Top 5 guys whose returns from the D.L. will help

1 RHP Curt Schilling, Red Sox. Boston is in a great spot--it's in first place and its ace will be fresh for the second half. If Boston trades for another starter, the Sox could run away in the A.L. East.

2 2B Jose Vidro, Nationals. Vidro's return will be a double play for first-place Washington: He'll add a potent switch-hitting bat to the middle of the lineup, and fill-in Junior Spivey will add depth to the bench.

3 OF Magglio Ordonez, Tigers. Detroit, on the fringe of the wild-card race, is looking forward to finally getting some production from its $75 million man. If he remains healthy into September, so much the better.

4 SS Nomar Garciaparra, Cubs. Nothing against Neifi Perez, but who wouldn't want a hard-hitting shortstop like Nomah in the middle of the order? Garciaparra should be back early enough to be a factor down the stretch.

5 3B Chipper Jones, Braves. A late-July return might be ambitious, but Atlanta will take whatever it can get from the guy who has been in the heart of the lineup for years. Chipper certainly will take pressure off Andruw Jones.

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