Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By Rob Steingall

These recommendations are only for the fantasy week April 21-27, unless otherwise suggested.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Put' em in

J.D. Drew, OF, Red Sox: Drew has been hot the past week, scoring and driving in runs as the Red Sox begin to warm up in the early going. He’ll face the Angels and the Rays next week, two teams who currently lack their imposing front-line hurlers (John Lackey and Scott Kazmir). His hot finish to last season (1.072 OPS in September) indicates a possible rebound, so take a flier on him now and enjoy the production he’ll provide in one of the best lineups in the majors.

Rafael Betancourt, RP, Indians: Betancourt was dominating last season, posting a 1.47 ERA and 0.76 WHIP along with a strikeout per inning. With Joe Borowski out for the next month with a triceps strain, Betancourt now takes the ball in the ninth for the Tribe.
According to manager Eric Wedge, “If he [Borowski] comes back healthy, I suspect he'll be the closer again." Speculation clouds that statement, and if Betancourt is lights-out in the ninth, the job could be his for good.

Bench 'em

Placido Polanco, 2B, Tigers: The traditionally consistent Polanco has started off the year on the wrong foot thus far, and his stiff lower back certainly isn’t helping matters. He hit below .300 in a month only once last season, and looks to be feeling the pressure of high expectations in Detroit this season. Polanco’s normally high contact rate (95 percent in ’07) should help him rebound, but his troublesome back and slow start should force him to your bench for now.

C.C. Sabathia, SP, Indians: After getting bombed in his first four starts, two of which came against the offensive juggernaut that is decidedly not the Oakland A’s, Sabathia sports an ERA of 13.50 heading into this week. He’ll be a two-start pitcher, but faces a much-improved Royals offense and the Yankees. He’s walked as many as he’s struck out thus far (14/14 K/BB), and has given up nearly two hits an inning. His workload increased by over 50 innings last season, and it may have caught up with him.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Put' em in

Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers: After a sluggish first few weeks of the season, Kemp has started to heat up and earn regular at-bats for the Dodgers. He faces the Reds on the road, then Diamondbacks and the Rockies at home later this week. Kemp hit 9 if his 10 home runs last season at Chavez Ravine, so this should bode well for success. He could be
this year’s version of Corey Hart, with more power potential. Snatch him up if some impatient owner dropped him after early-season woes.

Pat Burrell, OF, Phillies: Burrell is off to a great start thus far in his contract year, and seems to always be an underappreciated source of power in mixed leagues. He pays a visit to Coors Field and Miller Park next week, where he hit three homers in five games last
season (and probably drank his fair share of adult beverages). Burrell closes the week against the in-state rival Pirates, who hit three homers against in ’07. I’d bank on more of the same,
especially with a hefty payday to play for this offseason.

Bench 'em

Dan Uggla, 2B, Marlins: Never a threat to post a high batting average, Uggla is struggling right now to keep himself over the Mendoza line to start the year. His power is elite for a middle infielder (31 home runs in ’07), but has been lacking so far this season. With Miguel Cabrera moving on to Detroit, Uggla should see a decline in his runs scored this year, unless of course Jorge Cantu can match his career year of ’05. Don’t expect a repeat of the
production you saw out of him last season.

J.J. Hardy, SS, Brewers: Now batting in front of the pitcher, Hardy seems to be dropping further and further out of the good graces of fantasy owners, especially with a healthy crop of options at short this year. Hardy starts a home stand next week against the
Cardinals, the Phillies and the Marlins, but it won’t matter if pitchers work around him to get to the pitcher, who bats eighth for the Brewers. While you may see a spike in his walks, that won’t make up for his lack of production in other categories. Move him to the bench until
he is moved elsewhere in the batting order.

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