Fantasy Baseball: Top 10 sleeper hitters for Week 9 include a red-hot Matt Adams, Adam Frazier, soon-to-be-hot Justin Smoak
Matt Adams has made a strong first impression in Atlanta and has the matchups to keep it going. Scott White shares his favorite sleeper hitters for Fantasy Week 9 (May 29-June 4).
With a disproportionate number of left-handed pitchers on the DL, the ratio of lefties to righties has been skewed to the point that eight teams -- the Braves, Cubs, Reds, Dodgers, Twins, Mets, Athletics and Rangers -- are projected to face nothing but righties this week.
Chances are that'll change. Between rainouts, new injuries and sudden injury returnees, starting rotations are constantly in flux, and so projecting them for eight teams, much less all 30, more than a week out is an exercise in futility. But no matter how it shakes out, those eight teams -- as well as several others -- will be facing a lot of right-handed pitchers this week, which naturally means something to their hitters.
We'll be leaning heavily on splits with this group of sleeper hitters, which are as always chosen from those owned in less than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
Not only do the Blue Jays have good matchups against the Reds and Yankees rotations this week, but the possibility of facing three lefties (a rarity in the game right now) plays right into Justin Smoak's strengths. He's also batting .303 with a 1.038 OPS at home, where all seven games will take place.
Max Kepler is one of those hitters who'll get to feast on nothing but righties, against whom he's batting .305 with a .941 OPS. He's also one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now and gets to face some of the worst the Astros and Angels have to offer.
Speaking of hot hitters, Devon Travis has already had an insane month of May, setting the team record for doubles by a second baseman, and still has more correction ahead, judging by his .277 BABIP. He'll enjoy those same matchups Smoak has.
Injuries and matchups have led to some inconsistent playing time for David Peralta of late, but with only one lefty on tap, he should start six of the Diamondbacks' seven games this week while facing a bunch of rascals like Trevor Williams, Chad Kuhl, Jose Urena, Edinson Volquez and Vance Worley.
Matt Adams has taken to life as the Braves' primary first baseman, homering twice in his first three games with the new club, and though the left-handed slugger will be away from SunTrust Park this week, he'll be facing all righties and none of them good.
Jed Lowrie plays for one of the teams with the five worst matchups this week, which would normally eliminate him from consideration here, but he needs some love as a top-six second baseman with a 24 percent ownership rate. And yes, he's one of those hitters who'll enjoy a full slate of righties, batting .315 with a .937 OPS against them.
With Jacoby Ellsbury on the concussion DL, Aaron Hicks has no impediments to full-time at-bats, which means we'll get to see just how legitimate his part-time numbers are. At 59 percent ownership, he seems like a worthy gamble.
Those six righties I mentioned for Matt Adams? Specifically, they're Ricky Nolasco, Daniel Wright, Jesse Chavez, Bronson Arroyo, Scott Feldman and Lisalverto Bonilla. No reason to think that group is going to slow Brandon Phillips down.
Jason Heyward has hit safely in all five games since returning from a sprained finger, even launching a couple home runs. The Cubs' matchups are nothing special this week, but there isn't a right-hander among them, which should allow him to keep building momentum.
Adam Frazier is the highest-scoring hitter in Head-to-Head points leagues over the last week, and since he's 37 percent owned and dual eligible (second base and outfield), it'd be crazy not to include him here. You shouldn't get used to him providing home runs, though -- he's more of a singles hitter, albeit in large quantities -- and his matchups this week are merely so-so.
