Who's Hot / Who's Not

Who's Hot

Angels

In up-for-grabs AL West, they're doing some grabbing: Six straight wins left the Halos a game and a half back through Sunday. With starters like John Lackey (26 2/3-inning scoreless streak) they're primed for second half (page 44). Manager Mike Scioscia on the sizzling Lackey (left): "It has been his frame of mind."

Kyle Busch

Humble and bubbly sophomore, 21, sped to his first Nextel Cup win of the season, vaulting him to fourth place in the Chase. Afterward, the kid downplayed the victory.

Randy Foye

Timberwolves rookie--and SI PLAYERS cover boy on March 20, 2006--averaged 24.8 points to draw comparisons with Dwyane Wade and win MVP at the Vegas Summer League.

Big Apple relievers

Three days after opening a steak house, Mo's, the Yankees' Mariano Rivera (left) locked up his 400th save with a two-inning, two-DP shutdown of the White Sox. (Manager Joe Torre: "He's a special guy.") Across town, the Mets bullpen was leading the NL with a 3.41 ERA.

Who's Not

Mariners

In anyone-can-snag-it AL West, M's are sagging, not snagging: Eight losses in 10 games dropped Seattle to cellar. Ichiro Suzuki ruminating on team's woes: "The problem usually isn't just on the cover. You need to look much deeper.... If we're talking about a tree ... you need to look at the root. But you cannot see the root."