atlanta could rain be a concern; those areas share a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.

Adam Madison is a fantasy baseball analyst for ESPN.com.