Hitter Ranks: Analyzing Every Lineup Based On Expected Schedules – Week 25

• As a reminder, this analysis is geared toward a standard, daily, 12-team H2H redraft league, as that is typically the most popular fantasy baseball format. We will primarily factor in the five standard categories: Runs, RBI, Home Runs, Batting Average, and Stolen Bases.
• This is a safe space for me where I answer to no one but myself…and you if you leave a comment.
• I’m doing my best to use five starts or 10 appearances as the threshold for positional eligibility. I have not included presumed eligibilities based on likely new positions, but I’ll add them once those eligibilities are earned. This is just a maintenance thing and we will update eligibility throughout the season. Feel free to let me know if I’m missing any!

 

Ranking Philosophy

 

To keep things in the same ilk, here are a couple of notes on how I generally evaluate hitters before we dive in:

 

• In 12-team formats, I just don’t see much value in guys who only provide stolen bases. It’s an important category, especially in Roto, but in shallower formats, there are too many other (and better) ways to get the steals you need without sacrificing production in the other categories.
• If I want to get some insight on whether what I’m seeing is new or if it’s just normal fluctuation, I’d use my favorite tool—the rolling chart, which I’ll also reference as appropriate. You can also get rolling charts from sources like FanGraphs or Baseball Savant. If you have any questions about how to do that or how to read these charts, reach out to me!
• No stat is an island and they should all be taken in proper context. For ranking purposes, the primary starting points I use are plate discipline, wRC+, quality of contact metrics (also known as Statcast batted ball data), lineup context, and the skills we can measure using tools such as our PLV Hitter Attributes (available for PL Pro members). I also use various projections (some free, some I buy) and dollar value generators.
• Positional eligibility, and specifically multi-eligibility, is neat but also isn’t a huge factor in many 10- and 12-team leagues anymore due to the prevalence of multi-eligible players. It’s of more value in deeper contests like the NFBC, or in leagues with limited roster moves (draft and hold leagues, transaction limits/costs, extremely short benches, etc.), but even then the value is fairly situational and context-dependent.
• On a similar note, I don’t penalize players for only qualifying in the utility slot. At most, it is a mild inconvenience if a DH-only player is available at a great value and you already have filled your utility spots.
• Anyone talented enough to make it to the big leagues can be brilliant or putrid for 50 to 100 at-bats—regardless of true talent. Heck, it could even last over a month with no change in potential or skill. It also could be wildly meaningful. We can’t and don’t know which of these will be true until it’s over, though track record, scouting, and trends can give us hints.
• If you’d like input on a player or have any feedback, your best bet is to reach out to me on the website formerly known as Twitter (@ifthechufits) or in the comments below!

 

Read The Notes

 

• These rankings talk about what I generally project for a player, but these rankings are not projections. They include projections but also take into account performance risk, injury risk, team context, ceiling, and floor.

 

Check out the Hacks & Jacks podcast featuring Scott Chu and Joe Gallina, which also happened to be a finalist for Best Baseball Podcast of 2021 by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA)!

I also host an AMA in the r/fantasybaseball subreddit every Friday (starting sometime in late March) starting around noon ET that lasts through the rest of the day and into the weekend, so feel free to join the fun and ask questions or make comments.

 

Arizona Diamondbacks

@COL, @MIL, SFG

Auto-Start: Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, Christian Walker, Eugenio Suárez

Streamable/Deep League: Joc Pederson, Jake McCarthy, Geraldo Perdomo, Pavin Smith

Avoid: Josh Bell, Randal Grichuk

Comments:

• There are only two lefty starters on the horizon in DL Hall and Blake Snell, which makes Randal Grichuk tough justify as he plays exclusively against southpaws.
• Pavin Smith is a scrappy slap-hitter who doesn’t really do enough of anything to get my attention (that three dinger game was an anomaly in my eyes). That said, those in deeper points formats might get something out of him when he’s in the lineup.
• Joc Pederson has been rough lately, and he’s quite droppable in shallower leagues. He has some okay matchups coming up and will only sit once per series, but Pederson is right on the edge of streamable and avoid.

 

Atlanta

@CIN, @MIA, NYM

Auto-Start: Michael Harris II, Marcell Ozuna, Matt Olson, Jorge Soler

Streamable/Deep League: Jarred Kelenic

Avoid: Sean Murphy, Whit Merrifield, Ramón Laureano

Comments:

• The top half of this lineup is matchup-proof.
• If you’re desperate, Jarred Kelenic is somewhat streamable against the three righties Miami will throw at them, but he’s not really usable against the Mets.

 

Baltimore Orioles

SFG, DET, @NYY

Auto-Start: Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, Gunnar Henderson

Streamable/Deep League:, Adley Rutschman

Avoid: Jackson Holliday, Eloy Jiménez, Colton Cowser, Ryan O’Hearn, Heston Kjerstad

Comments:

• Cedric Mullins isn’t hitting especially well over the last week, but he’s starting against lefties and should be able to steal some bases.
• Adley Rutschman continues to struggle in the second half, and at this point, I’m fine with moving on in redraft. The matchups aren’t great and there are likely plenty of streamable guys out there for you.
• Jordan Westburg and Ryan Mountcastle may return at some point, but even if they do, I’m not really interested for fantasy.

 

Boston Red Sox

@TBR, MIN, @TOR

Auto-Start: Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, Tyler O’Neill, Masataka Yoshida

Streamable/Deep League: Connor Wong, Triston Casas,

Avoid: Trevor Story, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela

Comments:

• It’s all righties for the foreseeable future in terms of opposing starters, and I almost put Triston Casas in the auto-start category for that reason.
• Masataka Yoshida seems to be in a rhythm right now and the upcoming matchups are far from frightening.
• There may not be a ton of opportunities to steal, which makes Ceddanne Rafaela nearly impossibly to justify starting in 12-teamers.

 

Chicago Cubs

OAK, WAS, @PHI

Auto-Start: Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, Isaac Paredes, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner

Streamable/Deep League: Miguel Amaya

Avoid: No one you were potentially considering

Comments:

• This lineup is humming right now, and the upcoming schedule is fantastic (outside of Aaron Nola, but I’m not benching anyone for that game).
• There are a few lefties (Corbin, Gore, and Sanchez), but the cubs have kept Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong in the lineup against most lefties lately so even in a limited transaction format I’d be running these guys out there.
• The Cubs may not run a ton against the Phillies, but Washington is fairly vulnerable to the run game. That combined with the soft schedule made Pete Crow-Armstrong easy to feature. I mean, you were gonna keep starting him anyway since he’s been so strong down the stretch, hitting .316/.371/.551 with seven home runs, seven stolen bases, and just a 22.2% strikeout rate in his last 40 games coming into Wednesday’s action. PCR should have no issues getting to 20 home runs and 20 steals next season, and could clear 25% in both categories if he keeps avoiding the strikeout issues we saw early in the season.

 

Chicago White Sox

@LAA, @SDP, LAA

Auto-Start: None

Streamable/Deep League: Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Vaughn, Andrew Benintendi

Avoid: Everyone else

Comments:

• Andrew Benintendi is the only player who has started in each of the team’s last six games. Beni is swinging a decently hot bat in September with four home runs and a 143 wRC+, but his limited power overall and lack of speed makes him more of a points league streamer than anything else, especially considering that the White Sox don’t really score runs and/or win games.
• It’s been an up-and-down season for Luis Robert Jr. to say the least, but at least the strikeout rate has been better of late (22.6% over his last 12 games). Of course, he has just two home runs since July 25 (which came in the same game) and has only swiped a single bag in September, so I get it if you’d rather stream someone else in a shallower league. LuBob has a boatload of physical ability, and will likely go off for like three home runs the moment you bench him, but the lack of offense around him and the incredibly weak production over the last two months can’t be ignored.
• Nicky Lopez is leading off and that is relevant in 12-team AL-only formats.

 

Cincinnati Reds

ATL, PIT, @CLE

Auto-Start: Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, TJ Friedl

Streamable/Deep League: Jonathan India, Ty France, Jake Fraley, Tyler Stephenson

Avoid: Noelvi Marte

Comments:

• Spencer Steer and TJ Friedl are hitting well and should produce while at home, at the very least.
• Ty France is very average, as far as major league hitters go. He’ll spike production here and there because he finds himself in good opportunities, but his career .266/.339/.410 line is about all you can expect over any extended period. He plays better in points leagues due to the decent strikeout rate and high number of balls in play.
• I’m not falling for Noelvi Marte.

 

Cleveland Guardians

MIN, @STL, CIN

Auto-Start: José Ramírez, Josh Naylor, Lane Thomas

Streamable/Deep League: Andrés Giménez, Angel Martínez

Avoid: Kyle Manzardo, Jhonkensy Noel

Comments:

• Angel Martínez is a fine stream in OBP and points formats while he’s at or near the top of the lineup, and he should be able to swipe a bag or two in the series against St. Louis.
• Lane Thomas looks good again and, like Martinez, should be able to steal some bases over the weekend.
• Kyle Manzardo should get some post-prospect hype in the offseason, assuming he gets a chance to play every day in 2025, but he’s more of a “watch for next season” guy in redraft than anything else, even deep leagues.
• Jhonkensy Noel has all the makings of a streaky power bat who likely sticks on the short side of a platoon unless he adjusts his approach without sacrificing power.

 

Colorado Rockies

ARI, @LAD, STL

Auto-Start: Ezequiel Tovar, Brenton Doyle

Streamable/Deep League: Charlie Blackmon, Brendan Rodgers, Ryan McMahon, Michael Toglia, Hunter Goodman

Avoid: Nolan Jones

Comments:

• Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle have enough ability when hot to be start-worthy away from Coors.
• Hunter Goodman, who should have catcher-eligibility in most formats, had an amazing homestand and would definitely be someone I’d start when the Rockies go back home at the start of next week.
• The remaining guys above are all start-worthy at home but should probably be benched/dropped for the weekend series.

 

Detroit Tigers

@KCR, @BAL, TBR

Auto-Start: Parker Meadows, Riley Greene

Streamable/Deep League: Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson, Colt Keith, Trey Sweeney

Avoid: Matt Vierling, Jace Jung

Comments:

• Colt Keith was removed from Tuesday’s game and isn’t playing Wednesday due to a shoulder injury. If he hits the IL, he can be dropped. If the injury isn’t serious, we may be in limbo until Friday as the Tigers have Thursday and Monday off.
• Parker Meadows keeps getting starts against lefties and is proving that he can be a 20/20 threat next season.
• Spencer Torkelson seems to have his strikeout rate back under control, though the power is mostly absent at the moment. These matchups aren’t super scary (except for maybe Corbin Burnes), so if there isn’t something exciting on the wire you might as well hold as the upcoming series against the Rays and White Sox should be a great opportunity to find his power stroke.

 

Houston Astros

@SDP, LAA, SEA

Auto-Start: Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Yainer Diaz, Jeremy Peña

Streamable/Deep League: Mauricio Dubón

Avoid: Jon Singleton, Jason Heyward

Comments:

• It’s a long homestand coming up for the Astros, and I expect the offense to keep rolling.
• Kyle Tucker is still ramping up in terms of being able to play every day, but he just got three games in a row in the outfield and looks great at the plate. Stealing a base on Tuesday was a great sign as well. He’ll sit every three or four games, but it should be more than worth it even in weekly leagues.
• Jeremy Peña has either been very good or very bad at any given point this season, but right now it’s the former. Pena rarely walks, so he’s merely a deeper league streamer in OBP leagues, but his low strikeout rate and decent speed make him a solid play in every other format.
• There are two lefties in a row on Thursday and Friday, but It’s just José Suarez and Tyler Anderson. Mauricio Dubón should be a solid deep-league streamer in those two games.
• Jason Heyward hit a few home runs over the last week but he’s a desperation play in deep leagues at best.

 

Kansas City Royals

DET, SFG, @WAS

Auto-Start: Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez

Streamable/Deep League: Tommy Pham

Avoid: Maikel Garcia, Michael Massey, MJ Melendez, Yuli Gurriel

Comments:

• This offense is all about Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez, and Tommy Pham hits in front of them. Pham could be a decent stream for runs scored, but I’m not chasing him unless it’s a 15-team league.
• Yuli Gurriel could be added in a 15-team points league for the giggles and maybe some singles.

 

Los Angeles Angels

CWS, @HOU, @CHW

Auto-Start: Taylor Ward, Zach Neto

Streamable/Deep League: Nolan Schanuel

Avoid: Mickey Moniak, Logan O’Hoppe, Niko Kavadas, Eric Wagaman

Comments:

• Taylor Ward continues to hit out of the leadoff spot and is an easy start.
• Zach Neto has been brutal over the last six games but shortstop is not an easy position to replace so I can’t imagine you have a lot of options I’d rather use on the wire. That said, it’s worth a look as the upcoming matchups are pretty tough.
• Nolan Schanuel is scorching hot right now, but this offense is not very good and he only has two extra-base hits this month. He recently stole a bunch of bases, but he has done this extremely infrequently so far in his time in the majors, and Schanuel’s value is, as always, tied to his contact ability. Schanuel has been a solid points league play for most of the season, and now is no different.
• Everything I know about Eric Wagaman I learned when prepping for this blurb. It was not enough to convince me to add him in any league apart from an AL-only format where his playing time alone has value.

 

Los Angeles Dodgers

@MIA, COL, SDP

Auto-Start: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman, Max Muncy, Will Smith

Streamable/Deep League: Miguel Rojas

Avoid: Gavin Lux, Andy Pages

Comments:

• Will Smith’s spot near the middle of the order and his plus power make him better than most streamers even when he’s sitting every third or fourth game.
• It’s good to see some signs of a strong finish from Freddie Freeman, though I have to admit this season is quite perplexing as I did not believe that a healthy Freddie Freeman could possibly fall short of 100 RBI. The line drive rate is down from his usual 27% and some of his statcast metrics are down a bit, but I expect a full bounce-back next season and will be excited to draft him in the second round. This is by far Freddie’s worst fantasy season since, like, 2015 and he is still currently the fourth-best first baseman of 2024 and 33rd-best hitter per the FanGraphs Player Rater. It’s a truly incredible floor.
• Assuming Miguel Rojas is healthy after missing Wednesday’s game, he’s a deep league streamer for batting average or for points leagues.

 

Miami Marlins

LAD, ATL, @MIN

Auto-Start: Connor Norby

Streamable/Deep League: Xavier Edwards, Otto Lopez, Jake Burger, Jonah Bride

Avoid:  Kyle Stowers,

Comments:

• Xavier Edwards is hitting poorly so far in September (35 wRC+ in 52 plate appearances), but despite having just 11 hits and two walks, Edwards has managed to steal six bases. He’s a speed streamer even when he’s not hitting, but it’s very important to note that Edwards is definitely not hitting right now and may be inconsistent at best at the plate.
• Jake Burger can be streamed for home runs if you’re desperate but he likely isn’t my first choice.
• Jonah Bride is slapping the ball enough to be stream-worthy in points leagues but I’m not that interested in other formats.

 

Milwaukee Brewers

PHI, ARI, @PIT

Auto-Start: Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Willy Adames, Brice Turang

Streamable/Deep League: Garrett Mitchell

Avoid: Joey Ortiz, Rhys Hoskins

Comments:

• Completely whiffed on Brice Turang last time. Keep him in your lineups.
• Garrett Mitchell is a boom-or-bust player with power, speed, and a high strikeout rate. He won’t start against lefties, but against righties he’ll bat fourth and could be a nice sparkplug in deeper leagues.
• I’m avoiding the inconsistent bottom-half of this lineup.

 

Minnesota Twins

@CLE, @BOS, MIA

Auto-Start: Royce Lewis

Streamable/Deep League: Carlos Santana, Jose Miranda, Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Willi Castro

Avoid: Edouard Julien, Ryan Jeffers, Carlos Correa

Comments:

• Byron Buxton is back, but he’s being babied a bit as the team looks to keep him healthy for the playoffs (assuming they can get there).
• Matt Wallner is always a decent play for power, especially against righties, but he’s vulnerable to strikeouts and lefties, and his streakiness makes him more of a stream than a must-start outfielder in 12-teamers.
• Willi Castro is extremely inconsistent and has limited bat skills, but he could steal a base or two and is on a seven-game hitting streak. His positional flexibility is the key, though, as you likely don’t have many bench spots to spare and he can meet plenty of needs.
• Carlos Correa hasn’t played two games in a row yet and I can’t consider him a start or stream until he does.

 

New York Mets

WAS, PHI, @ATL

Auto-Start: Pete Alonso, Francisco Alvarez, Mark Vientos

Streamable/Deep League: Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte, Jose Iglesias

Avoid: Jesse Winker, J.D. Martinez, Harrison Bader, Francisco Lindor

Comments:

• It’s been extremely tough sledding for Mark Vientos, who has just three hits, three walks, and 16 strikeouts in his last 10 games, but it’s hard to bench a player with his kind of power without a very good option to replace him with. The upcoming schedule isn’t too bad, though, and he will get plenty of home games (where he’s been much better than on the road). I’m leaving him in my lineups.
• Don’t drop Francisco Lindor, but also, he may not play much until the next day off on Monday, and if the Mets are being extra conservative, he might get limited action until after the following off day a week from Thursday. I do think he’ll get some action in that time, though you should have a replacement for this weekend.
• Francisco Alvarez, if available, remains my favorite add at catcher, especially for power.
• I love Jose Iglesias for many reasons, and if you’re in a points league with a hole at middle infield, Iglesias is a good place to start.

 

New York Yankees

@SEA, @OAK, BAL

Auto-Start: Gleyber Torres, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Austin Wells, Jazz Chisholm Jr.,

Streamable/Deep League: Anthony Volpe, Jasson Domínguez

Avoid: Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, Alex Verdugo

Comments:

• Austin Wells had a rough week, but he’s still playing a lot and hitting behind Judge and Soto.
• Anthony Volpe has been awful lately and can be swapped out for a different shortstop (especially in OBP or points leagues), but I remain steadfast in my belief that there is a lot of talent here.
• Giancarlo seems to be the loser in the playing time sweepstakes that began when Jasson Domínguez got the callup. It seems like Dominguez will get time to work through any issues he faces (such as strikeouts) and I don’t mind chasing the power and speed, though keep in mind that the floor is very low in the short term.

 

Oakland Athletics

@CHC, NYY, TEX

Auto-Start: Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker

Streamable/Deep League: Zack Gelof, Shea Langeliers

Avoid: JJ Bleday

Comments:

• Lawrence Butler hits in front of the currently unstoppable Brent Rooker, which makes him a solid contributor in both home runs and runs scored.
• Shea Langeliers is a power source at catcher who plays a lot.
• I still don’t love Zack Gelof, but he’s probably the only real base stealer they’re starting with regularity and there should be a few opportunities this week. Butler runs a little too, but it doesn’t seem necessary for him right now with how Rooker is hitting.
• JJ Bleday has hit pretty well of late but has just two RBI this month, likely because Rooker keeps clearing the bases in front of Bleday. I like Bleday in points leagues because of the strong ratios and all the doubled, but in standard leagues there isn’t much here.

 

Philadelphia Phillies

@MIL, @NYM, CHC

Auto-Start: Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, J.T. Realmuto

Streamable/Deep League:  Alec Bohm

Avoid: Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh

Comments:

• Kyle Schwarber is always streaky, never forget that. You start him every day anyway.
• Nick Castellanos is accumulating his way into a fairly decent season. With a little batted ball luck, he should do something similar next season with possibly a better batting average.
• Alec Bohm is back and while he’s been great at times, he’s really just a batting average guy who is on a very good team. He’s a must-start in points leagues, but those in shallower leagues looking for power will not find it here. I’m being a little dramatic here, though, as Bohm is probably the best player who I’ve slotted into this category.
• Stream Bryson Stott if you are very desperate for steals and there seem to be no other options, but otherwise he can be cut for someone else.

 

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

@STL, @CIN, MIL

Auto-Start: Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz

Streamable/Deep League: Nick Gonzales, Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Avoid: Andrew McCutchen, Joey Bart, Rowdy Tellez, Bryan De La Cruz

Comments:

• This offense is running quite cold over the last week but the upcoming schedule is fairly soft.
• If Oneil Cruz is out for more than another day or two, this whole offense gets downgraded outside of Bryan Reynolds.

 

San Diego Padres

HOU, CWS, @LAD

Auto-Start: Luis Arraez, Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill

Streamable/Deep League: Jurickson Profar, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts

Avoid: Kyle Higashioka

Comments:

• I hope none of you were the ones who got cute trying to bench Fernando Tatis.
• Jake Cronenworth and Xander Bogaerts are two guys I’d be trying to upgrade if they were on my roster, though the upcoming series against the White Sox should have plenty of hitting involved. I’d be more aggressive trying to move on after that.

 

San Francisco Giants

@BAL, @KCR, @ARI

Auto-Start: Matt Chapman

Streamable/Deep League: Tyler Fitzgerald, Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr., Heliot Ramos

 

Avoid: Patrick Bailey, , Michael Conforto

Comments:

• Matt Chapman should be back by the weekend.
• The Giants face some decent pitchers coming up, but outside of Seth Lugo none are all that great, either.
• Most of these upcoming pitchers are righties, so Mike Yastrzemski and LaMonte Wade Jr. should find plenty of ways to contribute, and by extension, so should Heliot Ramos (at least with respect to counting stats).
• Tyler Fitzgerald is putting together a solid slash line this month (.293/.341/.415 coming into Wednesday), but the home runs have dried up and he has just one RBI and one steal. Shortstop is a tough position to replace these days, but in a shallower league I’d be scouring the wire for an upgrade.

 

Seattle Mariners

NYY, @TEX, @HOU

Auto-Start: Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena, Victor Robles

Streamable/Deep League: Luke Raley, Justin Turner

Avoid: Jorge Polanco, J.P. Crawford

Comments:

• Assuming Victor Robles can come back this weekend, he’s as safe of a start as you can get for everything except power and RBI, where he’s merely a modest contributor.
• Go Julio Rodríguez go. Over his last 18 games, he has five home runs, 31 combined runs and RBI, four steals, and a .364/.414/.610 line with excellent plate discipline. He’s an elite talent.
• Cal Raleigh plays too much and hits too many home runs for a catcher to try and replace him, though in the rare leagues that Francisco Alvarez is available I might consider that.
• Luke Raley simply won’t play against southpaws, but he’s very streamable against right-handed pitching and the Mariners won’t see any left-handed starters until the middle of next week (after today’s contest against Nestor Cortes, anyway).

 

St. Louis Cardinals

PIT, CLE, @COL

Auto-Start: Brendan Donovan

Streamable/Deep League: Masyn Winn, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson

Avoid: Everyone else.

Comments:

• Just to be clear, all of these guys are basically auto-starts when they go to Coors next week.
• Don’t look now but Jordan Walker is doing some things for St. Louis lately, hitting .273 with a .591 slugging percentage so far this month. He still only has one multi-hit performance this month (the five hit game on the first), but he’s getting more balls in the air and that’s what we are dying to see. The pitching matchups leading up to the trip to Coors aren’t anything to be scared of, so I’d consider scooping Walker up if I had a hole in the outfield even if it was only to made sure I had him for the Colorado series.

 

Tampa Bay Rays

BOS, TOR, @DET

Auto-Start: None

Streamable/Deep League: Brandon Lowe, Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, Josh Lowe, José Caballero, Jonathan Aranda

Avoid: Jose Siri, Taylor Walls, Christopher Morel, Jonny DeLuca

Comments:

• Junior Caminero will keep figuring this major league hitting stuff out, so I’m still starting him in any league I’ve got him.
• Brandon Lowe is one of the better power plays at second base, if that’s what you’re in to.
• Jonathan Aranda was a guy I was watching a lot this offseason and the Rays seem intent on giving him time at first base for the time being. He’ll sit against some lefties (such as Tarik Skubal next Wednesday) but he’s putting a ton of balls in play and has a good enough hit tool to hit some home runs on bad pitches. Points leaguers could do a lot worse than Aranda for a streamer.

 

Texas Rangers

TOR, SEA, @OAK

Auto-Start: Marcus Semien, Wyatt Langford, Nathaniel Lowe

Streamable/Deep League: No one, really.

Avoid: Jonah Heim, Josh Smith, Josh Jung, Adolis García

Comments:

• It’s been a very disappointing year for pretty much the entire team, but at least Wyatt Langford has finally settled in. At this rate he may actually get to 15 home runs with a running start at 20 next season. If nothing else, his strong September will give us a reason to draft him in the middle rounds next year.
• Nathaniel Lowe doesn’t offer much power or speed, but if you need some counting stats while the Texas offense is hot, Lowe is here to deliver. As with other guys with his contact-oriented profile, he’s best suited to points leagues, but as long as Semien and Langford (and to a lesser extent, Adolis García) are hitting, he should get plenty of RBI to go along with the good ratios.

 

Toronto Blue Jays

@TEX, @TBR, BOS

Auto-Start: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Streamable/Deep League: George Springer, Spencer Horwitz, Ernie Clement, Alejandro Kirk

Avoid: Will Wagner, Daulton Varsho, Bo Bichette

Comments:

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the only remotely consistent part of this offense.
• George Springer is doing enough that you likely aren’t dropping him in a five-outfield league, but in a 10- or 12-teamer with just three outfielders, I’m probably looking to see if anyone more exciting is being overlooked (or more realistically, someone who addresses a specific need like power or speed more reliably)
• Spencer Horwitz hasn’t done much since hitting three home runs in two games, but he gets on base a lot and is still quite useful in OBP leagues.
• Alejandro Kirk is streamable in points leagues, specifically. I’m not interested elsewhere.
• Look, if you want to see what Bo Bichette has in the tanks, that’s fine. Especially in a points league. But in a categories league I’m not really making room on my roster as we’ve seen so little from him this season.

 

Washington Nationals

@NYM, @CHC, KCR

Auto-Start: James Wood, Dylan Crews, CJ Abrams

Streamable/Deep League: Keibert Ruiz, Luis Garcia Jr., José Tena

Avoid: Jacob Young, Andrés Chaparro

Comments:

• José Tena keeps hitting so you know what? Go ahead.
• Anyone who gets on base for this team is a threat to steal regardless of how good the other team is at stopping it, so the Nats are always a good place to look for stolen bases.

 

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