The Fantasy Baseball Hitting Planner is your guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming scoring period. Every week, we'll give you the latest on injuries, lineup changes, streaks and matchups, highlighting the players at each position who might surprise or disappoint as a result. NOTE: The Planner will be updated with the latest information every Sunday prior to lineup deadlines.
Any players not listed here fall into the "status quo" category, meaning you should take your usual approach with them.
All statistics are updated through Saturday, July 16..
Catcher
Ramon Hernandez has been playing out of his mind recently, batting .356 (16 for 45) with a .975 OPS over his last 12 games to bring his season batting average up to .315 and his season OPS up to .897. The problem is you still can't use him in mixed leagues because the Reds don't feel comfortable starting him more than two games in a row. With prospect Devin Mesoraco pushing for a promotion at Triple-A Louisville, Hernandez could be on the move in the weeks ahead -- hopefully to a team committed to using him more -- so even though you probably wouldn't want to use him right now in Fantasy, you'll want to keep your eye on him.
Must-Start Options: Brian McCann, Victor Martinez, Carlos Santana, Miguel Montero, Alex Avila
Heating up
Carlos Ruiz: .375
(12 for 32), 1 HR, 1.050 OPS, 4 BBs, 4 Ks in 10 games
Wilson Ramos: .400 (12 for 30), 3 HRs, 11 RBI, 1.288 OPS in nine games
Mike Napoli: .391 (9 for 23), 3 HRs, 9 RBI, 1.330 OPS in seven games
Cooling off
Jonathan Lucroy:
.220 (9 for 41), no extra-base hits, .475 OPS in 13 games
Alex Avila: .161 (5 for 31), 3 2Bs, 9 BBs, 11 Ks in 11 games
Jorge Posada: .148 (4 for 27), one extra-base hit, .411 OPS in 11
games
Yadier Molina: .136 (3 for 22),
2 2Bs, .436 OPS, 2 BBs, 0 Ks in eight games
Worth a second look
John Buck (31
percent started): Buck has been in a funk most of the season but
began showing signs of life just before the All-Star break and is
batting .296 (8 for 27) with two homers over his last eight games. His
resurgence comes just in time for a seven-game week against the Mets'
and Padres' less-than-stellar starting pitchers, with six of those games
at home. SunLife Stadium is known as a tough place to hit, but Buck has
actually liked it there, hitting .258 compared to .175 on the road.
You've probably gotten used to ignoring the 2010 All-Star by now, but if
you need help at catcher this week, he should provide it.
Wilson Ramos (22 percent): Ramos has been getting more playing
time recently with Ivan Rodriguez
sidelined by a strained oblique -- an injury that might keep him on the
DL even beyond this week after a setback Saturday. Ramos has taken
advantage of the increased at-bats so far, showing impressive home run
power for a catcher. The 23-year-old has the upside to become a viable
mixed-league option, so now wouldn't be a bad time to take a sneak peak.
Approach with caution
Jonathan Lucroy
(48 percent started): Lucroy hasn't gotten off to a blazing start
in July and remained cold even during a four-game series at Coors Field.
The Brewers are on the road for all seven of their games this week,
facing pitchers like Ian Kennedy, Matt Cain and Ryan Vogelsong. Lucroy
is batting only .225 on the road compared to .333 at home, showing why
he's less than an every-week option in Fantasy.
Kurt Suzuki (44 percent): Suzuki has picked it up a little at
the plate recently, batting .400 (10 for 25) with a homer over his last
eight games, but he won't have many opportunities to contribute this
week with only five games on the schedule. And he probably won't do much
in those five games considering all are on the road and four are against
right-handed pitchers. For the season, Suzuki is batting .203 away from
Oakland Coliseum and .216 against righties.
Injury concerns
John Jaso was
forced to go on the DL with a strained right oblique Thursday, opening
the door for Kelly Shoppach to get
regular at-bats in Tampa Bay. Shoppach is batting only .176 on the year,
but he has been a worthwhile Fantasy option in the past, hitting 21
homers in 2008. He's worth a flier in deeper leagues just in case the
consistent playing time leads to more-consistent production.
First base
The Diamondbacks finally reached a breaking point with their platoon of Juan Miranda and Xavier Nady on Thursday, but they didn't promote 23-year-old Paul Goldschmidt to the majors as had long been rumored. Instead, they turned to a familiar face who was also putting up killer numbers in the minors, calling up Brandon Allen and sending down Miranda. Allen has exhibited both power and patience in the minors, putting together a 1.006 OPS at Triple-A Reno this year, but because he didn't prove much in his first two stints in the majors, you can leave him for NL-only leagues for now.
Must-Start Options: Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder, Mark Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis, Ryan Howard, Lance Berkman, Paul Konerko, Adam Lind, Gaby Sanchez
Heating up
Joey Votto: .400
(18 for 45), 2 HRs, 1.029 OPS in 11 games
Freddie Freeman: .316 (12 for 38), 4 HRs, 12 RBI, 1.080 OPS in 10 games
Mark Trumbo: .306 (11 for 36), 5 HRs, 1 SB, 1.081 OPS in 10 games
Cooling off
Adam Dunn: .083 (6
for 72), 2 HRs, .345 OPS, 7 BBs, 37 Ks in 20 games
Justin Smoak: .081 (5 for 62), two extra-base hits, .270 OPS, 5 BBs,
17 Ks in 18 games
Aubrey Huff: .162
(6 for 37), 1 HR, .448 OPS in nine games
Mark Teixeira: .160 (4 for 25), no extra-base hits, .436 OPS in
seven games
Worth a second look
Freddie Freeman
(70 percent started): The deeper we get into the season, the
better and better Freeman gets. Not only has he been hot recently, but
he's batting .308 with nine homers and a .897 OPS since May 19, which is
more than half of his season so far. With four games at Coors Field to
open the week, he has a good chance of keeping it going. No reason to
shy away from him now in mixed leagues.
Casey Kotchman (19 percent): Yes, Kotchman has a few big marks
against him, such as a complete lack of home-run power at a position
that demands it. But this late into the season, his .340 batting average
is getting pretty hard to ignore. If you need help in that category in a
Rotisserie league or just happen to find yourself with a stunning lack
of options at the deepest position in Fantasy, Kotchman might be a
sneaky play during a seven-game week in which he faces the Royals
pitching staff three times.
Approach with caution
Aubrey Huff
(46 percent started): Even disregarding Huff's poor hitting over
the last week, how can you expect a season-long underachiever to
suddenly turn it around in a week he's facing Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Shaun Marcum and Yovani Gallardo --
especially when all six of his games are at home, where he's only a .216
hitter? It's just not reasonable. Neither is starting him in a mixed
league this week.
James Loney (22
percent): After a miserable start prolonged by a misguided attempt
to hit more homers, Loney has generally gotten his season back on track,
but he still hasn't learned to hit left-handed pitchers, batting only
.184 (14 for 76) against them. Against three left-handers in a six-game
week, Loney isn't the kind of gamble you should take if you need help at
first base.
Injury concerns
None.
Second base
Carlos Guillen, who had been out all year because of microfracture sugery on his knee, returned to the lineup as the starting second baseman on Saturday and figures to have the job on a near full-time basis, bumping Ryan Raburn to the bench. Guillen has obviously been a productive Fantasy option in the past, but as an injury-prone 35-year-old who has gotten less than 600 at-bats over the last three years combined, you shouldn't expect him to be the savior of your Fantasy team. If you're searching for a middle infielder in a deeper mixed league, you could take a flier on him, but he's a bit of a long shot to make a worthwhile contribution. Heading into the All-Star break, Miguel Tejada had started four of the Giants' last six games at second base and had hit the ball pretty well during that stretch. But since then, the Giants have turned to Mike Fontenot as their starting second baseman, at least against right-handed pitchers. Truth is they haven't been able to settle on any one player at the position since Freddy Sanchez went down with a dislocated left shoulder in early June, making all of the candidates useless in mixed leagues. Of course, none probably have the upside to make a big impact in Fantasy -- not even the 37-year-old Tejada.
Must-Start Options: Robinson Cano, Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia, Rickie Weeks, Chase Utley, Ben Zobrist, Brandon Phillips, Michael Young
Heating up
Dustin Pedroia:
.379 (22 for 58), 7 HRs, 1 SB, 1.256 OPS, 7 BBs, 5 Ks during 14-game hit
streak
Ian Kinsler: .353 (18 for 51),
4 HRs, 4 SBs, 1.127 OPS, 6 BBs, 7 Ks during 12-game hit streak
Michael Young: .421 (16 for 38), 1 HR, 1.094 OPS, 1 BB, 2 Ks in 10 games
Neil Walker: .452 (19 for 42), 1 HR, 1 3B, 3 2Bs, 1 SB, 1.108 OPS, 1
BB, 13 Ks during 10-game hit streak
Ben Zobrist: .440 (11 for 25), 2 HRs, 3 SBs, 1.376 OPS in seven
games
Cooling off
Aaron Hill: .118
(4 for 34), no extra-base hits, 3 SBs, .328 OPS in nine games
Orlando Cabrera: .135 (5 for 37), one extra-base hit, 1 SB, .362 OPS in
nine games
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Player | % increase | |
1. | Emilio Bonifacio, 3B, Marlins | 36 |
2. | Eduardo Nunez, SS, Yankees | 33 |
3. | Nate Schierholtz, OF, Giants | 25 |
4. | Danny Valencia, 3B, Twins | 15 |
5. | Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays | 15 |
6. | Raul Ibanez, OF, Phillies | 11 |
7. | Mike Napoli, C, Rangers | 9 |
8. | Mark Trumbo, 1B, Angels | 9 |
9. | Brandon Allen, 1B, D-Backs | 8 |
10. | Mike Trout, OF, Angels | 7 |
Worth a second look
Kelly Johnson
(73 percent started): The roller-coaster ride that is Kelly Johnson's season is back on the incline after the 29-year-old
hit four homers with a 1.085 OPS in 12 games to end the first half. And
though his streaks seem to be independent of what's happening around
him, he has a better chance of staying hot when he's in the favorable
hitting environment of Chase Field for seven games. With at least four
decent matchups this week against Randy Wolf,
Chris Narveson, Aaron Cook and Jason Hammel, Johnson
is worth keeping active.
Gordon Beckham
(35 percent): After months of disappointment, Beckham is finally
showing signs of life, batting .423 (11 for 26) over his last seven
games. He has teased us before, like when he hit .444 (8 for 18) during
a six-game stretch in late May, but against low-end pitchers like Kyle Davies, Danny Duffy, Bruce Chen, Jeanmar Gomez and Fausto Carmona, he might be worth a roll of the dice this week,
especially if you've been holding on to him all year.
Approach with caution
Aaron Hill
(51 percent started): For a guy who's batting .214 since the
start of the 2010 season, Hill sure gets a lot of credit from Fantasy
owners. He's not even hitting for power this season, which means he'd
need to have some darn good matchups for me to think about keeping him
active in a mixed league. With pitchers like Michael Pineda, Doug Fister, Colby Lewis and Alexi Ogando on the
schedule, clearly he doesn't.
Jemile Weeks
(36 percent): Weeks seems to have pulled out of his slump since
the start of the second half, batting .538 (7 for 13) in three games,
which might lead you to believe you should get him active again. Sorry,
but this week isn't the time. With the Athletics set to play only five
games, he'd need to put up serious points in a short period of time to
make a relevant contribution in Fantasy. Clearly, the odds are against
him.
Injury concerns
Omar Infante
left Saturday's game with a sore knee and remained out of the lineup
Sunday, but he expects to return Monday. That's not necessarily good
news for his Fantasy owners, though. With a .256 batting average on the
season and no power or speed worth mentioning, Infante wouldn't be worth
starting in mixed leagues even without the injury risk. Frankly,
replacement Greg Dobbs would be more
exciting.
Third base
Jose Bautista sprained his ankle in the first game of the second half Thursday and hasn't played since. He has spent some time in a walking boot but has already begun doing baseball activities and hopes to return Tuesday. He's arguably the best player in Fantasy, so if he says he plans to return Tuesday, you're pretty much obligated to start him in spite of the risks. Brett Lawrie's major-league debut could be much closer than originally thought. He began a rehab assignment at Class A Dunedin over the weekend and will then move up to play 10 games at Triple-A Las Vegas before being reevaluated. Lawrie, who fractured his right hand on May 31, will need to prove both healthy and productive in the minors before the Blue Jays promote him, but that promotion looks like it could come within the next couple weeks. And it's no surprise given Lawrie's numbers at Las Vegas. If third base is a position of need for you, he's worth stashing again.
Must-Start Options: Albert Pujols, Evan Longoria, Ryan Zimmerman, Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Beltre, Michael Young, Pablo Sandoval, Aramis Ramirez
Heating up
Aramis Ramirez: .367
(29 for 79), 11 HRs, 1.230 OPS, 2 BBs, 13 Ks in 21 games
Jose Bautista: .373 (25 for 67), 10 HRs, 1.365 OPS, 13 BBs, 11 Ks in
19 games
Pablo Sandoval: .338 (26 for
77), 3 HRs, 16 RBI, 1.017 OPS in 18 games
Kevin Youkilis: .464 (13 for 28), 2 HRs, 8 RBI, 1.373 OPS in seven
games
Cooling off
Scott Rolen: .161 (9
for 56), 1 HR, .475 OPS, 1 BB, 12 Ks in 14 games
Ty Wigginton: .156 (5 for 32), no extra-base hits, 1 SB, .427 OPS
in 10 games
Mark Reynolds: .129 (4
for 31), 2 2Bs, 1 BB, 17 Ks in nine games
Mike Moustakas: .057 (2 for 35), 0 BBs, 6 Ks in nine games
Worth a second look
Martin Prado
(60 percent started): After missing more than a month with a
staph infection, Prado returned with a bang, homering in his first game
back Friday. And even though he didn't do much else over the rest of the
weekend, you shouldn't hesitate to get him active in Fantasy. He's a
natural hitter who seems to find a way to hit .300 even in the most
adverse circumstances, so he shouldn't need much time to shake off the
rust. With four games coming up at Coors Field this week, he could do
some serious damage once that rust is shaken.
Daniel Murphy (59 percent): Murphy is beginning to make a name
for himself in Fantasy, with 15-plus Head-to-Head points in four of the
last seven weeks. Not only does he have good matchups this week against
the back end of the Marlins and Cardinals pitching staffs, but all seven
of the pitchers he's facing are right-handers. Murphy is batting .319
with an .826 OPS against righties, making 20-plus points a more
reasonable expectation for him this week.
Approach with caution
Ty Wigginton
(51 percent started): With Ian Stewart
back in the majors, Wigginton no longer has a clear starting job at
third base, and though he's capable of playing left field, the Rockies
don't seem comfortable using him there consistently. Plus, he's gone
cold lately, and as a player who hits .311 with a 1.023 OPS against
lefties compared to .234 and .698 against righties, he'll have a hard
time getting on track with seven righties on tap. You could do worse at
third base this week, but you could also probably do better.
Chase Headley (41 percent): This week may seem like the
perfect time to start Headley considering the Padres are away from PETCO
Park, where he's hitting .250 with a .693 OPS compared to .339 and .869
on the road, but the matchups could prevent him from taking advantage. Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay are
enough to negate whatever favorable splits you throw at them during a
six-game week. He's also dealing with a slight ankle injury that might
cause him to miss a game or two at the beginning of the week. Weigh your
options carefully.
Injury concerns
David Wright,
who has been out since May 15 with a stress fracture in his lower back,
began a rehab assignment over the weekend and could potentially return
July 22. You probably wouldn't want to start him for less than half a
week, especially since that return date isn't set in stone, but his
return could obviously have a big impact in Fantasy Week 17 (July
25-31). Wright wasn't performing up to his usual standards before the
injury, but his five-category potential is still plenty valuable at a
weak position ... Placido Polanco was
unable to play through a bulging disc in his back over the weekend and
had to go on the 15-day DL. He hasn't shown much progress in batting
practice this week, making him a long shot to return when eligible
Wednesday. As much as he was struggling before going on the DL, you
wouldn't want him active in Fantasy anyway. Wilson Valdez and Michael Martinez
figure to split time in Polanco's absence. Both are strictly NL-only
options.
Shortstop
In a mercifully quick turnaround for his Fantasy owners, the hamstring injury that sidelined Jose Reyes for the final eight games before the All-Star break and ultimately forced him to the DL has already healed enough for him to go on a one-game rehab assignment Monday and, assuming all goes well there, return to the big-league lineup on Tuesday. Reyes isn't completely without risk this week, but considering he's easily the best player at arguably the weakest position in Fantasy, you probably couldn't make a reasonable argument to sit him. Just enjoy the quick return and don't overthink the decision. In deeper leagues, Zack Cozart is already making a splash with the Reds. The rookie arrived just before the All-Star break, and though he hasn't shown any power yet, he has enough power potential to become a relevant Fantasy option if the Reds remain patient with him. He's not necessarily a sleeper for this week, but he's a player to watch going forward.
Must-Start Options: Troy Tulowitzki, Asdrubal Cabrera, Jimmy Rollins, Hanley Ramirez, Starlin Castro, Elvis Andrus
Heating up
Hanley Ramirez:
.372 (29 for 78), 4 HRs, 23 RBI, 3 SBs, 1.052 OPS in 21 games
Erick Aybar: .361 (13 for 36), 2 HRs, 3 SBs, .989 OPS during
nine-game hit streak
Elvis Andrus:
.500 (15 for 30), 3 2Bs, 2 SBs, 1.129 OPS in eight games
Cooling off
Stephen Drew: .155
(9 for 58), 1 HR, .490 OPS in 15 games
J.J. Hardy: .167 (9 for 54), 2 HRs, .522 OPS, 2 BBs, 13 Ks in 13
games
Yuniesky Betancourt: .161 (5
for 31), 1 SB, .414 OPS, 0 BBs, 1 Ks in 10 games
Rafael Furcal: .088 (3 for 34), no extra-base hits, 1 SB, .250 OPS in
nine games
Worth a second look
Emilio Bonifacio
(61 percent started): Inspired by his new manager to run more,
Bonifacio is a leadoff hitter reborn, batting .397 (23 for 58) with 12
steals during a 15-game hitting streak. And though he likely won't
maintain the hot hitting forever, he has a good chance of continuing it
this week against pitchers like Chris Capuano,
Dustin Moseley, Mike Pelfrey and Dillon Gee.
Besides, base-stealing of that magnitude can make up for more than a few
0-fers. At either third base or shortstop, Bonifacio is a legitimate
Fantasy sleeper.
Alexi Casilla (25
percent): This week couldn't be any more perfect for Casilla. Not
only are the Twins playing eight games thanks to a doubleheader on
Monday, but they're facing a bunch of low-end pitchers like David Huff, Fausto Carmona, Brad Penny and Rick Porcello. Plus,
they're at home, where Casilla is hitting about 100 points higher than
on the road. The 26-year-old has more than once shown how effective he
can be when he gets hot. How doesn't he get hot this week?
Approach with caution
Stephen Drew
(71 percent started): Drew has fallen on hard times lately. Not
only is he slumping, but he's also losing playing time to Willie Bloomquist against left-handed pitchers -- the culmination of a
season-long slump against them. And with wacky reverse splits that have
him hitting .226 at home compared to .289 on the road, the seven games
at Chase Field don't help him one bit. He's still worth stashing in
mixed leagues, but you wouldn't want to start him until he gets back on
track.
Maicer Izturis (38 percent):
Izturis has started just one of the Angels' last four games, which was
the fear for him once everyone got healthy. This might not be just a
one-week thing. This might be a long-term recommendation to avoid him in
mixed leagues. Until another Angels infielder goes down with an injury,
he just won't get enough at-bats to make a relevant contribution.
Injury concerns
None.
Outfield
After a month-long absence that was prolonged by the All-Star break, the consensus No. 1 outfielder entering the season is on the verge of returning. Carl Crawford (hamstring) completed his rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday and will return to the lineup on Monday. As a general rule, sitting a player fresh off the DL isn't such a bad move, but you wouldn't want to miss out on a big week from the one you drafted in the first round. Get Crawford active. Carlos Gonzalez is also back after missing some time with a bone bruise in his wrist. He still doesn't think the wrist is 100 percent, but if it's good enough for him to play, you'd need an awfully good backup to consider sitting him. Meanwhile, Ryan Braun's status for Fantasy Week 16 (July 18-24) isn't quite as certain. The Brewers left fielder returned to the lineup Thursday after missing the final eight games of the first half with a strained calf but had to leave Saturday with continued soreness in the area. The Brewers still don't think Braun will need a DL stint, but with him admitting Saturday that he can't run full speed yet, it might be unavoidable. You'd hate to sit a clear-cut stud only to see him come back and play close to a full week, but Braun is looking like a risky option in mixed leagues. Mark Kotsay and Josh Wilson would likely split time in his absence, not that either has any mixed-league appeal. As the Colby Rasmus rumors continue to fly, it's worth noting he has sat out each of the Cardinals' last two games against left-handed pitchers in favor of Jon Jay, another left-handed hitter. Considering Rasmus actually has a higher batting average against lefties (.263) than righties (.237) this year, you shouldn't expect that arrangement to continue. Peter Bourjos' hamstring injury ended up requiring a DL stint after all, which means top prospect Mike Trout will get to stick around for a while longer. Considering he's only 3 for 20 so far in his major-league career, though, you shouldn't be any more optimitic about picking him up in mixed leagues. The odds are against any 19-year-old finding immediate success in the majors, no matter how talented he is.
Must-Start Options: Matt Kemp, Matt Holliday, Josh Hamilton, Curtis Granderson, Jacoby Ellsbury, Lance Berkman, Andrew McCutchen, Justin Upton, Jay Bruce, Chris Young, Andre Ethier, Nelson Cruz, Michael Bourn, Melky Cabrera, Ben Zobrist
Heating up
Nick Markakis: .401
(55 for 137), 4 HRs, 4 SBs, .989 OPS, 7 BBs, 9 Ks in 31 games
Carlos Beltran: .344 (22 for 64), 4 HRs, 19 runs scored, 1.104 OPS in
16 games
Jacoby Ellsbury: .451 (23
for 51), 4 HRs, 12 RBI, 3 SBs, 1.343 OPS, 5 BBs, 7 Ks in 12 games
Melky Cabrera: .420 (21 for 50), 2 HRs, 4 SBs, 1.095 OPS in 12 games
B.J. Upton: .386 (17 for 44), 4 HRs, 2 SBs, 1.131 OPS, 12 Ks in 12
games
Alex Presley: .342 (13 for
38), 2 3Bs, 1 2B, 2 SBs in nine games
Matt Holliday: .355 (11 for 31), 4 HRs, 9 RBI, 1.251 OPS in eight
games
Juan Pierre: .441 (15 for 34),
one extra-base hit, 4 SBs, 2 BBs, 2 Ks in eight games
Raul Ibanez: .394 (13 for 33), 4 HRs, 14 RBI, 1.200 OPS, 1 BB, 2 Ks
in seven games
Cooling off
Jayson Werth: .141
(9 for 64), one extra-base hit, 1 SB, .403 OPS, 23 Ks in 18 games
Seth Smith: .207 (12 for 58), 4 2Bs, .549 OPS in 17 games
Alex Rios: .107 (6 for 56), one extra-base hit, 1 SB, .263 OPS in 15
games
Ryan Ludwick: .128 (6 for 47),
1 HR, .393 OPS, 3 BBs, 16 Ks in 12 games
Jason Heyward: .167 (6 for 36), 1 HR, 1 SB, .583 OPS, 4 BBs, 5 Ks in
10 games
Colby Rasmus: .118 (4 for
34), no extra-base hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks in 10 games
Bobby Abreu: .152 (5 for 33), one extra-base hit, .464 OPS in 10 games
Andre Ethier: .107 (3 for 28), 2 HRs, .564 OPS, 8 Ks in eight games
Brennan Boesch: .160 (4 for 25), no extra-base hits, .320 OPS in six
games
Worth a second look
Michael Brantley
(65 percent started): Brantley has come around recently after a
poor month of June, batting .421 (16 for 38) with two steals over his
last eight games. When he struggles, left-handed pitchers are the main
source of his misery. He's batting only .232 with a .568 OPS against
them. With five right-handers on schedule this week, he's likely to
continue the hot hitting. Besides, between the Twins and White Sox
pitching staffs, it's not like he'll be facing any true aces.
Matt Joyce (46 percent): Yes, Joyce has had his struggles
lately against both lefties and righties, but his overall numbers
against righties -- a .319 batting average and a .927 OPS -- are still
awfully impressive. The five righties on tap for the Rays this week
aren't the most fearsome bunch: A.J. Burnett,
Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Luke Hochevar and Felipe Paulino, meaning Joyce's two recent homers could be just the
beginning of a full-fledged rebound.
Juan Pierre (44 percent): Pierre's decline this year has been
a double whammy, with both his batting average and base-stealing ability
fading. But with the former on the rise lately, he's getting more
opportunities to steal bases and still seems to be making it a priority.
Pierre still might not be the player he was last year or during the
prime of his career, but he's good enough right now to do some damage
against the Royals and Indians pitching staffs this week.
Domonic Brown (29 percent): Getting to play every day after
being stuck in a platoon role when he first came up from the minors,
Brown is batting .341 (15 for 44) with a home run and a stolen base over
his last 12 games. He'll likely stay hot this week with no aces on the
schedule and six games in hitter's parks, including three at home. He's
still far from being a must-start in mixed leagues, but now is a decent
time to use him.
Ben Revere (14
percent): Revere, though steady, has yet to make a big dent in
Fantasy during his time replacing Denard Span
(concussion) in center field. But he'll have a hard time not
putting up points this week with eight games against the middling
Indians and Tigers rotations, including seven against right-handed
pitchers. Revere, a left-handed hitter, is batting about 100 points
higher against righties than lefties. He's largely unowned in Fantasy,
but he's worth a look right now even in mixed leagues.
Approach with caution
Carlos Lee
(77 percent started): Based on his ownership and starting
percentages, Lee is far more automatic in Fantasy than he should be.
He's a flawed player in a steep regression who's only still viable in
Fantasy because of his .349 batting average and .960 OPS against
lefties. With six righties on schedule for the Astros this week, time to
put Lee in his place.
Johnny Damon (54
percent): Damon sat out two of the final three games of the first
half after getting hit by a pitch on the left hand. He'll play through
the injury but recently admitted his hand doesn't feel the way it
should. He's not a high-end option anyway, so you might want to bench
him until he proves he can be productive with the injury.
Travis Snider (38 percent): If nothing else, Snider has shown
he can hit for average since his return to the big leagues, batting .381
(16 for 42) in 10 games. But he'll have a hard time maintaining that
momentum with tough matchups against the Mariners and Rangers pitching
staffs, especially since two of the six pitchers he's facing are
lefties. He has only four hits in 30 at-bats against lefties this
season, making him just an AL-only option this week.
Ryan Ludwick (36 percent): Ludwick has had a few scattered
hot streaks this season, but he clearly isn't at his best right now and
will have a hard time getting back on track against pitchers like Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay. Even
the six games away from PETCO Park aren't enough to save him this week,
so steer clear of him in mixed leagues.
Nate Schierholtz (22 percent): Schierholtz has been a pretty
nice find off the waiver wire over the last couple weeks, taking
advantage of everyday at-bats by showing some of the offensive potential
he demonstrated in the minors. But whether or not he's hot, you just
can't justify starting a player with so little track record against
pitchers like Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Shaun Marcum and Yovani Gallardo.
Injury concerns
Shane Victorino,
who hasn't played since July 4 because of a sprained thumb, began a
rehab assignment for Double-A Reading on Saturday. He's eligible to
return from the disabled list Tuesday, meaning he'll play at most five
games this week. Because even that's no guarantee, you should probably
give him a week to prove his health before activating him in standard
mixed leagues ... Grady Sizemore is
again having trouble with his knee, but not the one that required
microfracture surgery last year. He suffered what the Indians called a
knee contusion as he rounded first base Sunday. It might have just been
a precautionary move for an injury-prone player, but then again, that
injury-prone label is exactly why you'll probably want to avoid him in
Fantasy this week ... Carlos Beltran was
out of the lineup for a second straight game because of flu-like
symptoms Sunday. It doesn't sound like anything that'll keep him out for
more than a day or two more, and as hot as he's been lately, you'll want
to give him the benefit of the doubt ... Austin Jackson has now missed six straight games with a wrist issue
and will likely wind up on the DL. Even if he has a miraculous recovery,
you likely wouldn't miss having his inconsistent bat in your Fantasy
lineup, so keep him reseved ... The Twins activated Delmon Young (ankle) from the 15-day DL on Thursday, which is
obviously good news for his Fantasy owners, especially since he has four
doubles in three games since returning. He has typically been a good
source of batting average over his career, so he might be on the verge
of taking off. You can wait to see more from him before activating him
in mixed leagues, though ... Jose Tabata
was expected to return over the weekend after missing three weeks with a
strained quadriceps, but he suffered what looked a setback on Thursday.
The Pirates have since decided it wasn't as bad as initially feared, but
Tabata's timetable is still up in the air right now. He's probably not a
player you'd want to activate right away considering his uneven
performance all season, but his return is worth monitoring simply for
the impact it could have on Alex Presley,
who has been a revelation out of the leadoff spot in Tabata's absence.
If the Pirates find a way to keep Presley in the lineup, he'll retain
his sleeper appeal in mixed leagues, so keep an eye on this situation
... Luke Scott, who has been attempting
to play through a torn labrum in his shoulder, had a cortisone injection
Friday and could return Tuesday. His numbers indicate the injury is
holding him back, though, so you shouldn't have high hopes for him in
Fantasy this week. Nolan Reimold's
playing time would suffer with Scott's return.
|
|||||||
Team | 7/18 | 7/19 | 7/20 | 7/21 | 7/22 | 7/23 | 7/24 |
Twins | CLE (x2) | CLE | CLE | DET | DET | DET | DET |
vs. Huff, Carmona | vs. Masterson | vs. Tomlin | vs. Verlander | vs. Scherzer | vs. Penny | vs. Porcello | |
Eight-game week makes this one an easy call, especially with Verlander the lone ace on schedule. | |||||||
Marlins | @NYM | SD | SD | SD | NYM | NYM | NYM |
vs. Capuano | vs. Stauffer | vs. Harang | vs. Moseley | vs. Pelfrey | vs. Capuano | vs. Gee | |
None of these pitchers are incompetent, but none are frontliners either. Marlins should capitalize. | |||||||
Mets | FLA | STL | STL | STL | @FLA | @FLA | @FLA |
vs. Hensley | vs. Lohse | vs. McClellan | vs. Westbrook | vs. Volstad | vs. Hensley | vs. Sanchez | |
Mets get two chances to welcome Hensley back to starting rotation, with nothing but fluff in between. | |||||||
Braves | @COL | @COL | @COL | @COL | @CIN | @CIN | @CIN |
vs. Hammel | vs. Jimenez | vs. Nicasio | vs. Chacin | vs. Arroyo | vs. Bailey | vs. Willis | |
Braves draw front end of Rockies staff, but Coors effect negates it. Reds rotation a mess right now. | |||||||
Rays | NYY | NYY | NYY | NYY | @KC | @KC | @KC |
vs. Burnett | vs. Colon | vs. Garcia | vs. Sabathia | vs. Hochevar | vs. Francis | vs. Paulino | |
If Rays survive Yankees rotation, which isn't so tough after Sabathia, weak Royals rotation awaits. |
|
|||||||
Team | 7/18 | 7/19 | 7/20 | 7/21 | 7/22 | 7/23 | 7/24 |
Padres | -- | @FLA | @FLA | @FLA | @PHI | @PHI | @PHI |
-- | vs. Sanchez | vs. Nolasco | vs. Vazquez | vs. Hamels | vs. Kendrick | vs. Halladay | |
Phillies hard enough without getting top of Marlins rotation involved. Even Vazquez not so bad lately. | |||||||
Athletics | -- | @DET | @DET | -- | @NYY | @NYY | @NYY |
-- | vs. Porcello | vs. Below | -- | vs. Hughes | vs. Burnett | vs. Colon | |
A's play only five games. Even with no true aces on schedule, that makes for one miserable week. | |||||||
Giants | LAD | LAD | LAD | -- | MIL | MIL | MIL |
vs. Billingsley | vs. De La Rosa | vs. Kershaw | -- | vs. Marcum | vs. Wolf | vs. Gallardo | |
Kershaw is an ace. Billingsley, Marcum, Gallardo close enough to give Giants crummy homestand. | |||||||
Blue Jays | -- | SEA | SEA | SEA | @TEX | @TEX | @TEX |
-- | vs. Pineda | vs. Vargas | vs. Fister | vs. Lewis | vs. Harrison | vs. Ogando | |
Final three games are at Texas, which helps. Still, Blue Jays better pray the bad Ogando shows up. | |||||||
Pirates | CIN | CIN | CIN | -- | STL | STL | STL |
vs. Willis | vs. Leake | vs. Cueto | -- | vs. Carpenter | vs. Garcia | vs. Lohse | |
With Carpenter back in form, he, Cueto and Garcia should make up for other pitchers' shortcomings. |
Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter . You can also follow Scott on Twitter ( @cbsscottwhite ) and can e-mail us your questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com . Be sure to put Hitting Planner in the subject field.