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Hitters need loving, too.
While streaming two-start pitchers is a great way to win your league, targeting hot batters with friendly matchups is just as beneficial for fantasy owners. Of course, it’s a lot more difficult to project how well they will do, but that’s all part of the game, folks.
Colby Rasmus, Toronto Blue Jays (vs LAA, vs CLE, @TEX)- This is Colby Rasmus, and this is what he does. He’ll have that one month where he will mash like 10 or 11 home runs, and then will disappear for a period of time. But when he mashes, he absolutely mashes. Rasmus has belted five home runs in Week 6 alone, and over the last week, he is batting .370 with three homers, eight RBI and six runs. Toronto’s offense has caught serious fire as of late, and while he is going to regress, I think Rasmus may have another good week in him. I like his matchup against the Rangers, where he’ll play in a homer-friendly park against a guy like Colby Lewis, who is surrendering 1.44 homers per nine this year. And for his career, Rasmus has two doubles and five homers in seven career games in Arlington. The pop may last another week.
George Springer, Houston Astros (vs TEX, vs CWS)- It took a little longer than many were hoping, but Springer has sprung. The Astros top prospect is batting .318 with 2 home runs, three RBI and five runs over the last eight days. Lately he has cut his strikeouts, which was his biggest concern during his time in the minors. He has some of the best matchups this week against a White Sox team that is surrendering the third-most runs per game this year (5.05). All of his games are at home and half of them are against left-handed pitching.
Ike Davis, Pittsburgh Pirates (@MIL, @NYY)- Davis may return to mixed league relevance this week, as the Pirates play in two homer-friendly stadiums, but one series is an interleague one against the Yankees, meaning whether he is a designated hitter or at first, he’ll be playing everyday. Left-handed bats are very appealing with that short porch in Yankee Stadium, and over his last 11 plate appearances at the venue, Davis is batting .364 with a double and three RBI. He’ll also face two righties in David Phelps and Hiroki Kuroda. He’s worth a look if you are in a pinch.
C.J. Cron, Los Angeles Angels (@PHI, @TOR, vs TB)- Cron has been an interesting name as of late. In his first 24 at-bats this year, the rookie is batting .417 with a homer, three doubles and two runs. He’s been in the Angels lineup during whenever they face a lefty, and in Week 7, they will face five lefties. During his time in the minors last year, Cron posted a slash line of .328/.392.596 against left-handed pitching. It also helps that he is batting toward the middle of the Angels lineup and he’ll play in Philadelphia and Toronto, two hitter-friendly ballparks.
Adam Pfeifer is a featured fantasy sports columnist for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @aPfeiferRS.
