Many fantasy lineups this far into the season need a bit of rejuvenating. Almost every team has experienced players who have either gone on the DL or have just been a downright disappointment. Still, there are also many players flying under the radar right now who are worth your consideration for picking up. These are my top picks at each position for current fantasy sleepers who may be able to steer your team in a better direction.
Catcher: Nick Hundley (Colorado)
The catcher position this year is almost unbearably shallow, as only 10-15 backstops have been able to put out daily numbers that can allow a fantasy owner to stay in the mix at this position. Big names from previous seasons (think Yadier Molina, Devin Mesoraco, Travis d’Arnaud, and Wilin Rosario) are not producing with consistent numbers. Regardless, Hundley is a player that has been consistently good up to this point and is not widely owned, as he’s available in 63.2% of leagues. He’s currently batting .301/.336/.476 with a respectable 14 XBH in 143 at-bats.
First Base: Chris Colabello (Toronto)
Right now, Colabello is batting .352/.397/.528, all three of which are his lowest over the entire season. Yes, you heard that correctly. Since being called up from Buffalo, Colabello has been on an absolute tear, managing to record a hit in 23 of his first 28 games. He’s benefitting from an insanely high .458 average on balls in play (BABIP), which is sure to decrease over the course of the season. But he’s solidified himself as a staple in Toronto’s lineup, and is currently only owned by less than half of all leagues.
Second Base: Delino DeShields, Jr. (Texas)
Second base overall is pretty deep this year. I chose to focus on DeShields because he’s a relatively unknown player who currently ranks 12th overall amongst all second basemen. He brings to the position a really solid speed option, as he’s already scored 24 times and has recorded 12 stolen bases, despite only being solidified in the starting lineup come the middle of May. He’s also only owned in 44.3% of all leagues. Honorable mentions go to Joe Panik of the Giants and Logan Forsythe of the Rays, who are also flying under the radar right now.
Third Base: Trevor Plouffe (Minnesota)
Plouffe has shown flashes of potential in the past, like in 2012 when he hit 24 homeruns in just 119 games for the Twins. This is clearly his breakout year, however, as he’s on pace for career highs in homeruns, RBI’s, runs, walks, batting average, and OBP. The flashes of power are there, and he’s finally batting consistently enough to remain productive over a whole season. Also, his WAR already sits at 2.34, which is in the top 25 in the entire MLB. Buy in, and buy quickly, because his name is getting out there fast.
Shortstop: Zack Cozart (Cincinnati)
The shortstop position this year is even more ridiculously shallow than catcher, as there seem to be few options of players not named Tulowitzki, Ramirez, or Castro. He’s not as inspiring as my other sleeper picks, but he can hit for relative power (16 XBH in 168 at bats), has some flashes of speed (3 SB and 23 runs), and could have some better work coming with a current BABIP of only .279. There seem to be very few consistently healthy names at shortstop this season, so scrap where you can.
Outfield: Ender Inciarte (Arizona)
In his sophomore season, Inciarte is starting to solidify his reputation as a top of the order player who hits for speed and average. Despite currently being ranked 17th in overall points for outfielders, Inciarte is only owned in 57.7% of all leagues. He’s on pace for over 100 runs and over 20 stolen bases, numbers that are becoming less and less frequent. He’s also hit safely in 8 of his last 10 games and has relatively low strikeout numbers. If you’re looking for power, try Chris Coghlan of the Cubs or Alex Guerrero of the Dodgers.
Starting Pitcher: Carlos Martinez (St. Louis)
The fourth starter in a rotation that has been near perfect up to this point, Martinez has somehow quietly gone over 20 innings without allowing a run. In his ten starts this year, the Cardinals are 8-2. He’s a relatively complete player – high strikeouts (9.5 SO/9), low ERA (3.13), and plays for a team that can win. Still, Martinez has not had a start where he has walked less than 2 batters, and averages just under 6 innings per start. Despite these reservations, he’s a very solid starter all around, and has impressed many in his first season as a full-fledged starter.
Relief Pitcher: Shawn Tolleson (Texas)
Tolleson was only recently relegated to the closer position, but it seems to have correlated with the Rangers going on a hot streak. He’s riding an extremely high strikeout rate (11.6 SO/9), and has proved his worth in the Texas bullpen. Additionally, Tolleson has not allowed a run in his last 11 appearances and only offered four walks in 23.1 innings pitched this season. But, he only ranks 30th at the closer position, so he’s bound to go unnoticed. Pick him up if you need saves and strikeouts.
Sources:
http://www.espn.go.com
http://www.baseball-reference.com