Here’s the scenario: Your power-hungry fantasy squad has fallen far off the pace in stolen bases. It’s time to get a quick base-swiping fix for the week, and Joey Gathright of the Devil Rays is available, as is the Dodgers’ Kenny Lofton.

Both could steal a handful of bases in a week. How do you choose between the veteran and the youngster?

Here’s a novel suggestion: When trolling for stolen bases, take the one (or anyone with adequate wheels, really) playing against the Padres or Cubs.

I’m not talking about someone one might pick up for the entire season. This refers to renting a player to help in a category for one week. In leagues with deep benches, this goes on all the time.

For maximum success, a look at matchups is crucial. Next week, for example, any Reds base-stealing threat would be an interesting pick. They play three against the Cardinals, which is bad, and three against the Cubs, which is Christmas in early June.

Here’s why it matters: Opponents have stolen 48 of 61 bases against the Cubs; foes are 12-of-22 against the Tigers, and 15-of-23 against the Cardinals.

That means a runner is four times more likely to succeed in a theft against Michael Barrett of the Cubs than Ivan Rodriguez of the Tigers.

Next week, don’t expect much running from anyone on the Blue Jays, who play the Tigers and the Orioles, the team with the highest caught-stealing percentage in baseball at 49.

Run, Forrest, Run

Barrett, C, Cubs

You’ll want to punch Barrett in the face when you realize how your opponents have been stealing at will off him. He’s never been great at throwing stealers out; he’s caught 23.8 percent in his career. But this year, he’s at 18.5 percent, allowing a league-high 44 of 54 steals in his first 39 games. In one four-game series against the Padres in early May, 11 of 12 base stealers were successful against Barrett.

Mike Piazza, C, Padres

It used to be somewhat easy to run on the power-hitting backstop. In his prime, Piazza threw out about a quarter of those attempting to steal. It’s been far worse the last two years. Last year, he threw out 13-of-95 for the Mets. Now with the Padres, he’s caught 4-of-40 in 30 games. Opponents are running wild against the veteran, which should be good for 2B Rickie Weeks’ owners next week, as the Brewers play a four-game set against the Friars.

Victor Martinez, C, Indians

Martinez shouldn’t be on this list based on ability, but he is because he’s thrown out 6 of 43 base stealers so far. It’s been a tough month of May for Martinez on offense (.165-0-9), and it certainly hasn’t endeared him to Tribe fans to watch opponents continually test his arm and win. He has an unconventional release point and until he changes it, look for fast players going up against the Indians to thrive.

Halt!

Ramon Hernandez, C, Orioles

Through the end of May, Hernandez was the only catcher with more than 15 starts to have thrown out more runners than he’d allowed to steal. Runners were 15-of-34 against him, and his 19 caught stealings led baseball. Smart fantasy owners recognized that even Carl Crawford of the Devil Rays, who was tied for the major league lead through the end of May with 20 steals, wasn’t going to be too successful against the Orioles’ catcher. In the first two games of a three-game series this past week, Crawford had no steals despite having stolen seven bases in the previous five games.

Yadier Molina, C, Cardinals

Brutal hitter, that Yadier, but boy can he throw. Of full-time catchers, only Ivan Rodriguez had allowed fewer stolen bases, nine, than Molina’s 10 through the end of May. His caught stealing percentage is 41.2 percent, not quite as high as that of Hernandez. But the difference is that opponents simply don’t run against Molina.

J.D. Closser, C, Rockies

Who would have thought Closser would appear on this list? Closser lost his starting job last year and wound up in the minors this season primarily because he was brutal at throwing out base-runners last year, nailing 17.2 percent of would-be stealers. Just called up this season because of an injury to Danny Ardoin, Closser was immediately tested, and threw out the first four runners who tried him. His newfound rocket arm may allow him to stick with the club, even as Yorvit Torrealba comes off the disabled list, perhaps next week.

Quick Hits

Is there a better fantasy baseball surprise this season than the Mariners’ Jose Lopez? His 42 RBIs don’t just lead all second basemen (including 2B-eligible Alfonso Soriano), but are 15th in baseball. He may be this year’s Jorge Cantu. … It’s officially time to recognize Pirates OF Nate McLouth as a serious leadoff hitter. After a tough start, McLouth has blossomed with regular playing time and his 20 runs and five stolen bases in May bode well for the season. … Look for the Giants’ Noah Lowry to break his personal three-game losing skid next week against the Pirates and Marlins.