We're in kind of a weird place right now with hitter ownership where we haven't completely moved on from some of the dead weight but haven't fully bought into every revelation off the waiver wire either.
Which is probably the way it should be, small sample size and all. We can't be too sure if any of what we're seeing is real.
But it puts a higher than usual number of hitters in that tweener 70 percent range that technically qualifies for this list (maximum 80 percent ownership in CBS Sports leagues) but isn't so widely available. And naturally, they'll be the more attractive plays in Fantasy.
Not every player on this list is so highly owned, of course, but you can trust the list will depict an even wider range of possible pickups as we move forward.
Travis Shaw
BOS • 3B • #23
last five games
The Reds and Braves rotation are mostly a bunch of bottom-feeders, save for Amir Garrett and Julio Teheran, so why would you sit one of the hottest hitters in baseball with matchups like that?
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Mike Moustakas
CHW • 3B
2017 season
Moustakas has been a consistent source of power in the early going and will get to feast on pitchers like Dylan Covey, James Shields, Kyle Gibson and Phil Hughes this week. Only one left-hander, too, so you don't have to worry about Ned Yost getting cute.
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Ryan Zimmerman
WAS • 1B • #11
2017 season
BA0.389
HR5
RBI13
OPS1.209
AB54
The Nationals are the only team visiting Coors Field this week, and it's for a four-game series. If there was ever a time to buy into the resurgent Zimmerman, who has been a top-five first baseman to date, this is it.
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Avisail Garcia
MIA • DH • #24
2017 season
BA0.423
HR3
RBI13
OPS1.137
AB52
All right, let's give him a shot. Garcia's ownership has lagged behind his production, in part because we feel like we should know better, but his matchups this week aren't exactly prohibitive and we're running out of excuses.
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Brandon Drury
LAA • 2B • #23
2017 season
See? It's not all hot-hand plays. Drury has seen his ownership decline during a 5-for-36 stretch, but the Diamondbacks have the best matchups of any team this week, facing the Padres rotation for four games and the Rockies rotation for three. Yummy!
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Ryon Healy
TB • 3B • #45
last four games
A two-game benching appears to have righted the ship for Healy, who has favorable matchups for a second straight week. The AL West's shortage of pitching depth is becoming readily apparent.
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Steven Souza
SEA • RF • #21
last seven games
BA0.407
HR2
OPS1.225
AB27
K10
Souza is back to striking out at an alarming rate after an early-season departure, so you wouldn't want to get too attached. But the way he's piling up extra-base hits, we should enjoy this hot streak while we can.
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Josh Reddick
ARI • LF • #22
last eight games
With the way Reddick has taken to all the righties he has faced over the last few days, let's roll with him again with six more on tap this week, including homer-prone types like Josh Tomlin, Trevor Bauer and Jharel Cotton.
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Cesar Hernandez
DET • 2B • #15
2016 vs. LHP
BA0.341
HR0
OPS.789
AB138
K30
Hernandez has traded multi-hit for multi-strikeout games recently, but don't lose heart. The Phillies have some of the best matchups this week and face four righties in six games, which generally worked out well for the 26-year-old last year.
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Tommy Joseph
TEX • 1B • #46
2016 vs. LHP
Joseph also did some serious damage against left-handers last year (as did catcher Cameron Rupp -- bonus sleeper!), and he's hardly in demand right now given his slow start. These matchups ensure he'll stick in the lineup, though.
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Best hitter matchups for Week 4
1. Diamondbacks SD4, COL3
2. Royals @CHW3, MIN3
3. Tigers SEA3, CHW3
4. Rangers MIN3, LAA3
5. Phillies MIA3, @LAD3
Worst hitter matchups for Week 4
1. Red Sox NYY3, CHC3
2. Mets ATL3, @WAS3
3. Mariners @DET3, @CLE3
4. Padres @ARI4, @SF3
5. Braves @NYM3, @MIL3
