From Now to the All Star Break: Top Players

The month of June is Joyous time of the year, School is finishing up, summer vacations are just around the corner and the baseball season is already a third of the way through With the All Star Break only a month away. It is this time of year when we have a clearer view of what may be in store for the remainder of the season and are more realistic than optimistic for certain fantasy players’ production. So for June, I ask you to fire up the barbecue, grab a cold drink, dust off the patio furniture and enjoy my top players to start on any given day leading up to the All Star break.  

Dominic Brown OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Mentioned prior to the season as one of the top fantasy sleepers heading into 2013, Brown enjoyed a productive spring training followed by a relatively slow April with a line of 8 R, 3 HR, 11 RBI,0 SB, .233 AVG. Unlike prior seasons, the Phillies organizations stuck with him and he rewarded their faith by posting stellar numbers (17 R, 12 HR, 25 RBI, 3 SB, .303 AVG) while earning N.L player of the month honours. His success has continued into June and his recent production can no longer be considered a hot streak rather, expected numbers of a legitimate MVP candidate. The power and the tools are real and were main reasons why Brown was tagged a sleeper over seasons prior but now will remain a top 5 outfielder for the foreseeable future.

Carlos Gonzalez OF, Colorado Rockies

The top outfielder over the course this season, “CARGO” has been a model of consistency posting solid fantasy numbers month to month. A lot of critics will make excuses for his production based on Colorado’s thin air home advantage that causes the ball to explode off of bats into orbit turning average players into fantasy studs. Cargo however, is actually hitting better away from Coors Field much better in fact as he has 11 HR away and only 6 HR at home with a batting average 80 points above his home average. Typically as the season heads deeper into summer, the warm air at Coors provides a boost to hitters so I expect Cargo’s numbers to continue while hitting away and improve even more as the summer drags on which will make him the top outfielder in the game over the remainder of the season and is a must start in all contests leading up to the All-Star break.

Miguel Cabrera 3B, Detroit Tigers

I keep waiting for this mammoth perennial MVP and last year’s Triple Crown Winner to suffer an Albert Pujols like slump but he continues to show no signs of slowing down ever. Leading the Majors with 67 RBI and over the course of his 10 year career his split stats show more than 50 home runs in each month which suggest the production will remain and consider him the top infield and corner option play on any given day.

Jean Segura SS, Milwaukee Brewers

An unknown prior to the start of the season, Segura has proven to be Milwaukee’s best kept secret as he is the #2 Short stop in the majors in 2013 only behind Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki. In his first full season, Segura has been a .342 hitter and on pace for 30 HR and 40 SB. Over the last 30 days Segura has posted better fantasy numbers than Tulowitzki and while Troy offers better power than Segura, Segura can do more on the base baths and for our Amped Fantasy daily contests is a safer bet for points on any given day.

Chris Davis 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles

Who is the top first baseman in the first 2 months of 2013? If you read the name above this line you may well be surprised that it’s not a familiar household name (Pujols, Fielder, Votto) but that of Baltimore’s Chris Davis, a once promising prospect who fizzled out in Texas and its hitter park of all places.

Texas is a distant memory for Davis however, who enjoyed a career year last year with 33 HR and 85 RBI in his second year with Baltimore. This year Davis already has 20 HR and 52 RBI which puts him on pace to almost double his previous career year. Although he is unlikely to hit over 60 home runs, his split stats show that he is a better hitter prior to the All-Star break than post so start him with confidence until then and expect slightly less but still solid production following the break.

Joe Mauer Catcher, Minnesota Twins

Minnesota has remained relevant over the course of what was expected to be a down year for them with aging or injured veterans and few prospects. Through this, Mauer has continued to be a consistent offensive centerpiece for them and while avoiding the injury bug so far and is a top 3 Catcher. Over the course of his career, the often injured Mauer has been a better pre-All Star hitter than post and in contests that require a catcher; Mauer is a top choice you can hardly find fault with. Mauer is a catcher that often receives starts at 1B and DH to keep him fresh as the season progresses so he is always less likely to be given a random day off.

Justin Sperdakes

Fantasy Expert