Every Monday, Athlon Sports covers the hottest hitters in fantasy baseball over the past seven days as well as gets you ready for this week's action. Be sure to check back each week as our fantasy junkies analyze the best waiver wire pick ups, top starting pitching spot starts and sift through bullpens from around the league.
Top 25 fantasy baseball hitters of last week (June 17-23):
| Name | Pos. | Team | R | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OPS |
1. | Pedro Alvarez | 3B | PIT | 5 | 4 | 10 | 0 | .414 | 1.383 |
2. | Jay Bruce | OF | CIN | 6 | 6 | 7 | 0 | .276 | 1.266 |
3. | Hanley Ramirez | 3B/SS | LAD | 6 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 1.542 |
4. | Chris Davis | 1B/OF | BAL | 5 | 4 | 10 | 0 | .348 | 1.357 |
5. | Edwin Encarnacion | 1B/3B | TOR | 7 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .364 | 1.326 |
6. | Nelson Cruz | OF | TEX | 3 | 3 | 11 | 0 | .379 | 1.124 |
7. | Raul Ibanez* | OF | SEA | 4 | 4 | 9 | 0 | .321 | 1.117 |
8. | Ryan Howard | 1B | PHI | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .476 | 1.633 |
9. | Paul Goldschmidt | 1B | ARI | 5 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .364 | 1.326 |
10. | Joe Mauer | C/1B | MIN | 8 | 2 | 4 | 0 | .407 | 1.226 |
11. | Miguel Cabrera | 3B | DET | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | .536 | 1.427 |
12. | Gregor Blanco* | OF | SF | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | .500 | 1.160 |
13. | Maicer Izturis* | 2B/3B/SS | TOR | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .364 | 1.118 |
14. | David Wright | 3B | NYM | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 | .361 | 1.156 |
16. | Ben Revere* | OF | PHI | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | .320 | .640 |
15. | Shane Victorino | OF | BOS | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 | .333 | .968 |
17. | A.J. Pierzynski* | C | TEX | 6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .320 | 1.050 |
18. | Ian Kinsler | 2B | TEX | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | .407 | .859 |
19. | Jed Lowrie | 2B/SS | OAK | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | .407 | 1.045 |
20. | Evan Longoria | 3B | TB | 6 | 3 | 5 | 0 | .280 | 1.067 |
21. | Nick Franklin* | 2B/SS | SEA | 4 | 2 | 9 | 1 | .241 | .773 |
22. | Anthony Rizzo | 1B | CHC | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .350 | 1.140 |
23. | Austin Jackson | OF | DET | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .522 | 1.172 |
24. | Adam Dunn* | 1B/OF | CWS | 5 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .280 | .920 |
25. | David Ortiz | 1B | BOS | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | .429 | 1.181 |
* - less than 70% owned in Yahoo! leagues
Weekly Waiver Wire:
Nick Franklin, 2B/SS, SEA (35% owned in Yahoo! Leagues)
The elite prospect is delivering for the Mariners and for fantasy owners alike these days and is still just 35-percent owned. His .283/.848 slash line would make him valuable at either middle infield position, but his complete production line makes him a must-add: 10 R, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 3 SB in just 92 at-bats. Go to the waiver wire today.
Jonathan Lucroy, C, MIL (64%)
Lucroy just got finished with one of the best months of his career. He hit .360/1.027 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 89 at-bats. He may have his slumps from time to time but this guy can hit — as his 40 RBIs attest.
Jason Castro, C, HOU (46%)
If you need a back-stop, this might be the week to snag one off the wire. Castro is a former first-round pick who is finally rounding into form. He clubbed six homers at a .313 clip over the last month. Don't be afraid to punt on bad draft picks (looking at you Miguel Montero).
Eric Hosmer, 1B, KC (60%)
Time to get back on the Royals train. Hosmer is hitting .294 over the last month with 15 runs, 15 RBIs and four stolen bags to go with his two homers. Mike Moustakas might be turning it around and Billy Butler is showing signs of life. Is it time to get back on the Royals bandwagon?
Nate Schierholtz, OF, CHC (16%)
There is no track record or glaring talent that indicates the Cubs outfielder is worth owning. But owners can no longer ignore his production. As of Monday morning this is his tidy roto line in 199 at-bats: 30 R, 10 HR, 29 RBIs, 4 SB, .296/.905. That'll play.
Last Week:
Brandon Crawford, SS, SF: 3/15, 2 R
Zack Cozart, SS, CIN: 6/24, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI
Omar Infante, 2B, DET: 9/27, 2 R, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, SB
Kelly Johnson, 2B/OF, TB: 2/11, R, HR, RBI
Josh Rutledge, 2B/SS, COL: 4/18, 4 R, 2B
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Top 20 fantasy Starting Pitchers of last two weeks:
| Name | Team | IP | W | K | ERA | WHIP |
1. | Yovani Gallardo | MIL | 21.0 | 2 | 15 | 0.00 | 0.81 |
2. | Matt Harvey | NYM | 20.0 | 2 | 26 | 1.80 | 0.75 |
3. | Madison Bumgarner | SF | 14.0 | 2 | 18 | 1.29 | 0.71 |
4. | Max Scherzer | DET | 20.0 | 3 | 22 | 2.25 | 1.00 |
5. | Mike Leake* | CIN | 23.0 | 2 | 10 | 1.57 | 0.70 |
6. | Cliff Lee | PHI | 15.0 | 2 | 15 | 2.40 | 0.60 |
7. | Corey Kluber* | CLE | 21.2 | 3 | 15 | 1.66 | 1.15 |
8. | Matt Cain | SF | 19.2 | 1 | 21 | 2.29 | 0.81 |
9. | Jeff Locke* | PIT | 14.0 | 1 | 8 | 0.00 | 0.71 |
10. | Ervin Santana | KC | 14.2 | 1 | 9 | 0.61 | 0.68 |
11. | Jhoulys Chacin* | COL | 20.2 | 3 | 8 | 1.74 | 1.02 |
12. | Chris Capuano* | LAD | 11.0 | 1 | 9 | 0.00 | 0.64 |
13. | Erik Bedard* | HOU | 13.1 | 1 | 14 | 0.68 | 0.90 |
14. | Josh Collmenter* | ARI | 8.0 | 1 | 9 | 0.00 | 0.38 |
15. | C.J. Wilson | LAA | 14.0 | 2 | 7 | 1.29 | 0.86 |
16. | Bartolo Colon | OAK | 21.0 | 3 | 10 | 2.14 | 1.14 |
17. | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | 12.0 | 1 | 13 | 1.50 | 0.83 |
18. | Miguel Gonzalez* | BAL | 21.2 | 2 | 12 | 2.91 | 0.83 |
19. | Esmil Rogers* | TOR | 13.2 | 2 | 6 | 1.98 | 0.80 |
20. | Gio Gonzalez | WAS | 14.0 | 0 | 19 | 1.93 | 0.79 |
* - less than 70% owned in Yahoo! leagues
Top 5 Spot Starts for the Week (Mon. - Sun.):
1. Jose Fernandez, MIA (Tues.) vs. Minnesota (63% owned)
The star rookie pitcher won't win a ton of games this year due to his team, but he is starting to show people why he was such an elite prospect. He's allowed three earned runs in his last three starts (20.0 IP) with 25 strikeouts and two wins. Look for more against the Twins this week.
2. Eric Stults, SD (Sun.) at Miami (42%)
The Padres starter has a streak of five consecutive starts with two runs allowed or fewer. He also has just three walks over that span with 25 strikeouts. The Marlins lineup will provide little challenge for the developing eighth-year vet.
3. Jeff Locke, PIT (Tues.) at Seattle (74%)
Locke has been lucky this year but he is starting to prove that it's more than just good BABIP numbers. In five of his last seven starts he has allowed nary a run and has allowed just four total earned runs over that span. A trip to Seattle won't hurt his awesome 2.01/1.13 ratios much.
4. Ricky Nolasco, MIA (Fri.) vs. San Diego (22%)
The Marlins starter has always had tantalizing talent and quality strikeout rates. He has allowed one earned run in three of his last seven starts and has only allowed more than three ER once over that span. The Padres don't have a full complement of (no Yonder Alonso, Everth Cabrera or Cameron Maybin) players and could afford some good numbers.
5. Kyle Lohse, MIL (Tues.) vs. Chicago Cubs (49%)
He has posted three straight starts with one earned run (20.0 IP) and got one of his two wins this year. He struck out 14 over that span with just 19 baserunners. Expect another quality start from the Brewers starter.
Closing Morsels:
The Tigers DFAed Jose Valverde after a couple of horrendous outings so Joaquin Benoit becomes the go-to guy in Motown. This is a last-resort option right now until Detroit can find a full-time ninth inning guy. Proceed with caution... Boston's Andrew Bailey gave up four home runs over the last few weeks and while he could certainly regain the closer's job at some point, it appears the Red Sox will use a committee to finish off games for the time being. Koji Uehara gets the first look while Junichi Tazawa and lefty Andrew Miller could also figure into the mix. Add in that order and at your own risk... Rafael Betancourt could be back with the Rockies as soon as Thursday and should slide right back into the ninth inning for Colorado... The Brewers' bullpen situation is still in a state of flux as Jim Henderson and Francisco Rodriguez have seen time as both set-up and closing options. Last year's star closer, John Axford, hasn't figured in the mix. K-ROD might be 1a while Henderson is 1b.
Keep up to date all season long with Athlon Sports' Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid
