Sleeper hitters for Week 14 (June 22-28)
While Paul Goldschmidt might be the most under-rostered hitter in Fantasy right now, having reclaimed an everyday role while batting .333 with six home runs and a .970 OPS so far in June, it's hard to look past a schedule that ranks the second-worst for hitters this week. The reason I'm willing to do so is that there are five left-handers on it, and Goldschmidt has hit lefties to the tune of a .386 (27 for 70) batting average and 1.219 OPS this year.
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You wouldn't know it from his overall numbers, but Alec Bohm has been about as effective as he ever has over his past 38 games, batting .298 (42 for 141) with eight home runs and an .855 OPS. He's primed to take advantage of the most hitter-friendly schedule this week, which includes four games against the Nationals pitching staff.
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Lars Nootbaar has throttled the ball to the tune of 94.9 mph average exit velocity since coming back from dual heel surgery while continuing to walk at his usual high rate. He should be able to convert that into success with the second-best hitter schedule this week, particularly since only one of the opposing pitchers throws left-handed.
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Mauricio Dubon has continued to play a Swiss army knife role for the Braves and has been particularly productive in June, batting .310 (18 for 58) with four home runs in his past 15 games. The Braves just missed being among the five best hitter matchups this week, scheduled to face pitchers such as Griffin Canning, Randy Vasquez, Trevor McDonald and a struggling Michael King.
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Blaze Jordan has so far had an easy time transitioning to the starting third base role for the Cardinals, combining high exit velocities with a low strikeout rate, as he did in the minors. The Cardinals matchups this week make it the perfect time to give him a try, featuring such mashables as Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Ryan Gusto, and Tyler Phillips.
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Eligible at every infield position plus the outfield, Willi Castro makes for a handy hot-hand play right now, batting .330 (31 for 94) with three home runs and two stolen bases in his past 25 games. Only his first three games this week are at his hitter-friendly home, but his road series is against a bad Twins pitching staff.
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I've been reluctant to recommend Rockies hitters this year because they have yet to have a full week of home games, but their road matchups this week against Mike Paredes, Zebby Matthews and a struggling Taj Bradley are just as inviting. TJ Rumfield, like Willi Castro, has been swinging a hot bat lately, batting .357 (15 for 42) with five homers in his past 11 games.
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There needs to be another hitter who can take advantage of the Phillies' No. 1 hitter slate this week, and since Brandon Marsh is too rostered already, my choice is Bryson Stott, who's been hitting the ball harder than ever this year and is batting .319 (15 for 47) with four steals in his past 13 games. Now that he's playing virtually every day, the number of lefties on the schedule doesn't matter as much, but there happens to be only one.
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Marcus Semien has never generated high exit velocities, and in recent years, it's taken him until midseason, when the ball generally carries better, to come around. That seems to be happening again, seeing as he has five home runs and a .788 OPS in his past 20 games.
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Fantasy Baseballers didn't get to enjoy much of Dominic Smith's blistering start to the season because his playing time was so sporadic, and now that injuries have forced him into the lineup against lefties as well as righties, his numbers have come down. He's still batting .303 (43 for 142) against righties, though, and that's what the Braves are facing in five of their six games this week, with most being bottom-feeders in the Padres and Giants rotations.
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