All stats are updated through Thursday, May 29.
Matt Kemp appears to have regained his starting job -- only this time in left field instead of center -- after sitting out five straight games because of unsatisfactory defense. The injury to Carl Crawford likely ensures he'll stay in the lineup going forward, but the lingering uncertainty combined with the fact he has yet to score more than 16 Head-to-Head points in any one week makes him less than "too obvious" among outfielders this week.
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Player | Own/Start % | |
1. | Khris Davis, OF, MIL | 73/55 |
2. | Adam LaRoche, 1B, WAS | 84/58 |
3. | Martin Prado, 2B/3B/OF, ARI | 92/73 |
4. | Desmond Jennings, OF, TB | 94/72 |
5. | J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL | 72/51 |
6. | Coco Crisp, OF, OAK | 81/57 |
7. | Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, CLE | 50/38 |
8. | Xander Bogaerts, 3B/SS, BOS | 87/68 |
9. | Mark Reynolds, 1B/3B, MIL | 47/38 |
10. | Lucas Duda, 1B/OF, NYM | 34/28 |
Though he's been out since May 17 because of an ankle injury, Jose Abreu may forgo a rehab assignment and return to the lineup Monday. Any earlier, and he'd be "too obvious" for this week, but since we won't know for sure whether or not he's back until lineups lock, he's less than automatic in shallower leagues. If you play in such a league, keep a close eye on his status over the weekend.
Stephen Drew is more than halfway to the 25 at-bats he agreed to get in the minors before returning to the big-league club, so by the end of the weekend, he should be ready to go. His return doesn't figure to impact Xander Bogaerts, who can simply move to third base.
And with that, on to the position-by-position breakdown ...
Catcher
Too obvious: Buster Posey, Yadier Molina, Jonathan Lucroy, Joe Mauer, Brian McCann, Wilin Rosario, Evan Gattis, Salvador Perez, Miguel Montero, Devin Mesoraco
Start: Wilson Ramos, Nationals
Ramos
has been slow to come around since returning from a broken hand May 7,
but he's now hit safely in five straight games, batting .364 (8 for 22)
with a home run, his first of the season. He hit 16 home runs in only
287 at-bats last year, which should give you some idea of his potential.
With favorable matchups against pitchers like David Buchanan, A.J. Burnett, Kyle Kendrick, Eric Stults and Tim Stauffer, he might be worth a shot this week.
Instead of: Yan Gomes, Jason Castro, Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Sit: A.J. Pierzynski, Red Sox
Conversely,
the Red Sox have some of the worst matchups this week against pitchers
like Corey Kluber, Drew Smyly, Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez. That may not be enough to impact David Ortiz or Dustin Pedroia, but it
may be enough to cool off Pierzynski, who looks like a hot-hand play
with his .400 (14 for 35) batting average over his last eight games. The
Red Sox are also on the road all week, where Pierzynski has hit just
.200 with a .491 OPS.
Instead of: Ramos, Dioner Navarro
First base
Too obvious: Miguel Cabrera, Paul Goldschmidt, Edwin Encarnacion, Albert Pujols, Freddie Freeman, Chris Davis, Adrian Gonzalez, Victor Martinez, Brandon Moss, Buster Posey, Anthony Rizzo, Justin Morneau, Michael Morse, Joe Mauer, Allen Craig, Michael Cuddyer
Start: Lucas Duda, Mets
First
base is a tricky position for picking out sleepers. When you eliminate
all the high-end talent from consideration, little remains. So rather
than force an argument for Eric Hosmer,
who's obviously a more deserving start, let's go a little deeper here
with Duda, who has shown signs of coming around with two home runs and
four walks in his last four games. He should benefit from his matchups
against Roberto Hernandez, Jake Arrieta, Edwin Jackson and Tim Lincecum, and with only one lefty on tap, you can trust him to
play a full six games.
Instead of: Ryan Howard, Juan Francisco, Adam Lind
Sit: Adam Dunn, White Sox
With
a high walk rate and the occasional power binge, Dunn has been a fairly
steady contributor this year, but his chances of making an impact this
week are severely diminished by the White Sox playing half their games
in an NL park. With Abreu set to return from the DL Monday, Dunn figures
to be the odd man out with no DH spot available. Even if something
happens to keep him in the lineup, the White Sox's matchups against Clayton Kershaw, Dan Haren and Josh Beckett -- not to mention Jered Weaver
and C.J. Wilson when the team returns to
the AL -- won't do him any favors.
Instead of: Adam LaRoche, Duda, Lonnie Chisenhall
Second base
Too obvious: Robinson Cano, Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia, Matt Carpenter, Brian Dozier, Jose Altuve, Chase Utley, Daniel Murphy, Ben Zobrist, Jason Kipnis, Anthony Rendon, Howie Kendrick, Neil Walker
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Team | Schedule | |
1. | Brewers | MIN2, @MIN2, @PIT3 |
2. | Rays | @MIA2, MIA2, SEA3 |
3. | Athletics | @NYY3, @BAL3 |
4. | Dodgers | CHW3, @COL3 |
5. | Nationals | PHI3, @SD3 |
Start: Martin Prado, Diamondbacks
After
doing his best to lose the trust of his Fantasy owners over the first
eight weeks, Prado has gotten back to his extra-base-hitting ways over
his last five games, not only connecting for his first two home runs but
also collecting two doubles and a triple for a .421 (8 for 19) batting
average. That alone is reason enough to activate him, but the three
games at Coors Field this week can't hurt.
Instead of: Aaron Hill, Brandon Phillips, Yangervis Solarte
Sit: Dee Gordon, Dodgers
Now,
before you flip out and do something crazy, understand this isn't a
suggestion to sit Gordon at every position in every format across the
board. As cold as he's been over his last 10 games, batting .179 (7 for
39), he's remained fairly productive in Fantasy because of all the
stolen bases. You can't afford to forgo those steals in a Rotisserie
league, and there really isn't much upside to sitting Gordon at a thin
position like shortstop in any format. But if you normally play him at
second base in a Head-to-Head points league, I get the feeling he won't
be one of the top 12 performers at the position his week, not with four
left-handers on the schedule. He's batting just .182 against lefties
this season.
Instead of: Prado and any of the "too obvious,"
obviously
Third base
Too obvious: Miguel Cabrera, Josh Donaldson, Adrian Beltre, David Wright, Evan Longoria, Matt Carpenter, Anthony Rendon, Pedro Alvarez, Todd Frazier, Pablo Sandoval, Kyle Seager
Start: Lonnie Chisenhall, Indians
A
former top prospect just entering his prime at age 25, Chisenhall is
batting .358 this season and .368 (14 for 38) with two home runs in his
last 11 games. So why is he still available in half of all leagues?
Quite simply, he sits too often, starting just one game against a
left-handed pitcher all season. The Indians have only one of those on
tap this week, though, giving Chisenhall a chance to play close to a
full schedule. The matchups aren't enough to scare you away at a thin
position.
Instead of: Manny Machado,
Juan Francisco, Matt Dominguez
Sit: Yangervis Solarte, Yankees
Solarte's
recent 2-for-24 slump is no reason to drop the versatile up-and-comer,
but it may be reason to sit him, especially with such unfavorable
matchups ahead. The Yankees face Felix Hernandez,
Scott Kazmir, Jesse Chavez, Drew Pomeranz and James Shields in a seven-game week, giving you a reasonable excuse to
swap out Solarte if you a viable alternative at each of the four
positions where he's eligible.
Instead of: Martin Prado, Chisenhall, Xander Bogaerts
Shortstop
Too obvious: Troy Tulowitzki, Hanley Ramirez, Ian Desmond, Jose Reyes, Alexei Ramirez, Elvis Andrus, Ben Zobrist, Starlin Castro, Jean Segura, Jimmy Rollins, Dee Gordon
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Team | Schedule | |
1. | White Sox | @LAD3, @LAA3 |
2. | Yankees | SEA1, OAK3, @KC3 |
3. | Phillies | NYM1, @WAS3, @CIN3 |
4. | Red Sox | @CLE3, @DET3 |
5. | Marlins | TB2, @TB2, @CHC3 |
Start: J.J. Hardy, Orioles
Hardy
has yet to hit a home run this season, which is precisely what his
Fantasy owners drafted him to do, but his .409 (18 for 44) batting
average over his last 11 games gives a pretty strong indication he's
finding his stroke. He may have finished last season with 25 home runs,
but 10 came during a 29-game stretch early in the season and seven came
during a 25-game stretch much later. Throughout his career, his power
has come in spurts, so if you hold out for the first home run, you could
end up missing bunches. Take the cue and get him active.
Instead
of: Yangervis Solarte, Jed Lowrie, Everth Cabrera
Sit: Andrelton Simmons, Braves
Though
his production has been lacking virtually all season, making him just
the 23rd-best shortstop in Head-to-Head points leagues to date, Simmons
is for some reason still started in 56 percent of leagues. The Braves
are the only team playing five games this week. You might want to use it
as an excuse to scope out alternatives at the position.
Instead of:
Hardy, Xander Bogaerts, Everth Cabrera
Outfield
Too obvious: Mike Trout, Andrew McCutchen, Jose Bautista, Giancarlo Stanton, Yasiel Puig, Carlos Gomez, Jacoby Ellsbury, Adam Jones, Shin-Soo Choo, Justin Upton, Ryan Braun, Matt Holliday, Hunter Pence, Nelson Cruz, Alex Rios, Michael Brantley, Brandon Moss, Jayson Werth, Melky Cabrera, Yoenis Cespedes, Michael Morse, George Springer, Christian Yelich, Ben Zobrist, Allen Craig, Charlie Blackmon, Starling Marte, Alex Gordon, Michael Cuddyer
Start: Khris Davis, Brewers
Davis
has done a complete 180 in his last nine games, hitting .412 (14 for 34)
with five home runs to more than double his season total. Normally for a
player with his numbers, you'd assume the hot streak was nearing an end,
but considering Davis has also more than doubled his walks during this
nine-game stretch, it may be the start of a bigger turnaround. Plus, the
Brewers have the best matchups of any team this week, facing pitchers
like Kyle Gibson, Samuel Deduno, Ricky Nolasco, Kevin Correia, Edinson Volquez and Charlie Morton.
Instead of: Brett Gardner, Adam Eaton, Domonic Brown
Sit: Marcell Ozuna, Marlins
Ozuna
is hot right now, batting .333 (9 for 27) with three home runs over his
last seven games. Of course, before that, he had a 27-game stretch in
which he hit .178 (16 for 90), and before that, he had a 17-game stretch
in which he hit .343 (23 for 67). In other words, he's streaky -- showed
it as a rookie last year, too -- so if you catch him at the wrong time,
you're liable to be disappointed. The Marlins' matchups gainst Alex Cobb, Chris Archer, David Price, Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija could make this week the wrong time.
Instead
of: Davis, Coco Crisp, Lucas Duda
Though normally in Fantasy Baseball, you'd start your best players every week regardless of matchups, in those weeks when you do need a fill-in, whether because of injuries or the total collapse of a trusted starter, Scott White is here to help.
At each position, he'll list the players who are "too obvious" for the upcoming week, meaning the ones you wouldn't consider sitting for anyone off the list, and then suggest a start and a sit based on a variety of short-term factors.
Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us on Twitter @CBSFantasyBB or Scott at @CBSScottWhite . You can also e-mail us at fantasybaseball@cbsinteractive.com .