CATCHERS
Mike Napoli, LAA - All or nothing seems to be the approach taken by Napoli every time he steps to the plate, since out of his 15 hits this season, 7 of them have left the park. Napoli is only batting .242, which is the reason for why the Angels have yet to hand him the full-time job behind the plate, but with the pop he has shown, leading all catchers in HRs, they have to come to the realization soon that the run production is inevitable. Napoli is a good deep league or platoon option at this point with a big bat.
FIRST BASEMEN
Kevin Youkilis, BOS - Youkilis suffered quite the little slump, going hitless in 6 of 7 games, but now that he is back at 1B, his bat has been dangerous over the last few games. With 2 HRs in his last three games, as well as 7 RBIs and a couple of extra base hits, Youkilis is bouncing back and helped carry the Sox to a revenge 3-game sweep over Tampa Bay. If Youk can continue to produce like he did last season, his versatility is even more valuable. In the end, he is a great fantasy utility man to have on your fantasy bench and in starting roles during hot streaks.
SECOND BASEMEN
Placido Polanco, DET - Polanco seems to have finally shaken off the injuries and is doing his best to resurrect his BA. He has brought his average up almost 80 points in the last 10 days, and has been making very solid contact, with a pair of homer and 6 doubles over that period. The Tigers are still struggling at the dish, so the RBI and run numbers will not impress, but it seems as though Polanco is healthy and hitting again, so he is worth at least a fantasy utility role.
THIRD BASEMEN
Blake DeWitt, LAD - DeWitt finally connected on what will be the first of many big league home runs on Monday, and is giving the fantasy world glimpses of what is soon to be a regular occurrence for the rookie 3B. DeWitt has yet to truly impress with his bat, but as the confidence builds, so will the stats, and that is why he should be scooped up in keeper leagues everywhere. DeWitt is even an option in deeper mixed leagues as a bench option if he gets hot.
SHORTSTOPS
Christian Guzman, WAS - Guzman’s stats are inflated greatly due to his 6 RBI performance against the Pirates on Saturday, but with the lack of depth at the shortstop position right now, anything can be beneficial. With Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins working his way back, Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki out until the break, and slew of other top-tier shortstops underperforming, the position has never been weaker, making any sort of fantasy impact a big deal. Keep Guzman in mind if there are slim pickings at SS on the waiver wire in your fantasy league.
OUTFIELDERS
Jack Cust, OAK - Cust seems to be seeing the ball much better now that April has passed, hitting 3 HRs in his first five games of the new month. He is an incredibly streaky hitter, so picking him up comes with big risks. Nevertheless, for a temporary power fix that can carry your team for a week or two, there is none better than Cust, who put on a show at this point in the season last year, blasting 8 long balls in his first 45 ABs.
STARTING PITCHERS
Greg Smith, OAK - Smith, who was one of the key pickups for Oakland in the Dan Haren deal, has been quite good in his six starts this year, posting a 2.54 ERA and having yet to give up more than 3 runs in a ball game. His most recent outing (6 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 10 Ks) is just the latest in what has been a very solid season so far for the young lefty. This was his first game in which the strikeouts really took over, as he relies heavily on working the count and changing speeds. Nevertheless, Smith has all of the potential to be a solid fantasy starter, especially if Oakland can continue to win.
RELIEF PITCHERS
Jon Rauch, WAS - After struggling initially once the closer role was turned over to him, Rauch has since found a bit of a groove, and has not given up a run in his last six appearances, 5 of which were converted saves. With Chad Cordero now out for an extended period, Rauch will be the man at least until the All-Star break. So if you need saves, look no further. |
