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Welcome RotoBallers to another edition of my 2024 fantasy baseball start/sit article for the week ahead, April 29 - May 5. This week's article will focus on Travis d'Arnaud, Salvador Perez, Starling Marte, Brice Turang, Bryce Elder, Taijuan Walker, Erick Fedde, and Keaton Winn.
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, April 29 - May 5!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and weekly lineup resources:- Nick Mariano's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups (Premium)
- Start/Sit recommendations - All Pitcher Matchups for Week Ahead
- Fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings (top 80 players)
- FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Starting pitcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Outfield fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- 1B/3B fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
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- Hitter streamers - fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Two-start pitcher streamers - fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Cut List - Players To Consider Dropping
Fantasy Baseball Crushing Catchers
Travis d'Arnaud (C) vs. Salvador Perez (C, 1B)
Our first comparison is between two catchers who have been contributing in the power department. Travis d'Arnaud has been on fire lately, slashing .279/.357/.623 with five home runs. Salvador Perez has returned to form, slashing .344/.400/.604 with seven HR. Which player is likely to contribute more in a generally weak position?
RotoBaller gives Perez a strong recommendation for Sunday. The Royals will face a tougher matchup than the Braves. However, Perez has a projection advantage in runs scored, HR, and RBI. I think this matchup could be closer given the comparative matchups.
Looking to Week 6, the Braves will face tough matchups with three games at the Mariners and three at the Dodgers. The Royals will also face tough matchups with three games at the Blue Jays and three against the Rangers.
d'Arnaud has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball lately. However, he hits in the bottom of the Braves' lineup, whereas Perez hits fourth. This allows Perez to provide more overall fantasy value, which is why I'm going with him for Week 6.
Fantasy Baseball Serious Steal Threats
Starling Marte (OF) vs. Brice Turang (2B/SS)
Our next comparison is between two hitters who have provided serious speed. Starling Marte is healthy for 2024 and is back to providing a bit of everything, batting .288 with four HR and six stolen bases. Brice Turang has been one of baseball's top base stealers, batting .329 with 13 stolen bases. Who will be a better source of steals and overall fantasy value in the coming weeks?
RotoBaller gives Marte a strong recommendation for Sunday. Both players will face middling matchups, with Turang drawing a tougher one. Marte has a slight projection edge in runs scored, HR, RBI, batting average, and slugging percentage. Turang has an advantage in stolen bases, but Marte's projection is still respectable.
The Mets get a favorable Week 6 slate, with four games against the Mets and three at the Rays. The Brewers will have almost the same slate, with three games against the Rays and three at the Mets. Turang seems like an elite stolen base option, but Marte has provided steals and HR and is a more proven player. As such, I will give the edge to Marte for Week 6, but both are solid options.
Fantasy Baseball Returning Pitchers
Bryce Elder vs. Taijuan Walker
We'll move on to two starters who have only made one or no starts this season. Bryce Elder started the season with Triple-A Gwinnett but had a solid first big-league start, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings against the Marlins. Taijuan Walker (shoulder) has been rehabbing from right shoulder soreness and is set to return to the Phillies on Sunday. Which pitcher is more worth rostering?
Elder receives a strong recommendation for Sunday. Both players will face tough matchups. Walker has an advantage in win and strikeout projections, but Elder has an advantage in ERA and WHIP. Neither has great projections, although it is harder to project players who have small sample sizes as reference.
Elder will face a tough matchup at the Dodgers in his Week 6 start, while Walker will draw a decent matchup against the Giants. Both pitchers have strong offenses supporting them and have limited strikeout upside. Elder could provide more long-term fantasy value, but Walker's matchup gives him the edge for Week 6.
Fantasy Baseball Rising Starters
Erick Fedde vs. Keaton Winn
Our final comparison is between two under-the-radar fantasy pitchers who have pitched well. Erick Fedde successfully returned from KBO with a 2.73 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 27.3% strikeout rate in five starts. Keaton Winn has picked things up lately and now has a 3.54 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 21.3% strikeout rate. Which one can continue their strong start to the season?
RotoBaller gives Fedde a strong recommendation for Sunday. Both will face middling lineups, although Winn draws the tougher opposing pitcher. Winn has a projection advantage in wins, but Fedde has an advantage in all other categories.
Fedde will face a struggling Cardinals lineup in his next start, while Winn will draw a middling matchup at the Phillies. Fedde has the disadvantage of being supported by one of baseball's weakest lineups but has turned in great results overall and has a better matchup. Therefore, I will pick Fedde for Week 6.
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