Typically, the recommendations I'll make in this space are matchups-based, applicable mainly for the upcoming week rather than the rest of the season. But it's still so early in the season that player values have yet to crystalize, and some of the players still widely available look like more than just one-week plays.
So if it's true they're more than one-week plays, are they so susceptible to matchups? Frankly, I don't care who Yermin Mercedes is facing in Week 3 (April 12-18). He needs to be in my lineup over some fringy who happens to be facing the Pirates pitching staff.
And yet, Mercedes' rostership rate, which is less than 75 percent in CBS Sports leagues, would suggest he's a fringy in his own right, so I guess I have to put him on this list. It's less an endorsement of him for this particular week than for the rest of the season, but it's also true that I'd rather be starting him than anyone else shy of that rostership threshold.
- Week 3: Sleeper pitchers | Two-start pitcher rankings
Such is the case for several of my sleeper hitters this week. I'd be recommending them with even more gusto if they had the right matchups as well, but sometimes (OK, most times) ability supersedes matchups.
With the kind of impact he's been making dating back to spring training, I suspect he'll be in the lineup for at least five of the Tigers' seven games, and the combination of power, speed and plate discipline is just too enticing.
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He's looking healthy for once and reaching base at a high clip. Again, I could offer up hitters with better matchups, but among those rostered in less than 75 percent of leagues, I don't see many as good as Nick Senzel.
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Best hitter matchups for Week 3
1. Orioles SEA4, @TEX3
2. Mets PHI4, @COL3
3. Phillies @NYM4, STL3
4. Athletics @ARI2, DET4
5. Astros DET3, @SEA3
Worst hitter matchups for Week 3
1. Cubs @MIL3, ATL3
2. Pirates SD4, @MIL3
3. Red Sox @MIN4, CHW3
4. Giants CIN3, @MIA3
5. Rockies @LAD3, NYM3