Fantasy Baseball Start Sit: Who to Put In and Who to Sit Out
Contents
It’s that time of year again. spring training is in Full Swing and fantasy baseball drafts are right around the corner. As you finalize your draft strategy, be sure to check out our fantasy baseball start sit column to get an edge on your competition.
Introduction
Whether you are in first place and looking to solidify your position or in last place and playing for pride, at some point every fantasy baseball owner needs to ask themselves some tough start sit questions. Who do I start? Who do I sit? Should I start so and so over so and so? These are questions that we all face and sometimes the answer is not as easy as we would like it to be. In this article, we will take a look at some factors that you should consider when making your start sit decisions.
Who to Start
If you’re looking for help with your Fantasy Baseball lineup, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some potential starters for Week 1 (based on standard scoring):
Catcher: Yasmani Grandal, Los Angeles Dodgers
First Base: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
Second Base: Ozzie Albies Atlanta Braves
Third Base: Nolan Arenado Colorado Rockies
Shortstop: Trevor Story Colorado Rockies
Outfielder: George Springer, Houston Astros
Outfielder: Christian Yelich Milwaukee Brewers
Outfielder: Bryce Harper Philadelphia Phillies
Pitcher: Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros
Pitcher: Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds
Who to Sit
MLB Week 11
– Baltimore Orioles SP Kevin Gausman Gausman has been a bit of a revelation this season, but he has not fared well against the New York Yankees in his career. In six starts against the Bronx Bombers, Gausman is 1-4 with a 7.50 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. The Orioles are also 6.5 games out of first place in the AL East, so there is no reason to put their ace at risk in what is shaping up to be a lost season.
– San Francisco Giants SP Madison Bumgarner Bumgarner has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last month, posting a 1.13 ERA and 0.71 WHIP over his last six starts. However, he has struggled against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his career, going 2-5 with a 5.10 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 10 starts against them. The Giants are also 4.5 games out of first place in the NL West, so there is no need to push their ace when they are unlikely to make a push for the playoffs.
– Detroit Tigers OF J.D Martinez: Martinez has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season, but he has struggled against Cleveland Indians pitching in his career. In 10 games against the Indians, Martinez is batting just .160 (4-for-25) with one home run and two RBIs. The Tigers are also 9 games out of first place in the AL Central, so there is no reason to put their best hitter at risk when they are unlikely to make a push for the playoffs
Streaming Options
In Fantasy baseball “streaming” refers to the practice of picking up prospects and playing them for a brief period of time before dropping them back to the free-agent pool. It’s a way to take advantage of good matchups or to ride hot streaks without having to commit long-term to a player.
There are a few different ways to approach streaming. The most common is probably picking up a player for one week and then dropping him the next. Another strategy is called “stream and stash,” where you pick up a player with upside and stash him on your bench in case he starts to play better. This list will focus on the first method: one-week rentals that can help you in specific categories.
Before we get into the list, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when streaming:
-First, check your league rules about how many times you’re allowed to add/drop players in a season. You don’t want to get dinged with an early season pickup just because you ran out of moves later on.
-Second, pay attention to roster sizes when looking for streamers. If everyone in your league is carrying two catchers, there’s no need to stream one just because he has a good matchup that week.
-And finally, don’t stream just for the sake of streaming. If there’s somebody on the waiver wire who can help you long-term, don’t be afraid to pick him up and cut somebody who’s only going to help you for seven days. With that being said, here are some waiver wire pickups that can help you in specific categories this week:
HITTERS:
If you need help in batting average
Asdrubal Cabrera (.257), 2B/SS, Texas Rangers – Cabrera has been hitting cleanup for the Rangers lately and is seeing regular at-bats against righties, making him a decent option if you’re hurting in batting average He’s also eligible at second base and shortstop, so he can provide some versatility if you need it.
If you need help in home runs
John Jay (.293), OF, Chicago Cubs – Jay doesn’t have much power but he does have a good matchup this week against the Brewers’ struggling pitching staff. He should see regular at-bats as long as he’s healthy, making him worth considering if you need some pop from your waiver wire hitters.
PITCHERS:
If you need help in strikeouts:
Luis Castillo (2-4, 5.49 ERA), Cincinnati Reds – Castillo has struggled with his control this season but he still has Good Stuff and can rack up strikeouts when he’s on. He has two starts this week (vs MIL, @ SD) and is worth considering if you’re chasing Ks on the waiver wire.
If you need help with ERA/WHIP:
Trevor Richards (1-3, 4 G, 3 GS), Miami Marlins – Richards has been solid in his three starts this season, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.13 WHIP while striking out 19 batters in 21 innings pitched He has two starts this week (@ NYM, vs COL) and is worth considering if you’re looking for some stability from your waiver wire pitchers
Two-Start Pitchers
In fantasy baseball a two-start pitcher is a starter who is slated to pitch two times in one week. These are coveted because they essentially give you two starts for the price of one, and can be the difference between winning and losing in your fantasy baseball league
However, not all two-start pitchers are created equal. Some are scheduled to face tough opponents and will be pitching on the road, while others have more favorable matchups and will be pitching at home. This article will help you choose which two-start pitchers to start and which ones to sit in your fantasy baseball league
Starting pitchers are notoriously unreliable, so having a two-start pitcher who you can rely on can be a huge asset. However, there are always risks involved when starting any pitcher, so it’s important to do your homework before choosing which two-start pitchers to start in your fantasy baseball league
factors you should consider when deciding whether or not to start a two-start pitcher:
-The quality of the opponents they’re facing
-The ballpark they’re pitching in (a pitcher who is facing the Yankees at Yankee Stadium is a much riskier bet than a pitcher who is facing the Orioles at Camden Yards)
-Their recent history (are they coming off a few bad starts or have they been pitching well lately?)
-The weather conditions (if it’s going to be extremely cold or windy, that can adversely affect a pitcher’s performance)
-Your other options (if you have multiple two-start pitchers and can only start one, who do you think has the best chance of success?)
Hitter matchup ratings
There are a lot of moving parts to consider when setting your Fantasy Baseball lineup each week. One important factor is the hitter matchup ratings. These tell you how well a particular hitter is expected to perform against the pitcher they’re facing that week.
There are a number of websites that provide matchup ratings, but it’s important to remember that these are just predictions. They’re not guaranteed to be accurate, so you should always use your best judgement when setting your lineup.
If you’re looking for help with your fantasy baseball team be sure to check out our start sit advice column. Our experts will help you make the tough decisions each week so you can stay competitive in your league.
Weather concerns
The Weather Channel is your best friend this time of year when it comes to start sit decisions in Fantasy Baseball A few days ago, they released their list of cities most at risk for bad weather on game days throughout the MLB season Here is that list:
1. Chicago, IL
2. Detroit, MI
3. Cleveland, OH
4. Pittsburgh, PA
5. Baltimore, MD
6. Cincinnati, OH
7. Kansas City MO
8. St. Louis, MO
9. Milwaukee, WI
10. Washington D.C.
11. New York, NY
12. Philadelphia, PA
Recent call-ups
It’s always exciting when a young player is called up to the Major Leagues But when it comes to fantasy baseball you need to be careful about who you put in your lineup and who you sit. Here are some recent call-ups that you should consider starting or sitting in your fantasy baseball league
START:
Ronald Acuna, OF, Atlanta Braves Acuna is one of the most hyped prospects in baseball, and he’s done nothing but hit since he was called up earlier this season. In 19 games, he’s hitting .288 with four home runs and three stolen bases He’s also hitting second in a loaded Braves lineup, so he should have plenty of opportunities to score runs and drive in runs.
SIT:
Jake Bauers, 1B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays Bauers was called up earlier this month and has been hitting cleanup for the Rays. However, he’s struggled so far, hitting just .219 with one home run and four RBIs in 19 games. He’s also struck out 22 times in 84 at-bats. Unless you’re desperate for power or batting average you can afford to sit Bauers until he starts to turn things around.
Injuries
No one likes to think about injuries, but they’re a part of the game. Here are a few players who are currently injured and how theirabsences will impact your fantasy Baseball Team
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels – Out for 6-8 weeks with a thumb injury
Trout is one of the best players in baseball so this is obviously a big blow to any fantasy team If you have Trout on your team, you’re going to have to find someone else to fill his spot in the lineup for the next six to eight weeks.
Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs – Out with a shoulder injury
Bryant is another star player who is currently sidelined with an injury. He’s expected to miss four to six weeks with a shoulder injury. If you have him on your team, you’ll need to find someone else to fill his spot in the lineup.
George Springer, Houston Astros – Out with a hamstring injury
Springer is one of the best players on the Astros, so his absence will be felt by both the team and fantasy owners. He’s expected to miss four to six weeks with a hamstring injury. If you have him on your team, you’ll need to find someone else to fill his spot in the lineup.
Conclusion
The lifeblood of any fantasy baseball team is a good combination of starters and relievers. A good starting pitcher can help carry a team on his back, while a lights-out closer can be the difference between winning and losing.
In conclusion, it is important to consider all factors when determining who to start and who to sit. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the season.
