Hot Hitter Rundown: June 10

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You should always have the big picture in mind when it comes to your season-long fantasy baseball leagues. Putting too much stock in a small sample size might cause you to make a decision that hurts you in the long run. That said, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be taking stock of what’s happened in the immediate past. It can be useful when it comes to weekly or especially daily lineup decisions, waiver wire considerations, tracking who might be coming into more playing time, etc.

The Rotoworld Player Rater is a handy tool that’s among the extensive offerings in Season Pass. Each week, I’ll be using the Player Rater to look at the hottest hitters, position by position, over the last week, and providing commentary.

*The following data is based on 5x5 Roto scoring and covers games played from June 3-9.

Editor’s Note: Stay ahead of the competition from wire to wire with rankings, customizable projections, trade evaluator, exclusive columns and more in our Season Pass. And start using optimized lineups on Yahoo!, DraftKings and FanDuel with our DFS Toolkit!

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Catcher

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Travis d’Arnaud	TB	C	2.43850	2.69932	-0.46529	1.78541	0.92136	7.38
#2	Tom Murphy	SEA	C	3.49768	2.69932	-0.46529	0.42886	0.92136	7.08
#3	Roberto Perez	CLE	C	3.49768	2.22651	-0.46529	0.83840	0.92136	7.02
#4	Robinson Chirinos	HOU	C	2.43850	1.28088	-0.46529	-0.37734	2.05782	4.93
#5	J.T. Realmuto	PHI	C	1.37932	0.33525	-0.46529	1.80473	1.48959	4.54
#6	Pedro Severino	BAL	C	2.43850	0.80806	-0.46529	0.42886	0.35314	3.56
#7	Willson Contreras	CHC	C	0.32015	0.33525	-0.46529	0.16657	1.48959	1.85
#8	Mitch Garver	MIN	C	0.32015	1.28088	-0.46529	0.30093	0.35314	1.79
#9	Wilson Ramos	NYM	C	0.32015	-0.13757	-0.46529	1.24794	0.35314	1.32
#10	Will Smith	LA	C	0.32015	-0.13757	1.23279	0.14725	-0.78332	.78

It’s been a bumpy ride this season for Travis d’Arnaud, who was cut loose by the Mets and made a pit stop with the Dodgers before the Rays acquired him in mid-May following a rash of injuries at the catcher position. He was just 7-for-40 at the plate in May for Tampa but has already matched that hit total in June in just 14 at-bats, going deep three times and driving in nine runs along the way. D’Arnaud has proven capable of having some fantasy value in the past, but he’s still behind Mike Zunino on the depth chart so it’s hard to see him being useful … Speaking of No. 2 catchers in the midst of a hot streak, Tom Murphy has been on quite a run of late with five home runs and 10 RBI over his previous five contests. Murphy was always intriguing when he was with the Rockies as a catcher with good pop who hit a ton of flyballs, and he’s doing it again this year with a 41.9 percent hard-hit rate and 50 percent flyball rate. However, Murphy has also continued to whiff at an alarming rate (40.3 percent strikeout rate) and he’s started back-to-back games just three times all season with Omar Narvaez hitting well … Roberto Perez is playing more than he ever has in his career after Yan Gomes was traded over the offseason and he’s been surprisingly potent with the bat, particularly this past week when he went on a stretch with home runs in four straight games. He’s already hit a career-high 11 bombs, with nine of them coming since the beginning of May, a total eclipsed only by Gary Sanchez at the position over that span. Perez is a poor bet for average, but his 17.7 percent barrel rate is in the top three percent of the league and he’s always been a guy who takes his walks (12.4 percent walk rate in 2019). He certainly needs to be owned in fantasy leagues at this point …

Buy Smoak, sell Riley

Here are Rotoworld's weekly updates on hitters to buy, sell, and hold which includes Justin Smoak, Austin Riley, and Cesar Hernandez.

First Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Edwin Encarnacion	SEA	1B	4.55685	3.17214	-0.46529	-0.08929	3.19427	10.37
#2	Freddie Freeman	ATL	1B	2.43850	1.75369	-0.46529	1.67036	1.48959	6.89
#3	Howie Kendrick	WAS	1B	1.37932	1.75369	-0.46529	1.12001	2.05782	5.85
#4	Matt Olson	OAK	1B	1.37932	1.75369	-0.46529	0.71691	0.35314	3.74
#5	Ji-Man Choi	TB	1B	0.32015	0.33525	-0.46529	2.33575	0.35314	2.88
#6	Kevin Cron	ARZ	1B	1.37932	1.75369	-0.46529	-0.24941	0.35314	2.77
#7	Carlos Santana	CLE	1B	0.32015	0.33525	-0.46529	0.30737	2.05782	2.56
#8	Daniel Murphy	COL	1B	1.37932	0.80806	-0.46529	0.57611	-0.21509	2.08
#9	Brandon Belt	SF	1B	0.32015	0.33525	-0.46529	0.56967	0.92136	1.68
#10	C.J. Cron	MIN	1B	0.32015	1.28088	-0.46529	0.57611	-0.21509	1.50

It seems like we’ve been waiting for Edwin Encarnacion’s production to crater for a few years now, but the 36-year-old just keeps churning out 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons and he’s well on his way to another one in 2019. Encarnacion has already hit seven over the boards in June after his second two-homer game of the month on Sunday and now leads the American League with his 20 dingers. His 48.6 percent flyball rate is his highest in eight years and he’s got his strikeout rate back down right at his career average after it went up a bit last year … The worry after a player comes back from hamate bone surgery is that it will take a while for that guy’s power to return. That hasn’t really been an issue for Matt Olson, though, as he’s gone deep nine times in 31 tilts since coming back from the injured list. He also boasts a 12.6 percent barrel/PA rate this season, which is a top five mark in baseball … With the designated hitter spot available for their series in Toronto, the Diamondbacks brought Kevin Cron back up for another look-see. He responded with the first two home runs over his major league career while driving in six runs during the three-game set. Cron has belted 23 out of the yard already between Triple-A and the majors this year and would be worth using in fantasy if he got everyday at-bats. It doesn’t look like that will happen at this point, however, as the D-backs have stuck with Christian Walker through his inconsistency and Jake Lamb (quad) is also due back soon … Is Daniel Murphy finally starting to right the ship? The 34-year-old is batting .339/.388/.565 with three home runs and 18 RBI across his last 17 contests as he further distances himself from an early-season finger injury. Murphy’s 28.2 percent hard-hit rate is awfully low, but he’s been hitting the ball harder during the aforementioned 17-game stretch. It might be a good time to buy low, especially with the Rockies having a homestand this week …

Second Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Tommy La Stella	LAA	2B	2.43850	1.28088	-0.46529	2.22071	2.62604	8.10
#2	Mike Moustakas	MLW	2B	3.49768	1.75369	-0.46529	1.12645	1.48959	7.40
#3	DJ LeMahieu	NYY	2B	0.32015	2.22651	-0.46529	2.22071	0.92136	5.22
#4	Brandon Lowe	TB	2B	1.37932	1.28088	-0.46529	1.38875	0.92136	4.51
#5	Brian Dozier	WAS	2B	1.37932	0.80806	-0.46529	0.56967	1.48959	3.78
#6	Rougned Odor	TEX	2B	-0.73903	0.80806	1.23279	0.17301	1.48959	2.96
#7	Hanser Alberto	BAL	2B	-0.73903	-1.08320	1.23279	3.17415	0.35314	2.94
#8	Shed Long	SEA	2B	-0.73903	-0.61039	2.93087	0.17301	0.35314	2.11
#9	Starlin Castro	MIA	2B	0.32015	2.22651	-0.46529	0.17945	-0.21509	2.05
#10	Adeiny Hechavarria	NYM	2B	0.32015	-0.61039	1.23279	0.42886	0.35314	1.72

After going homerless for a 12-game stretch, Tommy La Stella has popped three home runs over his last five contests to give him an even 15 for the season. That’s five more than he hit across nearly 1,000 plate appearances in his major league career coming into this year. La Stella is hitting the ball in the air a little more this season (35.8 percent), but he’s still more of a groundball hitter (41.5 percent) and his exit velocity (88.2 mph) and hard-hit rate (30.9 percent) are both pedestrian. That said, while I’m still expecting regression from a power perspective, La Stella should remain a batting average asset with his elite contact rate (7.6 percent strikeout rate) and he figures to score plenty of runs from the Angels’ leadoff spot … Mike Moustakas has two multi-homer games over the last couple weeks and has gone deep five times already in June to bring his season total to 20. The infielder’s hard-hit rate (43.7 percent) and barrel rate (12.4 percent) are both Statcast-era highs, and while he’s whiffing a little more this season, Moose’s 18.8 percent strikeout rate is excellent for a power hitter. Perhaps he can finally get that multi-year deal next winter? … Maybe Brian Dozier isn’t cooked just yet. The veteran second baseman homered a couple times last week to bring his season total to 10, and he’s now sporting a 1.015 OPS over his last 22 games. Also noteworthy is that his strikeout rate is sitting at 17.6 percent over that stretch following an alarming 28.8 percent strikeout rate in his first 40 tilts. The 32-year-old has just one stolen base this season and hasn’t even attempted one since mid-April, so it appears that that part of his game might be dried up. If that’s the case, Dozier will have to hit for power to be of any use in fantasy leagues, as he’s never been a guy that’s hit for average …

Third Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Asdrubal Cabrera	TEX	3B	0.32015	2.22651	-0.46529	2.62381	1.48959	6.19
#2	Brian Anderson	MIA	3B	1.37932	1.75369	1.23279	-0.09573	1.48959	5.76
#3	Todd Frazier	NYM	3B	1.37932	2.22651	-0.46529	1.12001	1.48959	5.75
#4	David Bote	CHC	3B	0.32015	2.69932	1.23279	0.56967	0.92136	5.74
#5	Kyle Seager	SEA	3B	2.43850	0.80806	1.23279	-0.77400	1.48959	5.19
#6	Alex Bregman	HOU	3B	0.32015	0.80806	1.23279	0.72335	2.05782	5.14
#7	Rafael Devers	BOS	3B	0.32015	2.22651	1.23279	-1.04917	2.05782	4.79
#8	Colin Moran	PIT	3B	2.43850	1.28088	-0.46529	0.16657	0.92136	4.34
#9	Yoan Moncada	CWS	3B	1.37932	0.80806	-0.46529	1.93909	0.35314	4.01
#10	Anthony Rendon	WAS	3B	1.37932	2.69932	-0.46529	-0.23653	-0.21509	3.16

Brian Anderson homered in back-to-back games for the Marlins last week and now has seven long balls on the season, which is just four shy of last year’s total. His 50.6 percent hard-hit rate ranks in the top six percent of the league, but unfortunately his fly ball rate is still below 30 percent. Anderson has already doubled last season’s total with four stolen bases, although three of those came in one week back in mid-April … The Cubs signing David Bote to a contract extension just after Opening Day seemed like a strange move at the time, but he’s been plenty productive this season with an .824 OPS while splitting time between second and third base. He made the list above thanks to a 4-for-4, seven-RBI game last Wednesday. Bote doesn’t play every day and sometimes bats ninth when he is in the lineup, but Ben Zobrist’s absence helps his playing time outlook and he should probably be in the lineup more than Addison Russell at this point … Kyle Seager slimmed down over the offseason in hopes that it would help him have a bounce-back season, but things got sidetracked when he suffered a hand injury in spring training that cost him nearly the first two months. After a slow start at the dish, the 31-year-old boasts a 1.095 OPS with four home runs and a 5/8 K/BB ratio over his last eight games. He’s also posted a robust 55.8 percent hard-hit rate and is hitting the ball in the air (55.3 percent) even more this season. It’s too probably early to know whether there’s actionable data here, but Seager’s arrow looks to be pointing up …

Shortstop

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Marcus Semien	OAK	SS	1.37932	3.17214	-0.46529	2.90542	2.62604	9.62
#2	Francisco Lindor	CLE	SS	2.43850	0.80806	1.23279	1.12645	2.62604	8.23
#3	Javier Baez	CHC	SS	2.43850	3.64495	-0.46529	0.99853	1.48959	8.11
#4	Elvis Andrus	TEX	SS	-0.73903	1.28088	4.62895	1.00497	1.48959	7.67
#5	Corey Seager	LA	SS	0.32015	3.17214	-0.46529	3.03335	-0.21509	5.85
#6	Trea Turner	WAS	SS	1.37932	1.28088	-0.46529	0.58255	2.05782	4.84
#7	Amed Rosario	NYM	SS	1.37932	0.80806	1.23279	-0.64607	0.92136	3.70
#8	Willy Adames	TB	SS	1.37932	1.28088	1.23279	-0.63319	0.35314	3.61
#9	Richie Martin	BAL	SS	1.37932	0.33525	1.23279	0.71047	-0.21509	3.44
#10	Jorge Polanco	MIN	SS	0.32015	0.80806	1.23279	0.72335	0.35314	3.44

Marcus Semien showed considerable improvement with his strikeout rate last season and he’s continued to progress this year in getting it all the way down to 15 percent while also posting a career-high 12.1 percent walk rate. After being used in the lower third of the batting order against right-handers early on in the season, Semien is now locked in as the Athletics’ everyday leadoff hitter. That’s going to lead to a bunch of runs, especially if he can keep up that walk rate … It was worrisome to see Elvis Andrus go down with a hamstring injury last month after he’d bounced back in the stolen base department following last year’s disappointment. Those concerns proved to be unfounded, though, as the shortstop has gone 5-for-5 on the basepaths in 16 games since returning to action … The Dodgers eased Corey Seager back into things in spring training following last year’s Tommy John and hip surgeries, as he received just 11 official Cactus League at-bats. Perhaps it’s a big reason why he got off to such a slow start, as he put up just a .231/.320/.367 batting line with four homers over his first 48 games. However, the shortstop has perked up since then with a .383/.448/.733 line, four dingers and 18 RBI in his last 16 contests. Seager’s 37.5 percent hard-hit rate is down for him, but he’s been hitting the ball much harder during the aforementioned 16 games. It’s possible there’s still some time to buy low on him …

Outfield

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Jay Bruce	PHI	OF	3.49768	4.11777	-0.46529	1.52955	2.05782	10.74
#2	Christian Yelich	MLW	OF	1.37932	0.80806	2.93087	3.83955	0.92136	9.88
#3	Kyle Schwarber	CHC	OF	1.37932	1.75369	1.23279	2.21427	2.05782	8.64
#4	Ronald Acuna	ATL	OF	2.43850	2.22651	1.23279	0.72335	0.92136	7.54
#5	Domingo Santana	SEA	OF	2.43850	1.75369	-0.46529	1.27370	2.05782	7.06
#6	Mike Trout	LAA	OF	2.43850	1.28088	-0.46529	0.30737	3.19427	6.76
#7	Ramon Laureano	OAK	OF	0.32015	0.80806	2.93087	0.98565	1.48959	6.53
#8	Mallex Smith	SEA	OF	0.32015	1.28088	2.93087	0.72979	0.92136	6.18
#9	JaCoby Jones	DET	OF	1.37932	1.75369	1.23279	1.12001	0.35314	5.84
#10	Delino DeShields	TEX	OF	-0.73903	-0.13757	2.93087	2.75817	0.92136	5.73

Jay Bruce has been just what the doctor ordered for the Phillies’ injury-ravaged outfield. The 32-year-old went deep twice in his first start with his new club and set a new franchise record by homering four times in his first four games with the Phils. Bruce isn’t going to start against lefties and he was already a poor bet in the average department even before factoring in a 26.3 percent strikeout rate that’s his highest in five years. That said, he’s sporting a 17.9 percent barrel rate that’s in the top three percent of the league, he has easily the highest flyball rate (59.7 percent) of anyone with 200 plate appearances and he’s now playing in a hitter-friendly venue … Kyle Schwarber has always hit the ball hard, but he’s crushing it this season with a 92.9 mph exit velocity and 52.4 percent hard-hit rate that both rank in the top three percent in baseball. The results have finally been there over the last month, too, as he’s put up a .942 OPS with eight dingers and 17 RBI across his previous 24 contests. Each of Schwarber’s last 23 starts have come out of the leadoff spot … Ronald Acuna’s OPS from the cleanup spot (.854) this season has been just a tad higher than his OPS (.841) from the leadoff spot, but he’s bore more fantasy fruit from the leadoff spot. In 11 fewer games while batting leadoff, he’s hit the same number of homers (seven), driven in just two fewer runs (21 to 19), scored just one fewer run (20 to 19) and stolen three times as many bases (six to two). Acuna’s xBA (.293), xSLG (.559) and xwOBA (.396) all say his numbers should be better than they are, so there should be brighter days ahead for a guy who’s already been a top-10 outfielder … Ramon Laureano has pushed his season OPS up over 100 points in his last 20 games, during which he’s posted a healthy .956 OPS with three home runs and three steals. He’s more likely to hurt you than help you in average given how much he strikes out, although Laureano’s whiff rate is just 20.3 percent over his previous 20 games after he had a 30 percent strikeout rate in his first 46 contests …