25 Adam LaRoche, 1B

Probably due to last week's brief power spike, in which he hit four homers in three games, and a 16-game hitting streak, Fantasy owners have made Adam LaRoche the third-most added first baseman on CBSSports.com, trailing Mitch Moreland and Brandon Belt.

With a batting average that still stands at just .219, LaRoche could still improve, yet he may actually be overowned right now.

Owners in 70 percent of our leagues are rostering LaRoche, and while he should be due for more hits in general and more doubles in particular, when the dust settles, he could easily remain outside the top 25 first basemen. LaRoche has been limited to three doubles in part because of apparent bad luck (1 for 31 on flyballs in play), but he is also striking out far too often. Even as he has heated up in May, LaRoche has 20 strikeouts in 65 at-bats this month.

Power binges come and go, but unless LaRoche starts making contact more often, the Nationals' first baseman may not help much beyond home runs and walks.

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche had his hitting streak end at 16 games Monday against the Giants. It was the longest streak of LaRoche's career and the longest by a Nationals' player since Ryan Zimmerman's 16-game streak from Aug. 26-Sept. 12 last season, according to MLB.com.

LaRoche is batting .382 (21 for 55) with two doubles, four home runs, nine walks, nine runs and 12 RBI during his hitting streak.

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche continued to swing a hot bat as he launched two home runs during Friday's game against the Padres.

LaRoche took starter Burch Smith deep for a three-run shot in the fourth inning. He took Smith deep again in the sixth inning for a solo home run. He finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and four RBI in a 6-5 win in extras.

LaRoche has homered in three straight games and has four homers over his last three games. He has gone 4 for 11 with four runs scored and seven RBI during that three-game span.

Yes, Adam LaRoche is in the midst of a 13-game hit streak, but considering he has just 17 hits during that stretch, it's not quite as impressive as it sounds. His second home run in as many days Thursday is a better indication that he's on the verge of turning his season around, but as I wrote in the latest Hit Parade, I'd be wary of starting him in Fantasy Week 8 (May 20-26).

Here's a taste of what the Nationals are facing in that six-game slate: Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Kyle Kendrick and Cole Hamels. Yeah, LaRoche maintaining the streak against them wouldn't be the strangest thing ever, but at a deep position like first base, why take the chance of them pulling the rug out from under him?

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche homered for the second game in a row Thursday, as he led the Nationals to a 6-2 win over the Padres.

LaRoche opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the fourth inning, to give them a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish. He finished the game 1 for 3 with a walk and two RBI.

LaRoche is batting .217 on the season, but it currently riding a 13-game hitting streak. He is batting .354 with a .959 on-base plus slugging percentage in 14 games since May 1.