The Good, The Bad, and The Two Start Pitchers September 9 Sep 10, 2012 | More

Position Players to Start

Jimmy Rollins has been ripping the ball lately finding his power stroke and hitting a few home runs to go with a high average.   This week has the makings of a great outing for Rollins.   Rollins has a .316 or better batting average against all the starters that he faces off with this week. Mix in three career home runs and Rollins is poised to continue the recent hot streak.   Make sure you have him active in your lineup.   

Jonathan Lucroy has been a nice addition too many fantasy lineup since returning from the disabled list.   Lucroy is having a breakout season, showing the ability to hit for a high average from the catcher position.   Lucroy has several favorable matchups this week and is a nice under the radar type player that will be useful down the stretch.  

If you managed to end up with Carlos Santana and Buster Posey on your team you may have a tough decision on your hands on who to start this week in weekly lineup formats.   Both Posey and Santana have several matchups that should allow them to put together a very strong fantasy week.   Make sure to have either of these guys plugged in to your lineup at some position.  

Position Players to Avoid

Omar Infante was having a productive season, but he has faltered since being traded to the Detroit Tigers.   Infante is mired in a slump, going three for his last thirty one entering the weekend.   A glance at the matchups coming up for Infante this week suggest that he isn’t going to be busting out of the slump anytime soon.   Find a better second baseman for your fantasy team this week.  

After his initial hot streak after joining the White Sox, Kevin Youkilis has hit a dry spell only batting .225 over the last two weeks.   Youk was away from the team at the end of last week for the birth of a child, but he should return to action this week.   The time away and the matchups this week are enough to encourage you to bench Youkilis.   With only one matchup against a pitcher against whom he holds a .219 or better batting average you can find a better option.  

Mark Trumbo has struggled in the second half and even more specifically he is slumping over the last two weeks.   Trumbo has been dropped to the seventh slot in the Angels’ lineup and has even found himself benched several times recently.   Given his history against the starters he faces this week, Trumbo will likely have a tough time being productive even if he does make his way in to the lineup.  

Two Start Pitchers

Two favorable matchups:

Jered Weaver

Ryan Dempster

Dan Haren

Trevor Cahill

Adam Wainwright

Split decision:

Doug Fister

Mat Latos

Brandon Morrow

Matt Harrison

Double trouble:

Jake Peavy

Justin Masterson

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.  

Yovani Gallardo

Kris Medlen

Ian Kennedy

Max Scherzer

Derek Holland

Clay Buchholz

Matt   Moore

Wait til Next Week

Paul Maholm

Yu Darvish

James Shields