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Welcome RotoBallers to another edition of my 2024 fantasy baseball start/sit article for the week ahead, May 6 - May 12. This week's article will focus on Andy Pages, Joey Loperfido, Dean Kremer, Cooper Criswell, Luis Rengifo, Willi Castro, Wilyer Abreu, and Jo Adell.
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, May 6 - May 12!
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Fantasy Baseball Prospect Outfielders
Andy Pages vs. Joey Loperfido
Our first comparison is between two young outfielders who recently joined the big leagues. Andy Pages has fit right into the Dodgers lineup, slashing .333/.354/.567 in 65 plate appearances. Joey Loperfido only just got called up to the Astros but was crushing it with Triple-A Sugarland. Which player has a better chance of making an instant impact?
RotoBaller gives Pages a strong recommendation for Sunday. Both teams will face tough matchups, but Pages has projection advantages in all categories except stolen bases.
Looking to Week 7, the Dodgers will face decent matchups with three games against the Marlins and three at the Padres. The Astros will face tough matchups with three games at the Yankees and three at the Tigers. Both teams will face two lefties, which puts Loperfido at a disadvantage.
Loperfido was on an absolute tear in Triple-A and could become a fantasy contributor soon. However, Pages has already shown that his skills translate to the big leagues and draws better matchups for the following week. As such, I prefer Pages for Week 7.
Fantasy Baseball Solid Streamers
Dean Kremer vs. Cooper Criswell
Our next comparison is between two pitchers who can turn in serviceable fantasy performances and may be available in leagues. Dean Kremer has looked as expected this season with a 4.19 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 22.1% strikeout rate in six starts. Cooper Criswell has pitched very well with a 1.65 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 17.2% strikeout rate in 16 1/3 innings pitched. Which pitcher is worth a look in the next couple of weeks?
RotoBaller gives Kremer a strong recommendation for Sunday. Kremer will face a tough matchup at the Reds, while Criswell will face a surging Twins lineup. Kremer holds key projection advantages in strikeouts and WHIP. Kremer holds several advantages, but I think this choice may be closer than anticipated.
Kremer will draw a decent matchup in his next start against the Diamondbacks, while Criswell will get a favorable matchup against the Nationals. Kremer offers higher strikeout upside and is more established as a reliable starter, but Criswell has pitched better early on and has a superior matchup. Kremer may be more valuable throughout the season, but I prefer Criswell in Week 7.
Fantasy Baseball Super Utilitymen
Luis Rengifo (2B/3B/SS/OF) vs. Willi Castro (2B/3B/SS/OF)
We'll move on to two players who can play all over the field. Luis Rengifo has provided average and speed, batting .330 with nine stolen bases. Willi Castro has provided a bit of everything, slashing .282/.348/.466 in 116 plate appearances. Which player is a more versatile bench option for fantasy managers?
RotoBaller gives Sunday's matchup a toss-up. The biggest projection differences favor Castro in runs scored and Rengifo in batting average. Rengifo draws a better matchup, so he gets a slight edge.
The Angels face favorable matchups in Week 7, with three games at the Pirates and four against the Royals. The Twins will face tough matchups, with four games against the Mariners and three at the Blue Jays. Both players have been on fire lately and are fine players to start, but Rengifo's better matchups give him the Week 7 edge.
Fantasy Baseball Surprise Streaking Hitters
Wilyer Abreu (OF) vs. Jo Adell (OF)
Our final comparison is between two fantasy hitters who have provided unexpected fantasy value. Wilyer Abreu has slashed .298/.375/.488 with five stolen bases while hitting in the middle of the Red Sox lineup. Jo Adell has finally started to look like a former top prospect, batting .273 with four home runs and five stolen bases in 72 plate appearances. Which one has a better chance of continuing to produce?
RotoBaller gives Adell a recommendation for Sunday. The Red Sox will face a tough matchup while the Angels draw a favorable one. The projections for both players are pretty good, but Adell has enough slight advantages to add up.
The Red Sox will only play five games in Week 7, with two at the Braves and three against the Nationals. The Angels face favorable matchups in Week 7, with three games at the Pirates and four against the Royals. The Red Sox are slated to face three lefties, which hurts Abreyu.
He has cooled off a little lately, but Adell has still shown enough encouraging signs to put some trust in him. He draws better and more matchups than Abreu, so he gets the Week 7 nod. However, I think Abreu could continue to be a fantasy contributor.
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