Week 20 start/sit: Willson Contreras swinging hot bat
Whether fantasy baseball owners are in Rotisserie, head-to-head or points leagues, lineup decisions are crucial to success. Every week, we'll identify some hitters to start and sit for their upcoming week's worth of games.
(Note: Lineups, matchups and schedules subject to change.)
START
C Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs (MIL 4, @COL 3)
The rookie hit a wall after setting the league ablaze in his first month. He has since found his stride, and he's having a great month of August. He has two fabulous matchups this week to continue filling the stat sheet.
OF Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds (MIA 4, @LAD 3)
Hamilton is absolutely running wild right now. He stole 16 bases in 35 at-bats through the first 12 days of August. Part of that was due to taking more walks, as his on-base percentage was .405 through that stretch. He probably won't ever be a .300 hitter, but he is starting to find ways to reach base and impact games more regularly.
3B Cheslor Cuthbert, Kansas City Royals (@DET 3, MIN 4)
Cuthbert is quietly having a solid season at the hot corner. He doesn't have the kind of power you'd like in a corner infielder, but he has elevated his average in the .300 area. He has seven games with some decent matchups to continue to rake.
3B Wilmer Flores, New York Mets (@ARI 3, @SF 4)
Flores has been violating left-handed pitchers this year with nearly double his homers in half the at-bats he's had against righties. He'll have four left-handers to tee off against this week.
SIT
3B Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals (@HOU 2, @PHI 3)
Carpenter hasn't returned to the MVP caliber form he was displaying before he lost a month to an oblique injury. The Cards play just five games this week, and two of them are against lefties. Carpenter doesn't do the same kind of damage against southpaws.
OF Josh Reddick, Los Angeles Dodgers (@PHI 3, @CIN 3)
Reddick has really struggled in his transition to the National League and has done close to nothing in the month of August. He often sits against left-handers, and at least two are on the Dodgers' slate of six games this week.