Hot Hitter Rundown: June 17

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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 10-16.

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	Yasmani Grandal	MLW	C	1.21888	2.15676	-0.42516	1.12857	0.55004	4.63
#2	Brian McCann	ATL	C	2.19999	1.75265	-0.42516	0.32539	0.55004	4.40
#3	Robinson Chirinos	HOU	C	1.21888	2.56087	-0.42516	0.18518	0.09189	3.63
#4	James McCann	CWS	C	1.21888	0.94443	-0.42516	0.70793	1.00819	3.45
#5	Kurt Suzuki	WAS	C	1.21888	2.15676	-0.42516	0.20423	-0.36626	2.79
#6	Carson Kelly	ARZ	C	0.23776	1.34854	-0.42516	1.14762	-0.36626	1.94
#7	Gary Sanchez	NYY	C	0.23776	1.34854	-0.42516	0.04496	0.55004	1.76
#8	Christian Vazquez	BOS	C	0.23776	0.13621	-0.42516	1.65132	0.09189	1.69
#9	Omar Narvaez	SEA	C	0.23776	-0.26791	-0.42516	1.00741	1.00819	1.56
#10	J.T. Realmuto	PHI	C	-0.74335	-1.07613	1.21607	0.58677	1.00819	.99

It was another big week for Yasmani Grandal, who homered twice while driving in eight runs and posting a 1.251 OPS. The switch-hitting backstop is now up to 15 home runs and 40 RBI, numbers that have helped him to the top spot among fantasy catchers this season. His 91.3 mph exit velocity is his highest mark during the Statcast era, and Grandal is striking out less (20.8 percent) and walking more (14.6 percent) than he has the last couple years. The funny thing is, while everyone expected Miller Park to be a major boost for Grandal, he’s actually been way better on the road (1.068 OPS, 10 home runs) than he has at home (.750 OPS, five home runs). Grandal’s history of being a streaky hitter suggests that there will be bumps in the road, but more production at Miller Park moving forward could counteract that ... The Braves have found the right formula at catcher the last few years. After getting excellent production out of a platoon of Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki from 2017-18, they swapped out Suzuki for Brian McCann this year and haven’t missed a beat. After slugging a pair of homers last Tuesday, McCann homered again on Friday before delivering a walk-off, two-RBI single for the red-hot Bravos against the Phillies. He’s obviously not going to play as much as you’d like, but McCann is worth a spot as a second fantasy catcher ... Carson Kelly continues to impress in the desert, as he’s gone 8-for-22 with three dingers and nine RBI over his last eight contests. After a sluggish April, the young catcher has hit .317/.412/.646 with eight home runs and 18 RBI since the beginning of May. Kelly has started nine of 15 games so far in June, which isn’t ideal but is much more than he was playing early on in the season. His playing time could continue to rise with the Diamondbacks no longer carrying three catchers ...

Braves hitters heating up

Rotoworld's latest MLB hot hitter rundown features Josh Donaldson and Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves and the Brewers' Yasmani Grandal, three hitters that are increasing their production as the summer heats up.

First Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Freddie Freeman	ATL	1B	1.21888	2.96498	-0.42516	0.66983	1.92449	6.35
#2	Anthony Rizzo	CHC	1B	2.19999	1.34854	-0.42516	1.23068	0.55004	4.90
#3	Pete Alonso	NYM	1B	1.21888	1.75265	-0.42516	0.70793	1.46634	4.72
#4	Matt Adams	WAS	1B	2.19999	2.15676	-0.42516	0.34444	0.09189	4.37
#5	Daniel Murphy	COL	1B	-0.74335	0.94443	1.21607	2.31429	0.55004	4.28
#6	Carlos Santana	CLE	1B	1.21888	-0.26791	1.21607	0.58677	1.46634	4.22
#7	Max Muncy	LA	1B	2.19999	1.34854	-0.42516	0.44655	0.55004	4.12
#8	Eric Hosmer	SD	1B	-0.74335	3.77320	-0.42516	0.42750	1.00819	4.04
#9	Josh Bell	PIT	1B	0.23776	2.15676	-0.42516	0.40845	1.46634	3.84
#10	Howie Kendrick	WAS	1B	0.23776	0.54032	-0.42516	1.14762	1.92449	3.43

The Braves have looked unbeatable so far in June and their star first baseman Freddie Freeman is obviously a major reason why. In 15 games, the 29-year-old is sporting a ridiculous 1.142 OPS while going deep six times, driving in 19 runs and scoring 14 runs. He’s homered 12 times across 29 games over the last month. The crazy thing is that the Statcast data says Freeman’s numbers should actually be even better, as his xBA (.315), xSLG (.617) and xwOBA (.430) are higher than his average (.311), slugging percentage (.593) and wOBA (.416), respectively ... The only first baseman that’s been more productive than Freeman over the last month is Anthony Rizzo. After missing a handful of games with a stiff back, Rizzo returned to action back on May 17 and has posted a robust .321/.406/.598 batting line with nine dingers, 22 RBI and 20 runs over 30 tilts. He’s even chipped in with a couple stolen bases during that stretch. It was a tough road trip for the Cubs last week, but you can’t blame Rizzo, who went 9-for-26 with three long balls in seven games ... Matt Adams didn’t play much last week after tweaking his oblique, but he still made this list thanks to a home run on Saturday and two home runs and seven RBI on Sunday. Adams has never been a bastion of plate discipline, but he’s been even worse in that department this season with a 31.5 percent strikeout rate and just a 3.8 percent walk rate. The good news is he’s hitting the ball hard when he does make contact with a 41.7 percent hard-hit rate and 15.5 percent barrel rate ...

Second Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Ozzie Albies	ATL	2B	2.19999	2.56087	1.21607	2.43545	1.92449	10.34
#2	Kolten Wong	STL	2B	0.23776	-0.26791	4.49852	0.96931	1.00819	6.45
#3	Michael Chavis	BOS	2B	1.21888	0.54032	-0.42516	1.23068	2.38264	4.95
#4	Brock Holt	BOS	2B	0.23776	0.94443	1.21607	1.12857	1.00819	4.54
#5	Rougned Odor	TEX	2B	0.23776	0.94443	2.85730	-0.79631	0.55004	3.79
#6	Ian Kinsler	SD	2B	0.23776	0.54032	1.21607	1.67037	-0.36626	3.30
#7	Cavan Biggio	TOR	2B	1.21888	0.54032	-0.42516	0.44655	1.46634	3.25
#8	Brandon Lowe	TB	2B	1.21888	0.13621	-0.42516	0.86719	0.55004	2.35
#9	Eric Sogard	TOR	2B	0.23776	-0.26791	-0.42516	1.67037	1.00819	2.22
#10	Ryan McMahon	COL	2B	-0.74335	0.94443	-0.42516	1.89365	0.55004	2.22

Ozzie Albies entered last week in a 32-game homerless drought during which he put up a meager .610 OPS. However, the diminutive second baseman was insanely hot during the Braves’ dominant homestand, going 12-for-29 at the dish with three bombs, nine RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base. Unfortunately for Albies owners, the 22-year-old appears stuck in the bottom third of the Braves’ batting order with Ronald Acuna and Dansby Swanson holding down the top two spots ... Following a dreadful May, Kolten Wong has begun to right the ship in June with a solid .824 OPS. What really stands out with the Cardinals’ second baseman, though, is that he’s now a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen base attempts this season after swiping three more bags last week. This is after he failed to reach double digits in steals each of the previous three campaigns. Wong’s Statcast numbers have always been underwhelming and that’s been no different this year, as his 25.7 percent hard-hit rate ranks in the bottom six percent of the league. That said, if he keeps running at even close to this pace, he’ll obviously have value in fantasy leagues ... Michael Chavis has taken us on quite a roller coaster ride. The rookie infielder got off to an insane start upon his promotion in late April, putting up a 1.236 OPS with six long balls over his first 13 games. He then fell into a deep slump after that, posting just a .604 OPS with a 37 percent strikeout rate across his next 31 contests. However, he perked back up last week, going 9-for-26 with a couple dingers in seven games. Perhaps he’s heating back up, or perhaps it was just the result of him facing the Rangers and Orioles pitching staffs. I suspect more inconsistency can be expected ...

Third Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Josh Donaldson	ATL	3B	3.18110	2.15676	-0.42516	1.63227	1.00819	7.55
#2	Anthony Rendon	WAS	3B	3.18110	1.75265	-0.42516	0.96931	1.92449	7.40
#3	Eduardo Escobar	ARZ	3B	1.21888	2.56087	-0.42516	0.95026	1.46634	5.77
#4	Yandy Diaz	TB	3B	0.23776	1.75265	-0.42516	2.03386	1.00819	4.61
#5	Rafael Devers	BOS	3B	1.21888	0.94443	-0.42516	1.47301	1.00819	4.22
#6	J.D. Davis	NYM	3B	1.21888	0.54032	-0.42516	1.53016	1.00819	3.87
#7	Kris Bryant	CHC	3B	1.21888	-0.26791	-0.42516	0.32539	2.38264	3.23
#8	Marwin Gonzalez	MIN	3B	1.21888	0.94443	-0.42516	1.10952	0.09189	2.94
#9	Colin Moran	PIT	3B	0.23776	1.34854	-0.42516	-0.25451	1.00819	1.91
#10	Gio Urshela	NYY	3B	0.23776	1.34854	-0.42516	0.18518	0.55004	1.90

Did Josh Donaldson fire himself up during last week’s little skirmish with the Pirates’ Joe Musgrove? The third baseman had put up a lowly .583 OPS with just one home run in his previous 19 games prior to the incident. However, since then he’s been red hot with a 1.303 OPS, four home runs and eight RBI across seven contests. He went deep in each of the three games during the weekend series against the Phillies. Donaldson has done a lot more swinging and missing over the last few years and his 27.2 percent strikeout rate this season is easily a career high. However, he’s still hitting the ball extremely hard when he does make contact, with a 50.3 percent hard-hit rate that ranks in the top seven percent of the league ... I suspect the shrug emoji was created for when Anthony Rendon is asked about the Nationals’ struggles this season. The third baseman’s “bad” month so far was in May when he posted a .966 OPS with “only” four home runs. He already has six dingers in 14 June tilts while putting up a 1.098 OPS. Only Joey Gallo has a higher hard-hit rate than Rendon’s 55.8 percent mark and only Daniel Vogelbach has a higher flyball rate than Rendon (51.2 percent) among qualifiers ... After being on the bench for four straight games, J.D. Davis started the last two contests for the Mets and went 4-for-5 with a home run on Saturday. The former Astro boasts a 1.036 OPS in 36 plate appearances so far in June, and he has an impressive 47.4 percent hard-hit rate and just a 19.4 percent strikeout rate this season. That said, while Davis has done enough with the bat, he’s a poor defender at third base and in left field. Playing time could be difficult to find with Robinson Cano now back and it might be even harder when Brandon Nimmo and Jed Lowrie (if he ever comes back) return ...

Shortstop

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Manny Machado	SD	SS	2.19999	1.34854	-0.42516	2.45450	3.75709	9.33
#2	Trea Turner	WAS	SS	0.23776	0.13621	4.49852	1.37090	1.92449	8.17
#3	Fernando Tatis Jr.	SD	SS	0.23776	0.94443	1.21607	2.57567	2.84079	7.81
#4	Kevin Newman	PIT	SS	-0.74335	0.54032	4.49852	2.01481	0.55004	6.86
#5	Paul DeJong	STL	SS	2.19999	0.94443	1.21607	1.23068	1.00819	6.60
#6	Trevor Story	COL	SS	1.21888	0.94443	1.21607	0.93121	1.92449	6.24
#7	Xander Bogaerts	BOS	SS	1.21888	0.94443	-0.42516	1.38995	1.46634	4.59
#8	Elvis Andrus	TEX	SS	-0.74335	1.34854	1.21607	0.82909	1.46634	4.12
#9	Gleyber Torres	NYY	SS	0.23776	0.54032	-0.42516	1.68942	1.46634	3.51
#10	Freddy Galvis	TOR	SS	0.23776	0.94443	-0.42516	1.51111	1.00819	3.28

There’s no disputing that Manny Machado’s first season in San Diego has been a disappointment thus far. There’s also no disputing that a four-game series at Coors Field can be just what the doctor ordered for any hitter. Machado went 10-for-19 at the plate during the four-game set, hitting three home runs, driving in six and scoring a whopping 10 runs. The Padres scored an lol-worthy 44 runs during the series (and still only split the four games). Machado’s strikeout rate this season sits at 20.5 percent, which in and of itself isn’t bad but is a big jump from last year’s 14.7 percent mark and his career 16.4 percent rate coming into the season. I suspect that things will normalize and he will be fine, but Machado still needs to prove that he can be an elite hitter away from Camden Yards ... Machado’s partner on the left side of the Padres’ infield, Fernando Tatis Jr., hasn’t shown any rustiness since coming back from the injured list, as he’s gone an absurd 17-for-39 at the plate in 10 games, driving in seven runs and scoring 10 more. Also notable is that he’s stolen a couple bases over that span, as he hasn’t been tentative on the bases after returning from a hamstring issue. Tatis has benefitted greatly from a .433 BABIP, as there’s nearly a 100-point gap between his xBA (.244) and actual average (.338). Still, while his batting mark is sure to drop significantly, he should still provide a dynamic power/speed combo and he’s also going to score plenty of runs now that he seems to have locked down San Diego’s leadoff spot ... Speaking of locking down the leadoff spot, Kevin Newman has appeared to have done that for the Pirates. Interestingly, the former first-round pick stole three bases last week after managing just one steal in his first 38 games this season. Newman stole 28 bases at Triple-A last season and ranks in the top third of the league in sprint speed, so it’s possible this isn’t a mirage. The 25-year-old pounds the ball into the ground and his 25 percent hard-hit rate is in the bottom five percent of the league, so he’s sure to provide little-to-no power. However, Newman doesn’t strike out (13.6 percent) and has potential on the basepaths, so there might be some three-category potential here ...

Outfield

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Charlie Blackmon	COL	OF	5.14333	4.98553	-0.42516	6.18997	4.21524	20.11
#2	Ian Desmond	COL	OF	2.19999	4.17731	-0.42516	3.39789	2.38264	11.73
#3	Ketel Marte	ARZ	OF	4.16222	0.94443	-0.42516	2.97726	3.75709	11.42
#4	Scott Kingery	PHI	OF	3.18110	2.15676	-0.42516	2.87514	1.92449	9.71
#5	Ronald Acuna	ATL	OF	1.21888	1.34854	1.21607	2.95821	2.84079	9.58
#6	Hunter Renfroe	SD	OF	4.16222	2.15676	-0.42516	1.23068	1.92449	9.05
#7	Whit Merrifield	KC	OF	0.23776	0.54032	4.49852	1.77249	1.00819	8.06
#8	Christian Yelich	MLW	OF	1.21888	0.54032	2.85730	1.51111	1.46634	7.59
#9	Trey Mancini	BAL	OF	2.19999	0.54032	1.21607	2.05291	1.46634	7.48
#10	Kevin Pillar	SF	OF	1.21888	0.94443	2.85730	1.40900	1.00819	7.44

Charlie Blackmon set a major league record over the weekend with a whopping 15 hits in the Rockies’ series against the Padres, as he went deep four times, plated 10 runs and scored nine runs. The star outfielder had a homestand for the ages, going 21-for-37 with six bombs, 15 RBI and 12 runs. Blackmon hasn’t stolen a base since April and it’s looking like even double-digit steals might be a stretch this season. However, the soon-to-be 33-year-old has been as good as ever at the plate ... Blackmon wasn’t the only Rockie that had a monster homestand, as Ian Desmond went 13-for-26 with three dingers, 13 RBI and eight runs. Like Blackmon, Desmond isn’t running anymore, as he finally notched his first stolen base of the season just prior to the aforementioned homestand. However, after seeing his groundball rates soar the last few years, Desmond has finally added some loft to his swing this season and he’s also sporting a 49.3 percent hard-hit rate that ranks in the top eight percent of the league. It’s tough to know what to make of Desmond moving forward, as his profile looks totally different now than it did coming into the season. That’s mostly a good thing, although it sure would be nice to see him start running again ... Saying that Ketel Marte has experienced a power breakout this season would be an understatement. The 25-year-old has gone deep six times over his last eight tilts, pushing his total for the season to 20, which is just two shy of the number of homers he had in his career coming into 2019. Marte has upped his hard-hit rate (42 percent) and launch angle (11.2 degrees) significantly while maintaining his elite contact rate (15.5 percent strikeout rate). The pace will surely slow, but the breakthrough looks largely legitimate ... Scott Kingery put together an 11-for-22 week at the plate, homering four times while driving in eight runs and scoring seven. His OPS for the season sits at a shiny 1.049, and he even batted third for the Phillies on Sunday. Kingery’s 25.4 percent strikeout rate and 4.6 percent walk rate aren’t ideal, and it remains to be seen whether his pull-heavy approach (55.1 percent) will work over the long haul. He’s also attempted just three stolen bases all season, and while I think he’s capable of being a steals asset, I worry whether he’ll be given the green light on a Gabe Kapler-managed team. That said, while there’s some obvious regression coming here, Kingery looks to have nailed down an everyday role at this point and there’s no doubt he has some power/speed upside ...