Hot Hitter Rundown: September 23

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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 September 16-22.

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Catcher

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Christian Vazquez	BOS	C	0.49930	0.97293	1.46497	0.66825	1.03536	4.64
#2	Yadier Molina	STL	C	0.49930	0.47813	1.46497	1.26323	-0.06560	3.64
#3	Mitch Garver	MIN	C	0.49930	0.47813	-0.38905	0.09769	1.58584	2.27
#4	Yan Gomes	WAS	C	-0.69039	-0.01666	1.46497	1.49966	-0.06560	2.19
#5	Stephen Vogt	SF	C	0.49930	1.46773	-0.38905	-0.31801	0.48488	1.74
#6	Omar Narvaez	SEA	C	0.49930	-0.01666	-0.38905	1.45082	-0.06560	1.48
#7	Bryan Holaday	MIA	C	0.49930	-0.01666	-0.38905	1.27154	-0.06560	1.30
#8	Kevan Smith	LAA	C	0.49930	0.97293	-0.38905	0.51340	-0.61608	.98
#9	James McCann	CWS	C	0.49930	-0.01666	-0.38905	0.79868	-0.06560	.83
#10	J.T. Realmuto	PHI	C	-0.69039	-0.51146	1.46497	-0.16316	0.48488	.58

Christian Vazquez hasn’t been as productive in the second half as he was in the first half, but he’s trying to close strong. Over his last eight contests, Vazquez has gone 10-for-27 with three long balls and 10 RBI while also chipping in a stolen base. He was even used up in the No. 2 spot in the Red Sox’ lineup a couple times last week. After entering 2019 with 10 career home runs, Vazquez has smacked 22 dingers this season … Yadier Molina had a big game-tying home run off of Craig Kimbrel on Saturday as part of the Cardinals’ shocking four-game sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He’s batted fifth in each of his last two games. Molina has started 36 of 40 games since returning from the injured list last month … Yan Gomes has had to carry a heavier workload lately with Kurt Suzuki (elbow) banged up. He’s taken advantage of the extra playing time with his best month at the plate so far this season, posting an .804 OPS with four home runs …

First Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Pete Alonso	NYM	1B	2.87870	1.96252	-0.38905	1.36924	2.68679	8.51
#2	Carlos Santana	CLE	1B	-0.69039	0.97293	-0.38905	2.72236	2.68679	5.30
#3	Mitch Moreland	BOS	1B	2.87870	1.96252	-0.38905	-0.29359	1.03536	5.19
#4	Yuli Gurriel	HOU	1B	1.68900	0.47813	-0.38905	1.03511	1.03536	3.85
#5	Seth Mejias-Brean	SD	1B	1.68900	1.46773	-0.38905	0.88026	-0.06560	3.58
#6	Eric Thames	MLW	1B	1.68900	0.47813	-0.38905	0.12212	1.58584	3.49
#7	Christian Walker	ARZ	1B	0.49930	0.47813	-0.38905	1.18996	1.58584	3.36
#8	Aledmys Diaz	HOU	1B	0.49930	0.47813	-0.38905	1.71167	1.03536	3.34
#9	Howie Kendrick	WAS	1B	0.49930	-0.51146	-0.38905	2.69794	1.03536	3.33
#10	Cheslor Cuthbert	KC	1B	0.49930	1.46773	-0.38905	1.01069	-0.61608	1.97

Pete Alonso entered last week hitless over his previous six games. However, he took advantage of six contests at Coors Field and Great American Ball Park, belting three over the boards while putting up a 1.271 OPS. The three dingers pushed Alonso’s total for the season to a league-high 50, and with a double on Sunday he became the first rookie ever to hit 50 homers and 30 doubles. The first baseman needs two long balls this week to tie and three to break Aaron Judge’s rookie home run record of 52 … Mitch Moreland had his first multi-homer game of the season on Friday and followed it up with another bomb on Sunday. It’s been an injury-shortened season for the 34-year-old, but Moreland’s recent surge has his OPS up to .820, which would be his highest mark since his rookie season when he played in only 47 games … Eric Thames had been scuffling at the plate with just a .486 OPS across his previous 12 tilts before breaking out of the funk with his first two-homer game of the season on Sunday. Thames has put up a .935 OPS and hit 14 of his 23 home runs at Miller Park this season. He has posted just a .766 OPS on the road …

Second Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Garrett Hampson	COL	2B	1.68900	0.97293	7.02701	1.76052	2.13632	13.59
#2	Cavan Biggio	TOR	2B	1.68900	2.95212	3.31898	2.48593	2.68679	13.13
#3	Jonathan Villar	BAL	2B	1.68900	-0.01666	5.17300	-0.08989	2.13632	8.89
#4	Shed Long	SEA	2B	1.68900	1.46773	-0.38905	2.74678	2.13632	7.65
#5	DJ LeMahieu	NYY	2B	1.68900	1.96252	-0.38905	1.34481	1.58584	6.19
#6	Starlin Castro	MIA	2B	1.68900	1.46773	-0.38905	1.78494	1.58584	6.14
#7	Keston Hiura	MLW	2B	1.68900	0.97293	-0.38905	0.53782	1.03536	3.85
#8	Adeiny Hechavarria	ATL	2B	0.49930	0.47813	-0.38905	1.16554	1.03536	2.79
#9	Tyler Wade	NYY	2B	0.49930	-0.01666	1.46497	0.59498	-0.06560	2.48
#10	Gavin Lux	LA	2B	-0.69039	-0.01666	1.46497	0.22812	1.03536	2.02

Garrett Hampson is going to be considered a fantasy bust this season no matter how he closes out his year. However, it’s good to see him gain some late-season momentum with a .421/.463/.711 batting line, three home runs and five stolen bases across his last 10 contests. He’s started games at three different positions during that stretch and batted leadoff on Saturday and second on Sunday for the Rockies. Hampson looks like a fine pick-up for the final week of the season, particularly if you’re light on speed … Since taking over as the Mariners’ leadoff hitter, Shed Long has put up a blistering .396/.431/.708 batting line with three bombs and eight RBI over 11 games. The 24-year-old looks like a good bet to open next season as a regular for the M’s at this point, whether it be at second base or in the outfield (or both). One downer for Long’s fantasy outlook is that he hasn’t run nearly as much this year, having gone just 4-for-10 in stolen base attempts between the majors and minors … Starlin Castro had seemed like a shoo-in to be traded before the deadline, but he was hitting so poorly at the time that there was no interest. Of course, since the beginning of August he’s put up a .964 OPS with 13 dingers, 40 RBI and 35 runs scored over 49 games. The upside is capped because he doesn’t run and is in a terrible lineup, but Castro can still help fantasy owners in the final week while he’s red-hot …

Third Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Miguel Sano	MIN	3B	4.06840	4.43651	-0.38905	1.39366	2.13632	11.65
#2	Tommy Edman	STL	3B	0.49930	-0.01666	3.31898	2.61636	2.68679	9.10
#3	Yoan Moncada	CWS	3B	0.49930	1.46773	-0.38905	3.16249	1.03536	5.78
#4	Rafael Devers	BOS	3B	1.68900	1.46773	-0.38905	-0.08989	1.58584	4.26
#5	Alex Bregman	HOU	3B	2.87870	0.97293	-0.38905	-0.03274	0.48488	3.91
#6	Eduardo Escobar	ARZ	3B	0.49930	0.97293	-0.38905	1.10838	1.03536	3.23
#7	Nolan Arenado	COL	3B	0.49930	-0.01666	1.46497	1.08396	-0.06560	2.97
#8	David Fletcher	LAA	3B	0.49930	-0.01666	-0.38905	1.39366	1.03536	2.52
#9	Dawel Lugo	DET	3B	0.49930	-0.01666	-0.38905	1.63009	0.48488	2.21
#10	Brad Miller	PHI	3B	1.68900	-0.01666	-0.38905	0.22812	0.48488	2.00

Miguel Sano can pile up power numbers with the best of them when he’s in a groove at the plate, and it’s been that way lately with six long balls and a whopping 16 RBI across his previous nine tilts. He’s up to 33 home runs on the season over just 424 plate appearances. Only Jorge Soler and teammate Nelson Cruz have gone deep more times since the All-Star break among American Leaguers than Sano, who has 20 bombs since the Midsummer Classic … Tommy Edman has slid over to second base and up to the No. 2 spot in the Cardinals’ lineup with Kolten Wong (hamstring) going down. The rookie is sporting a robust .417/.488/.833 batting line with three home runs, five RBI, 10 runs scored and three steals across his last 10 contests. Edman’s .820 OPS is the highest mark on a team that clinched a spot in the postseason on Sunday … Mike Trout (foot) is almost surely still going to win AL MVP even after missing most of September, but Alex Bregman is doing his best to make it a conversation. The infielder has homered four times over his last seven games and is now batting an utterly ridiculous .373/.480/.745 with 13 dingers, 45 RBI and 40 runs scored across 45 games since the start of August. The only bummer with Bregman is that, just like pretty much all of the Astros, he’s stopped running. Bregman has attempted only six steals in 2019 after reaching double digits in swipes each of the previous two seasons …

Shortstop

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Corey Seager	LA	SS	1.68900	2.45732	-0.38905	2.85279	1.58584	8.20
#2	Marcus Semien	OAK	SS	1.68900	1.96252	-0.38905	2.61636	1.58584	7.46
#3	Adalberto Mondesi	KC	SS	-0.69039	1.46773	7.02701	-0.37517	-0.06560	7.36
#4	Trea Turner	WAS	SS	1.68900	0.47813	3.31898	0.17096	1.58584	7.24
#5	Tim Anderson	CWS	SS	1.68900	0.47813	1.46497	1.78494	1.03536	6.45
#6	Amed Rosario	NYM	SS	1.68900	1.46773	1.46497	0.82310	-0.06560	5.38
#7	Jon Berti	MIA	SS	-0.69039	1.46773	1.46497	0.66825	0.48488	3.40
#8	Francisco Lindor	CLE	SS	-0.69039	-0.01666	1.46497	0.14654	2.13632	3.04
#9	Carlos Correa	HOU	SS	1.68900	0.47813	-0.38905	0.33413	0.48488	2.60
#10	Trevor Story	COL	SS	0.49930	0.47813	1.46497	0.66825	-0.61608	2.49

As if the Dodgers weren’t already dangerous enough, it’s looking like Corey Seager is finally getting his bat going at just the right time. The shortstop has tallied six straight multi-hit games and is batting .300/.329/.614 with six long balls, 21 RBI and 13 runs scored across 18 tilts this month. He had gone deep only five times over the previous three months combined … I was among those worried about how not being allowed to dive head-first was going to affect Adalberto Mondesi’s (shoulder) stolen base total upon his return. It turns out that he can still swipe plenty of bags feet-first, as the speedster stole 12 bases over his first 20 games this month. Unfortunately, he re-injured his left shoulder Sunday on a dive at shortstop, which will knock him out of commission for the final week … Speaking of stolen bases, Trea Turner is up to 34 on the season now after pilfering a couple bags last week. Turner undoubtedly would be on his way to leading the National League in steals again this season had he not missed over six weeks of action earlier this year with a fractured finger …

Outfield

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Oscar Mercado	CLE	OF	2.87870	3.44692	3.31898	0.56225	3.23727	13.44
#2	Eloy Jimenez	CWS	OF	2.87870	2.95212	-0.38905	2.90164	2.13632	10.48
#3	Sam Hilliard	COL	OF	4.06840	1.96252	-0.38905	2.95879	1.03536	9.64
#4	Trey Mancini	BAL	OF	1.68900	3.94171	-0.38905	3.16249	1.03536	9.44
#5	Cody Bellinger	LA	OF	1.68900	1.96252	3.31898	0.12212	2.13632	9.23
#6	Austin Dean	MIA	OF	1.68900	2.45732	-0.38905	1.21439	2.68679	7.66
#7	Ronald Acuna	ATL	OF	1.68900	0.97293	1.46497	1.18996	2.13632	7.45
#8	Bryce Harper	PHI	OF	1.68900	1.96252	1.46497	1.21439	1.03536	7.37
#9	Yasiel Puig	CLE	OF	-0.69039	2.45732	1.46497	3.42335	0.48488	7.14
#10	Jeff McNeil	NYM	OF	2.87870	1.46773	-0.38905	0.97795	2.13632	7.07

Oscar Mercado really struggled in August as some of the shine started to come off of his sparkling rookie campaign. However, he’s since rebounded with his best month yet, batting .325/.393/.584 with four dingers, 16 RBI, 15 runs scored and three stolen bases over 20 games so far in September. Between the majors and minors, Mercado has now belted 18 home runs and stolen 29 bases this season … It’s difficult for a 30-homer season from a 22-year-old rookie to be overlooked, but it kind of feels that way this year with Eloy Jimenez. The talented young outfielder is closing out his rookie campaign with his best month, as he has posted a 1.160 OPS with eight long balls and 23 RBI over 20 September games so far. The consistency hasn’t been there, but Jimenez has certainly flashed his immense upside this season … Sam Hilliard entered last week in an ugly 1-for-23 drought at the dish, but he snapped out of that funk in a major way with nine hits – including four home runs – over 15 at-bats covering five games. Hilliard earned a promotion by popping 35 home runs and stealing 22 bases at Triple-A Albuquerque, but while he’s slugged six more bombs in the majors he has yet to attempt a stolen base … Cody Bellinger is likely the NL MVP front-runner after Christian Yelich (kneecap) went down, and he strengthened his case last week with a 1.018 OPS, two home runs and two stolen bases. Along with reaching 40 home runs for the first time, Bellinger has also tied a career high with 14 steals. It remains incredibly impressive that the 24-year-old has put up these numbers while also slashing his strikeout rate to 16.5 percent and upping his walk rate to 14.5 percent …