If you need a fill-in for an injury or are simply looking for a spark, Scott White has you covered with 10 sleeper hitters for the upcoming scoring period, all rostered in less 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.
- Week 26: Sleeper pitchers | Two-start pitchers
All information is up to date as of Sunday afternoon.
Sleeper hitters for Week 26 (Sept. 18-24)
It's true I don't love the Rockies' matchups for this week, which would normally prevent me from recommending any of their fringies, but Jones is, to me, a stud who simply isn't rostered like one. His numbers away from Coors Field (a .269 batting average and .857 OPS) are fine, too.
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Garver was right back in the lineup Friday after leaving Thursday's game with a bruised foot and has now started 30 of the Rangers' past 31 games. He should continue to outperform most every other catcher as a full-time DH with considerable power.
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Royce Lewis has gotten all the attention for the Twins in recent weeks, but Polanco has been productive in his own right, batting .314 (33 for 105) with seven homers, three steals and an OPS around .950 in his past 29 games. And unlike Lewis, he's available enough to recommend for the Twins' favorable schedule this week, which includes three games in Cincinnati.
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There's a sense that Gelof has slowed down given that he has just two home runs and two stolen bases in September, but he's still batting .281 (16 for 57) with six doubles for the month. If he can hold his own against the Mariners' pitching staff to open the week, he gets four games against the Tigers' to close it.
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Friedl remains the one Reds outfielder who plays basically every day and has picked things up at the plate of late, batting .342 (13 for 38) with three homers and three triples in his past 13 games. The Reds not only have favorable matchups this week but are also at their hitter-friendly home, where Friedl has hit 10 of his 14 home runs this season.
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Bryant will be an even better pickup for Week 27 (Sept. 25-Oct. 1), when the Rockies are back home for seven games, but seeing as he's already homered a couple times since being activated from the IL (fractured finger) Monday, he can probably do you some good now.
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In two games back from a brief absence for a sore wrist, Mark Canha has gone 5 for 9 with a home run, two stolen bases and five RBI, giving him a .400 (20 for 50) batting average for September. He has a reputation as a lefty killer (though it hasn't much mattered lately), which works out nicely with three lefties on the schedule for the Brewers.
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Nootbaar has had trouble getting going since his IL stint for a testicular injury, but he's always been at his best against righties, batting .270 with an .839 OPS compared to .253 and .690 against lefties. The Cardinals are scheduled to face six righties in their seven games this week.
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Carter's power may be a little underdeveloped at 21 years old, but the recent call-up has at least done a fine job of getting on base so far. As a left-handed batter, he may benefit from having nothing but righties on the schedule this week.
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With another four hits in a doubleheader Thursday, Abreu continues to impress as a recent addition to the Red Sox's outfield mix. A left-handed batter, he pretty much only starts against righties, but the Red Sox are scheduled to face five of those in their six games this week.
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Best hitter matchups for Week 26
1. Guardians @KC3, BAL4
2. Brewers @STL4, @MIA3
3. Padres COL3, STL3
4. Reds MIN3, PIT3
5. Cubs PIT3, COL3
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Worst hitter matchups for Week 26
1. Angels @TB3, @MIN3
2. Giants @ARI2, @LAD4
3. Diamondbacks SF2, @NYY3
4. Mets @MIA3, @PHI4
5. Rockies @SD3, @CHC3