Whether you're in need of an injury fill-in or just a hot-hand play, Scott White has you covered with 10 sleeper hitters for the upcoming scoring period, all rostered in no more than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues. They're not must-starts by any estimation, but they're the best you'll find off the waiver wire.
All information is up to date as of Sunday evening.
Sleeper hitters for Week 20 (Aug. 5-11)
The memory of Colton Cowser's early-season fakeout is still fresh, but he's hot again, batting .380 (27 for 71) with four homers and two steals in his past 19 games, and seems like a safe bet to stick in the lineup with the Orioles having only one left-hander on the schedule.
| ||
Michael Toglia has homered 15 times in 51 games since returning to the majors June 6, which projects to about 45 homers over a full season. More than two-thirds of those home runs have come on the road, which is unusual for a Rockies hitter, but you still have to like him at Coors Field, where the Rockies are scheduled to play all six of their games this week.
| ||
After 2 1/2 months of being the Mets' primary third baseman, Mark Vientos maintains OPS just shy of .900, so it's a wonder he still qualifies for this list. The Mets are one of two teams traveling to Coors Field this week, giving them the fourth-best hitter matchups.
| ||
Jorge Soler has already settled into the leadoff spot for the Braves, an organization for which he had great success after coming over in a midseason trade three years ago. He was hot prior to the trade that brought him to Atlanta for a second time, putting him in good position to take advantage of the fifth-best hitter matchups this week, which includes a visit to Coors Field.
| ||
TJ Friedl's power plays best in the Reds' small ballpark, but the matchups are so favorable this week, with seven games against the Marlins and Brewers rotations, that he's an advisable play even with the Reds on the road.
| ||
A .330 hitter at Triple-A this year (and .351 hitter there last year), Xavier Edwards has been a multi-hit machine and base-stealing fiend since taking over as the Marlins shortstop at the start of July. While the Marlins' matchups this week aren't exactly favorable, they're hardly prohibitive either, making it a good time to try out the hot hand.
| ||
J.D. Martinez has been pretty underwhelming as the Mets DH, but his Statcast page still hints of big power. Maybe the fourth-best hitter matchups this week, highlighted by a trip to Coors Field, will be enough to spring him to life.
| ||
As with his teammate Xavier Edwards, Jake Burger's matchups this week aren't exactly favorable but aren't so unfavorable that I'd bet on them upending a 31-game stretch in which he's hit .294 (35 for 119) with 11 home runs.
| ||
J.J. Bleday has been more serviceable than spectacular this year, and the best times to use him are when there are a bunch of righties on the slate. The Athletics are scheduled to face at least five this week, with all of them -- Jonathan Cannon, Davis Martin, Jose Berrios, Yariel Rodriguez, Chris Bassitt -- being fairly hittable.
| ||
A full week of home games is of course a boon to all Rockies hitters, but especially Brendan Rodgers, who's a .329 hitter with an .846 OPS there compared to .215 and .592 on the road.
|
Best hitter matchups for Week 20
1. Giants @WAS4, DET3
2. Reds @MIA4, @MIL3
3. Padres @PIT3, @MIA3
4. Mets @STL1, @COL3, @SEA3
5. Braves MIL3, @COL3
Worst hitter matchups for Week 20
1. Tigers @SEA3, @SF3
2. Cubs MIN3, @CHW2
3. Rangers HOU3, @NYY3
4. Pirates SD3, @LAD3
5. Rays @STL3, BAL3
