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Surely, you don't need a replacement hitter for Week 1, right?

Already? Look, I'm not going to judge, but ... OK, yes I am. Proceed cautiously here. I'll recommend sleeper hitters for you every week, all rostered in less than 75 percent of leagues, but generally speaking, the players you drafted to be your starters should be your starters. Production in baseball is unpredictable from week to week, and the best performers aren't so susceptible to matchups anyway. This column is more of an in-case-of-emergency situation.

But maybe you got unlucky with injuries and are forced to scramble. I have you covered whether your league considers Week 1 to be just opening weekend, April 1-4 (which is the default setting on CBS), or combines those four days with the first full week to create an 11-day scoring period (April 1-11).

Sleeper hitters for short Week 1 (April 1-4)
player headshot
A.J. Pollock LF
SF San Francisco • #16 • Age: 38
Matchups
@COL4
ROSTERED
54%
Four games at Coors Field is a boon for the entire Dodgers lineup, but few in it are as available as this guy, who was surprisingly productive last year.
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Bobby Dalbec 1B
CHW Chi. White Sox • #31 • Age: 30
Matchups
BAL3
ROSTERED
65%
After his seven-homer spring, you like him facing two lefties right away.
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Joc Pederson DH
TEX Texas • #4 • Age: 33
Week Rankings
Matchups
PIT3
ROSTERED
62%
The Pirates don't have a single good pitcher, and Pederson is catching them at the right time, having hit eight home runs this spring.
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C.J. Cron 1B
BOS Boston • #25 • Age: 35
Matchups
LAD4
ROSTERED
57%
Tough matchups, but you hope the Coors Field magic overcomes them, especially since so few teams are playing four games.
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Nick Senzel 3B
CHW Chi. White Sox • #15 • Age: 30
Matchups
STL3
ROSTERED
62%
He can contribute in multiple ways against a rotation that's pretty iffy after Jack Flaherty.
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Ty France 1B
TOR Toronto • #2 • Age: 31
Matchups
SF3
ROSTERED
67%
One of the stars of the Cactus League will have to do it in a big park now, but the Giants won't throw anything too daunting at him.
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Gavin Lux SS
CIN Cincinnati • #2 • Age: 28
Matchups
@COL4
ROSTERED
65%
It's not entirely clear how his playing time will shake out alongside Chris Taylor, but the fact the Rockies are using three righties in that four-game series at Coors Field helps.
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Garrett Hampson LF
STL St. Louis • #13 • Age: 31
Matchups
LAD4
ROSTERED
34%
The perennial tease heated up toward the end of spring training and should get plenty of run during the four-game series at Coors Field.
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Hunter Renfroe RF
KC Kansas City • #16 • Age: 33
Matchups
BAL3
ROSTERED
26%
Between John Means, Matt Harvey and Bruce Zimmermann, there could be some long balls served up at Fenway Park.
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David Bote 2B
LAD L.A. Dodgers • #12 • Age: 32
Matchups
PIT3
ROSTERED
7%
The unlikely winner of the Cubs second base job gets a gentle landing against the Pirates pitching staff.

Best hitter matchups for short Week 1

1. Dodgers @COL4
2. Padres ARI4
3. Royals TEX3
4. Cubs PIT3
5. White Sox @LAA4

Worst hitter matchups for short Week 1

1. Mets @WAS3
2. Tigers CLE3
3. Phillies ATL3
4. Braves @PHI3
5. Brewers MIN3

Sleeper hitters for long Week 1 (April 1-11)
player headshot
C.J. Cron 1B
BOS Boston • #25 • Age: 35
Matchups
LAD4, ARI3, @SF3
ROSTERED
57%
Four games against the Dodgers pitching staff is one thing, but another three at home against the Diamondbacks puts him over the top.
player headshot
Bobby Dalbec 1B
CHW Chi. White Sox • #31 • Age: 30
Matchups
BAL3, TB3, @BAL3
ROSTERED
65%
Six of nine games against the Orioles pitching staff is just a dream come true for a slugger who's already champing at the bit.
player headshot
Nick Senzel 3B
CHW Chi. White Sox • #15 • Age: 30
Matchups
STL3, PIT3, @ARI3
ROSTERED
62%
The matchups start out OK and get much, much better for a player who can contribute both power and speed.
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Joc Pederson DH
TEX Texas • #4 • Age: 33
Matchups
PIT3, MIL3, @PIT3
ROSTERED
62%
He'd be higher if more than six of his projected opponents were right-handers, but he's expected to have closer to an everyday role with the Cubs.
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Hunter Renfroe RF
KC Kansas City • #16 • Age: 33
Matchups
BAL3, TB3, @BAL3
ROSTERED
26%
I'm predicting a lot of home runs for the Red Sox this week, and Renfroe is one of the better bets for them.

Best hitter matchups for long Week 1

1. Padres ARI4, SF3, @TEX3
2. Dodgers @COL4, @OAK3, WAS3
3. Red Sox BAL3, TB3, @BAL3
4. Cubs PIT3, MIL3, @PIT3 
5. Reds STL3, PIT3, @ARI3

Worst hitter matchups for long Week 1

1. Tigers CLE3, MIN3, @CLE3
2. Phillies ATL3, NYM3, @ATL3
3. Athletics HOU4, LAD3, @HOU3 
4. Cardinals @CIN3, @MIA3, MIL3
5. Mets @WAS3, @PHI3, MIA3