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
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