Fantasy Sports Shack

End of the Season Sleepers

Posted: September 11, 2009

September (and early October) is when a fantasy baseball crown is earned.  5 months of day-to-day team operation, moving players in-and-out of the lineup, playing hunches for match-ups and watching your caps on innings and position maximums all comes down to the final few weeks.  That All-Star who helped you so much in the first half hasn’t done anything since June, and that unsung hero who surprised the world in July and August is starting to fall off.  You’re in third, fourth or fifth in your league, but you just need that little extra to get over the hump.  Here are a couple quick tips:

First, now’s not the time to be patient.  If those guys we just talked about are bringing you down, dump them and go with a hot bat or arm.  Second, be cautiously aggressive.  One bad outing by a pitcher, or an 0-fer by a hitter, is not going to harm your average numbers enough to warrant not pulling the trigger, especially in leagues that score beyond the traditional 5×5.  I’m not saying snag any bat or arm in hopes they go off, but if you see a pitcher with a solid match-up or a hitter who’s starting to roll, jump on them!

Here are 10 players who could help you down the stretch (that are most likely still available in your league).

HITTERS

• Marlon Byrd (OF)  Projection: 72 AB, .319 Avg, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 7 2B, 1 SB
  

On the season, Byrd’s numbers are respectable: .287 Avg, 17 HR, 76 RBI, 59 R, 40 2B, 8 SB.  Over the last week, he’s been on a tear: .542 Avg, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R.  He’ll probably come back to Earth, but if you need outfield help, he is extremely consistent, and his remaining schedule is favorable: vs Sea, vs Oak, vs LAA, @ Oak, vs TB, @LAA, @ Sea.

• Nick Johnson (1B)  Projection: 65 AB, .353 Avg, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R, 5 2B

Johnson is, simply put, a professional hitter.  He’s not going to give you a power boost, but he’ll give you a slight bump in average, run production and doubles.  He’ll also take a walk or three.  Last week: .429 Avg, 8 RBI, 3 R, 3 2B.  Season (415 AB): .304 Avg, 7 HR, 59 RBI, 60 R, 22 2B.

• Michael Brantley (OF)  Projection: 71 AB, .281 AVG, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 13 R, 7 SB
  

With Grady Sizemore done for the year, the 22 year-old Brantley is getting a chance to show the Indians what he can do.  His small sample-size (33 AB, .364 Avg, 5 RBI, 5 R, 2 SB) is but a taste of his big-time potential.  The average and RBI production will probably take a dip, but the runs are real and the steals should go up.  2009 Minor League numbers (457 AB): .267 Avg, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 80 R, 46 SB.

• Alex Gordon (3B)  Projection: 61 AB, .328 Avg, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 13 R, 6 2B, .423 OBP

Gordon has had a rough year.  After missing 3 months with an injury, the Royals sent him back to the Minors to right the ship.  That, he did.  In 104 Minor League at-bats, he posted solid numbers (.327 Avg, .451 OBP, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 22 R, 7 2B).  In the 2 games since his return to KC, he’s already homered, doubled, taken 2 walks and scored 3 runs.  It looks like he’s on track for a good September.

• Jeff Baker (1B, 2B, 3B)  Projection: 65 AB, .338 Avg, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 11 R, .411 OBP

Since being traded to the Cubs, Baker quietly leads the NL in hitting (43-128, .336 Avg).  He doesn’t do anything spectacularly, but he’s playing everyday and batting in the middle of the order.  Plus, he qualifies at multiple positions in most leagues.

Honorable Mention: Spot start Eric Young Jr., if you need runs and steals.  He’s doesn’t have an everyday job, but if he’s in the Rockies‘ lineup, consider putting him in yours. Projection: 39 AB, .308, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 13 R, 7 SB

PITCHERS

• Robinson Tejeda Projection: 4 Starts, 25 IP, 2 W, 2.88 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 28 K

With Brian Bannister and Gil Meche probably done for the year, Tejeda will remain in the rotation until season’s end.  His match-ups are just okay (@Det, @CWS, vs. Min, @NYY), but if he pitches anything like he has in his last 2 outings (11.1 IP, 4 hits, 0 R, 4 BB, 14 K vs the Tigers and Angels), he could be a great late-season spot start.

• Ross Ohlendorf Projection: 5 Starts, 34 IP, 2 W, 2.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 32 K

Over the past month, Ohlendorf has been solid (27.1 IP, 1 W, 2.30 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 28 K), and he completely shut down Albert Pujols and the Cardinals in his last outing, a no-decision effort (8 IP, 4 hits, 0 R, 1 BB, 11K).  Counting his start today at Houston, he has 5 starts left, including home versus the Padres, at the Cubs, and 2 against the Dodgers (home and away).

• Wade Davis Projection: 5 Starts, 31 IP, 3 W, 3.48 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 36 K

Davis, the Rays’ top pitching prospect, stymied Detroit in his Major League debut (7 IP, 3 hits, 1 Run, 1 BB, 9 K).  His projection above is slightly skewed, as he faces Boston today and the Yankees in his final start of the season.  In the other 3 he is @ Bal, vs Sea, vs Bal, and he will likely dominate.

• Brian Duensing Projection: 4 Starts, 26 IP, 2 W, 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 21 K

The 26 year-old Duensing has had 4 solid starts in a row for the Twins: 24 IP, 2 W, 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 20 K.  His final 4 match-ups are not overly scary: vs Oak, vs Det, @ KC, @ Det.  He should keep rolling.

• Jamie Moyer Projection: 4 Starts, 25 IP, 2 W, 2.52 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 18 K

Moyer is starting today against the Mets, and with J.A. Happ nursing an oblique strain and the Phillies on a bit of a decline, the crafty veteran could be in line for some starts as the playoffs near.  Watch the match-ups, but don’t be afraid to use the soft-tossing Moyer, if you’re in need of some W’s down the stretch.

September 11, 2009 Posted by joshf28 | Sleepers | albert pujols, alex gordon, average, avg, baltimore orioles, baseball adds, baseball pickups, baseball projections, baseball rookies, baseball sleepers, boston red sox, brian bannister, brian duensing, chicago cubs, chicago white sox, cleveland indians, Colorado Rockies, detroit tigers, down the stretch, end of the season sleepers, eric young, eric young jr., fantasy sports shack, gil meche, grady sizemore, hitters, home runs, houston astros, j.a. happ, ja happ, jamie moyer, jeff baker, kansas city royals, la angels, los angeles angels, los angeles dodgers, major league debut, marlon byrd, michael brantley, minnesota twins, minor league, minor league stats, new york mets, new york yankees, nick johnson, oakland a's, obp, on base percentage, philadelphia phillies, pitchers, pitching prospects, rbi, robinson tejeda, ross ohlendorf, runs, san diego padres, sb, seattle mariners, september, st. louis cardinals, stolen bases, tampa bay rays, top baseball sleepers, top hitters, top pitchers, top rookies, top sleepers, wade davis | 1 Comment