Who's hot ?

You should always have the big picture in mind when it comes to your season-long fantasy baseball leagues. Putting too much stock in a small sample size might cause you to make a decision that hurts you in the long run. That said, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be taking stock of what’s happened in the immediate past. It can be useful when it comes to weekly or especially daily lineup decisions, waiver wire considerations, tracking who might be coming into more playing time, etc.

The Rotoworld Player Rater is a handy tool that’s among the extensive offerings in Season Pass. Each week, I’ll be using the Player Rater to look at the hottest hitters, position by position, over the last week, and providing commentary.

*The following data is based on 5x5 Roto scoring and covers games played from September 4-10.

Catcher

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Salvador Perez	KC	C	2.50483	1.60306	-0.38679	-0.61320	1.33368	4.44
#2	Yadier Molina	STL	C	1.43214	3.36400	-0.38679	0.05988	-0.23552	4.23
#3	Gary Sanchez	NYY	C	1.43214	0.72259	-0.38679	1.54065	0.81061	4.12
#4	Tucker Barnhart	CIN	C	0.35944	2.48353	-0.38679	1.38112	-0.23552	3.60
#5	Kevin Plawecki	NYM	C	0.35944	-0.15789	1.35152	0.48864	0.81061	2.85
#6	Nick Hundley	SF	C	1.43214	1.16282	-0.38679	-0.18444	0.28755	2.31
#7	Travis d'Arnaud	NYM	C	0.35944	0.72259	-0.38679	1.52819	-0.23552	1.99
#8	Robinson Chirinos	TEX	C	0.35944	-0.15789	-0.38679	1.28387	0.81061	1.91
#9	Yan Gomes	CLE	C	0.35944	0.28235	-0.38679	0.35402	0.81061	1.42
#10	Martin Maldonado	LAA	C	1.43214	0.28235	-0.38679	-0.30660	0.28755	1.31

Salvador Perez really struggled initially upon his return from an intercostal strain, raising questions that maybe he wasn’t healthy yet. However, while he had just six hits this past week, three of them left the yard and he also drove in six runs. Perez’s home run total has grown every year he’s been in the big leagues, as he’s now popped a career-high 24 bombs this season … There’s no doubting that Yan Gomes has been awful at the plate this season. Only 28 players who have accumulated at least 350 plate appearances this season have an OPS under .700, and he’s one of them. However, even Gomes has contributed during the incredible run the Indians are on right now, batting .324/.342/.595 with three home runs and nine RBI over his last nine games. Francisco Mejia might take over as the Tribe’s regular catcher as soon as next season, but he’s still looking for his first start behind the plate since he was promoted on September 1 … Martin Maldonado was sporting a hideous .524 OPS so far in the second half before he delivered two longballs last Monday against the Athletics. It was the 31-year-old’s second multi-homer game this season, and he’s flown past his previous career high in dingers this year in his first opportunity at a regular job, clubbing 14 over the boards for the Halos …

First Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Matt Olson	OAK	1B	4.65023	2.48353	-0.38679	1.49083	2.90287	11.14
#2	Wil Myers	SD	1B	2.50483	2.04329	3.08984	1.62544	0.81061	10.07
#3	Eric Hosmer	KC	1B	1.43214	2.48353	-0.38679	3.86408	1.85674	9.25
#4	Jose Abreu	CWS	1B	3.57753	2.48353	-0.38679	0.96482	2.37981	9.02
#5	Carlos Santana	CLE	1B	1.43214	1.16282	-0.38679	3.08130	1.85674	7.15
#6	Lucas Duda	TB	1B	2.50483	2.04329	-0.38679	0.20695	0.28755	4.66
#7	Freddie Freeman	ATL	1B	0.35944	1.16282	-0.38679	1.62544	1.33368	4.09
#8	John Hicks	DET	1B	1.43214	0.72259	-0.38679	-0.06228	0.81061	2.52
#9	Ryan Zimmerman	WAS	1B	0.35944	0.72259	-0.38679	0.19450	1.33368	2.22
#10	C.J. Cron	LAA	1B	0.35944	0.72259	-0.38679	0.97728	0.28755	1.96

Matt Olson keeps rewarding the A’s for handing him the first base job in the wake of the Yonder Alonso trade, as he’s gone deep in back-to-back games, has nine bombs over his last 13 contests and has driven in 17 over that span. Since Olson was recalled on August 8, no one in the American League has hit more than his 13 home runs. Olson has been playing regularly against lefties of late and homered off of southpaw Tony Sipp on Sunday. He now has an .891 OPS and three dingers over 35 plate appearances versus lefties this season … Jose Abreu followed up his surprising cycle on Saturday with a two-homer showing on Sunday. Over his last 26 games, Abreu has put up an obscene 1.227 OPS with 12 longballs and 22 RBI. If Abreu can drive in 10 more runs the rest of the way, he’ll have hit .290+ with 25+ homers and 100+ RBI in each of his four seasons. No other player in baseball will have accomplished that feat over that stretch … Lucas Duda has been the quintessential all-or-nothing player since joining the Rays. He’s batting only .202 for his new club, but he’s gone deep a whopping 12 times over 37 contests. Four of those bombs have come across his last six games. Duda needs just one more tater for his second career 30-homer campaign, as he’s bounced back nicely from his injury-plagued showing in 2016 … John Hicks has been seeing regular starts at first base and the designated hitter spot for the Tigers of late and he’s been in the fourth or fifth spot in the lineup each of the last six games. The 28-year-old didn’t do much at the Triple-A level this season, but he had a nice season in the minors in 2016 and has been very productive in his 50 games with the Tigers. The best news for fantasy owners is that he's catcher-eligible …

Second Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Whit Merrifield	KC	2B	-0.71326	2.04329	3.08984	2.54284	2.37981	9.34
#2	Jose Peraza	CIN	2B	0.35944	-0.15789	6.56646	0.21941	1.33368	8.32
#3	Yolmer Sanchez	CWS	2B	1.43214	1.16282	1.35152	0.72050	2.37981	7.05
#4	Joe Panik	SF	2B	0.35944	1.16282	-0.38679	3.60731	1.33368	6.08
#5	Dee Gordon	MIA	2B	0.35944	-0.15789	3.08984	0.83021	0.81061	4.93
#6	Daniel Murphy	WAS	2B	1.43214	0.72259	-0.38679	2.04174	0.81061	4.62
#7	Ian Kinsler	DET	2B	2.50483	0.72259	-0.38679	-0.46613	1.33368	3.71
#8	Brian Dozier	MIN	2B	1.43214	1.16282	1.35152	-1.66521	0.81061	3.09
#9	Scooter Gennett	CIN	2B	0.35944	0.28235	-0.38679	1.36867	1.33368	2.96
#10	Starlin Castro	NYY	2B	1.43214	0.72259	-0.38679	-0.08719	0.81061	2.49

If it seems like Whit Merrifield has been on his list a lot this season, well, it’s because he has. The Royals’ leadoff hitter batted .429 with seven RBI and a couple stolen bases this past week. Merrifield has probably been baseball’s most unlikely power/speed threat this season, as he has a shot at a 20-homer, 30-steal campaign if he can pop three more homers and swipe a couple more bases the rest of the way. The power has been the big surprise with Merrifield, as the 20 home runs he has in 2017 between the majors and minors is more than double what he’s ever hit in a season before. The 28-year-old’s flyball rate is up notably this season, but his hard-hit rate is actually way down … Jose Peraza’s playing time has fallen off dramatically since the beginning of the season due to his struggles and the emergence of Scooter Gennett. However, another avenue to playing time opened up when Billy Hamilton (thumb) went down, as Peraza made his first start of the season in center field Sunday. He hit leadoff versus the Mets, reached base twice, scored two runs and pilfered a pair of bases. Playing time the rest of the way is no given, as the Reds want to give Phillip Ervin a look in center and Jesse Winker (hip) is also due back this week. However, Peraza has stolen seven bases without being caught over his last 16 games even as he’s only tallied 56 plate appearances during that stretch. He’s likely just a one-category guy, but the speed and multi-position eligibility could be useful down the stretch … Joe Panik had a ridiculous series in Colorado last week, going 12-for-15 with a homer and five RBI. He cooled off over the weekend in Chicago versus the White Sox, but it’s been a nice second half overall for the second baseman with a .298/.361/.457 batting line, five homers and 20 RBI over 41 tilts. Panik has spent a lot of time in the bottom half of the Giants’ lineup this season, but he’s been locked into the No. 2 spot this month …

Third Base

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Nolan Arenado	COL	3B	1.43214	2.48353	-0.38679	2.67745	1.85674	8.06
#2	Matt Chapman	OAK	3B	1.43214	1.60306	-0.38679	1.63790	2.37981	6.67
#3	Eduardo Nunez	BOS	3B	-0.71326	0.28235	4.82815	1.78497	-0.23552	5.95
#4	Nicholas Castellanos	DET	3B	1.43214	2.92376	-0.38679	2.02929	-0.23552	5.76
#5	Maikel Franco	PHI	3B	1.43214	0.72259	-0.38679	1.52819	1.33368	4.63
#6	Kyle Seager	SEA	3B	2.50483	0.72259	-0.38679	0.85512	0.81061	4.51
#7	Eduardo Escobar	MIN	3B	1.43214	1.16282	-0.38679	0.04742	1.85674	4.11
#8	Travis Shaw	MLW	3B	1.43214	1.60306	-0.38679	0.46373	0.81061	3.92
#9	Jose Ramirez	CLE	3B	2.50483	0.72259	-0.38679	-0.57583	0.81061	3.08
#10	Anthony Rendon	WAS	3B	0.35944	1.16282	-0.38679	0.98973	0.81061	2.94

Matt Chapman instantly became one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball upon his promotion, but he hasn’t been a slouch with the bat, either. The rookie has smacked a couple home runs and driven in six runs over his last four games, and he now has 12 dingers over his first 254 plate appearances. Chapman is going to strike out a ton and never hit for average, but the hope is that maybe he can leave the yard enough to be of use in fantasy leagues. He’s ripped 28 homers in 2017 between the majors and minors after clubbing 36 in the minors in 2016 … Nicholas Castellanos has been a Statcast darling all season with his high exit velocities, but his production has generally been hit-or-miss, at best. He certainly hit this past week, going 10-for-24 with a couple home runs and nine RBI. Castellanos has also made three straight starts in right field and should add eligibility there soon before making the full-time move there next season. We’re still waiting for the former top prospect to put it all together consistently, but keep in mind that he’s still only 25 years of age … It’s been a disappointing season for Kyle Seager, especially when you consider that his backslide has occurred while offense has exploded across the game. However, he’s put together a modest seven-game hitting streak and had a stretch of three straight games with a longball. The third baseman has slugged 12 homers in 50 games since the All-Star break after hitting 10 across 86 contests in the first half … Settling in as the Twins’ everyday third baseman with Miguel Sano (shin) on the shelf, Eduardo Escobar has been Sano-esque with his power this month with five dingers and 13 RBI over 10 games. The 28-year-old has easily eclipsed his previous career high with his 17 bombs this season. Escobar has consistently sported low hard-hit rates in his career and that mark is only slightly up this season, but he has really upped his flyball rate in 2017 …

Shortstop

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	Jose Reyes	NYM	SS	2.50483	2.92376	3.08984	0.57343	1.85674	10.95
#2	Francisco Lindor	CLE	SS	2.50483	0.72259	3.08984	1.49083	2.37981	10.19
#3	Tim Anderson	CWS	SS	0.35944	-0.15789	4.82815	2.43313	1.33368	8.80
#4	Elvis Andrus	TEX	SS	1.43214	2.04329	1.35152	2.02929	1.33368	8.19
#5	Didi Gregorius	NYY	SS	1.43214	3.36400	-0.38679	1.76006	1.85674	8.03
#6	Marcus Semien	OAK	SS	0.35944	2.04329	3.08984	0.04742	1.85674	7.40
#7	Trea Turner	WAS	SS	1.43214	1.60306	1.35152	0.43881	2.37981	7.21
#8	Alcides Escobar	KC	SS	0.35944	1.16282	-0.38679	3.08130	2.37981	6.60
#9	Zack Cozart	CIN	SS	1.43214	2.48353	-0.38679	0.72050	1.33368	5.58
#10	Asdrubal Cabrera	NYM	SS	0.35944	0.72259	-0.38679	2.56775	1.33368	4.60

You might have heard that the Indians have won 18 games in a row. To say that Francisco Lindor has had a big hand in it would be an understatement. In addition to playing his usual stellar defense, the dynamic young shortstop has put up an absurd .357/.430/.757 batting line with eight home runs, 14 RBI and four stolen bases during that span. Lindor really lagged in the stolen base department before the All-Star break with just four pilfers, but he’s swiped nine bags in the second half. The 23-year-old needs just one more dinger to reach the 30-homer plateau … Tim Anderson has tallied multiple hits in five of his last six games, and he has hit two home runs and stolen three bases over that stretch. The steals in particular are good to see, as Anderson has been a huge disappointment in that department this season with just nine on the year (and he’s only attempted 10). Plate discipline is surely always going to be a major hurdle for Anderson, as he now has a hideous 255/26 K/BB ratio over 955 plate appearances in the majors. However, the former first-round pick is just 24, and he remains an interesting power/speed option even if his on-base percentage is always poor … Elvis Andrus this past week became the third Rangers player ever to record 20 home runs, 40 doubles and 20 stolen bases in a season. He’s slugged four bombs and driven in 10 runs over his last seven tilts. Andrus’ flyball rate is still rather low and his hard-hit rate remains pedestrian, but both rates this season are the best of his career … Marcus Semien power hasn’t been there this season, which isn’t a surprise after he returned from wrist surgery. He did hit one out of the yard this past week, though, while also adding a couple steals. Expect the pop to return in 2018 as he further distances himself from the wrist operation …

Outfield

Rank	Player	Tm	Pos	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	R	VAL
#1	J.D. Martinez	ARZ	OF	6.79562	3.80424	-0.38679	2.54284	2.90287	15.66
#2	Michael Taylor	WAS	OF	2.50483	2.92376	3.08984	1.77251	1.33368	11.62
#3	Nick Williams	PHI	OF	1.43214	3.36400	1.35152	2.27361	1.33368	9.75
#4	Boog Powell	OAK	OF	1.43214	2.48353	-0.38679	2.16390	3.42594	9.12
#5	Brandon Nimmo	NYM	OF	1.43214	2.04329	1.35152	1.77251	1.33368	7.93
#6	Carlos Gonzalez	COL	OF	1.43214	1.16282	-0.38679	2.70236	2.37981	7.29
#7	Khris Davis	OAK	OF	1.43214	2.92376	-0.38679	2.02929	0.81061	6.81
#8	Ryan Braun	MLW	OF	1.43214	0.28235	3.08984	0.32911	1.33368	6.47
#9	Aaron Judge	NYY	OF	2.50483	1.16282	-0.38679	0.59834	2.37981	6.26
#10	Charlie Blackmon	COL	OF	1.43214	0.72259	-0.38679	0.83021	2.90287	5.50

Yes, a four-homer game and a two-homer game in the same week is usually enough to get you to the top of this list. Oh, and J.D. Martinez threw in a measly one-homer game to boot, driving in 11 runs over six contests. The outfielder has popped 21 over the boards and driven in 45 runs in his 45 games for the Diamondbacks. Only Giancarlo Stanton has gone deep more times over that stretch, and Martinez has had 33 fewer plate appearances due to a bruised hand back in July … Michael Taylor posted a .552 OPS with just one homer and two steals over his first 24 games after returning from a strained oblique, but he’s perked up in a big way the last four contests by going 9-for-15 (.600) with three homers, nine RBI and two stolen bases. A .358 BABIP has kept Taylor’s average up this season to an unsustainable .274, but he’s always going to be a power/speed threat when given a chance with 16 longballs and 14 steals this season … I’ve been pleasantly surprised with Nick Williams’ production so far given his inconsistency in the minors, although he’s been helped from a BABIP perspective like Taylor with a .370 mark. That said, Williams’ walk rate has been up a tad and strikeout rate down a tad from what he did at Triple-A this year, which is encouraging. I still think we’re dealing with a hitter here who lacks polish, but it’s hard not to be a bit more encouraged about his 2018 prospects than we were a couple months ago … A former first-round pick, Brandon Nimmo has had underwhelming results from a counting stats standpoint in the minors, but he’s always shown a great eye at the dish while keeping his strikeouts at a reasonable rate and that’s carried over in the majors in 2017. Nimmo is walking at a 17.3 percent clip in his 51 games this year with the Mets, and to provide some perspective, only Joey Votto and Aaron Judge have a better rate than that among qualifiers. Nimmo will need to start hitting for more power to become more interesting as a fantasy option, but he’s made a nice impression …