Hot Hitter Rundown: May 13

Best two-start pitchers

Robbie Ray of the Diamondbacks and Kyle Gibson of the Twins are just a few of the two-start pitching options this week in fantasy baseball.

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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 May 6-12.

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	Robinson Chirinos	HOU	C	1.47030	1.26215	-0.43993	0.94486	1.43726	4.67
#2	Mitch Garver	MIN	C	1.47030	1.26215	-0.43993	1.33297	0.89635	4.52
#3	James McCann	CWS	C	0.35884	0.33604	-0.43993	2.37285	1.43726	4.07
#4	Omar Narvaez	SEA	C	1.47030	0.79910	-0.43993	0.83511	0.35545	3.02
#5	Yadier Molina	STL	C	0.35884	0.79910	-0.43993	1.37713	0.89635	2.99
#6	Jason Castro	MIN	C	1.47030	0.79910	-0.43993	1.17906	-0.18545	2.82
#7	Chris Iannetta	COL	C	0.35884	0.33604	-0.43993	0.79095	-0.18545	.86
#8	Willson Contreras	CHC	C	0.35884	0.33604	-0.43993	0.47644	-0.18545	.55
#9	Carson Kelly	ARZ	C	0.35884	-0.12701	-0.43993	1.06932	-0.72636	.13
#10	Sandy Leon	BOS	C	0.35884	0.33604	-0.43993	0.54202	-0.72636	.07

Robinson Chirinos not only popped a couple home runs last week, he also got on base at a .579 clip thanks to six walks. The catcher’s robust 14.3 percent walk rate would be a career high, and he’s also striking out a little less this season. I was a bit worried coming into the year that Chirinos might have to split playing time with Max Stassi pretty evenly, but Chirinos has started over twice as many games (28 to 13) … Yadier Molina’s .277/.301/.412 batting line for the season isn’t much to get excited about, but he leads all catchers with 27 RBI. He’s been a top-five fantasy catcher again so far in 2019, as the 36-year-old continues to be a steady stats-compiler because he plays so much … Molina’s former understudy, Carson Kelly, has slugged his first two major league home runs this month while going 7-for-18 at the plate. Unfortunately, he’s started just five games and he figures to have even less of a share of the job with Alex Avila back from the injured list. It will be difficult for Kelly to churn out fantasy value with so few plate appearances, but perhaps he’ll play his way into more …

First Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Josh Bell	PIT	1B	1.47030	3.11436	-0.43993	2.77569	1.43726	8.36
#2	Mitch Moreland	BOS	1B	2.58176	2.65131	-0.43993	0.69593	1.43726	6.93
#3	Max Muncy	LA	1B	0.35884	0.79910	3.18299	0.86456	0.89635	6.10
#4	C.J. Cron	MIN	1B	2.58176	1.72520	-0.43993	1.76525	0.35545	5.99
#5	Yuli Gurriel	HOU	1B	0.35884	0.33604	-0.43993	2.52676	1.97816	4.76
#6	Tyler Austin	SF	1B	1.47030	2.65131	-0.43993	-0.08030	0.35545	3.96
#7	Paul Goldschmidt	STL	1B	0.35884	0.79910	-0.43993	1.64078	1.43726	3.80
#8	Brandon Dixon	DET	1B	1.47030	0.79910	-0.43993	0.95958	0.89635	3.69
#9	Anthony Rizzo	CHC	1B	1.47030	0.79910	-0.43993	0.72537	0.35545	2.91
#10	Pete Alonso	NYM	1B	1.47030	1.26215	-0.43993	-0.31451	0.89635	2.87

Josh Bell keyed a comeback win for the Pirates over the Cardinals on Sunday with a big three-run home run and the first baseman wound up reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. He’s sporting a 1.423 OPS with four long balls and 12 RBI across his last eight games. Bell is swinging at more pitches this season and striking out a little more, but he’s also posted a career-high flyball rate (37.7 percent) and ranks fifth in baseball with 94.6 mph average exit velocity … The biggest question I had about Max Muncy coming into the season wasn’t whether his breakout last year was for real, it’s whether he would be an everyday player. I’m no longer concerned. Muncy has started all but one game so far this month, including five of six against lefties. He’s hit the same number of homers this season versus southpaws as he has against righties and has done so in over 50 fewer plate appearances. Muncy’s batted ball data is also virtually unchanged from last year … C.J. Cron wasn’t really a big part of the Twins’ dynamic offense for the first month of the season, but he’s gotten his act together of late with four dingers and a 1.133 OPS over his last eight contests. The 29-year-old has been a staple in the No. 5 spot in the lineup even when he wasn’t swinging the bat well, which is promising for his RBI prospects moving forward … Yuli Gurriel posted a lowly .650 OPS in his first 29 games this season and was looking like he needed to be benched. But, sure enough, he’s come on strong lately, going 15-for-33 with two of his three long balls across his previous eight tilts. Gurriel’s flyball rate is up (38.6 percent), so perhaps he’ll start finding those Crawford Boxes more often …

Second Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Whit Merrifield	KC	2B	0.35884	1.26215	1.37153	0.60091	0.35545	3.95
#2	DJ LeMahieu	NYY	2B	0.35884	0.79910	-0.43993	2.27783	0.89635	3.89
#3	Dee Gordon	SEA	2B	0.35884	-0.12701	1.37153	1.84555	-0.18545	3.26
#4	Mike Moustakas	MLW	2B	0.35884	1.26215	1.37153	-1.04657	0.89635	2.84
#5	Aledmys Diaz	HOU	2B	0.35884	2.18825	-0.43993	0.32253	0.35545	2.79
#6	Tommy La Stella	LAA	2B	1.47030	0.79910	-0.43993	0.55674	0.35545	2.74
#7	Jurickson Profar	OAK	2B	1.47030	1.26215	-0.43993	-0.54872	0.89635	2.64
#8	Cesar Hernandez	PHI	2B	0.35884	1.26215	-0.43993	1.09876	0.35545	2.64
#9	Joe Panik	SF	2B	-0.75261	0.33604	1.37153	1.61134	-0.18545	2.38
#10	Jonathan Villar	BAL	2B	0.35884	0.79910	1.37153	-0.67318	0.35545	2.21

Whit Merrifield is on the top of this list on the strength of one monster game last week during which he fell a double shy of the cycle while driving in five runs, scoring three more and stealing a base. The 30-year-old is already halfway toward last season’s home run total with his six bombs, and he’s benefitted from the Royals’ offense being better than expected by already scoring 30 runs … I didn’t think the Yankees’ signing of DJ LeMahieu made much sense at the time, but he’s been a huge reason why they’ve played well in spite of a rash of injuries. Over the previous 14 contests, LeMahieu is sporting a ridiculous .426/.467/.556 batting line with one home run, 11 RBI and two stolen bases. Each of his last 17 starts have come out of the leadoff spot, so he should be a good bet for runs scored moving forward in addition to a nice average … I had some concern that Mike Moustakas would be so bad at second base that he’d ultimately lose a good amount of playing time. However, his D at the keystone hasn’t been as awful as expected and he’s been so much better than Travis Shaw offensively that it’s really a moot point, anyway. Moose easily set a new career high with a 41.2 percent hard-hit rate last season and it’s been up a tick so far this year at 41.7 percent …

Third Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Justin Turner	LA	3B	4.80467	3.57741	-0.43993	2.13864	3.05996	13.14
#2	Eugenio Suarez	CIN	3B	2.58176	1.26215	1.37153	2.41701	4.14177	11.77
#3	Kris Bryant	CHC	3B	3.69322	2.18825	-0.43993	0.98902	3.60087	10.03
#4	Rafael Devers	BOS	3B	0.35884	2.18825	1.37153	3.03934	0.89635	7.85
#5	Pablo Sandoval	SF	3B	1.47030	1.26215	1.37153	1.20851	0.89635	6.21
#6	Yoan Moncada	CWS	3B	0.35884	1.72520	3.18299	-0.16060	0.35545	5.46
#7	Alex Bregman	HOU	3B	2.58176	2.65131	-0.43993	0.21279	0.35545	5.36
#8	Nolan Arenado	COL	3B	0.35884	1.72520	-0.43993	1.73581	1.43726	4.82
#9	Yandy Diaz	TB	3B	1.47030	0.79910	-0.43993	0.86456	1.97816	4.67
#10	Gio Urshela	NYY	3B	0.35884	3.11436	-0.43993	1.23795	0.35545	4.63

Justin Turner entered last week with just one long ball on the season. He now has six following a five-homer week that included his first-ever three-homer game. Turner’s 51.3 percent hard-hit rate ranks 12^th in baseball. The only real question with Turner is whether he can stay healthy, as he’s averaged fewer than 120 games played over the last two campaigns … Eugenio Suarez has been scorching-hot over his last nine games with a .368/.429/.868 batting line, five home runs and 10 RBI. He’s not all that far behind Turner with a 47.2 percent hard-hit rate and his 40.6 percent flyball rate would be a full-season high … It’s been an interesting season for Rafael Devers. The good news is that he’s made huge strides with his plate discipline, cutting his strikeout rate all the way down to 14.1 percent while upping his walk rate to 10.6 percent. He’s also hitting the ball really hard with a 92.3 mph average exit velocity that ranks 27^th in baseball. The bad news is a lot of those hard-hit balls are going into the ground, as his flyball rate is just 24.6 percent. Devers is also struggling versus lefties again with a .660 OPS. The 22-year-old’s flyball rate is at 31 percent over his last 16 games during which he’s posted a 1.087 OPS, so hopefully that mark will continue to tick upward. Certainly, it’s been an encouraging start for Devers overall …

Shortstop

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Tim Anderson	CWS	SS	1.47030	1.72520	1.37153	0.98902	0.89635	6.45
#2	Jorge Polanco	MIN	SS	1.47030	1.72520	-0.43993	2.40229	0.89635	6.05
#3	Adalberto Mondesi	KC	SS	0.35884	0.33604	4.99446	-0.42425	0.35545	5.62
#4	Elvis Andrus	TEX	SS	0.35884	-0.12701	3.18299	0.74009	1.43726	5.59
#5	Andrelton Simmons	LAA	SS	-0.75261	0.79910	1.37153	2.77569	0.89635	5.09
#6	Trevor Story	COL	SS	0.35884	0.33604	1.37153	0.72537	1.97816	4.77
#7	Carlos Correa	HOU	SS	1.47030	0.79910	-0.43993	1.11348	1.43726	4.38
#8	Francisco Lindor	CLE	SS	-0.75261	-0.12701	3.18299	1.77997	-0.18545	3.90
#9	Xander Bogaerts	BOS	SS	0.35884	0.79910	-0.43993	0.08833	2.51906	3.33
#10	Ronny Rodriguez	DET	SS	1.47030	1.72520	-0.43993	-0.54872	0.35545	2.56

President of Team Bat Flip, Tim Anderson went deep twice this past weekend and has also added to his gaudy stolen base total with a couple thefts over his last eight games. Statcast has never really liked Anderson and it’s been no different this season, as he’s sporting just an 88.5 mph average exit velocity and 26.8 percent hard-hit rate that ranks 168^th out of 174 qualifiers. The average will undoubtedly fall when that .375 BABIP normalizes, although Anderson’s strikeout rate is down significantly to 20.1 percent so perhaps the bottom won’t fall out … There have been seven 5+ hit games this season and Jorge Polanco has two of them after he fell a triple shy of his second cycle in a contest this past week. Polanco has put up a 43.5 percent hard-hit rate and 50.4 percent flyball rate, so if anything his home run total of seven is a bit disappointing (his HR/FB rate is just 11.5 percent). He’s also yet to steal a base and has somehow driven in only 17 runs despite a 1.000 OPS as the No. 2 hitter on one of the best offenses in the league … Elvis Andrus’ home run on Sunday gave him six for the season, matching his total from last year’s injury-shortened campaign. He also had a two-steal game last week to push his season total to eight. Andrus is miscast as a No. 3 hitter, but his fantasy owners aren’t going to complain …

Outfield

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	George Springer	HOU	OF	4.80467	3.57741	-0.43993	3.81556	4.14177	15.90
#2	Charlie Blackmon	COL	OF	3.69322	1.26215	-0.43993	1.61134	3.60087	9.73
#3	Yasiel Puig	CIN	OF	1.47030	1.26215	4.99446	0.35198	1.43726	9.52
#4	Gregory Polanco	PIT	OF	1.47030	2.65131	-0.43993	2.12392	1.97816	7.78
#5	Eddie Rosario	MIN	OF	1.47030	2.18825	1.37153	0.86456	1.43726	7.33
#6	Charlie Tilson	CWS	OF	-0.75261	-0.12701	4.99446	1.50160	1.43726	7.05
#7	Hunter Renfroe	SD	OF	2.58176	0.79910	1.37153	0.60091	0.89635	6.25
#8	Avisail Garcia	TB	OF	1.47030	0.79910	1.37153	1.09876	1.43726	6.18
#9	Mike Trout	LAA	OF	1.47030	1.26215	1.37153	0.07361	1.97816	6.16
#10	Domingo Santana	SEA	OF	1.47030	1.72520	-0.43993	1.37713	1.43726	5.57

George Springer hit another leadoff home run on Sunday and he was only just getting started, as he finished the afternoon with a pair of dingers as part of a 5-for-5 day that included five runs scored. The 29-year-old now leads the American League in home runs (15), runs scored (35) and even RBI (37) despite the fact that he’s the Astros’ leadoff hitter. Also notable is that he’s 4-for-5 in stolen base attempts this season, which is a huge improvement considering that he didn’t reach double-digit steals in any of his last three campaigns and was caught stealing more than he was successful during that span … Charlie Blackmon had a .567 OPS and failed to homer in his first 17 games of the season, which sent his fantasy owners into panic mode. As it turns out, he just needed some games at Coors Field (shocking, I know). The Rockies had just four home games during the aforementioned 17-game stretch, but they’ve been in Denver for 15 of their last 21 contests and Blackmon has put up a ridiculous .374/.447/.791 line with eight long balls, 19 RBI and 23 runs scored over that span. If there’s a downer it’s that Blackmon has stolen just two bases so far, and it’s fair to wonder if he’ll ever be an asset there again since his running has tapered off over the years … Speaking of slow starts, Yasiel Puig posted an ugly .178/.211/.327 batting line and 30/5 K/BB ratio in his first 29 tilts as a Red. The Wild Horse has been unleashed since then, though, with a 1.012 OPS, three bombs, seven RBI, four steals and a 7/5 K/BB ratio across his last 10 games. Also worth pointing out is that the Reds have played just 17 games at home so far versus 24 games on the road. Puig has an .869 OPS at Great American Ball Park in 2019 as opposed to a .533 OPS away from his friendly home confines … Charlie Tilson earned a spot back on the White Sox’ 40-man and active roster following a hot start at Triple-A Charlotte. He’s carried that over with the big club, going 9-for-25 at the plate and 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts over his first seven contests. Tilson is a speed-only guy and I have doubts that he’ll hit enough to take advantage of that speed. That said, he’s been in the lineup each of the last seven games and is worth a deep league dart throw if you need stolen base help …