Who Should I Start? Fantasy Baseball Start/Sit Decisions for Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter, Nolan Jones, Osleivis Basabe, more

August 27, 2023

Quickly get start 'em sit 'em advice for Who Should I Start fantasy baseball lineup questions from 8/28 - 9/3 (2023). Connelly tells you who to start and sit.

Welcome RotoBallers to my fantasy baseball start/sit article for the week ahead, August 28 - September 3. This week's article will focus on Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter, Zack Littell, Michael Clevinger, Yainer Diaz, Will Smith, Nolan Jones, and Osleivis Basabe.

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 any two players and receive fantasy projections for today, tomorrow, or the current week.

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. Hopefully, this series will help both daily fantasy managers end their weeks strong and also get them comfortable with routinely using the tool during the week to make tough roster decisions. Let's get into some start vs. sit comparisons for the week ahead, August 28 - September 3!

Crouching Tigers

Spencer Torkelson (1B) vs. Kerry Carpenter (OF)

Our first comparison is between two Tigers who have been hitting very well lately. Spencer Torkelson has found his power swing in August, slugging .620 with eight home runs and 10 RBI. Kerry Carpenter has had an overall great season, slashing .290/.354/.549 with 20 HR and 54 RBI. Now is the time to stick with hot bats, but which one has more upside for fantasy managers?

RotoBaller gives Carpenter a slight recommendation for Sunday. The Tigers will be facing a tough matchup, which does limit their projection upside. However, Carpenter does have the advantage in almost all roto category projections.

Looking ahead to Week 23, the Tigers will draw a solid slate with four games against the Yankees and three at the White Sox. They are also slated to face all righties, which benefits both players.

While Torkelson is a worthwhile play, Carpenter has simply been the better hitter all season long. He has even outdone Torkelson's August, slashing .377/.442/.779 with nine HR and 19 RBI. I like both as fantasy options for next week, but Carpenter has a clear advantage.

Favorable Matchup Streamers

Zack Littell vs. Mike Clevinger

Our next comparison is between two stream-worthy starters who draw favorable Sunday matchups. Zack Littell has emerged as a fantasy option after slotting into the Rays' rotation, compiling a 3.54 ERA in five traditional starts. Mike Clevinger has enjoyed a solid season with the White Sox when healthy with a 3.47 ERA in 17 starts. Which pitcher gives fantasy managers a higher upside in their next couple of starts?

Clevinger receives a strong recommendation for Sunday. Littell will face a decent matchup against the Yankees, but Clevinger draws a great matchup against the Athletics. Some of the projections seem a little odd like Clevinger's clear win projection (the Rays are obviously a much better supporting offense than the White Sox) and Littell's 4.3 innings pitched. Overall though, Clevinger does seem to be the better option.

Littell will likely face a great matchup in his next start at the struggling Guardians, while Clevinger will get a middling matchup against the Tigers. Neither pitcher offers a ton of strikeout upside, but Littell does have a slightly higher strikeout rate this season and his 3.2% walk rate is much better than Clevinger's 9.4%.

The Rays are notorious for treating their pitching staff in ways that limit fantasy value, but Littell has worked as a traditional starter for a month now. Both are worth a look in points leagues at least, but I would prefer to start Littell.

Catcher Conundrum

Yainer Diaz vs. Will Smith

This comparison is between a stud fantasy catcher who has struggled lately and a catcher who has not received as much hype but has hit very well. Yainer Diaz has put together an impressive .319/.333/.583 August slash line in 75 plate appearances with the Astros, while Will Smith has managed a .241/.284/.405 slash line in 88 plate appearances with the Dodgers. Smith's name holds more clout, but could Diaz be the better play in the coming days?

Smith receives a recommendation for Sunday, despite Diaz drawing the better matchup. Ultimately, the edge goes to Smith given his higher run, RBI, and walk projections.

The Astros draw middling matchups the following week, with three games at the Red Sox and three against the Yankees. The Dodgers get seven games but tough matchups with three against the Diamondbacks and four against the Braves. Both teams will face two lefties. This really hurts Diaz, who has struggled mightily against them this season.

Week 23 doesn't really favor either of these players. Even though Smith has been struggling, he will likely get more at-bats than Diaz, who will likely sit in the two lefty matchups. As such, I would reluctantly go with Smith for the following week.

Hot Rookie Hitters

Nolan Jones (1B/OF) vs. Osleivis Basabe (SS)

Our final comparison is between two rookies who could provide a spark to fantasy managers' lineups for the rest of the season. Nolan Jones has been an all-around productive fantasy hitter, slashing .282/.359/.510 with 13 HR, 39 RBI, and eight stolen bases in 276 plate appearances. Osleivis Basabe was only recently called up but is slashing .308/.357/.462 in his first 42 plate appearances. Which one is the better pickup?

RotoBaller gives Jones a sleight recommendation for Sunday. Both will face tougher matchups and Jones will not be playing in Coors Field. While their projections are pretty close, Jones has a slight edge in almost every category, giving him the overall edge.

The Rockies draw a tough homestand the following week, with three games against the Braves and three against the Blue Jays. The Rays only play five games with two at the Marlins and three at the Guardians. Both are slated to face two lefties. While both have hit lefties well, Basabe has absolutely crushed them with a .357 average in 14 plate appearances.

His matchups will be tougher, but Jones has offered power and speed this season. Basabe has offered a mostly empty batting average. Jones does strike out a lot, but sheer volume plus the category production gives him the edge in both points and roto leagues for next week.

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis