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 24 (Sept. 2-8)
Generally when I recommend a hitter with bad matchups -- and the Athletics have the third-worst this week -- it doesn't work out, but I don't see how you sit Lawrence Butler, who has gone 14 for 28 with six homers in his past six games. And seeing as he's batting .326 (62 for 190) with 18 homers and nine steals in 51 games since the start of July, perhaps you should never sit him.
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Pete Crow-Armstrong's matchups aren't so inviting either, but like Butler, he's been too hot for me to pass him over for some other hitter rostered in less than 80 percent of leagues, batting .341 (30 for 88) with four homers and six steals in his past 26 games. Of course, there's a little more downside risk given that he typically bats eighth in the lineup.
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The Red Sox actually have good hitter matchups -- the best of any team this week, actually -- so I'll use it as an excuse to recommend Masataka Yoshida again. The 31-year-old continues to swing a hot bat since the All-Star break, hitting .328 (44 for 134) with five homers, eight doubles, and nearly as many walks (13) as strikeouts (17).
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Another frequent choice to take advantage of a favorable Red Sox hitting schedule, Wilyer Abreu should do some damage against mashable righties like Luis Severino, Tylor Megill, Davis Martin, and Chris Flexen this week. Unfortunately, he may be out of the lineup for the other two games against lefties.
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Having been plagued for much of the second half by hip and finger injuries, Victor Robles has come back to go 7 for 17 (.412) with a homer and three steals in five games. The Mariners not only have the third-best hitter matchups this week but are also scheduled to face just one lefty. Against righties, Robles' batting average is nearly 35 points higher and his OPS is nearly 100 points higher.
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Another hitter whose matchups wouldn't normally land him on this list, Spencer Torkelson is clearly a changed player after his extended stay at Triple-A Toledo, batting .309 (17 for 55) with four homers in 15 games. His power upside is more appealing than anything offered by the other hitters available in more than 20 percent of CBS Sports leagues (apart from those ahead of him on this list, of course).
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Connor Norby has hit safely in 11 of 12 games since joining the Marlins, contributing three home runs and two stolen bases during that time, and while some of the underlying data is discouraging, you wouldn't want to back down in a week when he's scheduled to face three lefties. Norby was particularly good against left-handers at Triple-A, batting .325 with a .972 OPS.
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MJ Melendez, who has always demonstrated good exit velocities and a solid approach at the plate, had a strong August, batting .311 (23 for 74) with five homers and a .944 OPS. The reason you may not have noticed is because he tends to sit against lefties, but that's not an issue this week with nothing but righties on the schedule.
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After a rough first couple weeks with the Pirates, Bryan De La Cruz has begun to find his footing in the past couple weeks. With the Pirates having the second-best hitter matchups this week, he's a reasonable bet to keep it going, especially since five of the pitchers on tap throw left-handed. De La Cruz is batting .281 against lefties compared to .219 against righties.
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Acquired at the trade deadline in the Lane Thomas deal, Jose Tena has been a pleasant surprise as the Nationals third baseman, making consistently hard contact from the left side of the plate. He's been especially productive against right-handers, batting .364 (16 for 44) with both of his home runs, and that's all the Nationals are scheduled to face this week.
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Best hitter matchups for Week 24
1. Red Sox @NYM3, CHW3
2. Pirates @CHC3, WAS4
3. Mariners @OAK4, @STL3
4. Padres DET3, SF3
5. Dodgers @ARI1, @LAA2, CLE3
Worst hitter matchups for Week 24
1. Blue Jays PHI2, @ATL3
2. Cardinals @MIL3, SEA3
3. Athletics SEA4, DET3
4. Giants ARI3, @SD3
5. Guardians @KC3, @LAD3
