X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Fantasy Baseball Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks - Marcus Semien, Rafael Devers, Merrill Kelly, Tyler Mahle, More

Merrill Kelly - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Welcome RotoBallers to another edition of my 2024 fantasy baseball start/sit article for Week 22, August 19 - August 25. This week's article will focus on Marcus Semien, Rafael Devers, Jake Burger, Spencer Steer, Merrill Kelly, Tyler Mahle, Valente Bellozo, and Bowden Francis. 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 19 - August 25!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:

 

Fantasy Baseball Slumping Sluggers

Marcus Semien (2B) vs. Rafael Devers (3B)

Our first comparison is between two top fantasy hitters who have not been delivering lately. Marcus Semien has had a slow August with a .207/.281/.397 slash line. Things have only been a bit better for Rafael Devers with a .245/.344/.472 slash line. Which player has a better chance of turning things around for the fantasy playoffs?

RotoBaller gives Devers a strong recommendation for Sunday. Devers has a slight home run projection advantage and large projection advantages in RBI, batting average, and slugging percentage.

Looking to Week 23, the Rangers will face tougher matchups with three games against the Pirates and three at the Guardians. The Red Sox will also face tough matchups with three games at the Astros and three against the Diamondbacks.

Both players have not been their best lately. However, Devers has provided more power and batting average this season, and Semien has only provided three stolen bases. Devers offers a higher ceiling when he's right, so I will give him the Week 23 nod.

 

Fantasy Baseball Hot Corner Infielders

Jake Burger (1B/3B) vs. Spencer Steer (1B/2B/3B/OF)

Our next comparison is between two corner infield-eligible players who have provided fantasy value lately. Jake Burger has had an excellent August, batting .356 with nine HR in 59 at-bats. Spencer Steer has hit .350 with three HR and two stolen bases in his last seven games. Which one is a better bet?

Burger gets a strong recommendation for Sunday. Burger draws a more favorable matchup, which reflects in projection advantages in all categories except stolen bases.

The Marlins will face tough matchups in Week 23, with three games against the Diamondbacks and three against the Cubs. The Reds will draw a more favorable road trip, with three games at the Blue Jays and four at the Pirates. The Marlins are slated to face four lefties, which hurts Burger.

Burger has been unstoppable in August, but the lefty-heavy slate may limit his playing time in Week 23. Steer has been heating up lately, provides fantasy value in more ways than Burger, and can play more positions. As such, I will give Steer the edge for Week 23.

 

Fantasy Baseball Recently Returning Starters

Merrill Kelly vs. Tyler Mahle

Our next comparison is between two starters who have recently returned from injury. Merrill Kelly looked good in his first start in four months, allowing two runs in five innings. Tyler Mahle has an encouraging 2.79 ERA in his first two starts of the season. Which player has a better chance to help fantasy managers?

RotoBaller gives Kelly a strong recommendation for Sunday. Kelly draws a much better matchup than Mahle. He has projection advantages in all categories except WHIP, including a large difference in win projection.

Kelly will draw a tougher matchup at the Red Sox in his next start. Mahle won't have it easier, with a matchup at the Guardians. Kelly looked strong before going on the injured list and has a much hotter offense backing him, so he gets the Week 23 nod.

 

Fantasy Baseball Rookies

Valente Bellozo vs. Bowden Francis

Our final comparison is between two young pitchers who could help fantasy managers. Valente Bellozo has compiled a 2.28 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in his first 27 2/3 IP in the big leagues. Bowden Francis allowed just three total runs in his last two starts with 15 strikeouts. Which one could be a better pickup?

RotoBaller gives Bellozo a strong recommendation. He will draw a tougher matchup and has a projection disadvantage in strikeouts, but Francis has an enormous 6.57 ERA and 1.69 WHIP projection. These projections seem rather high, so I could see this matchup being closer than projected.

Bellozo is currently slated to face the Cubs in his next start, while Francis will get a favorable matchup against the Angels. While neither has a ton of innings to go off of, Bellozo has been much stronger overall, so I will go with him for Week 23.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Chicago Bears12 mins ago

Bears Fire Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron
Dak Prescott19 mins ago

To Have Season-Ending Surgery
Jaden Springer1 hour ago

Questionable Tuesday
Tre Mann1 hour ago

Questionable To Face Magic
Garrett Temple2 hours ago

Doubtful For Tuesday
Keyonte George2 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Tuesday
Immanuel Quickley2 hours ago

Questionable For Tuesday's Contest
Andrew Wiggins2 hours ago

Tagged As Questionable For Tuesday
Dustin Wolf2 hours ago

Cools Off Kings Monday
Mason Marchment2 hours ago

Erupts For Five Points Versus Pittsburgh
Cole Caufield3 hours ago

Takes Over Goal-Scoring Lead
Nick Suzuki3 hours ago

Ends Dry Spell With Four-Point Effort
Jack Eichel3 hours ago

Has Two Points In Losing Effort
Seth Jarvis3 hours ago

Nursing An Upper-Body Injury
Anthony Mantha3 hours ago

To Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery
Puka Nacua10 hours ago

Targeted 14 Times Against Miami
Kyren Williams11 hours ago

Fumbles, Fails To Find End Zone
Gary Trent Jr.13 hours ago

Listed As Probable For Tuesday Night
Andre Jackson Jr.13 hours ago

Probable For Tuesday Night's Matchup Against Toronto
Cameron Payne13 hours ago

Still Dealing With Hamstring Strain, Questionable For Tuesday
Miles McBride13 hours ago

Dealing With Knee Inflammation, Questionable For Tuesday
Jusuf Nurkic13 hours ago

Questionable For Tuesday's Matchup Against Jazz
Giannis Antetokounmpo14 hours ago

Listed As Probable For Tuesday
Damian Lillard14 hours ago

In Concussion Protocol, Out Tuesday Against Raptors
P.J. Washington15 hours ago

Not Expected To Face The Warriors
Dereck Lively II15 hours ago

Questionable For Tuesday Night
Isaiah Stewart15 hours ago

Draws A Probable Tag For Tuesday
Jalen Duren15 hours ago

Questionable Versus The Heat
Carolina Panthers16 hours ago

Panthers Mum On Starting QB Heading Into Bye Week
Trevor Lawrence16 hours ago

Jaguars Uncertain If Trevor Lawrence Can Play In Week 11
George Kittle16 hours ago

Dealing With "Hamstring Irritation"
Jimmy Butler16 hours ago

Still Out On Tuesday Night
Amari Cooper16 hours ago

Improving
DK Metcalf16 hours ago

Seahawks Expect DK Metcalf Back At Practice On Wednesday
Malik Monk16 hours ago

Out At Least Two Weeks
Brian Robinson Jr.16 hours ago

Listed As Limited On Monday
Zach LaVine16 hours ago

Active For Monday's Game
Luka Doncic16 hours ago

Probable Versus The Warriors
Dallas Goedert16 hours ago

Picks Up A DNP On Monday
DeVonta Smith16 hours ago

Listed As DNP On Monday
Tyreek Hill17 hours ago

Active For Monday Night
Mattias Samuelsson17 hours ago

Injured On Monday
Tage Thompson17 hours ago

Suffers A Lower-Body Injury Monday
Ryan Poehling17 hours ago

Ready To Return On Monday
Matvei Michkov18 hours ago

Returns To Flyers Lineup Monday
Jamie Drysdale18 hours ago

Placed On Injured Reserve
Chris Olave18 hours ago

Not Being Ruled Out For Rest Of Season
Tommy Novak18 hours ago

Remains Out On Monday
Mark Stone18 hours ago

Misses A Second Consecutive Game
Cooper Rush18 hours ago

Cowboys Sticking With Cooper Rush As Starting QB
Sam LaPorta18 hours ago

Day-To-Day, "Hopeful" He Can Play In Week 11
Tee Higgins18 hours ago

Still Day-To-Day
Keon Coleman18 hours ago

Already Ruled Out For Week 11
Daniel Jones20 hours ago

Brian Daboll Non-Committal On Daniel Jones Heading Into Bye Week
Jasson Domínguez21 hours ago

Yankees Expect Jasson Dominguez To Have A Big Role In 2025
Isiah Pacheco21 hours ago

Nearing Return
Carlos Correa21 hours ago

Progressing
Caleb Williams22 hours ago

Bears Aren't Benching Caleb Williams
Carlos Prates22 hours ago

Gets Higlight-Reel Knockout Win At UFC Vegas 100
Neil Magny23 hours ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 100
Cortavious Romious23 hours ago

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 100
Gaston Bolaños23 hours ago

Gaston Bolanos Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Joey Logano23 hours ago

Holds On At Phoenix To Win His Third Cup Series Championship
Los Angeles Dodgers23 hours ago

Dodgers Considered Favorites For Roki Sasaki
Ryan Blaney23 hours ago

Falls Short Of The 2024 Cup Series Title At Phoenix
Dusko Todorovic24 hours ago

Gets TKO'd At UFC Vegas 100
Wander Franco24 hours ago

Arrested On Monday After Altercation
Cayden Primeau1 day ago

Penciled In As Starter Monday
Kirill Kaprizov1 day ago

Extends Road Scoring Streak
Petr Mrazek1 day ago

Bags Overtime Win Versus WIld
Mackenzie Blackwood1 day ago

Shuts Out Former Team
Kirill Marchenko1 day ago

Tallies Two Points Sunday
John Gibson1 day ago

Beats Blue Jackets In Season Debut
Mason McTavish1 day ago

Labeled As Day-To-Day With An Upper-Body Injury
Tyler Reddick1 day ago

Lacks Speed Of Other Championship 4 Contenders But Drives Well
William Byron1 day ago

Finishes Third In Phoenix Race And Championship
Miami Marlins2 days ago

Marlins Hire Clayton McCullough As New Skipper
Mansur Abdul-Malik2 days ago

Gets First-Round Finish At UFC Vegas 100
Luana Pinheiro2 days ago

Falls Short At UFC Vegas 100
Gillian Robertson2 days ago

Extends Win Streak At UFC Vegas 100
Gerald Meerschaert2 days ago

Gets Finished At UFC Vegas 100
MMA2 days ago

Reinier de Ridder Gets Submission Win In UFC Debut
2 days ago

Rays Have Interest In Juan Soto
NASCAR2 days ago

Bubba Wallace Is A Top DFS Recommendation With Upside For Phoenix
Tyler Reddick2 days ago

Is Expected To Compete For The Title At Phoenix
Joey Logano2 days ago

Is One Of The Favorites To Win At Phoenix
Kyle Larson2 days ago

Could Be A Favorable DFS Option For Phoenix Lineups
Corey Lajoie2 days ago

Corey LaJoie Will Start 20th At Phoenix
Brad Keselowski2 days ago

Is A Solid Recommendation For Phoenix DFS Lineups
Erik Jones2 days ago

Will Start 19th At Phoenix This Week
Carson Hocevar2 days ago

Will Compete For A Top-10 Finish At Phoenix
Ty Gibbs2 days ago

Should DFS Players Fade Ty Gibbs At Phoenix?
Chase Elliott2 days ago

Is Chase Elliott A Solid DFS Pick For Phoenix Lineups?
Ryan Blaney2 days ago

The Championship Favorite Despite Qualifying Blunder
William Byron2 days ago

Will Be Strong In Fight For Championship
Austin Cindric2 days ago

Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering For Phoenix DFS Lineups?
Ross Chastain2 days ago

Is Great At Phoenix
Christopher Bell2 days ago

Looking To Go Back-To-Back At Phoenix After Championship Snub
Chase Briscoe2 days ago

Can Be Worth Rostering In Tournaments At Phoenix
Denny Hamlin2 days ago

Could Contend At Phoenix
3 days ago

Nick Martinez Expected To Accept Qualifying Offer
MLB3 days ago

Roki Sasaki Will Be Posted, Opens Door For 2025 MLB Debut
Nolan Arenado4 days ago

Could Be On The Trade Block
Zach Neto4 days ago

Undergoes Shoulder Surgery, Could Miss Start Of 2025
Mason Miller4 days ago

To Stay In The Bullpen
Shohei Ohtani4 days ago

Shoulder Surgery Could Delay His Pitching
New York Yankees4 days ago

Yankees Exercise Aaron Boone's Option
Carlos Prates4 days ago

Looks For His Fourth Win In A Row
Neil Magny4 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
MMA4 days ago

Benardo Sopaj Looks For His First UFC Win
Ricky Turcios4 days ago

Returns At UFC Vegas 100
Dusko Todorovic4 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 100
Mansur Abdul-Malik5 days ago

A Big Favorite At UFC Vegas 100
Luana Pinheiro5 days ago

Could Be Fighting For Job At UFC Vegas 100
Gillian Robertson5 days ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak At UFC Vegas 100
Reinier De ridder5 days ago

Reinier de Ridder Makes UFC Debut At UFC Vegas 100
Gerald Meerschaert5 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 100
5 days ago

Jeff Hoffman Could Enter Starting Rotation In 2025
5 days ago

Willy Adames Receives Offers From Mets And Dodgers
T.J. McFarland5 days ago

Re-Signs With The A's
Iván Herrera5 days ago

Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages To Split Opportunities Behind The Plate
5 days ago

Alex Bregman Could Play Second Base In 2025
5 days ago

Red Sox, Orioles Looking At Teoscar Hernandez
5 days ago

Mets To Meet With Juan Soto Soon
Garrett Crochet5 days ago

An Offseason Trade Candidate
Max Greyserman6 days ago

Earns Highest DraftKings Salary For WWT Championship
Harry Hall6 days ago

In Solid Form Heading To Cabo
PGA6 days ago

Matti Schmid On Fire Ahead Of WWT Championship
Jhonattan Vegas6 days ago

A Safe Play At WWT Championship
Taylor Moore6 days ago

Looks To Contend At WWT Championship
Patrick Fishburn6 days ago

A Volatile Option At El Cardonal
Michael Kim6 days ago

Aims For Back-To-Back Top-10 Finishes At WWT Championship
Charley Hoffman6 days ago

Tough To Trust At WWT Championship
Adam Svensson6 days ago

A Risky Play In Mexico

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP