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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!
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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.
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