5 Sleeper Bats That Can Help You Win Your Fantasy Baseball League

Its Now or Never!

This is it! This is your last chance to make a push to win your fantasy baseball league. As we watch Derek Jeter fade off into the sunset, we still have work to do. We’ve got to plug those holes in your fantasy baseball lineup. So we’re going to sneak up on all those fantasy owners who are preoccupied with their football lineups and snatch the hottest hitters off of waiver wires all across the country! I’ve found five players owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo fantasy leagues who can infuse some much-needed energy in your fantasy lineup for the next few weeks and help you finish what you started back in March!

 

David Freese, Los Angeles Angels, 3B

Owned in 29% of Yahoo leagues

His overall season numbers, .261 batting average, nine home runs and 52 RBI, are average at best, but David Freese has been tearing the cover off of the ball (and that is not easy to do) as of late. In the last two weeks, he has hit three home runs, driven in 10 and batted .348. If it were July I probably wouldn’t recommend picking him up, but this late in the season you need to go with the hot hand, and Freese’s hand is sizzling.

With the Angels having clinched their division there is a good vibe in that clubhouse as they look to close out their season on a high note and prepare for their pursuit of a World Series championship, and you want those good vibes in your fantasy lineup. Freese’s recent tear is no accident. He has a history of finishing strong, with a lifetime .302 batting average in September and October, so pick him up and let him help your team finish strong as well.

 

Adam Lind, Toronto Jays, 1B, DH

Owned in 32% of Yahoo leagues

Not many fantasy players remember that Adam Lind hit 35 home runs, drove in 114 runs and batted .304 in 2009. He struggled and was a fantasy disappointment for the next three seasons after that career year, but inexplicably found his rhythm again last season.

Lind has missed a good chunk of time due to injuries this season, but based on his recent offensive output, he can add a spark to your fantasy baseball lineup and he is probably available on your league's waiver wire.

Over the course of his last 63 at-bats, Lind is batting .349 with two home runs and nine RBI. Over the course of a full season, that would project out to over 20 dingers and close to 90 RBI.

 

Wilmer Flores, New York Mets, 2B, SS, 3B

Owned in 12 % of Yahoo leagues

Wilmer Flores is the perfect kind of fantasy player that you want on your team as the season winds down. He is eligible at several weak positions, and he is fighting to show his team that he deserves a starting job next season. His overall season numbers are disappointing. (.245, 6 HR, 48 RBI in 70 games), but the fact that he has something to play for is reflected in his recent stats.

Over the last three weeks, Flores is batting .298 with four home runs and 13 RBI. Project those numbers over 550 at-bats, and you’ve got 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI. Flores is nowhere near that kind of player and probably never will be, but if you are of need of some infield help (he’s eligible at three positions), you might as well try to ride his hot streak.

 

Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants, SS

Owned in 12% of Yahoo leagues

If you are looking for RBI and the usual suspects are all playing for your opposing fantasy league teams, consider picking up Brandon Crawford. I know you might not associate Crawford with RBI production, but the numbers don’t lie.

You might not be impressed with his overall season stats (although 65 RBI isn’t bad for a shortstop), but if you take a look at what Crawford has done for the past month, you may be pleasantly surprised. He has scored six runs and driven in 16 while batting .347, as he helps the Giants make their late-season playoff push. He is focused and bearing down right now, and he might just help your fantasy team end the season on a high note.

 

Luis Valbuena, Chicago Cubs, 2B, 3B

Owned in 22% of Yahoo leagues

Are you still looking to add some power to your fantasy lineup but need a little help in the runs department as well? Luis Valbuena could be the answer. Although at 28 years old he has been a career minor leaguer and might not be chosen in your 2015 fantasy draft, he could help you for the next week and a half. Like many other players that I have brought to your attention today, his overall season numbers aren’t great (.250, 16 HR, 50 RBI), but Valbuena has been coming on of late.

For the past month he is batting .270, with 4 HR, 8 RBI and 18 runs scored. That runs total is good for tenth overall in the majors! Timing is everything when it comes to fantasy sports, and since Valbuena has chosen the end of the season to put up some of his best numbers, it’s up to you to take advantage and act now.

 

This will be the last article in this series. I hope the information provided has helped your fantasy baseball season. I’ll still be writing about fantasy baseball but I also write a weekly fantasy football Buy/Sell column. Check it out, and if you want to reach out to me, my twitter handle is @joegallina. Good luck the rest of the way RotoBallers!