Fantasy Baseball Week 6 Preview: Top 10 sleeper hitters feature Randal Grichuk, Kole Calhoun
Some of the hottest hitters also happen to have some of the best matchups in Week 6.
By
Scott White
•
1 min read
Now, it's the Mets who have turned up a couple of positive COVID-19 tests, seeing their weekend series against the Yankees (plus one game against the Marlins) canceled. There have been no more positive tests since then, meaning they're probably a go for Week 6 (Aug. 24-30), but there has been no such announcement as of yet.
Just once, I'd like to head into a week feeling confident every team will play every game on the schedule, but the pandemic grants us no such luxuries.
So you'll want to be extra cautious with your Mets, as well as your Marlins and Yankees since, coincidentally, those are also the teams the Mets are scheduled to face this upcoming week.
For now, only one player from those three teams is included in my 10 sleeper hitters for Week 6, all rostered in less than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
We discussed prospects, Thursday's developments, our favorite teams and previewed Week 6 on the Fantasy Baseball Today podcast. Follow all our podcasts and subscribe here.
10 Sleeper hitters for Week 6 (Aug. 24-30)
His momentum was halted by the Reds taking last weekend off for a positive COVID-19 test, but particularly with an eight-game week on tap, you don't sit someone showing such clear signs of a breakout.
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The strikeout and hard-hit rates look much like the ones Robinson Cano was delivering during some of his best seasons, so maybe his disastrous 2019 was actually the outlier.
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He has started to come around again after enduring a mini funk and continues to produce elite exit velocity readings. Continue to ride him with two beleaguered pitching staffs on the schedule this week.
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Now that he has begun playing against left-handers as well, more people need to be taking notice of Jake Cronenworth, who entered Sunday's game with a .402 xBA and .751 xSLG. A series at Coors Field this week might price him out of the sleeper range forevermore.
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He cooled off over the weekend, but his line-drive rate is still high, his strikeout rate is still low, and he still has six homers in his past 11 games. He has a good chance to get going again with this week's matchups.
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The Cubs' new leadoff hitter continues to power up while keeping the strikeouts in check, and he gets to feast on the Tigers pitching staff to open the week.
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Kole Calhoun has been a consistent source of power so far and gets seven games against two pitching staffs lacking in shutdown arms.
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In contrast to Calhoun, Christian Walker hasn't generated much power so far but has one of the highest hard-hit rates in the league and a launch angle that shouldn't be prohibitive. Maybe this is the week he breaks out.
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A big series at Coors Field has him rolling, and his playing time couldn't be more assured now with all the injuries the Astros have suffered. Even the five lefties on the schedule shouldn't be an issue given that he has performed better against them than righties this year.
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Though he hasn't contributed much since the Cardinals resumed play, he has kept the strikeouts in check, which is the biggest key for Tyler O'Neill making good on his other-worldly power. You have to like him with eight games this week.
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Best hitter matchups for long Week 6
1. Rays TOR1, BAL3, @MIA3
2. Cardinals KC3, PIT2, CLE3
3. Blue Jays @TB1, BOS3, BAL3
4. Astros LAA4, OAK3
5. Diamondbacks COL4, SF3
Worst hitter matchups for long Week 6
1. Braves NYY2, @PHI3
2. Giants LAD3, @ARI3
3. Royals @STL3, @CHW3
4. Mariners @SD3, @LAA3
5. Red Sox @TOR3, WAS3
