You can’t wait anymore. There are just a week’s worth of games left in the MLB season, so your chances to enjoy Star Fantasy Leagues daily leagues are running out. Do yourself a favor and start the new week off right and get in on the action while you can. To give you a head start as you build your team, here’s what I’ve come up with. And when you make your SFL deposit, use the promo code “SJN” for a 40% bonus.
(C) Salvador Perez $5,982 – The Royals’ young catcher has hit safely in eight of his last nine games as he and his team fight to the very end. He’ll get to play against a Seattle team tonight that he enjoys facing. In 13 career games against them, he is hitting .381/.404/.571.
(1B) Victor Martinez $6,913 – Martinez is riding a nine-game hitting streak that includes five extra-base hits in the last four games. He’s also getting on base with the free pass, with six walks in the last five games.
(2B) Neil Walker $5,590 – Walker has hits in three of his last four games, over which he is 7-for-15. Four of those hits have gone for extra-bases, including three home runs.
(3B) Alberto Callaspo $5,691 – Callaspo has a mini five-game hitting streak and is coming off a career performance. In his last game on Saturday, he went 4-for-5 with a homer, three RBI, and two runs.
(SS) Zack Cozart $5,842 – Cozart is hitting just .256 on the year, but is 9-for-24 over the last week. He has at least an RBI or run in five of those games.
(OF) Jay Bruce $7,586 – During a four-game stretch last week, Bruce went 9-for-17 with 10 RBI. He went hitless the next two games but came back yesterday to go 2-for-5 with a double and four RBI. He’s still not far removed from that hot streak, so I like his prospects.
(OF) Billy Hamilton $5,413 – If Dusty Baker is smart, he will start Hamilton through the rest of the year. The speed demon has made two starts for Cincy and has picked up six hits in 10 at bats, while adding six steals and four runs. Six steals. In two games. He is a special offensive weapon and is a huge threat when he’s in the lineup. He’s a must-start if he’s playing.
(OF) Adam Eaton $5,590 – Eaton looks to be finishing the year on a high note. He has hits in his last nine games. He has also scored in seven of those.
(U) Matt Carpenter $8,448 – “He who doesn’t wear batting gloves” is putting a cap on a great season. He’s hitting .324 on the year and has scored a league-leading 123 runs. In September, he is hitting .398/.480/.602 and has gone hitless in just two games this month.
(SP) A.J. Griffin $13,896 – Griffin will be making his second consecutive start against the Angels. In his last start on Wednesday, he took a no-decision giving up just one hit and two runs over six innings while striking out six. He is enjoying what might be his best month of the season, with a 2.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and .169 BAA over four starts.
(SP) Justin Verlander $13,439 – Verlander has had to work hard to put up mediocre numbers this season, and he is just 1-4 since early August. I just have a gut feeling that he is bound to get stronger down the stretch to become the ace his Tigers know as they enter October. Tonight will be a great opportunity for him to do that, as he’ll start against the Twins.
(RP) Joaquin Benoit $2,142 – I’m so confident about Verlander, that I’m matching him up with Detroit’s closer. A good outing from Verlander could mean a save chance for Benoit
(P) Johnny Cueto $12,925 – Cueto made his first start in nearly three months last Monday after recovering from a strained lat. Working on an 80-pitch pitch count, he managed to get through five scoreless innings against Houston and picked up five strikeouts on his way to a win. He should be able to top 90 pitches tonight and he’ll do so with a nice matchup against the Mets.
