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Welcome RotoBallers to another edition of my 2024 fantasy baseball start/sit article for Week 20, August 5 - August 11. This week's article will focus on Xavier Edwards, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, Freddy Fermin, Ryne Nelson, Carson Spiers, Gerrit Cole, and Robbie Ray.
Whether you are prepping to set your weekly lineups or determining who to play in a pivotal daily matchup, choosing who to start vs. sit is one of the most nerve-racking and potentially frustrating aspects of fantasy baseball. Fortunately, there is a free solution available at RotoBaller. The Who Should I Start Tool allows you to quickly compare up to four players and receive fantasy projections for today, tomorrow, the current week, next week, or the rest of the season.
The tool provides rankings, projections, recent news, and schedules side-by-side to aid in your decision-making. The tool defaults to ESPN scoring, but the Premium version within Team Sync will automatically use your league's scoring and roster settings when making recommendations. Each week, I will use the tool to review a few interesting start/sit comparisons for the final day of the period and preview the following week. Let's get into some start vs. sit comparisons for the week ahead, August 5 - August 11!
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Fantasy Baseball Current vs. Former Marlin
Xavier Edwards (2B/SS) vs. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B/OF)
Our first comparison is between two players from the Marlins organization who have hit well lately. Xavier Edwards joined the Marlins last season and has looked great since getting called up in June, posting a .382/.455/.480 slash line. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was traded away from the Marlins to the Yankees at the trade deadline and has hit four home runs in just five games with his new team. Which player has a better chance of being the bigger fish?
RotoBaller gives Edwards a strong recommendation for Sunday. The matchups are currently unknown and Chisholm Jr. has a projection advantage in HR and slugging percentage. However, Edwards has projection advantages in runs and stolen bases as well as a huge projection advantage in batting average.
Looking to Week 21, the Marlins will face a tough home stand with four games against the Reds and three against the Padres. The Yankees will face a favorable homestand with three games against the Angels and three against the Rangers.
Both players have provided plenty of power and speed lately. Positional need could come into play, but Chisholm Jr.'s move to one of baseball's best lineups is such a boost to his counting stats that it tips the scale in his favor. I don't expect Chisholm Jr. to continue to hit multi-HR games frequently and do think Edwards is a worthwhile fantasy play, but Chisholm Jr. gets the Week 21 nod.
Fantasy Baseball Hot Catchers
Austin Wells vs. Freddy Fermin
Our next comparison is between two catchers who have led their position lately and may be considerations in deeper leagues. Austin Wells has had a great second half, slashing .333/.434/.548 in 42 at-bats. Freddy Fermin has made the most of his playing time this season, slashing .313/.364/.445 with six HR and 29 RBI in 211 at-bats. Which catcher can provide a bigger boost to fantasy managers' lineups?
Fermin gets a strong recommendation for Sunday. The projections indicate Fermin getting a start, while only giving 2.8 at-bats for Wells. Despite this, Fermin only has a clear counting-stat projection advantage in RBI. He does have clear projection advantages in batting average and slugging percentage, giving him the overall advantage.
As I mentioned above, the Yankees will have strong home matchups in Week 21. The Royals will only play five games, but they will be solid matchups with three against the Red Sox and two against the backend of the Cardinals rotation. Both hit in strong lineups, but Fermin has provided more average and power than Wells recently, so I would go with him for a fantasy lineup boost.
Fantasy Baseball Available Streamers
Ryne Nelson vs. Carson Spiers
Our next comparison is between two starters who have provided fantasy value at times this season and are likely available to stream. Ryne Nelson has turned in some strong streaks, going 8-6 with a 4.53 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP, and a 17.5% strikeout rate in 105 1/3 innings pitched. Carson Spiers has pitched well out of the bullpen and is now in the rotation, compiling a 3.46 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 20.6% strikeout rate in 52 IP. Which pitcher can provide a higher floor to end the week?
RotoBaller gives Spiers a strong recommendation for Sunday. Nelson draws a better matchup and has projection advantages in wins and strikeouts. He is also projected to pitch an inning more than Spiers. However, Spiers has much better projections in ERA and WHIP. This may come down to format, with Nelson being a better play in points leagues and Spiers being a better play in roto leagues.
Nelson will draw a deceivingly decent matchup in his next start against a Phillies lineup that has struggled over the past few weeks. Spiers is slated for a middling matchup with the Brewers. Spiers has pitched better overall, but he has maxed out at five IP in his last three starts, while Nelson's IP floor in his starts was 5 2/3. I think this gives Nelson a higher ceiling, so I will go with him in Week 21.
Fantasy Baseball Questionable Aces
Gerrit Cole vs. Robbie Ray
Our final comparison is between two top fantasy pitchers who currently have some serious question marks. Gerrit Cole has not looked like himself since starting the season late, posting a 5.40 ERA, a 1.46 WHIP, and a 2.31 HR/9 rate in seven starts. Robbie Ray recently returned from injury and has only made two starts, one solid and one where he gave up three HR. Both have been high-end fantasy options throughout their careers, but which one should fantasy managers be less worried about?
RotoBaller gives Cole a strong recommendation for Sunday, although the system does not have him starting. Both will draw decent matchups, with Cole against a disappointing Blue Jays lineup and Ray in Cincinnati but against a slumping lineup. Ray's 1.50 WHIP projection is unsurprisingly high given his proclivity to walk batters. Given the fact that Ray is still an unknown with just two starts, I am inclined to go with Cole.
Cole is currently slated for a solid Week 21 matchup at home against the Rangers, while Ray will also get a favorable matchup at home against the Tigers. Cole has a higher ceiling and floor in a vacuum, but how they perform on Sunday may sway my Week 21 decision. Ray's start will be in a better venue and he will face a weaker lineup, so I will go with him for now.
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