Hot Hitter Rundown
The cliché that the standard fantasy baseball season is a marathon and not a sprint is certainly true, but keeping an eye on the hottest players in the game is still extremely important when making start/bench decisions, making pickups and getting fair value in trades. It has become even more important recently with the popularity of daily games such as FanDuel growing.
It should be noted that short-term production in MLB involves a limited sample size, and should be analyzed and scrutinized for its level of significance, or lack thereof, very closely. With these factors in mind, the following is a rundown of the hottest hitters over the last seven days according to Rotoworld’s Player Rater.
Mention of players on these lists is a statement of fact that they are playing well for fantasy owners recently, but not necessarily a long-term endorsement of ownership in fantasy leagues, unless otherwise noted.
Player Rater numbers cover games for the week of 9/8 - 9/14.
Catcher
Week Rank | Season Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | R | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | 25 | Yasmani Grandal | SD | C | 2.23 | 0.60 | 1.06 | 0.93 | 2.34 | 7.15 |
#2 | 8 | Russell Martin | PIT | C | 0.83 | 3.67 | -0.48 | 1.87 | 0.62 | 6.52 |
#3 | 9 | Brian McCann | NYY | C | 3.63 | 1.62 | -0.48 | 0.02 | 1.20 | 5.99 |
#4 | 32 | Ryan Hanigan | TB | C | 0.83 | 0.60 | 1.06 | 0.75 | 0.05 | 3.30 |
#5 | 2 | Jonathan Lucroy | MLW | C | -0.57 | 1.62 | -0.48 | 2.02 | 0.62 | 3.22 |
#6 | 6 | Dioner Navarro | TOR | C | -0.57 | 1.62 | 1.06 | 0.50 | 0.05 | 2.67 |
#7 | 4 | Yan Gomes | CLE | C | 0.83 | 1.62 | -0.48 | 0.40 | 0.05 | 2.43 |
#8 | 13 | Tyler Flowers | CWS | C | 2.23 | 0.60 | -0.48 | -0.05 | 0.05 | 2.35 |
#9 | 28 | Rene Rivera | SD | C | 0.83 | 0.60 | -0.48 | -0.03 | 1.20 | 2.12 |
#10 | 23 | Alex Avila | DET | C | 0.83 | 1.11 | -0.48 | 0.50 | 0.05 | 2.02 |
We’re coming to the conclusion of another disappointing season from Yasmani Grandal, but he has reached a career high in homers with 13 and contributed well last week, hitting .318-2-3 with six runs scored … A career .258 hitter, Ryan Hanigan is hitting well below his career average for the second consecutive year but showed some value last week by hitting .333-1-3 … Tyler Flowers is quietly working his way into fantasy starter status, hitting a pair of homers last week and 14 on the season. The former top hitting prospect still hasn’t matched expectations, but he is showing enough pop to be an upside play hitting into next year … Rene Rivera has done well to make the list several times as a “backup” catcher, hitting 10 homers and 36 RBI in 255 at-bats this season. The minor league veteran has at least done well enough to have a major league job heading into next season.
First Base
Week Rank | Season Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | R | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | 12 | Carlos Santana | CLE | 1B | 2.23 | 2.13 | 1.06 | 1.49 | 1.77 | 8.68 |
#2 | 24 | Adam Lind | TOR | 1B | 2.23 | 2.65 | -0.48 | 1.71 | 1.20 | 7.31 |
#3 | 20 | Eric Hosmer | KC | 1B | 2.23 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 1.08 | 1.20 | 6.17 |
#4 | NR | Matt Clark | MLW | 1B | 3.63 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 0.20 | 0.62 | 6.11 |
#5 | 1 | Jose Abreu | CWS | 1B | 2.23 | 0.60 | -0.48 | 1.61 | 1.77 | 5.73 |
#6 | 3 | Albert Pujols | ANA | 1B | 0.83 | 2.13 | -0.48 | -0.09 | 2.91 | 5.31 |
#7 | 7 | Edwin Encarnacion | TOR | 1B | 2.23 | 1.11 | -0.48 | 0.68 | 1.20 | 4.74 |
#8 | 16 | Steve Pearce | BAL | 1B | 0.83 | 1.11 | -0.48 | 1.74 | 1.20 | 4.40 |
#9 | 9 | Adam LaRoche | WAS | 1B | 0.83 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 0.42 | 1.20 | 4.11 |
#10 | 27 | Logan Morrison | SEA | 1B | 2.23 | 0.09 | -0.48 | 0.75 | 0.62 | 3.22 |
Carlos Santana’s numbers, matching career highs in homers and RBI, are almost crazy considering how poorly he played the first two months of the season. Santana has managed to hit .274-13-42 with a .925 OPS since the break, including .346-2-6 with one steal last week. While he loses catcher eligibility in most leagues next season, he will have multi-eligibility at first base and third base … Injured for much of the year, Adam Lind has quietly hit .327-6-38 with an OPS near .900 for the year. He’s certainly an injury risk, but we can at least consider his batting average rebound from last season legitimate … The Brewers caught lightning in a bottle in minor league veteran Matt Clark, who went 3-for-11 with three homers and six RBI last week. It’s difficult to expect that production, or the starts, to continue the rest of the way despite his career 128 minor league homers, but Clark was a nice find last week for the few fantasy owners who had him … Logan Morrison has been able to make the first base list a few teams this season, yet his overall numbers are still highly disappointing for fantasy owners. He hit .333-2-2, and has done nothing to convince fantasy owners or MLB evaluators that he should be more than a fill-in with a .634 OPS vs. right-handers.
Second Base
Week Rank | Season Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | R | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | 6 | Howie Kendrick | ANA | 2B | 0.83 | 2.13 | 1.06 | 2.83 | 2.91 | 9.76 |
#2 | 34 | Javier Baez | CHC | 2B | 2.23 | 0.60 | 2.59 | -0.13 | 1.77 | 7.05 |
#3 | 2 | Dee Gordon | LA | 2B | -0.57 | -0.43 | 4.13 | 1.06 | 2.34 | 6.53 |
#4 | 8 | Neil Walker | PIT | 2B | 0.83 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 0.70 | 2.34 | 5.53 |
#5 | 3 | Robinson Cano | SEA | 2B | 2.23 | 0.09 | -0.48 | 1.06 | 0.05 | 2.95 |
#6 | 15 | Omar Infante | KC | 2B | -0.57 | 0.60 | 1.06 | 1.23 | 0.05 | 2.37 |
#7 | 26 | Jedd Gyorko | SD | 2B | 0.83 | 0.60 | -0.48 | 0.68 | 0.62 | 2.25 |
#8 | 1 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | -0.57 | 0.60 | 1.06 | 1.21 | -0.52 | 1.78 |
#9 | NR | Luis Sardinas | TEX | 2B | -0.57 | 1.11 | -0.48 | 0.75 | 0.62 | 1.44 |
#10 | 10 | Ben Zobrist | TB | 2B | 0.83 | 0.09 | -0.48 | -0.24 | 1.20 | 1.40 |
Howie Kendrick’s steals have rebounded to 14 after swiping only six bases last season, and he’s hitting right at his career batting average of .292 after hitting .429-1-6 with seven runs and one steal last week. After several early-career injuries, Kendrick has become one of the more reliable fantasy commodities … Young Javier Baez now has nine homers in 160 at-bats after hitting two more last week, but his 11/71 BB/K ratio is a major problem. We can’t expect Baez to hit for average anytime soon with his poor plate discipline, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Cubs put him on a short leash next year given his youth … Jedd Gyorko continues to work his way back after an injury-plagued season, hitting .292-1-3 with one steal last week. While he’s hitting just .207, Gyorko is hitting .268-5-26 in 153 at-bats during the second half and is looking like a buy-low candidate heading into next year … Luis Sardinas continues to hit for average with his late-season playing time. Like his time in the the minors, he hasn’t shown much power or speed but is faring well as an AL-only flier.
Third Base
Week Rank | Season Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | R | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | 1 | Anthony Rendon | WAS | 3B | 2.23 | 1.11 | -0.48 | 3.33 | 2.91 | 9.11 |
#2 | 25 | David Freese | ANA | 3B | 2.23 | 3.16 | -0.48 | 1.08 | 0.62 | 6.62 |
#3 | 24 | Juan Uribe | LA | 3B | 2.23 | 1.11 | -0.48 | 2.40 | 1.20 | 6.46 |
#4 | 13 | Trevor Plouffe | MIN | 3B | 2.23 | 1.62 | -0.48 | 0.27 | 1.20 | 4.84 |
#5 | 7 | Evan Longoria | TB | 3B | 2.23 | 1.11 | -0.48 | 0.02 | 1.20 | 4.08 |
#6 | 23 | Yangervis Solarte | SD | 3B | 0.83 | 0.09 | -0.48 | 1.71 | 1.77 | 3.92 |
#7 | 12 | Martin Prado | NYY | 3B | 2.23 | 0.60 | -0.48 | 1.29 | 0.05 | 3.69 |
#8 | 2 | Todd Frazier | CIN | 3B | 0.83 | 0.09 | 1.06 | 0.29 | 1.20 | 3.47 |
#9 | 3 | Josh Donaldson | OAK | 3B | 0.83 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 0.32 | 0.62 | 3.43 |
#10 | 14 | Lonnie Chisenhall | CLE | 3B | 0.83 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 0.27 | 0.05 | 2.81 |
Anthony Rendon played true to form as the top third baseman, going 12-for-24 with two homers and seven runs scored last week. He’s been a brilliant contributor in every category this season, and looks to finish the year as the top hot corner in a weak year for the position … David Freese is hitting only .260 this season, but he hit .320-2-8 last week and .357 so far this month … Yangervis Solarte is looking like solid return for Chase Headley, hitting even better since joining the Padres. He hit .381 last week, and has been a strong contact hitter this season. He has NL-only value and should compete for a starting job next spring if the Padres keep him around … The Yankees are getting their money’s worth from the players they acquired from the Diamondbacks this year, Martin Prado and Brandon McCarthy. Prado hit .316-2-3 last week, and is now hitting .310-7-16 in only 129 at-bats since joining the Yanks.
Shortstop
Week Rank | Season Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | R | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | 17 | Xander Bogaerts | BOS | SS | 3.63 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 2.17 | 2.34 | 9.79 |
#2 | 1 | Ian Desmond | WAS | SS | -0.57 | 1.62 | 4.13 | 1.33 | 1.77 | 8.28 |
#3 | 26 | Yunel Escobar | TB | SS | 3.63 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 2.12 | 0.62 | 8.03 |
#4 | 6 | Erick Aybar | ANA | SS | 0.83 | 1.62 | 1.06 | 1.21 | 1.20 | 5.91 |
#5 | 8 | Hanley Ramirez | LA | SS | -0.57 | 1.62 | 1.06 | 3.06 | 0.62 | 5.79 |
#6 | 14 | Jordy Mercer | PIT | SS | -0.57 | 1.62 | -0.48 | 2.02 | 1.20 | 3.79 |
#7 | 16 | Jean Segura | MLW | SS | -0.57 | -0.94 | 2.59 | 1.44 | 1.20 | 3.72 |
#8 | 15 | Brandon Crawford | SF | SS | 0.83 | 1.11 | -0.48 | 1.01 | 0.62 | 3.10 |
#9 | NR | Freddy Galvis | PHI | SS | 0.83 | -0.43 | 1.06 | 0.25 | 1.20 | 2.91 |
#10 | 7 | Alcides Escobar | KC | SS | -0.57 | 0.09 | 2.59 | -0.11 | 0.62 | 2.63 |
Xander Bogaerts makes the list again, hitting .379-3-6 with six runs last week. It’s taken a while, but Bogaerts is finally showing his elite ability in September, hitting .368-4-11 thus far … Ian Desmond topped Alexei Ramirez in the shortstop rankings with a great week, hitting .348 with three steals and reaching 20/20 status for the third consecutive season … Yunel Escobar has held very minimal value again this season, though he had a very strong week for fantasy owners with three homers and six RBI … Jean Segura has rarely made the list, burning fantasy owners with a .240 batting average and only 18 steals on 27 attempts. However, he swiped two bases last week with a .389 batting average as he looks to finish out the year strong.
Outfield
Week Rank | Season Rank | Player | Tm | Pos | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | R | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | 87 | Chris Young | NYY | OF | 3.63 | 3.16 | 1.06 | 2.02 | 2.34 | 12.20 |
#2 | 32 | Kole Calhoun | ANA | OF | 3.63 | 2.65 | -0.48 | 1.64 | 4.05 | 11.49 |
#3 | 24 | Marcell Ozuna | FLA | OF | 5.03 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 1.89 | 2.34 | 10.92 |
#4 | 58 | Alejandro De Aza | BAL | OF | 2.23 | 2.13 | 2.59 | 1.64 | 1.77 | 10.36 |
#5 | 1 | Mike Trout | ANA | OF | 2.23 | 1.62 | -0.48 | 2.14 | 4.62 | 10.14 |
#6 | 25 | Matt Holliday | STL | OF | 2.23 | 1.62 | 1.06 | 2.14 | 1.77 | 8.82 |
#7 | 37 | Lorenzo Cain | KC | OF | 0.83 | 1.11 | 2.59 | 1.89 | 2.34 | 8.76 |
#8 | 42 | Carl Crawford | LA | OF | 0.83 | 3.16 | -0.48 | 3.84 | 1.20 | 8.55 |
#9 | 3 | Michael Brantley | CLE | OF | 0.83 | 1.62 | 2.59 | 2.14 | 1.20 | 8.39 |
#10 | 29 | J.D. Martinez | DET | OF | 3.63 | 3.16 | -0.48 | 0.52 | 1.20 | 8.03 |
#11 | NR | Avisail Garcia | CWS | OF | 0.83 | 2.13 | 4.13 | 0.68 | 0.05 | 7.82 |
#12 | 75 | A.J. Pollock | ARZ | OF | 0.83 | 1.62 | 4.13 | -0.13 | 0.62 | 7.07 |
#13 | 13 | Denard Span | WAS | OF | 0.83 | 0.09 | 2.59 | 0.45 | 2.34 | 6.29 |
#14 | 70 | Oswaldo Arcia | MIN | OF | 2.23 | 1.62 | -0.48 | 2.25 | 0.62 | 6.25 |
#15 | 68 | Sam Fuld | OAK | OF | 0.83 | 2.13 | 1.06 | 0.42 | 1.77 | 6.21 |
#16 | 4 | Carlos Gomez | MLW | OF | -0.57 | 0.60 | 2.59 | 1.33 | 1.77 | 5.72 |
#17 | 23 | Matt Kemp | LA | OF | 0.83 | 2.13 | -0.48 | 0.80 | 2.34 | 5.63 |
#18 | 96 | Robbie Grossman | HOU | OF | -0.57 | 1.11 | 2.59 | 1.64 | 0.62 | 5.40 |
#19 | 28 | Starling Marte | PIT | OF | 0.83 | 0.60 | 1.06 | 2.07 | 0.62 | 5.18 |
#20 | 86 | Jordan Schafer | MIN | OF | 0.83 | 0.09 | 4.13 | -0.18 | 0.05 | 4.92 |
That Chris Young is first on the outfield list this week. Always a streaky hitter, the veteran outfielder had a huge week, going .370-3-8 with six runs and one steal. Fantasy owners still in the race will likely ride Young out till the end, though he seems unlikely to be more than a role player after this season with another mediocre campaign … The dynamic Kole Calhoun hit three homers, seven RBI and scored nine runs last week, giving him 16 homers and 84 runs scored for the year in only 115 games. Despite time missed due to injury, he has shown plenty of promise … Alejandro De Aza has been on fire since joining the O’s, hitting .341-2-6 with two steals in 10 games. He’s having a disappointing year after hitting 17 homers last season, but is really helping Baltimore and fantasy owners down the stretch … It’s good to see Avisail Garcia and A.J. Pollock make the list after missing so much time to injury. Both are seen as possible staples in the lineups of their respective teams, and could enter next season at a discount after missing so much time … Sam Fuld and Jordan Schafer continue to be late-season speed finds for fantasy owners. Schafer has made the outfield list seemingly every week since the Twins acquired him, swiping three more bases last week despite part-time work. He’s now hitting .304 with 14 steals, 12 RBI and 16 runs scored since joining Minnesota.
