The Good, The Bad, and The Two Start Pitchers September 2 Keith Jordan, Fantasy Baseball Staff Writer Sep 2, 2012 | More

Position Players to Start

Billy Butler has been ripping the cover off of the ball lately.  Butler is having a very productive season.  For the past couple of years the knock on Butler was his lack of power for a corner infielder, but this season his power has developed nicely allowing owners to plug him into their lineups with regularity.  This week will be one of the weeks that you will want to make sure that you have him active.  Butler has had a good deal of success against this weeks starters, including touching several of them up for home runs.  On paper Butler’s toughest matchup appears to be the ChiSox Chris Sale, but he has torched him for a .353 average and three home runs. 

Another week and another opportunity to remind that you need to be starting Evan Longoria.  If you have been hesitant to plug the Rays’ third baseman back in to your lineup, this is the week to move past your apprehension and get him back on the field.   Longoria seems to be recovered and while he will likely get a day of rest at some point in the week, he still has the track record worthy of a starting spot on your team. 

You might be tempted to sit Freddie Freeman this week given his recent struggles at the plate, but that would be a mistake.  No player has a better track record against the pitchers that he figures to face this week than Freeman.  Freeman is the proud owner of a .385 average or better against four of this week’s starters.  Throw in four career home runs and Freeman is poised to have a great week for your fantasy team. 

Position Players to Avoid

Alcides Escobar has been hitting the ball lately, but don’t confuse that to mean that he is turning in monster production.  Escobar rarely drives in runs and he is no threat to hit many home runs.  For a player who relies on getting on base and scoring runs to contribute to your team, you will be able to do better than Escobar this week.  Escobar has struggled to hit the ball against this week’s starters and subsequently he will do little to help you and should find a spot on your bench. 

Mark Reynolds has been respectable at the plate of late, but this week will provide him plenty of opportunities to revert to the Reynolds that we have all come to expect.  Reynolds is hitting below .200 against four of the starters he will face this week.  Not that a paltry average is anything new for Reynolds, but he only has three home runs against those pitchers, forcing me to believe that he will contribute very little to your team this week. 

Last week, Carlos Santana was pulled from a game for not hustling.  This week you would do well to sit him down for lack of a positive track record.  With the kind of struggles that Santana has had in his career against this week’s pitchers, it would take a maximum effort to justify having the Indians’ catcher in your lineup. Look somewhere else this week for your starting catcher. 

Two Start Pitchers

Two favorable matchups:

Kris Medlen

Jeff Samardzija

Anibal Sanchez

Yu Darvish

Split decision:

Matt Harrison

Ricky Nolasco

James Shields

Double trouble:

Johnny Cueto

Edwin Jackson

One Start Wonders

Even though these guys get only one start this week, all signs point to them having the opportunity to register good numbers.  Make sure to have them active. 

Zack Greinke

A.J. Burnett

Ian Kennedy

Matt Moore

Wait til Next Week

Yovani Gallardo

Mat Latos

Chris Capuano

Jordan Zimmerman

James McDonald

Adam Wainwright

Justin Masterson