Fantasy Baseball Start-Sit Week 1: Who should I start, lineup advice, sleepers for Opening Day
· Yahoo Sports
Fantasy Baseball Start-Sit Week 1: Who should I start, lineup advice, sleepers for Opening Day originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Opening Day in MLB has finally arrived, which means the fantasy baseball season is here.
Visit rouesnews.click for more information.
It's time to set those lineups, make the right choices on who to start and sit, and get ready to chase championship over the course of a long season.
It's not easy in the first week of the season, especially because different leagues handle it differently.
Some leagues will have daily lineups, which mitigates this issue. But leagues with weekly lineups have to determine whether to lock from Wednesday's Opening Day through Sunday, March 29 -- or whether to have a 12-day period that runs all the way through the following Sunday.
It's tough to account for every league type in an article like this, so our goal is to point out a few key factors for players who might be on your start-sit bubble.
In general, we wouldn't sit too many high draft picks this early in the year, and we wouldn't get too cute on who we start.
But there are some things to keep in mind, and we'll go position by position below.
MORE: 4 teams that can spoil Dodgers' three-peat quest
Fantasy Baseball Week 1 Start 'Em
Note: This doesn't account for every player at every position. This is about players we are more sure about than available "starting percentage" seems to suggest from league data.
Catcher
- Samuel Basallo, Orioles: The lefty gets to face a bunch of right-handers to start the season and is adjusted to MLB.
- Ryan Jeffers, Twins: Playing in Camden Yards and then the shortened-fence Kaufman Stadium is good for power.
First base
- Munetaka Murakami, White Sox: Pitchers won't yet know how to attack the Japanese import.
- Andrew Vaughn, Brewers: Great revenge game matchup with lowly White Sox pitching.
Second base
- Luis Arraez, Giants: Playing on the first night of the season, and a chance to boost your batting average early.
- Ernie Clement, Blue Jays: Facing the weak Athletics pitching staff is a great way to start.
Third base
- Brett Baty, Mets: Getting to face three right-handers to open the season means Baty should be in the lineup.
- Willi Castro, Rockies: Multi-position guy here, but we like his chances of hitting near the top of the order against the Marlins to open the season, even on the road.
Shortstop
- Jose Caballero, Yankees: A great chance to start strong in stolen bases with a guy playing on the first night of the season.
- Kevin McGonigle, Tigers/JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals: Both made the Opening Day roster, and these top prospects should start for you right away.
Outfield
- Kerry Carpenter, Tigers: With all righties to begin the season, Carpenter is a must-start.
- Heliot Ramos, Giants: Playing on the first night of the season, and an early matchup with a lefty.
- Chandler Simpson, Rays: Take an early lead in steals for category or roto leagues.
Pitcher
- David Peterson, Mets: Facing the Pirates' lineup, with a weak lower half, and not in a Paul Skenes start.
- Shane Smith, White Sox: We liked a lot of what Smith did last season. There's risk here, but if you need a pitcher in a short-week lineup lock, he could work.
- Kodai Senga, Mets: Only in leagues that treat the first period as 12 days -- Senga looked much improved in the spring.
Fantasy Baseball Week 1 Sit 'Em
Note: This doesn't account for every player at every position. This is about players we are less sure about than available "starting percentage" seems to suggest from league data.
Catcher
- Salvador Perez, Royals: The Carter Jensen show is coming, and there are a lot of good catchers to consider in place of Salvy.
- Adley Rutschman, Orioles: In contrast with the good matchups for Basallo mentioned above, it might be smart to wait and see with Rutschman if you have a good alternative.
First base
- Christian Walker, Astros: Until Walker looks like his old self, there's no reason to rely on him.
- Kyle Manzardo, Guardians: He struggled mightily in the spring and could lose time to Rhys Hoskins.
Second base
- Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks: This is more to monitor Marte's health. He's dealing with an injury on the even of Opening Day.
- Marcus Semien, Mets: Name value, but may not have the same production as his past self.
Third base
- Isaac Paredes, Astros: If Jeremy Pena is healthy, Paredes may not be a regular starter.
- Royce Lewis, Twins: Conceptually healthy, but we're in wait and see mode here.
Shortstop
- Konnor Griffin, Pirates/Colt Emerson, Mariners: Make sure these guys are on your bench after they were sent down to Triple-A.
- Jeremy Pena, Astros: He may be back from injury in time, but let him settle in first.
Outfield
- Kyle Stowers, Marlins/Seiya Suzuki, Cubs: Out with injuries. Get them out of those lineups.
- Bryan Reynolds, Pirates: Not quite his best self last season, and the Mets' pitching staff is decent.
- Brandon Nimmo, Rangers: Isn't aging particularly well.
Pitcher
- First note if you play in a league that only runs Week 1 through Sunday, March 29. Anyone who isn't starting between now and then should go on your bench.
- Robbie Ray, Giants: Not loving the matchup with the Yankees.
- Shota Imanaga, Cubs: This would be a bold sit, especially given a matchup with the Nationals. But Imanaga has the potential to disappoint this season.